Christian Myth #12 - My (kids, job, etc.) are My Life

   It was quite embarrassing. Several years ago, we were meeting our home group at the church building. Two of my boys were horsing around and one hurt his brother. I talked with him sternly about the seriousness of what he had done. After we cleaned up, it was time to go. I noticed that this particular child was not around. After a while, all of the adults were searching for him. We could not find him anywhere. I was fairly certain he had reacted to my discipline by hiding somewhere. So, not knowing what else to do, we went out to our cars and just sat there. In a few moments our son came walking out from behind the very large church building. We were all relieved.

   During our search for our son, there were tempting thoughts arising in my mind like these: "I am in the ministry. What will they think of me?" "How can I teach on parenting at Grace Life International and have a child act like this?" I knew these thoughts were not coming from me but from indwelling sin. As we were driving away, I turned to Ellen and said, "I sure am glad that Jesus is our life and not our kids". That was the end of those tempting thoughts.

   It is so very easy to make our life our kids, our wife, our husband, our job, our sports team, our hobbies, etc. By "life", I mean, that we make them the primary source of a meaningful life. That person, activity or organization is where we derive most of our joy in life. We believe that we cannot be happy unless these are close to perfect.

   As you can imagine, there are a lot of things which go awry because of this. We try to control our kids, spouse, job, etc. to the point that it can become an obsession. This is often called co-dependence. At Grace Life International, we believe it is better defined by the words "relational idolatry", because we are attempting to get these to do for us, what our relationship with God Himself can provide for us. No wonder Galatians 5:20 says, "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions."

   It took me many years to understand what Colossians 3:4 means when it says, "For when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory." Christ in us alone is our life. Our relationship with Him is our primary source of meaning in life and power to live like who we are in Christ. When we believe Jesus is our Life, we can actually love and enjoy our relationships, jobs, exercise, and hobbies more than we can imagine.

   I love what Eric Liddel said to his sister in the movie, "Chariots of Fire". She was concerned that his running for Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympics was moving him away from his relationship with Christ. His response gave clear evidence that the opposite was true because running was not his life, Jesus was. He said, "When I run, I feel His pleasure." He actually enjoyed Jesus as his life so much, that he could sense how much God enjoyed his running.

   Who or what are we making our "life" today? Maybe it's time to reconsider this as we bear down on the end of 2012. Why don't we all pray, "Father, show me what or who I have been attempting to make my life. If He reveals something, renounce it, and agree with Him that Christ alone is our Life even if we don't feel it! God give me revelation understanding about what this really means."

Live Free in Christ,


Mark Maulding, Founder & President




www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding

Christian Myth #11 God Will Not Give Us More Than We Can Handle

    Since this week is Thanksgiving week, I thought I would write on a myth that you may face this week. Some of us are going to be in family situations which are very difficult and stressful. Others of us are facing a Thanksgiving without a loved one for the first time. Or maybe, we are in a circumstances this year which is very dire.

    Often in these situations, we say, "God will not give me more than I can handle". This idea is most likely a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." If we read closely, it does not say "God will not give us more than we can handle." It actually says that when we are tempted, God will provide a way of escaping the temptation. Our ability mentioned here is referring to Christ in us.

    God does allow us to sometimes experience more than we can handle because He loves us, not because He's mad at us. He knows that our inability to handle life circumstances will often lead us to spiritual brokenness. In this brokenness, He can reveal Christ in us as our very Life. Romans 8:13 speaks of spiritual brokenness this way. "If you are living according to the flesh, you must die". Death here is a reference to us coming to the end of our own self-sufficient way of trying to handle our lives.

    Paul wrote of his own brokenness in Romans 7:23-24 saying, "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Paul finally realized he did not need a "how to", he needed a "Who to" - Jesus Christ in him!

    So, whether you are headed to a joyous Thanksgiving or a challenging one, turn to Jesus in you and ask Him to handle each relationship and situation. 

Live Free In Christ,


Mark Maulding, President and Founder



www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding

Christian Myth #10 - If I Prayed and Read My Bible More, I Would Overcome My Sin

    Praying and reading our Bible are very important for a number of reasons, most of all for experiencing intimacy with God. In fact, these are essential for us. Not in a legalistic, religious, check-list way, but in a relational way. When I came out of legalism, I realized I had no idea how to really be intimate with God. Praying and reading the Bible was such a "performance" that I asked God to teach me what He meant. It's all about a relationship!

    Many Christians have read their Bibles and prayed in hopes of overcoming a sin which continually defeats them such as anger, lying, pornography, people pleasing, never being wrong, superiority, self-condemnation, sexual lust, performing for acceptance, addictions and more. The next time they fail, they may think as I once did, "If I prayed and read my Bible even more, I would be able to stop committing this sin." It becomes a vicious cycle. Sin - confess my sin to God - pray more - read the Bible more - sin - confess my sin to God - pray more - read the Bible more - etc.

    Some will get an accountability partner in hopes that when they are tempted to commit that particular sin again, they can contact them to prevent them from falling into this sin again. It's fine to have someone to share our struggles with who will pray for us and encourage us but most of us who have done this have discovered it doesn't stop our sinning problem. God has only one way of defeating the sins which keep defeating us - grace! And the (complete) Gospel explains this to us clearly. In fact, Romans 6:14 says, Sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law but under grace." But, what exactly does this mean?

    Grace means that when we are tempted, we need to face the temptation head on with the truth of our union with Christ. What most of us do when tempted is say to ourselves things like, "I am a Christian. I shouldn't feel this way or do this." While this is true, it only serves to put us under the law turning us to the bankruptcy of self-effort. We soon find ourselves doing the sin we said we shouldn't do. Why? Because sin actually gains power from the law causing us to sin!

    The "grace way" of dealing with temptation is something like this. We need to take ourselves out from under the law in our minds by saying or praying, "I'm free to do this sin because I am not under the law. God will still love me and accept me if I do this." (Romans 7:6, Romans 8:1) Because my old identity in Adam which loved to ______ (insert your sin) died with Jesus on the cross. (Romans 6:6) I am not a ______ person. (insert angry person, pornographic person, etc.) As a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), I am a ______ (insert your identity in Christ which is the opposite of your sin - for example, a forgiver in Christ, a pure, righteous person in Christ). Jesus, please live through me and take care of this temptation right now. (Galatians 2:20). This is not a formula. It is responding relationally with God based on our union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. I've been amazed through the years as to how many people have experienced victory over temptation through understanding  grace (their union with Christ). Some have asked me what to do if this does not "work". I tell them that it usually means they are no longer dealing with the flesh but with demonic resistance. We must at that point take authority over our enemy based on Jesus' victory over him and our union with Him - still overcoming by grace (what has already been done for the believer)!

    What is your sin which keeps defeating you? God's only solution is His grace! Choose to believe it and live from it. If you need some confidential help, please call our office for a free consultation with one of our very gifted counselors. We will be glad to walk with you to show you how God's grace can be God's solution to your struggles with sin. Contact us today!

Live Free in Christ,


Mark Maulding, Founder & President
(On Behalf of the GLI Staff)



www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding

Myth #9 - The Gospel is Only for People Who Aren't Christians

Have you every read a familiar verse of Scripture but this time it sort of "jumped out at you"? If you know what I mean, it is as if you had never read it before because it has suddenly come alive in your spirit. Some of you recognize this as a "quickening" or a "check" in the spirit. That happened to me recently as I was reading in Romans 1:15, where the Apostle Paul says, "So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome". "You", in this context means---to the Christians. Was Paul wanting them to "get saved" again? No. So what's up with that?

Paul knew that if Christians do not have a revelation of the (complete) Gospel, we cannot grow spiritually to our maximum capacity. Paul knew that understanding the (complete) Gospel can heal the deepest wounds of our hearts and ruptured relationships. Paul knew for us to be the fullest expressions of Christ in this world, (the best human being possible) we need to understand the (complete) Gospel.

That is why He spent 11 chapters in Romans explaining the (complete) Gospel. What is very surprising is that in those 11 chapters, he does not tell Christians to "do" anything. He does give the greatest explanation of what God has not only done for us, but in us and to us, through our union with Christ. Then in chapters 12-16, he tells us how to live from our union with Christ. Would you like to know the essence of the (complete) Gospel? Here it is:

A. The (complete) Gospel is that we can be intimate with God because Jesus Christ is in us and we are in Him, to love us and to live His life through us. Galatians 2:20 says "'I' (the old sinner in Adam) have been crucified with Christ...nevertheless 'I' (the new creation) live, but Christ lives in me". Our new union and Source for living life.

B. The (complete) Gospel is that we can experience peace with God because He has forgiven our past, present and future sins. Colossians 2:13 says God has "forgiven us all our transgressions." Hebrews 10:17 says And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."

C. The (complete) Gospel means we are defined by our identity in Christ (by what's been done for us, in us and to us (through our union with Christ), not by our past, the opinions of others, our professions or performance. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation."

D. The (complete) Gospel gives us the ability to conquer sin by living under grace instead of Law. Romans 6:14 says "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."


E. The (complete) Gospel frees us to love God beautifully, ourselves Biblically and others freely and boldly, (because we don't need anything from them because are choosing to allow Christ to meet all our needs).

I don't know about you, but I need to "preach" the (complete) Gospel to myself daily so that my focus remains on Jesus and what He has done for me, to me, and in me, through my union with Him, so He can live through me (meaning His character is revealed). But even more, all of us at GLI are passionate about sharing the "complete" Gospel with all of the Christians God is sending our way.

Have you been taught the "complete" Gospel? If not, contact us because we have several ways you can gain understanding through the Scriptures at our discipleship conference, personal discipleship, personal counseling, a grace group or our Advanced Discipleship Training, in a community environment. Life's too short. Contact us today.

Live Free In Christ,


Mark Maulding, President and Founder



www.GraceLifeInternational.com

All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding

The Gospel for Christians through Technology

   

Early in 2012, I was asking our Father where He wanted to take Grace Life International. One thing He spoke very clearly was "technology". I knew what He meant immediately. Up to date technology is a tool which can be used by God to share the complete gospel with Christians. Look at some of the opportunities coming our way and pray for us.

SKYPE COUNSELING
"I live in another state but I really need your discipleship counseling. Can you counsel me through Skype?" This is a question we are getting more and more. The answer is "Yes we can but for only a limited number of people because of our computers are too old to handle this technology."

DISCIPLESHIP CONFERENCES
"I would like to go to one of your grace-based discipleship conferences but I live too far away. Can I download it from your web site?" The answer is "No, but we have a plan in place to provide that in the near future." At this point, we can send you the DVDs or the CDs along with the Grace Life Conference manual which works fine in the USA, but is a little more challenging in other nations.

DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING
When I was meeting with Christian leaders from several European countries recently, I was shocked when one of them said publicly, "It is great to finally meet in person one of my mentors, Mark Maulding." Later, I asked him what he meant only to find out that he and others in Europe had been watching, not only my teaching, but Grace Life International's entire Advanced Discipleship Training on DVD. That was exciting, but later I realized that if it could be provided over the internet, we could train hundreds or even thousands in Europe in how to live by God's grace and how to disciple others to live by God's grace.

LIFE COACHING
Life Coaching and Counseling are very different. Christian counseling is in essence helping a person find God's answer in Christ to their present problem caused by events in their past. Christian Life Coaching is helping a person discover how God designed them so they can plan their future to fulfill the purpose for which God created them. Most people today want Life Coaching through Skype. I can currently provide this through the Internet on a limited basis.

These are a few ways that the complete gospel of grace is finding avenues for us to be able to share it with Christians who are hurting, Christians who are spiritually hungry and Christians who want Life Coaching. I write this week to ask you to pray with us at GLI that our Father will provide the resources we need to be able to reach out through technology locally, in the USA and to the nations.

Live Free In Christ,



Mark Maulding, President and Founder







www.GraceLifeInternational.com

All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding