I’m Fine. – Lies of the Enemy #31– Purity 1043

 I’m Fine.  – Lies of the Enemy #31– Purity 1043

Purity 1043 05/15/2023 Purity 1043 Podcast

Purity 1043 on YouTube: 

Good morning,

Today’s photo of the view of the Schodack Creek and Hudson River over and through the side railing of River House’s front “deck”  - or is it a porch? – comes to us from yours truly as I had the presence of mind to take a look out front when I saw that my daughter’s cat was sunning himself in the narrow beam of light that was coming into the darkness of my shaded living room. Marvin seemed to positively rejoice as I opened the front door to let the sunshine in.  So spectacular was the sight out front, that I decided not only to take a glimpse, but I also decided to grab a lawn chair and “set a spell” to truly appreciate the sunshine and the breeze coming off the water.  I am sharing a second photo of that blazing sun and a video of 45 seconds of peace on the blog today if you want to share in a tiny bit of the experience.  

Well, it’s Monday and the beginning of a new work week and it is my prayer that the past Mother’s Day weekend was a good one.

I myself enjoyed a simple diner lunch with my mother, father, and younger brother to celebrate that one who delivered me and tried her best to guide and raise me right but If you look at the prodigal’s path that I took for most of my life, we might be tempted to echo Waylon Jennings’ sentiments that “Mama tried.” But considering the fact that all four of her vastly different and independent sons emerged from sowing their wild oats to become responsible adults, including me, we can say she succeeded. I can honestly say that while none of our lives are free from challenges we are all doing relatively well for ourselves. You could say we are all fine.  So good job Mom.  

However, this idea of “fineness” has sparked my imagination and brings us to our current series the “Lies of the Enemy”, which is an examination of some of the common lies, sometimes sneakily whispered into our minds as “first person” statements, that the enemy tells us to cause us to doubt our faith, lose our peace, cause division, or influence us to not follow the Lord with the way we live our lives. 

So today’s big lie is:

Lie #31:  I’m Fine.      

Today’s lie is inspired by a line from Celebrate Recovery’s Lesson on Denial, which was presented as an example of that condition.  Among other examples of denial such as “He really doesn’t drink that much” and “if we don’t talk about it, it will go away” was the line: 

“It doesn’t really hurt when he does that; I’m fine.” 

While the emphasis on this statement seems to be on someone who is suffering from abuse or from the negative affects of someone else’s behavior and points to a very real need for the speaker to either remove themselves from the situation or to confront the one that “doesn’t really hurt” them, our focus will be on that two word verse that covers up the hard truth: “I’m fine.”

“I’m fine.” Is the lie that can cover both the victim and the victimizer, both the addict and the ones who have to live with their unpredictable habits, and both the mildly upset and the absolutely heart broken. “I’m fine” covers a multitude of sins and plethora of emotions that falls short of complete honesty.  

While there is something commendable about not dwelling on the negative aspects of our lives and “manning up” or “powering through” difficulties and declaring ourselves “fine” until we can become “finer” – or actually good – there are times when repeating the mantra of “I’m fine” is not fine at all.  

When pain, conflicts, shame, guilt, negative mind states, or vicious cycles persist, there is nothing fine about declaring that “I’m fine”.  

My intention is to promote wellness and the harvesting of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and when these negative circumstances continue and the “I’m fine” proclamation doesn’t change, we have to declare it for what it is: DENIAL.  

Whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional pain or the negative consequences of sinful behaviors that you are denying, we are here to encourage you to “drop the con” and “fess up” to admit that you have a problem that needs help and to actually get it.    

Through out the long run of my alcoholism, drug use, and sexual immorality, I knew I had a problem but because I was afraid of admitting it, afraid of what admitting it would mean, and frankly because I was afraid of if not just plain unwilling to change, I stayed in the land of “I’m fine.”   Rather than admit to my problems and seeking help and healing, I decided to  “do it myself” and manage them the best I could. 

I figured “As long as I’m working, and getting the bills paid, I was “fine” and would live with the pain and negative consequences that my habits would invariably cause. While my habits demanded financial, physical, mental, and emotional costs, I was willing to pay them because changing seemed unthinkable. 

Unfortunately, I believe that this is where most of polite society lives – in the shadows of “I’m fine.” – hiding and managing their problems on their own rather than seeking the help and healing that would require that they admit that they aren’t as “fine” as they appear.       

Last week, I started a recovery ministry at my local church and while I am thrilled to serve the body of Christ in this capacity and was pleased with the turn out of our first meeting, it was a rather small number for such a well-attended church, and it made me wonder how many people in our services are saying “I’m fine” when they are not fine.

I perhaps more than some can understand the difficulties of seeking help for one’s  “hurts, habits, and hang ups”. Not only is facing your problems a difficult decision to make, but I also know the stigma that comes from being a “recovery Christian” and the reality of how one could be treated differently by their family and friends after you step out of the dark.   

However, I know that it’s better in the light than in the darkness and its better to actually be “fine” by repenting and following the Lord than it is to just say that you are “fine” while living with the pain and confusion that comes from living a double minded life.  

So I encourage those who are saying “I’m fine” and who know that it is not true to tell someone the truth and to ask for help, be it medical, mental, emotional, or spiritual.  We can’t fix a problem by saying its not there and we can’t enjoy a life in the light of God’s life if we are living in the darkness of a lie.    

So be bold and courageous, ask God for strength and guidance, and admit to yourself and others that you need help or seek to encourage others to get the help they need  because you know that they are not “fine”.  

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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple apologetic will provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/ .

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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The NLT Bible Promise Book for Men”.

This morning’s meditation verse is :

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT2)
⁹  Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
¹⁰  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
¹¹  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?
¹²  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Today’s passage of scripture encourages us to not isolate ourselves by proclaiming the benefits of having someone to help lift you up if you should fall, help comfort you in troubling times, or who can help join the fight when a battle comes.  

God tells us in Genesis that it is not good to be alone and this wisdom is inherent in the Christian message to love our neighbors as ourselves.  We need one another and should seek the community of others to help one another through the trials of this life.

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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.

Today we continue sharing from  “Satan, Demons & Satanism: A Sinister Reality” By June Hunt.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase June Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work.  This resource is available online for $7.99 (https://june-hunt.myshopify.com/collections/keys-for-living/products/keys-for-living-on-satan-demons-satanism_ ).

Satan, Demons & Satanism

A Sinister Reality

by June Hunt

IV.    Steps To Solution

F.   Renounce Satanic Practices and Rituals

You can ignore the power of Satan. But if you have been involved with him or his demonic forces at any level—whether willingly or not—Satan could have territorial rights to your life. In order to reclaim your ground, renounce all past involvement in secret rituals and ungodly practices.

“We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

(2 Corinthians 4:2)

Checklist of Satanic Practices

□    Being baptized in the name of Satan

□    Communicating with spirit guides or spirit friends from Satan

□    Giving blood in service of Satan

□    Having parents or guardians committed to Satan

□    Entering blood pacts in ceremonies to Satan

□    Breeding babies sacrificed to Satan

□    Reading The Satanic Bible or the Book of Rituals to access the power of Satan

□    Saying the Lord’s prayer backward; backward scripting: Natas for Satan

□    Participating in the Black Mass in worship of Satan

□    Making promises or contracts to Satan

□    Drinking blood and/or urine, consuming human flesh in worship of Satan

□    Accepting assignments on behalf of Satan

□    Playing occultic games giving power to Satan

□    Engaging in sexual rituals as a disciple of Satan

□    Killing animals or humans to honor Satan

□    Using symbols identified with the occult or Satan

□    Listening to music or watching videos exalting Satan

□    Other practices___________

Checklist of Ungodly Ways

□    Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery

□    Rebellion/witchcraft

□    Discord

□    Selfish ambition

□    Drunkenness

□    Lying and any kind of deceit

□    Slander/gossip

□    Thievery/theft

□    Accusing God

□    Idolatry

□    Hatred

□    Fits of rage

□    Envy/jealousy

□    Pride and conceit

□    Prejudice

□    Injustice

□    Unforgiveness

□    Other practices that violate God’s Word

Pray …

God, I want to be free of anything that has me in spiritual bondage. Jesus, Your power is greater than Satan’s power. I claim the truth that greater is Jesus, who is in me, than Satan, who is in the world. Please bring to my mind anything that has given the enemy a foothold in my life. Reveal where I have opened the door to Satan—the enemy of my soul. Right now I renounce (name each involvement). Thank You for the blood of Christ, which purchased my freedom from the penalty of sin and gave me power over Satan. I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.[1]

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Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes 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). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

These teachings are also available on the MT4Christ247 You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MT4Christ247

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

My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ),  her Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)

For those who require the assistance of a Deeper Walk International Prayer Minister to experience healing or your freedom in Christ, I highly recommend Christy Edge’s Life on the Edge Freedom Prayer Ministry. You can schedule a session by going to : https://cedge216.wixsite.com/life-on-the-edge     

“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

 

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^[1] June Hunt, Biblical Counseling Keys on Satan, Demons & Satanism: A Sinister Reality (Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart, 2008), 18–20.