The Positive and Negative

“But thou, O man of God, FLEE these things ; and FOLLOW AFTER righteousness …” —1 Timothy 6:11

There is no such thing as a car battery with only a positive post. For a battery to work, there must be a positive and a negative side. This is also true in the spiritual realm. You cannot hold hands with God and the world at the same time. Paul wrote, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils” (1 Cor. 10:21).

There is a separation from something (negative) and separation to something else (positive). The Jews under Nehemiah “separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God” (Neh. 10:28).

Whenever you say “yes” to God (positive), you must also say “no” to the devil (negative). James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” It is useless to try to resist the devil without first submitting to God. The devil is too strong for us. Victory begins with surrender to God. But, at the same time, we must also actively resist Satan. While we positively position ourselves on God’s side, we must also take a negative stand against the enemy. The act of submission (positive) must be coupled with active resistance (negative).

Both elements must be part of a Pastor’s preaching (2 Tim. 4:2). The preacher is to exhort (positive) and rebuke (negative). Any preacher that does not preach both sides is like a battery with no power.

A lady came to Dr. Tom Malone one time, “Dr. Malone, you need to be more positive in your preaching. You are so negative when you preach, ‘Smoking is wrong… Alcohol is wrong… the lottery is wrong…’” Dr. Malone responded saying, “No you’re mistaken, I AM POSITIVE in my preaching—I’m positive smoking is wrong… I’m positive drinking alcohol is wrong… I’m positive playing the lottery is wrong.”

Amen!