Something's Not Adding Up

[Aquila]

I don't know why I feel impressed to share this. The Lord showed me something unique several years ago that sounds wacky, and I risk it being laughed at by posting it, but it has helped many that I've shared it with.

Much of our pain, discouragement, hesitation, guild, shame, or self-condemnation is rooted in a memory of our past. The way we choose to experience the memory of the hurt or abuse, ill timed action, failure, or sin often causes us to limp through our spiritual lives. The Lord revealed something to me in my studies regarding "the mind of Christ". Sometimes in order to get to the next level we have to revisit those painful memories. We have to see them for the damage they are causing. We have to also move into the Spirit and begin to prophetically see them through the eyes of Jesus. When slow down, silence the mind, open the heart, and begin to allow the mind of Jesus to be activated in our inner man (our spirit) we can see those things as Jesus sees them. Often our greatest failures led us to our greatest moments in Christ's eyes. Sometimes the abuse is something that has been perpetuated for generations and must be brought before the Lord and forgiven for the sake of generations to come. Like the sins He bore to the cross, we have to bear them as part of our priesthood and carry them to Him to heal and forgive...and so the terrible thing that happened to us... had to happen that we might cleanse ourselves and break the cycle. Sometimes we have to see those who have harmed us through the eyes of Jesus... and truly... forgive, pleading the blood on their account. When we have truly redefined those painful memories through the eyes of Jesus Himself, we can be set free from the guilt, shame, condemnation, and pain. One can also envision what happened, and pray for one's self. Yes, I know it sounds strange at first. But picture one of your greatest failures. Soak in the memory, and pray for yourself as you feel the mind of Christ manifest. Hear the words that Jesus is speaking through you, about you, and for you. Hear the grace, the love, the understanding. Hear... the hope. Hear how much faith He has in you. You're not defeated. That wasn't a crushing blow. See it as He sees it. And release how you have defined it all these years. I call it, Healing The Past...because I don't know what else to call it.

I don't know why I felt the impression to share that. Most will laugh at it or critique it. And that's fine. Truth can always stand up to the fires that test it. And if we're seeking to be as authentic as we can be, we should welcome criticism and trial when it comes to test what we have experienced or have come to believe. What is true will always be left standing. And any rough edges or lose ends will be smoothed out and burned away. Our understanding will ultimately be refined. In this, especially on these forums, we serve one another an eternal service. Only eternity will reveal how we've actually helped one another through from glory to glory and ultimately... to Heaven itself.

[aegsm76]

I have been PM'd 2-3 times on here with posters who thought I knew who they were, because of what I said to them.
In the past I have hesitated to say things to people, however, when I have yielded I have never been wrong.
Now, lest anyone think I am praising myself, I am not.
I make many mistakes on my own.
God help us to listen to his voice more and our own, less.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

I have been PM'd 2-3 times on here with posters who thought I knew who they were, because of what I said to them.
In the past I have hesitated to say things to people, however, when I have yielded I have never been wrong.
Now, lest anyone think I am praising myself, I am not.
I make many mistakes on my own.
God help us to listen to his voice more and our own, less.

Amen.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

I have been PM'd 2-3 times on here with posters who thought I knew who they were, because of what I said to them.
In the past I have hesitated to say things to people, however, when I have yielded I have never been wrong.
Now, lest anyone think I am praising myself, I am not.
I make many mistakes on my own.
God help us to listen to his voice more and our own, less.

I'd be tempted to be like,"Yes I know who you are and stop picking your nose." Lol jk...I wouldn't ever do that.

[n david]

Ron White:

""I was sitting on a bean bag chair, naked, eating Cheetos the other day when Robert Tilton came on TV. He's a televangelist out of Dallas.

He looked at me and said, "Are you lonely?"

Yeah.

"Have you spent half your life in bars pursuing sins of the flesh?"

This guy's good!

"Are you sitting in a bean bag chair naked eating Cheetos?"...

Yes, sir!

"Do you have the urge to get up and send me a thousand dollars?"

Ha, ha close! I thought he was talking about me there for a second!""

[Esaias]

lol

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Ron White:

""I was sitting on a bean bag chair, naked, eating Cheetos the other day when Robert Tilton came on TV. He's a televangelist out of Dallas.

He looked at me and said, "Are you lonely?"

Yeah.

"Have you spent half your life in bars pursuing sins of the flesh?"

This guy's good!

"Are you sitting in a bean bag chair naked eating Cheetos?"...

Yes, sir!

"Do you have the urge to get up and send me a thousand dollars?"

Ha, ha close! I thought he was talking about me there for a second!""

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I see what you mean. The ones that most concern me though are the ones who feel that they have some sort of direct communication and revelation that is vastly superior to most other people, that most other people *just don't get it*

I think the ones who God has decided are allowed into His private counsel, and are given particular gifting in the Spirit, are humble enough to not make an idol out of themselves. Things which are done in secret are rewarded openly by the Father, if the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ stays where it belongs: in the face of Jesus Christ, and not on the man or woman.

If someone is masquerading as the great power of God a la Simon the Sorcerer, there is no doubt they will perish in their sin, except they repent.

On a related note, this reminds me of Balaam, who, in his pride, insisted he had some great connection to YHVH, that he could speak for him as prophet and oracle, but really, was nowhere near as spiritual as he thought he was.

Such folks need a meeting with the Angel of YHVH with sword in hand.

[votivesoul]

For me, this is what it comes down to:

There are those who are ever learning, but not able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They may have a Doctor of Divinity degree from a prestigious seminary, they may have studied Near Eastern languages, and can translate the Bible on the fly. They know the commentary, and are considered by many to be the elite of the theologians of the world, and still be so far off from actually knowing anything that actually matters, like the Godhead, or the Gospel, or etc., that all their learning hasn't done jack for them when it comes to salvation, eternal life, and etc.

Additionally, there are those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. The seem to walk the walk, talk the talk, and from all outward appearances, seem to be the real deal, a bonafide believer in Jesus Christ. But when it comes to seeing the power of God manifest in their life, they come up short. Why? Paul wrote to the Corinthians that the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power, and he knew there were many who were puffed up there, and when he arrived, he intended to see a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit in them, to find out whether they were all fluff, a bunch of talking heads who sounded spiritual, but couldn't prove beyond their yammering that the Holy Spirit was truly active and immersed into their endeavors.

Then there are those humble folks who sincerely love God, love His Word, stand for truth, and etc., but feel like they aren't as spiritual as others, because the charismata never seem to happen in and through them. It's always someone else getting used by God. They never get asked to lead, teach, preach, or what have you, because someone else is always being anointed by the Holy Spirit to do those things. They remain confused. They serve God the best they know how, they are always available to the church for whatever ministry needs a helping hand, but inwardly they doubt themselves and their relationship with the Father, because to them, He seems to play favorites.

All of this and more, but look again at Ananias. He has no particular claim to fame in the Bible, except to be the one to bring the Gospel to Paul. That may seem like small potatoes, but being the one to evangelize the greatest evangelist the world has ever seen is as important as doing anything else. If Ananias doesn't obey the Lord, what happens? Who knows?

My point is, if a person will just shutter all the negative garbage that goes through their head, and simply find the better part at the feet of Messiah, hearing His words, if they will simply cultivate a lively intimacy and devoted following to their Master, the Lord will speak with them, and one day, if they do nothing else in the Kingdom that seems to matter, if they do nothing else but hear from God, obey him, and minister to one lost sinner, like Ananias, they may end up bringing a great man or woman of God into the sheepfold.

It's all about perspective. The rat-race is alive and well in Pentecost. Martha is overburdened and complaining, nagging the Lord to make someone else do the serving for a change, jealous of the ones who don't seem to be doing anything but sitting down with Christ at His table.

Ministerial burnout is at an all-time high, if the stats are to be believed. And in my estimation, burnout only occurs when someone starts carrying a burden God didn't give to them. Many ministers around the globe can preach the rafters down, but can't befriend a lonely man on a park bench and talk to him about Jesus. I am of the opinion that the latter matters more than the former.

Martha can throw a great party. She is the host with the most. But inwardly, she's craving attention, feeling angry, and wanting to give up, because Mary is where she, Martha, knows she ought to be.

So, if we would emulate anyone, if we would "be" anyone, why not be an Ananias, who was so intimate with the Lord, that He and Jesus had an actual, lengthy dialogue. Jesus personally invited him into the throne-room and talked with him about the private counsel of God regarding the man who would go on to write most of the New Testament. When's the last time something like that happened to you?

Can it? Should it? Or is it only reserved for the special? The elite of the elect? I submit the last shall be first. It's better to be a porter in the house of the LORD than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. There are a lot of big names out there, and a lot of them are corrupt. There are also a lot of no namers who haven't gotten a single accolade for anything they are or do. Just like Jesus, their voice is not heard crying in the streets. But they likely know their Savior better than most. I would rather be that person. Wouldn't you?

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

For me, this is what it comes down to:
. . .
It's better to be a porter in the house of the LORD than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. There are a lot of big names out there, and a lot of them are corrupt. There are also a lot of no namers who haven't gotten a single accolade for anything they are or do. Just like Jesus, their voice is not heard crying in the streets. But they likely know their Savior better than most. I would rather be that person. Wouldn't you?

Amen, the most precious time for me is my early morning closet time. I'm purposing distilling my life down to precious essentials and making them non negotiable.

• Bible/prayer/journaling
• walking with the dog/healthy eating
• home/family
• Church/fellowship

And with the Church/fellowship, I do what I feel called to do, and what I can do with joy, I refuse to be pressured and don't care what people think or if they like it or not.