‘Now I beseech you, brethren, by he name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but hat ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.’ (1 Cor. 1:10)

I heard the Lord say to me in a dream once: ‘Be proactive.’ Honestly, the directove seemed to cause me some consternation at the time. I believed it was the Lord, but my comprehension of what that meant was all but completely absent. Wasn’t I being proactive? Wasn’t I seeking the Lord, and trying to do His will in my life? Wasn’t I trying to take every opportunity to witness for the Lord, and CREATE opportunity where I didn’t readily see it?

What did He mean?

Have you noticed that our culture is operating completely in REACTIONARY status right now? There are things taking place which seem to be completely out of our control, and people are doing everything they can in order to REspond. And as the events/ situations/ circumstances are out of control, we are seeing REsponses of every kind: anger, violence, aquiesense, hiding, factioning, etc. All of these things and more are heppening in RESPONSE.

I went to a church today which I haven’t been to before; it was a good experince, it seems to be a very good church, the topic of the message was about overcoming; being victorious despite circumstances. It was generally quite good, however, about 3/4 of the way through the focus seemed to shift… it stayed on being victorious, however while the minister surely [or, at least probably] didn’t intend to, the message became politically patriotic. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with the appropriate ammount of patriotism, but it largely revealed to me how REACTIONARY the church has become.

I’ll explain what I mean, but first let’s consider a corrective, Gospel thought:

1 John 5:4 & 5 ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is that victory that overcometh the world, EVEN OUR FAITH. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is he Son of God?’

Actually, his was a verse which was used (in part) in the message today. Its a good starting point… and a good ending point, too.

The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. In fact, there is no other. Our political intervention, or acts of social justice do not overcome the world, our faith does. Our patriotism, and indignation at wicked devices taking place does not overcome the world, our faith does.

James 1:20 ‘For the wrath [or ‘anger’ ] of man worketh not he righteousness of God.’

If we are not thoroughly grounded in his understanding BEFORE advocating some sort of action, we will find ourselves developing reactionary factions. Unjust things are happening, should we stand against injustice? Absolutely, there should be a response to wrong action, and wrong behavior, to wickednes and injustice, but our actions mjst not be out of an emotional response, for the wrath of man (his response of frustration, anger or indignation) does not work God’s righteousness, and never will.

‘From whence come wars and fightings among you? come theh not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust and have not: ye kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not because you ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye might consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adultresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of he world is the enemy of God.’ (James 4:1-4)

The momment our reaction drives us to political fervor we have become friends of the world. Which kingdom should we be patriots of? God’s kingdom, or an earthly one run by men? Again, bear in mind, I am not advocating that Christians should abdicate from their political, social, or civic responsibilities, or actions; but our drive to make a difference needs to first be on the spiritual level so that we are not caught up in the emotional fervor of the world’s systems.

In his autobiography evangelist Lester Sumrall spoke of preaching a tour in Germany prior to the second world war. as he and the minister he was travelling with were leaving Germany, a native pastor desired that they give all of the offerings they had collected back to Germany to support the political structure. While Sumrall did not know he final note of that particular pastor’s life, he did make mention in the book that many, many Christian ministers such as he one who took their money for the patriotic cause – no doubt with great intentions – were not only misled into supporting an evil institution on the basis of patriotism, but were also subsequently arrested by the Gestappo, and slaughtered. Because of their patriotism to an earthly nation, and their desire to support it, they were not being led by the Spirit of God, but by he spirit of the world.

‘And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.‘ (1 John 5:19)

Do I think that political conspiracy is taking place? Absolutely, it would be [i.m.h.o.] foolish in the current sphere of all things happening to assume that chaos is not either being manufactured, or at the least being exploited by conspiratorial elements (I recently wrote this book, I believe, at the directive of the Lord, and even for the days we are in and the days ahead: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088BCJ7C7/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=discerning+the+antichrist&qid=1588955346&sr=8-2).

In fact, I’ll go a step further and say: the one who is really behind the conspiracy is the Great red Dragon of Revelation 12. Satan is the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the children of disobedience (Eph. 2:2). He’s been cast down to earth and he knows his time is short, likewise there are surely people working with him both intentionally, and unententionally in order to cause strife, dissention, and ultimately the rearing of the full reign of the antichrist kingdom.

Yet here’s another aspect that we seem to lose sight of as a church: if our response is in keeping with the world system; if it is to faction with the group we like best; if it is to become more patriotic of an earthly kingdom and system, then we are simply playing into he devil’s hands. The victory that overcomes he world is our faith. And who is he that can overcomes the world but them hat believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom. 14:17). Do you want to be effective in positively affecting the world around you? Do you want to overcome?

The ability to do so is not to be found in reactionary responses to civil and political strife. Your best (and only real) hope of doing so is in keeping in step with the Spirit of God, not with the elements of the world which represent he god of this age [Satan].

I now understand what the Lord meant by: ‘Be proactive.’

‘Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bring forth fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are he branches: he that abideh in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:4 & 5)

Proactive is seeking first his kingdom and His righteousness, wherein we shall find all things we need added unto us as well; proactive is not being REactive to the world system, wherein we will find ourselves operating at the level of the soul, being controlled by emotional and intellectual responses rather than by the Spirit of the living God. The Church needs to stop listening to the world’s gospel, the narrative twisted by servents of the devil, needs to stop being seeking to be entertained ceaselessly like the pagans do, needs to turn from the world’s system – which things make us enemies of God – and needs to seek first God’s kingdom, and righteousness. in doing so we shall we equipped to decipher God’s will, and do it.

Reactionary is the way we become when we are living for worldly pursuits rather than seeking God’s kingdom first.

‘I beseech ye therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, accwptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ (Rom 12:1 & 2)