Read Online Stepping Down by Michelle Stimpson - Free Book Online Page B

fall
asleep at any moment. But at least he wasn’t texting anymore during service.
    Sharla
sat on the front row to his right, where she always sat. Same fake grin.
Different hairstyle.
    After
focusing himself with the thought that at least his family was physically
present in the house of God, Mark trained his eyes on the Word again, reading
verses one through nine. “May the Lord add a blessing to the hearers and doers
of His word.”
    “Amen,”
the congregation agreed.
    “My
brothers and sisters, I want to talk to you today about the fact that you don’t
have to live in sin. You don’t have to live in obedience to your flesh. Because
Christ died and rose again, those of us who believe on Him have died with Him,
according to Colossians three and three. And we find here in First John the
product of a life lived in Christ—freedom from the rule and reign of sin,
even as we go about our lives in this mortal body.”
    The
audience resembled deer in the headlights.
    “You
see, before Christ, you and I didn’t have a choice. We had to obey our flesh
because it was our master. But once we believe and receive Christ, we exchange
our lives for His.”
    A
few amens.
    “Now,
Paul did say in Romans that there is a war going on inside of us—the
flesh still wants what it wants.”
    “You
right about that!” from someone.
    “You
still have cravings and desires and suggestions that rise out of your body,”
Mark continued.
    He
got a whole chorus of amens on that one. But his heart sank as he realized his
congregation could relate more to their human shortcomings than to the victory
already secured in Christ.
    He
had failed the people miserably, and he’d have to answer to God for it. What
do you want me to do?
    Mark
yanked the microphone from its holder and stepped down from the pulpit.
Jonathan quickly followed behind him, wearing a confused look on his face. Mark
pointed for Jonathan to sit down next to Sharla.
    “Saints
of God, members of New Vision, I have a confession to make.”
    An
audible rattling swept through the building. People straightened up in their
seats. The balcony seemed to lean in closer. He could see Jonathan shaking his
head and mouthing the words ‘I don’t know’ to the fellow ministers.
    Mark
knew that he was making everyone uncomfortable, perhaps most of all his wife.
To calm Sharla, he flashed a quick smile in her direction.
    “The
Lord has been dealing with me about something,” Mark continued. “For the past
six years, I’ve been preaching to you about many, many things.”
    “Mmmm
hmmm,” they prodded.
    “Many
things that are beneficial.”
    “Mmmm
hmmm.”
    “I’ve
taught you how to pray more effectively, how to get out of debt, how to get
healed, how to get whatever you want from God.”
    “That’s
right,” they played along.
    “I’ve
given you plenty of how-to’s, but not the who .”
    “That’s
right,” Mother Herndon bellowed. “Help him, Jesus!”
    “I
stand up here week after week telling you all stuff that I thought you all
needed to hear when, really, all you need is in Jesus—the very last part
of what gets mentioned every week. But you can’t know peace, you can’t know
love or joy or prosperity without Jesus Christ.
    “When
you think about the one person you love more than anything, even when they do
wrong, you don’t want them punished to the fullest extent possible. We got
people in this church who have given all kinds of collateral—houses,
cars, savings accounts, taken second and third jobs—to get a good
attorney to argue the case for a child they know did wrong. But even
though they know that boy did wrong, they still want mercy.
    “That’s
exactly what Christ did for us. He sacrificed Himself so you and I could have
mercy. Hebrews seven and twenty-five says He ever lives to intercede for us.
And then he turned around and gave His life for us and to us so we
wouldn’t ever have to submit to sin again. Even when we get off track, the
sacrifice