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Showing posts with label Guatemala. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guatemala. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Called to See, Believe, and Worship - Purity 1145

Called to See, Believe, and Worship - Purity 1145

Purity 1145 09/12/2023    Purity 1145 Podcast

Purity 1145 on YouTube: 



Good morning,

Today’s photo of lush green tropical plants in the foreground of a stone pathway leading to a swimming pool oasis beyond comes to us from yours truly and a few years back, on July 18th, 2019,  as I originally captured this scene at the Camino Real Hotel in Antigua after a week-long vacation mission trip to the mountain areas near Jocotan Guatemala.  We dug out the foundations and built a church in those mountains of Guatemala and this scene represents the reward that awaited those who decided to surrender a week of their summers for service to the kingdom of God. 

I wasn’t trying to earn anything on that trip of course, I was a volunteer, but our leadership team made arrangements to give us a day of rest and reward before going back home for our faithfulness and it was much appreciated.  

Looking back, I’m still amazed at the fact that I went to Guatemala to serve the body of Christ but this morning I was also reminded that my personal life was somewhat in shambles at the time, as my marriage had fallen apart but I was cohabitating with the ex and was still waiting for the divorce agreement to be signed and finalized. I suppose one could surmise that I went on that mission trip to “escape” the harsh realities at home but although I could see why one could think that I would have to tell you that you were wrong.  

I didn’t go to Guatemala to escape reality and I didn’t go there for some reward.  I went to Guatemala to worship and serve the Lord.  My local church announced the mission trip and I felt called to go, so I went.  You see God had saved me back in 2010 and led me into freedom from my addiction to alcohol in 2015, and at the time I was a few months away from being sexually pure for a year, so although I knew I could never pay the Lord back for all He has given me through my faith in Christ, I knew that it was good to serve and worship Him wherever He called me. 

This morning I was reading John 9, the passage where Jesus heals a man that was blind since birth but when he declared that Jesus was a “prophet” he was thrown out of the synagogue by the Pharisees.    

John 9:35-38 (NKJV) tells us that:
35  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"
36  He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"
37  And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you."
38  Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.

This man had received his and didn’t even know Jesus when He saw Him! But when his eyes were opened to see the One who healed Him, despite the opinions of the supposedly religious elite, He believed in Him and worshipped Him.

This man’s example is the appropriate response for meeting Jesus.  Having received His healing from Jesus, He had to tell others about it, even though it cost him – He was compelled to tell the truth about what happened to Him and to what it must mean about his healer.

When the Pharisees said they knew Jesus to be a sinner this man said: 

John 9:25 (NKJV)
25  …"Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."

And later,

John 9:30-33 (NKJV)
30  … "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!
31  Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
32  Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.
33  If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."

He defended Jesus’ name and was cast out for it and when He finally saw His healer face to face, He believed in Him and worshipped Him.  

My eyes were opened in 2010 through a David Jerimiah gospel radio message and as I followed I received my healing too. And so now I proclaim Jesus as the Lord and Savior and try to worship Him in all I do.   And no matter what hardship comes my way, I will choose to worship Him because I can do nothing else.  

My eyes have been opened, so I worship and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ.  So don’t lose your vision, don’t forget what the Lord has done in your life by revealing who Jesus is. He saved you. He forgave you. And He calls you to follow Him into a new life of meaning and purpose to serve His kingdom.  When we follow we are healed and made brand new, and it is only appropriate to believe and worship Christ forever.

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

Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.

( While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Scripture-Reference-Counseling-Kruis-ebook/dp/B00CIUJZT2?ref_=ast_author_dp )

This morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on Anger, Hot Temper.

Proverbs 14:29 (NLT2)
29  People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

Today’s verses fall under the second point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on Anger, Hot Temper

 2. Be slow to become angry.

Today’s verse is another verse that our resource provides to encourage us to be slow in becoming angry. Our resource provides three passages to support this point and rather than giving them all yesterday, I decided to “take it slow” by presenting them one at a time.  

This verse emphasizes the wisdom that is demonstrated in controlling our anger.  A hot temper shows great foolishness but people with understanding control their anger.  As we mentioned yesterday, one moment of unbridled anger can result in life-ending or life-altering consequences. 

There are “crimes of passion” where people are possessed by anger and release their frustrations in violence and even though they were able to pour out their wrath, they are held responsible for the damage they have done.  Although releasing anger in the moment may have felt good, the punishment and the negative consequences can cause us to regret how we let our hot tempers lead us into regrettable actions.  

So be wise and don’t let your anger burn hot. Remember to take a moment to think about what you say and do when you are angry. Forgive as we are called to forgive those who offend us. Take a moment and count to ten, Walk away if you need to because the far-reaching effects of regrets of an angry outburst can be avoided when we are slow to anger.

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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  The Holy Spirit By A.W. Pink.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase A.W. Pink’s books for your own private study and to support his work.  This resource is available online for $0.99 (https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Spirit-Arthur-Pink-Collection-ebook/dp/B008CM5292/ref=sr_1_3?crid=AHKAQOM39CTN&keywords=a.w.+pink+the+holy+spirit&qid=1684376225&sprefix=a.w.+pink+the+holy+spirit+%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-3

A.W. Pink’s The Holy Spirit

23 - The Spirit Witnessing

Guidelines for Subjective Witness

First, the Spirit’s witness is in strict accord with the teaching of Holy Writ. In the Word He has given certain marks by which the question may be decided as to whether or not I am a child of God: He has described certain features by which I may identify myself—see John 8:39, Romans 4:12 and 8:14 and contrast John 8:44 and Ephesians 2:2, 3. It is by the Truth that the Spirit enlightens, convicts, comforts, feeds, and guides the people of God; and it is by and through the Truth that He bears witness with their spirit. There is a perfect harmony between the testimony of Scripture and the varied experiences of each renewed soul, and it is by revealing to us this harmony, by showing us the correspondence between the history of our soul and the testimony of the Word that He persuades us we are born again: “Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him” (1 John 3:19).

Second, He works such graces in us as are peculiar to God’s children, and thereby evidences our interest in the favor of God. He makes the Christian to feel “poor in spirit,” a pauper dependent upon the charity of God. He causes him to “mourn” over much which gives the worldling no concern whatever. He bestows a spirit of “meekness” so that the rebellious will is, in part, subdued, and God’s will is submitted unto. He gives a “hunger and thirst after righteousness” and gives the soul to feel that the best this perishing world has to offer him is unsatisfying and but empty husks. He makes him “merciful” toward others, counteracting that selfish disposition which is in us by nature. He makes him “pure in heart” by giving him to pant after holiness and hate that which is vile (Matthew 5:3–8, etc.). By His own fruit in the soul, the Spirit makes manifest His indwelling presence.

Third, He helps us to discern His work of grace in our souls more clearly. Conscience does its part, and the Spirit confirms the same. The conjoint witness of the Spirit gives vigor and certainty to the assurance of our hearts. When the flood-waters of a land mingle themselves with a river they make one and the same stream, but it is now more rapid and violent. In like manner, the united testimonies of our own conscience and of the Spirit make but one witness, yet it becomes such as to break down our fears and overcome our doubts. When the blessed Spirit shines upon His own work of grace and holiness in our souls, then in His light we “see light” (Ps. 36:9). Inward holiness, a filial spirit, an humble heart, submission to God, is something that Satan cannot imitate.

Fourth, He helps us not only to see grace, but to judge of the sincerity and reality of it. It is at this point many honest souls are most sorely exercised. It is much easier to prove that we believe, than to be assured that our faith is a saving one. It is much easier to conclude that we love Christ, than it is to be sure that we love Him in sincerity and for what He is in Himself. Our hearts are fearfully deceitful, there are many minglings of faith and unbelief (Mark 9:24), and grace in us is so feeble that we hesitate to pronounce positively upon our state. But when the Spirit increases our faith, rekindles our love, strengthens us with might in the inner man, He enables us to come to a definite conclusion. First He sanctifies and then He certifies.

The deceits of Satan, though often plausible imitations up to a point, are, in their tendency and outcome, always opposed to that which God enjoins. On the other hand, the operations of the Spirit are ever in unison with the written Word. Here, then, is a sure criterion by which we may test which spirit is at work within us. The three truths of Scripture which more directly concern us are, our ruin by nature, our redemption by grace, and the duties we owe by virtue of our deliverance. If then, our beliefs, our feelings, our assurance, tend to exalt depraved nature, depreciate Divine grace, or lead to a licentious life, they are certainly not of God. But if they have quite the opposite tendency, convincing us of our wretchedness by nature, making Christ more precious to us, and leading us into the duties He enjoins, they are of the Holy Spirit.

It only remains for us to ask, Why does not the Holy Spirit grant unto the Christian a strong and comforting assurance of his Divine sonship at all times? Various answers may be given. First, we must distinguish between the Spirit’s work and His witness: often it is His office to convict and make us miserable, rather than to impart comfort and joy. Second, His assuring consolation is often withheld because of our slackness: we are bidden to “make your calling and election sure” and “be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace” (2 Pet. 1:10 and 3:14)—the comforts of the Spirit drop not into lazy souls. Third, because of our sins: “The Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the Word” (Acts 10:44)—not while they were walking in the paths of unrighteousness. His witness is a holy one: He will not put a jewel in a swine’s snout (Prov. 11:22). Keep yourselves in the love of God (Jude 21) and the Spirit’s witness will be yours.[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 YouTube 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


[1] Arthur Walkington Pink, The Holy Spirit (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, n.d.).

 

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

It’s Impossible. – Lies of the Enemy #14– Purity 1026


 It’s Impossible. – Lies of the Enemy #14– Purity 1026

Purity 1026 04/25/2023 Purity 1026 Podcast

Purity 1026 on YouTube: 


Good morning,

Today’s photo of a un marked soccer field  in the shadow of green mountains, under a nearly cloudless blue sky comes to us  yours truly as I went back in the photo archives to retirieve this simply yet beautiful scene that I capturd back on July 12 2019 while I was staying at an orphanage while on a vacation mission trip to Zacapa Guatemala.  According to Warner & Coursey’s new book, the 4 Habits of Joy-Filled People, a few ways we can increase our capacity for joy and build up our emotional resilience is through  Gratitude, Anticipation, memories and the “joy stories” we can tell ourselves and others.   

Today, I am thankful for where the Lord has put me in terms of all the aspects of my life: my home, my health, my career, my ministry, my marriage, and my relationship with Him. My daily practice of gratitude puts “first things first” by reminding me that I am alive and God has blessed me and God is with me! Hard to stay in a funk when you make a regular practice of appreciating all that the Lord has done for you and you speak to Him to express your thanks!   

Today’s photo represents both the ways “Anticipation” and “Memories” can help us to experience joy. Before that mission trip back in 2019, I joyfully anticipated seeing a new country and serving the people in Guatemala in a community of believers with the common purpose to give glory to God! I anticipated the peace and joy of being with my brothers and sisters in Christ as we worshipped and worked together for God’s kingdom. Anticipating going filled me with enthusiasm as I contemplated my faithful purpose!  

Guatemala didn’t disappoint. The topography of the Guatemalan mountain was right out of Jurassic park and while the work was challenging at times the things we did there as a mission team were worthwhile because we did them together and we did them in faith. And while there were times of uncertainty and frustration in Guatemala, the memories I have of that mission trip fill me with joy.   

And as for “joy stories”, my journal from that trip – somewhere around here – could testify to our daily activities but when I remember Guatemala and its beauty, I am reminded of the beauty that came from the interactions I had with the other people on the trip and how all of us grew closer to one another and individually because of our experiences while there on vacation for God.   

And all of this could have been taken from me. The anticipation, the memories, and the joy stories would not have been known if I had listened to the enemy’s big lie that keeps so many people in chains of fear and inaction.   

Which brings us to our current series which is an examination of some of the common lies that the enemy tells us to cause us to doubt our faith, steal our peace, or to influence us to choose not to follow the Lord with the way we live our lives.  And today’s lie is the one that keeps Christians from experiencing their freedom and it is tragic because when this lie is believed, we voluntarily surrender to enemy’s bondages without a fight.

Today’s big lie is:

Lie # 14:  It’s impossible!    

The biggest lie that enemy tells Christians to keep them from our freedom in Christ and from experiencing the new life that the Lord has for us is that something is “Impossible!”  Now our minds may know intellectually that the goals that are beyond are reach are theoretically possible, but the enemy is quick to amend and personalize his lie to say “It’s impossible for you.” Or better yet to put it in the first person to make it: “It’s impossible for me.”  

While other Christians, and even Non-Christians!,  can accomplish what you want to accomplish, for you it is simply impossible!

In my morning Bible study in Job, I came across one of Job’s comments, in the midst of his sufferings, that echoed this “impossible sentiment”.  

Job 9:29 (NLT2)
29  Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what’s the use of trying?

Here Job was feeling sorry for himself and echoes the follow up statement to cap off Today’s big lie: “What’s the use of trying?”

Satan’s lie here is logically sound: It’s impossible. I can’t accomplish it because its impossible. So there’s no point in trying to accomplish it. It is “impossible” after all.”  

But this is why we must “take every thought captive” and resist the devil.   Because if we examine reality and God’s word, we will discover that we are believing a lie.  

Ok, some things are impossible – but not all things.  Our experience can show us the truth sometimes. We look for examples of people doing what we “feel” or “think” is impossible.  The good news is that many people have gone before us to inspire to do “the impossible” in our lives.  If they could do it, I could do it!

However, the word of God also indicates that Christians have a decided advantage in “overcoming” impossibilities. God is on our side and He encourages us  to trust in Him and to try impossible things.  Jesus said:

Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)
26  … "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

That was all things! With God all things are possible! The Apostle Paul encourages us that:

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Now to keep it real, some of the all things that Paul was talking about included enduring suffering.  But these scriptures should inspire us to have faith, trust in the Lord, do what we can and leave the results up to God.   

Before coming to Christ, the idea of being a “missionary”, or just the idea of going to Africa or Guatemala – would have seemed impossible to me.  Before Christ, I didn’t  have any reason to “go there” and while not technically impossible, it would have been highly unlikely that I ever would have travelled to those countries “for good”.   But God put it in my heart and the “seeming impossibility” of being a missionary, granted a short term missionary, was accomplished!

Similarly,  before Christ I had no inclination to stop drinking. Alcohol was part of my culture and identity. I not only didn’t think it was possible to stop drinking, I didn’t want to!

But God changed my heart and mind about that and He gave me conviction to try and the strength and guidance to overcome what was nearly a life long habit.  And not only did we work together to stop that behavior, the Lord helped me to change my mind and heart about drinking, to show me the truth of its darkness, and now it no longer really tempts me because I have knowledge of what a trap it is. Paradoxically, what I thought was impossible to give up, now seems impossible to resume.  The idea of drinking is almost completely foreign to me and I am to assure you that God did that impossible feat in me.

So if there is a hurt, habit, or hang up, in your life that you think is “impossible to overcome, or a goal that you “always wanted to do” but never did,  don’t believe the lie that “it’s impossible. Instead, trust in the Lord, ask Him for guidance and strength, and listen and obey to the way He directs you to see if overcoming is part of the purpose that He has for your life.   

Some of the “bucket list” items we have may not be in God’s plans, because they are silly or selfish, but if your “impossible dream” is to be set free and to be closer to God, I would encourage you to pursue it with Him because if He did for me, I have to believe He will help you too.  It’s not impossible. With God all things are possible.   

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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 :

Psalm 54:7 (NLT2)
7  For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

Today’s verse is the truth for all Christians in that Jesus  rescued us from God’s wrath and has help us to overcome the spiritual forces of darkness that were hell bent on our destruction.   

The idea of “rescue” can bring me to tears when I think of my former darkness and how the Lord has delivered me. Through Christ, God delivered me from literal hell, and the hells addictions and broken relationships. He gave me a hope and future. And I will praise the Lord all the days of my life because who He is and what He has done for me.  

As for triumphing over enemies… I think living a life that is free in Christ is better than any revenge we could have over the people that have abused us.  Besides it is for God to avenge, He will repay everyone for the wicked deeds done.

It is a dreadful thing to be in the hands of an angry God, and that is why we are to love our enemies and pray for them as Christ did, because they really don’t know what they were doing and need mercy and grace just like we did. 

So rejoice over your rescue, live free in Christ, and while we have triumphed over all of our enemies, don’t forget to say a prayer for God to rescue them too.

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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 A.W. Pink’s “The Sovereignty of God.”

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase A.W. Pink’s books for your own private study and to support his work.  This resource is available on many websites for less than $20.00.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

By  ARTHUR W. PINK

APPENDIX III

THE MEANING OF “KOSMOS” (“WORLD”) IN JOHN 3:16

It may appear to some of our readers that the exposition we have given of John 3:16 in the chapter on “Difficulties and Objections” is a forced and unnatural one, inasmuch as our definition of the term “world” seems to be out of harmony with the meaning and scope of this word in other passages, where, to supply the world of believers (God’s elect) as a definition of “world” would make no sense. Many have said to us, “Surely, ‘world’ means world, that is, you, me, and everybody.” In reply we would say: We know from experience how difficult it is to set aside the “traditions of men” and come to a passage which we have heard explained in a certain way scores of times, and study it carefully for ourselves without bias. Nevertheless, this is essential if we would learn the mind of God.

Many people suppose they already know the simple meaning of John 3:16, and therefore they conclude that no diligent study is required of them to discover the precise teaching of this verse. Needless to say, such an attitude shuts out any further light which they otherwise might obtain on the passage. Yet, if anyone will take a Concordance and read carefully the various passages in which the term “world” (as a translation of “kosmos”) occurs, he will quickly perceive that to ascertain the precise meaning of the word “world” in any given passage is not nearly so easy as is popularly supposed. The word “kosmos,” and its English equivalent “world, is not used with a uniform significance in the New Testament. Very far from it. It is used in quite a number of different ways. Below we will refer to a few passages where this term occurs, suggesting a tentative definition in each case:

1. “Kosmos” is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17:24: “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth.”

2. “Kosmos” is used of the earth: John 13:1; Eph. 1:4, etc., etc.: “When Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end.” “Depart out of this world” signifies, leave this earth. “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.” This expression signifies, before the earth was founded—compare Job 38:4, etc.

3. “Kosmos” is used of the world-system: John 12:31, etc.: “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out”—compare Matt. 4:8 and 1 John 5:19, R. V.

4. “Kosmos” is used of the whole human race: Rom. 3:19, etc.: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”[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)

“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



[1] Arthur W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God (Swengel, PA: Bible Truth Depot, 1949), 265–266.

Monday, July 19, 2021

Vacation’s Over but the Journey Continues - Purity 474


Vacation’s Over but the Journey Continues 

Purity 474 07/19/2021   Purity 474 Podcast

Good morning

Today’s photo of a quaint palm tree patio in San Antonio La Paz, Guatemala comes to us from a friend who just returned from a short-term mission trip there that ministered to a church in the town as well as another outreach location in the mountains near Zacapa, which my photos from two years ago identify as being “in” Jocotan,.  A quick peak at Google maps reveals that, depending on the exact locations, the joint Rock Solid Hudson, - Lighthouse Church- Athens joint missionary expedition covered two areas in Guatemala that were 2 to 3 hours away from one another.  When our churches go on a mission trip, they hit the ground running and often divide into separate teams to seek to do the most good to as many people as possible.

The team of roughly 30 volunteers spent their own money and vacation time to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ in Guatemala all for the glory of God and for the expansion of God’s Kingdom.   While I wasn’t on this year’s trip I can testify to the fact that the work is physically and mentally exhausting at times but the purpose for which we do it, and the fellowship and sense of community that the mission team experiences with the indigenous people and one another, is spiritually and personally rewarding.    

Today is Monday again, and like my friends who are back home from Guatemala, I too will have to readjust to going back to the reality of a regular work week as I spent last week on staycation.  

While I didn’t spend my vacation serving the Lord in Guatemala, I am happy to report that my vacation wasn’t just spent watching TV or doing little projects around the house. While some would have been bothered by last week’s rainy weather it was the perfect weather for my purposes.  I spent the week preparing lessons for a Freedom in Christ class that I plan on teaching in the fall.  I am ecstatic to report that I finished transcribing all the lessons from the course material into notes from which I can teach last night!  While some may lament that I spent all my vacation doing ministry work, I won’t because I was blessed by the material and the sense of accomplishment I felt at finishing the final lesson last evening.  

I have been on the disciple’s path long enough that I experience more joy and happiness from pursing the things of God than I do from the interests and hobbies that I used to have before coming to Christ.   There is just so much more value and enjoyment in pursuing things that will edify my spirit and deepen my relationship with God than there is in the entertainment that the world has to offer.  

But trust me, you want to take your walk with God at your own pace. When you get called by the Lord to follow His lead, you need to learn to crawl before you learn to walk, and you need to walk before you run.  

So have grace on yourself as you seek to turn to the ways of God. You won’t experience the fruit of the Spirit of peace and joy if you strive after God in your own strength. Our interactions and understanding with the Lord is a relationship and like all relationships we are going to have to get to know each other and understand how each of us works before we can live in harmony.  

But hey, just because our relationship with God will require some stretching of our limits and require some real soul searching, doesn’t mean that it’s not worth pursuing.  The Lord holds the answers to life and death, and He invites us to explore the mystery of meaning and purpose of who He is and how we are relate to Him.  It’s a never-ending adventure where you can find your self experiencing the wonders of His love halfway around the world or right in the confines of your own home.  

So keep walking and talking with God.  He’ll get you through Monday and every other day of your life. So go at your own pace but set your direction to His way.

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Acts 1:11 (NKJV)
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

 

Today’s verse contains the angelic promise that speaks of the certainty of the return of Jesus Christ to earth.  

As always context is king when we study scripture and today’s verse comes right after Jesus literally “lifted up” to heaven in the event that we call the Ascension.  Can you imagine? Talk about “Beam me up Scotty.”   I’m sure the History Channel’s “Ancient Aliens” has their own take on this event that involves extra terrestrial beings from distant planets but for those who study the Bible we can surmise the true narrative to be consistent with all of scripture.  

Various passages in the Bible describe a heavenly throne room in a spiritual realm that is beyond earth. I believe I discussed this in Lesson Seven of my recent Bondage Breaker Class so check out the podcast.  But anyway, I briefly discussed what Paul referred to as the “third Heaven” – the place of God’s celestial kingdom. That’s where Jesus went when He ascended and where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. 

This fact is pretty great but what is even greater is that the angels that were present to witness Christ’s Ascension, told the Apostles that Christ would be back.  Any doubts of the angel’s claims that may have developed over time were swept away with some passages in the Apostle’s epistles that confirmed it and when Christ Himself revealed to the Apostle John even more details of His return in the book of Revelation.   

So in this case what went up, will most certainly come down. Christ will return.  And although the imagery in Revelation may confuse if not frighten us as we contemplate “the end times”, we must remember, that for the Christian, the end times are only the beginning of an eternity that will be spent with Jesus in a realm that is described as having no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Rev 21:4).     

So we should take great hope from today’s verse and not worry about Christ’s return. Instead we should rejoice, share the gospel, make disciples, and live a good life knowing that God has a plan, and that Christ could return at any moment.  

The peace of the Lord comes through knowing Him and knowing that He works all things together for good for those who love Him. So stand in the joy of the contemplation of the culmination of His plan and rest in the love that He has poured out on you when He invited you to come into His kingdom forever.

 

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

 

Today we continue with Dr. Neil Anderson’s Victory Over the Darkness, continuing Chapter 8.

 

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Anderson’s books for your own private study and to support his work. If you need this title you can find it online at several sites for less than $15.00:

Proper Guidelines Lead to a Proper Walk

2. Significance. Key Concept: Time

Significance is a time concept. What is forgotten in time is of little significance. What is remembered for eternity is of great significance. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "If any man's work . . . remains, he shall receive a reward" (1 Cor. 3:14). He instructed Timothy: "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness . . . since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:7, 8). If you want to increase your significance, focus your energies on significant activities: those that will remain for eternity.

Stu, the pastor of a small church, attended one of my classes at Talbot School of Theology. He was in his mid-30s and married when he found out he had cancer. The doctors gave him less than two years to live.

One day Stu came to talk to me. "Ten years ago somebody gave a prophecy about me in church," he began. "They said I was going to do a great work for God. I've led a few hundred people to Christ, but I haven't had a great work for God yet. Do you think God is going to heal me so the prophecy can be fulfilled?"

I registered shock by his statement and said, "You've led a few hundred people to Christ and don't think you have accomplished a great work for God? Stu, I know some significant pastors in large churches who can't make that claim. I know some great theologians who have led very few people to Christ. If a few hundred people are believers today because of you, and they have influenced who knows how many other people for Christ, I'd call that a great work for God." Stu is now with the Lord, having completed his significant ministry of reaching hundreds for Christ.

One of the few heroes of my life is Billy Graham. He has been verbally shot at from the right and from the left, but he has remained true to his calling to preach the gospel. One day, several years ago, I happened to see him walking through the lobby of the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. I had never met him before, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I caught up with him and said, "I wanted to meet you, Dr. Graham, even though I'm just a lowly pastor."

He warmly returned my greeting and then brought me up short by saying, "There's no such thing as a lowly pastor."

He was right. There is no such thing as a lowly pastor or a lowly child of God. We are in the significant business of collecting treasures for eternity. What we do and say for Christ in this world, no matter how insignificant it seems, will last forever.


Victory Over the Darkness: Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ.

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

 

God bless you all!

 

Join our “Victory over the Darkness” or “The Bondage Breaker” 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. 

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

 

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Friday, July 9, 2021

Summer Camp – You get S’more with the Lord! – Purity 466


Summer Camp – You get S’more with the Lord! 

Purity 466 07/09/2021

Good morning  

Today’s photo of a sunset over Lake Ontario comes to us from a friend who is nearing the end of their week-long stay at Lighthouse Christian Camp in Barker NY, which is an hour west of Rochester. I went to college at SUNY Oswego, and I absolutely love Lake Ontario and when I realized that this camp was on the shores of that Great Lake, I immediately was drawn to their website and have the stirrings of “go fever” as I see some reasonable rates for their cabins. I am on vacation this week and may inquire about availability as a short retreat at Christian camp near my beloved Lake Ontario could meet my needs of a road trip with a destination that could provide solitude and relaxation.   You got to go to summer camp right?  

I will be sure to let you know whether this momentary stirring materializes into a Kerouacian pilgrimage, minus the drugs, alcohol, petty crimes, and fornication of course.    

As we have passed Independence Day, there is no question anymore that we are in the summer season and if we don’t plan to do something to celebrate the summer we will blink, and it will be Labor Day and we will lament over our missed opportunities.

At this moment I plan on meeting friends this evening to enjoy their company and some live at the Saratoga Winery and if my impromptu road trip to the Christian Summer camp doesn’t plan out I will endeavor to make a couple of day trips next week so I can feel that I took advantage of my opportunity to enjoy my time off from work and the weather that the Lord provides.      

This summer I encourage everyone to not only enjoy the sun but to also spend some quality time with friends and family.  The Lord commanded us to love one another and brother the summer season is a great time to express our appreciation and love for one another as we can draw together in various venues but enjoying an evening campfire with some S’mores seems like a simple way that most of us can celebrate our friends and family.      

Speaking of summer camp and friends, I have some friends from my local church who have decided to take a week to travel to Guatemala to see the sights and to serve the kingdom of God as they are connecting with Greg Miller and his ministry operations in the Guatemalan mountains and surrounding villages.   They will be doing construction projects on churches and in Christian homes, distributing food and supplies to those in need, and will be encouraging Christians through their preaching of the Word of God and through their enthusiastic worship.     

As someone who has been on mission in Guatemala, I know that the work will be challenging but rewarding and that the fellowship between the missionaries and with the Lord will be profound as they have dedicated a week of their lives to draw closer to God and to give Him glory through their selfless service.   

But you don’t necessarily have to go to a distant country to draw close to the Lord and enjoy His presence.  When we continually seek the Lord in prayer, through the study of His word, and by developing a perspective that sees His work in our lives, we can enjoy God’s presence no matter where we are, and we can step out in faith locally to be a light of hope by encouraging others or by choosing to volunteer to do good works to help others in our local communities.     

When we surrender to the Lord and bring Him with us wherever we go we get more enjoyment out of life because it is filled with a divine purpose. Forgive the summertime pun but “we get S’more with the Lord”!

So no matter where your summer plans take you, be thankful for what the Lord has done in your life and be sure to share the hope and love that you have found through your relationship with Jesus Christ with others.  


This morning’s meditation verse is:

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NKJV)
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

Today’s verse speaks about the fact that Christians are supposed to be a bit more than believers and it also highlights the paradox of experiencing suffering and joy through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.      

Paul refers to the saints in Thessalonica as “followers of us and of the Lord”.  The Apostle didn’t say “believers of us and of the Lord”. He said followers.   Christians are commonly referred to as believers, but scripture indicates that we are to be followers of the Lord and to go into all the world and to make disciples.  

“Easy believe-ism” is a great way to get people to raise their hands in church and to say a sinner’s prayer, but I fear it is potentially dangerous as the possibility of false conversions is something that Jesus warned us about.  The scariest verses in the Bible speak of some who will proclaim that Jesus is their Lord only to have Him declare that He never knew them, bidding them to depart from His presence and referring to them as those who practice lawlessness.   

We can say we believe anything but the truth of whether we believe in something is shows in how that belief impacts our thoughts, speech, and actions.  Even with speech and actions that would lead us to indicate that someone is a believer, only the Lord knows what they truly believe in their heart.   

As for me, I came from a very broken background before I came to make Jesus my Lord and Savior so when I did I wasn’t content with just proclaiming a belief in Christ. My heart’s desire after salvation was to show myself, the Lord, and other’s the truth of my conversion by seeking to know the Lord and to follow His ways for living and His guidance for my Christian walk.    So what did I do? 

I followed the example of the Christians in my local church. And believe you me, as a natural born skeptic and rebel of authority, I wasn’t going to follow any person blindly.  I kept both eyes open and watched the leadership and members of my local church to test their faith. If I was going to submit to the authority of a local church and their leadership, I was going to make sure that their walk matched their talk.   Fortunately, I was blessed to find a church that had some truly authentic Christians who are dedicated to the Lord’s service and passionate about worship and equipping the members of their church.      

But as much as I followed the local church leadership and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I also followed the Lord. In fact, no matter what were to happen with the local body of believers, I made it clear to the Lord that I was following Him first and foremost.  I did this through prayer, personal Bible study, listening to Christian podcasts, and by reading books about Christian doctrines and Christian living.  

And how did all this happen to a guy who was fully versed in the depraved ways of the world and who was very self-centered in his ways?  

It happened through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Like today’s verse says, believe me when I tell you that I received God’s word in much affliction. The afflictions that I was suffering at the time of my salvation of course were the consequence of living in darkness, but I honestly would say that anyone living without Christ is being afflicted by the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

It is no wonder why I received the gospel of Jesus Christ with the joy of the Holy Spirit.  Our salvation is a supernatural work of revelation provided by the Holy Spirit and one of the first fruits of the Spirit is joy.  So yeah, when I realized I was saved from my almost certain one-way trip to Hell I had joy!  But I also had the Holy Spirit in me because I was driven to read His word and to start to change my ways for God’s ways.    

So if you would say your Christian life is more of that of a believer than a follower or a disciple, let me encourage you to answer the Lord’s call on your life to be conformed to the image of Christ by surrendering yourself to the Lord’s guidance.  

When you fully enter your Christian faith, the joy of the Spirit becomes a baseline experience that stays with you no matter what afflictions or suffering you may face.  When we fully grasp who we are in Christ, the troubles of this world are put in their proper place.  The joy of the Lord is our strength and our faith in Jesus Christ gives us the power to overcome and to experience the Lord’s peace.   

 

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

 

Today we continue with Dr. Neil Anderson’s Victory Over the Darkness, beginning Chapter 7.

 

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Anderson’s books for your own private study and to support his work. If you need this title you can find it online at several sites for less than $15.00:

Chapter 7

You Can't Live Beyond What You Believe

Walking by faith is a little bit like playing golf. When my son, Karl, was about 10 years old, I introduced him to the game of golf. I gave him a little starter set of clubs and took him to the course with me. Karl would tee up his ball and whale away at it with his mightiest swing. Usually he sprayed the ball all over the place. Because he could only hit it 60 or 70 yards at best, his direction could be off by 15 degrees or so and his ball would still be in the fairway.

As he grew up and got a bigger set of clubs, Karl was able to drive the ball off the tee 150 yards and farther. If, however, his drive was still 15 degrees off target, his ball no longer stayed in the fairway; it usually went into the rough. Accuracy is even more important for golfers who can blast a golf ball 250 yards off the tee. The same 15-degree deviation that allowed little Karl's short drives to remain in the fairway will send a longer drive soaring out of bounds.

Your Christian walk is the direct result of what you believe. If your faith is off, your walk will be off. If your walk is off, you need to take a good look at what you believe. Suppose you began your Christian walk just 15 degrees off in your teenage years. You are still in the fairway of life, but if you continue to live the same way for many years, life may start to get pretty rough and eventually you may find yourself out of bounds. That is the classic midlife crisis. You thought you understood well what constituted success, fulfillment and satisfaction, but now you are discovering that what you had believed about life wasn't quite true. The longer you persist in a faulty belief system, the less fulfilling and productive your daily walk of faith will be.

Walking by faith simply means that you function in daily life on the basis of what you believe. In fact, you are already walking by faith; you can't not walk by faith. People may not always live what they profess, but they will always live what they believe. If your behavior is off, you need to correct what you believe because your misbehavior is the result of your disbelief. The writer of Hebrews said, "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith" (Hebrews 13:7).

To better understand what you presently believe, take a few minutes to complete the following Faith Appraisal. Simply evaluate yourself in each of the eight categories by circling a number from one to five that best represents you, five being high. Then complete each of the eight statements as concisely and truthfully as possible.

Faith Appraisal

 

Low

High

1.  How successful am I?

1

2

3

4

5

I would be more successful if . . .

 

 

 

 

 

2.  How significant am I?

1

2

3

4

5

I would be more significant if . . .

 

 

 

 

 

3.  How fulfilled am I?

1

2

3

4

5

I would be more fulfilled if . . .

 

 

 

 

 

4.  How satisfied am I?

1

2

3

4

5

I would be more satisfied if . . .

 

 

 

 

 

5.  How happy am I?

1

2

3

4

5

I would be happier if . . .

 

 

 

 

 

6.  How much fun am I having?

1

2

3

4

5

I would have more fun if . . .

 

 

 

 

 

7.  How secure am I?

1

2

3

4

5

I would be more secure if . . .

 

 

 

 

 

8.  How peaceful am I?

1

2

3

4

5

I would have more peace if . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever you believe are the answers to "I would be more successful if . . .," "I would be more significant if . . .," etc. constitute your present belief system. You are right now walking by faith according to what you believe. Assuming your basic physiological needs (food, shelter, safety and so on) are met, you are motivated to live a successful, significant, fulfilled, satisfied, happy, fun, secure and peaceful life. That is perfectly fine because God hasn't called you to be an insecure, insignificant, unfulfilled failure. Chances are you may not have the same definitions for these eight qualities of life that God does, and therefore your walk by faith may not be achieving what you want.


Victory Over the Darkness: Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ.

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

 

God bless you all!

 

Join our “Victory over the Darkness” or “The Bondage Breaker” 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. 

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

 

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship