Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 125
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life Ministries
International
Littleton, Colorado
Notice: this email is part of a
BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”. Why a blog? So that many can receive the weekly thoughts
I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner.
Some
people like mental gymnastics. Some like
complex things. Some like simple. Faith is all about simple, as Michael points
out so well in today’s writing.
DAY 246
Simplicity Takes Faith
You are from God,
little children, and have overcome them; because greater
is He who is in you than he who is in the world. --I John 4:4
At that very time He
rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that
Thou didst hide these things from {the} wise and intelligent and didst reveal
them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well-pleasing in Thy sight.”
--Luke 10:21
Often I hear this
type of comment: “That is a simplification.” “The answer is too simple.” “You
are taking a simplistic approach to a complex problem!” I hope that I am! I want to be simple, for all that
Jesus taught concerning life was simple. In fact, He took the complex and made it
simple, and yet
believers are the first to shout foul, shallow, and unlearned when the
Christian life is made out to be simple. Why? Simplicity takes faith, while an unbelieving, fleshly
approach to life demands understanding. If man can maintain the idol of understanding, he can
maintain unbelief, since there will always be the need for one more
indisputable fact before action is taken. This is why there is no end to the pursuit of knowledge for
the unbelieving believer, who never intends to act. If knowledge were obtained,
action would be demanded.
When we minister to
discouraged believers, the answer needed is simple. However, a simple answer requires faith,
which is just what the defeated are missing. Therefore, it is important to make
understanding a starting point, not the end of discipling, to bring believers
to faith. No matter
how eloquently the information is presented, the whole issue will rest on
faith. If the element of faith is removed from what is being taught, then
Christ Himself is removed. We believe and we act. The secret is that when we are unbelieving, we can ask Jesus to help us
in our unbelief, and at that point all the forces of heaven and earth will back
us and push us forward in a believing life.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
One of the most staggering points Michael makes is that UNBELIEVING
BELIEVERS never intend to act…only to pursue more knowledge. “Maintaining the idol of understanding”…that’s
a new thought for a lot of Christians to ponder. We stress Bible study and discipleship
without making known that without faith and action following we have created a
monster…a teaching that has removed Christ Himself from its heart.
The beauty of Christianity is that it is all so very simple. Jesus’ words in Luke 10:21 proclaim His love
for the Father’s making it so simple that the “wise of the world” would miss
it. It is below their level of academia. But, He also loved that to “babes” it is
revealed. Amen!
“We believe and we act.” Truer
words were never spoken. We do act upon
what we believe. As Michael states, “If
knowledge were obtained, action would be demanded.” So, this day’s writing makes it clear to me
that I need to take a look at what I have learned from God and see whether I am
acting upon it.
James made it very clear in his epistle that faith without works is
dead. That should be a startling alarm
to all of us to do a “self-check” as to whether we have settled for
understanding as the end of our pursuit for discipleship. Are we acting upon that which we have
learned, or not? Has “Bible study”
become our detour or distraction from Christ?
He as much as said such in one instance to a group of “Bible studiers”
(John 5:39).
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
leemccm@gmail.com
P. O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
No comments:
Post a Comment