Obstacles to a Free Flow

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Bro Maddox Speaks

Obstacles to a Free Flow

Galatians 5:16–26 NKJV

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

The Contrast

Works of the Flesh vs. Fruit of the Spirit

There is a massive contrast in this set of scriptures. And it’s summed up in that 17th verse:

Galatians 5:17 NKJV

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

I’ve got a problem. We’ve got a problem. We’re full of the Holy Ghost, but we’re also flesh. This creates a conflict. A battle that rages.

Our flesh makes it difficult to be all God wants us to be. Paul described it like this (and got very open):

Romans 7:15–19 ESV

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

It really humanizes Paul for us. “I have a nature to not do right.” And then he just calls out the issue: “I know that nothing good dwells within my, that is, in my flesh.”

We tend to talk about Satan as if he’s the biggest adversary we have, but I beg to differ. He’s certainly a problem - but not like our flesh is.

Billy Cole story: “Well that’s great! If it’s a devil she’s got, we’ll have it cast out in a few minutes. But if it’s flesh, it’ll take you 10 years to get it right.”

Bro. Cole was illustrating that we have to see the flesh as the obstacle that it is.

I can cast the spirit from someone, because it has to obey the authority of the Spirit. But I cannot cast lust out of a person. I cannot cast pride out of someone. That is flesh. And it can only be dealt with as we take it to the altar.

Now, how does this apply to those of us in ministry?

The Flow

The simplest way I can define ministry is: the Spirit flowing through us to other people.

I believe that it is the will of God that this flow of the Spirit through us be COMPLETELY UNHINDERED.

If you’ve ever been in a place where there’s a sink or shower with very low water pressure, you know the struggle of that. What’s worse, is if you ever end up with pipes that are clogged. Things cannot drain properly. Bad news!

And the answer can only be: deal with what is hindering or blocking the flow.

My commitment that I have made is that I am going to do the very best I can to not hinder, but be a conduit for the flow of the Spirit.

If I’m going to do that, it requires putting my flesh on the altar each and every day.

Obstacles to a Free Flow

So, what I want to talk about now is some specific obstacles to that free flow of ministry. And these are mentioned in what we read out of Galatians 5 earlier. They are flesh problems that are at war with the Spirit fully flowing through us.

I’m not going to mention all that Galatians 5 does, but I’m going to list a few that I feel led to talk about. And they are each closely related.

Pride/Insecurity

The first is pride.

Pride is, I think, far less mentioned than it used to be historically in preaching. But it is dangerous, and I believe that whereas there are some sins that people may hardly ever have an issue with, pride is something EVERYONE must deal with. Especially men and women of God in ministry.

And don’t forget pride’s close cousin: insecurity.

So, I want to do something here. You know the scripture that says, “Confess your faults one to another?” Well, I’m going to demonstrate that right now as I make a confession: One of the most difficult things I’ve struggled with in life that God had to help me through is insecurity.

I used to clam up around people I perceived as more important, more anointed, or of high reputation. It didn’t help that I’m essentially an introvert. But I was worried and fixated upon what each and every person thought of me. I wouldn’t even act like the same person. Awkward and weird!

And all insecurity is is pride.

If you think of it, it was pretty much the first sin. Not only did Lucifer fall because of pride. Even sinned due to a form of insecurity. “If you’ll just eat the fruit, you’ll be like God.” And she started seeing herself as less-than. Insignificant. What a lit!

Insecurity forces you to look at comparisons. You know, he’s got it going on so if I don’t follow what he’s doing I’ll be seen as not with it. And she’s doing this so I’ve got to measure up or they’ll see me as less than. They’re preaching this…

JUST STOP.

I am not them! Comparisons kill kingdom work!

When I was just very very young, just starting out in ministry, a mentor of mine (John Ison) told me to pull up a chair to the main table at a banquet after a service. “Don’t drift away from these seats. Overcome your fear. You belong here. You’re used of God like anyone else here.”

And pride works the opposite way. Just like you can feel less-than and insignificant, you can feel like you’re at the cutting edge of Pentecost. That won’t work either.

Pride has to be crucified.

Motives

We’ve got to be sure our motives are right.

The things that I am pursuing in ministry… what is my motive behind pursuing that? Is it to be held in higher regard? Is it to be known by more people? Self-promotion? Is it to gain notoriety or opportunity?

And if our motives are pure, and on things like “I’m doing this… to please God, to help someone, to serve, to see someone blessed, to magnify God… it allows for that free flow.

But a motive that isn’t right has made shipwreck of many in the ministry.

This is not a corporate ladder! And if you have insecurity, you see yourself at the bottom of a ladder and everyone is above you. So all you do is operate off of the motive of moving up the ladder. Well here’s a new motive: expanding the kingdom!

Everything is not becoming a senior pastor or attaining an organizational position or a pulpit.

It’s a shame that some have made those things their motive, because it destroys ministries quite often.

Ambition

Opportunists

Am I a disciple or an opportunist? Judas was an opportunist.

This has to do with motives and what is in my heart!

The destruction of transparency

Transparency has become a very rare commodity among us in the ministry. Why?!

In spite of the fact that the Bible tells us about the importance of our testimony, I believe most ministers learn through time and experience that their transparency opens them up to the attacks of those whom they thought would rejoice on their behalf.

Reserve transparency for your pastor and those you have complete confidence and trust in. And when others are transparent with you, be a friend, not an opportunist.

I’ve been hurt. Taken advantage of. Stabbed in the back. Had people take my words and twist them to their own advantage.

I’ve felt pain and confusion at why a person would be okay doing such things.

Even the good-hearted ministers who are unassuming will eventually discover that this is a real danger.

But I do feel like, although it will always be around, this is something that has gotten progressively worse and we can certainly improve and make change for the better overall.

Competition

A few things come to mind:

Teamwork instead of competition.

I’m about to go to an organized Apostolic event overseas in which I have watched and been a part of many ministers from different places and great reputation, working together to see something unique. Competition is not a factor in missions as it is in America. In my mind, that means we need to repent.

Also, who’s kingdom are we building?

We have to become honest in asking ourselves this question. Am I okay with my destiny not being what I’ve wanted it to be as long as it’s His plan for building His kingdom?

End

God to me (an uncomfortable word): “In order for me to unleash my greatest works in the Church, the ones I will perform it through must have a revival of the crucifying of the flesh.”

It will purge pride. Insecurity. Competition. Animosity.

Paul: “I die daily.” The only way to truly destroy a kingdom is to take out the king. If I daily kill Ryan’s flesh on the altar, then there can be no Ryan’s kingdom!

Books:

Maintaining Divine Operation - Eli Hernandez

Radically Apostolic - Charle Robinette

Questions

What is one or two things you know now, that you wish you had known when entering into ministry?

Learning costs nothing.

Prayer is everything.

Don’t follow the crowd.

Don’t always hang on to the will of God for every second. YOU MUST BE OBEDIENT TO THE KNOWN WILL OF GOD IN ORDER TO FIND THE PLAN OF GOD.

Would you peak of some challenging moments you and your family have experienced along the way, and how you navigated through them?

Several years ago, we almost left the will of God.

There have been several moments where we have felt attacked in ministry. This happens to everyone. This particular time, it was the most difficult of our lives thus far. Someone we poured into had completely shattered us.

Why can ambition be a dangerous trait to have for ministers?

It mingles your will with God’s will.

It hinders the true will of God, which never benefits you anyway.

Am I ambitious for me or for the Lord?

Finally, can you share any final remarks and pray over our audience?

Seek God, not just what other people have.

“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Bro Maddox Gives Closing Remarks