Flashbacks are involuntary memories that resurrect
without provocation or reason. As
Christians, we sometimes flashbacks to previous seasons in our lives. Have you ever had one? Many holy roller, born again, sanctified,
fire baptized Christians will flashback
to BC (before Christ) when the right circumstances occur. You know what I mean. Like when someone cuts you off in traffic and
nearly causes you to have an accident while they proceed on their merry little
way. What about after being on hold for
20 minutes, the customer service representative only seems to know the word no
and abruptly disconnects the call. Flashbacks
of choice words or desired behavioral responses pop in your mind seemingly coming
out of the blue. Don't think you've lost
your salvation, it's just a flesh-back, oops, I mean flashback.
Flashbacks are not new. Remember when (not that you were there, but
reading about) Jesus came back from a shut-in in Gethsemane with the inner
circle. It was then that Judas came and betrayed the Master and Peter had a
flesh-back. I can just hear him thinking,
"Don't worry Jesus, I got this."
He whips out his sword and took "deadly" aim at the soldier's
ear.
John 18:10(NKJV)
10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
They had just come out of all night
prayer....wait...okay Jesus had been in all night prayer, the other guys, well,
they were more rested. Peter didn't mean
to mess up. It was just a flashback to
his flesh. But then it happened again.
Mark 14:66-71(NKJV)
66Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. 67And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” 68But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. 69And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your £speech shows it.” 71Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”
66Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. 67And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” 68But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. 69And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your £speech shows it.” 71Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”
Peter was crushed by his denial of Jesus. Fear probably brought on the flashback into
bad words. It was a rough moment in
time, but Peter didn't have the fullness of God we now enjoy. Holy Spirit is able to keep our flesh back in
its rightful place - the past. We must
walk in the Spirit, sing in the spirit and give ourselves fully to the Spirit
at all times. This will stop the doggone
flash-flesh-backs.
Ephesians 5:18-19(NKJV)
18And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Thank you so much for the gentle reminder to stay focused on Him so we don't have as many flesh-backs!
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