New Times Require New Perspectives
At the beginning of a new time cycle it is quite common for people to plan something new, try a fresh approach in regard to their circumstances, as well as undertake some new developments.
Based on the knowledge gathered from many conversations and personal experiences, it becomes apparent that it is just as common that knowing what to change remains mere knowledge. In many cases, long term change never takes place.
Our previous accustomed thinking and the perspective from past times hidden therein determine the new time once again; this can prevent us from entering into a personal breakthrough intended by God, the Father.
If we don't undergo the change God has prepared for us, we are only partially able to live for his glory. Even if we truly wish to be delivered or healed from something, we only honor God when actually undergoing this change, and in the process become completely aware of what we have been delivered from and remain healed in the future.
This implies a conscious turning away from a sick (note: in this case emotional, inward) and therefore unhealthy state to a godly, healthy state. We achieve this by our free will and faith in God.
This link is revealed in the encounter the ten lepers had with Jesus, where all ten were healed but only one returned. The one who returned – which equates to increasing awareness and personal reflection – was commended directly by Jesus for bringing glory to God. In light of this, Jesus Christ also inquired about the other nine who were healed but did not return, and He even told this man that his faith had healed him.
Luke 17:12-19:
12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?
18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Personal Positioning
Faith is primarily based on our concepts or ideas, for faith is “being confident”, and it is a thought pattern that deems something to be possible and true (see Hebrews 11:1).
Hebrews 11:1:
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
It is is surprising how many believers have knowledge of what the word of God says in regard to one subject or another, but a large amount struggle with the conscious application of God's word or the daily implementation of the principles defined by God. One primary cause is the emotional (note: psyche, from the ancient Greek; also “soul“) structure of man which interacts with our body and spirit.
As human beings we have been created in the image of God to be creative; particularly our ability to think is the greatest possible dimension of creative potential, we have been entrusted with as faithful stewards.
Thinking is the only form that completely influences and controls our feelings, desires and actions. Only a person, who is aware of what kind of thoughts are inside of him, can consciously change and realign them.
Needless to say, God created man in such a wonderful way that, with the responsibility given to him in life, he is able to orient himself in the best possible way. Our brain controls numerous functions without the need for conscious concentration, so that we are free to concentrate on other things (note: information, processes) to learn something new and to implement the things already learned. God's word says we are wonderfully made, and our soul (note: seat of the will, mind and emotion) is able to consciously recognize this work of God (see Proverbs 4:20-23 i.c.w. Psalm 139:14).
Proverbs 4:20-23:
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Psalm 139:14:
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Just as our brain inside our head controls the body and its functions, so our thinking controls our behavior, our emotional and rational assessments, and therefore our habits (note: attitudes). Where God's word appeals to us to guard our hearts, we need to understand that the original Hebrew uses the word “lêb” for “heart”; it means “emotions, will , mind”, as well as “attached” or “surrounded” for its root word.
Described here with the instruction to protect, is what we can call the conscious part of our soul. In regard to the emotional or soul area of man Psychology speaks about:
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awareness, which comes from the ancient Greek “syneídēsis”, the awareness which, deriving from the ancient Greek, also means “self-awareness”, when referring to a state of experiencing conditions and processes on a spiritual-emotional level.
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The unconscious which dominates our human behavior and our lives to a far greater extent, whereas this describes a state of non-conscious experiencing which can only be made aware by reflection and focused awareness. It is assumed that approximately 90 percent is lived unconsciously and that a conscious decision is needed to live life (more) consciously.
With over 60.000 thoughts per day a human being in average mode is not consciously focused. The word, however, exhorts and encourages us to be vigilant (note: aware).
A completely healthy and stable person is able to move in the desired direction by consciously focusing on his personal freedom, regardless of social or temporary circumstances, to lead and therefore to independently position himself in life in terms of self-responsibility. The personal goals of an emotionally healthy person are not placed above the boundaries and needs of others by a conscious disregard for them.
The keeping of the “10 commandments”, originally called 10 words and containing the value system of God for man, also equates to a foundation that attributes a value to others, and is thereby attributed to each one personally.
A healthy self-management involves a life that does not suffer from any kind of compulsions, (co-)dependencies, abnormal (note: in terms of unhealthy, personal and socially not conducive) behavior patterns, as well as emotionally uncontrollable impulses, such as anxiety states, for instance.
Where the Problem Lies: The Results of Inferiority
In the time when Jesus Christ lived on earth in human form people with leprosy found themselves in a state of isolation, hopelessness (note: incurable) and disdain from their environment, as the surrounding society most of all wanted to avoid contagion.
In the present time the Holy Spirit draws attention to the fact that there are many members in the Body of Christ, who live in a state of weakness that is connected to inferiority.
Inferiority describes an emotional (note: mostly to completely unconscious) factor that is attributable to an inwardly experienced lack that, in a person, can lead to a malfunction in the relationship with oneself (note: self-worth) and with others with various (negative) effects. The presence of inferiority leads to disorders, projections and misunderstandings not only among believers but, if healing is absent, also to a self-perceived wrong image of God.
Characteristics of Inferiority in Affected People
Predominantly, affected people show barely existing or little self-worth and a missing clarity in their identity which, through various patterns in their personal life, can for instance lead to alienation, fear of men, fear of doing something wrong (note: failure), other forms of anxiety states, emotional and linguistic inhibition patterns, aggressiveness, addictive behavior, as well as seclusion through to depression.
In a state of inferiority which has various effects to various degrees, ones own self-efficacy is unevenly negated or excessively emphasized; oftentimes, this is accompanied by an attempt to compensate ones personal deficiencies.
Usually, those affected rarely received praise in their childhood or youth (note: missing approval, encouragement and love), but were often criticized through to abuse in various forms that they experience in a traumatic way. They are not or insufficiently affirmed in their existing value, which is vital for a child's healthy development, and thus do not receive sufficient instruction (note: from persons of authority) to be able to handle their own self-efficacy and self-responsibility in life in a positive way.
Rather, later on as adults they tend to weaken and, in dialogue with oneself, isolate themselves. Comparing oneself to others which we are “fired up” to do in an unhealthy way through advertising, media and industry at social level, is part of the crucial thought patterns that encourage this personal discontent.
Through emotional or psychological injuries, affected people tend to adopt a defensive attitude towards and distance themselves from their environment or, in their catalytic behavior, they are often prone to abuse. This abuse can pertain to things, the environment or substances or also to relationships with other people, as in seeing oneself as the “victim”, for example, whereas the reality and lack of willingness to take responsibility are perceived in a distorted manner.
Consequently, people in ones environment may be confused or irritated or even suffer, while being degraded to the role of either a “perpetrator” or a “helper”. In the isolation of inferiority a real and integrally healthy relationship at eye level is almost impossible. Self-pity, lack of critical faculties, contempt (note: ostensibly against oneself, more concealed towards others) and reoccurring hopelessness are only a few expressions of wrong conclusions that establish inferiority in ones thinking which can cause much sorrow in following generations.
Inferiority and Pride
When mentoring believers, experienced leaders often use the example of a coin with two sides in counseling when they speak to affected persons in regard to processing their existing feeling of inferiority. One side of this coin is the superficial, experienced “inferiority” of their own disadvantage, the other side is pride.
Pride elevates itself over others and is characterized by the elevation of self. The nature of Satan matches the nature of pride, as he defied God himself, fell through this stance and, as a result, caused man to fall into sin.
It is essential to recognize that man in his inborn iniquity is proud, if he does not have the love of God which by nature is truth. Pride is also one of the inborn ways that are not conveyed by upbringing alone.
According to Wikipedia pride as in arrogance defines itself as follows, “… further synonyms are presumption, condescension, conceit, vanity, blase attitude, pretension, haughtiness (outdated). A behavior exemplifying arrogance is bragging, boasting, gloating, swaggering, … The opposite of pride is humility.”
The Path to Freedom
On the basis of the example of the ten lepers we can see a connection between faith and the hope for healing, and the state of healing that is received.
As human beings we can not not think, since everything we feel correlates to thought patterns that enable us to evaluate, perceive and process information in order to reach our goal. To this end we need to realize that faith is based on thoughts which can be consciously made time and again.
People hold something they imagine and experience accordingly as truth. This personal experience includes thinking that generates interactive feelings and perceptions. Whenever our thoughts are filled with God's truth, they generate perceptions and an increased experience of God's presence in us.
If there are other impulses in our thoughts which are contrary to the truth of God or distort it, they generate perceptions and an increased experience of their very nature in us.
This principle is a key to freedom, as the man returning to Jesus recognized – we cannot be thankful for something we are not consciously aware of.
Gratitude implies joy about a material or immaterial contribution that does not have to be given or is bestowed from constraint, as a return service or as an obligation. One appreciates the gift received. For a person who demands and is not prepared to give it is almost impossible to express heartfelt gratitude.
For us as saints gratitude grows in accordance to an understanding of the sovereignty of God one initially acknowledges. We express this gratitude emerging from the inner thoughts of the heart by receiving his love and grace expressed towards us; this way we contribute to glorifying God. In thanking the LORD we draw near to him in the acknowledgment of himself, and by this we are restored in faith (note: our thinking in terms of what we deem to be true and what gives us confidence).
The progress of Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, serves as an example for a lack of healing from inferiority and wrong focusing. He pursued personal recognition and gratitude in form of a payment that was bestowed upon him for handing over his LORD. As a consequence, he increasingly gets into Satan's reach who eventually “possesses him”.
The story of Judas teaches us the principle of free choice – it led him to allow the enemy and adversary of God to gain increasing access to him, because he did not find himself in the son as the only way to the father. May his traitorous kiss be a warning that it is possible to apparently get close to Jesus without devoting oneself wholeheartedly, for this always entails betrayal and multiplies sin from lack of humility (note: rebellion), (see Luke 22:21-22.47-48 i.c.w. Revelation 22:15).
Luke 22:21-22.47-48:
21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.
22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” …
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Revelation 22:15:
15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
In the end, the disciple Judas misses his purpose and his influence, because as a steward of finances in the kingdom he enters a financial transaction with the opponents of Jesus, which could hardly be more worldly, to ultimately die an agonizing death brought on by himself.
Since we are currently in the biblical time frame of the month “Av”, which is the time frame in which we should listen carefully in order to discern what we have heard and to connect our faith with God's plan or promise for our lives, it is necessary to put aside those things that are contrary to the standard of the Word of God and its values in order to bring about reconstruction and not allow destruction.
The reason for this is because the biblical month “Av” is the month when the people of Israel in Kadesh Barnea (note: means “consecrated – moving spring”) decided to accept the negative report of the 10 spies and thereupon refused to enter the promised land because of unbelief (cf. Numbers 32:8-9).
Numbers 32:8-9:
8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land.
9 After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Tina & Daniel Glimm
Übersetzung: Margit Kelly
