Day 251 - Sowing and Reaping

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 284

         

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 interesting to really stop and ponder the immediate, overall, and/or long-lasting impact of God’s various laws.  And far too many misinterpret and allow a wrong impact to affect their life.

Michael draws our attention to one given law, and how some live in defeat due to not understanding God.  And, as always, he gives us some good thoughts to consider for turning to God for victory over fleshly problems.

See if this scenario has ever happened to you, or to someone you know…

DAY 251

Sowing and Reaping

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord. --Hosea 10:12

Coming from a farming community, I have sat on a tractor more than once and thought how nice it would be if we did not have to do that every year. Every farmer knows the truth that he cannot sow once and then keep reaping for the next seventy years. The effects of sowing and reaping last for one season. Therefore, if we were to apply this principle to consequences, we could readily see that they, too, are for a season. Sow to the flesh and reap to the flesh; sow to the spirit and reap to the spirit. Galatians 6:8, “For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.” However, a person cannot sow to the Spirit once and expect to reap the consequences of that act for the rest of his life. The same is true for the flesh. If one sows to the flesh, for that season he will reap flesh. The answer is to start sowing to the Spirit in this season and the next, so in that way each new season will bring something new, beautiful, fresh, and living to reap, rather than by sowing to the flesh and reaping death. 

It makes no sense that a Christian would commit a stupid act of the flesh and God would keep him under bondage, placing him for the rest of his life in a new category entitled “Second-class Believer”! Again, if it were possible to commit one sin that would cause suffering the rest of his life, then it would also be possible to commit one act of righteousness that would carry a person through his whole life. But abiding is for the moment, the season. God is not interested in punishing us for the rest of our lives. Often believers think everything that goes wrong is a consequence of a past mistake, like marrying the “wrong” person, succumbing to temptation and sin, or betraying a loved one. Very likely it is not the past that is causing misery, but today’s walking in the flesh.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

OK, how many of us recognized this scenario and quickly admitted a personal experience, or acknowledged someone else’s fling?

Sowing and reaping.  A simple law, correct?  With many optional issues of sowing and many optional issues of reaping, correct?  What is about these familiar words of God that we do not seem to “connect” with?

Each of us has to take Michael’s discipleship to heart, and make some choices about our past, our present, and our future.  Correct sowing on our part yields a spiritual harvest from God.  But we must keep one thing in mind: WE are the ones who do whatever SOWING.  God only enters into the reaping.

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

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Day 250 - Soulless

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 283

         

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 presents the sad picture of all “empty” people, those without Christ.  See if you can identify and relate those you know who are “empty” with the one key word Michael attaches to that type.

DAY 250

Soulless

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. --Ephesians 6:12

My father once asked me, while visiting the former Soviet Union, "What is the deal with the art?" I explained, "Years of refinement went into making a picture, statue, or painting that could communicate nothing. The art is about nothing. It was dangerous to communicate something.” Communism was about nothing, it inspired nothing, it is the spirit of nothing, and it lingers. There is a difference between soulish people--those who live without the influence of Christ's Holy Spirit on mind, will, and emotions--and those who live in a soulless state. Much of what I have observed in Africa, the former Soviet Union, and other places is soullessness, and to me that is much sadder. The spirit of indifference is growing in its power in such places, where man fought over the flower until it was pulled apart. I am not surprised at some of the demonic attacks I have experienced in these areas, with their histories of having one group oppressing the other until neither has anything, and then both wondering what it was all about. I know what it was all about: Satan. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but spirits and principalities.

I have mentioned before that if we understood why Satan would destroy a marriage, we would be much more afraid of him. He will destroy it for nothing! No reason! He is indifferent. After all is lost, people often just look around, wondering what happened. At the time it made so much sense to be angry, to protect self, and to pay back insult for insult. Having depleted everything, they stand back and wonder what it was all about. A boy gets a girl pregnant, and upon that discovery, he does not want to hear from her again. Why? His involvement was all for nothing, in complete indifference. The thumbprint of the enemy is always indifference. We must pray to see the spiritual principalities move.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Indifference.  What a sad word.  What a sad person who is indifferent. 

May we keep in mind what some we know are living with: soulish (living without the influence of Christ's Holy Spirit on mind, will, and emotions).  Apart from the grace of God working in our lives, we would be living like that.  Perhaps some can relate to a time in their adult life when times were like that.  How grateful we Saints must be to know what living with Holy Spirit’s influence is.

But, have we ever been to a country, or in contact with people, like Michael describes: soullessness.  A spirit of indifference.  The look in a person’s eyes is telling.  Their actions are telling.  Their words are telling.

May we take every opportunity to make every effort to share the grace of God with any we encounter like this.

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

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Day 249 - Something Much Worse Than Racism

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 282

         

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.

In America for several years now we have been bombarded with “racism, racism, racism.”  Every day, all day long, there is a constant drone about someone of an opposite persuasion being a “racist.” 

Michael gives us a perspective about one of the greatest problems society faces that if he was acknowledged, the ills of society would be dramatically changed, and perhaps many eradicated.

DAY 249

Something Much Worse Than Racism

“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the LORD of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” --Malachi 2:16

The governments are always emphasizing what they think they can fix and glossing over what they cannot. Often governments bandy around the topic of racism as one of the worst sins in the world. I have spent much time in places where I was the brunt of racism, and I can live with it. I will tell of something that is much worse than racism. I know of many families, of many different races, wherein the husband and wife hate one another. This I cannot live with, and governments do not address this problem, even though it is known that if we have peace and love at home, the struggles outside the home are minimized. I was so blessed one time in Brazil when I was there to speak at the gathering of a family ministry; listening to the believers in the trenches of this ministry, I learned that they regarded themselves as warriors in the battle to bring Christ into the very center of divorce. As a direct result of this ministry, I was even told of a judge that had decided that no couple could be married or divorced in his court without first going through Christian counseling. Hatred between husband and wife is the worst form of “racism.” If only governments would attack it with fervency. Of course, we know why it will not happen, for to attack it, Jesus must be brought into the equation. He and His disciples are the only ones among all religions teaching that a husband must love (without excuse) his wife and a wife must respect (without excuse) her husband. Without conversion, both are impossible.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Wow!  What an insight!  LIFE (Christ’s Life) can overcome any “problem.”  Imagine what the family trees would look like IF LIFE were brought into each home.

Beginning with the current generations, if every person was converted to following this one simple teaching (husband love his wife, without excuse, and wife respect her husband, without excuse) there would be an eradication of so many of the problems our society faces.  Michael emphasizes to us that divorce is much more damaging than all the jabber, or even actual action, of “racism.”

Yet, I was told of one “great” pastor from several years ago (1990’s) that stopped preaching against divorce because the singles ministry of that church had become such a large percentage of the total membership, and the person telling me this (he owned a Christian bookstore) was one of those singles, and he went on to call it a “bed & breakfast ministry.”

Families that have a heritage of “no divorce” should pray fervently that God would pour out His grace, and family members would respond, to keep that record intact in their family tree.

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

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Day 245 - Silence in Arguments

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 281

         

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.

Back in the early 1990’s I had a church member who appeared on a popular morning talk show, and after the program was over we were talking in the TV station’s lobby.  The program host spoke some astounding words: “Sad to say, I believe we have created a monster…the ‘talk show.’  People love to talk about a problem, but they never take any action to do something about it.”  How astute has that statement proven to be!

“Talk Shows” abound, and actions are nowhere to be found.  That’s “arguments” for you…

DAY 245

Silence in Arguments

And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground. --John 8:6

Arguments have their roots in pride and are calculated to prove intellectual superiority, but they lack power. I have personally won arguments against those enslaved to drugs and alcohol, but they went away still slaves. I have won many arguments concerning marriage, but those couples, too, went away to visit the lawyer. I have won countless arguments with philosophers, psychologists, evolutionists, atheists, and cult leaders. They all went away to worship the image they were seeing in the mirror.

Jesus divided His dialogue with men into two categories: argument and ministry. Argument He usually avoided. Some came requesting food or power, not ministry, and from those He withdrew. Some sought to draw Him into a melee, and we find Him quietly drawing in the sand rather than heatedly presenting His point. Why? His response would have only fueled more debate with those who had a vested interest in not moving at all from their position. Jesus came to minister. If by His own Holy Spirit He was made aware that ministry was not possible, Jesus simply withdrew or refused to speak. As an Indian friend says, “The refusals of Jesus define Him!” For we do, in fact, know more about Him from His refusals than from His accomplishments. He refused the best seats, refused to make a loud noise proclaiming Himself, He refused to hurt the one who was hurting, He refused to minister spiritual truth in the power of the flesh, He refused to defend Himself, and He refused to condemn the woman caught in adultery.

Like Jesus, we must have a goal of ministry, not dialogue. When we begin to talk to our child, friend, co-worker, or pastor and realize we are standing there alone, without the power and witness of the Spirit, it is time to be quiet and draw in the dirt. If He is not ministering, then neither should we. Remember, the issue is not who listens to us, but whether we are listening to Him.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Well, Michael has shown us what the TV ‘talk show’ host was speaking of.  And then he showed us Jesus’ answer.  And Michael points us to WHO (not ‘what’) our focus should always be!

As could be expected, when the enemy had no TRUTH to discuss, they always turned to attacking His character.  Same for us today.  Truth does not need to be defended, just proclaimed…or, written in the dirt.

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

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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