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Would You Stay? (God's Concerns Series) - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) March 13, 2026

P L U N D E R E R
3 days ago
3 min read

There's a saying nowadays: go where you are appreciated and not where you are tolerated. It makes sense, no? Why stay where you are not treated well, and your talents are undervalued? Despite how sensible this statement seems, Christians must remember that a time may come when the Lord will send them where they are unwelcome and even despised. He could also ask them, as His servant, to leave a place where they were appreciated.

The question is, will you obey His instructions or will you decide to apply worldly wisdom instead of the godly kind?

Consider Jesus's experience in Galilee. While there, He performed countless miracles, signs, and wonders. Unlike the people of the Gadarenes who asked Him to leave after He healed the man who'd been demonized by 'Legion', this community tried to stop Him from going. Luke 4:43 - But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”

If most of us had been despised and conspired against as He was, it likely would have been tempting to remain among friendly faces. Jesus, however, put God's concerns above His. He made sure that flesh, pride, and the desire to please men did not interfere with His assignment. In humility to His Father, He rejected the invitation to remain, continuing on a journey He knew would lead to certain death.

How many of us could set aside what makes sense to put God's plan first? Could we give up our right to choose for ourselves? Would we get angry, bitter, and resentful with the Lord? Would that saying, "go where you're appreciated," convince us to stay where we are?

The Christian journey often requires hard choices. Following the Lord in obedience is far from easy, especially when He requires us to become comfortable with the uncomfortable. In the seasons of pruning, waiting, suffering - however it is the Lord chooses to build us for His purpose. In those moments, faith, not fear, is key. Worship, instead of complaints, will empower. The Word and the Holy Spirit must also serve as anchors.

We must not reject the Lord's process, and we have to be willing to follow in Christ's footsteps. Like Him. We must choose to give God our 'yes' even when we are called to leave places, situations, and people that we are comfortable with. Remember that long before Christ's example, Abraham, our spiritual ancestor, left his home and loved ones for an uncertain future because He'd heard the voice of God telling Him to do so. It's the Christian thing to do.

Both Abraham and Jesus were rewarded for submitting. Abraham was blessed with wealth in descendants and finances (Romans 4:11-12; Genesis 13:2). Jesus became wealthy in every way, receiving power, strength, wisdom, and more (Revelation 5:12). He was also honored with the privilege of being at God's right hand (Romans 8:34). That same God who sent His servants from comfortable places will care for us when we make a practice of obedience and putting His concerns first. He can be trusted at all times and in all ways. IJMN Amen.

As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

Again, Don't Dehumanize - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) March 10, 2026

P L U N D E R E R
6 days ago
4 min read

Can we agree that Friday's message was a tough one to swallow? Or was I the only one who spent time in consternation and repentance? If you weren't convicted, please ask the Lord to help you understand the post and the underlying issues it presented. The goal wasn't to burden anyone with guilt, shame, or condemnation. If you believe in Jesus and gave your life to Him, then those are not your portion according to Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. He literally died on the cross to bring us redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

However, that freedom comes when we repent and live in a manner that reflects the fact that we repented (Matthew 3:8). That can't happen if we don't know what we've done wrong, and only the Lord can help us with that when we ask Him for understanding. It is then that we can change and turn from our sin to doing what is righteous. So, I again want to implore you to prayerfully ask God to open your mind so you see things as He does and move accordingly.

When you repent, also ask the Lord to show you how not to repeat what you repented for. Don't assume you can do that on your own. Pray for a strategy to keep you from the places and people that previously compelled you to participate in what dehumanized people. Yes, this includes porn and other related sexual programming. Yes, even when the 'performer' or actor has chosen to put themselves in such a position. 1 Corinthians 6:19 - Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. The human body belongs to God, and those who abuse it likely don't understand how God perceives what they are doing. If they did, they'd likely stop.

That said, let us not join them in the dehumanization of their bodies. Instead, it is for us to pray for their freedom from the attitudes and people that keep them in that predicament. The Lord will help us all, and we can rely on Him to show us what we can and shouldn't do.

For you, the issue might not be pornography, but it could be something else you watch or read that belittles and cheapens God's workmanship. Listen, I've watched God change what I watch on the various streaming channels and where I go for entertainment, so I know that He can transform a person's entertainment tastes. If we let Him, the Lord will help us and steer us away from what saddens Him and ultimately harms us. As an example, I went from being a boxing enthusiast to not being able to watch someone pummel another that way. And I assure you, it's not because I've suddenly gotten 'soft' and sensitive.

Please remember that even the things we say about people must not dehumanize those whom God created. Our words are powerful and can indeed impact them in both the physical and spiritual. This, therefore, requires intentionality about how we use our words so we show kindness and love to others. Before we can achieve this, our minds need to be renewed. Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ask the Lord to renew your mind and take steps toward this by changing what you focus on. Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. We need more of what Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about. This may mean cutting back on the news and seeking out testimonies, sermons, and Spirit-led programming. Additionally, none of this will matter if we are not allowing the word of God to wash our thoughts and, indeed, our very hearts.

I'm not telling anyone to do anything that I have not been required to do or am not actively practicing. I am not exempt from God's instructions and have had to submit more and more of my life to Him. He has been faithful and continues to challenge me to stretch in areas that seem uncomfortable but are for the good of my soul today and in eternity. And as we cede more control, we become those He can trust to reveal what needs to be known so that He is honored by our public and private choices. The Lord will help us all, IJMN, Amen.

As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

Don't Dehumanize Others - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) March 6 2026

P L U N D E R E R
Mar 6
5 min read

When God created humanity, He fashioned them to resemble Him (Genesis 1:27). He also shared His very breath with Adam, thus making people even more unique than anything else He'd made (Genesis 2:7). They, thus, shared of His very essence. He went further to distinguish mankind by sending His only begotten Son to die on their behalf in the uneven exchange. And in Ephesians 2:10, people are called His "masterpiece" reinforcing that they are a big deal.

So, why is it that we have normalized attitudes, imagery, and speech that dehumanize God's workmanship? Why do our screens flash with footage of people's death moments, such as planes falling from the sky or bombed buildings collapsing? Why do we simulate gruesome behavior and killings to entertain ourselves? Why do we speak so poorly about people made in the image of God, and treat them even worse, with little fear of Him who created them?

It shouldn't surprise you to know this is part of satan's design. It hates human beings and the fact that they are precious to God. It envies the fact that people were made a little lower than angels, and that despite their sin, they've been crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:7). Meanwhile, it lost its exalted position in the court of God when, in pride, it challenged His authority. The result was an absence of grace and mercy, which humanity enjoys.

Sadly, we cooperate with the devil's plans to rubbish what the Lord deems significant when we dehumanize others. We do this when we fail to show love and apply the Royal Law, as Jesus commanded. We do this when we opt to be argumentative, insult people, and be petty to them. We side with satan's plans when we play games and watch programming that makes little of God's creations. This can include shows that display gruesome and macabre treatment.

This can also look like programming that thrives on hypercriticism and encourages ungodly discourse about our fellow human beings. People whom Jesus Christ died for. When this happens, we often tend to be gathered with those who are a part of our 'tribe' or the factions we have chosen to be a part of. And anyone who isn't included is otherized, demonized, and viciously attacked. In such settings, even Christians forget to speak graciously and extend compassion. All so we can be well entertained and laugh hard. Instead of distracting ourselves from the tough issues we face, we compounded things by displeasing the Lord with sin.

In many ways, I am speaking from experience. I spent years dissecting politics professionally and personally. It caused me to be harsh and to sin in my attitudes and comments about people, for which I have had to repent. Apart from this, I have enjoyed programming that displayed the violent deaths of people for no other reason than to push gore and pseudo-realism. None of which added to the story being told. I have wasted time going from gossip blog to blog to learn what celebrities were doing and stayed to laugh at the cutting comments people would make about others, ignoring that their feelings would be hurt. And worse, ignoring how God felt.

Whether I knew it or not, these behaviors of mine agreed with satan's desire to disrespect God, and I should never have disregarded the Lord in that or any other way. I had no right to belittle Him especially after all He's done for my loved ones and myself. There were and remain better ways to have fun and relax that don't dehumanize others. His word warns us to agree with Him so we can be at peace (Job 22:21). We are not to do the opposite - agree with His enemy.

The truth is that many of us just don't realize we are doing this. And in our ignorance, we end up sinning (Hosea 4:6). This is why the Lord wants His own to spend more time studying His word, so He can use it to teach them what they should be doing versus what they have no business being a part of. This is also why Jesus told His disciples to anticipate and desire the Holy Spirit so they could have continuous guidance. And only when we (increasingly) adopt these two changes in our lives will we go from offending others and the Lord through dehumanization to honoring them and the God who created them.

How we treat what and who God created is a statement on how we regard the Lord and His majesty. This is something we don't always realize. Yet, that doesn't change its truth. God is kind, loving, and patient, which is why, despite our many sins, He continues to show us mercy. We wake each morning and have reason to smile, despite the chaos in the world around us. And because He hasn't called us to order on certain things, it is easy to think there is nothing we need to change. Alas, I pray that this message calls your attention to one way the Lord is calling us all to improve. Let Him show you how you may have participated in the dehumanization of others. Only He can.

And when He does, please repent profusely. Realize that He loves all whom He created. None should be disregarded, disrespected, or maltreated through the things we think, say, and do. We should never rubbish His masterpieces because that does not reflect the God we claim to love. It instead makes us resemble our enemy, satan. I pray that we will stand firm for the Lord and His desires in everything we do, allowing Him to teach us what to do and not to do, so we never disregard His Son's sacrifice and always put the devil to everlasting shame, IJMN, Amen. By the grace of God, we will learn how to no longer commit this grave error.

As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages: