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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center">“<font size="3"><b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><font size="3"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Tel:
253.874.4265 -- Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></font></b></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><u><b>2009-03-22
- “IDENTIFIED OR SIMPLY INTERESTED?</b></u></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="center">
<b>(From “My Utmost for His Highest” - Oswald Chambers)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="center">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<b>Galatians 2:20 (2:15-21) “I have been crucified with Christ”
. . .</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the
death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my emotional
opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a
moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I
have to my right to myself. Paul said, “<b>I have been crucified
with Christ . . . .”</b> He did not say, “<b>I have made a
determination to imitate Jesus Christ,</b>” or, <span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“I
will really make an effort to follow Him”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">
- but - “</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I have been
</b></span><i><b>identified</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>
with Him in His death.”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">
Once I reach this moral decision and act on it, all that Christ
accomplished </span><i>for</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> me on
the Cross is accomplished </span><i>in</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit
the opportunity to grant to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
“<b><span style="font-style: normal;">. . . it is no longer I who
live . . . .” </span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">My
individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the
nature that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human
body, but the old satanic right to myself has been destroyed.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
“<b><span style="font-style: normal;">. . . and the life which I now
live in the flesh,” </span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">not
the life which I long to live or even pray that I live; but the life
I now live in my mortal flesh - the life which others can see, </span></span><b><span style="font-style: normal;">“I
live by faith in the Son of God . . . .”</span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">
This faith was not Paul's own faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith in
the Son God had given to him (see Ephesians 2:8). It is no longer a
faith in faith, but a faith that transcends all imaginable limits - a
faith that comes only from the Son of God.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><u><b><span style="font-style: normal;">NOTE</span></b></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">:
What helps can one use to </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">focus</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
on success for Galatians 2:20? Can one achieve the victory of Oswald
Chambers, George Muller, H. A. Baker, Rees Howells today? Yes - a
resounding yes! Review and practice the 3 key verses on “vocal
meditation” - in praying audibly over the Scriptures in the spirit
of George Whitefield. He spent up to 5 hours daily on his knees
reading aloud the Bible, and in turn praying aloud meditatively over
what he was reading.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Remember
Joshua 1:8 - God gave him this verse in the context of 1:1-9. For
this book of Teaching, Torah, the law - to be in his </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">mouth</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">,
it </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">had</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
to be meditated upon audibly. Then it had to be </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">walked
in</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">,
and then the two promises could be claimed. With but 2 slips, Joshua
was amazingly successful in fulfilling this mandate.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">500
years later, David, Samuel and the Levites with Moses produced the
Jewish hymn book of the Bible in Psalms, whose 5 sections correspond
with Moses' 5 books of the Pentateuch. Psalm 1:2-3 exactly parallels
Joshua 1:8. The Hebrew word “h</span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">a</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">hG</span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">A</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">H”,
to meditate in connection with one's mouth, is used in both
references.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Then
in 1 Timothy 4:15 (4:11-16), the word “be diligent” in the
teachings of this context, is the Greek equivalent to “vocally
meditate” to Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2-3. Paul exhorted Timothy not
only to use the Hebraic method of meditation, but to give himself
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">wholly</span></span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
to them in doing them! In so doing he would become an example to all
the scores of elders leading churches in the home, as well as to all
the people. Ephesus was the great and key church of that part of
Asia, over which Timothy was the apostolic pastor.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">And
remember, part of the amazing results God achieved through Joshua,
was to defeat the 7 nations of Canaan - (see Deuteronomy 7:2), each
nation larger than Israel, and through Urim & Thummim, to so
wisely divide the conquered land between the 12 tribes of Israel (2 ½
already looked after by Moses East of the Jordan) that there was no
dissension or murmurings at the decisions!</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Later
on (1000 years later) Jesus wrote letters to the 7 churches of N.E.
Asia, linking them with each of the 7 Canaanite nations, which were
in turn linked with each of the 7 Capital sins perceived by the
Middle Age Contemplative Movement headed up by St. John of the Cross.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">For
those interested in following up on these 3 groups of “7”, please
turn to our Website, </span></span></span></font><b><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a>>,</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">click
on “Interlinear” on the Top-Bar, and then to Revelation 2 &
3.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">David
had a 7-fold Preparation for the Temple of Solomon. Though his son
got the credit for the building, yet without this 7-fold preparation,
it is doubtful if Solomon could have accomplished his part. Some of
these acts were - David purchased the site for the temple; received
from God by the Spirit the full blueprint for the Temple; with Samuel
and the Levites provided the worship for the temple; and provided a
remarkable amount of money ahead of time for the Temple.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Timothy
received a 7-fold Teaching to the 7 major churches of Paul: Romans,
Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and
Thessalonians. The first, 4</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
and 7</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
of these - coincide with the 3 great feasts of the Jews. By mastering
these, Timothy had a great basis of understanding and teaching for
his responsibility as the Apostolic Pastor of Ephesus!</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">When
we tie all the above together plus Galatians 2:20 (2:15-21), then we
can join with them the example of</span></span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
Oswald Chambers, George Muller, Rees Howells and H. A. Baker. It is
time for saints desiring to excel - to consider this. Last Saturday,
Marie and I attended a Karate Martial Arts testing, in which one of
our grandsons was seeking to gain the 3</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">rd</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
step of his Brown Belt. The Sensei spoke to the Green and Brown Belt
contestants very strongly on the need to be “focused”, if they
truly wished to excel. “Then”, he said, “you can transfer this
focusing achievement to all other areas of goals in life. Those who
have succeeded in this 'focusing goal' in Martial Arts in the past,
have all without exception been able to make this transfer, and have
succeeded in other areas of life.”</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">It
is difficult for us as Americans to master the art of “focusing”!
There are so many other interests in our society to cause our gaze to
wander: cell phones, TV, computer games etc., etc. but those who are
able to focus, even in our society, can still achieve in all other
areas, in line with their respective gifts. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Remember
Jesus - He said that a man is not without honor, except in his own
country and household. This was true of Him in His ministry. His
family was embarrassed with Him. But following His crucifixion,
resurrection and Ascension, His brother James became the Apostolic
pastor of Jerusalem and wrote the epistle bearing his name - and Jude
likewise - half-brother to Jesus - wrote the letter bearing his name.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Reread
the insights of Oswald Chambers in his brief remarks at the beginning
of this mailing. This is the “death-knell” to the self-life. Few
make the decision to enter this small and elect group. Absolute death
to self calling the shots - is the absolutely unavoidable decision to
enter this group. Remember Jesus' disciples: first the 12; then the
7; then the 5; then the 3; and finally John, the Beloved disciple. He
wanted this position. He paid the price; he received.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Some
have asked - “What was the response to your request for counsel
concerning your open letter to President Obama? Should I send it?”
Some 37 responded. All 37 were positive: “Send it.” A few had
suggestions in rewriting somewhat. Normally out of 850 recipients, I
receive no more than 3 responses. One other time I had over 45
responses. Thanks to all of you who prayed, considered, and
responded. - Jim Watt</span></span></span></p>
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</p>
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