The Joyous Objectivity of Inner Insight

Posted on May 31, 2024 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
View all responses

The American Dream is subjective. The kingdom of God is objective. Nationalism is subjective. Inner transformation that gloriously sets a person free from tormenting and self-destructive thoughts, feelings, desires, and behaviors is objective. That’s why testimonies about inner transformation by the risen Jesus are so powerful. They declare and demonstrate the objective reality of the kingdom (government) of God.

The most objective being that exists is the living God. All the rest of us are subject to our own subjectivity. Human rationality can never produce true objectivity because our motives always manipulate our reasoning to some degree. True objectivity is only found beyond human reasoning, in humble and surrendered relationship with God that washes away all self-focus and continually enthralls a person with the presence, power, and reality of their Creator.

True objectivity is to be influenced and led by the living God, not by your own thoughts, feelings, and desires. Although the leadings of God’s Spirit occur within a person’s innermost being, those promptings are not humanly produced. They’re the objective working of the living God.

People who can’t tell the difference between their own thoughts, feelings, and desires and the thoughts, feelings, and desires of God mistakenly believe that being led by the Holy Spirit is a subjective experience. It’s not. It’s the ultimate objective experience because it makes you intently aware of the most objective reality that exists, the presence and power of the Creator Himself.

Testimonies don’t just lecture about what Jesus in the past. They release the awe of His presence in the present moment and make people realize that the everlasting government of God is infinitely more powerful and objective than any temporary government or nation state on earth.

Almost every church in the world has at least one or two people who have been inwardly and objectively transformed and set free (in demonstratable ways) by the living Jesus. (Some churches have many.) Yet the stories of those verifiable transformations are seldom told. Instead, church people sit in silence together and every week listen to the same man talk passionlessly about something Jesus did in the past (or about positive thinking).

O that the body of Christ would return to what Revelation 12:11 reveals. We can overcome our bondage to subjectivity by three things: 1) the blood of Jesus (His sacrifice on the Cross to set us free), 2) the word of our testimony about how the risen Jesus is objectively living, working, and speaking inside of us, and 3) by not loving or focusing on the subjectivity of our own life and self-interest.

The subjectivity of human opinion and human nationalism passes away. The objectivity of God’s perspective and kingdom is forever. Which one are you clinging to for dear life? People need to be objective when they relate to the Spirit. To be subjective with the Spirit is to throw in our own opinions, feelings, and desires. Instead, set aside your subjectivity and do what the Spirit tells you.

People believe that the inner voice of God is subjective because they think they are the only one hearing it. Because Christians have been trained to hide their light (the inner witness of God’s Spirit) deep down inside their heart, they think that no one else is experiencing caring inner promptings like they are. That’s why testimonies about how God is living, working, and speaking inside of people are so important.

When you read the Bible, it’s hard not to notice that the Holy Spirit is sometimes critical. If you reject all criticism, you’ll be rejecting some of the Holy Spirit’s objectivity. Lord, give us ears to hear You when You speak against our unkindness, deception, and sin.

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com
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Unplugging From Human Celebrities

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?
View all responses

I believe that it is time to unplug from celebrities. We live in a celebrity focused world. People idolize prominent people. They are constantly looking for people to celebritize, but we’re all human and celebritizing people is a form of deception.

Church people really like to celebritize people. They make celebrities out of ministers, out of worship leaders, out of Christian authors, and out of anybody with any notoriety (good or bad) who calls himself a Christian. This is a big “celebritease.”

I posted what follows in several posts early this morning on a blog I read daily. Today’s post there is about reorienting our world view. It is based on Acts 16:16-30 and is the story of a demonized woman who was constantly trying to celebritize Paul and Silas. It’s about how they handled the attention. My first post there this morning was @ 4:04.

_________________

I woke up this morning with this poem that describes the woman in Acts 16:16 developing within me. When I looked at the clock it was 3:33. There are a lot more people like her than we realize.

Some people act like
They have it made
In God’s shade
When they’re really
Hiding afraid
In dark shadows
Of demonic
Deception.


I’m going back to bed now.

_______________________


I couldn’t sleep so I posted this @ 4:57.


I couldn’t go back to sleep. Another poem formed in me that explains what the woman was doing.


The devil’s drift
Moves in to shift
People away
From the fresh wind
Of God’s Spirit
And put their focus
On human leaders
So he can sift
Them like wheat
And keep them
In defeat.


I still haven’t read today’s WUC. I think I’ll read it now.

________________________

Then I posted this @ 5:55 having no idea what time it was:

Let’s Reorient Our Worldview

The demon in the woman constantly directed people’s attention to Paul and Silas by loudly promoting them as important leaders and men of God. She kept the fake praise going for many days. Paul eventually rejected it and drove the demon out of the slave woman.

There was such a change in her countenance that her owners knew that she could no longer predict the future through sorcery. They panicked, attacked Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the authorities who had them stripped, severely beaten with rods, thrown into the darkest part of prison, and carefully guarded. Their feet were put in chains.

So, what did those suffering and humiliated leaders do? They prayed out loud, put the focus on God, and sang praises to Him. While they were in such brokenness that they could no longer take any credit, God suddenly showed up and showed out. He shook the place, setting all the prisoners free.

Faced with a sovereign move of God, the jailer wanted to kill himself, but Paul and Silas and the other prisoners hadn’t used their freedom to run away and find personal comfort. Paul shouted to him: “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”

Then the jailer trembled and called for lights. He wanted out of his darkness. Why would his prisoners not run away? Then he saw on their faces that the presence of the living God had overcome their fear and suffering. He fell trembling before Paul and Silas and asked with great awe and respect, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved.” They answered: “Believe on (rely on and depend on) the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved — you and your household.”

Paul and Silas begin to passionately tell the jailer, and everyone gathered around, about the living, resurrected Jesus. Then their enemy, the jailer, began to wash their wounds. The scene gripped the heart of the jailer’s family and his prisoners, and they wanted to be baptized to demonstrate their surrender and obedience to the risen Jesus.

Then the jailer took them into his home for a joyful meal. When we get our eyes off of human leaders and constantly fixed on the living Jesus, amazing things will happen! Let’s “reorient our world view.” Let’s quit talking about Christian leaders and exalt no other name but Jesus!

Posted in celebrities, Christian conferences, Christian leadership, Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Hide Your Light Behind Religious Walls and Customs

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Steve Simms 
Don't Just See the Light. Be the Light!

God lights lamps 
In people all the time,
Insights and miracles 
That would amaze you 
If only you could
Hear about them.
I wish that people 
Were empowered 
To put their testimonies 
On a lampstand
For all to see and hear.
I wish that churches
Would give people 
A platform 
From which to share 
The amazing things 
That God has done 
In their heart 
And in their life. 
Churches need to stop
Turning Christians 
Into spectators 
Who hide their light 
Under religious 
Services and programs.
O that churches 
Would be courageous 
And let people
Share their light 
In the congregation
As God's Spirit prompts them. 

This is what Jesus wants His followers to do: "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." (Matthew 5:15)
Posted in Christian poetry, inner Light, light of Christ, light of the world | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

3 P-Word Jobs

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What jobs have you had?
View all responses

I’ve had (and continue to have) 3 P-Word jobs:

1. Preemptive obedience: That job is to reject the option of disobedience even before I know what God is going to prompt me to do. It is to live by this declaration: “Jesus, I’ll do whatever you say today.”

    2. Proactive repentance: This job is about training to be effective at stopping my wrongful thoughts, feelings, desires, words, and actions without waiting for consequences to force me to.

    3. Putting away prejudice: This job requires me to never look down on anyone by thinking I am in some way superior to them. It’s a job that all humans need to apply themselves to daily. The Holy Spirit has taken me on a long journey of dealing with my prejudice and it continues to this day. To see where I chronical much of that journey, search for: Off the RACE Track book.

    Minds that embrace great humility think alike. Dare to be the faithful Christ-follower who disagrees with the crowd.

    Jesus Christ is real, alive, present, powerful, and wants to live and work in and through your life moment by moment. Make it your job to let Him.

    Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com
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    The Quality I Value Most in a Friend is True Greatness

    Posted on May 28, 2024 by Steve Simms
    Daily writing prompt
    What quality do you value most in a friend?
    View all responses

    Making People Great 

    There's nothing great 
    About trying to create 
    Anger and hate. 

    There's nothing great 
    About wanting to escalate 
    Confusion and misunderstanding.

    There's nothing great 
    About working to aggravate
    And berate. 

    There's nothing great 
    When your main trait 
    Is wanting to agitate.

    There's nothing great 
    About slamming the gate 
    Of your heart on people. 

    There's nothing great 
    About refusing to relate 
    With kindness and respect. 

    There's nothing great 
    About filling your slate 
    With constant accusations.
     
    There's nothing great 
    About creating a state 
    Of hostility and bitterness. 

    There's nothing great 
    In causing a country to separate 
    Into a nation of blamers. 

    There's nothing great 
    When someone seems to advocate 
    Replacing debate with violence.

    For a nation to be great 
    We need people who demonstrate 
    Character and integrity. 

    If you want to be great 
    Find ways to generate 
    Communication and understanding.

    If you want to be great 
    Learn how to arbitrate 
    And find common ground.

    If you want to be great 
    Open your heart to meditate 
    On ways to show kindness. 

    If you want to be great 
    It's important to graduate 
    From immaturity and self-focus.

    If you want to be great 
    Formulate and communicate 
    Ways people can work together.

    If you want to be great 
    Begin to fumigate
    Your mind and heart from anger. 
     
    If you want to be great 
    Continually saturate 
    Yourself with inner peace.

    If you want to be great 
    Absolutely refuse to replicate 
    Another person's bad example.

    If you want to be great 
    Let Jesus Christ renovate 
    Your thoughts and emotions.

    If you want to be great 
    Make every effort to radiate 
    The love of God.

    The way to be great
    Is to look straight
    Into the eyes of Jesus.
    Posted in great awakening, greatness, hope, pearl of great price, true greatness | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    Beyond Religion and Beyond Church

    Posted on May 27, 2024 by Steve Simms
    Daily writing prompt
    Do you practice religion?
    View all responses

    Rather than following religious rules, leaders, hierarchy, or organizations, I strive to follow and obey the risen Jesus Christ. I listen to His still, small voice in my heart. I actively resist my own desires, feelings, and opinions so I can more freely do what He tells me to. I read the Bible with an open heart asking God’s Spirit to speak to me from its pages and to make its words burn within me. This post explains how I try to get God’s message from the Bible, not my own or the message of any particular church or denomination.

    Timothy, the Holy Spirit, and the Letter from Jerusalem’s “Esteemed Leaders”

    The message sent from the “sent ones” (apostles) and spiritually mature older believers (elders) in Jerusalem was written in a letter that is recorded in Acts 15:23-29. In Acts 16:1-5, Paul is delivering that letter’s message in the small towns of Derby and Lystra. The message said that Gentle Christians were not to be burdened with any of the Jewish ritual laws “beyond the following requirements. You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.”

    That message meant that Gentile believers didn’t need to be circumcised. Yet Paul, when he wanted to invite Timothy (who was uncircumcised) to travel with him “circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area.” Then “they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.”

    What a mystery? Why did Paul circumcise Timothy in order to satisfy the Jewish believers in the area at the same time he was delivering the message that Gentile Christians didn’t need to be circumcised?

    In the next section (Acts 16:6-10) we see that the Holy Spirit was actually preventing Paul and Timothy from preaching in certain places until Paul had a vision that told them to preach in Macedonia: “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia . . . After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

    It appears that Paul trusted the Holy Spirit and followed the Spirit’s leadings more than he trusted and followed human leaders. Here is another example: Speaking about food offered to idols, Paul says: “We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.” (See 1 Corinthians 8:8.) Because of that Paul could write this in Romans 14:15-21: “If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore, do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”

    Here Paul explains how he saw the “esteemed leaders in Jerusalem. “I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.” (Galatians 2:1-6.) Since Paul states that he sees all Christ-followers as equally favored by God, he doesn’t appear to recognize the leaders in Jerusalem as a religious hierarchy or clergy class having authority over him.

    It is interesting that Paul goes on to add something that isn’t included in the Jerusalem letter at all: “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.” (Galatians 2:10.) (They must have asked this separately.)

    Jesus Himself, said: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28.) I believe that Scriptures show that Jesus wants the members of his body to be Spirit-led, not hierarchy led. Paul said: “As many as are led by the Spirit are the children of God.” (Romans 8:14.)

    Here is Paul’s summary: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:13:18.)

    In Ephesians 4, when Paul talks about training the saints (all believers) for the work of the ministry, he is referring to giftings (or functions), not official offices. Wherever I look in the New Testament I see leadership in the body of Christ coming from servanthood and humility, not from hierarchy. I think it is urgent for the body of Christ to make Jesus the literal actively functioning Head, not just a figurehead.

    Paul didn’t just blindly follow what leadership said. He did what the Holy Spirit said. Search for: Beyond Church Ekklesia. Also search for: The Joy Of Early Christianity book.

    Posted in Christian spirituality, Jerusalem, led by the Spirit, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    Life Before Digital Platform Pride

    Posted on May 26, 2024 by Steve Simms
    Daily writing prompt
    Do you remember life before the internet?
    View all responses

    Humans have always found avenues for pride, but the internet’s digital platforms for pride take the cake. Now we’re bombarded by boasting day and night. Egocentric pontifications abound. Humility seems to be gone with the wind. The online pride factories have flooded our culture with their overly pitched products. Pride loves its new platforms where it’s never forced to verify its claims or to say it’s sorry.

    Pride never does some things. It never weeps for mercy because it is too busy blaming others and pompously justifying itself. It scorns those who mourn and calls them weak.

    Pride never pleads with tears for deliverance flooding itself with weeping. It denies its wrongdoing, its misery and its insecurity. Pride never wears itself out with groaning, grows weak with sorrow, or humbly admits to agony and anguish over its own wickedness. It refuses to separate itself from evil. (See Psalm 6.)

    Pride never asks for forgiveness. Brokenness does; it’s a pride-buster! Poverty of spirit has no hope but God. It mourns with meekness, hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and continually gives in to the present and active kingdom, government, and control of the living “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

    Until pride is cast aside, humans will be trapped in the riptide of evil. They will forever hide inside themselves and never surrender to the glorious love and liberty of God’s presence and light. They won’t deny self-focus, take up their cross, or obey their conscience and the inner nudgings of Christ speaking within them.

    Christianity isn’t about how much Bible info you know. It’s about how freely you flow with God’s Spirit and humbly obey His promptings. (Instead of encouraging people to obey the inner leadings of God’s Spirit churches prefer a planned and programmed presentation.) The more you humbly focus your attention on the risen Jesus, the more you will be aware of His presence and His nudgings. Listen to and obey Christ’s still, small voice right now. Let it override your pride.

    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
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    Spending My Life Training to be Good at This

    Posted on May 25, 2024 by Steve Simms
    Daily writing prompt
    What are you good at?
    View all responses

    Deep inside myself, I want to be a good follower. I want to set aside my own thoughts, desires, feelings, and opinions and follow those of another instead. However, there’s something else in me that wants my own way. I have to battle every day and fight an inner fight to deny myself and to seek to be a faithful Christ-follower. I train day and night to be a Spirit-led disciple of Christ. I give my all trying not to miss, ignore, or disobey the inner leadings of God’s Spirit.

    This morning this poem came to me. I call it: “Don’t Miss Today’s Spirit Nudges.”

    God’s Spirit speaks.
    God’s Spirit nudges
    God’s Spirit can free us
    From all our grudges.

    God’s Spirit leads.
    God’s Spirit flows.
    God’s Spirit shows
    That Jesus rose!

    God’s Spirit prompts
    God’s Spirit guides
    God’s Spirit wants
    To align our strides.

    To receive the power
    Of God’s Spirit
    Obey His prompting
    When you hear it.

    Then you’ll be His witness
    Demonstrating His love,
    The miracle of His presence,
    And His power from above.

    Let the risen Jesus
    Talk inside of your heart.
    Follow the nudgings
    That He imparts.

    Photo by Eugene Lisyuk on Pexels.com
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    Getting All the Insight and Revelation That I Can

    Posted on May 24, 2024 by Steve Simms
    Daily writing prompt
    What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?
    View all responses

    I want to have all the insight and revelation that I can. That’s why I am an avid reader and why I love to listen to people tell me about their life and their thoughts.

    There’s an account in the Bible where Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement in Antioch and went their separate ways. Their disagreement wasn’t about doctrine. It was about a person’s behavior–how John Mark had abandoned them on their first Spirit-led journey. Barnabas wanted to give John Mark a second chance, but Paul didn’t. The Christ-followers in Antioch gave Paul and his new ministry companion, Silas, their blessing. However, Barnabas and John Mark apparently left without it.

    Early church history presents John Mark as the author of the Gospel of Mark. In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul tells Timothy: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me for ministry (NKJV).” Many Bible scholars believe that Paul is asking for John Mark.

    In the body of Christ, we can be useful to one another even when we disagree. I have learned so much from Christians I disagree with. I’ve been an avid reader of church history and of Christian writers living and dead, even when I don’t fully agree with them. I’ve found them all to be “useful to me for ministry.” The Holy Spirit has deeply touched my heart through the writings of “the church fathers,” ancient orthodox monks in the “Philokalia,” church historians, the Franciscans, the Moravians, the Catholic mystics, the Protestant Reformers, the Anabaptists, the Pietists, the Puritans, the Quakers, the Methodists, the Wesleyan Holiness writers, the Pentecostals, the charismatics/evangelicals, and too many more to name.

    Christians need to frequently hear Spirit-led insights from many diverse Christ-followers. They can do that through the writings I just mentioned. They can also do that by listening to more than one person on Sunday mornings. When they gather for worship, they can open up the meeting and let anyone present speak as prompted by the Holy Spirit. I seek out those kinds of gatherings because hearing ordinary Christ-followers share from their heart as led by the Spirit has been one of the most useful things ever in growing my relationship with the risen Jesus. (As the early Pentecostals used to say: “The fire of God is more caught than taught.”) Continually expose yourself to it!

    I always test what I hear and/or read to the Bible. If it contradicts the Word I set it aside. If it aligns with the Bible, I embrace it and try to live it out in my daily life.

    As you daily watch
    Your time unwind
    Don’t neglect to find
    Plenty of time
    To always bind
    Your heart to Jesus.

    Life without
    A Jesus focus
    Is hocus pocus.
    Make Christ your locus
    Of control.
    So Jesus can be
    What your life’s about.

    The thinker who thinks there is no such thing as free will is thinking that his own thinking isn’t truly thinking but only programming that passively passes through his brain. Use your free will to follow and obey the risen Jesus. There’s so much anointed wisdom in the body of Christ. Don’t overlook it!

    Posted in Christian spirituality, Christianity, Philokalia, spiritual formation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

    I’d Like to Talk to You

    Posted on May 23, 2024 by Steve Simms
    Daily writing prompt
    Who would you like to talk to soon?
    View all responses

    May I talk to you through this post? There’s so much more to Christianity than churches portray. (If the only Christianity I ever saw was a typical church service, I wouldn’t want it.) I love Spirit-led Christianity where people are free and courageous to humbly open their heart up to the risen Jesus and to one another and then to speak as God’s Spirit prompts them.

    There was no one-man-preacher monopolizing the church service in Acts 15:35. “Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.” Guest speakers were sent home, and the body of Christ was opened up for many other people to share what the Holy Spirit was giving them.

    What did the Holy Spirit do in Antioch? I believe that Paul explains that in 1 Corinthians 14:26 when he writes about what the Spirit did in Corinth: “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the ekklesia (the open-sharing-based town hall meeting in ancient Greek cities) may be built up.”

    Let’s make plenty of room for the direct leading of the Spirit and the open sharing of the supernatural love and visionary insights of all God’s people. Let’s release people from being spectators visiting a religious monument and free them up to individually flow with the powerful movement of God’s Spirit as they openly share what He is showing them.

    On again off again Christianity is turned on on Sunday mornings and off most of the rest of the week. Constant Christianity is never set aside or ignored.

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