The Depths Of A Deeply Broken Heart

• 

How does one explain the depths of a broken heart?  How does one explain what the experience is like?  Most cannot.  Few can explain the experience.

I find it interesting writing about this subject today.  I try to write what the Holy Spirit places on my heart to write.  So I am sure the Holy Spirit will bless and help many who read this. 

For me personally, the depths of a deeply broken heart lead to decades of severe depression and bondage.  I never fully understood my need to be unconditionally loves.  I would also always be trying to please people so they would accept me.  I also was so afraid of stress and conflict.  I avoided them at any cost.

I realize now that back then I was avoiding the need to have my broken heart healed.  Unfortunately, countless many do the same thing today.

It is understandable to avoid pain.  However, the pain of a broken heart is different.  The pain must be faced for the entire well-being of the person is at stake.

If one cannot function normally as a person, then he will only be procrastinating the inevitable nervous breakdown.  He, instead, will begin to put on a facade to “mask” and avoid his deep heart pain.  He will engage in such activities as drinking, drugs, gambling, excelling at one’s profession.  He will do anything to keep himself busy to avoid looking at the deep pain in his heart.  (Christians often avoid this pain and usually drown themselves in Christian ministry.)

That’s why I now offer the simple solution.  For the solution is what healed my broken heart — JESUS CHRIST.

The deepest needs of the human heart are spiritual needs and can only be totally filled by God Himself. 

So if God is not residing in you and feeding His love to your heart, then it only makes sense that one’s heart would be broken more and more everyday. 

Through Jesus, God restored relationship with us.  CHRIST IN YOU is what heals the broken heart.  God gives us a brand new heart – the very heart of Jesus Himself.  This is where total healing & satisfaction. 

Does Jesus live in you?  If Yes, are you resting in His love & letting His love grow in you.  If No, would you consider inviting Jesus in to take up residence & become your Lord and Savior?  I pray you do. Ask me if you are interested.

The new life of CHRIST IN YOU is what the growth God uses to heal your broken heart.  Keep looking at CHRIST IN YOU.  He lives in you permanently 24/7 and will never leave.

God bless.

Bob Bennett

My Walk Into Victory Over Depression

• 

MY WALK INTO VICTORY OVER DEPRESSION
– This is a brief summary of the Biblical truths God used to help me have TOTAL Victory Over Depression.
– I pray God use it to help many more.

That’s why I often say things like,
* Depression and ALL ITS CONSEQUENCES were crucified on the cross and buried in Christ’s tomb.
That’s why it’s all dead.

* God can’t help if you keep looking at dead things.

* If they’re dead in God’s eyes, why do you keep giving it life by looking at them?

* Leave it Dead and Buried ony Jesus’ tomb.
That’s where God’s left it.

* You don’t visit a cemetery to dig up a grave to see if a person is alive.
Buried is confirmation the person is dead.

* God deals with life 
God sees His Son JESUS IN YOU Alive 24/7.
What is keeping you from consistently seeing the same?

* Satan know it’s dead.
He wants you to not see this truth.
So he will distract you in any way from this truth – especially seeing the Truth of CHRIST IN YOU living 24/7.

BOTTOM LINE:
1) Depression, consequences, and Our Flesh are DEAD & BURIED in God’s eyes.

2) Satan lost all power and authority at the cross.

3) Therefore, Satan is petrified of Jesus.

4) That also means Satan is petrified of JESUS IN YOU.

April 1, 1979 – The Greatest Day Of My Life

April 1, 1979 – 41 years ago today I gave my life to Jesus Christ as my personal Lord & Savior. I accepted Jesus’ death on my behalf for all my sins. I accepted His Resurrection to conquer death. I accepted His invitation for eternal life. Jesus accepted my invitation to come take up residence in me 41 years ago.

• 

41 years ago is just like yesterday. For those who remember, other event occurred around that time:

• On March 28, 1979 the USA had its worse nuclear reactor accident “3 Mile Island” in Pennsylvania.
• On April 2, 1979, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson opposed each other in the NCAA Championship basketball game.

As I look back 41 years, I confidently say “It was the greatest decision I ever made.”

I was 22 at the time, about to graduate college, and was in the deepest depression of my life. I did not understand how seriously depressed I was. I was an insecure adolescent, in an adult body.

I was getting a crash course in life. My normal experience at the time was one of daily tears and nervous shaking whenever conflict or stress arose. I was a people-pleaser and easily gave in to be accepted. I was quite a basket case. (Other blogs I have posted on this Victory Over Depression blog give a more descriptive experience of the depression I had.)

As the day of April 1, 1979 came around, I kept trying anything to make sense out of life, to have my broken heart healed. (Can you relate?) I was so desperate and how I wish some people really understood the deep pain my heart was experiencing. No help came. I almost reached the point of considering suicide.

Fortunately, I came to realize to give God a try. God got my attention and was knocking on my heart’s door. I knew about God growing up, but never considered what a relationship is. I asked God that if He really showed Himself to me and helped me, I would be glad to change my life and give it all to Him.

God honored my prayer. The next day (April 2, 1979), I was on Cloud 9. Nothing bothered me anymore. It was the deepest, personal experience of love in my heart I ever had. It made me look above all my problems & insecurities because I now knew Jesus lived in me. This experience stayed with me for a few months. It was a deep burning passion every day. It lasted this long because God knew I needed this long. I was all by myself. I had no friends to share this with. It was just God and me. I knew I had become born again.

April 1, 1979 was April Fool on the devil. Amen!!!!!

It took many years for me to understand what a Christian needed to be. I still needed the deep depths of my broken heart healed. That’s why the depression persisted for another 17 years, despite knowing the Scripture so well. It was not until I really applied by faith daily the reality of CHRIST IN ME that the healing began.(I have added many blogs sharing this freedom and reality up to where I am today.)

Now I only let Jesus live through me. I pray that people see me they see JESUS IN ME.

JESUS IN ME is my victory. 41 years later I rejoice in the greatest choice I ever made.

CHRIST IN ME lives through me. (May you also choose wisely.)

April 1, 1979 – April Fool’s Day – My Best Day Ever

April 1, 1979 – 39 years ago today I gave my life to Jesus Christ as my personal Lord & Savior. I accepted Jesus’ death on my behalf for all my sins. I accepted His Resurrection to conquer death. I accepted His invitation for eternal life. Jesus accepted my invitation to come take up residence in me 39 years ago.

39 years ago is just like yesterday. For those who remember, other event occurred around that time:

• On March 28, 1979 the USA had its worse nuclear reactor accident “3 Mile Island” in Pennsylvania.
• On April 2, 1979, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson opposed each other in the NCAA Championship basketball game.

As I look back 39 years, I confidently say “It was the greatest decision I ever made.”

I was 22 at the time, about to graduate college, and was in the deepest depression of my life. I did not understand how seriously depressed I was. I was an insecure adolescent, in an adult body.

I was getting a crash course in life. My normal experience at the time was one of daily tears and nervous shaking whenever conflict or stress arose. I was a people-pleaser and easily gave in to be accepted. I was quite a basket case. (Other blogs I have posted on this Victory Over Depression blog give a more descriptive experience of the depression I had.)

As the day of April 1, 1979 came around, I kept trying anything to make sense out of life, to have my broken heart healed. (Can you relate?) I was so desperate and how I wish some people really understood the deep pain my heart was experiencing. No help came. I almost reached the point of considering suicide.

Fortunately, I came to realize to give God a try. God got my attention and was knocking on my heart’s door. I knew about God growing up, but never considered what a relationship is. I asked God that if He really showed Himself to me and helped me, I would be glad to change my life and give it all to Him.

God honored my prayer. The next day (April 2, 1979), I was on Cloud 9. Nothing bothered me anymore. It was the deepest, personal experience of love in my heart I ever had. It made me look above all my problems & insecurities because I now knew Jesus lived in me. This experience stayed with me for a few months. It was a deep burning passion every day. It lasted this long because God knew I needed this long. I was all by myself. I had no friends to share this with. It was just God and me. I knew I had become born again.

April 1, 1979 was April Fool on the devil. Amen!!!!!

It took many years for me to understand what a Christian needed to be. I still needed the deep depths of my broken heart healed. That’s why the depression persisted for another 17 years, despite knowing the Scripture so well. It was not until I really applied by faith daily the reality of CHRIST IN ME that the healing began. (I have added many blogs sharing this freedom and reality up to where I am today.)

Now I only let Jesus live through me. I pray that people see me they see JESUS IN ME.

JESUS IN ME is my victory. 39 years later I rejoice in the greatest choice I ever made.

CHRIST IN ME lives through me. (May you also choose wisely.)

Busy Doing NOTHING For Jesus

“There is always so much to do, but nothing more important than spending quiet time before the Lord.” – Charles Stanley

There is an event in the life of Jesus that is only mentioned once in the Bible. It is in the gospel of Luke when Jesus is invited to have dinner in the home of sisters Martha & Mary. It is only five verses – Luke 10:38-42. Yet, it has one of the most profound lessons applicable for us today.

Now as they were traveling along, He (Jesus) entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Read the bold apart of the previous paragraph again. It is Jesus’ own words telling us what is most important in His eyes.

It is so easy for us to be like Martha. Ministry work and intimate relationship with Jesus are always there to do, but too many do more of the ministry work than spending quiet time in the Lord’s presence. Some don’t spend intimate time with Jesus at all. This is a gross error in the Christian walk.

Yet, we see that Jesus emphasizes the intimate time with Him as more important than ministry work. Seems like a contradiction, but nothing could be more obvious from the lips of Jesus.

What was Mary exactly doing that Jesus said was most important? Mary was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

So if Mary simply sat quietly at the feet of Jesus listening to every word that came from His lips, why do so many Christians do the exact opposite? Many do it out of fear, insecurity, and the deep pain within their hearts they would rather hide from than face.

Instead they drown themselves in ministry work thinking they are doing things for God. This is what Martha was doing – preparing the meal and then becoming upset at both Mary and Jesus. (I wouldn’t want to get angry at Jesus.)

Keeping busy doing things for Jesus without first spending quiet, intimate time with Jesus often is doing NOTHING. It is done in the power of the flesh, sin nature.

I pray this simple lesson be rooted in your heart. Without Jesus, we can do nothing. Intimate relationship and time in the presence of God makes the love of God root into you. Then, His love motivates you to do Christian ministry for His love will be your primary motivation.

So Remember:
Like Mary, sit quietly at the Lord’s feet and hear every word that comes from His lips. (Sit quietly often hearing what He speaks from His Word.)
Stop doing and just BE in His presence.

My Personal Walk Of A Broken Heart (From Depression To Victory)

I know this blog is going to help many. I pray God will use it to help countless more.

I will be transparent in sharing some of the depths I experienced when walking through life with severe depression and a broken heart. Too many Christians want the victory without going through the painful walk of dying to self daily. I sure did not want to, but since I trusted God for everything, I knew I had to.

Fortunately, I now have the Victory Over Depression since 1996. Jesus in me grows more than ever every day.

Growing up through adolescence, I was not aware that I had such a poor self-image that it grew me right into depression. I wanted so much for people to accept me. I sought peer pressure approval often.

When one does not realize he has a broken heart, he unsuspectingly covers it up as he goes through life. If it is not dealt with, one day the broken heart will explode, usually like a pressure cooker.

God wants to help deal with the internal issues, heal the broken heart, and come take up residence in the person. This is what occurred to me. Being an adolescent in an adult body, I was not prepared for the challenges and seriousness of adulthood. My inside exploded (figuratively) like a pressure cooker.

Some of my depression symptoms were:

• I cried almost every night to sleep.
• I hid under covers frequently and kept the blinds closed.
• During daylight hours, I turned the lights off in my room often.
• I retreated often into a fantasy, daydream world. It was an easy way to avoid facing my problems.
• I slept often hoping that when I woke up, my depression was only a fantasy.
• I avoided stress and conflict at every opportunity.
• My hands and body shook whenever stress occurred.

Fortunately on April 1, 1979, after searching and trying many things to get rid of the depression, God touched my heart. I will not go into details, but to say that God filled my deepest needs and gave me hope and a reason to live. I knew God now loved me unconditionally and was living in me. I was amazed that now I was enjoying life more every day.

The next few years grew me more in love with God. It was like nothing bothered me anymore. I was growing more in love with Jesus everyday and enjoyed reading the Bible (the Word of God) everyday. I was maturing as a Christian and proud of it. I memorized Bible verses and was actively involved in leading ministries.

A few years later, I was to learn the maturity I saw in me was just another facade to cover my broken heart. The maturity I stated in the previous paragraph was absent of the necessary growth through the road of Calvary, suffering, pruning, refining in the fire, etc. (Unfortunately, many Christians do the same thing. They think this is maturity, but is the opposite. God will elevate many and use them mightily, but one must go through the road of the cross for real maturity.)

I wanted to draw closer to Jesus and He was now ready to take me through some of my darkest days as a Christian. Before I knew what happened, all the depression symptoms came back. I could not understand it. As much as I rebuked the devil, prayed more, and quoted Scripture, the depression overwhelmed me again. It made no sense. The depression was a vicious cycle the next couple of years. All those symptoms I previously stated were back and controlling me.

The deep pain in my heart was being torn open like never before. I could not understand why.

I knew God loved me. So the problem had to be with me and my thinking. No Christian understood the deep pain I was experiencing. They acted more like Job’s friends than a friend of Jesus. I felt more condemned and judged than relieved and comforted. (Sadly this occurs often in the Church of Jesus Christ. Instead many suffering with broken hearts choose to suffer silently.)

This was the painful road of maturity God was taking me through – the road of the cross, of suffering, to die daily to self, to be refined in the fire, to be pruned. Fortunately, with an open, honest heart, God showed me the answer.

The answer is CHRIST IN YOU. God was working on clearing out all the garbage of my broken heart so that all I could see was CHRIST IN ME. I was learning that God the Father ONLY sees His Son Jesus in me.

God healed my broken heart by giving me a brand new heart- the very heart of God Himself in Jesus Christ.

No wonder depression overwhelmed me. I kept looking at my broken heart and depression – what Jesus had already crucified and buried. God cannot help one who constantly looks at dead things. This was the victory I needed to see. I know it is the truth many need to see.

God cannot help one who constantly looks at dead things.

I quickly realized that it was Jesus in me living His life through me. When people see me, they are to see ONLY Jesus in me. That is the simplicity of the Christian life – Jesus in you living His life through you.

I began consistently having the daily victory. The joy came back. Every day for the last 18 years (even despite setbacks) I have been enjoying life to the fullest. Only because Jesus as God resides in me.

Today I learn to simply rest in Jesus and let Him live His life through me. I pray you see the same & learn to focus on Jesus in you for your healing and victory.

In His love and Grace,

Christ in you,

Bob Bennett

PS: God now trusts me with a Victory Over Depression ministry to simply point people to Him. I have developed a teaching presentation for any church, ministry, or group that may be interested. Let me know if anyone may be interested. Thanks and God bless.

IDENTITY – The Christ In You

One of the biggest guarantees for a Christian’s daily victory is knowing his identity – who God says he is.

We are all born into this world with a human identity. We are the child of our parents. As we grow, the ways of the world & what we do define who we are. Additional identities are added. We become students, friends of others, know ourselves to be a cousin, grandchild, aunt, uncle, etc. More identities are added years later – college student, occupation, husband/wife, alcoholic, depressed, etc. We even learn we are born into this world as sinners, without the presence of God in us.

What is important to remember is that every identity the world gives you is only temporary. One day you will become an “ex” identity. For example, one day Lebron James will be an ex-NBA basketball professional.

Think about it: Who wants to have an identity as an “EX?” Very unattractive it is.

Who or what we place our dependence and hope on defines who we are.

That’s why it’s important and invaluable to have an identity that will last forever. That’s where God comes in. God gives you an identity as His child. You are a son/daughter of the King.

Do you think your identity as a child of God is temporary? I hope not.

Your identity as a child of God is based on what Jesus did, neither how you feel nor what you do. One can NEVER become an ex-child of God.

God guarantees your identity as eternal because of Who lives in you – CHRIST IN YOU.

When God the Father sees you, He ONLY sees Jesus in you. Jesus dealt with all your sins and consequences on the cross. He crucified them & left them buried in His tomb when He rose from the dead. He then took up residence in you when you chose Him as Savior & Lord. He made you a child of God.

Since you are now a child of God, God wants you to walk that way. Ephesians 5:8 You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light.

If you are now a child of God, why do you want to walk in sin? Makes no sense. Should a butterfly go back to live like a worm caterpillar? Makes no sense. You can do it and enjoy the pleasures of your sin choice. However, you know the pleasure is very temporary and a big void of guilt & emptiness comes over you. That’s the Holy Spirit convicting you to repent and turn back to God – and continue walking again as a child of God. That is what occurred to the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.

Total joy and satisfaction only comes from God. To walk in an identity of sin makes no sense for a child of God. When you have joy & satisfaction as a child of God, sin loses its appeal. You begin to realize that sin is just stupid to be a part of. You may relapse/backslide. However, you are growing in your maturity in Christ. Christ In You is becoming more real every day. With Christ In You, your recovery comes quicker each time.

CHRIST IN YOU is your Key to Daily Victory.

Christ In you is one identity that will neither disappear nor cease. Jesus lives in you and will never leave nor forsake you. Jesus guarantees it. I encourage you to consistently see Christ In You in everything you do. Christ In You will take over your life one day at a time, one step at a time.

• If you are a teacher, Christ In You is the teacher.
• If you are a parent, Christ In You is the parent.
• If you are an executive, Christ In You is the executive.
• If you are a pastor, Christ In You is the pastor.
• If you are a taxi driver, Christ In You is the taxi driver.
• If you are a college student, Christ In You is the college student.
• If you are an unemployed worker, Christ In You is the unemployed worker.
• As a Christian, ONLY Christ In You is the Christian.

You can see the difference with life when you let Jesus live the Christian life through you. Now one cannot be, for example, a Christian and an alcoholic. That is two identities. One is either an alcoholic trying to be a Christian or a Christian struggling with alcoholism. One cannot be both. That is inconsistent in God’s eyes. If one is an alcoholic, go ahead and drink. That is what the identity of an alcoholic does. And don’t complain about the hangovers or the destruction of lives (especially of your family) that your drinking causes. However if you are a child of God, drinking alcohol is inconsistent with who you now are. That’s why it makes no sense and is not attractive. It is a way the world try to identify you.

I pray the reality of CHRIST IN YOU is taking deeper roots.

Jesus In You is your permanent identity as a child of God.

Remember also, Satan is petrified of Jesus In You and will do anything to distract your attention from tapping into the riches of this Wealth in you. Satan will try to tempt you in many ways, especially trying to get you to see your old identity.

Keep walking as a child of the King, a child of light. You were once something else. Now you are a child of God. Ephesians 5:8 You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light.

Who Is Jesus Christ To You?

How does one conclude a meditation about the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ? One does not. There is so much depth that one never reaches the depths of Jesus. When you experience the deep love of Jesus, this is not even a tip of what lies ahead. The depths of His love are bottomless. This is one reason why one becomes awestruck over the depths of God’s personal love for her.

The apostle John accurately explains the depths of experiencing a personal relationship with Jesus. John fittingly writes this at the conclusion of his gospel. John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were ever written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

You have just read and experienced the personal touch of Jesus Christ. Jesus intends to make these meditations very personal for you. I pray He has. May His personal love overwhelm you. May you give your heart love back to Jesus more than ever before.

The objective of writing these meditations was to make Jesus personal for 21^st century society. The personal, unique touches Jesus gave to each person and group are intended for you also. It now all depends on what your response is.

This section concludes our study of the greatest person who ever lived – Jesus Christ. Jesus is the greatest because He is God Himself in the body of a man. JESUS STILL LIVES.

God could have stayed at a distance in heaven away from His creation (us). Instead, God stepped out of eternity into time in the person of Jesus Christ. He is so passionately obsessed with love for us that He reached down to our level and died a death that everyone deserved. Yet, Jesus bore this death voluntarily for all our sins. Being God (and sinless), death could not keep Him in the grave. “He has risen.”

Today, Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father, always interceding for us. Through Jesus, the things of your past no longer have to keep you bound and chained. Your new life is the very life of Jesus Himself. It is Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit, Who takes up residence in you and, with your permission, will take over your life. Jesus will live His life through you. When people encounter you, they will see Jesus in you. You now live the Christian life by faith in Jesus Christ to live the Christian life through you. Only He can. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

You now have the opportunity to grow daily in love with Jesus. You now have the opportunity to experience Jesus Christ every moment of every day for the remainder of your earthly life. As you do, His heart grows in you. Only His love will be the primary motivation of your heart. Your experience will be fantastic.

After you have given your life to Jesus and grow in His love as His child, God will use you to share the “good news” of the gospel to others. As you responded to the “good news” of Jesus’ death and resurrection for salvation, God will place a passion in your heart to share Jesus with others. You know from personal experience the immeasurable joy you have since you accepted Jesus. You only want to tell others the “good” things God has done for you. You want them to experience the same. Even in the darkest adversity, Jesus is the answer.

Seeing Jesus live His life through you strengthens your love in Him. You rejoice in introducing someone to Jesus Christ. Seeing Jesus touch others through you is one of the most blessed privileges that God will give you. Witnessing a person’s response to Jesus that she is a sinner, born spiritually dead, and in need of a Savior, is evident of Jesus’ heart touching her heart. Though, sadly, some will reject the good news you share.

The full gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus must be shared. The impact of the death and resurrection must be given the same emphasis. My personal experience of 39 years as a Christian shows that most Christians, with all sincerity, only share the death of Jesus for all sins as salvation. This is true and vital. This is how I lived many years as a Christian. Ask Christians today, “What is salvation?” Many would exclaim, “Jesus died for my sins.” They know how to apply the cross to their daily life, to repent of their sins, and receive God’s forgiveness through Jesus’ shed blood.

The missing part of the full gospel is the resurrection. Most Christians know the validity of the resurrection. However, many do not know how to apply by faith the resurrection life of Jesus to their daily life. Many do not realize that “the Jesus who died for them 2000 years ago is the same Jesus who rose from the dead to live in them and through them today.” A Christian evangelist explains it accurately. “Jesus gave His life for us, so He can give His life to us, so He can live His life through us.”

Through Jesus’ death on the cross and His shedding of blood, a sinner receives forgiveness. Through Jesus’ resurrection, a spiritually dead person receives life. The death of Jesus destroys the disease (sin) that killed us. The resurrected life of Jesus raises spiritually dead people back to life. This is the context of the complete gospel, the full impact of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

By faith, we accept the full impact of Jesus’ death and resurrection. By faith, we apply daily the death and resurrection of Jesus to our own life. We accept responsibility for our sins, confess them, and repent. Jesus continually forgives. We, then, apply the resurrected life of Jesus in us, everyday, so Jesus can live His life through us.

Only Jesus can live the Christian life through you. Only Jesus is qualified to be the Christian in you. Jesus is the Christian life. You have a new identity as a child of God. Jesus is your new life. You are a new creation. Now Jesus calls you to rest in Him so He can live His life through you.

For many years I struggled to overcome many areas of my Christian walk. One of them was severe, clinical depression. If Jesus died for my sins, why was I struggling for many years as a depressed Christian? Even answering many altar calls, repenting daily, and rebuking Satan, I still struggled with depression. The depression symptoms consisted of a daily fear and insecurity, continuous tears crying myself to sleep, hiding under bed sheets, closing the shades and blinds during daylight, hoping I was living a fantasy, and avoidance of stress or conflict.

How can you relate to what I experienced? The Christian life for many can easily be a life of drudgery, burn out, and failure. Instead, the Christian life should be a life of joy, abundance, and victory.

Why do so many Christians struggle in their Christian walk? Why do so many burn out and walk away? The answer, which I can testify personally to, is that they do not, for whatever reason, let Jesus live His life through them. Many Christians simply do not know how to let Jesus live through them. Many, in fact, rarely understand it at all. Many do not know how to “rest in Jesus.” Many have not let Jesus heal their broken heart.

I lived with the following mindset. “If Jesus came to give me abundant life, why did I continue to live depressed, disappointed, and lifeless?” That was the question I repeatedly asked myself.

Basically, I was born again into a new life in Christ, but I was living as though I was “spiritually dead.” I tried to live the Christian life on my own. No wonder my life was full of death and depression. I did not know how to let Jesus live His life through me. I did not know how to really “rest in Jesus.” I needed to let Jesus heal my broken heart. When Jesus died, my depression died with Him. On the cross, Jesus absorbed my depression into His body. It was buried with Him in His tomb. When Jesus rose from the dead, He left my depression dead and buried forever.

God was viewing my depression as “dead.” He needed to train me (to renew my mind) to see it as “dead” also. As long as I continued to focus on my “dead” depression, I actually was making it come “alive” in my mind. No wonder my Christian life was failing. No wonder depression overwhelmed me. I was looking at “dead” things that God was not looking at. God cannot lead one to victory who continues to focus on “dead” things. A “dead” corpse does not need help. A “dead” corpse needs life – God’s life in it. God looks at life, specifically His life in Jesus. When God sees His born again child, He sees His Son Jesus.

God the Father only saw Jesus in me. I needed to more consistently see the same. I know this is the same problem many hurting and depressed Christians face. Perhaps you are one of them. Fortunately, you know the same victory God worked in me, He can work in you. You only need to rest in Jesus and focus on “Jesus in you.” I amplify this further in my book Dead, Buried, And A New Life In Christ.

I had now begun to realize that the resurrected life of “Jesus in me” was to be my total victory. I needed to learn how to apply “Jesus in me” by faith into my daily life (Galatians 2:20). I was learning to “rest in Jesus.” One thing about the Christian life is that God has made it simple: Everything is summed up and fulfilled in Jesus. As I continued to focus on “Jesus in me” as my solution, it would only be natural to expect victory over depression. It would take time because Jesus needed to deal gently with the deep pains in my heart. I was now crucifying daily the “dead” parts of my life so the life of Christ could grow in me more. It would take time and be very painful. However, that is what crucifixion causes – death. The reward comes afterwards in the joyful experience of the resurrected life of Jesus alive in me.

I have shared my experience with depression to show you where I am at today. The life and love of Jesus has rooted deeper into me. I have experienced victory over depression for the last 22 years. My eyes are focused more consistently on Jesus. I rest in His love. I attempt to permit only His love to motivate every action from my heart.

Jesus is my new life. Today, I literally visualize “Jesus in me.” I attempt to have my heart open to His love. Then, I can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to stir my heart to what actions to take/or not take for specific situations. I can plan functions, but I cannot plan results. Results are God’s business. I am simply permitting Jesus to live His life through me. I become abundantly blessed by watching Jesus work through me for His glory.

The Christian life is now totally exciting and worth it. All that Jesus has said is true. He has come to give us the fullest, abundant life. He fills the deepest desires of the human heart. He heals every broken heart. The Christian life for me is now pure joy. I not only enjoy life. I LIVE LIFE. Jesus is my life. It is a life to grow deeper in love with Jesus every day. Everything else combined could never be more fulfilling.

I not only enjoy life. I LIVE LIFE. Jesus is my life.

So be encouraged. What Jesus has done for me, He will do the same for you, more than you can ever imagine. He personally loves you so much and only desires you to grow in love with Him.

As you have read in my testimony and the Biblical stories, Jesus makes God very personal. He touches each individual with the tender, unique touch each one needs. This lies ahead for you.

There are certain “dead” areas in your life that you continue to struggle with. As I personally shared, the same solution (Jesus Christ) is waiting to give you His victory through His death and resurrection. Jesus wants to live His life through you. He is the only one who can. As you then continue to grow in Jesus, you will have victory over the “dead” areas of your life. You will be “dead” to them and “alive” to Jesus.

If you desire Jesus to be your total victory, the first step is to ensure you have given your life to Jesus, that you accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior. If you never have, then you must do so immediately. (See the prayer in the Reconsider The Cost section at the end of the book to assist you.)

If you have already given your life to Jesus, then your challenge is to bring Jesus more into the midst of your everyday life. Especially if you are struggling in your Christian walk, you must experience the tender, gentle touch of Jesus. Jesus desires to make your heart more after God’s heart. You have not yet learned how to let Jesus live His life through you. “Do you desire that whomever you encounter only see Jesus in you?” Of course you do. That is why I want to encourage you.

There are “death” areas in your life that Jesus has already crucified. You continue to look more at them than at Jesus. Jesus sees them as “dead.” He desires to renew your mind to see them “dead and buried” in His tomb.

When God the Father sees you, He sees Jesus. This is the second part of renewing your mind that God desires to do. He desires you to see “life” in you, His very life. If the Father only sees Jesus in you, what is keeping you from consistently seeing the same? Remember that God sees as “dead” all your sins, your flesh sin nature, and its consequences. As I had to see my depression as “dead,” so must you see as “dead” these areas of your life that are not part of God.

You will then begin to see Jesus in you more consistently. Jesus does not sit idly by. He will actively move in and take over more areas of your life. He will crucify daily your “dead” areas, carry your cross with you, and give you a deeper awareness of His presence and love (Christ in you). Your experience of Jesus more often on a daily basis will be the most fulfilling experience you will ever encounter. You will fall passionately more in love with Jesus. You will then naturally share Him with others. You simply will now be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in you directing the handling of every situation or person you encounter. You learn to leave the results in Jesus’ hands. That is His business. Sharing Jesus with others becomes the most natural thing to do. Jesus is certainly worth it. Alleluia!

This now brings us to the conclusion of our meditations. Fortunately, Jesus never concludes loving us and working in our lives. I encourage you to go forward with your life deeper into the heart of Jesus. I have shared barely a tip about Jesus. It is only my own experience and opinion. That is why my desire is only to direct you to Jesus Himself for your own experience and your own opinion. I encourage you to read the gospels as much as possible every day. Jesus has a personal word to touch your heart. Come and make your heart after God’s. Your life story of “Jesus in you” is just beginning. Your life story is His Story.

It Is Christ Living In Me

It Is Christ Living In Me

“It is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me,” should be one of the most frequently spoken statements from the lips of professing Christians.  Many Christians do not understand the riches found in the fore-mentioned statement.  They know theologically what “Christ living in them” means, but lack the understanding to apply it to everyday life.  They love Jesus and do their best for Him.  Since their best for Jesus usually is not enough, their lives become lives of drudgery and burnout.  Something is missing.
The something missing is not an “it.”  The something is a person – Jesus Christ.  “Christ in you” is our hope of glory.  Jesus Christ is the Christian life.
The burnt out Christian is saved, but lives as though he is still spiritually dead.  He lives like a dead corpse.  A dead corpse does not need help; a dead corpse needs life.  He needs the life of Jesus living in him to live His life through him.  Only Jesus can.  Only Jesus is qualified to be the Christian.  The Christian is to be hidden with Christ in God.  He is to take off his “dead” grave clothes (like Lazarus) so Jesus in him can be seen as a shining beacon.
A car cannot function without gasoline.  A flashlight cannot function without batteries.  To function normally, the Christian must have the presence of his Creator in him.  Christ in the Christian puts God back into man.  Jesus in him and living through him is normal Christian living.
It is the resurrected life of Jesus in the Christian that people must see.  When the Christian permits Jesus to live His life through him, the fruit of the spirit comes forth.  The Christian life becomes a complete joy.  Being burnt out and overwhelmed becomes a thing of the past.  He will have setbacks, but he gets up and grows toward maturity in Christ.
The Christian learns to rest in Jesus and lets Jesus worry about the results.  Jesus is the vine; he is a branch.  He rests totally dependent on the life of the vine to produce spiritual fruit through him.  He simply bears fruit.  A branch does not grunt, groan, or burn out to produce fruit; it simply bears fruit.  Likewise, a Christian need not grunt or groan trying to live the Christian life for Jesus.  He is to rest in Jesus, permitting Jesus to live His life through him.
Being free and enjoying our relationship with Jesus is normal Christian living.  Jesus in us makes all things possible.  Enjoy your life with Jesus in you, and apply daily, by faith, Jesus living through you.  Continue confidently to say, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me.” May people whom you encounter only see Jesus living in you.
(This was originally posted in Feb 2010.  It is very applicable and appropriate to post it again.  Be blessed and please share.)

Christian Backstabbing

Do not be deceived: “BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD MORALS.” —– I Corinthians 15:33  

There are two questions I want you to ask yourself.  Be honest.  Honesty is critical for any healing and growth to occur.

1. How many times have you had knives stabbed into your back?

2. How many times have you stabbed some people in the back?     Yes, you have to answer this question about yourself.  To be honest with yourself is a must to ensure your heart is pure in that area.  Hypocrisy must be avoided.

———————————————————

The term CHRISTIAN BACKSTABBING sounds like an oxymoron.  How can two words be so opposite?  Unfortunately, they do go very well together.

After personally experiencing Christian Backstabbing this past year and remembering my previous experiences, I felt it necessary to address this issue and bring it to the forefront of the Body of Christ.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

CHRISTIAN BACKSTABBING needs to be recognized for what it is:

The Putrid Stench Oo The Flesh, From the Pit of Hell.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Christian Backstabbing needs to be dealt with appropriately —– crucified on the cross of Christ.  One then needs to walk wisely to avoid future stabbings.

A Christian Backstabber will appear as a genuine friend.  You will usually get to know the person over a lengthy period of time.  The person becomes so trustworthy that you believe you have a true friend and brethren.  Genuine brethren can occur for sure, but there is also the flip side to be aware of.  Often, the person is not so genuine and you gradually begin to see more areas of flesh behavior come out.

The maturity of your walk with Christ will reveal how long a Christian Backstabber remains hidden from your knowing.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I have been a Christian 36 years.  My immaturity with a broken heart permitted a few Christian Backstabbers to take advantage of my help.  As I trusted two specific people over the years, I shared personal information about myself.  (Not wise.)  I also helped these people financially.

I have a servant’s heart and enjoy helping people’s needs be met.  However, my immaturity and naivety showed because I went overboard with my sharing.  These two people took advantage of my giving a hefty amount.  When I finally confronted them about using me, I got the sweet smile that they will pay me back and help me when I needed it.  They never came through.  Instead, they actually started turning against me and accusing me of being ungodly.  They gossiped about me and slandered me.

I sure felt the backstabbing.  I was so deeply hurt and betrayed.  It was a good growth experience, though I must admit I wished often God would get them and get them good.  Even to this day, they avoid me and will not even want to talk about it.  I have reached out, but they have shut the door.  So be it.  It is in God’s hand.

Does God honor their praising Him and turning a blind eye to a brother they had a problem with?  ABSOLUTELY NOT.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

These are some of the habits that the Christian Backstabber usually displays:

They refuse correction, especially from biblical authority.They refuse to even acknowledge the possibility they are insincere and sinning.They will gossip, slander, complain, and covet about other people and what God is doing in their lives.They will boast publicly, looking for any ears to listen, about the great things God is doing in them.All the while, deep down the sinful flesh has taken hold and blinded them to the truth of God.  Satan has much control over them.The biggest shame is how they walk around confidently showing themselves off with a puffed up pride.  They also will have animosity and bitterness toward you.

Backstabbers are ravenous wolves and a ravenous wolf wants whatever you got.  Paul talks about this to the leaders of the church of Ephesus.  They will then tear you apart, shame you, and leave you stripped naked to die.  They will also complain, gossip, and slander to you about others.  Rest assured, they do it also about you to others.  As much as you permit them, they will strip your dignity and your character.  Remarkable is they will still think they are doing God’s will.

Therefore, you must be wise in whom you associate with.

First, ensure you are not a Christian Backstabber.Walk wisely.  Be wary of the company you keep.  Remember the Scripture from the top of the blog:“BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD MORALS.”  There are genuine Christians and genuine Christian Backstabbers, disguised as genuine Christians.  Seek the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal the truth behind everyone you meet.  PRAY FOR THEM.As wrong and evil what the Christian Backstabber does, you are not responsible for their actions.  You are responsible for yours.  If they have hurt you, it is mainly because you permitted it to go that deep.  Walk wisely to prevent this in the future.

Here is the Biblical approach for conflict resolution:

Matthew 18:15-17

¹⁵“^(M)If your brother sins^[b], go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

¹⁶“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that ^(N)BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.

¹⁷“If he refuses to listen to them, ^(O)tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, ^(P)let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The Bible mentions some strong things to be wary of regarding Christian Backstabbers.  Here are a few.

A dog returns to its vomit.Don’t cast your pearls before swine.Wolves in sheep’s clothing.Masquerade as angels of light.A tree is known by its fruit.“BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD MORALS.”

There are more words to add on this subject.  That will be for another time or for another person to share.  I have shared what is on my heart.

An appropriate ending is to remember that ONLY JESUS can heal every broken heart.  JESUS IN YOU is who takes over and grows you through every situation – away from being a Christian Backstabber and desensitized when a Christian Backstabber puts a dagger in your back.  Christ in you makes you capable of forgiving them.  KEEP THAT FOCUS ON JESUS IN YOU.