Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 95
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
I
recently had someone tell me they couldn’t read or follow anything Michael
Wells had to say, simply because he had “no standard.” I replied in astonishment: “But Michael’s
standard is the greatest ‘standard’ there is…JESUS!” In that same conversation, the person told me
that they and their spouse were two of the most legalistic parents that ever
existed. And to look at that person’s
family and see the tragedies throughout (the result of legalistic parenting)
are heart-breaking. Michael shares the
difference between grace and legalism in Day 279’s writing…
DAY 279
The Life Of Grace Is a Stricter Life, a Higher Life
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord
or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who
has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus
from all eternity.
--II Timothy 1:8-10
It is not
possible to minister to those who cannot hear, such as legalists who
know nothing of grace. For example, a legalist can be in the middle of
the overt sin of an affair and still preach the next Sunday on purity. Why?
How? It is simple! Legalism
feeds the flesh. Sin
and legalism are one and the same. There is no pressure of contrast between legalism and sin
in a person's being. Unrighteousness
and self-righteousness both satisfy the flesh.
However, a grace man cannot go on sinning, for the grace of God will rip him in
two. When preaching
grace, God will always come for that man's words in order to make him really
understand grace and realize he does not have an excuse. Factor in the work of the
cross! He has been crucified and is dead to sin. How, then, can he continue to sin? If he does,
with this understanding, he will come apart. The standard is so much higher in grace. It is the legalist who can actually
practice sin without conviction. Embrace the message of grace, practice sin, and be ripped
in two!
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
The Apostle Paul points out that there is a power of God in every Believer that “calls us” to a “holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace
which was granted us in Christ Jesus
from all eternity.”
·
His own purpose (His heart, His will
for every Believer)
·
His own grace (His working this out
in us)
·
Granted us IN CHRIST
JESUS (part
of who we are and what we have “in Christ”)
Michael so pointedly shows us the diametric difference between grace and legalism. And then points
out that sin and legalism are one and the same! In other writings Michael has noted that legalism is simply the two sides of the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that God has told us to eat not thereof. And Michael has pointed out that “this cursed
tree and its teachings, reasoning, and thinking is thrust upon the believer
from almost every quarter from the time that he first accepts Christ” (Day
276).
So, the question confronts us: Why has the teachings, reasoning, and
thinking of the “cursed tree” been thrust upon Believers for years and years
and years? Why have Believers been made
to “eat” of the very tree that God said, “Don’t eat.”? Why has the church continued to do this? And then, once we have been shown God’s
truth, would we ever continue to eat thereof?
And yet, will we recognize that the life
of grace is a life that is stricter
and higher than the legalistic life? But…(this is an HOLY “but”)…it
is His grace that can and will live this life through us! Embrace grace,
and find sin being removed from your
life here. Well, amen!
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Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
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