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carnal, counterfeit gifts, deception, delusion, discerning the spirits, exhortation, experience, faith, feelings, God's will, joy, spiritual, suffering, walking by faith, Watchman Nee
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Lk 9:23-25 ESV)
Picture credits http://cornerstone-marion.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/mission-website-cross.jpg
To begin with, I want to make a distinction between the carnal believer who is fully carnal and spiritual believers who can be both carnal or spiritual. That might sound a bit strange in the beginning, but I am going to explain it right now.
- If a believer is merely carnal, he is content with what he thinks serving God is all about. He rather follows tradition and rituals to keep his normal life going and draws a security of sorts by his never changing habits that can be seen, felt, heard etc. He lives in and for the sensual realm of this world, religion included. If there is indeed more about (spiritual) life, he does not want to know about these things because it scares him.
- But there are also believers who have tasted already that God is more than man might imagine. They had one or a few more spiritual experiences that kindled their interest in spirituality. Alas, since they have not been baptized with the Holy Spirit as yet and thus being sealed as His own possession that is eager to obey His leading, they are still carnal (cf. 1 Cor 3:3) and tend to use any spiritual knowledge they acquired according to their old self’s interests. Thus they either tend to be prideful about being better than the normal carnal believer or they get deceived by piling up more spiritual knowledge than it would have been appropriate for them. Indeed, it can be very confusing to gather countless contradicting “truths” in our minds due to a lack of experiential foundation that could confirm what The Truth really is.
- The spiritual believer, finally, is not another kind of human being than believers found in these other two groups I just introduced above. Instead, he went through a long and life-changing process. Right at the outset he was fully carnal like any other. Then he made his first experiences with the Living God and he started to search for (more of) God. But eventually God through His Spirit’s power transformed him into a living image of Christ by killing the Old Adam nature completely. Without being baptized in the Holy Spirit, no human being will ever be inclined to accept such dramatic changes, even more, such “cataclysmic” transformation like dying to one’s own self which means a lot of suffering and denial.
So, what might be ‘Satan’s Counterfeit Spirituality’, then? Actually, the first group of believers is no real threat for Satan since they are not interested in the spiritual realm at all. It is mainly the second group of believers where many people can be found who are still undiscerning because they tend to take almost everything that sounds somehow spiritual to their ears as having come from God. Here the devil keeps spreading his poison in order to keep them from ever reaching the third group. In fact, if one has gone through the purifying and deeply sobering process of coming to grips with seeing our old self as totally depraved regarding divine matters (cf. the “wretched man” of Romans 7), Satan knows he lost the game. Here we can say that these people have overcome the world by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit alone.
The counterfeit problem arises because we as human beings are usually not that patient by nature. Instead, the old self wants to have ALL of God’s blessings, immediately at that! Normally, we do not want to wait on God. Therefore, Satan who knows about this, sneaks in and offers everything which the old (and seemingly spiritual) self wants to have. He offers spiritual experiences like dreams and visions that are pleasing to the eye and keeps us focused on our imaginary magnificence and our imaginary spiritual virtues. Yes, the devil is a people pleaser. He whispers some pleasant things into our ears until we believe him. It is only later that he begins to discourage and destroy the soul. Yet in the beginning Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and tells us that he is God who loves us. He even appears as “Jesus” at times and leads astray whomever he can by doing so. In fact, Satan also offers a kind of spirit baptism and “bestows” several powerful “spiritual gifts’ on such deceived believers. Actually, as soon as someone has fallen in love with possessing such gifts, it is very difficult to convince them that God was not the author.
One might wonder here about how to discern the difference between true and false spirituality and I admit it is not always easy to recognize it right at the outset. However, we can say if someone is not used to dying daily like the apostle Paul told us he was doing (see 1 Cor 15:31), but (mis)uses his ‘gifts’ in his old and unchanged self, he cannot grow in loving God and his neighbors, either. We do more damage to God’s case and the kingdom of God when we follow our soul’s desires to become someone. If our focus is more on our (old) self and on what God (or not God?) is doing through us instead of enduring those necessary and painful changes in our hearts that always direct us away from our self toward God, we might have been deluded by Satan. Since it is not a rare thing to be deceived by the devil, I thought I needed to point that out, once again.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thes 2:7-12 ESV)
If we want to be found as “winners” of the third group, we need a deep work of the cross in our lives. Watchman Nee put it this way.
When we forsake physical happiness and mundane pleasures, we are apt to conclude that the cross has finished its perfect work in us. We do not perceive that in God’s work of annulling the old creation in us there remains a deeper cross awaiting us. God wishes us to die to His joy and live to His will. Even if we feel joyous because of God and His nearness (in contrast to being joyous because of fleshly and earthly things), God’s aim nevertheless is not for us to enjoy His joy but to obey His will. The cross must continue to operate till His will alone is left. If we rejoice in the bliss God dispenses but renounce the suffering He also dispenses, then we have yet to experience the deeper circumcision by the cross.
[…]
During the initial stage of a Christian’s experience God allows him to delight in His joy; after he has advanced somewhat in his spiritual walk God withdraws His joy, since this is profitable for the Christian. God appreciates the fact that should the believer seek and enjoy this kind of bliss too long, he shall not be able to live by every word which proceeds from His mouth; instead he shall live wholly by that word which makes him glad. Thus he abides in the comfort of God but not in the God Who gives comfort. For this reason God must remove these pleasurable sensations so that His child may live exclusively by Him.
[…]
For this reason, after a Christian has made some progress spiritually, God commences to withdraw the consolation and delight which He gave him in the hour of suffering and obedience. Now the Christian must suffer without any ministration of comfort from God: he suffers externally while feeling bitter inwardly. He is to do the will of God without the least thing to stimulate his interest; indeed everything is dry and uninteresting.
[…]
This is a practical cross by which the Lord reveals to us whether we are living for Him by faith or living for ourselves by feeling. Frequently have we heard people say, “I live for Christ.” What does this really convey? Many saints assume that if they labor for the Lord or love the Lord they are living for Christ. This is far from being exactly so. To live for the Lord means to live for His will, for His interest, and for His kingdom. As such, there is nothing for self-not the slightest provision for self-comfort, self-joy, or self-glory.
If you like, read more here http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/lifeoffaith.htm.
Entering the Promised Land 
YEA I WOULD SAY YOU ARE VERY RIGHT IN WHAT YOU SAY and I would say that because of 41 years of being a Christian and that’s the way I have experienced it–I DO NOT run the show and satan is not my boss–God decides where who and when and I go along for the ride.
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I am very happy to hear that, Ken, and I hope you were not yelling at me (CAPS) … XD
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no way girl–I just did not realize I had the caps on
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Good! Thanks for letting me know, Ken. 🙂
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Susanne, this is a soul searching writing you have shared. What is the motive of our following after the Lord? There are so many fleshly ways to “serve the Lord” that are really nothing more than a human seeking after pleasure and profit to further its own grip on the counterfeit Adamic life it takes pleasure in. I do not think that having the joy of the Lord is a bad thing in itself, but when it becomes the measuring stick by which we judge our success in being obedient to Him, that is where it becomes an idol.
It was for the joy that was set before Him that Christ endured the shame and suffering of the cross, in fact at one point He even cried out because Father had left Him alone in His sufferings. This seems to be a pattern of how we really grow as we pursue Christ’s fullness in our lives. We go through deep valleys of suffering when He seems to have abandoned us and then come out onto brief plateaus of joy in His presence. These can become very intoxicating and addictive and we know this because of the sadness we feel when we have to go into the next death dealing valley that comes afterwards. Yet, in the maturity of Christ, we endure these valleys and welcome them knowing that they are working a deeper reality of Christ in us that has its own joy when we see His provision (table) even in the midst of our enemies. Thus our joy in His presence is no longer dependent on our circumstances any longer for we KNOW that He is with us in all things. Christ becomes our ALL in all situations.
Thanks so much for all the things you share, dear sister. You are a blessing to me for sure. ❤
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You are so welcome as to the sharing, Michael. Indeed, I needed to search my own soul in order to make the dirt be seen. 😉
This was very well expressed, my brother:
“Thus our joy in His presence is no longer dependent on our circumstances any longer for we KNOW that He is with us in all things. Christ becomes our ALL in all situations.”
YESSS! It is with God’s help alone that we can get there. You and your comments are always a blessing to me, Michael! ⭐
Susanne 🐱
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Your reply was very helpful to me. I know I have used the joy as a measuring stick. Although in thinking about it I think a sermon I once listened to said something about doing it that way. Maybe I misunderstood the sermon though.
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I think I am in the middle group. I know I have been deceived though, more then once and so I try my best to pray for the truth. I get confused easy though and that does not help. I remember having a lot of joy when I first came to Christ. I have been trying to get that back as of late as I have not had that for a while.
Watchman Nee – “Now the Christian must suffer without any ministration of comfort from God: he suffers externally while feeling bitter inwardly.”
That seems to be me for a while now.
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Yes, God always draws us toward Christ with joy and we hope that will remain. But one day we see it seems to be over. Do not worry, the joy will come back after every valley you need to go through and then you will be able to enjoy God more than whatever He gave you before. Promise, Fred! 🙂
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This was very well put and especially by Watchman Nee’s narration of it. If I have never met you or Michael I would have never known that that was the reason I practically died.
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Thanks so much for your edifying words, dear Stacey. I am glad to hear that Michael and I could help you and that you liked Nee’s excerpts, too. 🙂
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Susanne, this commentary really resonated with me. Is it that still small voice that we recognize as God the Holy Spirit and respond to or is it our feelings? We have been so conditioned over the years, in this world, by psychologists who say you need to follow your feelings, tap into your feelings…let your (gut) feeling be your guide. What hogwash! This is absolutely counter to what the Word of God says. It is no wonder so many Christians continue to operate in this manner (the flesh). When we (re)act and are led to do something for the Lord, if it is by emotion or feelings, then we are operating in the ‘old man,’ and much baggage comes with that ‘old man.’ Hence, what we think we are hearing is often in error and a distortion…”but it feels right, it just makes perfect sense.” God’s will was not done, but ours was. There is no glory for our Lord Christ Jesus when this happens. It is counterfeit as you wrote in this post. Exercising spiritual discernment is so critical and will mature for those who truly seek to do God’s will. This exercise is ongoing throughout our walk (no pain no gain)…we cannot take a break from it for one minute as the enemy is a formidable foe. I also read the attached link on A Life of Feeling or Faith? and so often it is our environment where we can confuse the motivation of our (re)actions because this is where most of our buttons are pushed. There is victory for the saint when we overcome our feelings and operate in complete faith and this is when the Christian experiences true joy, peace and rest. This can only be attained by the grace of our Lord Christ Jesus. Thank you for this post…it is giving me much food for thought.
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I am glad to hear that this resonated with you, Nancy. Your deliberations truly make sense to me.
Actually, it is one thing to have received the gift of discerning the spirits. This divine discernment automatically shows us what is true and what is false BEFORE our soulish feelings, our mind (reason) and will begin to react. But here lies the problem. Satan knows we want an explanation of what we perceived and offers logical and emotional stuff by operating on the level of the soul where he can capture us. As soon as we have listened to our habitual feelings (the so-called gut feeling as you so rightly pointed out) that belong to our old self, we cannot discern God’s voice from Satan’s any longer and confusion sets in. Indeed, even though it makes no sense to us to obey God, listening to Him right at the outset and acting as He says will truly give us His joy, peace, and rest. Very well said, Nancy! ⭐
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You said…“Actually, it is one thing to have received the gift of discerning the spirits. This divine discernment automatically shows us what is true and what is false BEFORE our soulish feelings, our mind (reason) and will begin to react.”
Thank you for bringing this up, Susanne. So true! The gift of discernment is for edifying the body of Christ. Iron sharpens iron. Often, it is those very Christians who embrace Satan’s counterfeit spirituality (operating in feelings/emotions) who strongly object to those with the spirit of discernment (it’s a spiritual battle). Many are hyper-sensitive emotionally and it does not take much to offend them. This is the PC (political correctness) that has infiltrated the church buildings today and it is antichrist. Example: A sister or brother with spiritual discernment may have shared a warning concerning false teaching/teacher, error, etc., but it is received with the attitude of…”So what if it’s truth, I don’t like the way you said it. You weren’t loving enough.” Having said this, I am completely aware that demonstrating the fruit of the spirit is much more important than the gifts of the spirit. Per Watchman Nee, “An emotional Christian is easily defeated in conflict with Satan. Spiritual warfare accordingly demands an attitude of total death to feeling and an absolute trust in God. Only a person with this attitude can bear up alone and not seek companions or man’s approval in fighting the enemy.” Feeling or faith? I am really meditating on this one, Susanne. Again, thank you.
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You’re welcome as to the quote you pasted and to everything else, Nancy.
Yes, it IS a spiritual battle! Usually those who have been captured by this counterfeit spirituality were blinded by Satan. If you then tell them about what you believe is true, they rarely feel concerned since they are sure that they cannot be deceived. Instead, they try to convince you that love is all we need, just as you said in your response about the reproach to have acted unlovingly toward them. In such cases (just experienced such a one lately) we have only one choice: “Let the dead bury the dead” and follow Jesus instead.
As for feeling or faith, I would say that feelings are not bad in themselves, but the source must be God’s Spirit, not the soul of fallen man. Therefore dying to that old self that unknowingly submitted to Satan and this world’s views is necessary. If, finally, all our good feelings spring from His Spirit (the fruit, that is), then we can hardly go wrong with telling someone the truth which, alas, sometimes must hurt in order to wake people up from their spiritual slumber.
Thank you for your helpful contribution, Nancy.
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“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Heb 5:14, ESV2011)
I have never seen such a lack of discernment of spirits operating in people as I have seen it in those sold out to the church systems of men. Thus, those who come into their assemblies that are mature and can see what is going on in the Spirit and are soon invited to leave. Sometimes you just have to let the blind guides lead their blind followers into the ditches that God has appointed them in their folly. Ditches may be a lost resort, but they can be great teachers.
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I wonder, Michael, whether those who are mature still come to their assemblies… maybe once… and then never again! 🙂
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Yes, my sister. That is true. I think that this is exactly what Jesus prophesied when He said, “See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matt 23:38-39, ESV2011)
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Wow!! Very good, Michael! These verses fit like a glove. ⭐
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“If a believer is merely carnal, he is content with what he thinks serving God is all about. He rather follows tradition and rituals to keep his normal life going and draws a security of sorts by his never changing habits that can be seen, felt, heard etc. He lives in and for the sensual realm of this world, religion included…..”
This was so very good. Thank you, Susanne. I am so overjoyed to see the body writing more and more on our identity and encouraging us all to cast aside what we already died to (that corpse of a carnal man).
This greatly encouraged me!!
Your NY brother
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You’re very welcome, David. I am glad to hear that you have been encouraged. 🙂
As for the corpse of the carnal man, the flesh dies hard, doesn’t it?
Your Bavarian sister
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… It does indeed. Thanks. 🙂
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You’re welcome, David.
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Thank you Susanne for writing this. one can see that you have yourself gone through the valley of the shadow of death.. where we learn to fear no evil.. Yes. I would say that when we lose that happy joyous feeling that comes with initial salvation, it can be most devastating.. That is when Satan comes and whispers his accusations and lies in our ears. And in the beginning I listened to his lies but then I heard the Ruach Elohim tell me to focus on His living word, and to stand on His word no matter what came into my life.. He told me. That as I prayed for my enemies, That he would prepare a table for me in thier presence..That is probably the most painful cross of all.. the Betrayals. Oh how deeply they hurt.. excpecially if they come through somone we . have loved and opened our hearts to..David says it well
Psalm 55 12For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. 13But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend; 14We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.
or Psalm 41:9 9Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
i was not very happy with Abba during that time.. until I learned to do what he was telling me too..I Still dont like it.. Would be lying if I said I did. But I know I am progressing, as it is becoming easier.. to obey when it is the last thing i want to do.
I remember what it was like in the beginning when I fell for all the false prophets and thier promises of being powerful in the Lord.. But thank God It was not long until I began to notice somthing very wrong with this message.. And quickly repented and left that camp.. to all its lies..I have only been born again for going on 10 years. and I must say i WISHED IT WOULD MOVE ALONG FASTER. HHAHAHHA..
I dont believe anyone who was saved in the so called churches of Babylon USA was not touched by this counterfeit spirituality.. I SURE WAS.. I do know I am using capital letters..but am not yelling. I do that when I want to make a point..
And Helen you are so right.. this pshyco babble about feelings is crap.. I went through that also.. but it was all a waste of time.. because I never learned how to stop using the drugs I was using every day for the last 43 years.. The only thing they can do is teach you how to follow formulas and like pavlos dog. they ring a bells and the dog salivates..i learned that no one dies that way. they just keep you going over the same old crap over and over again. psychology wants to make us into a better version of self.. How painful to learn that there is nothing of this rotten flesh that can be improved. DEATH IS THE ONLY WAY..
Thank you Susanne. I look forward to the day when i am joyful again..
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You’re very welcome, Ruth.
I am sorry to hear that you are going through a very sad and difficult time. I guess all I can do is pray for you:
“Dear Daddy in Heaven, keep Ruth close to Your heart and comfort her in Your loving arms. Restore to her the joy of Your salvation and uphold her with Your free spirit (Ps 51:12). Amen.”
Thank you for sharing such a detailed part of your testimony with us on here. I believe that no one who ever found himself near another valley of the shadow of death would not have wished that it would be over soon. No one likes to die and, alas, our flesh wants to survive, no matter what.
As for psychology, well, I went through these things too and I agree that they want to help you bring forth a better kind of (old) self since they do not know that our old Adam and Eve will never change. We can adjust our behavior to a certain degree, but we cannot change our hearts. A new heart is needed and a new mind of divine origin. Anything less than that won’t do.
I wonder whether the common notion of “being saved” might be wrong. I believe that salvation is a long process consisting of a rather short process of justification and a very long process of sanctification. In my humble opinion, full redemption or salvation happens (though not of the body as yet) after having died to self.
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Pingback: The Power in Our Souls to Be Deceived « A Wilderness Voice
Oh, what a nice surprise! Thanks for the link to my blog, Michael. 🙂
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Susanne, I can see how both articles could dove-tail together in a single truth filled article as to the nature of temptation among Christians. Your three types of Christians part is really insightful.
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Michael, I have not read your article as yet, but I assume I know a bit what it will be about. 😉
As for these three types of Christians, well, I was amazed too as I saw it before me on the screen in written form. I said, “Oh, God, on my own I would have NEVER found out such things!” God’s inspiration is truly ALWAYS surprising. 🙂
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Absolutely surprising is our God when we get out of the way and let His Spirit do the work in us. He has made you a wonderful blessing in so many lives as His cross has gone deep into your heart. Thank you, dear sister. ❤
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You’re welcome, Michael. Yes, His cross has been very painful, even for many years, but you had your share as well, right?
God bless you,
Susanne ❤
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Yes, Susanne, my honeymoon with Jesus only lasted about eight months in 1970 and it has been pretty much continuous trials and wilderness since, BUT He has given me his waters of refreshing between the times of death more often here lately. My longest one dying period with no letup period was 14 years in the ’80’s and ’90’s. I have concluded since then that the wilderness is never too far away when God sees we need it. The flesh dies hard, but our loving Father is up to the task.
It is good to fellowship with someone who knows what it is like. Bless you! ⭐
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It will get better and better, Michael. The more “deaths” we have gone through, the more we will share in His resurrection power as well.
Yup, our joint ‘dying to live’ fellowship has been a great blessing to me, my brother. Thank you! 🐱
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I enjoyed reading this piece and having found this website. I have nobody in my life that I can share with, like you folks do here and it has been so for a very long time. I’d like to ask for more description of exactly what is meant by suffering, dying to self and dramatic changes in your article, since those things can be pretty subjective. I am struggling to cope with so many disabilities after a near fatal accident and have wondered on several occasions if God was allowing all this to happen to me to get me to change something? But I don’t know what? Also, I have a different opinion about psychology. I was a psych nurse for 10 years, 5 of those working at a Rapha inpatient treatment center (Christ-centered, Bible based program). Cognitive therapy is the style of counseling that has been widely used for decades now and is reality based, where one is taught to NOT trust feelings (or the lies we tell ourselves), but the truth about themselves, a situation, etc. and learning effective coping and communication skills. The Christian programs were a God send, as so many believers suffering emotional problems, including lots of ministers, missionaries and folks working for TV ministries, would not go to a secular psychiatric hospital or therapist, but felt safe in a Bible based program. Most mental health issues are physical/chemical abnormalities that anyone can experience…no one immuned…..God is good, Lydia Brown, Florida
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I am glad you found my website helpful, Lydia.
Yes, I do agree with you that feelings that spring from suffering of any kind can be very subjective. All human beings suffer by nature and since everyone has a soul mental health issues, basically, do not necessarily have to do with dying to self.
It is quite difficult for me to answer in a few words regarding the difference between mere feelings of the soul (or physical suffering that affects the soul’s feelings too) and that which some call ‘spiritual depression’ or The Dark Night of the Soul (see John of the Cross, for instance). This ‘night’ is a very long process that consists of ‘The Dark Night of the Senses’ where our sensory perception is changed from carnal to spiritual awareness. Here God directs our senses away from what we can perceive on the outside to His invisible realm of which we now should be more aware than of the world around us. The second part is called ‘The Dark Night of the Spirit’ where our spirit being is changed completely and conformed into the image of Christ. Afterwards we truly have new heart and new mind and are eager to do God’s will since His will has become ours. We are ONE with God and our carnal nature that is common to all human beings has been killed through the power of His Spirit in us, eventually (Gal 5:24).
I just checked my category section on the left side of the homepage and saw that I wrote many articles, both on Dying to Self and The Dark Night of the Soul. I won’t link ALL of them here for you, 😉 but maybe, these two might help a bit:
https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2015/07/09/the-crisis-from-death-to-life/
https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/who-wants-to-experience-the-final-death-of-self-aka-mystic-death/
These Bible based programs you were speaking of are not that widespread in Germany. No doubt, doctors and drugs are God’s gifts as well and it is a wonderful experience if the soul that is mentally sick may enjoy a rest of sorts again, simply through some kind words of a counselor and a drug that calmed all troubled feelings. Still, that is all natural and not spiritual as yet. The Bible alone won’t save us; it can be a good guide, if wisely used, until we have found the One we were looking for, but our whole being cannot be changed that way. We need to have received God’s Spirit in our own being where He continually dwells (which we will also feel in our body through more or less ecstatic feelings at times). Without having been anointed by His Spirit or baptized into Him (if you like, cf. https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/what-is-the-baptism-in-the-holy-spirit/), no suffering can change our spiritual being although our soul might achieve some wisdom to cope better with life on the whole. However, the void in our heart remains until God Himself has His throne and dwelling place there (see John 14:23). The Bible confirms that there must be a death before we can enjoy real spiritual life with God, even here on earth. We read,
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:1-3 ESV)
Warm regards,
Susanne from Bavaria
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Susanne! What a wonderful, thoughtful and experiential reply to our sister Lydia. I knew after reading her comment that your life experiences and searching for answers that you have done would shed some light on this topic. You are such a blessing to us all! It is so wonderful that all the suffering you have been through has been turned to the glory of God. Thank you once again for who you are and to Him for what He has done in your life! Please pray for me that the things that I have suffered (in the future as well) will also be fully used to bring me into the fullness of Christ. 🐻
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Thank you so much for your enthusiastic reaction to my response, Michael! I read it as I was sitting on my prayer bench #1 on today’s bike ride in the countryside. Although it was quite cold, the warmth of your words touched my heart deeply. I am encouraged, my brother! 🙂
I keep praying for you, of course, Michael! HE who has begun the good work in us will finish it too, for sure.
Susanne 🐱
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