No Lasting Difference Between Good or Evil

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 12

         

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  Why a blog?  So that multitudes can receive the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner.  In the event you sign up to receive the weekly emails (see info at bottom) and then sometime in the future stop getting the emails, please remember you can go to the BLOGSITE and read each posting each week.  Then let me know (my email address below), and I will work to correct the problem.

It is a very subtle deceit that has crept into the practice of Christianity and is particularly more noticeable in the strict doctrinally legalistic churches.  Notice how Michael adeptly points out the subtlety of how we are so easily deceived…

NO LASTING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD OR EVIL

excerpt from pages 32-33 of SIW (5^th printing, March 1998)

excerpt from pages 25-27 of SIW (14^th printing, March 2012)

                   (used with permission from ALMI):

Witches study the evil side of the tree to gain more knowledge of evil; some so-called theologians study the good side of the tree to gain more knowledge of good, but there is no lasting difference between the two.  Again, the question must be asked, are today’s teachings yielding more additions to God’s standard or promoting performance that would apply equally as well to the Hindu?  Are they from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or are they from that other tree, the Tree of Life?...If we are living out of His life, we need not worry; the action, no matter how insignificant in our eyes, will always be good.

…Again, eating of the tree (of the knowledge of good and evil) blinds us…

The enemy loves to see us eat from this tree…The problem is that to the level of good one arrives, to that same level of evil he will tend to fall…This principle is at work among all legalistic teachers; the greater they place above God’s standard, the farther they fall.

…There are no shortcuts to spirituality, but neither are there any physical hindrances to it.  Spirituality comes from the Spirit of Christ, not from a certain set of circumstances.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

How beautifully does Michael take us to the throne of God and give us two of God’s pearls: (1) “If we are living out of His life, we need not worry; the action, no matter how insignificant in our eyes, will always be good.”  And, (2) “Spirituality comes from the Spirit of Christ, not from a certain set of circumstances.”

And how about this…witches and some so-called theologians eating from the same tree!  Albeit they are eating from different sides, but with the results being no lasting difference, how many Christians are being led astray from the life of Christ by these teachers and preachers? 

Herein is where the deception lies: the “good” of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil IS NOT the “good” of the Tree of Life.  So, just a casual use in Christianity of “good” tends to open simple-minded (as in Proverbs) Christians to the deceit brought in by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The Tree of Life is all about Christ and His life.  Everything about the fruit of this tree comes from Christ.  And the Bible says it is all good, the good of the Spirit.

In contrast, however, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents a mixed way of thinking and acting—a combination of some good (not the same “good” as in the Tree of Life) and some evil—the cumulative effect of which leads to death. 

If our desire for self-gratification is greater than our desire to obey God then we will choose to eat from the wrong tree.

The free choice God gives to each of us is really to decide which tree we will eat from, not whether we will choose “good” or “evil.”  But Christians have been misled by the so-called theologians (teachers, counselors, and preachers) who always lead us to those parabolic verses in Scripture that simply are talking about their two choices: “good” vs “bad.”  But God, in His divine wisdom always inserts the real TRUTH…the Tree of Life.  And one of His best “inserts” is in Galatians 5:16-23, where God does not contrast “good” vs “bad” (unless one is looking at it with “simple” eyes), but He contrasts the flesh with the Spirit.  Aha, now we see what God really wants us to see, especially what is there for the eating of the Tree of Life.  Well, amen.

Thanks, Michael, for drawing our attention to the subtlety of how we are so easily deceived and then taking us to the root of the problem.

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Getting Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com  

If you desire to get a weekly email of this blog, look to the top right hand side of the web 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.

For ANOTHER weekly emailing, covering Michael Wells’ writings in his wonderful Christian discipleship book, My Weakness For His Strength, log onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com and follow the same procedures as mentioned in the paragraph above.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Neither Good Nor Evil Pleases God

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 11

         

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

It is difficult to find the best words to describe the impact upon man as he wanders through life deceived by having eaten from the “Ever Growing Tree.”

But as Michael continues his discourse he gives us some specifics that show that devastation.  Once a person really “sees” and understands the deception that he has been living under (and its impact), the need to get out of the wilderness can begin to be seen.  Look at the deception Michael shows us…

NEITHER GOOD NOR EVIL PLEASES GOD

excerpt from pages 29-32 of SIW (5^th printing, March 1998)

excerpt from pages 23-25 of SIW (14^th printing, March 2012)

                   (used with permission from ALMI):

Good and evil come from the same tree and are treated alike by God – rejected.  “…Darkness and light are alike to Thee” (Psalm 139:12).  Doing evil is a sign of disbelief that God exists or will judge, but doing good is a sign of unbelief in God’s standard of acceptance.  We prove we do not believe God at all when we add to this standard.  We are touching upon one of the greatest deceptions in Christianity.  God does want us to do good works, but what makes a work fitting is not the content but the origin; if the source of the work is faith as Christ expresses Himself through us, then it is acceptable.  First Thessalonians 1:3 mentions work produced by faith, which is acceptable.  But all other work is unacceptable, based on unbelief and self-righteousness.

…There is a deep blindness that comes from eating from the good side of this most forbidden tree…

…As we can see, the deception from eating from the good side of this tree is in many ways worse than doing evil…

…Do you see the difference in eating from this tree?  It obliges us to add an endless list for our acceptance by God, and in turn to put this big bundle on others’ shoulders to carry, one which we ourselves cannot.

Eating from the tree will cause us to advocate a very simple teaching that goes like this: You did evil, now do good.  We find the elements of this tree in Confucianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and every other world religion.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Isn’t it crazy how something can be “good,” and yet be so devastating?  Wow!  It is so easy to see how man can get sidetracked into the wilderness…and all the while think he is doing a pretty good job at his religion.  However, it is imperative that we get the message out about the deception of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Notice how our belief system affects our doing either good or evil.  Interesting, isn’t it?  The deception is so subtle when it comes to doing good from the wrong source.

Actually, this points out the constant need in Christianity today…whether in the church, a small group, or just on an individual basis…we must keep the emphasis on the truthful Source (Christ).  Without the constant emphasis on Him, we can get sidetracked very easily.

Finally, we can see why so many teachers and preachers are always harping on that “simple teaching that goes like this: You did evil, now do good.”  May we see a great movement of God in the lives of His people around the world that brings us back to the New Testament teaching of “Jesus is our life,” not us.  Focus on Him, not on “good or evil.”

To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Getting Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com  

If you want to receive future weekly writings, 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

The Source of Wrong Solutions

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 10

         

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

After having looked at several “wrong” solutions for man’s problems, Michael takes us to the source…it is always best to look for the source, and Michael’s ministry was of great expertise in taking us there always.  See if you notice where man has veered off in the wrong direction so much in life…

THE SOURCE OF WRONG SOLUTIONS

excerpt from pages 29 of SIW (5^th printing, March 1998)

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

                   (used with permission from ALMI):

What is the source of all these supposed solutions for our problems?  The answer is found in the Garden.  “And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9).  It is that last tree from which Adam and Eve ate.  Let us look for a moment at the effects of that tree on all of humanity.

First, we must understand God’s criterion for accepting us, based on a pass/fail system.  We pass and are accepted by Him if we are found to be in Christ; if, on the other hand, we are found outside of Christ, then we fail.  This is all rather plain and simple until we decide to eat anew from the tree of good and evil; when this happens, God’s simple truth is once again distorted and difficult.

…Good and evil come from the same tree and are treated alike by God – rejected.  “…Darkness and light are alike to Thee” (Psalm 139:12).

The “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” is the culprit for every lost person ending up choosing to go to hell…the words of lost people are: “Surely God wouldn’t send anyone to hell…surely I am good enough to get into heaven…,” or something similar.  Instead of choosing “the tree of life” (Christ) and God giving that chooser the gift of eternal life…plus placing Christ’s life in the believer to live His life through him or her…lost people choose “good vs bad” as their mantra.  God tells us every living being is given a choice to choose between “the tree of life” or “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

For each Christian, life here on earth is acceptable to God only when we choose His tree of life.  Life as a Christian is not about good and evil; it is about Christ’s life in us being able to flow through us.

Next week Michael’s book takes us to a point of looking at some very important criteria to examine, and some important illustrations that might just “shake someone’s tree.”  Know that old saying???

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

Right Thing, Wrong Places

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 9

         

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

As we draw near looking at all the things that don’t work in our life as a Christian (to bring us the victorious, life more abundantly, pleasing to God experience all Christians are looking for and wanting), Michael brings us to a conclusion…

RIGHT THING, WRONG PLACES

excerpt from pages 27-28 of SIW (5^th printing, March 1998)

excerpt from pages 20-22 of SIW (14^th printing, March 2012)

                   (used with permission from ALMI):

Continuing our examination of what Christians try that does not work, we hardly need to mention all the methods and programs that have been thrust upon us by those in the churches…the root of all these methods may be quite easily determined.  You see, we are commanded to live as depicted in chapters 5, 6, and 7 of Matthew.  As we try, we find we simply can’t do it.  Therefore, we develop a Christianity that we can observe, one in which we can exalt ourselves and judge others who cannot arrive at our level.  If we find intellectual pursuits easy, we make proper doctrine, principled church order, and discipline all-important.  On the other hand, if we find intellectual pursuits unattractive, then our Christianity might revolve around emotional experiences, and those whose experiences do not match ours are held to be less spiritual.

In short, defeated believers are looking for the right thing – victory, a deeper life, something that will please God – but they are looking in all the wrong places.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

I guess the big question I have is this: since we are living 2,000 years removed from Christ living on this earth and bringing the central Gospel message of “Christ in (me), the hope of glory,” how in the world has the church not been able to sustain the truths that are so necessary and relevant to leading Christians to the “life more abundantly” that Christ said He came to give us?!?  How and why do we see so many churches and ministries feeding the flock of God all sorts of “man’s ideas” as to how to experience the “victory in Jesus”? 

Well, we are nearing a turning point in our search for finding our way to getting out of the wilderness.

Next week Michael takes us to the source of all these supposed solutions for our problems…DON’T MISS IT !  After that, Michael begins to open up the mystery of why so many have missed God in the midst of the wilderness.

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

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