God is not a Chemist.

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Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
6,013
3,693
113
Frankston, Victoria
christianlife.au
#1
Some believers see God as like a chemist, giving out medications for a particular problem. We may think we need a dose of humility, a patience pill or a course of self control. God does not work this way. Our problem is not that we are proud or stubborn or whatever character flaw we may see. The problem is much deeper. It is all that we are. We are born dead in trespass and sin. God's remedy is to terminate the old, dead spirit and give us a new, live spirit. That's what it means to be born again.

It is clear from God's word that Christ is the life of the believer. Yet many try to patch up the soul. We (yes, I did this also) embark on a self improvement program. Christian book stores are full of advice as to how to go about this. That is not God's way. God's way is Jesus. He is not just the Way, not only the Truth, He is the Life. We already have the patience of Christ, the joy of Christ and the peace of Christ. Do we lack love? Don't try to love others. Human love is pathetic compared to God's love. We have the love of Christ in our hearts already. We do not have to try.

How does this work in practice? It starts by confessing our helpless condition. This is hard for some. Self promises us that it can change, that it will reform and do better next time. Self is desperate to survive. Many of our failures are permitted by God to show us that the self life is hopeless when it comes to spiritual things. For example, we know that we should love one another. Yet there is someone in our fellowship that we can't stand. Maybe some has offended us and we turn away. We know what we should do, but it is beyond us. But nothing is to hard for Jesus.

Start off your day by asking Jesus to live out His life in you, through you and in place of what is of self. Then trust Him to do it. Your problems may not evaporate, they may even get worse. But you will have peace in the storms of life, you will overcome problems that once brought you down and you will live in victory.
 

Suze

Active member
Mar 14, 2025
257
167
43
#2
Some believers see God as like a chemist, giving out medications for a particular problem. We may think we need a dose of humility, a patience pill or a course of self control. God does not work this way. Our problem is not that we are proud or stubborn or whatever character flaw we may see. The problem is much deeper. It is all that we are. We are born dead in trespass and sin. God's remedy is to terminate the old, dead spirit and give us a new, live spirit. That's what it means to be born again.

It is clear from God's word that Christ is the life of the believer. Yet many try to patch up the soul. We (yes, I did this also) embark on a self improvement program. Christian book stores are full of advice as to how to go about this. That is not God's way. God's way is Jesus. He is not just the Way, not only the Truth, He is the Life. We already have the patience of Christ, the joy of Christ and the peace of Christ. Do we lack love? Don't try to love others. Human love is pathetic compared to God's love. We have the love of Christ in our hearts already. We do not have to try.

How does this work in practice? It starts by confessing our helpless condition. This is hard for some. Self promises us that it can change, that it will reform and do better next time. Self is desperate to survive. Many of our failures are permitted by God to show us that the self life is hopeless when it comes to spiritual things. For example, we know that we should love one another. Yet there is someone in our fellowship that we can't stand. Maybe some has offended us and we turn away. We know what we should do, but it is beyond us. But nothing is to hard for Jesus.

Start off your day by asking Jesus to live out His life in you, through you and in place of what is of self. Then trust Him to do it. Your problems may not evaporate, they may even get worse. But you will have peace in the storms of life, you will overcome problems that once brought you down and you will live in victory.
Thank you for that , very inciteful .
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,423
831
113
#5
look at the amount of activity on the forum related to preaching and or teaching vs praying and or supporting and loving each other. where you spend your time is where your heart is at.
 

Suze

Active member
Mar 14, 2025
257
167
43
#6
look at the amount of activity on the forum related to preaching and or teaching vs praying and or supporting and loving each other. where you spend your time is where your heart is at.
Teaching and preaching definitely help to encourage and strengthen us I think . Anything that helps keep me close to my God is good and He has given us His Word to bless us , the Bible really is alive , I feel it in me every time I read it and it's a massive comfort to me in these kingdoms of men . As for us looking after each other , sadly there is only so much we can do over the internet , God's love knows no boundaries and it reaches us through His Word and through our brothers and sisters on here . Some of us take comfort in a hug , some of us take comfort in discussing the Word .
 
Oct 19, 2024
4,669
1,039
113
USA-TX
#7
Courtesy of Watchman Nee. Not word for word, but the principle he espoused. I've learned a lot from his writings.
I trust that W.N. learned from NT writings.
Receiving the HS (John 16:7-13)
makes us hunger for righteousness (Matt. 5:6)
via learning GW (Matt. 4:4),
especially about loving everyone (Matt. 5:44&48).
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
6,013
3,693
113
Frankston, Victoria
christianlife.au
#8
I trust that W.N. learned from NT writings.
Receiving the HS (John 16:7-13)
makes us hunger for righteousness (Matt. 5:6)
via learning GW (Matt. 4:4),
especially about loving everyone (Matt. 5:44&48).
Do you anything about Watchman Nee? He founded at least 700 churches. He traveled overseas a lot, preaching and teaching at conferences. He was in Hong Kong when the communists took over. He could have stayed there in safety, but he was concerned for China's believers. He went back to China, knowing that the Communist regime was cracking down on believers. He was imprisoned. He died there of heart failure. Greater love has no man..........

He was a student of Hebrew and Greek. He did not write much. Most of what is printed is records taken by people who attended his meetings.

https://www.dwellcc.org/essays/watc...f Nee's time,to the neighbors, and fellowship.

This is an interesting account of his life. There is one error. He was never released from prison.
 
Oct 19, 2024
4,669
1,039
113
USA-TX
#9
Do you anything about Watchman Nee? He founded at least 700 churches. He traveled overseas a lot, preaching and teaching at conferences. He was in Hong Kong when the communists took over. He could have stayed there in safety, but he was concerned for China's believers. He went back to China, knowing that the Communist regime was cracking down on believers. He was imprisoned. He died there of heart failure. Greater love has no man..........

He was a student of Hebrew and Greek. He did not write much. Most of what is printed is records taken by people who attended his meetings.

https://www.dwellcc.org/essays/watchman-nee-and-house-church-movement-china#:~:text=Although some of Nee's time,to the neighbors, and fellowship.

This is an interesting account of his life. There is one error. He was never released from prison.
It sounds like he was a brave Christian who did for China what Paul did for Europe,
and who received the HS (John 16:7-13)
hungered for righteousness (Matt. 5:6)
and learned GW (Matt. 4:4),
especially about loving everyone (Matt. 5:44&48).
PTL!