Christian Living

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Lay Down the Stones

July 3, 2006
By: Rick L King

John 8:7………. He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
John 8:11………Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The Holy Spirit once told me that what people do is really not my concern. My job is to bring them into God's presence, as He is the one that will fix what needs fixing.

The question arises as to why do we cast stones at others? Even deeper than this is why did we pick up the stone in the first place?

If we remember that it is only by God’s grace that we are what we are even through much failure, sin, and faults. His grace is the only reason we stand. This is true for everyone else also. We could not fix our self. We cannot fix someone else. Only Jesus can. The same grace that was given to us must come through us if we are walking in the love of God. What people do is not a law issue; it is actually a love issue. Love takes them to the only one that has the ability and power to change them into the image of God. Jesus is the one that set us free and Jesus is the only one that can set another free. The law says that we must fix ourselves, yet we learn in:

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Ro 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Ro 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Ro 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

The word flesh in the Greek can mean our fleshly covering yet it also can mean our carnal mind. Our body without a soul or spirit is dead. It can do nothing unless empowered and told to do something. If our carnal mind is unable to fix itself, then how can it fix someone else or for that matter expect him or her to fix themselves. This is why criticism, condemnation and judging are straight from the pit. They require actions that self cannot perform. It takes God alone. Only entering into a Holy God’s presence changes us.

We can have our house built on the love of God or a rock of offense and stumbling straight from the pit of hell. Casting stones only hurts the one being hit; it does not change them. The person is wounded. Usually the problem gets worse as they try to fix themselves yet the problem usually only gets worse. If they could fix themselves they wouldn’t need God. God could never be the one that gets all glory if man could fix himself. Oddly enough, when we cast stones at our brother or sister, we are actually casting them at ourselves. Scripture says:
Romans 12:
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Each brother or sister is part of our body. Each member has a unique anointing and purpose. We need each other for the body to be a complete body. If we would learn to help them get free rather than push them deeper, we would be much further ahead. Casting stones makes us part of the problem. Intercession, forgiveness, warfare, and love, makes us part of the solution. The day may come that the gifting or anointing that was in the brother or sister is just what you need for yourself. Yet, since a stone was cast, we may go on not healed or delivered because they were not helped to enter in to their call. It is rather stupid to throw a stone at our self when we also will be hurt as a result. We are cutting our own throat so to speak when we hurl stones at someone else. God does not do it to us, so why do we believe we should do it to another? God is a God of love and grace. If we are of God, the same will come through us. We are told:

Mt 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

1 John 2:
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

When we judge, condemn, or do not forgive; we get the same thing back on us. These are the devil’s stones. These are designed to take us away from God’s presence and power so that we will be ineffective in doing what God has called us to do. Stones are on the ground. Instead of picking up the stones, we should be walking on them. Is not the devil supposed to be underfoot instead of us carrying his demons around in our hands? Unfortunately the devil still entices our senses as he did with Adam and Eve. When a critical, condemning, or judging spirit is working look at what happens. The devil says well they deserve what they get. They should know better. The problem is, it is only by God’s Sprit that we do right. In our flesh dwells no good thing. It is not about what we do; it is about what God through His Spirit does through us. The lie then puts the blame on self. The accuser of the brethren is supposed to be cast down, not picked up.

Re 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

It is not now nor ever was about works since Jesus came. Works did not save us. Grace saved us. All that happens when we accept these lies of the pit is that sin, which separates us from being free in God’s presence, weights us down. God cannot use us as a vessel when we are full of these things. We are designed to soar with Jesus in the Spirit over the things and devils of this world.

Think of a hot air balloon. When we get saved the chains or ropes are cut so that we can fly. No matter the direction the wind of the Holy Spirit blows, we are able to freely fly with him. When the stones are picked up, the weight of the stones forces the balloon back down to the ground where the enemy is. We are held bound and a prisoner. We can no longer fly. Until we lay down the stones of bitterness, unforgiveness, judging, condemnation, criticism, etc, we will never be able to soar with Jesus and find all the exciting places that the Holy Spirit will take us.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

The question then is………Do we want to soar with Jesus? Lay down the stones. Do we want to walk in the Spirit?……….lay down the stones. Do we want to please God?….lay down the stones. Jesus cut the ropes or chains that tied the balloon or us to the ground. Do you want to go higher in the Spirit?……lay down the stones. Jesus desires that you soar with Him, yet you cannot with the weights of the stones in your hand. Let us lay down the stones and walk on them rather than carry them in our hand.


Copyright © 2007
By: Rick L. King
No portion of this may be reproduced or used without written permission from the author.
Please contact me at [email protected] if you have a need for this writing. Thank You.

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