God’s Hired Guns (reflection)
Royal Ones,
If we speak for God as a known or professed prophet, and we speak without receiving God’s heart (which must be processed into the prophet) then we are simply hired guns. We are like base contract labor, not secure employees with benefits (covenant).
Let’s consider a few definitions —
hired gun (noun): an expert hired to do a specific and often ethically dubious job, one that some people consider to be morally wrong
contractor (noun): a person hired to perform work or to provide goods at a certain price or within a certain time
employee (noun): a person who works for another person or company for wages or a salary
shareholder (noun): someone who owns shares in a company or business or property
Now. Here’s the point. Hired guns and contractors will work for anyone. They choose their price and if one will pay it, then they will work. Conditions for work are irrelevant. Ethical boundaries are nearly nonexistent. And we have these who capitalize on our general ignorance of Scripture, rationalize grace and mercy into false teaching on judgment and then sprinkle enough of God in their presentations to ignite our souls…while our spirits scream for help.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. ~ 2 Timothy 3:2-5 NASB
It is error to believe with strong conviction, as many do, that God’s presence means God’s approval. Accuracy and skill in the gift are measures of diligence and attention to study, not God’s approval.
TRUTH: GOD’S LOVES HIS PEOPLE. AND HE WILL USE EVEN A CORRUPT VESSEL SO HIS PEOPLE CAN BE MADE STRONG AND MADE FREE.
The passage above describes the hired guns and contractors. This is how we know them. This is how we know from whom to stay away. The verses after this describe us — the people of God — and how we are moved by our impulses, and thus moved by the hired guns (vv. 6-9). We let these hired guns and contractors into our lives (“households” in v. 6) and pillage with their corrupt execution of God’s gifts. We give them permission to see.
This is a form of godliness, when in our local gatherings ones who claim or we recognize to speak for God come and will “operate” not have given God’s power permission to work on them. They deny the power of God to change them for service.
This is not abandonment. This is obedience to Scripture. And who, beloved, still reverences the Holy Writ? I pray our hearts cry, “We do!”
When they return to God, then they qualify for fellowship again. We have mercy on one another as gateways to grace for deliverance, not as pardoning judges. (Don’t miss this!) My mercy toward you does not free you from consequence; only God determines your fate. My mercy toward you is based on my awareness of my own condition and need for mercy…so I set you free for God to deal with you in His way. That does not bind me to front row seating while He does it.
In this day, employees and shareholders must remain focused on true Kingdom objectives. Those objectives, for each of us, lie in our hands. They are the governing principles of our respective reigns. They are the parameters of our dominion. So, Royal Ones, REIGN WELL. Please, for the sake of those who truly reach for God… for the sake of those who need a righteous witness… stay in position, love God with everything and do to completion what He put in your hand.
On God’s promotion scale, we all become shareholders. Jesus calls it friendship.
No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. ~ John 15:15 NASB
Our general aim as disciples of Christ is friendship with God. That does not come at saving faith. We all (say, “We ALL”) process into friendship, and there at various levels depending on our pursuit of God. Clearly, those who do not know what God is doing remain at some level of servitude; and that is okay. And revelation comes progressively to friends.
Do not rush to companionship with hired guns and contractors. Yes, they draw crowds. Yes, they are charismatic and gifted. Yes, they walk in power and demonstration. Yes, that and more. But they travel in packs for fear, not loyalty. A companion of wise men becomes wise, yet we see Nebuchadnezzar’s structure (their monuments to themselves) ready to fall. Why? Because God sees and He has a standard, whether we believe Him and His word or not.
We’ll talk about the power of buy-in next…. it goes with this. But please, sober up Royal Ones. And fulfill your obedience.
Love you dearly. Selah.
Image: A Mighty Fortress
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