What do you want from God?
Posted by appolus on January 15, 2014
For Jews require a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, to the Greeks , foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1st Cor 1:22-24)
Madam Guyon writes…………….I am deeply grieved that so many in this day(she lived 300 years ago, people never change)even some good people, allow themselves to be led astray by the enemy. Has not God warned us against false prophets and lying wonders of the last days? All true prophets have spoken in the name of the Lord-”Thus says the Lord.” The enemy gains great advantage because people love extraordinary manifestations, signs and wonders. I believe the inordinate love of external signs is used of the enemy to draw people away from the Word of God and from the inward way of faith.The signs that come from God encourage you to die to yourself. (Intimacy with Christ..p21)
Madam Guyon spoke prophetically when she said that “the inordinate love of external signs is used of the enemy to draw people away from the word of God.” According to Barna , this generation is the most Biblically illiterate generation for almost 300 years.
You see, what the Jewish people wanted, much like Christianity of today, was signs and wonders that would enhance their lives. Their illnesses would be healed, they would be fed, but most of all that it would lead to the destruction of their enemies and position them in a place of power and influence. They needed outward signs that would not only prove God was who He said He was, but that He served their worldly interests. If they could not have God serve them, then they would not believe or follow Him. This is actually the opposite of faith. They wanted the substance of things seen. The Greeks wanted wisdom, they wanted to fully understand and master a philosophy. If they could not understand the subject, in this case God, then He would be rejected. They only wanted to follow what they could understand in their own minds. They were in effect their own little gods. Again, the opposite of faith. What they both got was Calvary. And by being focused on outward signs and philosophies, they missed the greatest event in the history of the planet.
God Himself had stepped into time and space. Not as a rich man, not a highly educated man, but as a poor working man. The Lord Jesus was born amongst the filth and stench of a manger, not in a palace or in a temple, but in the very lowest reaches of the earth. If you are a religious man or a worldly man, Jesus is going to disappoint you every time. He will not perform at the whim of men, He came to die and to bid others to do the same. To the Jews and much of Christendom today, a stumbling block, to the Greeks and the educated class of today, foolishness. Let no one doubt this though, Jesus had come to conquer, and conquer He did. He conquered doubts, He conquered fears, He conquered death He conquered pride and He conquered sin.
So for most people Calvary is offensive. They want, no demand victory over their circumstances. They want to follow a God that will give them their best lives now. Yet the way of the cross is the same today as it was then. It signifies death, death to ourselves and the things of this world. It signifies victory in the midst of our circumstances. We see in the cross the perfect example of obedience which followed Gethsemane. When we embrace the circumstances of our lives, that the steps of a righteous man are ordered of God, this is the beginning of faith. When we surrender to the Lord in the very midst of the most difficult circumstances, then a whole other world opens up before us as we willingly take up our cross, this is the narrow road that leads to life and ironically the road that leads to the miraculous. This is a life that leads us to embracing and moving in the unconditional love of God that casts out all fear and fear is the deadliest enemy of faith.
Many times circumstances were overcome by the Apostles, just as many times they were not. Yet the Apostles discovered true faith in the very midst of their trials and tribulations. The Apostle Paul learned to be content in whatever circumstances he found himself in. It is worth remembering that all of the Apostles and a good many of the early church were eventually tortured and killed, were they abandoned by God? Did they lack faith or a good confession? The truth is that we are not called to live our best lives now enhanced by miracles that elevate us above the rest and prove that God is God. We are called to the battle. God elevates Himself in us in the midst of our infirmities and trials. He is glorified in the saint that is dead to this world and alive to the next.
Regardless of your circumstances today, know that Jesus is in the midst of the storm with you. The fact that you are in a storm does not mean He has abandoned you, in fact quite the opposite. All who live Godly in Christ Jesus will encounter one battle after another as they move along the narrow path of life with their cross that signifies death to this world. If you are trying desperately to live your best life now and require God to move miraculously on your behalf to establish that, you will face a life of disappointment and fear and lack of true faith. You will have a leanness in your soul and walk in very shallow waters, you will certainly not walk in the overcoming power of Christ. If you would walk in His wisdom and power you must cast yourself into the deepest part of the river of life where you cannot stand upon your own two feet but where you are taken by the current of God to whoever or wherever He chooses. This takes obedience and surrender, this takes actual faith, not the ” faith,” that requires a sign which is no faith at all.
A Call To The Remnant 
Maryjane said
Greeetings Frank
I read this and just had to leave you a comment. This article speaks so much to what I have been dealing with and going through. God has opened my eyes to show me my own attitude and heart in these matters. You are right there are so many times in our lives when we think we are alone but we are not, JESUS is always there with me. I realize I have been afraid to take chances, to really step out in trust and faith. I spent so much time praying and asking GOD to just make everything alright, and safe but never trusting HIM to walk with me into the storm instead I have prayed for the storm to pass me by and I realize I have not really grown at all. My faith is shallow and so is my relationship with HIM because I have been demanding things my own way instead of willingly seeking to obey and surrender to HIS way. I realize GOD does not have to prove to me who HE is, and HE is not here to full fill my every demand like a ginny in the bottle. JESUS is my LORD and if I really want to live like that, truly daily live like that then I have to be willing to take the leap of faith and let go knowing HE will support me, carry me and see me through no matter what the landing looks like…its all about really seeing HIM in the little things that happen all around me every day, and willingly surrendering unto HIM because HE is LORD!
Thank you for sharing this and I pray you are doing well.
God bless
maryjane
appolus said
Hi my dear sister Mary Jane, so good to hear from you sister. There is nothing I can add to your comment but an amen, because I know the sensitivity of your heart and how you have a great desire to draw close to the heart of God. Many of the special people in my life labor under what I call ” Unconcious Christianity.” They seldom recognize how God uses them because the Lord has drawn them under the shadow of His wings where they cannot see themselves but often times only see how far they still have to travel. It is a good place to be, it is a hard place for pride to come in. The balance comes in knowing how much God loves us, how His thoughts towards us are more than the sands of the sea, how He delights in us, His children. It is a beautiful thing to walk in and certainly produces much fruit. I have seen this fruit in your writings sister time and again……………………bro Frank
Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said
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THE LIGHT FROM BELOW
by Susanne Schuberth (Germany)
Don’t be fooled, my precious friend
Not all friends are heaven sent
Some seem humble, cool, and nice
Yet their hearts are cold as ice
They pretend to know the Lord
Play their jarring guitar chord
That you might be led astray
And join in their evil way
If you never heard before
What the devil has in store
You might wonder what he can
Since he’s got an evil plan
To show wonders here on earth
To heal children of dark birth
Who were born outside the row
In a church with blurred show
As I looked at first at her
I thought, “Bingo! She did err
On the side of word and deed”
She showed only lust and greed
Never was she just content
With her husband who was meant
To be but her only one
From her love – she gave him none
If you see her dropping by
She seems honest and so shy
But she is not who she seems
She’s a liar with false beams
Which come right from down below
From the angel we should know
Who imitates all things divine
By idolatry and shrine
Just be cautious lest you fail
To identify the rail
Which knows never left nor right
But is steady through His might
It’s a straight line we should go
With His Word that lights aglow
Hearts and minds, so that we see
“We are His light – you and me”
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14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(Mt 5:14-19 – ESV)
Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said
Oh, bro – I’m afraid that this could turn out to be another of my freaky comments. Just wait and see how things shall be… 😉 ……………sis Susanne
For the very reason that I am a LLL – language loving lady, that is – or in other words, as my friend Don would say, a woman who loves ‘speaking in tongues’ [if you’re interested, check out http://johngreenview.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/philosophy-and-christian-faith/#comments%5D…..oops, I did it again…such a long Caesar-like sentence, just forgot what I wanted say………………………………………………Ah yes, here we are again – I forgot to mention that I was laughing about a funny thing regarding the name MARY JANE.
Don’t get me wrong here, I love that name. Nonetheless, I have been wondering about this coincidence of you, Frank, having written about Mme de la Motte-Guyon in your great article, and your first commenter with the very same Christian name our dear French Madam had: Jeanne-Marie (Bouvier de la Motte-Guyon). Jeanne-Marie – or Marie-Jeanne if you like – translated into English becomes MARY JANE. So funny, isn’t it?
However, I have Paul on my mind who said,
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. Now, brothers,1 if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?” (1 Cor 14:1-6 – ESV)
Well, in closing, for the very reason of prophesying being better than speaking in tongues, I want to post another (excerpted) song (lyrics) on the question: ‘What’s your name?’
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And I know that you tried
I was standing on the beautiful downtown skyscraper
I was looking down the side
But beauty’s frail and beauty’s passing
And she soon goes out of fashion
Then she’s just running down the drain
She’ll be always stuck somewhere between big joy and big pain
And although she’ll always slay me
I will make her be my baby
Yes I will take her as my bride
There’s a thousand ways to love her
Open heart and undercover
And I just never could decide
That’s my Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(Ezra Furman and the Harpoons – Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde)
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A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Is 40:6-8 – ESV)
Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said
Grooooaaaan… another correction comment:
It should read, “just forgot what I wanted to say………………………………………………”
Thx bro…………….sis 😉
Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said
Phew! Now here comes a clarification comment as to my comments above and my latest comments on Charis Psallo’s blog since they belong together. Indeed, my latest comment there has not been moderated and will not be moderated at all since the blogger prefers to have a bash-free zone which I accept.
Also, I appreciate your (CP’s) desire to repent. You are right, we have a gracious and patient God who only wanted to warn you. Since you are not that young any more and you don’t know how much time you still have, I’d suggest not to wait too long with your repentance because nothing is worse than to die in one’s sins (Jn 8:24), as Francis of Assisi had said.
Be that as it may, I also wish you the best, God’s blessings and His eternal peace.
Susanne
PS
Thanks, Frank, for letting post this. Was not that easy… 😦
Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said
Correction and a few additional thoughts.
Thanks, Frank, for letting me post this. It was not that easy, neither to comment what God wanted to be written here and over there (at CP), nor is it easy to always pray for those who refuse to believe the truth. May nobody think that it were a walk in the park to pray day and night for those who have been called, yet refuse to be chosen since they love their life more than God. These prayers are battles between the demonic realms and me. If Christ were not with me all the time, I would not be able to survive only one day. His yoke is easy, yes, that is doing whatever He wishes, but suffering with Him – those battles – are not that easy. Suffering with Christ doesn’t mean that you cry about your sinfulness or your wounded heart. No. Suffering with Christ begins after the self has died (esp. to sin and to your past life here on earth). It means weeping with those who weep and being deeply grieved whenever you see the sins of others in their hearts combined with their unwillingness to repent. 😥
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
See, your house is left to you desolate.
For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Mt 23:37-39)