Day 337 - God's Definition of Love

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 53     

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

For years we have known that the world has so abused and misused the word “love” that Christians have been misguided and deceived into thinking and using wrong definitions and descriptions and therefore “missed God” in interacting with other Christians, especially family and other close relationships.  Once again, Michael Wells, with years of abiding in Christ and interacting with defeated Christians, has laid out for us some astounding and definitive truths that could benefit so many who are hurting for some REAL LOVE.

DAY 337

God’s Definition of Love

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. –I Peter 1:8

We must stop trying to define love in human terms. It is too narrow and incorrect. We are human, so our definitions will be lacking. Therefore, it is only God who can define Himself. As humans we are so far off on our definition of God that when He came, no one recognized Him! “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and {such} we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him” (I John 3:1).

Again, we stand or fall by our definitions. The world’s definition of love is the fulfillment of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life. When a different person, position, or thing can feed all three aspects of the flesh, the carnal person might well “fall out of love” with whom or what he had and say he “loves” that other person, job, or material possession. For someone in the world to say, “I love you,” is to say, “You are meeting all three aspects of my carnal nature,” and that is why the world’s love is so fragile. Remember the breakups in high school? Some had the honesty to say, “I found someone better!” Better at what? Better at meeting the lust of their eyes, lust of their flesh, and the boastful pride of their life. How hard it is to hang on to someone with such stiff fleshly competition from others! The world’s love is definitely performance-based. When we do not meet a child’s carnal needs we may well hear him mutter, “I do not love you!” Is it any wonder that some people become hermits? For in an unenlightened sense the effort involved to win the love of another is exhausting, never ending, and ultimately disappointing. In the world when someone says, “I love you,” the object of that love had better keep performing. Another problem is that the flesh is like the fire that never says enough. A child of ten years eats more than a child of one month. Therefore, by the very nature of carnality, what satisfied yesterday does not today, and thus, one looming phrase--“You are not meeting my needs!”--seems always just a day or two away. Feeding the flesh of another by meeting carnal needs is a Catch-22, for it paves the way for a greater fleshly need that cannot be met, and that finally leads to rejection. This is the baggage and definition many of us were carrying with us the day we met Jesus and heard Him whisper to us, “I love you!” “He loves me! Oh no, now I must perform. I must meet all of His needs. He has a need for me to be perfect, holy, righteous, blameless, forgiving, giving, consistent, pure, free of all lusts, and more.” If we open the Bible and start reading when we believe the above definition of love, we will be overwhelmed by all that must be done to keep the relationship with Him alive. Slowly the flesh begins to wane in its ability to keep the relationship working. We fall short and we await the breakup. When He whispers again, “I love you,” we do not believe it. We still remember high school when the boy or girl said, “I love you,” just to placate us; the next day we discovered he or she was off with someone else. Suffice it to say that in and of ourselves we just do not know what love is.

For the one who has the revelation of His love, everything changes. It is best experienced, but I will try to describe it. His love is an absolute. His love is a standalone love. His love never needs feeding. His love is not dependent on another. Just as a tree is a tree, a man is a man, and the sun is the sun, love is love. Nothing that happens on earth will affect the sun; the sun is the sun. It stands alone. It does not shine on condition. Someone can hate a rock all he wants, curse at it, throw it, and tell it to stop being a rock, but the fact is, his actions do not change the fact that the rock is a rock. God is Love; Love is His character. If someone’s actions could change His love, then man’s behavior could change God. But God cannot be changed. “Jesus Christ {is} the same yesterday and today, {yes} and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Did you ever stop to wonder why it is that we “greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” when we have NEVER seen Christ?  Amazing, isn’t it?  Wait a minute…we HAVE “seen Him.”  With spiritual eyes given unto us by the Heavenly Father.  Wow!  No wonder every Child of God has such love and admiration for the Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit!  It is truth that “the revelation of His love” CHANGES EVERYTHING!  (one of my favorite songs of all time:  Larnelle Harris and Sandy Patti singing “I’ve Just Seen Jesus!”)

As Michael points out so strongly:

·         We must stop trying to define “love” in human terms.

·         Man’s definitions are too narrow and incorrect.

·         The world’s “love” is definitely performance-based.

·         God’s love is just the opposite of the world’s love…not surprising.

It is staggering to me just how possible and likely it is that many Christians are “missing God” and being misdirected by the baggage and wrong definitions of love that were carried into the relationship from the first day they met Jesus.  But how much truth there is to that thought!  Wow!  May the Lord use this day’s writing to deliver many from that bondgage!

Grab a pen, make note of the absolutes of the absoluteness of God’s love…and begin to enjoy Him and His love as never before!

IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO INTERACT WITH ME ON SOMETHING MICHAEL HAS WRITTEN, AND/OR ANY OF MY THOUGHTS, PLEASE NOTE THE EMAIL ADDRESS JUST BELOW MY NAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

BLESSINGS! 

Pastor Lee McDowell

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 336 - We Need a Revelation of Love

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 53     

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

For years we have known that the world has so abused and misused the word “love” that Christians have been misguided and deceived into thinking and using wrong definitions and descriptions and therefore “missed God” in interacting with other Christians, especially family and other close relationships.  Once again, Michael Wells, with years of abiding in Christ and interacting with defeated Christians, has laid out for us some astounding and definitive truths that could benefit so many who are hurting for some REAL LOVE.

DAY 337

God’s Definition of Love

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. –I Peter 1:8

We must stop trying to define love in human terms. It is too narrow and incorrect. We are human, so our definitions will be lacking. Therefore, it is only God who can define Himself. As humans we are so far off on our definition of God that when He came, no one recognized Him! “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and {such} we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him” (I John 3:1).

Again, we stand or fall by our definitions. The world’s definition of love is the fulfillment of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life. When a different person, position, or thing can feed all three aspects of the flesh, the carnal person might well “fall out of love” with whom or what he had and say he “loves” that other person, job, or material possession. For someone in the world to say, “I love you,” is to say, “You are meeting all three aspects of my carnal nature,” and that is why the world’s love is so fragile. Remember the breakups in high school? Some had the honesty to say, “I found someone better!” Better at what? Better at meeting the lust of their eyes, lust of their flesh, and the boastful pride of their life. How hard it is to hang on to someone with such stiff fleshly competition from others! The world’s love is definitely performance-based. When we do not meet a child’s carnal needs we may well hear him mutter, “I do not love you!” Is it any wonder that some people become hermits? For in an unenlightened sense the effort involved to win the love of another is exhausting, never ending, and ultimately disappointing. In the world when someone says, “I love you,” the object of that love had better keep performing. Another problem is that the flesh is like the fire that never says enough. A child of ten years eats more than a child of one month. Therefore, by the very nature of carnality, what satisfied yesterday does not today, and thus, one looming phrase--“You are not meeting my needs!”--seems always just a day or two away. Feeding the flesh of another by meeting carnal needs is a Catch-22, for it paves the way for a greater fleshly need that cannot be met, and that finally leads to rejection. This is the baggage and definition many of us were carrying with us the day we met Jesus and heard Him whisper to us, “I love you!” “He loves me! Oh no, now I must perform. I must meet all of His needs. He has a need for me to be perfect, holy, righteous, blameless, forgiving, giving, consistent, pure, free of all lusts, and more.” If we open the Bible and start reading when we believe the above definition of love, we will be overwhelmed by all that must be done to keep the relationship with Him alive. Slowly the flesh begins to wane in its ability to keep the relationship working. We fall short and we await the breakup. When He whispers again, “I love you,” we do not believe it. We still remember high school when the boy or girl said, “I love you,” just to placate us; the next day we discovered he or she was off with someone else. Suffice it to say that in and of ourselves we just do not know what love is.

For the one who has the revelation of His love, everything changes. It is best experienced, but I will try to describe it. His love is an absolute. His love is a standalone love. His love never needs feeding. His love is not dependent on another. Just as a tree is a tree, a man is a man, and the sun is the sun, love is love. Nothing that happens on earth will affect the sun; the sun is the sun. It stands alone. It does not shine on condition. Someone can hate a rock all he wants, curse at it, throw it, and tell it to stop being a rock, but the fact is, his actions do not change the fact that the rock is a rock. God is Love; Love is His character. If someone’s actions could change His love, then man’s behavior could change God. But God cannot be changed. “Jesus Christ {is} the same yesterday and today, {yes} and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Did you ever stop to wonder why it is that we “greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” when we have NEVER seen Christ?  Amazing, isn’t it?  Wait a minute…we HAVE “seen Him.”  With spiritual eyes given unto us by the Heavenly Father.  Wow!  No wonder every Child of God has such love and admiration for the Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit!  It is truth that “the revelation of His love” CHANGES EVERYTHING!  (one of my favorite songs of all time:  Larnelle Harris and Sandy Patti singing “I’ve Just Seen Jesus!”)

As Michael points out so strongly:

·         We must stop trying to define “love” in human terms.

·         Man’s definitions are too narrow and incorrect.

·         The world’s “love” is definitely performance-based.

·         God’s love is just the opposite of the world’s love…not surprising.

It is staggering to me just how possible and likely it is that many Christians are “missing God” and being misdirected by the baggage and wrong definitions of love that were carried into the relationship from the first day they met Jesus.  But how much truth there is to that thought!  Wow!  May the Lord use this day’s writing to deliver many from that bondgage!

Grab a pen, make note of the absolutes of the absoluteness of God’s love…and begin to enjoy Him and His love as never before!

IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO INTERACT WITH ME ON SOMETHING MICHAEL HAS WRITTEN, AND/OR ANY OF MY THOUGHTS, PLEASE NOTE THE EMAIL ADDRESS JUST BELOW MY NAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

BLESSINGS! 

Pastor Lee McDowell

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 11 - Anger and Addiction

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 51

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

We all know about ANGER, but how many have ever considered that ADDICTIONS could be tied to our anger?  This is more than just “interesting.”  It is life-changing.  Study all that Michael reveals through years of travel and connecting with thousands of Christians through his teaching, counseling, & discipling.  God might even show you something you have never ever thought of…

DAY 11

Anger and Addiction

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret, {it leads} only to evildoing. --Psalm 37:8

Over the years I have noticed a strong correlation between anger and addiction. Addicted people appear to be angry about their past, their present, their loss of control, the relationships in their lives, and life in general. I have also noticed that many addicted people are very soft and sensitive people, and that would make the events that surround them more painful. It would appear that as life spirals out of control, they get angry, do not know what to do with the anger, and deaden it with a sedative, be it pornography, drugs, alcohol, food, overwork, slander, fantasy, obsessive thinking, reading, and the list goes on to include anything that gets their minds off the situation, quiets the nervousness within, and eases the awareness that life is not going well and they cannot fix it. I remember the story of the drunk Irishman who, being asked why he was drunk, responded, “It is the quickest way out of Ireland that I know!” However, addiction has its downside. First, by not facing the situation straight on, but avoiding it by using a sedative, the addict remains emotionally thwarted, a perpetual adolescent. Second, creativity is stifled. A recent survey revealed that depressed people are 70% more realistic about what is happening. The non-depressed, in optimism, are ignorant of how bad things really are. The point is, when a situation comes, the depressed are the first to see it. If they refuse the sedative, they will be the first with a solution because of creativity! Third, addiction leads to condemnation, which leads to self-hatred, which leads to more addictive behavior and more condemnation in an endless cycle. Fourth, there is the deception that addictive people have lost their free will. Fifth, addiction makes problems multiply. There is the out-of-control situation, then the addiction, and finally the results of addiction. One problem can easily become three or four, and all of this is the consequence of anger that needs to be addressed.

Anger, mentioned 266 times in the Bible, is the fall of many and the cause of untold suffering and impulsive destructive behaviors. The person free from anger is a giant. Proverbs 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” One controlled by anger will need to be rescued over and over again from addiction. Proverbs 19:19, “A man of great anger shall bear the penalty, for if you rescue {him,} you will only have to do it again.” Ecclesiastes 5:17, “Throughout his life {he} also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.” The bottom line is something every addict knows, that “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). So, what do we do with anger? Ephesians 4:26, “BE ANGRY, AND {YET} DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Also, Ephesians 4:31, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Easier said than done until we consider the alternative.

How easy is it to be angry? What is the cost of anger? First, we need to get a God! We must be done with acting as though we have no God, with the tiredness and anger that accompany playing God. If we have a God, we must let Him be God. It helps to define clearly what are His responsibilities and what are ours. It is His responsibility to cause all things to work together for good, provide daily, keep us from temptation, and comfort His own. Second, when a situation comes from the past or present, simply say amen and yield to Him! In saying amen, we are not saying that nothing matters. What we are saying is that we are giving our situation to God and refusing to carry it any longer. Third, stop trusting the addiction. We cannot play any more mind games that allow us to be in a place where we mysteriously “fall.” Fourth, we need to confess that our “chooser” is not broken. Fifth, when the draw to the addiction comes, we call on the Lord for deliverance. “Jesus, fill in me the need I hope this addiction will meet!” Sixth, be honest. If we like the addiction, we need to tell Him. If we do not plan on leaving it, tell Him. If we love it more than Him, tell Him. And then tell Him it is His. Watch what He will do. He is not dead, of that we can be certain.

Michael answers three big questions in this day’s writing:  (1) What causes “anger”?   (2) What are the consequences of “addiction”?   (3) How do we rid ourselves of “anger and addiction”? 

I have found something interesting through almost 30 years of pastoring:  when emotions are involved, we need God’s healing of the damaged or encapturing emotions.  Oftentimes folks have gone through the motions of dealing with issues biblically, but are not free due to the emotional hooks that hold them captive.  Yet God will free the captive of emotions just as readily as the captive of actions.

It could be that more Christians have some anger they are not aware of, and the resulting addictions that they think are just “sins that easily beset them.”  Then there are other emotions they are not connecting with their anger.  Just a thought.  After all, ANGER is an emotion.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

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

Day 103 - Forgiveness and Confession

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 50

         

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

As a pastor the issue of “forgiveness and confession” is one I deal with over and over again with numerous members.  And it is one my wife and I have had to face many times in our role in the church…amazing how many times pastors and staff are hurt by church members.  It has been over 25 years since we made the decision: “We cannot not forgive, no matter what someone does to us.” 

DAY 103

Forgiveness and Confession

Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, “I repent,” forgive him. --Luke 17:3, 4

A break in a relationship generally has the following sequence. First, there is an offense within the relationship; next, a break in the relationship; hopefully, repentance by the offender; forgiveness by the offended party; and, in the end, restoration. In the passage above Jesus is not sanctioning what is currently passed off as wisdom, and that is going to those who have offended and telling them that they are forgiven, when they have never asked for forgiveness. Jesus is clearly speaking of one who “returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent’”; it is that one who receives forgiveness. It cheapens forgiveness to give it when people are not asking for it; it actually cheapens relationships. Now, what are we to do when someone has offended us and yet refuses to show that he is sorry or in need of forgiveness? First, we make sure that God has worked a basic principle in us, that of accepting the truth that we are to be offended until we cannot be offended. If others can offend you, then self is still actively seeking its own good and others can control us. Do any of us have a legitimate right to be offended? Next, we do not have the Scriptural right to be offering forgiveness where there is no repentance, so what is there to do? Do we walk in unforgiveness? No, for that is when we bless those who curse us. By blessing those who curse us, we will be able to keep the offenders from living rent-free in our head. Of course, when someone does repent, we must forgive.

(underlining my emphasis – Lee)

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

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

Day 280 - The Lord Rebuke You!

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 49

         

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

Are there any harsher words to hear than “The Lord Rebuke You”?  Of course, as Michael quickly points out…it is not only hearing the Lord say it to me, but to receive His rebuke!  I wonder why the church has not taught this simple way of speaking to Satan when he is “attacking” us?  Let’s find out a couple of things…

DAY 280

The Lord Rebuke You!

But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” --Jude 9

In my life, I have had the Lord rebuke me. I will never forget it, nor do I ever want it to happen again. Nahum 1:6, “Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the burning of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken up by Him.” I was rebuked for slander, judgment, and image building. After the rebuke, if He had not picked me up, set me on my feet, and whispered, “I love you,” I would not have ever gotten up again. I would have quit and hidden. That would have been it for me. Others would never have heard from me again. Hebrews 10:31, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” I have been there, but I share this to make a greater point. The worst possible thing that we can do to Satan is to say to him, “The Lord rebuke you!” It wipes him out, sends him away, reminds him of the fact he has no glory, and it frees us from oppression. I am a living witness to what can happen under a rebuke. However, because of unbelief, many fight Satan instead of just passing on to him a rebuke of the Lord. There has been a spiritual warfare movement afoot for years to sidetrack believers into worshipping Satan, in the sense of giving attention to him. These well-meaning believers give Satan more notice and attribute to him more glory (the ability to act, control, and bring all things to a desired end) than do overt devil worshippers. Many churches have dedicated themselves to being “warrior” churches. Imagine being dedicated to fighting a battle that has already been won! It is unbelief. Satan is already defeated. “Satan, the Lord rebuke you! You have no power!”

Perhaps, for me, one of the most exciting, life-giving, energizing, liberating truths in the Bible is found in John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  Unfathomable riches.  HERE IS A TRUTH that could be freeing Christians all around the world, and it is as if the church has never heard of this!

It is incredible how many well-meaning Christians are still battling a war that has been won by our Lord Jesus Christ.  “The devil made me do it.”  “Satan is attacking me all the time.”  And on and on and on the poor, defeated Christian goes.  What happened to “overcomer”?

And then we have some who are living in sin, and when confronted about needing to turn to the Lord they proclaim, “I pray all the time!”  Praying what?  “Lord, give me the OK to sin”???  As someone once said, “They need to quit praying and start obeying.”

I am grateful for Michael’s insights gained as he went through this battle in his own life, whatever the circumstances were.  Once again, he points us to the Victor, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His way to victory in our lives.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

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

Day 133 - He Leads Me Through My Choosing

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 48

         

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

We can learn MUCH from the pictures of life expressed in many verses of Scripture…just like the ones in John ch. 10.  After all the talk about “our choosing,” Michael addresses the dramatic impact of just how the Lord is involved in “our choosing.”  Great read today!

DAY 133

He Leads Me Through My Choosing

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. –John 10:14, 15

What are we like as sheep? Sheep naturally follow; they know the voice of the one who protects and provides. They can be led, unlike most animals that must be driven. They do not have the constitution for a fight; once on their backs, they just cry out. They have no apparent plan, and they like to spread out. A good shepherd does not fight the nature of the sheep but uses it; he understands the weaknesses of the sheep and fills the gap. Though the sheep may sleep when the wolves are about, the shepherd will not. The sheep have no clue about the cares and needs of tomorrow, but the shepherd does. The sheep have neither a plan nor a method of realizing it, but the shepherd does. In every way that the sheep are weak, the shepherd is strong.

How is all this of practical value to us today? I would like to apply it to decision-making, since most believers simply do not recognize their weakness in that area or, consequently, their need for the Shepherd as their strength. The Shepherd has been leading us in the natural events of life; that is His job. He is only asking us to be what we are by nature, and that includes how we do not know the future, exactly what we should be doing tomorrow, or the exact place He is leading us. If we did grasp all those things, we would not be walking by faith and could not possibly be pleasing to Him, for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). But what do we naturally do? The answer is different for each person. I know what I naturally do: write, lecture, travel, disciple, and walk. No one has to tell me to do these things, for I have naturally grown into doing them since I became a believer. This is the sheep-life for me today. For you it may be taking care of the kids, cleaning the house, and uttering a few pleas to God in the scarce few quiet moments between the demands of being a mother and wife. It may be that you commute, work, commute, return to play taxi driver, put out a few fires in your relationships, and before bed find a few moments of time for the Scriptures. The important thing is whether or not you can believe that He has led you to that place. If you think you are responsible for the place you are in, then unbelief has an inroad and you will be wasting time thinking of the “what if’s.” I believe the times I was in school, a leatherworker, a construction worker, unemployed, a manager, a janitor, a Christmas-tree harvester, an auto mechanic, a teamster, a campus minister, a remodeler, a painter, or an international speaker, I was always being led! I have a Shepherd who leads me through the natural, and I will not believe anything else, for here is a secret! The sheep are led, they know not where, but confined in the vast pasture they get to pick the grass that is most appealing to them. He led me into marriage, yet I chose my wife. He led me to school, but I picked which school. He led me to move to Tennessee, New Mexico, Kansas, and Colorado through natural events, yet I chose to go to those places. He was leading, I was picking, and I always picked the perfect thing. Yes, He is leading through my choosing. Today He has led me into an international ministry, and I get to pick where I want to go. I cannot make a mistake, because I am in the pasture to which He led me. Do you see that the decision is always made in the context of the pasture within which He has placed you? He is leading you in a pasture; nothing in it can cause your undoing, so you are free to pick any of the things that you see (obviously we are not talking about the sin that may trespass through your pasture). This is a faith walk; if you are unbelieving, you dare not enter into this discussion. A small God makes for big decisions on your shoulders, while a big God makes for small decisions. Unbelief makes for labored decisions, while a big God speeds things up.

Gospel writer John, in quoting Jesus, lists three important truths in verse 14 of the 10^th chapter of the “The Gospel According to John”:

   1.  “I am the good shepherd”

   2.  “I know My own”

   3.  “My own know Me”

With this, Jesus is declaring the incredible relationship each of His brethren have with Him, and Him with us.  And with the sort of intimacy Jesus describes, (and learning what it is to “be a sheep”), it is easy to see how He leads us in our daily choices.

Michael points out accompanying truths that compliment the relationship:

1.  sheep naturally are followers
2.  sheep know the voice of the one who protects and provides (the good shepherd)
3.  sheep also can be led (by the good shepherd)
4.  sheep do not have the constitution to fight
5.  sheep do not have any apparent plan, or how to realize it…and they like to

        spread out…but the shepherd has a plan

6.  sheep may sleep when wolves are nearby, but the shepherd will not
7.  sheep have no clue about the cares and needs of tomorrow, but the shepherd

        does

8.  sheep, in every way, are weak…but the shepherd is strong
9.  a good shepherd does not fight the nature of a sheep, but uses it
10.  a good shepherd understands the weaknesses of the sheep and fills the gap

Michael follows with a most definitive statement that every Christian has to decide whether they believe it, or not:  “the Shepherd has been leading us in the events of life; that is His job.”  Do you believe that?  I do.  If Jesus isn’t leading us in the events of life, then His claim to be our “Good Shepherd” in John 10:14 would be false.  Good shepherds are always very involved in leading the sheep in their care.

But, then, Michael’s analogy of our Shepherd leading us to (green) pastures, and giving us a choice of where we want to “eat” (“pick the grass that is most appealing to us”…isn’t that good?!?) within that pasture is most freeing.  I FIND GREAT COMFORT IN JESUS’ LEADING, AND ME JUST PICKING…ALWAYS A PERFECT PICK IN JESUS’ EYES.  I CANNOT MAKE A BAD PICK IN HIS PASTURE OF CHOOSING!!!

Sad to say, I have encountered many Christians who are unbelieving, and they are constantly carrying around “big decisions on their shoulders.”  Well, amen.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

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

Day 44 - Choice As A Lifestyle

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 47

         

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

Simple, yet profound.  Pricking the heart with each new sentence.  That’s what this “day” holds for every reader.  “Following Jesus” holds a new meaning after this…

(check out the colorization…lets you know how important I think these truths are!)

DAY 44

Choice as a Lifestyle

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” –John 8:12

After The Choice, the door is open to making hundreds of choices, each of which will have to do with the progressive conversion of seeing Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life in a particular situation. Each conversion (change in thinking) is uniquely situated in the order in which a believer needs to have it. The revelation that Jesus is living in a person comes more from what the person refuses to do than what he does do! The believer chooses to refuse bitterness, anger, justification, debate, hatred, self-righteousness, and competition, and instead follows the will of God. However, he knows that no matter how quickly or wholeheartedly the choice is made, it is really not his doing, but that of the Jesus that indwells him. The choice is not to ask Jesus for help to act like Him, but to ask Jesus to act through him. It is not the surrender of the will in passivity but the activation of the will through choosing Jesus. The choosing Christian never says, “Jesus, help me say the right thing. Jesus, help me love. Jesus, help me be pleasing to God. Jesus, help me be more like You.” No, the choosing Christian says, “Jesus, be my words, my love, my acceptance, and my life,” and allows the peace of God to rule in his heart. Any variation in peace causes him to back up, listen, and invite Jesus to be his Way, his Truth, and his Life. The choosing Christian discovers he can do things he never thought possible, things that in self were not attainable. The abiding/choosing Christian can say no to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life; he can say no to appetites because he is dead to sin and, in Christ Jesus, no longer a slave to it. Christ in him living through him as though it were he becomes a reality. The chooser is as active as the chooser was in Jesus, Who daily chose “not My will but Thine.” He chose not to follow anything but God’s will to the point of death! An active chooser picks not to be like Jesus but for the will of the Father to live out of him through Jesus.

Practically speaking, those we love the most will hurt us the most. I do not believe the abandonment from the crowd was as vexing to Jesus as the abandonment from those into whom He had poured His life. How could He be so positive as to say, “You will sit on twelve thrones”? Jesus made a choice to be yielded in His heart and embrace “not My will but Thine,” and the Father’s words came. So the believer is offended by one he loves; something rude is said, there is an explosion, past events are brought into the present, and the wound is deep. However, the believer has had a conversion and accepts that Jesus is his Way, Truth, and Life. Choosing anything other than “Your will, not mine” will result in feeling lost, lied to, and the stench of death the flesh brings with it. The abiding/choosing believer just will not sacrifice the peace of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Therefore, in the situation, he pauses, invites Jesus to be his life, his words, his love, and his wisdom. He hears His voice, “a kind word turns away wrath.” Jesus would only do through him what is best for him; love can do nothing else.

When Barbara and I became Christians, our pastor told us: “In being Born Again, you now have a new ‘Wanter.’  What you used to ‘want’ you will not want anymore…what you now ‘want,’ you never used to want before.”  Our choices from that day forward indicated that new “Wanter.”

Amazingly, we didn’t realize the door had been opened “to making hundreds of choices, each of which have to do with the progressive conversion of seeing Jesus as the Way, the Truth, the Life in a particular situation.  Having a new “wanter” is different from making a choice. 

To know and experience “conversion” as a “change in thinking” enables one to see the progression of Life becoming more prevalent and more beautiful.  Typically, most Christians think “conversion” happens only once…that which transpires at the time of being Born Again when one goes from trusting in “works” to trusting in Christ as “no one comes to the Father but through Me (Christ).”  Truly, life as a Christian should be a progressive conversion from the old way of thinking.

Interestingly, what many Christians don’t make provision for is that it is possible to “backslide” in the way of thinking, and wanting, and choosing.  That is really where Abiding comes in…”The abiding/choosing Christian can say no…”  Let us all encourage one another to Abide and have much progressive conversion in Christ!

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

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