originally victoria — unfiltered blog

CRUCIFY THE FLESH SERIES: PART ONE

Growing up as a pastor’s kid there has always been an expectation on me and eyes always watching my next move. The expectation of an overall PK in culture goes two ways, very rarely a third way. The first stereotype for majority pastor’s kids is going buck wild– this happens due to the parents sheltering the child from reality so when the child gets out from under the parents wing and the time for driving licenses comes, and high school, then college, the child ends up wanting to explore what the fad or trend of culture is because they lived in a fairytale false reality their whole lives thinking there wasn’t sin out in the world and the church is so perfect and christians never do anything wrong. Second is going the opposite direction and becoming super religious– this often happens because the parents have strived to keep the child active and in order to keep them active, they place them in positions around the church to “help out” but really they are entitling the child which then allows that child to feel like they are the best thing that has ever happened to the church and can’t nobody tell them otherwise. Or another scenario is that they finally come back from being a prodigal son and in order to keep them in the church for “good” this time and not return to their “old ways” they then again place the child in any position that flesh wants to allow. Being selfish always fails. If it isn’t God’s will to begin with, the roots will eventually be plucked with time. The third type of pastor’s kid is the one who just wants to worship God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. The one who desires for such a relationship with God that nothing can come between it. A commitment, a relationship, a hunger, and a thirst for more. A deeper level of intimacy which leads to spiritual maturity. This child may have been put through the fire and tested, but came out victorious. This child blocks out all religious spirits and titles. 

I have had my flaws and still do. I have been tested just as we all have, for we are flesh. I’ve had those little quiet voices in my head which at the time felt so big and loud telling me it’s okay it’s just one time. Asking me why I was so quiet and to myself, and asked why I didn’t have many friends. Asking me why I didn’t want to hangout with everyone after the football games or attend parties outside of school. Asking me why I didn’t want to do anything after prom… Because I knew what went down after those football games, after prom, and after school hours. I knew right from wrong. I’m not saying I am perfect. I have failed, I have fallen into temptations, I have done, said, and thought things that are not of God, but my testimony is so much stronger because of it. And no, I’m not saying you have to go through sin to get that strong testimony but I’m saying if life happens, and you feel the need to try, do, or sample worldly culture, God’s mercy is new every morning.

Although His mercy + grace is new every morning, there comes a time where we have to stop taking His mercy and grace for granted. We can’t keep going down the same routine or cycled path of sin knowing it’s wrong and not pleasing unto God yet out of our selfish ways, we expect Him to forgive us of our sins each time. That is so wrong. There comes a time where you cut the crap and stop making excuses for yourself. Either you want the freedom of walking into each day with the love of God inside of you, or you don’t. There is no in between of wanting Him and not wanting Him. There’s no one foot in His presence while the other is thinking about what you’re going to do this coming weekend with all the homies. There’s no “I’m tired of trying I don’t hear Him”, “He’s not talking to me”, etc. Excuse after excuse. Let’s put ourselves in God’s shoes. He knew His assignment here on earth. He came down from heaven wrapped in flesh to make heaven crowded and to destroy the works of evil. He knew His assignment so He sought after it… and never made excuses. Could you imagine our life if Jesus made excuses? We wouldn’t even be here living this life. Even up to when Judas betrayed Him and He knew His time was near, He didn’t let the excuse of “Father I don’t feel like carrying the weight of these people’s sins, I’m just really tired today, can we do this all tomorrow” stop Him from completing His assignment. Of course His flesh wanted to give in and throw in the towel hints why he said “My Father. If it is possible, may this cup of suffering be taken away from me.” But He was convicted and said “Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine.” He was quickly reminded that He had a purpose here on earth and His assignment was not done. 

I knew as a young girl (when I found out what life and future meant) that I wanted to live like Christ. I knew I wanted an “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” relationship. Me and my house as in my heart. It doesn’t always have to be a physical household, your house is a home to the Lord so live like it.

Oftentimes we find ourselves making excuses for why we do the things we do. I have had people tell me “I’m just starting my relationship with the Lord”, “I wasn’t raised the way you were” “I don’t have a title like you”. It doesn’t matter if your relationship with Jesus just started flourishing and maturing, or that you weren’t raised the way I was, or that you don’t have the “title” of being a pastor’s kid like I do. First, being a pastor’s kid has absolutely nothing to do with the intimacy of my relationship with God. If you as a pastor’s kid believe that your “title” has something to do with the way your relationship with God is, you are entitled and you need to ask God for deliverance. Even if you just started an intimate relationship with Jesus spending time in His presence but still not fully laying your life down, I encourage you to drop everything AND RUN after God!!!! Start with reading the bible. Open it up and be intentional with what you read. Ask Him to guide you. Even if you don’t seem to hear anything, think about what you’re going through and look up scriptures that help with that. Don’t just read it, but study it. Dissect it. Look up words you don’t understand. STUDY IT! The bible is so clear on how to live for Christ. It gives so much information on the importance of living for Him, showing love towards others, and overall guidance on how to survive this life we’re in. Start in the gospels [matthew, mark, luke, john] they describe who Jesus is and what He did. Then, move into Galatians, Colossians, and Ephesians.

Scriptures Used:

Matthew 15:8 – “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce [something that is supposed to be serious but has turned ridiculous] for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.” 

• It is hypocritical of us to speak the name of Jesus, yet live the life of the world. One foot in, one foot out. In the MSG translation it states that “These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they’re worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy.”

Matthew 7:22-29 – Many will prophesy in His name, but if they did not do the will of our Father in Heaven, when they get to the gates, the Lord will say depart from me, I never knew you. Everyone who hears the words of God and acts upon them will be a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears His words of God and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 

• A firm foundation is SO important. You can talk it, but can you walk it?

1 John 2:15 NLT: “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.“

1 John 2:16 AMP “For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world.”

1 John 2:16 NLT: “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see.”

1 John 2:17 AMP: The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.”

What is God’s purpose here on Earth? TO MAKE HEAVEN CROWDED & DESTROY THE WORKS OF EVIL!!