Day 81 - Equality!

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 180

         

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. 

It is astounding that “abiding” is so important and imperative for every Christian.  Michael points out the direct relationship between the Vine (Jesus) and the branches (us).  It is my prayer that if you have never had the revelation of just how wonderful this is for everyday life…may God give it to you today!

DAY 81

Equality!

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. --John 15:5

Within the heart of man is the inherent desire for the recognition that there is equality between all men. It should be admitted that class struggle exists only in attitude. Refusal to accept others’ definitions of superior and subordinate classifications means that the distinctions dissolve as I view my fellow man. Class struggle is defined as one group’s having less material gain than the next, and many have been persuaded to work to get out of their economic situation and rise to that of the so-called upper class. If we were to redefine “upper class” as those who were the happiest, most moral, and largest contributors to society, it would be discovered that many who are materially categorized as upper class are actually lower-class people. Laying all worldly designations aside, there are actually only two noteworthy groups to represent, the carnal animalistic group and the spiritual, who have Christ within and expressed outwardly.

Abiding is the great equalizer between believers.  Abide in Christ and all that He is and has is received, just as the branch receives the full life of the vine. Do not abide and immediately experience being in the flesh. It matters not if the flesh is educated, rich, respected, admired, or refined; it is still flesh, falling so short of the spirit. The world has so many criteria by which it appraises man, so many levels of divisions. Yet we Christians have but one: Is a person abiding in Christ or not? Is a person expressing life in the spirit or carnality? To make sub-classes out of the carnal or the spiritual is ignorance rooted in pride and self-glory. No one is better than an abiding believer, who at that moment is an earthen vessel with a perfect life, the life of Christ, flowing through him. Does it get any better than that?

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

With words so simple, and a spirit so eloquent, Michael gives us the beauty of our connection to Christ when we are “in Christ and abiding.”  Listen with your Christian heart to the foundational truths Michael lays out for all of us:

·         the spiritual, who have Christ within and expressed outwardly

·         abiding is the great equalizer between believers

·         abide in Christ and all that He is and has IS RECEIVED (my caps for emphasis)

·         no one is better than an abiding believer, who at that moment is an earthen vessel with a perfect life, the life of Christ, flowing through him.

I, for one, don’t believe it could possibly get any better than that!

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

(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 80 - Embrace a Movement and Let Go Of Jesus!

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 179

         

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. 

The first chapter of Isaiah speaks clearly about why, what, and how God thinks when His people turn from Him and spend their time, energy, and resources on anything other than what is involved in our relationship with Him.  Michael gives us a significant observation that flies in the face of modern-day Christianity’s activity.  See if you spot Michael’s point…

DAY 80

Embrace a Movement and Let Go Of Jesus!

I am weary of bearing them. So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. --Isaiah 1:14, 15

We have been bombarded in America by methods for accomplishing so many things: evangelism, childrearing, Bible study, Scripture memory, church growth, building expansion, giving, and counseling. There are myriad specialized ministries addressing how to reach the businessman, the doctor, the neighbor, the moms, the dads, the internationals, and more. It is astounding and reminds me of the story of the Indian visiting the Christian bookstore in London. He had never before seen so many books in one place! The owner, upon observing his awe, took him from category to category, showing him all of the books written about the aforementioned methods. At that, the Indian said, “When I see so many books I am left with only one question: Do Christians not know how to do anything?” We must, in my opinion, walk the way Jesus walked with God. He did not have a manual but simply (though it does not initially seem simple for those of us living in this world) kept His focus on the Father. He maintained that relationship and never appeared to be at a loss for what to do in any given situation. If it were true for Him, could it not be true for those of us who have believed in Him, for those of us for whom He prayed, “that they may be one as We are One”? Try to prepare for an upcoming situation and watch as it takes an unexpected, unprepared for twist. Spend the day with an abiding awareness of Christ and have His wisdom no matter what happens. The day spent working on methods to fix a problem is not a day focused on Him. A believer can do one or the other. Embracing the method means that of necessity He has been let go! The cost of a how-to seminar is way beyond the registration fee paid, for it will cost a believer both peace and readiness.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Many like to say we must be like Jesus, do as Jesus did…of course, they are talking about the physical things He did.  Very seldom do these people speak of HOW or WHY Jesus did these things.  Very seldom is anything mentioned as to the way Jesus operated in His daily life.  And then, along comes Michael pointing out an astounding fact: “the way Jesus walked with God. He did not have a manual but simply kept His focus on the Father.”  Think deeply on this…no manual (Bible today for us), just a focus on the Father that enabled Him to never appear to be at a loss for what to do in any given situation.  Michael asks if this could be true for us.  What do you think?  Can we do this?

1. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us…we have the Mind of Christ.

2. We are capable of keeping our focus on the Father.

3. We are capable of maintaining our fellowship with the Father so that He shares His wisdom willingly with us.

4. With His wisdom we are capable of never being at a loss for what to do in any given situation.

5. With His wisdom…why would we go in search of any method to take the place of Gods wisdom?

You are probably wondering what that “significant observation” is that I mentioned in the introduction… “The day spent working on methods to fix a problem is not a day focused on Him.  Embracing the method means that of necessity He has been let go!”  Why would we ever let go of Jesus to grab hold of a method?  How did we ever get so focused on method after method…instead of Christ and the wisdom of the Father?

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

(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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

DAY 247 - Sin Will Not Send You To Hell

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 178

         

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. 

This is one of the most interesting writings in Michael’s books…why?...because so many Christians act like they don’t know this truth, and all non-Christians cannot know this truth.

DAY 247

Sin Will Not Send You To Hell

 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. --Romans 5:6

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. --Romans 5:8

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. --I John 2:2

  

I cannot walk up to an unbeliever and proclaim that because he sins he will go to hell. No one is going to hell because of sin. The sin issue concerning the human race has already been dealt with at the cross. Jesus died for the ungodly! Man is not doomed because of sin; rather, man is doomed because of pride; it is pride that sends man to hell. It was pride that caused the initial fall in response to temptation. God prioritizes what is considered bad by listing pride first, unbelief second, and sin third. Somehow we have reversed the order. 

When the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples, they did not recognize Him. To prove Who He was, He showed them the marks of crucifixion, the same marks that kept the disciples from recognizing Him. Before a crucifixion the Romans would take a whip made of twelve strands of leather (glass embedded on each side with a hook on the end) and strike the victim 39 times across the back and once across the face, completely disfiguring him. Jesus was marred beyond recognition, and for all of eternity He will bear those marks. At the right hand of the Father sits the marred Jesus. We will never fully understand the price that the Word of God paid to become a man; however, we know that it was great, for He is still a man in heaven. Is it any wonder that we will see Him in heaven as the Lamb that was slain and fall down in worship?

Because the sin issue has been dealt with, all that God requires is our belief in and receiving of the marred Jesus that sits at His right hand. Unbelievers will not perish because of sin but because of the pride they hold dear that denies the Son of God who made the supreme sacrifice.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Michael points out that it is pride, not sin, which determines a person’s spending eternity in hell.  How many Christians really remember this?  Why is it that so many Christians focus on “sin” instead of “pride”?

As a pastor I often hear: “I thought _???__ became a Christian, but they still ___????????__.”  That person speaking mentions one or more of the “top 10 list of sins” Christians so often espouse as a sin (or sins) that God will not forgive…at least not so the “sinner” can go to Heaven when they die.  Egads!  What is going on in that Christian’s mind?!?  (we don’t have time, nor space…and it is not my aim to delve into such things in this venue…to think of all my thoughts about those who make such comments)

What is important is just what Michael stresses…focus on what God requires of a sinner for salvation (“our belief in, and receiving of, the marred Jesus that sits at God’s right hand”).  Denying the Son of God and a trust in Him and His death on the Cross as God’s supreme sacrifice IS the ultimate PRIDE issue.

I pray that Michael has awakened many to think about the truths of the scriptures he presents, and the truth of God’s priorities of “badness”: “pride first, unbelief second, and sin third.”

Oh, by the way, if you are wondering why I said in the opening: “all non-Christians cannot know this truth”…read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (“The Lost Don’t Know They Are Lost”) and 1 Corinthians 1:18-23; 2:6-14 (“The Lost Cannot “Receive” God’s Truth”).  All of that is staggering TRUTH!  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

(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 158 - If I Were God, I Would Kill Me!

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 177

         

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. 

Perhaps we have never expressed it quite like Michael does in this day’s title, but I suspect most Christians have had some moments of introspection that were characterized by an expression that embraces the thought.  Michael points out a great comparison of our “survival” to that of the nation of Israel on so many occasions…see if you sense how this fits us…

DAY 158

If I Were God, I Would Kill Me!

For thus says the LORD, sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chiefs of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, O LORD, save Thy people, the remnant of Israel. --Jeremiah 31:7

“If I were God, I would kill me!” Have you ever felt that way about yourself? Have you ever wondered why God even puts up with you? The life of grace is so much higher than the life of legalism! The legalist could never even comprehend the difference; he is accustomed to moving smoothly between good flesh and bad. However, the least attitude that is anti-Christ in grace people will not go unchecked! Not only are there the daily struggles of either recognizing that we are abiding or not, there is the issue of our growth. As we grow in Him, we look back at last year, the year before that, and even the beginnings of our Christian life with a sigh and a moan. “How could I have been like that?” All of this leads to an inner whisper, “If I were God, I would not have put up with me.”

Why has He put up with us? It is because of the remnant! What remnant? There were many people in Israel who disobeyed the Lord, but there was always one man who obeyed and who became the remnant. It was because of the remnant that all the people were not destroyed; the remnant permitted God to put up with all the rest of the rebellious people. The remnant—the one man for the many--delighted Him. Noah and Moses come to mind; they dwelled in and among the people but were not like the people. The people did not change them; they worked to change the people’s hearts. Because of the remnant God continued to work with the people. Every believer is multi-faceted in that his soul comprises mind, will, and emotions and his body harbors desire, habits, protection, and reproduction. Over the years, even as believers, our minds were filled with chaos, our wills pointed toward self, our emotions bred hatred and jealousy, and the bodies expressed every kind of desire. Our soul and body participated in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and boastful pride of life. Why did God not just wipe us out? Because of the remnant! There was something in us so great that it allowed God to overlook all of the failures and continue with us. The remnant in us is Jesus! He dwells in our spirit, He is pleasing to God in everything, and because of Him God will not withdraw from us. Our flesh will never affect Jesus, but Jesus will continue to have an influence on our flesh. We will grow and the outside influences that had control over us will lessen as He increases and we have the revelation of our new life in Him. The Remnant is in us!  

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

The indwelling of Jesus Christ in every Believer is always going to be one of the most unknown, misunderstood, and least appreciated truths of Christianity.  The totality of His Spirit being our spirit, His Soul being a part of us, us being complete in Him… this all is a lot to take in.  But when we grasp this, we will never take another breath the same as before that moment of revelation.

I remember “that moment” for me way back in 1980…Romans 8:11, “But if the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”  I just about exploded!  It was no longer the “old I,” apart from Christ.  It was no longer just me in my flesh.  It is me with His Spirit a part of me that “quickens my mortal body” as I allow Him to.  Wow!  This is Pauline living!!!

But, stop and think about the beauty of it that Michael points out as to Jesus being the “remnant” in us that allows God to overlook so much, pleases God so much, and prohibits God from withdrawing from us.  All that we fret so much about is not even a bother to God.  He is the One who made us a “new creation,” complete in Christ, with some of the “fretful stuff” still hanging around.  Did He make a mistake?  No!  Absolutely not!  And another beautiful thing is how Michael puts it: “Our flesh will never affect Jesus, but Jesus will continue to have an influence on our flesh.”  Beautiful!  Amen! 

Growing in grace (His doing through us) as we abide, The Remnant in us.  This is one of the major privileges of being a Christian in this life.  Now wrap your pea-picking heart around this: at salvation, Christ did kill the “old man,” the “old me.”  The same happened to you if you are a Born Again Believer!  The “new man,” the “new me,” is Him.  That is why God doesn’t call His kids “sinners,” but He calls us “saints.”  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

(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 161 - Impossibility Versus Accomplishment

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 176

         

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. 

“Are you so foolish?”   Paul, after being a pastor for several years expresses that frustration.  However, even though the New Testament is a plain and clear testimony that Christianity is all about Christ, and not about us...we go and make it about us way too much.

DAY 161

Impossibility Versus Accomplishment

           

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? . . . Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” –Galatians 3:3, 11

Many aspects of the believer's life have been made out to be nearly impossible to accomplish. We are given reams of material on how to be a good parent, partner, and child of God. There seems to be so much information that we must know. How can we take it all in? How can we always do the right thing? And those who present to us the much needed information seem so much more spiritual than we are; they have done the right things all along, and they even have degrees in how to be successful. However, Scripture does not indicate that being a brother or sister in Christ, a parent, or a mate is all that difficult. In fact, there is very little in Scripture concerning what to do, but much about basic attitudes to have. “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against any one; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Colossians 3:12, 13). The Christian life is as simple as loving our wives, respecting our husbands, forgiving our enemies, not provoking our children, obeying parents, and working as unto the Lord. This is our long-term plan. In keeping it day by day we will see ups and downs, reversals, and the inevitable Christian hiccups, but we should never, never allow those daily things to sidetrack us from our long-term plan, which will reap its own reward in the fullness of time.

Often in our quest for immediate relief we see in others (and they see in us) things to change to bring instant comfort. Therefore, we set out to covertly or overtly change those around us through more control and more role-playing of God. Let me point out that if God believed a change in another person's behavior were as important as we believe it to be, He would already have changed it! A change in the behavior of Job’s friends would not have lessened his plight one bit. It was Job’s trust in God and the long-term result of faith that kept him. The whole test was calculated to clean up Job, not to change others. Others actually played very little into the scenario. God's role was primary, Job's secondary, and others' somewhere far behind.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Is that an incredible truth, or what…”there is very little in Scripture about what to do, but much about basic attitudes to have.”

Chosen of God, holy (God says so), accepted in the beloved, living in the Spirit…life is all taken care of by our Lord.  Do we believe that”  “God’s role was primary, Job’s (ours) secondary, and others’ somewhere far behind.”  Well, amen!

I can let Him accomplish what only He can accomplish, and I can just relax and live by His faith.

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

(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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