WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE BEING JUDGED BY THE WORLD: Chapter 5 HOW DO WE CUT OFF OUR FLESH? Part 2

 

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE BEING JUDGED BY THE WORLD: 

HOW DO WE CUT OFF OUR FLESH? Part 2

Proverbs 25:28 KJV 

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.  

Genesis 4: 7

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

God spoke to me in the wee hours of the morning, before the break of dawn. That He spoke to me is joy within my heart and that He trusted me to impart His Wisdom is humbling and an expression of His love for me.  Yes, God spoke to me and told me to write the message down that someone may run with it. You see, the message is a vision, and the vision is a message. The vision is a message in how we can envision what we can and must become to endure and stand in holiness and righteousness. 

God says that the problem is that we haven't had enough of ourselves. We want and expect everyone around us to change so that we can stay the same. We are too short-sighted to see what change looks like. So, we live in fear, blaming one another for our problems, insecurities, and failures. We are like family members who have lived together for so long that we know one another's faults and idiosyncrasies. We tire of putting up with one another's drama and antics, each one expecting the other to change to please themselves. -But where is God in our expectations? Where is the Character of God that gives us the power to rule over our feelings and emotions if we will only abide in Him?

Growing up in a family, whether or not we are related by blood or not, we share the same DNA that makes us human.  We are God's creation. He is our Father. We were created to be brothers and sisters. We are family whether or not we are Black, Brown, White, Red or Yellow. God created us to live together and treat each other as brothers and sisters.  So, what is stopping us from being a family? It is an age-old story that is told in the Book of Genesis, a story that ends with the death of one brother and the banishment of the other for killing him. 

We tire so quickly of one another because we haven't had enough of ourselves. We are so full of pride, which opens the door to jealousy, envy, anger, fear, vanity, and all manner of hatred and iniquity. Being so full of ourselves, we expect others to be like us, when even we aren't satisfied and able to endure the world. However, pride also brings ignorance and confusion into our lives.  Therefore, we are ignorant of the fact that we can have abundant and everlasting life if we surrender our will.

Family times can be joyful times, life can be filled with hope, sharing, peace, and goodwill. Once again, it requires us to cut off our flesh, die to ourselves, surrender our will, humble ourselves, repent, pray, and seek God's face. Once again, we must realize that the world doesn't revolve around us.  We feel that everyone is against us, and we are unable to tolerate others because we are full of ourselves, and we haven't had enough of our foolishness to seek God's Wisdom by abiding in Him. 

No one likes to admit to their pride, vanity, and arrogance, and no individual or country wants to admit that they are the problem and not someone else.  No leader wants to look weak in the eyes of their people.  So why admit to one's own faults and mistakes when it's easier to make trouble or make enemies? It's easier to exploit or invade other countries than to admit to one's own weaknesses. 

You see the same rule applies to nation states who are unable to get along with their neighbors and sit down at the dinner table in peace to talk over their problems and see how they can help one another. The problem doesn't rest in their history, territory, or differences. The problem lies in their inability to abide in God to see one another as brothers and extend to one another unconditional love, having a desire to please God.

All this talk about borders, illegal immigrants, disputed territories, leaders threatening war if their demands are not met and so on. This is the same behavior we resort to when we are fed up with family members. So, we refuse to talk to one another.  We shun one another. We form factions and alliances. We isolate ourselves and become estranged from those we no longer want to have contact with. We tell others of our woes and betrayals, wanting them to take our side, trying to justify our behavior, which in reality is just a tantrum to get attention. We want others to believe that we are the victim. It is an age-old ploy mixed with propaganda to win over the masses to appease the vanity of those wanting more, having no real concern for the welfare of the people or other family members. It only goes to show us how one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel.

Yet, our leaders succumb to the whims of the world to hold on to power, and the world, steeped in darkness and ignorance, cannot get over itself. The world feeds upon the flesh of those who have not had enough of themselves, who want to play the role of the victim or the tough guy and refuse to surrender their will to God. 

Unless one acknowledges and understands the psychology of politics within family dynamics, they will be blinded to the failed system that has been established to control the masses and keep us ignorantly pitted against one another and at one another's throats. It simply boils down to divide and conquer. Weaken the family system, whether or not it is an individual's immediate family, or the family of mankind. The system of nation states being home to a particular race or ethnicity is an example of divide and conquer.  If people see their differences, then, they will be less likely to come together to live in peace and harmony, sharing, and helping one another. 

However, for the sake of democracy, we must counteract this tactic of the enemy. We must emphasize our shared commonality and goals. We must emphasize our shared struggles and obstacles that can only be conquered and overcome if we work together.  We must see one another as brothers and sisters upon a shared planet where we can find a place at the table for everyone. We must get over ourselves and realize that the world doesn't revolve around one individual or one nation.  In doing so, we acknowledge the Character of God and recognize that this is not all about us.  It's about God, who created us to be part of His family and part of His Kingdom.

Yes, we who have turned against our family members, or just don't want to have anything to do with them because we don't like their ways, and can't have them interfering in our lives, must sooner or later have a reckoning or God will reckon with us.  We must learn to forgive, if we are to be forgiven. We must cease from leaning to our own understanding, no matter how old we are, or how smart or wise we think we are. If our decisions are not based upon Godly principles, then we behave foolishly as unruly children, unable to rule over our own spirit.  We become dangerous to the welfare and survival of mankind in our thinking that the world should be as we desire it to be, which is a concept that makes others expendable, obsolete, or irrelevant. Can we call ourselves good if we condemn another? Can we call a leader good, effective, or qualified who cannot look beyond their own selfish desires to see what their nation and their people can become?  Is a leader who is so quickly willing to waste the lives of their people in war because of long-held grudges, pride, and short-sightedness qualified to lead a nation with nuclear capability?

We rob ourselves of who we can become by holding on to grudges against others.  As time moves on, so should we move on, taking advantage of the God-given opportunity of another day and another chance, for tomorrow is not promised to us.  Only the vain and arrogant live as if they will live forever, wanting to hold on to pride, pain, hatred, grudges, power, and wealth and doing anything possible to keep it.

Nonetheless, the people haven't had enough of themselves, either. They lack the power to endure. Thus, they are easily preyed upon, living in fear. Fear drives their decisions, divides the people, and the enemy conquers. How do we cut off their flesh? God speaks through silence. Plagues come to devour the people. Storms rage. Fires burn. The earth shakes. The rain stops and drought spreads. The ice melts and the waters rise. The people hunger and the people rage. The people cry out to God, but God is silent.

Let us take heed to the Word of God in how we treat one another, whether or not we are family, acquaintances, or strangers. Our endurance depends upon our surrender to the Will of God. We cannot blame our family for making our lives difficult or miserable when we have a choice to see beyond who we are and to embrace the vision of who we can become and how our life will change for the better, when we abide in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, becoming One. 

It is our flesh that responds to negativity and causes conflict within our relationships.  It is our flesh that allows our pride to rise up to succumb to arguing, fighting, back-biting, gossiping, and condemning one another.  It is our flesh, which is weak, that convinces us that we cannot tolerate our brother, therefore, we must rid ourselves of him in some way. However, where we are weak, God is strong. We are not made only of flesh, merely existing within an earthly body and possessing a worldly mind. We are spiritual beings made in the image of God. That image is within our spirit, which responds to God's unconditional love.  Through His love, our spirit has the power to overrule all pride and sinful thoughts. Our humbled spirit, abiding in His Word, Christ Jesus, can conquer this world and endure all things.

Yes, yielding to God, humbled and bowed down, we can do all things in love, living and walking in the spirit, clad in the Armour of God. If God be for us, then, who can be against us? Our expectations are able to change because we are no longer carrying our pride like a banner before us, holding grudges and playing the poor victim. We have vision to look ahead to our future instead of wallowing in our past and sabotaging our present. We refuse to waste another moment or another day thinking about who hurt us or fearing and disliking people who are different from us, whether they are related to us or not. We realize that by cutting ourselves off from our family we are hurting ourselves, our children, and our children's children. God put our family in our lives to help us become who He wanted us to be.  He gave us parents and relatives that were flawed and wounded, affected by pride and pain. They weren't supposed to be perfect.  They were supposed to have a purpose and be effective.  Knowing this, we can come to understand that like our trials and tribulations, we should be thankful for those people in our lives who cause us to rise above our fleshly selves to become not only better, but to move closer to God. 

When we humble ourselves, we can see that we are no different from those we refused to tolerate. We chose to compromise our spirit, choosing to live with tangled knots and loose ends, being unfruitful and unattached to The Vine, having no patience, peace, or growth, only to find that we also are flawed and wounded, affected by pride and pain. Contrary to our belief that we can make it alone by ourselves, isolated on our own little island, in our own little world, only abiding in Christ can save us, perfect us, and keep us. If we are to live an abundant and fruitful life, we must learn to forgive others, whereby, God's Grace, Mercy, and Unconditional Love will reign in our heart and be manifested through God's Holy Spirit within us. 

As we look at the divided family of mankind, we can see that it too is flawed and wounded, affected by pride and pain.  Only the return of Christ can bring us all back together.  However, until then, The Kingdom of God is at hand.  We have only to cut off our flesh and walk in the spirit to find it.

humbly, your servant and soldier, by the Grace and Mercy of God

mishael

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REFERENCED SCRIPTURE

Genesis 4 King James Version 

4 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

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Proverbs 25 King James Version

25 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

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Ephesians 4:5-13 King James Version

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

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Matthew 4 (KJV)

4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

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John 4:23-30 King James Version

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.