Most people operate a two-handed system of philosophy without even without knowing it. It is a constant source of amazement that we humans can be totally driven by our own philosophy without even being aware of it.
We have taken on the ways of our parents, siblings and peers without any conscious effort. One such way of thinking involves the process we go through naturally when we are presented with new information; I have called this the Two-handed System of Philosophy.
Imagine a person hearing some new revelation or teaching that is contrary to their previous experience, perhaps that God heals, or that God wants them to be blessed.
The Two-handed System of Philosophy then comes into effect and goes something like this:
In one hand they hold all the information they have ever received in their life. Then one day someone places some new information into the other hand.
They compare the two and discover that this new information does not match up with their previous experience or knowledge. This usually creates a conflict between what is new and what has been experienced. As most people are more comfortable with the known, what they have already seen, they reject the new information.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
A Slave To The Past
Now they have placed themselves in bondage to their past. They are going against their own best interests by not allowing any change to take place in their lives.
Paul puts it this way in 2 Timothy 2:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
(vv. 24-26)
They are opposing themselves by keeping themselves slaves to sin.
Instead they should pray and ask the Lord to reveal the truth to them.
Look at Philippians 3:15: “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
When we do not know the right way, the Holy Spirit will reveal it to us.
In our weak state, we should ask Him to help us receive the new and accept the change.
Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Galatians 5:1 states, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Don’t reject this information; if you have to turn your life on its head to follow Jesus, you should be ready for that.
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In 1982 Stephen Wood was a heathen, in a rocky marriage to Janet who was agoraphobic at the time. Janet had given her heart to Jesus as a child but was never taught to read the Word to promote growth. Janet did know enough to cry out to God for their marriage.
It was then that God sent Christians to move in just three houses away. Their Christian neighbours had been praying for them for eighteen months before inviting them to attend the first Kenneth Copeland video meeting to be held in England.
Stephen reluctantly attended the meeting and was struck by the love shown to him by the hosts of the meeting. After watching the video, Stephen knew that he had become a Christian. No-one laid hands on him, no-one prayed with him, he just knew he had received Jesus.
Janet received prayer for the agoraphobia and was delivered from fear that evening. They went home that night a different couple with new hope. The following day, Stephen could sing in tongues without knowing there was a Holy Spirit.
Within six months, Stephen, a warrant officer in the British Army was posted to Germany. Shortly after they became Kenneth Copeland video ministers and continued to grow as people's lives were changed and they faced daily challenges that made them run to God.
In 1985 they returned stronger in faith to Warminster, where God had called them to start a church in the town. Foundation Christian Fellowship was established in September of 1986 with seven people. Their growing church is now reaching out for their own land and building.
The restoration of their rocky marriage was not fully able to begin until Stephen received some emotional healing. Further work was achieved when he received a teaching, which allowed him to finally receive God as the Father who loves him unconditionally.
This divine intimacy has restored their marriage. Now they can minister to other marriages