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A Practical Way

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Chapter One

As God sees our spiritual condition

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed this path. {Jn.14; 6a,} Jesus said; "I am the way, the truth, and the life" those who do not REPENT are people who cannot or will not completely surrender themselves to God and His way of life. Usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault. They seem to have been born that way. {Mt.13; 13, 15,} Therefore I speak to them in parables; because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. For this people's heart has waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living, which demands rigorous honesty. {Mt.13: 16-17} Therefore, blessed are your eyes for they see, and blessed are your ears for they hear; for verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them. {Lk.8: 1i-14} Now the parable is this; the seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes the word out of their hearts; lest they believe and be saved. But the ones on rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and when tribulations come, they fall away. Now the ones who fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with the riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do REPENT if they have the capacity to be honest. [Mt.13; 23,} But he who receives the seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

We will disclose our testimonies in a general way; what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. {2Corth.7; 12, 10,} Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had did wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

If you have decided that you truly want what God has to offer then you are ready for certain truths. {Jn.8; 31, 32, 34,} Jesus said; "If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

When faced with the truth, we complained and wanted to reject it. We thought that we could find an easier, softer way. Nevertheless, we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be thoroughly honest and fearless as you possibly can from the very start. {Lk.8; 15, Rev.2; 10, 2Tim.1; 7,} But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Do not fear any of the things that you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulations ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Some of us tried to hold on to our old teachings, and understandings, but the results were nil, until we let go absolutely. {Jas.3; 14-16, Is.43; 27, Prov.3; 5-6,} But if you have bitter envying and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. Therefore, your first father sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against Me. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your on understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Remember that we are dealing with Satan, Sin, and Spiritual Wickedness in high places. He is cunning, baffling, and powerful! Without help, he is too much for us. {Jn.8; 43, 44, 1Pt.5; 8, Rom.6; 16, Eph.6; 12,} Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to my word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Be sober, be vigilant, because you adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness? For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. However, there is One who has all power that One is God! May you find the true God Now! {Jer.10; 10a, 1Jn.5; 20, 1Pt.5; 6, 3; 22,}

But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Who is gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God, angels, and authorities, and powers having been made subject to Him.

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the crossroads of Life or Death. We asked for His care and protection with complete abandon. {Jas.1; 8, 7,6a, Mt.7; 13, 14, 7, 8, 1Pt.5; 7} A double-mined man is unstable in all his ways. For truly let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering [no hesitations, no doubts] Jesus said, "Enter ye at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in thereat. For strait is the gate and narrow the way, that leads unto life, and few are they that find it. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks, the door will be opened. Now cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."

Now here are the truths that we learned, and found that when practiced moment-by-moment, day in and day out as a way of life it will produce fruits worthy of REPENTANCE and will bring, TRUE PEACE SERENITY, and SANCTIFICATION into the hearts, minds, and lives of all who seek a more intimate relationship with the ONE TRUE GOD. {Mt.3; 8, 10, Lk.1; 79b, Heb.10; 22, Lk.1; 77, 1Th.4; 4 1Jn.5; 20} Bring forth therefore fruits worthy for repentance; And already the axe is lying at the roots of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. To guide our feet in the way of peace. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean of an evil conscience, and our bodies washed in the pure water [of the Holy Sprit]. To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, that each should know how to possess his own body in sanctification, and honor. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him that is true; and are in Him who is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

1] We admitted that we were powerless over Satan and sin and that our lives had become unmanageable.

{Rev.3; 17b, Eph.2; 1-2, Rom.7; 18-20, 24} Do you not know that you are wretched, and miserable, blind, and naked, and you were dead in your sins, in which in past time you walked when you followed the ways of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now have control over the children of disobedience? For l know that nothing good dwells within me, that is in my flesh, I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [ I have every intention and desire to do right, but no power to carry it out.] For the good that I want to do I do not; but evil l desire not to do that's what I end up doing. Now if I do that I would not it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. O wretched man that I am, who will release and deliver me from this state and body of death?

2] We came to believe that God could restore us to sanity.

{Rom.12; 2, 2Tim.2; 7. Heb.11; 1, 3, 6, Jn.6; 29, 3; 16, 17, 2Corth.5; 20.21, Mt.11; 28-30, 2Tim.1; 7, 2Corth.5; 17, Mt.11; 27,} Therefore do not be conformed to the standards of this world, but be transformed [changed] by the [entire] renewing of your mind [your old ideals and attitudes]. Consider what I am saying, [grasping an understanding of how important this is.] and God the Holy Spirit will give you understanding in all things. Now Faith [belief] is the substance [confidence in] of the things hoped for, the evidence of [confirmation of] things not seen, By Faith [belief] we understand that the worlds were made by the Word of God and so that the things, which are seen, were not made out of things that are visible. And without Faith [belief] it is impossible to please [understand and obey] Him. For whoever would come to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. This is the work [service] of God That you believe [trust in his message] and the One in Whom He sent. For God so loved the world [the people he created] that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus to be punished and die for our sins] that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, [be destroyed] but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world [to the people] to condemn the world, [the people] but that the world [the people] might be saved through Him. Now then, we being ambassadors of Christ as though God himself is asking you through us be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Christ to be sin; Who knew no sin that we might become [viewed/changed into] the righteousness [right relationship to] of God in Him. Therefore, come unto me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burdens are light. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Therefore if any man be in [truly believe] Christ, he is a new creature [creation] old things [beliefs /attitudes/behaviors] have passed away; behold all things become new, [beliefs/attitudes/ actions]. All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knows [truly understands] the Son except the Father, and no man knows [truly understands] the Father except the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son chooses to reveal Him.

3] We made a conscious decision to turn our wills and lives over to the care and guidance of God the Holy Spirit.

{Acts.3; 19, Jas.4; 7, Mt.10; 28, 32 Mt.6; 24, 31-32, 34, 33, Mt.10; 26, Jn.8; 32, 34-36, Jn.16; 12, Jn.14; 16, 26, Jn.16; 13,} Repent ye [change your minds/ thinking, will/ emotions, and actions] therefore, and be converted [turning your lives over to God] that your sins may be blotted out, [erased] when the times of refreshing [recovery from the effects of evil] shall come from the presence of the Lord. Submit [surrender] yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee. Therefore, do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul, and body in hell. Therefore, whosoever will confess me before men, him I will confess also before my Father. No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon, [deceitfulness, riches, and material possessions] Therefore take no thought [worry or be anxious] saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, what shall we ware? For after all these things do the Gentiles [non-believers] seek, for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. Therefore, take no thought [worry or be anxious] for tomorrow; for tomorrow shall take thought [care] for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil [worries, and anxieties] thereof. But seek you first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore, have no fear of them; for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hid that shall not be known. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jesus said; "Truly, truly, whosoever practices sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever; But the Son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free; you shall be free indeed." I have still many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear [grasp and understand] them now. I will pray to the Father, and He will send you another comforter, that He may abide with you forever. But the Comforter, which is God the Holy Spirit, whom the Farther will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you. Therefore, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, and He shall show you things to come.

4] We made a through, and searching, honest, and fearless moral inventory of our selves.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from A Practical Way by Minister Jimmie Strong Copyright © 2010 by Minister Jimmie Strong. Excerpted by permission.
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