Day 101 - Following The Image Myth

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 227

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

Michael points out from Scripture one simple truth that in fact was one of the most experienced movements of Christ in the lives of His first followers.  They DID become real “fishers of men.”  Would today that we would see a move of God in that same manner amongst us!

DAY 101

Following the Image Myth

And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 

–Mark 1:17

I refuse to give names, but I have talked with many who have walked with some very well known men in the Christian faith. One person privately told me the leader of a certain great movement was a jerk; in fact, his own staff was afraid to confront him, for he would proudly hand them their heads on a platter. Neither the man nor his reputation is our concern; I just want to make the point that none of those we idolize fit the life of Christ as described in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. I was actually told that one leader had such repulsive manners that he was kept from the public and sheltered by his inner circle, who circulated stories of his greatness and thus created an image of him for “the good” of others who followed his teaching. In the end, ten generations removed from the founder, disciples were still attempting to emulate the behavior of someone who did not even exist. Can you imagine their frustration? How often we find ourselves following the image some man has projected of what following Jesus is to look like. I say that we are to cast all images aside, not elevate any man, and just follow Jesus. In so doing, we will never be disappointed. 

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Incredibly, especially when it is Christians, from as far back as who knows when, Believers have “followed” the image some man has projected of what following Jesus is to look like, other than simply following Jesus.  How could we?

WHY did Christ’s followers become “fishers of men”?  Because He said He would MAKE them to become such.  It is amazing that God’s Word tells us several times of something that He will MAKE happen in our lives, and we go off listening to some other man, or “we find ourselves following the image some man has projected of what following Jesus is to look like.”

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

Day 90 - Falling Into Evil

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 226

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

Who would ever think that trees could cause so many problems?  But the Bible in the 2^nd chapter of the 1^st book tells us 2 trees affect EVERY individual’s life, from birth to grave.  Michael gives us a great look at one particular tree…

DAY 90 

Falling Into Evil

But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die. --Genesis 2:17

Many are surprised when they fall; they were doing so well, they just did not see it coming. There was nothing evil in their lives; in accordance with deliverance teaching, everything evil had been “dealt” with in their lives. How did they fall? Instead of looking for the place where evil began, they should go back and look at the place of good, where they decided that their flesh had improved so much that they did not think about abiding when they entered their house, went on vacation, arrived at work, or taught the Bible study.

What “good-looking” flesh was it with which they had gotten involved? Was it living to people instead of loving them, people pleasing, manipulating, reworking the portfolio, counting the savings, or lusting for the latest from the material world? Were they agreeing to pacify others while staying silent to avoid conflict? Did they avoid telling the truth? Once the gate to the flesh corral is open, not only do the dark horses go out, but those of every stripe. Those who begin to walk in the “good” deeds of the flesh will soon find themselves in evil deeds.

Each day resolve not simply to turn away from evil, but to turn away from the “good” arising from what can be done in the natural, to avoid all strength in the power of the self-life, and to turn to Jesus.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

In over 30 years of pastoring, I have rarely encountered a Believer who wasn’t focused on this one tree…the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Surprisingly, the number thinking of one side of the tree basically equals the number thinking of the other side.

Almost never have I found any Believers whose focus was on that “other” tree…the Tree of Life.  All the while “flesh” and “self” battle it out in the Believer while every benefit of the Life of Christ goes unused.

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

Day 88 - Faith and The Others

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 225 

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

“Believing” is always the issue.  Preachers have stood in pulpits for years and years crying out for members to “believe God.”  Today’s writing from Michael addresses a particular group that we could never question their “believing.” 

DAY 88

Faith and The Others

And others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ({men} of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. --Hebrews 11:36-40

We now move to the second category of believers, those who believe and receive nothing. They are called the “others.” Are you one of the “others” who has trusted God for a restored relationship, the health of a child, a godly home, the salvation of a relative, or just the simple stirring of God within that brings assurance? If you have trusted and not given into despair, then you are one of the “others.” The “others” give something to God that no angel in heaven can give Him, and that is faith. The “others” walk in darkness, seeing nothing their whole lives, and yet stand fast, believing in a God they cannot see. Can you imagine how pleased He is? You are pulled on all sides to give up, and yet you have chosen to believe without seeing! You have stood fast in the midst of the reversal! The world is not worthy of you! You simply do not belong! Your place is above, seated with the Father judging angels! If you have believed and not received, count yourself blest.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Michael points to a great truth: “You are pulled on all sides to give up, and yet you have chosen to believe without seeing.”  There will be many in this life who leave this life without “seeing” what they hoped for and “saw” as a promise from God.  THAT is the essence of their REAL “believing.” 

Another essence is their going through the tremendous challenges and dangers and devastations mentioned, and still believing.  Wow.  What believing!  Believing that was gifted from God with His faith to continue on, no matter the circumstances.

This is a good question for us: do we believe to the extent that we can continue on in any similar circumstance?

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

Day 84 - Evolution

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 224

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

It is amazing the difference each of us undergoes when we step from the world of humanistic philosophy to the Mind of Christ.  Michael gives us what I consider to be a humoristic look at man’s mind, then a clear perspective from the Spirit of truth…

DAY 84

Evolution

If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. --John 14:15,16

Some argue that man is evolving into a more sophisticated, superior creature. If so, why the necessity for all of those door locks? Why is the security business thriving with projected increased growth? When a solution to society's ills is put forth, I always like to ask the question, “If we follow your system of reform and enlightened thinking, will we all need fewer keys in the future?” Once again time has rendered its verdict: We need more locks now and will need more in the future. I saw a man holding a sign on which was written, "Visualize world peace." I asked if he would answer a question for me, and he agreed to do so. I asked, “How many times have you been married?” “Three,” was his response. I pointed out that if visualizing peace was not working in his personal life, it might be presumptuous to think that it would work globally.

           

It would appear that man is not evolving but revolving around and around what continues not to be the Way! Jesus is the Way! Following Him changes the world, the individual, and others. Following Him is Life indeed!

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Reading Michael’s statement about “revolving around and around what continues not to be the Way” reminded me of an old statement used in my younger years…”you’re just going round and round the mulberry bush.”  Funny thing, I didn’t know what a mulberry bush was, nor what they were talking about.  Until…I grew older and began to see the futility of “revolving around and around what continues not to be the Way!”!!!  Lol!

Thank God, He brought me into His realm of reality and Truth (through the Spirit of truth, my Counselor), and began to show me just how many ways that “Jesus is the Way!”.  Aha, following Jesus does change everything in this world, and in “the individual” (particularly me!), and in others.  Well, amen and amen!!!

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

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

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