Liberating Dependence

[netchaplain]

After being “born again,” the fact of remaining so is never an issue, thus the trials are not only to manifest unbelievers who falsely profess faith (sower’s parable), but also to increase the strength in the believer’s faith. Canaan being assured leaves us with the second most important issue—that of strengthening our faith, especially to the place where there is no room for doubting the security of Canaan.
It is my understanding that the reason for strengthening faith is not to avoid a potential of losing it but rather that we may learn enough trust in God in order to find, as much as lies within us, peace in the trials here and now (2Cor 12:10), same as that of fire which increases the purity of precious metals (Isa 48:10; Mal 3:3; 1Pet 1:7). To me, Jordan is like the hardness in the trials of this life, which after being brought to cross brings us to Canaan (Heaven). Thus the level of strength in faith is revealed in the level of peace in the hardness.

This is best seen in those who learn to disallow the problems (trials; hardness of this life) to “trouble” (John 14:1) them. God would that our faith matures unto the finding of peace in our trials, which is where the strength of faith increases the most, and it is in this life only that we will “walk by faith.” I always say that regardless if believers are brought through kicking and screaming or in peace, they will be brought through.

A ship at sea suddenly encountered at storm, at which time caused much fear in the crew, who all rushed to the captain and asked him what they were to do. He encouragingly asked them to notice the shaking of a portside plank in the hull and replied that if that goes we will go down. Then he asked them to notice the great amount of smoke which is coming from the boiler and replied that if the boiler blows we will go up. The he again encouraging replied that until either occurs we will go through. - NC

After being “born again,” the fact of remaining so is never an issue, thus the trials are not only to manifest unbelievers who falsely profess faith (sower’s parable), but also to increase the strength in the believer’s faith. Canaan being assured leaves us with the second most important issue—that of strengthening our faith, especially to the place where there is no room for doubting the security of Canaan.

The reason for strengthening faith is not to avoid a potential of losing it but rather that we may learn enough trust in God in order to find, as much as lies within us, peace in the trials here and now (2Cor 12:10), same as that of fire which increases the purity of precious metals (Isa 48:10; Mal 3:3; 1Pet 1:7). To me, Jordan is like the hardness in the trials of this life, which after being brought to cross brings us to Canaan (Heaven). Thus the level of strength in faith is revealed in the level of peace in the hardness.

This is best seen in those who learn to disallow the problems (trials; hardness of this life) to “trouble” (John 14:1) them. God would that our faith matures unto the finding of peace in our trials, which is where the strength of faith increases the most, and it is in this life only that we will “walk by faith.” I always say that regardless if believers are brought through kicking and screaming or in peace, they will be brought through.

A ship at sea suddenly encountered at storm, at which time caused much fear in the crew, who all rushed to the captain and asked him what they were to do. He encouragingly asked them to notice the shaking of a portside plank in the hull and replied that if that goes we will go down. Then he asked them to notice the great amount of smoke which is coming from the boiler and replied that if the boiler blows we will go up. The he again encouraging replied that until either occurs we will go through. - NC

Liberating Dependence​

They are told in Deuteronomy 8 to “remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years”; and their journeys, according to their goings out, are written by Moses (Numbers 33). They pitched at last by Jordan (v 49); all the dealings of the way whether bright or dark, or both, go to teach the one great lesson, namely, dependence on God. “Man doth not live by bread only but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (Deu 8:3). This also was the word quoted by our Lord when tempted by Satan. He knew nothing but dependence—dependence according to the will of God expressed in His Word.

But if dependence on God be learned by the vicissitudes of the way, when dependence is learned, Jordan is reached; so that while my heart rests in dependence upon my Father, I am crossing the last barrier between the wilderness and Canaan. I am not only dependent upon the Father for His Word and mind about everything; but the old man, that which hinders me and bars my entrance into the scene of light and joy in His presence, is at the same time reckoned dead. Jordan is properly my death with Christ.

The dealings of God in the wilderness have taught me dependence upon Him according to His Word; but as soon as I have reached the sure and blessed way to go through the wilderness, I find I am in spirit so over Jordan that I am not in the wilderness; in spirit I am over Jordan and in the Land. When I am entirely fit to travel through the wilderness, I am not sensibly there (feel as though no longer in the wilderness, i.e. this life—NC), but in spirit across the Jordan and in Heaven.

We are not morally prepared to cross the Jordan until we are fully fit to walk in the wilderness. I am not able to reckon myself dead until I have learned full and entire confidence in my Father. One may try to get in Canaan, but the way is through the Jordan; and though one might try to die to everything here, yet it would be a poor thing, even if it could be accomplished, without at the same time, unqualified confidence in the Father. When I am most fit to go there the barrier which the old man rears up disappears. The water of the Jordan is but touched, and all of the barrier disappears. For we have died with Christ, but it must be accepted in faith.

The new life is planted within us and it is surrounded by a hard shell—the old man. There are two forces at work to liberate the new creation from the dense obdurate shell—the one within, and the other without. The one without is the circumstances through which we are passing; the one within is the hunger and effort of the new being, the inner man, to be liberated and to grow. The outer things cause the inner man to turn to the Father and to wait on Him; and when this turning to Him is complete (learned to always trust—NC), deliverance is known (“deliverance” not salvation, but the peace found in the trials of the believer—NC) and the hard shell is broken.

We all, in some way or another, suffer from the shell; but once we know that it is the shell that hampers us, we seek the power (reliance of the Father—NC) that will enable us to break through. In this tabernacle we grown, being burdened, and the Lord tries us in one way and another; but there is no bitterness in the trial, once we see that He is only doing from without what is in cooperation with His Spirit within, namely, to free us from the bondage of the shell. Dependence upon the Father enables us to break it from within like the young bird. May we accept with thankfulness His mercy in breaking it from without; which is really only helping the desires of His own spirit within us.

- J B Stoney

Miles J Stanford devotional: http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

 

[iLOVE]

Psalm 84:5-6 / Pastor Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
(There is no blessing to the man who follow the ways of man)

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
In every Christian life, there are one or more "Valleys of Baca." We are placed there by the "LORD of Hosts," for our Spiritual Enrichment. It is the intention of the Holy Spirit to teach us the lesson He desires to teach, which He does in the "Valley of Baca," and then to turn it into a "well."

If the spirit of the Believer is carnal, this valley will only be a valley of weeping. But to the Spiritual Heart, it will be a new nature and an unfailing reservoir of strength and refreshment.

The Holy Spirit also tells us that it is not His intention that we remain there. We are only "passing through." Most of the times, a "Valley of Baca" is put in our path in order that we may come to the end of ourselves and realize that Christ is our Source for everything, while the Cross is the Means.

Every Believer must learn God's prescribe order of victory - The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2)

WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR BELIEVERS TO PLACE THEIR FAITH EXCLUSIVELY IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST?

It is difficult for Believers to place their Faith exclusively in the Cross of Christ because it goes against the flesh.

 

[iLOVE]

The Vicissitudes Of Life

Luke 6:46-49 NKJV - Jesus said , it will be "vehement," i.e., strong with every attempt to destroy.

Build on the Rock
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.[h] 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.[i] And the ruin of that house was great.”

According to the scripture, this will come no matter how much faith a Christian will have. All faith will be tested. And greater faith will be tested more. All character will be refined (Isaiah 48:10 NLT, Psalm 105:19 NLT).

 

[iLOVE]

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Exodus 17:11

Amalek was to dwell in the land, but not to reign in it. Romans 6:12 says, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies." The command would be unmeaning if the sin nature were not existing in the Christian. The sin nature dwells in a Believer, but dwells and reigns in an unbeliever.

Let me say this again! Do not miss this!

Works of the flesh
Paul tells us this in the 5th Chapter of Galatians. The entire Book of Galatians, but especially the 5th Chapter, is a warning from Paul to the Church at Galatia, which is also meant for us. The warning is that if they place their faith in anything except “Christ and Him Crucified,” that “Christ shall profit you nothing” (Gal. 5:2).

The Apostle goes on to say that if the Believer doesn’t adhere to the Way of the Spirit, which is the Way of the Cross, then works of the flesh will manifest themselves. He said:

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).

Now let me say it again, because it is so very important:
If the Believer doesn’t understand the Cross of Christ, as it regards Sanctification, then, in some way, one or more of these “works of the flesh” are going to manifest themselves in his life. As stated, such is inevitable! The first four, “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness,” are obvious and easily understood. But the modern Christian quickly dismisses “idolatry, witchcraft, and heresies,” thinking they do not really apply today.

Let us address that:
First of all, any suggested way of victory other than the Cross of Christ, such as the “Purpose Driven Life,” the “Government of Twelve,” the “Word of Faith,” or “Denominationalism,” etc., constitutes idolatry. In effect, it is the same as Old Testament times, when Israel would begin to worship idols instead of Jehovah. To be sure, Israel actually referred to these idols as Jehovah; but the Lord definitely did not look at it in the same manner! And neither does He look any differently at modern idolatry!
Furthermore, all of this constitutes “heresies,” in which the modern Church abounds.

Let me say it more clearly:
Any doctrine, way, scheme, or direction made up by men, which means it is devised by men and not by God, is constituted by the Lord as “heresy,” which is a “work of the flesh.” Let me say it again, and because it is so very, very important! Any way other than “Christ and Him Crucified” is, in the eyes of God, “heresy.” Once one begins to understand these “works of the flesh,” these things become more obvious.

The Message of the Cross - Pastor Jimmy Swaggart

 

[iLOVE]

The hands "upheld" signified total dependence on the Lord. When the Believer is totally depending on the Lord, and what He did for us at the Cross, the victory of Christ belongs to us; otherwise, it doesn't!

Exodus 17:12 says, "But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."
(The "Stone," as well, is symbolic of Christ. Moses exhaustion portrays the fact that our own efforts soon result in spiritual burn-out. But once we are in God's glorious way [sitting on the Stone], the victory is ours. "Aaron" was a Type of Christ as our Great High Priest, and "Hur," whose name means "light," speaks to us of the Holy Spirit. This is the help afforded the Child of God. But unfortunately, most Christians are trying to hold up their hands [trusting in God] by their own personal strength, which is doomed to failure.)

The Holy Spirit doesn't require much of us, but He does require one thing, and without reservation. Our Faith must be exclusively be in Christ and the Cross, understanding that this is God's Prescribed Order of Victory. When we stay "victory" we are speaking Victory in every capacity, be it spiritual, financial, domestically, physical, etc. God's Prescribed Order of Victory is "the Cross of Christ."

The Way Of The Spirit
Focus: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Object Of Faith: The Cross of Christ (Romans 6:1-14)
Power Source: The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, 11)
Results: Victory (Romans 6:14)

Man's Way
Focus: Works.
Object Of Faith: Performance.
Power Source: Self.
Results: Defeat!

The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...the only way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke 14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23). If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).

Exodus 17:13 says, "And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." (The "sword" here is a Type of the Word of God [Eph. 6:17]. The Word of God holds the answer to every single problem which pertains to "Life and Godliness" [2 Peter 1:3-4].)

The Expositor's Study Bible - Pastor Jimmy Swaggart

 

[iLOVE]

Paul said:

“For Christ sent me not to baptize (presents to us a Cardinal Truth), but to Preach the Gospel (the manner in which one may be saved from sin): not with wisdom of words (intellectualism is not the Gospel), lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (This tells us in no uncertain terms that the Cross of Christ must always be the emphasis of the Message.)

“For the Preaching (Word) of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness (Spiritual things cannot be discerned by unredeemed people, but that doesn’t matter; the Cross must be preached just the same, even as we shall see); but unto us who are saved, it is the Power of God. (The Cross is the Power of God simply because it was there that the total sin debt was paid, giving the Holy Spirit, in Whom the Power resides, latitude to work mightily within our lives.)

“But we preach Christ Crucified (this is the foundation of the Word of God, and thereby of Salvation), unto the Jews a stumblingblock (the Cross was the stumblingblock), and unto the Greeks foolishness (both found it difficult to accept as God a dead Man hanging on a Cross, for such Christ was to them).

“And I, Brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom (means that Paul depended not on oratorical abilities, nor did he delve into philosophy, which was the rage of that particular day), declaring unto you the Testimony of God (which is Christ and Him Crucified).

“For I determined not to know anything among you (with purpose and design, Paul did not resort to the knowledge or philosophy of the world regarding the Preaching of the Gospel), save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified.” (That, and that alone, is the Message which will save the sinner, set the captive free, and give the Believer perpetual victory [I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:1-2].)

Paul also said, “But God forbid that I should glory (boast) save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (what the opponents of Paul sought to escape at the price of insincerity is the Apostle’s only basis of exultation), by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (The only way we can overcome the world, and I mean the only way, is by placing our Faith exclusively in the Cross of Christ, and keeping it there [Gal. 6:14).)

The Apostle Paul said:

That I may know him (referring to what Christ did at the Cross), and the power of his resurrection (refers to being raised with Him in "Newness of Life" [Rom. 6:3-5] ), and the fellowship of his sufferings (regarding our Trust and Faith placed in what He did for us at the Cross), being made conformable unto his death (to conform to what He did for us at the Cross, understanding that this is the only means of Salvation and Sanctification); If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead (This does not refer to the coming Resurrection, but rather the Believing sinner being baptized into the death of Christ [refers to the Crucifixion], and raised in "Newness of Life," which gives victory over all sin [Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14] ). (Philippians 3:10-11 NKJV)

The Expositor's Study Bible - Pastor Jimmy Swaggart

 

[netchaplain]

Hi iLove - I appreciate what I believe to be true zeal (which I see in many here) seen in your posts and it is always encouraging to see such from my brothers and sisters, but my understanding concerning the commentary used in these posts do not concur enough for me to reply with much agreement, thus I would only be able to share with you my opinions on the writer's comments, which would only be advantageous if you would like me to share my opinions on the writer's comments.

Thanks again for your laborious work in sharing your expression of joy in Christ!

 

[iLOVE]

I would only be able to share with you my opinions on the writer's comments, which would only be advantageous if you would like me to share my opinions on the writer's comments.

Please share them with us.

 

[netchaplain]

Please share them with us.

After contemplating my offer I'm thinking my opinions of Swaggart's comments at this time would seem to me more or less picking on his opinions unnecessarily. Thanks anyway for the offer.

 

[iLOVE]

After contemplating my offer I'm thinking my opinions of Swaggart's comments at this time would seem to me more or less picking on his opinions unnecessarily. Thanks anyway for the offer.

Amen.