by Pastor Kim DSouza | Aug 17, 2013 | Leadership
An independent spirit is one that seeks self glory, operates in conceit and often is in rebellion to the authority established by God (and hence against the Word of God). People with independent spirits are barriers to the works of the kingdom of God and can destroy marriages, churches, families and businesses. We need to constantly guard our hearts against it and ask the Holy Spirit to break the power of independent spirit within us, else it may drift us away from the purposes of God.
Here are five common signs of people with an independent spirit
1. They are never in complete obedience to the word of God and do only what they feel is right.
As a messenger of God, Samuel instructs king Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites and everything that belonged to them. (1 Samuel 15:3). However Saul spares the King of Amalekites and the best of the sheep, cattle, lambs etc and everything that was good. (1 Samuel 15:9). Saul was seeking the praise of his fellowmen than obeying God and allowed the independent spirit to take the better of him. Result? God rejects Saul as king.
2. They are led by fleshly motives
Gehazi, the servant of prophet Elisha ran after Namaan to ‘get something from him’ , clearly in contrast to the nature of Elisha (2 Kings5:21-23). A man who walked so closely with God’s anointed allowed the flesh to lead. Gehazi’s end would have been very different, had he not allowed the independent spirit to take over.
3. They wear a mask of spirituality
People with independent spirits often base themselves on their partial knowledge of scripture and sometimes make erroneous doctrines out of it. What they do or say may seem spiritual, but often it is not. Because it is not based on the solid foundation of the Word of God, when they are tested they crumble and fall.
4. They are in rebellion to the authority and will do a lot of things without telling them
Joab was one of Israel’s greatest warriors and the right hand of king David. However there were many occasions where he displayed signs of an independent spirit. When David decided to make a peace treaty with Abner, Joab was not very happy about it for his personal reasons and kills Abner. (2Samuel 3). Again when David commanded his men to be gentle in the battle with his revolting son Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5), Joab shows no mercy and kills Absalom (2 Samuel 18: 14-15).
5. A hardened heart gives ground for the independent spirit to thrive
A hardened heart is one that lacks spiritual perception( Mark 8:17) and is not able to see and hear the things of God (Mark 8:18). There may be various causes for this like continual living in sin, lack of word knowledge, bitterness, hurt etc. A hardened heart is the perfect breeding ground for an independent spirit. One way we can prevent our hearts from getting hardened is by always reminding ourselves of the works of God. Look at the psalms of David, he always found courage and strength when he reminded himself of the goodness of God.
Pray: Lord, break the independent spirit within me.
by Pastor Kim DSouza | Apr 5, 2013 | Healing & Freedom
Your love, oh Lord shines so bright
That no dark clouds,
could ever fade away the light
Even on my stormiest days,
Your love will never be washed away…
These are words of the title song of a recently released album ‘Washed Away’ and the powerful voice behind this is of Taylor Carpenter. Based out of San Diego, 19 year old Taylor suffers from a severe physical disorder called “Brittle Bones”, which means that the bones in her body are very fragile and prone to multiple fractures even with a slightest force.
Instead of choosing to live a pitiful life, the wheelchair bound Taylor decided to use her gifts to give glory to God. Her album features 10 songs along with a music video for the title track (see the video track at the end of this post). “Since Jesus is our one and only true source of love, strength, hope, and peace, these songs come from a pure and honest place in my heart that comes out when I sing,” says Taylor.
Courtesy: Taylor Carpenter
Why me, God?
It has not been an easy journey for Taylor. Born in a Christian family, her heart was bitter towards Jesus. “God if you really love me, you would not allow me to go through this suffering,” she would cry out.
It was during one such difficult time in the hospital that Taylor’s mom gave her the scripture Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me), assuring her that with Jesus on her side she could endure anything.
But Taylor’s journey was just starting. A car accident in 6th grade left Taylor with a broken pelvis, both hips broken, and a broken wrist. Taylor, in a body cast (which she was used to after 13 surgeries) recalls time in her room scolding God for allowing her to be in pain, asking why He could not have made life easier.
It was during this time that God used a youth pastor in her area who reminded Taylor that her life was a gift and enabled her to see the goodness of God even in the midst of her trials. Throughout constant and continuous medical visits and surgeries, God began His work in Taylor.
During her freshman year, she learned simple chords from her worship pastor and forced herself to practice her ‘gift of song’ regularly. What followed was God’s continued grace as He began to inspire Taylor to songwriting.
Every trial, a way to praise God
Carpenter currently leads the worship for her high school ministry and she has inspired many people, even to tears, during her time ministering to the congregation through her musical talent. Taylor now sees every struggle and broken bone as a way to praise God because it could be so much worse.
“I pray and thank God for each new day of my life, and for my incredible family. My prayer is that my songs will not only bless you but help you to know that God is real and alive and that He loves you. Having “pity parties” and focusing on your problems slows things down. However, focusing on God, opens up doors that no man can shut.”
by Pastor Kim DSouza | Feb 12, 2013 | Dating & Relationships
When you are in love, it’s beautiful!
Love fills your heart with unspeakable joy and stretches you beyond yourself. It makes you selfless and shameless, compelling you to do things which you wouldn’t have even dreamed of doing. There are no rules in love; in fact they are meant to be broken in love.
Now, do you really love Jesus?
Something about three lovers in the Bible struck me as I was reading about them. Elkanah, Solomon and Jacob mentioned in the Old Testament were in love and here’s what love made them do:
www.freedigitalphotos.net
1. Elkanah: LOVE GIVES THE GREATER PART
In the book of Samuel we read about a man called Elkanah who loved his first wife Hannah more than his second wife Peninnah because Peninnah had children and Hannah had none. As was the custom, every year he would visit the temple of the Lord to worship. He would give portions of meat for sacrifice to Peninnah and her children, but 1 Samuel 1:5 says Elkanah gave a double portion to Hannah because he loved her.
When you are in love, you want to give the greater and the best part of your life to the one you love. This includes the best of your time, the best of your thoughts, the best of your dreams, the best of your desires and the best of everything.
Do you really love Jesus? Are you giving Him more than what you are giving to others?
2. Solomon: LOVE HOLDS FAST
Solomon, the wisest man on the planet married 700 pagan women of royal birth and had 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). This was in complete disobedience to God as He had commanded the Israelites not to intermarry with foreign women because they would surely turn their hearts after their Gods. (1 Kings11:2). But the Bible says Solomon held fast to them in love (1 Kings 11:2).
Solomon was blatantly wrong here, but the point that I want to draw your attention to is this: In love you hold fast or cling to the object of your love. You refuse to let go of it regardless of what anyone has to say.
What are you holding fast to? Do you really love Jesus?
3. Jacob: LOVE MAKES YOUR COMMITMENT A CAKEWALK
The book of Genesis speaks about a man called Jacob who was in love with Rachel. Jacob agrees to the condition laid down by Rachel’s father Laban to work for him for seven years in return for her!
Now seven years is a very long period. Imagine putting yourself in Jacob’s shoes. Am sure we would have revolted or would have asked Laban to rethink on the duration. But because Jacob was so much in love with Rachel, he didn’t bat an eyelid to agree to the condition. And I love what the Bible says in Genesis 29: 20: Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Seven years seemed only a few days to Jacob!!
When you are in love, what you do out of it is no longer a burden or commitment, but it becomes a pleasure. You don’t have to be forced or pushed to do something, for love makes you do it anyways. Does reading the Word of God comes to us naturally or we have to struggle to make time? Do we have to be pushed to maintain our prayer time by others?
Do you really love Jesus?
Further on, this is what two lovers do:
• They try and spend the maximum time with each other
• They don’t get tired of speaking about each other
• They keep adoring each other
• They share their deepest secrets with each other
• Their heart misses a beat when they are in company of each other
Now can I ask the question again? Do you really love Jesus?
SUBSCRIBE HERE to receive the new posts from Olivedose directly in your inbox!!
by Pastor Kim DSouza | Oct 3, 2012 | Christian Walk
LOL..Indeed, no point in running away from God because we really can’t. As simple as that.
I always remember that scene from my favourite Tom and Jerry cartoon, where Jerry is running hard to get away from Tom, but despite all his efforts Jerry finds himself in the same spot because Tom has got his finger on his tail!
Not to say that God is like Tom, but that He loves us too much to let go of us. And the best option that we have is to RUN INTO His loving arms!
by Pastor Kim DSouza | Mar 19, 2012 | Christian Walk
– Acquired as a slave
– Forced to bear her master’s child
– Ill-treated during pregnancy
– Persecuted to run away
– & finally abandoned!
What the Egyptian girl Hagar went through is indeed disheartening. In the eyes of the world, she always was and will be the ‘extra’ woman in Abram and Sarai’s life.
Then one day Hagar conceived. Soon as if her suppressed contempt found boldness, she became vocal in despising her mistress Sarai. But the move backfired – Sarai took free permission from Abram whose child Hagar was bearing to ill-treat her more!
“Your servant is in your hands. Do with her whatever you think is best,” is what Abram told Sarai.
Run away
And the pregnant Hagar had no option but to run away. Run away from her fears, run away from her past, run away to a place where no one could have ever found her.
But…
Genesis 16:7 says that the angel of God found her!
For an Egyptian who grew up worshipping pagan Gods, here she was talking face to face with someone she only heard her master talk about. Who was this God? Did this God really could see her plight? And why would He bother about someone so ‘lowly’ like her?
And Hagar named this God as El Roi–the God who sees me. For she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
God told Hagar to go back and submit to her mistress, and as she would do that she received a promise, that never ever any woman in the Scripture received– “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.”
And Hagar obeyed. Soon she bore forth a son and called him Ishmael, meaning “God listens”.
For He who has promised is faithful (Heb 10:23b)
Later on we see in Genesis 21, how God kept his promise to Hagar and Ishmael and till date He has been true to His word.
Where is God when it hurts?
Are you at a crossroad in your life, wondering whether there is a God. Or you are saying I know there is, but does He really care about me? Where is He when my life hurts?
The Bible says: The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalms 34:18).
The God who changed the destiny of an Egyptian slave girl, is interested to change yours too. He is your El Roi, the one who sees all your hurts. Instead of running away from your situation, would you choose to trust and submit to Him today, just as Hagar did?
Page 7 of 7« First«...34567 
