Thoughts from the Vineyard

2009-02-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

Are some of you discouraged? Does it seem like you are not accomplishing anything, and the Lord, Yahweh has forgotten you and His promises?

When the patriarch Joseph was a young man of 17, he received prophetic dreams which indicated he would someday be in a position of authority over his brothers. At his age, it must have been exhilarating to consider this possibility, and Joseph couldn’t restrain himself from sharing the revelation with his family. We all know that Joseph’s dreams were truly prophetic and did indeed come to pass; however, the path to their fulfillment took some twists and turns that Joseph could never have imagined. It exposed within his brothers a jealousy and competition that actually swayed all of Israel's future history!

Let Joseph’s experiences speak to you. Maybe you’ve received personal prophecies or you hold dreams in your heart about how you will be used in the Kingdom; yet, like Joseph, you are in a season of your life when it appears you are going in the opposite direction. Possibly, you were used at one point in your life and you seem to be on a shelf of isolation now. Don’t forget these all-important words in the book of Genesis: “But the Lord was with Joseph.” The Lord was with Joseph in the midst of his betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment. He was with him in his hopelessness. He’s with you as well. You just need to recognize God’s methods for raising up sons and daughters. I have been through the terrible heartbreak of betrayal, human treachery and false accusation...yet, through it all, I have seen the mighty hand of the Lord, Yahweh, move mightily in building my character.

Some people say that trials strengthen every believer’s faith. Quite simply, that is not true. Trials only strengthen the faith of some believers. To be accurate, trials cause some believers to become bitter and resentful. Others become fearful, unforgiving, or hard-hearted. Still others lose their faith entirely. The world is full of people whose faith has been shipwrecked because they were unable to deal with a loss, disappointment, or shattered dream. Don’t let this be you. The key to success is how you view your circumstances, and how you choose to react to them.

Certainly, Joseph had a lot of time to think when he was in that Egyptian prison. He could have let the apparent hopelessness of his situation overwhelm him. He could have given up and let bitterness, envy, or thoughts of revenge against his brothers consume his life. He could have become manipulative and tried within his own strength and cunning to arrange his circumstances, as Jacob clearly did early in his life! But instead he chose to cling to the promises of God. He chose to see with the eyes of faith and submit to God’s refining and maturing process.

Our Heavenly Father is not the author of evil. Yet in His genius He is able to use evil and difficult circumstances to accomplish His purposes and desires. Romans 8:28 is a familiar verse: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Please notice that this verse is not telling us that all things are good. There are many things that, quite simply, are very bad. And bad things can happen to the righteous and unrighteous alike. But this verse is telling us that for those who truly love God—those who are the called according to His purpose—God enters into all things to work His good. Is this not what Joseph discovered? Is this not what God is trying to teach you?

Joseph needed to become a man with the maturity and responsibility necessary to wield great power and authority in a responsible way. As a young man, Joseph was a good person, but he wasn’t refined. He was full of undeveloped potential. Many of us fail to realize that in order to be vessels of honor in the Father’s house, we must be prepared to handle spiritual authority and anointing. There can be tragic results when an immature person is placed in a position of spiritual authority and influence over others. This is why the Apostolic Writings emphasize the importance of elders in leadership. An elder is a mature person, someone who has been around, someone who has been seasoned in the flames of adversity. The importance of making sure a person was properly seasoned in the faith before they qualified for leadership was such that Paul advised Timothy to “Not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin” (1 Tim. 5:22). In other words, make sure you know a person well, and firmly believe that his spiritual maturity is tried and true, before you ordain them into leadership. The standard of the Word is so crystal clear...if a man's house is not in order, how can one possibly think they can manage a church? When my older children were growing up, I paid very close attention to their behavior, I also served in the church as a leader. The minute I sensed my children were struggling with a sin issue or behavior issue, I stepped out of all (repeat ALL) ministry in which I was involved in to focus my attention upon that one straying child! Today, I am joyful in reporting that my children all serve God without pretense! It was because God's standard was upheld! To this day, my children will tell you that if I sense any amount of family issues on the horizon, I turn my full attention to the need at home. I am blessed with a husband who believes the same thing in this area. We have no second thought of dropping participation in programs, social groups, or church groups to "shore-up" our family. I not only did this with my own children, nonnegotiably but I see my own children following this pattern with their own children. You see, we have a generational vision!!

Our Heavenly Father practices what He preaches. He wasn’t hasty in appointing Joseph to a position second only to Pharaoh. The pride and self-centeredness inherent in all of us had to be removed from Joseph. Does this happen in a Bible school? No! Over time, Joseph agreed and participated in this process of death to his old nature. Essentially, this is what Yeshua was referring to when He said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23). We must be willing to bring to God all desires, attitudes, emotions, and false understandings (including the one's we caught from religion!) which are opposed to His Kingdom. They must be eliminated. We do this in the understanding that we are already sons and daughters who want to walk in grateful submission to our Savior and Master.

Every truth found in scripture is not automatically beneficial. Yeshua said you must “continue” in His word in order to be His disciples; and then “you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (Jn. 8:32). A disciple must first agree with the truth, and then they must act upon it—they must walk it out by faith in their own lives. Are we agreeing with the truth or our opinions of the truth of God? A period of testing often occurs wherein circumstances come about that seem to deny the truth that is embraced. Only after the disciple hangs onto that truth by faith, is it truly established in their lives. If a truth is never tested or challenged, it will always remain in the theoretical realm. It will stay an abstract concept with no practical value.

Let’s take that idea a step further. We know the most important of all the commandments is to “love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mk. 12:30). I suppose one could make a case that a trouble-free life would bring about love for God. Yet, a person who has never been a slave cannot truly understand freedom. One who has not known despair cannot fully appreciate joy. And one who has never fought a battle does not truly grasp the significance of victory. It is one of the great mysteries of this creation how, through the existence of evil and great adversity, we come to love our Heavenly Father and value His righteousness and blessing.

In this journey it is easy to become impatient in our spiritual walk. It is easy to apply platitudes regarding Yaweh, to really think we know His ways because we know the Word theorhetically. We want everything to change today. We want to see progress right now. We want our families to be blessed and our congregations to flourish. We, essentially, want to see the kingdom restored to Israel in our time. So did the apostles in the time of Yeshua and he rebuked them for not understaning the ways of the Father. Don’t lose heart. Our Heavenly Father has it under control and He is ordering our steps. He doesn’t reward impatience. He only rewards those who learn His ways, and come into agreement with them in their personal lives. We must discern the Father’s discipline, training, and timing in our own lives as righteous and holy. Only then do we become one with the author of all life; and only then do we realize that He is never late, but never early.

2007-08-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

part 3 in series:

Personal Offense

An offense can wound our pride when we are not recognized for our good works or ministry. This happened to my wife and I long ago while in California. We were young pastors at a conference when the main leader decided to personally greet each minister and wife. He greeted the couple on our right and then turned to his staff to ask a question. A moment later he returned, but passed us by and went to the couple on our left.

Everyone around us saw we were bypassed. We were embarrassed and offended. But my wife wisely observed that we could allow this thing to hurt us or we could see it as an investment in sensitivity toward other people's feelings. The offense taught us how others feel when they are ignored. Do you see this? You must make that offense become an opportunity to become more Christlike.

The occasions for taking offense are practically endless. Indeed, we are daily given the opportunity to either be offended by something or to possess an unoffendable heart. The Lord's promise is that He's given us a new heart: a soft, entreatable heart that can be filled with His Spirit and abound with His love.

Lord, forgive me for being so easily offended and for carrying offenses. Father, my heart is foolish and weak. Grant me the unoffendable heart of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Francis Frangipane

Ministries of Francis Frangipane

2007-08-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

Part 2 in a series:

The Root Of Offense

An offense can strike at our virtues or sins, our values or our pride. It can penetrate and wound any dimension of the soul, both good and evil. I once brought a series of messages about gossip. Most people saw their sin and repented, but a core group of gossips were greatly offended and ultimately left the church. When the Holy Spirit exposes sin in someone's soul, if we refuse the opportunity to repent, we often become offended at the person who brought the teaching. Instead of humbling our hearts, we are outraged at the pastor or teachers in the church. Truthfully, most of the time, I have no idea who specifically needs to hear what I'm teaching, but God knows.

Paul told Timothy to "reprove, rebuke, exhort" (see 2 Timothy 4:2). He didn't say, "exhort, exhort, exhort," but exhortation is what we receive in most churches. Certainly, we need to be encouraged, but there are also times, beloved, when we need to be reproved and rebuked. Today, there are preachers who are afraid to preach truth, for fear people will react and leave the church. The end result is a church of easily offended people who cannot grow beyond their inability to accept correction.

People don't change by exhortation alone. There are areas in all of us that need to be confronted and disciplined. The pastor who refuses to discipline and correct those in sin is in disobedience to God. He is unable to lead people into any truly transforming changes in their lives; they will not "endure to the end" if they cannot be corrected (see Matthew 24).

We need to become a people who say, "Lord, show me what needs to change in me." I'm talking about growing up. A wise man will receive a rebuke and he will prosper. But a fool rejects his father's discipline (see Proverbs 15:5).

2007-08-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

"HOW TO BECOME UNOFFENDABLE"

This will be a several part series in this devotional blog that I believe to be a very vital word this day for this body of believers. God is calling us to become a mature people who no longer take offenses at petty issues and carry those offenses like "pets" to be pampered and taken out of our pockets at will and stroked and shown to others, thereby infecting the larger group. We are to not be dysfunctionally silent and not discuss vital issues, but we are also to choose the appropriately mature and biblical manner in which this is to be accomplished according to Matt. 18:15-35, Gal. 6:1-5

This series was written by Francis Frangipane.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

God has a new heart for us that cannot be offended, an "unoffendable" heart. Beloved, possessing an unoffendable heart is not an option or a luxury; it's not a little thing. Consider: Jesus warns that, as we near the end of the age, a majority of people will be offended to such a degree that they fall away from the faith. Listen carefully to His warning:

"Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another...and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:10-12).

"Many" will be offended; the love of "many" will grow cold. My prayer is that we will hear His words with holy fear.

The Dangers of Harboring an Offense

When we allow an offense to remain in our hearts, it causes serious spiritual consequences. In the above verse, Jesus named three dangerous results: betrayal, hatred, and cold love. When we are offended with someone, even someone we care for, we must go to them. Otherwise, we begin to betray that relationship, talking maliciously behind their back to others, exposing their weaknesses and sins. We may mask our betrayal by saying we are just looking for advice or counsel, but when we look back, we see we have spoken negatively to far too many people. Our real goal was not to get spiritual help for ourselves but to seek revenge toward the one who offended us. How is such action not a manifestation of hatred? For an offended soul, cold love, betrayal, and hatred go hand-in-hand.

People don't usually stumble over boulders, they stumble over stones--relatively small things. It may be that the personality of someone in authority bothers us, and soon, we are offended. Or, a friend or family member fails to meet our expectations, and we take an offense into our soul. Beloved, if we will "endure to the end," we will have to confront the things that bother us.

When Jesus warns that we need endurance, He is saying that it is easier to begin the race than finish it. Between now and the day you die, there will be major times of offense that you will need to overcome. You might be in such a time right now. Do not minimize the danger of harboring an offense.

No one plans on falling away; no one ever says, "Today, I think I'll try to develop a hardened, cold heart." Such things enter our souls through stealth and it is only naiveté that assumes it couldn't happen to us. I know many people who consistently become offended about one thing or another. Instead of dealing with the offenses, these people carry them until the weight disables their walk with God. You may be doing fine today, but I guarantee you, tomorrow something will happen that will inevitably disappoint or wound you; some injustice will strike you, demanding you retaliate in the flesh.

Part 2 to follow....

2007-07-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Some Biblical Thoughts on Physical, Sexual, and Verbal Abuse

Part 2

The Conversion of Rapists

"Neither slaves nor the exploitive nor drunkards nor those who are verbally abusive nor rapists shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." I Corinthians 6:10-11

The Apostle Paul Calls Upon the Church to Assume Responsibility in a Known Case of Incest

"It is commonly reported that there is inappropriate sexual behavior among you, and of such a kind as is abhorred by the heathen, that a man should have his father's wife. And have you not been arrogant when you ought rather to have mourned, so that the one who did this deed may be removed from your midst? But I, though absent as to my body and yet present in my spirit, have already come to a judgment against the one who committed this outrage. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together with my spirit, in the power of our Lord Jesus, I decree that you give such an individual over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your smug complacency is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all of the dough? Purge out the old yeast so that you may be a new dough without leaven. For Christ has been sacrificed as our Passover, so that we may keep the feast not with the old leaven of wickedness and guile, but with unleavened sincerity and truth." (9) I Corinthians 5:1-8

The Epistles on Verbal Abuse

"If any consider themselves to be religious while their tongues are unbridled, they deceive their own hearts, and their religion is at this point an idle sham...If anyone does not sin in their speech, this is a fully mature individual, able as well to bring his or her entire body under control. We put bits into the mouths of horses in order to make them obey us, and we can turn their whole bodies. Behold how great ships are driven by strong winds, and yet are guided by the smallest rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman wills, and just so the tongue is a small member and yet has great things whereof to boast. Behold how small a fire sets a whole wood ablaze, and the tongue is a fire. The tongue constitutes a world of wickedness among our members, polluting the whole body and inflaming the cycle of existence, and is set on flame by hell. For every sort of beast and bird and reptile and sea creature is tamed and has been controlled by humanity. But no one can tame the human tongue, an unruly evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we pour invective upon people who have been made in God's likeness. From the same mouth comes forth both blessing and abusive cursing. Brother and sister, this ought not to be so." James 3:2-10

"Let no evil communication come forth out of your mouth but rather that which upbuilds in a helpful way, so that it may give grace to the hearer." Ephesians 4:29

The Epistles on Sexual Harassment

"All filthiness and foolish jesting - let it not be named among you as befits the saints." Ephesians 5:4

"Now put away all wrath, venom, evil, blasphemy, dirty jokes from out of your mouth." Colossians 3:8

Batterers Disqualified from Church Leadership

"A bishop should be above reproach, the husband of one wife, (10) sober, discreet, honorable, hospitable, apt to teach, not given to wine, nor a batterer, but meek, peaceable, handling the affairs of his own household well, with children who behave in a responsible fashion." I Timothy 3:2-3

"It is necessary for a bishop to be of irreproachable character, as the steward of God, not arrogant nor quick-tempered, nor given to strong drink, nor a batterer, nor greedy for financial gain." Titus 1:6-7

"The servant of the Lord should not become embroiled in fighting." II Timothy 2:24

Biblical Antidotes

"Thy gentleness hath made me great." II Samuel 22:36; Psalm 18:35

"Depart from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 34:14

"There is a future for the man of peace." Psalm 37:37

"There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace." Proverbs 12:20

"Be devoted to one another with kindly affection, in honor advancing one another." Romans 12:10

"As much as it is possible for you, be at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Romans 14:9

"Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your angry mood, lest you give an opportunity to the devil." Ephesians 4:26-27

"Let all bitterness and anger and rage and angry shouting and blasphemy be put away from you, along with all wickedness. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God in Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32

"Let your forbearing spirit be known to all people." Philippians 4:5

"Seek peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

"Make your souls holy in obedience to the truth, and with unfeigned affection love one another steadfastly with a pure heart." I Peter 1:22

The Call for God's People to Deliver the Oppressed From Violent Oppressors

"Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed - and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors - and they have no comforter." Ecclesiastes 4:1 NIV

"The righteous king will defend the afflicted and crush the oppressor." Psalm 72:1-4

"He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight." Psalm 72:14 NIV

"Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place." Jeremiah 22:3 NRSV

"He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and the needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me? declares the Lord." Jeremiah 22:15-16 NIV

"Thus says the Lord: Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed, or else my wrath will go forth like fire, and burn, with no one to quench it, because of your evil doings." Jeremiah 21:12 NRSV

The Need for Believing Communities to Deal with the Problems Associated with Abuse

Matthew 18:15-17

James 5:19-20

Titus 3:2-11

I Thessalonians 5:14

II Thessalonians 3:14-15

I Timothy 4:20

Submission should not be given to individuals whose behavior or communication is wrong, even though they pretend to be very pious.

Galatians 2:5-6

(1) The concept of abuse as nullifying the prayers of the abuser is also found in I Peter 3:7.

(2) Unless otherwise indicated, all translations are those of Catherine C. Kroeger.

(3) The word used here harpax can refer to anyone who seizes by force against the will of another. Translators usually render this "robber" or "rapacious" but the term is used specifically of rapists. In a passage on sexual immorality, this is the most appropriate meaning.

(4) The Greek adjective used here pornos and the related noun porneia, cover a wide range of sexually inappropriate and exploitive behaviors, such as obscenity, prostitution, indecent exposure, rape, fornication, incest, and pederasty. No one English word implies the whole cluster of activities. This means that we often fail to understand the strength of the biblical condemnation of abuse.

(5) Idolatry in the ancient world was frequently associated with explicitly sexual behavior.

(6) Such behavior is unacceptable within the believing community.

(7) Here the church is specifically charged to deal with sexual misbehavior within the congregation. The believing community is responsible not only to protect the victim but to condemn the perpetrator.

(8) This is an Old Testament quotation. See Deuteronomy 17:7; 19:19; 22:21, 24; 24:7.

(9) In this extended passage the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb unblemished with evil or hypocrisy, is specifically set against the wickedness and deceit of incest.

(10) During the New Testament period, it was legal for a Jewish man to have more than one wife. A series of documents discovered in the Dead Sea area reveal that the practice was more widespread than previously thought. Bigamy was certainly not acceptable for leaders within the Christian community.

© 2003 Catherine C. Kroeger. Reprinted by permission
Available online at www.cbeinternational.org. The articles on CBE's Web site are copyrighted. You may download and print one copy for your personal use. We ask that you not make multiple copies, edit, alter or sell any of these articles in whole or in part.

2007-07-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

Some Biblical Thoughts on Physical, Sexual, and Verbal Abuse

The Law of Israel on Household Violence

"If a man hits a manservant or maidservant in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth." Exodus 21:26-27 NIV

The Prophets on Violence

"I hate a man's covering his wife with violence, as well as with his garment." says the Lord Almighty...."You have wearied the Lord with your words." "How have we wearied him?" you ask. By saying, "all who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them," or "Where is the God of justice?" Malachi 2:16-17.
(NIV alternate translation)

"Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right." Ezekiel 45:9 NIV

"Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. (1).... Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:4-6 NIV

The Destructive Effects of Violence on the Batterer

"The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head." Psalm 7:16 NIV

"The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right." Proverbs 21:7 NIV

Violence Associated with Wrong Choices, Injustice, Lying, Evil, and Satan

"The violent devise injustice." Psalm 58:2 (2)

"Their hearts plot violence." Proverbs 24:2 NIV

The violent bear false witness. Psalm 27:12; 140:11; Proverbs 10:6,11; Hosea 12:1; Micah 6:12; Zephaniah 1:9

Associated with Satan.

Ezekiel 28:16

"Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways." Proverbs 3:31 NIV

Stalking and Verbal Abuse Condemned

"All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life." Psalm 56:5-6 NIV

"They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground." Psalm 17:11 NIV

"In his arrogance, the wicked man hunts down the weak...He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. He lies in wait like a lion in cover, he lies in wait to catch the helpless, he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net." Psalm 10:2,8-9 NIV

See also Psalm 37:33; 59:3; Jeremiah 5:26; Micah 7:2

"God will judge the violent" Psalm 11:5 "and deliver the oppressed who cry out to him." II Samuel 22:3

"Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; protect me from men of violence. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet.... May disaster hunt down men of violence." Psalm 140:1-11 NIV

"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." Psalm 10:17-18 NIV

Jesus on Child Abuse

"In that hour, the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Calling a little child, Jesus set her in their midst and said "Truly, truly I say to you, unless you repent and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble themselves as this little child, that man or woman is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me. Whosoever shall give offense to (cause to sin, shock) one of these little ones who believe on me, it would be better for the offender that a millstone would be hung about his neck and he were sunk into the sea." Matthew 18:1-6

"Whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe on me, it would be good for the abuser rather if a millstone lay about his neck and he were cast into the sea." Mark 9:42

"It is unavoidable that offenses (literally that which causes revulsion) should come; but woe to him by whom they come. It would be better for him if a millstone lay about his neck and he were thrown into the sea rather than that he should offend one of these little ones." Luke 17:1-2

Jesus on Verbal Abuse

"You have heard that it was said in the olden days "Do not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be liable for judgment." But I say to you that anyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable for judgment. And whoever shall say to his brother "You numbskull" shall be liable to the council. Whoever shall say "You imbecile" shall be in danger of hell fire." Matthew 5:21-22

"How are you able to speak good things when you yourselves are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Good persons bring forth good things out of the good treasure within themselves, while evil persons bring forth evil things from the evil storehouse within themselves. I say to you that for every evil word which people speak they must give an accounting on the Day of Judgment. You shall be justified by your words, and you shall be condemned by your words." Matthew 12:34-37

"It is not what goes into the mouth which defiles a person but what proceeds out of the mouth - this defiles a person...The things which proceed forth out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile a person, for out of the heart come forth disputes, evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual exploitation, robberies, false witness, abuse and blasphemy. These are the things which defile the person." Matthew 15:18-20

The Epistles on Sexual Abuse

"I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with those whose sexual conduct is improper - but by no means with the immoral of this world, or the exploitive or the rapists (3) or idolaters, since then you would be obliged to leave the world. But now I write to you not to associate with any who, though they call themselves sister or brother, yet engage in sexually inappropriate behavior (4) or are exploitive or idolatrous (5) or verbally abusive or drunken or rapists. Do not share the fellowship of the Lord's supper with such persons. (6) Why should I judge those who are without? Rather judge those who are within, (7) and God will judge those who are without. Cast out the evil person from among you." (8) I Corinthians 5:9-13

Part 2 to Follow...

2006-08-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS SLANDER OR GOSSIP?

ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

Gossip: (Greek)

blasphemeo, blas-fay-meh'-o; to vilify; talk against; to speak irreverently: speak evil of; blaspheme

blasphemia krisis, kree'-sis; railing accusation or judgment

katalaleo, kat-al-al-eh'-o; to put down; to be a maligner, i.e. to slander:--speak against (evil of).

katalalia, kat-al-al-ee'-ah; defamation:--backbiting, evil speaking.

psithurismos, psith-oo-ris-mos'; secret, vicious whispering

psithuristes, psith-oo-ris-tace'; a secret, vicious whisperer

diabolos, dee-ab'-ol-os; a traducer, a slanderer, a false-accuser; literally - one who throws about

phluaros, floo'-ar-os; bubbling over with words; one who says too much; excessively talkative

loidoros, loy'-dor-os; one who spreads trouble with their mouth; abusive; a railer, a reviler

epereazo, ep-ay-reh-ad'-zo; to make inflammatory threats towards or statements about; to insult, falsely accuse

Slander: (Hebrew)

rakiyl, raw-keel'; as traveling about; carry tales, a scandal-monger

Lev 19:16 "'Do not go about spreading slander [rakiyl] among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.

'aliylah, al-ee-law'; in the sense of effecting; an exploit (of God), or a performance (of man, often in a bad sense); an act, a deed
dabar, daw-bawr'; a word; something spoken

Deut 22:17 Now he has slandered {'aliylah dabar] her and said, 'I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.' But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity." Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town, 18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him.

Effectively, slander is inaccurate information which presents a damaging view of someone, whether presented maliciously or innocently.

- The best way to avoid slander is to hear both sides of a story and ask lots of questions before making charges.

Prov 18:17 The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.

Prov 18:13 He who answers before listening-- that is his folly and his shame.

We prove ourselves to be a fool if we judge a matter and formulate an answer before we have finished listening to determine the truth

Checking out the facts with the accused also fulfills the law of Christ – "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

When someone passes on accusations without first checking them out with the accused to verify the truth of the reports, he inadvertently slanders when he passes on half truths or inaccuracies.

NEW TESTAMENT PROHIBITIONS:

Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
James 4:11 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, but sitting in judgment on it.
Col 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Titus 3:2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
1 Pet 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

NEW TESTAMENT CONDEMNATIONS:

Rom 1:29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
psithuristes, psith-oo-ris-tace'; a secret, vicious whisperer
2 Cor 12:20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip [psithuristes], arrogance and disorder.
1 Tim 5:13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
3 John 1:10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping [phluaros] maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

THE CLEAREST NEW TESTAMENT PROHIBITION:

Mat 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Mat 22:39b … 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Our greatest motivation for not putting others in bad light is our obedience to the Law of Christ – we must love others as we want to be loved. If we do not want people to talk about us when we are not there, then we must treat them with the same consideration.
As children of God, we must be alert to one of Satan's chief goals – to bring division to God's family. Offenses will happen in all relationships, so we must guard ourselves against harboring resentment, and sitting in judgment of one another. We must be especially careful to not fall victim to the devil's scheme and speak negatively of one another -- Christ's prescription in Matthew 18 must be followed. Before mentioning our concern to anyone else, we must speak first to the one who concerns us. We must "be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave" us. (Eph 4:32)

2006-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

GOSSIP

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

The action of gossip
To gossip is to speak in a way which raises questions or doubts about another or their character. Gossip is conversation behind someone's back, which puts them in bad light.
(Such discussion is only appropriate when engaged in by individuals involved in church discipline.)
The motivation for gossip

Compassion or sincere concern is no excuse for gossip.
No matter how pure or innocent the motive, raising questions about another still damages their reputation, ie:
"I'm concerned for `So and So' because …"
"I'd like to pray for `So and So', because they've …"
"What did you think about what So and So said? I had trouble with it myself."
"I am having a problem with `So and So,' because of such and such. Could you pray for me?"
"I heard such and such about `So and So.' Do you know if that's true?"
"Have you heard that `So and So' was being investigated for such and such? They need our prayer."
"But I know what I say to be TRUE -- so it's not gossip." (Where does the idea come from that words are only gossip if they are not true?)

Gossip destroys another's reputation, whether intentionally or accidentally.
The most famous excuse for gossip: "I only mentioned it because I was concerned."
· If personal concern excused gossip, 90% of all gossip could be justified.
· If the one speaking the gossip was genuinely concerned, they would have come to the one they gossiped about, and not raised doubts about them to someone else.
Even one who repeats hurtful gossip back to the slandered one, rather than confronting the slanderer, participates in gossip. The one originally speaking the gossip should be corrected and sent back to reconcile with the one they are gossiping about.

God's solution for those who have concerns for another is for them to go to the one they say they are concerned about. That way they don't accidentally gossip.

3. Distinctions of Gossip:

A gossip is one who tells truth to others -- not just lies.
A gossip is one who reveals matters which should have been kept private.
A gossip is one who isn't worthy of trust.

Prov 11:13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
halak, haw-lak'; to walk and carry; ie: a tale-bearer

A gossip is one who shares with others that which is entrusted to him in secret.
A gossip is one who says more than he ought, so should be avoided.

Prov 20:19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. rakiyl, raw-keel'; one who travels and carries tales, a talebearer, scandal-monger, a slanderer

A gossip is one who stirs up dissension.
A gossip is one who speaks things which cause hurt feelings, thereby dividing friends.
Prov 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
nirgan, neer-gawn'; one who causes division; a slanderer:--talebearer, whisperer

Prov 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

A gossip is one who contributes to a quarrel by speaking of it to others.
Prov 26:20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

A gossip is one who damages his friends with his lips.
Prov 11:9 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

A gossip is one whose words will not be without consequence -- on himself or others.
Psalms 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.
Leviticus 19:16 "'Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.

One who speaks negatively of others is so full of himself that he speaks without restraint
Prov 10:18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool [keciyl].
keciyl, kes-eel'; to be fat; ie: to be bloated with self (A fool is one who lacks self-restraint.)

A gossip is anyone who sees a brother in sin, and does not follow Matthew 18, but tells others of his offense instead. As we are directed in Romans 16:17-18, such a divisive person should be avoided.

Mat 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Rom 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Effectively, we gossip when we speak in a negative way about another when they are not present to defend themselves. The facts spoken may be true and the speaker may be motivated out of concern, but if the one spoken about would not appreciate the conversation, it is gossip.

Pt 2 to follow: Is It Gossip or Slander?

2006-04-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

Work, part 2

HOW SHOULD WE WORK?

How does God want us to work? What attitude should we have?

The Bible is not silent about this subject, but gives us a full understanding of the attitude we should have toward the subject of work. Let's look at them together.

1. WILLINGLY.

Judges 5:2, "The people willingly offered themselves."

1 Chronicles 28:9, "Know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind."

1 Chronicles 28:21, "Every willing skillful man."

Psalm 110: "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power."

Proverbs 31:13, "She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."

Isaiah 1:19, "If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land."

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9.

The word 'work' in Proverbs 31:13 is 'asah'. It means 'to make, do, create, construct, accomplish, work, labor.' It is the same word that is used of God's creative activity - Genesis 1:26; 31; Psalm 86:9; 95:5; 96:5. Work is creative and therefore enjoyable. Work is constructive and therefore fulfilling. Work is productive and therefore satisfying. The more we work with joy-filled and a willing heart, the more we will be filled with creative ideas.

2006-04-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

Thoughts from the Vine on the Subject of Work

part 1

This is a series on the subject of work. It will be exhaustive, therefore spread out over several days.

THE PRINCIPLE OF "WORK"

IN THE WORD OF GOD

God instituted 'work' in the second chapter of Genesis, the Book of Beginnings. God gave the principle of work to man for his blessing. God gave the work ethic before the fall of man. After the fall, fatigue and pain were associated with work, but work was established before the fall as a blessing. Work is the law of man's being. Work is divinely inspired. If we don't work,we will suffer atrophy in body, mind and spirit. Work is therapeutic -physically, emotionally and mentally. In fact, God was the very first employer.

Genesis 2:5-15, "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden and theLord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it andto keep it.

"'Keep' (shamar) means to 'to hedge about, i.e., to guard, to protect, and towatch. ''Dress' (avad) in Hebrew means 'to work, serve, labour, toil, till.

'This same Hebrew word 'avad' is translated by a number of different words: Genesis 5:5, "there was not a man to till the ground."
Isaiah 19:9, "they that work in fine flax."
Ezekiel 48:18, "them that serve the city."
(Genesis 29:15; 30:26,29; Exodus1:13,14; 3:12; 7:16; Jeremiah 22:13)

2006-04-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

If I No Longer Live . . .

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20

If I no longer live . . .
Then why am I working so hard to sustain and improve my life?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why do I devote myself to that which is temporal and neglect that which is spiritual?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why do I chase after that which is perishing?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why do I fret so much about my castle?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why is it, no matter how much money I have, I don't have enough to give to the needy or the Lord?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why do I invest so much time in my job and so little in my children?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why am I so intent on leaving in this world a legacy?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why are my children picking up my worldly values?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why do I invest so much time into pursuing fun and self gratification?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why am I so proud of my accomplishments?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why do I get so angry with those who cross me or thwart my plans?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why do I stress out over "things" and why am I so intolerant toward those who mess with my stuff?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why are my feelings, wishes, and wants so consuming?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why do I live so much for myself and serve others so little?

If I no longer live . . .
Then why don't I love others?

2006-04-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

Psalm 119:1

119:1
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord!

The Lord calls blessed those who are undefiled in the way and who walk in the law of the Lord. In our modern day of instant news, microwaves and bulleted reports, we have lost the much needed arts of concentration and meditation that allow the Holy Spirit to illumine what God is actually saying to us. We have, by and large, lost the ability as a society to be still and know that He is Lord. So let us examine this verse and allow the Holy Spirit to expound upon the full meaning as it applies in our lives.

Looking into God's word is like mining for precious gems. A surface reading seldom reveals the riches and costly treasures hidden from the casual seeker. I believe that this is the way of the Lord as it is continually a message within scripture, that those who diligently seek Him will find Him. He delights in those who take the time to seek out His treasures and delight themselves in Him and the wonderful splendor found in the hidden treasures of His word.

Let us dig deep into the meaning of this verse:

Blessed is the transliterated word 'esher. It means:
happiness, blessedness
often used as interjection
blessed are

This word comes from a primitive Hebrew root word with the following meaning:
to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress
(Qal) to go straight on, make progress
(Piel)
to go straight on, advance
to lead on (causative)
to set right, righten
to pronounce happy, call blessed
(Pual)
to be advanced, be led on
to be made happy, be blessed

We often read "blessed" and see it as having our circumstances go our way with no bumps in the road, no hiccups in our plans and having enough money to pay for our not only our bills; but our recreations and pleasures, having a great relationship with our family members, and no conflict within our friendships. But, is that what God was intending as He inspired this verse? Yes, God desires our joy to be full, but is not He also the God who Paul served when He penned the words, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?" When Paul wrote this verse he was indeed blessed! He had the revelation that nothing separated him from the love of God. He understood this from the experiences God led him through.

Romans 8:31-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." F22 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessed is that state of making progress and that brings us into a joy-filled, peaceful state of being. Blessed is also that state of being made right before God. We know that this happens when we trust in the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ and we allow the Holy Spirit to have full sway in the workings of our life. To say that we believe in Jesus is simply not enough according to scripture. We must understand the biblical definition of believing, and it is much more than simple mental acquiessense. More on that at another time. We are made positionally right before God but He desires our condition before Him to be whole as well. We are blessed when our position and our condition before Him is whole and sound!

We read that blessed are the undefiled. What does this exactly mean?

The transliterated word for undefiled is the word tamiym. This word means the following:
complete, whole, entire, sound
complete, whole, entire
whole, sound, healthful
complete, entire (of time)
sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)

This word cmes from a Hebrew root word meaning:

to be complete, be finished, be at an end
(Qal)
to be finished, be completed 1a
completely, wholly, entirely (as auxiliary with verb)
to be finished, come to an end, cease
to be complete (of number)
to be consumed, be exhausted, be spent
to be finished, be consumed, be destroyed
to be complete, be sound, be unimpaired, be upright (ethically)
to complete, finish
to be completely crossed over
(Niphal) to be consumed
(Hiphil)
to finish, complete, perfect
to finish, cease doing, leave off doing
to complete, sum up, make whole
to destroy (uncleanness)
to make sound
(Hithpael) to deal in integrity, act uprightly

We rejoice that those who are found in Christ are complete in Him. We already are in right standing with Him positionally, as we are (as a new man) seated with Christ in heavenly places. Our old man is dead. We must reckon it so! Now let us ask a question. Are we truly made sound, is all uncleanness destoyed within us? Yes, if we are walking in newness of life. For it truly is Christ in us the hope of glory. Our old man and all of it's desires, obsessions, hurts, offenses is to be totally consumed. These are all areas this single word undefiled covers!

One shade of meaning that the Lord focused me in upon was the fact we are to cease, to come to an end. We are to cease from our own works and enter to a rest. Heb 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. How do we enter into that Sabbath rest? By faith in what the finished work of the cross has done and by yeilding to the spirit inside and reckoning dead (counting it as a fact) the old man with it's sinful nature.

In the 44th chapter of the book of Ezekiel, the priests who minister within the inner courts are to not wear any such cloth over their head and loins that causes sweat. No cloth of mixed origin is to be worn as a helmet of salvation and over our reproductive areas. The head is to be covered with the helmet of salvation and we are to have our loins gird about with truth. There cannot be any mixture within us, especially concerning salvation and truth, which bring about reproduction and therefore fruitfulness! Let him who truly has ears hear this truth. We are not to strive in our own efforts and thus sweat if we are to stand before the Lord, in His inner courts and sanctuary.

Read:
Ezekiel 44.
Hebrews 4:1-10

How will we attain the state of being blessed? We don't and cannot do anything to attain it! We simply place our complete and total trust in the continued work of the Cross and Resurrection in our life! We enter into His Sabbath rest by yeilding minute by minute to the spirit within us and allowing ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of our minds according to His divine law, His word. Thus we are blessed!

2006-04-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

Adversity

Colossians 3:3
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Adversity is something we all face, whether we believe we will or not. (Mt 24:9, Mr 4:17, Joh 16:33, Ro 5:3, Ro 8:35, Ro 12:12, 2Co 1:4) Much can be accomplished in our lives if we make the decision to not fight against that fact. Yes, we take our stand against evil and we fight the good fight of faith, but when we realize that life will be filled with hardship and trials and tribulations and we submit to God’s dealing within those things, we find a peace that passes understanding. (2Co 1:4, 2Co 7:4 , Mt 10:38) Much harm has been done by false teaching and belief systems that all adversity is evil and can be “overcome and avoided.” (Mt 13:21, Mr 8:34) This was the presupposition that Peter carried when he asked Jesus to not go to the cross. Jesus responded by saying Peter’s motivation was from Satan himself! (Mark 8:27-38) In modern Christianity our souls (mind, will, and emotions) are loathe to accept the teachings of death to self and the deep lessons of the cross. (Mt 10:38) Our souls oftentimes embrace the teaching that exalt self and paint the picture of a discipleship of ease and lack of suffering.

During adversity let us embrace simplicity of faith and trust that does not involve striving. (Mt 11:28-29, Heb 4:1-5) We must take care to instantly take every thought captive and release them to God, which is our fight of faith. We must let go of worries and restless thoughts and surrender those thoughts to God the Father. (2Co 10:5) These thoughts are the life of the self, centered in upon itself, not the thoughts of selflessness with giving and serving others. (Php 2:3) The self-life is the very thing that is causing us great pain. (Ro 8:7) For a dead thing does not suffer! If we truly walked-in revelation knowledge that we are reckoned dead and our life is hid with Christ in God, then we would no longer struggle with those pains which so easily now afflict us. (Col. 3:3, Ro 6:11) We must learn to bear our sufferings with graciousness and composure, even those sufferings through no fault of our own. (Ac 14:22, Ro 5:3 , Jas 1:2, 1Pe 1:6) Not through self-effort can this done either! If we bear those sufferings with composure worked through self-effort, we find ourselves self-congratulatory in our effort and self-righteousness is then the end result. ( Heb. 4: 1 – 11, Ro 4:5-6) This self-righteousness is sin. Sin always brings forth death and death does not work in us the life of Christ, so a destructive cycle ensues.

No, we must avail ourselves of the resurrection power that is ours in Jesus Christ and the fact that we are a new creation in Christ! This is good news indeed! We must always be aware to yield any restlessness and striving within ourselves to God who is the Father of Peace and to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. This yielded intimacy then conceives within us the very seed which will eventually yield the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is peace. This yielding to the spirit is done on a day by day, hour by hour, even if need be; a minute by minute basis. We can actually add to our present sufferings by adding resistance to yielding to the hand of God, by agitation and frustration brought about by unwillingness to suffer adversity. Many obsessions, sinful habits and thinking patterns are merely the attempts to avoid suffering adversity! We believe a lie when we believe we deserve, somehow to avoid adversity! (Joh 16:33) We deserve nothing from God in and of ourselves, but we get grace, forgiveness, mercy and the privilege of intimate fellowship with Him. (Ro 5:10) All else comes from His hand as a precious gift and we humbly receive it, demanding and deserving nothing else. (Ro 5:17) We are sons by His bidding and gift, not self-appropriation!

A cross which comes from God is to be taken up willingly without concern for the self-life. (Mr 8:34 ) In accepting the cross this way, we can bear it up with full peace, even though it is painful to our souls. (Lu 14:27) When we fight against our cross of suffering, it is much more painful than it ought to be! The martyr, Fenelon, states that the resistance within is much harder to bear than the cross itself. How very true! If we recognize the hand of God, make no opposition to His will, we will have peace in the midst of affliction (Fenelon). I have found joy by bearing the suffering allowed by God and by simple submission to God’s will. (Mt 10:39) That peace that passes all understanding then rules in your hearts and minds by Christ Jesus, our Master. Only when the Christ is our Master and we willingly submit in trust of His care can this happen! (Php 4:7)

I have noticed within myself a tendency to want to strike negotiations with God and drive a bargain. This is sinful reasoning! My children, when understanding they are about to receive a disciplinary action (spanking) often try to drive a bargain to lessen their suffering. “I want mommy to give me the spanking, not Daddy,” or “Can I have two swats instead of five if I agree to clean my room?” A child has no place in negotiating with a parent if true biblical honor is fully understood. We have no place to bargain with God as an equal. Do we understand the lessons of Job or the teachings of the potter and the clay? (Ro 9:21)

Do we suggest limits on God’s dealings so our self suffering can come to an end? Do we set boundaries on the amount of time we are willing to suffer adversity? Do we thwart the purposes of God by taking the attitude that we, “will allow God to deal with us, thus far and no more?” Are we stubbornly clinging to a life of self-rule?

Are we so unwilling to die by the cross provided us that we, thereby, refuse to live the resurrection life provided for us? We have no claim to our own life. Deliver us Father from the thinking that we do. Do not allow us to be unaffected by your cross and resurrection! Do not have given Your precious life blood in vain! Give me the revelation of who I really am, and who I no longer am, Father. (Lu 9:24, Col. 3:3)