A Reality Check
Part 4

By Iverna Tompkins
As transcribed by Jane Vaughn

We've been talking about building and being built up by the Lord (Psalm 127). We've seen that as important for the Church and churches and for individuals. In Part 3 of this message, we looked at the question - How do we build? Here's what we learned: first, we build on God's Word; then we saw that we are built up in Christ. In that, we were admonished to be certain that what we are experiencing and living is really Him. Then we began to look at seven things God hates as listed in Pr.6:16-19. We continue with Iverna's discussion. jv, ed.

Remember in the opening of this message I gave a word for this particular church.  I didn’t feel the need to say to you, “Thus saith the Lord,” but I gave you a very definite word from God that you have ended one situation and you’re coming into another era.  You have completed the renovations to the building.  You have it all cleaned up and beautified.  You are prepared – with the building.  This next period of time – now – this present season – is the building of the people.  And then there will be another season – a next era – and that will be the producing of children. 

You’re going to have newcomers coming into the congregation.  That’s the way it’s going to be.  There’s no question in my mind.  I know it’s a word from God – because I got it. :-)   You’ll know it’s a word from God because the same Holy Spirit that gave it to me will quicken it in you!  I saw many of your heads nodding in recognition and agreement when I gave it.  So then, the next thing we need to do is – we all cooperate with the Word: “Yes, Lord.”  That’s the correct answer: “Yes, Captain.  May it be as You have pronounced.” 

(Editor's note: May the above word be an encouragement to everyone reading this message – the Lord has a process and you are in the midst of it.  Pray for revelation of what He is doing in your situations, then walk in agreement and harmony with His revealed plan.  Allow Him to minister to you, your own specific word of encouragement and instruction as you continue to read.)

We’ve given so many false words in the church over the past decades that people have little or no respect for the real prophetic.  I go to meetings where the leaders prophesy by pointing out others.  You know.  I’m sure you’ve seen it done.  One leader points to someone else, and declares: “You prophesy – you have a word.”  And then to another: “You have a word – give it.”  And to another: “You have a word.”  And when the finger points at you, you feel compelled to give it – to give something.  “Uh, yeah, ‘Jesus wept.’” :-) 

I’m not talking about the authentic prophetic gift per se.  I’m talking about – God’s Spirit-filled people who think they are something they are not.  Are the words we speak to others in the name of God backed up by the life of Christ in us?  Does it really mean anything (of a surety) when you speak forth your word?  Remember, we’re trying to determine if we are guilty of something the Lord hates – lying.

One of the horrendous things I’ve been going through for the last three weeks is an on-going situation with a work crew I hired to re-surface my pool and put in new tiles.  In my whole 78 years, I don’t think I’ve ever been so consistently lied to by any one person.  Seriously.  The crew chief would look right at us and say, “I promise.  We’ll…” 

It’s a stress-builder, you know?  “I promise we’ll be here tomorrow morning.”  Then you wait all day.  You even change your plans to accommodate their scheduling.  But because they have broken trust through previous lying, their word means  ::pftt::  to me now.  “Tell me anything – I cannot believe you!”

In fact, so carnal am I that when they said they were finished and I wrote the check for the final payment, I had thoughts of cancelling it. :-)  I mean, I was that upset!  It’s awful to be lied to – over and over and over – and then one more time just this morning!  When they refilled the pool – they were supposed to put that goop in that makes the water stay wonderful.  Two days went by and I was scared the whole thing was going to. . . .   

It was beginning to turn grey and we called again, and they promised again but didn’t show up so we over-chlorinated it. :-)    I thought chlorine would be a good idea. :-)    Then they called yesterday and said, “We’ll be there in the morning.”  “No,” we said, “it’s Sunday and we’re leaving by 10.”  Guess what.  They’re not there yet!  And I’m quite confident they won’t be there later either.  You see?  That’s what happens to people when you lie to them!  They won’t believe you about anything!

Do you remember this?  “Oh! I promise! Cross-my-heart–and-hope-to-die! Stick-a-needle-in-my-eye!”  When we were kids we took vows like that! :-)     You didn’t do that? :-)     We said those things because we were sincere about our word.  It was a different era though.  We didn’t lock our doors back then.  And when we made a binding deal, the contract was a handshake!  “I’ll be here – you be here – let’s shake on it!”  And we were both there when we said we would be!  But that kind of trust is long gone!  The way of truth is gone!  The spirit of deceit and lies and do-what-you-have-to-do and say-what-you-have-to-say to please them at the moment – that’s what’s here!

But not for Christians!  The Scripture says this: “But ye, brethren!”  Now I have had. . . .  Uh, do you want to know what I was just going to say?  I’m not going to say it! :-)  I won’t do that. :-)     But I was going to say: “I’ve had worse ‘luck’ with Christian laborers than ones from the world. I’ve been cheated out of more by Christians than. . . .”  And I have.  It’s absolutely true. 

That’s a real telling representation, don’t you know: “Hire so-and-so, they’re a Christian.”  And I want to shout: “No! Don’t do it!” :-)   Why?  Because when you’ve been duped by a “Christian brother” (or sister) there’s no recourse!  We’re just supposed to take it.  If we hate that, we have to know how much God hates it. 

In Proverbs 6, verse 17, God continues His list: “I also hate hands that shed innocent blood.”  Well, what does that mean?  This illustration is another very personal one.  My granddaughter has just come through a situation that demonstrated this so well: “Hands that shed innocent blood.”

When she made a job move from one group of people with whom she worked to go to another location to open her own salon (Do you like my hair? She’s here. She’ll give you a business card :-)).  When she left the first place of employment, the owner-managers were so upset they began to bad-mouth her to her established clients when they called for future appointments.  She couldn’t figure out why these clients didn’t come with her to the new place.  Why some just dropped off.  It took quite awhile but eventually, the nail girl from the first salon said, “I can tell you what’s going on here.  They’re telling people things about you that just aren’t true.”

Now, jealousy will do that, my friends.  It doesn’t matter what their motive is or was – God hates it.  God hates that kind of thing!  Now, that does happen in the world and we’re not too shocked by it, but unfortunately, it also happens in the church!  What right do we have to speak ill of another brother or sister?  “What right?”  I ask you!  “Who made you a judge?”

I’ll tell you the only right we do have.  We have a right to go to the Judge.  Believe me, I’m taking this whole company to Christ! :-)    To the Lord.  “Go get ‘em!  You said You’d… that vengeance belongs to…  So, sic ‘em, God!”  :-)   

I’ve stated that humorously, but I do expect Him to right the wrong.  I really do.  Now, He may not choose to do it exactly like I might like to see it happen (in my carnal way of thinking :-)), but they need to learn to treat people right or…  ::pfft!::  with the business.  I won’t tell you which salon it is, because I don’t have a right to do that.  But I do have one right – and it’s the only right I have – I can go to the Judge and plead the case.

“God, guard our tongues!”  Can you agree with that?  “Help us to be honest and trustworthy.”

Number four: God hates “a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations” (vs.18).  Have you ever disliked someone so much that you laid in bed and thought of how you could get even? :-)    Well, not me of course. :-)  I just know some people do that.  I’ve heard about it. :-)    “And if only this would happen…” (then through gritted teeth) “and if only that would happen.  Maybe they’d lose their job – then they’d duh-duh-duh… .”  Well God – simply put – hates that kind of thinking.

God tells us what kinds of things we’re to think: “Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report – if there’s any virtue….” (Phil.4:8).  Oh, I hate that part of the verse! :-)   Of course there’s always some virtue!  My pool looks good!  Well – the water doesn’t – yet – but the tile’s beautiful. :-)   There’s always something you can pull out of the most negative situations and say, “Thank You, Lord, for that!”  Like, “Thank You Lord that I didn’t push him in when he was standing there by the edge…”  :-)    “And thank You for…”

Let’s summarize for a moment.  The Lord hates anything that represents the enemy.  He hates any-thing.  He doesn’t hate me – or you.  Be sure you get the difference in that.  He doesn’t hate me when I miss the mark, but He does hate anything in me that is devilish.  Anything in me that is not of His character – He has to despise it. 

So, Church – as you come walking into your next dimension – and the Lord begins to deal with this attitude and that one and the situation that causes you to seal your mouth when you wanted to scream out . . . .   All of these things – just know this: you were warned – that this was where He is going to rebuild.

He’s going to do it – rebuild – and it’s going to be a tight, strong, secure structure.  It’s going to be made up of men and women. . . .  You’re small now – those of you that attend this church regularly.  This is a small congregation, but I’m going to tell you this: you are large in God’s eyes.

You might even be wondering: “Well, why is He after us so much?  Why is He delivering this kind of message to us?”  I can answer that too: because of what the future holds.  You’re going to be giving birth.  There’re going to be children and I don’t mean just little human beings.  I’m telling you: there are going to be new born babies of the Spirit. 

You’re going to open your mouths out there in this community.  You’re going to open your arms and bring those people into the family of God.  But we can’t give birth to newborns and set them in the laps of toddlers!  God is making us to be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph.6:10).  Amen.  Let it be so, Lord!

So, if you’re thinking: “I don’t wanna be strong.”  Too bad. :-)     He’s already ordained it!  And when He ordains a thing, He sets circumstances and situations about you that make you either get stronger – or die. :-)

We’re not in the old days where we’re just sort of committed to the Lord.  It’s a new day!  And you see, I’ve explained here the spirit of the world and what’s going on out there.  What do you think it’s going to take to combat that?  Powerful warriors!  Powerful worshippers!  Powerful men and women who love one another, who function in a united effort – not to build this church, but to build His Church – made up of individual believers – made up of us all.

You watch your worship time grow.  It’s going to rise to another level as a result because we, this day, are dedicating ourselves in a new way.  And right now, I’m actually going to demonstrate that that means me, too. :-)   I’ve never in my life played a keyboard – but I’m going to try it today.  I don’t want to experiment in front of an audience, but let me share this. 

Some years ago the Lord gave me a song which is so perfect for what we’re doing here in dedication of this church building.  Shirlee is going to sing it – but she won’t sing if I won’t play. :-)     So – working something precious in her… :-)    I will sacrifice… :-)    And so will you if you listen to the accompaniment.  :-) 

This song is where we are today and it has a two-fold purpose.  In the first part, we’ll dedicate this House; then by singing the second part we’ll each dedicate our individual lives to Him.  Listen to the words and let it be your commitment.

We dedicate this House, O Lord, to Thee;
May all who enter here see only Thee.
Let every prayer that’s prayed be pleasing to Thine ear,
Let every song that’s sung, be sung for You to hear.

We dedicate this House, O Lord, to Thee.
May all who enter here see only Thee.
Let the teaching be inspired by the Holy Spirit’s fire.
We dedicate this House to Thee.

We dedicate this House O Lord to Thee.
May all who enter here see only Thee.
Let Thy Presence there be known by our guests and by our own,
As we worship and praise, our hearts become Thy throne.

We dedicate this House O Lord to Thee.
May all who enter here see only Thee.
We can only dedicate – Thou alone must consecrate
We dedicate this House to Thee.

I dedicate my life O Lord to Thee.
I’ll let my heart be filled with only Thee.
Let every prayer I pray be pleasing to Thine ear.
Let every song I sing be sung for Thee to hear.

I dedicate my life O Lord to Thee.
I’ll let my heart be filled with only Thee.
Let my whole life be inspired, by Thy Holy Spirit’s fire.
I dedicate my life to Thee.

I dedicate my life O Lord to Thee.
I’ll let my heart be filled with only Thee.
Let Thy Presence here be known, as You make my life Your home;
As I worship and praise my heart becomes Thy throne.

I dedicate my life O Lord to Thee.
I willingly submit myself to Thee.
I can only dedicate – Thou alone must consecrate.
I dedicate my life to Thee.