Friday, May 13, 2016

Day 73 - Reversals That Lead To Life

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 186
         
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 these thoughts in an easy manner. 


Some of the most profound truths in Scripture get very little attention in many people’s eyes and minds…today’s writing is about one of those.  How many times have you heard someone talk about death and resurrection power, in their life?  Or that believers will not bear fruit without near-death experiences of their own?  Michael’s words might have a great impact for many reading this…



DAY 73

Reversals That Lead To Life

Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  --Romans 8:36, 37

The kiwi plant of New Zealand must have a frost in order to bud and bear fruit and a later frost to force sugar into the fruit. When the weather does not thus cooperate, farmers will stress the plants to the point of death with a chemical in order to induce flowering and sugaring. It is the winter with its near-death experience that allows the kiwi to bear good fruit. 

Believers will not bear fruit without near-death experiences of their own; the proof of resurrection power will always be the marks of death. Winter under God's supervision is not a bad thing, though that is the season in which the enemy will take advantage and seize his greatest opportunity; his activity, we should remember, is always overseen by God. Surely it is for the sake of pride that Satan continues to operate under terms wherein God turns what was meant for evil into good. 

There was a fisherman whose fish were always fresh. In fact, he sold his fish alive, while the others found it impossible to keep their fish alive after taking them from the lake. It was discovered that his secret was to keep a catfish, a natural predator of the other fish, in the bottom of the tank to make the fish alert and active with their eyes on the enemy. 

The enemy is the one who keeps us active and alert, for though he may place marks of death on us, in Christ we are always alive.

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



The text for this day’s writing is smack-dab in the middle of one of Paul’s most quoted sections of writings, the last part of Romans chapter 8.  Yet these two verses are seldom thought about…except for perhaps the conquering part.  However, Paul speaks of a stark truth that we should not forget: it is Christ’s life that gives us the victory (not ours!) and delivers us from all the attacks every day.

Michael gives us two things to think about seriously…
1. as believers, we will not bear fruit without near-death experiences of our own.  How many of us have had these?  Do we recognize them and their importance?
2. the proof of resurrection power in our lives is the marks of death the enemy has placed on us.  Are we aware of these marks?  Do they impact us as they should?

Michael shows us the enemy’s activity are but a tool that God uses to keep us active and alert.  He is a loser.  He is ignorant, in pride, as Michael points out, where God turns all those marks into our good.  The enemy’s activity in our life works for our good in God’s hands.  Well, amen.

Yes, the truth is “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  And that “if God be for us, who can be against us?”  “For I am persuaded, that (nothing) shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  That “nothing” I interjected is an all-inclusive and formidable list from the Apostle Paul!  Hallelujah!



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) @leemccm1    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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

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