I am John Karnish and this is a study note, containing the basic material of Dr. Larry Hutton's Book, Internal Affairs.
I can only cover the basics in this note, so I suggest purchasing Dr. Hutton's Book to get the full message.
Also, I am just writing the note, not determining whether it is Biblically correct. Although I agree with "most" points.
Back in 1977, Larry Hutton heard a message from the Lord. God said that he was going to show him in His Word how to have no more "down days, stress-filled days, strife-filled days, or any days filled with hurt feelings, depression, discouragement or uncontrolled anger."
Although Dr. Larry Hutton had many opportunities to have a "down day," he hasn't had one since that time in 1977.
Chapter 1 - The Sin Of Worry
How much does worrying have an impact on your life? Stress and worry are rampant nowadays and I am guilty of being a worrier too.
However, fear is at the opposite spectrum of faith and we are actually told in the Bible not to worry. So technically you could say that worrying is a sin.
You see faith is a reaction of the heart based on something God has said. Fear is a reaction of the mind or emotions based on something the world has said.
As you see in Romans 14:23b "anything that does not come from faith is a sin." Philippians 4:6 tells us "Do not be anxious about anything."
We can not worry and be in faith.
Basically when we worry we are saying to God, "God, I don't think you will handle this for me and I will need to do it myself." When we start thinking this way, we become proud. We are more carnally-minded than spiritually-minded.
So how do we stop worrying?
1 Peter 5: 6-7 states: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
First, we need to humble ourselves. We need to start casting our cares upon the Lord and believe that he will take care of them. He will lift us up "in due time" if we let him take care of our concerns and stay out of the way.
One thing to notice is that many translations use the word "cares." The original Greek word is "merimna" which is translated as "care and anxiety."
There are two other scriptures that use the same Greek word. One is Mark 4:18-19. "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."
Notice that the "worries of this life" will choke out God's word that we are planting in our hearts. So this is another reason why we are not to worry.
The second scripture is Luke 21:34. "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap."
Notice again that the anxieties of life are comparable to drunkenness. When we are in a worried state we can not hear God's voice. It is not a good place to be in.
Well, I hope this little note on this chapter gave you some insight into the dangers of worry and how to overcome it.
Chapter 2 - One Thing Is Needful
This chapter starts with Luke 10:38-42.
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a village and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Dr. Hutton notes that in the verses above, it says that Martha was "cumbered." He shows that cumbered can be interpreted as "to draw away; distract; to be driven from mentally." Verse 41 also says that Martha was "troubled" and "careful." The way the word "careful" is used, it means to "be full of care" or in other words "worried." The word trouble in the original Greek means "to be disturbed, disquieted or troubled in the mind."
The author notes that Jesus was not telling Martha that it was wrong to serve him but he was telling her not to be worried or be troubled. Jesus in a way was saying "Martha, if you weren't worried about this it would be something else."
Jesus doesn't "directly" say what Martha should do to remedy her worries. Instead, he says that the one thing she needed to do was what her sister Mary had chosen and because Mary took these actions, "it will never be taken away from her."
Now Jesus was saying that there was "action" that needed to be taken to obtain peace. So, we need to study what Mary was doing that kept her in peace. Mary had chosen (made a conscious effort) to sit at Jesus's feet and hear his word. In other words, she was "yoked up to Jesus."
Dr. Hutton notes that Martha was being driven away from the Word. Unless a person is well-grounded in the Word he will pass the blame onto others or situations for his emotional trouble. If you stay yoked up to Jesus, you can "choose" the good part and stay focused on his word.
Stay connected to God and his Word, it is your lifeline.
Chapter 3 - Times Of Trouble
Dr. Hutton uses David as an example in this chapter. In 1 Samuel, Saul had been pursuing David. Because of this, David had been living in the country of the Philistines in a city called Ziklag.
David and his men were away and were returning to Ziklag to find that the Amalekites had invaded, burned down the whole city, and taken all the women and children captive.
1 Samuel 30:4 says: "Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep."
Dr. Hutton reminds us that there is nothing wrong with crying in sadness and reminds us that Jesus cried for Lazarus. However, we should not remain there.
To make things worse for David, the people were talking about stoning him because of what happened.
David was facing one of the toughest situations of his life, but "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."
Strong's Concordance defines "encourage" as: "to strengthen; to make strong; to restore to strength." How did David make himself strong in the Lord?
We can see in Psalm 27:1 & 5: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
" 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up on a rock."
In Psalm 28:7 the psalmist says: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him."
We can see that David was literally speaking these words out loud and reminding himself of his strength in the Lord.
One more passage is Psalm 103:1-5: "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; 3 Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
David literally talked to himself. He began to tell his soul and emotions something that would change the way he was feeling. By doing so peace had overtaken worry, boldness had overtaken discouragement and a strong spirit had overtaken any desire to quit.
Similarly in Isaiah 40:31, it is written "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
The Hebrew word for "wait" is "to bind together or be joined to." So we aren't just "waiting" for God to do something, we are binding ourselves to him and renewing our strength.
Once David encouraged himself in the Lord, he sought guidance from God and had overtaken the looters, captured back the women and children, and everything that was taken. Plus he had taken the flocks and herds of the enemy for his own. He came out better.
So during times of trouble, we need to speak words of faith out loud to encourage our spirit and make us strong in the Lord.
Chapter 4 - "Let The Lord Fight For You."
In the last chapter, we learned that we need to "join ourselves" to the Lord, especially in times of trouble. King Jehoshaphat had to do this. In Chronicles 20:15 & 17 he is facing his enemy who is in great multitude.
15 "Thus says the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."
17 "You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you."
King Jehoshaphat faced the enemy by again speaking out God's promises. Dr. Hutton states that in essence, he was saying: "Lord, we are not big enough nor are we smart enough in our own strength and in our own wisdom to overcome this situation that we are facing, so we get our eyes off of ourselves and look to you."
King Jehoshaphat was "casting his cares upon the Lord."
The King did not worry about his situation or say things like "I am doomed." This would have caused him to enter into "pride" and cause him to try to do things in his own power.
How To Magnify God
Another key element in this story is that the King magnified God's power. Just like using a magnifying glass doesn't change the size of the print on a page, God's power doesn't change but when we magnify his power, it is easier for us to believe in God's strength.
David magnified the power of God.
In Psalm 34:3 David says "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."
In Psalm 69:30 David says "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving."
By magnifying the LORD we emphasize how strong God is, not our problems.
I am sure you are starting to see how when we "magnify the LORD" the outcome is peace.
Chapter 5 - The Alternative To Worry
If God tells us to "cast our cares upon him" then he must want us to live a carefree, stress-free, worry-free life. In order to stop expecting the worst and start expecting good things to happen, we need to change the way we think.
The Bible tells us "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
So when we are carnally minded, we can not be in peace. Now when we are spiritually minded, we do what the spirit tells us to do which is always in line with God's word. When our thoughts and actions are controlled by the word of God we will be led by peace rather than fear. We will live in peace and joy.
Now if we let worry and fear start to rule our lives, we will lose God's peace and joy, the place where God can lift us up out of our problems.
If you are born again, you received the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law."
Peace and joy are living on the inside of us. Romans 14:7 says "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." This means that we have righteousness, peace, and joy and that is what makes up the kingdom of God.
Luke 17:20-21 says " The kingdom of God comes not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." So since the kingdom of God is within us, that means that righteousness, peace, and joy are in us too.
Therefore, anything that makes us feel "unrighteous could not be true." We are righteous regardless of how we feel. If someone or something robs us of our peace, we should be spiritually minded and allow truth to control our thinking and actions. By doing so we remain in peace and joy. If we allow our emotions to control our thoughts and actions, we are being carnally-minded and our joy and peace will be taken away.
Now, remember, we will be tested and often we want to blame people or situations for how we feel. However, our emotions are controlled by our thoughts. When we keep our thoughts on what God's word has taught us we remain in peace and joy.
The book gives 8 keys that we have studied so far. They are:
1.) Humble yourself by casting your cares upon the Lord
2.) Like Mary (Martha and Mary) choose to continually hear and act upon God's word.
3.) Encourage yourself in The Lord like David
4.) Join yourself to the Lord and exchange your weakness for God's strength.
5.) Seek the Lord and let Him fight your battles for you.
6.) Magnify the Lord instead of your problems
7.) Pray and sing praises when things are not going well.
8.) Be spiritually minded and let righteousness, peace, and joy fill you.
Chapter 6 - God's Ways Of Doing Things
Most people have heard Matthew 6:33 before. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
The things that God is talking about here are things that can be bought with money. For instance, the previous verses talk about food and clothing.
As we learned earlier, the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy and the kingdom of God is inside us. So we in essence are seeking the righteousness, peace, and joy that are on the inside of us.
Strong's Concordance tells us that we should not confuse an actual kingdom with the authority to rule over a kingdom. "
So basically the verses are telling us to "rule the way God rules and to act the way God acts..." or in other words, we should do things the way God would.
Dr. Hutton points out that the original Greek word for righteousness can be translated as "the character or quality of being right or just."
He then tells us that Strong's concordance gives the following definition for righteousness: "integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting."
So Dr. Hutton paraphrases the verse using the teachings he has given so far as: "Make sure that you seek God. He has given you the authority to rule in this world with righteousness, peace, and joy. And you are to do it just like Him, allowing integrity and goodness to define your character, and thereby living a life that is pure and honorable in front of all. If you do this, all the natural things that money can buy will be given to you."
In addition in Luke 10:9, Jesus has given us authority to "trample down" any devil and demon that may attack us and to "exercise authority" over all their powers. That means we can exercise authority over depression, worry, stress, fear.
Now the author also points out that in Strong's Concordance that "seek" means: "to seek [find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into." In other words, if we are to seek the kingdom of God (righteousness, peace, and joy) we need to think about it, meditate on it, and enquire into it. We can do this instead of thinking about, meditating on, and enquiring into worry, etc...
In Matthew 6:31 we are taught: "Therefore take no thought, saying. What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? "
While it would be hard never to have a worrisome thought, we can not take them or "speak them out' which will give them power.
Instead, think on God's word and speak God's word to give it power in your life.
Now the Message version of the Bible interprets Matthew 6:33-34 as: "Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 34 Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
So we are to focus our life around God-reality (God's thoughts and truths), God-initiative (God's plan and his ways), and God-provisions (seeing God as our provider). Focus on what God is doing now and don't get worked up about what may or not happen tomorrow or our imaginations will "run wild."
Chapter 7 Supernatural Peace Of Mind
Psalm 119:165 says "Great peace have they which love your law [the word] and nothing shall offend them." Dr. Hutton points out if we love God's word, we will be "doers" of the Word. In order to "do it," we need to know it. This means that we have to spend time reading, thinking, meditating on, and speaking it.
To go a little further with this train of thought, let's look at Deuteronomy 6:6-7: "And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: 7 And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up."
If we did this, wouldn't you see how we would get immersed in "The Word?"
Isaiah 26:3 says: "You [God] will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you."
If we try to make God's word the main focus of our lives, then God will give us perfect peace.
Now let's look at Philippians 4:6-8:
"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Earlier Dr. Hutton taught that this verse tells us "not to be worried or troubled with cares about anything." In this chapter, he also points out that we should be in constant conversation with God about what is going on in our life. However, we should not be complaining.
The verse says that our "prayers and supplications are to be made with thanksgiving." So there should be an expectancy that God will listen and answer our prayers and we give him thanks that he is doing this. Also, note that it says in "everything." This means it should be constant.
Finally, we are taught what our thoughts should be focused on: "Whatsoever is true, honest, just, etc..." Instead of complaining about our situation, we need to keep our thoughts on these things.
Lastly, let's look at John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
There are a few things to notice in this verse. First of all, we are given Jesus's peace. Secondly, we are to use this peace to "not let our hearts be troubled or be afraid." Thirdly, if Jesus tells us to do this, it must mean it "can be done" especially with his supernatural peace.
Chapter 8 - Our Emotions - Redeemed
Our emotions were actually redeemed when Jesus died on the cross. Dr. Hutton points to Isaiah 53:4-5 to show us that it's possible to walk in God's peace since our emotions are redeemed.
"Surely he [Jesus] has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed."
Dr. Hutton points out that the Hebrew word for grief means "sickness," especially physical sickness. The Hebrew word for sorrows means "pain and sorrows" both physical and emotional. The Hebrew for "Hath borne" means to "take away or carry off."
So, Jesus took away or carried our sickness and bore all of our pains both physical and emotional. We can be controlled by peace and joy.
Dr. Larry Hutton then discusses some things that David did in the Psalms to walk in peace.
"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me. (Psalm 27:5)
"You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Psalm 32:7)
In times of trouble, David started talking about God rather than his problems.
Dr. Hutton gives this example: "If you were facing some of the worst troubles in your life and God appeared and said 'My child, hurry over here and hide behind me. I will take care of all of this for you.'" What would you do?
You would rush over to God. You would start thanking God, praising and worshiping him. You no longer would worry and your thoughts would be joyous, tranquil, and peaceful.
Dr. Hutton then explains that even though we might not actually see God, we should believe in what God's word says. A lot of people would say "It would be much easier to relax and gain control of my emotions if God was here in person." But the Bible says "...blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed."
It is imperative that you not only believe but act upon the principles provided in the scripture listed in the book.
One last verse that Dr. Larry Hutton shows us in this chapter is in John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Chapter 9 - Why Am I acting like this?
Sometimes there are issues that affect our bodies that can have an effect on our moods. For instance pain in the body, hormones, medications, sleeplessness, and menstrual cycles all can affect our mood.
Often we can blame these issues for bad behavior and emotions and it can seem justified. However, Dr. Hutton has a few good questions that help us look at these situations and our responses in a new light. For example, "Which of the physical problems give us the right to treat people in an ungodly fashion?"
"Are we EVER entitled to hate, hold on to unforgiveness, envy, be bitter toward or slander others?"
"With what physical problems will God's word work for us and which ones will it not work?"
Dr. Hutton gives another example. I will paraphrase it. Suppose you were in a heated argument with someone when all of a sudden someone walks into the room, like your pastor, would you change the way you were acting?
If you could control your feelings for the person who walked into the room you actually could control them for the first person that you were in a heated argument with.
Dr. Larry Hutton points out that Ephesians 5:1 tells us to "imitate, act like God." If we could act like a Christian when the pastor entered the room, shouldn't we try to always act like Christ?
We have God's peace which will enable us to do it.
Chapter 10 - Dominion Over All
This chapter is similar to the last chapter in that Dr. Hutton is showing us again in God's word that we can control our reactions no matter what is going on in the body.
He starts out by reminding us that in Genesis God gave Adam dominion over all living things. He then goes on to show that our bodies are living things, our organs are living. Therefore there are things like our brain chemistry and hormones. We have dominion over them and can exercise some control.
Dr. Hutton then points out Corinthians 9:24-27: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. 25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air. 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
Verse 24 compares life on earth to a race and lets us know that God wants us to win the race. Verse 25 tells us that we need to be temperate and self-controlled and to obtain the prize of an incorruptible crown. Verse 26 tells us that we are not aimlessly running or fighting without a purpose. Finally, verse 27 tells us that we are to keep our bodies under complete control or we will not win the race.
Verse 27 also tells us that we are to bring our bodies into subjection. This shows us that our spirits, our inner man has control over our outer man, our bodies. However, we need to exercise dominion over our body including our emotions.
Chapter 11 - Partaking of the Divine Nature
In 1st Peter 1:2-4 it says: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our Lord, 3 According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue. 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
There are times in our lives when we have physical challenges in our bodies and verse 2 tells us that during these times and others that grace and peace can be multiplied. We are able to multiply grace and peace "through the knowledge of God and of Jesus."
Verse 3 shows us that God's divine power gives us "all things" that apply to our lives. Verse 4 explains that this "knowledge of God" will bring "exceeding great and precious promises" that we can use to "partake of His divine nature."
In other words whenever our emotions try to overtake us, no matter what the cause we can "partake in His divine nature."
1st Corinthians 10:13 in "The Living Translation" reads: "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."
Life is going to test us to act in ways that the Bible tells us not to, but God promises us to provide an escape. We still will be tempted but we can have faith that God's peace and joy will allow us to overcome any emotional difficulty that comes our way. It is important to speak God's word and his promises rather than our problems. Our God is bigger than any problem.
Proverbs 4:23 in "The Good News Translation" says: "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." God has given us the power to think positively, helpful and lovely thoughts. These thoughts will give us a positive, helpful and lovely life."
To finalize this study, Dr. Hutton says that "we must act like the Word is true no matter how we feel, and regardless of the actions of others!" In order to act like the word is true, we must know the word.