ACCEPTANCE – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – AGREEMENT
Acceptance – Acknowledgement – Agreement
Acknowledgment does not have to equate to acceptance or agreement. Acknowledgment should be the first and basic step towards overcoming yet many people are physically and spiritual bound unknowingly by the power of agreement verses listening, discerning and acknowledging what is spoken. How many times have we all made the simple statement “I can’t believe what that person said, who do they think they are?” Yet we walk away still pondering and processing the negativity that was spoken as those evil and destructive words penetrate our very being.
When you speak to people, do you have to be right versus simply stating and speaking the truth? When you need to be right you may have built up a wall or resistance to the truth being received. If you have to be right your identity and acceptance lies in the hands of others and you will likely be confrontational, ego centered and self-righteous. Your need to be right is not redemptive in nature but rather destructive and abusive which will only turn people away. We are all people of free will and a Godly person will never force something up you or “steer you” in your decision-making. God is love and love is embraced not forced!
1 John 4:8 (NKJV)
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Let’s start out by looking at the basic definitions of these words.
ACCEPTANCE
acceptance |akˈseptəns|
noun
1 the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered: charges involving the acceptance of bribes | [ as modifier ] : an acceptance speech | he had an acceptance from the magazine.
• a draft or bill that is accepted by being signed.
2 the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group: you must wait for acceptance into the club.
3 agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion, or explanation: acceptance of the teaching of the church.
• willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation: a mood of resigned acceptance.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
acknowledgment |akˈnälijmənt| (also acknowledgement)
noun
1 acceptance of the truth or existence of something: there was no acknowledgment of the family’s trauma.
2 the action of expressing or displaying gratitude or appreciation for something: he received an award in acknowledgment of his work.
• the action of showing that one has noticed someone or something: he touched his hat in acknowledgment of the salute.
• a letter confirming receipt of something: I received an acknowledgment of my application.
3 (usu. acknowledgments) an author’s or publisher’s statement of indebtedness to others, typically one printed at the beginning of a book.
AGREEMENT
agreement |əˈgrēmənt|
noun
harmony or accordance in opinion or feeling; a position or result of agreeing: the governments failed to reach agreement | the two officers nodded in agreement | there is wide agreement that investment is necessary.
• a negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement between parties as to a course of action: a trade agreement | a verbal agreement to sell.
• the absence of incompatibility between two things; consistency: agreement between experimental observations and theory.
• Grammar the condition of having the same number, gender, case, or person.
There is a simple fact in life that very few people like to hear or listen to critique. Critique is often wrongly perceived as judgment and/or criticism leaving us with feelings of unworthiness and not being good enough. We have all felt this way at times and many people still feel this way today. Let’s be truthful, many in this world are bound by lies and ungodly words spoken over them by a hurting world. When these type of hurtful words are spoken to us we will be tempted to seek the approval of the person making these statements or accusation thus questioning our self worth, self esteem and worthiness. When we start validating/believing our feelings of these hurts and untruths, we have fortified the strongholds in our hearts and spirits. What may be true is not always truth! It might be true that you feel rejected, hurt, etc. but the truth is you need not feel this way! Christ is no respecter of persons and He has no partiality or favoritism! Jesus would have died for one of us yet He died for all of us!
Acts 10:34 (AMP)
34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons,
Romans 2:11 (AMP)
11 For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another]. [Deut. 10:17; II Chron. 19:7.]
John 3:16 (AMP)
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
Since the fall of man/woman back in the Garden there has been a continual plague and spiritual warfare against rebellion to God’s word, desires and will. Adam and Eve both rebelled against the word of God as they were told not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Knowledge and power that lacks humility is destructive not only to one’s self, but to others also.
CRITIQUE
critique |kriˈtēk|
noun
a detailed analysis and assessment of something, esp. a literary, philosophical, or political theory.
verb (critiques, critiquing, critiqued) [ with obj. ]
evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way: the authors critique the methods and practices used in the research.
I have counseled many people and I ask a very simple and straight forward question such as: “what is it you want to do or be for that person.” They give me a long list of things such as provide, protect, etc. and I say to them so you wish to be their savior? I tell them there is only one savior and that is Christ Jesus, however you can compliment, encourage, edify and enlighten someone helping to achieve their own personal relationship with Christ Jesus.
Being prideful, controlling and manipulating is not from God. People with these attributes often falsely believe they hear from God and want to be God’s voice over you. They want you to seek their approval on spiritual matters and often earthly/worldly matters thus disconnecting/hindering your relationship and intimacy with the living God and Spirit of God. We are not called to be God or Lord over people but to connect them to the Lord. Satan wanted to be exalted above God and people with controlling demonic spirits feel worshipped when you consult them, need them and approve of them. Even Satan offered Jesus the earthly kingdoms so Satan could be idolatrized. Idolatry is rampant as many people worship the temple and leadership over the Lord of the temple!
Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV)
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Matthew 4:8 (AMP)
8 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory (the splendor, magnificence, preeminence, and excellence) of them.
None of us is perfect, yet none of us likes to be critiqued. So how do we edify, encourage and lift people up in a spiritually dying world? How do we bring worthiness to those who feel unworthy? Money, wealth and fame won’t make someone feel worthy because worthiness comes from within and can’t be cured externally. You can’t promote someone “in the flesh” by giving false promotion, worldly possessions and gifts to heal spiritual problems. I have seen many people attempt this even in ministry leadership and it does not work! You don’t treat “cancer” with a bandage as it is a blood disease which is internal, the same goes with spiritual health. You can’t heal someone spiritually with external remedies. Treating a symptom is not treating the problem.
When need to speak the truth in love, mercy, compassion and grace while manifesting the fruits of the Spirit. We need to be submitted to the Lord while ministering to others and we need to put their needs above our desires just as Christ put the needs of others above His own. Sacrificial love moved by compassion in the spirit of the Lord breaks the yokes of bondage. You can read over and over in the bible where Jesus was moved with compassion and signs and wonders manifested as people were healed, delivered and the multitudes were fed.
Galatians 5:22–23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
We must minister to others in the fruit of the Spirit. It’s one thing to receive a word of knowledge it’s another thing to deliver that word of knowledge. We must submit that word of knowledge or prophecy to the Lord seeking how the Lord wants us to deliver and apply that word just as if it was from the Lord Himself. We must die to self to represent the fullness of Christ thus being totally surrendered to the Spirit and will of the Lord.
So you may wonder where is this all proceeding? Well the Lord put in on my heart to help people to understand the power of humility and the power of agreement. Humility is willing to think less of yourself, surrendering pride to the cross of Jesus Christ and crucifying one’s self to become humble and meek. Don’t confuse meekness with weakness as humility is powerful, freeing and a true manifestation of a Christ filled/centered life. We must remember above all that we first submit to Christ Jesus while honoring others. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess then Christ Jesus must be first, foremost and above all in our lives, hearts and minds. There is a great difference in “preaching the gospel” vs. “commanding the gospel.”
Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For theyshall see God.
Humility will listen while pride shuts and ear. Humility will seek the Lord Jesus for clarification/confirmation seeking a “witness” from the Lord. This being said we must always seek the Lord regarding all things spoken to us and about us in our quiet/private time with the Lord. You will know a Godly person has spoken to you about your inner most problems when they lead you to the Lord Jesus and the atonement of the cross. The gospel and Jesus will always give you a direction towards redemption and may very well advise you of the consequences of disobedience to the Lord’s will and word.
John 14:6 (NKJV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
John 4:14 (NKJV)
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Jeremiah 17:7–8 (NKJV)
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jesus constantly stood in the face of accusers, are we to truly believe this will not happen to us? When someone speaks to us we are to remain humble listening, discerning and submitted to the Lord. We listen but we need not come into agreement with negativity, accusatory nature, ungodly words, lies and manipulations. We submit everything spoken to us to the Lord without needing/seeking validation or worthiness in the face of our accusers. Contrary to what I hear many professing Christians speak the Holy Spirit does not confirm our personal identity, it confirms who Christ is in us and through us. Jesus did not die to become like us. Jesus died so we could become like him, restored to our original creative state in the image and likeness of the Father. The Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and sanctification so we can become more Christ like. Our identity is Christ in us and through us; the flesh must decrease so the spirit can increase. The lust of the world must die so the desires of the Kingdom and a Christ centered life can be fulfilled.
Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
John 15:5 (NKJV)
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Christ Jesus was crucified and resurrected because we are worthy and redeemable in the heart and eyes of the Lord. You are redeemed through the cross, blood and finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ and NOT by any mortal human!
Humility is very powerful, in fact the enemy hates repentance and humility as these characteristics lead us to the Cross of Jesus Christ and the enemy/Satan was defeated at Calvary. Does your church preach on repentance, humility, the blood of Jesus and the Cross of Jesus Christ? If not have you wondered why, isn’t that the basis of salvation and sanctification through Christ! The enemy does not want you to take up your own cross nor focus on the Cross of Jesus Christ.
The next time you are being critiqued/reproofed submit everything to the Lord while listening WITHOUT coming into agreement. A godly person will tell you to seek the Lord about what they are speaking/ministering for they have no personal ownership in the words spoken on behalf of The Lord they are just humble servants of the Lord. Notice they are HUMBLE servants, not prideful, boastful, forceful, demanding, coercing, manipulation or steering you into a decision process.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan Jesus did not raise his voice, shout back or seek the approval of Satan. He stayed submitted to the will of the Father and walked in the fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus was the master at asking questions testing the hearts of people. Jesus already knew the answers so why did he ask questions? Questioning is a way of testing the spirit, hearts and motives of people. The word of God is sharper than a double-edged sword able to divide soul from spirit and discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
1 John 4:1 (NKJV)
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)
12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
Questions are very valuable in adding to your discernment and will validate what you discerned in the spirit or what was revealed in the spirit. We are told to test every spirit and this is done and aided through questioning. Once you discern something we should observe what you have discerned. You will notice that spirits have characteristics which aide in your discernment. These are behavioral characteristics NOT physical characteristics (although they may manifest in the physical/natural). This is very important to understand that we judge no one by the flesh, but by the spirit and we war not against flesh but in the spirit. (Ephesians 5&6) Questions bring things to “light” and there is great power and revelations through questioning.
1 Corinthians 2:14–15 (NKJV)
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
It is very important to seek Godly wisdom and we do this first by submitting and seeking Christ Jesus and secondly by seeking Godly counsel. We must remember that what appears to be godly is not always godly! Soul ties are created through/by ungodly people who often appear godly. A controlling spirit often seeks knowledge to your inner hurts, feelings and emotions. They seek to share experiences of similar hurts, feelings and emotions. They want to relate “relationally” to your experiences so they can speak into and over your life while appearing to be genuinely concerned, caring and compassionate yet they themselves are spiritually bound and seek to create a soul tie with you in the spirit so they can become the voice of God over your life. This is a very easy way to come into agreement with a controlling, manipulating and coercive demonic spirit. (There are various ways soul ties are created, this article is about the power of agreement.)
2 Timothy 3:5 (AMP)
5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].
We must test every spirit and by asking methodical questions this will help you to validate what you have discerned. We must remember that the Spirit of God leads to ALL TRUTH and the Spirit of God is incapable of lies!
John 16:13 (AMP)
13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].
Asking questions is very powerful in discerning spirits and quite often the spirits will elevate or even manifest during reasonable questioning. A controlling spirit does not like it’s authority being questioned. If you ask a question regarding something minuscule asked of you to do or perform or directed towards you; the spirit will likely elevate and show itself.
Don’t confuse “fruit” with followers. Fruit is the manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord. With so many people feeling rejected, oppressed and abused they easily submit to the “crowd” mentality as fellowship supersedes a relationship with Christ Jesus. I have personally witnessed the worship of sensual feelings over the worshipping of Christ in many worship services and churches. It’s easy to confuse sensual “feeling good” with real God centered worship.
I pray and hope that this has been enlightening and edifying as there is much greater depth that could be discussed. We must remember to submit everything to the Lord in Spirit and truth and to first seek the Kingdom of God and all things shall be added.
Matthew 6:33 (AMP)
33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
There will be false teachers, prophets, apostles as well as false signs and wonders. It is imperative that we seek the Lord’s heart with passion, humility, honesty and integrity of heart. If you truly desire the gift of discernment seek to know the heart, will and love of the Lord in fullness. There is only on true God.
1 Timothy 2:5 (AMP)
5 For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,