From the Desk of Doctor Paul ...
Give That Bully No Place!
Remember those days of the class bully? He seemed to intimidate everyone in
sight. More often than not, that tormentor was rather small in form,
possessing a rather large mouth. Everyone was scared silly around him! Most
of us are over those days, by now. Nevertheless, trouble is still around.
In this life, there are difficulties. The Apostle Paul said he was troubled
by circumstances on every side. News coverage of recent events has proven
that true. However, on the inside, he was not distressed.
That special servant fixed his attention, not on external circumstances, but
the light of the Gospel in his inner man, since that is where the excellency
of the Father's Power abides. Knowing the truth will always result in
freedom. "We're perplexed!" he said. The Greek word for perplexed means "to
be cornered by circumstances."
"But, we're not in despair." In other words, even when faced with the
impossible, the believer can find a way out, by looking to the Living Word on
the inside.
"Persecuted, but not forsaken." If persecuted on the outside, how do I know
God hasn't forsaken me? Because, when looking on the inside, Jesus can be
heard saying, "I will never leave or forsake you, even to the ends of the
earth."
My spirit quickly shifts to that horrendous massacre in Littleton, Colorado,
as precious Cassie Bernall willingly gave up her life to glorify our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. There was no desire to mince words or compromise that
Blood bought testimony, when asked if she believed in Him. Cassie's very last
statement, in reality, spoke forth His praises, impacting this world, as only
a martyr could. She paid the ultimate price. I must believe, Cassie has also
received the ultimate reward!
If Cassie can literally lay down her life for Him, we, too, must fight the
good fight of faith, as well, no matter what price must be paid. "Why is it a
good fight, Paul?" Simply because we've already won! The victory was
secured, two-thousand years ago. Our job is to go in and possess the land.
Perplexed, persecuted, cast down! There's no doubt about it, Paul was under
more pressure than most of us will ever experience. But, he handled it. And
so can every child of the Most High, by embracing three basic steps:
ONE: Contemplate the source of that pressure...the outside! And remember
where your life force originates...the inside!
TWO: Cease running on a spiritual deficit. Take time to feed your inner man
the Word. Fast the body, if necessary, and feast your spirit on that rhema,
until the inner man becomes stronger.
THREE: Focus on Jesus, inside you, until your internal picture of Him is
larger than the outside circumstances that attempt to promote fear and
subsequent defeat.
When a quality decision is made to fortify one's spirit in those ways, the
impact of problems will be minimal to none. Soon, that bully will flee your
presence!
Speak the Word:
"I am troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. The life
of Jesus is made manifest in me." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
For Further Study:
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
Zechariah 12-13
Psalm 147
Click here to return to the home page.
Remember those days of the class bully? He seemed to intimidate everyone in
sight. More often than not, that tormentor was rather small in form,
possessing a rather large mouth. Everyone was scared silly around him! Most
of us are over those days, by now. Nevertheless, trouble is still around.
In this life, there are difficulties. The Apostle Paul said he was troubled by circumstances on every side. News coverage of recent events has proven that true. However, on the inside, he was not distressed.
That special servant fixed his attention, not on external circumstances, but the light of the Gospel in his inner man, since that is where the excellency of the Father's Power abides. Knowing the truth will always result in freedom. "We're perplexed!" he said. The Greek word for perplexed means "to be cornered by circumstances."
"But, we're not in despair." In other words, even when faced with the impossible, the believer can find a way out, by looking to the Living Word on the inside.
"Persecuted, but not forsaken." If persecuted on the outside, how do I know God hasn't forsaken me? Because, when looking on the inside, Jesus can be heard saying, "I will never leave or forsake you, even to the ends of the earth."
My spirit quickly shifts to that horrendous massacre in Littleton, Colorado, as precious Cassie Bernall willingly gave up her life to glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There was no desire to mince words or compromise that Blood bought testimony, when asked if she believed in Him. Cassie's very last statement, in reality, spoke forth His praises, impacting this world, as only a martyr could. She paid the ultimate price. I must believe, Cassie has also received the ultimate reward!
If Cassie can literally lay down her life for Him, we, too, must fight the good fight of faith, as well, no matter what price must be paid. "Why is it a good fight, Paul?" Simply because we've already won! The victory was secured, two-thousand years ago. Our job is to go in and possess the land.
Perplexed, persecuted, cast down! There's no doubt about it, Paul was under more pressure than most of us will ever experience. But, he handled it. And so can every child of the Most High, by embracing three basic steps:
ONE: Contemplate the source of that pressure...the outside! And remember where your life force originates...the inside!
TWO: Cease running on a spiritual deficit. Take time to feed your inner man the Word. Fast the body, if necessary, and feast your spirit on that rhema, until the inner man becomes stronger.
THREE: Focus on Jesus, inside you, until your internal picture of Him is larger than the outside circumstances that attempt to promote fear and subsequent defeat.
When a quality decision is made to fortify one's spirit in those ways, the impact of problems will be minimal to none. Soon, that bully will flee your presence!
Speak the Word:
"I am troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. The life of Jesus is made manifest in me." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
For Further Study:
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
Zechariah 12-13
Psalm 147
Click here to return to the home page.