“But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.” (1 Jn 2:27, NLT)
I don’t think anyone has ever made a decision or chosen a thing because they believed it was “bad.” Of course not! We choose what we believe at the time to be good. The trouble with that is we are still confident in the flesh, still believing we are capable of knowing good from evil. That is what Adam was looking for: the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
But over against that there is the Tree of Life, and here again is another example of the Christ-Life. Now that I am in Christ, and Christ is in me, I do not have to judge a thing by my own limited knowledge of “Good and Evil.” The issue is not “Good or Evil”, the issue is “Life or Death.” Eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil sounded like a good thing at the time. It was pleasant to look at, and it was desirable. That’s the way sin is. Sin is very desirable; if it wasn’t then no one would be temptable. We need a spiritual compass greater than the limited knowledge of Good or Evil, Right or Wrong, Good or Bad. We need a way to recognize Life and Death.
That may sound very esoteric and ethereal, so let me illustrate it with a practical example. A good friend called me who was concerned about what a particular individual was teaching. My friend had researched the topic, read everything the Scriptures had to say about it, asked the person teaching to more fully explain their position, and consulted with other people who tried to help dissect this teaching. My friend had called me to get my opinion, and began to lay out all the results of this intensive research into the doctrinal position of this person. I must say, it was complicated and very complex.
So I interrupted my friend at this point and said, “I appreciate all the work you’ve done into the doctrinal integrity of this particular person, but I do not need to hear all the reasons why you believe they are in error. I have met the person, and there is no Life in what they are saying. So I do not have to decide whether the teaching is right or wrong, because there is no Life there. If the teaching brings Death then you should avoid it, no matter how intriguing it may be. Even if the teaching is changed to be doctrinally correct, it should still be avoided because there is no Life in it.”
Likewise, I have listened to people speak – not just in a church service or a meeting, but just in conversation – and they can barely put a sentence together, sometimes they don’t seem to be making any sense, they certainly are not trying to teach anyone and they would never call themselves a teacher, preacher, or minister – but they have the Life. The Life is sufficient. How do you know they have the Life? If you have the Life of the Lord then you know when others have it. You know. You just know. The Spirit bears witness. You just know. And there have been times when I didn’t even like what I was hearing and seeing, and I began to judge it according to “Good and Evil”, but down deeper I sensed the Life of the Lord, and at that point you learn not to argue. I may not understand or agree with it, but I sense the Life of the Lord, and that is enough.
For instance, to Peter, the crucifixion of Jesus was a bad thing. He argued with the Lord and tried to prevent Him from doing God’s Will. Jesus rebuked Peter for listening to the devil and loving the things of man more than the things of God. See, Peter was making decisions based on his flesh. He wasn’t being led by the Spirit.
Some people visit my website and the first thing they want to read is our doctrinal statement. I suppose we could write one, or copy one, and get agreement on doctrine and teaching, and then someone could make a judgment along the lines of “Good or Bad”, Agreement or Disagreement. But that would contradict what I have learned by the Spirit: that we should have no confidence in the flesh. A doctrinal statement is a way around trusting in the Life of the Lord to give discernment. I’ve seen people with a perfect doctrinal statement that were dead, dead, dead. It means nothing – yet people put so much value in it.
Here’s what I say to people: read what we write, listen to what we say, and if the Spirit bears witness with you then you can trust the Spirit. Now if you don’t know how to be led of the Spirit then you have another problem. But notice I didn’t say you should trust me. I’m not going to hurt you on purpose, and I hope you won’t hurt me on purpose. Most of the hurt we endure is unintentional anyway. I have no confidence in my flesh, and I would never ask you to put your confidence in me or anyone else. But you can trust the Spirit of Jesus. And that’s what I’m getting at.
You have the Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty Comforter, Who lives in you. Now stop looking to man. Stop looking to yourself. Stop trying to figure it all out with your head. Trust in the Life of the Lord to show you the difference between Life and Death.
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I have never read anything like this before.
It is going to cause a revolution in my life…my brain…my heart.
It reminds me of what the Temple guards said to the Pharisees:
“No one has ever talked the way this Man does.”
I want to cry…and to shout…and fall on my face before the Lord. I’ve been growing away from my church…feeling out of place…and this just might pull me out completely. I like very much to teach and sing with the children…but how will my daughter react? I must pray.
Thank you for these articles and for things that I don’t even know I will want to thank you for yet.
My husband refuses to go to church and yet reads his Bible every day. I think he’s doing the right thing. He’s been Mary and I’ve been Martha – busy.
Bless you Brother,
from a Sister in Christ, Lisa
Lisa,
I have shed the same tears. I have agonized over not belonging. But now I am content to submit to the instruction of the Holy Spirit and find that fellowship with Him is sufficient. Oddly enough, my father was like your husband. He became like a scholar when it came to the Bible and could teach it with spiritual authority, while the rest of our family felt compelled to be aligned with a church. One more irony: I have worked in the church as my occupation for 10 years; and yet God has seen fit to deliver me from religion. Is that awesome or what? I now know unequivocally what it means to be in it but not of it. Some days of the week I feel like Daniel and others I feel like Joseph. But my goal is to be like Mary and I am well on my way.
Blessings to you and your family,
Sylvia Sargent
Amen! Thank you for this distinction. It is something I have known in a way, but never really stopped to put into words.
Yes, and amen to this: rules or a Man? I do enjoy reading the reactions from people, like Lisa, who are beginning to see this for the first time. Keep praying, Lisa! God will lead you where He wants you to go.
Thank you,
With this you have provided the confirmation and a witness to the revelation I have also received on this pressing matter – whether to discern by right and wrong or by whether it reflects His Kingdom on earth – in other words, Life in Christ or death!
In living everyday as the ‘called out’ we are challenged to choose between doctrinally correct acts or to do as He leads us. Sometimes when these two clash it is the most controversial thing.
I have run with the doctrinally correct action over an issue for the past 13 years. Yet, I was warned explicitly in the Spirit that there will be no ‘Life’ down that path. But I questioned His answer to my prayers using the right or wrong argument and remained in ‘hell’ with the comfort that I’m doing the right thing for God. Yet, I have not seen any glory going to Him in all these years in this path. Now, here I am sitting in the coldest, deepest pit, still waiting to bring Him glory through my useless suffering.
Thank you for driving this hard truth into my undiscerning mind.
That is a powerful testimony, Helen. And a lesson so clearly learned that I think you will agree that nothing will be as it was before. Life conquers Death. Praise God for victory!
Amen! Bro. Chip… and thank you again for ministering to the Lord and His sheep.
The Kingdom of God stirs things up! And if we have the courage to walk in the Spirit rather than in the path that many take to appease religion, indeed I anticipate that nothing will be as it was before.
May His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Let Life conquer Death! To God be the Glory forever and ever…
Hello Chip:
I learned today more clearly how the flesh is connected to death.
As we learn how to walk in the Spirit and listen to the Spirit the practical
connection became clear to me. We know by the Scripture, flesh causes us death
and the Spirit causes us to live by Jesus Life.
But, how? I saw today when there is a connection of Life, your eyes are open
and you see clear the Will of God growing inside you a desire to act on it. Flesh
produces, division, judgement of god and bad. Life produces, peace,
kindness and enlighten your human spirit to act and surrender in the desire and
Will of God. Not judging for the letters but living by the Spirit. God in Jesus is
the One that repairs. We witness the restoration by sharing, acting, living, and
walking in Him by His name for His Love.
Praised Jesus!
This is very deep insite. I have struggled with this myself and came to the same conclusion. I hope other people may pray and receive this insight.
Thanks AGAIN Chip!!!! For me I liken it to how John the Baptist LEAPT in Elizabeth’s womb–my spirit (one with Holy Spirit) literally LEAPS with Life and joy when I hear His voice in another!!!!!!! Is it not true we CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF HIM?????!!!!! BLESS THE LORD O MY SOUL AND ALL THAT’S WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY NAME!!!!!!
I agree wholeheartedly, fantastic message, so true,
Such a clear, bang-on teaching! You certainly have a wonderful gift! It’s usually our flesh, prideful nature that wants us to have knowledge so we can feel smart and good about ourselves. Paul knew all too well…, knowledge puffs up…(1Cor.8:1)
Better to just eat from the tree of Life (Jesus), which reminds me of communion.
Blessings,
Mario
Thanks a lot for teaching and reminding me that Life is the utmost essence of discernment.
Such a simple yet profound truth. Yet our minds get in the way.
Thanks for the good word Lord and thank you for Chip.
Keep him true to YOU always and pour Your Blessings on him and his family always.
I’ve walked down the path, I’m still unlearning and getting deliver from my “Good flesh that is always looking for ways to discern things based on fruit of knowledge of good and evil while maintaining ‘my’ biblical correctness”.
“But in me, that is, in my flesh dwells no good things” It is no longer a verse or a quotation, it’s becoming a reality daily for me.
One thing the Lord keeps saying to me is “Life is Enough, It doesn’t have to be biblical correct in your own face. You may even be dead wrong in all your correctness, what matters is; does it have and carries My life?”
Thanks once more for being a voice in confirming the heart of God’s people.
Grace to you and your family sir.
Amen I have yet had another revelation I am in awe at the way things have been showed to me. Thank you Chip I Thank God For Useing You Amen
This is it! My brother you hit the mark. That’s the way discernment should be. No more, no less.
Thank you.
Thank the Lord