Grace Classics: Escape to Reality Greatest Hits, Volume 2 by Paul Ellis Read Free Book Online Page A

Corinthians 1:12).
     
    8.       Worry about your life (Matthew 6:25,
Luke 8:14): “What shall we eat? What shall we drink? What shall we wear?”
Entertain fear and doubt. “I can’t do it” (Philippians 4:13).
     
    9.       Cultivate self-belief (2 Corinthians
12:10): “I can do it!” Boast in your accomplishments (2 Corinthians 11:30).
Boast in your wisdom, strength and riches (Jeremiah 9:23).
     
    10.   See yourself as a victim (Romans 8:37): “Woe is me. I’m not
worthy. My sinful nature made me do it.” Blame God (James 1:13). Blame the
devil (1 John 4:4). Blame your circumstances.
     
    11.   Be a man-pleaser (Galatians 1:10): Wonder, what will my
boss think? How will the board react? How will this affect the tithers? Say
only what they want you to say.
     
    12.   Make plans in a worldly manner (2 Corinthians 1:17): Do a
SWOT analysis; list the pros and cons; make decisions based on money. Manage
the risks and stay in control.
     
    13.   Try to grow a ministry (Psalm 127:1, 1 Corinthians 3:6).
Work hard to make things happen.
     
    14.   Define success by human standards (1 Corinthians 1:26):
It’s all about the numbers. “How many soldiers do we have? How many attend the
prayer meeting? Are donations increasing? Are we doing better than last year?
Am I doing better than my predecessor or rival?”
     
    15.   Nurture your reputation (Philippians 3:8): Put on a good
show and make a good impression (Galatians 6:12). Be face conscious. Make a
name for yourself (Genesis 11:4) and blame the wife when things go wrong
(Genesis 3:12).
     
    16.   Pray long prayers, especially if others are listening
(Matthew 6:5–8).
     
    17.   Regard others from a worldly point of view (2 Corinthians
5:16): Engage in office politics. View new-comers as potential recruits for
your programs. Cultivate task-based friendships. Choose the best-looking man
for the job (1 Samuel 16:7). Show favor to the one with money (James 2:3–4).
     
    18.   Sacrifice people on the altar of your principles (1
Corinthians 3:3): “I’m right, you’re wrong.” Judge the weak (Romans 15:1).
Distance yourselves from those who aren’t as doctrinally pure as you (1
Corinthians 9:22).
     
    19.   Combat problems with worldly weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4):
Put your faith in politics. Start fights (Zechariah 4:6). Picket the abortion
clinic. Protest the gay parade (Isaiah 42:2).
     
    20.   Pretend to be Jesus (Matthew 24:24): Draw people to your
ministry and build toward yourself (1 Thessalonians 3:8). Teach others to
depend on you. Stand in the gap. Crucify yourself (Galatians 2:20).
     
    This is a yukky list and frankly,
I didn’t enjoy writing it. Just about everything on this list, I’ve done. God
help me, some of the things on this list I’m still doing! Don’t let this list
condemn you. A better response is to get mad because we’ve been misled. We’ve
been raised to believe that this is how things are done and that the fleshly
way of life is normal. But this is not normal life for one born of the
spirit.
    Why do
we walk after the flesh? Most of the time we do it out of habit and ignorance.
We don’t realize there’s a better way. We walk after the flesh because when we
were in the flesh this was how we lived: “You used to walk in these ways, in
the life you once lived” (Colossians 3:7). The good news is that now we get to
make a choice. We can choose to walk in the old way of the flesh or the new and
better way of the spirit.
    I have
to say this again: Some of the activities on this list are good. Please don’t
think I am against the law or fruitful ministries or planning or praying
without ceasing. I am not.
    But
understand that the natural mind longs to be told what to do when God is much
more interested in how we are doing it. Are we trusting in the power of our
might or are we resting confidently in his? Are we walking as we used to or are
we being revealed as mature sons and daughters of our Father? Flesh cannot