Can I be transparent with you?
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I sometimes struggle when I see someone using or preaching the same ideas I have as if they were scrolling my social media pages, or websites and taking my messages and repackaging them with their signature on it. But God has to constantly remind me that He speaks to everyone who is listening. He shares the same spirit with all his children. So I shouldn’t get beside myself and think that I am the only one with that revelation, concept or idea. One of the prophets suffered from that syndrome, I think it was Jeremiah.
Every time the enemy tries to distract me with those thoughts, God reminds me of Paul’s testimonies. Where he tells the church at Corinthians;
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
And what is Mari but a piece of the puzzle? Paul knew his part. He was confident in his role in life. He also knew that he was to work alongside his brothers and sisters as coworkers for the cause. He was well aware of the fact that we will be rewarded based upon our own work, not someone else’s.
What do you have that you didn’t receive?
The giftings we’ve received were not conjured up by our own efforts. Keep in perspective that God gave them to us. Don’t get inflated with pride, who made you so superior? You received first from Him, then you gave. You cannot give what you don’t have.
Look what Paul says to the Philippians with such profoundly humbling words while in prison;
Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly. To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will. These do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment. What does it matter?
In other words, Paul is saying, who cares who is trying to gain from my obscurity, my bondage, and my teachings! Even if their motives may not be pure, as long as the message is getting out to the people, I am happy… Someone probably feels the same way about me. He goes on to say…
Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice because I know this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
Wow, what a perspective Paul had! He had no doubt or fear of shame about his situation because he knew Christ (the anointing) on his life will always be honored, visible and irrefutable, whether in his lifetime or thereafter.
But Fear will cause us to believe that what God promised us will be taken away by another or that we will miss our door of opportunity. And truthfully, when this happens it makes me want to regress and stop sharing what God places on my heart because I feel like I’m being taken advantage of and giving others free material that they turn around and charge for. Then I stop and think. It rains on the just and the unjust, and the sun shines on us all.
Just think about how many people have the same career, carry the same title, run the same type of business, or live in the same model home, yet no two are exactly alike. We don’t even have the same fingerprints on our hands. They are unique in their design.
I then remember what Paul my mentor said to the churches. So I give myself a pep-talk.
Who cares if they copycat your information. (Although this may just be a figure of our imagination. Seeing how the enemy loves to hit us with feeling like we are victims and everyone is out to get us or take advantage of us) Take comfort in knowing that although they may dress like you they are not the same as you. They do not carry your anointing. They do not have your DNA in the message. You are the only copy of you. They may have a similar view as you, but not your flavor. Be confident like Paul that your vision will speak for itself and all will know He is with you.
This is what I focus on when the temptation arises to retreat; if someone is sharing the same thing as you, be it a concept, revelation, business, idea, or vision and it’s someone you respect, honor or value, this should excite you because it confirms and affirms you. As my pastor always said, “you are in the know”. You have inside information. So stay tuned in through prayer, worship, and the word, and be confident and thankful in the fact that you are on the right track.
So with that being said, I’m so #happy and #grateful that I am an original. I’m authentically and uniquely made, and unlike any other. I cannot be duplicated nor can anyone steal what God has ordained for me. What’s for me is for me! There is a place that only I can fill. I will not fear nor drawback but I will be strong, and very courageous so that I may possess my inheritance.
Mari Benning 