(Frank Talk)
– Pastor Bimbo Animashaun
Dear minister, never find yourself making light of the things of the Spirit. Never make jest of spiritual operations and manifestations FOR ANY REASON.
Consistency is required for daily results in engaging with the things of the Spirit.
That you flowed in the Spirit yesterday is not enough guarantee that you can’t move in the flesh today.
It’s the easiest thing to happen to a minister, especially if you don’t continually protect your heart and guard your motives.
The fact that you don’t understand an operation of the Spirit AT THE MOMENT does not mean that you should attack or criticize it.
As I continually learn different lessons in ministry from Scriptures, from the Holy Spirit, from networks of relationships, and from ministry exposure and experience, I write these words with a holy awe, fear and reverence for the Lord.
I feel the HOLY FEAR that the Apostle Paul of old felt when he wrote a letter to the Corinthian Christians:
1 CORINTHIANS 2:3
And I was with you in weakness, and in FEAR, and in much TREMBLING.
It has never become more real to me that ministry is an extremely delicate and “volatile” region than it is now.
We as God’s ministers need to be very careful. We need to be cautious. We need to be extra vigilant.
Our current form must remain intact always by the help of the Holy Spirit and we need to check our hearts and motives regularly.
I cannot sincerely understand how a minister who once flowed in the gifts and operations of the Spirit would suddenly become a critic of spiritual operations and manifestations just to carve out a niche for himself.
These are difficult times beloved. These are troubled times beloved, and you must know for sure that the words of the Holy Scripture are accurate.
The Apostle Paul rebuked and reprimanded the Galatian believers for attempting to PERFECT IN THE FLESH WHAT THEY STARTED OUT IN THE SPIRIT:
GALATIANS 3:1-3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH?
This is a landmark scripture that lays every argument in this direction to rest.
It unveils the possibility of yielding to the flesh even after one has tasted of the Holy Ghost.
Peter once spoke by the Spirit in Matthew 16:16-17, unveiling the Sonship of Christ, but then, a short while after that he yielded to Satan in verse 22 and Jesus had to take authority over that influence in verse 23.
It’s not a matter of being an Apostle, a Prophet, an Evangelist, a Pastor or a Teacher; anyone can yield to the devil if he allows him.
Little wonder we are told to:
EPHESIANS 4:27
Neither give place to the devil.
That’s very strong!!! I once watched two videos of a minister preaching in the 90s and in the two videos, he flowed in the gift of the word of knowledge from beginning to the “end”.
That was his characteristic style in those days from other accounts.
But today, the same person sponsors a teaching that relegates spiritual impartations, the double portion anointing, the laying on of hands and what have you.
I could not hold back tears from my heart watching those past videos and started interceding for the man of God. What has changed?
Dear friend, we must continually bear in mind that the operations and manifestations of the Holy Spirit are CONSTANT, but we are VARIABLES.
The operations and manifestations of the Spirit don’t change but we who are privileged to be conduits for the administration of these spiritual virtues are VARIABLES.
When you start making light of the things of the Spirit, you cut yourself off them.
Some things are too sacred to talk about. God is not against you cracking jokes but please, don’t crack jokes around the things of the Spirit.
There’s nothing like “Apostle Lucifer” dear friend. That’s a blasphemy!!!
Remember that our Lord Jesus, our High Priest and the Head of the Church, is standing in the holy office of an Apostle.
HEBREWS 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
It’s an expensive joke to tag Lucifer along a sacred office. It is very costly to demean the operations of the Spirit.
Whatever you don’t understand, seek further clarification from Scriptures and from “seasoned ministers” instead of being in haste to attack or criticize.
And don’t ever play “diplomacy” with the things of the Spirit. If you’re in, be in. If you’re out, be out – there’s no middle ground!
In a bid to overemphasize a portion of Scriptural truth, some people muddle the waters all together.
Why will you tell me that there’s nothing like impartations or the “mantle” of a minister falling on another person?
Even in the New Testament, we have PATTERNS along this line.
Paul told the Roman believers that he longed to see them so as to IMPART them with some spiritual gifts to the end that they might be established – Rm.1:11.
He told the Philippians that they all were PARTAKERS of his grace – Phil.1:7.
He made it abundantly clear that he laid hands on Timothy for SPIRITUAL TRANSFER – 2 Tim.1:6.
Not to talk of the Old Testament – Moses laid hands on Joshua for impartation – Deut. 34:9; Elijah received the double portion of Elijah’s spirit – 2 Kgs 2:9,15.
John the Baptist, after many centuries that Elijah had been taken up, walked in the spirit and power of Elijah – Lk.1:17.
I believe in THE OPERATIONS OF THE SPIRIT, and no man can talk me out of it.
Whatever good thing you criticize diminishes in your life. And whatever good thing you celebrate appreciates in your life.
Friend, the more you PROMOTE and CELEBRATE the operations of the Spirit, the more they MULTIPLY in your life.
God doesn’t want you to start IN THE SPIRIT and “end up IN THE FLESH”.
Therefore check your heart continually and let your thoughts and motives align with the plan and purpose of God.
Remember, the OPERATIONS of the Spirit are CONSTANT while WE are VARIABLES.
Let God be true and every man a liar – Rm.3:4!
I hope this meets us well Sirs and Mas!!
Happy Sunday!!!
Grace Abounds!!
Source: Bimbo Animashaun Teaching Ministries |Published with permission.
Aphorism CITY 