Teague Bible Church

” I ‘feel’ like I’m Tied To The Whipping Post” 6/19/18

The Almond Brothers produced a song with that above line in it. We “feel” a lot of things as we travel this world. The people who feel the worst are those who stay in shock, most of the time, because they cannot believe things have “turned-out’ like they have.

We are told to dream, and plan; and as far as that goes; I say ok. But you might have noticed that you cannot control everybody or everything while making your plans. Many folks simply go through life, after such discoveries, and the inevitable let down, in kind of a daze. What happens then is that they search for a “feeling” to bring them back to that illusive thing they call “happy.”

If they could see themselves they would know that they have never been truly, non-circumstantially, happy. Not the kind of happy the Word of God talks about. And since the feeling of being ,”Tied to the whipping post” has been allowed to predominate, the Word of God is like a fading whisper.

They go to the only place things feel real; their feelings. To be different, you have to think differently. You will not “feel” your way out of your perpetual sadness. When they read of ,”a joy inexpressible and full of glory ( I Peter 1: 3-9) ,” they assume they know what that means, but truly have never experienced it. And yes it is to be a present-tense reality, in the midst of a fallen world, that is spoken of here in this verse.
That kind of joy comes only after you have given up on self-glorifying dreams and the desire for worldly recognition. That kind of joy is given to the broken-hearted, if, and only if, they move beyond the heartbreak and surrender to God.
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” (Psalms 73:25) I have never, in 45 years of ministry, ever heard anybody pray this as a prayer! Have heard people only read it. I prayed it a lot; but many times, just half-believing it.
The soul-dulling spirit of this present age must be overcome in your life today; not tomorrow, but today!! You are called to walk in joy, no matter what the circumstances.
” My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from you will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works” Psalms 73: 26-28.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m tied to the whipping post; good Lord I feel like I’m dying!”

Well, yes you are dying; dying to self and can now live to God. JWP