Doctrine of the indwelling Christ part 8. The believer must use problem solving devices and not defense mechanisms.

Title: Doctrine of the indwelling Christ part 8. The believer must use problem solving devices and not defense mechanisms.

 

/(8) Projection is a defense mechanism by which a person takes their own flaws, sins and failures and assigns or projects them to others.\

 

Many times they are not even consciously aware of doing so because their arrogance has blinded them!

 

In assigning their flaws to someone else they believe that they actually rid themselves of their own failures and they elevate themselves by putting down others. This is a total failure of impersonal unconditional love.

 

And this creates a problem in the soul which keeps out metabolized doctrine on the one hand and destroys metabolized doctrine on the other hand.

 

/We see Joseph's brothers doing this in GEN 50:15  When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph should bear a grudge against us and pay us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!" \

 

That’s what they would do so they project that evil thinking to one of the most gracious men who ever lived. Joseph is one of the greatest types of JC in the OT.

 

So we have the evil involved in thinking you’re the only one with your problems and the evil involved in projecting your problems on to others.

 

Phil 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

 

A popular but misunderstood verse. My beloved means that he is addressing believers. Salvation doesn’t always mean being born again, but in context it often means deliverance. When you believed in Christ, one decision, you were delivered from the second death to the Lake of Fire, but here is refers to the many decisions to accomplish deliverance from all problems in life through humility under the word of God.

 

/ “work out” - present middle imperative of katergazomai[katergazomai] = to accomplish something in the midst of adversity. It is combat activity.\

 

Sophocles was the first to use this word and he used the word in the sense of overcoming all opposition or to subdue the opposition.

 

We have plenty of opposition in the CWL. We have our OSN who continues to attempt to be master of your soul, though crucified and buried. We have Satan and the KOD who are actively attempting to deceive and accuse, though defeated at the cross. And we have the cosmos diabolicus that has been designed to halt all things spiritual of God through the distraction of evil and human good, though destroyed by the wisdom of the cannon of scripture. These defence mechanisms falls under the category of evil in the cosmic system.

 

/ “fear” - foboj[phobos] = with reverence and respect which means occupation with Christ.\

 

Phobos means to revere Jesus Christ as the pre-eminent One, the celebrity of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is sovereign over the temple of God and use of the word “fear” commands us to acknowledge Him as such.

 

The catchy phrase, “If Christ is not Lord of all then He’s not Lord at all,” is completely false. He is Lord whether we acknowledge it or not. The command is to acknowledge that fact.

 

/ “trembling” - tromoj[tromos] = quivering, shaking, or trembling which further emphasizes respect but with an added emphasis on humility.\

 

The point is that you handle your own dangers, problems, and adversities from your own reverence and occupation with Christ by applying the problem solving devices from your own source of doctrine and you do so in humility.

 

In acknowledgment of the person and work of Christ we realize how helpless and hopeless we are without Him and in reverence to Him we tremble in our souls in awe of His amazing grace.

 

The humility is that you acknowledge that you cannot truly solve your own problems without the mind of Christ. And if you do conquer your problems rather than project them on to others then you are functioning as the temple of God.

 

So instead of projection:

/PSD #4, Grace orientation, PSD #8, Impersonal love for all mankind, would solve this problem.\

 

 /(9)  Rationalization is a defense mechanism which devises reassuring or self-serving but erroneous explanations for one's behavior.\

 

This is rationalizing an action which the believer knows is not biblical but they feel they have the right to be as they are or decide as they do.

 

 

 

/Prov 14:12

There is a way which seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death. \

 

The most spiritually advanced man in the world at his time fell into this. Never think you’ve advanced enough that you don’t have to remain alert to the dangers of evil thinking from the cosmos diabolicus.

 

JOB 32:2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned, because he justified himself before God.

 

Job was rebuked by the younger Elihu, and rightly so, but that was just a warm up for a stern rebuke from Jehovah Elohim.

 

JOB 40:8 Will you really annul My judgment?

Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?

 

In this mechanism the person becomes offended easily because they have fooled themselves into being right in their own eyes.

 

The solution to this is doctrinal orientation, in other words, if you love the word of God you will not be easily offended because you will know exactly who you are and be able to confidently say with Paul, “by the grace of God, I am what I am.”

 

PSA 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

 

/PSD #1 Rebound technique, PSD #4, Grace orientation, PSD # 5, Doctrinal orientation, would solve this problem.\

 

/(10)  Repression is a defense mechanism in which the believer is unable to remember or to be aware of disturbing lusts, wishes, feelings, thoughts, or experiences related to sin.\

 

It is the unconscious exclusion of painful impulses, desires or fears from the conscious mind.

 

Putting something away into the unconscious doesn’t make it go away.

 

Prov 10:24 What the wicked fears will come upon him,

And the desire of the righteous will be granted.

 

/The greatest solution to fear is God’s love: 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.\

 

But not all believers have advanced spiritually to the point of functioning in God’s love, so for them God has given the FRD.

 

/Another solution to fear is the faith rest drill:GEN 15:1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,

"Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great." \

 

God doesn’t come to people in a vision any more, but all of His promises are recorded forever in the cannon of Scripture.

 

/PSD #2, The filling of the Spirit, PSD #3, The faith-rest drill,

PSD #4, Grace orientation, PSD #5, Doctrinal orientation, would solve this problem.\

 

/(11)  Suppression is a defense mechanism in which the believer

intentionally avoids thinking about disturbing thoughts, problems, experiences, or feelings.\

 

ISA 44:20 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

 

In context the thing in his right hand is a graven image or idol. He cannot see that it is a lie because he has suppressed the misery that it has brought him.

 

All idol worship brings misery eventually. But because of arrogance the person refuses to admit it and he suppresses the truth.

 

Unbelievers often do this when they are presented with the gospel.

 

ROM 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

 

/PSD #7, Personal love for God the Father and PSD #10, Occupation with Christ as the priority solution to life would solve this problem.\

 

/(12) Altruism is when a person engages in gratifying service to others because they want to be liked and so try to earn

approval.\

 

/JOH 12:43  for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.\

 

We have dozens of examples of religious people in the Bible playing spirituality in order to impress others.

 

Luke 14:7 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table; saying to them,

 

Luke 14:8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him,

 

Luke 14:9 and he who invited you both shall come and say to you,' Give place to this man,' and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. [Bob Uecker syndrome]

 

Luke 14:10"But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.

 

Luke 14:11"For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

 

/1 Sam 2:8

"He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor;

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He set the world on them. \

 

/PSD #6, A personal sense of destiny, PSD #7, Personal love for God the Father, PSD #9, +H or sharing the happiness of God, 

PSD #10, Occupation with Christ as the priority solution to life would solve this problem.\

 

This type of person ends up on a works program and cares too much about what others think.

 

 /(13) Controlling is when a person attempts to excessively manage or regulate events, objects, or people in their environment.\

 

This is the domineering mother or wife or the bully.

 

An example of this is found in LUK 10:38-42 where Martha tries to control Mary.

 

Luke 10:38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

 

Luke 10:39And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord's word, seated at His feet.

 

Luke 10:40But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."

 

Luke 10:41But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;

 

Luke 10:42but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. "

 

Martha was always like this.

 

 

John 11:39 Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days."

 

Martha is more concerned about the smell than she is about Christ performing His greatest miracle just days before His triumphal entry. Lazarus would now move into the CA and enjoy the benefits of royalty. Hundreds would become born-again and saved this day who witnessed the miracle. The miracle would teach the world for thousands of years that Christ is sovereign over death through His cross and that all who believe would be set free. Christ gave orders to un-wrap Lazarus and let him go free. Martha is for not doing this because it might smell. And no, Lazarus did not smell, at least we assume he didn’t.

 

/PSD #3, The faith-rest drill, PSD #6, A personal sense of destiny, 

PSD #7, Personal love for God the Father, would solve this problem.\