We continue today from yesterday's blog when we spoke of "Turning in our running shoes." Today we are giving up our "All about Me pants."When we quit running away from life, and stop demanding that life repay our hurts and failures, we will soon find ourselves on route to a very healthy and prosperous future! To demand a payment is to say that Jesus blood was not enough for a healthy, prosperous life.
It is unfortunate that we have became a very demanding people. Demanding much more than asking? And yet we are told in God's word that we "have not" because we "ask not" ... or we "ask" with wrong motives.
When people demand in prayer, they forget who they are talking to. Prayer is communications with God (who is the supreme authority).
While to demand, is to ask for something with authority. People have often times misunderstood the use of delegated authority.
God is pleased with faith that knows delegated realms of authority. However, to go to God in prayer in a demanding fashion is an attempt to make God do what you want Him to do. It takes on the idea that you are the supreme authority and God lives in the realm of delegation. God is the one who delegates, we are the ones that have been given authority through him.
To demand the enemy to take his hands off of something that belongs to you is the right place to use demands, because you have been delegated power over all the power of the enemy. You are to live and reign in this life by faith, using that delegated authority. But when it comes to asking God ... you ask knowing that he is Lord. You ask in the sense of standing in the presence of one that reigns over you, not under you.
The Devil is under you, Our Heavenly Father whom we have access through Jesus Christ, is Lord, and reigns over You. However, when wearing our "all about me pants" we can go to extremes such as these, and walk into the throne room with the posture of Lording it over God himself, and this should not be, and will not be effective.
Example:
A child goes to a parent and says, "I demand you to give me all your money right now so that I can go buy what I want with it! Give it to me now! Do you hear me give it to me now!"
That is out of order and is unreasonable. And if a parent has any principle about them will not respond favorable to such demands.
Another Example:
An employee goes to an employer and tells him, "I am here to tell you that you are gonna give me an additional four weeks vacation. I work hard here and two weeks a year is not enough. I demand you to give me two extra weeks whether you like it or not! And if you don't, I quit!"
Any employer with good sense will tell that employee that they may as well go ahead and put in their resignation, because their work benefits are set, and if they don't want to work for that, then they are free to walk.
The "all about me pants" cause one to feel entitled to what they want, when they want it, and at any cost. They push their way to the front instead of allowing God to sit them in position. They jump into the limelight, instead of allowing God to place his light on them. They want the first piece of pie, and the largest sandwich half. They do not understand the concept of less is more. And they never even try to understand, and operate in rank. Submission to them is not a consideration, because they always see themselves as dominate.
When it comes to us being the head and not the tail in life is to speak of our power over the enemy ... over Satan. It is not speaking of doing away with order and boundaries in life.
If everyone took on the notion that they were the head of every organization what a mess the world would be in. Flow chart order in organizations is set to keep order, and to cause a company to operate safely and successfully. God himself requires order. He set order over a brooding chaos in the very beginning of earth endeavors.
The "all about me pants" will cause a person to become very angry if someone else gets a promotion that they did not get. It can even cause a person to take on a murderous spirit like Cain did when he slew Able. Instead of being his brothers keeper, he wants to get rid of the brother so he can be the key player.
The "all about me pants" will cause a person go to bed angry, refusing to release a person of an offense. And they will never admit their error if they have actually been the offender.
People want favor in life. They want to be successful, healthy, prosperous and happy. And yet they often live defeat lives because they refuse to change their outfits. They are so busy making sure they get what belongs to them, that they don't live life and abundance that is offered them through Jesus Christ just for the proper asking.
Eph. 6:10-18 tells us clearly how we should dress.
10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
In this passage we do not see any place we are told to put on the "all about me pants." All about me people live in the dark, while God wants us living in the light. So, let's give up our all about me attitudes. Let's burn that wardrobe and allow God to give us beauty for the ashes.
