2004-03-07-Controlling the Appetites
Nashville #188
Contents
• 1 Heading
o 1.1 Topic: Controlling the Appetites
o 1.2 Group: Nashville TeaM
• 2 Facilitators
o 2.1 Teacher: Ham
o 2.2 TR: Rebecca
• 3 Session
o 3.1 Opening
o 3.2 Lesson
o 3.3 Personal Counsel
o 3.4 Closing
Topic: Controlling the Appetites
Group: Nashville TeaM
Facilitators
Teacher: Ham
TR: Rebecca
Session
Opening
HAM: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am happy that you have come this evening. Let us discuss the freedom of increasing self-control and the shackles of the appetites.
Lesson
HAM: When human beings give free reign to the animal nature believing this to be an act of freedom, in reality those appetites are creating the beginnings of an ever increasing bondage. When people seek forms of escape, whether this is through alcohol or drugs or indulging the sexual appetite, this is a false freedom. The immature human feels constrained by social requirements that more self-controlled humans have adjusted to. Rather than seeking self-discipline, one sees freedom in self-indulgence. Soon, however, the animal appetites simply grow when fed and soon these indulgences become requirements and if this is not checked, these indulgences become addictions that undermine character leading to complete bondage.
Some human beings are in bondage to other types of ego requirements – the requirement to be in control, the requirement to be totally knowledgeable, the requirement to be a perfectionist. These are more subtle forms of bondage, but are nonetheless real. These requirements as well undermine character and create false illusions. It is the illusion then that is fed by one’s actions. And the illusion of power, for example, has many more requirements on the ego self than the reality of powerlessness.
Human beings are easily seduced by slight distortions of the truth. It is easy for human beings to believe that slight distortion in which the ego is inflated where one feels more powerful or knowledgeable, richer, more beautiful, smarter than one really is. Embracing the truth is hard medicine. Embracing the reality of one’s own smallness does not seem to be a source of comfort. Comfort comes from believing that you are more than you are. But once again, this is a form of bondage. When you begin to believe the distortion, you are willingly putting yourself in bondage to that lie. And so gradually the whole personality comes to be in service to that lie.
The only way to break free of these kinds of spiritual bondage is to seek after truth no matter what the consequences are to one’s own ego. Human beings are usually looking for anything that will bolster the lie rather than taking the courageous step toward truth.
The fearless life that all the true followers of Christ must walk, this life is one of continually shedding the ego requirements. And when you are free of these shackles, then and only then will you find true strength. It is the ego that is weak, it is the ego that can be shattered, it is the ego expectations that can be dashed and it is the ego that feels the sting of disappointment.
Truth is indestructible. As you continue to embrace truth, then you find more and more you can withstand anything. As you follow truth and continually whittle away at the old ego structure, truly are you being prepared for greater challenges, more profound problems. And finally when you realize complete powerlessness, will you be your strongest. Then will you be ready to be led as a little child, and then you will be mature human beings.
Many times the Master instructed, this life is only a bridge. Human beings have a great temptation to want to make permanent the life of this world. But the life of this world, must continually move forward. You cannot stay where you were 20 years ago, or 10 years ago, or yesterday and make that your home. Every person must continually develop and expand otherwise your growth will be arrested and that fine house you have built, that structure, will begin to be beaten by the wind and will deteriorate while its inhabitant simply waits deliverance by death.
It takes great courage to keep moving forward. It takes leaving behind what was before you see what will be. It takes continually moving toward self-restraint and increased self-control for without this the pull of the human appetites, the ego appetites, pin you to the spot. In a life that is continually growing, there may be experienced loss many times because the old is continually being swept away as the new is being created. In this life, one’s values are continually changing and expanding therefore one’s highest goals are continually moving. In this life, there is no such thing as a pinnacle of achievement. Each achievement is a preparation for future achievement.
The dynamic life of the spirit even requires that there be many disappointments, many of those mini whirlwinds that clear away the old before the new is created. The life of the spirit is a life of which much is required but it is also a life to which much is given. If you would have true companionship with the Master, you must be willing to lay down your life as he did, not in a literal sense, but in the sense of laying down the ego and laying down the requirements of ego. This is a life that requires to look forward not backward. You cannot mourn the things left behind for everything is eventually left behind.
You are doing very well my children. Each of you is moving toward just what I have described. And each of you is conquering your fear of this leaving behind process and fear is the greatest slave master there is. You do not fear loss if you lay it down willingly. Be unafraid of all that is to be. Be unafraid to let go of old illusions and ego requirements. Prepare in your hearts to follow him and he will lead you to complete safety and make not the mistake of trying to hold on to some secret sin, some ego indulgence that gave you the illusion of safety or the illusion of freedom. What are your questions?
Personal Counsel
Q: Jim asked for a message please Ham.
HAM: My son, blessings upon you. You have been upon a journey of forgiveness. You are understanding that you must forgive in order to be forgiven and you are understanding that the acceptance of forgiveness is the key to your future life. Your ego mind has endeavored to avoid the responsibility that would seek forgiveness. But your greater mind has seen all along the deep guilt and inner blame of your self that has been the prime mover of your life. This illness has given you a second chance and a new life is before you now. What will you choose, reality or illusion, truth or lies? Seek truth will all your heart and all your soul and it will be given to you. Seek love with all your heart and all your soul and it will be given to you. Seek forgiveness and you will find peace. Seek not your own comfort, but to comfort others and you will be comforted. Seek not your own will, but the will of God and you will find yourself. Go in peace son, all is well.
Q: Do you have anything for me tonight Ham?
HAM: Yes my daughter, you so well. The way will open for you and you will come to a place of greater tranquility. Seek to meet the Master within your heart. Seek his guidance and his friendship. Take things slowly, don’t be in a hurry to make decisions. You will find what you need in time. You do well my dear, be at peace.
Q: Do you have any thing for Rebecca?
HAM: Yes my daughter. My dear, you do well. Understand that you are moving forward quite rapidly in the spirit and a part of you continually seeks after the familiar, the comfortable, the easy place to stand. But following the Master requires that you do not stay in one place very long. It requires you to move forward continually. The sloughing off of old ego skins is a continuing process, don’t be tempted to try to go backward and to take up old ego mantles from before. Let go of the past. Embrace what is now and seek after the Master’s will for you. Rather than trying to simply move your house from one part of the bridge to the other, you must walk out of the house and leave it behind.
Q: Jarad?
HAM: Of course my son. You also have a tendency to want to stay in the old shell when the Master requires that you move forward. Banish fear and insecurity by seeking security with him and realizing there is no security outside of him. You must continually embrace that which is to come. You must embrace your new self in order to realize the potential of this new personality orientation and configuration. Don’t look back my son, look forward.
Q: Do you have a personal message for Marije?
HAM: : Certainly, my daughter, you are doing very well. You are adapting to the great changes you have undergone recently with grace and courage. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. You are at the beginning of a great adventure. There is no higher calling than that of home building. There is no greater joy or greater responsibility. Be at peace my dear. You do well.
Q: Do you have a personal message for Charlie B?
HAM: : Yes my son, be at peace. You will be given all that is needful as you move forward in your journey. Banish worry and be of good cheer. Hold continually to the Master’s hand and all will be well.
Q: Do you have any feedback for me tonight?
HAM: : Certainly, my son. Yes, my son, you continue to do well. You are finding great comfort in the letting go of that which has served its purpose and you are finding greater and greater measures of peace every day. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Recognize that you are making wonderful spiritual progress which will be the engine for all that you accomplish. Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all else will be added unto you.
Closing
HAM: Are there any further questions at this time? Very well, then, be at peace my friends. As always my love and my prayers are with you each. Farewell.
