There is indeed no condemnation in Christ.
Yet for people like me who had been raised in such rigid religious conditions, shame and condemnation were the full-on norm in many homes.
I was raised that way.
No wonder I spent a great deal of my life running away from challenges and difficult people.
No wonder it was so difficult for me to take on challenges and challengers and venture into new exploits.
The fear of failure has a deeper root - and that root is condemnation.
No one wants to feel wrong, shamed, put aside, rejected.
That need for acceptance is so strong, that people would rather die than lose face.
Yes indeed, they would rather lose their lives than lose face. Such a recognition explains why ancient Romans soldiers would fall on their swords rather than be captured by the enemy.
Such also explains why most people would rather be in the coffin than give a eulogy at a funeral.
Today, I have learned without any doubt that there is not only no shame, no condemnation in Christ Jesus, but that this reception of the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness sets me free from all the reproaches of men and women in the world.
No one can lay a hand on us, no one can speak against us, for even if we have done wrong, we can know and believ that the grace of God superabounds, and that His righteousness leads us to His life working in our lives.
We do not have to fear our sins and shame, our past and future, for everything is all wrapped up in the grace of God, which works abundantly within us and teaches us to say "No!" to sin and yes to godliness.
People can't hurt me. They never could. Whatever reproach they try to visit on me, all of its receives the sharp check and rebuke from the blood of Jesus, which cleanses and speaks better things than the blood of Abel.
The sense of shame and hurt hit me frequently in my life. People would say weird or unkind things, or I was just all too ready to take what they said personally.
What is it about people? We will take things personally if we are convinced that there is always something wrong with us.
Now that I have the full assurance of the Cross, any sense of shame or hurt is automatically dismissed. Those feelings do not matter. Our hurts do not matter, for they do not define who we are before God.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
We Do Not Fight Anymore
No more fighting.
This is a hard concept for me.
I have been fighting for the longest time.
I have been fighting bad thoughts.
I was ashamed of what I was thinking and feeling.
I spent so much time trying to fix what was going through my mind, what my feelings were registering in my body.
So much unrest, so much frustration, I was fighting all the time.
Most people draw their inspiration from this verse:
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6: 12)
Now, let us read through this exhortation with some care. How do we intend to fight if we are called to lay hold onto eternal life at the same time? It does not make sense if we look at the English translation.
The original Greek communicates and exhortation to rest:
"Let the good fight of faith be fought."
What?
John gives us a better appreciation of this fight in his First Epistle:
"I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2: 12)
and then John reiterates:
"I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2: 14)
For the young men, John writes that they have overcome the wicked one. They are not fighting still. They are not still fighting. They recognize that the fight if over and they are winners.
Paul writes about this consummate victory that we have in Christ Jesus:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. " (Romans 8: 37)
We are more than conquerors because we do not have to right, but Jesus has granted us the victory through His death, resurrection, and forever ministry at the right hand of God our Father.
Fatherhood, adulthood in the Body of Christ is no longer about fighting, but about seeing how great Jesus is, and to know Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 12-14)
The temptation for the longest time remained, however, for me to fight.
Now I know today that His Spirit fights, and wins. All I have to do is rest:
"16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
and
"10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore. . ." (Ephesians 6: 10-14)
Paul did not say "Fight". He did state and repeat: "Stand". It's a fight of not fighting.
One could also call it a work to rest:
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 11)
We do not fight anymore, and we should not feel condemned or shamed of the thoughts and feelings which fly through our heads.
The last point, which I review from time to time.
The question would hit me repeatedly: "What are you going to do about it when you get angry again?"
That pressing sense of condemnation would hit me every time, and I felt oompelled in some way to answer it.
The answer was as easy as pointing back to the fullness of the Cross:
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6)
The weapons are mighty through God, not through ourselves or our efforts. He is the one fighting. We do not have to feel condemned, for in Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8: 1)
We do not fight anymore, because Jesus Christ fought the fight and won it at the Cross. He defeated sin, the world, and the Enemy
John also speaks of this glorious hyper-victory in Christ:
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
and then
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
Why would we keep on fighting, since He has more than overcome every obstacle?
This is a hard concept for me.
I have been fighting for the longest time.
I have been fighting bad thoughts.
I was ashamed of what I was thinking and feeling.
I spent so much time trying to fix what was going through my mind, what my feelings were registering in my body.
So much unrest, so much frustration, I was fighting all the time.
Most people draw their inspiration from this verse:
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6: 12)
Now, let us read through this exhortation with some care. How do we intend to fight if we are called to lay hold onto eternal life at the same time? It does not make sense if we look at the English translation.
The original Greek communicates and exhortation to rest:
"Let the good fight of faith be fought."
What?
John gives us a better appreciation of this fight in his First Epistle:
"I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2: 12)
and then John reiterates:
"I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2: 14)
For the young men, John writes that they have overcome the wicked one. They are not fighting still. They are not still fighting. They recognize that the fight if over and they are winners.
Paul writes about this consummate victory that we have in Christ Jesus:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. " (Romans 8: 37)
We are more than conquerors because we do not have to right, but Jesus has granted us the victory through His death, resurrection, and forever ministry at the right hand of God our Father.
Fatherhood, adulthood in the Body of Christ is no longer about fighting, but about seeing how great Jesus is, and to know Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 12-14)
The temptation for the longest time remained, however, for me to fight.
Now I know today that His Spirit fights, and wins. All I have to do is rest:
"16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
and
"10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore. . ." (Ephesians 6: 10-14)
Paul did not say "Fight". He did state and repeat: "Stand". It's a fight of not fighting.
One could also call it a work to rest:
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 11)
We do not fight anymore, and we should not feel condemned or shamed of the thoughts and feelings which fly through our heads.
The last point, which I review from time to time.
The question would hit me repeatedly: "What are you going to do about it when you get angry again?"
That pressing sense of condemnation would hit me every time, and I felt oompelled in some way to answer it.
The answer was as easy as pointing back to the fullness of the Cross:
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6)
The weapons are mighty through God, not through ourselves or our efforts. He is the one fighting. We do not have to feel condemned, for in Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8: 1)
We do not fight anymore, because Jesus Christ fought the fight and won it at the Cross. He defeated sin, the world, and the Enemy
John also speaks of this glorious hyper-victory in Christ:
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
and then
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
Why would we keep on fighting, since He has more than overcome every obstacle?
Saturday, July 25, 2015
The Spirit Wars with the Flesh -- Not Us
We have the life of Christ Jesus in us, those who believe on Him.
How wonderful a gift.
We are not supposed to fight with our flesh. We do not even identify with it anymore:
"16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
Because of the perfect sacrifice of what Jesus did at the Cross, we are no longer under law, we are no longer under sin, but under grace (Romans 6: 14)
"To walk in the Spirit" means to identify with the Spirit, to allows His righteousness, peace, and joy to lead us.
I did not understand this revelation for the longest time.
I was assaulted by fears and tremors of the past and the future.
I also believed that I had to do something about those fears and worries.
Those fears and worries are not me. Those fears and worries belong to an old man, who I no longer identify with:
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6: 6)
and also
"20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4: 20-24)
Paul was not kidding with the Corinthians when he wrote to them this new wonderful revelation, either:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corintians 5: 17)
The Spirit of God lives in us, and He has granted us a new life, a new standing, and we are now sons of God (1 John 3: 1)
We have a new standing in Christ Jesus, and it has nothing to do with us:
"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-22)
We do not fight anymore, either.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6: 16)
In reality, we do not wrestle, but stand (Ephesians 6: 13).
Another translation bears out the true meaning of what Paul shares with the Ephesians:
"because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;" (Young's Literal Translation)
He does the wrestling. We rest in Him (Hebrews 4: 11).
How wonderful a gift.
We are not supposed to fight with our flesh. We do not even identify with it anymore:
"16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
Because of the perfect sacrifice of what Jesus did at the Cross, we are no longer under law, we are no longer under sin, but under grace (Romans 6: 14)
"To walk in the Spirit" means to identify with the Spirit, to allows His righteousness, peace, and joy to lead us.
I did not understand this revelation for the longest time.
I was assaulted by fears and tremors of the past and the future.
I also believed that I had to do something about those fears and worries.
Those fears and worries are not me. Those fears and worries belong to an old man, who I no longer identify with:
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6: 6)
and also
"20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4: 20-24)
Paul was not kidding with the Corinthians when he wrote to them this new wonderful revelation, either:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corintians 5: 17)
The Spirit of God lives in us, and He has granted us a new life, a new standing, and we are now sons of God (1 John 3: 1)
We have a new standing in Christ Jesus, and it has nothing to do with us:
"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-22)
We do not fight anymore, either.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6: 16)
In reality, we do not wrestle, but stand (Ephesians 6: 13).
Another translation bears out the true meaning of what Paul shares with the Ephesians:
"because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;" (Young's Literal Translation)
He does the wrestling. We rest in Him (Hebrews 4: 11).
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Taking No Thought -- Not Fighting Bad Thoughts
We do not have to fret about bad thoughts -- at all.
What would cause me the greatest consernation was that the bad thoughts would come and go, and just when I thought that I was freed of resentment, hurt, anger, or other deleterious feelings, then the bad thoughts would surface again.
A sense of anger and outrage would take over in my head and the headaches would follow.
I spent a great deal of my time trying to prevent bad thoughts.
I had so much more to learn about Romans 8: 1:
"There is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
None whatsoever. Not a bid, not a smidgen.
We do not even have to feel guilty or feel condemned about what we are thinking.
Our thoughts are now His thoughts, for we are no longer in ourselves, but rather in Christ.
If we find ourselves meditating on something bad or something wrong, if we have lustful unhappy thoughts about times past or times to come, the answer is the Cross.
We are no longer trying to get rid of the bad thoughts, but instead we are called to receive more of His righteousness and grace into our lives.
This may seem like an obvious idea to some, but for all of us, especially those like me who grew up under such heavy legalism and cult teachings like Alcoholics Anonymous, this revelation meant so much to me.
I had spent so much of my time trying to fix, block, stop, hide the negative thoughts I was thinking.
I was too busy trying to stop the bad things that were going through my head.
What needed to be focused on, was the truth of the Gospel, that in Christ I am justified from all things, and that the law of Moses has been put aside and fulfilled for me.
The mind control and mind games of the Alcoholics Anonymous cult cannot be underestimated.
It is a cult, and a dangerous one, too, which teaches people that they have to control their thinking, watch out for what they say or do, or they could find themselves cut off from "The Sunlight of the Spirit".
Oh, I cannot relate enough times the mental pain that this awful cult has brought me and other people into.
The notion that you have to watch your thoughts and catch them before they tread down a certain path. Just terrible.
One of the most outstanding revelations for me especially was that He restores my soul. Not me -- He! Jesus Christ!
He causes us to prosper, He causes us to walk in His ways.
It has been a hard transition for me, no question about it. I have wanted to fix what I was thinking, have nothing but good thoughts going though my mind. It is a fight that I still want to fight much of the time. Resting in God's goodness is a hard thing to do, but it is not impossible.
In fact, He gives us more grace.
What would cause me the greatest consernation was that the bad thoughts would come and go, and just when I thought that I was freed of resentment, hurt, anger, or other deleterious feelings, then the bad thoughts would surface again.
A sense of anger and outrage would take over in my head and the headaches would follow.
I spent a great deal of my time trying to prevent bad thoughts.
I had so much more to learn about Romans 8: 1:
"There is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
None whatsoever. Not a bid, not a smidgen.
We do not even have to feel guilty or feel condemned about what we are thinking.
Our thoughts are now His thoughts, for we are no longer in ourselves, but rather in Christ.
If we find ourselves meditating on something bad or something wrong, if we have lustful unhappy thoughts about times past or times to come, the answer is the Cross.
We are no longer trying to get rid of the bad thoughts, but instead we are called to receive more of His righteousness and grace into our lives.
This may seem like an obvious idea to some, but for all of us, especially those like me who grew up under such heavy legalism and cult teachings like Alcoholics Anonymous, this revelation meant so much to me.
I had spent so much of my time trying to fix, block, stop, hide the negative thoughts I was thinking.
I was too busy trying to stop the bad things that were going through my head.
What needed to be focused on, was the truth of the Gospel, that in Christ I am justified from all things, and that the law of Moses has been put aside and fulfilled for me.
The mind control and mind games of the Alcoholics Anonymous cult cannot be underestimated.
It is a cult, and a dangerous one, too, which teaches people that they have to control their thinking, watch out for what they say or do, or they could find themselves cut off from "The Sunlight of the Spirit".
Oh, I cannot relate enough times the mental pain that this awful cult has brought me and other people into.
The notion that you have to watch your thoughts and catch them before they tread down a certain path. Just terrible.
One of the most outstanding revelations for me especially was that He restores my soul. Not me -- He! Jesus Christ!
He causes us to prosper, He causes us to walk in His ways.
It has been a hard transition for me, no question about it. I have wanted to fix what I was thinking, have nothing but good thoughts going though my mind. It is a fight that I still want to fight much of the time. Resting in God's goodness is a hard thing to do, but it is not impossible.
In fact, He gives us more grace.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Eternal Sacrifice: Not One Day at a Time
Why would we live one day at a time?
The issue has nothing to do with taking care of and planning for tomorrow.
The issue has always been that we stress out and fret about tomorrow.
Jesus was very clear about our thoughts and tomorrow:
"31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The issue has nothing to do with taking care of and planning for tomorrow.
The issue has always been that we stress out and fret about tomorrow.
Jesus was very clear about our thoughts and tomorrow:
"31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself." (Matthew 6: 31-34)
He has all our times, from yesterday, to today, and forever, in His hands.
He is the same, taking care of all times:
"7Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13: 7-8)
Everything rests on His gift of righteousness, and then the rest is added unto us.
His righteousness, howerver is nothing something that we work for, our that we seek with physical or mental ardor.
His righteousness is a gift:
"For 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: 17)
and also
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
What marks the transition from Matthew to the Epistles? The Cross!
At the Cross, Jesus offered a full, final, forever sacrifice for our sins:
"Who being [Jesus] the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1: 3)
and
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10: 12)
What stands out for me today, today! -- is that this sacrifice which Jesus offered is an eternal sacrifice, for the blood of Jesus cleanses (1 John 1: 7) and speaks (Hebrews 12: 24).
Jesus will be our high priest forever:
"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6: 20).
There is no revisiting whether our sins are forgiven or not. There is no effort on our part, in what we do or think, what we read or feel. It is all about what Jesus did at the Cross.
Yet for years, I was convinced that what I said, did, the program that I was supposed to work (i.e. the Twelve Steps) would set me free.
Never.
As long as we keep believing that we have to confess our sins or grow through other dead works to be forgiven, we are basically saying that what Jesus did on the Cross was not enough, and that therefore it counts for nothing:
"Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10: 29)
There is no room for disagreement on this issue. The blood of Jesus is a serious matter, and not open for debate.
There is none of this "One day at a time" nonsense to keep ourselves clean and pure before God.
No.
It is a once, for all, forever sacrifice which Jesus did at the Cross.
Now we have a better understand of what Paul means when He wrote:
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (2 Corinthians 10:5)
His obedience is forever. His blood shed for us cleanses forever.
Jesus is our high priest forever, an eternal sacrifice with eternal consequence.
Hallelujah!
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Condemnation and AA
Let's state the obvious.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a condemnation mill.
The whole program is dedicated to making people feel ashamed of themselves, even defining themselves by a sense of shame related to ongoing wrongdoing.
Imagine every day waking up and identifying yourself as "an alcoholic".
We are not defined by what we do, or even who we think we are.
Our identity must rest in something greater than ourselves, for we did not make ourselves nor do we even bring ourselves into the world.
When will men and women in the Body of Christ start identifying people in the truth, that they are kings and priests through what Jesus did, and that we are now in Christ, and therefore joint-heirs with Him?
We are no longer in ourselves, but rather in Christ.
Pastor Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, and Kenneth Ham have pointed out the new identity that we have in Christ Jesus.
We are a new creation:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)
Paul affirmed this necessary revelation for the deeply dysfunctional Corinthian church, but in his Epistle to the Romans, he clearly informed people that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8: 1)
and then
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8: 6)
Too many people in this world are carnally minded. They look at their feelings, instead of the truth of God's Word.
It's just that simple. "I don't feel saved. I don't feel that God loves me."
That does not change one thing about the truth.
In fact, we need to rest from the need to feel, to think, to have, and to do in order to recognize the truth of who God is and all that He does.
The Word of God speaks to our minds, not our feelings, anyway:
"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)
It's not about our feelings at all. It's all about minds' renewal, or repentance to the Word of Truth.
Condemnation kills, and AA is all about condemnation, making people continue to feel bad about themselves and their actions, past or present. The truth sets us free (John 8: 32), and the truth is that there is no reason for us to feel bad and keep feeling bad about the wrong things which we or other people have done.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a condemnation mill.
The whole program is dedicated to making people feel ashamed of themselves, even defining themselves by a sense of shame related to ongoing wrongdoing.
Imagine every day waking up and identifying yourself as "an alcoholic".
We are not defined by what we do, or even who we think we are.
Our identity must rest in something greater than ourselves, for we did not make ourselves nor do we even bring ourselves into the world.
When will men and women in the Body of Christ start identifying people in the truth, that they are kings and priests through what Jesus did, and that we are now in Christ, and therefore joint-heirs with Him?
We are no longer in ourselves, but rather in Christ.
Pastor Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, and Kenneth Ham have pointed out the new identity that we have in Christ Jesus.
We are a new creation:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)
Paul affirmed this necessary revelation for the deeply dysfunctional Corinthian church, but in his Epistle to the Romans, he clearly informed people that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8: 1)
and then
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8: 6)
Too many people in this world are carnally minded. They look at their feelings, instead of the truth of God's Word.
It's just that simple. "I don't feel saved. I don't feel that God loves me."
That does not change one thing about the truth.
In fact, we need to rest from the need to feel, to think, to have, and to do in order to recognize the truth of who God is and all that He does.
The Word of God speaks to our minds, not our feelings, anyway:
"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)
It's not about our feelings at all. It's all about minds' renewal, or repentance to the Word of Truth.
Condemnation kills, and AA is all about condemnation, making people continue to feel bad about themselves and their actions, past or present. The truth sets us free (John 8: 32), and the truth is that there is no reason for us to feel bad and keep feeling bad about the wrong things which we or other people have done.
No Need to Retaliate
The grace of God is indeed a wonderful thing.
Today, I recognize that I do not need to retaliate against anyone.
The goodness of God so far outstrips the hurt and setbacks of others.
For the longest time, I was so easily and upset by the remarks which other people made to me.
A sense of outrage, a sentiment of "payback" was dominant.
Most importantly, a sense of shame and condemnation would follow me around because I did not take down people who had been mean, rude, or downright unpleasant.
I still have not answered the question yet -- where this "pay-back" mentality came from.
But the more that I meditate on the truth that the Lord is my shepherd, the less I feel the need to make people pay for their wrongdoing.
The gift of righteousness is really something, and something that we keep receiving.
This revelation is quite new to me. Still is.
"For 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: 17)
This is a gift which we keep on receiving, for that little word "receives" carries in it the intense, large revelation of ongoing reception.
For the longest time, I had the upsets and wars in my head, the sense of frustration, pressure, and shame that I had to do something about how I felt.
I had to talk to someone, I had to write something, or I had to payback people for hurting my feelings.
Oh brother, the pain never ends if we are constantly looking at how we feel, and making those sentiments the final authority in our lives for, well - just about everything.
That need for retribution goes all the way back to the fact that many of us simply do not believe what the Bible says.
"Vengeance is mine. I will repay" (Deuteronomy 32: 35)
Yet a sense of condemnation used to follow me around a lot if I did not make people payback. Then there was the never-ending kicking-myself.
Laura Schelsinger put it well in a title for one of her books: "How could I let you do that?"
The answer is in that one word "I" and breaking free into a better, true identity:
"Herein is love perfected among us, 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 are not trying to get rid of every bad feeling in our lives any more, for everything that we have in this life is a gift from God and His Son Jesus, Life personified and made real to us.
There is no need to retaliate when we understand that in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8: 1).
Today, I can relate why I felt the way that I did. I grew up with someone who was constantly fighting with people, taking everything personally.
Yet even then, why do people take everything so personally in the first place?
If we do not believe that every sin and shame and bit of condemnation has been eaten up, paid for in full at the Cross, what else can we expect but to take people down a notch?
As long as we walk around with a false or a poor identity, convinced that we are still wrong in some way or about something, we will feel a need to retaliate against others.
Now, what does all of this have to do with AA?
The program imposes on its members a sense of shame and condemnation all the time. Every time that a person feels bad, they have to run to someone and get rid of that bad feeling. The Tenth Step is probably the linchpin of the whole cult, teaching people that they must remain at the mercy of their feelings, constantly doing something about their anger, sadness, and all the rest.
What a nightmare for me growing up, forced-fed this cult as if this is the way to live life.
There is no need to retaliate, there is no reason to be angry all the time, there is no need for me to apologize for how I feel or do not feel anymore.
Today, I recognize that I do not need to retaliate against anyone.
The goodness of God so far outstrips the hurt and setbacks of others.
For the longest time, I was so easily and upset by the remarks which other people made to me.
A sense of outrage, a sentiment of "payback" was dominant.
Most importantly, a sense of shame and condemnation would follow me around because I did not take down people who had been mean, rude, or downright unpleasant.
I still have not answered the question yet -- where this "pay-back" mentality came from.
But the more that I meditate on the truth that the Lord is my shepherd, the less I feel the need to make people pay for their wrongdoing.
The gift of righteousness is really something, and something that we keep receiving.
This revelation is quite new to me. Still is.
"For 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: 17)
This is a gift which we keep on receiving, for that little word "receives" carries in it the intense, large revelation of ongoing reception.
For the longest time, I had the upsets and wars in my head, the sense of frustration, pressure, and shame that I had to do something about how I felt.
I had to talk to someone, I had to write something, or I had to payback people for hurting my feelings.
Oh brother, the pain never ends if we are constantly looking at how we feel, and making those sentiments the final authority in our lives for, well - just about everything.
That need for retribution goes all the way back to the fact that many of us simply do not believe what the Bible says.
"Vengeance is mine. I will repay" (Deuteronomy 32: 35)
Yet a sense of condemnation used to follow me around a lot if I did not make people payback. Then there was the never-ending kicking-myself.
Laura Schelsinger put it well in a title for one of her books: "How could I let you do that?"
The answer is in that one word "I" and breaking free into a better, true identity:
"Herein is love perfected among us, 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 are not trying to get rid of every bad feeling in our lives any more, for everything that we have in this life is a gift from God and His Son Jesus, Life personified and made real to us.
There is no need to retaliate when we understand that in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8: 1).
Today, I can relate why I felt the way that I did. I grew up with someone who was constantly fighting with people, taking everything personally.
Yet even then, why do people take everything so personally in the first place?
If we do not believe that every sin and shame and bit of condemnation has been eaten up, paid for in full at the Cross, what else can we expect but to take people down a notch?
As long as we walk around with a false or a poor identity, convinced that we are still wrong in some way or about something, we will feel a need to retaliate against others.
Now, what does all of this have to do with AA?
The program imposes on its members a sense of shame and condemnation all the time. Every time that a person feels bad, they have to run to someone and get rid of that bad feeling. The Tenth Step is probably the linchpin of the whole cult, teaching people that they must remain at the mercy of their feelings, constantly doing something about their anger, sadness, and all the rest.
What a nightmare for me growing up, forced-fed this cult as if this is the way to live life.
There is no need to retaliate, there is no reason to be angry all the time, there is no need for me to apologize for how I feel or do not feel anymore.
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