The
reason for this web page is multi purpose. First, let all of us be
surprised at what a dictionary says about what a friend really is:
1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement: friends of the clean air movement.
5. Friend - A member of the Society of Friends; a Quaker.
How many
people that seem to be close to us, are we able to really trust?
Even the closest of friends, that we have had friendships with, for
decades, have secrets hidden from us, that many are afraid to admit,
because they know that they will loose contact with us, should those
secrets be revealed.
Therefore,
trust is the operative word, in the preceding definition, for this web
topic.
In
anonymous recovery, we are taught that we are to learn how to trust
God. Surely, we need friends, along the way, that are beyond a
casual acquaintance. And they are available in all anonymous
fellowships. But let us not put our trust in a human being, because
all will fail us, if we depend on them, too much.
We now
quote, from page 98, in the original anonymous text book, in the chapter
"Working with Others:"
It is not the matter of giving that is in question, but when and how to give. That often makes the difference between failure and success. The minute we put our work on a service plane, the alcoholic commences to rely upon our assistance rather than upon God. He clamors for this or that, claiming he cannot master alcohol until his material needs are cared for. Nonsense. Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job wife or no wife
--
we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on
God.
Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house.
All that
are seasoned in anonymous recovery can discern when people are trying to
use any human being, under the disguise of a friendship. All that
means is that they have not developed the spiritual skills needed to
depend on God, yet. And that translates into not having sufficient
effort in the Twelve Step anonymous recovery program. Have always
liked what the character Barney Fife said, "nip it in the bud,"
when we do detect the dependence issue being shifted from a spiritual
concept of supply, to a human being.
There
are worlds of difference in the concept of trusting God, and trusting
in God. Most if not all of us have been in families,
schools, religions, careers, marriages - or relationships, and
friendships. And the more that we put our dependence on anything,
out side of God, especially the love of God, the worse matters got, in our
various lives.
Many have
also placed their trust in their doctors, their lawyers, their pastors,
priests, or rabbis, their insurance policies, their stock brokers, their
accountants, and many other influences in their lives like coaches,
teachers, loved ones, employers, and children, etc.
So, let
us be clear. We need to learn how to trust the program of anonymous
recovery, until we can be in contact with spiritual information, that we
believe, so that we are trusting in God.
All of
that is the good news, but we do not even get to the Spirit, until the
wreckage of the past is cleared up, through the process of the water
baptism, in the first nine steps, and we then are allowed to enter the realm of
Spirit, in step ten.
The point
of all of this is that we will absolutely be disappointed, until our faith
and trust is in God, rather than any other entity, or personality.
And in turn, we will be deceived and betrayed by all, other than God,
until we have learned that lesson, perfectly.
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. In just a little while the world will not see me again, but you will. For I will live again, and you will, too. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them.”
Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
Jesus replied, “All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not do what I say. And remember, my words are not my own. This message is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you."
(John 14:15-26)
"You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. I command you to love each other."
(John 15:14-17)
Now the
words of caution, for all seeking the Kingdom of God. The reason
that we need to obey what the Father ordains is two fold. Our human
thinking is what keeps getting the world into a deeper sickness, and a
deeper sense of despair, treachery, and sense of corruption. Who
would have thought that what was once used to end the second world war, on
the Pacific front, is now the aim of those that would do us in, to obtain
same, and reek havoc, on an unprecedented scale.
It would
be naive of us to think that America does not have enemies, considering
what has transpired in the eons of time. And diplomacy is not going
to do the trick. What is changing this world is God's Spirit.
The scriptures declare, "The fullness of God, lives in a human body,
based on their union with Christ." So, for any human that
thinks they have a solution, for the woes of humanity, are not only conceited,
they are perfectly deceived.
But the
one headed for destruction has aim at those closest to having the glory
of God manifested. Why would Satan try to obstruct those that are
doing his bidding? They are generally rewarded with worldly perks,
so that more will want what they have; the masses. There is definitely
spiritual warfare going on, that has graver consequences, than all of the earthly
conflicts, on the planet. And be sure that Satan is smarter than any
human, with much more experience, on how to entrap us unsuspecting humans,
and drag us into the pit of darkness, where he resides.
One of
the wisest men that I had a friendship with told me at the beginning of
adulthood, "Choose your friends carefully, they are either assets or
liabilities."
With that
thought in mind, let us be reminded that God only has two laws. We
are to learn how to love God with all of our mind, strength, might, and
heart. The second is like unto it, love your neighbor as
yourself. Everything that has been mentioned in the few preceding
paragraphs are allowed so that our emotions get tied to all things in
eternal life that we are taught, as individuals, so that we can
never be snatched from the hand of God. The temptations that come
from Satan, at times, can seem to be most attractive, and if our emotions
are not held in check, we set ourselves up for unwarranted pain.
But now
let us get the jest of why some of America's political environment seems
to be so divided, and at such odds, here at the beginning of the twenty
first century. The scriptures state that we are to work together,
with one mind and one heart.
2 Thessalonians 2 (1-17
NIV)
The Man of Lawlessness
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,
and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Stand Firm
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
"No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; he must be put to death."
(Leviticus 27:29 NIV)
