God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy 6

"There are many places that God takes you:

Many realms

Many seasons

Many wonderful places of blessing

Places of fulfillment

Places filled with wisdom

Places of beauty

But this is not one of those places.

This place is like no other.

  

Now I want to read a passage of scripture that is graphic and disclosing.  When I say that you need to die to self, it’s not fair to assume that you will see what that really means in the same way, but as you read these scriptures God will open up this profound truth and make it clear and simple.

There is no teaching concerning salvation and the experience of the believer more revealing as to what the expected outcome of the salvation experience is supposed to be than what I am going to read.

Go with me to Romans 6:1-7

 1.  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

 2.  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

You need to carefully hear and consider what Paul is saying by the Holy Spirit to you, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

What does it mean to be dead to sin?

Well the best explanation comes up in the scriptures in the very next verse.

 3.  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

“Were baptized into His death?”  Baptized means immersed - you were immersed into His death - but the clear meaning hasn’t been fully revealed yet.  

What do you do with something dead? 

You bury it.

Hear the truth of the matter:

 4.  Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death:

Before I go on, I want you to get a clear understanding of what God does to you when you are born again.  When you use the phrase, “Die to self”, this is not a silly colloquialism.  When you were buried with Him by baptism into death:

You relinquished your own way for His way

You stop having to cave in at every whim 

You give up everything temporal

You are stopped from having a self-only direction

Don’t get nervous, to die to self, to be buried with Him by baptism into His death, even though it is a must, it is for the purpose of making you into the image and likeness of God.  God has to take you there to take you further."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

  

God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy 5

"You are the temple of the Holy Spirit

The habitation where God resides

Anointed and filled with wisdom

A living sanctuary

Empowered by your Creator - who designed you in His image - and to make sure you are like Him, He lives in you and operates through you - except you resist Him.

I’ve got to go here for a moment so you can get a truth that will please God.

The whole premise of God thinking is to hear what God says and then do it.  To hear is good, but to do is better.

I am going to talk about a place that you must visit - not once, but many times, but at least once.

A place very different than any place you might go to gain fame

A place very different than you might go if you were seeking recognition.

A place very different than you might go to be satisfied or filled.

A place seldom mentioned because it is foreign to your flesh.

A place where no solace resides.

There are no rewards.

No gratification.

Even though all of Christendom hinges upon going to this place, most of Christendom has no intention of going there.

By now you have probably started to guess where this place is.  After this revelation you will not have to guess about where God takes His people to enlighten them, any more."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy 4

"The Church has done a lousy job of training the saints to be warriors, empowered by God, suited, ready and available for active service without notice.

The Holy Spirit is calling you out and you are still trying to figure out if you are in.

 

The Holy Spirit is equipping the saints, but the saints are saying:   That’s too hard - It doesn’t suit me - That’s not my color - That’s not comfortable

The Holy Spirit is calling Christians to be Holy - and Christians are still making excuses for living like the world.

The Holy Spirit is prompting the children of God to grow up into mature, responsible believers.

Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

The Holy Spirit is guiding, and at crucial crossroads, many who claim Christ are making foolish decisions and sometimes irreversible mistakes.

The Holy Spirit is available and you are not.

The Holy Spirit seeks communion with you, 24/7, and you often complain about meeting with Him and His people two hours a week. Why do we have to beg and plead with people to come and experience the presence of God?

The Holy Spirit does not deposit Himself unto you so you can remain worldly and powerless. 

God knows that on your own power, under your own authority, apart from His operating in you and through you, you can only interfere with the actual plan of God.

You must die to self."

Excerpt from God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy 3

"In your work or your trade, have you ever gotten a little sloppy? - A little less concerned about the outcome?

Have you ever gotten a little rusty at what used to come second nature?

Just like at work, you can’t rely on what yo did twenty years ago to get you through - You need to be up to speed with your trade, know the laws, know the rules.

And just like your work, you can’t do something just one time and master it. It takes consistency, perseverance, ingenuity, drive, ambition, courage, education, knowledge and a lot of practice to get good at and stay good at anything.

Just like with your work or your calling, you can’t die to Christ one time and find fulfillment. 

You must die to self."

   Excerpt from God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

  

God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy 2

"When you get to the place where you are tired and worn out fighting your way through life, (not because you are on to some great breakthrough that is taking you from one glory to another), but just to maintain.

When you realize that a huge portion of your energy, money and time is devoted to maintaining your existence, staying the same or in some cases, even declining.

When you have sensed that there is more, but you just can’t get your hands on it.  - You need more than another set of  hoops to jump through - And you need more than empty promises or false illusions.

When things are tough and misunderstood, you need more than just a pat on the back by somebody saying, “It’s gonna be OK.”

You need more than kind words that contain no power and offer no assistance.

If you’ve reached a point where it’s all starting to look the same.

In this modern battle you are in - The one with a high-tech adversary

An adversary that understands, exploits and manipulates the emotion

and sensitivities of your kids.

An adversary that has entire nations convinced that all paths lead to 

God. 

An adversary that has convinced secular humanist, those who write your

children’s textbooks, (those who own and operate most commercial TV 

stations and those who control the media), that to slant the truth or re-

write it for the sake of preserving a lie, is OK, as long as the result is, that 

Jesus Christ be denied His rightful place among men.

You don’t need to talk about what to do about your situation, you need to act on it.

You need the power of God working in your life.

• To operate in the power of God and to be a positive influence and maintain a positive influence in the lives of others:
• To push through beyond the mundane and repetitive - to soar like the eagle
• To breakthrough into another realm with God
• To hear God’s voice clearly
• To receive the answers that you and I have been looking for, for a lifetime. 
• To operate in the power of God and to be a positive influence and maintain a positive influence in the lives of others -   to push through beyond the mundane and repetitive 

You must die to self."

Note: This is not a very popular subject and most modern preaching gets away from any use of painful symbolism or words that provoke serious inner thought or contemplation. It is much more acceptable to introduce people to a more sympathetic and clever view of God; one that doesn't require much deliberation, attention, reflection or meditation - one that poses no interior threat - one that warrants no decisions - one that yields just short of the crossroads - one that promotes sameness - one that patronizes poverty and applauds powerlessness. That's right, religious teachings today have the tendency to enlarge the ego (assist you to get what you want) and deny the inner man (starve you spiritually so that you will remain stagnant and satisfied with your current condition).

   Excerpt from God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

  

God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy 1

"What I have to say will insult those who fancy various gods and spiritual Tom-foolery.

Fame is nothing if fame is sought after.

Neither do riches bring happiness.

But just the same as fame and riches are not really virtues, neither are spiritual inclinations a virtue apart from a real connection with the One True God.

There is not much time to take care of some things of great importance and even less time for all that is a substitute for the real.

There are far too many people wasting their time mastering the motions of life, but not life itself.

Many people are just going through the motions of living, but they are not enjoying the life.  And it is because they are going through the motions of living without an actual connection with the living God and without cooperation with the living God, that they are not enjoying life. 

Many people are spending hours, days, months, years and longer spending irreplaceable energy, funds and time, living out life, quite often unfulfilled. 

The Bible says, in Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

I want to teach you a principle about life that is crucial for continuing revelation. 

Do you want to know God’s call for you at this time in your life?

Are you a bit frustrated - Sometimes you feel like you are caught between two worlds - the one you are living out and the one you feel you should be living out?"

Excerpt from God Thinking LXIX - The Dichotomy by Keith C. Powell copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 12

"God thinking teaches you to praise and worship God.  God wants you to praise Him and worship Him for two reasons - One to affect what comes into your mind and your heart and Two, to affect what comes out of your mind and heart. 

  

This flow of what comes in to you and the flow that goes out from you is determined by Your worship.

Praise and worship is a purifier of the soul. 

The light that illuminates the heart.

Praise is Your sacrifice, Your gift to God for His benevolence, His mercy, His love toward you.

Praise and worship is where you transcend the mundane and temporal and move into the thoughts of God and things eternal.

Praise and worship is where you meet God as He is - High and lifted up.

  

Does your praise and worship reflect someone excited about such a wonderful, holy, great, awesome, powerful, merciful, beautiful, faithful and true God?"

Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 11

"Your faith is not constant, but fluctuates.  God knows that one minute you believe that you can walk on water and the next you sink in total fear. 

God understands how your commitment and loyalty to Him fluctuates like the ebb and flow of the tide.

God designed you to praise and worship Him and acknowledge Him.  Hear the clay saying to the potter,

“You are magnificent in all Your creations”

“Your ways are perfect and righteous”

“Your beauty exceeds anything I can comprehend”

“Your love overwhelms me”

“Your mercy is beyond my words”

“Your grace is sufficient for me”

“Woe is me, For I am undone...”

David puts it this way in Psalm 119:164, “Seven times a day do I praise Thee because of Thy righteous judgements.”

Psalms 9:1-2

1.  I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.

 2.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

 Psalms 95:1-7

 1.  O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of Your salvation.

 2.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

 3.  For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

 4.  In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

 5.  The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

 6.  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord Your maker.

 7.  For he is Your God; and you are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."

Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 10

"God let’s you into His presence when you praise and worship Him in spirit and truth. 

God then fills you with faith so that you can do the will of God and share the will of God with others. 

When you praise and worship God you can get as close as you want to - you can receive as much faith as a created vessel can hold - you can receive as much revelation as Moses, David, Solomon, Mary or Paul.

Note: Some denominations worship or pray to these saints and others and the thought of being able to receive the same or equal dissemination of God's wisdom as one of the saints is foreign to them.  They believe that direct communication with God/The Holy Spirit/Jesus is reserved for their denominations figurehead. Of course believing this false claim negatively affects that persons ability to receive revelation from God (not that God does not communicate despite the error, but that person is trained to ignore outside influences like the leading of the Holy Spirit) so when they do hear from God, they dispose of it or hide it so they are not thought of as heretics. Can you see how that type of thinking can frustrate the will of God for an individual.  If they hear from God and want to believe God for something, they have to hide it or suppress it or deny it to keep the status quo. What a shame. All denominations should be empowering each individual to not only find God, but to hear from and respond to God - to be in touch with their inner man where the Holy Spirit resides.  Can you imagine that the Holy Spirit wants to come and make His abode in your heart, for the reason of never speaking to you or directing you or guiding you, leading you, inspiring you or trusting you.  The way it is set up at these denominations is that you are taught to trust in just about anything except God Himself.  

All you have to do is be willing to expend - exhaust - share proportionately - disperse without prejudice - give away - what revelation you receive from God (concerning the will of God) and you will be positioned to receive more from God.

Praise and worship was designed by God for you to take you to levels of intimacy with God, precept upon precept, faith to faith, glory to glory until that time that you enter into eternity with Him.  Anything less is not worthy of God’s presence."

Note: One more thing. If you are confused and simply unsure of what to believe, don't blame God. It is not God that is confused and confusing others. Try believing what your Bible says for a season instead of what someone says your Bible says.  You might find it refreshing/crushing/exciting/revealing. What I have found (in general) is that religion takes the faith out of Christianity and replaces it with din.   

Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 9

"There is a great distinction between every object of your interest and God Himself. If you want to learn of an object you can pursue it and learn about it and acquire all past knowledge about it, become fully acquainted with it and even become an expert concerning it. 

Anyone can become an expert on any subject except the personhood of God.

Unlike any study of a person, a place or a thing, God can only be found out by His self proclamation. 

God dispenses knowledge/wisdom about Himself by revelation.

And the revelation received will always be equal to Your faith

And Your faith will always be equal to Your use of Your faith.

Or better put, you can only receive faith in direct proportion to Your use of that faith for the purposes of fulfilling the will of God, here, during Your lifetime.

No increase of faith will be given to anyone for the purpose of advancing themself disproportionally above others.  

God sees the end from the beginning and makes no errors.  God doesn’t give His wisdom to foolish men, nor does God allow them (foolish men) into His secret chambers to chat about foolish and vain matters."

Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 8

"The Word of God says in Hebrews 13:15

15.  By him, (i.e. Christ), therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of Your lips giving thanks to his name.

God uses your sacrifice of praise and worship to increase your faith so that your new increased faith will positively affect:

Your understanding

Your knowledge

Your wisdom

Your poyour

Your authority

Your inspiration

Your enlightenment

Your ability to ascertain opportunity

Your ability to rightly discern         

Your ability to positively affect those around us

In God’s self-disclosure to man, God did not reveal every attribute and every truth in an instant. God designed you to receive from Him a portion of truth precept upon precept, truth upon truth, faith upon faith, glory upon glory."

Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

   

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 7

"What does Your worship affect?

Everything. 

Everything about who you are.

Everything about why you are here.

Everything about why you have past through so much.

Everything about where you are going.

Your worship affects Your perspective.

Your worship affects Your mind-set

Your worship affects Your opportunity.

Your worship affects Your disposition.

Your worship affects Your character.

Your worship affects Your temperament.

Your worship affects Your relationship with Your God - Your spouse - Your children - Your parents - Your relatives Your friends.

Your worship affects Your ability to love - Your hope - Your joy - Your peace.

Your worship affects Your health - Your emotional stability - Your bodies ability to heal - Your mental health - Your jobs - Your direction - Your everything.

There is nothing that completes a man or a woman more than praise and worship, with understanding.

Nothing compares to a moment in the presence of God where God receives Your sacrifice of praise and increases Your faith."

Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

  

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 6

"God’s provision for our waywardness is Grace.

There’s only one way to have peace with God and to be able to worship Him in spirit and truth and it’s found in Romans 5:1-2 “1.  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 2.  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The truly spiritual man or woman will tell you - “If not for the grace of God.................”

Of the many things that affect your worship - the one thing that affects your worship more than anything is:

Being out of a right relationship with God.

Of the many things that your worship affects - the one thing that your worship affects more than anything is:

Being in a right relationship with God.

Nothing can bring you into a right relationship with God more than effectual praise and worship.  

Everything to do with growing in Christ starts with recognition of God’s holy and unequaled attributes.  

You start by giving God a little praise and you worship Him a little, and God does mighty wonders on your behalf. 

Then you loosen up a little and start to praise Him when things aren’t going as well as you would like and you worship Him at  times that aren’t convenient and God reveals more of Himself to you.

You open up a little more and praise Him when things go distinctly awry and you worship Him when you are angry at God or disappointed with God’s Sovereign hand - and God hesitates not to pour out His Spirit on you.

You begin to praise Him in the morning, before you even get fully awake, or you worship Him at noonday or at lunch - God reveals more of Himself and more and more and as God reveals His Holiness you begin to see how intricately involved God is in the everyday affairs of your life. 

you begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together and you start to understand more of the reasons why - and at the same time the importance of having every answer fades in the presence of God.  God becomes the reason why.  God becomes the answer.

Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 5

"Before We Go Our Way

The wise person is the one

who knows that they are weak

and knows that they may fall, and when they do

they know as well - The One who takes it all

If it were that we would have to pay

the price for all our sin

Then I could understand the man

who doesn’t let God in

But, when each of us should surely pay

the price for our disgrace

And God calls us back to worship Him

And partake of His grace.

Then we should find a way to praise and worship God today

Before the hour passes by and we go our way

The Word says in:

1 John 1:9

 9.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When that is all it takes to be in a right relationship with God, why let another minute go by without receiving from God His perfect provision - GRACE.

When someone is in rebellion and if you really care about seeing them come back to God:

You must be careful not to crush them with the I’m holier than thou spiel

you mustn’t give them some long dissertation about how bad they are 

You shouldn’t  condemn them and speak words that you will forever regret.

How about - You just tell them of God’s grace

And for yourself:

The next time you are in rebellion or you’ve decided to take a short cut around God’s perfect will for your life:

Don’t give up and throw in the towel

Don’t beat up on yourself and wallow in the mire of self pity for the terrible things you’ve done.

Don’t condemn yourself to a lifetime of losing the battle.

Remember God’s Grace.

Come to God knowing that His forgiveness is bigger than your sin and your praise and worship will blossom like a Zinnia.

Come to God knowing that there’s only one way to get things right with God and that’s for God to get things right for you."

Note: I noticed that the last statement caused you to pause.  Most Christians think that they are in a constant battle with God trying this and trying that to win God's approval.  The thought that God makes things right and not you is disturbing to many Christians.  The point is that of course it is your responsibility to get things right with God (things that you can and do have power over) but thinking that you have to do it all or that you can do it all is wrong thinking.  Just as God is so much wiser than we are so too is God's part in getting things right with you.  If God left it up to us, we would all most miserably fail, but God did not leave it up to us.  He left it up to His Son to bridge the enormous gap between God and man. In other words do what you can to draw  nigh to God, but be more open and understanding when it comes to what God has done and is doing for you.

Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 4

"Of the many things that affect your worship, the one that we are going to deal with today is:

1     Being out of a right relationship with God.

If you are out of fellowship with God, it is revealed in our worship.

1 Samuel 15:24-25

 24.  And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

 25.  Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

Let’s face it:

• When you are in rebellion
• When you know in your heart that the way you live is not pleasing to God
• When you are in the middle of the vicious cycle of trying to be in the world, of the world and not of the world at the same time, you do not want to worship God.
• When you are at odds with God because you want something that you believe God has withheld from you, you do not want to worship God.
• When you desire something that you know does not meet with God’s seal of approval you have a difficult time worshiping God. 
• Anything that is part of your everyday existence that you know lends a hand to the enemy, puts you in a state of mind where you do not want to worship God.

Your worship is affected by your relationship with God.  You must be careful to mind the things that God has endorsed so that your worship can be full and satisfying."

 Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 3

"There are many things that affect your worship:

• Your surroundings, everything you allow to enter into your mind, enter into your body, everything you allow to enter into your household.
• Everything you do / how you live your lile.
• What you allow to become part of who you are by the places you visit, the friends you keep, the situations and circumstances you let yourself get into. 

But most of all - the one thing that affects your worship more than anything is:

Being out of a right relationship with God

There are many things that your worship affects:

• Your ability to produce a healthy and wholesome surrounding for yourself, your family, friends and acquaintances.
• Your ability to live positively and with purpose in a world that is not conducive to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• Your ability to ascertain/discern situations i.e., find and be at the right place at the right time so that you become what God ordained you to be.
• The outcome of something you are praying for and working towards.

But most of all - the one thing that your worship affects more than anything else, is:

Being in a right relationship with God.

I want to investigate what affects your worship and what your worship affects."

 Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014

God Thinking LXVIII - What Is Worship? 2

"God knows if your worship accurately represents your whole being, because God knows and responds to who you are as a whole person. 

The way you talk to your spouse

The way you discipline your children

The way you treat those you work with

The way you operate at your workplace or work-station

The way you act in public

What you do behind closed doors

What you do that you try to cover up with either lies or deceit

The way you treat the temple of God, (your body)

The words you speak

Your level of integrity

Your interior thought life

How you respond under pressure

God knows if your worship accurately represents your whole being, i.e., or if it only represents the way you want to be perceived by others:

There are more people worried about what someone else thinks about the way they worship than what God thinks, because if you cared about what God thinks about the way you worship, you wouldn’t care at all about what others think.

Why does God care about your worship anyway?

When you really catch the revelation of why God wants you to worship, you will desire to perfect your worship.

First let's take a look at the things that affect your worship and then we will look at the things that your worship affects."

 Excerpt from God thinking LXVIII What Is Worship? by Keith C. Powell                                                    Copyright 2014