RELATIONSHIP_part5_D by Nikos Outreach

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports

RELATIONSHIP REPORTS February 1984 to January 1985 @ 2008

By Chuck-JOHNEL Younybrandt

RELATIONSHIP

PART 12 BALANCE CARNAL MIND-SPIRITUAL

MIND TRANSITION

As we pursue a deeper living relationship with Jesus Christ, we are ever moving from the carnalminded state into the spiritual-minded state. Like the pendulum of a clock, we tend to swing from the carnal-mindedness to spiritual-mindedness with regularity. But, the more we seek to enter into Jesus' Love and to abide, the more we become spiritual-minded and the less we are carnal-minded. This has been my experience.

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The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports In this TRANSITIONAL STATE, we tend to experience extremes in the carnal state and spiritual state and might even come to regard the carnal mind as the enemy.

to be carnall y minded is death; but to be spirituall y minded is Ie and peace . . . but the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, HE that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by HlSSpirit that dwelleth in you. . . . For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God [emphasis added]." (Romans 8:6, 10, 14). TheApostle Paul wrote about this in the book of Romans:"For

PARALLEL TERMS It is recognized by revelation that our soul is also THE WOMAN often referred to in the Bible. And, our Spirit in Christ is also THE MAN often referred to in the Bible. So, here we find another set of parallel terms: the CARNAL MIND is THE WOMAN is the soul, and the SPIRITUAL MIND is THE MAN is the Spirit in Christ. Just as long as we are ruled by OUR WOMAN, we are carnal minded and this is death. But, it is the rule of the carnal mind that leads to death, and the carnal mind is not itself death. As we look back to the Garden of Eden, we see Adam's WOMAN (soul) ruling and, thus, determining that he should eat of the fruit of knowledge of good evil. As a result, so came death. As long as the carnal mind rules in us, it will always lead us to death but it is not of itself death but only subject to the traps of death.

A BALANCE VIEW So, in a BALANCEVIEW is the carnal mind to be hated? Is it to be considered the enemy? Is it to be destroyed? Some think so, but it is not true in any respect. How then are we to regard our carnal minds? If you have entered into Jesus' Love and abide, He will teach you and you will know. But, if you are seeking to enter, then let this be a teaching to understand the need of balance in all views. Paul often, if speaking to the carnal-minded babes in Christ, used natural things to open the awareness of God's carnal minded babes to spiritual truths, and the marriage relationship was one he used strongly. Indeed, a husband and wife are not unlike the relationship between the Spiritual man in Christ and the carnal mind. More, this speaks also of the mystery of Christ and His Body.

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The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports The question is how do we possess our souls, which are also the carnal mind we have? Do we subjugate our carnal mind with force or fear? This is contrary to the Law of Jesus' Love! Do we oppress our carnal minds with Laws, and rules, and regulations? This is carnal mindedness and not pleasing to God! But, ask yourself: in a good marriage how does the husband establish himself as head over his wife? Those who do not possess their wives are ruled by them and those that subjugate them with force and fear rule them with carnal minds. Yet, those that LOVE their wives possess them in Love, and while such Love appears to have no rules or boundaries or limits, the wife that loved, loves her lover and there is harmony and proper order.

TRANSFORMATION Indeed Jesus' Love would quicken the mortal body, and the mortal body includes the soul, which is "the woman", which is the "carnal mind", and His Love would transform. In the process of transformation, we are yielded to God's Will for us, and the Spirit of God tailors to each, according to the need, that way He would lead us, that we be set free in Christ of the handicaps of the carnal mindedness we have. THE WAYS OF GOD ARE NOT OUR WAYS-this is another problem area. Just as Jesus first loved us in the sinful state we were in, even dead to God, so we in His example need love our very souls, though carnal minded, elsewise we cannot love others around us subject to the same carnal nature. Loving the sinner but hating the sin is done only with Jesus' Love perfectly, but carnal minded brethren, or those who live by law, would strongly dispute such a Love, seeing in it weakness and disaster. Yet these same would as easily quote the Scripture "Love the sinner, hate the sin," seeing the truth in part, but be unable to live it for want of Jesus' Love leading them.

In each of us, out of a lifetime of undisciplined image making, we have programmed ourselves to be inclined to sin: this we have also restrained with the power of our souls; but nonetheless, we are subject to it. Remove the restraints, and let there be opportunity, and we easily fall to temptations and so sin. We hate that sin, but are condemned by ourselves because of it, and this produces an ever-greater fear and that becomes terrible torment, for we know the right but do what's wrong. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are purified by the fire of Jesus' Love of these inner inclinations, but God moves in many ways to free us, and in ways that men will not approve of in their carnal mindedness. @ 2 008

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports

This is why each of us need the more enter into a living relationship with Jesus and abide the more in His Love, for in our humanness and weaknesses we will surely waver at times when men condemn us or when we condemn ourselves.

THE ANSWER: JESUS' LOVE But, the answer is in all Love, and knowing Jesus' Love, seeing the need that Paul saw to state: "There is, therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1). As we walk after the Spirit, which is Jesus' Love, we yield ourselves, Trust Him and let go bit by bit, the restraints we have long maintained over the flesh. It is in itself the very act of dying to self, for we recognize the more that we have never conquered sin but only contained it, that we have never overcome sin but are overcome by it whether it be restrained or pursued openly. We recognize that we are absolutely helpless against it, but now we see the blessed Hope of deliverance from this law of sin and death is in Jesus' Love and being the more yielded to Him. As our hearts are wholly set on Him and His Will, this sin nature may be loosed but now as we enter the more in Jesus' Love, Love will overcome it when we could not, fear will be cast out and the power of the carnal mindedness we have fades and dies-its power is broken in us, and the more we enter into the perfecting power of Jesus' Love and are set free. And, while we so focus ourselves on Jesus and His great Love, whatsoever is apparent in us to men is under God's Grace and there is no condemnation but all leads now to freedom in Christ. Were the Church today a place of abiding Love of Jesus, abiding in Jesus' Love, filled with Grace and Peace, Joy and Compassion, men would be set free in that environ of love without terrible trials but the Church is not so, yet even so, if we be led by the Spirit of God, we will be set free and see His Love Power overcome in us what we could never accomplish.

GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT MAN'S WAYS So, while we seek Jesus with all our hearts and move into the transition from CARNAL MINDS to SPIRITUAL MINDS in Christ, we need also be aware to have balance in our views of all JESUS does in us. We need be mindful to ever yield to JESUS and trust JESUS, to stand knowingly in His Grace (suffering no condemnations and accepting none), until Love (Jesus' Love) perfects us and frees us according to His Will and Plan. @ 2008

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports That's A LOT TO GRASP ALLAT ONCE! But, it is easy IN JESUS. Indeed God's Ways are not man's ways! God Bless, Chuck-JOHNEL

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The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports

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By Chnck-JOHNEL Yonnybrandt

RELATIONSHIP

PART 13 YIELDING THE SONG OF YIELDING: A POEM STORY Winter wheat breaks through the hard wintry ground, so when thefirst rays of Spring's sunlight and gentle sweet breezes come, the wheat stands like grass and the land is blessed, covered by the luxuriant sea of I See how it moves. A song of life's sweetness evident. The wind wafts over the fields. The wheat flows through it, turning and rolh'ng delightfully like waves of oceans, blending into each other, bending and giving, receiving and sharing; and in our heart it's true song in motion.

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports

It is bright green, ah've, drawing lifefrom the sparkh'ng sunh'ght above, warmed without-filh'ng within of that light. Harmony abounds and we stand transfixed by the splendid beauty. A single strand of grassy wheat is matched by a thousands others, see how they give to the loving elements of sun, wind and rain and grow the more. As the wheat gives, it receives, as it receives there is sureness of growth and in due season thefield is golden and ready to harvest. Dwelh'ng in harmony with each other in the Loving Song of God, they become what they receive, the Bread of Life. This is THE SONG OF YIELDING.

YEILDING & SERVING YEILDINGto GOD and SERVINGGod go hand-in-hand. Look at this Scripture: "NOW BE YE NOT STIFFNECKED, AS YOUR FATHERS WERE, BUT YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO THE LORD AND ENTER INTO HIS SACTUARY, WHICH HE HATH SANCTIFIED FOR EVER AND SERVE THE LORD YOUR GOD . . ." (2 Chronicles 30.'8).

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports

RECEIVING & GIVING Yielding has to do with receiving and giving. And, as the Spirit of God gave me the poem story, it by design conveys that there is a loving relationship involved in yielding, and as we get into the swing of things by His design we move with supple strength steadily growing to the harvest. Yielding has to do with the Spirit of Jesus' Love more than any definition, is Spirit and Graceful Joy, it is beauty and splendor, it's pain of growth then delight in the outcome. There is a wondrous now to yielding, and like the play of children. For them, joy in play but hidden in that joy is purpose working. Even as a child plays, experiencing joy they also learn, so like a child playing, yielding teaches and in Christ we so grow.

YIELDING & SUBMISSION When we think of YILEDINGwe may think it SUBMISSION,but I see the two are different, akin but different. When a policeman orders none to park a car in a spot, it is a DON'T, and we SUBMIT to the legal authority behind that order, or suffer the consequences of breaking the law. So, SUBMISSION by present-day Church definitions has to do with DON'Ts, with LAW, and the need to observe that lawful authority. But, a person that is submitted-obedient to the law is only conforming to an outside authority, but inwardly may resent, dislike that hindering power. So, a person outwardly conformed to the lawful authority, may be (often is) inwardly willing to rebel and disobey that same confining authority if there is opportunity. This is the kind of SUBMISSION apparent in the church system today. YIELDING is different. It is a DO, not a DON'T. There is no outward power to compel but a quiet Love that draws but does not demand. It is so gentle and subtle, that by worldly standards it seems of no effect. Yet, its power is greater than any dream, it's a happy living Spirit of God, quiet and sweet but for those that abide in Jesus' Love its Power is wondrous. Do we SUBMIT or YIELD to the Holy Spirit? We can SUBMIT to the fact that the Universe is without end, which is to say we accept what we cannot understand with the finite mind. That SUBMISSION or acceptance of a fact or truth or law-reality, does not improve us or add to us. Yet as we YIELD to the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, moving in His Spirit we can KNOW the Universe is without end and easily understand with the Mind of Christ. In YIELDING, we gain and we are blessed deeply by His Wisdom and Knowledge. We can see in the Bible, in the story of two sons asked by their father to go out and work in the

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports fields an example of SUBMISSION and YIELDING. The one son said YES to his father. This son recognized father's authority and said YES-thus submitting, but did not obey. The other son said NO to his father, then later reflecting did go out and work. This second son YIELDED and obeyed. Why did the one change his mind and do what he said he would not do? If it was strictly fear of father's wrath, he would not have said NO in the first place, can we not see his heart turning to his father, love moved him, the desire to please and be approved and so he YIELDED to love, and obeyed. So, we can see that SUBMISSION alone is a barren vine, producing no fruit or rotten fruit. And, YIELDING to Love is a bountiful vine, producing blessed fruit. Yet ,I qualify this, saying SUBMISSION as taught in the church system of man has this dimension. SUBMISSION as it is taught conforms us, but not inwardly. We can too easily submit and obey yet inwardly be opposed, resistant, UNCIRCUMCISED OF HEART, the Bible speaks of unyielded inward self but does not speak of unsubmitted outward conformity.

TO YEILD RIGHTLY IS TO DECIDE No one in a moment says "I Yield to Jesus' Will" without a considerable weighting of the cost. It is in the deciding to yield we each come to our Gethsemane in Christ, it is difficult and painful, full of trial. It involves dying to self, and it's something we are not forced to do, nor are we fear driven into deciding. If anyone enters into the fires of decision over yielding to the Lord God, it is out of willful choice. The Christian who loves Jesus, will be drawn to these fires of decision, and except a person abide in His Love, it is not possible to endure. A PERSONAL EXAMPLE Without an example, how can we know? I will give-up my personal situation as an example. Some years back now, I was wounded by accusations and condemnations that resulted in severe pain in my soul-spirit. The pain confused my ability to fulfill God's call in my life. There is a woman, sent-called of God to pray for a healing of these wounds. Apart from her, the wounds cannot be healed, nor can I complete God's call in my life. This is the expressed Will of God, revealed and known. I would receive His Word about this. I would also believe it and know it to be God's Word. But, when she would not pray for me, I felt trapped, resented it, was bitter, even angry over this. I was @ 2008

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports outwardly submitted to His Word and Will. Yet inwardly, I sought any way I could to escape it, to find any other way. When the Lord Jesus told me to go see her in October 1982, I was unwilling but as many brethren confirmed it, I would go and lastly just before arriving be told by the Lord, "DON'T GO IN THAT ATTITUDE." I went, I obeyed, but inwardly I deeply resented going, but prayed to overcome that and to go with faith, love and hope. She refused to pray for me, and wounded by this the pain re-emerged and made life a misery of agony. Outwardly I was SUBMITTED to His Word and Will and obeyed, but inwardly I was YIELDED only by degrees or for short periods of time. By her actions,I thought she was an enemy, but Jesus told me she was NOT an enemy, and if I judged her disobedient, Jesus reminded me we were in His eyes `one', said I was judging myself. No matter what she did or did not do, I had no justification to think any kind of ill towards her whatsoever, and no matter what way I turned, Jesus said the same. Again, JESUS called me to pray for her, and showed me her need of His Love and Forgiveness, and so now exhausted by trying it my way, man's way (ever failing) I moved in prayer in His Love and found deep Peace and assurance. My life would be extended past my time because she did something in His Commission, and now I endured the greatest pain ever and had to decide. I would decide out of her counsel to GO BY FAITH, for I knew not how to decide apart from her. Then I came to yielding wholly, but how I yielded is the example. I yielded wholly to her authority to decide life or death to me, according to His Word and feared not. But, blessedness came when I Yielded to Love, and found a capacity to Love her whether she decided "yea or nay", without judgments, without fear, without resentment or bitterness. I could say with deep abiding Jesus' Love, "your will be done." I only knew I was safe in His Love, Yielded, and Trusting-nothing more. I weighed the cost, and be it pain or whatever, it could be endured and I was willing to move in His Perfect Will.

YEILDING vs. RESIGNATION I see that we have in ourselves understandings of how His Word should work in our lives and that these understandings are built around our inner self desires. And here is where we resist to Yield, not surrendering what we understand, what we desire to Him. It is always the fear of loss that brings us to cling to what is dross. Yet, I see that this kind of Yielding is precious fruit in His eyes, for when we can yield of Love, Jesus' Love and abide yielded, Trusting and Loving. @ 2 008

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports "GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED OUR GOD . . . THOUGH WE MAY NOT OBTAIN THE PROMISE HERE, WE OBTAIN A GOOD REPORT THROUGH FAITH " (Hebrews 11:39). In this we can Yield up acceptable and pleasing FRUIT unto the Lord and by it be fruitful. YIELDING is SURRENDER, but it is a LOVING SURRENDER, as the bride surrenders to her bridegroom. Yielding is NOT resignation, for resignation speaks of being victim. No, we are not victims but loved ones yielding whole hearts Trusting His Love, receiving His Love and giving or yielding up the fruit of the Love we receive freely and with great joy and bliss.

A DECISION PROCESS But there is a DECISION PROCESS involved in yielding to His Love, and He does decision of the mouth until there is an inward weighing of the cost, and willingness Love and go by Faith and with His Love. When we truly decide to yield, He knows and it is done. We begin with small decisions, and as we grow in His Love, learn to be the to Him and ever face new decisions of greater measure.

not accept a to Trust His we know and more yielded

And when we are truly yielded to His Love and know so, then it can be said that we are truly submitted, truly circumcised of heart. But, I see we do so as we are able and not all in a day. "THE ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS

YIELDETH FRUIT . . . "(Proverbs 12:12).

The fruit of yielding is not the thing men see, the true fruit God sees in the heart of man. "IF THE SPIRIT OF THE RULER RISE UP AGAINST THEE, LEAVE NOT THY PLACE: FOR YIELDING PACIFIETH GREAT OFFENCES." (Ecclesiastes 1o:4).

ANOTHER PERSONAL EXAMPLE There was one time when my son Stefan (then just 8 years old) greatly offended me and deserved a spanking. When he tried to escape, my anger increased. When he resisted the spanking, my resolve increased, But, when he yielded realizing he would not escape or could not resist, my anger cooled suddenly into compassion. In this carnal world, many parallels can be found to give insight. But what was the anger in me? I saw a wrong spirit in my son, one to curb and eliminate or else his life would go wrong and lead to misery and death. If anything moved me, it was love for I had no pleasure in the spanking. The RULER in this Scripture is GOD THE FATHER, and if we being carnal are motivated as fathers

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports to correct error in our sons, He being the greatest Lover and Father will act for the same reasons and in the same way. There is also a unique connection in this Scripture to the better-known verse "LOVE COVERS A MULTIPLE OF SINS". Once the Holy Spirit gave me to know that LOVING and YIELDING go hand in hand, it could be seen that in YIELDING self to HIS LOVE sin is covered and great offences are pacified. As we learn how to yield self to His Love, we gain the added blessing of being able in His Love to intercede in prayer for others as did Jesus, as does Jesus.

CHASTENING & RIGHTEOUSNESS "NOW NO CHASTENING FOR THE PRESENT SEEMETH TO BE JOYOUS, BUT GRIEVOUS: NEVERTHELESS AFTERWATD IT YIELDETH THE PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO THEM WHICH ARE EXERCISED THEREBY." (Hebrews 12:11).

CHASTENING speaks of CORRECTION not punishment. Even though we dearly desire to do God's Will, the Adamic nature in us will steer us wrong, and except by trials, troubles, even tragedy we are not corrected. Yet trials, troubles, and tragedy can be God's correction, His way of bringing us to change direction. Life and its troubles, our weaknesses, can be likened to being ON THE CROSS, but we will not embrace our cross and follow Jesus until we have learned we cannot escape our cross. When we finally embrace chastening troubles with His Love, and yielded in His Love, we are to a degree crucified with Christ and begin to enter into the promise of His Resurrection Power. The word EXERCISED clearly implies a learning process, one we go through more than once, yes even many times until we have learned to yield lovingly and by this, YIELD TO THE PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. RIGHTEOUSNESS is defined here as being Peaceable Fruit. It is many faced, it is Trust of Jesus. It is Yielded Love and it is Sweet Surrender to Jesus' Love. I have experienced this peacable fruit, and that peace is deep and is bliss. " . . . YIELD YOUR MEMBERS SERVANTS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

UNTO HOLINESS."

(Romans 6:19). So the righteousness we see springing from being yielded, leads to HOLINESS, and this holiness is an inward condition first, and outward reality last. "NE/THER YIELD YE YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS @ 2 008

The Staff and The Sword Ministry Relationship Reports UNTO SIN; BUT YIELD YOUSELVES UNTO GOD . . . "(Romans 6:13).

LOVE vs. UNLOVE "BUT DO NOT THOU YIELD UNTO THEM (enemies)

. . ." (Acts 23:21).

Jesus taught me long ago, at first, to yield to His Love in other brethren but to not yield or submit to anything that was not love.Whenever I yielded to what seemed Scripturally accurate statements or Church authority that lacked Jesus' Love, I could not only easily count the wounds but found unrighteousness stirring inwardly that compelled me to sin against Love. So, seeing that we must make the clear distinction between what or whom we are to yield (JESUS' LOVE) and what or whom we are to NOT yield (UNLOVE). The way to impart to you some of the heart of what yielding is: it is a song, a flow. More, it is Love of Jesus that as we receive, yields back to our Love Jesus' precious fruit. God Bless, Chuck-JOHNEL

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