Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 5
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
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.
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
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