Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 155
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.
Acts
and facts. These two can be devastating
to us until we grasp God’s victory in getting past the past. Michael shows us how uncomplicated it is to
put “all that” behind us!
DAY 85
Facts!
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free. –John 8:32
All of us have participated in acts of unrighteousness,
immorality, impurity, and more. We have participated in acts of
self-righteousness, judgment, pride, and unbelief, both before conversion and
after. These are things that come to haunt us, and
not only does our own past behavior vex us, but also the behavior of those
around us. What are we to
do with these cold, hard facts?
The first step is to understand that not all true things
are truth. I used this illustration in a meeting at a
Chinese church: "I am not that impressed with the hospitality of the
Chinese. I stayed with the Chinese pastor and he never offered me coffee
although he knew I liked coffee, needed it, and wanted it. It is true!"
Then I continued, "However, when I first got to the pastor's home, I told
him, 'You do not need to offer me coffee; I brought my own!'" Now the
truth was revealed. You can see that not all things that are true are truth. For a true thing to be truth, it
must end at the feet of Jesus, Who is the way, the truth, and the life.
It is possible for something that is true to lead you either to truth or away
from it. Facts just lie
there lifelessly, doing nothing, having no power except attraction. Some facts
get our attention, and what gets our attention, gets us. Once we know the facts
about our behavior and the behavior of others, what do we do with the
information? Facts are history, and history is to be denied. (Luke 9:23, “And He was saying to them all,
‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross
daily and follow Me.’”) "Brethren, I do not regard myself
as having laid hold of {it} yet; but one thing {I do}: forgetting what {lies}
behind and reaching forward to what {lies} ahead" (Philippians 3:13).
Often the enemy uses facts to add to and augment his
position. He will use true things, but he never uses them to lead a person to
truth. He'll use them as additions that detract from
the truth (Jesus). God is
"I AM," the God of no additions. He simply is "I AM,"
without even true things and facts detracting from who He is. We are a
people without additions. We
have Jesus and do not need additional experience, more knowledge, another
degree, or the spectacular; we have Jesus, the complete truth, and we need
nothing else. In Him you are complete! The facts of past behavior,
everything before this moment, are additional and encumbering. "Therefore,
since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay
aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). What do we do with facts,
not only the facts of our own failures--past, present, and future--but also
those of others around us? Once
they have been removed by the blood of Christ, we refuse to wear them.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
OK…let’s face it…we ALL have participated in at least some of the things
Michael mentions at the start of this day’s writing. But the question is: What are we doing with
the “cold, hard” facts of these events?
I love Michael’s “step 1.” It is
a great revelation to know and understand that “not all TRUE things are TRUTH”
(my caps for emphasis). And there is
great freedom to live by the words: “For a true thing to be truth, it must end
at the feet of Jesus, Who is the way, the truth, and the life.” As I have learned to ask, “Is it true, OR is
it truth?” I have experienced John
8:32…and 36! I have experienced Jesus!!!
“step 2” for me is to live Paul’s admonition in Phil. 3:13.
“step 3” for me is to live Hebrews 12:1.
“step 4” for me is to live Michael’s last words in this day’s writing:
“What do we do with facts, not only the facts of our own failures – past,
present, and future – but also those of others around us? Once they have been removed by the blood of
Christ, we refuse to wear them.”
No more “haunting.” No more
“vexing.” Only Jesus. Only freedom.
Well, 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
P. O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
No comments:
Post a Comment