Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - #
321
Michael’s book is
available through:
ABIDING LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Littleton, Colorado
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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.
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(blog)
www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com
P.O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches,
TX 75963 936-559-5696
