Purity 377 03/27/2021 Purity 377 Podcast
Good morning.
Of course, I don’t
actually know that for sure. This could
be anywhere I suppose. But that’s what
we do in our lives, we operate according to the best knowledge we have and try
to discern the truth from the things we can perceive. We may not always make the best decisions
but as we learn more of what’s true we can move past our errors in judgement
and into a life that is increasingly defined by integrity.
“I didn’t know that” is
an excuse you get to use once. After that you are accountable. You know the
truth now. So the question is: are you going to live accordingly?
I bring this up because
although it is the weekend and we might just want to jump in the nearest hammock
and chill, I know a lot of my friends don’t usually have that luxury and that
the weekends are used to clean up the messes that remained from the previous
week. The change to spring usually
requires some spring cleaning on top of the regular maintenance.
As we transition through
life we grow and discover that some of the things in our pasts that are no
longer a part of who we are as a person are still laying around. I find it very therapeutic to throw those
things in the trash. Why are you holding
onto mementos of the past that no longer serve a purpose in your life? Throw them out. Whether its actual physical objects, clothing,
or attitudes, do some soul cleansing spring cleaning and toss that stuff
out. When you do that you become a
little more liberated. You become more of the person that you always wanted to be;
the person God made you to be.
So I pray that you make
the most of the weekend and find a balance between work, and relaxation but
also leave some room for exploration.
Whether its discovering
new sights or making new insights, keep your eyes open for those opportunities
to grow. Take the Lord’s guidance and step into the life of peace He has for you
to live, that is possible no matter how active or inactive you choose to be on
the weekends.
This morning’s meditation
verse is:
Romans 1:17 (NKJV)
17 For in it the righteousness of
God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall
live by faith."
Today’s verse from Romans speaks about the Gospel of Christ, the progressive nature of our walk, and the way we are to live the Christian life.
Context is king in Bible interpretation so whenever you hear a Bible verse quoted it is always wise to appreciate it for what it says but to also examine what was said before and after it. When phrases like “for in it” or “therefore” appear they indicate that you should look to see what “it” is or what the “therefore” is there for.
Sometimes to get a proper view of the scripture verse, you may have to look backwards and forwards in the Bible to see what “it” is referring to. Luckily in this instance we just have to look at the previous verse to see that “it” is the Gospel of Christ – that has the power of God to save. So in The Gospel of Christ, in it, the righteousness of God is revealed.
The Gospel of Christ teaches us, or reveals to us, that the righteousness of God is having faith in Jesus Christ. That’s how we are made righteous, not by our works, but by our faith in Jesus. That’s what the gospel of Christ tells us. By faith we are saved and declared righteous. That’s why it’s good news.
But this verse also tells us that it is revealed – from faith to faith. What does that mean? I teach that it means that our spiritual walk is progressive. When we first said “Yes” to Jesus, we didn’t know much but we did have faith enough to trust in Christ has our Lord and Savior.
As we mature in our faith walk, we begin to trust in God for other things: like healing, provision, guidance, and strength. We started out just having faith in salvation through Christ but as we grow we have faith for much more based on our growing knowledge and experience with the Lord’s presence in our lives.
So we go from “saving faith” to various levels of living faith. The good news about that is that we have the potential to continually grow in our faith so our faith walk should never become boring.
The final portion of the verse confirms that this is how we are supposed to live: for the just shall live by faith.
I teach that living by faith is simply believing what God says about you in your mind and your heart and endeavoring to live according to those beliefs. We do this through our faith. God says it, so its true. It’s true so I believe it. I believe it, so I will draw upon the Lord’s strength, guidance, and love to live it.
We don’t worry about being perfect. We are anxious for nothing because we know the Lord, but we do answer God’s call on our life to walk into the life He has prepared for us with expectation and hope.
We rejoice over progress and motivate ourselves to keep going in the Lord’s direction if we should stumble, knowing that we are His and that He has increasing freedom and victory waiting for us to claim.
I invite all to mt4chritst.org where I always share
insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters
in Christ with their walk.
Today we will share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Alcohol
& Drug Abuse: Breaking Free & Staying Free.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes
and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and
to support her work:
C. What Excuses Do People Give?
No one is taught the art of justifying behavior, yet all somehow learn it.
People who are chemically dependent become proficient at rattling off reason
after reason for using their drug of choice, but, ultimately, there is no valid
justification — only excuses. In the final analysis, they convince themselves
that they genuinely need it, or they feel somehow entitled to use and
ultimately abuse.
While Josh recognizes there were factors in his life that made him more
vulnerable to addictions, he takes full responsibility for his decisions and
makes no excuses. "My decisions were my decisions. The easiest path would
have been to blame someone else, or blame circumstances, or blame fate."
Had Josh adhered to the following Scripture, he would have been spared much
pain. ...
"The fear of the Lord
leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble."
(Proverbs 19:23)
"I need it
... to pick me up."
... to quiet me down."
... to relieve my pain."
... to be more sociable."
... to forget my failures."
... to satisfy my cravings."
"I want it
... to relax."
... to feel good."
... to have more fun."
... to relieve my stress."
... to be more accepted."
... to escape my situation."
As the Bible says ...
"All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by
the Lord."
(Proverbs 16:2)
Drunkenness
Is a Sin
Question: "If alcoholism can be both inherited and a
disease, how can it be a sin? Since I'm an alcoholic, isn't it beyond my
control?"
Answer: Many identify themselves as alcoholics based on
physiology, but they choose not to drink. In regard to sin: It's not a sin for
you to be a nondrinking alcoholic. It is a sin to be a drunk
alcoholic. Drunkenness is listed with other sins that we are commanded to
avoid. While alcoholism may be a disease over which you have no control, drunkenness
is clearly a sin over which you do have control. Choosing not to drink
is setting a boundary for your life that will break the power of sin over you.
The psalmist gives us these prayer requests ...
"Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over
me."
(Psalm 119:133)
D. What Is the Root Cause of Alcohol or Drug Abuse?
Josh Hamilton believes he needs drugs, but in October 2005, he finally
recognizes what he really needs — God.
It is a rare rebuke from his beloved grandmother that ultimately gets his
attention: Her exact words: "I'm tired of you killing yourself ... I'm tired
of watching you hurt all of these people who care about you."
And all of a sudden, something in Josh "clicks." He immediately
recognizes he needs supernatural help to fight the demons of drugs and alcohol
in his life, and he offers his broken spirit to God. "I can't try anymore
because I fail on my own," Josh humbly confesses. "You do with me
what you want to do with me, but I surrender."
Surrendering ... yielding ... generates new strength and power to pursue a
godly life. Finally, Josh could proclaim to the world ...
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that
through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
(2 Peter 1:3-4)
Initially people take drugs for two reasons: either to treat a legitimate
medical problem or simply to feel a pleasurable sensation. Those who are trying
to feel different typically begin drinking or using other drugs because
of peer pressure or to satisfy their curiosity, but they continue in order to
satisfy their perceived needs. Substance abuse occurs when the substance
moves from being a need-meeter to becoming the need itself. ...
Instead of using a substance to relieve stress, the mere absence of the
substance in the body causes stress.
God designed you with legitimate needs — physical, emotional, relational,
and spiritual — and a part of His design is for you to come to Him and to be
dependent on Him to be your true Need-Meeter. ...
"My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his
glory in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:19)
- • Wrong Belief:
"I
don't have a chemical dependency. I just enjoy the way it makes me feel. I
could stop anytime, but it helps me cope with my difficult situations and eases
my painful emotions."
- Right Belief:
"I
realize that what I depend on in my life will have control of my life. I choose
not to let any chemical have control over me. Instead, I choose to give Christ
control of every area and to depend on Him to satisfy my needs."
The Bible says ... "The Lord will guide you always; he will
satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You
will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail"
(Isaiah 58:11).
Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys:
Alcohol & Drug Abuse: Breaking Free & Staying Free.
----------------------------more tomorrow-------------------------
God bless
you all!
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Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class via the mt4christ247 podcast!
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Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
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