Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. --Romans 7:24, 25
Why are Christians in so much defeat?Do not think I am a heretic; just let me say this thought through to the end. Christianity as a religion has failed. Christianity as a moral system has failed. The Bible as a source of power has failed. Truth is not only preached but also demonstrated.Christian seminaries have failed and could be sued for false advertising; they have not created leaders or spiritual men. Christianity as a teaching is the best option; it has a better book and higher standards. But what does that lead to? Visit churches at the level at which I see them and you will find that covert, self-righteous deeds of the flesh and covert, unrighteous deeds of the flesh abound. Very little can be found of loving an enemy, allowing another to wound, or blessing those that curse. Some of the rudest people I have met are Bible professors who know so very much. We must admit Christianity has failed. We have the same rate of divorce as the unbelieving world. Why? Because Christianity has schools but is not a school, it has a book but is not a book, it has a philosophy of living but is not a philosophy, and it has doctrines but is not a doctrine. Christianity is Christ, period; it was never meant to be another religion but was always about a relationship with the living Christ. The legalists--those who have attained their own form of righteousness--would like to rip two passages from the Bible: “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is these that bear witness of Me” (John 5:39), and “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Man is created to be connected to the Vine, Jesus, not to imitate Him, but to participate in His life. I am not a heretic, but I cannot believe how much trouble I get into by saying that Jesus is all we need.
- Mike Wells
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Friday, May 3, 2019
Why Am I Carnal?
To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. --Colossians 1:27
While traveling I hear many stories that some choose not to believe. Well, I do not believe all of them, either, but I am just reporting the story, not asking any to believe them. Here is one such report.
I know a man who says that he was caught up into heaven. While standing before the Father’s throne, he was asked if he had a question. The man said, “What is it in me that makes me carnal?” At that the Father leaned over, held the man’s head between his hands, and kissed him on the forehead; next, though, the Father began to gently shake him. As this occurred, it was as though the shaking was making what appeared to be little drawers all over his body open and spill their contents. All that came out was junk, useless little things. The man thought how these must be all the useless little things he kept and held dear that made him carnal. The Father stopped when all the drawers were empty and once again closed. Next the Father reached toward the man’s heart and opened a secret drawer and took from it a little box. The man said that he became frightened, just knowing that little box held the thing that made him carnal. He watched as the Father took out of the box a grand, most beautiful jewel! The Father did not put it back in the box but put the grand jewel back into the drawer and closed it. The man was quite confused as to the significance of all of this when the Father spoke to him. “Yes, there are little things that make all men carnal. That is known. I am not interested in what makes you carnal; I am interested in the Grand Jewel that has remained hidden in you. My Son is in you. You must not look for the carnal any longer but examine and discover the Son who is in you.”At that the man was sent away.
Believe it or not, I like the story. I believe that too much time is spent in self-absorption and not enough time examining the Grand Jewel that is in every child of God.
- Mike Wells
While traveling I hear many stories that some choose not to believe. Well, I do not believe all of them, either, but I am just reporting the story, not asking any to believe them. Here is one such report.
I know a man who says that he was caught up into heaven. While standing before the Father’s throne, he was asked if he had a question. The man said, “What is it in me that makes me carnal?” At that the Father leaned over, held the man’s head between his hands, and kissed him on the forehead; next, though, the Father began to gently shake him. As this occurred, it was as though the shaking was making what appeared to be little drawers all over his body open and spill their contents. All that came out was junk, useless little things. The man thought how these must be all the useless little things he kept and held dear that made him carnal. The Father stopped when all the drawers were empty and once again closed. Next the Father reached toward the man’s heart and opened a secret drawer and took from it a little box. The man said that he became frightened, just knowing that little box held the thing that made him carnal. He watched as the Father took out of the box a grand, most beautiful jewel! The Father did not put it back in the box but put the grand jewel back into the drawer and closed it. The man was quite confused as to the significance of all of this when the Father spoke to him. “Yes, there are little things that make all men carnal. That is known. I am not interested in what makes you carnal; I am interested in the Grand Jewel that has remained hidden in you. My Son is in you. You must not look for the carnal any longer but examine and discover the Son who is in you.”At that the man was sent away.
Believe it or not, I like the story. I believe that too much time is spent in self-absorption and not enough time examining the Grand Jewel that is in every child of God.
- Mike Wells
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Who Owns It?
But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”--Mark 10:14
I admit it: I am on a mission to reclaim the Kingdom of God for those to whom it really belongs and from whom it has been taken away.The Philistines took the ark of God; it was not theirs, and no blessing came from it, only personal destruction. The Kingdom of God does not belong to the talented, the attractive, the manipulators, the magicians, the showmen, the popular, the intellectuals, the wealthy, or the educated. It belongs to the humble, childlike person, the weak, the trusting, the pure in heart, and the poor. I Corinthians 1:27, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” The strong have only been cursed when attempting to take it and keep it. Their image is itself a curse. Yet these thieves have the ears of many. Recently, a pastor said, “It is so hard to feel success in the ministry when there are the mega churches with mega music and mega donations!” See how he was brainwashed? The epitome of success in the popular culture is not the Kingdom of God, but the thieves make so much noise that it is hard not to get caught up in it. A skinny fellow who constantly hangs around body builders will feel he is lacking, if not inferior. A believer who continues to hang around those who work in soul power will also feel less special, less blessed, and inferior.However, we are not of the flesh but of the Spirit; we do not compete in the arena of flesh.Thieves will make sure that we judge our condition by fleshly comparisons to themselves, but we are to stay away from them. We have Christ in us, so what do we lack? A spiritual man will continue to tell us of the riches that were ours the day we believed. He will never tell us something he possesses that we do not. We are complete in Christ.
The Kingdom of God belongs to you. Yes, you! You who work a boring job, you who are exhausted after a day of nurturing kids, you who are lonely, you who are broke, and you who are weak. It is yours! Never let a thief steal any part of it.
- Mike Wells
I admit it: I am on a mission to reclaim the Kingdom of God for those to whom it really belongs and from whom it has been taken away.The Philistines took the ark of God; it was not theirs, and no blessing came from it, only personal destruction. The Kingdom of God does not belong to the talented, the attractive, the manipulators, the magicians, the showmen, the popular, the intellectuals, the wealthy, or the educated. It belongs to the humble, childlike person, the weak, the trusting, the pure in heart, and the poor. I Corinthians 1:27, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” The strong have only been cursed when attempting to take it and keep it. Their image is itself a curse. Yet these thieves have the ears of many. Recently, a pastor said, “It is so hard to feel success in the ministry when there are the mega churches with mega music and mega donations!” See how he was brainwashed? The epitome of success in the popular culture is not the Kingdom of God, but the thieves make so much noise that it is hard not to get caught up in it. A skinny fellow who constantly hangs around body builders will feel he is lacking, if not inferior. A believer who continues to hang around those who work in soul power will also feel less special, less blessed, and inferior.However, we are not of the flesh but of the Spirit; we do not compete in the arena of flesh.Thieves will make sure that we judge our condition by fleshly comparisons to themselves, but we are to stay away from them. We have Christ in us, so what do we lack? A spiritual man will continue to tell us of the riches that were ours the day we believed. He will never tell us something he possesses that we do not. We are complete in Christ.
The Kingdom of God belongs to you. Yes, you! You who work a boring job, you who are exhausted after a day of nurturing kids, you who are lonely, you who are broke, and you who are weak. It is yours! Never let a thief steal any part of it.
- Mike Wells
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Change the World
Spend the rest of your life obsessed with your Father's love and He will use you to help change the world. Your Father's love is the most amazing thing in existence. It has transformed you and now, through you, it will transform others. Don't be embarrassed to act just like Him. What does it mean to be like Him?
He is the Father who falls on the neck of returning prodigals and with tears of joy streaming down His cheeks, kisses them and shouts with laughter, "My son is home! Let's have a party!" (See Luke 25:20-24)
He is the Mother who smothers her babies in kisses as they snuggle against her breasts. (See Psalm 131:2) He is the Lover who says, "I love you so much that I'll kiss you right out in public and I don't care who sees me!" (See Song of Solomon 8:1)
He is the Artist who points to you and declares proudly to the universe, "Look what I made!" (See Ephesians 2:10) He is the Composer who sings love songs to you. (See Zephaniah 3:17)
He is the Wealthy Merchant who sold everything He had so that He could make you His own. (See Matthew 13:45-46)
He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who left the glory of His exalted throne in heaven, waded through the filth of this sinful world, and descended into the horrors of hell -- all for one simple reason. He looked beyond the horror and saw you standing on the other side, waiting for Him to rescue you.
What is your Father like? God is love. I encourage you to be who you are in Him. Love people. Just love them. Love them radically. You don't have to have an opinion about everything everybody else does. Just love them. You don't have to condone or condemn them. Just love them. Love them when they don't deserve it. Love them whether they act responsibly or repulsively. Just love them.
- Steve McVey
He is the Father who falls on the neck of returning prodigals and with tears of joy streaming down His cheeks, kisses them and shouts with laughter, "My son is home! Let's have a party!" (See Luke 25:20-24)
He is the Mother who smothers her babies in kisses as they snuggle against her breasts. (See Psalm 131:2) He is the Lover who says, "I love you so much that I'll kiss you right out in public and I don't care who sees me!" (See Song of Solomon 8:1)
He is the Artist who points to you and declares proudly to the universe, "Look what I made!" (See Ephesians 2:10) He is the Composer who sings love songs to you. (See Zephaniah 3:17)
He is the Wealthy Merchant who sold everything He had so that He could make you His own. (See Matthew 13:45-46)
He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who left the glory of His exalted throne in heaven, waded through the filth of this sinful world, and descended into the horrors of hell -- all for one simple reason. He looked beyond the horror and saw you standing on the other side, waiting for Him to rescue you.
What is your Father like? God is love. I encourage you to be who you are in Him. Love people. Just love them. Love them radically. You don't have to have an opinion about everything everybody else does. Just love them. You don't have to condone or condemn them. Just love them. Love them when they don't deserve it. Love them whether they act responsibly or repulsively. Just love them.
- Steve McVey
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