Hey Phil,
I really like this and agree withit. thank you for sharing. Another
passage of scripture that I thought gets to the heart of what he is trying
to say here is Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus says, "take my yoke upon you
and learn of me!" The lies are not a part of christ's yoke. What Christ
offers is growth and becoming more like Him.
God bless,
Kathy
At 12:31 PM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
>This was the question Ed smith answered this week which I thought some might
>like to read.
>
>Phil.
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2005 9:45 AM
>Subject: You Asked Dr. Ed Smith 06-01-2005
>
>
>NOTE: Ed Smith's responses to the "You asked" questions sent in through
>letters and emails are provided as a benefit to members of the International
>Association for Theophostic Ministry (IATM) and are merely his opinions
>based upon the limited information that is contained in the submitted
>question. Although he is happy for anyone to disagree with his responses,
>please know that Dr. Smith will not be able to respond directly to further
>discussion and dialogue concerning the issues addressed.
>
>
>You asked...
>
>"Can you help me understand why we need to be free from pain (as taught in
>TPM) when we are called to suffer in this life as believers. The Apostle
>Peter said, 'In the same way that Christ suffered in the flesh arm
>yourselves for the same purpose.' It seems to me that always focusing on
>finding release from pain short circuits the maturing process that God has
>called us to attain. I believe we need to focus on Jesus and bear the pain
>that comes into our lives."
>
>
>Ed Smith's response:
>I agree with you that we are called to share in the sufferings of Christ. I
>believe that this journey of suffering is a vital part of the sanctifying
>work that God has called us to fulfill. However, there is a big difference
>between standing in and suffering through the fire of refinement and
>carrying emotional duress that is rooted in lies that we are harboring.
>Suffering for Christ is rooted in the truth while emotions such as fear,
>worry, anxiety, frustration, depression, hopelessness, helplessness, etc.
>are not rooted in the truth and are in conflict with Biblical truth. God
>wants us to walk in truth and peace, not anxiety and fear. However, we will
>feel what we truly believe. Our emotional state always gives a clear
>picture of what we are believing in any given moment. I can say "my God
>shall supply all of my needs" but if I lose my job and experience fear and
>anxiety I am obviously believing something else. God wants me free from
>this pain. Theophostic Prayer Ministry does NOT teach a life free of all
>pain but rather a life free of pain that is rooted in lies (or what is
>called lie-based pain). TPM teaches that we are destined to suffer with
>Christ. It is by God's design that lies produce pain (so that we might
>become aware of them) but not that we carry this pain any longer than it
>takes to identify its root and receive His truth and consequential peace.
>He wants us to walk in truth. We are told to "be anxious for NOTHING..."
>When we are feeling anxious we are in direct conflict with God's word.
>Anxiety is rooted in lie based thinking. The same is true for fear. We are
>told to "fear not..." When I walk in fear I am not walking in the truth.
>Any emotional duress that is rooted in lies is not an emotion the Lord
>desires we harbor. However, suffering in this life is inevitable. But this
>type of pain is not lie-based. It is a fact that many will suffer for Him.
>But if in this suffering I am racked with emotional pain that is rooted in
>false thinking then this pain is such that the Lord desires we be free of.
>
>I do not believe it is God's will for me to believe lies, therefore
>experiencing the pain that results from these lies cannot be God's will
>either. But pain that comes from faulty thinking is very different from the
>suffering that comes to Christians as a result of their life circumstances
>and/or overt persecutions that are part of God's plan. I recognize that this
>latter kind of suffering is necessary for the maturing of believers. As a
>matter of fact, suffering is a primary tool God uses to expose our lie-based
>thinking. When the "fire" of suffering comes, our true beliefs will be
>exposed; they will surely surface during the test. If during the test, truth
>(experiential truth, not just logical or cognitive truth) reigns in our
>thinking, we will remain in peace. But if we harbor lies, they will be
>exposed and we will respond to it from our lie-based beliefs and painful
>emotions will surface that match our beliefs. The Bible is clear that trials
>and suffering are ordained by God and necessary for the believer. The
>Apostle Peter wrote, ".since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm
>yourselves also with the same purpose." (1 Peter 4:1). He was perplexed by
>the church's reaction to their suffering: "Why are you so surprised by the
>fiery ordeal that has come upon you. Did you not know that it has come for
>your testing [refinement/exposure]?" (1 Peter 4:12 brackets mine). Paul,
>also, believed God had destined Christians to suffer affliction, ".for you
>yourselves know that we have been destined for this [to suffer for Christ]"
>(1 Thessalonians 3:3 brackets mine). Here are a few passages that indicate
>that suffering in this life is an inevitable part of the journey. It is also
>important to note that it is the refining fire of suffering that exposes our
>lie-based thinking. We will feel (during the fire) whatever we believe. Our
>emotions are an accurate exposure of what we experientially believe in any
>given moment. The fire will expose that which needs to be offered up to
>Jesus so that He might replace such thinking with His truth.
>§ Suffering produces character: ".tribulation brings about perseverance."
>(Romans 5:3).
>
>§ Suffering brings eternal benefits: ".those who suffer will receive the
>crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
>
>§ Present suffering pales in comparison to the glory we will experience:
>".the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
>glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).
>
>§ We have been called to suffer: "For to you it has been granted for
>Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."
>(Philippians 1:29).
>
>§ We find favor with God when we suffer for Him: ".when you do what is right
>and suffer for it and you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God."
>(1 Peter 2:20).
>
>§ We are blessed when we are required to suffer: ".if you should suffer for
>the sake of righteousness, you are blessed" (1 Peter 3:14).
>
>§ Suffering exposes our lies, which ultimately provides a way to greater
>victory: ".since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with
>the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from
>sin" (1 Peter 4:1).
>
>§ Suffering is the will of God: ".let those also who suffer according to the
>will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is
>right" (1 Peter 4:19).
>
>§ God is accomplishing a good work in us through suffering: ".after you have
>suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His
>eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and
>establish you" (1 Peter 5:10).
>
> § Our suffering with Him will result in our being glorified with Him:
>".if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with
>Him" (2 Timothy 3:17).
>
>
>Freedom from lie-based emotional pain is found by knowing the truth. This
>is what TPM is about. Freedom from Lie-based pain. This is a very clear
>teaching of this ministry. Please look in the Basic Seminar Manual, web
>site and the book Healing Life's Hurts Through Theophostic Prayer
>(currently out of stock) for a more careful examination of this
>distinction.
>
>Hope that this helps
>
>Ed Smith
>
>
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