Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Lately my spirit has been crying out for the new. My heart is saying, “All things new, All things new!” The frustrating part is that naturally; I don’t see a lot of new things happening in my life. Though there have been many many recent changes in our everyday living due to the pandemic, I still have an intense longing within to see the manifest promises of God in my life. The new places He has called me to walk in, the new connections that He is sending my way, and the new operation of gifts that He has imparted in me. I recognize the place I’m in because I’ve been here before. In fact, I encounter this place each time God is doing a new thing!

I remember when I was a babe in Christ growing in my relationship with God and very eager to be used by Him. I began recognizing needs within the church I was attending. This was the first time I experienced what it’s like to feel a pull on my spiritual capacity. It was like feeling moved by love to intervene. And not only that but I experienced a special feeling of empowerment, which I know now is God’s anointing to carry out what I felt moved to do. I wrote out the vision God gave me and presented it to leadership, BUT I wasn’t known- me or the gifts God graced me to operate in- beyond my family connections. Needless to say, I was not received because for one, the perception held of me was only natural. They couldn’t see me spiritually therefore I couldn’t do much there. When Jesus began ministering, the word says he couldn’t perform many great miracles in his hometown due to the unbelief of the people who knew him. They were offended by him because their perception of him was only as the carpenter’s son (Matthew 13:54-58). Familiarity Breeds Contempt.

Familiar- well known from long or close association Contempt- the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn (dictionary.com)

God removed me from that ministry and sent me to one that was triple in size and where I knew no one and no one there knew me. It hurt me to leave because there was a sense of familiarity, love, and comfortability in the old, but God knew I needed the experiences in the new and unfamiliar in order to grow. Once I joined that new body of believers, there was almost immediate access given to me to operate in my gifts. I was well received and God used me in many ways. It was the first time I was allowed to spread my wings in ministry. I received mentorship, training, and leadership opportunities that helped me grow and develop extensively. This was such an amazing time in my life, I still look back in awe and wonder. It gave me room to ride the wings of my faith and vision on a level of operation that stretched me and gave me foundational experience to grow from. Where I had been quenched in the other church, I flourished in the new place. I am glad I was obedient to God’s voice to move from the old to the new. So I recognize spiritually where I am right now. I know my feelings are springing from the need to leave the old for the new. I feel it in my relationships, in my physical environment, and in my realm of influence and operation. Everyone is too familiar. God has developed me exponentially over the last 8 to 9 months, but can I birth the new me where I am? Would I purchase or build a new home then furnish it with old things? NO! You cannot put new wine into old wineskins, lest they burst and the wine is wasted. I don’t want what God has done in me to be wasted. It has cost me too much! The crushing and pressing for this oil has been costly, and I am very protective over the gifts I carry. I want to be purposeful and effective:

Purposeful- just what was needed for the situation, the answer to someone’s desperate prayer.

While I am experiencing disregard and contempt here, I know there is a place where someone is crying out for what God has graced me to offer! I want to be purposeful!

Effective- successful in fulfilling intended use or purpose.

I’m exhausted and battered from spiritual mis-use and abuse. When people hold a perception of you that’s in disregard of who you are spiritually, misuse and abuse enters the relationship.

What you offer cannot be properly applied in their life, causing your substance to be wasted. They will overlook or disregard you, in search of something that better fits their perception or level of comfort. We as people pick and choose WHO we will receive from, even when the gift is exactly the same. In response to being picked over, I’ve heard many people say,“Well, I’m NOT called to everyone!” My response to that: No YOU are not, but the GIFT you carry definitely IS! The word says, “WHOSOEVER WILL, COME!”

In the book of Matthew, Jesus was walking through Lebanon when a Canaanite woman cried out to him, “Lord, Son of David, show mercy to me! My daughter is horribly afflicted by a demon that torments her.” Jesus IGNORED this woman until she made such a fuss even his disciples asked him why he ignored her. Jesus' response was, “I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel.” But this woman did not give up, she came and bowed before Jesus and pleaded with him to help. Jesus proceeded to call this woman a begging dog! How embarrassing! But she was still undeterred! She humbly responds, “Even the puppy gets the crumbs falling from the prince’s table.” Guess what? Her faith got Jesus’ attention!! He responded, “DEAR WOMAN, YOUR FAITH IS STRONG!” and he gave her what she requested! (Matthew 15:21-18)

But WHY? Jesus himself said that he was not sent for her BUT this woman RECOGNIZED who he was and by that revelation understood what he carried!! She pursued the GIFT!! The GIFT IS FOR EVERYONE! The ONLY requirement is FAITH!

Preferences and tastes for what the outer package looks like is carnality, but faith allows you to see beyond the natural into the spirit! Without faith it is impossible to please (position yourself to receive from) God. You must first believe that He IS! AND that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. If your perception of God is tainted or skewed, then your ability to receive from Him is also tainted and skewed. That doesn’t change who God is, but it limits you in experiencing all He is because of your own perception. Unfortunately, most times in order for us to be effective in life whether in business or ministry we have to get away from who are familiar with us, those who already have an inflexible perception of who they think we are. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” then he asked them, “And who do YOU say that I am?” Peter’s confession of Christ was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the truth. If people around you don’t know you according to spirit and truth, then they also cannot receive spiritually from you. I pray for myself and anyone else experiencing this type of spiritual contempt. I pray that if the spiritual eyes of those around us will not be opened, that God would open new doors of opportunity for us to go where we will be purposeful and effective for His kingdom and His glory. I also pray that we don’t become discouraged by the unbelief that hinders the flow of His spirit in us. AMEN