Exposing the Counterfeit Bride's Worldly Walk: Ep 7: Feet on Fire

WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.720
Music.

00:00:12.615 --> 00:00:16.575
Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast with your host,

00:00:16.655 --> 00:00:21.395
Connie Morris, where healing has a voice and truth is no longer silent.

00:00:21.675 --> 00:00:26.355
Father God, like Jabez, we cry out that thou would bless us indeed.

00:00:26.915 --> 00:00:32.295
Bless every woman listening beyond trauma, beyond limits, beyond what she thought

00:00:32.295 --> 00:00:35.055
was possible. Enlarge her territory.

00:00:35.535 --> 00:00:39.255
Expand her purpose. Let your hand be upon this moment.

00:00:39.575 --> 00:00:45.455
Saturate every word with oil and truth. break cycles, cancel every curse sent

00:00:45.455 --> 00:00:48.955
to silence her. This isn't just a podcast.

00:00:49.175 --> 00:00:53.515
This is holy ground. In Jesus' name, amen.

00:00:53.895 --> 00:00:58.515
Welcome back, family, to the Diary of Black Women podcast, Church Chronicles,

00:00:58.835 --> 00:01:02.655
episode seven, The Feet Walking in Worldly Ways.

00:01:02.835 --> 00:01:07.095
I'm your host, Connie Morris, and today we will continue our journey through

00:01:07.095 --> 00:01:11.775
removing the cover and exposing the counterfeit bride.

00:01:12.095 --> 00:01:16.855
So far we've seen the head replaced by man, the eyes blinded,

00:01:17.055 --> 00:01:23.095
the ears itching for lies, the mouth preaching another gospel, the hands exploited.

00:01:23.335 --> 00:01:27.595
Now the Spirit of the Lord is uncovering the feet of the bride.

00:01:27.915 --> 00:01:34.135
Feet are meant to walk in the ways of God, to carry the gospel of peace,

00:01:34.255 --> 00:01:36.095
to stand firm on the rock.

00:01:36.215 --> 00:01:41.175
But with the counterfeit bride, her feet no longer follow Christ.

00:01:41.415 --> 00:01:45.495
Instead, they walk in the ways of the world, chasing politics.

00:01:45.935 --> 00:01:50.715
Power, platform, instead of pursuing holiness and the Great Commission.

00:01:51.035 --> 00:01:56.875
Romans 10 15 tells us how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

00:01:57.075 --> 00:02:03.415
Proverbs 4 verses 26 to 27 tells us, give careful thought to the path of your

00:02:03.415 --> 00:02:06.475
feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

00:02:06.655 --> 00:02:11.355
Do not turn to the right or the left. Keep your foot from evil.

00:02:11.835 --> 00:02:17.215
And then in Matthew 7 verses 13 and 14, it reads, enter through the narrow gate

00:02:17.215 --> 00:02:22.715
for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction.

00:02:22.715 --> 00:02:28.855
And many enter through it, but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life.

00:02:29.035 --> 00:02:34.255
And only a few will find it. The bride was called to walk in holiness,

00:02:34.495 --> 00:02:39.795
but too often her feet have strayed into worldly paths. And the Lord is asking,

00:02:40.095 --> 00:02:43.175
whose path are you walking on? Minds?

00:02:43.430 --> 00:02:47.530
Or the world. The feet walking in worldly ways.

00:02:47.690 --> 00:02:51.590
The direction of your feet determines the destination of your life.

00:02:51.810 --> 00:02:57.470
Feet were created to carry the bride into her purpose, to spread the gospel,

00:02:57.870 --> 00:03:00.890
to walk in holiness, to pursue righteousness.

00:03:01.250 --> 00:03:05.770
But in the counterfeit church, her feet have wandered off the narrow road.

00:03:05.930 --> 00:03:11.570
Instead of running to the altar, her feet run to politics. Instead of carrying

00:03:11.570 --> 00:03:16.350
the gospel of peace, her feet carry gossip and division.

00:03:16.630 --> 00:03:22.210
Instead of standing firm on the rock, capital R, rock of Jesus Christ.

00:03:22.690 --> 00:03:27.950
Her feet chase shifting sands of popularity, power, and influence.

00:03:28.290 --> 00:03:33.650
The Lord warns us in Proverbs 4, give careful thought to the path for your feet

00:03:33.650 --> 00:03:39.730
and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left.

00:03:40.130 --> 00:03:45.690
Keep your foot from evil. But the counterfeit bride doesn't stay on the narrow way.

00:03:45.830 --> 00:03:51.770
She turns to the right when it promises power and to the left when it promises influence.

00:03:52.070 --> 00:03:56.650
She forgets that the straight and narrow is the only way to lie.

00:03:56.850 --> 00:04:02.190
Matthew 7 tells us that wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to

00:04:02.190 --> 00:04:08.890
destruction and many enter through it. The feet of the counterfeit bride are on the broad road.

00:04:09.050 --> 00:04:11.310
It looks easy. It looks successful.

00:04:11.610 --> 00:04:14.710
It looks appealing, but it ends in destruction.

00:04:15.010 --> 00:04:20.150
Family, it's not the walk of the bride because when her feet walk in worldly

00:04:20.150 --> 00:04:23.850
ways, she cannot carry the presence of the bridegroom.

00:04:24.070 --> 00:04:29.010
The bridegroom path is holy, sacrifice, humility, and obedience.

00:04:29.370 --> 00:04:34.150
The counterfeit bride walks in pride, ambition, and compromise.

00:04:34.150 --> 00:04:37.350
The bridegroom cries out, where is my bride?

00:04:37.550 --> 00:04:41.930
Where is my bride whose feet run to righteousness instead of compromise?

00:04:42.230 --> 00:04:48.250
Where is my bride whose steps are ordered by the Lord and not directed by ambition?

00:04:48.470 --> 00:04:50.790
Where is my bride whose feet run?

00:04:50.965 --> 00:04:55.625
Carries the good news of salvation, not the agenda of man.

00:04:55.885 --> 00:05:03.385
Psalms 119, 133 says, Direct my footsteps according to your word. Let no sin rule over me.

00:05:03.625 --> 00:05:08.925
Isaiah 52, 7 declares, How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those

00:05:08.925 --> 00:05:12.965
who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,

00:05:13.125 --> 00:05:16.225
who proclaim salvation, and who says to Zion.

00:05:16.685 --> 00:05:19.005
Your God reigns.

00:05:19.005 --> 00:05:23.465
My bride does not walk on the wide road that leads to destruction.

00:05:23.485 --> 00:05:26.865
She stays on the narrow path that leads to life.

00:05:27.065 --> 00:05:33.225
My bride does not chase the claws of man. She follows the steps of her bridegroom.

00:05:33.485 --> 00:05:35.485
My bride does not run after power.

00:05:35.805 --> 00:05:38.905
She runs into my presence. Where is my bride?

00:05:39.225 --> 00:05:45.065
Not the one who walks in worldly ways. Not the one who stumbles after politics and pride.

00:05:45.365 --> 00:05:50.125
Not the one who follows the footsteps of the crowd. But the bride whose feet

00:05:50.125 --> 00:05:55.485
are steady, who walk is holy, whose path is lit by my word.

00:05:55.665 --> 00:05:59.905
Who will walk with me until the end? Guarding my walk.

00:06:00.065 --> 00:06:03.265
The direction of your feet determines where you end up.

00:06:03.405 --> 00:06:08.125
That means we have to be intentional about where and how we walk.

00:06:08.365 --> 00:06:13.325
The bridegroom is calling us to examine our steps and to make sure we are aligned

00:06:13.325 --> 00:06:19.005
with his path, not the world. So this is how you guard your walk.

00:06:19.285 --> 00:06:22.245
Number one, stay on the narrow road.

00:06:22.585 --> 00:06:25.125
Matthew 7, 14 says, small is

00:06:25.125 --> 00:06:30.505
a gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few will find it.

00:06:30.745 --> 00:06:34.065
Don't follow the crowd just because it looks successful.

00:06:34.345 --> 00:06:39.365
The narrow road may be harder, but it's the only one that leads to eternal life.

00:06:39.705 --> 00:06:46.105
Let God order your steps. Psalms 37, 23 says, the steps of a good man are ordered

00:06:46.105 --> 00:06:49.065
by the Lord, and he delights in his ways.

00:06:49.285 --> 00:06:57.205
Pray daily, Lord, order my steps today. Don't let me walk into places you haven't called me to.

00:06:57.405 --> 00:06:59.345
Let's take a moment right now and pray that.

00:07:00.065 --> 00:07:05.205
Lord, order my steps today. Don't let me walk into places you have called,

00:07:05.385 --> 00:07:09.305
you have not, you haven't called me to. Number three, examine your direction.

00:07:09.625 --> 00:07:14.605
Ask yourself, where are my feet taking me? Am I running to the presence of God

00:07:14.605 --> 00:07:16.285
or am I running the platforms?

00:07:16.525 --> 00:07:20.745
Am I standing firm in holiness or compromising to fit in?

00:07:20.845 --> 00:07:24.525
The path you choose reveals the bride you belong to.

00:07:25.325 --> 00:07:30.445
Number four, be ready to carry the gospel. Romans 10, 15 reminds us how beautiful

00:07:30.445 --> 00:07:32.745
are the feet of those who bring good news.

00:07:32.885 --> 00:07:36.565
The bride feats aren't made for chasing fame or fortune.

00:07:36.725 --> 00:07:42.325
They are made to carry the message of salvation to a broken world.

00:07:42.525 --> 00:07:44.005
Family, this is the call.

00:07:44.365 --> 00:07:46.505
Let your feet match your worship.

00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:50.459
Let your feet, don't let your feet wander into the world's way.

00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:52.879
Keep your steps steady in holiness.

00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:58.039
Let your path testify that you belong to the bridegroom. Let's pray.

00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:00.379
Father, we humble ourselves before you today.

00:08:00.679 --> 00:08:04.879
Forgive us for the times our feet have wandered off the narrow road.

00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:10.739
Forgive us for chasing power, politics, and platform instead of walking in your ways.

00:08:10.919 --> 00:08:15.079
Lord, may our steps be realigned with your word. Order our steps, O God.

00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:17.559
Keep us steady on the path of righteousness.

00:08:17.999 --> 00:08:22.899
Give us discernment to recognize detours of deception and the courage to stay

00:08:22.899 --> 00:08:25.479
faithful even when the road is hard.

00:08:25.739 --> 00:08:31.479
Let our feet be swift to carry the gospel, not gossip. Peace, not pride.

00:08:31.859 --> 00:08:36.719
Salvation, not selfish ambition. And I speak these decrees.

00:08:36.979 --> 00:08:42.459
We decree our steps are ordered by the Lord. We decree we will not walk on the

00:08:42.459 --> 00:08:46.859
broad road of destruction, but on the narrow path that leads to life.

00:08:46.999 --> 00:08:51.579
And we decree my feet will carry the gospel of peace wherever I go.

00:08:51.819 --> 00:08:55.999
And we decree the bride of Christ will rise with holy footsteps,

00:08:56.379 --> 00:09:00.759
walking in truth, righteousness, and readiness for her bridegroom.

00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:02.819
In Jesus' mighty name, amen.

00:09:03.179 --> 00:09:07.539
Family, today we expose the feet of the counterfeit bride, feet that wander

00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:12.919
into the worldly ways, chasing politics, power, popularity instead of holiness.

00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:17.459
But the bridegroom is still crying, where is my bride?

00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:23.939
The one whose feet stay on, stays on the narrow road, whose steps are ordered

00:09:23.939 --> 00:09:30.139
by the Lord, and whose walk testified that she belongs to me.

00:09:31.034 --> 00:09:37.434
There's a walk. I like that. There's a walk that has this confidence when you

00:09:37.434 --> 00:09:39.294
know whose you belong to.

00:09:39.554 --> 00:09:42.754
So this week, I want to challenge you to examine your steps.

00:09:42.934 --> 00:09:47.514
Where are your feet taking you? Are you walking into a holiness or compromise?

00:09:47.854 --> 00:09:52.914
Are your feet standing firm on the rock, the rock, capital R-O-C-K,

00:09:53.154 --> 00:09:55.934
or sinking into the shifting sands of this world?

00:09:56.154 --> 00:10:00.474
The path you walk today reveals the bride you are becoming.

00:10:00.754 --> 00:10:06.694
Thank you for joining me on today with the Diary of a Black Woman podcast, Church Chronicles.

00:10:06.854 --> 00:10:11.614
If this word spoke to your spirit, share with someone who needs to be reminded

00:10:11.614 --> 00:10:13.614
to keep their walk aligned with Christ.

00:10:13.814 --> 00:10:18.394
You can always connect with me at thediaryofablackwomanslc.com,

00:10:18.474 --> 00:10:23.274
that's my website, or by email, diaryofablackwomanspodcast at gmail.com.

00:10:23.474 --> 00:10:27.334
And don't miss the next episode, but heart, cold towards Christ.

00:10:27.634 --> 00:10:32.814
We uncover how the counterfeit bride has lost her first love and grown cold

00:10:32.814 --> 00:10:38.994
in devotion, and why the bridegroom is calling his people back to a heart burning with love for him.

00:10:39.314 --> 00:10:44.334
Until next time, remember, healing, truth, faith are found in Christ alone.

00:10:44.554 --> 00:10:49.534
This is your host, Connie Moore, signing off with love, strength, and a touch of cloud.

00:10:49.814 --> 00:10:54.954
And I'll see you on the next episode. Thank you for listening to this episode.

00:10:55.114 --> 00:11:02.774
And before we close out, I want to speak a word of promise over you from Jeremiah 29, 11 through 14.

00:11:03.214 --> 00:11:08.574
Father God, you declared, I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper

00:11:08.574 --> 00:11:13.074
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

00:11:13.074 --> 00:11:15.634
So today, we receive that truth.

00:11:15.894 --> 00:11:19.994
You said when we call on you, you will listen. So we pray.

00:11:20.214 --> 00:11:25.514
You said that when we seek you with our hearts, you will be found. So we pursue.

00:11:25.794 --> 00:11:31.454
You said you will restore us from captivity. So we declare freedom over every

00:11:31.454 --> 00:11:35.474
place where our listeners feel stuck, silenced, or small.

00:11:35.774 --> 00:11:41.574
Thank you for always drawing near when we show up in faith. In Jesus' name, amen.

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:52.063
Music.