"The Candle In The Cave"
To even begin our "search" for the Mind of Christ, we must pay extremely close attention to the "actual" life He led on earth. Here is a saying I have heard in my spirit the last few days: "A candle in a cave, "adds" more light than a candle in the sun." If we are to reach the lost, which is certainly the heart of our Father in heaven, we must be among the lost at least in some respects. "Go to the highways and byways" Jesus actually instructs His "own" to enter in to the places where sinners meet. Remember His visits to dinner parties and weddings feasts? He did not deny people who needed the Word, from enjoying His company. He met them where they were at the time of their need. ("I am all things to all men"--Paul) We cannot expect all to come humbly into our places of worship, to seek the Bread of Life for themselves. They must first be aware of the existance of "the Bread of Life", if they are to seek His fulfillment. How will they know, if there are none speaking of these things among the darkness where they linger. They are in the dark areas of this world, because they do not understand that there is a "Light" to desire. They are reserved to the fact that life is full of darkness, and they are only following what the world expects and condones...ignorance of the true hope that Jesus Christ offers. This fact did not stop Jesus from going in to them. He was a "candle in a cave". His light was a sharp contrast to anything they had experienced before. We are able to have this same effect on others, if we are willing to follow the true mind of Christ in the process. "What about the appearance of Holiness?" This has got to be the biggest excuse in "christianity" for remaining in "the comfort zone". It is by far more comfortable to remain among other brethren who are like-minded, than to draw attention to your "unusual" practices among unbelievers, who may not agree nor understand your behaviors and beliefs. How much "validation" do we really need from those who surround us, to feel confident that we are "right" for following the precepts of Jesus Christ? Can you still live a holy life, if you are completely surrounded by sinners? Can you excersise the amount of self-control it would take for you NOT to give into temptations when alone in a sinners "haven"? If you can answer "honestly", yes, than you have obtained the mind of Christ and are at liberty to witness among the lost without "fear" of losing your "holy" status. If you are with drinkers, and you do not "drink to access", have you sinned? If you are in a place where drug-users hang out, and you are not using drugs, have you sinned? If you are witness to lewd and sexually reckless behavior, and you do not participate, nor advocate these actions by your own reactions and are perfectly able to keep yourself from sinning in your "thought-life" (that's a biggie!)...is it a sin, that you were seen among them? It depends on your "reason" for being among them...are youthere as a witness for Jesus? This is a hard test of holiness. Most christians avoid these situations for very good reasons indeed! Some, are NOT able to control their own lusts and thoughts as yet, nor have they even truly tried to practice this vital step toward really knowing the mind of Christ. Before anyone loses their cool, please be honest about the majority of what you have seen within the circles of christian friends and acquaintences...is this a real problem, or not? It is imperative that we learn self-control within our thought-life as much as it is imperative that we control our fleshly lusts. God looks on the heart... What does He see when He looks at yours? Our wives and husbands are not able to enter into our heads and see what we are thinking when they are unaware. Do we take secret liberties within our own little "mental" play ground? Do you realize that if Jesus had no fear of losing His holiness while supping with the tax collectors and drunkards and harlots; He has no fear hanging around your mind when you think you are all alone and able to indulge in a little mental "play-time?" Understand saints: "You are NOT all by yourself in your head!!" What kind of thoughts have you been entertaining Jesus with inside your secret places? He is there... "I will NEVER leave you, nor forsake you" Take His word for it saints. He doesn't leave just because you have told yourself, "Well, I'll just play a little and ask forgiveness later!" OR "I'm only human, so surely God expects me to mess up now and then." Don't buy these "lines" of the enemy! This is his first line of attack on any christian...your mind! Does God "expect" you to keep on sinning and enjoying it? NO. God expects a "truly" committed heart to follow the example of His Son... "Be ye holy, for I am Holy." That sounds like a "commandment to me"... does it to you? If it wasn't important to our true christian walk, this statement might read more like this: "Try to be as holy as possible, I know I'm the Son of God and it's easy for Me. But, you're only human, so I expect you to mess up now and then. Just ask the Father to forgive you every time you "purposely sin", and don't forget to mention My name, okay? He'll forgive you for My sake, okay buddy?" Does anyone see the problem with the way alot of people are dealing with their thought-lives? I believe the Holy Spirit led me to this subject, because it's quite possible He is heart-broken at having to witness your secret sins and lack of repentance for poor self-control over your thoughts! "bring every thought into captivity" I would love to hear commenting on this subject. It is dear to heart of the Lord! Stop causing Him grief by graphically sinning right in front of Him! Where is the reverence in that? "GOD LOOKS ON THE HEART" Here's another falacy: "Well, I haven't accepted any "baptism in the Holy Spirit", so I'm not exposing anything to Him!" This makes for a good discussion: If you are not a believer of the "Holy Ghost" experience, does this mean that He does not live within you? Even if you have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Jesus promised that after He left to ascend to His Father, He would send you a "comforter" who would teach you the deeper things of God. Would Jesus break a promise? John 14:15-18 states: "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another comforter, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." It is my opinion that according to this and other scriptures available in the Word, that we all have received this "comforter" when we received Christ as our Savior. He promised it to His brethren! However, if you have been taught by some that He is not for us today, you may not have understood His importance in your life as a christian. This is a "hybrid" teaching, beware! He is within you, and only remains queit, because of your unbelief in Him. So, as you believe, let it be done unto you... If you are satisfied with a powerless christian existance, than that is all you will have. I, on the otherhand, seek all that Christ has offered to me as a child of the Most High God! Listen: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the worls that I do he will do also;AND GREATER WORKS than these he will do, because I go to My Father.and whatever you ask in My name, that I WILL DO, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. IF YOU ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME, I WILL DO IT." (John14:12-14) Have we witnessed ANY greater works that those of Jesus Christ among the saints lately? Or was He "only" talking to His "present" disciples "again"? What an excuse for lack of faith! No pressure to live holy or believe for anything miraculous, huh? Only for the saints "back then?" Too many scripture say the exact opposite. If you have been taught this way, you have been deceived by the "hybrid" doctrine again! Please study these things and comment as God leads you. Saints of God, confirm me in this Word as God leads you! The Holy Spirit is not silent within me! He is not satisfied with being "ignored" within His own temples (hearts of the saints). He is going to come onto the scene with a mighty entrance from every believer who obeys His call and gives full control to the mighty works of the Spirit of God! He is ready to blow the doors off of "All" of these temples! I will pour My Spirit upon ALL flesh... Study, learn, hear, follow the Lord' examples, believe His Words only, follow Him only. Stop following the voice of "religion" "self-righteousnes", "pride", "self", "secret sin", etc., whatever is calling you away from the truth that Jesus spoke to the brethren, leave it behind, and embrace all of the liberties that Jesus provided you through His awesome sacrifice... Don't hesitate to examine yourselves in truth! We don't have alot of chances to "get it right!" Here's a very "corny" little jingle for you to sing with any "corny" melody you can come up with in your head! (I don't actually write this corny when I write my songs, but these are the kind that will stick with you longer...) Oh, I'd like to be A candle in a cave A candle in a cave A candle in a cave For if I could be A candle in a cave My light could shine The Way Some like to stay A candle in the sun A candle in the sun A candle in the sun I can't stay just a Candle in the sun If I'm walking in The Way! (Okay, THAT was corn, I didn't lie...) With the love of the Lord extended, Angel of Destiny copyright 2007
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