Day 320 - Weird Meetings?

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 321

         

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This is a great writing to begin the new year of 2019 with: uncomplicated, specific instructions, and direct to any issue we face.

In two beautiful verses we find two completely different situations that the Apostle Paul found himself addressing.  In one he gives a word of encouragement, in the other he gives a word of caution.  Both address the Christian and the mind. 

And, Michael points out the great differences in thoughts that can come from the natural mind all Believers are physically born with and the Spiritual mind (the Mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16) that all Believers have also.

DAY 320

Weird Meetings?

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. –Romans 15:5 & 6

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. –II Corinthians 11:3

Over the course of the years I have attended, witnessed, and been told of a variety of meetings and experiences that simply cannot be validated in the Scriptures. Attempts are made to authenticate and legitimize them through the Scriptures; however, most often this ends in a distortion of the Bible. So what about such meetings and experiences? Those that have such experiences will vehemently fight for them as justifiable experiences of the Spirit. Though many expressions are not consistent around the world, “other” types of experiences are. Some witness to having teeth turn gold, others to a cross turning to gold, uncontrolled laughter, pictures of saints that exude a fragrant and healing aroma, falling down and passing out, prophecies, people turning into pigs through prayer, and much, much more. I have heard many accounts, all told with sincerity and conviction. Again, what about such meetings and experiences?

First, I must keep it all in perspective and in the end really not care. Why? It is not because of lack of care for the people, but because even if the experience and meeting were legitimate, it was not my meeting or my experience, so why would I argue a standpoint? It is too easy for all of us to move into pride and trench in over a position. While Jesus was with the disciples, they were one. Take Jesus out of the center of any conversation and there will be division. I would not sacrifice my relationship with Christians over an experience that someone else had. It is far better to approach such experiences without an agenda of trying to prove or disprove. In comparison with my fellowship with a believer, I do not care. Therefore, I will often go quiet if I see that my observations would cause a division. This approach will not satisfy those that want to fight for the truth. However, the truth is not any experience but is Jesus.

This brings me to the second point: a meeting or an experience does not create a heart for Jesus, but it does reveal one. Camping on this point has helped me, for I see both types of people attending such meetings. One person goes for the spectacular, for the seeking of the experience, all in the hope of creating a heart for God or obtaining a shred of proof that he is acceptable to God. This person is most open to deception. Some with this attitude are even leading the meetings! Perhaps we could liken it to “Christian pornography” in the sense that the purpose of pornography is to stimulate the fleshly body, albeit unnaturally. The body is to be stimulated by one’s mate, not by another through the means of a picture. In the same way, the mind, will, and emotions belong to God and are to be stimulated by His Spirit. However, “Christian pornography” would be allowing something other than God to stimulate the soul. Many in seminaries are addicted to “intellectual pornography,” for they are always looking for the thing that will stimulate the mind. Many organizations are driven by men who have their wills stimulated through fantasizing about great works, or “pornography for the will power.” Others are into “emotional pornography” through the stirring of the emotions in a meeting or an experience. It is unnatural to go to a meeting seeking something to stir the soul other than Jesus. When those with such a heart are describing the experience and are questioned, they will immediately shift course and say that it is all about Jesus, even though His name was never mentioned in the course of the description. Instead there was a forceful presentation of the experience and the meeting. This is a revelation of the heart. Remember that Jesus did miracles and generally told the people to be quiet about them. He did not want to draw people who were attracted by miracles. Actually, I believe that a false teacher is used of God to reveal false hearts; I do not mind when people go running to such a one, for they are obviously seeking something other than Jesus. Those things that stir the soul are, like the pornographic picture, substitutes for the real Person. In talking to a Pentecostal pastor and a Baptist pastor, I asked the same question. “Go back twenty years and think of the people in your church. Where are they today? How many are still moving forward?” Both pastors gave the same percentage; both have the same “results.” One can only conclude that it is not doctrine that allows for forward movement but the grace of God and the choice of man. The doctrine of a meeting can be completely wrong, but we must not neglect those who attend such meetings, for there is a revelation of the motives of their hearts. Faith is an amazing thing. There are those who believe that God will meet them at the Baptist church. Will He? There also are those who believe that God will meet them at the Pentecostal church. Again, will He? Many believe they will meet Him in the mountains; will they? He is everywhere. He can be found in any place at any time. Therefore, good-hearted people go to strange meetings and meet Jesus. Their hearts are revealed. The proof is in the fruit of their lives. I have known those that have had very abnormal experiences, and yet it is obvious they are moving up in Jesus, talking more about Jesus, promoting Jesus, and not pushing the experience. What do we say to such things? Well, amen! I do not have to understand it to witness to it. I know people personally that were outwardly going nowhere until the experience came and something changed to make them Christ-centered.

In conclusion, meetings do not create hearts but they reveal them. Go to any meeting with the right heart and that heart will be revealed. Go to the weird meeting wanting to create some kind of heart and any manner of thing can happen. That is why people with a right heart come away from really strange things blessed, and those with a wrong heart are led further astray. 

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

The book of Romans is regarded as one of Paul’s greatest theological discourses.  He gave the Saints in Rome a solid foundation from which to thrive in the Life as a Christian.  And as he comes to the close of his letter, he specifically speaks to the Mind of Christ in each and calls for them to be in THAT mind “so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Is it ironic that the book to all Believers in Rome with such a statement was written from the city of Corinth shortly after he wrote 2 Corinthians?

In that letter to the Corinthian Believers Paul shares “Life” more than doctrine, and just as he begins to share some personal experiences as a Christian he warns them to be aware of how easy it is to slip from the Mind of Christ back into the natural mind and “be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

The only soul in a Believer that will respond positively to Holy Spirit is Christ’s Soul (Christ’s Mind, Christ’s Emotions, Christ’s Will) every Believer has.  It is by the Grace of God and a choice to Live in His Soul that Believers move forward.  Well, amen.

Uncomplicated, specific, and direct.

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

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