7/25/26 "Just Checking In" ~ From (Originated by) Charles L. Robinson Jr.

Hello, My ECP Family and whoever else finds this message. I Hope everyone has been having a good week. We didn't have our mid-week "Just Checking In" this week, therefore, this is the first time we have communicated this week (in the form of this social media - Facebook communication.) However, here we are and as always I try to communicate with you at least once per week specifically through this Facebook social media platform. Also, thank you so much for your responses. It means so much for me to hear from you (having dual communication) in the various ways you feel comfortable communicating. In the spirit of appreciation and mutual edification, keep responding with whatever is on your heart and with that being said, I still have not heard (within responses) any specific topic you would like to discuss. So, I will continue to take the lead on both selecting and moderating this week's topic. I would like to present a friendly reminder regarding "Think spirit first, means second".

When I say "Think spirit first, means second", I encourage you to condition yourself to think about, what spirit is behind the voice (voice being the means)? What spirit is influencing the behavior (behavior being the means)? So, if it's the spirit of God is behind "the person's" voice and behavior then think God first then "the person" second. But let's keep it real, how many times (not all the time) when there is a discussion and/or acknowledgment of behavior, the name of the person doing the talking or behaving is discussed more than naming the spirit. Now, I'm not saying that you have to say the spirit of God (or whatever other spirit) in every other word in your conversation, but the named spirit should at least be in the conversation to some degree. Why? It reminds you (and others) that there is a specific spirit involved in the circumstance. Why is it important to remember that there is a spirit in circumstances? 1) for your adherence (if it's the spirit of God), 2) for your guidance (if it's the spirit of God), 3) for your appropriate honor (if it's the spirit of God), and 4) to keep you understanding the nature of your potential responsibility of contributing (nature of ministering to) the circumstance. You see, when you are so much focused on "the person" and/or "the circumstance" without acknowledgement of the specific spirit that's influencing "the person" and/or "the circumstance", then your adherence-guidance-honor-contributing (ministering) functions on blurriness. Blurriness defined as your sight and mind being in the state of confusion. Now, here's the trick, you don't even know you are confused because you are settled on all your conclusions within the matter based on "the person" or "the circumstance" but it's really the spirit (or flesh) that's influencing the person-circumstance and the actual spirit can be totally different than your conclusion of the person-circumstance. Examples: A clean spirit (the spirit of God) could be influencing the person-circumstance but you may not like what the person says or the happenings in the circumstance, well actually whether you realize it or not, you are not liking the spirit of God; OR, an unclean spirit (a spirit unlike God) could be influencing "the person" or "the circumstance" and you like what's being said and/or what's being done, well you may not realize it but you are actually liking an unclean spirit. If you don't realize the spirit, then you could be confused not realizing you are confused. However, if you remain thinking spirit first (before the means) then you have a much greater chance of adhering, being guided, honoring, and contributing (ministering) appropriately.

It happens! A nation got confused and wanted a monarchy (a person ruling - a king.) God's perfect will was to have a theocracy (God's kingly rule over the people.) However, in God's permissive will, he gave the nation a king though a monarchy anyway (but they were still suppose to see God ultimately first and foremost influencing the King. Therefore, whether monarchy or theocracy, the spirit first and means second.) Another group of people got confused. God was influencing a group of leaders and the followers of the leaders got confused. The followers were actually seeking God but became more focused on the means (the leaders.) As a result, they didn't accept God through all the leaders because of their preferences of a given leader. The mistake was not that they could not have a preference leader amongst all the leaders, their mistake was not acknowledging God still working through the leader not of their preference. Just because a particular leader is preferred doesn't mean that God does not still work through other leaders. They didn't realize that disacknowledging the leader not of their choice was actually disacknowledging God. Leadership is good thing (God works through leadership), they just were confused not knowing they were confused identified as adhering to leadership without acknowledging the spirit. All this within both examples of the distinct groups had a direct effect on their appropriate adherence-guidance- honor-and contributing (ministering.) If they would have thought "spirit first, means second" then they would have had a much greater chance of evading their perspective seasons of confusion. The blessing is that both exampled group (see scriptures below) eventually learned-returned to thinking "spirit first then means second" and adherences-guidance-honor- and contributing (ministering) became appropriate (by God's standards.) After the fact, they learned they were actually confused in their previous circumstance thinking they were not confused.

My ECP family and whoever else finds this message: Again, I'm not saying you have to present yourself as some super spiritual person or theologian, but I do encourage you to speak and think "spirit first and means second". In doing so, it will help you in your stewardship amongst other people and circumstances whereby your adherence, guidance, honor, and contributing (ministering) is on point and not blurry. God bless you and your families, have an amazing upcoming week, and I look forward to communicating with you next week. God speed!

"DO NOT DECEIVE YOURSELVES. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become fools so you may become wise. So then, no more boasting about human leaders. All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death - all are yours. and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God" 1 Corinthians 3:18,21-22

"But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us', this displeased, Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: Listen to all that the people are saying to you; IT IS NOT YOU THAT THEY HAVE REJECTED, BUT THEY HAVE REJECTED ME AS THEIR KING" 1 Samuel 8:6-7

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