From: jesus_is_lord To: List Member Subject: Gettin' burnt to a crisp. Pt. II Date: Sunday, July 02, 2000 8:32 PM jesus_is_lord *****CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER***** I could have spun another 20 stories. I could have included one about-- "the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: WHOSO PLEASETH GOD SHALL ESCAPE HER; BUT THE SINNER SHALL BE TAKEN BY HER." Ecclesiastes 7:26 Though the stories are diverse, all these people got something in common. They despised the commandments enough to willingly disobey them. The protection is in the word of God. When it is cast to the side as irrelevant, then the events are all set to burn up the disobedient. Sin has stages, and all Christians would do well to memorize them. James 1:13-17 is good memory material-- James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 1:14 But (1) every man is tempted, when he is DRAWN away of his OWN LUST, and (2) ENTICED. 1:15 Then when (3) lust hath CONCEIVED, it bringeth forth sin: and (4) sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth DEATH. 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. *****I'M SICK AND TIRED OF SIN***** Over these past 9 years of walking with the Lord, He has made me weary of sin. I'm tired of getting burnt to a crisp. I want to whoop up on the devil's head. But I can only do that by keeping my flesh UNDER SUBJECTION. I have to deny myself of sin and it has gotten easier and easier over the years. Jesus has made me to despise a whole lot of sins. Things that were rough to give up are not too much of a battle anymore. Yet, I am mindful that I have the same flesh that I used unlawfully when I was in the world. Therefore I attempt to walk circumspectly lest the devil get an advantage over me. The devil seeks a TOEHOLD in your life, then a FOOTHOLD and then a STRONGHOLD. Hellivision offers much opening to the enemy to neutralize or weaken the Christian. Watching sinners sin, places us right in the midst of it as we take pleasure from their evil exploits. I remember being in a prayer meeting a few years ago. We had broken into groups. My group had three people, me a lady and her son who was about 18 at the time. As the young man prayed he said, "Lord make me SCARED of sin." What a word I received that night! Instead of loving sin and trying to approximate it, why not ask the Lord to make us scared of it? To make it abominable to us. It is abominable for the unrighteous man to do righteousness-- Proverbs 13:19 ...it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. Conversely, the righteous man departs from evil because he fears the Lord-- Proverbs 16:6 ...by the FEAR of the LORD men DEPART FROM EVIL. I John is an excellent book to read to see the stark differences between the believer and unbeliever. When a professed Christian lives a worldly life, that is a sure sign that all is not well with that person. Jesus says, Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." ******ANTINOMIANISM***** MANY believe that the only difference between the Christian and the world is "the sinner's prayer". How wrong they are! Being indwelt by the INCORRUPTIBLE SEED MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE! Once again, I John breaks down the stark differences very nicely. In the old days, "the sinner's prayer" group were called antinomians. Today, they are called the majority of "Christendom". So many people in Matthew 7:21-23 are going to come from this group and their "converts". We are exhorted to make our calling and election sure but antinomianists ignore the exhortation to their own destruction and/or the destruction of others. *****PERSONAL EXPERIENCES***** This section does not seem to have much to do with the previous sections of this email. But as I look at it, I see it does. The Holy Ghost has shown me a path OPPOSITE of the antinomians. He made the baseline of my Christian life the King James Bible conformable to the edition of 1611. He taught me pure doctrine straight from it. It cleansed my previously fogged up, confused mind. Perhaps there is something here that can edify someone else... After I began to walk with Jesus in 1991, he sent me away from home on a work detail. There I remained for 3 months. Jesus had someone there that He wanted me to meet. At this place, for the first time, I saw a Christian who was serving the Lord. I was a baby Christian and seeing her was something to behold. She would take people to lunch and tell them about Jesus. She took me to lunch and found out about me too. She was so giving and was loathe to receive anything from anyone. I once insisted on paying her back for some materials she purchased for me and she put all the money in the offering plate. She gave hard, took care of feeble parents, witnessed for Christ, and regularly discipled new converts. One day this lady took me to feed the homeless--but we prayed in the car before we even left the parking lot to go downtown. When we got downtown, she told me about the homeless people. Each one of them had a story. They are not just nameless faces. They are souls for whom Christ died. As the sun went down more homeless people came as others assembled in a line. We got out of the car once the men arrived and helped set up tables. I was a little apprehensive at first but that quickly disappeared and I was glad to be there. It was good being with living/breathing/serving Christian people. Remember I was only a few months old. This was so exciting. Jesus was showing me a "new thing". Hallelujah and amen. He was showing me HIS way and I liked it very much. Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: As we prepared the tables, there was a lady standing next to the table with a bullhorn and a wide open Bible reading the scriptures. A little, skinny hispanic man came and stood next to me and put on some plastic gloves to help serve food. His name was Petey. I later found out that Petey was homeless and had aids. The people got physical and spiritual food that night and the Lord used OUR HANDS to provide it. I took instruction from that summer. Jesus showed me that being called by His name means doing His works. Doing the works of Christ means encountering some potentially dangerous people, places, and things--but if you are walking in His POWER, you ain't all scared to death. The annointing is heavy and you can feel the presence of the Lord--and others can feel it and see it on you. The God that parted the Red Sea is still alive and doing great works. The God that stopped the lions mouths is doing the same today. The God that spoke to Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Moses, Abraham, Issac and Jacob is STILL the SAME God. He has not changed. He is STILL awesome in power and He will empower those who will hearken to the voice of His word. Since 1991, the Lord has put hundreds, probably thousands, of Christian people in my path. Many have given me a word directly from the Lord so that I would become a better Christian. Some of them gave me a word through their works and not necessarily their mouths. I've seen real integrity and I've seen upright people, though they have not been many. Even in church there ain't many who are walking in the power. How lamentable this is! The world sees an anemic, effeminate so-called Christianity. That ain't my experience with the indwelling Christ. He is POWER. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Where has the power gone? It only resides on/in those who hearken to the voice of God's word. Jesus done left many churches a long time ago. They are hollow, without the Spirit, ineffectual. Their people may have a zeal but it ain't according to knowledge. Jesus is talking to the CHURCH of the Laodiceans when He says Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Jesus standing OUTSIDE the church doors knocking. That can be a building or a professing individual. If they want the POWER, then hear His voice and open the door of their hearts. Receive His word with gladness. Hearken to it. Subdue the flesh. Do works meet for repentance. GLORIFY JESUS' NAME IN ALL THINGS. I remember certain events from early in my Christian walk. That summer of 1991, I visited a church and the people in the Sunday School class were talking about the movie "The Terminator". I guess it was part two because I had seen part one. Though I was a new Christian and still going to the movie theatre, I felt really FUNNY about them discussing "The Terminator" in church. They was probably reading the NIV too... After returning home from my 3-month detail, I remember being on my lunch hour one day. I was sitting at a table by myself at a busy mall, with my Bible on the table. A lady stopped at my table, looked at the Bible, and said, "Are you a Christian?" I said "Yes". She asked me for my testimony so I told her how I started to seek the Lord. She corrected me and said something like, "You mean He drew you to Himself." My flesh was slightly embarassed but what she said was the gospel truth. No man can come to Jesus except the Father draw him. No credit can go to man. It all has to go to the Lord. I'm glad she corrected me. Jesus made her do it so I would give Him the glory and not myself as if I loved Him first and was seeking Him. Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD. The Lord has brought many situations and people into my life over these past nine years. Many have been my sins and blunders as I've tried to learn what it means to walk with Jesus. But I find that day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, year-by-year, Jesus is conforming me to His own beautiful Self. The foundation for this transformation is the Bible, the word of God. Through it, Jesus is proving me, trying me, purifying me. When I encounter a person, situation or experience, it is tested against the Bible. If it is good and consistent with the word, it is received. If it is contrary to the word it is immediately rejected. My pastor often says, "Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people." I can FEEL the heavenly call on my soul. I can SEE what has happened to me and I am glad about it. Psalms 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and HE INCLINED UNTO ME, AND HEARD MY CRY. 40:2 HE BROUGHT ME UP ALSO OUT OF AN HORRIBLE PIT, OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY, AND SET MY FEET UPON A ROCK, AND ESTABLISHED MY GOINGS. 40:3 AND HE HATH PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH, EVEN PRAISE UNTO OUR GOD: MANY SHALL SEE IT, AND FEAR, AND SHALL TRUST IN THE LORD. This saying has come to pass in my life and I will bless the name of the Lord FOREVER for it. His sanctifying work in me is not over, however. THERE IS MUCH MORE TO DO in tracy's life. I truly realized this back in January of this year. I subsequently sent out an email to the mailing list entitled, "A disturbing, yet exciting, voyage" When I wrote the email, I was pressed down in spirit. Here is an excerpt from the email detailing why-- "I just did an internet search on "self-life" and I found a highly disturbing tract that spoke to me. To my shame, I saw myself throughout it. Yet, in spite of my horror, I feel a certain (small, very small) measure of excitement because the Lord is revealing the impurities to me. He will refine me if I am willing to cooperate. Oh, that the malignant, sinful self-life may be completely excised from my soul! Oh that my soul would be conformed to the image of the Son of God. I've published "Characteristics of the Self-life" on the website at http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/selflife.htm." I closed the email with book suggestion (The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer) and said, "There are some weighty things there for those who are interested in letting judgment begin in their own souls." I embarked on the spiritual journey back in January 2000 and I did not feel immediate relief. In fact, I became more pressed down as I wondered how deep presuppositions, notions, and attitudes could be excised. "How can these things be changed?" was the question that remained in my soul. "How can my very ideas/feelings be changed?" As I examined that self-life inventory I was DEEPLY disturbed and ALMOST DISCOURAGED that I had so much wrong inside of me though the outside looked pretty straight. The Lord encouraged me by instructing me to look for the Bible description of my condition and what I wanted of Him. He gave me "Inward parts. Lord, search my inward parts." I was satisfied when I received these words--because they came from the Lord. He loves us and when our desire is to please Him don't you know He will give you the answers to your questions? I know this for my own self. This is firsthand experience. Not second and thirdhand. Since then the Lord has been searching my inward parts and bringing impurities to the surface where they are scrapped off here a little, there a little. I'm glad that I took that voyage into the self-life. It's not over, but looking back over these past 7 months, I can see that the Lord has given me increased wisdom, better thoughts, better actions, better understanding, better insight. If anyone else started the self-life voyage with me back in January, I would like to hear what has happened to you. *****CONCLUSION***** Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT, 13:21 MAKE YOU PERFECT IN EVERY GOOD WORK TO DO HIS WILL, WORKING IN YOU THAT WHICH IS WELLPLEASING IN HIS SIGHT, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; TO WHOM BE GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN. for Jesus' sake, tracy -- http://www.jesus-is-lord.com ...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:4, 6 ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to jesus_is_lord-unsubscribe@listbot.com Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb