• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
WORMS IN OUR MEAT 
Priscilla Van SutphinTABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction p. 2Life in Jesus Scriptures p.3-10Chapter 1 – Plight of the Pharisees_Mark 3 - p. 11Chapter 2 – Better to Obey God - p. 13Chapter 3 – The God of Diversity, a Divine Counter to Methods, Programs andOther Forms of Madness in the Church Today – p.23Chapter 4 – Jesus, On Ambition – p.27Chapter 5 – Hospitality p.30Chapter 6 – Jonathon and the Honey - p. 38Chapter 7 – No One is Good, Except GOD Only - p. 44Chapter 8 – Perfect or Perfectionism - p. 47
Forgiveness, Sanctification, & Healing - p.57
Chapter 9 – Pride vs Humilty - p. 61Am I a Proud or Broken Person by Nancy DeMoss - p.75Humility Preceeds Holiness by Francis Frangipane – p.80The Higher Places by Priscilla - p.84Chapter 10 – Taming Our Tongues - p.86Chapter 11 – Putting on Love - p.94Though I Speak with Tongues of Men and Angels – p.97The Love Starved - p.94 Unity – p.106Chapter 12 – He Who Eats My Bread - p. 109Food You Know Not Of - p. 114The Floating Axhead – p. 132Addendum: Embracing the Cross Scriptures – p. 136
1
 
INTRODUCTION:
The Arms are Disconnected from the Body
Priscilla Van SutphinSeptember 10, 2001[This was the night before 9-11 disaster]tearsofthefather@comcast.netFor a couple weeks, my shoulders have been what feels like dislocated. Sometimes ithas been very painful, especially at first . Then of late it seemed to wane, thentonight again it seemed worse. I went to lay down and read, and suddenly I heard, "The arms are disconnected from the body " And I began to picture all the times Itried to get help when I was disabled and having to live on AFDC and the lack of helpin the church. No one wanted to help, but a very few close friends. The helpsometimes more did not come from the church I was attending. There is one womanwho stuck by me through the whole time and, who has shown me the value of lovingpeople even when they are not fully healed.She is like a surrogate mother to me; someone I desperately needed in my life. Shedid inner healing with me . She is a licensed Christian counselor/psychologist with 20years of experience in this healing of the emotions. She helped not only with innerhealing in prayer for me and counseling. But she and her husband supported me,financially with $400 a month when I was walking on water, when I had no income,and was on housing and medical. She would bring me food. She bought me herbs whenI needed them and didn't have the money which were a big part of my physicalstrengthening. She stood by me through thick and thin when no one else seemed tohave the heart or time.I also thought of the many people I've known among the poor who have never seenChristians help them or each other. Then I thought of those who have helped others,most out of their poverty. In fact it seems to me that those are the ones who havehad the biggest hearts; those who know what it is like to suffer and be in need.Those who know what it is like to have to say NO to your children so many times.Those who know what it is to cry yourself to sleep at night because you can't getdecent medical care through Medical programs. Although they provide help, it is notquality help like for those who pay and it costs people who are poor, some with theirlives.The body is quite dysfunctional if it's arms are disconnected. It means you can'ttouch someone when they need a touch.It means you can't lift to carry groceries to aneighbor. I am having trouble lowering my water bottle so I can pour water into thepitcher. It causes me pain when I do it. The Lord's heart is broken over those whoneed to see a powerful church ,a loving church, and when they come, instead theyoften see selfishness, backbiting, jealousy, competition and pride. Our healing comesthrough HIM being with Him, worshipping Him, talking to HIM, study of His Word.
2
 
And through the many counselors, pastors and church workers who pour themselves outto others, who impart their wisdom and kindness and love to us.We don't have to be perfect to help others, we just need His grace and to be healedenough ourselves that we don't snap at others with our words and injure them more.And there are those who already help, who are the arms of the church, who have beensecretly, quietly doing what God has wanted the whole church involved in. But theyare disconnected. Then there are those whose literal arms seem disconnected; theygo to church. They warm the pews. They read their bibles. They tithe. They giveto others. They even pray and worship the Lord. But they don't reach out to othersthe way HE would reach out to whoever sought HIM. There are people everyday thatwe walk by who need prayer, who need encouragement, who need to know their value inthe eyes of the Everloving God. If everyone in our congregations would reach out toONE person in a three or even 6 month period and disciple them - imagine how ourchurches would grow ! Jesus said to love one another as I have loved you !Then the Lord said to look up "complacency". Websters has this definition: Thequality or state of being satisfied, a calm sense of well being and security; Especiallysatisfaction or self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers ordeficiencies. Another is self-satisfaction, vanity. And yet another is passiveacquiescence which I think says it the best.One of the qualities of complacency is a self focus; not caring what is wrong withothers, or their problems, but just being satisfied that you don't have thoseproblems. It is always easy when life gets easier to become complacent about theplight of others, to be so busy with life (your own), that you become numb to theneeds of others around you. It can happen in the best of friendships, in marriages, inbusiness relationships, in church relationships, and in families.It takes effort to reach out. Reaching out is done with the ARMS. One principle ofthe kingdom, Jesus taught was that if you reach out to others, he will reach out toyou. Where does it say this ? Well , first HE demonstrated it. He was alwaysreaching out to others, to teach, to heal, to feed, etc. Secondly, it says it in Isaiah58. Notice all the IF's ; if you do this, then...Isa 58:5-14 NKJV5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul ? Is it to bowdown his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes ? Would you callthis a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen:To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undothe heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house thepoor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hideyourself from your own flesh ?
3
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...