Be "in", don't "spin".

by Craig Emerson Strain

The legacy of sin is "spin". It is a subtle reminder of the flesh that most people will not acknowledge. There is a big difference between "Truth" and "spin". Truth stands for its self; truth will make you free: spin needs to be modified for each instance to make sure that it will sound right in the given circumstance.

A sign in front of a Church says it well.

"Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it."

Spin is when something you say has to be modified or presented in such a way to make it more correct or more acceptable to the party that is going to hear it.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

When Adam sinned and was caught in his transgression of God's commandment. Adam's answer to God was not in truth, but a careful "spin" hoping that he wouldn't be found at fault.

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

See, it wasn't my fault, but it was the woman that you gave me, she told me wrong. It wasn't my fault, it was her fault! What ever difficulty you are in, get out of the spin. Get in God's mercy and forgiveness.

We have watched leaders state, "it depends on what the word 'is' means". We have watched how people assume that if you word it correct, then it is correct. How wrong of a deception that that is! It denies you from God's mercy!

Saul was commanded by God to destroy the Amalekites and to utterly destroy all the people.

1 Sam 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
1 Sam 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

Now remember, this was God's commandment to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites.

1 Sam 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
1 Sam 15:10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
1 Sam 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

God knows your heart, He knows exactly what He has told you to do. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Now Saul is going to give a great spin on telling how well that he followed God's leadership.

1 Sam 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
1 Sam 15:14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

God knows the true situation.

1 Sam 15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

Now the spin really gets going. "I am so religious that we did this to worship God!" This is the beginnings of "self righteousness". Saul presented his self will as God's will.

Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

I have watched people "justify" their actions because of a "great calling". Deceive other people for their own "self gain" or glory; or even for "the Lord's work". I have watched people "spin" until they are so "dizzy" that they wouldn't even know the truth if they saw it. I have watched Churches and Church organizations use their "inter circle" to mold the direction of the people and then "miss" God's perfect will. What a terrible condition to get in. It is worse than the sin itself. Because now it demands others to be a part of the lie and deception.

1 Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1 Cor 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

This is so important of a message. If God wants something to come to pass, wait on the Lord to bring it to pass! Don't spin to make it happen! If God says it, he'll bring it to pass.

1 Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1 Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Th 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

If you have a "spin" going on in the office. Abstain from that conversation. Stay in God's will. If you have a "spin" going in your Church, abstain from that conversation. Stay in God's will. If you have a "spin" going on in your family, abstain from that conversation. You will be a blessing, because you are going to trust in the Lord to handle the situation. In Psalms 48:2 it says the Lord is "Beautiful for situation."

Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Cor 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

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