The Price is Right

All of the baby boomers reading this will probably remember a TV show in the 60’s called “The Price is Right” which morphed in the 70’s into “The New Price is Right,” and is still the longest running game show in the history of television. The show is based on players, picked from the audience, whose bid on prizes is closest to the actual retail price of the prize, without going over, wins the prize and plays the next pricing game.

As members of the body of Christ, we must ask ourselves, if we have unknowingly become a participant in a deadly spiritual version of The Price is Right. Let me explain. Because of the fall, we all have needs. We are aware of some needs, but not all. Many of our unknown needs are so deeply intrenched in our psychological make-up, that we’re not even conscious of their existence. Unfulfilled needs are a real danger because the enemy of our soul is aware of them, and will use them to entrap, and defeat us. He keeps pressing our psychological buttons to touch our greatest need. Once he finds it, he works to bring a person, process, situation, or position into our life to meet that need.

When a match occurs and we move in to embrace our prize-- the Price is Right!

By the world’s standards, and Satan’s, everyone has a price. The question is-- what is the right price? In the wilderness we can see Satan’s methods when he was tempting Jesus. He was continually probing Jesus’ to see if He had a need that could be manipulated. Ultimately, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory (Matt. 4:1-9). Then he made his sales pitch, saying – all these things I will give you, if You will fall down and do things my way. At this point, Jesus basically said – get lost! There was no prize the devil could offer to get Jesus to compromise and cross over to his way of thinking and doing things.

Jesus didn’t have a price, but do you?

Do you have a price? You need to know because its for sure the enemy of your soul knows what it is, and what it will take to get you to betray Christ who is in you. Remember it was the world system of His day, particularly the religious system that killed the Son of God.

As we look around us, we find ourselves more and more grieved over the compromise we see that has “creeped” into the body of Christ. In some instances there wasn’t a “creeping” --there was a headlong hurdling into compromise—often under the tag of “unity.”

We remember watching mega Church leaders jump headlong into “Chrislam”—claiming that Christians and Islam worship the same God. A document called a Common Word and A Christian’s Response to a Common Word, was sent around for ministry leaders to sign and come into agreement with this abominable concept that Islam and Christians believe in the same God. It was mind- boggling WHO signed that document! It was done under the tag of “unity” and working together for “love“ and the “common good.”

We have watched individuals and churches refuse to accept the Holy Spirit, but more than willing to accept members of secret societies. In too many groups they not only allow Masonic members, but have Masonic pastors, elders, and leaders over their churches and denominations. We have seen other Christian leaders bring in men who belong to the demonic brotherhood of Skull and Bones to teach on financial principles for bringing about the transference of wealth. The rationalization was that it’s all right to “use them” as long as it brings money into our churches and our ministries.

There are Christian leaders and ministries who are members of Knights of Malta (top of the ladder of the occult), Opus Dei (Jesuit Order), and other New World Order groups, or who knowingly have such people on their boards and in high places within their ministerial organizations.

Then there are groups who are going to graveyards and laying hands on graves to tap into the “anointing” of long dead prominent saints. This is occult channeling of an unholy anointing. What about those who are going to the third heaven at will, and claiming to have consulted with the Apostle Paul and even Moses? This is necromancy, a practice despised by our Lord. Then we have the spirit of Kundalini, a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit, which is flourishing within some charismatic circles who have openly embraced yoga, and an emphasis on the methods of new age meditation.

We have watched for years as the doctrine of “contextualization” has been used within Native America Christian circles to bring deception to native and non-native alike. Through this deceptive doctrine that emphasizes healing through culture, rather than Christ, we have seen many fall back into alcoholism and sexual perversion-- destroying marriages and causing good people to walk away from Christ, wounded and bitter.

We need to know our price folks. As a result of the fall, we all have five psychological needs that only God can fulfill—but that we will try to fulfill through seeking the “prize.” The five needs are: (1) Security, (2) Love, (3) Acceptance, (4) Affirmation (Honor), and, (5) Approval.

The need for security will lead us to seek the prize of riches and whatever we have to do to gain it. We will become a part of whatever helps us to meet our need to succeed. The prize of security, according to the world, may actually bring about the very destruction for our families, and self, that we most fear.

The need for love will lead us into ungodly and self-destructive relationships. Our boundaries will be crossed and we will cross others’ boundaries. The prize of worldly love can never take the place of God’s all fulfilling love, and will bring shame, hurt and bitterness rather than a hope and a future.

The need for acceptance silences us into rationalizing sin, leading us into compromise in order to be accepted by peers. All sorts of groups, including secret societies, are inviting to our need for acceptance. The prize of having friends and being accepted in these ungodly groups will wreck our destiny and steal our birthright.

The need for affirmation and honor will cause us to walk over others to gain the prize of prominence and recognition. The need to be seen as “having arrived”— “as important” –being seen next to “big names” will cause us to lose sight of God’s agenda for a lost and dying world.

The need for approval will keep us in fear of man and we won’t confront sin in our ministry, our church, our families, or within our communities or nation. It is more important to “not offend” anyone at all costs. The prize of being seen as a nice person to others is more important than being a man or woman of God’s truth.

Mt. 7. 6. “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Jesus didn’t have a price and couldn’t be bought because He was already totally sold out to do the will of the Father. His prize was to fulfill the will of the Father to redeem all of mankind.

If you are still bartering for a prize—any other prize than complete Servant Hood for the sake of the only One who matters—then you have settled for fools gold rather than the entire gold mine your father meant for you to have.

Paul said: (Phillipians 3. 13-14) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

We need to ask: What is my price? And what is the prize I am seeking?

First Nations Counseling Ministries is a 501©3 org. You may donate through the following: FNCM, PO Box 813, O’Fallon, MO 63368 or go to: www.fncm.us then hit PayPal button.

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Linda Doxtator, PhD, LPC