Christian Leaders

What is it with Protestant teachers? Why do they think they can say anything they want and ignore everything else. I heard Wayne Jacobsen of thegodjourney.com talk this week about the Cross. He had to go out of his way to slander John Calvin because he disagrees with Calvin's view of the Cross. I don't get it. Jacobsen talks about how much God loves us and the deep relationship Father desires to have with us. Jacobsen talks about walking in love but I think that is only if you agree with his religious system. If you have another belief beware you may end up being attacked by Jacobsen. I think it surprised me more because he has reverted to the same tactics that his critics have done. I guess in the end we change one religious system for another as Wayne Jacobsen has done, you leave the institutional church and create a new church in your own mind.

Tozer

To great sections of the Church the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the ‘program.’ This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which now passes for worship among us.

God Only

Norman P. Grubb

What strange people we are, when we have the Lord's constant word to us, "Take no thought.Be careful for nothing", and yet it is always a thrill through the years when we find He means what He says, and "your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of these things", and there, it's always true!

YES I AM

Norman P. Grubb

Yes I Am

(An article introducing Norman's published book, "Yes, I Am")

Union Life Magazine Article - Jan-Feb 1983

By: Norman P. Grubb


I have to say again and again that this union life is different from a committed, dedicated relationship to Christ in which we still see ourselves as two and thus are occupied in depending upon Him and receiving from Him the immediate supplies for life. Union is different. It is radical because I have stepped right over the line into "Him as me" as well as acknowledging "Him in me." Yes, He is in me; I am I and He is He. We are two-yet that's not what I live by. It is union-and in the union He is so much my all, and I nothing, that I live with Him as me! I talk the language of Him being the one thinking, choosing, acting-when it is really I. Enormous, glorious paradox! I thus speak of "replacement".

Less than that is still short of a union leap, I may be saying "I have all-I in Him and He in me," but I'm having to keep closing a gap. Here am I, here is He-and he's doing these things for me: providing power, grace, victory, faith . . . and I receiving them. But this is not the same as you or I experiencing them all as me. No gap there!

This is why I gave this book the title of YES, I AM. It sounds bold and boastful, and is meant to be, because this is the missing truth about ourselves which is restored only in this union reality. We had, as selves, to go through the process of deceived self, then through self dead to sin and Satan, and thus out of self-condemnation into where the central fact now is, He is fully formed in us
(Gal. 4:19). But thereby we discover right self!

The whole purpose of God is that we should be the total persons by whom He can express His total self. So back we come again. Probably when we first experience our union reality it is He whom we are seeing and rejoicing about-He in us, as us. But then the further light dawns. We are real persons and are meant to be, just as a head can be in action only through the body. We rise and shine for our light has come. And how can we now accept and love ourselves as Jesus told us we must? Because we now know that He loves and accepts us to the total degree that He has made us His permanent abode. "The life I now live in the flesh," Paul confidently said, "I live by the faith-recognition that He has loved me and given Himself for me." So I then surely can love myself. If I'm good enough for Him, then I'm good enough for myself. This is something really new and fresh when it comes to us. At least it was to me. I am to drop those belittling, downgrading statements about myself. If I am an earthen vessel, it doesn't mean earthy in a derogatory sense, but "human"; and Jesus was human, and God was manifested in that humanity.

So I am no longer a wretched man, but a whole (and holy) man. I am to be myself! Unafraid. Yes, I am, and like Paul, I can do all things in Christ, as Christ. I am well able (like Caleb). I'm full of power and of judgment and of might (like Micah). I am my Beloved's and His desire is toward me (as His spouse) (Song of Solomon 7:10).

Once the Saviour knew at His baptism that the moment of His commissioning had come as the Christ of God, He never once hesitated in saying, "I am .", "I am .", "I am .", and they crucified Him for it. And I must not hesitate to be my "I am." If I am now an equipped, anointed, indwelt son of God, I say so.
Yes, I am.

Christmas

I don't know how many of you celebrate Christmas. I am a Christian but I also think Christ was born in the summer instead of winter. The idea of celebrating the birth of Jesus is wonderful. Why because it show how wonderful Papa is toward mankind. The love Father has for each of us cannot not be described in words but needs to be revealed by him to each of you. Ask him today to reveal himself to you and his love he has for you.

Merry Christmas

Shame Revisited

I heard Wayne Jacobsen make a comment about pornography that I think should be the starting point. The power of pornography lies with the power to shame us. The false condemnation of the devil is upon us plus the Church condemns us due to the overwhelming legalism that exists. You are never good enough for God. Try harder is the answer. You better do this or else. The love the Father has for us is so great. Bask in the love of the Father.

So what about pornography or any other area you struggle with, i.e. eating, prostitution, etc. Sit down with the Father and ask Him to reveal what you need, what is missing in your life, from Him to fill the void missing in your life. Shame prevents us from going to Father God and talking to Him about our problems. Shame is something we inherited from Adam and Eve. Only the Father can fill the emptiness we each have.

Shame

Feeling shame for the pornogaphy. Feeling shame because of the masturbation. How hard is it to talk about your problem. Most of the church thinks your not saved because of your addiction. It's ok to be addicted to drugs or alchol. But pornography. How dare you? I have belonged in one church group or another for over 23 years. In all that time I have never truly been allowed to be myself. I can't talk about my troubles. When asked make sure you say "fine". Don't confuse someone by saying you need help. They might have to act. Keep the pattern. Be a good religious person. Don't let anyone know that you are trapped and want to escape. I mock and I am cynical. The church today is an exercise in futility. No compassion. Work this program. No rest allowed.

Until a person learns that they died on the Cross with Christ and that the Christ-life is the only answer to this life they will continue to look for the next fad. I grow weiry of it all. I want freedom that I can only have in Christ.