“Why is Submission a Cuss Word in the Church Today?”

September 28 2011

“I missed it”... “You were right Pastor, I should have heeded your Godly council”... “I have to confess, I was following MY voice and not the voice of God”. 

 I have to admit, these statements seem to be the exception nowadays instead of the rule.  More and more as a Pastor I am seeing a very disturbing trend in people’s lives.  And I’ll get straight to the point here…it’s a lack of listening to Godly and scriptural council!  And although the whole book of Proverbs practically deals with listening to Godly instruction and council, and Paul addresses this subject in length in the New Testament, there’s seems to be a lot of deaf ears to this subject nowadays and it’s causing a lot of problems in people’s lives.  Let this verse sink in for a moment; “Take fast hold of instruction and do not let go!  Keep her!  For she is your life!” ~Proverbs 4:13.

 So then why is a rejection of Godly council from Godly appointed leaders so widespread in today’s church?  Yes, the church!  Well, I believe that there’s no one answer to this dilemma.  I believe that it is a combination of factors that have worked together to get many people to this point.  But, I will try to tackle this subject the best I can. And I’ll start with an unlikely culprit.

1.  Misguided Leadership.  Wow!  There…I said it!  Unfortunately, there are some good leaders who I believe love the Lord and are called to the ministry BUT are misguided by a selfish and controlling attitude.  There are a lot of leaders that deal with self esteem issues and as a result become very domineering and controlling over people’s lives.  As a result any council they bring is shadowed by these weaknesses.  And what happens is people become very wounded or” brow beat” by this style of leadership.  And even though these leaders are still Godly appointed and need to be submitted to their style of leadership has left a bad taste in people’s lives and as a result ALL spiritual authority is being rejected.  I believe that the council and guidance given by these leaders are scriptural and many times led by the Holy Spirit, but because of these weaknesses they have a hard time in effectively communicating their guidance or instruction to people.  As a result, people reject it.  This is where us leaders need to be honest about our own weaknesses before God and ask Him to give us the ability to effectively give Godly council and instruction.  Even discipline!  There is a way of confronting without repelling people.  Does it always work?  No.  But in my years as a Pastor I have noticed this as being one of the reasons why Godly council is rejected.

Unfortunately too, you have situations where some leaders were "self appointed" and NOT God anointed.  These are those who rebel against spiritual authority and decide to start their own ministry or church WITHOUT the covering or blessing of an established ministry.  And because the root of their ministry is control and rebellion the fruit of their ministry will reflect this too.  These are people who control others because their ministry was birthed by a controlling spirit that they couldn't get the victory over.  And when people become wounded by this then they have a hard time in submitting to true Godly council because of these bad experiences.  I have NEVER seen situations like this end well by the way!

2.  It’s ALL About Me.  You can see it all around us.  From the entertainment industry, to sports, to the corporate world, to today’s children to even the church…there’s an “it’s all about me” spirit that has been unleashed.  By simple definition it’s called selfishness.  And boy has it caused a generation of people to reject truthful, Godly and scriptural council!  And because it is so prevalent in the world today it causes people who get saved and come into The Body of Christ to keep this mindset into their walk with God.  Scripture says that as new believer’s we have to “not be conformed to the world but transformed by the renewing of our minds, so we can prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”-ROMANS 12:2.  It’s allowing the mind of Christ to dominate our life NOT our old carnal nature which is selfish by default! 

3.  It’s Human Nature To Rebel Against Authority.  Like it or not our old carnal nature does NOT like to submit to authority. You can see it in the story of the first humans ever created, Adam and Eve, and you can see it in the life of every newborn child.  Just watch the reaction of a baby with the word “NO”!  This rebellious attitude was part of us when we were born, so to overcome this takes a lot of humility and a lot of dying to self.  As a matter of fact, before the verse I stated earlier in ROMANS 12:2, it says in verse 1, “I implore of you brothers, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  So to humble ourselves and submit to spiritual authority it’s going to take a lot of discipline and a lot of humility!  And it’s not easy, either!  GALATIANS 5:17 states, “The flesh fights against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; and these two are contrary one to another, so you cannot do the things that your flesh wants to.”  WOW!  There it is again!  The “default” setting of our flesh is contrary to the ways of God. 

And right after ROMANS 12 in verse 1 of Chapter 13, it states that “every soul must be subject (under the authority) of ALL higher authorities, because ALL authorities have been ordained by God.”  God knew what He was doing when He established authorities over us.  And to rebel against them is to rebel against God Himself according to scripture.

4.  Going Before God With a Neutral Heart.   I have to admit that this one is tough for a lot of us!  This is when we lay aside all predetermined agendas and ideas and come before God with such an open and neutral heart that if what He reveals is different than what we want we will accept God’s will instead of our own!  I think that most of us determine ahead of time what we “think” is God’s will and unless God stops us we continue to move forward anyway!  We believe the lie that unless God shuts the door it “had to be of God”.  Not if we were determined to do it anyway!  You see, God will never force His will on ours.  And if we do NOT submit with humility our will to His and approach His presence with a neutral attitude than God can’t force His will on us.  It’s all about willful submission.  If that was the case then God would have knocked the fruit out of Eve’s hand in the Garden of Eden right before she took a bite and offered it to Adam!  That’s why He gave us His word and surrounded us with spiritual authority.  God did it to help guide us and reveal truth to us as to how to make Godly choices.  There is safety in the presence of a multitude of counselors!  But acting on what we know is right is up to us.  We are accountable for our actions.  And we will reap what we sow if those actions are selfish and are a result of rejecting spiritual authority in our decisions.

CONCLUSION:  We CAN walk this walk of faith and do what’s right!  We can obey God and submit to spiritual authority!  We can respond to life with a transformed and renewed mind!  It IS possible!  But in order to do it we need to learn some of these lessons that I have just stated.  We have to learn to crucify our flesh and desires and be willing to submit to God’s word and will no matter what.  AND we have to be willing to accept Godly council from those whom God has placed over us as our spiritual covering and authority.  If we can do these things, then I believe that we can live a life of victory and destiny.  BUT, the choice is up to YOU!

Blessings!   Bishop Dennis Sanders 

Discerning a Spirit of Control/Manipulation

September 21 2011

“Discerning a Spirit of Control/Manipulation” ~Bishop Dennis Sanders

In the times that we live in we need to be educated on the things that we have to deal with as Pastor's.  So the following is just a little bit of what I've discovered concerning how to discern a spirit of control/manipulation.  I hope it speaks to you.

People who operate under a spirit of control & deception purposely create "soul ties" with people. It's for the sole purpose of putting a dependency upon them. Once they create this dependency then when they make their move to do something the "soul ties" are so strong that you follow their lead without realizing it. THEY become the dominate voice & dominate influence, even above God's Word without realizing it. When the "soul ties" are so strong, these people can then start saying "God revealed this to me" or "God showed me this about you"...and without taking it to the Word or even God for ourselves we immediately follow the dominate voice now in our lives. "They love me" we declare! "They're out for my welfare more than anybody else!" we say....but the one who created the "soul tie" WANTS that...so when words of control or deception are spoken we would never think that it's just to fulfill their own desires & agendas. 

These deceiving people KNOW what will gain entrance into people’s hearts...attention, flattery, gifts, affirmation to a gift that "nobody else appreciates", etc...Once entry is gained into the heart then the connection has begun. So when a loving Pastor, friend or even anointed Prophet of God speaks truth the "heart" (soul tie) cannot let go of the affections for the person. This is a STRONG stronghold!!!!

Once they got the "soul tie", then they will subtlety, not openly, but with subtlety, begin to share their disagreements with things in church leadership, other people’s lives or ministry...they wait to see the response...hoping that the soul tie is so strong that what "they're seeing from God" will open the deceived persons eyes to "their revelation".

Once they realize that the hook has been bitten and then they plan their strategy of "silent rebellion"...all under the guise of "this was all out of concern for your spiritual welfare to see what God has shown me".

That's the difference between a true Pastor/Shepherd and one operating under a spirit of control/manipulation...the Shepherd LEADS with truth from the Word and hopes that willful submission and obedience will follow...the manipulator/controller creates a dependency that manipulates the leading...and creates an emotional bond not based on obedience to Truth in the Word but their interpretation of God's will for yours.

And then, if you start to break free from this, there's guilt as to "how much they've done for you" and "been there for you"...the problem is that those bonds were not from a genuine heart to lead them into God's perfect will...it was to make you a pawn to their agenda...but being emotionally connected to the "soul tie" is used to their advantage. 

In a last ditch effort, if you are really breaking free from this, they will then begin the "God told me", or "God said this to me"...it will get more intense because they see you breaking away...false humility and maybe even gifts will be showered to "win you back over"...but it's not genuine.

If you really break free...all those promises of "I will love you forever” or "I got your back forever" will soon be a forgotten memory. You're no longer good for them anymore....the only reason why they might keep "checking up on you out of concern" is if they see glimmers of hope that someday in the future if you go through another emotional experience or get hurt by someone else, they will remind you, "See, I told you I would always be here for you and love you".

In Conclusion:

There's a reason why every writer of the New Testament gives warnings to God's people & to churches to be aware of wolves, false prophets, Jezebel's and self seeking workers in the church. It's because it's a reality that many of us don't want to have to acknowledge is there. But when God uses every N.T. writer to warn us there's a reason. These are perilous times my ministry friends. Heed God's warnings.

Jesus warns, Luke warns in Acts, Paul warns in his epistles, Peter warns in his epistles, James warns, John the beloved warns, Jude warns and Jesus sternly warns again in Revelation. There's a reason why every single writer warns the church and God's people.

 This is not to be negative...it's simply to state a fact. "be sober & vigilant...beware of false prophets...even satan transforms into an angel of light...false prophets will produce lying signs & wonders where if it were possible even the very elect will be deceived...beware of wolves in sheeps clothing where outwardly they blend in but inwardly there are ravenous wolves...forbid Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess to teach in the church...over, and over and over we are warned. Don't be shocked if you see it.

 Just thank the Lord that His Word prepared us for it.

This is the sobering reality as a Pastor in the church. Believe me, I wish it was all "love fests and crying parties around camp fires" but the sad, sad, sad, sad reality for the life of a Shepherd is to be sober and protect God's flock. For that, I shall answer to God and not man over.

 EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON HERE IN MINISTRY needs to always be sober & vigilant...because it's when the watchman's sleep that the gates of the city are torn down, destroyed and entered in.

 There's a huge target on the church and God's leaders.

Blessings,  Bishop Dennis Sanders

It’s time the body of Christ learn about forgiveness!

June 03 2010

Matthew 5:23-25 says, "Therefore if you bring your gift before the alter, and there you remember that thy brother have aught against thee, Leave there thy gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."