Looking to the lord? (Edited with ChatGPT)

  

The main problem for many servants of God — and the primary reason they fall from His grace — is that they take their eyes off Him. Instead of continuing to look to the Lord, they begin to focus on themselves and their earthly ways, standing on the grace of God that once performed miracles and brought salvation through them. They stop striving to live by the standard of the Almighty and start redefining things by their own standards.

 

Consider King David and his grievous sin — taking the wife of his humble soldier by arranging the man’s death. If David’s mind had been occupied with the Word of God, meditating on it as he walked through his palace, would he have even conceived such an act? Before committing this sin, David’s gaze must have shifted inward, measuring himself as righteous in his own eyes rather than in God's. That internal self-focus gave birth to sin.

 

Imagine your mind being fully engaged in trying to imitate the Lord — even with all your weaknesses and shortcomings. In such a mind-set, what attracts you is not sin or the pleasures of the world, but the ways of the Lord. Even when you fall short of God's standard, you will not search for excuses in Scripture to justify your sin, because you are pursuing a goal beyond justification — you are pursuing transformation. Sin will disturb your soul, rebellion will rob your peace, and every failure will draw you back to your feet. You may fall seven times, but you will rise each time with greater resolve — because your eyes are on the Lord.

 

Let us examine what has happened to many prominent Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders who started with glory, like King Saul, but ended in defeat — replaced by evil spirits instead of the Holy Spirit, becoming laughingstocks of the world.

 

In the beginning, they showed genuine faith and dedication to God’s mission. In response, God entrusted them with knowledge and power through the grace of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of God brought them fame, status, and followers. But in the mirror, they no longer saw servants — they saw “God’s generals.” And so, they marched God’s army into spiritual battles they neither understood nor could manage.

 

God’s gifts should have drawn them closer to Him in faith and character. Their faith deepened, and they prayed often. I have noticed many of them emphasize prayer, believing that is what sets them apart. But prayer without transformation is powerless. Their behavior does not align with righteousness.

 

The power of God is meant to humble us, reminding us that we are nothing without Him. But instead, it often leads to self-promotion. They claim the title of “general,” waging wars, forming alliances, and demanding honor and respect. Their conduct often becomes shameful — even by human standards — let alone the standards of a servant of God. The power does not humble them because they have seen God; it glorifies them because they have not truly known God.

 

God does not approve us — He approves Jesus, the visible image of His glory. When we receive power, it is not personal approval — it is approval of Jesus. We are simply entrusted with it to serve, and that should humble us, not inflate us. To boast while on the verge of losing your honorable standing in God’s eyes is a grave danger.

 

The devil attacks both with curses and compliments. He insults us to destroy our spirit, and praises us to destroy our humility. People are people, and they must be handled with wisdom and love. But our eyes must remain fixed on Jesus, and our hearts should be obsessed with imitating Him — day and night.

 

Now that we are set on a high mountain to shine God’s light, we must remember: the light is not the miracles. The light is our life, and the Word of God. Our lives should reflect God’s standard, and our mouths should speak only His Word. The miracles only serve to confirm this purpose — to mark us as children of God, not simply good people.

 

In simple terms, our unconditional love — especially toward those who hate and insult us — should grow as the grace of God works through us. If God has made us a torch in His house, but the only light we emit is darkness, and His miracles end up glorifying that darkness, what should we expect God to do? He will take us down.

 

But since we are used to speaking to God during our moments of grace, we try to continue the conversation even after we have fallen. We speak nonsense. We blame others. We are constantly angry and bitter. We long for a God who will still approve of us. But instead, we receive the devil — who is always eager to affirm our foolishness. Visit the sites of so-called “holy springs” and listen to demon-possessed people rambling in the water. You will hear self-affirmation and condemnation of “haters.” This is where many of God’s workers end up — falling hard, with the devil rushing in to accelerate their downfall. When David became Saul, his gift transformed from the Holy Spirit to a tormenting spirit.

 

Now imagine Jesus. Throughout His life, He never focused on Himself but remained entirely devoted to doing the will of the Father. That is why — even when He hated what lay ahead — He obeyed, even to the point of death on the cross. If you want a lasting work with God, fix your eyes on Him. Your life is a journey from self to Christ — you must decrease as He increases in you. The glory belongs in heaven. Your glory is found in fading away so that Jesus may shine. So fade away — and glorify the Lord.

 

If one hundred blind people receive sight through your ministry, you now have one hundred more reasons to be humble — more than the person who was used by the Holy Spirit to open just one eye. But if you compete for glory, I am sorry, dear “general” — the devil will use you like a blind horse.

 

When people who knew you as a faithful, humble servant ten years ago now see God’s glory upon you — miracles, healing, revelation — they should not see a self-declared “general” soiling himself with earthly pride. They should see Jesus in you. Your life, remade in the image of Christ, should be the greatest miracle they ever witness. And ten years from now, they should see even more of Jesus and even less of you.

 

So what is our problem? We do not fade away — we glow in our darkness. That is why we never measure up to the standard of Jesus. God does not send His Spirit to rise up spiritual superheroes. He sends Him to glorify Jesus. That is why we must deny ourselves and allow God to cause us to fade, so that Christ may be formed in us. But instead, we chase after glory and bring shame to the name of the One who glorified us.

 

Soon, when the Holy Spirit comes in even greater power, this will be the one sin that will no longer be tolerated. This will be the forbidden fruit in the new Eden. Anyone who eats of it will be condemned. This is the forbidden tree — do not listen to the serpent.

 

Leave behind your political, economic, social, and personal agendas. Focus on the Kingdom of God. And the Kingdom of God is centered on glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. Fade away — and glorify the Lord.