Part 3 (1/2)

Paul is saying, ”There is a physical world out there, and I am not denying that problems exist in it. But I am not being controlled by the physical realm. That is not what is dominating me. There is a spiritual me on the inside, and that's the part of me that contains the power of G.o.d. That's the part of me that is really alive. That's the part of me that I'm focusing on because it is eternal. It is not peris.h.i.+ng, but being renewed day by day.”

If we are to overcome the emotions that a.s.sail us day after day, we must keep that distinction clearly in mind.

Our Light Afflictions For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul didn't say this because he didn't have any problems. Paul had plenty! These were some of what he calls his ”light afflictions.”

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I? Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labours more abundant [I have worked harder than anyone else], [I have worked harder than anyone else], in stripes above measure in stripes above measure [I have been beaten with stripes so many times I can't even count them], [I have been beaten with stripes so many times I can't even count them], in prisons more frequent in prisons more frequent [I have been put in prison more than any other minister I know of], [I have been put in prison more than any other minister I know of], in deaths oft in deaths oft [I have been brought to the brink of death often, as in Acts 16 where I was stoned and left for dead]. [I have been brought to the brink of death often, as in Acts 16 where I was stoned and left for dead].

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one [on five different occasions I have received thirty-nine stripes]. [on five different occasions I have received thirty-nine stripes].

Thrice was I beaten with rods [sticks large enough to break my bones], [sticks large enough to break my bones], once was I stoned, thrice I suffered s.h.i.+pwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; once was I stoned, thrice I suffered s.h.i.+pwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2 Corinthians 11:21-27 (author's inserts) Paul probably suffered more than most of us have ever thought about, yet he called it a ”light affliction.” That is awesome! How could he say that? It wasn't because he had fewer problems and hards.h.i.+ps than we do, because he had many, many more. He considered these to be light afflictions because of of his perception his perception of those problems and hards.h.i.+ps. of those problems and hards.h.i.+ps.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18 Paul was so excited about the revelation of the Lord he had on the inside of him that all of the things he suffered on the outside seemed like nothing in comparison. He didn't ignore the fact that he had problems in this life; he just didn't focus on them. His ”light afflictions” weren't just a moment in the light of this physical life. He endured persecutions until the day he went to be with the Lord. But it was because of his att.i.tude, the way he thought, that he was able to keep things in perspective. He was able to look at his life in light of eternity, and in that light, his afflictions were just for a moment.

If we would learn to think that way, it would take a lot of the bite out of our problems.

A View of Eternity 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.

1 Corinthians 13:11 Children don't have the benefit of the adult perspective.

When we were little, everything in our lives seemed so dramatic. If something happened that we didn't like, we thought the world had come to an end. Now that we are adults, we have a different perspective. We see that those things we once thought were so huge were actually minute in comparison to what life is really all about.

All of us can remember something from our childhood that seemed so traumatic, we weren't sure we would ever get over it. Now we look back and laugh, wondering how we could have been so immature. That is what Paul is talking about in these scriptures. When we get the perspective of eternity on the problems in our lives, it shrinks those problems down to where they become totally manageable.

I believe in healing. I know G.o.d wants us all healthy, but if a person is sick and never sees healing manifested in their earthly body, they can still have a positive outlook. Even if they are facing a miserable, horrible death, they can still experience joy and peace if they will focus their mind on eternity and the fact that because they know the Lord they are soon going to be out of this body and with Him forever in glory - regardless of how traumatic that illness may seem at the moment. Probably every one of us can think of a scriptural example, or even an example from our own lives, of people who went out with a shout in the midst of terrible adversity because they had this view of eternity.

If you can't see anything physically uplifting around you, if there is nothing positive in your existence, if every time you look for the light at the end of the tunnel it turns out to be an oncoming train, and if there is nothing you can look to for hope and encouragement in this life, just close your eyes and think about eternity. Think about what G.o.d has done for you in the past and about what is going to happen to you when this is all over, and it will cause you to rejoice in the Lord.

Commanded to Rejoice Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

As you begin to look at your present circ.u.mstances in the light of eternity, you'll quickly see there is no excuse for being discouraged, depressed, and despondent. There are reasons, but not excuses. G.o.d has given us so many great things that we can always rejoice.

When Paul says to rejoice, it is a command, not an option. It doesn't say to rejoice if we. feel we. feel like it, if we are in the mood, or if everything is going our way. I can tell you right now that most times you won't feel like it. Most times you won't be in the mood. And most times things won't be going your way. However, we are still commanded to rejoice in the Lord at all times. G.o.d would not give us a command we could not fulfill. We can rejoice if we choose to do so, and He is showing us how we can do it. like it, if we are in the mood, or if everything is going our way. I can tell you right now that most times you won't feel like it. Most times you won't be in the mood. And most times things won't be going your way. However, we are still commanded to rejoice in the Lord at all times. G.o.d would not give us a command we could not fulfill. We can rejoice if we choose to do so, and He is showing us how we can do it.

Many people say, ”But our music minister just doesn't play the right music. They don't sing the songs I like.” Well, this scripture doesn't come with exceptions or conditions. We are to rejoice at all times. That means we are to rejoice in church, whether they play the songs we like or not. We are to rejoice at home, whether our day is going great or not. We are to rejoice at work, whether we feel appreciated or not. We are to rejoice in the Lord at all times!

Look at It This Way We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18 Paul is saying, ”I'm not dominated by what I see in the physical realm, because I'm looking at spiritual, eternal truth.”

That's what we need to learn to do, because there are always two sides to every issue in life. Whatever our problem, there is a physical side to it and there is a spiritual side to it. How we deal with our problems depends upon which side we focus our attention.

I remember when interest rates went up to about twenty percent. Since I didn't own anything, it didn't affect me the way it did some. But many people were screaming about how bad the interest rates were. The media was reporting the failure of the economic system and how everything was falling apart.

I remember that in the midst of that situation a prophecy came forth. The Lord said, ”Yes, things look bad in the natural, but here's what's really happening behind the scenes. All this you're hearing is simply the wealth of the sinner being laid up for the just. All of the money that the world has been dominating is coming to the Christians.”

The Lord began to bless Christian ministries - funneling millions and millions of dollars into the Gospel. And the Lord began to tell us, ”There is more money going into the Gospel than ever before. Where do you think it is coming from? It is coming from the unbelievers. The world system that has been dominated by unbelievers is falling apart, and the Christians are beginning to prosper.”

That prophecy took us a step beyond the physical realm and let us see what was actually happening in the spiritual realm. It was exciting. People began to shout and praise G.o.d. They got their hope back and there was emotional peace, love, and joy. Why? Because they weren't looking at the things that are seen, they were looking at the things that are unseen. They were seeing that G.o.d was in control and He was working everything for their good.

There have always been two sides to everything. If you look at things in the physical realm, you can get depressed. If I were to stop today and look at the potential problems in my life, I could get as depressed as any person who is reading this book. I've had some really severe things come against me in the natural realm, but I can truthfully say that I have chosen not to be dominated by those things. I'm not ignoring them; I'm praying about them. I don't deny the fact that problems exist, but I refuse to focus on them. I refuse to be dominated by them. I am determined to rejoice in the G.o.d of my salvation. I don't care what the devil throws at me, he cannot come against me with anything greater than what G.o.d has already given me.

If the Lord never did another thing for me, and if I suffered tragedy the rest of my life, I could still rejoice in what G.o.d has given me. That is a true statement, one that all of us should be able to make.

Refuse to look at the things that are seen and look at the things that are not seen. Look at things that are eternal rather than temporal, and sooner or later you will see those things manifested in your life. Believe it and rejoice in it, because it's true!

Chapter 4

The Two-Fold Failure of of Psychology Psychology.

To a large degree, what I have said thus far in this book is borne out one hundred percent by psychology today. Psychology comes to the same general conclusions as Christianity in that it tries to change people's emotions and actions by changing the way they think. Basically, the diagnosis I have made based on the Scriptures is shared by psychology. But here is where I believe psychology and Christianity diverge.

I believe that while psychology may diagnose the situation properly, its solution is wanting at best, and at worst is potentially damaging. The reason I say that is because psychology actually leads people away from dependence upon G.o.d into self-dependence.

Being humanistic, psychology views man as his own resource. It a.s.sumes that man is able to handle things that we Christians believe G.o.d never created us to take care of on our own. G.o.d did not intend for man to operate independently of Him and His supernatural ability.

Generally, psychology has rightly identified the problem, which for most people lies in their perceptions, their thoughts, and their att.i.tudes. But there are two main areas in which I believe psychology fails to provide the proper solution to this problem.

* The First Failure: Handling Guilt First, psychology fails because of the way it tries to deal with the guilt that comes with the recognition that people's problems are caused by themselves. Psychology acknowledges that it is the way people think - the mental image they have of themselves on the inside - that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy on the outside.

When a person comes to the point of recognizing they are responsible for their own problems, there is guilt a.s.sociated with that recognition. Psychologists will admit that guilt is the the dominant force behind most mental illness. It is one of the cardinal rules and practices of psychology to try to alleviate people of this sense of guilt. dominant force behind most mental illness. It is one of the cardinal rules and practices of psychology to try to alleviate people of this sense of guilt.

I once heard a person talking on this subject who said that over ninety-five percent of all emotional problems are guilt-driven, meaning that guilt is the motivation behind the problems. So when a person goes to a psychologist for help, one of the very first things the psychologist does is try to absolve the patient of guilt. And the way psychology does that is completely different from the way G.o.d's Word does it.

What most psychologists do - specifically non-Christian psychologists and mental health experts who have no spiritual foundation whatsoever - is attack Christianity. Many view the Bible as the source of guilt and condemnation. It is the standard for what's right and wrong, and it prescribes punishment when a person falls short of that standard. Therefore, people are guilt-ridden because of Christianity or Christian ideology. One of the very first things some psychologists will do with a new patient is take away their Bible and tell them Christianity is irrelevant, it's wrong, and its standards are not accurate because everything in life is relative, not absolute. How very wrong they are.

The Purpose of Guilt Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a G.o.dly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

For G.o.dly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.