From the Mailbag January 2021
Compassionate Wisdom
She: Whatever Jesus has personally for you and Ann in this time, we agree with and ask for more.
Me: Absolutely perfect.
Submission vs. Dominion
She: If a Christian lives to do the will of God, i.e. as a living sacrifice, how would they know if they were suffering from Learned Helplessness?
Me: The answer is “dominion.”
Slavery, which most religions teach, involves obedience to God or usually man.
A slave obeys, and a son creates. We are called to learn obedience first, but then to grow into dominion based on our design.
So a person needs to look at his life this year vs. last year and see if the dominion has increased ANYWHERE. Maybe academically, or weight loss, or spiritual authority, or a larger, better circle of friends, but either incidentally to a good set of values, or with fierce intentionality, we should be growing in dominion on an ongoing basis.
She: Arthur, that is a beautiful, understandable answer, thank you. I feel like my eyes have been opened.
After I had emailed you the question the Lord took me to Genesis 1: The Creation; man being made in the image of God (so we are creators too); the dominion of man on the earth.
Your reply has certainly clarified this in my mind, as I wasn't sure what it all meant in practical terms.
The Color of Infinity
She: I realize that I might not have the correct color applied to all my experiences yet to express them fully.
But it does strike me that what I am observing is that every stand-out experience is like a stencil - the dynamic of opposing parts that only truly form a whole when colored with His perspective - and how these can carry on infinitely.
It is also apparent to me that there is a strong theme of the ‘providential care’ of God woven into the finer details of my experiences and I ponder how it is in contrast to the feeling of being 'baptized into suffering'...
Life has never felt more real than it does these days.
Me: That is so deep.
You are right. Our culture has made us gravitate to the shallow experiences. A home run at the ballpark, or a steak on the grill with a secret sauce.
Finding the beauty that comes from inserting our painful finiteness into the frame of infinity is a completely different art form. Kudos to you for living big, in the midst of loss and tragedy.
Growing in Skill
She: Last week I found out that there is an AHS in our house. I tried to do a release, but I have discovered they are still here.
This morning I saw the new video about the AHS that does not go. I believe this human spirit is here for a reason. I don’t know how to engage in a way that they will answer back.
Me: Well, if you are not particularly experienced in discernment, we usually start with binary questions – yes/no answers because those are the easiest to discern.
So if the AHS is still there, I would start by asking the following questions.
-Are you guarded by a critter?
-Are you afraid to go?
-Are you tied to the land through bloodshed?
Once you get the answers to those, you can probably partner with it more fluidly.
Best Teacher
She: (Long story of a battle to free someone else from “stuff.”) On my side, I’m very thankful and happy, because the Lord taught me directly.
Me: I so celebrate with you the victory through the long march. I think of Elisha who failed quite completely to raise the boy from the dead in his first attempt but stayed in the game until he succeeded. Celebrating the spirit of Elisha’s tenacity on you and the good fruit.
And I honor you for being willing to have the Lord teach you directly. It is so sad how many people are flat out unwilling to receive that gift, insisting that they be taught by a human.
Copyright by Arthur Burk
January 2021
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Comments
Dominion
By : Kelly On January 28th 2021Yes, your guess is completely accurate. Excommunication exists in a number of places throughout both my mother and father's ancestry. My own mother has spoken very little to me in 30 years. I look forward to listening to the recommended album. Many thanks for your response.
Replied by : Arthur Burk
Dominion
By : Kelly On January 28th 2021Every time I have some dominion in my life and another Christian asks me how things are going, that progress is violently attacked to the point it nearly costs me my life. I've noticed this pattern over the 12 years or so.
My ancestors were Quaker for about 260 years. I wonder if I have inherited an issue of being persecuted by other Christians of other denominations even though I was unaware of my family's history until about 10 years ago.
Outside of the church I get along with just about anyone and find support among nonbelievers, but I love the Church, so I don't understand what I'm battling short of jealousy, but that seems too simple. My prayers to defeat jealousy do not make a dent in this issue. I see breakthroughs in other areas when I engage in warfare, so I don't think inexperience is the problem here, either. Of course, though, I could be wrong. I don't want to overestimate any abilities I have.
My health and finances are repeatedly on the line because of this. I sincerely would like to be pointed in the right direction so I know how to tear down this stronghold. Thank you.
Replied by : Arthur Burk
The color of infinity
By : Peter Ffrench Ffrench On January 27th 2021I don't understand what the color of infinity is talking about but it is the most amazing thing I've read in months. Sounds like the gospel which is also referred to as good news. Thank you " color ". Peter
God's care
By : Pam Thomas On January 11th 2021I appreciate the way you show His loving care to us all
THANK YOU!!
By : Able Wong On January 4th 2021I always appreciate you sharing these Arthur~! keep up the great work~!!
Conversations
By : Nancy tucker On January 2nd 2021I continue to hear and see our tribe stand through the adversities of this past year, STAND, not fall, not give in, may not have all the answers yet, but really understand that He is faithful to honor our tenacity in trusting Him with our daily things and big life things, I am moved to tears over His faithfulness and this tribes tenacity!!!
The value of wise questions
By : Amy On January 2nd 2021I began meditating on the value of wise questions. Imagine the gospels without deep queries! Imagine if Nicodemus had never snuck out after dark to ask Jesus a question. What if Nicodemus did not continue to query Jesus? We would never hear John 3:16!
This blog
By : Lucy Shaw On January 1st 2021Thank you so much Arthur. This has blessed me as well. My experience in the past year has been one of accelerated growth in all aspects of spirit, soul and body. I particularly loved your comments about growing in dominion. I sometimes forget to honor and acknowledge the dominion achieved in the different parts of my life. It is truly worth a look as we prepare to go into this new year with confidence and continued submission. Thank you also for the current Covid-19 and Python series. It has affirmed what Holy Spirit has been telling me since I experienced the virus in March 2020. My entire life experience has been transformed and blessed in ways that I have been praying for for decades. I also appreciate the communion along with the lesson. I pray that you might create (if you have not already) a way to have a monthly focus for communion.
I pray abundant blessings on you and Ann as you journey together in this season. Your sharing with the tribe is a wonderful gift. Much Love and Appreciation.
Best teacher-
By : Ursula Delgado On January 1st 2021Lost of a gift because”insisting that they be taught by a human” this words are resounding deeply, and will stay with me in the journey for that “gift” In the midst of the desire of a quick answer because of the pain. Thank you!!!
Compassionate Wisdom + Color of Infinity
By : Anne On January 1st 2021These were very illuminating, leading me to ponder the depths of meaning I can press into within the viignettes described.
I choose to intentionally ask and allow the Lord to teach me Himself, going deeper. Thank you Arthur Burk!
Wise questions...
By : Amy Dudley On January 1st 2021"Wise questions are more important than wise answers"
Out of this whole article this sentence was what I needed most. It's been my prayer for so long. Thank you Arthur.
2 Things - what does AHS mean? Taught by the Lord.
By : Liz Sprowson On January 1st 2021Is there somewhere on the Sapphire site that gives us all the different shortened forms used so that we can appreciate what is being said?
So often being taught by the Lord is in pictorial form - the other day on my walk I felt God's presence on my right hand side and I questioned it - "At your right hand are pleasures forever more..." Therefore I should feel you on my left?" Immediately I felt a banner behind me and God was saying "I've got your back," That sense of his presence behind me stayed for days.
Replied by : Arthur Burk