Purifying Our Thought Life

“Do not lust in your heart after her beauty …” Proverbs 6:25

This was a good reminder for me today …

“Most scientific advancements have involved a man’s imagination. Men ‘see’ things before they do them. Inventors repeatedly tell of ‘seeing’ a machine in their imagination long before they know how to build it. Inventors awaken in the middle of the night and write out solutions to problems they have ‘seen’ in a dream.

Men see solutions in the form of pictures and then work for years to materialize their visions. Men picture buildings in their minds and then set about making them a reality. There is something intriguing and mystifying about our ability to imagine things known and unknown. To God, that ability is sacred. He does not want it misused. And that is exactly why evil forces have an INTENSE desire to see the ability misused. Our minds are the BATTLEGROUND; our imaginations are the trophy to be won.

If we use our imaginative power to visualize anything that represents lust or impurity, we are in direct conflict with God’s will. Men enjoy using the power of imagination to create a multitude of images that God has forbidden. For example, when a man sees a woman who is attractive to him, he can disrobe her in his mind, bit by bit, until she is completely undressed. He then can use his imagination to feel what it would be like to touch her body. He can continue this mental activity until he has experienced every possible sexual act. He has taken God’s special, holy gift and consumed in on the ALTAR OF LUST!

Jesus taught us that there are sins so attractive and habit-forming that even if a man came back from the dead and warned us, we would not give them up. No sin fits this category more clearly than that of immoral thinking.

Jesus explained, in a new way, a message God presented throughout the Old Testament. He said: ‘Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.’ (Matthew 5;28)

These are not the words of a wide-eyed radical. They need to be seriously considered by every Christian, yet I believe they have been glossed over. Men and women have thought that it would be impossible to eliminate lust in their hearts, therefore Jesus must have been saying that EVERYONE has lust, so no one should find fault with anyone else. I accepted this theory for most of my life, for it seemed an excellent way to handle my own moral dilemma. But now I know that Jesus is calling us to eradicate adultery from our hearts. This is what He says, and this is exactly what He means. The entire Bible is calling us to purify of heart and mind.” — Nick Harrison Promises to Keep – Daily Devotions for Men Seeking Integrity

Maybe today is the day to check your thought life. Is the Holy Spirit prompting you to make a change in this area? Think about it!

Great Quote: “If day by day we first seek divine direction, and then follow it, we shall be ready when new circumstances arise, for the new blessings will be offered. Today should be preparation for tomorrow. The only proof that we shall be equal to tomorrow’s test is that we are meeting today’s test believingly and courageously. The only evidence that we shall be willing for God’s will tomorrow is that we are subject to His will today!”

STAY AT THE POST

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season …” 2 Timothy 4:2

It happened again this morning and I don’t want to sound like a broken record. I was amazed how everything I read today spoke directly to me heart as if all of the devotional writers had a meeting to talk about me!

Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy and charged him to be faithful to his post. In the first letter to Timothy, things were going great. The church was experiencing growth and it was apparently an exciting time. But by the second letter, the picture was quite different.

The world was in chaos. Christians were deserting their faith and returning to their old way of life. Some we being martyred for their faith. There was rebellion in the ranks and even the leadership in the church was in disarray.

Paul reminds his “son in the faith” that despite all that was going on around him, he needed to be faithful to his calling and to take a firm stand. One commentator says, “Timothy’s post was the pulpit of his church. From that pulpit, he maintained his leadership, imparted his vision, issued rebukes, taught and preached the Word, and brought correction. It was HIS POST! No one else could stand in that position, because it was HIS position that had to be assigned to him by God. Even though times were very tough and he may have been tempted to shun his responsibilities, Paul urged him, ‘Stay at your post.’

Someone translated this verse this way: “Take a firm stand and resolve to stay at your post! Regardless of whether times are good or bad, that is your post – your place of responsibility – so dig in, take a firm stand, and resolve that you are going to be faithful!”

Now that is what I needed to hear this morning. We are going through some challenging times right now. Our cash flow is very tight (and we have been there so many times before and God has ALWAYS been faithful!), we have several staffing challenges right now that are causing unusual stress, and I am in the midst of the hardest part of the year because of the intensity of the schedule.

Quite honestly, the past several days I have found myself saying, “I don’t think I can handle this, Lord. Maybe someone else is more qualified or better suited to lead this ministry.” The voices in my head are screaming – “it’s time to get out of town” and yet, I know that those voices are not the right ones to listen to.

The commentator I quoted above goes on to make these observations: “This was just the word that Timothy needed to encourage him to stand tall, be brave, and remain faithful to his assignment. His struggles passed, and he became a respected leader of the Christians in the region of Asia Minor. In the years he served as the senior pastor of Ephesus, Timothy had many different kinds of seasons – some good, some not so good. But regardless, he stayed at his post until the very end …”

“What kind of season are you going through right now? Is it a happy season? Or are you experiencing hard times? Those happy seasons are such wonderful times, and you should do everything you can to enjoy them. But what are you going to do in the hard times? Are you going to be as faithful and steadfast when you face difficult challenges as you were when things seemed a little easier?

Take Paul’s words to Timothy, and apply them to yourself. This is not a time for you to run in fear or to look for someone else to take your place. IF GOD CALLED YOU TO THAT POST, IT’S TIME TO FOR YOU TO DIG IN, TAKE A FIRM STAND, AND RESOLVE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE FAITHFUL WHETHER TIMES ARE GOOD OR BAD.” (Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Jenner)

Wow! Could that message have been more timely in my life? Has He called you to a particular job or ministry? Are you ready to abandon your post? Maybe you are going through a tough time in your marriage. I don’t know what you are facing – but maybe His word to you today is the same one that I needed to hear – “Take a firm stand and resolve to stay at your post!”

Thanks, Lord, for the awareness that YOU KNOW what I am facing today. With Your help I am resolving to stay at my post!

Great Quote: “Wise men talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something!”

Don’t miss Twila Paris and the Korean Children’s Choir. Order your tickets today for the concert on Thursday evening, August 9, 2007! Call today for reservations: 732-350-1187. Check out the website for more
details: www.americaskeswick.org.

HE LEADETH ME

“With skillful hands he led them.” Psalm 78:72

For the past several years we have been seeking God’s will for a residential addiction recovery program for women similar to our men’s ministry, The Colony of Mercy. Several months ago God led us to a property that would be wonderfully suited for this type of ministry and we began to pray that God would give us CLEAR DIRECTION. It is everything that we could think, dream or imagine.

After several weeks of negotiation, the seller decided he did not want to pursue our proposal and came back to the table saying, “This is it – take it or leave it.” Bottom line is that we would have to go through a traditional mortgage and we have made a commitment to the Lord NOT to go into debt as a ministry.

Yesterday I called the realtor and told them that while we really love the property, we just can’t do what he is asking. If I told you that I was not disappointed, I would not be being truthful with you. However, I am confident that God is in control and knows the BIG PICTURE. Fifteen minutes after my phone call the realtor called back and said that the seller was re-thinking his position and wanted to continue to dialog.

I share all that to tell you that God is the one who leads and guides. He knew what I needed to hear from HIM today. So you will understand why this devotional reading was TIMELY …

“When you are unsure which course to take, totally submit your own judgment to that of the Spirit of God, asking Him to shut every door except the right one! But meanwhile keep moving ahead and consider the absence of a direct indication from God to be the evidence of His will that you are on HIS path. And as you continue down the long road, you will find that He has gone before you (Deut. 31:8) locking doors you otherwise would have been inclined to enter. Yet you can be sure that somewhere beyond the locked doors is one He has left unlocked. And when you open it and walk through, you will find yourself face to face with a turn in the river of opportunity – one that is broader and deeper than anything you ever dared to imagine, even in your wildest dreams. So set sail on it, because it flows to the open sea,

God often guides us through our circumstances. One moment, our way may seem totally blocked, but then suddenly some seemingly trivial incident occurs, appearing as nothing to others but speaking VOLUMES to the keen eye of faith. And sometimes these events are repeated in various ways in response to our prayers. They certainly are not haphazard results of CHANCE but are God opening up the way we should walk, by directing our circumstances. AND THEY BEGIN TO MULTIPLY AS WE ADVANCE TOWARD OUR GOAL, just as the lights of a city seem to increase as we speed toward it while traveling at night.

If you go to God for guidance, HE WILL GUIDE YOU! But do not expect Him to console you by showing you HIS LIST of purpose concerning you, when you have displayed distrust or ever half-trust in Him. What He will do, if you will trust HIM and go CHEERFULLY ahead when He shows you the way, is to guide you still further.” Streams in the Desert – Mrs. Cowman
(Zondervan)

Coincidence? I don’t think so. Today’s time with Him was a gift from His lips to my ears! Do you believe that HE STILL LEADS? I sure do. Thank You, Lord, for making Deut. 31:8 a reality today in my life.

Great Quote: For Christ is of those who are humble-minded and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Scepter of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so. But He came in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him…You see, beloved, the example which has been given us. If the Lord so humbled Himself, what shall we do who have through Him come under the yoke of His grace? Clement

“But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” 1 Corinthians 15:57

Here is a good one to think about as we begin this new VICTORY week at America’s KESWICK. I trust you will consider coming for one of the sessions this week with Drs. Ted Rendall and Roger Willmore.

“A pickpocket once strolled into a rescue mission and was converted. He saw in Christ pardon for His sins and power against them. Rejoicing in a new life he went on planning for the future. ‘In my unregenerate days,’ said he to himself, ‘I used to pick quite twenty pockets a day. But now I am a Christian man, and I know that to pick pockets is a sin. So I must give it up – gradually, of course. Tomorrow I’ll make a start and for the rest of this month I shall only pick ten pockets a day: next month by striving and struggling against this sin, I’ll cut down to five a day – for I’m a Christian man now. By the end of the year by constant endeavor (and the help of God) I hope to give up picking pockets altogether.’

Do you believe that story? The writer does not. But have we not all been guilty of this very thing in our dealings with bad temper, pride, irritability, jealousy, unloved? We expect a pickpocket, or a drunkard, or a gambler to give up his sin once and for all – the very moment of conversion. We tell him – and tell him truly – that Christ is able to give him complete and instant victory. Is God unable to give us a similar victory over what we deem to be lesser sins? He is able to make us ‘more than conquerors!’

Victory over sin is a GIFT and not a growth. Paul recognized this. He did not say, ‘Thanks be to God, which giveth us a GRADUAL victory,’ but ‘giveth us VICTORY through Christ Jesus our Lord.’

There is NO such a thing as a gradual victory over sin – although we may think there is. God’s gifts are perfect. The fact is, He gives us Jesus Christ Himself to dwell in our hearts by faith. And Jesus can keep us! Can we trust Christ to do it?” — An Unknown Christian

Are you experiencing victory today in your life? Today you CAN BE MORE THAN AN CONQUEROR!!!

Great quote: If God has ever given you a victory over ONE sin, He can give you victory over ALL sin. He who has kept you FROM sin for a MOMENT, can with equal ease keep you from the same sin for a day or a month! – Ruth Paxson

THE BENEFITS OF A DAILY QUIET TIME

My good friend, Dr. Woodrow Kroll, shares 10 benefits for having a daily quiet time. I would encourage you today to check out the Scripture references that go along with each of the benefit statements:

1. Devotions provide communication with God. (Psalm 25:4-5; Psalm 119:145-52)

2. Devotions quench our spiritual thirst. (Psalm 42:1-2; 84:2; Philippians 3:10)

3. Devotions are the basis for personal spiritual growth. (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18)

4. Devotions provide a safeguard against spiritual immaturity. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Psalm 119:9-11)

5. Devotions provide insight for daily living. (Proverbs 10:4; 17:27-28)

6. Devotions prevent schizophrenic faith. (1 John 4:1; Ephesians 4:11-15)

7. Devotions provide daily comfort and encouragement. (Psalm 119:81; Romans 5:4)

8. Devotions prepare us to share our faith. (1 Peter 3:15; Luke 24:27)

9. Devotions provide daily direction. (Deuteronomy 5:27; Psalm 119:105)

10. Devotions show our respect for the Bible’s Author. (Psalm 19:9-10; Psalm 119:127-28)

Are you spending time alone with God each day? If not, there is no time like the present to start this wonderful practice that can transform your life!

Great Quote: “If the church has lost the Word, it is not simply ill, it has cut its throat.” John Calvin

DEVOTION OR DUTY

My good friend and brother, Dr. Roger Willmore, is our evening Bible teacher this coming week at America’s KESWICK. I wanted to introduce him to you through his writings in the hopes that you will also come meet him personally this week.

DUTY OR DEVOTION?

“But Martha was distracted with much serving…” (Luke 10:40)

What do your outward actions say about you? Do they say that you are serving the Lord out of a genuine love for Him? Martha allowed her sense of duty to get in the way of her devotion to the Lord. We know this because Jesus had to remind her that her sister Mary had chosen the good part, which was a quiet sense of devotion and worship.

There is a time for work and there is a time for worship. I am not attempting to minimize the importance of work. The Apostle James said, “…I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). He also said, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead” (v.26).

Martha’s problem was not laziness. Her life did not have a shortage of activity. Like many Christians of today she was extremely busy. Her problem was that she was too busy. She was so involved in working to serve Jesus, she forgot to stop and worship Him.

Mary’s life was marked by adoration. Martha’s life was one of frustration. What set these two sisters apart? Their focus!

Martha’s preoccupation with service led to frustration. Do you frequently feel disturbed? Do you find yourself complaining about others and comparing what you are doing to what they are doing? Are you easily worried or agitated? Do you serve Christ out of necessity rather than devotion? If you answered yes to these questions you need to pause and ask the Lord to stir the fires of your devotion to Him.

Mary knew the value of true devotion and worship. Worship should always precede work. Our work should be the overflow of our worship. Or focus should be on being not on doing. What we do for Jesus should emerge out of who we are in Jesus.

I have heard Dr. Stephen Olford say many times, “God is more concerned with who you are than what you do; and if you are does not please Him, then what you do is virtually useless.”

Make devotion to Jesus a priority in your life. Dr. Roger D. Willmore

Scripture Reading: Judges 9-10; Luke 5:17-39

Today’s devotional is excerpted from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE. Call today for your copy – 732-350-1187 ext. 31. Respond today and you can have the devotional at 50% off the retail price of $14.95.

Great quote: There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. But I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart.
Alan Redpath

For the next couple of days I am going to introduce you to Dr. Roger Willmore who will be our speaker next week for our THINK VICTORY! Week 1 conference. A MAN OF GOD

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)

Are you a man of God…a woman of God? Though used frequently in the Old Testament, the term is used only here in the New Testament. It was the term Paul chose to describe and define young Timothy. It was a title that conveyed both compliment and challenge.

What must one do to be worthy of such a title? What are the characteristics of a man of God or a woman of God. Paul reminds Timothy that there are at least four characteristics which should set him a part from others. These are four characteristics for which all men and women of God should be known. Paul lists these four distinguishing characteristics in First Timothy 6:11-14.

We should be known by what we flee from, verse 11 “…flee these things…” Paul reminds Timothy that a man of God will flee from certain things. Here, Paul speaks specifically of lust and pride and greed.

Flee these things. It is important to note that there are some things with which Christians are not to fight or flirt. The only safe option is to flee. Have you ever heard the Holy Spirit shouting to you…RUN! When He does it is a good thing to RUN!

We should be known by what we follow after, verse 11, “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness…” Seven noble characteristics are to be pursued. A.T.
Robertson reminds us that verse 11 contains vivid verbs which indicate active effort on the part of the man of God. We are to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness as a lion pursues its prey.

We should be known by what we fight for, verse 12, “Fight the good fight of faith…” There is a time to flee, but there is also a time to stand. Someone said that a man who stands for nothing will fall for anything. In a world that is becoming more and more resistant to Christ and His Gospel, it is imperative that the people of God stand fast and fight the good fight of faith.

We also should be known by what we are faithful to, verse 14,
“…keep this commandment…” Paul’s use of the word commandment refers to the entire word of God.

What a marvelous title…O man of God! Can God write this title across your life?

Roger D. Willmore Scripture Reading: Genesis 31-32; Matthew 9:18-38

Great Quote: Finding God does not mean building a house in a land of no storms, but building a house that no storm can destroy. Anonymous

The Coming Examination Day

“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness …” 2 Peter 3:17

I have shared with you my concerns in recent days over some of the erroneous teachings floating around out there and this morning’s devotional is one that in some circles you wouldn’t hear taught these days as it would be “offensive.” But in light of the compelling messages we have heard this week about what God is doing to set the stage for the return of his Son, and the implications that His return could be soon, this is a good reminder of how we should live in light of his return:

“I must realize, Lord, that the only record of my life that exists is the one I write myself. I see now what the judgment seat of Christ is – only a playback. It is there we receive ‘the THINGS do in this body for our earthly life,’ not simply the reward of those things (2 Corinthians 5:10).

I will meet up with my actions again, like a re-run movie. But this time I will see them from God’s standpoint, how they were recorded in HIS eye and ear. There can be no addition to, or subtraction from, what I WAS and DID.

The books of God (Malachi 3:16) are nothing more than His retrieval system. Lord, your eye and ear remember everything! My ‘examination day’
will be only my REREADING day, and You will show be the daily pages written with my own life. There is a sense in which heaven and hell are now, right here. Not in the sense of fulfillment, but in the sense of possibility, My destiny is not decided later, in eternity, but now in the sense of possibility. The destiny is only the echo of my present decision.

Also, not only destiny itself, but the QUALITY of that destiny is decided here, whether stubble or precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:12)

Lord, what a responsibility! Only one walk through life and yet an eternity depending on it! How glad I am for my gracious Forerunner, who first removed my sins by His Calvary work and who promises to walk in me and beside me to help me. He wants to help me write the story of my life, which one day will cause Him to smile. After all, Jesus is in the business of producing ‘approved’ saints! He wants to be able to say to me, ‘Well done … faithful servant: enter . . . the joy of thy Lord.’
(Matthew 25:21)” from Daily with the King by Moody Press

Pretty powerful words to think about today.

Great quote: There is absolutely no substitute for this secret communion with God. The public Church services, or even the family altar, cannot take the place of the ‘closet’ prayer. We must deliberately seek to meet with God absolutely alone, and to secure such aloneness with God we are bidden to enter into thy closet.’ God absolutely insists on this ‘closet’-communion with Himself. One reason, no doubt, that He demands it, is to test our sincerity. There is no test for the soul like solitude. Do you shrink from solitude? Perhaps the cause for your neglect of the ‘closet’ is a guilty conscience? You are afraid to enter into the solitude. You know that however cheerful you appear to be you are not really happy. You surround yourself with company lest, being alone, truth should invade your delusion. Gordon Cove

Loyalty

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” (Hebrews13:5).

As we near the close of our study of the leadership acrostic JJ DID TIE BUCKLE we come to the characteristic of loyalty. It is a quality that is closely related to faithfulness. It is that kind of attitude that sticks with something no matter what. If there were an animal to attach this quality to it would most likely fit a golden retriever.

The unique quality that I think makes loyalty a little different than faithfulness is that loyalty seems to focus more on relationships where faithfulness focuses more on activities. We here of people who are faithful in church attendance, faithful to appointments, faithful in carrying out duties, etc. The only area that I think they overlap is in the realm of marriage, Husbands and wives are to be faithful in fulfilling the roles in their marriages and loyal to one another.

Here is another unique quality of loyalty – it allows for mistakes. It bears with the shortcomings and frailties of human nature and continues to remain loyal to the person. That reflects the character of God. Our Colony verse, Deuteronomy 31:8, shows God’s loyalty to Israel. “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (NIV). God will not show Himself disloyal to us when we are afraid. he will nor forsake us. In other words, He won’t leave you hangin’ or throw you under the bus.

In this “dog-eat-dog” world we live in. It is essential to demonstrate loyalty to those around us. And all you have to do to be loyal is just be there for someone. It’s not about talent, skill or ability. All God desires from us is the availability to be used by Him. – Pastor Mike Woods – Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries for Men

Great Quote — If we are delivered from law-works-as, thank God, we are, if we are true Christians-it is not that we should be good-for-nothing self pleasers, but that life-works might be produced in us, to the glory of Him whose name we bear, whose we are, and whom we are bound, by every argument, to love, obey and serve. May we earnestly seek to apply our hearts to this practical line of things. We are imperatively called upon to do so, and we may fully count upon the abundant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to enable us to respond to the call, spite of the ten thousand difficulties and hindrances that lie in our way. Oh for a deeper work of grace in our souls, a closer walk with God, a more pronounced discipleship!” CH MacIntosh, Notes on Deuteronomy, 1861

KINDNESS

2Sam. 9:1 (NASB) “Then David said, ‘Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul,  that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’”

We live in a very unkind world. If you don’t believe me, try driving south on the Garden State Parkway at rush hour on a Friday night! It seems that the further south you go, (especially near the shore exits) the more unkind people become. In this day and age, Kindness is a precious commodity. I have heard stories of people’s experiences on vacations where even the slightest reasonable requests were met with unkindness – customer satisfaction is based on this quality – just be kind. A little kindness goes a long, long way!

As believers in Jesus Christ, Kindness is not an option. We are not only commanded to be kind, but we are equipped with kindness from God. A fruit of the Holy Spirit is Kindness as well as love, joy, peace, etc.. When we think of the Kindness God has expressed toward us in Christ, It ought to prompt us to be kind to others. (Cf. Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:32)

The above verse is taken from the account of David as he remembers the covenant he made with Jonathan. Even with Jonathan dead and Saul as his enemy, David still remembers his covenant. This account of David and Mephibosheth illustrates God’s kindness to us. We are all like Mephibosheth – having been crippled due to a fall, we are graciously welcomed into the King’s Palace to eat at His table, and spend the rest of our days treated as family by the King. Not because of anything we could merit in our own right, but simply because of the Kindness shown toward us. When we express this kindness toward others, we manifest the life of Christ to them.

Keep in mind this thought as you go through your day – you may be the only Bible people read. My prayer is that as we show kindness toward others, they may realize God’s kindness toward them in sending Christ to die for them. A little kindness can go a long, long way – reaching to the throne of Heaven! (from Pastor Mike Woods – Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries – Men)

Great Quote: When I feel distant from Jesus, it’s always because, my eyes and thoughts have been distracted by a concern for my righteousness/performance/somebodiness. Something is blocking my view of Jesus. Not always easy to tell what it is, because the enemy is a stealth warrior, tempting me to focus on, obsess over, worship, some circumstance or potential circumstance in my life, so that I don’t focus on, Jesus. – Dave McCarthy (GospelFriendships)