Monday, April 15, 2013

TRADITIONALLY SPEAKING

Good morning, Mighty Woman of God!  I speak blessings of peace, love and joy upon your life.  May you prosper abundantly as you seek after our Lord, Jesus Christ, in Jesus name.
 
(Romans 12:2), And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
 
Okay, my sisters, a quick English lesson, according to the Webster's Dictionary.  (Conform = to shape after, to be similar in form or character.  To behave in accordance with modes or customs.  To bring into agreement).  (Tradition = a mode of thought or behavior passed from one generation to another.)
 
I am always astounded by the way that the Holy Spirit teaches me something new.  I have taught on that particular scriptures a couple of times and what I love most about the Holy Spirit is that scriptures never get old, because He gives a fresh revelation, every time you need it.  I thank God for His Word given to me on a constant basis, as long as I am obedient and open-minded.  That is our word for today, OPEN-MINDED.  In order to gain wisdom as to what the Spirit of the Lord is trying to deliver to you today, you much keep an open mind.  Anyway, here we go!
 
Tradition has a way of keeping you bound, if you are not careful or closed-minded and not willing to listen to a new way or being stuck in your ways.  For some reason, it is always safer to conform instead of transforming by changing the way we think by renewing our mind.  If you are going through life always conforming and sticking to tradition, you will never transform because you will not renew your mind or way of thinking.  We just don't seem to ask the question WHY?  You only do as you are told, not asking any questions in fear of not being accepted. 
 
Because something has always been done a certain way does not make it right or wrong, only if you, yourself know and understand the reason why.  For instance, if you ask someone why do you pray or worship that way, and that person's answer to you is, "because that's the way, it's always been done, generation after generation".  In reality you are looking for a better, more clearer answer than that, but instead you conformed to their way, not researching the reason why, it is the way it is.  In other words you don't want to stir up any trouble.
 
Here's an example:  Your great grandmother has passed down her delicious recipe for homemade apple pie to your grandmother and your grandmother makes a mean apple pie, it's the bomb.  Your grandmother passed the recipe down to your mother and now it's your turn to get the recipe for your daughter to follow.  Now, there is nothing wrong with the recipe passed down from generation to generation but you want to change the recipe by adding a cup of sugar.  The only reason why you are adding a cup of sugar is because your taste buds are a little bit different than generations before you.  Again, that doesn't make your great grandmothers recipe wrong, you just like it a little bit sweeter.  Are you following me?  It's time for the saints of God to move out of tradition in order for us to experience a miraculous move of God.  This generation is looking for a move of the Spirit of God.  They don't want to just observe it, they desire to be a part of it.  Not just hear about the goodness of God, but taste the goodness of God.
 
Now let's move this into the spirit realm.  A lot of churches are spiritually bound because they are used to doing things one way.  Tradition has a way of keeping the churches bound.  No one has ever spoke in tongues before, so the church does not allow it.  No one has ever actually laid hands on the sick, as the disciples have done, so the church does not allow it.  No one has ever been delivered from anything in the church for as long as the Pastor can remember.  No one dances for the Lord, because that's not the way they are used to doing it.  We sing when we stand on this song, we sit on that song.  Even though the old Pastor has retired and the new Pastor is younger and would like to lay hands on the sick, speak prophetically in the congregations life, let you get your praise on, he conforms to the tradition of the churches old ways of doing things in fear that the people will leave the church.  So that's how it is and that's how it will be (let's just stick to tradition).  In the meantime, you have people hungry for Jesus Christ.  Not only are they hungry for the Word of God, but are seeking prayer and deliverance.  They are not willing to conform to the old way, because they have tasted something better. Tradition will keep you from not only receiving God's best, but also not able to give God's best.  You can't keep God in a box and expect Him to move in a mighty way through a box.  God is way bigger than any box you could possibly ever imagine.
 
One more thing.  What if someone is just waiting on you to make a change to the traditional way.  There are so many people waiting for a transformation to take place in the churches.  We are hungry for the move of God, but tradition will keep us bound, generation after generation, because no one wants to renew their mind and transform instead of conform.  PRAISE GOD!