Use It or Lose It: The Watch Letter

For about 10 years of my life, I studied Spanish. When I graduated from college, I had a minor in Spanish.

I used to work at a grocery store many years ago and most of the employees were Spanish speakers. I was able to understand and participate in conversations, as well as write and translate. But after college, I stopped using what I learned and my instructors always told me that if I stopped speaking Spanish and having conversations in Spanish consistently, I will not remember what I practiced and learned after a while. Fast forward to today. I can understand some parts of conversations in Spanish and written pieces but I have pretty much lost my skill in it. When this came to mind, it made me think of all the things and people God has made available to us to help us stay holy, stay faithful, and stay focused on serving Him, however many of us disregard the things and people of God and after a while we find ourselves lost.

We have an advocate and intercessor in Jesus, but how often do we call on Him sincerely? We have a Father God who we can pray to 24/7 but how often do we do it? We have recorded and written messages breaking down the Word of God but how often do go over them? We hear a Rhema (right now) and living Word from God every week, multiple times, but how often do we take the teaching beyond the few hours we are in service? We have a pastor who is a prophet, a wise counselor, and an anointed apostle with fruit overflowing of his commitment to God, but how often do we take him for granted? We have saints in the body who God has specifically noted as people that he trusts to help others but how often do we use that help? We have a Bible that has an answer for everything we could ever wonder about, but how often do we study it? We have the Holy Ghost to fill us, empower us, convict us, strengthen us and comfort us but how often do we allow it to work in our lives not just when it is time to shout? We even have a choir and praise team to help us worship God more deeply, how often do we participate?

Proverbs 1:24-33

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

In other words, God is saying to us seek me while I may be found. There will come a time, sooner than we think, when we won't be able to buy a Bible or even let people know we have one. There will be a time in this world when praying will be against the law. There will be a time when God will have to turn away from those who have turned away from him. There will be a time when God will reassign his men and women to go where they will be received. What if that time is happening now? Use what God has given you access to or lose it.

Isaiah 55:6-7

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

In Matthew 10:14, a commandment was issued to the disciples and apostles of God: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

God is on a mission to save as many souls as possible, time is critical and although he is loving, patient, merciful, and gracious, God will not waste his resources on someone who does not want him or want to hear from the people he appointed. Because somewhere there is a child, a mother, father, etc., who is desperate for God and who will not take the resources he provides for granted but instead receive them with gratitude.

Now, don't get me wrong. The Lord's promise in His word to never leave us or forsake us is true. If we repent he will return to us, but if we refuse to change and continue to count what God has made available to us as nothing, God has other sheep to tend to and must focus his attention and his people there.

For the last several days, our Pastor Chief Apostle Gunn has been sharing that the Lord is emphasizing seeking him first (with urgency). The next part that we hear so often quoted is not as nonchalant as the world and people have made it. He says that if we seek him first, he will add all things unto us. Chief Apostle Gunn broke down that this is a conditional requirement from God. He is asking us to do our part. If we seek him first .... then he will add what we need spiritually, mentally, physically, relationship/family-wise, financially, etc. But God is not blind, deaf or dumb. He knows when we are seeking after the "add" part and not the "Him" part. God has to be able to trust us with what he wants to add to our lives. If you knew someone was courting you in a relationship just for your social status, car, income, or some other reason and not because they truly loved you, wanted to be around you, and wanted to take care of you, would you trust them with your heart and with your resources?

Seek means:

• to go in search of

• to ask for

• to aim at

• to chase

• to pursue

• to inquire

• to put forth an effort

Something Chief Apostle Gunn said during a recent service is really standing out to me. He said COME ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Often we start out seeking God just enough to get some help, some blessing, some courage, some healing, some strength. But then we backslide or we become complacent, especially when we think we have gotten what we want or can now make it on our own.

Basically, we stop seeking when we get comfortable or when what God is requiring of us gets uncomfortable. So, we never really make it all the way through. We never really experience all that God can and wants to add to our lives because we stop seeking him. God is a treasure. You would never stop searching for gold if you knew it was nearby. You would keep digging, keep shoveling, keep looking. You would get on your knees and use your hands to move the dirt or grass and go as deep as you need to until you found the treasure.

So, why can't we get dirty for God? Why can't we stay on our knees for God? Why can't we use our hands and tools for God? Why can't we go after God the way we would to find gold, especially because all true riches that matter belong to him and his heavenly reward is with him. God is the creator of the universe, so no earthly treasure we could seek after will ever satisfy us, fulfill us or provide for us more than the treasure that is from, with, and in God.

God is not impressing on Chief Apostle Gunn the importance of seeking him first for no reason. One thing about God he is just and he always warns people before a shift, change or judgment is about to happen. He warns the rebellious and the righteous just the same.

What if God is saying this very hour: Seek me know, because you may not be able to reach me soon? What if he is saying listen to your pastor now because you may not be able to hear him soon? What if he is saying fellowship and work with the people of God now because you may not be able to see them soon? What if he is saying pray, read, meditate, sing, fast now because you may not be able to do that soon?

I wonder how a person who loses their ability to speak or see feels when they can no longer pray out loud, sing out loud, praise out loud, or read out loud. What about the person who loses their hearing and can no longer hear the preached word. It must be devastating. But we still have the ability to do these things and must no longer take it lightly. And the thing about it is often those who do have some form of disability or lack of access that may keep them from doing the things we can do freely every day are usually the most grateful and the most willing to find any means necessary to participate. And they will be the ones who get what God is trying to share because they let nothing limit them in seeking.

God has given us the key to open the door to life with him and access his true treasure. Will you use it or lose it?

I want to take time out to say Happy Anniversary to Chief Apostle Gunn and his wife, Apostle Felicia Gunn. They have truly shown us through their marriage that seeking God is the foundation of everything. Nothing works without him.

Listen to today's FORREAL Radio Broadcast message, "What Did You Hear" at this link: https://www.thebodyofchristinc.com/listen-in?wix-music-track-id=9545147260710500&wix-music-comp-id=comp-kjfzbgmx