Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Day 178 - Knowing God

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 147
         
Michael’s book is available through:

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

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner. 



Isn’t it strange that the New Testament has told Saints to in essence “chunk” (that’s East Texas for “getting rid of”) the Law, yet so many still live every day centered around the pages containing the Law and neglecting the Word become flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.  In today’s writing Michael helps us to want to do some “chunking.”



DAY 178

Knowing God

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. --John 1:17

Law is the Word of God written down. Jesus, on the other hand, is the Word become flesh. That is an important distinction, since the Law centers around a page and Word become flesh around a person. The Law is heard and to a certain extent open to each individual’s interpretation, because each person has a different heart dictionary that limits by subjective definition each word read. For example, the word comfort has different connotations for each individual. To read, “the God of all comfort,” will mean a little something different to each reader. John 1:18 tells us that no man has seen God at any time. This simple statement rules out all who make absolute claims to knowing what God is like or who philosophize about God. Man does not know God. Through the mind, body, and world man can gain a concept of what God is and spend endless hours examining and propagating the notion. The imagining may appear very lofty; however, the assessment is still made from a heart dictionary and is therefore faulty. Only Jesus can explain Him. We find out who God is from Jesus or we never find out. This is why Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). If we want to know the reality of God, not just an appraisal, we must come to God through Jesus. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9) If a disciple has not seen God, it is simply because he has not seen Jesus. Ten thousand years of human history proves that God cannot be described with words, He can only be revealed through a person. Jesus made God known through His life! The doctrines of God will leave a man prostrate in fear. The character of God revealed in Jesus leaves man walking, leaping, and praising God. Jesus reveals what is at the very heart of God, His love. Jesus is God’s love in action, or Jesus is God’s grace, for grace is love in action. Jesus makes God approachable while theology makes man turn and run. Written words will never draw man to God; only His love in the person of Jesus, the Word become flesh, attracts us.    

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



What powerful words in John 1:17: “…grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”  Grace and truth…love them both.  Of course it helps to have an accurate biblical definition of both.

Michael draws our attention to one of the most important truths we can ever know: there is a huge difference between the “doctrines of God” and the “character of God.”  And Michael points out what man really wants to know: “what is at the very heart of God.”  Michael tells us Jesus reveals God’s love…that which is at the very heart of God.

So we can know just why so many Christians go through life as a Christian and never really “know” God because their focus is on God’s doctrines instead of God’s character.  Man may not know God, but His Saints certainly can.  Only His Saints will be able to see God through Jesus’ revelation of Him.  God told us that in John 1:17.



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another 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
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P. O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                     936-559-5696

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Day 110 - Get Off Of The Throne!

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 146
         
Michael’s book is available through:

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

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner. 


A lot of Christians misunderstand the teaching of Scripture about God’s thoughts & God’s ways in comparison to man’s thoughts & man’s ways.  Yes, His are “higher” and “not man’s,” but a Christian is not “just” a man, and not “just” with the mind of man.  A Christian is not “just” a human.  A Christian is a child of God with the Mind of Christ as well as the human mind he was born with.  A Christian CAN come to know the thoughts and ways of God.  Michael points out once more (this time from something Paul wrote Timothy) the tragedy of being a Christian and thinking and acting “just” like a man…



DAY 110

Get Off Of The Throne!

Do not lay hands upon anyone {too} hastily and thus share {responsibility for} the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. –I Timothy 5:22

Society has worked overtime to relieve humanity from personal responsibility. However, when we are not personally responsible, we hold others accountable for our behavior. Conversely, there are always blame-takers, those who are willing to take responsibility for others’ actions. I often find parents who take complete responsibility for their adult children’s behavior, husbands and wives who confess to wrongdoing after being let down by their mates, neighbors who believe they could have prevented a divorce or suicide, and believers who think that with effort they could have prevented the failure of another. 

Paul makes it clear that it is error to take responsibility hastily, for we can unconsciously share in another’s sin by jumping in to help someone. People-pleasers want to help by rushing in to prop someone up, to make him feel better, to give him position that God is not giving, and, consequently, to participate in the sin of another. When the believer so identifies with others that he takes responsibility for their actions, he presumptuously seats himself on the throne of God without the power of God. To play God without His outlook and resources is a frustrating role, for a man judges what he thinks he needs to do and has nothing with which to do it. No believer can play the Holy Spirit, for it is His job to convict of sin and, with the conviction, bring power to overcome. 

Anxiety will naturally increase for the believer caught up in responsibility. The only solution is to rest in God and step off of His throne. The believer can easily relinquish responsibility for others if he remembers that if he cannot change one hair of his own head from black to white, and so he has no chance of changing others, except through prayer. Prayer of this type is soothing, for it releases the believer from responsibility and gives all of the burdens to God. Prayer makes God not a partner, not a participant, but the One now solely responsible, and a Christian can return to living the life of a sparrow.

We must not let the carnal fill our backpacks with bricks of obligations to which we must attend as they encourage us to act, when we can do the hardest work a Christian can do, which is to trust God for the changes needed in everyone, even in ourselves.

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



Don’t you like the simple, straight-forward truths of God, and the applications Michael gives us in relating to “personal responsibility” and even “anxiety.”  I get so excited and have such great peace every time I open Michael’s book and search the pages I have read time and again…and God leads me to select one we haven’t looked at…and I see how it is so “time-appropriate” in either my life or someone I am fortunate to be ministering with.  My hope is that it is the same with one of you who has been led of God to see and read these weekly writings, no matter where you are in the world.

This week it seems there were so many wonderful truths that I wanted to come up with a different color than I have noted at the bottom of Michael’s writing, and “just” color the WHOLE day’s writing!!!

Society’s misleading, not taking personal responsibility, blame-takers, sharing another’s sin, anxiety, and ultimately recognizing we are getting on His throne is a constant in too many Christian’s lives today.  Well, amen.  Michael gives us the simple way off God’s throne!  I’m copying this day’s writing and carrying it around with me!

p.s.  IF you don’t have one of Michael’s My Weakness For His Strength books, let me encourage you to contact ALMI and get one TODAY!



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another 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
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                 936-559-5696