_________________________________________________ Introduction A More Excellent Way "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year -- 'Give me a light that I might see my way into the unknown.' He said to me -- 'Step out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That is better to you than a light and better than a known way.'" Author Unknown _________________________________________________ Jesus Shall Be King Consider Jesus Long ago God spoke in many different ways to our fathers through the prophets, telling them little by little about His plans. But now in these days He has spoken to us through His Son to whom He has given everything, and through Him He made the world and everything there is. God's Son shines out with God's glory, and all that God's Son is and does marks Him as God. He regulates the universe by the mighty power of His command. He is the one who died to cleanse us and clear our record of all sin, and then sat down in the highest honor beside the great God of heaven. Thus He became far greater than the angels. Therefore, dear brothers, whom God has set apart for Himself -- you who are chosen for heaven -- consider this Jesus, who is God's messenger and the high priest of our faith. For Christ did not elect Himself to the honor of being high priest; no, He was chosen by God. God said to Him, "My Son, today I have honored You. Your kingdom will last forever and ever. In the beginning You made the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will disappear into nothingness, but You will remain forever. Someday You will fold them up and replace them. But You, Yourself, will never change and Your years will never end. But for now, sit here beside Me in honor until I crush Your enemies beneath Your feet." While Christ was here on earth He had to learn from experience what it was like to obey, when obeying meant suffering. It was after He had proved Himself perfect in this experience that Jesus became the giver of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. For Jesus was faithful to God. He said, "I delight to do Thy will, O God." This same Jesus is coming again. He shall appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to those who eagerly await Him. And He shall be King! Excerpts from Hebrews 1-3, 5 _________________________________________________ To Know Him Consider Jesus "I have given up everything else -- I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought Him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and die with Him." Philippians 3:10 Christ can never be known and loved without a sense of awe and fear accompanying the knowledge. He is the fairest among ten thousand, but He is also the Lord high and mighty. He is a friend of sinners, but He is also the terror of devils. He is meek and lowly in heart, but He is also Lord and Christ who will surely come to be the judge of all men. No one who knows Him intimately can ever be flippant in His presence. The love of Christ both wounds and heals, it fascinates and frightens, it kills and makes alive, it draws and repulses, it sobers and enraptures. There can be nothing more terrible or more wonderful than to be stricken with love for Christ so deeply that the whole being goes out in a pained adoration of His person, an adoration that disturbs and disconcerts while it purges and satisfies and relaxes the deep inner heart. A.W. Tozer Jesus came to show us the Father. His personality reflected the Father's personality. "We know how God would act if He were in our place -- He has been in our place. When Jesus was on earth, He was a man acting like God." (A.W. Tozer) Jesus said, "He who has seen Me, has seen the Father. Why then do you say, show us the Father?" _________________________________________________ The Son Consider Jesus "The second person in God, the Son, became human Himself: was born into the world as an actual man -- a real man of a particular height, with hair of a particular color, speaking a particular language, weighing so many stone. The eternal being, who knows everything and who created the whole universe, became not only a man but (before that) a baby, and before that a fetus inside a woman's body. If you want to get the hang of it, think how you would like to become a slug or a crab. The result of this was that you now had one man who really was what all men were intended to be: one man in whom created life, derived from His mother, allowed itself to be completely and perfectly turned into the begotten life. The natural human creature in Him was taken up fully into the divine Son. Thus in one instance humanity had, so to speak, arrived: had passed into the life of Christ. And because the whole difficulty for us is that the natural life has to be, in a sense, 'killed', He chose an earthly career that involved the killing of His human desires at every turn -- poverty, misunderstanding from His own family, betrayal by one of His intimate friends, being jeered at and manhandled by the police, and execution by torture. And then, after being thus killed -- killed every day in a sense -- the human creature in Him, because it was united to the divine Son, came to life again. The Man in Christ rose again: not only the God. That is the whole point. For the first time we saw a real man." CS Lewis "Jesus did not masquerade as a man, He was a man." HLC _________________________________________________ Isaiah 53 Consider Jesus "He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God and afflicted. Surely He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, His grave was assigned to be with wicked men; Although He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His seed, He will prolong His days, And the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand. By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities." Isaiah 53 _________________________________________________ What It Means to Be a Christian How's Your Kingdom Coming? A Christian is one who believes in and is obedient to Christ. Few on this terrestrial globe truly believe (trust in, cling to, rely on) the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. Fewer still are obedient to Him. When He was on earth He gave some instructions to His first disciples. He continues to instruct His present day disciples through the Word energized by the Holy Spirit. It is the disciples' work to obey God and His Son Jesus beginning first with the instructions Jesus gave. When a disciple is well on his way to obedience to the words of Jesus then He sends the Holy Spirit to teach us even greater truths and provide further instructions to individuals and to the Church (His body) as a whole. As an aid for checking our own obedience to the words of Jesus the following is a paraphrased summary of some of Jesus' instructions recorded in the early chapters of the gospel according to Matthew. A Christian -- a follower of Christ -- must begin with Christ. To be worthy of the name the disciple must be true to the person and instructions of Jesus. "All who listen to My instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock." Matthew 7:24 "But those who hear My instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand." Matthew 7:26 BE (Matthew, Chapter 5) Humble Mournful Meek and lowly Longing for justice and goodness Kind and merciful Of pure heart Striving for peace Happy when persecuted for righteousness' sake The world's seasoning -- to make it tolerable The world's light -- let it shine DON'T (Matthew, Chapters 5-7) Be angry even in your own home Call your friend an idiot Curse your friend Misunderstand why I have come Make any vows Resist violence Do your good deeds publicly Pray publicly to pretend piety Recite the same prayer over and over Worry about things Be anxious about tomorrow Give your pearls to swine DO (Matthew, Chapters 5-10) Apologize and be reconciled to your friends before coming to worship Come to terms quickly with your enemy If your eye causes you to lust, gouge it out If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off If you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other too If you are ordered to court, and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too If the military demand that you carry their gear for a mile, carry it two Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you Be perfect in love even as your Father in Heaven is perfect PRAY LIKE THIS Forgive those who sin against you. If you refuse God will not forgive you When you fast do it for a spiritual purpose, secretly so no one will know Store your treasures in Heaven and not on earth Ask and you will be given what you ask for. Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened Do for others what you want them to do for you Choose the narrow gate Beware of false teachers Follow me Give as freely as you have received "There are, and will continue to be, further instructions for those who follow Christ's instructions from the Word and the Holy Spirit. For those who are wise, those who listen and obey, are spiritual treasures and a godly inheritance beyond expectation. For those who claim to be Christians, who hear but do not obey the basic teachings of Jesus, there is no future, except a future jointly inherited with fools." HLC "Do you want to be truly rich? You already are if you are happy and good. After all, we didn't bring any money with us when we came into the world, and we can't carry away a single penny when we die. So we should be well satisfied without money if we have enough food and clothing. But people who long to be rich soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and finally send them to hell itself. For the love of money is the first step towards all kinds of sin. Some people have even turned away from God because of their love for it, and as a result have pierced themselves with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6: 6-10 _________________________________________________ Your Heart's Desire How's Your Kingdom Coming? A Christian may be known by what he wants most. Check yourself now! For the next week listen to your prayer requests. Then list five of your most consistent personal prayers (those concerning yourself) by placing them under the headings below. PHYSICAL 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. SPIRITUAL 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Now circle the ones that you think about most at other times, the ones that you hope for and dream about when you have quiet moments. Now choose from this list your most cherished request in each category. And finally, choose between these two which one you desire most. In which world is your heart's desire? MC _________________________________________________ Pray Reading Just Between Us I am prayer shy. Let me explain why. At one time in my Christian life I desired a special thing very much. It was not in the material realm. I prayed unceasingly for it. Finally all circumstances fell into place and I received my request. I thought that God had willingly answered my prayer. I didn't know until later that the fulfillment of this longing caused a leanness in my soul. I had acted like the children of Israel in the wilderness: "They quickly forgot His works. They did not wait for His counsel but craved intensely in the wilderness. So He gave them their request but sent a leanness into their souls." Psalm 106: 13-15 During the difficult time that followed I searched for a way to separate my "craving intensely" from my prayer life. I wanted to learn how to "wait for His counsel" and to seek His will for me. I found a way. I call it "pray reading". It works like this: When I read my Bible I ask the Holy Spirit to show me what prayer requests to make. Then I listen "intently" and He tells me through the Word. This method not only keeps me from praying amiss but it gives me insight into what the Spirit wishes for me. It separates my human longing from God's hopes and desires for me. O God, there are many things I want, And blessings I think I need. But give me only of Your best, Though I pray and beg and plead. _________________________________________________ God Speaks - Can You Hear? How's Your Kingdom Coming? I believe that God speaks to each one of us personally and specifically through His Word. I also believe that there is no way to escape from error and the traditions of men until we learn to hear His voice through the Scriptures. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. How can He do this for us if we read the Bible in an impersonal manner, only considering the history, the setting, the doctrinal and moral implications? If we refuse to take anything out of context we make the Scriptures only as useful as a history textbook or a self-improvement manual. We may glimpse a little of the truth and the letter of the law but it will never become the "living word" in our lives. Now taking out our Bible commentary and trying to fit the Word of God into intellectual and scholarly research may make us feel wise but it won't be food for our souls. It will be a moral guide but not life changing; it will breathe some fresh air into our fleshly pursuits but it will not give Life to our spirit. God will always be at arm's length and I suspect that those who follow this saying -- "Anything taken out of context is a pretext", really secretly want to keep Him there. "Listening to God can be disturbing and unsettling for it often involves change -- change in attitude, in relationships, change in vocation or location. Anything could change if we got lined up with God's plan for us, if we stopped long enough for the tumult to die down, to get quiet enough to hear God speak. Particularly if we were not afraid of what He might say to us." (Rosalind Rinker) The Christian walk is not logical and reasonable so there is no possibility to follow Jesus, being obedient to His commands, unless we learn to hear Him speaking to us through the counterpart of Himself, the Word. For Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me." If you have never "heard" God speak to you through His Word, begin today to expect Him to. Watch and wait daily through the study of your Bible. When He speaks to you, underline what He says. Hide these words in your heart by reviewing them often. Sooner or later they will be the instructions or the answer for you in a specific time in your Christian walk and you will understand. One word of caution -- don't try to bring what He tells you to pass through your own efforts or spend time imagining how they will occur. "Obey me and live! Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down, and also keep them deep within your heart." Proverbs 7: 2, 3 _________________________________________________ Abide in the Word How's Your Kingdom Coming? "If you abide in My Word, you are truly my disciples." John 8: 31 What does the word "abide" mean? To remain in, to continue to live in, to hold fast to, to live in accordance with, to submit to, to rely on. Do you abide in the Word? Do you cling to it as offering greater security than all the securities in the world? Do you obey Jesus regardless of the consequences? Are you hot, cold, or lukewarm about the Word of God? Check your temperature by beginning at the bottom of the list below and include every word that describes your response to the Scriptures. "You have commanded us to keep your precepts, that we should observe them diligently. O that my ways were directed and established to observe your statutes and -- hearing, receiving, loving, obeying them." Psalm 119: 3, 4 Check your temperature: HOT || ABIDE | LOVE | OBEY | RECEIVE || LUKEWARM || HEAR | SAY | READ || COLD _________________________________________________ The First Time I Heard His Voice Just Between Us I believe that God speaks to me personally, specifically, and directly through the Scriptures. Let me share with you the first time that I heard His voice. I was ill and very afraid that I would die. My fear was so encompassing that it colored my whole world death-gray. One evening I attended Bible study. The leader gave me a Scripture to look up in the sixth chapter of Judges. I located the verse and as I was waiting to share it, the particular affliction that was mine overwhelmed me. Frantically I looked around for an easy exit but I was hemmed in by many rows of chairs and bodies. Desperately, I cried out to God. At that precise moment I glanced down at my open Bible. And out from the printed page, through the eyes of my spirit, and into the depths of my soul thundered the voice of God -- "Peace be unto you, fear not, you shall not die". From that moment on, reading my Bible became for me a daily, vital, living, breathing encounter and conversation with God. I had talked to God for a long time and now I had discovered how God talks to me. Since that night God has continued to speak to me through the Word, giving me specific orders, telling me about future events, answering my questions, warning me about wrong attitudes, pronouncing me sometimes blessed and sometimes guilty of sin, informing me about what pleases Him, teaching me about Himself and His Kingdom, and sharing with me who He is and who I am. I also believe that I can know the will of God for me in every situation that arises in my life; that He will tell me what He wants me to do. Let me share with you, how it works for me. 1. I expect God to speak to me right where I am reading in my daily Bible study. Would God tell me I must be obedient and then leave me guessing about what He wants me to do? Psalm 119: 105 states: "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path". So I go to God's word with a purpose. The Bible is God's letter to me and I read and re-read it to see what He is saying to me personally. I approach the Scriptures with my spiritual eyes and ears open. I try to put aside all preconceived ideas so that I am teachable. I ask the Holy Spirit to be my guide and interpreter and to lead me into all Truth. 2. When God speaks I underline it in my Bible. If it is an answer to a specific question I act on it, bringing my will in line. If He says harsh things, pointing out sin in my life, I admit it, search out its depths, and ask for forgiveness. If I do not understand what God is saying or it is a promise for some future date I keep reviewing it -- hide it in my heart. Sooner or later (sometimes years later) it will be the Scripture for the moment and the Holy Spirit will call it to my mind and I will understand and know what to do. "I have hid His Word in my heart that I might not sin against Him." 3. How do I know when He is talking to me? Earlier in this article I described it this way -- out from the printed page, through the eyes of my spirit, and into the depths of my soul, thundered the voice of God. Other descriptive phrases are: The words warmed or burned my heart My spirit leaped within me. The Scriptures stood out in capital letters. My eyes and mind were glued to the verse and I couldn't go on. 4. The Scripture God gives to me is not usually in context. The Holy Spirit interprets its meaning to me. I used to try to interpret it myself when I couldn't understand what it meant. I wasted a lot of energy that way. Sometimes my thoughts ran wild and I was guilty of vain imaginings and spiritual vanity. And sometimes I tried to bring the words to pass. The secret is to wait on the Lord, hide His Word in my heart, knowing that I will recognize the moment of fulfillment and will understand at that time. Interpreting and trying to bring it about are futility and frustration, and most serious of all -- rebellion. 5. I do not claim the promises and privileges of the Bible until God tells me that they belong to me. When I am ready in knowledge and have fulfilled the conditions the Holy Spirit informs me that the Scripture verse is now true of me. (I cannot relate to the present teaching in many Christian groups that when you are saved all promises and privileges belong to you. This, I believe is violence against the Kingdom, trying to take it by force. Matthew 11: 12) 6. When God is silent I search out the reason. If He has withdrawn from me the following things may be wrong; I have been disobedient, unbelieving, or have failed to act on something He told me to do. I may also be neglecting the study of His Word. It is especially important for me to read my Bible the first thing in the morning, to put God first in my life. I believe that God has a plan for my life; He wants to answer my questions, direct my steps, help me make decisions, tell me about Himself and His Kingdom, and my future. He has written down the answers, He has put them in my hands, He has given me the Holy Spirit to explain and teach me what I need to know. So you see, if I am out of step with God, I have no excuse. MC _________________________________________________ When Christ Returns Consider Jesus How will you react when you see Him? Picture this! Suddenly the sign of Christ appears in the sky and you see Him. In a twinkling you are in His presence. His gaze falls on you. What will you do? How will you react? Will you run up to Him, confident of your acceptance, or will you shrink back, hoping that He will overlook you? Will you be ashamed and full of excuses or full of joy that your Savior has finally come again? "As we live with Christ, our love grows more perfect and complete; so we will not be ashamed and embarrassed at the day of judgment, but can face Him with confidence and joy because He loves us and we love Him too." 1 John 4: 17 "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." C.S. Lewis _________________________________________________ Early Appointment With God Just Between Us I have made many decisions in my Christian life but one stands out as having the greatest effect on my spiritual growth and development. At the time it seemed a small thing and it was many months before I felt the impact of it on my life. I sensed in my spirit that God wanted me to get up earlier than my family to spend the first part of each day with Him. Hoping that this idea was just my imagination I asked Him to confirm the order by awakening me at the time He wished me to get up. Like clockwork from then on my spiritual alarm went off at the same early hour every morning. There could be no doubt that He was asking this of me. Now getting myself out of bed in the morning was the hardest thing that I did all day and it was a real struggle to force myself up and out. The first few months I was sometimes obedient, sometimes not. I used many excuses to sleep in -- being up all night with sick children, late evening commitments, etc. Then during a difficult time I realized that there was no excuse for missing my early morning meeting with God. He told me explicitly from Proverbs -- "Love not sleep lest your soul come into poverty". From that time to this, listening and talking to God is the first appointment of my day. During these moments He has opened wide the doors of His Kingdom to me and given me the privilege to sit in His presence and learn from Him. What a priceless gift to receive for only a few less minutes of sleep each morning. "He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple." Isaiah 50: 4 _________________________________________________ Living in the Kingdom of God How's Your Kingdom Coming? "Greatly to be envied are those You have chosen to come and live with You." Psalm 65: 4 WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD? ARE YOU A CITIZEN OF THIS KINGDOM? DO YOU KNOW ITS KING? ARE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH ITS LAWS? CAN YOU DESCRIBE ITS CULTURE AND VALUES? WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS AS A CITIZEN OF THIS KINGDOM? WHAT AREAS OF AUTHORITY DOES THE KING RESERVE FOR HIMSELF? HOW IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD DIFFERENT FROM OTHER KINGDOMS? THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS: The gospel, the "good news" (Matthew 4:23) The most valuable possession of all (Matthew 13: 44-46) The first priority of the Christian (Matthew 6: 33) An everlasting Kingdom (Psalm 145: 13) Not derived from this world (John 18:36) Open only to those born of the Spirit (John 3: 3-8) Entered through much tribulation (Acts 14: 22) Within you (Luke 17: 20, 21) A mystery to those outside the Kingdom (Matthew 13: 10-15) The constant theme of the preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 1-3) The first message of Jesus recorded in Matthew and Mark (Matthew 4: 17; Mark 1: 14, 15) The subject Jesus talked about to His disciples during the forty days after His crucifixion and resurrection (Acts 1: 1-3) The subject of Paul's teaching during his years in Rome (Acts 28: 23-31) THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS: A King, who was born for this purpose (John 18: 33-39) A special uniform (robe, garment) (Matthew 22: 1-14) A special set of values (Matthew 5: 1-11) Rules of conduct (Matthew, Chapters 5-7) Suffering citizens (2 Thessalonians 1: 4, 5) A day of separation (Matthew 25: 31-40) Entrance requirements (Matthew 4: 17; Luke 18: 16, 17; Matthew 7: 21; Matthew 18: 3, 4; John 3: 3-5; Acts 14: 22) _________________________________________________ Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God How's Your Kingdom Coming? I want to share with you the excerpt from the writings of C.S. Lewis that frightened me spiritually and prompted me to begin searching for the reality of the Kingdom of God. For at my present spiritual depth I knew that when the Kingdom dawned on the world of men I would be a stranger there: "My fear was now of another kind. I felt sure that the creature was what we call 'good', but I wasn't sure whether I liked 'goodness' so much as I had supposed. This is a very terrible experience. As long as what you are afraid of is something evil, you may still hope that the good may come to your rescue. But suppose you struggle through to the good and find that it also is dreadful? How if food itself turns out to be the very thing you can't eat, and home the very place you can't live and your very comforter the person who makes you uncomfortable? Then indeed, there is no rescue possible; the last card has been played. Here at last was a bit of that world from beyond the world, which I always supposed that I loved and desired, breaking through and appearing to my senses; and I didn't like it, I wanted it to go away." (C.S. Lewis) MC _________________________________________________ Resolutions Just Between Us My experience with resolutions for the new year is that I make them only to break them. However one year it was a different story. I resolved to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Everything else would be secondary. I had read a quotation on a church bulletin that gave me a way to begin my quest. "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I may see my way into the unknown.' He said to me, 'Step out into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of God. That is better than a light and better than a known way.'" Author Unknown All that year this resolution was the focal point of my life. I began to grow as a Christian. Since then my spiritual life has been on the upward swing and at the end of each new year I find that I am standing on higher ground. MC _________________________________________________ The Keys of the Kingdom How's Your Kingdom Coming? The keys of the kingdom are: 1) Repentance 2) Rebirth 3) Obedience 4) Humility 5) Tribulations (Without them you cannot enter) How many of these do you possess? All of them? Any of them? REPENTANCE -- "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4: 17) REBIRTH -- "...unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3: 3-5) OBEDIENCE -- "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) HUMILITY -- "Unless you are turned and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18: 3, 4) TRIBULATIONS -- "...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14: 22) _________________________________________________ Repentance How's Your Kingdom Coming? I was lonely, lost and frightened When I first called Your name, I said, "O God, I need you, I know that I'm to blame, For all that I have done I know that I'm the one; I'm ashamed." I said, "O God, I'm sorry, I know that I've done wrong." You answered, "I forgive you, Now come and walk along. Fear Me and you will learn, The path you will discern. I am strong." I've made so many errors I need to say again, "You know, O God, I'm sorry; Yes, I remember when I said that this was all Again I would not fall." Yet I sinned. You know that I'm not like You. To evil I will run. Yet there's a higher nature In Jesus Christ, Your Son. And I can be like Him. Through Him I need not sin. He has won. I want to be like Jesus Though progress may be slow. And I can be just like Him Because You've said it's so. And I can find a way By believing every day. For I know He has won. "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness... we can become partakers of the divine nature..." (1 Peter 1: 3, 4) _________________________________________________ I Am the Chief of Sinners Just Between Us I believe that I am the chief of sinners. I know that if I had been Eve I would have eaten the forbidden fruit. I also know that if I had been with the children of Israel in the wilderness I would have been guilty of all their sins against God -- that I am guilty of lust, greed, envy, vanity, jealousy, anger, murder, etc. Why do I believe this? The Holy Spirit tells me it is true. As I read the Bible He convicts me of sin. "The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4: 12 Many warn about looking too deeply into yourself -- gazing at your navel. But I believe that for the Christian this inner work is essential. It is a positive thing, a necessary procedure for spiritual growth. John states, "If we say that we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." He also says that to worship God we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. How can I worship God in truth if I don't know the truth about myself -- that I am a sinner saved by God's grace? How can I begin to fathom the marvelous depth of His mercy for me until I fathom the horrendous depth of my sin? 1 Corinthians 4: 5 tells us that when the Lord returns He will bring to light things hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts. Can you imagine the emotional trauma of such instant total exposure? I would rather deal with it now, a little at a time, with the Holy Spirit's help. When I first became a Christian I knew that I had fallen short of the glory of God but I didn't think I had fallen "as short" as a lot of other people. When the Holy Spirit began to reveal to me what I was really like, I would be terribly distressed and depressed for days, sometimes weeks; it was such a blow to my ego to realize that I was not a "good" person. Finally I understood that God had known it all along. I was the only one surprised and shocked. And He was showing me the truth to set me free. When I acknowledged my sin and asked for forgiveness, He forgave me. This is the continuing process by which He is cleansing me from all unrighteousness. So I quit wallowing in self pity and shame, stood on my feet and accepted myself in truth -- a sinner -- looking forward with the Holy Spirit's help to what I shall be "hereafter." MC "Those whom I love I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten -- I discipline and instruct them. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal, and repent -- changing your mind and attitude." Revelation 3: 19 "God's children live by laws as hard and severe as those that govern nature. Grace operates within those laws but never contrary to them. Our fruit will follow its native tree and not all our frightened prayers can prevent it. If we do holy deeds we must be holy men, every day and all the days that God grants us here below." A.W. Tozer _________________________________________________ Rebirth How's Your Kingdom Coming? "Unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of heaven." John 3: 3 For many years I viewed Calvary from afar. Then one day I came and stood at the foot of the cross, looked up, and for the first time recognized that Jesus was hanging there in my place. I saw my sin and the hopelessness of my continued existence without Him. My soul was stirred and I reached out to Him in love and gratitude and asked Him to be my Savior. I sensed His acceptance cover me with love and cleanness. For a time I stood there feeling secure and very special. In the weeks that followed I came everyday to the foot of the cross. I called to others to come and see for themselves what Jesus had done for me and to glimpse what He offered them. One morning I came as usual to the cross, ready to again thank Jesus for giving His life for me. But the cross was empty. Jesus was not there. Panic rose within me. I ran everywhere, asking everyone I met how to find Him again. "Keep returning to the cross", they advised. "That is the only place you are secure." So for many days I waited at Calvary but never again did I find Jesus there. I was lost and disillusioned, joyless and heartsick. Many people were standing there beside me. I heard them telling over and over of many months, even years of coming to the foot of the cross. Their words said, "We see you, Jesus", but in their eyes I saw the truth. For them also, the cross was empty. For awhile I continued to stand there in emptiness and pretense, joining them in their hypocrisy. But one day I could no longer remain. I was constrained to move on. I had to find Jesus. Everywhere was darkness. I no longer felt clean and loved. I was not clothed with the new but still shackled with the old. Many times I was tempted to return to Calvary just for the comfort of being with others for the road I was traveling was very lonely. Then I read in the Word about the resurrection. My heart leaped in anticipation. I will look for Jesus at the tomb. I ran, a new hope surging within me. But the Word whispered the ageless reply -- "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. He is going before you. There you will see Him." I turned from the tomb, my disappointment was like a shroud. "O, Jesus", I whispered, "Where are you? How can I find you?" Every day I searched His Word for signs of Him. "Come to Me", Jesus had said. "Learn of Me." At first it seemed empty and fruitless but every day I came to eat and drink of what He had said. Then one day I came as usual and suddenly the words on the page were alive. They spoke to me. My soul sang; my spirit soared. Like a rushing stream the Scriptures filled my being. Sometimes they pronounce me guilty, sometimes they praise me, but always they promise me life if I will be obedient to what they say. Every time Jesus gave me a command through His Word, I said, "Yes, Lord". I felt my old self begin to fade and my new self become more prevalent. When He showed me a sin I faced it and asked Him to forgive me. I felt the new life that had been born in me at the foot of the cross stir and grow. My being sought Jesus, following hard after Him. Others asked me, "Where are you going?" "Come and see", I replied. Wherever His Word led me I went, regardless of the consequences. I knew that my feet were now walking His Way, that I was "coming" to Him. The life that would never die encompassed my soul and spirit with eternity. His word became a part of the fiber of my being, opening my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to understand. Many years now I have been following Jesus. I have had great joy and great sorrow, magnificent peace and excruciating pain, death and new Life, want and plenty, confusion and enlightenment. I have experienced the depths and the heights, (the true life abundant) and found God more than sufficient for every circumstance. Someday I will take my last step toward Jesus. My "coming to Him" will be over. In the distance I can see a new day dawning. On that great day, Jesus will be coming for me. O, praise God, He'll be coming for me! MC It is not the person who is taught about God but the person who experiences God that grows into a spiritually healthy, happy, well adjusted Christian. Our present state of grace is the result of what we have "experienced" rather than what we have learned intellectually. God is an experience in reality and truth. HLC _________________________________________________ Obedience How's Your Kingdom Coming? Many Christians assume that repentance and rebirth are the only requirements for entering the Kingdom of God and that from then on grace covers every other contingency and they are "home free". Scripture, however, lists at least three other basic requirements: obedience (Matthew 7: 21), humility (Luke 18: 16, 17; Matthew 18: 3, 4), and tribulations (Acts 14: 22). To call Jesus, "Lord", does not make Him our Lord. Only obedience can do that. Obedience is obeying whatever the one in command orders us to do with no variation on our part - no additions, subtractions, corrections, interpretations, and imaginings. And obedience is silencing within ourselves the "what ifs", "but Gods", and "whys". The Lord speaks and His followers obey. It is as simple and as complicated as that. Everything we need to be obedient is found in Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. With all our reasoning powers, our earthly know-how, our church activities, we will not find the way. For we have been called into a personal relationship with Jesus. "And discipleship without Jesus Christ is a way of our own choosing. It may be the ideal way. It may even lead to martyrdom, but it is devoid of all promise. Jesus will certainly reject it." (Bonhoeffer) Even if we prophesy in His name, cast out demons, perform works of power, He will say, "Depart from me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness." In all of obedience only one thing is necessary -- "to rely on Christ's word, and cling to it as offering greater security than all the securities in the world." (Bonhoeffer) True obedience today is hidden and obscure just as it was in Jesus' day. For Christians are taught to be obedient to the traditions, doctrines, and precepts of men, not to the words of Jesus. Then how does a Christian know what to do? Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me." "My child, hear my voice and give no heed to the voice of the stranger. My paths are straight, and they are narrow, but you shall have no difficulty in finding them if you watch me. I am guiding you. You need not look to man for direction. You may learn much by fellowship with the saints, but never allow any to take the part that is rightfully Mine -- to direct your steps. As it is written, 'The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,' -- not by the preacher, not by some Christian worker, but by the Lord. Trust Me to do it, and give Me the time and opportunity. Be not hasty, and lean not upon your own intelligence. Rest in Me. I shall bring to pass My perfect will in your life as you believe and live in faith." (Frances J. Roberts) If you will be obedient today then learn to recognize the voice of Jesus. He called you individually and you must follow Him alone. He will tell you what to do and where to go. Search the Scriptures for His word to you. Sit at His feet everyday and learn of Him. When He speaks to you, underline what He says, hide these words in your heart, and then when the moment for obedience arrives, act them out according to His instructions. "Discipleship is not limited to what you comprehend -- it must transcend all comprehension. Plunge into the deep waters beyond your own comprehension, and Jesus will help you to comprehend. ...Not to know where you are going is the true knowledge. Thus Abraham went forth from his father not knowing whither he went. He trusted himself to God's knowledge, and cared not for his own, and thus he took the right road and came to his journey's end. Behold, that is the way of the cross. You cannot find it yourself, so you must let Jesus lead you as though you were a blind man. Wherefore it is not you, no living creature, but Jesus who instructs you by His word and Spirit in the way you should go. Not the work you choose or contrive or desire -- that is the road you must take. To that Jesus calls you and in that you must be His disciple." (Martin Luther) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven." You see, you do hold the keys to the Kingdom in your own hand. Just like Peter. MC _________________________________________________ The Reality of the Kingdom How's Your Kingdom Coming? A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us altogether within the reach of ourselves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is there awaiting our response to His presence. This world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality. And what do I mean by reality? I mean that which has existence apart from any idea my mind may have of it, and which would exist if there were no mind anywhere to entertain a thought of it. That which is reality has being in itself. It does not depend upon the observer for its validity. A.W. Tozer _________________________________________________ The Wilderness Experience How's Your Kingdom Coming? I believe that sooner or later the Holy Spirit leads all believers into the wilderness. It is a time of discipline, proving, learning -- a time when the Holy Spirit takes us on an uncharted journey uniquely our own. It is a time when God learns if we will follow Him no matter where He leads. "And you shall earnestly remember all the way which the Lord your God led you in the wilderness to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna which you did not know... that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord." Deuteronomy 8: 2-5 These days many Christian leaders are promising good times, success, health, and prosperity as the gifts of God to believers. The present day approach in many Christian circles is to add God to your everyday life, expecting Him to give you your heart's desire. But cannot anyone follow God when things are prosperous and times are good? The vital question is: "Will we follow when the Holy Spirit leads us in to a situation where faith is not only possible but essential -- where the foundation of our human world collapses, our security vanishes, and our only hope is our trust in God? When we are alone to learn how we will react?" John Wesley describes this time in the Christian life as the "hour of darkness". This hour comes after he has walked with God for a time and Jesus calls him to "come out" away from the world. Jesus' wilderness experience began after He was filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Judean desert He was proved to show God what was in His heart; whether He would do the will of His Father or would misuse the power of God to do His own thing, build His own concept of the kingdom, prove to the world who He was, polish His halo, feed His vanity, or indulge His need for creature comforts. Jesus was tempted to run back to the world to use the power of God to further His career as an evangelist, prophet, faith healer, teacher, and preacher. But in His heart He found that His desire was to do the will of His Father. How many desires had to be dealt with and destroyed before this one emerged triumphant, the Scriptures do not relate. Look at Job! What a wilderness experience he had. "And the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.' Then Satan answered the Lord, 'Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.'" We are familiar with the calamity that came upon Job. His friends thought that he must have sinned to receive such treatment -- such devastation. But Job said, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In my wilderness experience God has taken from me, one by one, all those earthly things that I have held dear, all possessions that made me feel secure, all hopes and dreams with which I filled my life. Here on this uncharted journey I have learned that all human things are futility and vanity. For the barren area into which the Spirit leads us is empty, dead. Only the Holy Spirit enables us to survive there. Only the eternal treasures are of value. Earthly possessions hinder, bind, and tempt us to look back or retreat. Bonhoeffer puts it this way: "The call of Jesus teaches us that our relation to the world has been built on an illusion." The pertinent question here is the same as it was for Job. Will we still serve and follow God when our human world falls apart and everything we are and have vanishes? Will we echo the words of Job: "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord"? We'll find out when the Spirit leads us into the wilderness. And so will God. MC _________________________________________________ Danger to Your Lifestyle Who in the World Are You? "Christians simply do not realize the great spiritual danger that surrounds them when they touch the world. There is a spiritual force behind this world scene which, by means of things that are in the world, is seeking to enmesh us in its system. God is building up His Church to its consummation in the universal reign of Christ. Simultaneously His rival is building up this world system to its vain climax in the reign of the antichrist. How watchful we need to be lest at any time we are found helping Satan in the construction of that ill-fated kingdom. When we are faced with the alternatives and a choice of ways confronts us, the question is: Is this of this world, or of God? For since there is only one conflict in the universe, then whenever two conflicting courses lie open to us, the choice at issue is never a lesser one than: God or Satan?" Watchman Nee "Try this recipe, O believer, whenever you are sad of heart and in heaviness of spirit. Forget yourself and your little concerns and seek the welfare and prosperity of Zion. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and your own soul will be refreshed." Charles Spurgeon _________________________________________________ Humility How's Your Kingdom Coming? "Truly I say to you, unless you are turned and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18: 3 I have had a difficult time trying to capture the essence of humility on paper. It is such an illusive quality, difficult to understand, and almost impossible to define. The substance of humility eludes us because its counterfeits (self-abasement, timidity, cowardice, pride, and inferiority complex) so successfully masquerade in its place. But we must seek until we find it or we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. And we must "put it on" (Colossians 3: 12) and "...clothe ourselves with it." (1 Peter 5: 5) Look on the face of humility: "Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though He was God, did not demand and cling to His rights as God, but laid aside His mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave, and becoming like men. And He humbled Himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross." Philippians 2: 5-8 Humility is an attitude of the mind and heart -- a reflection in us of the willingness of Jesus to take a place lower than was rightfully His. To translate this willingness of Jesus to our own position in life is essential. This is how it works. All human beings have a God-given right to self-determination, to choose for themselves. And this right belonged to each of us. When we became Christians, however, we gave up our human right to self-rule and placed ourselves under the jurisdiction of God. We are no longer our own. We must pattern our lives after Christ and be obedient to Him. At the moment of our rebirth we surrendered our rights in this world and became the servants of God, servants of our fellow Christians, and also servants of the unsaved world. Acknowledging these facts and acting on them in everyday life is a real test of our discipleship. Sometimes Christians mistake their becoming children of God and heirs to the kingdom as a step up in the world, not down. They expect special treatment and special consideration, and their attitude becomes one of superiority. They look around at the unsaved world with arrogance. They have not as yet grasped that the Christian is less in this world that the non-Christian. He has become less by his own choice. Although a Christian is a child of God, he must not grasp at this but become a slave of God and a servant of all. He no longer has any rights in this world. Listen to the words of humility: "Jesus said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.'" Matthew 20: 25-28 We have defined humility as an attitude of the mind and heart -- the willingness to take a lower place than is rightfully ours. The next step is to translate this idea into action in our daily lives and relationships. I want to share with you now, how I began in my life and the many things I learned as a result. I began by formulating certain actions and reactions to guide my behavior. 1. Do not answer back when insulted. 2. Do not get even or take revenge. 3. Do not criticize and speak evil of others even when they wrong you. 4. Present yourself defenseless before the world. Let the world treat you as it will. Do not fight back verbally or physically. 5. When situations arise do not judge the event, placing fault at anyone's doorstep. 6. Do good to all men. Pray for those who spitefully use you. 7. If someone attacks you, do not provoke or harass them to further violence. Avoid sarcasm, name-calling, gloating and other subtle ways you can use to commit violence verbally. I used the following Scriptures as the basis for the above list: "...and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously." 1 Peter 2: 22, 23 "Don't criticize and speak evil about each other. If you do, you will be fighting against God's law of loving one another, declaring it is wrong. But your job is not to decide whether this law is right or wrong, but to obey it. Only He who made the law can rightly judge among us. He alone decides to save us or destroy. So what right do you have to judge or criticize others?" James 4: 11, 12 "Do not resist the evil man." Matthew 5: 39 "Do not harass or provoke the sons of men (Ammon)." Deuteronomy 2: 19 I began to put these ideas into practice when I was working as a waitress. During that time I had many difficult, painful, and interesting experiences. Now as I write them down for you, reader, they sound petty and small. I record them only that you might see that when I presented myself defenseless before the world, God moved in my everyday encounters and was my shield and defender as He promised He would be. The following events and later happenings best speak for themselves. They are a sampling of what happened to me in a six-month period. The manager's young wife was angry with me because I couldn't work two consecutive shifts so she harassed me. She dropped a tray of full soup containers. Two young cooks called me obscene names without cause. One cut his thumb severely. The other had a motorcycle accident. I made a special request to my boss to receive my check on time. He promised to make it possible. Later he just ignored it. On payday his car was stolen. Twice the hostess involved me in her personal grievances when I was only an innocent bystander, claiming that I was her accomplice. She had a heart attack. I was fired. Two months later the person who fired me was fired. There is one more Scripture to consider and it is perhaps the most difficult of all to handle, for when you see God acting so tremendously in your life to defend you, you might get an exaggerated opinion of your importance. "Do not rejoice when your enemy meets trouble. Let there be no gladness when he falls -- for the Lord may be displeased with you and stop punishing him." Proverbs 24: 17 Maude's line, "God will get you for this" is the height of vanity. Never joke about such a serious thing. Such an attitude can have no latitude in the Christian. God acts as He chooses to act. And that, only. When you present yourself in an attitude of humility and defenselessness He will judge those who harm you. But it is because He is doing what He said He would do. Read Psalm 94. I shudder here because I might give the wrong impression. When God judges those who harm you He is being true to His word -- not because you are anyone so great. If you conclude His actions on your behalf are the result of your importance, you are again engulfed in vanity. Only this time your sin is greater because you have imagined that God is your personal avenger. All I have been describing is a spiritual law -- if you present yourself defenseless, God will defend you. If you defend yourself He will not come to your aid. Many times I failed to act like Jesus did. And this is still true. But I keep trying. One more thing. Sometimes I wronged others and then God's judgment fell on me. I could not ask that it be otherwise. From my experiences I learned some realities about the kingdom of God. This kingdom has areas of authority (territories), just like any earthly kingdom or state. The Christian must recognize and understand the boundaries of the king's authority and not trespass. This is the way I describe it: Vanity, vanity, all is vanity -- except for one thing. And that one thing is humility. And humility is: 1. Waiting for God, not trespassing in His areas of authority. Vengeance (Psalm 94; Hebrews 10: 30) Judgment (James 4: 11, 12) Defense and protection of citizens of the kingdom (Psalm 91; Psalm 27: 1-3) Deliverance (Psalm 91; Psalm 34: 7) Decision-making as to all events in the kingdom and the lives of its citizens (Proverbs 3: 5, 6; Isaiah 30: 1) 2. Not trespassing in the territory of another person even if he has invaded mine. Invasion tactics: anger, criticism, sarcasm, arrogance, retaliation, gossip, provoking, exerting emotional pressure such as crying, nagging, pouting, etc. 3. Not protecting my own territory if someone insists on entering. I finally understood why humility is an entrance requirement for the kingdom of God. I had been trampling where angels fear to tread. Whether I did this in ignorance or arrogance is irrelevant. There is no valid excuse. I had been trying to take the kingdom of heaven by force. And now for the bottom line: When we became Christians we gave up our God-given human right to self-determination. When we became Christians we gave up our right to defend ourselves in the world of men but gained a new right to be defended by God. But if we follow Jesus all the way we will now take another step down, giving up this newly acquired right also because our Savior did. When Jesus was taken in the garden by the soldiers He could have asked God to judge them. But He didn't. Instead he asked God to forgive them. How can we do less? In our present day, people everywhere are demanding their rights. God asks the Christian to give all his rights away. I wish now that I might live again those days as a waitress, knowing what I know now. I wish I had asked God to forgive them. I can't undo that now but there are many days yet ahead of me with new events and relationships. That I may be like Jesus is my prayer. _________________________________________________ Fulfill Your Calling How's Your Kingdom Coming? "Look into the history of every great work God has raised up and you will find a man (or woman) who was not afraid to risk everything to fulfill His call." David Wilkerson "The toughness it takes to face life and the formidable reverses which it brings to us can come only through the discipline of endurance and hardship. In His mercy and love our Master makes this a part of our program. It is part of the price of belonging to Him. The saints from the earliest times have repeatedly pointed out that nine-tenths of religion, of Christianity, of becoming a true follower, a dedicated disciple, lies in the will." Phillip Keller Ain't it the truth? A current Bible teacher on a Christian radio broadcast made the following statement: "I'll tell you all I know and then some". "Of all the people you will know in a lifetime, you are the only one you will never leave or lose. To the question of your life, you are the only answer. To the problems of your life, you are the only solution." Fredelle Maynard _________________________________________________ Tribulation: Count It All Happiness How's Your Kingdom Coming? "Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." James 1: 2-4 In the midst of difficulties and temptations, when we have problems, and when the way is rough we are supposed to be happy! Ha! Difficult? Impossible? Idealistic? Who, in the throes of a physical, emotional, or spiritual crisis can be happy? How can we be happy when our depression is so deep that it immobilizes us? How can we be happy when the feeling of hot lead in the pit of our stomach denies us food and fellowship? Isn't happiness based on our circumstances? No, happiness isn't based on circumstance. Happiness springs from our confidence and faith in the Lord. No matter what our circumstances, we can, by the miraculous grace of God, have a measure of happiness. I don't mean that God will replace sorrow with happiness or that He will automatically give us an easy time. Paul was not spared the whip, shipwreck, imprisonment, sorrow, grief, fear, or temptation. Neither shall we be spared the problems that are part and parcel of human experience. As a matter of fact, there is reason to believe that Satan will do all in his power to bring difficulties our way. The closer we follow the Lord the harder Satan works to bring us down. Since he is the prince of this world he uses every trick at his disposal to do us in. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, was speaking from experience when he wrote to Christians. He discovered that hard times can bring growth. If we try to squirm out of our problems we'll be no farther ahead than when we started. But if we accept them as they come and look for God's hand at work we will most definitely come through a winner. Paul said to thank God for everything. He meant everything: the roses and the thorns, the cherries and the pits. Hard times build character. They build strength. They build faith. They burn off the dross. They purify us for greater faith and confidence in the Lord. In relation to our witness, a Christian's experience is judged by the world on how he reacts in adversity. Over the past ten years I have had my share of difficulties and temptations. I am in a "fiery furnace" at this time. I have not always been happy about the way the Lord has led me and in the intensity of the moment I was not always thankful. When I look back I am ashamed. I am ashamed because I see now the beautiful way that God supported me. I see how He used every situation in some way for my good. I see how He has been using circumstances to burn off the dross of my character. I see how He has been teaching me about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control. I have a long way to go yet in order to be conformed to the likeness and image of Jesus Christ. But based on past experience I know God is a loving Father. He has never let me down. My hope and faith grow stronger and stronger as I see His hand in everything. As I am able to get my eye off the tree and look at the whole forest I am happy in the Lord. HLC _________________________________________________ Joy Be Creative With Your Feelings Joy is the shining splendor in the heart and soul. The result of a touch of eternity in our lives -- a glimpse of truth, an answer to prayer, a fulfillment of a promise, an enlightenment of a perplexing time, an insight about God that opens new vistas of wonder for our souls. At this moment all things seem possible because we believe. We feel like conquerors, overcomers, possessors of heavenly strength and valor. We taste joy and wish it would last forever. But for most of us joy lasts for only a moment; it vanishes as quickly as it came. We sing, "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart". But in truth it is here at the seat of our emotions that the obstacle to continual joy dwells. This obstacle has three names: fear, doubt, and impatience. Only when God intercedes in our lives in a dramatic way are these enemies momentarily dispelled and we taste joy. The secret of continual joy is to see God's hand on our lives in difficult times -- in everything He allows to come our way. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance and let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect, lacking in nothing." James 1: 2-4 Joy is to be the Christian's escort during tribulation -- pain, suffering, persecution, poverty, desertion, testing, trials, etc. and it is for such times in the life of the believer that joy exists. It was because of joy that Jesus endured the cross. "Jesus, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12: 2 What can we do right now if joy is elusive and momentary in our lives? "Who is among you who fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor? Let him rely on, trust and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God." Isaiah 50: 10 Is it not possible for anyone to have joy when God's hand is obviously upon him for good? But to have joy when darkness surrounds him is the mark of a mature Christian. Listen to the words of Habakkuk 3: 17-19: "Though the fig tree should not blossom, And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail, And the fields produce no food, Though the flocks should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds feet, And makes me walk on high places." Today, believe in God when simply believing is the most difficult thing of all to do. When trials come, love God and rejoice in Him. For love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. God loves you so much that He gave His Son; now is your opportunity to love Him back. Anchor your soul in eternity, draw your hope and security from what God is and what God says and the Holy Spirit will sow joy in your heart and soul. The rejoicing will encourage you to finish the race set before you and be true to the end whatever comes. MC _________________________________________________ Not My Will but Thine Be Done How's Your Kingdom Coming? Our Lord was arrested under cover of darkness, tied, questioned, blindfolded, struck, whipped with leaded thongs, mocked, spat upon, made to wear a crown of thorns, and forced to carry a cross to His own crucifixion where He was stabbed, jeered at, and forsaken to the hour of His death. Paul was beaten with rods (three times), stoned, shipwrecked, and lived in weariness and pain with sleepless nights. At various times he was hungry, thirsty, and cold. He faced dangers from flooded rivers, robbers, and from his own people, the Jews, as well as from the hands of the Gentiles. He was brought before authorities, questioned, and jailed several times. He was pursued, persecuted, and imprisoned and probably died an ignominious death. You, the reader, on the other hand, as a Christian, are willing to experience: a) All of the above b) Some of the above. If you chose this answer, list your first five choices: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. c) None of the above. My loving God, in His mercy, would not let me suffer that much. _________________________________________________ Who Is in Charge? How's Your Kingdom Coming? Authority is a tremendous thing in the universe -- nothing overshadows it. According to Webster, authority is the power or right to act, order, or make the ultimate and overruling decisions. Scripture states that this supreme right belongs to God, that He alone is the authority in all things. His supremacy stems from the fact that He is the author, the originator, and the creator of all that exists. Human beings are not born with an innate sense of "who is in charge." Our parents are our first glimpse of authority. They let us know at an early age that we have boundaries -- physical, emotional, and social. Behavior that attempts to set aside those orders usually results in some form of punishment. As we move out into the world we meet authority everywhere -- in school, in our community, even in our peer groups. We promise ourselves that one day we will be in charge of our lives; that we will make the decisions, determine our own destiny. We equate self-rule with adulthood. It is important to our self-image. Soon we learn that our culture values people in authority. Authoritative positions in the educational, social, religious, business, and political worlds are prized highly. We begin to feel there is something unworthy and degrading about allowing ourselves to be in a position of submission. Soon we have joined the world in its game of "one up". We compete for the places of power in the classroom, on the playground, at Bible School, on the athletic teams, and on and on into the adult world. We strive to be among the rule-makers, those who call the shots. It makes us feel important and successful. Submission makes us feel like a "nothing". The controversy of the universe is centered on who shall have authority. And as long as humans breathe, this ageless battle will continue with everyone involved in the struggle eventually losing. What mankind fails to realize is that the question of who is in charge has already been decided. Right up to the moment when Jesus returns people and nations will play "King of the Mountain", never guessing that it is a silly game. Christians, however, unless they want to be condemned with the world, must move out of this race to be top dog and learn what authority is all about. "It is imperative for those who desire to serve God to know the authority of God. For in touching God's authority we touch God Himself." (Watchman Nee) In ignoring it or rejecting it we are in danger of hell's fire. "God alone is authority in all things. The will of God is the absolute thing, for will represents authority. Therefore to know God's will and to obey it is to be subject to authority. To refuse to obey is to overthrow God's authority and thus to overthrow God. Obedience is a fundamental principle. If this matter of authority remains unsolved, nothing can be solved. As faith is the principle by which we obtain life, so obedience is the principle by which that life is lived out. For the greatest of God's demands on man is not for him to bear the cross, to serve, make offerings, or deny himself; the greatest demand is for him to obey." (Watchman Nee) How do we begin to understand the authority of God? Let's go back to the beginning. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." He spoke and it was done. Scripture tells us specifically in Romans 13 that there is no power but of God. It also tells us what our response is to be. "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers for he that resists the power withstands the ordinance of God and shall receive to himself judgment." Then who questioned God's right to rule? Scripture tells us that it was a spiritual being. He caused a mutiny in the heavens. He competed with God, attempting to set up his throne above the throne of God. His name was Satan. He rebelled against his Creator. Now there are two principles in the universe -- the principle of God's authority and the principle of Satan's rebellion. It did not take man long to become involved in the controversy. Let us review the story of Adam and Eve as recorded in Genesis: "After God had created Adam, He gave him a few charges; among these was the order to not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The crux of this charge was more than the forbiddance to eat a certain fruit; rather it was that God was putting Adam under authority that he might learn obedience. On the one hand God placed all the created things on the earth under the authority of Adam and Eve that they might have dominion over them; but on the other hand God had placed them under His authority that they might obey. Thus authority was the basic issue in the Garden of Eden. Instead of obeying, Eve made her own decision upon seeing that the fruit was good and pleasant to the eyes. Her eating the fruit did not come out of subjection but out of her own will. She not only violated God's authority but led Adam into temptation. She who was to have been his help-meet became his seducer. (Sound familiar?) She rebelled against God and fell. Any act of disobedience is rebellion, the principle of Satan." (Watchman Nee) Satan deceived Eve into joining him in his mutiny against God. Eve enticed Adam. All mankind now stands condemned beside this rebellious angelic deceiver, unless... ...UNLESS there is a way for man to be restored to the original righteousness. And praise God, it has been done through Jesus Christ, who was obedient to His Father even to death, taking the punishment for our disobedience on Himself and becoming the way back for us. Through Him we can be reconciled to God and delivered from the power of Satan and his kingdom of darkness and rebellion. Thus there are two important matters in the universe, trusting in God's salvation and obeying His authority. "Trust and obey, for there is no other way." "IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR US WHO DESIRE TO SERVE GOD TO KNOW THE AUTHORITY OF GOD. If you have not come to grips with the knowledge of this, ask God to teach you. Anyone who has once experienced an electric shock knows thereafter that he cannot be careless with electricity. Likewise, a person who has once been smitten by God's authority from then on has his eyes opened to the serious nature of disobedience." (Watchman Nee) MC Obedience is faith in action. Obedience is faith in God activated and energized by our love for Him plus a smattering of holy fear. _________________________________________________ Tell It Like It Is How's Your Kingdom Coming? Fearless devotion to Jesus Christ ought to mark the saint today, but more often it is devotion to our group that marks us. We are more concerned about being in agreement with Christians than about being in agreement with God. Today there is a tendency to take the harshness out of our Lord's statements. What Jesus said is hard. Oswald Chambers _________________________________________________ I AM A More Excellent Way Did you ever think it strange -- God's Name -- "I AM"? What can it mean? It is very important for us as human beings that we understand what is involved in God claiming this name for Himself. "I AM", God said. This statement contains the truth, the whole truth. He is the complete one, the fullness of existence. This title precludes man ever saying the same thing about himself. To assert, "I am" after God has reserved this for Himself is an attempt to take His place -- to make ourselves a god. If we could give ourselves a title in reference to God it would have to be something like this: "GOD IS", therefore I can be or I can become. Humans all over the world are running around, beating their breasts like Tarzan and crying, "I am". "Pay attention to me. See me. Move out of the way, here I come". Little do they realize the arrogance of what they are saying. Women, especially, are taking up this chant. I am ashamed. For whether we believe it or not, apart from God, we are futility, waste, sheer pretense, a blowing in the wind, only a transient form of life. To be and to continue to be I must not only recognize God as I AM but find my life in Him. "In Him, we live and move and have our being." MC _________________________________________________ Reason or Authority? How's Your Kingdom Coming? It is very true that we need to have the eyes of our reason put out in order to follow the Lord. What governs our lives? Is it reason or is it authority? When one is enlightened by the Lord he will be blinded by the light, and his reason will be cast aside. Paul turned blind under the great light on the road to Damascus; no longer did he hold onto his own reason. Moses never had his eyes put out, but he acted as if he were blind. He had his arguments and his reasons, but in obedience to God he lived above reason. Those under the authority of God do not live by sight. The servants of God must be delivered from the life of reason. Reason is the first cause of rebellion; hence there can be no control over our words unless reason is thoroughly dealt with first. Unless one is delivered by the Lord from the bondage of reason, sooner or later he will utter slanderous words. It sounds easy to talk about deliverance from the life of reason. But as rational beings how can we refrain from reasoning with God? It seems most difficult. We reason from childhood to adulthood, from our state as non-believers straight through until now. The basic principle of our life is reasoning. How then can we cease? To cease literally asks for the very life of our flesh! Hence there are two classes of Christians; those who live on the level of reason, and those who live on the level of authority. Let us ask ourselves, where do we live today? When God's command comes to us, do we stop and consider the matter to see if there are sufficient reasons for us to do it? Oh! This is nothing but a manifestation of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fruit of that tree governs not only our personal affairs, even God's appointed things have to pass through our reason and judgment. We think for God and decide what God should think. Without doubt this is the principle of Satan, for is it not that he desires to be equal with God? All who really know God obey Him without argument; then there is no possibility of mixing up reason with obedience. If anyone wishes to learn obedience he must cast aside reason. He must either live by God's authority or live by human reason -- it is absolutely impossible to live by both. Watchman Nee _________________________________________________ More About Authority How's Your Kingdom Coming? The Kingdom of Heaven has a King named Jesus Christ! Do you realize what this means? In most areas God at this time allows His authority to be challenged or ignored for man has free will to choose whom he will serve. But in the Kingdom there is no such freedom. Jesus states in Matthew 7 that only he who does the will of the Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Most Christians believe that they are citizens of the Kingdom automatically and claim privileges because of their citizenship. But few have ever considered the other side of the coin -- the responsibility and eligibility of being a subject of the King. "The Kingdom of God stands for: God shall rule. This means a constant conflict with man shall rule. Either God is sovereign, or man is sovereign. One of the two must be untrue." (Klaus Bockmuhl) What does "God shall rule" mean? If God is sovereign then He makes all decisions on all matters in the Kingdom and in the lives of its citizens. He issues all orders. "He is the instructor in all matters concerning the Kingdom. He is the one who assigns us to our place, gives us daily instructions, interprets our situation in the light of the larger scope of the Kingdom and in God's aim for history and decides the steps and actions to be taken, assessments that far exceed human ability or reasoning." (Klaus Bockmuhl) Have you prayed the Lord's Prayer lately? "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"? There is nothing you can do to see that God's will is done on the earth today but you can see that it is done in that little part of the world that belongs to you. MC _________________________________________________ Depart From Me How's Your Kingdom Coming? Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven." "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'" "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" Matthew 7: 21-23 _________________________________________________ A Personal Glimpse Just Between Us Knowledge of the authority of God became an urgent matter for me when I recognized the significance of the following scripture: "Then comes the end, when Christ delivers up the kingdom to God the father after rendering inoperative and abolishing every rule and authority and power, for Christ must be king and reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the one who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all." 1 Corinthians 15: 24-28 Suddenly I became vitally aware that unless I place myself fully under the authority of God, seeking His will and doing it in my everyday life I will be one of those Jesus will have to abolish. I will be His enemy, a rebel in His Kingdom. Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew: "...at the end of the age, the Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom everything offensive and those who commit lawlessness." Call it lawlessness, rebellion, disobedience; it is all the same -- the principle of Satan. I want no part of him. And when Jesus comes I want Him to find nothing of Satan in me. MC _________________________________________________ No Two Ways About It How's Your Kingdom Coming? Choose the world or the kingdom of God. There are no two ways about it. We must choose one way or the other. Matthew 7: 13, 14 1 John 2: 15-17 James 4: 4 _________________________________________________ The Land of the Enemy Who in the World Are You? I believe that we live in an alien world. For scripture clearly states that this earth we live on is Satan's domain. "We know that we are children of God and that all the rest of the world around us is under Satan's power and control." 1 John 5: 19 And Jesus prayed for God's protection for us in this hostile environment where we must live out our physical lives. "The world hates them because they don't fit in, just as I don't. I'm not asking You to take them out of the world but to keep them safe from Satan's power." John 17: 15, 16 So we definitely live in the land of the enemy. It is an indication of our spiritual progress if we are becoming more and more aware that we are strangers here. For our life is now hidden with Christ in God. If we have no awareness of this reality then we are still enamored with the world and under the power of Satan, enthralled by all the glitter, tinsel, and trappings of his artificial world that he has made so interesting and seductive. We are the seed which fell among the thorns; we heard, but as we went on our way we became choked with worries, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and brought no fruit to maturity. (Luke 8: 14) Then what is the physical world all about? Didn't God create it? Isn't its beauty awe inspiring and magnificent? Romans 1: 20 says that God created the heavens and the earth to express Himself, His personality and attributes. Psalm 19: 1, 2 states: "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day and night they keep telling about God." Creation is not glorious -- only the creator deserves glory. Earth is God's footstool, not His sanctuary. Our world is the creation of the Lord, now under the control of the evil one. It is a disposable item. It will pass away. What then do we, as Christians, do with the earth that we live on? How do we view the world around us? The physical features of our earth and universe are a portraiture of the nature of God. All things were created as replicas of His spiritual world and its truths. The physical features of our world are stepping stones for man from the physical world that he knows to the spiritual world he does not know. God wishes us to be conversant with Him. He wants us to comprehend, recognize, experience, appreciate, understand, perceive, and welcome Him. So He made Himself visible to us through the things that He created. God spoke to us through the scriptures and underlined it and interpreted it through His creation. Man's understanding of God begins with the things that he can see and moves on to the things that he cannot see. Our world is the earthly copy of heavenly things. Earth is the replica, Heaven is the reality. "All visible objects are but as pasteboard masks. If a man will strike, strike through the mask!" (Melville) "Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal, brief, fleeting, but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting." 2 Corinthians 4: 18 MC "Although it is true that faith brings peace, yet it does not always bring it instantaneously. There may be certain reasons calling for the trial of faith, rather than the reward of faith. Genuine faith may be in the soul like a hidden seed but as yet may not have budded and blossomed into joy and peace." Charles Spurgeon _________________________________________________ Culture Shock Who in the World Are You? Christianity is a totally different way of living. If you have not found this to be true, if your life as a follower of Jesus has not shaken your world -- your values, ideas, hopes, dreams, lifestyle, plans for the future, self-esteem, then you have embraced something less than the faith Jesus came to proclaim. For the foundation and structure of the life in Christ is different than anything the world has to offer. To follow Jesus and become His disciple you must discard your previous existence, literally lose your life on earth while still physically living here. All the earthly things that have gained you the applause of your fellow man you will now find totally unimpressive to the Holy Spirit. He will beckon you to leave all this behind and follow Him into the spiritual world where your savior is King. But to trust Him and follow is very disconcerting and frightening. No one really likes the new. Old situations, no matter how filled with difficulties, offer a measure of security. Old behavior patterns, no matter how destructive are predictable. We know how to function within the boundaries of our known existence. In the case of drastic change the uneasiness is sometimes overwhelming. We may wish to remain where we know our way around, in the old familiar places. But we cannot if we wish to follow Jesus. And any teaching that simply adds Christianity to our present situation to make us happier, more successful and prosperous, or healthier, is in error. Scripture tells us that to follow the world and its patterns will result in our ultimate destruction. To join in its workings and keep its values, trying to compromise and find some comfortable meeting place with Christian values is, to remain in darkness. Christians are "called out" ones. The day comes for each of us when Jesus calls us as He did His disciples. He will lead us to a place where we must live by faith. One by one He will remove all the familiar props from our life, all those things that make us feel secure. He will destroy our earthly foundation and replace it with Himself. It will be a traumatic experience for us. It will shock us to the depths of our being. We will be tempted to turn back. We must realize that a tremendous event is occurring. As we follow Jesus in faith and obedience we are being transferred from the world kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. This is why the scriptures say that it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of heaven. No wonder it is such a "shock". MC "I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy -- the kind He can accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you." Romans 12: 1, 2 _________________________________________________ Is This the Abundant Life? Who in the World Are You? There is an idea circulating in Christian groups that concerns me very much. It is this: God desires to give His children an abundance of material things. He wants us to go first class. The abundant life is living prosperously in this world. It gives God much pleasure to shower us with the "good" things in life. Now certain scriptures might be interpreted this way but the overall teaching of the Bible is that the desire for material possessions is a snare, a following after worthlessness and futility. "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2: 15-17 I'm sure that we have all experienced times when God has answered our prayers for specific material things such as a house, new car, vacation, etc.. But if we conclude from this that it gives Him great pleasure to satisfy our worldly longings we have drawn the wrong conclusion. A young man I care about put it into focus for me. He said, "This past year God gave me almost every material benefit I prayed for. I know now that He will take care of me for I have experienced this right here where I live. Now that I know this I want to move on into the spiritual world. I know that He will take good care of me there, too." I believe that God answers our prayers for worldly things that we might discover that He hears and answers our prayers. With this knowledge He hopes that we will move out into the spiritual world where His answers are not always visible to our human senses, where we must live by faith. "If you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3: 1-3 If we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things -- food, clothing, etc. will be added unto us. If we add to these needs, wants, God may grant us our requests. This He did for the children of Israel when they lusted in the wilderness. He gave them what they asked for but sent a leanness to their souls. MC "Material success is no measure of spiritual health. Nor is apparent affluence any criteria for real godliness." (Phillip Keller) Nor for that matter is poverty, health, conflict, peace, success, failure. Listen to the Scriptures: "...people trusted God and as a result won battles, overthrew kingdoms, ruled their people well, and received what God had promised them; they were kept from harm in a den of lions, and in a fiery furnace. Some, through their faith, escaped death by the sword. Some were made strong again after they had been weak or sick. Others were given great power in battle; they made whole armies turn and run away. And some women, through faith, received their loved ones back again from death. But others trusted God and were beaten to death, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free... Some were laughed at and their backs cut open with whips, and others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning and some by being sawed in two. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in dens and caves. They were hungry and sick and ill-treated -- too good for this world. All these men of faith trusted God and won His approval." Hebrews 11: 33-39 _________________________________________________ Security Who in the World Are You? "Security is mostly a superstition. Security does not exist in nature nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller Security! That's the name of the game in American culture. Life insurance, health insurance, homeowners insurance, old age insurance, auto insurance, ad infinitum... On every newsstand, in every bookstore, and yes, in Christian literature coming into our homes are hints, suggestions, budget proposals, savings plans, and insurance policies aimed at every financial contingency of our daily lives. But what does Jesus say about money? First, consider some things He doesn't say. He doesn't say, "Store up for yourselves treasures on earth". He doesn't say, "Save for a rainy day". He doesn't say, "Make sure your life and health are adequately insured". He doesn't say, "Work at establishing a good credit rating for use in emergencies". He doesn't say, "Select a good pension plan". On and on with an endless list of financial suggestions for peace and prosperity that Jesus doesn't command. Here today and gone tomorrow -- our money, our security, our life. There is no security outside God! Read for yourself (I'm not going to spoon feed you) what the Bible says about money. When you discover what God has to say about money and security you'll be shocked to find out that it in no way coincides with the trend in American culture. Current middle class values are not synonymous with Christian values! We live in two worlds -- two cultures. Perhaps it is time to reassess the basis for our values. It's getting so that the Christian and his values are indistinguishable from the world. What is really ludicrous is the sight of a person straddling the fence -- with one ear to the ground on each side. HLC "Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything that I need." Psalm 23: 1 _________________________________________________ Possessions Who in the World Are You? Possessions are often like iron legs. They can hold us in one spot. They can isolate us from one another. They can immobilize us physically, psychologically, and often spiritually to a small place in time and space. They can bind us to the past, generate fear of loss in the present, and cut us off when opportunity knocks in God's service. Men (and women) of God have always been relatively free of possessions that possessed them. If the lives of our friends and acquaintances were open to scrutiny I suspect that one or more times in their journey through life they were hindered by worldly goods and responsibilities. They traded the joy and blessings of obedience for goods that will mold, rust, and decay. "I can't go Lord, I have to meet the mortgage payment." "I'd rather not speak up Lord, it might affect my paycheck." "I'd like to trust people Lord, but I'm afraid they might steal my jewels (silver, TV, car, coin collection, etc.)." There is nothing so sad as an individual who trades the treasures of eternity for what they erroneously believe to be the "security" of worldly possessions. HLC "Behold, one came to Him and said, 'Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?' And He said to him, 'if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.' He said to Him, 'Which ones?' and Jesus said, 'You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The young man said to Him, 'All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?' Jesus said to him, 'If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.' But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property." Matthew 19: 22 _________________________________________________ Your Giving Quotient How's Your Kingdom Coming? "Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don't worry about getting them back." Luke 6: 30 Most of us would be happy if this scripture were ripped right out of the Bible. But since this is one of Jesus' commands we try occasionally to deal with it in some manner. When someone asks us for something (and they seldom do) we consider how much it will cost us. We ask ourselves, "are they worthy". We tell ourselves that we are stewards of God's money and we must be very careful with it. We consider what they are going to use it for -- is it moral, is it necessary, is it worthwhile? And worst of all -- is it a con? Jesus suggested none of these things. Very simply He said to "give what you have to anyone who asks you for it." No human reasoning or logic is required to determine what He meant. Simple, straight forward, nothing between the lines, easy to understand... Yes, easy to read and understand but difficult to follow. Friends in Christ, we own nothing. What we have, God has given to us. If He says to give it to anyone who asks, then how can we keep it? Yes, we can keep it but at what price from our spiritual account? On the other hand if we freely give He may richly bless us the more. (See Luke 6: 38) Then again He may not. To whom do I commit my service and possessions? God or man? Or number 1? HLC What is your "GQ" -- Your Giving Quotient? If you had two pairs of shoes and your Christian brother had none, would you give him a pair of shoes? If you had two cars and your Christian brother had none, would you give him a car? _________________________________________________ Why Poverty? Who in the World Are You? Jeremiah 22: 21: "I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, I will not listen." There is nothing that gets our attention more quickly than a touch of poverty. And there is no other human condition, except for serious illness, that so readily enables us to extract the precious from the worthless, the eternal from the futile. For poverty brings the realities of life into focus. Suddenly we no longer take food, clothing, and shelter for granted. We acknowledge that they are gifts from our Father. And we recognize that many of the things that we thought were needs are really only wants. Perhaps our rudest awakening comes when fear sets in. For the first time we know how secure our possessions and jobs have made us feel. All that time we honestly thought that we were trusting God. Now we must trust Him for our daily bread and we experience that He is the only security that exists. The lessons of poverty are priceless. Stripped of the luxuries of the world we encounter the true treasures of eternity. Now we are able to extract the lasting and true and let go of the false and temporary. But perhaps its most valuable teaching is in the realm of our personal spiritual growth. If we have been prosperous and successful in the world we have a good self-image and our friends and acquaintances enhance this image by giving us their respect and approval. Suddenly with the onset of poverty, our worldly achievements vanish like the vapor they are and we appear to be failures. Even our Christian friends may judge that we are displeasing God in some way for in many Christian circles prosperity is considered to be God's approval. With very little pride and confidence left we search to discover how God views us. We learn that the only valid question concerning success in the whole universe is -- "Is God pleased with me?" Bonhoeffer states that when Jesus calls a man, He calls him into a situation where faith is not only possible but necessary. For some of us, poverty is that situation. Cut off from all that has made us feel secure and plunged into insecurity, we learn to trust Jesus alone for everything. I say, "Thank God for poverty". It is one of the most fruitful experiences that can happen to a Christian. And no, just in case you still feel that poverty is something to be ashamed of: "God chose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom." James 2:5 MC P.S. Whatever makes us feel secure is our god! "Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him." 1 John 2: 16 "...I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ." Philippians 2: 8 "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot (Jim Elliot lost his life trying to reach the Auca Indians in 1956. My soul was jarred -- I wasn't aware at that time that anyone in the world was still actually risking and losing his life for Jesus Christ.) _________________________________________________ There's Only Room for One Who in the World Are You? "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches. For this reason, I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body than clothing? Don't be anxious then, saying 'what shall we eat?' or 'what shall we drink?' or 'with what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first and continually His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow." Matthew, Chapter 6 Most of us work and play hard. Today with inflation we must work longer to support ourselves in the style to which we have become accustomed. And we fit God in the crevices of our time schedule or we give money to soothe our guilt and fulfill our responsibilities as Christians. (Why else do you think Christian organizations receive so much money in donations these days? Those who are too entangled in the world to go, give money to those who seem to be on their way somewhere in the name of the Lord.) But there is no scriptural evidence that we can buy our way out of our responsibility to God. I believe that each one of us has a place to serve based on the spiritual gifts that we have been given. But you ask -- "how can I? I must support myself and my family. I have to work!! Earning a living takes most of my time." I suggest that to earn enough to continue your present lifestyle takes most of your time. But have you considered changing your life to fit the style described in the opening lines of this article? The work ethic of the physical world and the spiritual world are vastly different. I offer an alternative lifestyle for your everyday existence that would give you the opportunity to get to your real business -- working the works of God. It is based on the scripture at the top of this page. Strip your life to the basics. Work just enough to supply those needs. (You may have to find a different job to do this.) Simplify everything. Become a temporary earth dweller. Don't save for tomorrow. Trust God -- this would cut out all insurance and retirement payments. Remember, just the basics. Look how basic Jesus and His disciples lived. And Paul! Now don't give me all the reasons why you can't! Just open your mind to the possibility. Jesus told Martha who was so busy that only one thing was necessary. Mary who was sitting at the feet of Jesus had found that one thing. Sever the world's hold on you and find that one thing for yourself. Sell all that you have to buy the pearl of great price. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Make this your full-time work. Sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him. Set your mind on things above. Fulfill your ministry. Get to it! MC "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set His seal. They said therefore to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.'" John 6: 27-29 _________________________________________________ Choose Your World Who in the World Are You? As Christians we have two worlds available to us: THE PHYSICAL WORLD into which we were born. THE SPIRITUAL WORLD into which we were born again. We spent our early years learning to know and understand our physical world through our senses -- sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell. These sensory perceptions have been our scale of observation for learning how this world works. We feel at home here. We feel we belong. When we are born again we move into a new and different world, the world where God lives and moves and has His being. Jesus calls us to follow Him into this new environment, strange and foreign to us. But we can't see Jesus to follow Him; we can't touch Him -- physically hang on to His coat-tails so we don't get lost. How then do we find the way? At this point we must acknowledge a vital truth: Being born again does not give us immediate occupancy in the spiritual world -- at this point it gives us a new perception (sense) with which to perceive and experience this new world that has opened to us. If we try to assess and understand this new environment using our physical senses, we will miss the mark. If we try to use our worldly knowledge to plan our course, we will miss the mark. If we try to use our human emotions to find our way, we will miss the mark. We cannot "think" or "feel" our way to the kingdom of heaven. How then? "Lean on, trust and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5, 6 Is God asking us to give up living by our senses in the physical world and move out and walk in this new and strange spiritual world on a path we cannot see? Walk in the dark so to speak? EXACTLY! Who would agree to such a thing? Noah did, to name one among many. It was no small thing for Noah to believe God. And it is no small thing for us. Why should we bother to learn about the spiritual world? I can't answer that question for you. I can only tell you why I did. God spoke to me through His word. He said two things. One was a promise: "God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake nor let you down. Assuredly not!" Hebrews 13: 5b, 6 The other was a warning: "The just shall live by faith and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him." Hebrews 10: 38 And I had to choose "my world". MC Out of that vast organization called the world, out of the great mass of individuals belonging to it and involved in it, clean out of all that, God has called us. Thus comes the title "Church" ekklesia, "God's called-out ones". From the midst of the great cosmos God calls one here and one there; and all whom He calls He calls out. There is no such thing as a call from God that is not a call "out of the world". Watchman Nee _________________________________________________ Strongholds Who in the World Are You? The Christian world is pocketed with strongholds -- man made defenses that wall out the truth and quench the Spirit. These fortresses are built and maintained by Christians so frightened by the voice of Jesus (when He calls them to move on to a new area) that they draw back and shield themselves from His call with half-truths that make them feel secure. This phenomenon of entrenchment can happen at any stage in a Christian's life. As the call of Jesus intensifies, the panic-stricken Christian digs in, building the walls of his stronghold ever thicker and higher. Soon to quiet his fear he must even replace the stones of his original foundation, Jesus, with building blocks from his new structure. His stronghold becomes vital to his life and he does not realize that he is walling himself off from the true life. (This is a very effective tool of Satan. The devil doesn't need to introduce new heretical doctrines into the Christian faith -- he only needs to whisper in the ear of a frightened Christian that he knows a "truth" based on scripture where the timid soul may hide and rest in security. Because this "truth" is based on the word of God, the Christian quickly grasps it to himself, not guessing that he is being fooled by the greatest deceiver of all time, "the angel of light". For Satan's weapon is to tell this one filled with holy terror what he wants most to hear -- that he doesn't have to move out into the unknown and he can prove it using the Bible.) And so the deluded believer builds a fortress on a faulty foundation that assures him that he is secure and in a right relationship with God. The classic example in history is the stronghold of the Pharisees in Jesus' day. The Son of God challenged the false foundation of their fortress of faith and it was so devastating to them that they maneuvered His crucifixion. We are aghast, we say? It is still happening! The words of Jesus threaten us today. When He calls us to follow Him and to obey His commandments, some of us withdraw and build walled defenses around our fear. We call these defenses by different names now -- grace, justification, eternal security, predestination, submission, speaking in tongues, faith healing, baptism by immersion, etc. (All these are valid teachings when interpreted and given by the Holy Spirit.) But regardless of the title we pin on our stronghold it is basically the same phenomenon as observed among the Pharisees -- blowing one spiritual truth out of all proportion, diluting it and making it palatable to our tastes, convincing ourselves that we are right with God because of it. How do we recognize these manmade fortifications? Listen carefully to conversations and discussions among Christians. A Christian who is constructing a barricade will constantly talk about his new belief, regardless of the topic of conversation, seeking for and giving himself reassurance. The one with a completed stronghold is armed with offensive weapons, shooting down anyone or any idea that is in opposition to his viewpoint. His weapons against fellow Christians are ridicule, sarcasm, and entrapment. You will see him suddenly shoot from the hip with blasts of derision and scoffing. If a Scriptural passage is involved in the discussion that challenges his belief, he will give the passage a ludicrous interpretation, hoping to wipe it right out of existence. Watch and listen when Christians get together. You will soon see evidence of many strongholds. And don't be surprised if you discover a few when you listen to yourself talking. MC _________________________________________________ The Binding of Satan Who in the World Are You? I know certain Christians who feel they must bind Satan before they do anything. When they go into a room to have a meeting, they will pray to bind the powers of darkness. The New Testament gives absolutely no warrant for this type of approach. Nowhere do we read that Christians are instructed to go around binding the powers of darkness. The idea is not in the New Testament. "So beware". Ray Stedman _________________________________________________ Faith Is The Holy Spirit and the Gifts "...when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18: 8 FAITH IS... 1) "Moving from security to insecurity and living on the growing edge." (Bruce Larson) 2) The capacity to believe without reason and act without caution when Jesus speaks. 3) Believing when all human senses fail to find any measure of proof. 4) Obeying Jesus regardless of the consequences. 5) Burning all our bridges behind us as we step out into the unknown. 6) The confident assurance that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. 7) Peace in the presence of turmoil, hope in the midst of despair. 8) Believing that God Is. "To have faith requires courage, the ability to take a risk, the readiness to accept pain and disappointment. Whoever insists on safety and security as primary conditions of life cannot have faith." Erich Fromm "When one finds his way, many find their way; when one man loses his way, many lose their way." Rosalind Rinker WE MUST KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE AND WHY! "Irrational faith is the acceptance of something as true only because an authority or the majority say so; rational faith is rooted in an independent conviction based upon one's own productive observing and thinking, in spite of the majority's opinion." Erich Fromm _________________________________________________ Coming Out Who in the World Are You? I was between two worlds Clothed in darkness. I would not go forward; I could not return to what I was For I had tasted the Light. My mind that once so longed to know. Now stagnant, Confused, empty. I was afraid. The physical world rushed by me. No one listened. I was powerless, I was timid, No one noticed. The unknown one of God frightened me. His name, Spirit, The Holy One of God. He loomed in my way. I sensed His displeasure Piercing my being. His eyes burned my soul. His voice spoke, commanding, "Come out". Whimpering I spoke -- "I am afraid of You, Where You will lead me. I want to feel safe." My mind urged: Escape. Return, retreat. B.C. Before Christ. He spoke. "Once I drew you to Me tenderly, Quieting your fear. I led you, wooed you, You promised to follow Me. Now come out!" My soul trembled, The pounding of my heart exploded into every fiber. "In my world I am secure," I cried. "I know my way. In your world I feel lost, helpless. Why must I leave? Why can't I love and serve You from here?" "Spirit," I cried louder, "Do You hear me?" Again silence. And His silence was more frightening than death. "O Spirit," I whispered. "Don't leave me. I cannot turn from You. You have the Words of Life." "Spirit!" Silence. "Spirit, please hear me!" Again there was silence. But in the absolute stillness I knew He was waiting. With trembling soul I stepped out into The unknown, unseen world, The home of my Savior and my God. I came out. MC "A whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to accept Christ without forsaking the world. To accept Christ it is necessary that we reject whatever is contrary to Him." A.W. Tozer "Do you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4: 4 _________________________________________________ To Be Like Jesus Consider Jesus "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. We do not know -- anyway, I do not know -- how things would have worked if the human race had never rebelled against God and joined the enemy. Perhaps every man would have been "in Christ", would have shared the life of the Son of God, from the moment he was born. Perhaps the natural life would have been drawn up into the uncreated life, at once and as a matter of course. But that is guesswork. You and I are concerned with the way things work now. And the present state of things is this. The two kinds of life are now not only different (they would always have been that) but actually opposed. The natural life in each of us is something self-centered, something that wants to be petted and admired, to take advantage of other lives, to exploit the whole universe. And especially it wants to be left to itself: to keep well away from anything better, or stronger, or higher than it, anything that might make it feel small. It is afraid of the light and air of the spiritual world, just as people who have been brought up to be dirty are afraid of a bath. And in a sense it is quite right. It knows that if the spiritual life gets hold of it, all its self-centeredness and self-will are going to be killed and it is ready to fight tooth and nail to avoid that." C.S. Lewis Thank God, we can change. Can you imagine living through all eternity bound by our present personalities -- feeling hurt, angry, unappreciated, insecure, inferior, bitter, or guilty? I say again, "Thank you God that you have programmed into man the ability to change." _________________________________________________ Count the Cost How's Your Kingdom Coming? "Anyone who wants to be My follower must love Me far more than he does his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers or sisters -- yes, more than his own life -- otherwise he cannot be My disciple. And no one can be My disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow Me. But don't begin until you count the cost." Luke 14: 26-28a "Don't begin until you count the cost." A few years ago we spent some time in Israel. Our prime necessity was to learn some basic Hebrew phrases in order to get along. The first, after Shalom, was "comma zay olay?" -- how much does it cost? Only a fool would make a purchase or acquisition without first determining the cost. No matter how necessary, no matter how desirable, no matter how great the promised investment returns, a wise man first determines the cost. Yes, salvation is a gift of God. But discipleship is costly for it is purchased with obedience to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The "Good News" today is frequently handled with the use of the techniques of modern salesmanship, which are to present only the desirable qualities of the product and ignore the rest. The shallow message to the unsaved is too often to offer them peace of mind, solutions for their problems, prosperity for their business, protection for their families (and their lifestyle), and happiness all day long. God is love and salvation is free so we'll all live happily ever after. Fairy tales have little in common with fact. When these new babes in Christ begin to realize some of the not so rosy realities of being a disciple, some falter and fade. When the heat goes up, some leave the kitchen. "Nobody told me it would be like this", they say. And when they see for the first time what being a Christian entails, some turn tail and run. And their last state is more despicable than their first. What about the cost? A cross to bear, chastisement (a rod) for correction, suffering, ridicule, refining fire, persecutions, self-denial, possibly loss of old friends (and maybe family), a radical change in lifestyle, etc. Jesus was a realist in the first degree. Nowhere in the Gospel can we find anything visionary or over-optimistic. He "tells it like it is". But for those who know and are aware of the cost and are willing to sell all to buy the pearl of great price or the field with the treasure, there is value far beyond measure. Paul encapsulated this fact as: "the unsearchable riches of Christ." For those who are willing He offers forgiveness of sins, inward cleansing, peace with God, eternal life, the gift of the Holy Spirit, victory over temptation, resurrection from the dead, immortality and a dwelling place in the house of the Lord forever. "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if he has enough money to pay the bills? Otherwise he might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh! ...So no one can become My disciple unless he first sits down and counts his blessings -- and then renounces them all for Me." Luke 14: 28, 19, 33 HLC "The passion for truth is silenced by answers which have the weight of undisputed authority." Paul Tillich _________________________________________________ Conformed to His Likeness Consider Jesus "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" 1 Peter 1: 14-16 Many Christians ignore or deny these Scripture verses, stating that holiness is unattainable this side of the grave. Their synonym for holiness or perfection is "impossible". This error has so permeated Christian thought that grace has become a cover-up, not a covering. And one who suggests otherwise is accused of vanity. But this scripture in Peter wipes out all argument. Read it again. Does it mean what it says or not? Much of the Christian world has assumed the value of religion without righteousness. "The purpose of Christ's redeeming work was to make it possible for bad men to become good -- deeply, radically and finally. When God declares a man righteous He instantly sets about to make him righteous. Our error today is that we do not expect a converted man to be a transformed man, and as a result of this error our churches are full of substandard Christians. God translates men out of the kingdom of the Son of His love. To believe that such translated men must still dwell in darkness is a reflection on the blood of Christ and the wisdom of God." (A.W. Tozer) And even if we put illustrious labels on it such as grace or justification, it is still error. I would like to suggest that the idea that holiness is not possible comes from a human effort to soothe ourselves when we are confronted by the holiness of God and the depth of our own unrighteousness. In the beginning of our walk with Jesus we are filled with the joy and love of our first encounter with His love and forgiveness. We have acknowledged that we are sinners and feel so clean. But knowing that we are sinners and knowing our sin are two different things. As we begin to study the Word, the Holy Spirit reveals to us little by little the darkness still within us, depths of darkness that we find difficult to admit. It is so damaging to our ego and self-image. This is a very frightening experience. Many of us retreat at this time -- some to our former lives -- B.C. -- before Christ. Others embrace humanness, calling it grace. If we are part of this second group, we are destined to remain forever in the seventh chapter of Romans, chained there by our own unbelief and hardening of heart. A few, confronted with this new knowledge of themselves, forge on. For we are not to, "continue in sin that grace may abound." Those God dearly and tenderly loves, He reproves and tells their faults. If we confess our sin, He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. As we turn away from our iniquities through repentance we are becoming holy. There is a definition for holiness or perfection that embraces the teaching of the Word about both holiness and grace. It is this: If at this moment in time I am as far along in my Christian walk as God intended me to be; if I have acknowledged and asked forgiveness for every sin He has revealed to me; if I am continually reading His word, growing in the truth, obedient to His commands, and walking in all the light that I have been given -- then today I am holy. Tomorrow I know that there will be more to learn, new light to see, sin as yet unknown to me to be uncovered and confessed, areas of darkness within me awaiting the Light of the World to shine and set me free. But because I am following hard after Him, conforming myself in thought, word, and deed after the example of Jesus, then I am walking the "highway" of holiness. And where does grace enter in? It is by grace that God continues with me, picking me up when I fall, bringing circumstances my way that give me every opportunity to follow Him, drawing me, loving me, correcting me, showing me my sins that I might not be condemned with the world. "For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable -- He never withdraws them when once they are given; and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace." Romans 11: 29 He has committed Himself to continue with me, He will always remain faithful to me, He will not leave me. (However, grace does not cover my leaving Him.) It is by this same grace that my sins are covered by the blood of Jesus until He uncovers them for me to see. And by grace I then have a place to bring them to be rid of them forever. "For if I confess my sin He is faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness." Did you not know that this is the way our sins are removed and never mentioned again? Did you think that they disappeared as if by magic in a puff of holy smoke? As I follow Jesus, obeying His commandments, patterning my behavior after His example, He gives me His divine personality. I am being conformed to His image. And in His sight I am holy. Praise His holy name. MC "God's children live by laws as hard and severe as those that govern nature. Grace operates within those laws but never contrary to them. Our fruit will follow its native tree and not all our frightened prayers can prevent it. If we do holy deeds we must be holy men, every day and all the days that God grants us here below." A.W. Tozer _________________________________________________ The Filling of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit and the Gifts Satan has done no work among us more effectively than to convince dedicated disciples that the filling of the Holy Spirit is weird and foreign, something to be avoided with fear and trembling. Scripture clearly states: "Be filled with the Spirit." Luke tells us that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. The disciples were filled at Pentecost. Where does this reluctance come from? Usually from association with others who claim to be filled. The results that we see in their lives are arrogance and critical spirits. They are puffed up by the experience and want the Christian world to bow at their feet in recognition. They claim to have a corner on God. These are the vocal ones. They may be faking it, misusing it, or be possessed by some other spirit. But their reaction is no excuse for any believer to ignore the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If we really want to know how to be filled, sooner or later we will meet a Christian who is different -- when he speaks, we hear God speaking; when he prays, God answers; when we are with him, we are encouraged, strengthened, challenged. If we ask him what his secret is, he will probably say that he has been filled with the Spirit. And we will yearn to be filled also. This happened to me. I met a Christian couple who were different. Only in passing they mentioned that God had filled them with His Spirit. They said nothing else about it. (They did not attempt to "get" me filled.) But I knew what was different about them and I prayed that God would fill me. But it wasn't at all what I expected. First He turned my world upside down. I learned that before I could be filled with the Holy Spirit, I must be emptied of myself. This was a very difficult time in my life. But you and I are aware of the negatives that stand between God and man so I won't go into those experiences here. Instead I want to share with you the positive things that happened to me because of my prayer: I began to seek to decrease that He might increase. I sought to learn how to discern what the Holy Spirit wanted me to do. I began to seek to be like Jesus. I studied the Scriptures in earnest and faithfully. I was eager to know everything a human being could know about God. In everyday situations I asked God to tell me in His Word if I had been pleasing to Him in thought, word, and deed. In spite of my fear I began to stand alone on things He taught me. I began to experience that God was my vital need. I began to hunger and thirst after righteousness. I learned that every inner urging was not necessarily from the Holy Spirit and so I asked Him to confirm Himself through the scripture where I was reading during my daily devotions. In this way I began to recognize His voice and to learn what within me prompted actions contrary to God's will for me. I began to desire to speak only the Holy Spirit's words. Here I also received much insight from my own inner motivation for the things that I said. I asked God to show me the depth of my sin. And believe me, He did. I believed what the Holy Spirit taught me. I asked God to make certain that I heard His voice and understood His orders no matter what drastic measures were necessary in my life. I wanted to be a good and faithful servant, an over-comer. I began to desire His glory. I longed to be God's friend like Abraham was. I longed to live and move and have my being in Him. The day came when God filled me with His Spirit. I thank God for those two Christians who were obedient to the command of God to be filled with the Spirit. And I also thank Him for loving me and rebuking me when I was so overwhelmed by this experience that I became puffed up, critical, and thought I had my own private corner on God. Because I recovered from that, asked for forgiveness, and moved on. MC _________________________________________________ The Unforgiveable Sin Just Between Us I believe that I had a close encounter with the unforgivable sin. Let me explain. I had asked God to fill me with His Spirit. Soon I recognized that He was preparing me for this event. However, I had two tremendous problems. I was filled to the brim with pride and willfulness. I cared too much what people thought of me. I was more concerned with their opinions than I was with what God told me to do. If and when I was finally obedient it was with such reluctance that there was no joy for either God or me. Needless to say the day arrived when the Holy Spirit met head on with my obstinacy and ego. He gave me several orders that would place me in humiliating human circumstances, (designed especially with my problem areas in mind, I'm sure). I knew it was the hour of decision for me. Would I do what He was asking of me regardless of the consequences? For several hours I hesitated, hoping for a way out. Finally I blurted out -- "No, I can't do it! I would rather die." As I spoke, outer darkness and all its terrors enclosed my spirit like a shroud. I knew that if I died at this moment I would be eternally lost. In fright and hope, I pleaded -- "Holy Spirit, forgive me and help me. For this time let this cup pass from me." Suddenly all was silent around me and I fell to the floor in relief. With piercing perception I knew that I had barely escaped the death penalty. Only by the grace and mercy of God had I been kept from committing the unforgivable sin which for me was to know beyond question what the Holy Spirit wanted me to do and then to adamantly refuse. Of course you have guessed that the Holy Spirit did not let me off the hook. The day soon came when He reissued His original orders. (Through His mercy I had been granted a reprieve. In days to follow my flesh and spirit waged an intense battle for supremacy. I saw the utter destructiveness of my pride and will and knew that on this battleground my eternal destiny would be decided.) Was I finally obedient? Yes. But that experience of outer darkness has indelibly imprinted itself on my soul. For I finally realized that only through the willingness of Jesus to do His Father's will had I been saved from such a damnable place. Now it is my turn to be willing. How can I refuse whatever the cost! MC _________________________________________________ Put It on the Shelf A More Excellent Way It is a basic intellectual desire to know, to understand. God puts in the heart of a Christian a desire for truth and a hunger for spiritual knowledge. And there is much in the kingdom of God we can know and understand and experience. God wants us to seek wisdom and understanding. He wants us to study to show ourselves approved. But the answers to all our questions aren't always readily apparent. Sometimes in our studies we come upon seeming contradictions. Sometimes answers completely elude us. Fret not. Put it on the shelf. Wait. We don't have to know all the answers right now. A.W. Tozer said; "Far better than attempt to understand is the humility that admits its ignorance and waits quietly on God for His own light to appear in His own time." If we are seeking His will for our life we will know what is necessary for today. Faith in God will take care of the future. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." HLC _________________________________________________ Every Day With Jesus Consider Jesus Seek God's righteousness in everyday activities and relationships. When you're feeling guilty, anxious, insecure, angry, hurt, depressed ask God the following questions: Have I neglected You? Are You speaking to me and I'm not listening? Have I done something wrong? Have I sinned against You or someone else? If I'm feeling guilty is this from You, my own conscience, or a manipulation stirred up by someone around me? Is Satan stirring me up through an entrance I have given him -- fear, anger, frustration, impatience, doubting, etc.? Am I speaking the truth in my heart or making up excuses (lying to myself) to regain my equilibrium and soothe myself? Are my thoughts about this situation also Your thoughts? Is there something You want me to do? Forgive? Ask for forgiveness? Be silent? Speak up? Wait? Act? Expect God to answer your questions where you are reading in your Bible. If His answer is not immediate, keep asking, keep reading. Sometimes there are things you must learn before you can understand the answer. And remember -- confusion does not originate with God. "Jesus was saying to them, 'Truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.'" John 5: 19 _________________________________________________ Being His Witness Consider Jesus Being a witness for Jesus is not something that we say or do; being a witness is something that we are. In Acts 4: 13 is the perfect description. The rulers, elders, and scribes reacted in this way to the witnessing of Peter and John: "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus." If you, too, spend time with Jesus, learning of Him, becoming more and more like Him, you will be His witness. You cannot help yourself. "Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow-workers... So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." 1 Corinthians 3: 8, 9, 7 Jesus said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up." Matthew 15: 13 "Nowadays the great passion is the passion for souls... It is the passion for Christ that the New Testament teaches. It is not a passion for men that saves men. Whenever the passion for souls obscures the passion for Christ, Satan has come in as an angel of light." Oswald Chambers _________________________________________________ Impression of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit and the Gifts Christian living is more than talking to others about Jesus and salvation. It is living by the power of God. "For the Kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power." Paul talks further about this power in 1 Corinthians 4: 19, 20. "I will come to you soon if the Lord will let me, and I shall find out whether these proud men are just big talkers or whether they really have God's power." There are many big talkers today. In the movie, O God, an important evangelist received this message from God: "You stopped saying My words a long time ago." I think that this indictment applies to much of the talking in the name of God in Christian circles today whether it is on tape, in books, sermons, magazines, radio programs, or person to person. There are many words, but little power. But what is this power? I don't know how to define it but I have felt it in certain Christians. It is a mysterious aura of truth that created in me a desire to find that special something that they had. They made me hungry and thirsty for God. When they spoke I heard God speaking to me. Watchman Nee supports this idea. "The Lord does not set us here first of all to preach or to do any work for Him. The first thing for which He sets us here is to create hunger in others. No true work will ever begin without a sense of need being created and that hunger can be created only through those who carry the impressions of God." Talk is easy and anyone can talk. But only the words of a few create in others a hunger for God. If we really want to be true witnesses we will ask God to "impress" us with Himself. Then we will be His witnesses. What more is there to say! MC _________________________________________________ The Great Commission Consider Jesus "When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about Me with great effect, to the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection." Acts 1: 8 I'm confident that you have read this Scripture many times. I am also confident that when you have heard it discussed the consensus was that Jesus meant for you to witness "where you are", in your neighborhood, your community, etc. It seems to be a logical assumption. But have you considered the possibility that Jesus meant what He said and not something different? Throughout the Bible, God expresses a love and concern for Jerusalem and Israel above all other places on earth. It is the focal point of all Hebrew and Christian history. Things past, and things to come, center in Israel. And no one questions that what happens in Israel today affects the whole world, politically and economically. Then why isn't Israel, God's choice, also the center of spiritual influence? Could it be -- think about it -- could it be because Christians have not obeyed what some refer to as the great commission -- to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, in Samaria? What would Jerusalem... what would Israel... what would the ends of the earth be today if every Christian since the time of Jesus had begun his witness where Jesus said to begin? Can you picture it? Thousands, yea, millions of Christians witnessing in Jerusalem -- a steady stream of Jesus' followers telling of His love, His truth, His resurrection. Telling that there is no other name under heaven by which a man may be saved and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. What would Israel, what would the world be like today? _________________________________________________ Witnessing How's Your Kingdom Coming? We must become aware that we are capable of using people to meet our own deep and throbbing needs, and be deluded into thinking that we are witnessing. Impossible you say? Check yourself below: Do you ever "witness" to meet your own need to witness? (You have been taught that if you aren't confronting people with the Gospel you are failing as a Christian so you speak up because you feel guilty.) Is your "witnessing" actually boasting? (You are proud of the way God is working in your life or want others to know how you are "overcoming" so that you might win their admiration. You are glorifying yourself.) Do you ever just have a need to talk but you are too embarrassed to admit this need for attention so you begin with religious cliches and then branch out to other topics and throw in just enough religious jargon to appear genuine? Do you ever "witness" to let others know how wise, knowledgeable, and wonderful you are? (Listen to yourself. If this is your objective, you will occasionally put yourself down in an attempt to cover your real motive.) Do you ever, through much speaking, attempt to convince yourself that you are right and label it "witnessing"? (Your real need is the confirmation of others.) I have done all these things in the name of "witnessing". Haven't you? Hopefully the following checklist will aid us in becoming true witnesses for and of God. Do you sense the Holy Spirit prompting you to speak? Have you mentally and emotionally checked the personal motives for witnessing listed above and know that you are not speaking from a personal need? Is there any inner pressure that will cause the word of God to be said in anger, sarcasm, etc.? Has God verified that what you are about to say is the truth? Is this your own experience? You cannot witness to what you have not witnessed. Does it glorify God -- speak of Him and His works? "The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." Proverbs 13: 3 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19: 14 _________________________________________________ Love as a Covering A More Excellent Way "Love is kind." "Love covers a multitude of sins." Have you ever thought of love as a covering? Imagine that today you discover that your spouse, co-worker, friend, enemy, child made an error that would be embarrassing to them if they knew. You have three choices -- you can confront them with their blunder, you can correct it and tell them you did, or you can rectify it and never mention it to anyone. Now pointing out the error may be human, correcting it and telling may be self-righteous, but covering for them is loving and kind -- surely a more excellent way. MC _________________________________________________ Giving A More Excellent Way "What does one person give to another? He gives of himself, of the most precious he has, he gives of his life. He gives of that which is alive in him; he gives of his joy, his interest, of his understanding, of his knowledge, of his humor, of his sadness -- of all the expressions and manifestations of that which is alive in him. And he does not give in order to receive." Erich Fromm God had a multitude of things to give -- the treasures of the universe -- but He gave what was vital to Himself, a part of Himself, His only begotten Son. I believe I must also give those things that I need, things vital to my own well being. To share my surplus is simply to distribute the wealth; to give away what I need myself is to join others in their need. My giving may include material possessions that I need to sustain my own life. It may be opening my innermost being to the eyes of another, telling him of my hurts, longings, shortcomings, or weaknesses. It may be rebuilding that which I did not tear down, sowing where I will not reap, comforting when my own heart is breaking. "Give that which is within as charity, and behold all things are clean for you." (Luke 11: 4) We think of the following Scripture as the last word in giving: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." We usually conclude that this verse refers to the laying down of one's physical life. And to give our physical life for another seems to be the ultimate in loving and giving. But Scripture relates that besides Jesus, there were two men who were willing to lay down their lives with a capital L, their eternal lives, for others. Moses was one, Paul was the other. "I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself was accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." Romans 9: 1-3 Surely, this is the ultimate gift! No one could give more. MC _________________________________________________ The Friend of God A More Excellent Way "Abraham was called the friend of God." James 2: 23 Remember the picture of Jesus carrying the little lamb in His arms? And the one of Him walking on the water and reaching out His hand to Peter who is sinking in the waves? These works of art inspire us to sing, "What a friend we have in Jesus." And we praise and thank God because He is our comforter, helper, defender, etc. In the beginning of our walk with God, He relates to us in a way that we can understand. In fact, He usually holds up both ends of the relationship. When we cry to Him, He hears and comforts; when we ask, He gives; when we knock, He opens. He is truly our "papa" God. But is this to be the relationship between God and man in its total capacity? Consider our little children! We do not wish to forever carry them in our arms -- to have them be only interested in us because we are caregivers. We want them to mature and grow. We hope that someday they will open their childish eyes and see us as we really are -- apart from our parental roles. We desire to move beyond the parent-child pattern and be friends. For a long time now, God has been my friend. Within me grows an increasing desire to be His friend. I want to know Him as He really is -- not as I hope He is or as I need Him to be. (More and more I come to Him just to be in His presence, to listen while He tells me about Himself.) I want to walk His way even if I find that path difficult and scary. I want to know Him in the full measure of His personality even if that knowledge makes me insecure and uneasy. What am I trying to say? I want to grow up in my spiritual life and in my relationship with God. Someday soon I hope that He will be able to call me His friend. I want Him to count on me when He has a task to be done. I want to be loyal to Him whatever the cost. I want Him to know that He can confide in me His plans and ways and be confident that I won't pervert their meaning. I want to be so open to Him that He will be able to express Himself to me any way He wishes. Surely this is a more excellent way. "God meets him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers God and His Ways." Isaiah 6: 4, 5 MC Did you know that God has emotions? DELIGHT (Deuteronomy 10: 15) LOVE (John 3: 16) ANGER (Psalm 7: 11) JEALOUSY (Exodus 20: 5) JOY (Zephaniah 3: 17, 18) HATRED (Proverbs 6: 16) COMPASSION (Psalm 86: 15) _________________________________________________ God's Rest Just Between Us I believe that there is a place for Christians called God's Rest. It is a place to live, move, and have our being. It is a place to cease striving and be still. It is very important and special to God. Invitations to enter are extended to those who have open, teachable, and believing hearts. Listen to the words of the Scriptures: "Although God's promise still stands -- His promise that all may enter His place of rest -- we ought to tremble with fear because some of you may be on the verge of failing to get there after all. For this wonderful news -- the message that God wants to save us -- has been given to us just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses. But it didn't do them any good because they didn't believe it. They didn't mix it with faith. For only we who believe God can enter into His place of rest. He has said, 'I have sworn in my anger that those who don't believe Me will never get in,' even though He has been ready and waiting for them since the world began. We know He is ready and waiting because it is written that God rested on the seventh day of creation, having finished all that He had planned to make. Even so they didn't get in, for God finally said, 'they shall never enter my rest.' Yet the promise remains and some get in -- but not those who had the first chance. For they disobeyed God and failed to enter. But He has set another time for coming in, and that time is now. 'Today when you hear Him calling, do not harden your hearts!' This new place of rest He is talking about does not mean the land of Israel that Joshua led them into. If that were what God meant, He would not have spoken long afterwards about 'today' being the time to get in. So there is a full, complete rest still waiting for the people of God. Christ has already entered there. He is resting from His work, just as God did after the creation. Let us do our best to go into that place of rest too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, thus failing to get in. For whatever God says to us is full of living power." Hebrews 4: 1-12 I caught my first glimpse of His Rest in one Christmas season. I had recently read the above Scripture and had convinced myself that this passage pertained to life after death. That Christmas day was the most miserable day of my life. I was exhausted and depressed. Why? I had this mistaken idea that if someone from my church asked me to take a job it was the will of God for me. So when I was asked to be in charge of the Christmas program I accepted. I was flattered and eager to do God's work. For the first time I experienced the tension and pressure that weighs on me mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually when I try to serve God in my way and in my own effort. I ended up with a case of nervous exhaustion. My physical body reacted to the pressure and I was a mess. I began to evaluate my lifestyle and activities. Suddenly, I was aware of all the fruitless running I was doing trying to be an active, vibrant, willing Christian. I was tense and nervous most of the time trying to be the perfect wife, mother, housekeeper, Sunday school teacher, deaconess, community worker, etc. Trying to be everything to everyone, I had become useless to God and myself. Then the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear through the Word. "Relax, I will perfect that which concerns you. Cease striving and know that I am God. Come unto Me and I will give you rest." I recognized and admitted the following truths: Without Jesus I am and can do nothing. Every plant that God does not plant will be uprooted. Every work not built on Jesus will be burned. It is my responsibility alone to decide what God's will is for me. If I ask Him, He will tell me. I must check my activities with Him. I didn't want my life to be a disposable work -- to be in vain. I read again about God's Rest in Hebrews. I set my face to enter this place if He would have me. I used the following Scripture as my guide: "Commit your way unto the Lord, trust in Him, and He will bring it to pass." Psalm 37: 5 "Commit your works to the Lord, and you plans will be established." Proverbs 16: 3 "Be still (cease striving) and know that I am God." Psalm 46: 10 It was difficult to change my ways. I discovered how impulsive and willful I was. But this is how I began. Every morning I asked God to show me what He wanted me to do with my day. I put my priorities away and opened my ears and eyes to watch for His directions. I was like a servant girl looking for the slightest sign from her mistress about what to do next. I found my housework being accomplished with little effort, I sensed myself being freed from the role expectations of others. I was prepared for everything as no Girl Scout has ever been prepared. Many times I would bake, clean, etc. for no obvious reason only to find myself an unexpected hostess. I wrote devotions, and religious plays, prepared Sunday school lessons that no one had requested and was ready at a moment's notice when asked to substitute. And many other things too numerous to mention. This part of His Rest was great, fulfilling and exciting. I was aware as never before of God's presence helping and guiding me. However, waiting on the Lord, waiting for Him to bring these things to pass was another story. Here I had to be bridled. I usually ran way ahead of God. My main method of transportation out of His will was the telephone. That year He placed a moratorium on phone calls. I was not to call anyone for any reason. What a struggle that was for me. But through that discipline I learned that if I leave everything to Him, He will supply my needs. Another truth I learned from my phone discipline was that resting in Him keeps me from sinning and in the center of His will. If He wanted me to witness to someone, He arranged the event. If He wished me to accept a task He opened the door. I waited and watched. When He gave an order He confirmed it and set the timing by bringing it to pass. I was a spectator until His moment for action arrived. My account only scratches the surface. The reality of His Rest is available today. What a privilege God has given us to enter into this special place that He prepared before the world began. And the invitation is for us today, if we will only believe. Our old willful, impatient, restless selves will have to go but our spiritual eyes will be open to glimpse new wonders of God. Our work will remain throughout eternity and we will find rest for our souls. MC "'Without Me ye can do nothing!' Absolutely, positively nothing! Seeing, in Him all things live and move, as well as have their being; seeing, He is not only the true primum mobile, containing the whole frame of creation, but likewise the inward, sustaining, acting principle, indeed the only proper agent in the universe; unless so far as He imparts a spark of His active, self-moving nature to created spirits. But more especially 'ye can do nothing' right, nothing wise, nothing good, without the direct, immediate agency of the First Cause." John Wesley "The general rule of interpreting Scripture is this; the literal sense of every text is to be taken, if it be not contrary to some other texts; but in that case the obscure text is to be interpreted by those which speak more plainly. My ground is the Bible. Yea, I am a Bible-bigot. I follow it in all things, both great and small." John Wesley _________________________________________________ The Way Consider Jesus Jesus said, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." And ever since He spoke these words, many of His "followers" have been trying to find a different route -- any other way than actually following Him. But His word has not changed. Following Him is the only way to "get there" from here. Why? Jesus is the Way: Without the Way we cannot go. Jesus is the Truth: Without the Truth we cannot know. Jesus is the Life: Without the Life we cannot live. Followership, awkward as it sounds, is not a made-up word. It means the capacity to follow. It is the most crucial word in the Christian's vocabulary. For it is in developing the capacity to follow and in the actual following that we become like our leader and become intimately acquainted with Him. Do you have this capacity within you? Do you possess followership? What does it involve? The following is a partial list: The ability to attach oneself to the person and teaching of another, adding or bringing nothing himself. The ability to be retrained -- in other words, teachable. The ability to leave the former life behind without turning back. The ability to obey the leader regardless of the consequences. The ability to follow wherever He leads. The ability to endure to the end. The ability to fare as He fared. If we have decided to walk His way we must expect to fare as He fared. We will be treated as He was treated, we will be expected to react as He reacted. In this way we will share His experiences and begin to really know Him. We will feel as He felt. We will weep as He wept. We will cry to God as He cried. We will be wounded as He was wounded. We will be crucified as He was crucified. And we will come to know Him better and better. At first, as these experiences come our way we will want to strike back at those who are the sources of our hurt, humiliation, disappointment, ridicule, persecution. And then we will strike back at God and cry -- "It isn't fair." We may begin to doubt. But if we are true followers we will continue on and endure patiently whatever comes. Then a day will dawn when we hear ourselves say, "Thank you, Father, for these experiences. Thank you for the privilege to know and follow Your Son." That day we will begin to experience the height and depth of the love of Christ: The joy in pain, The happiness in sorrow, The strength in weakness, The fullness in want, The sufficiency in helplessness, The dying in living and the new life in dying. "Who is wise, that he may understand these things, prudent that he may know them? For the ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them." (Hosea 14: 9) Do not be deceived -- the way is not easy, the road is narrow, and few find it. For Jesus will ask you to comfort when you are wounded, rebuild what you did not destroy, be merciful when you deserve justice. He will also ask you to do good to those who harm you, to remain silent when you are insulted or unjustly accused, to turn your face toward him who spits at you, to lay down for others to walk over you, to give to anyone who asks of you, to bind yourself that others may go free, to give away that which you need yourself. These commands of Jesus will be difficult -- impossible -- but for the grace of God. You will find that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Now you will discover treasure and truth in darkness and the truth will set you free. For truth will enter into your soul and penetrate and saturate it. It will be a living force. Truth will become so vital a part of you that it cannot be taken from you. You will give away everything, even your life, rather than deny it. In fact, regardless now of any earthly consequence you will follow the truth, for the truth is your life. You will press on toward the goal to win the heavenly prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling you upward. You will strip off anything that slows you up or holds you back. You will run with patience the particular race that God has set before you, keeping your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. When you grow weary, and you will grow weary, you will take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your tottering knees and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who come after you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves but become strong. Christ walked this way for you -- now it is your turn. Someday you will hear the king say to you, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." So get up and get going, the king is coming soon. MC _________________________________________________ Change A More Excellent Way "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things pass away, new things come." 2 Corinthians 5: 18 Resistance to change is enormous -- giving up a way of life is like giving up our identity. And taking a new direction for our behavior and personality is what we fear most of all. We are insecure when we face an unknown quantity. We are secure with the known even if it is harmful to ourselves and to others. We will go to great lengths to remain the same. We will embrace many substitutes in an effort to avoid changing. We will become very active and busy in good causes (this substitute is widely used in Christian circles). We may move to a new locale, we may divorce the former life and the people who go with it. We may blame our faults and defects on other people, we may refuse to admit that we have any shortcomings -- develop a "cloudy eye." We may refuse to change using the excuse that others are trying to manipulate us by demanding that we change thus making them out to be the villain and leaving us innocent with all our personality problems still intact. We soon discover, however, that nothing changes until we change. Change can only take place through the inner struggle and the conflict is between what we do and what we should do, what we are and what we should be, how we behave and how we should behave, what we say and what we should say. For the Christian changing is described in these words -- taking off the old man and putting on the new, killing the old nature and living in the new. If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. The difficulty is to be "in" Christ. To be in Him we must take on His divine nature. Our old nature can't intrude here. To change we must catch a glimpse or vision of what we can be with the help of the Lord. What do you want to be like a year from now? Ten years from now? I have listed below some of my goals. Perhaps you will identify with some of them. I hope you will make a list of your own. I want to be like Jesus. In everyday terms this means: Hold myself calm in the day of adversity and wait patiently for God. Be obedient regardless of the consequences. Behave in all the ways commanded by Jesus in Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7. Control my tongue and only speak words pleasing to God. Have a silent soul and quiet spirit. Forget what lies behind and press on to what lies ahead. Have self-control -- in any and every circumstance that I might not sin. Live the beatitudes. Throw off every hindrance that keeps me from running the good race. Believe all things, bear all things, hope all things, endure to the end. Change: To make radically different Transform To replace with another To pass from the possession of one person to that of another To become, grow, mature, assume a new form Webster It isn't easy to change. The will of our flesh is deeply ingrained and in control. At this point we must take account of this fact -- ultimately we do what we want to do. Therefore the catalyst for change is the desire to change. I want to be like Jesus. Or do I? I want to obey Him. Or do I? Changing to become like Jesus is not an option, it is an imperative. Do I hear you say, "I've tried over and over and I can't"? Then you didn't really want to! This statement is not to put you down or ridicule your effort. It is to say, hang in there, keep trying. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an intense desire to be holy. Paul had the same problem. He discovered "how it works" and so can you. "I can't," I said, And it was true; There was nothing I could do. "I can," I said, And it was true; All He asks, I can do. _________________________________________________ How It Works A More Excellent Way "It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love to do God's will so far as my new nature is concerned, but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God's willing servant but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin. So you see how it is -- my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit -- and this power is mine through Christ Jesus -- has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death." Romans 7: 21 - 8: 2 I have been experiencing the above Scripture and didn't recognize it until I finally arrived at the bottom line: "for the power of the life-giving Spirit has set me free from the vicious circle of sin and death". All that time up to the last victorious moment I thought that I was a total failure and would never be free. But now I know how it works! I'd like to share it with you. A certain event occurred frequently in my life and I always reacted the same way -- with anger and scathing words. I told myself that it was my right as a human being to act in this manner. My flesh and spirit were in agreement. Then the Holy Spirit told me that my reaction was sin. For a short time I argued with Him but I finally admitted that He was right. Now it would have been great if that would have settled it and I could have simply reacted in an acceptable way every time a similar situation occurred. But it wasn't that easy. O how many times that event invaded my life and every time I sinned. I was wretched, guilty, and a failure. Although there was no obvious outward change, within me began to grow an increasing desire to obey the Holy Spirit. A war was going on. I observed that although I ultimately reacted sinfully I was able to hold out longer before I succumbed to my flesh and old nature. My flesh was still in control, but my spirit was growing stronger. And then one glorious day my spirit ruled the day. I did not obey my flesh, I obeyed the Holy Spirit. I was free from my old woman. Then I recognized in its entirety the fierce war that had been raging within me. All the time that I thought I was failing miserably my spirit was growing stronger and although it usually lost the daily skirmish, it was winning the war. Who freed me from my slavery to my deadly lower nature? The power of the life-giving Spirit -- and this power is mine through Christ Jesus -- has set me free. And what of tomorrow? The battle still goes on in areas of my life still ruled by my old woman. But now that I know how it works, I claim the victory through Christ Jesus my Lord. He is freeing me from the vicious circle of sin and death. Praise His Holy Name! MC Imagination is not faith. Imagination projects unreal images and seeks to attach reality to them. Faith creates nothing, it simply reckons upon that which is already there. _________________________________________________ Responsibility A More Excellent Way Search to come to this understanding of yourself and your life -- you are ultimately and solely responsible for what you are and what you shall become. No circumstances, person, or environment is responsible. You and you, alone, decide. Catch a vision now of what you can be. See the bigger picture. Then take full responsibility for becoming. Let no event or person or earthly responsibility deter you. Let no set back discourage you more than momentarily. Vision is the stepping stone from what is to what can be and you will advance toward your goal, one step at a time. And remember, keep your eyes upon Jesus. It is the law of influence that we become like those we habitually admire. I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, But I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do By the grace of God, I will do. Clarence McCellend _________________________________________________ Our Thoughts A More Excellent Way "So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do." Benjamin Franklin "The aphorism, 'As a man thinketh in his heart so is he,' not only embraces the whole of a man's being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts. As the plant springs from, and could not be without the seed, so every act of man springs forth from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called 'spontaneous' and 'unpremeditated' as to those which are deliberately executed. Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruit; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry. Man is a growth by law, and not a creation by artifice, and cause and effect is absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favour or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with God-like thoughts. Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein and will continue to produce their kind. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance, but is all the result of a law which cannot err. As a progressive and evolving being, man is where he is that he may learn that he may grow; and as he learns the spiritual lessons which any circumstance contains for him it passes away and gives place to other circumstances. And that circumstances grow out of thought every man knows who has for any length of time practised self-control for he will have noticed that the alteration in his circumstance has been in exact ratio with his altered mental condition. The soul attracts that which it secretly harbours; that which it loves, and also that which it fears; it reaches the height of its cherished aspirations; it falls to the level of its unchastened desires -- and circumstances are the means by which the soul receives its own. Every thought seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts, bad fruit. ...Thus a particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances. Life helps every man to the gratification of the thoughts which he most encourages, and opportunities are presented which will most speedily bring to the surface both the good and evil thoughts. As you think in your heart so are you. 'Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life.' (Proverbs 4: 23)" James Allen "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12: 2 "Thinking is a kind of living. To think and be aware that we think is to be conscious. Life without consciousness is but a shadow of life, having no meaning and being of no value to the individual. Our thoughts are the product of our thinking, and since these are of such vast importance to us it is imperative that we learn how to think rightly. I am dealing here with that kind of thinking done by every normal person every waking moment from birth to death. After all, it is not our heavy thinking that shapes our characters, but the quiet attention of the mind to the surrounding world, day after day, throughout our lives. The incredible mental accomplishments of an Einstein, for instance, had almost nothing to do with the kind of human being he was; the constant, undramatic, moment-by-moment interplay of his mind with his environment, on the other hand, had almost everything to do with it. We all live in two environments, the one being the world around us, the other our thoughts about that world. The larger world cannot affect us directly; it must be mediated to us by our thoughts, and will be to us at last only what we allow it to be. External things and events are the raw material only; the finished product is whatever the mind makes of these. Judas Iscariot and John the Beloved lived in the same world but how differently they interpreted it. The same may be said of Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob, Saul and David. From these we learn that circumstances do not make men; it is their reaction to circumstances that determines what kind of men they will be." A.W. Tozer _________________________________________________ Evil Thoughts A More Excellent Way Jesus tells us that evil thoughts defile us. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders... false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile a man." Matthew 15: 19 John Wesley believed that a Christian can be free from evil thoughts. Does it then follow that a follower of Jesus will never have a wrong thought? I believe that the distinction is between a thought of doing evil and an evil thought. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness He had to grasp in His mind the possibility of doing evil. But there is a distinct moment when a thought to do evil becomes an evil thought. This point in time is when the idea ceases to be a choice or a fleeting notion and becomes an imagining in the heart. As long as I struggle against it, shutting it out every time it comes into my mind, it remains a thought of doing evil. But the instant I give it entrance and begin to entertain the possibility (imaginings) it becomes an evil thought. The most subtle danger is the idea that our thoughts are our own and harm no one, not even ourselves; that to explore the possibility of sinning is not really sin; that to think unjust thoughts is not slander; that to wish harm is not murder or violence; that to imagine and fabricate incidents (daydreaming) is not false witnessing and lying. In the secret place where no one but ourselves can enter, we become more evil or more pure by the thoughts we entertain. The choice is ours. MC _________________________________________________ Just Thinking A More Excellent Way Christians make a very serious mistake in their thinking about "thinking." We want to believe that we cannot help what we think. The truth, however, is not only that we can help what we think but also that we must take full responsibility for our thoughts. Jesus said, "Don't let your heart be troubled." Wouldn't it have been helpful if He had said, "I won't let your heart be troubled"? Psalm 37 tells us, "Fret not, it only tends to evil." Can we stop worrying and fretting? Of course! Can we stop doubting? Can we stop daydreaming? Can we stop plotting evil? Absolutely! Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that it will be easy. Thinking habits are as difficult to break as any other habit. But it can be done. And the first step is to acknowledge that it is possible. MC _________________________________________________ Fantasy A More Excellent Way When we were children and the world was too rough on us, we moved the drama of our lives to a stage within our minds. There we acted out our everyday events and relationships in a way that enhanced the self-image we were building. It was the beautiful land of make-believe where hurts and disappointments, failures and unhappy incidents disappeared with a wave of our magic wand. In our dream version we always emerged triumphant, conqueror of all we surveyed. We did not realize that we were rejecting ourselves as we were building false images. But when we grow up, we are to put away childish things -- tuck them away with our teddy bear and rubber duck. How many of us really do, however? Instead, we find a seemingly more adult form of fantasy. We watch soap operas; devour novels and love stories; fill our leisure time with television comedies, dramas, sports; join those religious groups that present God as we need Him to be; live vicariously in the sordid world by gossiping about those who do; brag; tell tall tales; exaggerate; lie; become enamored with celebrities; spend time daydreaming. (Daydreaming is withdrawing into a fantasy world to feed our self-image -- stroking it, soothing it, consoling it; giving it in fantasy what it does not have in reality.) Why all the fuss? Because fantasizing is building false images that separate us from God, those living close to us, reality. It stunts our emotional growth and this prevents us from reaching both human and spiritual maturity. "Fantasy bodes ill for any truth knowing and people must be willing to know their own truth if they are to become mature adults." (Gail Sheehy) If we continue to live in a world of make-believe we will never come to grips with our problems because we dream them away. We never face our sin because we blame others and soothe ourselves. Daydreaming our lives away leaves us immature, self-centered, afraid, childish, and in darkness. We have a cloudy eye. "The lamp of your body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness." Matthew 6: 22, 23 A cloudy eye acts as a sentry, protector of the image of ourselves we have chosen and interprets all events and conversations that upset us in fantasy form. We resolve our problems by blaming others -- giving them false motives, criticizing, judging, ridiculing; anything that gives us peace about ourselves. Or we build giant sand castles filled with spectacular accomplishments that prove how great we are, worthy to be loved and admired. We may even fantasize our death to punish those who do not recognize how beautiful a person we "really" are. And it is here in the world of fantasy that lust has its birth! We even build God into what we need Him to be. We cannot know God until we are willing and able to experience Him as He would reveal Himself to us, not as we have decided He must be. Today's emphasis on a God of love and mercy minus a God of righteousness, wrath, and judgment is the result. The arrogant mouths speaking across the land today proclaiming God, are proclaiming an idol of their own making. They are fantasizing. One last thought. Daydreaming prevents us from developing a personal identity -- discovering in reality and truth who we are, where we are going, what our attainable goals are. If we resolve conflicts in dreams we never know our true measure as a human being for this is only uncovered as we act and react in human relationships, and allow the Holy Spirit to judge our behavior and thoughts through the Word. Creating false images is inhibiting and detrimental for adults, destructive and separating for marriage partners and friends, and devastating and evil for Christians. Imagine that! MC _________________________________________________ Jesus Was a Man Consider Jesus There is one thought more evil than others -- that we can't be like Jesus because He has special heavenly supports that helped him keep from sinning. Why is this so evil? Because this is the deception and spirit of the antichrist. "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John, Chapter 7) Scripture tells us that Jesus did not masquerade as man. He was a man. He did not have a special "in" with the Father that is not available to us. He learned obedience through the things that He suffered just like we do. He was tempted and tried just like we are. But this is the difference -- He did not sin. (We have.) We like to attribute this to the part of Him that was God. We want to believe that He had special power from above that is not available to us. But this idea is the granddaddy of all error, the deceitful doctrine of the antichrist. Have no part of it. Jesus came in the flesh. Every grace and gift from God to Him is available to us also. Therefore we not only can become like Him, we must. Entertain no other thought on this subject. _________________________________________________ The Mind of Christ A More Excellent Way Our human thought patterns are usually firmly entrenched by adulthood. We easily slip into them when we feel uncertain, threatened, challenged, or belittled by a person or an event. Our mind sets up thoughts that orbit around the person or event that aroused these unsettling feelings. We begin stroking our ego with ideas and fantasies that restore our sense of control. We search desperately for a place of calm to ease the tumbling thoughts within us. We take little notice and care little whether our conclusions are true or false. We must realize that these erratic thoughts are evil. Through them we bear false witness, slander, murder, criticize, falsely accuse, or judge -- all things Christians are commanded to avoid. We set in motion a pattern of thinking in which we emerge as the person who is right regardless of the true circumstances. It is this pattern of unjust thinking that we must intercept and destroy. The world today is very concerned about kicking the habits -- drinking, smoking, over-eating, or drugs. But is not wrong thinking at the base of each of these problems? For the Christian and non-Christian alike, faulty thinking is a dangerous pastime. Scripture states that we as Christians are to have the mind of Christ. Tozer defines this as "thinking God's thoughts after Him. The mental stuff of the Christian can be and must be modified and conditioned by the Spirit of Christ which indwells his nature. The Spirit-filled, prayerful, obedient Christian can actually possess the mind of Jesus so that his reactions to the world are the same as Christ's." Is this true of you? Whose thoughts do you think? What can we do to have the mind of Jesus? Wait for it to descend from above? Make up our own minds and then hope that Christ feels the same way we do? No way! I would like to suggest some steps to follow: Practice being silent both verbally and mentally in the presence of God. Search to find out how God feels about situations that come your way. Accept His decisions. Bring your thoughts in line with His thoughts. If you are a serious follower of Jesus, this will be your prime concern. What you think about it is irrelevant! Be open to His judgment. If you are wrong, repent; if someone had wronged you, forgive. Weed out all faulty thought patterns and then guard your thoughts. Refuse to worry, fret, be troubled, accuse, plot revenge, judge, criticize, make plans. Be teachable and open to reality. Desire to know the truth no matter how painful. If you persist the truth will eventually set you free. _________________________________________________ Our Emotions Be Creative With Your Feelings Everyone wants to "feel" good. We wish to be happy. Presently in our culture we are convinced that to reach this state of euphoria we need to have a safe place to express our emotions. We seek acceptance, understanding, and caring. Indeed we may go as far as to say that it is our right to express ourselves. We believe that "letting go," the expression, will solve our emotional problems. We even go a step further and declare that to hide our feelings is dishonest. It is a form of lying. And the Scriptures tell us to speak the truth, with one another! But what is truth? Emotional outbursts are rarely pure or honest. They are the result of many different circumstances, thought patterns, past experiences, present needs, insecurities, expectations, fear. Many times they are only slightly related to the incident that triggers their eruption. And more times than not the individual who receives the onslaught of our outbursts is innocent. Feelings can be fleeting. How then can we claim that how we feel is the truth? I suggest that truth is not how we feel but how we should feel. Every one of us has fallen prostrate at the feet of our emotions, allowing them to rule over us and have full freedom. At that moment in time we are like unreasoning beasts -- we cannot think, only feel. And the pent-up feelings explode verbally or physically, slaying everyone in their path. Although we may experience a release of tension through this outburst, Wm. Coffin makes this suggestion: "What is emotionally satisfying may be spiritually devastating." Pause and calmly think of that! MC _________________________________________________ Expectations Be Creative With Your Feelings Many of our negative emotions are a result of expectations we cling to. If we believe that someone will or can be counted on to perform in a certain way and this belief is contradicted, we are hurt, angry, disappointed. Expectations are mostly fantasy or cultural ideas. We construct an image of God and others and expect them to be true to our image. Without realizing it we worship these false idols labeling our adoration, sentimentality. I was very sentimental. I had built many fantasies or expectations about God, those I care about, life. When these little idols toppled one by one I was very angry. Then I read a simple statement: Christian, life is meant to disillusion you. The simplicity of this truth washed away all my anger and I was free. MC Let's forget about ourselves and magnify the Lord, He's coming soon. Let's forget about ourselves and magnify the Lord, He's coming soon. Let's forget about ourselves and magnify the Lord, He's coming soon. Coming soon, Jesus Christ, the Lord. _________________________________________________ Self-Control Be Creative With Your Feelings I am assuming that like me you want to be mature both as a Christian and a human being -- that you are tired of being enslaved to your emotions, reacting rather than "acting" as you should, keeping your behavior in line with the commands of Jesus. I want to be in control of what I say and do. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit. I know that it is beyond my grasp as long as I worship the way I feel, serving myself rather than God. Scripture tells us to "put aside all anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech." No room for rampant emotional expression here. This is part of our old self with its evil practices. We are being renovated according to the image of the One who created us. I would like to share with you some of the thoughts that either keep me from losing control or help me restore my self-control without sinning when I am in danger of being overpowered by my emotions. I remember the following: My feelings are irrelevant. This too shall pass. The important thing is to keep from sinning. Life is meant to disillusion me. Crying only makes my eyes red. If I am patient, there is goodness and mercy for me in everything. "If I want something very badly, I must let it go free. If it is mine it will return to me. If it doesn't it was never mine to begin with." (Jess Lear) I also find these instructions in Psalm 4 helpful: "Tremble with anger or fear but do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord." MC _________________________________________________ Feelings Be Creative With Your Feelings Your feelings are irrelevant! Let me repeat that statement. Your feelings are irrelevant. Does that arouse an emotion in you? As a Christian it is no longer important how you feel. The only relevant thing is how God feels! Did you know that God has emotions? Delight (Deuteronomy 10: 15) Love (John 3: 16) Anger (Psalm 7: 11) Jealousy (Exodus 20: 5) Joy (Zephaniah 3: 17, 18) Hatred (Proverbs 6: 16) Compassion (Psalm 86: 15) Moses got into great difficulty because he became angry with the children of Israel when God was not angry with them. He, God's ambassador, misrepresented God. As a result he was not allowed to enter the promise land. Does that seem like a very harsh sentence for just losing his temper? Consider this a very serious subject. In Numbers 25 there is an incident of a priest expressing the emotion of God in an earthly incident. His action stayed a plague. Listen: "Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy." We Christians represent Christ. We are not here on earth to express ourselves; we are to allow Jesus to express His nature -- His personality and feelings -- through us. I say again, our human emotions on all subjects and about all matters are irrelevant! What do you think about that! "My life is in the hands of any fool who makes me lose my temper." Joseph Hunter _________________________________________________ Fear Be Creative With Your Feelings FEAR IS A PAINFUL FEELING of impending danger, evil, or trouble. It is an unbidden feeling of dread. We are afraid of so many things -- death, life, heights, darkness, illness, earthquake, robbery, rape, the future, the past, the unknown, poverty, failure, abandonment, loneliness, old age, people, love... Should we ever be afraid? Definitely! For Scripture tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Was it not through fear that we came to Jesus in the first place? Suddenly we are aware that without Him we are lost. This fear is wholesome and necessary for it is based on real danger and evil and is essential to our spiritual survival. And the fear of the Lord is essential to our continuing spiritual growth. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God for He is a consuming fire. If we are out of line with God, anytime our lives before Christ or after, we should be afraid. "The presence of the divine always brings fear to the heart of sinful men. This is not mere physical fear. It is a terror felt in the center and core of our being. It comes when an unholy creature is confronted by the most Holy One." (A.W. Tozer) This Godly fear can be summed up in one Scripture verse: "Don't be afraid of those who can kill only your bodies -- but can't touch your souls! Fear only God who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10: 26) All other fear can be labeled harmful to our spiritual life regardless of its individual name or origin. And it is most destructive when it has an immobilizing effect on us, stunting our spiritual growth. The way of God demands that Christians live by faith, not sight, so there will always be an element of fear. Faith requires a step from the known into the unknown, from security to insecurity. The Holy Spirit leads us on from truth that is known and experienced to truth as yet unknown. What then can we do with this feeling of fear? In what way can we make it creative in our lives? First of all, we must realize that being afraid does not protect us from the harm we fear. Second, we must recognize that its cause is a lack of trust in God. Third, we must move out into the areas where the Spirit leads us regardless of our fear. Jesus gave us the following statement to help us at this moment. He said simply, "Be not afraid, I am." I wish He had said -- "Be not afraid, I will keep you safe from all harm. Only good things will happen to you." But He didn't. He did not promise safety from earthly perils. Rather He promised that whatever happens to us, He will be with us, and we will come through our trials without being separated from Him. "The Scriptures tell us that for His sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day... but despite all of this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us. For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels won't and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are -- high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean -- nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for us." Romans 8: 36-39 If God be for us, who then can be against us? What have we to fear! MC _________________________________________________ He That Is in Me Is Greater Just Between Us On my trip to California last February I had a mountain top experience. It began at dusk when I crossed the Nevada state-line from Utah. I stopped in the town of Wendover, thinking I would stay the night. However, my spirit grew disquieted within me and I felt pressure to move on. As darkness moved in I was approaching the 7,000 foot summit that lay between Wendover and Wells, Nevada. Suddenly fog encompassed the car making visibility about ten feet. Then it began to snow heavily and I couldn't see a thing -- not the middle line on the road, the reflectors on the side, or road signs. I would have parked if I had dared but I didn't know where the shoulder of the road was and I could picture my two children and myself plunging over a mountain cliff. "Make the snow stop, God", I cried. "Help us." Panic rose within me. "Why didn't you let us stop in Wendover? We would be snug and safe right now." One fact was crystal clear -- God had brought me to this time and place for it was His Spirit that compelled me to move on. Inch by inch I moved the car forward expecting a miracle, expecting God to change the weather for me. But the snow didn't stop. The fog didn't lift. By now I was visibly shaking. In the utter blackness I moved on into the unknown. I could feel the powers of darkness all around me, oppressing me. Spiritually I had experienced this before, but never physically. Well, you all know that I lived through that dark night or I wouldn't be writing to you now. But for several months I couldn't bear to think of it. I couldn't face its implications. I didn't want to know what it meant -- why God had allowed, even led me into Satan's clutches. Then two weeks ago as I stood on my doorstep, safe and warm in the California sunshine, looking east to the outline of the Sierra Nevada Mountains I was finally able to look beyond then, in my mind's eye, into Nevada and picture again that dark night. Simultaneously I could look in the future and see other dark mountain tops before me when the powers of darkness will again surround me. But now I know by experience that He that is in me is greater than Satan who is in this world. And nothing, not even the mighty powers of darkness can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Praise His holy name! MC "Those who cannot control their words cannot control themselves." Watchman Nee "The greatest conversion of all is from lukewarm to hot and this conversion usually takes place during the creative years of middle age." Ruel Howe "Look into the history of every great work God has raised up and you will find a man who was not afraid to risk everything to fulfill His call." David Wilkerson _________________________________________________ Guilt Be Creative With Your Feelings GUILT IS A BLACK EMOTIONAL ABYSS surrounded by high walls of formidable strength. Who among us hasn't suffered from this haunting, nagging feeling of evil, failure, or sinfulness? Of course there is actual guilt for the Bible pronounces all mankind guilty in certain areas and the Holy Spirit specifically lays on each one of us the awareness of our sins. We are definitely guilty and must repent and turn away from evil as it is revealed to us throughout our Christian life. However if we dwell for a prolonged time in this emotional wasteland, using energy and wallowing in its depths, we misunderstand God. He reveals our sinfulness, not to chain us to its haunting despair, but to help us know ourselves, ask forgiveness, and be cleansed. If the guilty story ended here we would know how to escape from its clutches. However in the depths of our being, surfacing now and then to plague us, are feelings that we have transgressed or misbehaved which cause us severe emotional conflict. We are unable to set ourselves free because we do not know the source of our problem. We only feel and the feeling is guilt. The first step to being creative in this area is to realize that the root of our conflict may have been established within us long before we were capable of determining right or wrong. It was created by the value system of a significant other in our life -- what they considered good or bad, valuable, acceptable or unacceptable. These concepts may or may not have actual basis in the reality of good and evil. However, once this value system is part of us, this fact does not alter the emotional conflict that comes when we stray from its set boundaries. Overcoming the early conditioning to which our consciences have been subjected is not easy. But it is essential both for human and spiritual maturity that we examine these areas in which we feel anxiety and decide whether they are or are not in harmony with the moral structure we are building with the help of the Holy Spirit. One area that exudes with guilt for women is motherhood. Sometimes when out of emotional necessity she must meet her own needs first, she suffers great emotional trauma. She feels extremely selfish when she must remove herself for a time from the role expectations of being a mother and become just another human being. Deep within all of us are guidelines for the roles we have in life and to vary from them causes haunting feelings of failure. Painful as this may be, we must bring the set behavior patterns into the light to be evaluated realistically. Because the writer of this article is mainly interested in the spiritual realm we will consider also the behavior patterns that may have been imposed on us as new Christians. It is very similar to the conditioning produced in the human baby. A mature Christian must find what pleases and displeases God for himself and build his behavior pattern on this. (Imposing a value system on a new Christian is interfering with the work of the Holy Spirit and may in the end topple, taking with it the Christian, himself.) Listen! When I first heard the message of Jesus it was coupled with the famous (or infamous) do's and don'ts. In my mind they were one and the same. I was nine years old at the time the Holy Spirit convicted me and I asked Jesus to be my Savior. For a time I tried to follow Jesus, which I thought meant to do the do's and not do the don'ts. I was troubled mostly by the admonition -- do not go to the movies. You know the end of the story, don't you? One day I succumbed to temptation. My Christian life collapsed as a result and it was fifteen years before I returned. And can you guess what movie I attended? The Wizard of Oz! Was that such an evil to separate me from Jesus? I thought so because that was what I was taught. It has taken me years to escape from that value system imposed on me with the salvation message. Sometimes I still feel guilty. Of course, at times we should feel guilt. But to be creative in our Christian life with this feeling is our objective. To do this, check all anxieties, one by one, as they occur, with the Holy Spirit. Is He convicting you or is it your set behavior pattern causing you emotional conflict? "Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and well pleasing." Romans 12: 2 "Now you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light... trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." Ephesians 5: 8-10 If you do this, your feelings of guilt will be turned into the knowledge of the truth and the truth will set you free. How creative can you get? MC _________________________________________________ Sorrow Be Creative With Your Feelings Sorrow is a mourning or weeping of the soul. It is a pure, accepting emotion. If words could describe it, the words would be -- "It is finished." Sorrow is the result of the death of a cherished desire and our hearts break and our souls mourn as a dream is destroyed. It may be a loved one gone, a friendship ended, a vision faded, a marriage unfulfilled, an opportunity lost, or work never to be. At this critical time we will do one of two things. We will despair of life and bury ourselves with the lost dream, committing ourselves to die with it OR we will "let it go", lift ourselves up and move on. If we can do the latter, in time a new and purer hope will be born within us. When my husband and I were in Israel a few years ago our plans were thwarted and our dreams of what we might do for God vanished. But at that critical time a purer faith and hope grew within us. Expressing it in words: "GOD IS". At that moment we knew nothing else. But it was enough! Sorrow had laid bare for us the foundation of our faith, the root of our life in God. I pray that you will allow sorrow when it comes (and it will come to every Christian), to be a creative force in your life. I pray that you will welcome it. As new Christians we dream about the wonderful things God will do for us; as we grow we begin to dream about what we will do for Him. But as we experience the depths of sorrow our hopes and dreams are purified until they anchor themselves in the only reality there is; they change from what He will do to what HE IS. And it is enough. MC _________________________________________________ Part of Me Died Today Just Between us Part of me died today. I sat and watched its final moments and knew I must be both executioner and victim. For when I realized that it must go, I bid it leave me -- gently I prayed. But gentleness was not a force strong enough. So with my own hand I tore it from me and nailed it to the cross I had been given when I first believed. Grief engulfed me, threatening to extinguish my life. For this slain portion of me had been vibrant and life supporting, giving to me and receiving from me, love and care. I had nourished it and showered it with tender concern for many years. Its preciousness had grown until I loved it as my child. It became bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. In my wildest dreams I had never imagined that this special portion of my being would have to be silenced. I thought that we would be companions all through life. Now it was gone forever. I wept. I mourned. The world seemed a hostile place and I hated it for holding in its hands the events that sentenced part of me to death. Finally my grief was spent. I knew that it was time to examine the substance of my life. With quivering hands I reached out to touch the gaping hole vacated by my crucified part. As I probed the depth of the void, knowledge flooded my being with light. With my spiritual eyes now open I saw that my dead part had been living at the very entrance of my soul and that its root system, ever expanding, had been consuming my soul. I remembered then, the times that I had given it priority over my soul life, telling myself that the two were one. Now I sensed my soul breathing freely again, relieved of the suffocating presence. In thankfulness I fell to my knees, praising God who had hurt me that He might help me, torn me that He might heal me, slain me that He might raise me up to new Life. Praise His holy name. MC _________________________________________________ What's the Good Word? Just Between us In the beginning was the Word -- and the Word was Christ. Like Christ, the Bible is alive -- vital -- a living book. It is an in-depth experience in spiritual reality -- seeing, touching, and tasting God in His element. A letter from God to us -- personal and intimate. It's the wisdom of the ages. It's the key to the future. It's the truth with a capital "T". It's a two-edged sword -- it cuts, slices, divides; separates: The men from the boys, The just from the unjust, The serious from the frivolous. It's as fresh as tomorrow morning's newspaper, Contains more vitamins and minerals than steak and eggs, Is more refreshing than Coca-Cola; It's food -- nourishment -- drink. WITHOUT IT SPIRITUAL LIFE DIES. HLC _________________________________________________ Desperation Be Creative With Your Feelings DESPERATION IS AN ABANDONMENT of hope that impels us into a furious struggle, internal or external, against adverse circumstances, sometimes with utter disregard of consequences. Frustration has reached such an intensity that we look frantically for a way to escape. This volatile emotional state is one of the most dangerous conditions in which a Christian may find himself. For in this posture he is wide open to Satan. Scripture tells us that Satan prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. The Christian, feeling abandoned by both God and man, may at this moment remove himself outside the boundaries where God can bless and protect him. In willfulness and anger he may set irreversible events into motion that can never be retracted. How can we be creative with such a devastating emotion? At this moment we are like unreasoning beasts. The first thing is to realize that even in such an agitated state, God does not abandon us. "When my heart was embittered, and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant. I was like a beast before Thee. Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast taken hold of my right hand. With Thy countenance Thou wilt guide me, and afterward receive me with honor." Psalm 73: 21-24 Do not leave God at this moment. Cry out to Him. Pour out your anger, hurt, bitterness, and disillusionment. Remember desperation is not sin. Continue with Him even though you cannot feel His presence or His comfort. Know that it is your emotional turmoil that blinds you. He is there! And do not seek the help of other people at this time. You may momentarily find some emotional release but your former state of desperation will return as soon as you are again alone. When your reason returns ask yourself not how do you feel, but what can you do? What can you do to relieve the pressure that you cannot tolerate? What activity or future plans will ease your present tension, offer you comfort and hope, and still keep you within the bounds of God's love and care? Then do it. Do not make any big decisions during this time. Do not feel guilty. Promise yourself that you will find new patterns for your life that give you hope and fulfillment. Check your thought patterns. Refuse to repeat negative patterns that heighten your feelings of desperation. Thank God for this terrible time. Then let your world go free and out of your control. Trust the One who loves you and did not desert you. See yourself mature, open to life. Then you will experience first-hand that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord, even desperation. And once you know this truth by experience, you will never be so desperate again. MC The next time you are in the supermarket line with someone using food stamps, smile at them. It will be good for both of you. _________________________________________________ Love Be Creative With Your Feelings Human love is such a good feeling. We feel within ourselves an overwhelming desire to be attentive to, to help, to share ourselves with the one we love. We want to make another person's dreams come true, to protect them from hurt and harm. Scripture tells us, however, that this human feeling is not the biblical definition of love. (Even the pagans love their own and those who love them in return.) A real test of whether we have any grasp on love comes when we react to rejection or hatred with love. If the negative reaction of another does not in any way deter us from expressing good, if rebuff does not make us withdraw wounded and disheartened, then we may have caught a glimpse of what it means to love. The love of Christ is what we as Christians are commanded to search for and find. If we are honest we will admit that we don't really know what the word love means. Usually we hope some bright day to be visited from above with a shower of love and to be filled throughout our being with this special ingredient that makes the world go around. From that moment on we hope this grand feeling will be shed abroad from us to all the people in our little world and maybe even to the far corners of the earth. But it just isn't so! If love doesn't hit us one day like a bolt of lightning, how then do we acquire it? We begin with God. For God is love. We begin to be creative with our human feelings of love when we recognize the vast difference between the love of man and the love of God. When we stand at the foot of the cross we catch our first glimpse of love with a capital "L." God so loved the world that He gave... When we recognize how undeserving we are to receive this gift, we are filled with gratitude and we say over and over, "Jesus, I love you." What we are really saying is, "Jesus, I feel so special because You loved me so much. I have such warm feelings toward You. I feel so included and welcome." For we love because He first loved us. But if we stay forever in this receiving state we have only experienced being loved. We have not loved in return. Scripture tells us how to love Jesus. "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word." Did you know that obedience to the words of Christ is the outward observable behavior of our love for Him? Why is obedience the first step in loving? "Obedience to the truth cleanses us from selfishness and hatred." (1 Peter 1:22) Doesn't that sound good! But where and how do we begin? We begin with the commands of Jesus: "Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow. Don't resist violence! If you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other. Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven." (Matthew, Chapter 5) Remember that obedience to the Word of God is not based on "feeling like it" but being "willing to do it." For the love of God is not a "feeling" but a "willing." Then move on to Peter 2: 22. Here we see love in action. Jesus, "while being reviled did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats." Now include the love chapter. Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them, and could speak in every language there is in all of Heaven and earth, but didn't love others, I would only be making noise. Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love. If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn't love others, it would be of no value whatever. Make love your greatest quest. (1 Corinthians, Chapter 13) _________________________________________________ Speaking the Truth in Love A More Excellent Way Usually we speak the truth in criticism, judgment, sarcasm, pride, or anger. We are all skilled in these areas. But to speak the truth in love is a real test of spiritual maturity for when a man can control his tongue he has a hold on all of the fruits of the Spirit -- love, peace, gentleness, meekness, self-control. If we are growing as Christians we should be more and more in control of our tongue. Cutting words, critical words, judgmental words, words of ridicule have no place in a dialogue of love. Words which are spoken to be shared are pure, gentle, peaceable, reasonable, full of mercy, without pretense, unwavering. How do we speak the truth in love? In essence, we simply say what we have to say -- simple words that exert no pressure on the other person to respond. Words that we send forth to the ears of others with ulterior motives are not words spoken in love. They are loaded words, usually spoken in bitterness, pride, self-defense, or judgment. Even if the loaded words contain the truth, they have lost their ability to help, heal, or communicate because of the emotional weight they place on the hearer. More specifically, then, how do we share our feelings with others? How does a wife tell her husband that her feelings are hurt, how does a friend tell a friend that their actions produce anger? By simply stating the emotion! Voice feelings, not accusations. Say, "I am hurt. I feel anger." Put no pressure on the other person to respond. And sharing is never, "let me tell you how you are to blame." If we are maturing Christians, then we should be growing in our ability to speak the truth in love. Our words are becoming pure words of honest expression, free of ulterior motives and hidden meanings. And if we continue we will soon discover that the truth spoken in love will not only encourage and help those we love but will be healing to our own souls. _________________________________________________ What It Means to Love God A More Excellent Way Scripture tells us that we are to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, soul, and mind. But what does it mean to love God? Love for God has usually been divided into two kinds of love -- the love of gratitude and the love of His excellence. The love of gratitude is born within us when we first recognize that He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. We love Him because He first loved us. The second kind of love may be defined as admiration, respect, or awe, developing within us as we learn of the greatness and majesty of God. His Name is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. Our greatest joy is to learn of Him and to bask in His presence. But there is still a higher love. "In this higher type of love there is a supernatural element that cannot and does not attempt to give reasons for its existence. It says not 'I love because'; it only whispers, 'I love.' Perfect love knows no because. There is a place in the religious experience where we love God for Himself alone, with never a thought of His benefits." (A.W. Tozer) Surely this is a more excellent way! "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come to pray to Me, and I will listen to you and you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.'" Jeremiah 29: 11-13 _________________________________________________ Anger Be Creative With Your Feelings Anger is an internal explosion that encompasses and mobilizes our entire being into an emotional time bomb. Suddenly it bursts forth into the world around us and relentlessly batters everyone or everything in its path. It is as if we are fury itself and are hell-bent to wither or destroy everything we contact. Our anger is king and any attempt to rein it in is futile. There is no escape for ourselves or others until it expends itself. We are left feeling weak, helpless, and afraid for we know it will happen again. Usually we react to our outburst in one of two ways: We make a conscious decision to somehow control it next time. We conclude that our anger was justified, that anger must be expressed to maintain emotional health or our anger was in defense of some greater cause (righteous indignation). Scripture is not so generous to us. "Let everyone... be slow to anger -- for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." James 1: 19 That bursts the theory of righteous indignation. "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident which are immorality, impurity, idolatry... outbursts of anger... of which I warn you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5: 19-21 So expressing anger is dangerous business. In addition it gives Satan an entrance: "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil a place." Ephesians 4: 26, 27 How then do we use our anger creatively? First recognize that anger is usually a blow to our egos with the result that we feel our rights have been violated or we have been unjustly accused. We feel attacked so we attack. Next, ask God's help to destroy this vicious pattern. Scripture tells us how! "Tremble, be afraid of sinning. Do not sin. Speak in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord." Psalm 4 I interpreted it this way: Know immediately that I am in serious spiritual trouble. Bite my tongue. Run for my life to a place where I am alone. Calm myself by refusing to justify myself or blame others. Pray, asking God's help and His assessment. What led to my emotional upheaval? Had I harbored resentments, hatred; fostered faulty thought patterns, vanity, pride; felt threatened, exposed? Open my heart to acknowledge the truth that He has shown me and then ask His forgiveness and also the forgiveness of anyone else I may have wronged in thought, word, or deed. (I am not certain what the sacrifices of righteousness are but I hope that I have made a beginning). MC _________________________________________________ An Invincible Summer Just Between Us Last winter I was very upset with God -- even angry (a very dangerous attitude). My soul and spirit were so tired. I felt that God and life had dealt me a deathblow. Usually during such days of trial, the knowledge that in the end I will be closer to God and walking on higher ground helps me live through the difficult time with courage and stability. But this time was different. You see, the happening I feared most had occurred. I had prayed for years that I might not be given this cup to drink. It was a mountain I could not climb, go around, or tunnel through. So I thought God would remove it from the face of the earth. But the day it moved out of its place He allowed it to fall on me. I thought I was fatally crushed. At the moment of collision I cried, "God, how could you do this to me. Why did you let this happen?" In my self-righteousness I reminded Him, "I have done everything you asked of me; I have been faithful, believing, and obedient." I felt slain by the hand of God. And more than that, I grieved for the loss of "my" God who had always protected and shielded me. This facet of His personality was new to me. So I was both angry and afraid. Wasn't He supposed to be the same today, tomorrow, and yesterday? I didn't like this new side of Him at all! Then gradually I learned the truth. The fear of this mountain had imprisoned me. I recognized then that He had tried to free me in many different ways. None of them were successful because of human nature and free will. Finally He took a very blunt course of action to loose me. He acted in love, risking my alienation and misunderstanding. I also realized that I had lost nothing in the catastrophic scene that was of eternal value. No spiritual treasure had been destroyed. Suddenly my bitterness, anger, and yes, even hatred for both God and man vanished. I was free as I had never before been free. And it was so good. I learned something new about myself, too. "I found during my severest winter that within me lives an invincible summer." And God had known it all the time. Praise His holy name! MC _________________________________________________ Open My Eyes A More Excellent Way "Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp, and set me free. Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth Thou sendest clear; And while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear. Open my mouth and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere; Open my heart and let me prepare love with Thy children thus to share. Open my mind, that I may read more of Thy love in word and deed. What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead? Only for light from Thee I plead. Silently now I wait for Thee. Ready, my God, Thy will to see. Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!" Clara H. Scott WILL GOD BLESS AMERICA? Read Obadiah 10-15 _________________________________________________ My Tongue Just Between Us My heart hopes for quiet. My mouth longs for silence. My mind fights to be in control so my tongue will not set aflame events and rant and rave wildly in an effort to quell my inner pressure. Why does this tiny lethal instrument need to verbalize and toss into the air beyond recall the bitterness and anger I feel? When I am hurt, why must I wound in return; when angry, why do I leave such devastation in my emotional wake? O little weapon of speech, I wince at your insignificant structure and the immense wounds you cause. For you, little one, are a "restless evil, full of deadly poison." You tear down in a moment the work of many days; you destroy with your viciousness the happiness of those I love. How can I control you? I desire you to be immobilized for all time no matter how your silence scorches and pierces my being. I want to act and not react. For before I grasp the reality of the moment you have leaped to my defense, slaying everyone who challenges me. What is the secret of escape from your rule? Surely it exists in the light and not in the darkness. And how can it be, God, that when I ask for your help, You do not answer? Do I ask amiss? Or is it because I ask with the same tongue with which I wound and destroy? O yes, that is my answer. Then wretched one that I am, how can I be delivered? What can I do to tame you, little poisonous dart? I seem helpless in your grasp, I am your prisoner. Were it not for you, my heart's battles would not harm the lives of others. There is one thing that I can do now. When you conquer my will and would destroy me and those I love with your vicious fire, I will be silent upon my bed. There you and I will struggle in mortal combat. I will move you to offer the sacrifices of righteousness. You will pray for those you wish to harm, you will speak only good. With the help of God, you will bless and not curse, heal rather than wound, soothe and not sear, build and not tear down. And on judgment day when every word you and I have uttered will again ring in my ears and I will bear the weight of every verbal expression, may it be recorded in the book that a day dawned when you were tamed. And since that moment you have been a blessing, giving comfort, encouragement, and hope. You seek to speak only the choicest words. "Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord." MC _________________________________________________ Our Tongue A More Excellent Way This is a portion of the last words of David, a man after God's own heart: "The Spirit of the Lord spoke in and by me and His word was upon my tongue." 2 Samuel 23: 2 "If anyone can control his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way. We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in his mouth. And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. So also the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. And the tongue is set on fire by hell itself, and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster... Sometimes it praises our heavenly Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against men who are made like God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring from the same mouth. Dear brothers, surely this is not right." James, Chapter 4 May this be said of us: "True instruction was in our mouths, and unrighteousness was not found on our lips. For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge and men should seek instruction from his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord." Malachi 2: 5, 7 _________________________________________________ Listen To Yourself How's Your Kingdom Coming? People talk about what is important to them. Young mothers talk about their children. Hobbyists talk about their hobbies. Sick people talk about their health. Most people like to talk about their jobs. Everyone talks about the weather. One would think that Christians talk to each other about God at least on Sunday. A custodian, new at his job, at a fair sized church in Sacramento, California, had this experience. After the service and an exceptionally fine sermon, he moved among visiting groups of people, straightening and picking up and overhearing their conversations. He expected to hear them discussing the pastor's message, some truth that hit home for them, or some questions and comments on the ideas expressed in the sermon. Instead they were talking about their recent purchases, trips, family or, on occasion, church business. Never about spiritual matters. He was disappointed and disillusioned. It is a basic truism that you also spend the most time talking about those things that are most important to you. What is your main topic of conversation? What did you speak about on the telephone, over the backyard fence? Now for check-up time. Rank the following conversation subjects in order of the time you spend in talking about them: Personal relationships (spouse, in-laws, friends, neighbors, coworkers) Personal affairs (marriage, health, parenthood, sex, etc.) Television programs and related subjects Politics, world affairs New acquisitions Money Juicy tidbits Yourself (needs, views, hopes, problems, successes, failures, fears) Hobbies God (including your faith, the Bible, and related subjects) Others "Every useless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified and by your words you shall be condemned." Matthew 12: 36, 37 MC _________________________________________________ A Book of Remembrance A More Excellent Way "Then those who feared and loved the Lord spoke often of Him to each other. And He has a book of remembrance drawn up in which He recorded the names of those who feared Him and loved to think about Him. They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares an obedient and dutiful son." Malachi 3: 16, 17 _________________________________________________ Prophecy and Prayer The Holy Spirit and the Gifts In the Revelation of John we are told that the prayers of the true believers play an important part. Listen! "I looked and saw a Lamb standing there before the twenty-four elders in front of the throne of the living beings, and on the Lamb were wounds that once had caused His death. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne. And as He took the scroll, the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb each with a harp and golden vials filled with incense -- the prayers of God's people." Revelation 5: 6-8 "When the Lamb had broken the seventh seal, there was silence throughout heaven for what seemed like half an hour. And I saw the seven angels that stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets. Then another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; and a great quantity of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people, to offer upon the golden altar before the throne. And the perfume of the incense mixed with prayers ascended to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. Then the angel filled the censer with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed and rumbled, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake." Revelation 8: 1-5 David had some insight about this! "O Lord, I call upon Thee, hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to Thee! May my prayers be fixed as incense before Thee, The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering." Psalm 141: 1, 2 Scripture has many things to say about prayer. Most of us realize that we are to pray unceasingly. Usually, however, our prayers concern our lives, those we love, events in our little world or in our church and its mission. Have you noticed that the prophetic Word tells us to pray for specific things? Listed below are instructions for prayer: "Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation standing in the holy place then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains... But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath..." (Matthew 24: 15, 16, 20) "'Pray, then in this way: Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.'" (Matthew 6: 9, 10) "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." (Luke 22: 40) "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." (Psalm 122: 6) Pray -- "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22: 20) Why should you pray? "Keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21: 36 "The end of all things has come near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." 1 Peter 4: 7 May God give ear to your voice when you call Him. May your prayers be counted as incense before Him, the lifting up of your hands as the evening offering. MC "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight. And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves." Luke 12: 35-37 _________________________________________________ Test the Spirits How's Your Kingdom Coming? "Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 John 4: 1 Recently much literature has come to my home through the mail from two worldwide evangelistic organizations claiming that they have a message for me from God. They state that God has given them special prayer power in my behalf and if I support their current projects, in return, God will give me health, prosperity, success, and miracle living. In essence they are asking me to buy God's blessing. This alarms me! It also raises questions in my mind. Are these men telling the truth? Are they speaking for God? If they pray for me will God listen more intently than He does if I pray? Do these groups have a direct revelation from God and His blessing on their work? Evangelism is big money these days -- millions of dollars each year. Religious organizations are requesting more and more money from Christians, declaring they are building the kingdom of God. Are they? We should at least ask God before we give. Let's be like the people of Berea. They searched the Scriptures day to day to see if Paul and Silas' statements were really so. (Acts 17: 11) So don't blindly accept the philosophy of success and worldly prosperity these groups offer as the revelation of God in return for your support. Test the spirits before you give for many false prophets are in the world. MC _________________________________________________ Talking to God Just Between Us Christian living is more than talking to God -- it is talking with God. Many people talk to God. Not so many talk with God. Our communications we call prayer. Communication, in the best sense, is "an interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information." We often tell God our thoughts, give Him our opinions, and offer Him information about ourselves and others. Sometimes we even tell Him about Himself, which always seems odd to me when I hear someone publicly pray in this manner. I hear people talk to God. People tell me they talk to God. Seldom do I hear them say that God talked to them. Some have the false notion that they are so unworthy that God wouldn't speak to them. Christ made us worthy. Some have the notion that God hasn't spoken to anyone since the Bible was written. Not so. Many do not know how to listen or how to hear. It's not too late to learn. Some are even afraid of what He might say to them so they do all the talking and never take time to listen. God talks to me. Why shouldn't He? He created me in His image. He loves me. Jesus gave His life for me. He has plans for my growth and development. He watches me every day and has a definite path for me to follow. Do you think He would keep silent? No, He doesn't keep silent. He talks to me. The Holy Spirit is the instrument, like the telephone is an instrument of human communication. The Bible (Holy Scriptures) is the Word -- the vehicle of thought transfer. For those in whom the Holy Spirit does not live, the Bible is merely literature, poetry and history. For those in whom the Holy Spirit lives, the Bible is all this and much more. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, teach us much, and remind us of everything that He told us, and even tell us about the future. The primary way in which He communicates these things is in and through the Bible as we read and study. Anyone can read and study but only the Holy Spirit can give the Scriptures life and meaning. When I "pray read" the Bible, the Holy Spirit teaches me what is true, makes me realize what is wrong in my life, straightens me out and helps me to do what is right. He answers my questions as I read and listen to Him. Through the Scriptures He tells me where to go and what to do. He tells me about the future; (future promises I hide in my heart to be realized when they come true at a later date). God also speaks to me by the Holy Spirit through other literature. In Christian writings and even in secular writings God's Spirit points out other things He wants me to know. When God speaks this way it always agrees with the Bible and the fact that Jesus is the Christ. Twice in my experiences with God, He spoke to me audibly. I can't tell you exactly why He chose to do so. I don't know if He ever will again. I couldn't prove it to a living soul. I can only say He did. I wouldn't recommend that you wait for Him to speak to you audibly. I do recommend that you listen to what He wants to say to you via the Holy Spirit as you read the Word. When He speaks, believe. God does not lie. You can stake your life on what He tells you -- and He expects you to. HLC _________________________________________________ More About Authority How's Your Kingdom Coming? "He has put all things under Christ's feet and has made Him the head over all things for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 2: 22, 23 "It is a basic doctrine of the New Testament that after His resurrection the man Jesus was declared by God to be both Lord and Christ, and that He was invested by the Father with absolute lordship over the church which is His body. All authority is His in heaven and in earth." A.W. Tozer "In Ephesians Paul gives these instructions to the church: fulfill your calling, don't deviate from the divine strategy, obey your orders, follow your Head. For the church is not a human institution. It is not expected to devise its own strategy and set its own goals. It is not an independent organization, existing by means of the strength of its numbers. The church is a body under the control of its head. The church is also a temple, for the exclusive habitation and use of a person who dwells within and has the right to do with that temple whatever He wills. The church is an army under the command of a king. An army that will not obey its leaders is useless as a fighting force. If Christians are to give intelligent obedience to their lord, they must give highest priority to understanding what it is He wants them to be and do." Ray Stedman Is Jesus the Head of the church today? Of your church? Most Christians have never asked this question! "We accept the Christianity of our group as being identical with that of Christ and His apostles. The beliefs, the practices, the ethics, the activities of our group are equated with the Christianity of the New Testament. Whatever the group thinks or says or does is scriptural, no questions asked. It is assumed that all our Lord expects of us is that we busy ourselves with the activities of the group. In so doing we are keeping the commandments of Jesus." A.W. Tozer Is Jesus Christ the authority in your church? Or has someone rebelled against Him and taken over the leadership? Does He decide or only help to carry out the plans of the board, the Sunday school committee, the youth and outreach leaders, the pastor or the central committee? "'Woe to the rebellious children,' declared the Lord, 'who execute a plan but not Mine.'" Isaiah 30: 1 _________________________________________________ The Body of Christ The Holy Spirit and the Gifts I would like to share with you what I am learning about the body of Christ. For a long time I have realized that something is missing when Christians gather. There is such a vast difference between the descriptions of the early church in Acts and our church experience today. Some said that it was because the gifts had ceased but I couldn't believe that because the Holy Spirit had bestowed spiritual gifts on me. Others said that the church was the body of Christ and we must just believe and not seek to experience it. Still others said that I shouldn't rock the boat or go off the deep end, that I should just accept things as they are and not question their Scriptural validity -- that questioning the church was attacking God. For awhile, I drifted away from the traditional church groups and became interested in groups that were attempting to return to the New Testament ideas. I joined small groups, meeting in homes, sharing and caring about each other. I studied with groups that emphasized the gifts. I searched for new meaning with groups that were turning away from the culture. I met with people who were joining in community, holding all material possessions in common. But in none of these groups did the body of Christ become a vital living reality. I am not suggesting that I found no work of the Spirit present in these groups in the individual members. I was looking for a group where the body was fitted together perfectly, each part in its own special way helping the other parts, a body healthy and growing and full of love. I realized now that the efforts of men to put life into the body of Christ, the church, were futility. For awhile I gave up my quest. And what did I do about gathering together with other Christians? My family and I attended the local church where we felt most at home. And I attended a women's Bible study and prayer group where I found more Christian fellowship and love than I had ever known before. Then three months ago my husband and I found ourselves in a precarious position far away from home. I reached out to some of our Christian friends by calling them long distance, asking them to pray. Soon I sensed the lifting up of our souls to God. Although we were miles apart it was as if we were together in a more real way than physical. Something was happening. Later that evening these friends contacted me, asking me to read specific Scripture. While I read, I heard through the written Word, the voice of God. The verses were a prophecy. Only hours later the Word became truth in our lives. When we returned home our problem followed on our heels and we were hard pressed. Through this difficult time we were surrounded by people who ministered to us with their spiritual gifts. We were encouraged, exhorted, helped, confirmed, strengthened, given the prophetic word. For the first time I experienced the body of Christ, alive and glowing with spiritual power. We have had Christians help us many times before but this time was different. I knew that all actions had been prompted by the Holy Spirit -- that this was His doing -- that this was no human effort. Jesus was giving the orders and the members of His body were carrying them out through the various spiritual gifts that He had bestowed on them. Can you imagine what that meant to me? It is always heartwarming to have people concerned and caring but when the King of Creation bends down to help you through His obedient servants, it is the touch of glory. He had aroused Himself from His holy habitation, He was moving among us. And now I know part of the answer. The church -- the body of Jesus Christ can never be contained by structures no matter how grand or how humble; it cannot be organized or set in motion by men no matter how spiritual; it cannot be activated by doctrine no matter how correct; it cannot be brought to life by people with gifts. (However these last three are necessary for a healthy body). It can only be alive when the Holy Spirit is the source, the activator, the teacher, the comforter, and the helper. And He works through the spiritual gifts that Christ has given to His followers. (Ephesians 4: 12-26) Only as we, His followers, come to Him, bringing ourselves completely under His authority, learning to hear and to obey His voice, can the church be vital and alive. For the body does not decide what to do, it can only obey the Head. Without Jesus, we, His people, can do nothing -- no thing. Can you imagine your body trying to function, each part doing its own thing, ignoring the signals your brain sends it? "Religious work can be done by natural men without the gifts of the Spirit, and it can be done well and skillfully. But work designed for eternity can only be done by the eternal Spirit. No work has eternity in it unless it is done by the Spirit through gifts He has Himself implanted in the souls of redeemed men." A.W. Tozer A few short weeks ago I experienced this work of eternity -- His body functioning here on earth, putting its arms around me, loving me, upholding me. At that moment I experienced for the first time, the church, fitting together perfectly, each part in its own way was helping the other parts, so that the whole body was healthy, and growing and full of love. And it was all under the direction of Jesus Christ. I will never be the same again. And I pray, "O God, arouse Yourself from Your holy habitation and move among us again. We, Your people, are waiting for You." MC "God may not go everywhere I might decide to go but He always goes where I must go." HLC _________________________________________________ Divine Work The Holy Spirit and the Gifts I just finished reading a recently published book by two famous Christian writers encouraging Christians to care about and share themselves with the world around them, not counting the cost of personal risk. The authors relate the story of their own search for spiritual growth, obedience to the will of God, and their attempt to love their "neighbors as themselves." The two authors agree that "the loving and concrete helping of people is God's wish for His body the church." But is it? To me, the Christian world seems to be filled to the brim with "good" works that someone has decided that God wants us to do. A few years ago I belonged to a sharing group that grew into a caring group in a very short time. People were loved, stroked, healed of hurts, challenged, inspired, and set free of resentment, hatred, and jealousy. In their lives in other areas they reached out and helped those in their world as a result of this group experience. It seemed miraculous. I was shocked! Why? Because the people in this group were not Christians. And they loved better than any Christians I had ever known. I was ashamed. What is my point? Simply this: We, Christians, are spending time and effort doing things that any caring human being can do -- it doesn't take a Christian. We are to be about our Father's business. Now here we have something that takes a Christian. God's work, church work, Christian work, divine work has come to mean work done in a church, for a church, or as the outreach of a church. It is the church's effort to fulfill its mission in the name of Jesus Christ. It can be any "good" work that helps people feel that they are serving God and loving others. But most of it is man-made. What then is God's work -- divine work? How can we tell the difference? I would like to suggest the following guidelines for your consideration: Divine work originates in heaven. It is not conceived in the mind of man, but in the mind of God. Specific orders are then given to those God wants to do the work. The work will be done in His way, His time, and in the place He chooses. Divine work has as its power source the Holy Spirit. It cannot be done without Him. If He withdraws, the work is spiritually dead. Divine work always abounds within the nature of God as Jesus Christ came to reveal Him. It does not borrow the methods of the world. Divine work will not be recognized as good or applauded as successful by the world community or by the Christian community that is busy doing its own thing in the name of Jesus. It may even be considered evil. The question is not whether it is a good work or a bad work, but "What is its place of origin?" We do not ask, "Is this thing right?" or "Is this thing wrong?" but rather, "Where did it originate?" It is its origin that determines everything. God's work originates with Him. I have not the time or the energy or the will to any longer work the works of man. I want my life to count eternally. So from this day forward I pray to work the works of God. Scripture tells us that everything that God has not planted will be uprooted. It also states that whatever we do that is not built on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ will burn up. What a waste of time and effort to just do good works. May God give us the wisdom to know the difference. MC "That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3: 6 _________________________________________________ The Question of Finance Who in the World Are You? In this day of mass hysteria of Christian leaders and organizations asking for money through every media available, the words of Watchman Nee caution us to pause a moment and consider -- is this God's way? "This question of finance has most important issues. In grace God is the greatest power, but in the world mammon is the greatest. If God's servants do not clearly settle the question of finance, then they leave a vast number of other questions unsettled too. Once the financial problem is solved, it is amazing how many other problems are automatically solved with it. The attitude of Christian workers to financial matters will be a fairly good indication as to whether or not they have been commissioned of God. If the work is of God it will be spiritual, and if the work is spiritual the way of supply will be spiritual. If supplies are not on a spiritual plane then the work itself will speedily drift on to the plane of secular business. There is no feature of the work that touches practical issues as truly as its finance. Faith is the most important factor in God's service, for without it there can be no truly spiritual work. Every worker, no matter what his ministry, must exercise faith for the meeting if all his personal needs and all the needs of his work. In God's Word we read of no worker asking for, or receiving, a salary for his services. That God's servants should look to human sources for the supply of their needs has no precedent in scripture. We do read there of a Balaam who sought to make merchandise of his gift of prophecy, but he is denounced in no uncertain terms. We read also of a Gehazi who sought to make gain of the grace of God, but he was stricken with leprosy for his sin. No servant of God should look to any human agency, whether an individual or a society, for the meeting of his temporal needs. If they can be met by the labor of his own hands or from a private income, well and good. Otherwise he should be directly dependent on God alone for their supply, as were the early apostles. The Twelve Apostles sent out by the Lord had no fixed salary, nor had any of the apostles sent out by the Spirit; they simply looked to the Lord to meet all their requirements. The first question anyone should face who believes himself truly called of God is the financial question. If a man can trust God, let him go and work for Him. If not, let him stay at home, for he lacks the first qualification for the work. He must be able to look to the Lord alone for the meeting of his daily wants. (There is an idea prevalent that if a worker has a settled income he can be more at leisure for work and consequently will do it better. But as a matter of fact, in spiritual work there is a need for an unsettled income, because that necessitates intimate fellowship with God, constant, clear revelation of His will, and direct divine support). All propaganda in connection with the work must be avoided. With utter honesty of heart the man of God must trust in God and make the needs of his work known to God alone. Nothing must be done by way of advertisement in the hope of receiving material help. This is displeasing to God and hurtful to the work. It is a shameful thing to profess trust in God and then broadcast our needs or the needs of our work to others. It is a shameful thing for the servant of God to have one eye on Him and one eye on man. But does not the scripture say, -- 'The laborer is worthy of his hire' and, 'The Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Gospel should live of the Gospel'? Absolutely! As the hearts of believers are touched by God, they give gifts to His servants, so that while these servants receive gifts through men, their trust is still entirely in God. It is only to Him their needs are told, and it is He who touches the hearts of His children to give. God does it all. There is no human communication involved. Did you forget that it is His work?" Watchman Nee Check one: God helps those who help themselves. God helps those who can't help themselves. God helps those who won't help themselves. God helps those who trust in Him to help them. "May the face of God radiate with joy because of you." _________________________________________________ The Gifts The Holy Spirit and the Gifts "It is usually said that there are nine gifts of the Spirit. (I suppose Paul lists nine in 1 Corinthians 12). Actually Paul mentions no less than seventeen. (1 Corinthians 12: 4-11; Romans 12: 3-8; Ephesians 4: 7-11). And these are not natural talents merely, but gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit to fit the believer for his place in the body of Christ. They are like pipes on a great organ, permitting the musician wide scope and range to produce music of the finest quality. But they are, I repeat, more than talents. They are spiritual gifts. Natural talents enable a man to work within the field of nature; but through the body of Christ, God is doing an eternal work above and beyond the realm of fallen nature. This requires supernatural working. Religious work can be done by natural men without the gifts of the Spirit, and it can be done well and skillfully. But work designed for eternity can only be done by the eternal Spirit. No work has eternity in it unless it is done by the Spirit through gifts He has Himself implanted in the souls of redeemed men. For a generation certain evangelical teachers have told us that the gifts of the Spirit ceased at the death of the apostles or at the completion of the New Testament. This, of course, is a doctrine without a syllable of Biblical authority to back it. Its advocates must accept full responsibility for this manipulating the Word of God. The result of this erroneous teaching is that spiritually gifted persons are ominously few among us. When we so desperately need leaders with the gift of discernment, for instance, we do not have them and are compelled to fall back upon the techniques of the world. This frightening hour calls aloud for men with the gift of prophetic insight. Instead we have men who conduct surveys, polls, and panel discussions. We need men with the gift of knowledge. In their place we have men with scholarship -- nothing more. Thus we may be preparing ourselves for the tragic hour when God may set us aside as so-called evangelicals and raise up another movement to keep New Testament Christianity alive in the earth. Say not, 'We be children of Abraham. God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.' The truth of the matter is that the Scriptures plainly imply the imperative of possessing the gifts of the Spirit. Paul urges that we both 'covet' and 'desire' spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12: 31; 14: 1) It does not appear to be an optional matter with us but rather a Scriptural mandate to those who have been filled with the Spirit. But I must also add a word of caution. The various spiritual gifts are not equally valuable, as Paul so carefully explained. Certain brethren have magnified one gift out of seventeen out of all proportion. Among these brethren there have been and are many godly souls, but the general moral result of this teaching has nevertheless not been good. In practice it has resulted in much shameless exhibitionism, a tendency to depend upon experiences instead of upon Christ and often a lack of ability to distinguish the works of the flesh from the operation of the Spirit. Those who deny that the gifts are for us today and those who insist upon making a hobby of one gift are both wrong, and we are all suffering the consequences of their error. Today there is no reason for our remaining longer in doubt. We have every right to expect our Lord to grant to His Church the spiritual gifts which He has never in fact taken away from us, but which we are failing to receive only because of our error or unbelief. We have yet to see what God would do for His Church if we would all throw ourselves down before Him with an open Bible and cry, 'Behold Thy servant, Lord! Be it unto me even as Thou wilt.'" A.W. Tozer "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are a variety of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For the body is not one member, but many. And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you', or again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you'. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak in tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." 1 Corinthians 12: 4-12, 14, 20, 21, 27-31; 1 Corinthians 14: 1 _________________________________________________ An Opinion on Spiritual Gifts The Holy Spirit and the Gifts Today there is much difference of opinion and division in the body of Christ concerning the function of the gift of tongues. Some say that the spiritual gifts of the New Testament Church are no longer given by the Holy Spirit to God's people. Some say that many of the gifts are manifest today but the gift of tongues isn't one of them. Some say that the gift of tongues is absolutely necessary as proof that an individual is filled with the Spirit. The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit were and are, pointedly and specifically, to build up the body of Christ. Any position which works to tear down and divide the body is a false position and is not of God. In order to understand where we are today it is necessary to return to the beginning and see how things have changed from the original purposes of God for His Church. First, God appointed apostles. It was their function to go out and tell the good news. Through their preaching, many were converted. When several new believers banded together in a certain locality the apostles, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, appointed elders to be overseers of the work in that area. The apostles then moved on to another area and began again to found a church through the preaching of the Gospel. And so on. The elders helped to build up the church by teaching and preaching and by shepherding the flock, both materially and spiritually. But they only helped. The responsibility for the building up of the body in the local church rested with each and every individual. To this end the Holy Spirit bestowed spiritual gifts to individuals to be used for the edification of the whole group. In each local church God saw to it that individuals had gifts that would contribute to a whole, integrated, balanced, healthy body. Each gift contributed and ministered to the edification of the body of Christ -- the believers in that locality. Each person was an active and important segment and indispensable to the whole. How we have changed! Today we hire a professional minister and pay him to exercise his education and expertise to teach us, preach to us, pray for us, look after church business, visit our sick, administer social programs, et cetera, et cetera. We have washed our hands of the ultimate responsibility and have hired someone to bear it for us. Many of us are no longer active alive members. We have become so inactive and passive that most outsiders consider God and the Church dead. God isn't dead but His "body" is sick. God hasn't changed but men have changed His ordained organization. The Church today is nothing comparable to His first intention. Is it any wonder that the place and purpose of the spiritual gifts is muddled and confused? There are still some today who have the Spirit of Christ and are anxious to fit into His plans. They seek and receive gifts from the Holy Spirit for the building up of the Church. Then what happens? Spiritual gifts are not always popular in the church today. Some feel intimidated or threatened by someone with a supernatural gift. Many feel that such matters should be left to the "pastor". A few are envious to the point of sin. Many members are simply unbelieving of what is obvious in the Scriptures and occasionally displayed as fact. Organized as the church is today there is simply no place for spiritual gifts. Someone with a gift has no opportunity to use it to minister in a modern congregation in the way described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14: 26-33. Frustration and often persecution causes the gifted one to repress his gift or perhaps move his membership to a church where he is more readily accepted. The net result, in the area of the gift of tongues for example, is that all who have the gift band together for mutual acceptance. Local churches are thereby weakened and a church is formed that is predominantly of one gift. The body is top-heavy. As indicated in the title this is a personal opinion. One with which you may agree or disagree. I have a few further thoughts. The gift of tongues is not proof of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not speak in a strange tongue when the Holy Spirit settled on Him like a dove. Paul did not speak in heavenly tongues when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in me and I do not have the gift of tongues, though some of my friends do. Speaking in tongues is only one of the several spiritual gifts that may or may not be bestowed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is God's choice for each individual. Be suspicious of someone who insists that this or any other particular gift is necessary "proof" of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Be suspicious when one gift seems to be apparent in excess of all others. Satan can and does come as an angel of light. Be careful. May God honor you with spiritual gifts for ministering to the body of your local congregation. And may one of them be the gift of discernment so that you may know the spirits of good and evil. HLC _________________________________________________ Counterfeit Gifts The Holy Spirit and the Gifts According to Matthew, Chapter 7, there are counterfeit gifts, imitations so like the original that even the possessors may not know that they are fake. Listen: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" Matthew 7: 21-23 This idea is soul-jarring but it is also enlightening for it explains why so many believers have had trouble with the spiritual gifts. They could not believe that many of the so-called evidences of spiritual gifts were of the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us that Satan appears as an angel of light. His purpose is to deceive the elect. What better way than to give counterfeit gifts. Such a deception gives two-fold results. It seduces into error those unstable souls among us who look for signs as evidence of their right standing with God and it causes many of the faithful to close their minds and hearts to the validity of the gifts. Either way Satan wins. What is the solution to this dilemma? First of all, stop being afraid of the gifts. And second, know when to run for your life. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE GIFTS Don't be frightened of the gifts of the Spirit. For the One who bestows the gifts is the One who drew you to Jesus. If you are a Christian, this One is living with you now. He is your comforter, teacher, and guide. What are the gifts? They are simply the manifestation of the Spirit, a showing forth of His Presence in the physical world in which we live. "Why is it that He gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for Him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity, until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God's Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord -- yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different, or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times -- speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly -- and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the head of His body, the Church. Under His direction the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Ephesians 4: 12-16) Jesus has given us these gifts. "The Psalmist tells about this, for he says that when Christ returned triumphantly to heaven after His resurrection and victory over Satan, He gave generous gifts to men." (Ephesians 4: 8, 9) You want to be part of all this, don't you? You don't want to be left out because of your unbelief or fear, do you? It is helpful to realize that the misgivings that you may have are the result of the teachings of men. Know that those who claim that the gifts have ceased are afraid just like you are. Know also that many times those who receive the gifts distort them or misunderstand them, giving rise to error. You may have seen believers become arrogant, critical, and all knowing after being given a gift. And you may have witnessed some with counterfeit gifts, given by the great counterfeiter, Satan. In spite of all this, open yourself up and desire the spiritual gifts that you may take your proper place as a member of the body of Christ. For God has not given you the spirit of fear and timidity. Trust Him to perfect that which concerns you. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE When you find yourself in the company of religious groups that "teach" speaking in tongues or tell you to begin making utterances on your own and the Holy Spirit will take over. When someone promises you healing, prosperity, and miracle living if you plant a "seed" in his coffer. When someone offers to pray for you, claiming a special prayer power on your behalf and encloses an offering envelope attached to your prayer request card. When the emotional build-up of religious services or religious entertainment captivates your soul like disco madness, making you feel so good, so inspired, so warm, so in love with LOVE. When someone attempts to mass-produce Spirit-filled Christians through quickie weekend seminars. When in response to your questions about being filled, a multitude of strange hands rush to "lay" themselves on you. When someone tells you that the gifts are a measure of your spirituality. When you see evidence, unsupported by Scripture, of power such as people falling backwards in a stupor as the result of someone's touch or suggestion. When illnesses are revealed in a healing service through divination -- the leader pretending that the Holy Spirit has revealed to him in this way, who is to be healed. For all these ways are attempts to "take the kingdom of heaven by force" and are acts of violent men. "So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors." (Proverbs 1: 19) "Every peculiar precious spiritual gift is always necessarily linked with some peculiar danger. When the spiritual world is opened to a soul, both the good and the evil meet it there. Do not be discouraged by this. We must not be deterred from embracing the blessed privilege of divine guidance by the dread of the dangers that environ it." Hannah Whitehall Smith Opening up to the truth about spiritual gifts may give us a few frightening moments but closing ourselves to them may be fatal. MC _________________________________________________ The Vision The Holy Spirit and the Gifts Be still my soul and listen: God is aroused and risen from His holy habitation. Even now He is moving among us. I hear Him say to me -- "Sing and rejoice, O my daughter, for lo I come." "I will dwell in the midst of you and you shall know that I am the Lord."