DEAD FLY #2

In my last blog in our continuing study on “DEAD FLIES in the OINTMENT of GOD” I commented on “Dead Fly #1(LACK OF LOVE)” and today I would like to identify the next “dead fly” in the ointment of GOD.

If you remember we have identified the “church” “the ekklesia” “the gatherings of GOD’s children” “GOD’s people” or whatever term you like to use as the “ointment of GOD” that was put here for the healing of the world. The world has gone astray, the world is sick, broken, crippled, hurting because of sin and most of the world is in bondage because of this sin, but the church, GOD’s ointment is full of “dead flies” and is powerless and ineffective to do the job that GOD has sent it for, and of course that is to be the BODY of CHRIST and do HIS work. So much “conforming to the world” instead of “renewing of it’s mind” has polluted it.

So in today’s blog I want to Identify “DEAD FLY #2”

Dead Fly#2: Lack of “Forgiveness” the church has forgotten about forgiveness and holds too many grudges, listen please, it is almost impossible to live, work or worship together without having some grievances to arise because all people think different and work different. We are still in the flesh, we are still in the world, but we are not supposed to be of the world, we all still have some unwanted pride in our lives and we want things to go our way, Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) says “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” So when these times and these events take place in our church we must do as Barney in the Andy Griffin show used to say “we have got to nip it in the bud”. We can let it remain in our hearts and fester and canker and become a “dead fly” in the ointment of GOD or we can do what is necessary and remedy it before it goes to far, because when this happens it’s not always very harmful to us but is harmful to the witness of CHRIST, harmful to the image that our churches have in the communities where they minister. Now let’s look at some of GOD’s word that will help us get rid of this “dead fly” before it becomes part of the “stinking savor to the ointment of GOD.” First let’s look at this scripture in Mark, where JESUS was teaching his disciples.

 1: Mark 11:24-26 (KJV)  “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your FATHER which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”  Please listen to what GOD’s word records about unforgiven sin: Isaiah 59:1-2 (KJV) “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither HIS ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your GOD, and your sins have hid HIS face from you, that he will not hear.”

 2: Matthew 18:23-35 Jesus told his disciples a parable about a king, here let me refresh your memory and recount it to you: “There was a king that was going to take account of his servants and one owed him a great deal of money and the king was going to throw him into prison.” Verse 26 and 27 “The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” “But when it came time for that servant to forgive his fellow servant he would not and cast him into prison, his other fellow servants went to the king and told him so he called the first servant back up to see him, and this is what the king said:” In verse 35: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

It is imperative that we forgive one another, let me say that again we must forgive one another to remove this “DEAD FLY” from the ointment of GOD. GOD has turned HIS face from the church because there is so much “unforgiveness” in HIS house. GOD loved us, and still loves us unconditionally. We must LOVE the same way, we can not be the body of CHRIST unless we love as HE loved. It is only with the “agape” love of Christ that we can forgive others. Sometimes it seems that the church doesn’t want GOD to turn HIS face back to us, WHY? I believe it is because the majority of thy church has grown to love darkness more than light, like JESUS said in John 3:19-21 (KJV) please consider these verses that record JESUS’s words “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in GOD.” I believe the church has dwelled in darkness so long their eyes have become accustomed to the “darkness” and when the “light” of JESUS shines upon them it hurts their eyes. We must get back to “walking in the light” and confessing our sins as it says in 1 John 1:5-10 (KJV) “This then is the message which we have heard of HIM, and declare unto you, that GOD is light, and in HIM is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ HIS Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“Come on CHURCH” lets get rid of this “DEAD FLY” of unforgiveness and begin to “LOVE” one another again and we will see the world begin to heal again.