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Archive for the ‘Jesus’ Category

Method Or Person

Posted in Jesus, Meditation, Methods, Watchman Nee, tagged on June 2, 2011| 4 Comments »

Watchman Nee

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way…” – John 14:5-6a

While traveling through an airport years ago I was approached by a Hare Krishna devote in his wig passing out books and proclaiming his meditation as the way Jesus recommended. I was a new believer at the time (and feisty) but I knew that wasn’t right — I began following him, witnessing to him about Christ until he left the airport saying, “Man, leave me alone!” (That wasn’t very effective but it was quite a sight and an interesting memory)

Fact it, Jesus never recommend a method or formula, he recommended himself.

Watchman Nee (1903 – 1972), spiritual reformer who spent his last 20 years persecuted in a Communist prison, put it this way:

[T]o believe in the Lord himself, and to believe a formula, are actually two different motions…A method has no power nor effectiveness; for not being Christ, it is simply a dead thing. Every spiritual thing outside of Christ is dead…

The reason for many unanswered prayers and ineffective testimonies is found in our not touching the Lord. We have merely copied the method of others; we have not touched the Lord himself.” – Watchman Nee, Christ The Sum of All Spiritual Things

– fritz@langgang.com

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Jesus Passing By

Posted in Belief, Bible Characters, Calling, Hymns, Jesus, tagged , on May 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Two quick stories about Jesus with the same lesson:

The first, after feeding the multitude, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him by boat but they ran into trouble. A terrible storm was sinking their boat when, to their shock, Jesus was walking past them on the water. Mark records that detail the others missed.

“…about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But they saw him” – Mark 6:48

The second story involved two lesser known disciples who encounter the risen Lord without recognizing him. They walked and talked but then

“[as] they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: … he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us” – Luke 24:28-29a

Without some sort of personal response it seems Jesus is quite content to pass right on by.

Don’t let him do that!

Blind Fanny Crosby put it this way in her famous hymn:

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Refrain

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Refrain

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?

Refrain.

– fritz@langgang.com

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Safety over Honesty

Posted in Bible Characters, Honesty, Jesus, Pharisees, Sadducees, Safety, tagged on April 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” – Mark 11:29-33

Jesus gave clear answers to those who met him with honest minds and hearts but game players he left empty!

These came to Jesus demanding an answer about his source of authority and he offered a question of his own.  Notice their deliberations – their thoughts were not on honesty but safety.

Sound Bite: Don’t expect to get answers from God is your primary concern is safety instead of honesty.

-fritz

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