It's been a while since I wrote a blog. I try not to write one until I am deeply stirred by the Spirit of God concerning a certain subject. In this blog I want to write about "greed" and lack of "self control" in the Body of Christ. We all struggle with seasons where our passions have the best of us. We basically do what we want. We are not under submission to our Heavenly Father. One of the two pre-requisites of resisting Satan is self control and alertness (being aware of your physical and spiritual surroundings). Peter wrote in

• 1 Peter 5:8-9
  8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith,  (from New International Version)
  

The Puritans put a great emphasis on temperance. The need for Christian communities to be disciplined in the spiritual practices. I find this is the major cause as to why in our unfilled existence we allow greed and our passions to bully us into destructive choices. We never deal with the root issue of  "Body & Mind Control". Satan's victims are always easy. They are people who already have no defense system. They are people who are easily manipulated into deception and demobilization in their intentions to worship and work for God. The starting point in the downward spiral is "self". It is not some magic prayer or anointed worship service. It is their own lack of self control and ability to discern the spiritual climate around them. As pastors we can be asleep as to what is happening to us personally and the congregation around us. As parents we can lose touch with the oversight of our children's souls. Life has a way of draining out what is important. Jesus warned in

• Matthew 13:22
  
  2 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.(from New International Version)
  

Prophets are people called to encourage and correct the Body of Christ. They never speak as people above the community, but in the community. Their hearts hurt deeply for the self destructive choices of God's people. Jeremiah is a perfect example as he wrote so deeply in

• Jeremiah 4:19-2119
• Oh, my anguish, my anguish!
  I writhe in pain.
  Oh, the agony of my heart!
  My heart pounds within me,
  I cannot keep silent.
  For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;
  I have heard the battle cry.
  20 Disaster follows disaster;
  the whole land lies in ruins.
  In an instant my tents are destroyed,
  my shelter in a moment.
  21 How long must I see the battle standard
  and hear the sound of the trumpet?
  (from New International Version)

All choices have consequences. Freedom without self-control and accountability leads to destruction of self and others influenced by your position in life. Perfect example of this in our nation is the financial industry.In the CNN article Larry King's interview with Michael Moore is provocative in this respect:

Freedom without self control is destructive. The theology of retribution is the only hope for victims who can't seem to get tangible justice on earth. When children suffer due to evil parents, or a country suffers due to evil leaders God takes note. He will cast Satan into hell for his tempting (Rev 20:10), but He will also judge humans for being made victims to His dominion over their lives (Rev 20:15). When people are controlled by the "dark prince of the air" this means devastation for others. Woe to those who stay in the enemies house and fall victim to his use of their lives (Luke 17:1-3). Read the warning from Habakkuk, God will deal with evil Wall Street agents who misinvested peoples funds, political leaders driven by the greed for power, or parents who selfishly raise their kids with no spiritual or emotional nurturing. The days are evil, the God of justice waits patiently as the cup of His fury gets filled with Holy indignation. Woe to the people who stand under His cup:

• Habukuk 2:6-14
  'Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?' 7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their victim. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed man's blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
  9 "Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin! 10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. 11 The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
  12 "Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime! 13 Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
  (from New International Version)
  

Greed is a result of lack of self control and alertness and awareness to the true nature of reality. Satan capitalizes on our carnal passions in order to speed up our demise and the destructive force it represents to others. Will you recognize that no church, financial system (capitalism, socialism, etc) or human plan will ever deal with the core issues that plaque your heart today. The only remedy is submission to God by the presence of the Holy Spirit living in you. Humility and dependency on a Father who loves you and instructs you in the way you should live on daily basis. Christianity is living with Jesus one day at a time!

• James 4:6-10
  God opposes the proud
  but gives grace to the humble." 
  
  7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
  

Written by :

Jack Hakimian