Jun 29
The Dark Night of the Soul (part IV)
CROSS-TIES
Here, in the first Room of Mystery, you have come face to face with The Dark Night of the Soul. It is a place where obedience and discipline become the two tracks on which the rest of your life will ride. Each “cross-tie” under those tracks are there to stabilize you. Yet, too many see them as obstacles to their future. What are the “cross-ties” in your life? Cross-ties are things God places in your life that you have little choice over and if they are not there you will not become the man or woman of God He created to be. The train of your life will fall off the track when you hit unstable conditions.
WHAT ARE CROSS-TIES OF THE SOUL?
Cross-ties are the relatives you have, the geographic location where you live, the boss you work for, even the personality of the children you have. Cross-ties are also the flat tire you have, the dog that digs up your flowers, the cranky neighbor, and the stop light that always changes to red right before you get there. All these things and many more are “cross-ties” and they are there to help you become more self-disciplined and obedient. As you grow or mature in these two areas, you will notice a remarkable shift in your emotional makeup and in the way others act when they are near you. Just what do I mean by that?
PET PEEVES
If you are like me, there are things others do that drive you crazy! In some cases it is so bad that you may even try to steer clear of them. It has been a wonderful, self-revealing, surprise to find that as I become more disciplined and obedient to that which God has called me to do, others stop doing the things that irritate me. Further, when what they do stops irritating me, they stop doing the thing that irritates me.
It is almost as if God provokes them to rub me the wrong way just to work on me. Can you imagine that! God is always working on our emotional Stability, and He uses cross-ties to do it.
This room is designed to work on the matters of the soul. The area you just came from, the Outercourt, dealt with matters of the flesh. That is why what you are going through is called, The Dark Night of the Soul. It is depicted in what Jesus said right before they took him to be crucified, “My soul is exceedingly troubled.”
THE CORE ISSUE OF THIS ROOM
In this protected and covered place God deals with your internal make-up and takes you one more step, one room at a time, toward Holiness. That is why the Scripture calls it the Holy Place. The problem is this, here in the Amber swirl of this room, you will feel anything but Holy. You may even have the feeling that if this room is a Holy Place, then if God finds out you are here, He will instantly ask you to leave. Here then is an important lesson, God does not take you into this room because you are Holy, He does it to help you become Holy.
YOUR AGENDAS VERSE GOD’S
The first step to Holiness is drawing close to Him who is Holy, the second step is to choose His agenda over yours. That takes discipline and obedience – those two facets then allow you to make the right choice on any decision that lies before you. When you exit this room you will be able to make wiser choices than you have ever been able to do – and life will get better!
The Dark Night of the Soul has little to do with religion, economics, war, politics, or geo-physical issues. It is not about what goes on around you, it is about that which goes on within you. First we change, then the world will change. It is a WAY of God.
In my next posting I will write about the first “Deep Mystery” of this room. This one will be quite a shocker!
Blessings,
John Paul
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Oh dear God may my tracks be set firm and straight by Your mighty right hand and may my train cars never again be derailed, amen.
“It is almost as if God provokes them to rub me the wrong way just to work on me.”
Wow, I was sure it was an enemy that was causing them to act that way. I am certain that I must be in this place. I am having a hard time discerning what God’s agenda is, so I am even more confused on how to “obey”. I know I must have an agenda because I feel like I am barely surviving and MUST CHOOSE JOY, PEACE and LOVE. Do I just do the opposite of everything I FEEL!? My emotions are high and I want OUT!!!! Can’t wait for the shocker! Please don’t make me wait too long! Thanks for this BLOG….without it I don’t know how on earth I would know what is happening to me. LOTS OF LOVE/BLESSINGS BEING SENT YOUR WAY!!
Dear Mr. Jackson,
I have been reading your coffee blogs (Jan - Nov) and you talk about a veil which you have not yet revisited. Is it time yet to visit this veil? Also, two years ago I went to Eureka Springs AR where there is a “tabernacle lookalike” built. Have you been there? I know this seems peripheral to what you are discussing, but my intrigue there led me to stay hours and hours — and after having read your blog, I am understanding a bit more of why. How are you so sure about your blog material? I know you have a prophetic bent, but do you ever wonder if you are hearing crazy things? I’m not saying your stuff is crazy because it resounds with a lot of what has been happening with me, but my “downloads from God” as I call them seem so Noah’s arkish/build the tabernacle-ish that I feel like it’s crazy stuff sometimes.
So John Paul what was Jesus experiencing when he said “my soul is exceedingly troubled”? He knew the choice he had to make, so was his trouble because of the consequences or what? (Not only did he have to die to the flesh but he also knew he was going to be separated from the Father, something he had never experienced before). So is it the same for us when we struggle making the right choice?
Blessings
Michael and Susan
I chuckled when I read this because I cannot lie: I hate this stage! ..well that is just partial truth, I hate this stage, but I also love this stage. It is this stage that certainly is
‘iron sharpening iron’ but sometimes the blades of others swords coming across the iron blades of my swords, well..it just doesn’t ‘feel’ the way it ’sounds’
Its not always warm and fuzzy, but it certainly is worth the process.
The cross-ties imagery brought to mind obstacle courses I’ve run in my past. Not metaphorical obstacle courses but literal ones. They usually involve jumping out to catch something like a swinging rope, the next rung of a bar, or another level up of difficulty. I’ve seen people who don’t think they can reach the next level jump tentatively only to barely miss knocking all their teeth out on the bar before smacking down in the dirt or water pit.
It was their confidence level that made all the difference. If they had just believed they could do it they would have been fine. Instead, they focused on how high up they were or how unfamiliar it was to move their body in the way necessary to succeed. In particular, the ‘giant’s ladder’ stands out to me. You have to climb a giant ladder that swings freely. Only problem is each rung gets further apart. At first you only need to reach out to the next rung. However, as you get higher, you not only have to let go with both hands from the rung below but you have to jump to reach the next level!
I was thinking how the more difficult the circumstances (height, distance, etc.) the more confidence you gain when you succeed. Sometimes it takes a few tries for people to figure out how to do an obstacle but once they have it, they HAVE it. Mostly, it is about confidence. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! That means I can make it! I’ve never known anyone who thinks the obstacle courses at boot camp are quite as thrilling as the recruiting commercials make them out to be. It’s not so easy when your in the thick of it. One thing is true, ‘just do it,’ and you will ‘be all that you can be.’ Like you said, ‘don’t give up!’
I’m feeling like a cog-train right now. The cross-ties keep getting farther apart and higher up (don’t look down!). Just think, where to cog-trains go? All the way to the top! I’m preachin’ to myself
Can I get a witness up in here? Wooo-Hooo!~
I’m starting to think that my church is apart of the cross-ties!
I can be frustrated with my church. Sometimes they become my pet-peeve and I often times will ask myself why am I at that specific church? I know for now it is to develop me in character, coming under authority, as I do believe that character is far more important than gifting.
Ok… so I need discernment and wisdom for the choices I will be making this year, especially in regards to my church. I love the people but it might not be the best place for me.
Continueing to lay down my agenda!
When the Lord Jesus was wounded, He lived out Matt 5 on loving people, yet He also went to 1 Peter 2:23 and commit everything to God’s judgment. However when offenders at the cross ‘did not know what they were doing’, He asked the Father to forgive them. Of forgiveness, it is written , “You answered them, O LORD our God;You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds. Ps 99:8.” LOL.
As for me, whenever i encounter these cross ties, i take heart that in following Matt 5 the true liberty comes in loving ‘a little’ as Jesus loves. When i love people, the wounds are healed and i don’t feel the pain. It seems Jesus’ model of love is the perfect law of liberty. Of course the whole bible is the perfect law of liberty. The truth will set us free. And those who follow His word will prosper. We are just going to cast our crowns at His feet one day like the angelic elders, we are too little compared to Him.
Well said JP. I heard someone put it this way…God changes us before He changes our circumstances. Which is to say, I/we often think if just this or that will change (external to me/us), then things will be better. But I believe God sees that my attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, mindset, etc., - those things that contribute to my decision-making process that actually cause the circumstances to come about - need to change. When I have this view, then I’m not so concerned about my circumstances, I’m more focused on me (I think in a good way), asking, what in me needs to change.
A former pastor of mine said, immaturity in others reveals whether we are mature or immature. That one gets me!
Blessings,
Dennis
“This one will be quite a shocker!” Heck, finding out that our relatives are by God’s design is shocking! …Just kidding…
This is great, you are pulling back the religious cover and exposing “a Way of God”.
I’m fastening my seat belt in anticipation of “a shocker!” in your next post. Looking forward to it.
Thanks.
John Paul:
This reminds me of a dream I had some months ago concerning train tracks at cross roads as I was waiting for the train. My gaze was fixed on the cross road’s and cross ties. I was trying to understand which track the train was coming down and I did not want to be in the way of the on coming train. However, in the dream it was hard to determine at what direction the train was coming and furthermore it was not clear to me of where I should be standing. Now after reading this blog, I can now take a deep breath, relax and understand that the cross tie’s represent the train track called life and now I know that the train that I had been waiting for is this blog (lol). Wow, God is amazing! I will now by the grace of God stay focused. Nothing is ever wasted. Thankyou, Lord and thank you once again John Paul. This has made my day. I can’t wait for the next post.
I am sincerely grateful for God’s handiwork working through you to reach other’s.
Blessings To You always!
Shirley C.
Thank you John Paul! You are a blessing in my life! Lots of love and gratitude is sent your way.
Nicole
I am right there with you Dennis! There is not much talk about what you are saying but there is so much truth in it! May the Lord grant me the strength and wisdom to relay this message to those I love in due time!
Many blessing to you all! Looking forward to the next post and more growth in me!!! May the eyes of my heart be enlightened to the things and ways of God. More of me and less of you, Jesus!!!
John Paul,
I like the metaphorical puns …
cross (Calvary) ties,
train (ing) track
right (eous) track
You make me smile when you have fun writing and hiding little nuggets to be discoverd.
Levi
I like what you said One of those, about confidence in God. Just this weekend, God gave me a few victories that made me think (a little more, a little deeper). It made me think of how great He really is, even when we just obey the simplest of things really not expecting anything or much of it, He just comes through like no one else can - purely Him!
I’m learning once again to ignore the pet peeves and to focus on what is really important. To me pet peeves are just smoke screens to throw us off balance and cause harm. If we act on them, someone is liable to get hurt.
But I think that the most important thing I learnt this weekend, was “blind trust”. Just doing what He says do. Doing what we know that we know that He has impressed us to do, irrespective of even the slightest thing that may oppose us and Him…
Not easy, but then what is? That’s what makes it sorely fun…because we have the promise that He will wipe our tears away and it won’t be like this forever…
I may have missed something along the way, so if I did you know what to do
Till the next wave…
God Bless!
Dear John Paul,
Thank you for your insights as ever, and for the revelation you provide us with which enables us to bask in His glory.
Can’t wait for the next post!
God bless you!
ransom33 @ http://www.ransom33.wordpress.com
Are you going to be putting this in a book? This is so meaty that a book would be nice to have. A book is easier to read for digesting things. This is stuff I’ve never heard anyone else teach on. Thank you.
I thank God for all the cross-ties. God is showing me more and more how he has worked through people that he has placed in my life, to bring me to a higher place. Even those that mistreated me had a purpose in bringing me closer to God. It is amazing! I don’t think that I can express in words the appreciation that I have for everything that God has done. Thank you for your ministry. May God bless you in a very special way for all you have done.
Many Blessings
Hello John Paul…..blessings!! How timely this message is! Three accidents in six weeks, new job which is lower than I have ever had, financial situation grim,boss talks more than he works ( keeps me from work )so much other “stuff” yet the peace is incredible!!
It grates against the flesh, but it is great to know that my heart is becoming “Dirah Beitachtonim” ( The Dwelling Place of G-d )I would of hated this place five years ago, today…..I am constantly saying: OK G-d, what are your teaching me now.” I love the battle, I always have.
I use to repent of it, but I now realize that evil persists because good people choose to do nothing. The enemy is pushing hard, and we must be on the wall. How lovely is His dwelling place, where wars are fought with love!! I am happy to know I have come this far!!
I once had a vision on the Pinnicle, where I had forty scars from forty battles. I was to deliver forty messages to forty churches for forty days. At each church I bled from a different scar until the message was delivered, then the wound was healed supernaturally. On the shelf for now…..
Yet this process is so needed, we will not stand in what is to come without it. I cherish the streching and the breaking ( not the package it is wwrapped in…..lol….. ) I am, as you say John Paul, a supernatural being having a human experience!! I so love this blog, it is strength for the journey…..May the Lord be your cloud by day and your pillar of fire by night…..Always in His presence, Dwayne…..><((”<
OK John Paul,
How do we know for sure what is our own agenda and what is God’s? I am now doing something I know I’m called to do. I haven’t mastered this thing, and there are so many facets of it that I know I could learn about and incorporate or choose a related yet tangential path to follow. When do we know, really know, that we’re just operating out of our own abilities? Should we always choose the aspect that is most challenging or uncomfortable to us and then rely on Him to work this thing out?
For example, I am not a great administrator, but one aspect of what I’d like to be doing would require this kind of skill or gifting. Do I go for it recognizing that He put this desire in me, but making efforts and promises that I’m not certain I could fulfill and ask Him to accomplish His purpose in it? Do I follow this desire, spend a lot of time in discipline and hopefully reach delight? I know a simple answer is to ask Him and listen to Him and do what He says. How do I know that what I’m hearing isn’t just being filtered by my own agenda or false teachings? I really want to press into His mysteries without a bunch of baggage, or having to go around the mountain again and again, or create a bunch of Ishmaels along the way.
What it all boils down to is this: Will I be able to love like He loves and love Him like He deserves no matter what it is I’m doing? Perhaps that is a part of the answer. How do we know for sure that we’ve cast aside our own agendas?