Spiritual

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FIGHT?


Spiritual Blog - Fight

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 – “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” NKJV

 

It has been my experience in life both in practice and observation that too many people just do not know how to fight.  They fight but as one beating the air and shadow boxing without really accomplishing anything except exhaustion and disappointment.  I’ve observed people try to fight spiritual battles with natural weapons and usually end up dividing and alienating other people rather than accomplishing the objective of God and the Spirit of God which is always reconciliation and liberty.

Paul makes it clear that we cannot divest ourselves of the flesh for we live in an earthly tabernacle of clay called Flesh.  We will battle fleshly tendencies as long as we remain on this planet or in this life.  However, he made it equally clear that our battles are not to be fought in the natural but the spiritual and that those weapons afforded or supplied to us by God Himself are mighty and able to pull down strongholds and bring every thought into obedience to Christ.  That is powerful!

This lends to the thought that at least part of the battle is waged in the mind.  If we get our thinking right we will get our acting right, our living right, and our relationships right. We are not what we think we are but we are what we think.  We are the product of what we allow to be planted, grow, and develop in our minds.  Our thought life is incredibly important and a key part of our spiritual weaponry and spiritual warfare.  Too many fail to comprehend this and never seek to allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our Thoughts but let them run around unsupervised and unbridled.  That is not only dangerous it is destructive.

If we are to learn how to fight we must learn how to bring our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and thereby pull down strongholds.  We must be ready to bring rogue and destructive thoughts to the Cross and allow them to be crucified there with Jesus nailing them to the Cross and having the covered with the precious blood of Jesus.  Our thoughts are far more important to our victory in our Christian walk than most are willing to acknowledge because to acknowledge that would mean that they have to take responsibility for what they think.  They could no longer declare, “Well I can’t help thoughts coming.”  That is true but you can prevent them from staying!  You can prevent them from being able to take root and grow.  You are responsible for What You Think!  Our entire person belongs to God, not just parts!

Therefore, as you go through this day go with the realization that your thoughts are important and you are responsible for what you think on. 

God bless you as you go through your day!

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CAN YOU MAKE THIS APPEAL?


Spiritual Blog - Imitate

1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” NASU

Of course, you can, but my real question is “Dare you make this appeal?”  Dare you make it in light of the ‘all knowing’ and ‘all seeing’ God of the Universe observing?  Dare you make it knowing your own heart?  Dare you make it with the flaws in your own vessel?  I truly hope that you say Yes but realize that many would probably be wise to take the path of caution.

Paul is telling those hearing him imitate me because or just as I imitate Jesus Christ. However, in keeping with the contextual interpretation of Scripture Paul is saying, ‘imitate me in the matter being discussed, just as I imitate Christ.’  But, I’m pressing this further and saying, ‘Dare we appeal to be to imitate us in life based on the truth and reality that we imitate Christ in life?’  That’s the issue for me today.  That’s the question in my heart and mind today.  That is the goal and objective of my life today.  I want to be able to appeal to people to follow and imitate me because or as a result of my complete dedication, following, and imitation of Jesus Christ.  I want them to truly see Jesus when they see me.

I never want to be one that says, “Do as I say not as I do.”  I do not want that to be the description of my life and attitude.  I want to be able to appeal to people both in the church, the family of God, and the lost to follow my life because when you do you will see a life that is following Christ without reservation or hesitation.  That should be the objective of each of our lives and thus we should be carefully examining our own hearts, lives, words, deeds, and actions daily to see if there is anything wanting in our lives and if there is run to the Cross.

Paul’s complete commitment to God is more than commendable it is a genuine example and a target that each of us should adopt as our life’s goal.  We never want to be a stumbling block or hindrance to anyone and it is imperative that we Always remember who we are, where we are, and whose we are.  If we do that many of the conflicts in our life will become minor rather than major and we will win people to the Lord Jesus through our lives which present and demonstrate Christ in a very real tangible way in this present world.

Therefore, as you go through your day go with the consciousness that God sees, and people see you so conduct yourself in that light.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

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HANDFULS ON PURPOSE….


Spiritual Blog - Handfuls

Ruth 2:15-16 – “And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” NKJV

 

The story of Ruth who is incorporated into the lineage of our Lord Jesus a most interesting one.  After the death of her father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband her mother-in-law Naomi decided to return to Israel this Moabite committed to going with her.  She told her mother-in-law “your people are my people” demonstrating an amazing loyalty.  Upon arrival in Israel she and Naomi were struggling to survive, and Naomi sent her to the fields to gather grain so that they could live and when the owner of the fields Boaz saw her, God touched his heart and after talking with her instructed his laborers to ‘purposefully leave handfuls’ of grain for her.  It was a custom in those days to leave the corners of the field for the hungry and needy. but Boaz went far beyond that custom and his instruction while missed by Ruth was not to Naomi.

It was this act of kindness and godliness that prompted the counsel of Naomi to send Ruth to Boaz which would lead to her becoming his wife and from there the rest is history as she is listed in the genealogy of Jesus.  Matthew lists Jesus as the son of David although Abraham was first, it appears that Matthew wanted to introduce Jesus as the coming King.  Luke appears to have been prompted to show Jesus as both King and Priest and took his genealogy back to Adam.

Matthew lists six very significant women in Jesus’ mother’s lineage.  They were Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary all powerful women that had incredible influence on those of their generation and their children.  But the thing I want to focus on is the kindness of Boaz and the provision of God for us.

If we allow ‘handfuls on purpose’ to be distributed to the needy God will open the door for an incredible return to us both in the natural and spiritual.  If loyally serve those that God has placed in our lives He will open doors and bring to pass divine encounters that will position us for greatness in the kingdom.  Both are important!  Both require commitment, obedience, and faith.

So, if it is within your ability to leave ‘handfuls on purpose’ for the needy do so!  If you are the recipient of ‘handfuls on purpose’ realize that it is the hand of God that has engineered your situation to provide for you.  In both cases allow rejoicing to be the rule of your life and if you are the needy one, remember this when you become prosperous and do the same for others.  The principle or law of reciprocity comes to mind as I write.

Blessings as you go through your day!

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THE SECRET TO SUCCESS…


Spiritual Blog - Mind To Work

Nehemiah 4:6 – “So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”  NASU

In this account of rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem, there were obstacles and opposition but Nehemiah had the heart to see the city rebuilt and believed that God’s hand was upon them and the work not only could be accomplished but would be accomplished.  Sanballat, Tobia, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites were all in opposition because it threatened their standing and was a sign that the God of All Living was restoring a people who would follow Him in the land.

Nehemiah said that the wall was built and the whole wall joined together to half its height because the people ‘had a mind to work.’  Nothing ever gets done unless that becomes the attitude of a people.  We have to look past the obstacles and opposition to the God of All Living and realize that He will enable us to accomplish that which appears impossible.  In this labor, there are several things that shine forth to me.

  1. The mindset of the people was to DO THE WORK. 

They believed the report of Nehemiah and were inspired to invest their time and energy in the accomplishment of the task set before them.  

  1. The OPPOSITION surfaced almost immediately. 

Anytime the people of God begin to move toward accomplishing a God-ordained task the devil’s crowd immediately and viciously attack.  

  1. The people not only PRAYED, and WORKED, but the ARMED THEMSELVES. 

It was not ‘spiritual weapons’ alone that they took up but swords, spears, bows, etc.  They were committed to ‘fighting in the natural’ if necessary to accomplish the purposes of God and achieve their freedom.  

  1. GOD demonstrated His greatness on their behalf. 

God will bring to naught the attempts of the enemy if we will remain faithful and diligent in pursuit of His purposes.

Whatever is set before you by the Spirit of God and any godly challenge presented by the leaders should be entered into prayerfully but with total commitment to seeing it through to the conclusion.  If we make a total commitment and rely on God we will find Success!  That my friend is the ‘Secret to Success” – – Commitment. Determination and Faith.  Those will be the lights leading us to successful accomplishment of the purpose set before us.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

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JESUS OUR ATTORNEY…


Spiritual Blog - Advocate

1 John 2:1-2 – “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”  NASU

 

It is clear from scripture that only God can forgive sin and that you and I, as sinful human beings, have no claim upon God. Our only access or hope of pardon comes through the sacrificial work of Jesus on the Cross as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind.  It is by ‘grace’ that we are saved through ‘faith’ and not works.  It is recognition of our condition, admission of our guilt, repentance, and reception of what He has done, who He is, and the forgiveness that comes to us as a result.

It is interesting to note that while most of the mentions of the word translated ‘advocate’ or prakleetos is normally applied to the ministry and person of the Holy Spirit.  Here it is applied to Jesus and depicts the imagery of one representing us in a court of law.  However, it is quite different than what would be the normal course of a human attorney.  For no human attorney would begin his defense of his client by acknowledging their guilt but Jesus does!

A human attorney would seek to find either justification for the actions of the client or put into question the guilt of that person they represent.  They would be seeking ‘reasonable doubt’ in the minds of the jurors.  Not so with Jesus, He readily and immediately acknowledges our guilt.  He acknowledges that we are guilty as charged and makes no attempt to conceal or justify our sin.  He then becomes surety for us and the universe.  He brings to the fore His sacrifice and identifies that He has satisfied divine justice with regard to sin and that based on our repentance and reception of His sacrifice we can be and should be acquitted of the punishment for our sin.  He presents the case for our admission or adoption into the family of God.

Do not think that you will ever be able to argue your case before the Father and win, you won’t.  If you try to stand on your own merit you will fail.  If you fall on the mercy of the court and receive the ‘Blood of Jesus’ as the covering and cleansing of your sin you will walk into eternity white as snow having been washed in the blood of the lamb.  The choice is yours!  You can believe and receive, or you can deny and try to justify yourself.  I only recommend the former not the latter.

God bless you as you go through your day!

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COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE…


Spiritual Blog - Command

Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” NKJV

The event that prompted this devotional article was in a store some time back.   I had the misfortune of being behind a young woman in the check-out line that had a brat in tow.  That child was not only demonstrating incredible unruliness but disrespect to a level that caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand up, but I held my tongue.  The mother was clearly distraught and struggling with the cost of what she had in her basket.  I know that from her appearance, and what she said to the child.

The child was demanding several items that she had not put in the basket and she calmly tried to explain that it was not something that they could afford at this time and since it was near time to have lunch he could have no candy.  He threw a fit and said, “You b**** you are just no good.”  My face obviously turned red in indignation (righteous or not).  I had to restrain myself from speaking but I did and prayed silently for the mother and the child.  She had tears well up in her eyes but did not move with anger toward the child.  Her approach was to attempt to ignore his ranting which was becoming noticed by people in our line and several lines over and I could tell others were having the same reaction as I.

I will confess that if that had been me with one of mine when we got out of the store if we made it that far he would have experienced the board of correction on his backside.  Criticize me if you desire and think less of me if you will but I believe that there is a time for corporal punishment and that was one of those.  I cannot imagine ever saying anything like that to either of my parents.  It would not have been tolerated and I had enough respect for them to never go there.  Oh, there were times they made me angry and I totally disagreed with them but I never failed to “honor them” and “respect them” even if there were times when out of their sight I did not always “obey them.”

My maternal grandfather lived to be almost 101 and one of the things he instilled in me from the earliest memories of him was that you “respected” and “honored” your parents.  My parents taught me the same and my dear mother passed from this life at 95, so I have and have had visible examples of people fulfilling this commandment and longevity.  I do believe longivity is included in this commandment and know that God honors those who honor their parents.

I realize that some have had parents that are completely dishonorable yet still gave them honor as the parent.  I am not suggesting that you blindly obey whatever is said by a person of that ilk but you can give them honor without allowing them to negatively shape your life.  But to call your mother a “B****” is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE and that mother and child both needed help.  The child needed someone to get his attention and explain right and wrong and the mother needed guidance in giving “tough love” and “discipline” to that unruly child.  If she and her husband fail to do so that child is being abused in a way that is even worse than some physical abuse and I do not condone or tolerate that.

Children – Honor your father and mother!  Parents –Teach your children discipline.  Family – help the younger parents be able to provide consistent, godly, discipline and in so doing you are Loving the Child more than you will possibly ever know.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

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REAL FREEDOM…


Spiritual Blog - Freedom

John 8:31-33, 34-37 – “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.  35 ” The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.  36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”  NASU

On the Fourth of July we, in America, celebrate Independence Day and reflect on Liberty and what it means.  We are cognizant of oppression and express gratitude to all who served and sacrificed to bring or preserve Freedom and Liberty.  It is a day of reflection, introspection, honor, thanksgiving, and remembering or should be.  It is both a joyous and solemn day.  It is a time for festivities and a time for deeply personal and national introspection.  It is a time to give thanks to God for our Freedom naturally and a time to focus on what Real Freedom really is.

Here in this passage, our Lord identifies True Freedom.  It comes from and can only come from God.  It has nothing to do with whether you live under oppression or even if you are in chains it has to do with the heart, the mind, the soul, and the spirit.  Jesus said “IF” and that is an undeniable qualifier.  “IF you continue in My word, THEN  you are disciples of Mine; AND you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” [Emphasis mine.]

The If, Then, and And of the Gospels are important!  So many times, we run across that very situation and fail to read it all and apply it rightly to our lives.  There is commitment involved with continuation on the path of righteousness and as a result, we are recognized as Disciples of Jesus, and as a result, we taste and experience True Freedom.  Without Him, there is no real Freedom because if we are living in sin we are the slaves of sin and outside the family of God.

Jesus identified that “if the Son makes you free, you will be Free Indeed.”  The words “Free at Last” could be rightly applied to this passage and the condition of our hearts once we have accepted the Gift of Salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ through our repentance.  The Cross is the most beautiful picture of Freedom because it was there that Jesus paid the price for our Freedom.  It was there that He bought us back from the dominion of the devil and opened the door for us to be transferred into the Kingdom of God – Free at Last!

I hope that you know Real Freedom today and as you go through this day you go through it with a consciousness of that Liberty and Freedom that only comes through Jesus Christ.

Blessings abundantly as you celebrate our Freedom in Jesus!  Have a Great Day!

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NO GREATER LOVE…


Spiritual Blog - Love

John 15:13 – “A Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” NASU

Jesus went on to say in the next verse “You are My friends…”  He laid down His life for us.  As John 3:16 tells us His act was an expression of LOVE both by the Father and the Son so that you and I could have access to the Eternal Presence of God.  What Amazing Love!

To lay down one’s life for another is the highest tribute that could be paid to the individual who has been died for.  I know what it is like to have someone step in front of danger to protect you.  I have experienced that kind of love and commitment and it forever changed me in ways that I am still discovering.  I have heard family members pray to God to allow them to suffer the disease and death that was coming to their loved one.  Why did they do it? Was it out of some false sense of nobility and self-sacrifice?  No, it was out of LOVE!  They loved enough that if it were possible they would step in and take the death that another was facing.  Jesus did that for us.  He went to the Cross and paid the penalty for our sin, a penalty that He did not deserve or merit in any way but He willingly paid our debt out of LOVE!

When I consider what God has done for me, how could I not Love Him?  How could I not serve Him?  How could I reject Him?  When I came to Christ and received Him as my savior I went through a period of days and weeks in which I was the most condemned and miserable person on the planet.  I knew I was lost and that is the first step to receiving salvation. You cannot help a man be found that does not know he is lost.  I knew that I was headed for hell and believed the lie that I had done too much to be forgiven.

I won’t say as I heard a person testify in church, “Lord, I’ve broken all the commandments.”  No, but I had done far more than my youthful years should have.  I had survived Vietnam and was struggling with who I was, where I fit, and what I was to do in life.  I found that nothing satisfied me, for very long not money, not job, not relationships – NOTHING!   Then I fell under such conviction and my heart so condemned me that I despaired of life itself but can honestly say I did not consider suicide.  Now, admittedly, had that state of mind continued for a long period of time that would have produced those kinds of thoughts, but thank God I did not go that long.

Through the encouragement of a person who loved me in spite of my meanness I read Proverbs 3:5-6 after midnight on a Saturday night in Palestine, Texas and as I read that passage the light came on and I knew that I could be forgiven.  I experienced God’s forgiveness and love and the world lifted off my shoulders and I felt like I could float in the air.  That was the most incredible night of my life and I have been thanking God for over forty years for that love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, and pardon.  It was LOVE that lifted me.  LOVE spared my life.  LOVE rewrote my life.  LOVE transformed me for the vile creature that I was to a born-again child of the King!  I AM SAVED!  Hallelujah!

If you are struggling right now, know that God loves you enough that He was willing to allow His Son to die on the Cross for you.  Jesus loves you enough that He was willing to endure the Cross.  So, instead of reaching for the bottom lift up your eyes and allow the Holy Spirit to minister the Love of God to you right now!

May God be with you as you go through your day!

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CLANGING AND BANGING…


Spiritual Blog - Noise

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 – “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.  4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8 Love never fails…” NASU

 

The most important thing in our Christian Life is Love!  Love for God and love toward our fellow man.  We may be the most eloquent of speakers, have the greatest insight, and manifest incredible gifts but without love, the Bible tells us we are nothing more than Noise.  Some of the things Paul lists as having but not having love seems almost impossible to me but I conclude that while he may not have been speaking literally but metaphorically I will accept that it is possible that one might manifest these things and not have love.  In that case, that individual would be quite the show but nothing more than “rain on a tin barn.”  All foam and no beer, as a friend mine likes to say.

I know some people who are incredibly generous and truly orators but in private I know them to be lacking greatly in the arena of Love both for God and man.  Paul tells us in verses four-eight something about Love.  It is patient, kind, not jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, is not self-centered, not provoked, does not harbor grudges or rejoice in unrighteousness.  Love seeks truth, bears burdens, believes in people and God, has hope, and endurance.  Then he tells us the most powerful thing of all – – Love Never Fails!  I hear people talk about “falling in love” like love was a mud puddle.  Love is not something you “fall into” but something you make the choice and grow into.  I love my fellow man, not because I fell in love with them but because I love God and loving God I make the choice to love my fellow man.

So if you are finding yourself deficient in any gift that you once operated in or in an area of spirituality that you believe you should have more proficiency in check your Love Quotient.  How is your heart in that regard?  Turn to the LORD and ask Him to send forth the Love of God so that it is spread abroad in your heart and as it spreads “in” your heart it will flow out of your heart into your life and touch others.

May God be with you as you go through this day!

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PRAYER IS NOT PERSONAL P.R.


Spiritual Blog - Prayer Effect

Matthew 6:5-8 – “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.  6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”  NASU

 

There is far more here than I could address in multiple devotionals, so I am selectively drawing on the thought that Prayer is not designed to be your personal public relations vehicle or tool.  This and other passages in the Holy Scripture regarding prayer, is why I do not like to broadcast what I am praying.  I am more than willing to ask for specific prayer and even willing to acknowledge specific prayers that I am offering but by and large when I pray I go into the prayer closet, shut the door, and engage in a private conversation and entreaty with God about particular needs.  I don’t like long prayers in public and personally prefer spontaneous prayers to those that are written and read for the purpose of being noticed.  However, there are times when forethought and preplanned use of words is incredibly beneficial.  I don’t mind men not noticing my prayer so long as God does.  After all, I am not praying to men I am praying to God and He doesn’t need to be impressed with my eloquence or words.  He is looking beyond all that directly at my heart.

Jesus cautioned us about using meaningless repetitions and being incredibly wordy in our public prayers or even our private prayers.  If you and I sat down and I wanted to ask something of you I would not ramble on being repetitious and verbose I would come to the point and in as simple language as possible tell you what I desired.  I believe you would do the same with me. Yet, when we go before the God of all creation many change the inflection of their voice and attempt to impress God with their eloquence or words.  He’s not impressed!  He created language and knows it far better than any of us, even the most eloquent and educated of us.

When we go before God we would do well to remember that He already knows what we need and our petition is not one trying to convince Him of the merits of our petition but aligning our hearts and thoughts with His word and will.  It is allowing God the opportunity to be God in our situation.  Jesus said the Father who sees what is done in secret will reward us openly.

Therefore I suggest that we not attempt to use prayer as a P.R. tool but as a means of communication with God in an honest and heartfelt manner.  Come before Him with humbleness of heart, and true thanksgiving and watch Him be God in your behalf.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

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