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Baptism in the Holy Spirit, being born again, church, commandments, experience, following Jesus, love, promises, sanctification, Spirit-filled, spiritual power, the Kingdom of God, the new self
If someone has been used to reading through the Bible by distinguishing between commandments and promises, he will surely feel crushed, time and again, especially when he comes across a commandment which appears an impossible thing to be obeyed by us. Here are some examples.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 Jn 2:15-17 ESV)
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Mt 10:37 ESV)
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Col 3:8-10 ESV)
Have you ever tried to not love the world, or to love Jesus more than your family, or to kill the flesh which seems to be indestructible? Or have you ever felt jealous or angry but you didn’t want to feel those feelings any longer? And you prayed to God about it – a thousand times, and more – but He seemingly didn’t hear you?
You are not alone in this. And the solution for the impossible things lies – as always – in God’s spiritual power which He gives to us at an increasing rate the more the sanctification process advances. He does not give us all spiritual power at one go; instead, He often lets us wait many years, even decades, until He suddenly begins to pour out His Spirit into our very hearts (Rom 5:5).
If God finally does so, what might be the consequences for our life, then?
Some years ago I read an article by Charles Grandison Finney in which he described the features, or rather the lack of features, regarding people who are filled with the Holy Spirit. To put it briefly, he said that they appear to be extremely one-sided to “the world” since they are no longer interested in this-worldly things. Their only interest is the Lord and His Kingdom. Period. Boring people – really (wink wink).
For my own part, as soon as I realized that God made me lose any interest in my multitude of hobbies, in long conversations with friends or relatives, and some other things ( 😉 ), I wondered about it, and to be honest, I reacted with blaming myself for it. Again and again. I couldn’t believe that the same things I loved before had become even repulsive to me. In the beginning I was embarrassed – sometimes even bugged, because I couldn’t explain it – as soon as I heard some of the following constantly recurring questions:
“What??? Not running/swimming, no aerobics/badminton/Yoga/Qi Gong any more? What happened? Depressed?”
Or
“Not reading books/watching TV/going to the movies/going on vacation any more? Unimaginable!!!”
Or the worst of it 🙂
“You are a woman!!!? Don’t you love cooking/baking/cultivating/shopping/going for a walk in God’s wonderful creation?”
No. It’s over. Completely. And I admit that it is not always that easy for me to live in this world surrounded by people who do and love to do what I loved to do as well, yet not belonging to them any more. As for the things I don’t love any more, I do what I ought, and that’s it. Honestly, it makes me feel like an alien here, and I do understand what John may have meant by writing, “for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Rev 12:11 ESV).
Without God’s peace and comfort, I could never imagine how to psych myself up daily in order to live in a world which, though created by God and wonderful to look at, is not at all interesting to me.
When I feel joy, it comes ALWAYS from the inside, not simply from watching an impressive sunset, walking a wonderful beach, or even looking at God’s beautifully created men and women. The last thing is the strangest of all, that is, to see beautiful bodies and less beautiful ones side by side without feeling attracted by some or repelled by others.
The only thing I sense when looking at people is their spirit, and the mental state they are in. When they are sad, struggling with life, or need help in any way, my heart is always brim-full with (Spirit-given) empathy. I can’t help feeling this way, and I still wonder how I lost any “feeling” for physical bodies, and why I merely perceive them as “flesh” without any “magnetic effects”.
Referring to the last point I made, I believe that the problems the Church has regarding pornography, sexual immorality, adultery, and homosexuality etc. – ergo everything concerning human sexuality – cannot be solved but by Christ’s Spirit alone. Every struggle of a homosexual, a bisexual, or a transsexual to become “normal” [whatever this may be] is doomed to failure right from the beginning.
If there is one thing I would tell anyone struggling with his or her sexuality, I would like to point out that God loves us really unconditionally. It is never “God loves you BUT…”!!!
God would never, I repeat it, never, and I keep repeating it (!) 🙂 , God would never demand anything from us we cannot do, or rather we don’t love to do. God will give us time and lead for it’s a long way…
Only (outwardly) religious people usually urge others to do what they can’t do, as Jesus said,
“Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.” (Lk 11:46 ESV)
In my experience, it is more a hindrance than a help to burden people with trying to change what they cannot change at all. In fact, I fear that such self-liberation efforts might poison our relationship with God, since – who would willingly put their trust in someone who continually forces them to try the impossible? Would we really call it God’s L-O-V-E?
Kristina said:
Hi Susanne,
I definitely can relate to the feeling of not wanting to do all the things that I used to do..My family doesn’t understand..I’ve been told that I’m living to die and have no real evidence that what I believe is true..But we know as children of God just how real He is 🙂 I love God so much, I can’t live without Him..I’ve backslidden in the past when criticized for wanting to pursue our Father, and was so miserable because of that path..I have made so many mistakes, but I am seeing by the grace of our Lord that those mistakes have taught me and helped me to see how much I need Him..I never realized how much of a control freak I have always been, but I see it and it’s not pretty..I haven’t reached that place of rest I desire in Him..letting go of control is one big flesh issue I haven’t let die..I wanted to thank you for sharing what God speaks to your heart..I have seen your responses on Michael Clark’s blog and just saw yours here for the first time tonite 🙂 May God bless you and keep you strong in the faith..
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Mmmmhhhhh……
What a beautiful comment to read in the middle of a cold and rainy summer morning in Bavaria! 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and for sharing a part of your own experiences with me (and with all who read it, too). As a side note, “Welcome to the club!” I am a control freak as well AND a perfectionist – imagine, what a lethal combination… 😉 But meanwhile I have learned to smile about my imperfections and to accept them as part of my personality, created by God. I often tell Him, “I do not know why You made me so, but I thank You that I can love myself as I am now.” And that makes it easier for me to wink at similar or other imperfections of the fellow man (and woman, of course).
It is wonderful to hear that you love God so much that you can’t live without Him – it is the same for me. Yes, I know these difficulties with my family, relatives, and friends who usually shake their head about my ignorance as I experienced it today on the phone, again.
Enquirer: “What??? You did not watch the “2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final between Germany and Brazil” yesterday in the late evening?? It was really awesome!!!”
Susanne: “No, I stopped watching TV five years ago – completely!”
Always the same questions (by the same persons) and always the same answer they hear from me. Meanwhile that makes me smile as well. How unbelievable is such an obvious life transformation for someone who does not know God’s inconspicuous but highly effective spiritual power yet!
Kristina, as for you not having “reached that place of rest” you desire in Him – you are very, very close. May God bless you and keep you in His loving grip.
Much love,
Susanne
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Fred Thoren said:
Have you ever tried to not love the world, or to love Jesus more than your family, or to kill the flesh which seems to be indestructible? Or have you ever felt jealous or angry but you didn’t want to feel those feelings any longer? And you prayed to God about it – a thousand times, and more – but He seemingly didn’t hear you?
Yes
Also your last paragraph I have had that before too. As was kind of mentioned in another blog post comment. I mean I did say I had 2 people on my facebook that scared me about all the talk about do this or don’t do that or you are going to hell. I did re add on the other day and started feeling the pressure again. I felt guilty so I re-added him. The other one I didn’t re-add but something he said before I un-friend-ed him bothered me a lot today. It was about the Sabbath and he was saying you are to keep it and so the reason I was bothered by that today is I started dreading tomorrow coming as I knew I would not be able to do what that guy said I was supposed to do and not do. I was in so much pain I actually started to become angry at that person and maybe upset with GOD as well. I do not like to get upset with GOD. So I got upset at my self for feeling that way. I broke down and cried a few times today. I prayed and few scripture kept coming to mind, lets see if I can now remember them as I do have a bad memory some times. Collossians 2:16 , Hebrews 4, maybe Romans 14, maybe a chapter in Galatians as well.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
You see, Fred, God has been talking with you.
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.” (Col 2:16 ESV)
Amen. If we do not let ppl pass judgment on us, how can we avoid it? We cannot affect the way others think about us, but with God’s help we can escape their continued judgment by avoiding their presence. If that is not possible (regarding family members, for example), we can always flee into our minds to God and let Him help us out of such troubling situations.
The fact that you broke down and cried AND prayed to God reveals how strongly He already has you in His grip. Not many people are drawn that strongly toward God as you have been, esp. in such a short period after having come to believe in God.
Getting upset with God, oh boy, I can hardly count how often I experienced that and I never liked it myself! However, it is part of the process of realizing that our old self cannot really love God. We can’t. Period.
In this case, it appears to me that you got mad at Satan since it was indeed the devil who made you feel “guilty” for not having obeyed him who spoke through that guy.
I did not check those other Scriptures you mentioned, but I believe God keeps talking to you. No doubt about that!
As for re-adding that guy, I did similar things too and felt very bad afterwards as well. At first it seemed to be God’s voice who told me to unfriend someone, but God allowed Satan to test me again and then I got insecure. Nonetheless, we may know that peace, joy, and love etc. are the fruit of God’s Spirit. All other (negative) feelings spring from Satan. It appears to me that we need to learn to FEEL the difference, even by making such mistakes.
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Michael said:
Hi Fred,
Law keeping is bondage and it feeds carnal pride in those who practice it. The letter of the Bible kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:6). Paul called law keeping, “the ministry of death.” (2 Cor. 3:7). Paul wrote,
“For ‘no human being will be justified in his sight’ by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,” (Rom 3:20-22, nrs)
He also wrote,
“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’ But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, ‘Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Gal 3:10-14, nrs)
So we see that there is no righteousness possible by law keeping, rather those who keep the law are under a curse. Our only hope is to live by faith in Jesus Christ and to follow the leading of His Spirit.
“Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3:21-29, nrs)
Fred if you have believed in Christ you are no longer under the law, but under faith. Tell all these law keepers who want to boast in your flesh to take a hike.
“May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!” (Gal 6:14-15, nrs)
God bless you, my brother!
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