The ministry or anointing of singleness????

Warning this post may offend and even anger some of you readers. Proceed only if you want to know and hear real truth. After all this is called Real Talk and believe me this post is real talk and will challenge some of you on what you’ve been thinking or have hear for years but will challenge you through the word. Again read on at your own discretion.

There is a teaching (I’ll call it a philosophy) I’m hearing more and more each year and that is the ministry or anointing and gift of singleness. The foundation for this teaching comes from I Corinthians 7:7-8: 7) For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.  8) I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.

People have begun teaching that God has created some simply to be single based off of these words by the Apostle Paul. One of the things my mother taught me that I have held on to is that everything in the bible is true but everything is not true (I know some of you if you haven’t left are in your spirits condemning what I said already, read on and get understanding). What that essentially means is that everything that is recorded in the bible happened but it doesn’t make it a true statement. Here’s an example in the book of Job these famous words are uttered “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.” This is a statement that goes through out Christiandom but is a very untrue statement especially in the case of Job. The Lord did give to Job all that he had but did not take away anything he had. Satan was allowed (not even assigned) to attack Job and all of his possessions. So it is true that Job did make that statement. The statement itself is not true.

That premise in mind let’s go back to the topic of the ministry, gift, and anointing of singleness. In the verses you see that Paul himself is stating this as an opinion, his belief.  As a matter of fact he (Paul) in verse 6 states that this he is stating as a matter of permission (meaning God is allowing him to make the statement) but it is not a commandment (a rule sent down by God). That opinion is that it is better to be single than be married when looking to do work for the Lord because their only concern is the things of God but when you are married your concerns are divided between God and your spouse. Paul’s reasoning is sound because as a married man, my job is to make sure that my family is taking care of and there are just somethings I can not do because I am obligated to my family that I could do if I was not married. I can’t and shouldn’t be out till 2 am on the streets trying to witness. I should be at home spending time with the gift that God has given me.

Where the teaching that people teach becomes unsound and foul doctrine is when they say comes from God that Paul again says is his opinion that some are given the gift (or anointing/ministry) of singleness. This is an unsound and dangerous teaching. From my experience this doctrinal teaching usually comes from a woman who can’t get a man because she refuses to let go of her past hurts and deal with herself as well to be in position (read 2^nd post for what it means to be in position) to get the man God has for her. Sometimes it comes from a woman who has a man but is unhappy in her marriage because she didn’t wait on God nor walk through the Ester like process of preparation to obtain the promise of God. Or it may even come from an older man usually who is married and has forgotten what it was like to be single and hear God concerning getting a mate so rather than teach right they all will teach that some are just meant and created to be single. This is a teaching that is anti-Godly. In other words it is not in God’s eternal plan so it shouldn’t be taught. Prove your point Jesse! I’m glad you asked me to.

In the book of Genesis, after God created Adam we find that Adam had been given instruction to care for and dress the land that God had placed him on.  Adam was commanded to give names to all the animals that God created but while Adam was naming them he saw that each had a partner, everyone accept him. The bible declares in Chapter 2 verse 18 that God spoke and said it is not good that man (man not Adam, which means all of mankind, meaning Adam and all that were to come after Adam) should be alone. So out of the rib of Adam God created woman as a help meet for him to be with him to share with him. Now my question is that why if God said in Genesis that it is NOT good that man should be alone, why would he then create people to be alone. Now before some of yall get all super deep on me and say God isn’t talking about marriage he’s talking about being by himself. If God was talking about it’s not good that man should be by himself he wouldn’t have taken the rib from Adam and purposely imperfecting a perfect work to create woman. See man is only complete and perfect when he has his rib because then the 2 are 1. Because it takes man (the body) and woman (the rib) to make a perfect body. God took a piece of Adam from Adam so that he wouldn’t feel right without woman. Adam was created in the image of God, woman was created out of man.  Woman should long for her home (inside man as his rib, his support, his help meet) like man is supposed to long for his home (in God).  We are created to be inter-dependent beings. Dependent on one another as outlined by the analogy of us being all members in the same body and the eye not being able to say it doesn’t need the foot (Romans chapter 12) or as outlined in a marital situation with Adam and woman (Genesis chapter 2). There is no one who can operate effectively by oneself. Even Paul had help, now he wasn’t married and did a great work but I promise you (and every happily married real man will and can tell you) a much greater work can be done when you have God’s gift in a spouse standing by your side.

The problem is we are lazy teachers and Christians. We don’t want to do what it takes to get all that God has for us. We are too lazy to stop pointing fingers at everyone else and start looking at ourselves. Ladies the reason you can’t get a man is because you, yes you. You are the problem, you aren’t prepared, you aren’t seeking God properly and with right motive, you are dealing with your issues and allowing God to deliver you from past soul ties and hurts.  The moment you get honest and have a real talk with yourself, the moment you work on the things that you don’t want to touch will be the time that you can begin to see God preparing you for your husband. Men, oh men, you tired trifflin men. The moment you begin to deal with your past issues and get the crap out of your head about this perfect woman you want with all her freaky tendencies and have real talk with yourself that you aren’t perfect and being to work on being a man instead of a man trying to capture an imaginary youth that never was. The moment you begin to seek God and ask Him how to be a man and what the weight and responsibility is of a man is the moment God can release His gift of woman to you. But until you women and you men truly do that and truly seek God about your issues (not the issues you think others have because everything is their fault and nothing yours) you will never have the gift that God has in a spouse for you and you will be alone and bitter. Because the truth is that most people who teach and receive this garbage of a doctrine have a root of bitterness in them and rather than uprooting it and destroying it they to justify it by teaching something the God never intended. The time for false foul doctrine is over. If you are single, it is not the way God created you but rather it is a status that God is trying to use to prepare you. He wants to show you how much He loves you and one of the ways he does that is by placing you with someone that will show you (not just sexually) what true love is. Prepare yourself and allow God to take you through the process that will take you from single to married in order to help prepare you to receive in full the love that God has for you. Is it easy, NO! But it’s not easy because it goes against the grain of the Prince of the Power of the Air (Satan). He has taken what God intended and twisted it and perverted it such that it is unrecognizable in the sight of God and the biggest indictment is that we receive this evil mess as if it was holy. How can one in a Godly way be fruitful and multiply if God intended you to be single? Why would He say it isn’t good that man be alone if He created some to be single? Take off this unholy garment and put on the garment of righteousness. Know the truth, that God has a plan for you and it does include a spouse all you have to do is truly receive it and prepare yourself to receive it. Know the truth and allow it to set you free. That my brothers and sisters in Christ is “Real Talk” grow in God’s grace and abide in His love. I know that you probably will have comments and questions (mostly angry comments I imagine) please feel free to send them to me at jesse.jones@highpraiseministries.com. I look forward to hearing your responses.

Are you in love or are you in lust

The word love is a word that is way too easily tossed around and in most cases is used in correctly. People say things like I love pizza, or I love that car, or I love puppies but don’t really truly mean love as to what the word love actually denotes. Thereby we have watered down love and mistaken our lust for things to be love. If you look up both words in almost any dictionary you will find that they both in its barest form are described as an intense emotional feeling or attachment. I would say to you that the difference between these 2 feelings goes to not what you feel but what that feeling will cause you to do.

See lust desires to be fulfilled and be fulfilled to satisfaction. Its primary worry is what someone or something can do for me. How does this make me feel? The moment that the object of one’s lust stops fulfilling its desire to satisfaction is the moment that the desire to lust after it stops.

Love on the other had desires to fulfill and cause that fulfillment to be satisfying. Love doesn’t ask, what can the object of my love do for me? Love asks, what can I do for the object of my love? Love doesn’t ask, how does this make me feel? Love asks, how can I make the object of my love feel good (not just sexually but totally)? Love’s complete focus goes against natural instinct. Natural instinct is the law of self preservation but love’s instinct is self sacrifice.

One of my most hated questions in a relationship is why do you love me. I hate that question because if a person says I love you because you make me smile. Does that mean the moment I stop making you smile is the moment in which your love for me ceases? If it does you don’t love me you lust me. Remember lust craves to be fulfilled and worries about how you make me feel (i.e I love you because you make me laugh). But love craves to fulfill and desires to make you feel good. Love is self sacrifice, the object of your love (if it’s true love) you’ll die for. Are you willing to die for pizza or a car or a puppy. I’m not! So I don’t love those things, but I love my wife and daughter. I’d die for them and if push came to shove I’m not so saved I wouldn’t kill over them because when you try to hurt the object of my love I’ll sacrifice everything I got including my freedom to protect them.

So as I close I want you to ask yourself. Do you love your spouse, your mate or do you lust them? More importantly do you love God or do you lust God? Are you only loving God because of what He can do for you or do you love Him because of who He is? If your love is truly because of who He is, I challenge you to test it (because true love is always tested). I challenge you to keep His commandments. Feed the poor. Clothe the naked. The next time a homeless (or seemingly homeless) person asks you for some money to eat, give it to them and don’t worry about where it’s going and what they are doing with it. That’s not your concern. That is between them and God your job is to love them enough to do your part. If you don’t want to give them your money take them to get something to eat. Don’t give them a $1 bill, dig and bless them with $20. (OMG this guy is crazy!) No, I’m not crazy I just love God enough to want to see His heart glad. What makes his heart glad is seeing His people look out for others. The Bible teaches us that by our love we shall be known to be His disciples. Are you a disciple who loves God or are you a perp who lusts God. It’s time to get away from lust and move toward love!

For questions or comments please feel free to email me at jesse.jones@highpraiseministries.com. Grow in God’s grace and abide in His Love.

Are You In Position?

Are You In Position?

Luke 19 tells a story of a man named Zacchaeus (let’s call him Zak for short) who was a very short yet very rich tax collector. He heard Jesus was coming through his city and he wanted to see him but because he was so short there was no real way he could do so because of the gathering crowd (think like it’s back when you were 7 years old and were trying to see the town parade pass through but you were in the back of all the adults, you got to hear the noise but couldn’t see what was going on). So the Bible goes on to say in verse 4-8 (which is where I want to concentrate today’s entry on) that Zak ran ahead of the crowd found a tree and got up in it and waited for Jesus to pass. In verse 5 the most telling statement takes places. It reads “And when Jesus came to the place…”

                “The Place” the bible is referring to is a place of destiny and purpose. It was in that place that you see as you read through the rest of the chapter that Zak was blessed by Jesus (especially if you understand all that goes into him saying “this day salvation has come to this house” which may be a whole other entry). The thing is he would have missed that blessing if he wasn’t in the right place at the right time waiting with expectation. You see I’ve heard so many people say 2012 is their year that it makes me sick. The reason it makes me sick is because some of these are the same people who said 2011 was their year, and 2010, and 2009, and 2008, and on and on and on. They say it’s their year but never realize the “their year” part.  The question is why?

                Here’s the answer and I’ll try to be as short as possible. The answer is because they are not in position.  Look closely at what Zak did in verse 4. He knew blessing in the person of Jesus was coming so he made sure to get himself in a position to receive it. What’s interesting is the bible doesn’t show how far ahead Zak ran, it doesn’t say how long he waited in that tree, it just simply says he got up in the tree. So that when Jesus came to “the place” Zak was already there ready and waiting. He had room for Jesus to stay at his home and even as you read verse 8 Zak tells of how he prepared himself to receive what Jesus had for him even amongst his haters (verse 7) hating on him and Jesus. He let no obstacle nor anyone’s words stop him from getting the blessing. But just as importantly is he was in position to receive it. Had he been in some other tree or somewhere else he would have missed his opportunity, had he not prepared himself (and his home) he would have been in the right place but unprepared. Let me give a quick practical example as I close. My wife and I could have completely missed each other had she gone through with preparing to move out of Columbus as she first wanted to. But Columbus was the designated city (our the place) for us to meet. Had she been back in Chicago or moved to Atlanta like she wanted or had I gone to Texas like I planned we would have never met and thereby missed the blessing God had for us. Not only did we have to be in this place we had to make ourselves open to receive the blessing. Both she and I had been through a lot in relationships which would have made it really difficult to receive each other cept we empty our past and allow God to work in, with, and through us. See it’s all about being in position. So no matter what it is you are looking for or to do this year. Make this year your year but be prepared and be in position that way this year you can receive the blessing that comes only at your “the place.” I hope this has been a help to someone out there. For any comments, questions, or anything feel free to email me at jesse.jones@highpraiseministries.com. Grow in God’s grace and abide in His Love!

Sincerely,

Jesse C. Jones

The Introduction

Greetings and Salutations and welcome to HPM's Real Talk.  This is blog inspired honestly out of a conversation that I had with a co-worker. He suggested that due to my very intellectually opinionated personality (which basically means I don’t shutup about most things) I should start a blog. I was very much so against it at first because the idea of doing a glorified public journal was quite frankly not something I could ever see myself doing. Usually when I express myself it is warranted by conversation and opportunity. Here I would have to just simply (in my opinion) insert myself into the lives of whomever chooses to follow this blog (and by the way thank you for doing so), putting out there for all the thoughts and feelings I hold close to me. I don’t care about the being vulnerable to criticism, I’m a black male who sported a Kat Williams like relaxed hair (down to my shoulders often worn in a ponytail ) from 6^th grade till I was 28 years old. I’m definitely no stranger to criticism but I’m not a fan of imposing myself on people. I believe in letting people be themselves even if them doing so goes against what I believe.

So why did I decided to this blog? I decided because one I was told that there would be enough of a following to do so (that remains to be seen and seen in consistency).  Really there’s no other reason. I took a poll on facebook and asked all that were in my friends list would they follow it if I started it and enough people said yes.  Bottom line is I wasn’t going to pour my heart out and put myself out there on a weekly basis for no one to read it,, be touched by it, and hopefully their life be changed or effected in some way by it. So I created it, the question now is what will it be about?

This blog is going to basically be a weekly blog (not necessarily the same day every week but all new posts will be up Saturday’s end) whose contents won’t just be devotional in nature but I will have God lead inserts that deal with the state of the Kingdom of God that we continually and almost exclusively refer to as the body of Christ. This will be a blog that will look to encourage, correct, edify, instruct, and challenge your faith, ministry, and life to no longer be content with the mundane and ordinary that we as believers have become accustomed to but be elevated and pushed to full fill the purpose that God has called you to. So with that this blog’s essence is all about purpose fulfillment. Everything posted will primarily be to get you closer to your purpose in God and to fulfilling the purpose of God by growing in His love which will cause you to truly love like Him.  It was suggested to me that to keep this blog comment free, thereby preserving the purity of the blog and allowing all purposeful negative and outlandish comments from contaminating the blog. I have taken that under advisement and have decided to do just that with this blog. However, at the end of every blog will be my email address, that you will be allowed to comment freely and uncensored to concerning my posts. I will read all emails personally and may even turn some of the emails in to the topics of subsequent posts without exposing your identity. I also like to advise that you as my followers check back with my blog at least every other day as I may open it up over time to an ask me post. Where periodically I will via email take questions concerning either things I have previously posted or just questions you may have in general and post a few of those with responses in an upcoming blog.

I hope that you all will enjoy this blog and that it will bless and enrich your life. Thank you so very much for your support it is greatly appreciated and will not go un-noticed.  Grow in God’s peace and abide in His love.

Sincerely Jesse C. Jones