Lean not unto thine own understanding part two

To reinforce and reiterate the fact that this message of being free from the influence and bondage of man, while becoming totally dependent on God is central to God's heart for us, simply look at the verse found in the exact center of the Bible. Yes, if you took every verse in the Bible, counted them all then divided them up, you would find that Psalm 118 verse 8 is the exact center and it says "IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN". Why? As we've seen, trusting in man, in the arm of the flesh, puts us under a curse. Yet each time man has failed us, God has come through and faithfully kept his covenant with us. Because HE is our shepherd and not man, we shall not want EVER! We lived in Ireland for almost four years completely by faith and God never let us down, not for one minute of one day. It is so much better to trust Him and not some church's board of trustees. The Lord sternly warned us not to look to man for our support but to Him alone for as he put it "I have personally invited you to this nation, stop looking to man for your support".
We pray for every pastor or individual who has failed to keep their word to us and we are not bitter because of it. We forgive each and every one of them. Indeed, how often have we failed one another or the Lord? We can not even put confidence in ourselves, our own hearts, for they are wicked and decietful (apart from Him) and they will fail us. Our only real alternative is to arrive at the same conclusion Paul did, and believe it with all our hearts - that we should "worship God in thhe Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus and HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH" Ph:3:3, for after the flesh Paul, more than most, had much to brag about but he concluded it all wasn't worth a pile of dung and it's the same for us, exactly the same. Nothing we can produce in ourselves, of our flesh, in our own strength, can produce one iota of righteousness, which is why we must eat of the Tree of Life, Jesus' flesh and blood, for our own flesh and blood is corrupt and will fail us.
Remember the words of Jesus found in 2 Corinthians 12:9, for they are the key to freedom from dependence on flesh, on our own strength, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE, FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS". It is only by becoming weak that his strength can save us. This is why Jesus said in Psalm 8:2 - "OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES AND SUCKLINGS THOU HAST ORDAINED STRENGTH", for babes and sucklings are weak in the flesh, totally dependent on someone else's love to survive. In exactly the same way, we are totally helpless to survive spiritually both now and forever without God's love and grace and mercy for us, both his words and his deeds. No wonder, in Mathew 21:16, Jesus changes the word strength to Praise! For that is the only appropriate response to such a generous and loving God, heart felt, sincere Praise!
One last note to bring balance to this chapter. I must say that for everyone that has failed us, we have met just as many precious and dear pastor's and saints that have exemplified the honor and integrity that only the Holy Spirit can impart. All across Ireland, north and south, we have met many wonderful people that have accepted and loved us and they more than make up for the false, religious ones we have encountered. A major thrust of our ministry, any way, is to confront the religious spirit wherever we go, so we must meet and deal with the bad and the ugly as well as the good. No matter who lifts us up or puts us down, through it all we will continue to follow the Holy Spirit wherever he may lead for he is the source of our strength and not man. His strength and love will carry us through any trial.