Religiosity and Generality

When I was much younger I deeply regarded the religious people reckoning them to be of God. Later, when I was saved, my focus was shifted strongly to spirituality as I reckoned spirituality to be much above religiosity. And as I began to grow more, my spiritual discernment and understanding grew a bit more, and I treasure the building up in the Body of Christ corporately than any mere individualistic spirituality. Still my past background perhaps, might have imbibed in me a scent of religiosity that I probably am not aware of. So the Body exposes me.

It was again an elderly brother whom the Lord used to expose me of my unseen being, at least, to myself. He said I am religious in that I only trusted in God for God to do things. His point was that I should exercise the spiritual gifts of carrying things out without just leaving all for God to do. He further said emphatically that I should cast out demons, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers and even raise the death! I got the spiritual significance of the Lord's speaking. In fact, many of my works do not have spiritual effect as it should, in spite of all the labor. There must be a definite result in all the spiritual activities that I have been carrying out, especially in my shepherding of the new ones to perfect them to be pillars for the church. 

Sovereignly, the night before this incident of the Lord's speaking I was also very burdened to for three very seriously sick patients who are my relatives and friends too. One is paralyzed and had given up all medication as it did not worked. The other is a pancreas cancer patient where even the best hospitals and doctors in the country could not help and the chemotherapy did not work but worsen his health. And the last one is a wife of a friend and brother who is also a cancer patient with acute complexity. All of them have given up hope or almost given up hope on any medical treatment whatsoever, but putting their trust in the Lord. I was deeply considering and praying that Lord should heal them. And the next day, the Lord's speaking was that "I should cast out demons, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers and even raise the death!" So be it Lord.

  

Besides, I was also rebuked for being too general, I must be specific. In whatever I put my hands on, there must be tangible and definite result. Else, my works be of no good to the Lord and for His move. In fact, even in my words, I have this habit of generalising things. I must be healed of this disease too. My words must be accurate and exact. Lord, grace me so.

Religiosity and generality are the two hidden diseases that the Lord diagnosed in me through the brother who spoke freely and frankly. Praise the Lord for such an oracle of God! And much more praise the Lord that the Lord loves me so much that He exposes me and takes me on a ride with Him, that he would deal with me and perfect me. 

After this experience, my only response in prayer was that the Lord would heal me of all my diseases, and make me healthy and whole to be a useful vessel unto Him. 

Not religiosity nor spirituality but to be built up in the Body! Not generality only but to be specific in all things I put my hands into! Thus, by His mercy, I may learn and learn, and be trained and perfected for the building up of His Body.

Amen, for the Lord's healing touch!