How often have we done things knowing that we shouldn't have done it, only to severely regret it after wards. Often wishing we had a third leg to kick ourselves with. Often we do things, the small things that don't immediately trigger a convicted response, something we can easily ignore simply by thinking a loud thought, or purposely avoiding the "Voice" that seemingly gets smaller each time you ignore it.
Though we may try, again and again, swearing on our "all" to our own detriment that it will never happen again. Alas again we fail, only to recede once again into our self made pit of despair. Where we convince ourselves that we belong, along with our self loathing, doubt, pity and every thing else that is contrary to the desired response of a wounded Child of God. Why does it happen again and again? Though every fiber of our being yearns for release from the bondage of sin. May perhaps it be a besetting sin, or that it may be a constant battle of the flesh in general. Regardless "all" Christians deal with that particular issue in their life at some point, & some more often than others. The apostle Paul himself speaks of his own battle with sin " Rom 7:18-20 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. " Moses had his anger, David his Adultery....Moses spoke with God face to face, and David was a man after God's own heart. We are never to great that we may not fall, let no man tell you that he does not battle sin, because when we stop the warfare we succumb, and are quickly defeated. We are to walk in this world as an ever prepared Veteran of warfare...in the armor of God " Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Whether its seed is sown in the spiritual or by our own un-renewed mind, it is when the sin begins to take root that it becomes so disastrous to our spiritual well being. It never goes willingly, and rarely leaves easily once taken root.We are never going to be in a place where sin is not to be guarded against, & watched for in all of its subtle forms and suggestions. " Jas 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
We need truth by and large, it's the truth that we cling to, that gives us hope & strength. With it we stand vehemently, in the face of our adversaries. With it we establish our foundation, with it we find that last bit of fortitude we need in order to stand until the day of our hoped of expectations to come to pass. Truth, the truth enlightens us, opens our eyes, sets us free. " Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " The truth of our situation doesn't need to be despair, but hope; hope for that day that we will come to completion and perfection in our Savior and our Lord Christ Jesus. With truth we learn our situation is not Hope-LESS, but in fact has been prepared for. We have been given the tools needed in order to overcome. We are more than conquerors "Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We do not need to stand defensively, but are able to, Nay are commanded to live offensively in the "tearing down of strongholds"..... No more sidelines, my despairing brothers and sister, but stand to your feet and know to whom you belong......know whom you are, A Child of the KING....we need to start acting it and living it. No more toying with sin no matter the size and let us run the race that is set before us....."Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."...
Just a Thought
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Identity
Why is one of our first responses to cling to our wallet or purse, when we hear the word "Sacrifice"? Are the times that tough? I think their is a bit more to it than that, & like many things it's merely a symptom of the underlying ailment, and whenever we want to get to the root of things per se we'll have to ask a few digging questions. Such as; What power does money have over us? Is Money evil? The Real issue?
Throughout the ages we (Human Race) have fought, died, robbed, and murdered for it. Whats the draw, why is their such a desire for it? Money throughout history has had many faces, be it the all familiar gold coin, the Euro, the U.S. dollar, the Yen, the Peso, to the carton of smokes or postage stamps in the "Penitentiary". They may not have the same purchasing power, but the function or purpose is the same. To be able to purchase what is not yours, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But the potential to wrap it into the identity of who we are is the snare that captures so many of us.What we posses or own is not who we are, yet we cling so strongly to that view. The man who runs into his burning house and is overcome, simply to grab one more thing. The man who dies fighting for his wallet as though he were fighting for a loved one. The one who decides to end it all because all he has worked for in this life is gone through one bad investment. Jesus confronted this issue 2000 years ago "Mar 8:35-36 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Solomon commented on this as well when he said "Ecclesiastes 5:15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." Webster defines Identity: 1 a : sameness of essential or generic character in different instances b : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : oneness
2 a : the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality b : the relation established by psychological identification
We identify ourselves with where we live, what we drive, what we wear, and so much more, but Christ said it should not be, "Mat. 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Our identity needs to be found in Christ. Who we are is not material, but spiritual our (Christians) identity is found in our new found relationship with the Father through and by Christ. "Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Money is not inherently evil of itself, "WE ARE" except as we die to ourselves and are changed. The doctrine of Regeneration speaks to that (1 Pet. 2:9), (John 3:3), (2 Cor. 5:17) . As we begin to identify with ourselves in Christ, the former desires of this world begin to fall off of us, as an old tattered garment . So we begin to be clothed with robes of righteousness unsullied by the desires of this world. Unweighted by desires that hinder us from accomplishing Gods' will on earth, we are able to easily loose our worldly possessions in exchange for heavenly riches ( Mat. 6:20-21) ....Just a Thought
Throughout the ages we (Human Race) have fought, died, robbed, and murdered for it. Whats the draw, why is their such a desire for it? Money throughout history has had many faces, be it the all familiar gold coin, the Euro, the U.S. dollar, the Yen, the Peso, to the carton of smokes or postage stamps in the "Penitentiary". They may not have the same purchasing power, but the function or purpose is the same. To be able to purchase what is not yours, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But the potential to wrap it into the identity of who we are is the snare that captures so many of us.What we posses or own is not who we are, yet we cling so strongly to that view. The man who runs into his burning house and is overcome, simply to grab one more thing. The man who dies fighting for his wallet as though he were fighting for a loved one. The one who decides to end it all because all he has worked for in this life is gone through one bad investment. Jesus confronted this issue 2000 years ago "Mar 8:35-36 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Solomon commented on this as well when he said "Ecclesiastes 5:15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." Webster defines Identity: 1 a : sameness of essential or generic character in different instances b : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : oneness
2 a : the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality b : the relation established by psychological identification
We identify ourselves with where we live, what we drive, what we wear, and so much more, but Christ said it should not be, "Mat. 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Our identity needs to be found in Christ. Who we are is not material, but spiritual our (Christians) identity is found in our new found relationship with the Father through and by Christ. "Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Money is not inherently evil of itself, "WE ARE" except as we die to ourselves and are changed. The doctrine of Regeneration speaks to that (1 Pet. 2:9), (John 3:3), (2 Cor. 5:17) . As we begin to identify with ourselves in Christ, the former desires of this world begin to fall off of us, as an old tattered garment . So we begin to be clothed with robes of righteousness unsullied by the desires of this world. Unweighted by desires that hinder us from accomplishing Gods' will on earth, we are able to easily loose our worldly possessions in exchange for heavenly riches ( Mat. 6:20-21) ....Just a Thought
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Does it really Matter?
The hypocrisy in our Churches is @ a staggering level in this Generation "Y" the unspeakable has become common place. We now have Homosexual Ministers, United States performs well over 1million abortions a year 3700 a day. Homosexual marriages are performed daily, and are quickly gaining acceptance and legality, you can watch soft porn on cable television.
With no end in sight all we do is complain, point fingers and thank God that we are not like "THEM". Murmuring and backbiting we cause divisions in our ranks, and at a time when more than ever we need to be unified. We are being separated by our own brothers, and sisters. So "Does it really Matter?" That we fight and bicker amongst ourselves, that we speak against one another instead of pray for one another, that we divide instead of unify? I believe we are @ a staggeringly unappreciated time of Christian history. We are so busy ignoring the troubles, the voiceless cries & the helpless. The dikes that hold the water of this age back are being irreversibly corroded by our intentional ignorance. We purposefully turn our heads at the sight of the homeless, we intentionally cover our ears at the cry of the Fatherless, and are disgusted by the sight of the needy digging through the trash of the restaurant we are leaving.
Why does it matter? Jesus himself prayed for our unity "Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." The Apostle Paul exhorted the church at Philippi to be of one mind "Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Satan is working so hard at having us squabble that we don't even know that it is him behind it, we're too pissed off at each other to use the God given wisdom at our disposal. I'm not talking Doctrinal positions, I am speaking of THE CHURCH itself namely in the U.S. there is so much work to be done, and the workers are asleep.... Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. It is a fundamental foundation for the "Christian Life." With that attitude, we are thus armed to overlook one anothers shortcomings that would otherwise cause division. When we view each other through eyes filtered by love, we are not so quick to be hurt by the wrong. Instead our heart hurts and that pain caused by the one we love drives us to our knees. Not needing apologies, but looking and pleading with our Sovereign Lord on their behalf. We are able to look past hurts and be strengthened by one anothers love for each other. Lets stop worrying about what so and so did. Let us instead pray for one another, that we may soon pray together for others that we may all be like minded, bound together by the Spirit, and our love for each other.......Just a Thought
With no end in sight all we do is complain, point fingers and thank God that we are not like "THEM". Murmuring and backbiting we cause divisions in our ranks, and at a time when more than ever we need to be unified. We are being separated by our own brothers, and sisters. So "Does it really Matter?" That we fight and bicker amongst ourselves, that we speak against one another instead of pray for one another, that we divide instead of unify? I believe we are @ a staggeringly unappreciated time of Christian history. We are so busy ignoring the troubles, the voiceless cries & the helpless. The dikes that hold the water of this age back are being irreversibly corroded by our intentional ignorance. We purposefully turn our heads at the sight of the homeless, we intentionally cover our ears at the cry of the Fatherless, and are disgusted by the sight of the needy digging through the trash of the restaurant we are leaving.
Why does it matter? Jesus himself prayed for our unity "Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." The Apostle Paul exhorted the church at Philippi to be of one mind "Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Satan is working so hard at having us squabble that we don't even know that it is him behind it, we're too pissed off at each other to use the God given wisdom at our disposal. I'm not talking Doctrinal positions, I am speaking of THE CHURCH itself namely in the U.S. there is so much work to be done, and the workers are asleep.... Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. It is a fundamental foundation for the "Christian Life." With that attitude, we are thus armed to overlook one anothers shortcomings that would otherwise cause division. When we view each other through eyes filtered by love, we are not so quick to be hurt by the wrong. Instead our heart hurts and that pain caused by the one we love drives us to our knees. Not needing apologies, but looking and pleading with our Sovereign Lord on their behalf. We are able to look past hurts and be strengthened by one anothers love for each other. Lets stop worrying about what so and so did. Let us instead pray for one another, that we may soon pray together for others that we may all be like minded, bound together by the Spirit, and our love for each other.......Just a Thought
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