Hokey Pokey Christianity
"I feel persuaded that if I could follow the Lord more fully myself, my ministry would be used to make a deeper impression than it has yet done." ~ Robert M. McCheyne 1813-1843
Today I was reminded of a sermon I preached a while back. God reminded me of it when talking to some friends. I believe all of us have played the children's game "Hokey Pokey" at some time in our lives; probably more than once. In case you haven't, it's simple. There is a Hokey Pokey song, and you just do as the song says. It goes like this: You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, you put your right foot in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself about. That's what it's all about!
And the song goes on to list different parts of the body: the left foot, right arm, left arm, head, elbow and so on. You put in the center whatever body part is called out.
The night I preached this sermon, the Lord spoke to me about "Hokey Pokey Christianity". Now I was all into listening to Him tell me this because I could not figure out how He could make this children's song fit into anything about the a Christian's life. But He did!
See, the Hokey Pokey is fine as long as it's a song or a children's game, but some adults have made this game into their lifelong motto. They put themselves into one thing for a little while, something happens and they pull out. Then they put themselves into something else, someone offends them and they pull themselves out again. They are never committed. They have HPC: Hokey Pokey Christianity. HPC is when you jump in one place that you find to be pleasant and to your liking, then jump into another place when the first place becomes pressure; not pleasure. You "shake it all about" from one place to another, but you never grow up. God says it is time for us to grow up.
God showed me some men in the Bible that are an example of this at some point in their lives: Judas, John Mark, Peter, James and John.
First Judas. Just to hear his name makes you think of betrayal and dishonor. But at one time in his life, he chose Jesus. He chose to forsake his home and surroundings and follow Christ. He walked with Him, suffered with Him, learned from Him, and lived learning the example Jesus lived day by day. He was also anointed and called by Him, sent out to preach, heal and bring the Kingdom of God to the people. And he did this for a season with success. But at some point, he jumped back. Somewhere he disagreed with the way Jesus was fulfilling God's plan. In some way, he became offended, shook himself and jumped back.
Peter, James, and John were selected by Jesus to spend what would be His last night in prayer. God alone knew what was coming and in what order. Jesus knew what His Father had shown Him and He knew He needed much strength to continue to fulfill the plan for the salvation of mankind. The only way to get strength for any given hardship is prayer. God is ministering to your soul. So Jesus chose these men who were so close to Him to join Him on His last night on earth. And they did... for a while. Then the heaviness of their eyes caused them to jump back from all night prayer and go to sleep. Three times Jesus tried to wake them, telling them to get up and pray. Each time they began but soon fell backwards again into sleep. Who knows what would have happened in this part of their lives had they stayed awake and received the same strength that Jesus received. I think that when Jesus was arrested in the olive grove, they would have strong resolve and been able to keep everyone calm around them. They may have been able to keep the disciples from running away. Peter may not have gotten in the flesh and cut that guard's ear off. Who knows how the story would read today had they stayed in prayer and not jumped back.
John Mark was on the mission field with Paul. He was doing great things for the Lord and something happened. It isn't recorded what it was but at some point, he decided he wanted to return home and left Paul. Maybe he was tired of the life on the mission field. Maybe he was tired of the endless conflict. Maybe he just missed the familiar surroundings of home. Whatever it was, it caused him to jump back out and return home. In the end, he repented when he realized this life at the home front was not where he was called to be and returned to the mission field. But not with Paul this time; he went with Barnabus. Though he returned to the right plan for his life, it was too late for him to return to the original partner God had for him. Sometimes you can get back to the place you are supposed to be, but God has to make an alternate partner for you. Again I have to wonder if it had been Paul and John Mark and not Paul and Silas, would the results of their mission been more powerful.
The lesson we learn from these powerful brothers: Stay in God's game and not the children's game.
All of these men played the Hokey Pokey. Some for a moment; some for a short season; some to an end that cost them everything. The point is that if you are not committed to the place God calls you, you won't stay in during the dry and hard times. So how do you get out of this lifestyle and grow up in Christ?
First, determine to keep your face forward. Adversity happens. Bad things happen to good people. Bad days happen. Financial hardships happen. Mean people happen...even in church. But if you won't determine now in the good days to keep your face forward and pray for strength for those bad seasons, when (not if) it comes, you will jump out and jump into another place that you think is more pleasant. The truth of the Word of God is that we all grow in adversity.
You never know the true character of a man or woman until you see them when they are pressed on every side. Are we faithful then or do we crumble? Are you faithful or do you crumble? If you don't determine to stand when the winds turn hot and violent, then you will find yourself running; not growing.
Secondly, determine that if you don't understand God's way in a specific season not to get offended and jump back. Remember that He is always at work FOR you, not against you. He is ALWAYS working things out in your life according to His good plan. No matter how it looks, God is still working. If you don't feel the wind, does that mean it is not blowing? No, it means it is blowing in another pattern, but it is indeed blowing. If you don't feel love, does that mean you are not loved? No, it means you are not able to sense what is true - that you are deeply loved. What you see or feel doesn't determine what is real or what God is doing.
Third, determine to not fail to be strengthened in advance, like Peter, James and John. You never know what lies ahead. In our part of the country, when we hear a hurricane is forming and may be coming our way, we know we can't wait until the last minute to go to the store for bread, canned foods, candles, water or gas for the car. You have to prepare in advance because in the last moments, there is no more food in the store and the gas stations are out of gas. It is the same with your spirit life. Prayer is essential for growth, and the Holy Spirit ignites us to pray more when He knows a hard season is coming upon us. Prepare in advance by staying in prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit.
Finally, remember in Hokey Pokey Christianity, you may be playing the game now, but you can always quit. I know if I see myself beginning to do something like the HP, I catch it and stay in the race God has for me. Otherwise I would be both sidetracked and ineffective in the calling God has for my life.
Are you playing the Hokey Pokey with your life today? God has a word for you: He has cut off the music and wants you to stop playing games with the children and start touching this world with the fire that has been placed within you.
Michelle Molina
"I feel persuaded that if I could follow the Lord more fully myself, my ministry would be used to make a deeper impression than it has yet done." ~ Robert M. McCheyne 1813-1843
Today I was reminded of a sermon I preached a while back. God reminded me of it when talking to some friends. I believe all of us have played the children's game "Hokey Pokey" at some time in our lives; probably more than once. In case you haven't, it's simple. There is a Hokey Pokey song, and you just do as the song says. It goes like this: You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, you put your right foot in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself about. That's what it's all about!
And the song goes on to list different parts of the body: the left foot, right arm, left arm, head, elbow and so on. You put in the center whatever body part is called out.
The night I preached this sermon, the Lord spoke to me about "Hokey Pokey Christianity". Now I was all into listening to Him tell me this because I could not figure out how He could make this children's song fit into anything about the a Christian's life. But He did!
See, the Hokey Pokey is fine as long as it's a song or a children's game, but some adults have made this game into their lifelong motto. They put themselves into one thing for a little while, something happens and they pull out. Then they put themselves into something else, someone offends them and they pull themselves out again. They are never committed. They have HPC: Hokey Pokey Christianity. HPC is when you jump in one place that you find to be pleasant and to your liking, then jump into another place when the first place becomes pressure; not pleasure. You "shake it all about" from one place to another, but you never grow up. God says it is time for us to grow up.
God showed me some men in the Bible that are an example of this at some point in their lives: Judas, John Mark, Peter, James and John.
First Judas. Just to hear his name makes you think of betrayal and dishonor. But at one time in his life, he chose Jesus. He chose to forsake his home and surroundings and follow Christ. He walked with Him, suffered with Him, learned from Him, and lived learning the example Jesus lived day by day. He was also anointed and called by Him, sent out to preach, heal and bring the Kingdom of God to the people. And he did this for a season with success. But at some point, he jumped back. Somewhere he disagreed with the way Jesus was fulfilling God's plan. In some way, he became offended, shook himself and jumped back.
Peter, James, and John were selected by Jesus to spend what would be His last night in prayer. God alone knew what was coming and in what order. Jesus knew what His Father had shown Him and He knew He needed much strength to continue to fulfill the plan for the salvation of mankind. The only way to get strength for any given hardship is prayer. God is ministering to your soul. So Jesus chose these men who were so close to Him to join Him on His last night on earth. And they did... for a while. Then the heaviness of their eyes caused them to jump back from all night prayer and go to sleep. Three times Jesus tried to wake them, telling them to get up and pray. Each time they began but soon fell backwards again into sleep. Who knows what would have happened in this part of their lives had they stayed awake and received the same strength that Jesus received. I think that when Jesus was arrested in the olive grove, they would have strong resolve and been able to keep everyone calm around them. They may have been able to keep the disciples from running away. Peter may not have gotten in the flesh and cut that guard's ear off. Who knows how the story would read today had they stayed in prayer and not jumped back.
John Mark was on the mission field with Paul. He was doing great things for the Lord and something happened. It isn't recorded what it was but at some point, he decided he wanted to return home and left Paul. Maybe he was tired of the life on the mission field. Maybe he was tired of the endless conflict. Maybe he just missed the familiar surroundings of home. Whatever it was, it caused him to jump back out and return home. In the end, he repented when he realized this life at the home front was not where he was called to be and returned to the mission field. But not with Paul this time; he went with Barnabus. Though he returned to the right plan for his life, it was too late for him to return to the original partner God had for him. Sometimes you can get back to the place you are supposed to be, but God has to make an alternate partner for you. Again I have to wonder if it had been Paul and John Mark and not Paul and Silas, would the results of their mission been more powerful.
The lesson we learn from these powerful brothers: Stay in God's game and not the children's game.
All of these men played the Hokey Pokey. Some for a moment; some for a short season; some to an end that cost them everything. The point is that if you are not committed to the place God calls you, you won't stay in during the dry and hard times. So how do you get out of this lifestyle and grow up in Christ?
First, determine to keep your face forward. Adversity happens. Bad things happen to good people. Bad days happen. Financial hardships happen. Mean people happen...even in church. But if you won't determine now in the good days to keep your face forward and pray for strength for those bad seasons, when (not if) it comes, you will jump out and jump into another place that you think is more pleasant. The truth of the Word of God is that we all grow in adversity.
You never know the true character of a man or woman until you see them when they are pressed on every side. Are we faithful then or do we crumble? Are you faithful or do you crumble? If you don't determine to stand when the winds turn hot and violent, then you will find yourself running; not growing.
Secondly, determine that if you don't understand God's way in a specific season not to get offended and jump back. Remember that He is always at work FOR you, not against you. He is ALWAYS working things out in your life according to His good plan. No matter how it looks, God is still working. If you don't feel the wind, does that mean it is not blowing? No, it means it is blowing in another pattern, but it is indeed blowing. If you don't feel love, does that mean you are not loved? No, it means you are not able to sense what is true - that you are deeply loved. What you see or feel doesn't determine what is real or what God is doing.
Third, determine to not fail to be strengthened in advance, like Peter, James and John. You never know what lies ahead. In our part of the country, when we hear a hurricane is forming and may be coming our way, we know we can't wait until the last minute to go to the store for bread, canned foods, candles, water or gas for the car. You have to prepare in advance because in the last moments, there is no more food in the store and the gas stations are out of gas. It is the same with your spirit life. Prayer is essential for growth, and the Holy Spirit ignites us to pray more when He knows a hard season is coming upon us. Prepare in advance by staying in prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit.
Finally, remember in Hokey Pokey Christianity, you may be playing the game now, but you can always quit. I know if I see myself beginning to do something like the HP, I catch it and stay in the race God has for me. Otherwise I would be both sidetracked and ineffective in the calling God has for my life.
Are you playing the Hokey Pokey with your life today? God has a word for you: He has cut off the music and wants you to stop playing games with the children and start touching this world with the fire that has been placed within you.
Michelle Molina
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