Faith and Free Will – Choose God’s Power for You - Purity 492

 Faith and Free Will – Choose God’s Power for You

Purity 492 08/09/2021  Purity 492 Podcast

Good morning

Today’s photo of the first sunrise of August in Jacksonville Florida comes to us from a friend with the simple encouragement to “Make it a great day.” Not only is this a lovely photo of the sun and its reflection in the Atlantic but I love the way that the presence of others gives it a sense of community and symmetry as the two figures on the beach seem to be almost perfectly placed on either side of the sun and the boat in the water, with some one standing on the bow, gives you sense of movement and adventure.   

It's Monday again, and it is my hope that my friends enjoyed their weekend. It looks like we are headed in the “dog days of summer” this week in upstate NY, as temperatures are forecasted to be swinging into the 90’s this week.   I pity the fools that have to work outside.  Oh wait, that me.   But that’s okay, this isn’t my first summer outside and even though its Monday and the heat may challenge us all to keep our peace, I for one will be trying to take my friend’s advice to “make it a great day.”  

The power to shape our days is possible by choosing to direct our thoughts to set the context on how we live our lives.  Anyone can do this. The power of positive thinking is a thing, but I have to be honest, unless our thoughts are supported by truth we could just be living in denial.   “Every thing is going to be okay.” can be a powerful mantra to help us persevere through life but unless you actually know everything is going to be okay you may be just whistling through the graveyard.  

The reality of suffering and death can challenge any Pollyanna who “believes in themselves”.   A sunny disposition empowered by generic encouragements to “just believe” or “have faith” in “good things” or “the universe” is shaky ground to walk through life on.  

Christ taught about the difference between shifting sands and solid rock on which we can “build our houses”. The solid rock that Jesus was encouraging people to build on was hearing His words of instruction and following them.  The only assurance that “everything is going to be okay”  comes from faith in Jesus Christ.   We should not only “just believe” or “have faith” in general, we must believe in Jesus Christ specifically and place our faith in Him.  

After we do that, we are assured of our significance, acceptance, and security as we are given a new and eternal life as God’s free gift, forgiving us of all our sins and declaring us righteous because of Christ’s work on the Cross.

When we choose to live by faith, we can face Mondays and we can even face the dog days of summer, this year and every year until the Lord calls us home.   

When we  choose to live by faith, we surpass the power of positive thinking because our choice to make Christ our Savior begins our personal relationship with the Almighty God and Creator of all things.   Our faith goes beyond the choice to shift our perspective. Our faith and our choice to walk in it brings us into harmony with the One who determines the course of things to come.

While things may not always go the way that we would like, when we place our lives in God’s hands we are assured that we are always on solid ground, and we can remind ourselves that our relationship with Him makes every day a great one. For this is the day that the Lord has made, and we should rejoice and be glad in it.

This morning’s meditation verse is:

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

Today’s verse encourages us to be diligent in recognizing the signs of the times and to  remain faithful.  

This section of scripture in Thessalonians addresses the coming “Day of the Lord” in which Christ will come to judge and reclaim the earth and the attitudes of the world to ‘eat, drink, and be merry.”  

Different theological systems of doctrine all based on scripture posit different ideas about our salvation, our security as believers, and how we are to live our lives. Among the various Christian schools of thought, doctrinal slogans can differ greatly. “Once saved always saved’, “no fruit, no salvation”, “you need works and faith to be saved”, or “If you sin, you can lose your salvation” are just a few of the conflicting ideas that come from various Christian denominational doctrines.    

While these doctrinal system slogans are concise statements that can describe one’s belief, the truth is that the whole counsel of God in His Word isn’t so simple. This section in Thessalonians points to the Christian’s duty to remain faithful and diligent to their attempts to be conformed to the image of Christ regardless of the times or the seasons.

So whether you believe in once saved, always saved or in something else, the overwhelming instruction from scripture encourages us to walk towards holiness and to remain faithful in going in that direction. .      

The state of the world can be troubling, and it may seem like Christ will never return in our lifetime but regardless of perilous times Paul doesn’t recommend a lifestyle of complacency or moral compromise. 

Instead, today’s verse tells Christians to “stay awake” and to be watchful and “sober”.  Not only are we to not fall into drunkenness, but we are also to have an expectant attitude of the possibility of Christ’s immediate return with the intention that if He should come back today, He would find us living according to our faith and not according to the world’s ways. 

Living righteously has its own rewards of confirming who we are in Christ and having the assurance that we are not living in a manner that will set up negative consequences because of our actions.  This choice to live by faith has good personal benefits for daily living but when we keep the big picture of Christ’s return in view, our intention to live our daily lives by faith becomes part of overall purpose as representatives of the kingdom of God.

The faithful attitudes and actions of Christians who stay the course glorify God and perform the good works that He has prepared for us.   Not only does our faithfulness benefit ourselves, our families, and our friends, it can also be used by God to expand His kingdom as others are drawn to Him because of the love that we share.  

So do not fall asleep in your faith. Be watchful and sober and as you are walking and talking with God, offer a helping hand and the hope that lies in Christ alone to those you meet along the way.

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 11.

 

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 11

Healing Emotional Wounds from Your Past

Dan and Cindy were a fine, young Christian couple preparing for ministry on the mission field. Then tragedy struck. Cindy was raped by an ugly stranger in the parking lot at night after work. The police were unable to find the rapist, and Cindy had a hard time bringing any closure to the nightmare experience. The trauma was so severe that they moved away from the community where it happened. As hard as she tried to get back to normal life, Cindy couldn't shake the horrible memories and feelings from her experience.

Six months after the rape Dan and Cindy attended a church conference where I was speaking. During the conference, Cindy was in tears as she called me. "Neil, I just can't get over this thing. I know 'God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God' (Romans 8:28), but how is He going to make rape a good thing? Every time I think about what happened I start to cry."

"Cindy, I think you are misunderstanding the verse," I said. "God will work this out for your good, but He doesn't do it by making a bad thing good. What happened to you was sick and evil. God will enable you to come through this crisis a better person."

"But I just can't separate myself from my experience and let it go," she sobbed. "I've been raped, Neil, and I'll be a victim of that all my life."

"Cindy, the rape was a terrible tragedy, and it has temporarily altered your plans, but it hasn't changed who you are, nor does it have to control your life. But if you only see yourself as a rape victim for the rest of your life, you will never get over your tragedy. You're a child of God. No event or person, good or bad, can rob you of that.

"Cindy, let me share an illustration. Suppose you were sitting in your home when someone drove by and threw something at your house. It did some damage to the siding of the house, and you could never find out who did it. How long would you let that incident bother you?" I asked.

"Well, not very long," Cindy responded.

"Suppose the object went through the window and damaged some good furniture, and you couldn't find out who did it. How long would you let that bother you?" I asked.

"Probably not very long."

"Suppose the object also hit you and broke your arm. How long would you let that bother you?"

If I kept making the tragedy a little worse each time, is there a point when one can say, "That did it! That stepped over the line and that will bother me the rest of my life?" I don't think there is such a point from God's perspective. I don't believe God wants anything in our past to have that kind of control over His children. God doesn't fix our past, but He does set us free from it.

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

Trinity of Thanks – God Meets All Our Needs - Purity 480

Trinity of Thanks – God Meets All Our Needs   

Purity 480 07/26/2021    Purity 480 Podcast 

Good morning

Today’s photo comes to us from yours truly as I was seated up front on a morning boating excursion on Lake George on Saturday under magnificent blue skies that filled me with awe, wonder, and abounding gratitude.   The thrill of speeding across the huge lake, added to the joy over the weather, the environment, the company, and the context of my overall journey of life and relationship with God had my spirits soaring and had me giving thanks to My God for bringing me to this day that proved the be the uncontested highlight of the summer of 21 by far!  

I am a teacher of Christian discipleship, which is basically the process of being a life student of the Lord and continually bringing Him into the context of our lives.  So as we go about our day, we are in a constant conversation with the Lord in which we can examine the past, observe the present, and contemplate the future while always considering the blessings God has provided and the wisdom that He would have us live by.  Living like this takes your attention but when you do it, the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit of peace, joy, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, patience, self-control and love just become a normal part of your daily experience of life. 

I say all that to say this. As you are “walking in the Spirit”, it only becomes natural for you to become overwhelmed by emotions at time as you are regularly given revelations of what the events of your life mean in the context of your faith and the part God plays in it.  When you get glimpses of this “big picture”, you generally praise the Lord and thank Him for not only bringing you through the circumstances in your life and providing for you, but you also thank Him for the ability to “see it all”.   When that happens to me I often erupt in thanksgiving with a trinity of gratitude saying: Thank You GOD! Thank You JESUS! Thank You HOLY SPIRIT!

So as we were cruising over Lake George I was just grinning from ear to ear over the magnificence of the day and that smile reappears when I contemplate it.  In reviewing the photos this morning, I chose this one for today because of these three separate cloud formations in remembrance of being “OH so thankful” to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.”    

As I was later resting in a “floaty” in the surprisingly warm waters of Lake George,  I was reminded of the overall context of my journey of life and faith over the course of the last couple of years with the ending of my marriage, my exodus to a new home, my completion of my masters degree, and working two jobs during a worldwide pandemic to come to this wonderful day with others who have also suffered their own trials of heartache in the same season of chaos and who are also connected to Our heavenly Father to emerge into new lives of hope, and all I could think was think was “God is good!”   and

“Thank You God, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Holy Spirit… for all that You are, for all that You do, and for all that you have brought us through. Thank You for this day and for all the days to come with You!”  

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Today’s verse reminds us that all our needs are met by God and through Jesus Christ.     

We all grow up independently of God for the most part and we are taught the ways of the world by our families, friends, teachers, and our life experiences.   We learn philosophies that tell us not to trust anyone, to only look out for ourselves, and to go after the things you want in life.  Depending on your upbringing there will be varying degrees of focus on the importance of family and moral integrity in how you live your life.  These life experiences, viewpoints, philosophies, moral standards, and one’s personal interpretations of how they will live individually determine how we will choose to pursue the things we need and want as well as what we determine to be a “need” or a want.     

Our view can define preferences or wants as “needs”.  For Instance, I need a house with 3 bedrooms, a two-car garage, and a swimming pool.  That was only an example. I don’t need a pool. I just need friends who regularly invite me to their pools.   

But seriously, our perspective defines what we consider a “need”.  Our basic needs are food, water, shelter, purpose, and love.   

My worldly friends would agree with that list but would challenge me to prove how my God is going to provide all these things. 

I have often encountered faithless people in my life, I met lots of them because I was one of them for a long time. Some would openly cry out to heaven and challenge God to give them something or even tempt Him to take their lives, only to claim He’s seeming inaction as proof for either His lack of power, care, or existence.  

While I would admit that God doesn’t answer our whims like a genie in a bottle, I would insist that we would all have to give God credit where credit was due.  

I would explain that because God has created our world and put things in it that we can manipulate to provide us with the food, water, and shelter that we need and because He has given us the capacity to understand and the ability to work to meet those needs, I would say that God not only provides for our basic physical needs but He also gives us the basic purpose of working to meet our needs.   

While that might not seem fair to some people, that we must acknowledge our world as being provided by God and that we must work, if we are honest we would have to acknowledge that God is good for giving us the resources and abilities to meet our needs.   

Some may say that’s all well and good but would question God’ ability to provide love for us.    Again I would point to the people that God has provided for us and while we might not all be blessed with a romantic soul mate partnership, there are very virtually no people who can claim that they never knew the love of family, friends, or pets.  

I know that some would claim that’s cheating.  Some bitter people were going to claim having no love in their lives, but I widened the spectrum from the present moment to encompass all the time of your life and even included the animal kingdom as possible sources of love, but when you walk in faith you look at the big picture of all that God gives us and you don’t dwell too much on the past, the present, or the future.    

A bad past or present can be overcome with a good future. While time might be running out on our lives and we may feel that we can’t manipulate the people or things of this world in a manner that will give us back the love that we lost or the love that we “really” need, I would invite you to draw closer to God to discover the greatest love of all.  

God’s love is unconditional.  He loves us no matter what. This is proven by Christ’s sacrifice to pay for our sins. Jesus is the beloved Son of God, and He lived a perfect life and died to make a way to reconcile mankind to God. 

If we respect God and utilize the Way He provide us, by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we will be able to experience a love that will surpass any that we have ever known through lovers, family, friends, or pets.    

When we place our faith in Christ, God in the person of the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us. Scripture tells us that God is love and that God is spirit. The pure love of God Himself comes to dwell in us.  

When we invite Him into our lives, seek His truth and presence, and live by His ways, our lives become living expressions of the love of God as we realize our greater purpose of glorifying God and sharing His love with others.

So, if you think God doesn’t provide for your needs, think again, and accept His invitation to an abundant life of purpose and love that never ends.     

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, concluding 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

8. Peace. Key Concept: Establishing Internal Order

Peace on earth, good will toward men; that is what everybody wants. That is a great desire but a wrong goal. Nobody can guarantee external peace because nobody can control people or circumstances. Nations sign and break peace treaties with frightening regularity. One group of peace marchers confronts another group of peace marchers, and they end up beating each other over the head with their placards. Couples lament that there would be peace in their home "if only he/she would shape up."

The peace of God is internal, not external. Peace with God is something you already have (see Romans 5:1). The peace of God is something you need to appropriate daily in your inner world in the midst of the storms that rage in the external world (see John 14:27).

A lot of things can disrupt your external world because you can't control all your circumstances and relationships. You can control the inner world of your thoughts and emotions, however, by daily allowing the peace of God to rule in your heart. Chaos may be occurring all around you, but God is bigger than any storm. I keep a little plaque on my desk that reminds me: "Nothing will happen to me today that God and I cannot resolve." Personal worship, prayer and interaction with God's Word enable us to experience the peace of God (see Phil. 4:6, 7; Col. 3:15, 16).

Often when I share these eight critical points of the Christian's belief system, I hear people say, "Well, I suppose that's true, but I still believe . . ." Which will they live by: what they acknowledge as true or what they "still believe"? Always the latter—always! Walking by faith is simply choosing to believe what God says is true and to live accordingly by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

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

Amazing? What's so amazing? - I Hope You Know – Purity 478

 

Amazing? What's so amazing? - I hope you know – Purity 478                                                                  

Purity 478 07/23/2021  Purity 478 Podcast

Good morning

Today’s photo of a misty morning sunrise over wetlands comes to us from a friend’s sunrise hike at the Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve in Rexford NY. Getting up early to exercise our bodies, minds and spirits have several benefits one of which is seeing the glory of the beginning of a new day. But its not just the sights that complete the experience, for our friend reports that the stillness of the morning environment comes with sounds of nature coming alive that are “amazing”.      

I share this photo because I love the view of the morning sun reflected on the water and because it’s finally Friday and I am looking forward to ending the first week back to work since my staycation ended on Monday.

My friend’s use of the word “amazing” makes me think how that word is sometimes used disparagingly or how it can be overused. I believe my friend’s use of the word “amazing” was not only sincere but wholly appropriate to their experience but there are many among us who would fail to see what was “so amazing” about some stupid hike at the crack of dawn.  

Just for the record, amazing is defined as: “causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing.”  My friends use of amazing expresses their sense of wonder at God’s creation and the peace they found in the moment.  My friend’s experience could also have been surprising or astonishing to them, depending on their perspective. 

I know this friend has a solid relationship with the Lord through their faith in Jesus Christ, so I know that they consider the things of God quite often and make a regular practice of gratitude:, which is the practice of continually thanking the Lord for all the blessings, and challenges, we experience in life.   That faithful perspective and attitude of gratitude are foundational practices of the Christian lifestyle that cultivates the fruit of the Spirit of peace, joy, and love.  

But in our society the word “amazing” can also be used to express that sense of astonishment that is more of a negative emotion.  My young adult daughter often uses the word “amazing” to sarcastically describe things that annoy or frustrate her. While their may be astonishment, surprise, and some wonder in my daughter’s angsty use of the word amazing, it is a far cry from the use of “amazing” that describes the grace that saved a wretch like me.  

To borrow my daughter’s sarcasm for a moment, wonder where she got that from?, I guess you could say I have been having an “amazing” week at work as my normal routine has been disrupted by the effects of all the rain we have hade in the past weeks causing me to have to adapt to new challenges, uncertainty, and stress.  So I’m not sure where the day will take me, but I’ll be sure to lean on the Lord and will rejoice when its quitting time later this afternoon.

Using the word “amazing”, in this negative context is an indicator that you may not exactly be familiar with God’s amazing grace or that you may have forgotten it. 

When we look at the world through a disgusted or negative lens we don’t do ourselves any favors emotional or mentally.  Why would we want to dwell on the bad things in life? How we think effects how we feel.  While I am not suggesting living in denial of the suffering that surrounds us, I am suggesting that directing our thoughts to recognizing the good that God has provided in our lives will brighten your experience emotionally.  

So have an amazing day and an amazing weekend.  Regardless of the circumstance that surround you, when you keep walking and talking with God your experience of life can be one where the word “amazing” describes positive senses of wonder, surprise, and astonishment instead misusing the word to describe feelings of discontentment, annoyance, or bitterness. 

God invites all of us to know His Amazing Grace every day by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Some have of us have done that but are not living amazing lives because we don’t live in harmony with God.  

God has put a path before you.  How you walk it is up to you. I encourage you to put your best foot forward and follow the Lord’s lead.  

This morning’s meditation verse is:

John 8:32 (NKJV)
³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Today’s verse is a promise from Christ for every believer to experience their freedom.  

The previous verse that leads to this profound statement from Jesus states that Christ’s disciples are those who abide in His word.  The results of abiding in God’s word is a knowledge of the truth and freedom.  

This world is shrouded in the lies of the enemy and a world system that has developed philosophies that are independent of God.  Our hostile environment seeks to define truth as worldly wisdom and how things work according to man.  The problem is that there are a whole lot of men and women with their own ideas about what is true and with various opinions on how to live.  While everyone is entitled to their own opinions about the nature of existence and what is right, we will all be subject to what the Creator of existence declares as true.  

God’s word is a warning and a book of instruction.  To ignore the Bible is to disregard truth. Scripture describes very negative consequences for those outside of God’s will and grace.  Knowing that it is only through faith in Christ that we can be reconciled to God to avoid God’s wrath is the truth by which we will all be judged. 

When we know that and put our faith in Christ, we are free from the rightful penalty of God’s wrath. We are free indeed.  

But that’s only half the story of knowing the truth in God’s word. His instruction manual, the Bible, also teaches us to turn from our sin and live a righteous life.   When we do that we experience the freedom from the bondage of sin.  We no longer are compelled to sin because we experientially know that we are set free because we have applied God’s truth to our lives.   

The amazing news, yes surprising, full of wonder, and astonishment in a good way, is that as we walk out our Christian lives, there is more of God’s truth to be revealed to us, in relation to our understanding and its application to our lives, and that means that there is more freedom for us to experience!

So act like a disciple of Christ by abiding in His word and learning His truth with an open hear and an open mind. Seek to know God’s truth and how it applies to you personally. Endeavor to apply God’s teachings to your life.    When you do that you will not only experience new dynamic levels of freedom in Christ, but you will undoubtedly want to help set the captives free around you by sharing the truth and hope that is found in Christ alone.    

 

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

6. Fun. Key Concept: Uninhibited Spontaneity

Fun is uninhibited spontaneity. Have you ever planned a major fun event? Chances are, the last time you really had fun was spontaneous, after you threw off your inhibitions. Worldly people know they need to get rid of their inhibitions to have fun. That is one reason they drink.

The secret to enjoying uninhibited spontaneity as a Christian is to remove unscriptural inhibitors. Chief among the inhibitors of Christian fun is our fleshly tendency to keep up appearances. We don't want to look out of place or be thought less of by others, so we stifle our spontaneity with a form of false decorum. That is people pleasing, and Paul suggested that anybody who lives to please people isn't serving Christ (see Galatians 1:10). The joyless cry, "What will people say?" The liberated in Christ respond, "Who cares what people say? I care what God says; I stopped playing for the grandstand a long time ago when I started playing for the coach."

I love the uninhibited joy of King David. He was so happy about returning the Ark to Jerusalem that he leaped and danced before the Lord in celebration. He knew there was joy in the presence of God. Michal, his party-pooping wife, however, thought his behavior was unbecoming to a king, and she told him so in no uncertain terms. David said, "Too bad for you, lady. I'm dancing before the Lord, not before you or anybody else. And I'm going to keep dancing whether you like it or not" (see 2 Samuel 6:21). As it turned out, Michal was the person God judged in the incident, not David (see 2 Samuel 6:23). It is a lot more fun pleasing the Lord than trying to please people.

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

Have You Been to the Mountaintop?: Eyes on Eternity - Purity 476

 Have You Been to the Mountaintop?: Eyes on Eternity

Purity 476 07/21/2021  Purity 476 Podcast

Good morning

Today’s photo comes to us from a friend’s recent trip to Rocky Peak Ridge, the twentieth highest peak in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Park of New York, The name of the mountain is due to its geology, a rocky ridge to the east of the better-known Giant Mountain which is near St Hubert’s NY.  I just love how the makeshift monument of rocks in this photo contrasts with the mountain peak beyond and how the color schemes seem to naturally flow from the gray rocks to the green fauna of the nearby peak, to a cool blue for the ranges beyond and finally to the white clouds above.     

Its Wednesday and I tend to share something that visually represents a peak to symbolize the midpoint in the work week, but I especially like the contrast that exists in today’s photo of what is made by man and what is created by God, to shift our perspective from the things of earth to the things of heaven.   

As nice as that rock pile monument was put together by the enthusiastic mountain hikers that have gone before us, its pales in comparison to the majesty of the mountains that are on display hear that God created.  

Often in life we become consumed with the life we are trying to build and the day-to-day problems that we have to face, and we run the risk of missing the big picture.  I recently heard the news that another friend’s mother has passed away and I was somewhat shocked to here that they were only 56 years old.  My friend’s family loss reminds me that life can be short and that we need to encourage one another to appreciate the time we have on earth and the people that are a part of our lives.

Considering the cold reality of death, the importance of building our own little empire is put into perspective.   Planning for home improvements, retirement homes, acquiring all the toys that go with them, and amassing large balances in financial accounts won’t matter when you leave the earth.  The investments that will matter are in the relationships we have.  We should be sure to spend quality time with our loved ones and assure them of our love on a continual basis because we really don’t know when we will say our last goodbye.

We don’t know when the Lord will call us into eternity, so it is even more important to have a relationship with Him before He does. God sent Christ to earth to pay for our sins and to make it possible for us to be reconciled to Him. While putting your faith in Christ will make you an instant citizen of heaven, it also establishes a relationship with the living God here and now. 

Unfortunately, some people have the wrong view of a life of faith. They see religion, a set of restrictive rules and mandates that take away the joy of life.  I personally hate religion and the Lord knows that my dislike of the idea of some authoritarian system of religion that would decide my fate kept me from knowing Him for most of my life, that, and my sin.  

But thankfully, the Lord sent me a message in the form of a radio gospel sermon that told me that a life with Him wasn’t about “doing everything right” or “earning it”.  God’s love for us was shown in Christ and all I had to do to be right with God was to put my faith in Christ’s work on the cross to save me.   When I said “Yes” to Jesus the floodgates of heaven were opened and God’s love was poured out on me.  

I realized that everything I had thought about God was wrong.  He wasn’t some cold hard taskmaster demanding perfection, God is a loving Father who is calling us home.   

So as you go about your day, thank God that you’re alive. Thank Him for your family and friends.  Thank Him for everything you have and after you do let Him know that you appreciate it all and that you want Him to be a bigger part of your life.  

A relationship with God doesn’t take away from your fun. When you follow His lead, the Lord will show you the truth of this world and take you to deeper levels of understanding and new heights of joy and peace.  With God, you are assured a good place in eternity, but your relationship gives you an ever-present hope for life right now.   So seek Him and know that He will never let you down.

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Luke 9:27 (NKJV)
²⁷ "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God."

Today’s verse comes from Jesus and His words have an almost immediate fulfillment, can have a present-day fulfillment, and will have a future fulfillment.  

These words of Jesus followed Peter’s proclamation that Jesus was the Christ of God”, Jesus’s prophecy of His impending death and resurrection, and an encouragement for the Apostle’s to take up their crosses and to follow Him..  

As for the wording, of today’s verse, we may wonder what Jesus means about “shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God."

If we read the immediate text, the following verses speak of experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, where James, John, and Peter saw Jesus’ face become altered and his robe became white and glistening. And then Moses and Elijah show up! And then God speaks from the heavens saying: “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!”   Talk about a “mountain top experience.”  

So, considering the context, I would say that James, John, and Peter were those who got to see a glimpse of the kingdom of God before they died.  Considering this happened 8 days after Christ’s words, that’s the more or less immediate fulfillment of His statement.  

In a figurative sense, Jesus’s words can also apply to us today as present-day believers can have “mountain top experiences” in their life of faith. Salvation, sanctification, visions, dreams, miraculous moments, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit can all figuratively qualify as instances where we too can see the kingdom of God in our lives of faith.   

Also as we have been in the “end times”, ever since Christ ascended to heaven over two thousand years ago, it is possible that this current generation can literally see the kingdom of God when Christ returns. 

So, have you seen the kingdom of God in your life? 

While I haven’t seen angels, been taken to the third heaven, or heard God’s audible voice from heaven yet, I can say that I have experienced multiple moments with the Holy Spirit and have been guided by Him in my walk. I can also say that I have seen the goodness of God in my life and in the lives of other believers. 

I can admit that I never saw it before coming to Christ, but since I put my faith in Jesus I have been seeking Him and brother when you continue to seek Him you will see the goodness of God in your life, and you may just have moments in your walk of faith where you can honestly say that you have seen the kingdom of God.  

So keep walking and talking with God. Keep going where He leads you and keep your eyes open.  He’s got wonderful things to show you but if you’re not looking for them, you’ll miss it.

 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

4. Satisfaction. Key Concept: Quality

Satisfaction comes from living righteously and seeking to raise the level of quality in relationships, service, and product. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6). Do you believe that? If you do, what are you doing? You are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and if you aren't doing that, then you really don't believe it.

What causes you to become dissatisfied with someone or something? It is usually because the quality of the relationship, service or product has diminished. I often ask people if they can remember when they became dissatisfied. Inevitably, they identify the time when the quality of a relationship, a service rendered, or their work diminished.

Satisfaction is a quality concern, not a quantity concern. You will achieve greater satisfaction from doing a few things well than from doing many things in a haphazard or hasty manner. The key to personal satisfaction is not found in broadening the scope of your activities but in deepening them through a commitment to quality.

The same is true in relationships. If you are dissatisfied in your relationships, perhaps you have spread yourself too thin. Solomon wrote, "A man of many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). It may be nice to know a lot of people on the surface, but you need a few real good friends who are committed to a quality relationship with you.

That is what our Lord modeled for us. He taught the multitudes and equipped 70 for ministry, but He invested most of His time in the 12 disciples. Out of those 12, He selected three—Peter, James, and John—to be with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration, on the Mount of Olives and in the Garden of Gethsemane. While suffering on the cross, Jesus committed to John, perhaps His closest friend, the care of His mother. That is a quality relationship, and we all need the satisfaction that quality relationships bring.

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