Yes, this blog has referred to this matter many times.
Yet let this remark be read once again:
Truth is not bound up in feelings.
Not one bit. Not at all.
For the longest time, peace was all about how I was feeling.
If I felt bad, it meant that God was one thousand miles away.
If I felt good, that meant that He was closer to me than anything in the world
As a result, there was a whirl-wind of pain and confusion in my life.
The feelings that many people want to trust in - they come and go just as fast as the wind and the rain, and less predictably than the sun or moon rising in the sky.
Why would we want to trust our feelings on anything?
Well, I was one of those weirdos.
Yes, there it is, in plain English.
As a result, I was constantly looking for someone else, or something else, to make me feel better.
Wow! What frustration.
Yes, there it is. That is the truth of the matter.
Today, I am not looking for comfort in the Words of someone else.
I am seeking truth in the matter of what One Person has to say on the matter: Jesus!
Truth personified, and it has nothing to do with feelings. Not at all.
So, don't worry about how you feel today. It means nothing to where you stand before God.
Nothing at all. It does not matter.
Now, there was one verse I used to read, and it would give me pause, and concern:
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)
"Uh oh!" I used to think. "If I am feeling fear, that means that I not made perfect in love."
A few references help to make sense of this passage, which actually brings full comfort if we rest in the truth of God's Word.
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)
First of all, because of all that Jesus has done for me, I am a son of God, having received His Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8: 15; Galatians 4: 6)
Second of all, the real issue when it came to fears, feelings, etc. I was operating under the lie that what I was feeling determined whether I was close to God or not.
What? I am his child, regardless of how I feel. In that sense alone, indeed, I was not perfected. In that sense, I was not aware fully of "As He Is, So Are We In This World".
It has nothing to do with our feelings -- at all. Nothing good or bad about it. That is just the way it is.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
The Truth Matters!
There is no capitulation I hate more than this adverse advice:
"Everyone has their own truth."
Tell that to the man who submits himself under the knife of a professional in a hospital.
The truth that that individual is a surgical practitioner is a matter of life and death for all of us.
I do not want anyone cutting my body if he has no skills in medical arts.
No one wants to submit to such a danger.
Truth matters!
Now, throughout the Bible, we read that grace and truth are united as one, in One Person!
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
Jesus would say to the Jews of His day:
"31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)
"Continue (rest) in my word". . .very important.
Jesus did not mince words about the importance of the truth, because the truth sets us free!
No wonder many pagan leaders, dictators, and tyrants have the truth! They do not want anyone to be free!
"Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all." (John 18: 38)
The irony of this statement, however, and for us the greater benefit, is revealed in this snide, even mocking retort of the Roman Governor. "What is truth?" is followed by "I find no fault in Him at all."
Jesus, "The Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14: 6), has no fault in Him, full of grace and truth.
This grace by the way, blesses!
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
Prosperity is all based on our walking in the Truth of God's grace!
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:" (Galatians 1: 6)
followed by
"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Galatians 2: 14)
Paul further connects the Gospel of grace with the truth:
"Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:" (Colossians 1: 6)
and
"Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." (Philippians 1: 7)
Let us also not forget that the grace of God is our teacher today:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
No wonder Satan makes war on the truth, as do all men who seek to make themselves preeminent. The truth is our blessed hope, in which the grace of God appears and teaching us to reject ungodliness and worldly lusts, we live balanced, righteous, godly lives -- Here and Now!
Satan does not want us to prosper and be in health. Yet that is God's heart's desire for us.
We have this blessed prosperity granted to us in the grace of God, which we receive through His Son, Jesus!
"Everyone has their own truth."
Tell that to the man who submits himself under the knife of a professional in a hospital.
The truth that that individual is a surgical practitioner is a matter of life and death for all of us.
I do not want anyone cutting my body if he has no skills in medical arts.
No one wants to submit to such a danger.
Truth matters!
Now, throughout the Bible, we read that grace and truth are united as one, in One Person!
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
Jesus would say to the Jews of His day:
"31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)
"Continue (rest) in my word". . .very important.
Jesus did not mince words about the importance of the truth, because the truth sets us free!
No wonder many pagan leaders, dictators, and tyrants have the truth! They do not want anyone to be free!
"Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all." (John 18: 38)
The irony of this statement, however, and for us the greater benefit, is revealed in this snide, even mocking retort of the Roman Governor. "What is truth?" is followed by "I find no fault in Him at all."
Jesus, "The Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14: 6), has no fault in Him, full of grace and truth.
This grace by the way, blesses!
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
Prosperity is all based on our walking in the Truth of God's grace!
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:" (Galatians 1: 6)
followed by
"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Galatians 2: 14)
Paul further connects the Gospel of grace with the truth:
"Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:" (Colossians 1: 6)
and
"Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." (Philippians 1: 7)
Let us also not forget that the grace of God is our teacher today:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
No wonder Satan makes war on the truth, as do all men who seek to make themselves preeminent. The truth is our blessed hope, in which the grace of God appears and teaching us to reject ungodliness and worldly lusts, we live balanced, righteous, godly lives -- Here and Now!
Satan does not want us to prosper and be in health. Yet that is God's heart's desire for us.
We have this blessed prosperity granted to us in the grace of God, which we receive through His Son, Jesus!
Not a Doctor, but the Divine Physician
We live in a world where everyone wants to run to the doctor every time they have a health problem.
A few days ago, I had another bout of stomach flu, and it was terrible.
Two people told me right away -- you should see a doctor.
What was the doctor going to do? Make me feel better for five minutes?
I knew what was the problem: food poisoning, preceded by dehydration.
I had not drunk enough water!
Hard to imagine, but for the two days prior, I had drunk nothing but soda.
Yikes!
The solution to a lot of these issues is a change of habit.
Most people do not want to do that.
Whatever they are lacking in their lives, they would rather spend time, money, and energy, rather than growing in grace.
The answer is the truth which sets us all free.
The answer is not comfort measures which make us feel good in the short term, but do not deal with the long-terms which we have trusted in for the longest time.
I remember another wise quip from a dermatologist:
"My patients were weeping through their skin."
The biggest issue for many people is the lies, the frauds, the dishonesty.
If we were told lies and deceit at one time, and still live in accordance with these frauds, then we have nothing more to do then unseat these lies in our lives.
The next question for me, then: why have I insisted on spending time and money in empty pursuits?
One answer I can give right now: I was more interested in feeling better. I just wanted to feel better.
Yes, there it is.
Today, there is a new revelation. No matter how I may feel, I know that I am righteous. It has nothing to do with my feelings. It has everything to do with God's Word.
A few days ago, I had another bout of stomach flu, and it was terrible.
Two people told me right away -- you should see a doctor.
What was the doctor going to do? Make me feel better for five minutes?
I knew what was the problem: food poisoning, preceded by dehydration.
I had not drunk enough water!
Hard to imagine, but for the two days prior, I had drunk nothing but soda.
Yikes!
The solution to a lot of these issues is a change of habit.
Most people do not want to do that.
Whatever they are lacking in their lives, they would rather spend time, money, and energy, rather than growing in grace.
The answer is the truth which sets us all free.
The answer is not comfort measures which make us feel good in the short term, but do not deal with the long-terms which we have trusted in for the longest time.
I remember another wise quip from a dermatologist:
"My patients were weeping through their skin."
The biggest issue for many people is the lies, the frauds, the dishonesty.
If we were told lies and deceit at one time, and still live in accordance with these frauds, then we have nothing more to do then unseat these lies in our lives.
The next question for me, then: why have I insisted on spending time and money in empty pursuits?
One answer I can give right now: I was more interested in feeling better. I just wanted to feel better.
Yes, there it is.
Today, there is a new revelation. No matter how I may feel, I know that I am righteous. It has nothing to do with my feelings. It has everything to do with God's Word.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Crippling Emotional Dependence
What was the cause of so much pain in my growing up?
Emotional dependence.
For the longest time, I was taught confide my fears, anger, worry, and upset in other people.
All of this is wrong.
We never grow if our peace is based on what someone else tells why we have nothing to worry about.
There was this chronic attack in my mind, that I had to have feelings, proof, something that would tangible inform me or quiet my mind.
That is never the case.
I kept thinking that I had to feel good, to feel at peace in my mind in order to know that God was OK with he.
I look at this verse yet again, for Jesus is inexhaustible, much like His Word!
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26:3)
Yet for the longest time, I felt that I was responsible for keeping myself in peace!
That is not the case at all!
We are called to trust in Him, to believe all things from Him:
"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)
and
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2: 12)
and
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)
He grants us peace. We do not give it to ourselves, nor do we seek it from other people:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14: 27)
We do not find peace in the simple, limited assurances of men. We have a confident expectation of good because of Jesus:
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:27)
and
"1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5: 1-5)
Forget dependence on men.
"5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
Emotional dependence.
For the longest time, I was taught confide my fears, anger, worry, and upset in other people.
All of this is wrong.
We never grow if our peace is based on what someone else tells why we have nothing to worry about.
There was this chronic attack in my mind, that I had to have feelings, proof, something that would tangible inform me or quiet my mind.
That is never the case.
I kept thinking that I had to feel good, to feel at peace in my mind in order to know that God was OK with he.
I look at this verse yet again, for Jesus is inexhaustible, much like His Word!
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26:3)
Yet for the longest time, I felt that I was responsible for keeping myself in peace!
That is not the case at all!
We are called to trust in Him, to believe all things from Him:
"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)
and
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2: 12)
and
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)
He grants us peace. We do not give it to ourselves, nor do we seek it from other people:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14: 27)
We do not find peace in the simple, limited assurances of men. We have a confident expectation of good because of Jesus:
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:27)
and
"1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5: 1-5)
Forget dependence on men.
"5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
"6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited." (Jeremiahs 17: 5-6)
There is no greater bitterness than trying to find peace, being emotional dependent on other people.
But -- our hope, our rest, our trust we find in Christ!
"7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is." (Jeremiah 17: 7)
Let us not run for comfort to our feelings. Let us seek the truth of God''s Word, which testifies to great things within us, because of Christ our hope and glory (Colossians 1: 27), and the renewing of our mind found in receiving more of His grace and truth in our lives (Romans 12: 1-2; John 1: 17)
Let us not run for comfort to our feelings. Let us seek the truth of God''s Word, which testifies to great things within us, because of Christ our hope and glory (Colossians 1: 27), and the renewing of our mind found in receiving more of His grace and truth in our lives (Romans 12: 1-2; John 1: 17)
I Don't Care How You Feel!
This revelation, like many, should never have taken me so long.
Yet as I learn more about the restoration wrought for us in Christ, the redemption which he paid for, and the resurrection life which He has given us, the less time I spend caring about how I feel.
In fact, in does not matter one bit what our feelings may or may not be.
I cannot believe I spent the greater amount of my time, my day, my life all caught up in what I was feeling, when everything about who Jesus is and all that He has done and is doing, all of that matters more than anything else.
In greater revelation, I understand what Paul meant when he chastised the Corinthians:
"1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" (1 Corinthians 3: 1-4)
We are not called to a carnal life, for we have received the promise of His Spirit, for those who believe on Him:
"21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1: 22-23)
and also
"13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1: 13-14)
It is not about what our feelings indicate to us, but rather what our minds meditate on, or rather who our minds rest in:
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26: 3)
and also
"1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 1-2)
Now, before anyone despairs or gets frustrated, consider what Jesus has done for us:
"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2: 16)
and also
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (1 John 5: 20)
Let us bear in mind that what is on our mind matters more than what we feel, and let us know that He bears us fully, cares and all (1 Peter 5: 6-7)
Yet as I learn more about the restoration wrought for us in Christ, the redemption which he paid for, and the resurrection life which He has given us, the less time I spend caring about how I feel.
In fact, in does not matter one bit what our feelings may or may not be.
I cannot believe I spent the greater amount of my time, my day, my life all caught up in what I was feeling, when everything about who Jesus is and all that He has done and is doing, all of that matters more than anything else.
In greater revelation, I understand what Paul meant when he chastised the Corinthians:
"1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" (1 Corinthians 3: 1-4)
We are not called to a carnal life, for we have received the promise of His Spirit, for those who believe on Him:
"21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1: 22-23)
and also
"13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1: 13-14)
It is not about what our feelings indicate to us, but rather what our minds meditate on, or rather who our minds rest in:
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26: 3)
and also
"1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 1-2)
Now, before anyone despairs or gets frustrated, consider what Jesus has done for us:
"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2: 16)
and also
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (1 John 5: 20)
Let us bear in mind that what is on our mind matters more than what we feel, and let us know that He bears us fully, cares and all (1 Peter 5: 6-7)
The Inner Dialogue Does Not Matter
Wow - does this take us forever or what?
For the longest time, I struggled with an inner dialogue, one based on fear of premonitions, upsets and dangers about bad things happening.
There was furthermore this incessant need to qualify, respond, or settle every mental upset in my life.
Today, I understand the true liberty, the full meaning of deliverance from self.
We need a new self, a new life, to be new creatures in Christ, a new creation free from our flesh, or hurts, and the habits and hang-ups which still seem to define us.
This world is obsessed with self, people looking at their own thoughts and feelings, trying to fix or remove any trace of discomfort.
This is not the way to live. This is not life at all.
This sham culture of self-help is making people helpless. It needs to stop.
How obsessed so many of us have become, looking at the thoughts and feelings, trying to fight away the latent anger, lust, fear, etc.
Let us stop looking within, but without, where we find Jesus, without whom we can do nothing (John 15: 5):
"17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 17-18)
Why do we care what we are thinking or feeling? It really doesn't matter.
It does not matter, because our identity is in Christ, not in ourselves:
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
This is an incredible sense of freedom, one in which there is no longer any puzzling or fear about tomorrow, wondering how we may or may not feel, and whether those sentiments will somehow set back our loving Father from living in our lives.
There is no freedom from condemnation in our feelings. All of this freedom is bound up in the truth of God's Word, which declares all things on our behalf, regardless of our current knowledge of perception.
The inner dialogue does not matter, because we have the eternal word of the living God, which declares: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13: 5) and also reminds us: "You have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1: 3)
For the longest time, I struggled with an inner dialogue, one based on fear of premonitions, upsets and dangers about bad things happening.
There was furthermore this incessant need to qualify, respond, or settle every mental upset in my life.
Today, I understand the true liberty, the full meaning of deliverance from self.
We need a new self, a new life, to be new creatures in Christ, a new creation free from our flesh, or hurts, and the habits and hang-ups which still seem to define us.
This world is obsessed with self, people looking at their own thoughts and feelings, trying to fix or remove any trace of discomfort.
This is not the way to live. This is not life at all.
This sham culture of self-help is making people helpless. It needs to stop.
How obsessed so many of us have become, looking at the thoughts and feelings, trying to fight away the latent anger, lust, fear, etc.
Let us stop looking within, but without, where we find Jesus, without whom we can do nothing (John 15: 5):
"17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 17-18)
Why do we care what we are thinking or feeling? It really doesn't matter.
It does not matter, because our identity is in Christ, not in ourselves:
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
This is an incredible sense of freedom, one in which there is no longer any puzzling or fear about tomorrow, wondering how we may or may not feel, and whether those sentiments will somehow set back our loving Father from living in our lives.
There is no freedom from condemnation in our feelings. All of this freedom is bound up in the truth of God's Word, which declares all things on our behalf, regardless of our current knowledge of perception.
The inner dialogue does not matter, because we have the eternal word of the living God, which declares: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13: 5) and also reminds us: "You have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1: 3)
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
The Fire Inside Goes Out
This release has been the hardest, but the one most worth receiving.
For so long, many of us try to put out the upsets in our minds.
There is the premonitions of wrongdoing, the backlash that things could go wrong, as well.
For the longest time, I felt responsible for quelling any, all upset within my mind.
For that reason, I often was shouting or speaking my mind on any issue.
For the past three months, I have heard people tell me: "You tend to say whatever you want to."
The other phrase I liked, which was a compliment, came from my boss:
"You have no filter. You just say whatever you want to. Some people really, really like you for that, and some people do not like you at all."
Such is the case for all of us who just want to speak our minds.
The truth is, there is no reason for any of us to utter minds - at all.
"A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness." (Proverbs 12: 23)
and
"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." (Proverbs 17: 28)
and also
"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards." (Proverbs 29: 11)
Why was I talking so much? Why was I saying so much?
There was unrest within my mind.
I was trying to create through my thinking, through my feeling, who God is.
Such is the fallout of believing in your own conception of God.
God conceived of us, by the way:
For so long, many of us try to put out the upsets in our minds.
There is the premonitions of wrongdoing, the backlash that things could go wrong, as well.
For the longest time, I felt responsible for quelling any, all upset within my mind.
For that reason, I often was shouting or speaking my mind on any issue.
For the past three months, I have heard people tell me: "You tend to say whatever you want to."
The other phrase I liked, which was a compliment, came from my boss:
"You have no filter. You just say whatever you want to. Some people really, really like you for that, and some people do not like you at all."
Such is the case for all of us who just want to speak our minds.
The truth is, there is no reason for any of us to utter minds - at all.
"A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness." (Proverbs 12: 23)
and
"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." (Proverbs 17: 28)
and also
"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards." (Proverbs 29: 11)
Why was I talking so much? Why was I saying so much?
There was unrest within my mind.
I was trying to create through my thinking, through my feeling, who God is.
Such is the fallout of believing in your own conception of God.
God conceived of us, by the way:
"5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1: 5)
and then
"15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus." (Galatians 1: 15-17)
So, for the longest time, I was convinced that I had to do something about this fire inside of my head, that I had to drive away the upset in my mind.
I have since realized that my Jesus, My Daddy God, is taking care of all things, and none of it has to do with whatever I am or am not thinking.
For too long, I was so focused on dealing with what I was feeling and thinking. I needed to have answers which would appease a "fiery mind".
Today, I know that is not the case. Our minds rest in Him, not the other way around.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Not a Conception, but a Revelation
The last thing that anyone needs to trust in is one's own conception of God.
We need to know that God, beyond our understanding, takes up every inch of space, time, force, and matter.
I do not want to believe in a God who is dependent on my moods, feelings, thought, or actions.
That is not a god at all, but rather a deification of ourselves.
There is no hope in our own efforts, or why would anyone need to a Twelve Step program? Why would people be seeking out psychology assistance or self-help groups?
The pernicious, evil aspect of Alcoholics Anonymous is rising up stronger than ever before, and it all falls back on this broken, bankrupted fraud that I can believe in a God of my own understanding.
God is not of our understanding, at all.
God is beyond our understanding.
How God can hold the universe together, step outside of time and space, and punish our sins forever in the body of His Son: all of this escapes man's capacity to understand.
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11: 33)
Either we believe Him, or we don't.
We are not going to believe by thinking about Him. We believe as we hear more and more of the Word of Christ:
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10: 17)
A more accurate translation reads:
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (NIV)
We need to see more of Jesus, and we are not going to see more of Him if we are left to our own devices, believing in some conception of God who may or may not be there for us.
No: the truth of who He is is made manifest for us in His Word.
Not a conception, but a Revelation, and this Revelation is found in the Bible:
"25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24: 25-27)
We need to know that God, beyond our understanding, takes up every inch of space, time, force, and matter.
I do not want to believe in a God who is dependent on my moods, feelings, thought, or actions.
That is not a god at all, but rather a deification of ourselves.
There is no hope in our own efforts, or why would anyone need to a Twelve Step program? Why would people be seeking out psychology assistance or self-help groups?
The pernicious, evil aspect of Alcoholics Anonymous is rising up stronger than ever before, and it all falls back on this broken, bankrupted fraud that I can believe in a God of my own understanding.
God is not of our understanding, at all.
God is beyond our understanding.
How God can hold the universe together, step outside of time and space, and punish our sins forever in the body of His Son: all of this escapes man's capacity to understand.
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11: 33)
Either we believe Him, or we don't.
We are not going to believe by thinking about Him. We believe as we hear more and more of the Word of Christ:
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10: 17)
A more accurate translation reads:
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (NIV)
We need to see more of Jesus, and we are not going to see more of Him if we are left to our own devices, believing in some conception of God who may or may not be there for us.
No: the truth of who He is is made manifest for us in His Word.
Not a conception, but a Revelation, and this Revelation is found in the Bible:
"25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24: 25-27)
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Revelation, not Reason
I do not need to think about myself more.
I certainly do not need to explore my feelings, or thoughts on the matter, either.
What I need, what we all need, is a growing revelation of how great our God is.
And how greatly He loves us.
Have we not read this before?
Why, yes!
"14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 14-19)
Yet too many Christians are still so busy trying to love God.
John puts this argument to rest very easily:
"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)
and
"10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4: 10)
Many Christians fail to understand in this passage that Jesus does not stop being our propitiation or mercy seat. He never stops covering for our sins. Never:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)
and
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2: 1-2)
Now, in the fourth chapter, we find greater revelation of His love for us - His love, not ours:
"17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. " (1 John 4: 17)
We have not just a new identity, but God our Father sees us as Jesus, for we are now in Christ!
"18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)
This fear is about the fear of punishment, the fear of God's wrath. We have nothing to fear, because all of our sins have been punished forever in the body of Jesus Christ!
19We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)
Notice that we love because He first loved us, and as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, we have so much to learn about His love for us, before we ever start loving anyone else!
It all starts with revelation. We cannot figure this stuff out, no more than scientists can understand natural phenomena apart from investigation and experimentation.
For years, though, I kept trying to figure out ways away from my anger and frustration. I kept trying to reason my way out of fear and panic. There is no way out through our reason.
We need revelation, and not just revelation of natural things, but of Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 12-14).
I certainly do not need to explore my feelings, or thoughts on the matter, either.
What I need, what we all need, is a growing revelation of how great our God is.
And how greatly He loves us.
Have we not read this before?
Why, yes!
"14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 14-19)
Yet too many Christians are still so busy trying to love God.
John puts this argument to rest very easily:
"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)
and
"10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4: 10)
Many Christians fail to understand in this passage that Jesus does not stop being our propitiation or mercy seat. He never stops covering for our sins. Never:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)
and
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2: 1-2)
Now, in the fourth chapter, we find greater revelation of His love for us - His love, not ours:
"17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. " (1 John 4: 17)
We have not just a new identity, but God our Father sees us as Jesus, for we are now in Christ!
"18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)
This fear is about the fear of punishment, the fear of God's wrath. We have nothing to fear, because all of our sins have been punished forever in the body of Jesus Christ!
19We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)
Notice that we love because He first loved us, and as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, we have so much to learn about His love for us, before we ever start loving anyone else!
It all starts with revelation. We cannot figure this stuff out, no more than scientists can understand natural phenomena apart from investigation and experimentation.
For years, though, I kept trying to figure out ways away from my anger and frustration. I kept trying to reason my way out of fear and panic. There is no way out through our reason.
We need revelation, and not just revelation of natural things, but of Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 12-14).
Everlasting Righteousness.
I remember the scene nearly seven years ago.
I was in a McDonald's in Manhattan Beach, CA.
I had this strong sense of pain and frustration in my life. I was convinced that I had to hold onto God in my life, that I had to make sure that He was there for me based on my feelings.
If I was fearful, if I started to panic, or my mind began to deviate it any way, then I would get fearful, and start trying to get my mind to focus on God once again.
I had no knowledge, no awareness that He is alive, and that He is taking care of all things for me.
At the time, I was reading a book called "What is Faith?"
One passage in the book stood out, however, and informed me that He is caring for me, even when I am not thinking about Him.
I burst into tears, and could not contain the relief which spread out over my mind.
Within seconds, a young Japanese lady saw me, and she asked me if I was alright.
I told her that everything was fine.
Then she shared with me that she had been sitting in the same booth where I was seated, and she had felt a similar peace wash over her, too.
We began talking about God, we talked about His life and peace in our lives.
Then she shared with me about how she was learning about Jesus, and the need to give everything over to Him.
I walked away that day, filled with a sense of relief, I could let everything go.
But then the fears began to seep in again into my life.
What about tomorrow? What will happen then? How do I get through those days?
That nagging upset about tomorrow and the next day, and the need to tame my feelings constantly just kept welling into my mind.
Today, I realize that the answer really does lie in a growing revelation of the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
There really is so much about who He is and what He is doing, what He has done, and what He is committed to keep doing in our lives.
Instead of looking for leaning and leadership from other people, everyone of us has to keep looking at Jesus, and allow Him to transform us from glory to glory.
The very thing that trips up many people rests in staying on what they already know, or relying on what worked yesterday.
Not even two weeks ago, I finally recognized after reading the Word, that He has indeed taken care of everything. I do not have to blindly trust that He is taking me to a good place, as though it may or may not be there.
We do know where we are going. We do know that He has taken care of all things for us. He declares the end from the beginning, and we even have an account of the future prepared for us in Revelation. Recently, I have been learning about the Rapture, and the fact that there is so little proper teaching about our sudden Seizing Up accounts for why so many have no hope.
Over the last few days, too, I have realized that the Righteousness of God is revealed not just in what happened at the Cross, but that His blood cleanses, regardless of my thoughts or feelings on it. The blood of Jesus is real, whether I am thinking about it or not. It does not depend on me. The blood is cleansing more deeply than my understanding.
Another vision appeared in my mind. From the Cross, the blood of Jesus extends backwards to the beginning of time, then forward into eternity. In fact, time ends up hitting a wall, and I then see the blood of Jesus circling around, covering all things, since Jesus holds all things together in Himself.
Before there is a future, He has held the future. He is greater than all of time, and His redemption covers everything.
Furthemore, if there is any pain or hurt in our lives, the answer is not to talk to someone else about it. The answer is never to seek more comfort or to retreat to comfort measures. The more that we seek a revelation of the Lord Jesus and His grace and peace, the more that His peace abounds in our lives.
His righteousness is an everlasting righteousness (Daniel 9: 24). The temporal aspect is meaningless. It no longer matters. It is foolish, insensate to ask "what about tomorrow?" when that question was already answered at the Cross.
Once again, the Cross is more than one event. It is the eternal recognition that all things have been paid for, taken care of, an everlasting covenant in which God our Father has declared: "I will be a god to you (Hebrews 8: 10-12).
This issue of everlasting rightouesness is crucial. I knew that I was the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), yet I kept tying God's presence in my life to how I felt.
I never saw Him as alive and moving in my life. I kept basing His presence in my life based on my performance, or my thoughts and feelings.
Boy, was I wrong. I knew about righteousness, but the abundance of grace part is now stepping into play:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
Receiving, we keep on receiving the abundance of grace as well as the gift of righteousness, and thust we reign in life. The part about Jesus as my life, too - that part no one had yet explained to me. I still thought that I was on my own in this life, to create everything on my own.
Today, I now know better!
I am not just the righteousness of God in Christ, but this righteousness is eternal, regardless of my status, my feelings, or my performance.
I was in a McDonald's in Manhattan Beach, CA.
I had this strong sense of pain and frustration in my life. I was convinced that I had to hold onto God in my life, that I had to make sure that He was there for me based on my feelings.
If I was fearful, if I started to panic, or my mind began to deviate it any way, then I would get fearful, and start trying to get my mind to focus on God once again.
I had no knowledge, no awareness that He is alive, and that He is taking care of all things for me.
At the time, I was reading a book called "What is Faith?"
One passage in the book stood out, however, and informed me that He is caring for me, even when I am not thinking about Him.
I burst into tears, and could not contain the relief which spread out over my mind.
Within seconds, a young Japanese lady saw me, and she asked me if I was alright.
I told her that everything was fine.
Then she shared with me that she had been sitting in the same booth where I was seated, and she had felt a similar peace wash over her, too.
We began talking about God, we talked about His life and peace in our lives.
Then she shared with me about how she was learning about Jesus, and the need to give everything over to Him.
I walked away that day, filled with a sense of relief, I could let everything go.
But then the fears began to seep in again into my life.
What about tomorrow? What will happen then? How do I get through those days?
That nagging upset about tomorrow and the next day, and the need to tame my feelings constantly just kept welling into my mind.
Today, I realize that the answer really does lie in a growing revelation of the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
There really is so much about who He is and what He is doing, what He has done, and what He is committed to keep doing in our lives.
Instead of looking for leaning and leadership from other people, everyone of us has to keep looking at Jesus, and allow Him to transform us from glory to glory.
The very thing that trips up many people rests in staying on what they already know, or relying on what worked yesterday.
Not even two weeks ago, I finally recognized after reading the Word, that He has indeed taken care of everything. I do not have to blindly trust that He is taking me to a good place, as though it may or may not be there.
We do know where we are going. We do know that He has taken care of all things for us. He declares the end from the beginning, and we even have an account of the future prepared for us in Revelation. Recently, I have been learning about the Rapture, and the fact that there is so little proper teaching about our sudden Seizing Up accounts for why so many have no hope.
Over the last few days, too, I have realized that the Righteousness of God is revealed not just in what happened at the Cross, but that His blood cleanses, regardless of my thoughts or feelings on it. The blood of Jesus is real, whether I am thinking about it or not. It does not depend on me. The blood is cleansing more deeply than my understanding.
Another vision appeared in my mind. From the Cross, the blood of Jesus extends backwards to the beginning of time, then forward into eternity. In fact, time ends up hitting a wall, and I then see the blood of Jesus circling around, covering all things, since Jesus holds all things together in Himself.
Before there is a future, He has held the future. He is greater than all of time, and His redemption covers everything.
Furthemore, if there is any pain or hurt in our lives, the answer is not to talk to someone else about it. The answer is never to seek more comfort or to retreat to comfort measures. The more that we seek a revelation of the Lord Jesus and His grace and peace, the more that His peace abounds in our lives.
His righteousness is an everlasting righteousness (Daniel 9: 24). The temporal aspect is meaningless. It no longer matters. It is foolish, insensate to ask "what about tomorrow?" when that question was already answered at the Cross.
Once again, the Cross is more than one event. It is the eternal recognition that all things have been paid for, taken care of, an everlasting covenant in which God our Father has declared: "I will be a god to you (Hebrews 8: 10-12).
This issue of everlasting rightouesness is crucial. I knew that I was the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), yet I kept tying God's presence in my life to how I felt.
I never saw Him as alive and moving in my life. I kept basing His presence in my life based on my performance, or my thoughts and feelings.
Boy, was I wrong. I knew about righteousness, but the abundance of grace part is now stepping into play:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
Receiving, we keep on receiving the abundance of grace as well as the gift of righteousness, and thust we reign in life. The part about Jesus as my life, too - that part no one had yet explained to me. I still thought that I was on my own in this life, to create everything on my own.
Today, I now know better!
I am not just the righteousness of God in Christ, but this righteousness is eternal, regardless of my status, my feelings, or my performance.
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