Matthew 12:20
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Are you stifling someone’s liberty?
Mark 9:38-39 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.” (New King James Version NKJV)
Do you understand why there was no need for the disciples to worry? If the work being done was of God, it would stand. If not, the Lord would judge it. Don’t think everyone has to agree with you. It makes you seem insecure or arrogant. Don’t let it bother you when someone says something that is contrary to what you believe. If you are in a position of authority, you may try to exercise undue influence.
Acts 5:38 So here’s my advice: in this case, just let these men go. Ignore them. If this is just another movement arising from human enthusiasm, it will die out soon enough. (The Voice TVT)
However, here are some questions you should ask yourself:
- Is he/she wrong or do I just think so?
- Is the Lord calling me to address this, or is it my pride.
- Should this be my concern, or should I my focus be elsewhere?
- Isn’t God able to stop this if He wanted to?
Acts 5:39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God! (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)
Just walk in love and the truth you know. If God gives you an open door, share it. You will know that God opened the door because he/she will receive you with gladness. Don’t be a warden. Christianity is not a jail. Allow every Christian to come into the knowledge of the truth as God reigns sovereign over their lives.
Ephesians 4:13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)
God is continually talking to everyone who will listen. In His timing, He will bring clarity.
Revelation 2:29 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)
Maybe you will share a revelation, or maybe you need to hear a revelation. Maybe you are not the one God will use. Maybe it is you who need to stop and listen more closely. Whatever the case, you don’t have to destroy a person just because they do not agree with you. Let the Holy Spirit do His job and recognize God is in control.
Please agree with me as I pray:
Father, I am grateful You provide protection for Your word and Your commands. There were times when there were disagreements about Your word and what You wanted. I repent if I was ever a voice that was stifling and controlling. Though I may have gotten it right sometimes, there were also times when I did not. I repent for not studying to be quiet and allowing Your Spirit to lead instead of me. The problem is, I was not listening to You. I am Your sheep. I should seek You first, I should seek You always, and I must follow Your voice. Thank You for keeping me from being destroyed, and I pray I did not inadvertently destroy someone else. The path I take and the people I encountered should always bring me directly into Your presence. Even when I stumble; You never cast me away. Continue to beckon me and counsel me. Prepare me to be used by You to counsel someone else. I thank You. I bless Your name. As I listen to You now, my prayer is that You will ordain the words I speak and provide the open door to speak them…
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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.