RSS FeedA Schizophrenic Christianity Healed by a Second Touch
Written by Peter Youngren on September 11th 2007Seeing, but not seeing, is a common problem. Christians see that Jesus carried their sins, but they still don’t see themselves righteous; Jesus bore their sickness, but they have a difficult time to see themselves healed. We see that Jesus has become our righteousness, redemption, wisdom and sanctification, but somehow we still look for all of the above. Out of one side of the mouth we say, “God has given us everything in Christ,“ and out of the other side we claim to be a very “needy people”. On the one hand we agree with Jesus that if we drink the water He gives we’ll never thirst again, while on the other we say, “Lord, I’m so thirsty for you”. Do you see the contradictions? Is this schizophrenic life normal Christianity?
Could it be that our dilemma is mirrored in the story of the blind man touched by Jesus? Suddenly he could see, but his vision was not clear; the Scripture says he saw people as “trees walking” (Mark 8:22-25). It is evident the man had received something miraculous from God, but his sight was impaired. Jesus gave the man a second touch and he saw everything clearly.
I believe the world is yet to experience the greatest revelation of Jesus ever. The Holy Spirit’s mandate to reveal Jesus to the world has never changed. What hinders this from happening? Please, don’t say “the devil”, because that’s an answer that glorifies Satan. Yes, I know Satan blinds people’s eyes, but only if we are ignorant of the Gospel. In fact, the devil is nothing but a fraud and deceiver; Jesus has stripped him of all legal authority. The only hindrance is believers not seeing Jesus as He is; seeing but not seeing. When we see Jesus as brilliant and as great as He is the crutches of human wisdom, legalism and man-made traditions are discarded at the sight of Jesus, our sufficiency.
Simon Peter had been touched by Jesus, but he still didn’t see that the Gospel was to reach beyond his Jewish nation; he saw, but he didn’t see. Jesus touched Simon Peter again (Acts chapter 10).
Millions of Christians are begging God for blessings, when in fact these blessings have already been given to us. The problem is not that we have so many needs, but that we don’t see what we have. The Ephesian Christians were born again, but Paul still prayed, not for more blessings, anointing and power, but that their spiritual eyes would open to see what Jesus has already provided. How about it? Are you ready for Jesus to touch your eyes again? What are your thoughts? Post them here. It’s all about Jesus! - Peter
P.S. - To order my new book, The Power of The Second Touch, click here.
Jeffrey Teo
Dear Pastor and friends,
One of the main confusion in the church today is not being able to see the difference between the old and new covenant.Thank you pastor for teaching me to rightly divide the word of truth!2 Tim 2:15
In the old covenant,God said,‘I will if you will..‘Deu 28,Lev 26
In the new covenant,God said.‘I will..I will…I will..‘Heb 8
Nothing about performance or self effort but Jesus working in and through us by the Spirit.
In the Gospel,Jesus said ,‘Deny yourself,take up your cross and follow Me.‘
After the cross in the new covenant,Paul said that we have been crucified with Christ,raised with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places to reign in life because of His abundant grace and the gift of His righteousness.Not about self but about Him and His life!
Examples of law(old covenant) and grace(new covenant) in the Gospels are the Pharisee and the tax collector praying at the temple,the rich young ruler and Zaccheus,Martha and Mary etc.Self effort and God’s grace!
Mary said the same unbelieving statement as Martha but it cause Jesus to wept.
In order to understand the new covenant,we need to know the Pauline epistles well.And one amazing thing is that in the Pauline epistles,Paul talks about confession of faith but not confession of sins.Because of the remission of our sins at the cross.Our entire life sins have been removed and never to be remembered again in the new covenant!Hallelujah!!!
Knowing our identity as His beloved child and that we are the righteouness of God sets us free from condemnation and give us the power to go and sin no more!For as a man thinks in his heart ,so is he.Prov 23:7, Heb 10:1-2
We are now no longer sin conscious but Jesus conscious and righteous conscious because we have the mind of Christ,and as He is, so are we in this world!Thinking naturally,produces natural results!Thinking supernaturally,will produce supernatural results!Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove the good,acceptable and perfect will of God!Glory to God!!Rom 12:2
Agape,
Jeff
Daniel Fennessy
Pastor Peter,
It’s so true that the hindrance is not seeing Jesus as He really is. It seems that the Christian Church has misrepresented God (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to the Church and to the world for centuries.
If we misrepresent God, and therefore misunderstand Him, then all of our theology, doctrine, and relationship with God will be off. In other words, it will be moving away from God’s truth and away from His true glory.
The more we are indoctrinated with an erroneous view of God, the more difficult it will be to see, and believe, and receive what He has provided. I wonder how many people in the Church—especially in the United States—have ever really heard the Gospel? How many people have heard the really good news about God’s radical grace, and love, and goodness without it being mixed with fear, legalism, human wisdom, and man-made religion? I attended church for more than 30 years before I ever heard the really good news of the Gospel.
Is it any wonder that many people have a schizophrenic view of God? I do hope there is a faster way (than what I have been experiencing) of pulling down the strongholds of error that have been built by years of in- doctrination.
How much of our mindsets can change as a result of a ‘second touch’, and how much is a process of growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? (1 Peter 3:18)
Jessie Goh
Dear pastor
Many of us saw but never see, know about Jesus yet do not know Him. In our present age, many people are busy making money, no time for many things they want to do, let alone read the Bible. I am one of those people, but the last two years my life began to change for the better, as I began to understand God better, knowing I am righteous to Him. If we continue to abides in His word & His words abides in us, our spiritual eyes will open. May I receive your newsletter to keep me update, as my previous email address is no longer in use
ANDREW OLIVER SATCHELL
The Great Physician Heal 100% My Regard
Beena Thomas
Oh the folly of looking for blessings outside of our dear saviour. I still remember distinctly the day in October 2006 when my eyes were opened by my dear lord to the wrechedness of my ‘SELF’ , all those attempts of self performance and I am not talking about a sinful lifestyle here but all my attempts at self righteousness. It seemed so deplorable and ugly that I hated myself and I thank God a million times for the experience of this TRUTH. It has set me free. I cannot explain it but I know that was my second touch. It has started me on the most beautiful journey of my life, this sweet communion with my LORD. Yes we do give a lot of unnecessary credit to the devil but all that the Lord is waiting for is for us to come to the end of ourselves. I pray that every beleiver on this earth should come to a point of brokenness and then only the lord begins with us. God is spirit and refuses to endorse anything of the flesh. Glory to God…Many circumstances come our way to show us how futile it is to try and overcome it with our natural strength but every beleiver who refuses to yield will keep on wandering in the wilderness. oh the blessedness of knowing that CHrist is our blessing, our prosperity, our healing and most of all not giver of life but our LIFE himself. CHRIST IT IS ALL IN ALL…HAlleluyah…I am bursting with JOy just writing about this revelation. Thank you pastor peter. You know there are many preachers who preach the cross but it is only head knowledge for them but only the one who has experienced the cross himself can impart this resurrecetion life to others. SO me and my husband are so blessed just sitting under your preaching of the finshed work of the cross. I only pray that we may also impart this life to others that they will not encounter us our natural man but christ in us. AMen!!
Ben Isaac
Pastor Peter,
I am right there with you concerning the fact that it’s been done already. I desire that God will enable you to shout this message to the nations of the world!
How in the churches today we like to re-invent the wheel and send Jesus back to the cross! And the bad news is that it wont happen! We need to believe the already finished work of the cross and live in the light thereby. In my country, thousands are praying prayers which God wont answer; they ask God to do what He has already done and they ask Him to do what He asked them to do. Surely let Jesus touch us again!
God bless you.
Ben Isaac in Uganda.
Jeffrey Teo
Dear Pastor,
2 Chron 7:14 seem to be the popular verse that is often quoted for revival prayer meetings.
There is nothing wrong with having prayer meetings but this verse is an old covenant prayer because in the new covenant God has already forgiven our sins and Jesus has already made the full payment(actually an overpayment) for all our sins.Heb 8:12-13,Rom 4:7-8
The Gospel or Good News truth is that God has already made peace and have been reconciled to man through Jesus finished work on the cross.Lk 2:14,2 Cor 5:19-21.
We implore believers and prebelievers to be reconciled to God!
Agape,
Jeff
Ignatius
Beloved of The Lord,
In 2 Corinthians… Paul mentions about people having a veil before their eyes whenever they read the old testament, the law the prophets until in Christ the veil is removed. In the old covenant a veil was placed between God and His people, the people never saw God let alone enter into His very presense, the Holy of Holies. They only saw the cloud as it descended upon the tabernacle. And i believe there was great fear whenever the cloud descended because there was an instance in deutornomy, that the plague broke out after people believed in the 10 spies that gave a wrong report about the land they were spying on. They disobeyed the Lord, breaking the very commandment, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength. in that day so many died. But its amazing to see how when Christ came, people could see the very face of God. When He came down from the mountain after the transfiguration, healing came forth from Him, the demonised were set free. Jesus was asked once, show us the father, Jesus answered, if seen me you’ve seen the father. And on the cross, the veil was torn. We can see God face to face. Not possible in the era of burnt offerings and sacrifices because those cannot perfect or make men holy. But christ by his one sacrifice has perfected those who believe. So amazing. Christ has removed the veil. God is no longer far but so close, so close till He dwells in us by His Spirit. We can see. The light of the gospel has shone in the face of Jesus.
Pastor Peter keep delivering the WORD that will truly help blind eyes see.
I believe God has put that call upon your life just as God put that call in Paul almost 2000 years ago.
anna dip palma
Dear Peter:
Since I am here in the office most of the time I go to your website and scour everything I can read about the Celebration Church. It helps me so so much. IT LIFTS ME! just finished reading about the bible college course and I am seriously thinking applying. Maybe not in Niagara but in Toronto for 7 weeks. I understand the last course started in march of this year. Thank you for writing this short but inspiring and thoughtful article about seeing but not seeing.
Many blessings to everyone, I often wonder how you do all the things you do in a week. Not to mention travelling multiple time zones around the globe. It is really amazing, Peter
I thank the lord Jesus Christ everyday, Peter for having showed me the way through my wonderful, friend, Carol!!!