Freedom From Avoidance Behavior ~ Michael Smith

In my past and the past of many I have spoken with over the years there can be fears or phobias we develop over time. I mention “we develop” because we construct them and give them power over us. These fears eventually turn into patterns of avoidance in which we operate daily without most people knowing. However we know, we are painfully aware of those fears when confronted with exposure to them. We become artful in making excuses for not exposing ourselves to that which we fear. Yet it is not avoiding exposure to the fear or phobia that we need to understand or focus on as much as the lie concerning the fear we have accepted as truth.

When we begin to accept lies as truths we give the those lies credence which is supported by feelings and emotions and overtime develops avoidance behavior. We receive a lie as truth just as Adam and Eve did in the garden. That God cannot be trusted therefore we must act on our own determining our future thus we begin to control our surroundings. Anxious feelings unsureness and unfamiliar will reinforce lies as truth. Over time as we operate in these untruths we develop a pattern of avoidance. This avoidance is a survival mechanism of the flesh and is natural-earthy. Whereas faith is Godly and a supernatural power beyond our flesh that enables us to walk into that which we fear. As we try to step out in faith often times the feelings of anxiety become so intense we fall back to our survival mechanisms and avoid that which we fear resulting in continuing a pattern of avoidance. Plus our feelings of fear reinforce the lie that, God is not helping me, I am on my own, I must do this myself, God has abandoned me” 

Repeated survival routines train us to act in avoidance behavior for our survival diminishing our daily activity as we avoid exposure to that which we fear. We become reclusive or isolated as we seek to understand what is happening to us. We seek prayer, healing, medication and more, the list is endless as we substitute trusting the peace and power of God for our own efforts of survival. The devil has not changed his tactics he continues the same since the garden experience. He did the same to Adam and Eve and tried to influence Jesus in the wilderness. Adam and Eve believed the lie and found themselves outside the garden operating in their own strength, clothing themselves with their own avoidance mechanisms because of fear. Luke 8:11,12

This scenario does not have to be our lot. We are of the most high God, blood washed and accepted in the beloved. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. He is for us regardless what our feelings tell us. We are not left to our own devises outside of the garden. Because of Christ we can go boldly into the throne of God. The devil is a liar and wants us to believe a lie so he can take control of the outcome of our daily lives. As a result we begin to pray harder, read the word more or spend hours in secluded worship of God believing we are finding freedom. When in reality we are avoiding and seeking peace through works of the flesh, trusting in our own efforts rather than God’s faithfulness. Not realizing we are working for God’s approval we operate in a behavior to find His peace which becomes more elusive with time leaving us confused and disillusioned as we continue deceiving ourselves into believing we are finding freedom.

Our freedom is to no longer to avoid instead believe God concerning our future and step boldly into the lie fed us from the devil who is the father of lies. These are steps I began choosing to believe in finding freedom from the fears I have experienced.

1. Tell myself the truth that scripture says concerning who I am.

2. Refuse to accept the lie I had so long accepted as truth.

3. Take steps to expose myself to that which I fear if only in small steps.

4. Stand my ground choosing to believe GOD WILL NOT ABANDON ME.

As we begin to see the lie we’ve been accepting as just that a lie and not truth, the battle is really over. Because a lie only has power as we choose to believe and accept it as fact. We actually give the lie power by not resisting it as the devil deceives us into believing them. Once we begin renouncing those lies and choosing by faith to believe the truth God say’s concerning our identity and our future we will be free. We must walk into that which we avoid by exposing ourselves to the outcome. When we do, God will come in great power with a peace which surpasses all understanding and the lie that we have accepted as fact will be exposed for what it is, a LIE. 

As we continue in this course of freedom we become amazed after each occurrence of exposure of what we can do. We develop a NEW PATTERN of learned behavior that we can really do it, we can walk into our fear and not expect the worst. We find freedom real true and lasting freedom in God and not in our efforts or works of the flesh. Our boundaries of freedom enlarge increasingly with each exposure.

Exposure is our answer even if little by little rather than avoidance. Utter and complete surrender to God for He will not fail us. 

If we only endure each occurrence while seeking escape or in our efforts remove the anxious stimuli we will continue in avoidance behavior. However, if we stay until His peace comes and IT WILL COME, we will be free. With each exposure we gain assurance that WE CAN do all things in Christ. God loves for us to abandon ourselves to Him whereas complete survival is in His hands. Because it Glorifies Him when He and He alone is our savior, deliverer and Lord. Nothing can separate us from His great love when we cast ourselves fully into His Hands where He exceedingly and abundantly overwhelms us with Himself. We must believe He can and will move heaven and hell for us. Because He loves us He will save us. Trust Him with the outcome and reject the lie.

Would we know if the spirit of God has left us? - Michael Smith 04.02.2014

Recently a friend of many years said to me after attending a memorial at a church which in the past had been vibrant and full of life with many members. But now is a dismal remnant of what was. The first thought this person had upon entering the building was of a verse in the book of Judges concerning Samson who said, 

“I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Judges 16:20

My friend said, the remnant of what is left are unaware the spirit of God has departed and continue to go and do as other times believing they can shake themselves free. (So much wisdom could be these obtain through these verses for dead churches) We both discussed that of all things in our Christian walk, the spirit of the Lord departing would be a great fear. Would we today be aware if the Lord had departed from us? 

Samson was a man who exhibited great strength in the Lord. Yet was unaware Gods spirit had departed from him as he got up to do what he always had done in the past. Can we too continue in routines of past making believing we have the spirit of God upon us only to discover we do not? 

Its why we must read and know the word of God. 

It is the standard by which we hold up truth for our beliefs and ideology. When we no longer allow reproof or correction from scripture we become ideologues lost to philosophy of our own doing. Ingrained in our psyche as with a branding iron.

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 1 Tim. 4:1-2

These refuse wisdom or discernment of others to their own demise as they are unaware that the spirit of God has departed from them. I have witness many times those who believe that the spirit of the Lord was upon them as they continue doing the same as in the past. But to the those discerning it is obvious the spirit has departed from these and they now operate in personal dogma, philosophy or ideology such as those spoken of in scripture,

“taking their stand on visions they have seen, inflated without cause by their fleshly mind, 

Col. 2:18

Not knowing the spirit of the Lord had departed we can substitute what was the spirit with flesh of our own making, relabeling it the spirit of the Lord. May we diligently pursue scriptural truth staying in His presence less we too become unaware that God has left the building.

Gods word never fails. ~ Michael Smith

Imagine, you are on the cusp of the greatest victory of your life — within months of achieving that which you labored and believed for years to achieve, something truly worthy of a heroic effort. You can almost feel victory within reach, when subtly you hear your opponent announce that defeat is inevitable and it's time for you to quit, stop trying and just give up.

Would I give up the fight, would I resign simply because he who opposes me proclaims it's inevitable that I lose? 

Of course I shouldn't! The very notion is outrageous — yet that is what many of us often do!

Tenacity, perseverance, steadfastness, endurance stances of a determined persistence to overcome in the face of defeat and disappointment. They are the words that convey an unfailing determination to persevere and never give up, never!

We only learn how close we are to achieving our victory when we DO NOT QUIT!

Naysayers and those used of the enemy can at times speak words of defeatism without realizing their destructive words. I have learned to not listen choosing rather to follow the still small voice with strength of purpose and resolve. Not being deterred, I run the race set before me to win. I do not stop long enough to receive words of can’t or shouldn’t from those on the sidelines content with the safety of the status quo. 

I endeavor to overcome, agreeing with the still small voice that I can do all things”

The NEW "EVANGELISM" by A.W. Tozer

The new cross encourages a new and entirely different evangelistic 
approach. The evangelist does not demand abnegation of the old 
life before a new life can be received. He preaches not contrasts 
but similarities. He seeks to key into public interest by showing 
that Christianity makes no unpleasant demands; rather, it offers 
the same thing the world does, only on a higher level. Whatever 
the sin-mad world happens to be clamoring after at the moment 
is cleverly shown to be the very thing the gospel offers, only the 
religious product is better...

That evangelism which draws friendly parallels between the ways 
of God and the ways of men is false to the Bible and cruel to the 
souls of its hearers. The faith of Christ does not parallel the world, 
it intersects it. In coming to Christ we do not bring our old life up 
onto a higher plane; we leave it at the cross. The corn of wheat 
must fall into the ground and die.

We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public 
relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and 
the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make 
Christ acceptable to big business, the press, or the world of sports, 
or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our 
message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.

God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is 
life out of death. It stands always on the far side of the cross. 
Whoever would possess it must pass under the rod. He must 
repudiate himself and concur in God's just sentence against him.

What does this mean to the individual, the condemned man who 
would find life in Christ Jesus?... He must forsake his sins and 
then go on to forsake himself. Let him cover nothing, defend 
nothing, excuse nothing. Let him not seek to make terms with 
God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God's stern 
displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die... The cross 
that ended the earthly life of Jesus now puts an end to the sinner; 
and the power that raised Christ from the dead now raises him to
a new life along with Christ.

To any who may object to this or count it merely a narrow and 
private view of truth, let me say God has set His hallmark of 
approval upon this message from Paul's day to the present. 
Whether stated in these exact words or not, this has been the 
content of all preaching that has brought life and power to the 
world through the centuries. The mystics, the reformers, the 
revivalists have put their emphasis here, and signs and wonders 
and mighty operations of the Holy Ghost gave witness to 
God's approval.

Dare we, the heirs of such a legacy of power, tamper with the 
truth? Dare we with our stubby pencils erase the lines of the 
blueprint or alter the pattern shown us in the Mount? May God 
forbid. Let us preach the old cross and we will know the old power.

-PLEASE COMMENT on this topic at the following website-

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THE COST of SPARING the GOOD THINGS by Rodney W.Francis

In 1 Samuel 15 we have the revealing story of the cost of not fully 
obeying the voice of the Lord. The first king of Israel, Saul, was 
instructed by God to "Go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy 
all that they have, and do not spare them" (v.3). Saul heard what 
God had spoken to him, yet we discover that he was only partially 
obedient to the command. As we read through the chapter we
discover that Saul's decision to "spare the good things" was to 
prove very costly for him and his people.

When Samuel the prophet was sent to reprove Saul, we find 
that Saul was confessing that he had indeed obeyed the Lord. 
But he was in deception ~ the good things of the Amalekites 
had deceived him. You will also notice that Saul was hiding 
behind a form of spirituality by declaring that they had spared 
the good things to "sacrifice to the Lord" (v. 15). How 
interesting that human nature seeks to cover its disobedience 
to God by declaring the result of that disobedience is "for the 
Lord"!! But God is not mocked, and God is not fooled by
our covetousness and desires for "sparing the good things." 
It is recorded: "But Saul and the people spared Agag (king 
of the Amalekites) and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the 
fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling 
to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, 
that they utterly destroyed" (1 Samuel 15:9). As a result, God 
said to the Prophet Samuel, "I greatly regret that I have set up 
Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has 
not performed My commandments" (v. 10-11). Saul paid a huge 
price for his disobedience that day: 

1. He lost his anointing 

2. He lost his respect, and 

3. He lost his kingship (ruling authority). 

Things changed that day for Saul because of his pride in thinking 
he knew better than God. Like most disobedient leaders, he blamed 
the people for his rebellion against the voice of the Lord.

The "good things" that he spared were the very things that found
him out ~ the "bleating of the sheep" (v. 14)!

In summing up His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made this 
statement to His listeners: "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' 
and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:47). He then went 
on to tell us of the wise and foolish man. The wise man was wise 
because he listened to Jesus and obeyed what He said; while the 
foolish man only listened to Jesus, but did not apply and do what 
He said. The difference between the two men was success for 
the wise man and total loss for the foolish man. Maybe the foolish 
man "spared the good things", like Saul did? 

The foolish man paid a very high price for his disobedience!

This is a huge challenge and lesson for every Christian today. So 
many of us are wanting to have the "good things" of life, but if God 
has asked us to sacrifice them for His sake, then we need to do 
that, because God always has our best at heart ~ He wants us to 
enjoy the best, but with His way of providing it, and in a way that 
He gets the glory. This message explains one reason why the 
Christian Church seems to be so powerless in these days ~ not 
much anointing, not much respect, and not much authority. We 
have spared the good things ~ things that God wants us to give 
up for Him. We have compromised with the ways of the world,
and it has cost us dearly. In Christianity, "having the best of 
both worlds" does not work! God is trying to get us to the place 
where we will totally trust whatever He says to us, and that we 
will obey Him without question ~ because we have learned that 
"the Word of the Lord is right"; that there is nothing more sure 
and accurate than that which God speaks. But we have to trust 
and obey what He says in order to see the fulfilment of His 
promises to us! And that means a total commitment to 
whatever He says. 

GOD TESTS Our COMMITMENT

We need to know that God does test our commitment to Him. 
When we say that He comes first in our lives, then He will test 
us to see if we really do put Him first before anyone and 
everything else. When we demonstrate to God that He is, indeed, 
"Number One" and we value Him above all else, then He can trust 
us with assignments that clearly show the handiwork of God that 
are accompanied by supernatural signs, wonders and miracles. 
Let's face it: 
If we have the Living, Supernatural Jesus Christ residing within
us, then surely there should be some evidence of a Supernatural 
God at work in and through us??!! 

The world is sick of religion ~ it is crying out for a demonstration 
of the risen, Living Lord Jesus Christ manifest in and amongst His 
people. If we do not learn this lesson, then we will go the way of 
Saul and finish up with nothing of eternal value to show for our lives. 
Let the voice of God guide you into all truth, and into a life of total 
commitment that has no regrets! 

-PLEASE COMMENT on this topic at the following website-

http://www.revivalschool.com/

-Original Source-

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THE PHARISEES PERSPECTIVE - 23 - Michel Smith

The Pharisaical perspective is a view of conforming others through THEIR law thereby becoming acceptable followers.

So incompatible were the Pharisees views from those of Jesus that when the Pharisees posed a question to Jesus, it appeared that He was answering an entirely different question. On such a completely different level were His answers that the Pharisees who did not have eyes to see nor ears to hear could not perceive the truth presented to them and they were Gods leaders of that day. Astonishingly Pharisees continue just as deaf and blind today.

Why is this?

Because the Pharisees perspective was from tradition, rules and law. They saw everything and everyone relating to THEIR religious views.

Jesus was a fierce critic of the Pharisaical system of His day, openly declaring its evil. Warning those who would hear, not do as the Pharisees or receive their leaven (teachings).

Regrettably, there is a great deal of pharisaism in the church today. Leaders that view others through the perspective lens of THEIR religious system neglecting the weightier provisions of the law: justice, mercy and faithfulness. Matt. 23:23

A modern day Pharisee fruit;

• Doing things to be seen by men.
• Love the praises of man.
• Seeking the best seats.
• Love to be seen.
• Failure to discern holy things.
• Their leading consists of ruling and not serving.
• Focussing upon external laws rather than internal change.
• Claiming righteousness with God while opposing His will.
• Exalting tradition above the commandments of God.
• Loves the seat of decision making.
• They strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.
• They appear beautiful outside, white and clean like a tomb, but inside are full of dead men bones.
• KNOWS right from wrong on all matters and will set others straight.
• They go out of their way to convert a soul only to make that soul a son of hell worst than themselves.
• They pay tithes, but omit the weightier matters such as justice, mercy and faith.
• They are stumbling blocks for those earnestly seeking salvation.

Many continue to follow after or submit to these modern day Pharisees believing them to be righteous and godly men. Yet Jesus commanded us to beware of such men. Not to accept THEIR teachings. Leaven if allowed into the dough eventually leavens the whole. Beware.

Jesus said to them, Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” Matt. 16:6

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke 12:1

The pharisaic elite need a following otherwise they have none to appear superior to, rule over or be idolized by. Open your eyes and ears to THEIR Pharisaical hypocrisy. 

The Pharisee proudly declares his leaven with, we have a law” John 19:7

The Holy Spirit affirms, you are free from the law” Rom. 8:2

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (law). Gal. 5:1

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? Matt. 7:16

(emphases mine)

~ Michael Smith 09.10.2014

THE TRAVELING SALESMAN by Michael Smith

I heard recently of a pastor who declared his city will be a gateway to a great move of God. So I felt a need to comment.

Many charismatic churches of the past are dwindling or dying as the pastors desperately try to make their church relevant again through failed procedures of the past. They have become as denominational churches fading into obscurity. If only they would seek God rather than the next move of God. Preach the cross to a self-centered and self absorbing church. Instead they pursue revival for their church through traveling salesmen rather then seeking the author of true revival. What is sad is the number of pastors or leaders that expose their fellowship to these presumptuous statements mentioned above rather than protecting them from such nonsense.

There are those who make a living off the body of Christ, not through co-laboring with them but rather through fleecing them of their hard earned money with similar false promises. Promises such as, revival is coming to this area, this church will be used mightily to bring revival, Gods anointing is here in this place like no other, your pastor has a vision of growing as to influence this county. On and on they spill. Pumping the congregations with false belief and hope. 

Yet many a charismatic pastor continue to expose their flock to the false promises of these hirelings. The problem is after a few years the people not experiencing what was prophesied or declared become disillusioned and doubtful and many will fall away from church or at least that church who presented these false truths.

Has anyone been astute enough to research what these guys say in other cities or states? I have, and it is amazing how much is repeated. Different people same prophetic word just repackage for the local fellowship.

Jesus spoke of going into the world and making disciples. Matthew 28:19 When did the Christian walk become a seminar where we seek to feel good, fall down on floors or becoming supposedly drunk in the Holy Spirit? Do we mock God? Are we now so arrogant to believe God exists for us? Is this really revival?

No where in scripture, our standard for truth, are we encourage or told to go to meetings or conferences where we are pumped up akin to some worldly rally or seminar. Of course these are held under the guise of taking our county, city or country for God. Has anyone seen this proclamation routinely given bear any fruit? Our country, county and cities are still worldly as ever. We are told to look at the fruit of these false prophets according to scripture. Are we?

Pastors have a responsibility for those they have been entrusted with and will give an account to God according to scripture. What might that responsibility be? To protect from such as these, make disciples, to teach, train and send out. Not to produce ear tickling rallies. I do not know one person who experienced lasting change from such renewals or revivals. Do you?

True revival is Godly conviction producing repentance from our lifestyle. Embracing the cross. Thats what brings lasting change. It makes men and women go out with a message desiring to make disciples. Yet those attending rallies come away pumped declaring that God was surely there and we missed it. Missed what? Has God now become non-omnipresent that we must seek a rally to be touched? Months later those pumped are unchanged and indulging sin without any conviction.

Do people realize these that travel the circuit, for thats what it is, are making large sums of money fleecing the church?  A reason they need to continue to seek out new venues or find a pastor who willingly brings them back repeatedly that they might bring “the great word” that is worth being financially supported. People wake up. This is nothing in comparison of what apostle Paul did in going to the churches. He like Jesus gave of himself not to acquire money.

If you knew of some truth or power that would set men free, heal them or deliver them from their dire situations, would you charge for that information or power? Are we so blind? Do we not realize the many people make a living and some a very good one at repackaging whats already in scripture if we will but search it? Men are not our deliverers, Christ is. 

Many major christian magazines have advertisements representing the next great line up of traveling ministers. They say it’s the feel good event of the year and not to be missed. Christians will flock to these seminars expecting to hear the next great word from God. These same people also sit in churches Sunday after Sunday waiting to hear a message from their (Moses) representative of God. After years of sitting in Sunday church where a program is centered around a 20 minute message many of these have never led someone to Christ or made a single disciple and we wonder why true and lasting revival tarries. I once attended a church who’s message was, for those who want more than a Sunday morning religion” I yearn for that. I can no longer indulge the lifeless church structures of men. It creates zombies followers without the power of Christ.

Did Christ come and die that we might sit at the feet of other men? Or take up a pew so to speak year after year at the fellowship club we belong to? Where are the men and women with real conviction? Who pursue Christ and pick up their cross daily? Are we now a bunch of impotent Christians that require being pumped up by some traveling salesman?

Michael Smith

9.6.2014