{"id":46540,"date":"2022-02-04T14:30:25","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T11:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=46540"},"modified":"2025-12-23T08:46:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T05:46:04","slug":"dont-stop-performing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2022\/02\/04\/dont-stop-performing\/","title":{"rendered":"DON\u2019T STOP PERFORMING!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You <\/span>may <\/span>be <\/span>wondering\u2014<\/span>Are <\/span>we <\/span>really <\/span>called <\/span>to <\/span>perform?<\/span><\/strong>
The <\/span>answer <\/span>is <\/span>yes<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>but <\/span>not <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>way <\/span>the <\/span>world <\/span>defines <\/span>performance. <\/span>As <\/span>believers, <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>called <\/span>to <\/span>dance <\/span>on <\/span>worldly <\/span>stages <\/span>or <\/span>pursue <\/span>applause <\/span>for <\/span>entertainment. <\/span>Instead, <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>called <\/span>to <\/span>“<\/span>perform” <\/span>lives <\/span>of <\/span>holiness <\/span>and <\/span>righteousness<\/span><\/strong> before <\/span>an <\/span>audience <\/span>that <\/span>includes <\/span>both <\/span>angels <\/span>and <\/span>fellow <\/span>human <\/span>beings.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Apostle <\/span>Paul <\/span>wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>For <\/span>it <\/span>seems <\/span>to <\/span>me <\/span>that <\/span>God <\/span>has <\/span>put <\/span>us <\/span>apostles <\/span>on <\/span>display <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>end <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>procession, <\/span>like <\/span>those <\/span>condemned <\/span>to <\/span>die <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>arena. <\/span>We <\/span>have <\/span>been <\/span>made <\/span>a <\/span>spectacle <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>whole <\/span>universe, <\/span>to <\/span>angels <\/span>as <\/span>well <\/span>as <\/span>to <\/span>human <\/span>beings.\u201d<\/span><\/strong>
\u2014 <\/span>1 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>4:<\/span>9, <\/span>NIV<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Paul <\/span>uses <\/span>powerful <\/span>imagery <\/span>here. <\/span>The <\/span>word <\/span>\u201c<\/span>spectacle\u201d<\/span><\/em> in <\/span>Greek (<\/span>theatron<\/span><\/em>) <\/span>literally <\/span>means <\/span>a <\/span>theater<\/span><\/strong> or <\/span>stage <\/span>performance<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span>Our <\/span>lives <\/span>are <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>divine <\/span>drama <\/span>being <\/span>watched <\/span>by <\/span>heaven <\/span>and <\/span>earth. <\/span>Everything <\/span>we <\/span>do <\/span>is <\/span>under <\/span>observation\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>for <\/span>entertainment, <\/span>but <\/span>for <\/span>eternal <\/span>evaluation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every <\/span>believer <\/span>is, <\/span>in <\/span>this <\/span>sense, <\/span>a <\/span>performer\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>for <\/span>fame <\/span>or <\/span>financial <\/span>gain, <\/span>but <\/span>to <\/span>demonstrate <\/span>the <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>grace <\/span>through <\/span>a <\/span>life <\/span>of <\/span>obedience<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span>And <\/span>just <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>stage <\/span>performer <\/span>is <\/span>evaluated <\/span>based <\/span>on <\/span>their <\/span>act, <\/span>so <\/span>too <\/span>will <\/span>we <\/span>be <\/span>judged <\/span>by <\/span>how <\/span>faithfully <\/span>we <\/span>lived <\/span>out <\/span>our <\/span>calling <\/span>in <\/span>Christ (<\/span>Romans <\/span>14:<\/span>10-<\/span>12).<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s <\/span>consider <\/span>an <\/span>unusual <\/span>but <\/span>enlightening <\/span>example: <\/span>snake <\/span>charmers<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>the <\/span>past\u2014<\/span>and <\/span>even <\/span>today <\/span>in <\/span>some <\/span>cultures\u2014<\/span>certain <\/span>performers <\/span>train <\/span>themselves <\/span>to <\/span>handle <\/span>venomous <\/span>snakes, <\/span>like <\/span>cobras. <\/span>They <\/span>play <\/span>flutes <\/span>or <\/span>use <\/span>sounds <\/span>that <\/span>seemingly <\/span>mesmerize <\/span>the <\/span>snakes, <\/span>making <\/span>them <\/span>appear <\/span>harmless. <\/span>Crowds <\/span>gather, <\/span>amazed <\/span>at <\/span>how <\/span>these <\/span>men <\/span>stand <\/span>calmly <\/span>before <\/span>danger. <\/span>Because <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>risk <\/span>and <\/span>rarity <\/span>of <\/span>such <\/span>an <\/span>act, <\/span>the <\/span>performers <\/span>are <\/span>often <\/span>rewarded <\/span>with <\/span>more <\/span>money <\/span>and <\/span>attention <\/span>than <\/span>typical <\/span>dancers <\/span>or <\/span>musicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

But <\/span>this <\/span>performance <\/span>is <\/span>incredibly <\/span>dangerous. <\/span>If <\/span>the <\/span>charmer <\/span>loses <\/span>focus <\/span>for <\/span>even <\/span>a <\/span>moment, <\/span>the <\/span>snake <\/span>may <\/span>strike\u2014<\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>show <\/span>ends <\/span>in <\/span>tragedy.<\/span><\/p>\n

King <\/span>Solomon, <\/span>in <\/span>his <\/span>earthly <\/span>wisdom, <\/span>wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>If <\/span>the <\/span>serpent <\/span>bites <\/span>before <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>charmed, <\/span>there <\/span>is <\/span>no <\/span>advantage <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>charmer.\u201d<\/span><\/strong>
\u2014 <\/span>Ecclesiastes <\/span>10:<\/span>11, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While <\/span>this <\/span>may <\/span>seem <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>secular <\/span>observation, <\/span>it <\/span>holds <\/span>deep <\/span>spiritual <\/span>truth. <\/span>The <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit <\/span>ensured <\/span>this <\/span>verse <\/span>was <\/span>recorded <\/span>for <\/span>our <\/span>instruction. <\/span>It <\/span>reminds <\/span>us <\/span>that <\/span>wisdom <\/span>and <\/span>vigilance <\/span>are <\/span>essential <\/span>in <\/span>spiritual <\/span>warfare<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

As <\/span>Christians, <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>spiritual <\/span>performers. <\/span>Our <\/span>enemy\u2014<\/span>the <\/span>serpent<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>Satan\u2014<\/span>is <\/span>always <\/span>present, <\/span>seeking <\/span>someone <\/span>to <\/span>devour (<\/span>1 <\/span>Peter <\/span>5:<\/span>8). <\/span>The <\/span>world <\/span>is <\/span>watching. <\/span>Heaven <\/span>is <\/span>watching. <\/span>And <\/span>the <\/span>question <\/span>is: <\/span>Will <\/span>we <\/span>finish <\/span>our <\/span>race <\/span>victoriously, <\/span>or <\/span>will <\/span>we <\/span>fall <\/span>because <\/span>we <\/span>lost <\/span>focus?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If <\/span>we <\/span>allow <\/span>Satan <\/span>to <\/span>strike <\/span>us\u2014<\/span>if <\/span>we <\/span>fall <\/span>into <\/span>sin <\/span>and <\/span>compromise\u2014<\/span>there <\/span>is <\/span>no <\/span>reward <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>performer <\/span>who <\/span>fails <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>most <\/span>critical <\/span>moment.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

So <\/span>how <\/span>do <\/span>we, <\/span>as <\/span>believers, <\/span>spiritually \u201c<\/span>charm\u201d <\/span>the <\/span>serpent? <\/span>How <\/span>do <\/span>we <\/span>neutralize <\/span>the <\/span>enemy\u2019s <\/span>attacks?<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>way <\/span>that <\/span>charmers <\/span>skillfully <\/span>play <\/span>their <\/span>flutes <\/span>to <\/span>confuse <\/span>the <\/span>snake <\/span>and <\/span>prevent <\/span>attack, <\/span>we <\/span>must <\/span>continually \u201c<\/span>play\u201d <\/span>our <\/span>spiritual <\/span>instruments <\/span>with <\/span>skill <\/span>and <\/span>focus.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

These \u201c<\/span>flutes\u201d <\/span>or <\/span>spiritual <\/span>disciplines<\/span><\/strong> include:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    Holiness<\/span><\/strong>
    \u201c<\/span>Make <\/span>every <\/span>effort <\/span>to <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>peace <\/span>with <\/span>everyone <\/span>and <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>holy; <\/span>without <\/span>holiness <\/span>no <\/span>one <\/span>will <\/span>see <\/span>the <\/span>Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/em> \u2014 <\/span>Hebrews <\/span>12:<\/span>14, <\/span>NIV<\/span><\/em>
    Holiness <\/span>sets <\/span>us <\/span>apart <\/span>and <\/span>protects <\/span>us <\/span>from <\/span>spiritual <\/span>compromise.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Prayer<\/span><\/strong>
    \u201c<\/span>Pray <\/span>without <\/span>ceasing.\u201d<\/span><\/em> \u2014 <\/span>1 <\/span>Thessalonians <\/span>5:<\/span>17, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>
    Prayer <\/span>keeps <\/span>us <\/span>alert, <\/span>connected <\/span>to <\/span>God, <\/span>and <\/span>strengthens <\/span>us <\/span>against <\/span>temptation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    The <\/span>Word <\/span>of <\/span>God<\/span><\/strong>
    \u201c<\/span>Your <\/span>word <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>lamp <\/span>to <\/span>my <\/span>feet <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>light <\/span>to <\/span>my <\/span>path.\u201d<\/span><\/em> \u2014 <\/span>Psalm <\/span>119:<\/span>105, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>
    Scripture <\/span>equips <\/span>us <\/span>with <\/span>truth, <\/span>helping <\/span>us <\/span>recognize <\/span>the <\/span>lies <\/span>and <\/span>schemes <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>enemy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Evangelism (<\/span>Witnessing)<\/span><\/strong>
    \u201c<\/span>Go <\/span>into <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>world <\/span>and <\/span>preach <\/span>the <\/span>gospel <\/span>to <\/span>all <\/span>creation.\u201d<\/span><\/em> \u2014 <\/span>Mark <\/span>16:<\/span>15, <\/span>NIV<\/span><\/em>
    Sharing <\/span>our <\/span>faith <\/span>keeps <\/span>our <\/span>hearts <\/span>engaged <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>mission <\/span>of <\/span>Christ <\/span>and <\/span>exposes <\/span>the <\/span>works <\/span>of <\/span>darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When <\/span>we <\/span>commit <\/span>ourselves <\/span>to <\/span>these <\/span>disciplines, <\/span>Satan <\/span>becomes <\/span>powerless\u2014<\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>confused <\/span>serpent <\/span>with <\/span>no <\/span>target <\/span>to <\/span>strike. <\/span>He <\/span>will <\/span>have <\/span>no <\/span>foothold <\/span>in <\/span>our <\/span>lives (<\/span>Ephesians <\/span>4:<\/span>27), <\/span>and <\/span>we <\/span>will <\/span>finish <\/span>our <\/span>race <\/span>victoriously.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The <\/span>reward <\/span>for <\/span>such <\/span>a <\/span>life <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>fame <\/span>or <\/span>fortune <\/span>on <\/span>earth, <\/span>but <\/span>eternal <\/span>glory <\/span>and <\/span>honor <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>presence <\/span>of <\/span>God<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>2 <\/span>Timothy <\/span>4:<\/span>7-<\/span>8).<\/span><\/p>\n

    Let <\/span>us <\/span>not <\/span>reduce <\/span>or <\/span>neglect <\/span>these <\/span>spiritual <\/span>practices. <\/span>If <\/span>we <\/span>decrease <\/span>in <\/span>holiness, <\/span>prayer, <\/span>the <\/span>Word, <\/span>or <\/span>witnessing, <\/span>we <\/span>give <\/span>the <\/span>enemy <\/span>clarity\u2014<\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>chance <\/span>to <\/span>strike. <\/span>And <\/span>if <\/span>he <\/span>succeeds <\/span>in <\/span>taking <\/span>us <\/span>down, <\/span>the <\/span>fall <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>great, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>reward <\/span>lost.<\/span><\/p>\n

    So <\/span>keep <\/span>playing. <\/span>Keep <\/span>performing\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>for <\/span>man, <\/span>but <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>One <\/span>who <\/span>called <\/span>you.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Maranatha\u2014<\/span>The <\/span>Lord <\/span>is <\/span>coming!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n