One mistake made by Christians who are having trouble is to blame and attack people and circumstances. Some individuals have a great deal of trouble with this. They do not seem to be able to turn to God in their distress. Instead they attempt to solve their problems by attempting to force people to do what they think is right.

When the people do not respond as they think they should (and sometimes these offending people, these "tools" that God is using, are unable to meet the demands being placed on them) the result may be hatred and bitterness on both sides.

The person whom they are blaming may very well be the means God is using to turn them to Himself and to perfect them. By attacking the tool instead of turning to God they accomplish nothing of value. They only add to their own misery and the misery of the person they are attacking.

It is a temptation to try to correct that which we can see instead of waiting on the invisible God. A husband or wife may be driven away from God by a mate who strives to force them to do what the mate believes to be God's will. In most instances it is wiser to look to God for the solution to our problems than to try to manipulate people or circumstances.

Many Christians never do pass through the Day of Reconciliation to the fullness of the feast of Tabernacles. They have been happy in their salvation and Holy Spirit experiences. But they perceive these to be the Lord's means of making them joyous, prosperous, and self-fulfilled. They will not accept the loss of their individual desires and preferences in order to gain oneness with God. They think Christ is their servant. They do not picture themselves as the bondslaves of Christ except in some token, textual, doctrinal sense.

Modern Christianity is being weighed in the balances and found wanting. It is in danger of encouraging Antichrist and the False Prophet rather than bringing us forward in Christ. It is as a prodigal son.

Today God has entrusted the believers with gifts and revelations. It is possible that never before in history have so many individuals understood and possessed the "talents" of the Kingdom of God. Much of what is relatively widely known today concerning spiritual gifts, the Body of Christ, the exercise of faith, prayer, and so forth was the domain of a relatively few believers just a short time ago.

Truly, as Daniel prophesied, knowledge has increased.

The problem is, what are we to do with this knowledge?

The purpose of the ministries and gifts of the Holy Spirit is the perfecting of the saints. The goal of the exercise of the ascension gifts is that the Lord God of Heaven may have a prepared temple in which He may settle down and find rest.

To be continued.