There are times when it seems that when we are really trying to seek the Lord or grow closer to the Lord that certain things can hamper us. Most of the time this takes the form of a person who really “rubs us the wrong way”. People like this can really “bug” us. They can really “get under our skin”. Perhaps the Lord orchestrates that these people move into our sphere of influence, or to cross our path?
In the “church” folks like this are often referred to as a stumbling block. Scripturally anything that is a stumbling block is often something that God allows to come into our path. Many times, these stumbling blocks will cause a person to sin. In Scripture a stumbling block is not always a person and many times a stumbling block can be things like the love of money or something else that causes a believer in Jesus to “fall into” sin. Of course, this is a perfect opportunity for the deceiver to get someone off track from the road to heaven and unintentionally over onto the highway into Hell.
However, I want to encourage you that when there seems to be a “new” person (often this can be a family member), who appears to oppose your faith there is a purpose for that person becoming a stumbling block to you. There are times when these people can also be God fearing Christians. However, they may be soap stone and not iron. In other words, they may not have a real firm knowledge or understanding of the reality of Gods Word or how the Kingdom of Heaven really operates. (By the way, the Kingdom operates strictly according to the principles outlined in scripture).
Stumbling Blocks and National Holidays
There is an issue today of national holidays becoming stumbling blocks for individuals and for the Body of Christ. When we pander to the world we take sides against God and we mock God. Once again, Jesus brother James outlines this in James 4:4; Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
What James is saying is that when we conform to the ways for the world, we place ourselves in direct opposition to God and His will. We mock God. When we participate in certain holidays, we actively oppose God and His Kingdom. Placing dwarfs, elves and fairies or ghosts and goblins ornaments in your yard is not glorifying God. No, this is glorifying the little d devil.
Such things are at enmity with God and should not be allowed in the life of a believer. You should not even read a horoscope even though it is right there in the newspaper. Do not compromise and pander to the world even though it (a stumbling block) seems to be accepted by those around us (the world). I’ll be putting out a large cross on the 31st of October and not answering the door.
Before I move on, allow me to say that mocking God is a very dangerous business, and we need to take heed of our actions. We need to be iron and not soap stone in such instances. Do not bow to the ways of the world but rather, make a stand for Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. That is enough said on this touchy subject. But remember that when we seek to be a friend of the world, we make ourselves an enemy of God. Selah.
Mocking God
There are some things in God’s Word that are “nonnegotiable”. For instance, when we judge a person, (right or wrong) we come under the same judgement ourselves (Matthew 7). We will reap what we sow (good or bad) as we see in Galatians 6:7; Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. It does not pay to mock God or His people (right or wrong). Some people “mock God” with their unholy attitudes toward God and His people. That is a dangerous path to take. God is real and so are the scriptural principles in His Kingdom and His Word, like Galatians 6:7 or Matthew 7.
Look at Matthew 7:1,2; “Judge not, that you be not judged. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you”.
I have learned over the past decades that when someone comes across my path that “rubs me the wrong way”, “bugs” me, or who really “get under my skin” there is a Kingdom purpose for that person’s presence in my path. We all need to remember not to mock such people and not to judge them. At times, they are God’s ambassadors of the Kingdom. Most of the times God is working on me (through them) to help me to work out somethings that are not Christ like in my life and spirit. Most times, I am guilty of the very thing that the stumbling block does to irritate or vex me. I have found that it is better to pray for these kinds of folks and to seek the Lord about the situation. God will let you know what areas that you need to work on in your life. He is faithful in this regard. A stumbling block presents a wonderful opportunity for you to grow closer to the Lord and to be transformed into His very image.
A Difficult Type – Iron Sharpens Iron
Have you ever tried to share Scripture with your family? This is perhaps the most difficult type of Kingdom outreach there is! Talk about mocking! Perhaps that is why in the “great commission” Jesus instructs believers to go to their hometown, (that would include your own family) first. Acts 1:8 outlines the “great commission”; “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”.
Proverbs 27:17 shares an important Kingdom truth; As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Iron sharpens Iron. At times a person who knows the scriptures well is at times spoken of as iron. Iron can sharpen iron. But can a soap stone sharpen iron? Well, no because soap stone is known to be soft and very easy to carve. Soap stone crumbles just like weak believers when under pressure. I have seen many things carved from soap stone in East Africa for the tourist trade. Often these soap stone artist use iron knives for carving the soap stone. Soap stone will not easily absorb anything, and it is resistant to things like salt. (This is a great prophetic picture of witnessing to the unsaved [soap stone]. But can iron sharpen soapstone? Yes, iron can easily carve soapstone and shape it into a new object. That is a picture of evangelism or sharing your faith with someone.
Sharing your faith with your family can be very difficult (especially if they have a type of religion). As I said earlier, many times people who seem to get “under our skin” are our own family. But those are the very people that Jesus has called us to reach first with the “great commission”. By the way, it is not absolutely necessary to work miracles and healings to fulfill that great commission, (but it helps). [That is a whole other message].
So again, usually when a person really “gets to us” it is because the Lord is seeking to reveal something that needs to be worked on in our own lives and spirits. A stumbling block is anything that can cause you to sin. A stumbling block is not always a person. As you are aware, when we sin, we fall out of close relationship or communion with God. Here are two clear examples of “stumbling blocks” in the scripture. The first example that I am using is in the Old Testament from Ezekiel chapter seven and verse nineteen.
Ezekiel 7:19; ‘They will throw their silver into the streets, And their gold will be like refuse; Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them In the day of the wrath of the LORD; They will not satisfy their souls, Nor fill their stomachs, Because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.
In this passage the stumbling block is riches or mammon. There are legends of very hungry men who tried to eat their gold during famine and war. They perished and died. Money is a stumbling block. The brother of Jesus spoke of this dynamic of mammon in James 5:3; Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. (Again, this is a timely picture of the times in which we live). Soon we will see a dramatic shift in the economic landscape of the entire earth.
Jesus also spoke of stumbling blocks in book of Revelation. Yet again, the Lord said that money or the love of money was a stumbling block. Look at this in Revelation 2:14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel [church], to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
Remember that Balaam was a real prophet, and he was paid to prophesy against God’s people. So, using your gifting (in any regard) for money is as the sin of Balaam. So, yes, God’s prophets can miss it or “blow it” and sin like Balaam. I am aware of a few who do this kind of thing. Conversely, I have always taught and tried to help people hear God for themselves, so that they would not be dependent on prophets to hear God for them. You can read several (in my opinion) very good testimonies about this dynamic in the book “The Sword of the Lord”.
Called and Accountable
One problem is that many “prophets” are not accountable to any authority. If they give a false, or errant prophesy it is soon forgotten and swept under the digital rug so to speak. At times prophets build walls around their selves and their “prophetic ministry” to insulate themselves from accountability. As long as they are earning money [mammon] from their “prophetic ministry” they do not care if their prophetic words are incorrect. Rarely do you hear about a minister coming forward to say that they were wrong. They just build walls. Unfortunately, this not only has negative effects on individuals but the entire Body of Christ.
Family First (Jerusalem)
Finally allow me to say, that stumbling blocks are not of God. However, a stumbling block can be allowed by God to appear in your life to help you to grow in a more perfect representation of Jesus. Then you can recreate Christ in your sphere of influence and start to fulfill the great commission that we all have been called to accomplish.
Allow me to suggest that you begin to do the great commission by sharing your faith in Jesus Christ with you family first. Many people are called into the harvest field, but they do not see “anyone” receive salvation. May I suggest that perhaps it is because they have not done the first things first? They have not gone to Jerusalem (their own family) with the Gospel.
Before you email, yes, I have. I led my 84-year-old mother to salvation and by God’s grace and His leading was instrumental in leading Kathy’s 92-year-old mother to salvation on a pleasant summer afternoon in Moravian Falls, North Carolina. So, I have practiced what I preach in reference to first things first (Acts 1:8).
Stumbling blocks are not always pleasant to deal with but if you get down on your knees and seek Gods face you will always find that there is a Higher purpose for the “vexation” that you are experiencing because of a “stumbling block”. In the end, (most of the time), the Lord is just allowing a vexing person or situation to point out some area in your own life where you may have a sinful attitude or behavior.
Overcoming Prayer
Lord, You know my heart. You created my heart and I ask that You help me to see why this “stumbling block” in my path today. Father, I ask in the Name of Jesus, that You would release to me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in You. That I might know You and that That I might know what the hope of Your calling on my life. Lord help me to see and to discern what and why a thing is that a stumbling block in my path. Lord, I am not asking You to remove it, but rather I am asking You to help me to see why this stumbling block is there. Lord, help me to be faithful with mammon and monies. I decree that finances will not be a stumbling block in my life and that I will do as You ask with money. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
This article was based upon Kevin Basconi’s book “The Sword of the Lord & The Rest of the Lord”.
Order Kevin Basconi’s book; “The Sword of the Lord & The Rest of the Lord” now (plus shipping & Handling). Just click HERE. Any and all proceeds will go directly to help support widows and orphans.
This article was written by Kevin Basconi, for King of Glory Ministries International,
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