Day 224 - Pride

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 39

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

Golly, just looked down my list of “days” I have commented on in this blog…noticed I hadn’t done any yet on “pride.”  Then it dawned on me…maybe I don’t want to look at that subject anymore than most would!  However…it is one of the most “marked on,” “notes in margin,” and “underlined” days in my copy of Mike’s book!!!  Well, amen.

DAY 224

Pride

Pride {goes} before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. --Proverbs 16:18

Pride, like Satan himself, is the master of disguise. We see the overtly proud person whose acts are so obvious in his haughty attitude as he thinks himself better, looks down on the afflicted, and expects to reign. We see him and find him disturbing because he amplifies what is hidden in us, though we think, “What a jerk! If only he could get a good look at himself from the outside!” However, he is blind and proud of his nakedness. What I want to talk about is disguised pride, something much more insidious. 

Did you know that depression is usually disguised pride that occurs as a person reacts to the blow of the realization that he cannot be perfect, control himself and others, or do any manner of a good job of imitating God? Self-hatred is pride, for how can one hate self unless he has fallen from the lofty image he had of his own flesh? Self-deprecation can be pride. “Oh, I cannot do that; I am too stupid and have never succeeded in anything. No one likes me. God could never use me.” Just how much time does the self-deprecating person spend thinking about himself? Victimization is pride. “Oh, let me tell you what they said to me. How could anyone say that? How could anyone be so unkind?” “I got cheated; the family took my money. Do you think I deserve to be treated that way?” Being offended is pride. “How dare you say that to me!” Self-defense is pride. Does one really think that his flesh is so wonderful that it needs defending? Then there is inferiority, and that is definitely pride. The inferior have spent so much time looking for good in themselves that eventually they find the bad; if they know good, they will know evil. Jealousy, hating one’s unrighteousness, obsession on failure and rejection, the feeling that one does not deserve anything, expecting the worst, being negative, all are pride. See how it is the master of disguise?

OUCH!  That hurt, didn’t it?  Well….amen. 

A great thing about this writing is that probably for the first time we see the actual reality that these things ARE pride.  With that identification, then we can decide whether we will do something about all that pride that is leading to much destruction in our lives.

SO…what do we do.  Thelo.  Greek word for “to will…not only willing something, but also pressing on to action…to have a mind to.”  We must acknowledge that God has told us that all this (things Michael mentions) as “pride” comes before our destruction/damage/injury/stumbling.  Rip off the disguise, get up and get moving in Christ.  “Lord Jesus, come and be my love.  Come and be my acceptance and contentment.  Come and be my worthiness.  Come and work all things together for our benefit.  Amen & 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 119 - God Is Creative in the Weak

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 38

         

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

One of the greatest weaknesses of the church today is that we have no “ministry of weakness.”  It is almost unacceptable to be “weak” in church work today.  Everyone is expected to be “strong” in the Lord.  Michael points out in today’s writing why God is unable to work in so many Christians…

DAY 119

God is Creative in the Weak

No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins. --Mark 2:22

God can only do something creative through a weak, unknowing person. Familiarity with a job encourages doing it the same way and not, in humility, seeking Him for His way. For example, a person with thirty years of successful experience with missions, teaching, or church building will not, generally speaking, seek the Father for how He wants things done today or in a new place. It will be done the same way without thought, and the person will find himself in a rut. The problem with many churches is that they either stay in a rut or go examine other people’s ruts instead of going to the Lord and discovering whether there is something new that He would do. I meet many people fearful to take up the call of God. They do not know how to preach, they do not know how to lead, and they do not know enough about the topic. But here is a secret: water cannot be put in a full cup; new wine cannot be put in an old wineskin. The fearful person is the perfect one in whom God can be creative. If he believes he cannot do something, he can admit it and let the Lord do something new. This message of Christ in man is old, and yet with each generation God would make it fresh. In weakness, allow Him to do just that, make it fresh.

How sad it is that the church does not know the “incredible truth” Michael points out in the opening sentence of this writing.  In fact, since the opposite is “known” and practiced today, the church has indeed become WEAK.  Flesh is the game today in church.  And FLESH has become the game today in individual Christian lives.  WEAKNESS is a “no-no.”  And the power of God is missing.

How could we miss this?  The beloved Apostle Paul said it over and over again that he was a “not,” and that everything he did was really of God.  Jesus said that HE was a “not,” and that all HE did was really God doing it through Him. 

Until we come to the realization and acknowledgement that Christianity is all about HIM PERFORMING and not us performing, and then acknowledging our “weakness” and apart from Him we are nothing…WE and the CHURCH will remain impotent.

Let’s wake up…admit who and what we are…and let the Lord do something new and creative in our lives and in our churches!  Christ in us…our hope!  Which Christians, which churches, are going to allow God to make that fresh today?

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 118 - Goals

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 37

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

All of us know about “goals.”  And, actually, goals are not a bad thing.  The old adage, “If you don’t aim at something, you never will hit it,” stands true still to this day.  Focus helps us “aim” and reach our goals.  The question is: What is a good goal?  Or, what should I be aiming for?  Michael shows us what God’s goal for us is.

DAY 118

Goals

But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. --I Timothy 1:5

I have often thought how odd it is that at a relatively young age we are expected to discover something to do for the rest of our lives. I can remember being asked, “What are you going to do with your life?” Life has a diminishing quantity, and being responsible for doing something wisely with it can be overwhelming. In some countries the decision is not nearly so vexing, where caste and economy determine what one will “do with his life.” Nevertheless, everyone must determine how to spend his time on earth.

Imagine the goal of life as being the hub of a wheel, with life’s activities being the spokes that support it. The hub should always be faith in God. We exist to grow in faith, a goal worthy of our lives. We can look at every situation as to how it affects faith and belief. Giving our life to faith is satisfying, because faith is fulfilling and nourishing. In order for life to have a purpose, it must be given to something greater than itself. Faith gives life a purpose. 

Dissatisfaction arises when something that should be a spoke, a support for the goal of life, moves in to replace the hub. At this point one will always feel depleted. For instance, having children builds faith, just as not having children builds faith. Raising a child in today’s world will keep one constantly trusting in Jesus; not having a child, when man is created to procreate, will also keep one’s eyes focused on Jesus. In these two cases, the spoke leading to the center is different, but what it leads to, faith, is constant.

However, when a child that one has, or the child one wishes he had, becomes the goal of life, faith is not built and life loses its meaning. The same is true of having or not having marriage, health, money, vocation, ministry, or security. Though spokes differ widely, life can be enjoyed as long as faith in the Lord is the goal and life’s pursuits teach and lead to faith. Look around and view all of the spokes, but the hub in which one stands is not visible. Relax in what is not seen: our God. Faith is the hub, and we have a God.

Two things stand out immediately to me in Michael’s writing:  (1) Life, for a Christian, is all about faith in God.  (2) How easy it is to let something become the “hub” of our life when it is nothing more than a “spoke.”

I heard someone teaching on parenting say one time that many are led to believe that they start a family when they have their first child.  But quickly the teacher said, “that is not truth.”  When two get married, in God’s eyes, they have started their family.  Children are an addition to the family, not the beginning of a family.  Is it any wonder even Christians are as quick to divorce when something goes wrong with the kids, the kids become too much, or one even says, “I didn’t want kids in the first place.”  The spoke took the place of the hub.

Everyday life is difficult enough…we need biblical faith to live life as a Christian.  It makes a difference when facing life’s trials and tragedies.  Faith begins when we believe.  And God’s Word says it comes from our believing His Word.  Actually we can’t even believe in Him without His Word. (Romans 10) 

Paul had 3 goals in his biblical teaching: (1) love from a pure heart, (2) a good conscience, and (3) a sincere faith.  Sounds like faith, hope, and love. 

As Michael points out, faith is fulfilling and nourishing and gives life a purpose (hope).  Love covers all the ins and outs, ups and downs, overs and unders of life.  Faith comes from believing God IS, and God is in control of all the above.  No wonder Christians live with so much HOPE!

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

Say 28 - Bitterness Bondage

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness For His Strength - # 36

         

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

If you don’t have one of Michael’s books as yet, let me encourage you to contact ALMI and get one…so many great “days” where Michael has shared the jewels of wisdom God gave him over the years of ministering around the world with 1,000’s of people.  His Heavenly Discipleship book ought to be every Christian pastor, teacher, and counselor’s textbook, with My Weakness For His Strength the perfect “compliment.”

Three “days” in a row in Michael’s book…three weeks now in a row for us to consider these damaging decisions and emotions.  It is no wonder the Apostle Paul wrote that we must “stand firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  And, do not “let a root of bitterness spring up…”  Look at where Michael tells us this leads... 

DAY 28

Bitterness Bondage

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. –Galatians 5:1

Bitterness is oppression from the enemy, who has invested many hours whispering about the supposed misery caused by others. The most predominant trait of the bitter is that he considers himself a victim, having had to suffer and go it alone without help, support, or respect. He is isolated, forced to a place of self-sufficiency. No one even cares, and he is angry. This attitude of bitterness can begin with a dislike, distrust, or even hatred of one's mate, but soon turns into hatred of the opposite sex. Women are viewed as complaining, impossible to please, picky, manipulative, non-submissive, rebellious, and domineering; they only care about seeing a paycheck, they lack respect, and a man never knows what he is coming home to. To a bitter wife, men are seen as proud, insensitive, arrogant, passive know-it-alls who only care about themselves, sex, and having their egos continually stroked; they are slow to fulfill their responsibilities and cannot do things right. Soon both spouses decide that they can live without sex, communication, approval, or the support of their mates. I have talked with couples that had mutually decided through bitterness to withdraw sexually from one another for periods of more than ten years. These attitudes will often be communicated to the children of the couple through various overt or covert messages, leaving many today fearful of the opposite sex.   

It takes a surprisingly short amount of time for bitterness to become a person's comfort zone. It is actually easy to withdraw and put the mate under the magnifying glass, waiting for the next word or action that will prove the negative assessment of the relationship and the hopeless state of the mate. I have been amazed at how frustrated a bitter believer becomes at the suggestion that his mate may not be as bad as he believes. He hates to hear such a thing! As I draw attention to the bitter one's inability to love in spite of offenses, the conversation is immediately turned away from his failure back to the inexcusable behavior of the other. I can only ascertain that this type of person has every intention of remaining bitter.

Just this week I heard another sad story of family members being estranged from one another because one had hurt the other…years ago…and there never has been the humility and decision to “ask forgiveness” (even to admit “I’m wrong”) that leads to forgiving and reconciliation that God so strongly desires for everyone to experience.  It is the epitome of our relationship with Him.

And with so many Christians living with the mask of “I’m fine” greeting others, when the fires of unforgiveness and bitterness smolder beneath the surface and behind the mask, it is no wonder the church has become weak and inept and is not winning the world to Christ.

If you know someone who is living with bitterness, ask God to give you the opportunity and the wherewithal to get them to the point of getting help to rid themselves of this bondage.  And one key ingredient in total restoration is the healing of the damaged emotions that are present in any case of unforgiveness and bitterness.  God wants to heal the emotions as much as He wants to deal with the forgiveness.

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