Prayer, Knowledge, & Counseling

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 8

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

 

PRAYER, KNOWLEDGE, & COUNSELING

 excerpt from pages 25-27 of SIW (5^th printing, March 1998)

excerpt from pages 18-20 of SIW (14^th printing, March 2012)

                   (used with permission from ALMI):

The Church is cluttered with shipwrecked scholars who thought the Bible was written for understanding and did not recognize it was written to give life (my emphasis by making bold – Lee Mc)…God is not to be systematized and understood – that is something that unbelievers do to God – rather, He is to be obeyed and worshiped…I believe that many times the pursuit of knowledge keeps us from prayer.  In fact, it is much easier to pursue knowledge than to pursue the Lord in prayer…

Because there are many hurting Christians in the Church, quite an interest has developed in Christian counseling.  Many Christians hold vehemently that self-knowledge gained through psychological counseling is a concrete aid to helping the defeated enter into victory.  However, one disturbing thing about some Christian counseling is that the Lord Jesus and His supernatural activity in our lives is often left out; the advice given to the Christian would suit the unbeliever just as well.  True Christian counseling leaves a person looking to Christ, not to himself.  I have always found puzzling the measure of hostility that can be raised among Christians when they hear Jesus is all we need.  We are commanded to cast our anxiety on the Lord, not on psychology:

         ...I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for

         a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.  I was ashamed to ask the

         king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, because we

         had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his

         anger is against all who forsake him.”  So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and

         he answered our prayer.

                                                                                                                          Ezra 8:21-23  NIV

At some point are we also not ashamed for running to the world for the answers to the problems in man’s soul?

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

 

Michael notes a major point that dramatically affects the lives of so many
Christians…they are taught from the time of being Born Again that Bible Study is so important to gain understanding of God, know about God, and to try and get in on what God is doing.  All the while running from one Bible study, one Bible conference, one preaching service…to another…trying to gain more knowledge from the Bible…AND NEVER REALLY CONNECTING WITH GOD HIMSELF, AND CERTAINLY NOT GETTNG THE LIFE THE BIBLE IS INTENDED TO GIVE.  What a tragedy!

But the one thing that has grieved my heart as much as anything is the LACK of “the Lord Jesus and the supernatural activity in our lives” being included in most of the counseling done in Christian churches and circles.  My goodness…Christianity is all about Him, His power…and not us.  It is all about Him in us, us being crucified, Him being our life.  If we are not teaching that, counseling that, encouraging the discovery and participation in that, WE ARE NOT HELPING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD one iota.  Michael hits the nail on the head: “At some point are we also not ashamed for running to the world for the answers to the problems in man’s soul?”  We should be.

Life verses.  Those scriptures that speak to the life of Christ that provide ALL the answers for any problem in man’s soul.  Search the scriptures, make note of them, embrace them, and let the rhema of God’s Word become real in your life!  And watch His power dominate your life.  Well, amen.

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Getting Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com   Look to the top right hand side of the page, enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT.  You will receive a “confirmation email,” and when you click on the link and “confirm,” you will receive all new posts via email.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

1737 CR 2051    Nacogdoches, Tx 75965                                                 936-559-5696

Merely The Teaching of Man

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 7

         

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

MERELY THE TEACHING OF MAN

 excerpt from page 24 of SIW (5^th printing, March 1998)

excerpt from pages 17 of SIW (14^th printing, March 2012)

                   (used with permission from ALMI):

“The defeated can be found among those who were baptized in the 'proper' manner at the 'proper' time, who are submitting to spiritual authorities, who lead shepherding groups, who have whole books of the Bible memorized, who promote devotional and quiet times, who are tireless evangelists, who maintain levels of separation from the world, who make positive confessions, who read only the King James Version, who will not own a piano, and who have read all the good Christian books on parenting.  We believe the words of Jesus, 'You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free' (John 8:32).  Obviously those things which we are mentioning are not the truth, for those who practice them are not free.

The believer who is seeking a method to bring relief to his paltry state will rarely ask himself, 'Where is Jesus in all of this?”' In fact, if he would take the time to listen, he would notice that he was hearing less and less of the precious name of Jesus and more and more of what men exalt.

When presented a particular scheme that promises to bring success, the Christian should always ask the question, 'Could a committed Buddhist, Hindu, or Muslim accomplish this?”  If the answer is yes, then there is nothing supernatural about the method; it is merely the teaching of man.

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

                                                          Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

One of the first things I remember hearing Michael say was this: “In Christianity, any teaching that lands at my feet and tells me what I must do IS NOT the Truth.  Any teaching that lands at the feet of Jesus and tells me what He will do for me IS the Truth.”  Today’s writing differentiates Truth and Not The Truth.

The big question in every generation is WHY do Christians want to recognize, receive, accept, and try Man’s teaching instead of God’s?

Michael lists all the “not the Truths” the typical Christian encounters in search of that “life more abundantly” that Jesus proclaimed He came to give us.  And then he gives us the prime characteristic of “not the Truth”: “there is nothing supernatural about the method; it is merely the teaching of man.”  Christianity is supernatural.  Man is natural.  Christians are no longer “man,” but “supernatural,” because of Him dwelling in us (Spirit)…and us having His mind, His will, His emotions.

The big “secret” for Christians is to simply ask: “Where is Jesus in all of this?”  If He is not in the teaching, pass on it.  HE is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

 

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Getting Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com   Look to the top right hand side of the page, enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT.  You will receive a “confirmation email,” and when you click on the link and “confirm,” you will receive all new posts via email.

 

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

1737 CR 2051    Nacogdoches, Tx 75965                                                 936-559-5696

Same Level of Defeat

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 6

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

SAME LEVEL OF DEFEAT

excerpt from pages 22-23 of SIW (5^th printing, March 1998)
excerpt from pages 15-16 of SIW (14^th printing, March 2012)

                   (used with permission from ALMI):

“I believe in right and true teaching, but why is it that those who rest secure in their right teaching seem to be living on the same level of defeat as those who do not have such teaching?

Strong discipleship practices give a list of what to do for every conceivable situation.  They function under the supposition that people fail because they don’t know what to do.  But even in these very disciplined groups, those at the very top are not able to uphold all the rules and lists, and ultimately fall by the wayside in defeat.  The real issue is avoided: The lists of what to do to be spiritual and to change did not work.

To the same degree that man loses his God-consciousness, he increases the rules by which he lives.  Volumes of ordinances indicate one thing: We do not know God personally.  The Old Testament law was given for this very reason – man did not know God.  The Pharisees were an excellent example of this principle at work!  The more God-consciousness they lost, the more their edicts increased.

I recently did some reading on Jewish dietary laws.  In one article the author was emphatic that we Christians must not eat such meats as rabbit and camel.  The question that immediately came to mind was, ‘If I no longer eat rabbit and camels, will I get along with my wife better, will my children grow up knowing the Lord, and will I be able to overcome my depression and defeat?’  The answer is obviously ‘no.’  We should discuss something that will enable us to execute important acts of quality life.  When faced with wonderful theory, good-sounding teaching, laws prohibiting, or innovative frames of reference, I believe that we rarely ask ourselves the question, does this work?  We are so miserable in our present condition that we are willing to listen to anything that promises a quick remedy.”

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Michael gets right to the heart of the problem in too many churches in his very first sentence.  Why hasn’t “the church” taken steps to change?  Every week pastors see and hear folks whose lives (some hidden, some not…as far as the church family is concerned) are exactly like this. 

God deliver us from the “list and rules” churches.  And give us teaching like Michael details for us here:

·         The lists of what to do to be spiritual and to change don’t work.

·         Preach and teach God-consciousness…too many have none

·         Discuss something that will enable us to execute important acts of “life more

      abundantly”…that’s the quality life Jesus talked about giving to us

    (there are 7 things the NT describes as “life more abundantly”)

·         Ask the question over and over: Does this work?

·         Give up all quick remedies except going to Jesus!

I have started accumulating what I call “Life Verses.”  These are verses in both testaments that bring/give life to my life in Christ.  Look for some, be alert to “see” them when you come across them…but most of all…write them down, look at them often.  We cannot review too often these kind of words from our Lord.  And watch LIFE overcome defeat.

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Getting Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com   Look to the top right hand side of the page, enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT.  You will receive a “confirmation email,” and when you click on the link and “confirm,” you will receive all new posts via email.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

1737 CR 2051    Nacogdoches, Tx 75965                                                 936-559-5696

Lost and Found and Lost Again

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 5

       

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

LOST AND FOUND AND LOST AGAIN

excerpts from pages 17-21 of SIW (used with permission from ALMI):

note: today I will give an excerpt, then a comment…then an excerpt, then a comment…all are coming from chapter 2.

     Jesus makes an appeal to follow Him on the assumption that what people are really looking for is rest.  He knew the crowds around Him were “weary and heavy-laden.” (Matthew 11:28)

Unquestionably this could describe so many folks today, as it did in Jesus’ day.  Michael goes on to make the point that being tired is not really all that bad.  “For as long as we are full of vigor we will not come to Him to receive our rest.”  I like to say to folks at the church: It is ok to be worn out, but not burnt out.  Being worn out comes from doing what God has intended us to do, but has fatigued us.  Being burnt out comes from doing something other than what God has intended us to do, and the result is being dragged down and discouraged.

 

     What is it that causes mankind to experience such fatigue?  We are not only tired from carrying that daily load of troubles, lost dreams, disappointments, and family problems, but we are also weary from looking for a savior to give us some relief from the heavy load.  We have looked to our parents, friends, mates, and children, but since they are looking to us for help, they never seem to get around to assisting.  What we need is a supernatural Savior.

 Since meeting Michael Wells years ago, my wife and I have had one thought: we need Jesus…not the church…not the bible study…not ___________.  Then we acknowledged the same for the people in our church.  We started encouraging them to come to us, church, bible study, prayer meetings, etc. because we make it a point to always point them to JESUS at those encounters!  WE don’t have the help they need, but HE does.  Up until that divine encounter we had with Michael and Betty in Colorado years ago, it was all about the programs, the methods, the dedication…disguised as the manner we could “hook up” with the Lord.  All of that left us dry, fatigued, “burnt out” to a large degree.  Not any more.  The supernatural Savior is our everything.

 

 

     Once we have come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and given up on our ability to save ourselves, we are ready and willing to allow Christ to become our Savior.  We become in a word, dependent.

Watching a movie the other night, it was humorous to hear one of the actors telling another, “You won’t be able to help them until they ‘want’ it.”  Yikes!  Sounded just like it is in the ministry!  The big difference is that in real life we have the Holy Spirit working for us (“us” being those trying to minister to and help others).  He is the only one who can really talk someone into giving up on themselves and being ready and willing to allow Christ to do a work in their life…to become dependent, “to really want it.”

 

     A new Christian is so full of faith – believing that God can do anything – that God does in fact do much for him.  His new life can be likened to a honeymoon; all he cares about is pleasing his Savior.  The terms work or do never enter his vocabulary, for all he is commanded takes place naturally out of love, with no effort involved.

Michael points out a short time later that “slowly, almost imperceptibly, the honeymoon ends.  Ever so subtly the new believer takes his eyes off the Savior and sees only the ‘to do’s’ …before he knows it, self becomes the most important thing.”  How many reading this can identify with that?!?  Well, Michael quotes Andrew Murray two paragraphs later: “If you must work to be something you prove yourself not to be that thing at all.”  Beautiful!

Heading into chapter 3, Michael has laid the groundwork for taking our supernatural Savior along with us as we begin to explore “What Doesn’t Work” in more detail.  Aaahhh…I see some lists and rules and doctrines ahead…

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Getting Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com   Look to the top right hand side of the page, enter your email address in the box under “Follow,” then click on SUBMIT.  You will receive a “confirmation email,” and when you click on the link and “confirm,” you will receive all new posts via email.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

1737 CR 2051    Nacogdoches, Tx 75965                                                 936-559-5696