Troubled in Spirit...

troubled in Spirit

Listen to the Blog: Troubled In Spirit

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The many agitations that will befall us will so completely and utterly trouble

our peace because of the discerned unknowns. It will not be the heart that is

troubled, it will be the spirit. If not for the hope of faith in the fact that God has

made a suitable revelation of Himself to us and that He expects us to give

attention to it, it would seem that the finite mind must confront subjects of

unknown circumstances, but we are never without the doctrine to relinquish

being overcomers in every circumstance if we are positive. Confronted with

such subjects, we should ever be in quietude of holy reverence, as was

Moses before the burning bush, and ever impressed with the futility of

dependence upon mere human opinion, as well as of the disastrous

consequences which such dependence on humanity may induce. In the

simplest of terms, God has spoken of Himself, and of things infinite and

eternal. The bible is that message and while we cannot originate any similar

truth, we, though finite, is privileged by the gracious illumination of the Spirit

to receive, with some degree of understanding, the revelation concerning

things which are infinite. And herein is where the troubling in the spirit is

announced…there are issues involved in such a contemplation of the events

today which are too vast for the finite mind to fathom, and no intelligent,

reverent person will be alarmed to discover the boundaries of the finite mind.

When standing on the border between the finite and the infinite, between

time and eternity, between the perfect, irresistible will of God and the

impotent, perverted will of man, between sovereign grace and hell-deserving

sin, who among us is too proud to exclaim that there are some things which

I just do not understand. What troubles me in spirit is not that I don’t know

the future, but I discern the forfeiture of so many who could be saved. The

Lord does know and so He is troubled in spirit. There are some among us

whom God must remove before the introduction of the mystery doctrine of

the cross. This mystery is the invitation for believers to reflect on and unite

with the willingness of their Creator to suffer the worst degradation

imaginable. There will be this break, this hard line in history, in truth, where

direct intervention will show the personal revelation of the Creator in the lives

of His chosen beings. This event is reckoned as the most important of all

events for God’s people in the final time. You and me, in this continuing divine

revelation, continuously claiming the protection and guidance of the Holy

Spirit, and passing on the truth of the greatest-ever happening…the "mystery

of faith" and the "mysteries" of the life, death and resurrection in Christ. In

this context mystery means "not fully knowing" and "not capable of being fully

known" by human reason. It does not mean "cannot be known" or "not ever

to be fully understood or revealed." But these mysteries bring us to the

poignant concept of the time of our salvation. We acknowledge the leap of

faith over the chasm of the unknown necessary to achieve the personal

relationship with the Savior that fulfills the resurrection promise. It is that one

moment on the cross that pivots God’s people to all that which is purposed.

It creates that bright line on the continuum of history. There is hope that we

can know, and it requires of us a total investment of body and soul and it

asks of God, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to move actively in

that same body and soul. This is the process of our conversion to belief,

which leads to eternal life, represented by the image of the man on the cross,

who was labeled with a mocking sign.

We are to have, when found in Christ, an indicative love. It must be

understood that this is a spiritual attitude love. It is a spiritual attitude love

that is minus mental attitude sins. The greatest of all grace appeals, the final

invitation to salvation sounds in the love that brought Him from heaven’s

glory to this earth. Christ fulfilled in us is our love for one another, we provide

for each other what He had provided for those that were with him. This kind

of love will be a sign to all people that we are his final generation. Each

movement in Israel historically had had its peculiar identifying sign. The sign

that one was related to Abraham and the Abrahamic covenant was

circumcision. The sign that one was related to Moses and the Mosaic law

was the observance of the Sabbath. The sign that one related to John the

Baptist and his message concerning the coming Messiah was water baptism

and repentance. Christ gives us an identifying sign. It is not an external sign

that could easily be imposed but an inner sign that requires a transformation.

The sign is mutual love. This deeply moves an inner peace that is not

troubled by turmoil on the outside. Our burden is over things yet to come. My

distress is not focused merely on the tragedies that are, but rather, my spirit

must grasp the reality of the betrayals to be committed against our blessed

Savior. We must comprehend the ugliness expressed when redeemed souls

turn against the very One who redeemed us. When we realize that any word,

action, or expression that is against His holy nature is a betrayal of our Lord,

then we will know the reality of a troubled spirit.

Some people lack a clear understanding of how reasoning/revelation/inspiration

works. Their self views weaken their confidence in the very truths

that would strengthen their faith in the word of God.

God’s people, seeking to help others, find their spirit troubled when

others have difficulty finding certainty in the word only because these seek

to satisfy the self rather than the head and the heart. There is an authority

who longs to respond with His side of the story. God never wanted men and

women to be without certainty regarding the purpose of life. Especially during

the unparalleled stress of the last days, He made certain that we could know

the truth. Truth carries its own authority because truth appeals to and

satisfies our concern for objective certainty and subjective certitude—the

linking of the head and heart. We are to always consider the weight of

evidence. It must be to God’s people a living reality. God’s people are

troubled in spirit when those who claim to worship in truth do not honor the

truth. The move that the enemy puts forth among God’s people is always the

conflict over truth. God’s position is that truth needs no defense, it simply

needs to be seen and demonstrated. The enemy appeals to the self-centered

heart to raise doubt, causing hesitancy and postponement of a spiritual

commitment. For this reason, tampering with truth in any way, casting

unwarranted shadows over what may not be totally clear, is an immoral act.

Openness of mind will separate facts from opinions. Faith is in jeopardy if

one sets limits to research, fearing that new discoveries may unsettle faith.

One’s faith also is in jeopardy when human reason or feelings are permitted

to set the limits of faith. Truth must be honored at all costs. When someone

models his or her words against truth for their own framing, the motive to it

is from self which bespeaks a desperate depth of wickedness into which one

falls.

Being troubled in spirit by the trouble is a circumstance fight. The enemy is

after our faith. We’re troubled, but not troubled means the circumstances

may be dark, but we still have our faith.

Man will never learn to live in peace on this Earth. Persecution in the last

days will be because of the name of Jesus. The world doesn’t mind if you

pray; just don't mention that name. We can be in favor of religion, but leave

out Jesus’ name. Is that not true? There is no absolute standard of right and

wrong. If there is no absolute standard, the moral anchor is gone. Think what

the sins of the world have done unto people. Experiencing betrayal by

someone we love is painful. Betrayal destroys trust, injures love and leaves

an indelible scar on one’s heart. It may be forgiven, but the pain is enduring

and it troubles the spirit. There is a troubled spirit that is sinful and we should

seek to overcome it by trusting the promises of Jesus. And there is a troubled

spirit that is not sinful, because Jesus had it, and it has a place in the life of

his followers. There is disquiet of heart without sin. There is an agitation of

soul without sin. There is a kind of troubled turmoil in the spirit that is not

owing to sin. The sinful troubled soul is owing to unbelief. For that reason

Jesus tells us: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe. . . believe.” But the

holy troubled soul is owing to love. Jesus isn’t only troubled by the prospect

of his own agony. Not sinful turmoil that comes from lack of trust in the

promises of God, but holy turmoil that comes from love for someone who is

about to destroy himself and defame God. This gives us continual sorrow

and great heaviness. We are made miserable by this holy disquiet. The same

faith in God that dispels sinful turmoil, keeps holy turmoil in its proper bounds.

It doesn’t overwhelm us. Let this cup pass from us. Jesus moved forward

with God’s plan for His life. We can move through times of suffering and

anguish and answer God’s higher calling as well.

Prayer is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal. No troubled spirit can last

with prayer. We have only to ask our friend Jesus. He chose us and

appointed us. The bible warned that there will be unspeakable darkness and

a great falling away in the last days before Christ returns, but most of us

probably never thought we would live to see a day of moral decay quite like

this. In the natural, we are on the weaker side; but in the spiritual, we are

already more than conquerors. The greatest tool we have to keep our hearts

from being flooded with chaos and trouble is His Word. If we believe the bible

is the revealed Word of God given to us to show us how to keep our eyes on

Christ, then we should not only read it often, but hide His Word in our hearts.

The greatest defense against anything that unsaddles our spirit is His Word

because it is through His Word that our minds are renewed and settled into

His perfect peace. That’s why God called His people to put His Word in their

hearts and to imprint it into their minds. We will pass through the deep waters

of personal bitterness...take hold of God. God is at work to accomplish His

purpose in Israel; He will bring about His highest purposes…

The troubled spirit is brought on by the love we have for those near to us.

Those who say they live in covenant with Him. What of these who suppress

any truth of God…stubborness of heart. As these show agitation in refusing

the truth it devastates the unity of the people of God. These are not conscious

of their spiritual poverty. And when those who are troubled in spirit seek to

hide the remorse, the despair that so burdens their heart, they are denying

the Holy Spirit. It was this change by God to example for us the truth of reality

shown in Jesus that our communication with others would be of sound

witness. God is a Spirit, and a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me

have said the Son of God.

Being troubled in spirit is preparatory to the closing up of all earthly scenes.

God has a record of this and that is sufficient. In this last time God’s purpose

is for His people to weep deep inside for those who compromise the

attachment with truth. We will suffer together in the chaos of the turmoil of

love — in its appointed bounds. We seldom use the term turmoil to describe

a kind of love. But the thoughts of our hearts are sunken. We can only do

this when the foundations for our thresholds are built on truth, purity of heart,

goodwill towards others and honesty towards ourselves. A troubled spirit,

combined with our faith, gives us a stronger relationship with Jesus and

prepares us to last. We find wholeness in Jesus Christ. Divine wisdom

shepherds us in the path of Divine will. We are approaching unto the

we are in the valley

mountain, but as of now, we are in the valley. Foreboding trials and troubles

are out there. Thank God for gracing us with an intense peace and calm

within. We are not feared for ourself, but for those we love whom the enemy

is surrounding. We pray for the re-encountering of a right relationship in the

remembrance that we have a purpose and calling as a stand-in figure for

Christ. The end is here. A compassionate and loving God asks us to look

beyond ourselves. We are called to begin at the end…where God says it is

done. That is to be our faith. This troubled spirit helps us to transcend self.

We grow in our experience to a greater awareness in responding to others.

We are in the sanctuary of a troubled soul. Reason has full power and

dominion over the will and the will governs the sensual faculties constrained

to be serviceable to good as we are held in obedience to God’s will. Sin

causes the will to be disordered and to break loose from its obedience to

God. It is on a violent course, and this troubles the spirit as it frames

waywardness in justification, or excuses, or concealment. Reason lacking in

the people of God is seduced thereby. It remains dispirited in power. And by

judgment is so blinded that it cannot discern what it ought. This troubling in

spirit finds it necessary for fasting, meditation, and prayer, being not only just,

but expediate for the soul. This stirs up and strengthens the forces of reason:

faith, prayer, and grace. This disposes the soul of God’s people to make

familiar conference with God for the many others cared for. Prayer is the

speech of our soul unto God and meditation is the speech of God to the soul.

We render our employment of the sabbath days always to begin and end

with God while we pause in the midst to comfort our consciences one with

another. This is how God’s people are familied…made sweeter than honey

as being drawn from many flowers. If we fail to present ourselves to speak

face to face we fail in faith. How can we think to praise God with the tongue

that deserts truth. Be troubled in spirit regarding the corruption of our nature

consisting of love and dread in the trembling for the souls being lost.

Our inward anguish cast our thoughts upon the Savior. What love moved him

to choose death for me. In all the necessities and tribulations of this life, in

Christ we have an assured hope and confidence. Our troubled spirits may

find comfort in the sanctuary. Not a location or place; not confined within

walls or defined by them. It's a spiritualized state of consciousness reached

through prayer. Within the sanctuary of spiritual understanding we find

immunity from sin and from the impositions of the world. Here we have

spiritual recourse to meet any problem that may confront us and the means

of resolving it. It is the secret place of the Most High. It is the understanding

of our relationship to Christ as His spiritual expression of himself. In the

sanctuary we discover the truth of our individuality as God's image. God has

a purpose in troubling our spirits. It is for us to plead God's allness! His all-

power, His ever-present love, His nearness, supremacy, oneness, and

infinitude. How heartening it is to realize that every troubling thought, each

trial can actually cause us to gain the understanding of our perfect state as

God's spiritual image and likeness. It is as we take these troubling spirits to

the sanctuary that we then understand their end. We take refuge in truth. We

will see that the operation of divine principle is irresistible. We will learn that

the demise of evil is inevitable because evil has no foundation in truth to

support it, no life to sustain it, and no law through which to act. Because

underived from God, evil is a nonentity; it's never a person or a group of

persons.

How is it that God has purposed a called election? God knows us only as we

truly are. God's knowing of our faith preserves it.

📖 Applying the Study

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