Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice

 

[May 6, 2015] I have been in hell, that place of torment, fear, depression and despair. I knew all the promises of God concerning the peace that passes all our understanding. But there was no peace. I became obsessed with my physical body and death. I could think of little else. Nothing could distract me from these fears—cooking, cleaning, exercise, listening to tapes, reading books, watching TV, traveling—nothing at all. I almost wished I would die, but I was afraid of dying. I was afraid of everything. I almost wished I would get Alzheimer’s so I could get some relief. My pills I got for what my doctor called an “anxiety disorder” would sometimes seem to work (if I was tired enough to go to sleep), but at other times it was like eating candy.

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Powers and Principalities and Rulers of the Darkness

As I’ve said earlier (see But What About …?), I have learned to just continue to read Scriptures without attempting to understand them through reasoning or searching out what others have said about them. I have become confident that when they are needed or when I’m ready to hear, God will reveal their meaning for me—for it is only the words that He speaks to me that are Spirit and life:
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Choose LIFE (Part 2)

When I awakened this morning, I was hearing the voice of God inside continuing to speak to me about choosing LIFE. I realized that there was more that I wanted to say on the subject. My first impulse was to toss what I had written yesterday and start over. I knew that would require lots of work on my part. Then I remembered that I am choosing LIFE as I let God perform that which He has given me to do (Job 23:14), for

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The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1-8  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

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Should I See a Physician?

Note: This contemplation should be read after reading Belief in Two Powers and before reading Dare We Trust God for our Physical Well-Being?

For many years I have not gone to a doctor, except for cataract surgery and dental work. As I looked around me, I saw everyone my age taking pills by the dozen, pills which I learned on television had the most awful possible side effects. Then I would hear of people going into the hospital for the most simple procedure and nearly dying of staph infection or some mistake made by medical personnel. I really wanted no part of it.

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If I Perish, I Perish

If God is omnipotent (Almighty, all powerful), if with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26), if all things are possible to him that believes (Mark 9:23)—and if when we pray and believe, we have what we pray for (Mark 11:23-24), if God answers even before we call (Isaiah 65:24), if we are just to stand still and see the salvation of God (Exodus 14:13; 2Chronicles 20:17), then we must face some hard truths. We must admit that if any person, situation or illness can successfully stand against this God that we are believing in, that person, situation or illness is more powerful than God and therefore should be bowed down to and worshiped instead of the God we say we believe in. For that situation, person or illness has become our God.

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Parable of God’s Right Hand

Without exception, the right hand and arm of God are referred to in the Old Testament as instruments of salvation toward those who put their trust in God. To be on the right hand of God is to be safe, secure, and full of joy —being a partaker of God’s life. It is the place of righteousness, or right standing with God. Here is the absence of sin and sin consciousness and the presence of confidence in His salvation —not in one’s own ability. (Psalms 16:11 (KJV) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalms 17:7 (KJV) Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Psalms 44:3 (KJV) For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. Psalms 89:13 (KJV) Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Psalms 98:1 (KJV) O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. Psalms 48:10 (KJV) According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.)

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Encouragement to Continue

I continue to encourage you to trust the Holy Spirit in you to guide you into truth; this includes trusting that same Holy Spirit to guide you away from that which is not truth. Another way to say this is that when you dare to follow the guidance which comes from within, you will always be increasing in your knowledge of God (who is Truth) and letting go of any false concepts you have been holding onto —that which Jesus calls the tradition of men and for which we lay aside the commandment of God (Mark 7:8). I stress this point because doubting my ability to hear for myself was by far the single biggest hindrance to what I feel is my own spiritual understanding and development.

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