Most Christians can read books and study this doctrine and that doctrine. I can’t. I have been told not to read books.
They can have conversations about differences of opinions. I can’t. I was told to seek not the counsel of men.
Most Christians are free to listen to anyone they want and judge what they say. I am not. I was told to listen only to God, for He is the golden needle that pulls the golden thread of healing He has placed within me. Someone saw this golden thread and golden needle in a vision and delivered the message to me.
Most Christians can form their own opinions about Scriptures. I can’t. I am only allowed to accept what is revealed by the Lord.
They can give people the benefit of the doubt. I can’t. When God reveals something about someone, I must accept it as is.
They pretty much can take their minds anywhere. I can’t. I can only go where the Spirit leads.
As a result of all this most Christians appear to be open-minded, and I appear to be closed-minded.
They appear to be open-minded because their minds are open to both the world and to the Lord. My mind appears to be closed because it is closed to the world, and open to the Lord alone.
Most Christians get to say that partial truths are okay because people mean well using them. I have to proclaim that truths are truths and lies are lies, for truths expose lies as light exposes darkness.
Here are some examples:
Most Christians can say claiming promises is okay because it’s just an expression of faith. I have to say what the Lord revealed, which is that it is sin because it is adding to the Bible and it is a legal maneuver, and has nothing to do with faith. No Christian should ever be heard claiming a promise of God.
Most Christians can say they have the authority of Christ because they are speaking for themselves. They are entitled to be wrong. I cannot say it because I am speaking for the Son of God who called me and ordained me, and I am not allowed to lean on my own understanding.
Most ministers and Christians in non-denominational churches sometimes have no allegiance to anyone, organizations or persons, and therefore are able to say whatever they think, right or wrong. My allegiance is to Jesus who separated me from my mother’s womb when He stood in the delivery room the day I was born. I cannot say what I think, I can only say what Jesus tells me to say.
Again, most Christians can say and do things they feel like doing; they are free. I can only say and do what I hear from heaven; I am bound. This makes them appear open-minded and it makes me appear closed-minded. But the truth is, though they appear to be open-minded, they are actually closed-minded in the heavenly places; and though I appear to be closed-minded, I am actually open-minded in the heavenly places.
Because we live and breathe and walk in this world, most Christians appear to be normal and open to all things, and I appear to be bull-headed and stubborn.
I am very much aware that if I wanted to please men, I could appear to be normal and open-minded. However, Jesus approached me personally in the presence of Peter, James, John and Paul and appointed me to be His apostle by reaching His hand out to me and saying, “You are the apostle of the restoration.” If being an outcast for my entire life is His path for me, so be it.
“For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor,” 1 Corinthians 4:9, 10.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
jondavidbanks.com 