Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Day 237 - Satan

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 276
         
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 seems like in every generation the church goes through changing emphases.  One minute in life it is evangelism.  The next generation it is humanitarianism.  The next generation it is _____________ (you name it).  But one emphasis that seems to never change is all the "talk" and "dealing" with the enemy. 

Michael emphasizes the Captain of the “home team.”  Well, He has taken us to victory!  We are the victors!  “Oh, victory in Jesus!” we love to sing…so why all the focus on the enemy?

Take note for yourself the many crucial points Michael makes that are very pertinent to us Believers’ daily lives.  Truth MAKES us free…not lies.



DAY 237

Satan

And the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven. --Luke 10:17-20

The Epistles mention Satan only fifteen times, the whole of the Bible forty-seven times, and of that, fourteen are in the book of Job. In contrast, Jesus is mentioned 880 times and Christ 493 times. Elementary math reveals that Jesus is leading, thirty to one. How, then, has Satan become the focus of so many believers? Why has he been given equal billing and considered by many to have power equal to Christ’s? 

“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; and he said to Him, ‘All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Begone, Satan! For it is written, “YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY”’” (Matthew 4:8-10). Some of what the word “worship” means is “to give attention to.” The thing that we give attention to is actually the thing that we worship. It is frightening to find so many believers that worship Satan by giving him their undivided attention. When Satan is our focus, it is not unlike any other obsession: we will find him everywhere in everything.

In the early 1970’s a brand new emphasis entered the church scene; I say “brand new,” for aside from the fact that there are absolutely no Scriptures to back up the claim, Church history is also void of the emphasis. The new teaching was that Christians could be possessed by demons. In all of Paul’s dealings with troubled believers, not once did he even hint that the solution to their freedom rested in having demons cast out of them. In fact, that would be a basic contradiction to Paul’s making this point in I Corinthians 3:16: “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you?” “Temple” here refers to the Holy of Holies, where no evil can dwell. Faced with this theological problem, some Christians, still wanting to prove the point that we could have demons, restated “possession” to mean “oppression,” with yet a need for the casting out of demons in the body, though not the spirit. The result of this mindset is that Satan gets everyone’s attention and no one gets on with Christ; naturally, Satan would prefer that we busy ourselves casting him out instead of inviting Christ in.

I questioned a brother concerning this particular kind of “ministry.” If someone has a demon of lust that could be cast out, and then he finds himself lusting again, what is he to do? His response was, “Once the demon goes, he needs to abide; he is lusting again because he is not abiding in Christ.” I thought that rather interesting, for if in the end abiding in Christ keeps a fellow from lusting, why did he not just begin with abiding? Again, lesser truth always gives way to the greater.

In a meeting I was once asked a loaded question by a person who knew that several in the room were casting demons out of believers; what did I think of the practice? All I would say is, “There are a lot of waves that take us from shore.” He pressed me further, but I only repeated my answer, because indeed, this emphasis has been a wave that passes back and forth through congregations; if it were truth, it would become foundational, but it always seems to give way to the next wave, the next titillating catch phrase or notion to ripple through meetings. We are not disagreeing with the fact that there is activity from Satan; however, dealing judiciously with him merely involves lifting up Jesus! At the very same moment Christ is lifted up, Satan is renounced.

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



I have found that everywhere I have preached many of the people have the problem Michael mentions in his first two questions: “How, then, has Satan become the focus of so many believers? Why has he been given equal billing and considered by many to have power equal to Christ’s?”  It is almost funny, except it makes me want to cry, to hear so many give the devil credit for all kinds of things…especially that he has made them do so much.  Why has the church not been made aware and alert to this sick thinking?  I believe I have yet made it to a prayer meeting without at least one person praying for deliverance from Satan and his power.  How sick is that?!? 

Nobody likes to talk about dispensations very much, but they are very real when it comes to looking at the different times on God’s calendar, and the different ways God interacts with His people.  But that is a discussion for another time, another place.

Yet, here we have the time of Jesus choosing 70 to go out to tell the multitudes about Jesus and His activity.  Jesus has endowed those He sent out with certain powers, and they come back to crow about what they were able to do…in His name.  And then Jesus makes an incredible statement that gets completely overlooked by those disciples, and most today: “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”  Do you catch the “timing” and the impact that statement should have had right from the start of His ministry with His chosen disciples?  Does it give you any impetus in dealing with skeptics of Christ?

And then Jesus says, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”  Wow!  That takes a lot of the fun, and “glory” they are feeling, right out of the situation.

What Jesus is telling them is just what Michael points us to in this day’s writing: “At the very same moment Christ is lifted up, Satan is renounced.”  Well, amen!  Enough said.

Rejoicing and speaking of our names being recorded in heaven should be on the tips of every Believer’s tongue all the time.  Carrying that into “witnessing” where some Unbelievers become Believers is the “all-time” greatest “lifting up of Christ.”  How has evangelism and “lifting up Christ” become an emphasis, instead of an entire life?




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
(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Day 236 - Roosters

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 275
         
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 Wells travelled 1,000’s and 1,000’s and 1,000’s of miles in his years of ministry.  He spent untold hours in hundreds of countries with 1,000’s and 1,000’s of Saints.  His stories are innumerable.  But, perhaps (at least to me) the most unique story is this one about a church in Latvia.

The sincerity and absolute uncomplicated worship of the Latvians should be a total inspiration to all Believers everywhere in the world.  They epitomize the truth of Philippians 4:13.



DAY 236

Roosters


I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. --Philippians 4:13

It is interesting that often in Latvia a church will have no cross atop it but instead will have a cock crowing to represent the denials of Peter and remind us not to disavow the Lord! Believers can let it remind them of their own denials, their faithlessness and His faithfulness. From Peter’s experience we can learn never to say, "Lord, I will not deny You," but instead, "Lord, when it comes to the time that I will need to stand, I cannot. I will need You to go with me and hold me up!" Close observation of every photo taken of a certain Russian politician will reveal four fingertips on each side of his ribcage. The man could not stand alone, and there was always someone hidden behind him holding him up. He was weak and pathetic, just like I am! However, instead of being propped up by an equally feeble human, it is Christ holding me up! I am happy if anyone were to look closely and see His fingertips.

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



I am trying to picture in my mind a mainline church here in America with a rooster on top of the steeple…  My, oh my, can you imagine the ruckus that would explode as autos starting pouring into the church parking lot on the first Sunday after the new building was completed???  It would take volumes to describe the initial scene and the hours that followed.

And yet, leave it to the Latvians to come up with the greatest reminder of “our denials, our faithlessness, and HIS FAITHFULNESS.”  That embarrassing (ignominious) rooster.  Well, amen.

My wife and I have a few chickens and one rooster.  May Stanley’s (we got Stanley and a couple of chicks from a neighbor who moved away…she named him!) morning crowing always ring in my ears a reminder of MY denials, MY faithlessness, and CHRIST’S FAITHFULNESS.

And may I continuously cry out, "Lord, when it comes to the time that I will need to stand, I cannot.  I will need You to go with me and hold me up!"

And, may I as Michael has said, remain constantly aware and live each day “instead of being propped up by an equally feeble human, (know) it is Christ holding me up!”  (and be extremely) “happy if anyone were to look closely and see His fingertips.”  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
(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Day 233 - Relational Filter

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 274
         
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.



Ever since May 18, 1980, when God revealed this Truth to Barbara and I in that most special way, we have been on a search and secure mission to get all of God’s Truth that He will so graciously reveal to us.  TRUTH makes us free, Jesus said.  Give me all that Truth and freedom You will, dear LORD!


DAY 233

Relational Filter


Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” --John 14:6

What is truth? This question that has survived millennia and been addressed by myriad philosophers is a one that Jesus answered simply and quickly: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Truth is Jesus, not only the spoken words of Christ but also every action, attitude, and activity of His life. He is the definition of truth.
           
When attempting to discover truth concerning an individual's character, we must discern Jesus’ view of the person rather than observing him through self-made glasses that distort him, glasses that are the product of our own failures, inferiorities, past experiences, perceived motives, misunderstandings, ignorance about personalities, biases from subculture, expectations, and self-serving notions. Jesus wore no such glasses when it came to interacting with others; He knew what was in all men and He laid down His life for man! What did He see that we are blind to? What is the truth about others that we are missing? What makes us judge rather than lay down our lives? The truth about mankind, family, and fellow believers is known as we examine not only what Jesus said about man but also His actions and attitudes toward man. If these are not used when establishing knowledge about a person's character, our thoughts and judgments will quickly spiral into chaos. This very same truth, the life of Christ, must then be released to all with whom we come in contact. We must cease responding to the words of man and begin addressing his condition.

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


According to Holy Spirit (in 1 Corinthians 2:14), the “natural man” cannot know truth.  Yet, it is amazing though how many Believers miss the definition.  Jesus made it quite simple, as Michael points out…

And Michael addresses one of the most prominent issues of our day: the truth concerning a person’s character.  I love how Michael gave such an extensive observation about how many so typically observe people through “self-made glasses.”  That may be one of the best “pictures” of “observing” that anyone ever thought of!

Look at that list, and ponder how anyone could make an accurate observation of someone else using those glasses.  And, then ponder that Jesus never wore such glasses. 

Oh, Michael gives us the answer to not using “self-made glasses”: “This very same truth, the life of Christ, must then be released to all with whom we come in contact. We must cease responding to the words of man and begin addressing his condition.”

This Christianity really is easy when we just release the Life of Christ!



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
(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Day 230 - Reason For Pain

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 273
         
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.



Isaiah 26:3 is one of my most favorite verses.  I preach “focus” to all I meet.  It is a powerful action, leading to certain results.

Michael illustrates and expounds on how “pain” works in our life.  Very interesting.  This is great recognition of an issue in life and its effects.



DAY 230

Reason For Pain


You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever. --Isaiah 26:3, 4

One predominant reason for pain is to bring us to the end of trusting ourselves, the source of much misery. Many call this brokenness, a state not necessarily achieved through becoming a drug addict, clinically depressed, or a gutter resident. It can arrive very quietly, in the deepest recesses of the heart, as a result of trials nowhere close to the magnitude of the aforementioned. It is “simply” giving up on our independence from God. 
(underlining is my emphasis)
           
Once while staying in a mountain cabin I noticed a moth beating its wings against the window in a vain attempt to enjoy the freedom offered by the outdoors. I decided I would capture and release it, but the more I tried to help, the harder the moth tried to escape! Not until it became totally exhausted and unavoidably relaxed was I able to pick it up and let it go outside. Many believers are wound so tightly that they beat their inner man's wings against the invisible forces of life that bind and enslave them; the only solution they know to be possible is trying harder, but they must "let go and let God" in order to become relaxed souls the Father will take into His hands and give freedom.
           
Yes, believers suffer, and we can thank God for being in the midst of unpleasant occurrences, because these very things bring those He loves to perfection.

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


Michael Wells constantly draws our attention to the necessity of “giving up our independence from God” and living totally dependent upon God.  The one thing I have seen in over 35 years of ministry is this: way too many Believers DO NOT believe God is capable of handling whatever their issue is.  No wonder Michael loved to say over and over…”There is nothing the nearness of Christ cannot overcome.”

The Greek text literally says “whose mind in stayed on Thee (God).”  That’s FOCUS.  That’s CONCENTRATION.  Whatever, or Whomever, my mind is “stayed on,” that is what/whom I will be TRUSTING in, or afraid of…depending on the appropriate determination.  In this case, we are either trusting in God or self…which is our focus?  Whether it is pain, or brokenness, or whatever it takes, the end result God wants is for us to turn our focus to Him…our trust to Him.  Well, amen.

As we begin 2018, let me re-emphasize my encouragement for everyone to obtain all of Michael Wells’ books, CD’s, and workbooks.  Whether these would be of benefit personally, or to use in discipling others, Michael’s teachings are most helpful in giving God’s insights, answers and victory over any situation in this life.  ALMI contact info at top of page.


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
(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Day 227 - Propping Up The Kingdom

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 272
         
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.


Interestingly, my wife and I have been watching plenty of Hallmark movies these cold, wintry days and there have been many movies about “kingdoms.”  Some prince from a foreign land gets involved with a commoner and eventually they get married.  And, lo and behold, the first writing of choice scheduled for 2018 is about “kingdoms.”  We all know Michael was a prince of some sort…so let’s see what he has to say about a kingdom…


DAY 227

Propping Up The Kingdom

They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power. --Psalm 145:11
                       
Do you know that you belong to Jesus? Of course you do! You do not belong to man, to an organization, or an institution. You belong to Jesus. You are His and He belongs to you. There is so much comfort in that fact. Do you know, also, that there was enough dynamite in one thing Jesus said to blow to pieces any institution? “Man was not made for the Sabbath but the Sabbath for man!” In short, we are not commanded to prop up the kingdom of man, period! Many will work on the good heart of a believer to pressure him to support or submit to the building of their kingdom. He should not, for he is not made for man but for God. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the end of the walking boulevard, Florida Street, is a large, beautiful tree with branches so big that sticks are placed vertically under the limbs to support them and keep them from breaking off. The weight of each limb is unbelievable, but the little stick is able to keep it supported. Many in the Kingdom of God are like little sticks supporting the kingdoms of men, and we must refuse this role of being concerned with extending man’s image. We are created for but One, Jesus, and we do not—nor can we--support Him. He is the One who supports us.   

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




Did you know that there are 157 verses speaking of “the kingdom” in the New Testament?  Most are either “the kingdom of God” (72 times) or “the kingdom of heaven” (32 times).”  Many other expressions can be related to “the kingdom of God.”  There is mention of the “kingdom of this world.”

Matthew’s gospel is the most prolific about “the kingdom of heaven.”  Luke is the most prolific concerning “the kingdom of God,” although apart from Matthew there is little mention of “the kingdom of heaven.” 

All that interesting info said, the Greek for “kingdom” is basileia, referring to Royal dominion or rule.  For Believers it refers to God’s rule within while on this earth.

So, as Michael constantly points out to us that we do not belong to man, or an organization/institution, WHY would we subject ourselves to their rule instead of God?  And why would we prop up their kingdom(s)?  More interestingly, Michael points out “we must refuse this role of being concerned with extending man’s image. We are created for but One, Jesus, and we do not—nor can we--support Him. He is the One who supports us.”  Well, amen. 

Enough said.  In 2018, let us choose to live under the support of Jesus, and not man or an institution!  You want peace on earth?  His peace He gives us…enjoy it!  You have a need?  He will supply all our need according to His riches in glory…enjoy!  You want joy?  He gives us His joy to the max…enjoy it!  You want love?  His love is perfected in us…enjoy it!

What other kingdom could I possibly want?!?   



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
(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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