My Words Are Spirit

RELIGION ~ A SYSTEM OF CONTROL

2011-05-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

Religions speak of man's free will. This is logical since some degree of free will must be recognized in order to rationalize the diverse rewards and punishments promised by religions. This is one example of systems of values which set up weights for choices: Yes, man has the free will to sin but will pay by eternal damnation. Choices made within such systems of values are not unconditioned, they are weighted and generally made by the individual in order to maximize personal gain, however this gain be defined in the system at hand. Sometimes man reacts in rebellion, deliberately inverting the weights of the values but this is no less mechanical than the initial system of conditions. Social norms, business, cultures and the like are other sources of similarly weighted systems of choices. All these have their place and are useful for organizing man's life but these are not free will in the metaphysical sense, even if they sometimes claim differently or deny the very question.

We note that all the above systems revolve around control, either in the sense of society setting up values that control its members or in the sense of the individual making choices for the purpose of getting a predetermined result. We could even say that especially modern society burdens people with countless trivial choices between basically identical alternatives, trivializing choice while creating the illusion of freedom and diversity. This is quite clear in both politics and religion.

The unweighted choice is a spiritual act. It can only be understood as the introduction of something unconditioned into a conditioned world. In a certain sense, it is the negation of all the criteria of choice discussed thus far. It is not chosen from among a set of choices offered by the environment. It is not made in order to obtain a predetermined result. It is recognizing an essential quality of self, sometimes called invariant nature or consciousness director. Gurdjieff speaks of measuring the lower by the higher. The personality is the realm of the self-serving conditioned choices and it is, through its various little I's, the party in charge. The unconditioned choice comes from beyond it. We could say that it is the act of choosing to give expression to a spiritual principle, to 'align oneself with an archetype or 'thought center.' In a sense this is surrender before a higher principle. Yet this is the greatest act of freedom, insofar this breaks away from the entire paradigm of the self-serving calculations of conventional choice.

We could say that this is part of the master taking charge of the coach. This does not negate the practical intelligence of the driver or the senses and strength of the horse but gives them a higher purpose, a direction which they could not attain or keep by their own devices alone.

The unweighted choice is the gateway which leads from the world of 3D STS to the possibility of STO polarization. A certain 'bankruptcy' as Mouravieff puts it, is generally needed for such a choice to become possible. . One must see one's former system of values as inadequate and be free of consideration for self, of anticipation of results and so forth. Such a state is exceptional and does not occur without shock. The alignment with STO is more than good works or thoughts. Good works and thoughts may be conditional and in the end based on ideas of control and contain no intrinsic freedom or creativity. The liberation is a mystical thing for which no exterior definition can be complete. In the words of the tradition, the vessel must be emptied before it can be filled with spirit.

There is possibly a service to self polarizing analog of the unweighted choice, involving deliberate choice of raising the subjective self above all others. This too may take place in a moment of crisis and can involve a conversion of sorts. The STS idea of freedom and creation is however quite different, as in freedom for self to appropriate the freedom of others. Generally, unconditioned creativity has no place in such a system.

Know them by their fruits...

2009-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

On Monday we looked at Matthew 7:15-23. Where Jesus is teaching us how to identify “False Prophets.” The wording is quite vivid inasmuch as He likens them to “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

He says…
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15 (New International Version, NIV)

I want to follow the thought progression here. So we need to know what Jesus said leading up to this warning!

In the previous three Verses 12-14 (Amplified Bible) He says…
“So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.”

As an aside…
(I can remember as a kid learning this verse from “mom” and “grandmum.” Do unto others as we would have them do unto us.”)

Continuing on in Verses 13-14 Jesus is saying…
“Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
But the gate is narrow (contracted [by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it."

Then, He goes on to tell us specifically how to recognize false prophets in Verse 16...
“You will fully recognize them by their fruits.“

This speaks to ones manner of living. What deeds are we doing? Do we practice good? Or do we practice evil?

Continuing in Verses 17-20 Jesus says …
“Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear [excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

The Word of God is so beautiful in its simplicity! Jesus already said in Verse 12 that we are to treat others the way we want them to treat us!

So then, we cannot act like we don’t know what good fruit is and what bad fruit is!

I dare to say, that if people were capable of thinking about whether or not they would like it, if they were on the receiving end of what they are doing to someone else -- then perhaps they wouldn’t do evil towards other people… ya think???

Then in Verse 20, Jesus says AGAIN what He said in Verse 12...
“Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.”

Notice in the next few verses, Jesus is also making us aware of the fact that “fruits” and what “people say” (verse 22), many times is contradictory. So we need to be discerning…

Verses 21- 23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

In other words, just because one calls on the “Name of Lord” or one “speaks about” the Lord or one claims to be doing the "work of the Lord," does NOT mean that they even KNOW the Lord!

And HOW do we know what the “will of God” is?

By reading the Word of God (the Bible).
(I prefer to use the word "Scriptures" because that's the term used in the Bible).

Jesus concludes this teaching with Verses 24-27…
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Notice the operative phrase here is...
“everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice…”

It is not enough to just hear or KNOW what the Word of God says. We must hear and then “DO” what it says.

Otherwise, when the trials and tribulations come (AND THEY WILL COME) we won’t stand a chance of overcoming them.

The flip-side is…
When we “HEAR and OBEY” the Word of God, we WILL be victorious when the time of testing comes!!! HALLELUJAH!!!

He who has ears to hear, let him hear…
Matthew 11:15

Blessings and favor to you today!

In His Name...
Mackenzie Crockett
A disciple of Jesus Christ
MyWordsAreSpirit.com

You brood of snakes...

2009-12-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we looked at Matthew 15: 1-9...
Where Jesus exposed and rebuked the Pharisees, teachers of the law and the elders. I truly believe that the Lord is pleading with us to realize the urgency of His teachings!

God is NOT impressed with our outward show of religiosity, if you will. Our church attendance, our pious speech or our “so-called” holy clothing. God is looking right at our hearts, what's inside, what we REALLY feel and think!

1 Samuel 16:7 tells us this about God…
"...But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'"

So to reinforce what Jesus said in the Scriptures we looked at yesterday, lets look at them again in the Amplified Bible…

Matthew 15:6...
“So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect].

You pretenders (hypocrites)!

Admirably and truly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said: ‘These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me.’

(Let me add, that here Jesus is quoting directly from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 29 verse 13, which reads…

"And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips but remove their hearts and minds far from Me, and their fear and reverence for Me are a commandment of men that is learned by repetition [without any thought as to the meaning]..."

Okay, so continuing with Matthew 15:9...
"Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men.

And Jesus called the people to Him and said to them, Listen and grasp and comprehend this:

It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

Then the disciples came and said to Him, Do You know that the Pharisees were displeased and offended and indignant when they heard this saying?

He answered, Every plant which My heavenly Father has NOT planted will be torn up by the roots.

Let them alone and disregard them; they are blind guides and teachers. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a ditch.

But Peter said to Him, Explain this proverb (this maxim) to us.

And He said, Are you also even yet dull and ignorant [without understanding and [unable to put things together]?

Do you not see and understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the abdomen and so passes on into the place where discharges are deposited?

But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech.

These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him]."

So, I believe we can now see the detriment in this type of “fake” worship and I’ll conclude today with these Words of Jesus, AGAIN rebuking the Pharisees…

"You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.

The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.

But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.

For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced."
Matthew 12:34-37 (Amplified Bible)

God says if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us… James 4:8

In His Name...
Mackenzie Crockett
A disciple of Jesus Christ
MyWordsAreSpirit.com

Religious Folks and/or Hypocrites

2009-12-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

When I speak of the “religious folks,” I am specifically talking about those the Scriptures call Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Chief Priests and Elders. And these individuals were Jewish.

In the Gospels (Matthew, Mark Luke and John) we read where they were opposing Jesus at every turn. Ironically though, the Pharisees and Sadducees were also opponents of each other in what they believed.

An easy way I learned to distinguish between the Sadducees and the Pharisees was this.

The Sadducees did not believe in the “Resurrection from the Dead,” so they were “Sad-You-See“)

The Pharisees were focused and fixated on the Old Testament Laws of Moses and so their religion was merely external, formal and mechanical. Hence, the repeated rebukes from Jesus as "Hypocrites!"

I include the Chief Priests, Scribes and Elders because The Scriptures do also. There are many references to this fact in the Gospels. But for the sake of brevity, let’s take a look at just a few passages.

In Matthew 16:21 we read this…
“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised from the dead on the third day.”

Matthew 15:1-9 says…
“Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."

Matthew 21:12-15 reads…
“Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.”

So, hopefully, I have qualified my statements about the “religious folks” in The Scriptures.

My observations of the “religious folks” today is merely my opinion based on my personal experiences in the “church system” for more than 45 years and their similarity to the Pharisees, Sadducees, Chief Priests, Elders and Scribes (those Christ called “Hypocrites” to their faces).

My prayer is that The Word of God dwell in you richly today and everyday...

In His Name...
Mackenzie Crockett
A disciple of Jesus Christ
MyWordsAreSpirit.com

Jesus came to bring a sword...

2009-12-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

I briefly need to say that you’ll notice I quote from a variety of Bible translations. The reason I do this is because even though I was raised on the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, and it reads very nice poetically. Like ALL the “translations” of the “original” manuscripts, it has some “not-so-good” interpretations of the original languages of Scripture.

The original writings of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew, a few in Aramaic and the original New Testament manuscripts were written in Greek.

Okay... So I said all that to say this...

Yes... “God is love...” 1 John 4:16 and “… God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...” John 3:16

But, it is ALSO true that Jesus came to bring a sword (division, adversity).

In Matthew 10:34-38 He said...

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: And a person's enemies will be the members of his own family.

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.“

What Jesus is saying is that we must love Him MORE than anyone else... with all our heart, all our soul, and with all our mind. He said this is the greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:34-40 says…
“But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

As you can see, Jesus was very controversial even in His day. He brought new, different ideas and a better way. But the “religious folks” refused to accept “The Way of Christ.”

And this is exactly what the “church” is doing today. Refusing to accept the “Way of Christ.” The institutional church demands the worship, control and first place in the lives of its attendees, for it (the physical building) and its leaders. And this is in direct opposition to the Word of God.

Remember the words of the Apostle Paul…

“Follow me as I follow Christ…”

The Example We Are To Follow

2009-11-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

“Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul is saying to the believers in Corinth, to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ… And this is for believers today as well.

We are NOT to follow those who are not following the example of Christ! And I mean the ‘Scriptural’ example of Jesus -- NOT what some folks are teaching about Him.

For instance, the idea that Jesus was soft-spoken and basically “mealy-mouthed” is TOTALLY not true. During the time of His earthly ministry, Jesus was very outspoken and when He saw injustice, hypocrisy and wrong-doing, He EXPOSED it!!!

In Matthew 6:1-2 Jesus is teaching His disciples (followers) saying…
“Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ” (BBE)

"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Jesus came to be Light in a dark world… John 1:4-5
And ultimately, His example is the one we are to follow…

A Word About "Halloween"

2009-11-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the heathens or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them.
Jeremiah 10:2

A Word from the Lord about “All Hallows Eve…” better known as Halloween.

Just like all the other pagan holidays, Halloween has no Scriptural basis whatsoever!

The Word of The Lord says…
"When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone… who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord"
Deuteronomy 18:9–14

Dabbling in witchcraft, the occult and idolatry is clearly condemned in these passages of Scripture! But just like the Israelites, Christians continue to ignore these commands. And just like Israel incurred God’s wrath, so will those who say the are Christians and continue to participate in this demonic revelry after the Truth has been revealed to them.

Halloween has its roots in in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. And The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".

Traditionally, the celebration was a time used by the ancient Celtic pagans to take inventory of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the living and the dead dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops.

The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.

During those times, often humans were burned in these bonfires along with cattle and other animals.

"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Ephesians 5:11

"...Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."John 8:31-32

Amen.

"Good AND Evil Are From God"

2009-10-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Isaiah 45:7

"...But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit
from the LORD troubled him."
1 Samuel 16:14

We often hold to belief systems that are not based on the Scriptures. I was taught that only good comes from God and all evil comes from the devil.

But the Word of God says different; The truth is, God is the creator of both good AND evil.

We must not think we have to "understand" everything the Lord does or why He does it, because we won't! He says…

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD."
Isaiah 55:9

However, our inability to understand all that God does, doesn't change the Truth of the Scriptures. We should not be discouraged because there is so much that we CAN understand...

Like...

"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD."
Isaiah 54:17

Blessings and favor to you today!!!

"...Saved By Grace Through Faith..."

2009-10-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Most people think we have to do a whole lot of "stuff" to be "saved..." But the Word of God says we are saved by grace (a FREE gift from God)... through faith.

Grace is 'undeserved favor' and Faith is 'believing in what we hope for, even though we cannot see it.' I think of it as "believing what the Word says instead of my lying eyes and ears..."

Most of what we see with our eyes, and hear with our ears is in direct contradiction to what the Word of God has told us. This is how and why the Holy Spirit is at war constantly within our flesh. And during these times of testing, the question is always; Do you believe God... or your lyin' eyes???

Acts 16:31 says "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved!"

And we can be anywhere to do that; At home, in the bathroom, in a club, at work, in the car, in church, walking down the street, in a crowd of people or all alone... ANYWHERE!!!
Hallelujah!!!

So we have no reason, right or authority to brag about the fact that we are saved. If indeed we are. Because it is only by the grace of God that we are.

DEAD BUT NOT GONE TO HEAVEN YET...

2009-10-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

It continues to boggle my mind when I hear Christians say or I read about the death of a person, and they are said to be in heaven now. Or is an angel now and still among the living. Non-Christians holding this belief is understandable, as the scriptures tell us “the natural person cannot discern spiritual things, they are foolishness to them.”

However, Christians are professing to be followers of Jesus Christ. And Jesus clearly tells us that “No one has ascended up to heaven except Him.” In addition, the scriptures teach us that the dead are dead until the resurrection. Our hope is in the second coming of Jesus and the resurrection from the dead! Provided of course, that Jesus doesn’t return before our death.

So then, my question is this. Why do Christians believe and teach this blatant lie and no believer questions them? Do they not realize that this doctrine makes the resurrection from the dead non-existent and totally unnecessary? It eliminates the judgment? Scripture says “It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment.”

It amazes me that the whole of Christendom believes and teaches this untruth. If one automatically goes to heaven at death. What need would there be for judgment and when would it take place? Strange that now professing believers and unbelievers are like-minded.

Perhaps now is a good time to do what the scriptures say. Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith… and do what the Bereans did. Search the scriptures daily, to see if these things are true…

ATTITUDE... OR FAITH???

2009-10-09T08:23:00.001-07:00

ATTITUDE... OR FAITH???

How can we achieve financial success in this temporal world, and live the abundant life Jesus Christ has promised us in John 10:10? He says...

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I am come that they may have life and have it superabundantly."

Well, the unbeliever believes it is positive attitude and listening to
motivational tapes, cds and audio books...

But, for the believer, IT MUST BE THROUGH FAITH alone -- in order to walk in victory. The victory that can only come through relationship with Christ Jesus, as more than conquerors!!!

Jeremiah 29:11 says...
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

1 John 5:4 says...
"For whoever is born of God, overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world -- our faith."