"Love Covers"by Paul Billheimer

  

Love Covers

By Paul Billheimer

   “If all born-again people are members of the same Body, should not all born-again people fellowship with one another regardless of positions on nonessentials? This is a basic question… (John 13:34-34; John 17:20-23)

   “If you are scripturally born again you are a member of the Body of Christ and a son of my very own Father. As a member of the same family, you are my own brother, whether you realize it or acknowledge it or not… if you are born again, we still are members of the same family and organic parts of the same spiritual Body. I may think some of your beliefs are as crazy as a loon (as you may think some of my beliefs are crazy too), but if I have sufficient love for God, agape love, I will not reject you as a person.

He drew a circle that shut me out,

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout;

But Love and I had the wit to win-

We drew a circle and took him in.

Edwin Markham

    “‘Jesus said, ‘Judge not’ (Matthew 7:1).

   “‘Brothers, do not slander one another Anyone who speaks against his brother, or judges him, speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, by t sitting in judgment of it. There is only one Law-giver and Judge, one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?’ (James 4:11-12)

   “‘Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another’ (Romans 14:13).

   “‘Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God’ (Romans 15:7).

   “Judgmentalism may be defined nontechnically as unfavorable judgment, criticism, or condemnation of others because of their conduct or supposed erroneous beliefs, wrong motives, or character. It is an arbitrary evaluation of another person’s worth. In the realm of religion it often results in the rejection of a person because of his opinion in nonessentials to salvation. It is the most frequent cause of division and fragmentation of the Body of Christ…

   “One cannot become judgmental without elevating himself-and self-elevation is Lucifer’s syndrome. It caused his fall and all of the sin and sorrow that followed in its wake… If a wrong has been done or a wrong decision has been made which threatens division, is God aware of it? If I know a thing is wrong and needs to be corrected, is it possible that an all-wise God does not? If a wrong decision has been made, only God can correct it.

   “There is only one answer to division over nonessentials and that is growth in love, agape love…I know of no other way except by a deeper work of the cross, a deeper death to all the life of nature and self. When we are truly willing, God will order the exact set of circumstances that will slay the flesh and increase growth in agape love. Love grows mostly by exercise…

   “The real question is not who is right-not even who is most nearly right. The Real question is: Do we recognize that God loves and accepts other members of the Body who differ from us in matters nonessential to salvation? Are we sufficiently mature in agape love to accept those who He accepts?..

Prayer is where the action is…

Prayer is our answer.

Prayer is the only thing that Satan cannot handle.

Blackmon, Selma, editor. The Exchanged Life News.

"The Calvary Road" by Roy Hession

  

The Calvary Road by Roy Hession

 Do you want life man’s way that leads to conflict and frustration or God’s way that leads to inner peace? Colossians 3:15

   What is my attitude? Am I willing to be honest and truthful with myself? Do I have peace with God in my heart? Do I have love and concern for others? Do I want a better home life? 

   Some random quotes from this everyday, where road and rubber meet, practical Biblical based book:

• Everything that comes between us and another, such as impatience, resentment, or envy, comes between us and God.
• The first effect of sin in us is always to make us hide; with the result that we are pretending, we are wearing a mask, we are not real with either God or man.
• God is the All-revealing One, who shows up every man as he really is.
• It is utterly impossible for us to be walking in any degree of darkness and have fellowship with God…We cannot have true fellowship with our brother either-for we are not real with him, and no one can have fellowship with an unreal person.
• Being broken is both God’s work and ours. He brings His pressure to bear, but we have to make the choice…we are not likely to be broken except at the Cross of Jesus.
• It was into the home that sin first came. It is in the home that revival first needs to come.
• I suggest that the beam in our eye is simply our unloving reaction to the other man’s mote.
• When God is leading us to challenge another, let not fear hold us back. Let us not argue or press our point. Let us just say what God has told us to and leave it there. It is God’s work, not ours, to cause the other to see it.
• When we are challenged, let us not defend ourselves and explain ourselves. Let us take it in silence, thanking the other; and then go to God about it and ask Him.
• Blood cannot be applied to the sins of our proud hearts until we have been broken in repentance as to what has already happened and as to what we already are. This will mean allowing the light of God to go through every part of our hearts and into every one of our relationships.
• Humility, lamblikeness, the surrender of our wills to God, are what He looks for supremely from man. It was to manifest all this that God ever created the first man. It was his refusal to walk this path that constituted his first sin (and it has been the heart of sin ever since). It was to bring this disposition back to earth that Jesus came.
• Every sin we ever commit is the result of the hard unbroken self taking up some attitude of pride, and we shall not find peace through the Blood until we are willing to see the source of each sin and reverse the wrong attitude that caused it by a specific repentance, which will always be humbling.
• There then is our choice-to protest our innocence and go down to our house, unblessed, dry of soul, and out of touch with God. Or to justify God and to enter into peace, fellowship, and victory through the Blood of Jesus.

"When I Saw Him" by Roy Hession

When I Saw Him by Roy Hession

   The following little chorus was brought back to England in 1947 from East Africa.

“Lord, bend that proud and stiff-necked I,

Help me to bend the neck and die;

Beholding Him on Calvary,

Who bowed His head for me.”

   Then the author goes on to write, “I cannot do better than to include here a short writing by the Rev. John Collinson on the subject of brokenness.” So, copied below is the entire selection from page 49-50.

   “Sometimes it is asked what we mean by brokenness. Brokenness is not easy to define but can be clearly seen in the reactions of Jesus, especially as He approached the cross and in His crucifixion. I think it can be applied personally in this way:

   When to do the will of God means that even my Christian brethren will not understand, and I remember that ‘neither did His brethren believe in Him,’(John 7:5) and I bow my head to obey and accept the misunderstanding, this is brokenness.

   When I am misrepresented or deliberately misinterpreted, and I remember that Jesus was falsely accused but He ‘held His peace,’ and I bow my head to accept the accusation without trying to justify myself, this is brokenness.

   When another is preferred before me and I am deliberately passed over, and I remember that they cried ‘Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas,’(Luke 23:18) and I bow my head and accept rejection, this is brokenness.

   When my plans are brushed aside and I see the work of years brought to ruins by the ambitions of others, and I remember that Jesus allowed them to ‘lead Him away to crucify Him’(Matt. 27:31) and He accepted that place of failure, and I bow my head and accept the injustice without bitterness, this is brokenness.

   When in order to be right with my God it is necessary to take the humbling path of confession and restitution, and I remember that Jesus ‘made Himself of no reputation’ and ‘humbled Himself…unto death, even the death of the cross,’(Phil. 2:7,8) and I bow my head and am ready to accept the shame of exposure, this is brokenness.

   When others take unfair advantage of my being a Christian and treat my belongings as public property, and I remember ‘they stripped Him,’ and ‘parted His garments, casting lots,’(Matt. 27:28, 35) and I bow my head and accept ‘joyfully the spoiling of my goods’ for His sake, this is brokenness.

   When one acts towards me in an unforgivable way, and I remember that when He was crucified Jesus prayed ‘Father forgive them; for they know not what they do,’(Luke 23:34) and I bow my head and accept any behavior towards me as permitted by my loving Father, this is brokenness.

   When people expect the impossible of me and more than time or human strength can give, and I remember that Jesus said, ‘This is my body which is given for you…’(Luke 22:19) and I repent of my self-indulgence and lack of self-giving for others, this is brokenness.”

Forgiveness, part 1

The Gift of Forgiveness by Dr. Charles Stanley

   “Whatever your situation, whatever has happened in your past, remember that you are the loser if you do not deal with an unforgiving spirit. And the people around you suffer, too. You have within you the power to forgive, to be healed, and to be set free to live your life to the fullest.” This is on the back jacket to Dr. Stanley’s book, Put the past behind you and give…

The Gift of Forgiveness.

  “Forgiveness is ‘the act of setting someone free from an obligation to you that is a result of a wrong done against you.’ …Forgiveness involves three elements: injury, a debt resulting from the injury, and a cancellation of the debt. All three elements are essential if forgiveness is to take place…A person who harbors unforgiveness always loses.

   Through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43)…Christ is God’s solution for dealing with sin. Only through Christ can we find forgiveness. But once it has been found it is a settled issue-past sin, present sin, and future sin. The details of what we have done, why we did it, and how many times we did it are irrelevant. Sin is sin; lost is lost; paid is paid; forgiven is forgiven. Either we have it, or we don’t… Forgiveness is available only to the man or woman who has put personal trust in Christ…God’s gift of forgiveness must be appropriated; that is, it must be accepted on an individual basis…

   Settle in your mind once and for all that your sins are forgiven; that God is in no way holding them against you; that from His perspective, they are no longer obstacles to fellowship.

   …Begin to view your past failures as a reminder of God’s grace…Your past sins should become memorials to the grace of God in life. When Satan accuses you of being unworthy because of things you have done in the past, you can respond by saying (and I recommend actually speaking out loud). ‘That is exactly right. I did do that, and that’s not all. But before I ever committed my first sin Jesus Christ died and paid for my sins-not just the ones you have reminded me of-all of them. Now they stand in my past as memorials, reminders, of God’s goodness and grace toward me. Thanks for the reminder.’..This is a confession of truth…

   …God wants to take any emotional stumbling block out of the way and flood you with the assurance of His forgiveness and acceptance. He wants you to live with a sense of security and intimacy with Him.”

   Dr. Stanley writes of forgiveness with Luke 15:11-24 as a Biblical reference. The following are just the highlights of the explanatory paragraphs in chapter five Our Forgiving Father.

•   Our heavenly Father’s love has no limits.
•   Our heavenly Father’s love is patient.
•   God is eager to express His love.
•   God the Father’s attitude is that His focus in on the sinner, not the sin…You are His focus.
•   God receives the sinner back into fellowship joyfully.

  “When any child of God turns from sin, God rejoices. If it is possible to assign emotions to the heavenly Father, He ‘feels’compassion for you and therefore experiences joy at your homecoming. He does not wrestle with feelings of hurt and jealousy. He has dealt with that once and for all. Instead, He identifies with your hurt and frustration and takes joy in seeing you set free…

   …You have a heavenly Father who is free to identify with your situation and who takes great joy in seeing you restored to your rightful place as His child. Your forgiving Father’s greatest concern is you, not your sin. His focus is on you and your willingness to comply with His will for your life.

   Heavenly Father,

Sometimes it is difficult for me to see You as You really are. By faith in the testimony of Jesus, however, I accept You as my forgiving heavenly Father.

A Father who love me with unlimited love;

A Father whose patience is inexhaustible;

A Father who is eager to have fellowship with me;

A Father who focuses on me and my position as Your child, not on my sin;

A Father who rejoices when I turn to You from my sin, whether it be one single act or a season of rebellion.

Expose the errors in my thinking toward You and fill me with the truth, for I know that in discovering the truth I will be set free. Amen.”

Prayer Makes a Difference

I Timothy 2:1

1 Timothy 2:1-8New International Version (NIV)

Instructions on Worship

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. ⁷ And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

⁸ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. accessed 23 July 2014 biblegateway.com.

   After observing the godless trends in our nation, we readily recognize the need for change. But God's solution for our predicament is surprising. Paul instructs Timothy to establish some priorities in the church, and first on the list is prayer "for kings and all who are in authority" (1 Tim. 2:2). The reason for our petitions is so that we can live tranquil and godly lives and thereby have unhindered opportunities to tell others about the Savior (vv.2-4).
   Paul wouldn't have given Timothy this instruction unless he believed the prayers of the church would make a difference in achieving God's purposes for their nation. Our problem is not with the Lord's promise or capability, but with our lack of faith. By focusing on the enormity of the problems or the power of those in office, we lose sight of our sovereign God who waits for us to request His intervention.
   Political policies and legislation are not ultimately determined in conference rooms and governmental chambers, but in prayer closets. The voices that shape the direction of a nation are not necessarily those that ring out in legislative halls, but those that approach the throne room of God with bold faith (Heb. 4:16). As the church believes and prayers, the Lord will respond.
   Knowing that God can change a country, you may be wondering why He has waited so long. Maybe He is asking you a similar question: "Why have you waited so long to pray?" Every authority on earth can be touched by the power of prayer if we are willing to ask and believe God.

Stanley, Charles F. Prayer Makes a Difference. Atlanta: In Touch Publication of In Touch Ministries. July 2014. page 55

Justification

“…know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:16-20

Perhaps, you thought you had conquered every sinful impulse. That was, until temptation or a new set of trails brought to light some area of your life that you thought had been conquered. This is when you wondered, “How could this happen? I am supposed to be free from sin.”

Oswald Chambers explains, “The Savior has set us free from sin, but this is the freedom that comes from being set free from myself by the Son. It is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 when he said, ‘I have been crucified with Christ.’ His individuality had been broken and his spirit had been united with his Lord; not just merged into Him, but made one with Him.”

If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, then you are one with Him. His likeness and holiness are present within your life. However, there remains within you a sin nature that must be surrendered to God.

In Galatians 2:20, Paul says, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

The gift of freedom that Jesus gives requires faith. We must believe that He can root out the strongholds within our hearts and that He continuously works to make us free from all sin and bondage. Our responsibility is to say no to sin and yes to God as we trust Him to provide the all-encompassing liberty that our souls crave.

In Touch July 2001, page 22, July 3

God's truth: What we have learned wrongly can be relearned rightly!

 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 

2 Corinthians 11:3

“Ed Silvoso defines a stronghold as “a mind-set impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable what is known to be contrary to the will of God.” How are these destructive strongholds established in our minds? Usually, they are the result of subtle steps that lead us away from God’s plan for our lives…

Satan is the father of lies, and he will work on our minds to destroy our concept of God and our understanding of who we are as His children. People in bondage don’t know who they are in Christ… Remember, Satan can’t do anything about our position in Christ, but if he can get us to believe it isn’t true, we will live as though it isn’t true, even though it is.

Can strongholds of bondage in the mind be broken? Yes! If our minds have been programmed wrongly, they can be reprogrammed. If we learned something the wrong way, we can learn it the right way. Will this take time? Yes, it will take the rest of our lives to renew our minds and to develop our character. But nothing you do will prove more rewarding.

ü  What mental strongholds in your mind are keeping you from being free in Christ?

ü  What tempting or accusing thoughts does Satan give you to trigger your life-controlling problem?

ü  Does he accuse you about how bad you are and beat you down?

ü  Does he remind you of past failures? Does he tell you that God has given up on you?

ü  Does he tell you that it’s hopeless, that you will never be free?

ü  What does your life-controlling problem do for you that nothing else has been able to do?

ü  How can you exchange the lies for the truth?”

One Day at a Time Mike & Julia Quarles pp 353-356, Ed Silvoso, “Setting Your Church Free” conference, March 1994, Minneapolis, MN.

Humility - what is it?

Humility the Pathway to Greatness

This is the title of the May 2001 issue of “In Touch” magazine.  “Sometimes only though our trails, adversity, and pain, can we truly submit our will to God, which then allows us to turn our hearts to our true home.”

  Dr. Stanley writes, “Humility is not denial of self. It is an embracing of Christ’s life within you where you lay aside your personal wants and needs and adopt His desires and goals for your life.”

  Dr Stanley reminds us of verses in 1 Peter 5:5-7 and James 4:10. Then he goes on to write, “At first, James’s exhortation of humility must have seemed cruel. After all, they were suffering. However, James knew that if they focused on their situation, they would be consumed by it. He also realized that God had a plan for their lives. However, the only way they would discover it was by embracing their circumstances in light of God’s present will for them…

  How do we gain godly humility? The first step toward true humility involves truth-God’s truth. This means that we must commit to studying His Word and be willing to submit ourselves to Him. Only He knows the steps we must take to gain true humility…

What is our motivation for pursuing the spirit of humility?

• A greater intimacy with Christ.
• A greater degree of wisdom.
• A greater sense of blessing-personal and spiritual.
• A greater sense of doing God’s will, which leads to fulfillment and peace.

Why does God emphasize the idea of humility?

• There is no salvation apart from humility. The spirit of humility always precedes salvation.
• All the other graces such as compassion, kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness are affected by humility.
• Jesus cannot be Lord of your life if there is not a spirit of humility.
• A lack of humility indicates a lack of fellowship with God.
• Sincere prayer requires humility.
• A lack of humility hinders the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Our relationships with one another suffer when we are not humble in our hearts.

Humility provides an opportunity

• for us to identify with Christ.
• to be exalted by Him at the proper time.
• for Him to embrace our lives with His eternal care.”

This information is from Dr. Stanley’s series, The Path to Greatness-Humility.    May 2001  In Touch pgs 6-9

Conflict and Frustration? Christ is our answer

Conflict and Frustration

Conflict and Frustration

Does this sound familiar?

This happens when a person depends upon his/her own strength to cope with present pressures and past rejections.

People are a three-part whole.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

We are a SPIRIT (Determines Our Identity), who has a SOUL (Personality) with a MIND (Thinker), EMOTIONS (Feeler), and WILL (Chooser), and lives in a BODY (Dwelling) that includes Speech, 5 Senses and Action.

Conflict and Frustration

Conflict and Frustration

Does this still sound familiar?

Ø  This may be due to our mind having a distorted view of God, self and others.

Ø  This may be due to our emotions dictating our actions.

Ø  This may be due to our will choosing to depend on the flesh instead of God.

God loves us enough to do what it takes to reveal our dependence on the flesh, so that we will be ready to exchange it (flesh) for His life.

The Exchanged Life

“All Things”

Romans 8:28

Ø  MIND being renewed to Truth Romans 12:2

Ø  EMOTIONS gradual healing

Psalm 23:3

Ø  WILL chooses to depend on Christ Romans 13:14

Christ living His life through us is victorious living!!!

Romans 15:18

Ephesians 3:20