Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Day 9 - Alleys That Become Avenues


Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 77    

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Today’s verse is another one of those we love to quote, almost haphazardly, in those moments when we see a great victory over an enemy.  I mean, after all, if God be for us, who could possibly stand against us?  Oh…what about those times when victory doesn’t seem so imminent???

Day 9

Alleys That Become Avenues

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? --Romans 8:31

Often we are frustrated by the hindrances that are posed by other believers. Many are enjoying their walks in the flesh and spread their pettiness around to others. Once a police officer, an unbeliever who investigated the occult, asked me an interesting question. "Why is it that Satanists we have investigated belong to churches?" I asked if he knew what they did within the church. He said that was an even greater mystery, for most merely disagreed and caused division. The disagreements, he went on to say, were over minute issues such as the color of the pews, worship times, how to stripe a parking lot, or the size of coffee cups. Little did he know that this would be the most effective place for a Satanist to work, because believers, in turn, who have not found their identity in Christ will often have their identity centered around the same types of issues and will dig in to be proven right, for to admit that they are wrong about coffee cups or stripes is tantamount to admitting to being worthless failures.

If our goal is church growth, full pews, a comfortable budget, and harmony, then difficult believers are a hindrance. However, if our goal is the release of the life described on the mount in Matthew 5, then these very, if people are the avenue. We cannot desire to be spiritual giants while refusing the very experiences that could make us grow toward that end. How do we know that the Life within can love an enemy prior to our having one? How do we know that we are enabled to pray for those who persecute before we are persecuted? How do we know that the extra mile can be offered until it is required? The believers that appear to be hindrances actually pave the avenue for discovering, revealing, and releasing the Life of Jesus that is within, the Life that has overcome every hindrance to the spiritual man. I love our freedom and the way God works! I love Jesus, for if God is for us, who can be against us?

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory


Whether Satanists or difficult believers, churches have encountered those who are constantly disagreeable and cause divisions.  Some have been labeled “againers,” always against whatever.  I had one man in one church who some of the folks would sluff off by saying, “That’s just old so and so…everybody knows him.”  To which I answered, “Not the last 100 folks who joined!” 

And, of course, we encounter those who have not found their identity in Christ who often have their identity centered around the same type of issues and will dig in to fight with the others to be proven right. 

Either way, we find these a hindrance if our goal is church growth.  But, Michael gives us a very different perspective…”the release of the life described in Matthew 5.”  Then these people are not an “alley” but an “avenue.”  An avenue to a wonderful ministry of presenting “Christ in us, the hope of glory.”

One statement Michael makes stands out for me as the heart of ministry to those we have formerly thought of as “difficult believers”:
·         “We cannot desire to be spiritual giants while refusing the very experiences  
  that could make us grow toward that end.”

Learn that lesson, and we really begin to travel the avenue to “life in Christ.”  So, let us always tell those who are being persecuted, have enemies, being forced to go the “extra mile”…these are for paving “the avenue for discovering, revealing, and releasing the Life of Jesus that is within, the Life that has overcome every hindrance to the spiritual man.”

Love Jesus…for if God is for us, who can be against us!



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com   Look to the top right hand side of the page, enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT.  You will receive a “confirmation email,” and when you click on the link and “confirm,” you will receive all new posts via email.

NOTICE: a new blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                          936-559-5696

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Day 15 - Are You Qualified?


Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 76
    

Michael’s book is available through:
Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com


Qualifications are a mysterious phenomenon in Christianity.  First of all, so many fall into the trap of listing “qualifications” as to whether someone really IS a Christian, or not…in the one’s mind who is coming up with the particular qualifications.  Unbelievable.  John 3:16 is God’s simple “qualifier” for that question.  And then we have the qualifications of whether someone should be a pastor, or not.  A teacher, or not.  A bus captain, or not.  An usher, or not.  And the list of qualifications for each goes on and on and on and on…  And, of course, someone is always getting offended because another does not live up to their list of qualifications.  Oh, I guess they have forgotten God’s “warning” in Psalm 119:165.

Day 15

Are You Qualified?

He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him. --Matthew 13:54-57

Often people are questioned as to where they are from so that who they are and what they are about can be discounted. In the same way, people look for a source for God so He can be discounted; they have a vested interest in His existing only in the imaginings of man.

The topic of qualifications has come up more than once in my life, normally in one of two forms. Either someone is attempting to position himself above me in spiritual competition or he wants to discount what I say. The competition is obviously counterproductive, for once a person feigns spiritual authority over another, he proves that he has none. When qualifications are used to discount the teaching, question after question is asked until that end is achieved in the person’s mind. The funny thing is that the majority of Bible schools and seminaries could be sued for false advertising, for only Jesus Himself can create in a person what their brochures claim can be provided through education. Also, there is the problem of wisdom. It is so disheartening for one who has spent so much time in school and trusts in his knowledge when an abiding brother or sister without such systematic instruction says something that thrills the heart. This causes jealousy and resentment among the educated ones who rely on the training of their flesh. We are given everything pertaining to life and godliness in Christ Jesus the day we believe in Him; there is no more qualifying to be done. In fact, when any Christian starts requiring me to meet some criteria, I know I am with a carnal man and will leave.


Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



Imagine…the absurdity of looking “for a source for God so that He can be discounted”…what is that?!?  Looking for a source for The Source?

Michael gives us the two reasons people like qualification lists: (1) “someone is attempting to position himself above me in spiritual competition,” or (2) “he wants to discount what I say.”

Don’t you just love the verse Michael refers to…(2 Peter 1:3)…that speaks to our being qualified in God’s eyes the day we met the Lord Jesus Christ.  Well, amen.  Let us look for and listen to those who simply are abiding in Christ and letting Him do their talking…

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com   Look to the top right hand side of the page, enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT.  You will receive a “confirmation email,” and when you click on the link and “confirm,” you will receive all new posts via email.

NOTICE: a new blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                          936-559-5696

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Day 12 - Are They Really Hearing Jesus?


Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 75
     

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com


Preaching through the Book of John, we recently crossed 10:1-6, and I titled the message: “The Voice of the Shepherd.”  It is very interesting how many “competing” voices there are to: a) keep a Lost person from ever hearing the Gospel, and b) distract and detour a born-again Believer from hearing their Shepherd.  So, today’s writing is a beautiful picture of the dilemma facing everyone as to “who are we really hearing?,” and HOW we can know the “who.”

DAY 12

Are They Really Hearing Jesus?

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. –I Corinthians 2:12, 13

Over the years I have had similar experiences to yours of people walking up to me to tell me that they had a word from Jesus for me. These words have been as varied as the people. Some have told me I was out of God’s will to be traveling to minister and needed to return home immediately. Others have told me that the Lord was telling me to go out. Go out or come in, which is it? All purport to be speaking on God’s behalf, so how to know the difference? There is no doubt that genuine words from Jesus can come through the conduit of another believer, but His word will not be an attempt to create something in us, but to witness to what is already there. God is a very intimate God and normally does not tell our secrets to another; He is far too confidential for that. Therefore, someone’s telling me I have a “hidden sin” or a “dark heart” is not received. When a word does come that could be construed to be negative, it will--if it is truly from the Lord--lift the spirit, for with the word will come the power and the truth to set me free.

Another problem with some so-called “words of the Lord” is the carnal one’s use of them as a method of manipulation, invoking the Lord’s name and our love for Him to move us in his direction. Saying, “The Lord said . . .” really means, “Keep your distance, and no rebuttals allowed.” A sure sign that this is happening is that the one speaking refuses to be questioned. The carnal person will want his to be the last word. Probably the most pertinent question when determining if something is from God or is a judgment of man is simply, “Why did Jesus not tell me Himself?” Normally when a child goes to a sibling to represent the parent, something is not right. If the parent wants to tell a child something, he simply tells him; he does not send another child to speak for him. If God wants to tell us something, and we know His sheep hear His voice, why would He send someone else? (see John 10:1-6). There are examples of His doing that in the Old Testament, and the people knew exactly what the prophet was talking about; it was not something vague or something that they could not see was wrong. This brings us to one other point: the carnal makes things vague to protect himself. It reminds me of the Asian fortuneteller standing on the corner and saying to each person passing by, “You seem happy, but something is wrong deep inside!” On any given day, that would apply to at least half of the people. God has no need to be vague, and neither are His words calculated to please the flesh. “You are going to have an expanded ministry!” “You are going to have all your riches returned to you!” “You are going to have healing!” It is all so appealing to the flesh. I would rather hear, “You are in Him, and so being in Him, He will bring the revelation of Christ in you, the hope of glory!” Carnal men want to give a word that is spectacular. Always question the motive behind what is being said. The “word” should bring neither condemnation nor exaltation; its object should be to move you toward Jesus. I have received tremendous encouragement from the words of believers that were not from them but from Him. Do not let the fact that there are phony words given deter when a blessing is to be had. Simply judge what is being said.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



Just imagine over the years how many people our dear brother Michael had come up to him and give him a “word from God.”  Wow!  The ridiculous brazenness of some.

Michael gives us some terrific criteria for judging what is being said.  Let us learn and take heed to make the necessary judgments.

One thing that always impressed me was Michael pointing out that God is not in the business of telling someone else something to tell me…that He could (should) speak to me directly about.  (“Why did Jesus not tell me Himself?”).  Our very intimate and confidential God will speak to us directly.  As a pastor or counselor or discipler, sometimes God may prompt us to tell someone something God has said THAT HE HAS ALREADY BEEN TRYING TO “TELL” THEM, but for whatever reason they will not, or have not, listened to Him.

And one of the most priceless victories we have in Christ is that we have been “given, and received, the Spirit that is from God,”…so ”we may know the things freely given to us by God.”  This is huge!  And what a privilege we have as a child of God!  Because right in that same passage in 1 Corinthians 2 God tells us “the Lost (natural) Man DOES NOT RECEIVE the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (v. 14)

Oh, brethren, let us not forget, waste, somehow make void…whatever…the gift to “hear Jesus” each and every time He speaks to us!

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com   Look to the top right hand side of the page, enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT.  You will receive a “confirmation email,” and when you click on the link and “confirm,” you will receive all new posts via email.

NOTICE: a new blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                      936-559-5696

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Day 285 - The Opposite of Glory


Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 74
     

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

We sing songs, we give testimonies, and we tell each other all the time about some wonderful thing God has done…and then we give God the glory for what He has done.  Interesting.  Michael has some great thoughts about all this…

DAY 285

The Opposite of Glory

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. --Psalm 19:1

God is glory, and He will not give His glory to another. It is not right to say, “God, if you complete the plan I have for my family, the church, and myself, I will give You the glory.” I did not know that He had lost His glory for you to give it back to Him. The glory is His, and apart from Him there is no glory.

Glory is God, and He is written into the very fiber of our makeup and being; we, along with all the earth, proclaim His glory. The heavens declare His glory, which is in all things He creates. So what is the opposite of glory? If all things have His glory in them, then the opposite of glory would be nothing attempting to be something. Who fits that description? Satan! He is a nothing attempting to be something! He is not a created being but a resultant being, the result of walking away from what he was created to be: an angel glorifying God. He wants more than anything to be a something. Glory is revealed in accomplishments, not destruction, and the enemy has no glory except that which is given him through those who fear him! Apart from that he has none of his own. That is why Satan so loves to hear the believers talk of his power, abilities, intelligence, and his capacity to strike fear in all those who would oppose him. God is the glory, and apart from Him there is no glory. Satan was not the last enemy to be defeated, but the first. Luke 10:18, “And He said to them, 'I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.'” Like fallen man, Satan does not acknowledge the Creator and has become a nothing. God is glory! 


Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



Michael sums up this “glory” thing…
·         God is glory.
·         Apart from Him there is no glory.
·         God hasn’t lost His glory for me to give it back to Him
·         Satan has no glory except that which is given him through those who fear him.
·         We proclaim God’s glory simply because He is written into the very fiber of our
             makeup and being (those of us who are born-again Christians).
·         The heavens and all creation proclaim Gods glory.

It is time we fully recognize that the enemy has deceitfully created another counterfeit in our life…taken a word meant only for God and given it to man.  Man has carelessly accepted it.  Man needs to stick to giving God PRAISE, not “glory.”

It is time we fully recognize what is “the opposite of glory.”  As Michael says, “the opposite of glory is nothing attempting to be something.  Satan fits that description.  He is a “resultant being.”  A resultant being deserves NO glory.  DO NOT give any “talk” to him!

Michael’s statement “the enemy has no glory except that which is given him through those that fear him” brings great concern to this heart.  As a pastor and friend, I hear far too many Christians mentioning the devil more often than I hear them mentioning God and Jesus Christ.  Constant chatter of “the devil’s really out to get me,” “he’s been dogging me all week,” “be careful, the devil is trying to (you name it) you!”

I wonder how many Christians stop to think that they may be FEARING Satan…when the Bible says we are to “fear the Lord.”  And those are two different “fears.”

The devil is a nothing.  Well, amen.

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com   Look to the top right hand side of the page, enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT.  You will receive a “confirmation email,” and when you click on the link and “confirm,” you will receive all new posts via email.

NOTICE: a new blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                        936-559-5696