Labels

Showing posts with label Salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salvation. Show all posts

Monday, February 12, 2024

The Ultimate Faith Object – Wisdom From Dr. Neil Anderson - Purity 1272

 

The Ultimate Faith Object – Wisdom From Dr. Neil Anderson - Purity 1272

Purity 1272 02/10/2024 

Purity 1272 on YouTube: 



Good morning,

Today’s photo of a cloud-covered blazing sun over a snow-covered landscape comes to us from Connor MacCagg who shared this view from his skiing trip to the Killington Mountain Ski Resort on Sunday. 

Well, It’s Monday, and after a weekend’s continued indulgence of some sweet treats and party foods, due to my stepdaughter’s birthday party on Saturday and unbridled Super Bowl Sunday-inspired feasting, I am ready to repent! I ate so much junk yesterday that I had trouble sleeping and felt physical pain from eating so much more than I am used to – and I am here to declare that I am “done”.  Sometimes you have to learn again why it is you decided to change the way you live and a return visit to insanity can really motivate you to not do that again and to remind yourself that life is better when you live a healthy lifestyle.  

So I am in recovery from sugar and carbs and am calling it a mail-it-in Monday as I going to share this simple message I received in my email from Freedom in Christ Ministries UK, on:

“THE ULTIMATE FAITH-OBJECT

By Dr. Neil T. Anderson

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

The fact that you claim to believe is not the issue of faith. It's what you believe or in whom you believe that will determine whether or not your faith will be rewarded. Everybody walks by faith every day. Every time you drive on the highway, you do so by faith. Are the objects of your faith on the highway reliable? Most of the time they are because most drivers drive safely. But you may have been involved in an accident because you placed your faith in another driver who proved to be untrustworthy.

What happens when the object of your faith fails you? You give up on it - maybe not immediately, but how many failures would you tolerate before saying never again? Once faith is damaged or lost, it is very difficult to regain. Your belief isn't the problem; it's the object of your belief that either rewards or destroys your faith. If your marriage partner has been unfaithful to you, or a friend or relative has hurt you badly, your faith in that person is weak because he or she did not live up to your trust. When faith in a person is shattered, it may take months to rebuild it.

Some faith-objects, however, are solid. You set your watch, plan your calendar, and schedule your day believing that the Earth will continue to revolve on its axis and rotate around the sun at its current speed. If the earth's orbit shifted just a few degrees, our lives would be turned to chaos. But so far the laws governing the physical universe have been among the most trustworthy faith-objects we have.

The ultimate faith-object, of course, is not the sun, but the Son. It is His immutability - the fact that He never changes - that makes Him eminently trustworthy (Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6). He has never failed to be and do all that He said He would be and do. He is eternally faithful.

All I have needed Your hand has provided. Great is Your faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”  - Dr. Neil Anderson

Yes, we are to have faith in the Son – Jesus Christ.

During yesterday’s Super Bowl broadcast, there was a commercial that emphasized the love of Jesus through images of various people washing one another’s feet. The Ad wished to express Jesus’ teachings of love and no hate and the fact that “He gets us” -  which He does. Of course, He does – but let’s be sure we are also reading the word of God to make sure we “get Him” – all of Him – and that we understand who Jesus really was according to the Bible.  Yes was the suffering servant but He also didn’t mince words when it came to hell, “sinning no more”, and the Book of Revelation reveals that Jesus will return to rule and reign.  Jesus didn’t “teach hate” but He did teach us some hard truth: Loving Jesus warns us in:  

John 3:17-21 (ESV)
17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
20  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
21  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

So know what the Bible says about Jesus and about the things that are evil according to God. Some people are living Biblically evil lives – and don’t know it. They love darkness rather than light and they hope to claim the Son but not repent and follow Him into the light of righteous living.  But that’s not believing in the name of the Son of God – the One who was sinless and who called us to repent because the kingdom of God was at hand. So come to do what is true and come to the light, put your faith in Jesus – be saved , and follow Him.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 verses come from the section on Communication, Gossip, and Lying.

Proverbs 17:27-28 (ESV)
27  Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28  Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Today’s verses are the third of five passages of scripture that fall under the eleventh point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on Communication, Gossip, and Lying.

11.     Do not hurt your neighbor by gossip or careless talk; control your tongue.

Today’s verses warn us to restrain our words and to be “cool” to show our wisdom.  A rash, angry, or “hot” spirit can lead us to say things we will regret.  Our resource is showing us the Biblical wisdom of being careful with careless talk and controlling our tongue, so think before you speak, repeat back to people what they are saying so you can demonstrate that they have been heard, and pause before you speak.  A little patience can save us from a lot of grief, so consider restraining your speech to “be cool” and at least appear to be wise.

-----------------------------------------------------------

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 “According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament” By Stephen F. Olford – A Collection of Devotional Journals: 1940-1941.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Olford’s books for your own private study and to support his work.  This resource is available online for less than $10 at many sites.

EVENING READING: MARK 4

“Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you
use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear,
more will be given.” – Mark 4:24

Here is a very important principle in relation to the effect of God's Word in the life of an individual. “Take heed,” says the Savior, for your appreciation of and obedience to the Word of God governs its effect in life and also governs any further revelation.

The same principle is seen in Hebrews 5:12-14 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, where the apostle shows that owing to disobedience on the part of those who heard the Word, they had not grown sufficiently to be able to bear a heavier diet. They were unskillful, only taking milk. “Take heed” is the command and secret of growth.

May I always listen and respond to the Word of God,
and thus grow, for Your glory, Lord. Amen.[1]

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

Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts

(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

These teachings are also available on the MT4Christ247 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)

“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


Thursday, February 1, 2024

Believe and Live – What About Other Religions? - Purity 1263

Believe and Live – What About Other Religions? - Purity 1263

Purity 1263 02/01/2024 Purity 1263 Podcast

Purity 1263 on YouTube: 



Good morning,

Today’s photo of snow-covered trees lining a headlight illuminated snow covered Waite Rd comes to us from TammyLyn Clark as she captured this scene during her morning commute on January 23, 2024, sharing it on social media commenting that there is “Something about fresh snow on trees (that) is just pretty.”   As much as I would love to see spring sprung in an instant, I would have to agree with my beloved wife. Snow on trees is pretty and a big part of experiencing joy and peace in life is appreciating what we have now.  

Well, it’s Thursday and I appreciate pathway photos and I particularly like to share them on Thursdays as that was the day of the week when I really surrendered to the Lord’s will for my life back in 2015 when I went into recovery for my drinking at a little Christian recovery ministry that was later named Celebrate Freedom.  

Well, a lot has changed since 2015, I am no longer struggling with alcohol and have been set free from sex addiction and food addiction as well as I have continued to follow the Lord and been faithful to answer His call for continued repentance and progressive sanctification.  Celebrate Freedom now exists at three different churches as Pastor Bob Costello restarted the ministry at Rock Solid Church in Hudson last year, Matthew Crandall and company started their own Celebrate Freedom ministry at Strong Tower Church in Philmont NY in the fall, and I have been leading the “Celebrate Freedom Growth Group” at Starpoint Church since May of 2023.   So if you are in Columbia County or in the Capital District/Clifton Park Area and want to be built up in your faith and be set free from your hurts, habits, and hangups check us out. This freedom train is running and all you have to do to experience a new life of hope, peace, and joy is ask God for help and start the process of renewing your mind with God’s word and living according to who you are in Christ.  

Those who come to our meetings, apply the teaching to their lives, and start walking on the path of Christian Discipleship are testifying to the way the Lord is changing their lives for the better.  Testimonies of sobriety, healing, restored relationships, peace, and hope are being delivered every week and all you have to do to experience the transformation is to “believe and live” what the word of God says.  

That might sound easy but due to the common ignorance of the Christian faith and our own ideas about what is “right”, agreeing with God’s word can be a tough pill to swallow.  I know.  As a natural-born skeptic and rebel, I had some serious misunderstandings of and objections to many of the doctrines of Christianity.  

To people searching for God, I would recommend the Freedom in Christ course, which I just happen to have a playlist of my podcast of the course on YouTube (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYr9n4D1yfkq0ZMuXvt4PX2QmtyMN6Keb&si=OYqZ1mjMjd_hK4ZK). If you can believe it the playlist has 4,795 views! – but to keep it real – the Lessons themselves have less than that.  That tells me that some were curious about “Freedom in Christ”, but they decided to not go down that path. Maybe they didn’t like the fact that my teaching is an audio teaching – but I also know that as much as people profess their Christian faith and their desire to be set free or to grow in their relationship with God, not many of them will actually surrender and follow the Lord in earnest.  

Some people stumble before they even start this walk.  

Last night one of the participants of our Celebrate Freedom asked a good question that has a heartbreaking answer that causes many people to choose to not follow the Lord. 

“What happens to the good Jews and Muslims?”  was the question and this actually cameshortly after the lesson of the night taught about the hope we have in “Christ alone” and that quoted

John 14:6 (NKJV) that says:
6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

It’s hard to answer this question quickly and simply because it deals with sin, the depravity of man, how people are forgiven of their sins, the person of Jesus Christ, and the exclusivity of Jesus's redemption.   

But the bottom line is that because all men sin and because we can’t earn our salvation by our own efforts, we need a Savior. And that is why God sent Jesus to be that Savior – to teach us the truth and to pay the penalty for our sins and to give us new life through faith in Him.  

This person’s question was loaded and revealed the false belief in “good people” and the misunderstanding that God would somehow be unjust by rejecting the people who rejected Jesus.  They also seemed to think that these questions were a matter of debate – they aren’t – but you have to know God’s word, understand that it is true, and believe it – to know that.  The problem is spiritual questions is that they always come from a place of ignorance of God’s word.  So I tried to as compassionately answer that question as I could and encouraged them to read the Bible, specifically the book of John to try to get a biblical understanding of the nature of reality, the person of Jesus, and why He is the only way into God’s kingdom.  

I’ve read the Bible several times, gone to Bible college, read lots of Christian books and listened or watched loads of podcasts, movies, or sermons to hep me understand and know God and His will for our lives.  The truth is out there and when you seek the Lord you will find it – but in ways that are difficult to understand – it is up to God whether or not you will accept the truth and put your faith in Jesus.

There are no good people. We need a savior. Other faith streams may have some truth to their teachings (maybe a lot of truth!) but if they fail to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, as the resurrected Messiah, they are a false religion – the doctrines of demons – that would lead you straight to hell.  So there’s that. 

The truth is God is gracious in saving anybody. We are all worthy of judgment, death, and hell, and we show our rebellion against our Creator when we refuse to believe and follow Jesus.  Our eternal destiny hangs in the balance of whether or not we follow Jesus and as well-intentioned as our concern for others may be – we really should secure our own salvation first and then concern ourselves with helping others.  

Just like in a plane’s emergency systems – we are to put the oxygen on ourselves first and then help our neighbors with theirs – we have to put on Jesus and then if we are truly concerned about the people of different religions, we are to answer Jesus’ call in.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) – the last thing He said in Matthew’s gospel – where He said:
19  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

What about the good Jews and Muslims?  Tell them about Jesus and how He is the only way to the Father, teach them to truth, and teach them to be disciples of Jesus – to observe all the things that He has commanded us.  Tell them to believe and live.   

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 come 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 come from the section on Communication, Gossip, and Lying.

Proverbs 29:20 (NKJV)
20  Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Today’s verse is the second of two passages of scripture that fall under the sixth point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on Communication, Gossip, and Lying.

6.     Listen before you speak.

Today’s verse warns us to not be hasty in our words.  Something said quickly often proves to be foolish. So we recommend a pause where you can think before you speak before blurring out the first thing that comes to mind.

As Christians, we don’t want to “react” to life in our flesh. We want to respond with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. When we craft our responses to consider the truth of God’s word and the wisdom we can draw from it rather than our opinions or reactions, we will represent God’s kingdom and give Him glory.

So don’t be so hasty in your speech. Remember when you are an ambassador of God’s kingdom, every word you say is important because it represents our faith, and we shouldn’t be hasty in delivering the news that could save someone’s life.  

-----------------------------------------------------------

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 “According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament” By Stephen F. Olford – A Collection of Devotional Journals: 1940-1941.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Olford’s books for your own private study and to support his work.  This resource is available online for less than $10 at many sites.

MORNING READING: MATTHEW 23

“Hypocrites!” – Matthew 23:23

To those whose comprehension of God is one of love alone, what a chapter is this! Woe! Woe! Woe! Eight times, like the toll of the death bell! Who could possibly deny that God is a God of righteous judgment after reading a chapter such as this?

“But why such strong language?” the soul asks. The answer is because of the existence of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is the greatest of all abominations before the Lord. Men who were outright sinners, the Lord called sinners and dealt with them in grace (Mark 2, John 8; 15:2, etc.). But when it came to hypocrites, the Lord scathingly denounced them. Notice in Acts 5, that even among His own people in the early Church, the Lord did not tolerate hypocrisy.

O, that I might recognize any hypocrisy in my life
and deal with it swiftly and decisively![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)

“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

Saturday, January 27, 2024

The Myth of Good People, Dead and Suffering - Purity 1259

The Myth of Good People, Dead and Suffering - Purity 1259

Purity 1259 01/27/2024 Purity 1259 Podcast

Purity 1259 on YouTube: 



Good morning,

Today’s photo of a flock of geese or duck on an unknown lake on what appears to be a frigid sunrise morning comes to us from an unknown FB friend who shared this white, pink, and purple delight on social media back on around January 4th of 2021.  If this beauty is yours give us a heads up and we will give photo credit where photo credit is due by updating the blog after the fact. 

Well, it’s Saturday and even though I rather enjoy the upturn in temperatures and the soggy rain January we have received in upstate NY over the last few days, I can still appreciate the beauty that comes from chiller temperatures and the stillness of the near freezing conditions that seem to be part of the beauty of today’s photo. Those trees seem to be frozen and even the waterfowl in this photo are swimming, the snow on the shoreline of this lake reveals that it's still cold outside.  Today’s photo is a paradox of sorts where the elements seem to contradict one another – cold but not that cold, freezing but not frozen and that contrast has me thinking of the paradox of appearances and reality when man tries to take control over or craft a narrative around life that is more shadows and fog rather than actual facts causing us to question our experience of reality as we are tempted to “believe the lie” of accepting someone’s second hand report.  Sometimes the truth of the details is left out of the story people tell themselves and others causing us to accept an interpretation of reality that is more myth than truth, causing us to live in denial or unwittingly to believe a narrative that is more speculation or spin doctoring than real.

This phenomenon of dealing with the cognitive dissonance that comes from knowing the dirty secrets or actual facts of a situation and seeing people deceived by a sentimentalized or factually modified version of the events that portray people in a certain light  or that gives the impression of things being a certain way when they really weren't that way has really come to bear this week as I have been reading about the dangers of being deceived in Dr. Neil Anderson’s Discipleship Counseling and have seen people “telling tales” about certain people or certain events that aren’t necessarily true. 

The recrafting of reality is more common than you might think.  An example of this can surround when someone dies.  In our grief, the difficult or less than flattering details that surround the deceased are sometimes forgiven or forgotten as the fact of their departure causes us to not want to “speak ill of the dead”.  This can also happen when someone who is less than kind suffers a loss or tragedy that they are partially responsible for.  “Poor Joe” or “Poor Jane”  who have died or who are walking through trials and tribulations may not have been so “poor” – they may have been quite nasty in fact and they may have wittingly or unwittingly sowed the seeds of the bad fruit that has sprouted in their lives.  

While I don’t wish to kick anyone when they are down or to soil the reputation of those who have gone into eternity “too soon” –( it’s always too soon, right? Oh Poor Sam, was 91 years young.. seriously? – anyway..) , I think that we do a huge disservice to ourselves for accepting false images or ignore the facts of the case when suffering comes.  Instead of believing the myth of “only the good die young” or that people suffer the slings and arrows or outrageous fortune, I feel that we would actually be honoring the dead and suffering among us by keeping it real.  

Joe was somewhat of a jerk. He rejected God, did things his way, ignored common sense about life, and died in part by his own poor decisions.  

Jane may be suffering now but she too failed to follow the Lord, failed to do what was right, failed to forgive, ignore facts and common sense, failed to foster her relationships with love, and made selfish or foolish decisions that have led to her current trials and tribulations.  

Poor Joe and Poor Jane are truly poor – not because they are dead or are suffering – but because they were lied to – they believed that they could live according to their own rules and live independently of God – and now the testimony of their lives causes the discerning to realize just how untrue the story of their being “good people” really is.  If all I can say about someone after they have died revolves around their personal preferences, hobbies, and how they were “nice” or the “life of the party”, I shudder to think how they will fair at the judgment seat of Christ. If people’s obituaries fail to mention faith or Jesus as a part of their earthly lives, I fear they will be denied in heaven. 

Where do I get that?  From the words of Jesus.  He said in

Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
32  "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Yikes, makes you wonder about people whose obituaries talk about their sports teams, hobbies, and general disposition, or who just give a list of relatives but make no mention of our Heavenly Father or Jesus.  And perhaps more scary is the fact that people will miss that fact and think it was a “good obituary” when in fact it could be all the evidence we need to tell us that this departed person is most likely in hell.

Similarly, those who are suffering now may be more worthy of our critical discernment than of our sympathy. Their story of woe perhaps should be considered as a cautionary tale more than a tragedy.  The adage of choosing to sin, choose to suffer can be true in subtle ways that may not seem apparent to “good people”. 

I am listing a link OpenBilbe.info’s 100 verses about the consequences of sin (https://www.openbible.info/topics/the_consequences_of_sin) , on the blog today to remind us that we should attempt to be right with God, but beyond the verses that tell us that sin leads to death and separation from God, I want to share: 

James 4:17 (NKJV) which says
17  Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

And

Galatians 6:6-9 (NKJV)
6  Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
9  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Now while this second passage points to eternal life through sowing to the Spirit, let’s not miss what it says about reaping what we sow in connection with the fact that it is sin to know what is good and choose not to do it.  The corruption we reap from a life in the flesh – a life lived according to our own rules, independently of God, not only has eternal consequences but can also point to the corruption of bad consequences and suffering loss in the world of the living.  While some of us may not be desperately wicked by relative standards, we when fail to obey the Lord’s ways for our lives – those loving, selfless, forgiving, righteous, and holy ways – we may very well reap a harvest of bitterness from our selfish choices. 

Death doesn’t erase the fact that people were sinful, selfish, or separated from God and neither does suffering loss or tribulations excuse the failure to heed God’s word or to walk by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Poor Joe” or “Poor Jane” should not necessarily be remembered fondly or sympathized with because of their few positive qualities in light of the reality of their lives of abject rebellion to and rejection of God’s plan for redemption and righteous recommendations for living.

I don’t mean to play the “blame game” but the “misfortunes” of those who fail to follow the Lord may not be so outrageous. And portraying worldly selfish people with no regard for the things of God in their lives as “good people”  in their death is not only a lie but is an active campaign against the gospel of Jesus Christ. While only God knows the eternal destinies of those who go into death, if someone’s life doesn’t confess Jesus before men, we can realistically expect that “Poor Joe” or “Poor Jane” are suffering in hell regardless of the sentimental platitudes that family and friends speak on their behalf.  

I know these are really cheery thoughts for a Saturday but deception is the game that Satan plays and when we fail to consider the truth of someone’s life or the suffering that results from a life lived apart from God and His ways, we join in league with the spiritual forces of darkness that would like to lull us to sleep and to believe the lie that “all dogs go to heaven” or that God accepts people based on their merits or through an all inclusive universal grace that puts the evil with the good and the godless with the faithful.

Our lives matter. Our choices matter. And while we shouldn’t accost the grieving with the hard truths regarding those whose dye has been cast, we shouldn’t believe the lie that those who lived without God on earth will be with Him in heaven for eternity.  

And likewise, while we shouldn’t disparage those who are suffering because of their failures to live a life that was blameless, we should encourage them to learn from their mistakes and lean on the Lord to guide them in the way they should go for the road into the future. 

Remember to challenge the “stories” that the world is telling you and to not only reject the lie that are being said, but be ready to tell people the truth and to do it with love.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 verses come 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 verses come from the section on Communication, Gossip, and Lying.

Proverbs 10:19 (NASB)
19  When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Today’s verse is the third of five passages of scripture that fall under the fifth point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on Communication, Gossip, and Lying.

5.     Be quick to listen, slow to speak.

Today’s verse tells us that there is a danger to saying too much. The more words we speak the more likely we are to say something that isn’t necessarily true. We like to tell our side of the story to support what we believe and in our zeal to support our narratives we may embellish certain aspects of a situation to paint things in a different light or we may choose to leave out certain details that aren’t flattering or useful to our agendas.   

So Proverbs tells us to restrain our lips to be wise.  One piece of advice regarding speaking that I recall from my walk through life – in other words I forget the source material for this advice or there are many – is to think before we speak and to ask ourselves some questions about what we are about to say before blurting it out.

Is what I am about to say: 

True? Helpful? Necessary? Or Kind?

If the answer to those questions is “No”, we should probably exercise our right to remain silent or ask ourselves what the consequences will be if we don’t speak and pray to the Lord to guide us in the way we should go.  

Many words may lead us into transgressions so examine what you “need to say” and rely on the Lord to show you when to remain silent or when to proclaim the truth with love.   

-----------------------------------------------------------

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 “According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament” By Stephen F. Olford – A Collection of Devotional Journals: 1940-1941.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Olford’s books for your own private study and to support his work.  This resource is available online for less than $10 at many sites.

MORNING READING: MATTHEW 19

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow Me.” – Matthew 19:21

The Lord's desire for this young man was that he might prove not only the good and acceptable will of God, but also the perfect will of God. “If you want to be perfect.” What then had the young man to do?

William Cowper had to say from a heart experience:

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.1

What the Lord wanted from this young man was not his riches so much, but the unreserved surrender of his heart and body. Instead, he chose the fleeting treasures of time in place of the pleasures of eternity. He denied himself the possession of eternal life for the temporary enjoyment of earthly riches.

Continue to remind me, Lord,
to strive for Your perfect will in my life.[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)

“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

Monday, January 22, 2024

Suffering from a Dream - Purity 1254


Suffering from a Dream - Purity 1254

Purity 1254 01/22/2024 Purity 1254 Podcast

Purity 1254 on YouTube: 



Good morning,

Today’s photo of the fading light of day on the horizon and reflected in the frozen waters of the Schodack Creek and Hudson River from the vantage point of the front porch of my home down by The River comes to us from yours truly as I ran out front to capture this silent moment of still beauty when I spied it out of my kitchen window yesterday.  Sometimes you have to stop what you are doing and get a better look at things to realize that beauty is all around us and despite the harsh conditions of life on earth its there to rest in and to enjoy.  

Well, It’s Monday and even though I will be going back to work this morning and the time for resting is behind us, I am keeping my thoughts grounded on the good things in life that my work affords me and the fact that there is much more good in life than bad and that we can find peace and contentment in our lives if we are intentional in remembering and giving thanks to God for all He has provided us with.  

Although I have much to be thankful for and am enjoying the fruits of a life lived in the Spirit and patiently following the Lord in the way I should go, I am currently being reminded of how blessed I am as I am aware of others who are suffering heartbreaking losses and who don’t have a deep daily relationship with the Lord that has taught them the wisdom regarding life on earth and the certainty of His presence and plan for life in time of need.  

While ignorance isn’t a sin, the word of God tells us that we do suffer for a lack of knowledge and  I know from experience that our suffering in life is compounded when we don’t know God or decide that the secret to happiness in life is a product of ourselves alone.  

Before coming to Christ, I thought I had life pretty much figured out and more or less prescribed to the fantasy of the American dream to fulfill me.  The American dream promises that if you work hard you can provide for yourself and your family and that you will be happy.  While the American dream doesn’t say you don’t need God in your life, it more or less implies that as the happiness in the equation comes from the money that you earn and the family that you please with it.  The American dream also implies that things give you happiness – a big house, a swimming pool, new cars, the best clothes, the best food, and the finest potent potables to inebriate you while you enjoy it all.   The problem with the American dream is that it is a lie – it’s a fantasy because money can’t buy you love and all the material comfort and security that you can afford in life doesn’t provide you with security or comfort in eternity. 

In yesterday’s Bible Study with the Cincotti’s, we touched on the parable of the Rich fool who concluded that he had all he needed in life because of his material wealth and reasoned with himself: 

Luke 12:19-21 (NASB)
19  'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."'
20  "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'
21  "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Jesus told this parable to impress upon us the fact that there is more to life than the things of this earth and He advised his disciples to seek God’s kingdom’s first and that we could find it by believing in Him as Lord and Savior to have peace with God and to be given a place into His kingdom.

When we seek to find our happiness in the world it always comes up short because it do not have the eternal answers that God provides.  God’s word is given to us to teach us what’s important but this world system is under the rule of Satan and it indoctinates us to live independently of God.

And lately I have seen people that I know suffer greatly because they failed to seek God’s kingdom or live by His truth and they are suffering all the more because they seem to have put their hope in things other than God.  Some have invested in relationships, material riches, or substances to give them pleasure, happiness, or fulfillment and now those things have been shown to be of limited value as they have fallen apart, betrayed their trust, or turned on them to destroy them.  They worshipped people, things, or ideals that may have had a measure of goodness but that were never intended to give lasting satisfaction and now they are grieving over their loss.  

I’m saddened by their losses but I am also angry because I was similarly lied to by the world and believed some of the things that they did.  I believed I could be happy all by myself without God and I was wrong and even though I know the truth now, I can’t turn back the clock and teach these people what I have come to know before they suffered.  

But I can offer my prayers for them to find healing and to seek after God and for the Lord to reveal the truth to them.  And beyond that I can keep speaking the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ in hopes that some will hear it and it will be used by the Lord to bring them into His kingdom so they can learn of the goodness of His love and how fulfillment in life is found through living with God every day.

I thank the Lord for the things He has delivered me from and how He shows me the beauty of this life and the wisdom of how to walk through it, with Him as my guide.  My prayers go out to those who are hurting for their healing and that their eyes would be opened to the truth of Jesus Christ and that they will surreneder to His Lordship and God’s plan for their lives.   In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 verses come 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 come from the section on Communication, Gossip, and Lying.

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
15  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Today’s verse is the first of two passages of scripture that fall under the third point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on Communication, Gossip, and Lying.

3.     Speak the truth in love, not harshly.

Today’s verse admonishes us to speak the truth in love and also encourages to grow up by becoming more and more like Jesus.   Knowing the truth and speaking it in love is not enough, We have to grow into the truth by applying it to our lives and thus we become more and more like Jesus.  

The truth is that we are “born again” – given new spiritual life – the moment we put our faith in Jesus. We are sealed with salvation forever when we make Jesus our Lord and Savior but beyond eternal life and the forgiveness of sins, we are also given a new life – where we are given the potential to be more and more like Jesus.  We are given the power over sin so that we can walk away from them and live a good and righteous life, like Jesus.   But it takes some growing up to do that. It takes a decision on our part to follow Jesus with the way we live our lives.  

So I will speak the truth in love – turn from your sins and follow after Jesus if you want to live forever and to know the peace that comes from living in harmony with the Lord.

-----------------------------------------------------------

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 “According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament” By Stephen F. Olford – A Collection of Devotional Journals: 1940-1941.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Olford’s books for your own private study and to support his work.  This resource is available online for less than $10 at many sites.

EVENING READING: MATTHEW 14

“They do not need to go away.” – Matthew 14:16

The disciples said, “Send the multitudes away” (v. 15). Jesus said, “They do not need to go away.” Herein is seen the very heart of my blessed Lord. The flesh in me would rather be unburdened of the responsibility of feeding the hungering, perishing multitude, even though the day of opportunity is drawing to a close (notice that it was evening). But the Lord essentially said, “They do not need to go away. They can go if they wish to. They must go if you force them. But as far as I am concerned, they do not have to go away.” In fact, they were fed: “You give them something to eat” (v. 16).

“They do not need to go away” (v. 16). “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).

 

Give me this spirit, Lord![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)

“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