I Ain't Mad At Ya!

Mark 9:10
Whoever is not against us is for us.

Someone has said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but when Christina Aguilera copied Pink’s style by using her songwriter, Pink said, “Imitation is the highest form of irritation.” When you are the pioneer or originator of something it can be irritating when you look up and see others duplicating or even stealing your idea. We live in a very competitive world where the marketplace is full of clutter and business evolves at a fast pace. Sony’s book reader will be replaced tomorrow by Apple’s Ipad and then something else the next day.

In this world of clutter, we all fight for our corner of the Market share only to find others borrowing in the absence of their own creativity and identity. Your creativity and identity flows out of who you are and whose you are. As Disciples of Christ, the fruit we produce is a result of whom we are connected to. Jesus said, “apart from me you cannot produce any fruit.”

His disciples took this to heart when they saw a man casting out demons using Jesus’ name. He was not a disciple he was just using the brand. It was not uncommon for magicians and healers to invoke the names of other gods in their healing efforts. (Acts 19:11-20)

The disciples wanted to raise the anxiety level of Jesus to their level of agitation especially since they had failed to cast out the demon earlier in the chapter. It’s frustrating to see somebody who doesn’t have a heart to do what you love to do but you weren’t successful to do. They are successful by accident but what Jesus has to tell them is the same thing he has to tell us…”It ain’t about you.” I ain’t mad at Ya…if it’s helping that man who had the demon what does it matter that they did it for their own name recognition? I ain’t mad at ya! If it blesses the community because you are advancing the Kingdom of God why should I be upset that you got there first using my idea I ain’t mad at ya! When the name of Jesus is evoked something happens in the earth.

Jesus said that when someone who is not in our group, tribe, or church does something we were called to do:

1. Do not stop them. If they are doing a good deed of Power. This man probably had seen Jesus teaching his disciples how to cast out demons or had seen Jesus do it himself. He began to copy what Jesus had done and helped somebody. It’s alright to be a copycat as long as you are copying the right cat. There is no copyright on doing right.

2. Jesus said my name goes forward and they will not be able to speak against it. Jesus said that His name or His brand was going forward as a result of this good deed of Power.

3. Whoever is not against us is for us. In other words, if the Kingdom of God is benefited by someone whose heart is not in it, they might not have done it for the right reason but if people are being helped let it go. If the greater good is being done for the good of the people what does it matter who gets the credit as long as God gets the Glory?

Dear God, you get all the glory! Whatever methods, innovations, techniques, or technology can help deliver your people then let it be done in Jesus name. We don’t have a patent on the Holy Ghost. If they are not against us then they are for us. Thank you for the Victory!

In Jesus Name,

Amen