Author: jma47

Anatomy Of Reactions Part Two

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Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Romans 1:18 says that unrighteousness suppresses the truth. The truth? There is only One True God.
 
An idol is anything that usurps the Lord’s place as first in our heart. As Ezekiel 14 said, that the Lord will allow our heart-idol to speak to us until we repent of it. Verse 6 says, “…Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.”
 
Here is a paragraph from a book I am working on. “A heart-idol is anything that eclipses our attraction to the Lord. They are enemy-planted lies that capture our heart and control our thoughts. They bring us into servitude rather than freedom. They are deceptive and phantom. They are figments of our imagination that deliver us into bondage.”
 
We know that righteousness is conformity to God’s will in our thoughts, purpose, and actions. We also know that satan opposes God’s will. Therefore if he can get us to set up an idol in our heart, he has accomplished his will.
 
Our past can become an idol. The truth? 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that our past is passed. It is only in our mind. We cannot go back into the past except through our thoughts.
 
When an emotional pain from our past is buried in our unconscious, we will overreact when some ‘thing’ in the present triggers an experience in the past.
 
Anger can be triggered for more than one reason. Concealed rage is a self-guard that protects. If someone gets close to touching (disclosing) that buried pain, we lash out in anger. The lie of this idol controls so that we are never free.
 
Anger can also be when our will gets crossed. James 1:20 says that our anger does not promote the righteousness that God requires. When our will is crossed and we feel anger rise within, it is our signal-alert saying “Flesh has risen, humble your heart.”
 
It is wise to pay attention to our over reactions. It is the Lord revealing a heart-idol that is keeping us in bondage. It is time to face-off our fears that what is buried will be uncovered. To remain buried is bondage, to acknowledge it and let it go is inner freedom. It is the truth we walk in experientially that sets us free.

Anatomy Of Reactions

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Have you ever over reacted? I have learned, over the years, that when I over react to pay attention. The situation in my present has just triggered some buried emotional pain. The Lord is right then actively answering my continual prayer to reveal the hidden that still keeps me bound.
You see, I was a stuffer until 1983. I learned then how to forgive from my heart, and my life radically changed. Healing of past hurts is a process. I self-published my first book in 2005. “Freedom! From Past Hurts” with a chapter entitled “Bitterroot Judgments, Pronouncements, and Inner Vows” That came directly from my journey into healing. “Concealed Rage” was another.
Reactions are a red light to stop. I ask the Holy Spirit right then why I over reacted. It helps me to ask, ‘What do I believe about myself right now?’ I ask in the heat of the emotional trigger.
It is His word that divides between our soul and our spirit and reveals our true intentions. I often find answers in my daily reading. It is all written for our learning. The reason I stuffed things was because I didn’t know what to do with them. He does.
Through my relationship with the Lord, He has built up my faith and confidence in Him. In my quiet time, when my heart is still, He gives me insights that set me free. All my writings are from those insights.
Yesterday I read Ezekiel 14. It is talking about idols in the heart. Verse 4 says, “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols.”
I have a short ebook on Amazon called “Heart-Idols Are Idle Worship: futile, empty, worthless pursuits.” It talks about the needed building blocks that the Lord lays in our heart before He reveals the hidden. He graciously prepares us for His revealing.

Our Conscience Part Three

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1 Peter 3:16 says, “Having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
 
We all have a conscience. We all know right from wrong. When we do wrong (sin) our conscience is pricked. What we do with that ‘prick’ determines the next step. We either heed or ignore.
 
I started Ezekiel the other day. I was captured by this verse. Although it is talking about what Ezekiel saw we can apply it to our lives. Ezekiel 1:12 says, “…they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went.”
 
Romans 8:5 says, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
 
Did you notice the mind set? Our thoughts truly determine our actions. James 4:17 is a great governor. It says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
 
I was thinking about the anatomy of sin. Cain brought an offering of the ground, but Abel brought the firstborn of his flock. Both knew what God required. God respected Abel’s but didn’t respect Cain’s. Genesis 4:6 says, “So the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?”
 
Here is the power of resisting sin. Verse 7 says, “…And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” When tempted to sin, the Holy Spirit is right there to lead us away from the temptation. He checks our spirit. At that point we have a choice: rule over the sin or let it rule over us.
 
The Holy Spirit will lead us away from the temptation. We can follow or ignore His prompting. Jesus set His face like a flint. The farmer plows a straight row by keeping his eyes on a goal.
 
Luke 9:62 says, “…No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Elisha did not look back when Elijah called him. We are called with a holy calling. Let us follow the Holy Spirit into fruitful life-giving endeavors, and not be sidetracked by futile pursuits.

Our Conscience Part Two

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This morning I woke up with two verses: Hebrews 10:1-4 was speaking about how the sacrifices could not take away sin. If they had, there would have been verse 2 says, “…no more consciousness of sins.”
 
Numbers 32:23 says, “…take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” We see this played out in Cain’s actions. He killed his brother Abel. Genesis 4:10 says, “And He said, What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.”
 
John 8. Some scribes and Pharisees brought an adulterous woman to Jesus seeking to have her stoned. Verse 7 Jesus said, “…He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Verse 9 was their guilty conscience in action. It says, “…being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one…”
 
Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Could it be that some unanswered prayer is because there is hidden sin?
 
David wrote Psalm 51 after his hidden sin with Bathsheba. Verse 3-4 says, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight…”
 
Lord, I want to thank You for giving us a conscience. It is a great governor and monitor on our thoughts and actions. Help us to walk in the power of heart integrity and the truth on Your word.

Our Conscience

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Our conscience is a God-given gift. A clear conscience is a gift we give ourselves. A guilty conscience is a reminder that we have an unresolved issue. It dogs our steps. It is an entanglement.
 
A runner needs to be free of any weight that would thwart, hinder, obstruct, or impede them. Hebrews 12:1 is talking about our race or walk with the Lord. It says, “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
 
The Amplified uses the words clings and entangles. Here is my illustration from what happened 14 years ago or so. I had just given my chickens some veggie scraps and was walking back to the house. As I lifted my foot off the grass to put it on the sidewalk that led to the back steps, I was instantly entangled. It happened so fast. This thin LONG snake appeared. I tried to step away. It was trying to get away, but we were entangled.
 
Hidden sin clings to our conscience like a barnacle. You can’t pry it loose. It has to be brought out into the open and confessed before the One who has known all along.
 
Mark 4:22 says, “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.” I love Hebrews 3:13 Amplified. It says that all things are open, exposed, naked, and defenseless before Him.
 
I am so grateful! That means He knows and He will show me what is buried in my unconscious that weighs me down and hinders my race of endurance.
 
Hebrews 10:36 says that we have need of endurance. That word is one of my favorite Greek words in the Strong’s. It means: constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out, and patient endurance.

Conscience Cleansers

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Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
 
Here is another conscience verse. 2 Corinthians 4:2 says, “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
 
Paul is a great example for us. Acts 24:16 says, “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and man.”
 
What are dead works? Things that we do in our own initiative and in our own strength. Saul of Tarsus was doing what he thought would please God. He was hauling all those who believed in Jesus to prison. The Lord intercepted Saul’s way to redirect him into His way.
 
Each time I read Hebrews 9:14 I always go and read Hebrews 10:22. To me, they link. It says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
 
Full assurance comes from a clear conscience. The assurance or hope is an anchor for our soul. There is no looking backwards to see if your works of darkness are following you. It is confidence that what God has begun IN you He will complete.
 
It is no wonder that Paul exhorted Timothy about his conscience. He understood from his own experience of Jesus’ blood that cleanses. 1 Timothy 1:4 says to not give heed to anything that would cause a dispute. Verse 5 says, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.”

Skilled In Righteousness Part Two

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Here is another aspect of righteousness. Hebrews 7:16 says that Jesus came according to the power of an endless life. Romans 1:16 says, “And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
 
As I connected these two verses, I had a deeper understanding of a truth that has always puzzled me. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.”
 
Here is the piece of the puzzle I missed. The Spirit of holiness dwells in us. Therefore it is possible to walk in holiness WHEN our thoughts, purpose, and actions are conformed to His will.
 
Let’s take a well known verse, and add it to our understanding of being skilled in righteousness. Psalm 23:3 says, “…He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” The Spirit of holiness is our leader. He will lead us in a way that facilitates our conformity to God’s will.
 
Back to Hebrews 5:14. It is saying maturity comes as we allow His word to pierce through our unrighteousness. “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
 
Accepting the admonishment from the word and allowing it to course correct us IS the process of sanctification or maturity. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable to doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” We grow as we read and are pierced through ,so that there is a clear distinction between our soul and our spirit.

Skilled In Righteousness

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Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore…” When we go to the verses before this to see what the therefore is there for: it is that Jesus loved righteousness. The rest of the verse says, “…we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we DRIFT away.”
If we drift a little, we will get off course, or miss the mark. Hebrews 4:1 says come short of it. 2 Peter 1:8-9 says that if we do not add to our faith we will be barren, shortsighted, and forget that we were cleansed of our old sins.
If we don’t grow spiritually, we will drift back into old thought patterns. Hebrews 4:2 says, “…but the word that they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
The Holy Spirit showed me something yesterday that I did not know before. Think about Hebrews 4:12 and how God’s word is a sword that pierces between our soul and our spirit.
Hebrews 5:13 says, “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” The Greek word for unskilled is un-pierced!
Amplified says, “For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action)…”
When our negative dialogues are pierced by His word, it will reveal to us its unrighteousness that has been suppressing the truth that will set us free!
All unrighteous thoughts stunt spiritual growth. They keep us unskilled in the word of righteousness–not pierced.

Possessing Gladness

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Joshua had to rebuke the children of Israel because they failed to possess what God had given them to inherit. Joshua 18:3 says, “…How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?”
This begs the question: what have I neglected to possess that the Lord has given me? Possess is to take ownership. In verse 4 he said he would send 36 men to go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance.
Jesus possessed gladness because He loved righteousness. He loved the Father and chose to follow His will. John 5:19-20 says, “…the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does…”
Here are David’s words. Psalm 40:8 says, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” It echos the words of Psalm 100:1-2. “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.”
Isaiah 35:10 is a verse about Israel coming into Zion. We can apply it for ourselves. It is present and future. It says, “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Suppressing the truth through unrighteous thoughts will cause inward sorrow and sighing. Do you ever sigh? However, possessing righteousness will empower us–making it our own through our thoughts, purpose, and actions. The oil of gladness on us will affect those around us. Joy and gladness is the language of His Kingdom.

Choosing Righteousness Part Two

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Yesterday I started to read the book of Hebrews. Look at these two verses. 1:8-9 says, “…a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
 
Amplified says, “…(You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action)…”
 
I thought about gladness. Jesus loved righteousness and because of that was anointed with the oil of gladness. Gladness shown on His countenance. We are to walk as Jesus walked. 1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk as He walked.”
 
Thoughts of gloom, darkness, and woe is me means that we have suppressed the truth of righteousness. We have allowed our flesh to rule our thoughts.
 
Here is a great question: do I love righteousness? Jesus did. Here is another: do I love sin? Jesus hated sin. Paul said in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Nothing can stimulate dead things.
 
In walking as Jesus walked, He did not sin with His thoughts nor was deceit in His mouth. Consider your thoughts. When we love righteousness, we will speak truth in our heart, and walk in truth.
 
When tempted to be gloomy, we have a choice. We can dialogue with it and spiral down into darkness, or we can align (conform) our thoughts by bringing His word into our next thought, rising up to center on Him.
 
Psalm 104:34 says, “May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.”
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