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Saturday, April 3, 2021

Purity 383: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


Purity 383 04/03/2021 Purity 383 Podcast

Good morning.

Today’s photo of an early morning cloud filled sky near Austin Texas comes from a friend who spent Good Friday selflessly volunteering at Circuit of the Americas for 12 hours helping to vaccinate over 12 thousand people for Covid-19.  They described their day as a non-stop effort of kindness that began with the crisp morning temperatures of 33 degrees that ascended to the sunburning heat of 80 degrees, where volunteers didn’t have much time eat, drink, or use the bathroom, where no one was paid, no one left early, and many ended up sunburnt, “wind-burnt”, dehydrated, tired, and sore. 

They stayed until all who sought a vaccine received one.  After their 12-hour day, the volunteers were shuttled the 20 minutes away to their cars, so that those seeking the vaccines could park closer. 

I know there are several varying opinions about Covid-19, the vaccines developed to prevent it, and the policies that are being suggested to prevent outbreaks in the future. The opinions vary greatly depending on one’s political, social, educational, economic, and religious worldview. 

I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion but as someone who has friends and family that have personally suffered, and or died, from the effects of Covid-19, I support the efforts of those, like my friend, who have selflessly served to combat this disease and to stop its devastating effects.  

It is my prayer that this weekend that instead of being divided by our varying opinions about the state of the world that we can all thank God for His mercy and grace and that we can be united in supporting the tireless efforts of those that are serving others and meeting needs with love regardless of how they may personally feel about the situation that they are in.  

Christ didn’t ask how or why people got sick, He just healed them. I feel that if we are to follow His example we should seek to heal those around us through our efforts to love and serve them regardless of our varying opinions.       

So keep walking and talking with God. If He calls you into service, answer the call. If you don’t know what you should do, pray, and ask for His guidance.  If we seek His wisdom, He will lead us into good works that will reflect His love and give Him glory.

(An Audio version of this message is available at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, you can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D).) There is more content at the restricted blog. Follow me on Twitter or MeWe for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 Matthew 6:33 is one of my favorite verses. As I recently stated my mantra and personal advice is to continually seek God. 

 Today’s verse are the words of Jesus Christ that he provided as an answer to the cares of mankind.  The verses prior to this one address mankind’s penchant for worrying about having our needs meant, specifically addressing man’s needs of food, drink, and clothing.  

 Jesus assures his listeners that there is more to life than worrying about these basic needs and that worrying about them doesn’t add a single moment to our lives, Instead Jesus calls us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness and “all these things shall be added to you”.  

 His message is simple but profound.  In general if you are seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, you would be endeavoring to live a life that was in accordance with the word of God. 

 That would mean that you would live a responsible life based on the Biblical principles which would include being diligent in working honestly to provide for yourself and your loved ones.  Through your efforts to honor God with your life as an expression of your faith, “all these things” – your basic needs, would be added to you.  That’s the simple part. 

 The profound part is that Jesus Himself is the way to the kingdom of God and is also the “righteousness of God”.  Only through putting our faith in Jesus Christ are we given entrance into the kingdom of God. Christ’s work on the Cross pays for our sins and His sinless life is imputed to every believer to make them righteous before the Lord.   

 Also that “responsible life based on Biblical principles” that sounds so simple is only truly possible when we place our faith in Christ and receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  Only by receiving our spiritual life through faith in Christ and walking in the Spirit can we live a righteous life.  Many things will be provided by the sweat of our brow, but a righteous Christian life can only be fueled and sustained by faith.  

 And Finally, I believe that Jesus’ words to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness is a command to continuously seek growth and maturity in our faith and in our relationship with God. 

 I have been walking, okay sometimes stumbling and sometimes crawling, and sometimes being dragged, by faith for over ten years and I can tell you that continually seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness is critical to our maturation and to the growth of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. 

 The kingdom of God, His righteousness, and His wisdom are infinite. So keep seeking God’s kingdom, righteousness, and wisdom because although we have all of eternity to dwell with the Lord and to know Him, the rewards from getting to know Him now are infinite as well!

 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:

F. How to Set Beneficial Boundaries ... With the One Addicted

What Josh Hamilton clearly states, his wife, Katie, no doubt affirms: "I put her through absolute hell for a long time."

And on January 22, 2009, Katie thinks she just may be taking a trip back to the dark side. Sober and drug free for three years, a sobbing Josh calls her from Arizona and says that after encountering a bar at a pizza restaurant he has a drink, then another, then another. Later Josh and Katie's biggest fear as a celebrity couple comes true. Seven months after the relapse pictures emerge of Josh carousing with three young women.

Katie admits the boundary lines had become blurred. They had let their guards down concerning the vulnerability and volatility of Josh's addiction. So now, in addition to staying firmly grounded in Christ, Josh sets for himself "double boundaries" to prevent another relapse. To minimize the temptation to purchase drugs or alcohol, Josh carries no money at all. And monetary allocations for his baseball road trips are always carried by someone else.

Josh never goes out alone at night and never goes out with teammates. And there is a certain someone ... who knows Josh's whereabouts at all times. Johnny Narron, a former first baseman and batting coach who looms large in Josh's life, serves as his mentor, confidante, chaperone, and stalwart brother in Christ. The two always have adjoining rooms on the road, and Johnny stays with Josh if Katie and their four daughters are away.

The boundaries must be firm, rigid, immovable for a recovering addict, and Josh's life is testimony to that truth. "That's why I go to the ballpark, and I go home," Josh says. "Park. Home. Park. Home." Josh takes literally the following Scripture. ...

"Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding."
(Proverbs 15:32)

Boundaries are barriers that protect from external harm and guard against internal harm. Those involved with someone struggling with a chemical dependency need to learn how to set appropriate limits on what they do for their loved one. These boundaries will help prevent you from taking on excessive responsibilities that belong to your loved one. Boundaries serve to keep the addict's problem from becoming your problem. ...

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
(Proverbs 4:23)

As a rule, people like Josh who have chemical dependencies require a tough, hard-hitting approach. Clear nonnegotiable boundaries are necessary to break drug reliance. Addicts need the emotional support of those who will consistently reinforce responsible choices and enforce repercussions of irresponsible actions — thus providing the best opportunity for making positive changes.

  • Ask yourself, "What is my role in this problem? Am I making it easy or difficult for the dependence to continue?"
  • Determine to be a positive influence and plan ways to do that effectively.
  • Write out specific destructive events resulting from the dependency — include everything!
  • Say to the loved one: "I have seen how your behaviors have negatively impacted your life — it's not right for me to keep enabling you to harm yourself. Tell me now that you 'will' or you 'will not' be committed to do whatever is necessary to change."
  • Beware, you could be "loving your loved one to death."

You could be killing your loved one if you have no boundaries. As the Bible says ...

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
(Proverbs 14:12)

In your role as both a boundary-setter and boundary-keeper ...

  • Give up all expectations of the addict.

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him" (Psalm 62:5).

  • Learn to detach from the addict's problem and maintain control of your own life.

"My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare" (Psalm 25:15).

  • Shift your focus from the addict's behavior to your responses.

"Let us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord" (Lamentations 3:40).

  • Learn all you can about drug abuse.

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!" (Proverbs 16:16).

  • Stop acts that are enabling (making excuses, protecting) and hold your loved one accountable.

"If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" (Ecclesiastes 4:10).

  • Let the addict know the effects of the addiction on you and on others.

"Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully ..." (Ephesians 4:25).

  • Pray for and expect God to bring consequences into the addict's life.

"Your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths" (Proverbs 5:21).

Protecting Yourself and Your Children

Question: "When my husband drinks too much, he becomes physically abusive. What should I do to protect myself and my children and still remain biblically submissive to my husband?"

Answer: The Bible never says that a wife — in the name of submission — is to submit to abuse. A husband's substance abuse never gives him the right to dole out any kind of abuse. Conversely, the Bible says, "... do not associate with one easily angered" (Proverbs 22:24). Therefore, communicate your boundaries. Tell him that if he is abusive again, you will call the police. ... He can no longer live at home. ... You will leave with the children. Then you must follow through if he violates the boundary. Realize ...

"A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again."
(Proverbs 19:19)


Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys: Alcohol & Drug Abuse: Breaking Free & Staying Free.

----------------------------more on Monday-------------------------

 

God bless you all!

 

Join our Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

 

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