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]

---------------------------more tomorrow------------------------

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.

You’re No Good– Lies of the Enemy #28– Purity 1040

 You’re No Good– Lies of the Enemy #28– Purity 1040

Purity 1040 05/10/2023 Purity 1040 Podcast

Purity 1040 on YouTube:

Good morning,

Today’s photo of an asphalt pathway running into the distance surrounded by vibrant green trees and under a blue sky comes to us from Kat Flynn-Clark, my sister in law, who made the best of the bad situation of having to take my brother Matt to his physical therapy appointment following his hip replacement surgery, by getting in a work out of her own on the rail trail that just happened to run behind the doctor’s office.  

Well it’s Thursday and I share Kat’s rail trail pathway photo as a visual reminder or encouragement to stay on or get on the path of Christian Discipleship.   My brother and sister in law’s situation actually points to some principles that we can apply to our Christian walk and that relate to “recovery” which I spoke on last night at Starpoint Church’s Celebrate Freedom Growth Group.   

I share photos of pathways because Thursday was the night that I originally went into Christian Recovery and served at the recovery and discipleship ministries that I taught at and eventually directed at my old church.  But since migrating to Starpoint Church after my marriage, I have now lead discipleship ministry on Tuesdays, and after last night, have led a recovery/discipleship ministry on Wednesday night!  So as much as Thursdays are “pathway” photo days,  my winding path properly reflects the fact that our walk with the Lord really is 24/7 and changes are to be expected as we keep walking and talking with God.  

But back to Kat and Matt’s “story”. Matt is my eldest brother, and he will be 55 in September. I don’t know the underlying causes of his need for hip replacement surgery, but I do know that he was suffering a significant amount of pain which led to his current course of treatment.   While I don’t know his prognosis either, we can assume that his surgery was successful and that an adherence to the physical therapy will result in healing and recovery.   In Matt’s story, he had to recognize the problem and take action to correct it.  If I recall correctly, when I last saw him in December there were concerns about his hip and now he has gotten it “fixed”.  Being a guy and knowing my family’s penchant for stubbornness, I have to imagine that my brother probably had a significant period of “suffering in silence” and “living in denial” as Matt is fiercely independent and was somewhat proud of his physical health.  Plus Matt is only 54 years old and I can only imagine how there must have been a lot of rejection of the idea that he would need to get hip replacement surgery.  But in the end, my brother did what was best for his health and humbled himself to rely on others, the doctors, physical therapists, and his wife, in order to get “well again.” 

Our bodies and emotions tell us when we need help, and I am here to encourage everyone when things “aren’t right” to say something to someone and to get the help you need.  

As for Kat, she is helping her husband with his recovery but even in meeting that responsibility (or burden), she also decided to take care of herself by going for a walk and enjoying the pleasant weather. Kat’s example shows us to make the best of our situations and to care for ourselves by finding joy where we can.  

While I didn’t really think of Matt and Kat last night as I taught at Celebrate Freedom, I could have because I was encouraging the group to recognize their situations, to step out of denial, and to utilize the group to receive the help and support available to them and to be intentional about establishing a daily spiritual practice where they do some “self-care” by practicing quieting, appreciation, and renewing their minds with the what the truth of God word says about who they are in Christ.  I also encouraged them to attach relationally with the group members – to share one another’s burdens and to attach to God as their Lord, Savior, Helper, and Friend.    

I especially tried to encourage the group in this last point because often our ideas about God or our relationship with Him are not based on truth.  As “sinners saved by grace” many Christians think that God is mad at them or barely tolerates them.  They believe the lie that even though they are Christians they are still “No Good”  and not are worthy of God’s or anyone else’s love.  

And this 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 #28:  You’re NO GOOD!

This Lie is deeply rooted in those of us that have low self esteem and or a history of bad behavior. We know our thoughts and we know the bad things we have done before. We may consider ourselves evil, twisted, broken, or dysfunctional as we may have a history of disappointments, rejection, or failures.. We may think of ourselves as “criminal minded” as we have done things our way rather than God’s way or the ways of a law abiding citizen. No matter what specific things we have done or thought about doing, our final assessment of ourselves is that we are just NO GOOD. 

“You’re no good, you’re no good, you’re no good  baby you’re no good”  I’m gonna say it again….  “  

Now I will grant that our permanent records and our past thought life, could clearly indicate that we “we’re no good.” And I will allow that your present thoughts and actions, could be added to the testimony that “You’re no good.”

BUT – in Christ you are a NEW creation.  

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Also

Romans 8:1 (NKJV) Tells us
¹  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

So if you have put your faith in Christ, you are a new creation and there is no condemnation – IF you walk in the Spirit.    

Although we are made brand new the moment we put our faith in Christ, we won’t know it unless we make the decision to start thinking and living according to our new life as Christians.  

Those impure, foul, evil, sarcastic, or negative thoughts we have to go.   Those selfish or sinful attitudes and actions need to leave. Our old thoughts and behaviors need to “pass away” otherwise the enemy has foothold in our lives and strongholds in our minds that pollute us with “toxic thoughts” that cause us to experience frustration, anger, anxiety, and depression and that drive us to our old sinful ways of coping.  

But if we renew our minds by thinking about what is good, pure, and holy and accept what God word says about who we are in Christ, our thoughts will tell us that “the old person” we once were dead and gone and all the condemnation that we used to lay on ourselves is no longer true.  In Christ all our sin is forgiven (past, present, and future!) and we have the assurance of eternal in His kingdom, but we won’t experience the peace and joy that flow from our new spiritual lives if we don’t:

A: Believe it

B: Live according to it!

We need to renew our minds to embrace the blessed lives that we have been given and to walk out of the shadows of our past by walking into the light of living a simple and righteous life of truth and integrity.    When we think on the truth and live according to the truth of who we are in Christ, our thoughts, emotions, and actions will reflect the light that the Lord has given us through His love for us.  Our new lives in Christ will produce the fruit of the Spirit – peace, love, joy, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, patience, and self-control. We will experience the abundant life – here and now – that Christ came to give us.  

So don’t believe the lie that “You’re No Good”.  You are a new creation in Christ, so think on it, believe it, and live it by walking and talking with God every day.    

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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 :

Romans 10:15 (NLT2)
¹⁵  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Today’s verse encourages us that we become beautiful in the eyes of those who receive the good news of salvation and freedom that come through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  

Our resource only shared the last part of this verse on the “beautiful feet of the messengers who bring good news.”  And it is true – our message is beautiful, and we can’t help to be beautiful to those who desperately need it.  – So preach the gospel, but I also want to comment on the first part of the verse on “being sent”.  

Christ’s commission to go and make disciples  in Matthew  28:19-20 is for all of us.  So we consider ourselves “sent” – we don’t need permission or a special calling or equipping to share the good news. The best “apologetic” is telling people “what the Lord has done for me”. Tell people your salvation story . Tell people how God has helped you. Tell people how God has changed you.  Tell people how God has worked in other people’s lives that you know about.  All of these “little testimonies” are beautiful true stories of the living God, alive and well in the world.   They give glory to God and could move someone to put their faith in Jesus.  

So consider yourself “sent” and “equipped (no one has your experience!) and go show the world your “beautiful feet” by telling everyone of the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the word of God and according to what you have seen, heard, and experienced in your walk of faith.   

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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

C.  See How Satan’s Power Is Limited

Don’t make the common mistake of assuming that God and Satan possess the same power—or that the power of Satan is equal to the power of God. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cast out of the heavenly realms to roam the earth, Satan has been given power, but only to the degree that the Lord allows. In the first chapter of the Book of Job, a dialogue between God and Satan confirms that Satan’s activity is limited and always requires the sovereign permission of God.

•     Satan cannot be everywhere.

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, ‘From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.’ ” (Job 1:7)

•     Satan has no absolute power over a believer’s possessions.

“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’ ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied. ‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’ ” (Job 1:8–11)

•     Satan has no absolute power over a believer’s body.

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.’ Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” (Job 1:12)

•     Satan has no absolute power over a believer’s life.

“Then the Lord said to Satan.… ‘[Job] still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.’ ‘Skin for skin!’ Satan replied. ‘A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.’ ” (Job 2:3–6)

•     Satan must obey Jesus.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” ’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:10–11)

•     Satan must ask permission to tempt a believer.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.” (Luke 22:31)

•     Satan has to leave if he is resisted.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

•     Satan cannot protect his followers.

“Then he [Jesus, the King] will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ ” (Matthew 25:41)

•     Satan cannot prevent his own demise.

“The devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)

Q “Does Satan have the power to know our thoughts?”

The Bible says that only God has the power to know the hearts of all men. Although Satan is highly intelligent (Ezekiel 28:12), he is still a created angel, and creatures do not have the divine attributes of God. King Solomon, known for his exceptional wisdom, states this about the Lord,

“You [God] alone know the hearts of all men.” (1 Kings 8:39)^[1]

---------------------------more tomorrow------------------------

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), 14–15.

I Don’t Have a Problem – Lies of the Enemy #25– Purity 1037

I Don’t Have a Problem – Lies of the Enemy #25– Purity 1037

Purity 1037 05/08/2023 Purity 1037 Podcast

Purity 1037 on YouTube: 

YouTube has gone sideways again.... No problem here... 

Good morning,

Today’s photo of the sun sitting on top of a cloud formation as its light illuminates the green grass and the decorative well in the side yard of my place “down by the River” comes to us from yours truly as I deliberately walked around the corner of my house to capture what I knew would be a worthwhile sight as the sun was riding high this past Friday afternoon upon my arrival home from work.   My presence at River House was atypical for a Friday because when I don’t have to work on Saturday, like I did this past weekend,  I normally  go north to my countryside home to be with my wife. But even though I was tired and had things to do in doors, when I realized that there was something good just around the corner I made a point to take the time to appreciate it.    

Well, It’s Monday again and my one day weekend flew by but I was blessed by it all the same as my wife and I had our humble countryside home to ourselves on Saturday evening and we spent yesterday in each other’s company at church and at a picnic with a short hike in the afternoon.  What our time together lacked in quantity, was made up for in quality of one another’s presence.    

But that was yesterday, and it is not only back to work and back to reality, today I have the added excitement of having to pull things together in terms of preparing to lead the recovery/discipleship growth group – Celebrate Freedom – at my church in two days.  This afternoon I plan on going to the church to check out the facilities of the classroom I will be teaching in to know, experientially, what I can do and what I can’t do in the place.   Our meetings will include a time of worship and while the classroom’s have television monitors – I need to know if I can utilize them to “do worship” via lyric videos on YouTube or if I will have to use my wife’s karaoke machine and hand out lyric sheets.    Assurances and the intellectual knowledge that “I could (probably) do that” is not enough. I may not be from Missouri but when it comes to running a recovery ministry, you need to just tell me what I could do – you need to “show me” what I can and will do. I have to see and do it for myself – so I can know experientially – I can do this!   

I have also finally taken the time to review the first lesson that I will be teaching on Wednesday night on Denial. Although I taught from the Celebrate Recovery Material regularly for 5 years at my previous church.  I haven’t reviewed these lessons since the fall of 2020, when I made the executive decision to make the recovery ministry a CFM (Community Freedom Ministry) which led to the mt4christ247 podcast, my marriage to TammyLyn, and to becoming an online  Discipleship Course Leader for Freedom in Christ Ministries.  So even though I knew I could lead a recovery ministry again, I took time last night and this morning to “experience” the read through of the first lesson from the Celebrate Recovery curriculum.  I need to know more than the fact that I could do it, I needed to the know I can do it by reading through and “teaching” the material.  

The Celebrate Recovery material is good and after a few alterations to the verbiage here and there to satisfy my focus on Trusting the Lord and pursuing freedom rather than just doing “recovery”, I feel confident that I will be ready to encourage the new group to trust the Lord to help them with their “hurts, habits, & hangups”. 

The first step to freedom from our problems, of course is getting past our denial – by admitting we have a problem and asking the Lord to help us to overcome it.     

And as I am still in the midst of our current series on 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.  – I have decided to shine a light on our denial for what it really is- just another big lie of the enemy. So,  

Today’s big lie is:

Lie #25: I Don’t Have a Problem.  

Whether this lie is in reference to the spiritual realm – where the enemy would have you  deny any need of a Savior – or if it is told in reference to sinful or selfish choices that separate us from God or others,  the lie of “I Don’t Have a Problem” – which is also classic denial – seeks to keep us in the darkness of our current bondage or broken state and prevent us from experiencing the new abundant life of peace and joy that the Lord has made available to all who put their faith in Jesus.   

While this lie is an effective lie to keep people from pursuing spiritual matters or a relationship of faith with God at all, it also operates in the confines of church buildings and the hearts of some who would claim to be “Christians”.  

While we can see how “I don’t have a problem” can lead non believers to follow it up with a “I don’t need God – or Jesus” proclamation.   “I don’t have a problem” can also be used by those who claim to be “followers of Jesus”.   I use that phrasing purposefully because it is the term my pastor, Roscoe Lily, uses to describe “Christians disciples” – we are not just “believers” we are “followers of Jesus” because its verbiage indicates that we don’t just believe that what Jesus said was true, we actually try to apply His teachings to our lives.   We believe it and so we try to live out our faith.  

However, some “Christians” believe in God’s forgivenesss, mercy, and grace to cover a multitude of sins so much that they have fallen into the error of  “Cheap Grace” which is “belief without repentance” -  They proudly claim they are sinners saved by grace  and do nothing to reduce or change the sinful activities they do.   They reason – I don’t have a problem” – because Christ paid for their sin and so they sin-and confess and thank God over and over for His mercy and love but refuse to follow His guidance to seek sanctification through repentance.   

This attitude of “I don’t’ have a problem” because of Jesus – is extremely common in our churches today and accounts for what should be surprising research findings that “saved Christians” lifestyles are not significantly different from their unsaved – nonbelieving – non-religious neighbors.   Cheap grace makes the church as dirty as the rest of the world, with unrepentant Christians (another oxy-moron) claiming their “not perfect, but forgiven status.”  This attitude covers everything from secular worldliness to the sins of the flesh, as people use there “faith” to excuse their sin. As hypocritical as this attitude is, it seems to be on the rise as more and more churches are affirming or excusing blatant sinful lifestyles and practices all in the name love or for the purpose of sharing the “gospel of Jesus”.  

The problem is that Jesus said to do something more than just to believe the gospel.   In

Mark 1:15 (NKJV) Jesus said
¹⁵  … "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

We are to believe in the gospel and we are to repent.  

So don’t believe the lie that “ I don’t have a problem”, if you don’t have Jesus as your Lord and Savior.   And don’t believe that lie, if because you have Jesus, you think that you can continue in the practices, activities, or lifestyles that the Bible calls sin  - works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21, or an abomimation (Leviticus 18:22).

Instead, look at your life honestly, and if there are attitudes or actions that contradict what the word of God says, admit that you do have a problem, to God and to a trusted brother or sister in Christ, and ask them to help you to change.   God can help you with all of your problems but the first step is to tell Him -  I have a problem and I need your help.

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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 verses are :

Luke 12:8-9 (NLT2)
⁸  “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.
⁹  But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.

Today’s verses speak to the fact that if we believe in God and have made Jesus our Lord and Savior, we will be outspoken about our faith. 

Here Jesus tells us that His followers will also be His witnesses by acknowledging our faith in Him publicly, with the warning that those who deny him here on earth would be denied in eternity. 

The Apostle Peter springs to mind as a case study here. He of course out of fear denied Christ three times but after Jesus was resurrected and all doubts of Him being the Messiah were gone, and after Peter received the Holy Spirit, Peter’s days of denial were gone as He became a vocal and outspoken evangelist and leader of the church of Christ to the point martyrdom.  

So as Christians, we must speak about and live out our faith by being a witness of Jesus Christ. When we acknowledge Him on earth, we will be acknowledged by Him in eternity.  We can have the full assurance of or salvation and place in God’s kingdom when we witness for Christ.

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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

III.    Causes of Attraction To Satanic Worship

A.  The Pitfall of Pride

What motivates a person to participate in the sinister realm of satanism? How is the flame of evil kindled in a disciple of darkness? To understand such depravity of the soul is to understand the primary downfall of Satan. Created by God as a “guardian cherub … full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:14, 12), Satan’s heart became darkened with pride as he sought ultimate power.

“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.”

(Ezekiel 28:17)

Isaiah 14:13–14

The angel of light lusts for—		The disciple of darkness—
Power …
“You [Satan] said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven.’ ”		—believes in supernatural power to achieve personal goals
Recognition …
“I will raise my throne above the stars of God.”		—desires personal glory and exaggerated attention
Independence …
“I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.”		—refuses to submit to the sovereign authority of God
Defiance …
“I will ascend above the tops of the clouds.”		—challenges God with bold, insolent actions and attitudes
Exaltation …
“I will make myself like the Most High.”		—exalts self egotistically as God over the lives of others

“In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god.’ ”

(Ezekiel 28:2)

Q “Since Satan knows so much about Scripture—even well enough to quote it—why doesn’t he know that his fate is sealed?”

Ezekiel chapter 28 describes Satan before he rebelled against God as “the model of perfection, full of wisdom.” More than just knowledge, wisdom is appropriately applying knowledge to life. However, pride corrupted his phenomenal wisdom, and today, while Satan still possesses certain knowledge, his arrogant pride has not only contaminated his wisdom but has also created a calloused heart much like that of a pathological liar with a seared conscience.

“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.” (Ezekiel 28:17)^[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), 11–12.