CHAPTER 48: THE CUP PEOPLE 2024
The Cup People is the study of a limited state of mind, possibly even a corrupted mind or restricted. All of us are subject to this thing. Stuck — a status quo that is fiercely maintained by those lost in it. Those who are stuck in the cup, don’t want out. A cup person likes the cup, it’s comfortable, familiar, new information is not welcome here. Utopia to those in the dark. The Cup is a mirage, however, don’t be fooled.
John 3:20-21
New International Version
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
A perpetual neighborhood of nothing going nowhere with a sense of noble and importance, also not true. Ultimately, always, without growth, resources run out, and life without substance, simply fades, dust in the wind.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
New International Version
For the living know that they will die,
but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
and even their name is forgotten.
You do want to do something magnificent for the Lord, right? I mean we only have a short time. Chapter 48 outlines the opposite of that. Prayer is the only way out of the cup, but unfortunately from the perspective inside of the cup, prayer is generally stupid, self and power of self is the myth inside this hideous place. If one can pray, in a moment of clarity, or if the Word somehow reaches inside the cup, perhaps a brother in Christ, maybe one can hear and get out, of this damaging, hellish existence in the end.
Psalm 139:23-24
New International Version
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
A quote from CS Lewis from his book, “The Problem of Pain:”
The human spirit will not even begin to try to surrender self-will as long as all seems to be well with it.
1 Corinthians 3:3
New International Version
3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
Consider a cup of coffee forgotten on a table, perhaps there is a half cup remaining. Left unattended, the cup dries out, organisms are alive in this now toxic environment that is growing inside the cup — an actual hierarchy is born. A sort of government, top dog scum, down to the bottom scum of the cup.
This ecosystem persists quite well for a short time. Finally, without supplies from the outside, it all dies. You see, the walls of the cup may have provided safety, but it was only pretend. Nothing gets out, nothing cares to get in. A prison, in the name of being important. People in the cup fight for their right to be in charge. They come to believe that everything outside of the cup is irrelevant or bad, hiding in self-importance. In the cup one believes he’s got it all figured out. I’ve told you before, if the devil can’t make you sin, he will waste your time. Let me tell you a little story about a man saving his money inside the cup.
Luke 12:19-21
New King James Version
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Isn’t it true, all caught up in the daily grind, gotta get a loan, gotta keep this house, gotta keep up with the Jones’, make some moves, will not listen, will not comply, and then what? Nothing. That’s what. Cup people end, abruptly.
Suddenly, there is no more. What is the solution? What if someone did not find God and now the cup has dried up and all possibilities thought to have, are not to have. A mirage, as I said earlier, the realization of nothing earned, all efforts for naught. What was the solution for me? God. I had nothing, and I made a collect call, so to speak, to the Lord, and He brought me ultimately to the church. My journey begins in a world much bigger, much more intuitive than a cup and I began to walk in conversations of believers, hearing God’s word. And by the way, Believers are just as crazy as cup people sometimes, however Believers have hope, and God’s promise. Way more than a cup!!
Hebrews 12:1
New Living Translation
God’s Discipline Proves His Love
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
All of us are susceptible to the mysticism and the excitement of the occult, false prophecy, wrong thinking, magic, theories and generalities. Be careful with whom you find yourself keeping company, lest they be the “doorman to oblivion,” and stuck forever in a cup, sitting outside for the rest of your life.
1 Timothy 4:1-2
New Living Translation
4 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.[a]
Is it possible to own a company and be in the cup? Of course, without God, I see it all the time. A great beginning and then, slowly but surely the money disappears and the company suffers, people are in jeopardy. Even Believers who have a skewed version of God, same thing — a cup. There is no version of God, only God, as it is written in the book, not as it is designed by the world. That’s a hard sell sometimes, people got their ideas and there isn’t anything I could say, except, ‘this is the way it is for me.” Sometimes that’s not enough and I have to pray for them? Yes, I do.., and then I turn it back over to God. A cup is damning place, I’ve seen all kinds of people incarcerated inside of it, pastors included. A cup is an equal opportunity employer.
Satan knows that the more hectic, busy and jam-packed our lives are, the less time we will have for contact with God. He wants us to become preoccupied with various projects, errands and responsibilities — the more, the better, so long as God is crowded out of our thoughts. Are you a victim of this tactic? Sometimes at the end of the day do you suddenly realize that you have devoted little or no time to spiritual pursuits?
Bible study and prayer can easily be overshadowed and nudged out by other activities and distractions. It’s amazing how quickly time can slip away. We may wake up one morning with just enough time to get ready for work. When we come home that evening, it’s time to unwind, socialize with the family and enjoy our evening meal… “It’s still early” we assure ourselves. “There will be plenty of time for Bible study later.” At 6:50 we receive a phone call, at 7:15 one of our children comes to us for help on his homework, at 7:45 we catch a glimpse of an exciting television program that hooks us until its 9 o’clock conclusion. The list grows. Soon we are drowsy and ready for bed — too late for quality Bible study, prayer or meditation. Obviously, many of the things we do each day are important. We cannot simply ignore them. How can we squeeze everything in without neglecting our spiritual lives?
Consider Martha’s dilemma. She was given the privilege of having Jesus Christ and a few of His disciples dine in her home. Naturally, she wanted everything to be just right, and that takes time and energy. This project became the most important thing on her mind. Her sister, Mary, was more concerned about hearing Christ’s words. When Martha protested, Jesus was careful to put the priorities in perspective:
Luke 10:41-42
New International Version
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha had failed to recognize the most important use of her (and Mary’s) time. Jesus clearly summarized that No. 1 priority: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
Here is the solution for getting everything done that needs to be done. If we faithfully and consistently put God first. He will make certain there is time for everything else that is of importance.
Chapter 48: “The Cup People.” Is it a sin? Disobedience is a slippery slope, isn’t it? It is a shame for sure, a sadness as we watch those who climb back in the cup, or simply won’t leave the cup where they are.
“There are always good reasons why people must do things that shouldn’t be done.” Wasting your life is the result of stubborn? Staying in the cup too long is a mistake, getting out of the cup and climbing back is tragic. Why do we believe such nonsense, fear is why we believe, that’s one, two, is we want to be important. Inside of the cup, we are as important as we are ever going to be. That is the thought and that is true without Christ. With Christ there is no limit, if you believe, God will take you there, wherever there is. Christ is all Truth, light and the end of demonic, torturous phenomenas. Why do we choose stupid.
Napolean Bonaparte is quoted to say:
“Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force.
Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.”
Being an example in Christ is a full-time job, there’s nothing part-time about it and none of it is easy, however it is the only way that makes any sense at all to me. So am I stupid, inept, gullible, weak? Call it what you want, I yield to the Lord, Jesus Christ, period.
Matthew Poole, an English Non-conformist theologian and biblical scholar during the the mid 1600’s said, and I quote..
“God hath given to men those gifts which he hath denied to beasts, reason and religion, wisdom to know God and themselves, and their obligations to God, and their dependence upon him. And therefore it’ll becometh them to lie like brute creatures, roaring and crying out in their miseries, without taking any notice of God in way of prayer or praise; and if they do so, it is no wonder if God takes no notice of them.”
Boom, there it is, the cup people. Fighting for the right to stay stupid, pretend powerful and for what? So much is offered in kingdom work, but like I said, from the perspective of the cup, one has the best one could get, and from the cup, that would be correct. The cup is an equal opportunity employer, believers or non-believers…, stuck is available to everyone.
Ephesians 6:13 and v18 (NIV) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Outside of the cup, the Lord will use each of us to rescue and teach those left behind. A Watchman over God’s flock, perhaps a leader out of Egypt, the treachery found in the world, the vulnerability and weakness of the human condition without God.
The cup causes the great nothing of dust. Mediocre is never God, rather you are infinite in Him. If you work do God’s work, what do you think He will do for you?
John 21:17 NIV17 B Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
“Feed my sheep,” not an easy ministry in this incredibly demonic world. You certainly can’t help anybody stuck in a cup. In Christ we are re-born, strengthened, fiercely alive and most importantly, in God, you are relevant, without Him, you are not.
Chapter 48 The Cup People 2024 — Make your choice, kids, get out of the cup or be one of the many representatives of “ignorance” and the lie.
Ephesians 2:1-3
New Living Translation
2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a]
A cup of coffee left outside will live and breath a disgusting “city of organisms” fighting for survival, and then it will dry up and die, the wind will simply blow away what was in it, that doesn’t have to be you or me, anymore.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV 9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Get out of the cup, stay out of the cup, Amen.
