Step Out of the Matrix

Have you seen The Matrix? I want to be like Neo. I dont know if you have seen this, but I saw it again recently.

Neo's existence is a world that involves a computer matrix dimension and the actual people are immersed in water and enslaved in a storage facility, but their consciousness is in a virtual world that they think is the real physical world. Their environments are manipulated by the one who controls this virtual world and they dont realize they are actually all slaves. They are limited by the matrix-world they live in and if they die in the virtual world, their actual bodies will die as well.

Neo figures out that he is actually not limited by the matrix in reality and through this realizes that there are laws at work outside of the physical world he finds himself in. He becomes freed and he is able to do things in the matrix that defy its programmed-in laws, such as dodge bullets, fly like superman and do miraculous things. He was actually able to do this because others who were already freed dared to tell him.

Prior to my spiritual birth, I was physically born in slavery to sin. I am limited by the physical world and its properties. Whether I realize it or not, there is a spiritual world that is even more real than the physical. There are abilities to do things way outside of the physical laws that I am governed by. I can apply those spiritual laws in such a way that miraculous things can happen so long as I am truly plugged into God and filled with His spirit. I am in a spiritual battle between God and the deceiver of the world. To do this I must truly be saved, having repented and letting the Spirit fill me and lead me in the exercise of these abilities. I must be walking with Him NOW, not just in the past. I must stay plugged into God and His life line and not trust my physical surroundings but a higher law.

I am no spiritual giant. In fact i have less faith than a mustard seed yet have seen God do miracles through this wretched person I am at times and others. Yes, for real just ask me some time.

Let us step beyond into the work God is really trying to do here. Dont be limited by just what you see in the physical world. Take the red pill of Christ's blood and step out of the Matrix, you'll be glad you did.

Step out of the Matrix.


Any one else have any parallels to share that you get from this movie or am I the only weird one that way who looks for stuff like this in movies?

Same old habits and symptoms but no cure

How many of us are guilty of praying the same prayers over and over again, only to fall directly back into the same habit of sin or same pattern of activity? When I think about this I can only come to the conclusion that praying in this fashion is like the story of a sick man.

As a physician, I see people who are sick and have various symptoms of their disease. These symptoms give me real clues that can lead to diagnosing the disease and prescribing a cure. If someone has a rash, fevers, enlarged posterior cervical lymph nodes and elevated liver enzymes they are likely to have an obscure case of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis. If the patient doesnt let me examine them and only keeps telling me they have a rash and need a cure, how can I make the right diagnosis and give them the medicine they need? There are a million things that cause a rash. If the patient has asked me for the cure to CMV hepatitis I could have immediately prescribed the cure.

In the spiritual realm, if I struggle with a sin habit and every Sunday and other times I continually confess it, ask for forgiveness and power to overcome it, then shortly thereafter fall right back into it one wonders why? Is God unable or uninterested in healing me? I am telling Him what my symptom is afterall! But what about asking for the cure from the actual disease?

Did we ever think that we are praying amiss? God heal me or deliver me from this rash and all the while He is telling you that the rash is only a symptom of the real problem and you need to be asking Him to cure the disease and not the symptom.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

The real problem is not our sin habit. No, the real problem is the neglect of spending regular time with God in His word and prayer and fellowship. It is our failure to fall before Him and humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. If we do that we have this promise, that he will hear from heaven and heal us and deliver us.

So there you have it. Do you really want to be cured?

Forgive past abuses by another?

One may ask if I have just covered them up where they can do all kinds of harm inside like termites which are hidden in the walls of a house until it rots and comes crashing down.

Let me clarify a little. I have not covered up or forgotten anything. What helped me was the realization of my own sin and God's redeeming work in my life through the years after I came to know Him at age 14. Time in His word and learning that I truly am no more deserving of forgiveness than the worst murderer or criminal. Through realizing Gods grace for me and confessing my sin (agreeing with him about it and my lack of worthiness for His grace and forgiveness) I was able, by the power of His spirit to unconditionally forgive and in a sense "remember it no more" even though I do remember it..it has no power over me and I can look at those who have wronged me and see them with the eyes of God's grace and love. I also can admit my sin and ask their forgiveness.

I am touched and yes can come to tears when I see forgiveness poured out when it is so undeserved for I know this is evidence and only accomplished by The higher power. Ever watch the movie "Les Miserables"? If not, this movie has some neat examples of what I am talking about. The main character's life was changed when someone he wronged and he could have had him thrown in jail forever, yet instead he forgave him and it saved his life and changed him forever. He then became changed by this act of love and forgiveness, a new man and lived his life under a new code.


The Bible says that God literally inhabits or lives in the praises of His children which makes worship powerful for changing lives. What is even more amazing to me is when the Word says that "God is love". So if God = love then when we unconditionally love, others literally see and feel God. It is this love that changes lives and makes those who dont have God want what we have as Christians. This is supernatural and above our abilities in the flesh. When I think about this and examples I have seen it is so true. Knowing deep truths about religion and mentally trying to convince someone is of little value, but showing them and demonstrating love is what truly shows them God and this is the greatest proof there is of His existance and power. "They will know you are Christians by your love".

God's love compells me to love others and this love gives me the power to truly forgive. It starts though with my ackknowledgement of my own sin and repenting and falling before Him until a true work is done.

You are unable to do this in the flesh and your own power. It will happen though in the manner it happened to me and countless others. The Lord's Prayer does not tell us to do anything that God doesnt empower us to do with His spirit. Pray and meditate on these words and wrestle with God until a true work is done. "Seek me and you will find me if you seek after me with all your heart". This verse was a major bridge in my conversion. God keeps His promises and by this I am changed forever.

You are a work He is doing. He is right here waiting for you to let Him do a work that only he can do, to fix you. He opens a door and it can not be shut. He shuts a door and it can not be opened. He is almighty, all powerful, all knowing. He is the beginning and the end. He is sinless and pure in every way. There is nothing nor anyone nor anything that is anything like God as his holiness is so far beyond comprehension. No one can be compared to Him. There is a reason we will praise Him in heaven and on earth....He is worthy truly and when we see Him, this and the sense of it all will be evident and clear.

The very fact that you ask the questions you ask and try to break through the bitterness of past offenses is evidence there is some measure softness of heart left and He is working in you and on you. What an awesome gift. Reach out through the silence, uncertainty, and perceived inability of even finding and connecting with Him and watch how He comes to meet you.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."

Are there tests that prove whether one is of Christ?


If you asked someone how they know that they are a Christian you will get different responses:
- "I know I am a Christian because I believe". But no one asks the second question...How do you KNOW that you believe? How can we be sure that we believe when so many say they do and we know that they do not?
- " But I just know in my heart of hearts I am a Christian" - "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
- "I think I am saved, I just know I am" - "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12)
- Do you really want to believe a heart which can be wicked or deceived or a mind that can be faulty?
- Are you truly born again? Does your life look like it?
- Walking with Him in the past is not assurance enough, if you are not walking with Him today.
- “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1: 6) If a work of God does not continue, it never was a work of God.

- John wrote his epistle with this very goal in mind. He says so at the end of his letter in 1 Jn. 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

-We are told to test ourselves to see if we are of the faith. Eternity depends on it:
1Cor 13: 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Test the salvation you hold onto..is it trustworthy, or is it false. Test yourself in light of what the Word of God says about a true Christian and if you fall short of the test, repent and believe. Cry out to Him and wait on Him until a work is done. A true work, a finished work, a complete work.

Test Yourself

Test yourself, not based on what your parents or friends or pastor knows or tells you, but on what the word of God says. Compare what you know about your secret life, not what others know...in the secret place you know who you are. Compare that person to the word of God now and see if you stand.
Test 1: 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
- If we walk in darkness we lie.
- If we walk in the light we will have fellowship with other Christians. This desire to be around others of the faith will become innate and part of our fabric.
-What does "walk" mean? It refers to our manner of life or our style of life.
a) To walk in the light does not mean we will never sin (see 1: 8-10), but that our manner of life will be to not sin instead hating sin, ever growing and coming more and more into conformity to Christ and his holiness. It is to become more like Christ in our manner and habits and what he has told us about his will.. It is not nebulous as God clearly reveals himself and aspects of his character in his word so we will know.
b) To walk in darkness is to have a lifestyle or manner of living that is contrary to what God has revealed about his will and what he desires for our lives and instead to live life that contradicts what God says he wants from us.

Test 2: 1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
- A true Christian is sensitive to sin in their lives and it will lead them to confession and repentance.
- Are you sensitive to sin? Does it lead you to confession? When was the last time you were wept over your sin or were broken over your sin?
- To confess means to speak the same thing as or agree with God about our sin.
-John 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
- As one can see from this, the devil will not truly confess his sin, nor will his followers.
- In regards to sin Ps 32:3 When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
- Hebrews 12 Great chapter on sin perspective.
- Isaiah 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Do you tremble at His word or do you look for loop holes around it? David failed miserably yet he was esteemed by the Lord.
- We must see our sin as God sees it so that we can fall on our knees and repent from it. Are you willing to struggle with God until you truly do this? Dont be afraid to wrestle with Him until He helps you break through! "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your Heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Test 3: 1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.
- Is your style of life one of ongoing obedience? “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1: 6) If a work of God does not continue, it never was a work of God.
-"Saying" you know Him is not enough - 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
-1 Jn1:5 We realize God's love for us and it makes us want to change inside. It produces change and desire to change.

Test 4: I John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
-do you do your best and is your desire to walk as He walks and follow his footprints? Yes, like a child following his dad's footprints in the snow, those steps are bigger than ours and we will be clumsy, stumble along the way but we get back up and continue to walk after Him. We fall down, we stretch to reach and often dont but our greatest desire is to walk like he walks.

Test 5: I John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
- The brethren refers to other believers. A true Christian will love as Christ loves. Without love, nothing else matters. Do you want and desire to be around other believers? Do you love other Christians? How many are you serving, praying for and helping?
-John 13:33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (1Jn2:7-11 ref) -How do we know that we are truly saved? 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
-1John 4:7-21 God is Love.

Test 6: 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
-Loving the world is loving everything that contradicts God's attributes and will (ie.the world).
-A true Christian will hate the things God hates.
-Do you love and seek after the pleasures of this world instead of God?
-Those who are not separating now will be separated on that day when God separates the sheep and the goats. Do you love the world?
-What do your eyes chase? What are you watching on TV? What are you listening to and looking at? You love to listen to the very things that nailed your savior to a tree? Follow after Christ and follow HARD after him!
-Where do your treasures lie? Your beauty will pass away. Your body will pass away. You will die. The wealth, glamor and glitter will all pass away and rot. I am middle age. The days of my stength are over. The days of my beauty are over. Whats left for me...to grow older and tired and die? No. As a Christian and one who has walked with God I know the best is yet to come! This world is passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever.
-Do you seek to accomplish things outside the will of God?
-Life is but a vapor. How then shall we live?
-16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
-Young ones, do not wait, seek Him now seek Him hard!

Test 7: I John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
- A true Christian will persevere among other true Christians and stay in fellowship with other believers. They will stay in the faith.
- John 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
“…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1: 6) If a work of God does not continue, it never was a work of God.

Test 8: I John 2:22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
-A true believer embraces the fullness of Christ that He is God. We accept his lordship over our lives. What Christ do you put your faith in, the almighty, all power God, or some other that is not the real deal and has no power to change you? Jesus is the only true savior, lord, king, prophet and priest.

Test 9: I John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
-Those born of Him practice righteousness. Others can tell because our style of life conforms to the nature and will of God and his laws. Are you practicing.
- We strive to be like Him and to purify ourselves. I John3: 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. Do you desire to be pure?
-If we look at a week in your life or a month in your life, where will we see you are seeking to become more like Christ? Time in prayer with Him? fasting? Reading his word? When? Can you tell me how you are striving after holiness?
- Can others see that you are seeking to be pure? Are you seeking purity or the sensuality of the world in your actions, activities, dress? I am not talking about legalism, as the Bible tells us what we should do. Judge yourself based on God and His word, not other Christians.
- Rule of thumb on your clothing is that it should be a frame for your face which draws attention to it from which the glory of God should be shining. It should not draw attention to the sensual body.
- I John 2: 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. True Christian is not involved in the practice of constant, unbridled habitual sin. Does not mean you dont sin but does mean that your style of life is not given over to it.

Test 10: I John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
- Life of a true believer acknowledges that only Christ saves them, Christ and Christ alone.
- Is the person of Christ precious to you? Is he all you desire?


Clarification to believers: This is not saying you as a Christian will be perfect or that Christ will always be at the forefront of your thoughts. what we are talking about is a style of life and a struggle. The mere fact that you struggle that you dont love Him enough is an evidence that you are a believer. The mere fact that you have a hunger and that you struggle that you dont love Him enough, or that it bothers you that you are not righteous as you should be is an evidence that you are a believer. No, this is speaking to the one who is living in habitual sin or sliding towards habitual sin, the one in which Jesus is just a little "accessory" to their life.

He who has the Son, has life. He who does not have the Son..has nothing!



Acknowledgement: I was blessed to listen to some sermons of a friend of mine that helped further open up the Word to me. This is a rough outline of my notes from that sermon series on I John. It is my interpretation and I refer you to the actual sermons themselves and the Word of God in which they are based. For me these notes are a work in progress. http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/resources/sermons/paul_washer#examine_yourself