Cyber Truths By E-mail
24. Don’t You Talk? (June 26, 2006)
Dear Friends,
We’ve noticed that certain areas of
our ministry are special targets for Satan to do all he can to
stop us. Whenever we do anything relative to these areas, our
website pages go bonkers, our computers go haywire, our writing
or editing just disappears.... Other believers listen almost
with disbelief when we tell them what goes on!
Three specific arenas stand out in which
it seems the devil is supersensitive. When our work calls for
us to delve into these areas, all hell breaks loose: The first
is whenever we do anything relative to Demolishing Strongholds.
The second is when we teach anything about biblical authority.
And
third, when we share about applying
God’s Word, that is,
establishing personal halakhahs.
These three domains in particular
stimulate tremendous demonic opposition. And it’s
supernatural what the enemy is able to do! Sometimes the
assaults will last for hours, bringing us to tears. The reason
we know it’s the devil is that, as we fervently and
persistently pray in the Name of
Jesus, the
attacks stop! They just cease without any human solution.
If
this is happening to us, then the devil is probably doing
similar things to you too! This is why we wanted to share this
message with you. If you aren’t recognizing the nature of
the opposition, then you may be giving way to the “sweaty
body” scenario we’ve written about before.
For thirty years Mike played a lot of
pickup basketball. He normally perspires a lot during activity.
During the past few years he noticed an interesting trend
regarding attitudes toward the normal bodily function of
perspiration: Many young men hate to get sweat on themselves.
They avoid body contact as much as possible.
Realizing this, Mike would purposely come
up and slide against them. Sure enough, they’d back off
and fail to guard him. He was free to make any shots he wanted!
When you’re walking lovingly and
responsibly toward God and others close to you in the faith,
Satan uses the “sweaty body scenario”. He agitates
an aversion in one person toward anotherortoward obeying
God’s way of doing things. Sometimes he incites some
behavioral or personality habit in a brother or sister that
keeps you from drawing near that individual. That one
irritating flaw then colors all other thoughts or actions you
have toward that person, creating a pattern in you in which you
avoid him or her.
Or, the devil downplays God’s
commands or the life choices of obedient trust He calls for
that will bless you. We’ve seen this especially when it
comes to people applying halakhahs (personal, prayerful,
biblical applications to life situations) to their life. The
enemy hinders followers of Jesus from interactive discussion
with each other so that a situation is either never addressed
or unilateral decisions are made.
“Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard.
A
scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning
those who feared the LORD and
honored His name” (Malachi 3:16)
“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask
for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there am
I with them? (Matthew 18:18-20)
We could write more about any of the three
prime areas of opposition we mentioned above. But, in light of
how lawless much of Christendom has
become, especially by adapting the ways of the world to”do church”, we want to encourage you about your responsibility
through love for our Lord to apply God’s Word to all
areas of your life.
Based on the correspondence and telephone
calls we receive, our book Christian
Halakhahs: Loving Jesus Through the
Way You Apply His Wordisn’t
bearing nearly the fruit we’d hoped for in people’s
lives! The contact we receive usually goes something like this:
“I readChristian Halakhahs, but I have a question.” The nature of
the question reveals that they’re still controlled by the
Hellenistic thought patterns of Nicolaitanism. They want to know to understand without applying to
live by.
Just as when you begin a diet, it takes a
lot of courage and love for God for you towant to apply the Bible to your life. As we noted in Christian Halakhahs, each biblical application is like a
stone in the walls of Jerusalem. As you build your life and
your family’s life onapplyingGod’s Word, you’re increasingly
protecting yourselves from demonic seduction. And, isn’t
spiritual protection something you want for your family?
Satan uses the Nicolaitan teaching pattern
of lecture as a “sweaty body” to keep those who
leave the system from discussingfor
application. If you’ve spent
considerable time in the Nicolaitan religious system,
you’re addicted to havingcontent
conveyedat youthrough the lecture format of someone who’s not
involved in your life. Remember, this methodology comes from
the Greek philosophers who converted to Christianity in the
second and third centuries.
They altered theapproach and purpose for biblical instruction. The Hebraic pattern of interactive discussion that led tolife change was set aside for the Greek concept of
teaching—conveyance of content to argue about or
“ponder”, then file away and forget.
The Hebraic approach to problems drew out
biblical responses from the learners. In contrast, the Greek
instructor was responsible to lecture his students and
entertain philosophical arguments regarding the material he
presented. The emphasis shifted from the Hebraic life application to Greek knowledge
accumulation.
And today, many of you haven’t freed
yourself from this fruitless pattern.
Listen, this isn’t a minor point for
you! The two different approaches are as far apart as heaven
and hell. Remember, at conception you received from your parents
yoursin nature along with your soul
which includes your mind, will, and emotions. The Greek method relies solely on your mind’s
rationale. And, the Hellenist method that controls much of
Christendom today uses reasoning and rationale to derive
conclusions. This method ignores any guidance or confirmation
by the Holy Spirit.
The Hebraic method ofinteractive discussion incorporates Spirit-to-spirit guidance. Jesus
understood this clearly. That is why He affirms the solid truth
of His followerscollectively applying His Word:
“For where two or three come
together in My name, there am I with them.” Jesus’ presence makes all the difference
when you want to help each other grow in Christ-likeness!
Wouldn’t you rather rely on His presence to convey truth
to your spirit than on your sin nature-controlled
soul—your mind, will and emotions?
If you don’t punch through theresistanceof your
soul with it’s sin nature to apply God’s Word, you
lock Jesus out. It’s that simple. And, why would you
claim to be His, but not follow the pattern He commends to
bring His presence into your conversation?
And, onlyHis
presencethrough your discussion
transforms you. First your heart attitude changes, then your
behavior. You become more like Jesus in that transformation
process. In essence, you become like Who you hang around.
Having Jesus in your midst through collective discussion is His
choice way to change you. By cooperating with His Spirit,
you’re transformed in that area of your life to reflect
Him.
Whether you realize it or not, you may be
relying on some form of ‘self help’. You may read
the Bible or Christian material, then think about what you read
and expect to be changed through the reading. It’ll NEVER
happen!!! You’re deceived into thinking that theknowing will change you. You end up more frustrated and
deeper in sin.
Discussion together >>>
interactive discussion together >>> interactive
discussion together leading to applying God’s way.
This is His way. Make it your way! It’s the way your
life will bring Him glory as you become more like Jesus,
reflecting Him to others.
Mike
& Sue Dowgiewicz
