Encouragement

Turning Heads

by Mindy Galloway
09/11/15
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A brilliant and mighty man of Christ died on Aug 26, 2015.  The Lord blessed him with the gift of discernment.  He had a heart for Christ and a passion to study God’s word to show himself approved.  That passion spilled over to his congregation as he continually fed them all thatThe Holy Spirit gave to him.  He was a gifted teacher and a kind hearted shepherd.  He left behind a beautiful family, all of whom The Lord shines through brightly. 

In reflecting on his passing, there is a message that resonated in his character.  He had an unrelenting desire to disciple men.  Until recently, I didn’t understand his passion.  In my youth, I received his passion as being a respecter of person.  However, most recently, The Lord opened my eyes, and my head was turned.

The curse of humanity due to disobedience is found in Genesis 3:16-19.  In verse 16 God tells the woman her desire shall be to her husband, and he shall rule over her.  In Godly order, the woman is to follow her husband.  In Godly order the man / husband, is to follow God.  In Godly order, my former Pastor sought after men, to lead women, and together raise the children, in hope of ultimately steering communities toward righteousness.  It doesn’t get more grass roots than that.  He was purposed with going after the head… to steer the body towards fellowship,discipleship, and apostleship. 

That purpose, that challenge, remains before us today.  The year 2015 presents us with a world full of imagery, self-absorption, vanity, materialism, godlessness, idolatry, lasciviousness, sexism, racism, and pure perversion.  How do we overcome it as a church?  First we turn the head, then the body will follow.  First the leadership must be cleansed, then the congregation will follow.  First, we sanctify the men, the women will then follow. 

Sounds chauvinistic, but it is very much a Bible truth.  Women seek the attention of men, because their desire is to their husbands.  The world tells women to accentuate and reveal their flesh to attract the attention of men.  Now what if men turned away from such behaviors and began looking inside, searching women’s character as the basis for man’s desire.  Women would then work more on building better character, than working towards preserving, manicuring, accenting, accessorizing, reshaping, enhancing … their dying flesh.  Armed with stronger characters, parents would instill better value systems in the children.  Fortified with better values, the children would build a better future… and we as a people would see exponential growth in our communities.

Unfortunately, this is not what we see today.  Regardless of the neighborhood, irrespective to the country…crime, poverty, and moral decay are all on the rise.  Why?  Because we are a stiff-necked people who refuse to turn our heads.  We refuse to turn our heads from the television, from the internet, from the latest fashion, from the latest best seller, from the latest fitness routine, from what’s hot in the world… while the world.. well the world continues to feed off of our dying flesh. 

Samson couldn’t turn his head from the beauty of Delilah… his refusal to turn his head brought him a premature death in his last stance.

Twelve spies were sent to survey the promised land once the Israelites fled Egypt… 10 had negative reports because they couldn’t turn their heads from the giants in the land to focus on the promise from God.. all ten of them died in the wilderness, never stepping foot into a land God had already prepared for His people. 

The book of 2 Samuel tells the story of Amnon refusing to turn his head from lusting for his sister.  In his lust he raped her… his refusal to turn his head brought him a premature death as her stolen virginity was avenged by her brother Absalom.

Judas couldn’t turn his head from greed… his refusal to turn his head brought him a premature death via suicide due to the guilt he held from betraying Jesus Christ.

Adam couldn’t turn his head from Eve to stand for righteousness… his refusal to turn his head introduced sin and death to all mankind.

There are many Biblical examples, and even more every day examples of how stiff necks lead to degradation and ruin. We are admonished to be in the world but not of the world.  Why is it that now our men, women, and children follow the world?  Why is it that now leaders follow the world?  Why is it that now the church follows the world?  When do we turn our heads?  When do we focus on that which is righteous and spiritual more than that which is popular and natural?

2 Chronicles 7:14 reads:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and TURN from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

Pastor Reginald Lane was concerned with turning the heads of men, because he believed the community would follow.  Laws are failing.  Education systems are failing.  Financial systems are failing.  Irrigation and purification systems are failing.  Health systems are failing…

How much will it take for us to turn from our wicked ways?

How long will we continue to suffer before seeking first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness: so that all the things we lack can be added unto us?

How long before we heed the admonishment from 2 Timothy 3:1-5?

2 Timothy 3:1-5 

V1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

V2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

V3) without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

V4) traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God:

V5) having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.

It’s time to turn our heads from worldliness to righteousness…