Authority and Amazement

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Authority and Amazement

“And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:22

It would have been such a thrill to hear Jesus teach. I would love to have heard His voice and watch his mannerisms as He taught. Although I never got to hear His audible voice, I do know about His teaching style. Apparently, He was not apologetic when he spoke. In fact, in contrast to other teachers of the day, Jesus spoke with authority (verse 22). The Greek word for authority is exousia. It means the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others. Jesus taught as if He expected to be obeyed. He didn’t ask permission. Whereas the other teachers who were engaged in public discourse presented regulations, Jesus presented the possibility of a relationship. He was forceful and compelling.

As I examine my teaching style I want to honor that fine line between arrogance and authority. It is possible for us to assume that volume equals authority. If I raise my voice and pound on the podium, will that make me sound more authoritative? Jesus did not dazzle His audience with volume or theatrics. He showed them His authority. Note verse 27b: He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey Him. We see the same thought in 4:41 of Mark: Even the winds and the waves obey Him.

What was the response of those who heard our Lord speak? Amazement. Not resentment or bitterness or unbelief. They were amazed. As we address our culture in the name of our Lord, the same thing can happen. We ought to tell such compelling stories of the God who has reached to us in Jesus Christ, that people who hear us are amazed. They should be amazed by the content of the story and amazed by our clarity and passion. When was the last time we spoke the good news of Jesus and left the hearers with their mouth hanging open?

Imitate our Lord Christ. Address the powers of evil with authority. It is time for us to stop apologizing that we are followers of Christ. We dare not be arrogant when speaking, but we certainly may be authoritative.

Dr. Richard Allen Farmer will be a speaker for our 2009 Summer THINK VICTORY Conference

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 7; Leviticus 1-3; Matthew 24:1-28

Great Quote: A hearse is a poor vehicle to start attending church in. Anonymous

Are You Running From God?

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Are You Running From God

“But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord …” Jonah 1:3

I had one of those really heart-wrenching experiences this afternoon. I attended the visitation for the viewing a friends who just lost their 20 year old son. It was one of the most difficult viewings that I have attended in a long time.

I had so many mixed emotions when I left the funeral home. But one thought really struck me, our friends would give anything to have their son back right now. And then I thought about my heavenly Father. How HE longs to have his sons who are running from Him return with all their heart.

I have a dear friend who I fear is running from God. He is making choices in his life right now that would indicate that something isn’t right. My guess is he may even be reading today’s Freedom Fighter. If you are — you know that you can’t run from good. I plead with you with all my heart, please, please return to the One who loves you.

Listen to the words penned by Stan Marsh, Director of Planned Giving at America’s KESWICK:

If you read this verse in its entirety the phrase “from the presence of the Lord” appears twice. I think God was letting us know that He knows when we, like Jonah, are running away from Him.
The verse does not start with, I think Jonah is running off in the opposite direction from where I told him to go and preach. God knew exactly what was on Jonah’s mind. Because of Jonah’s disobedience other people were faced with danger and possibly death. There were the captain and sailors on board the ship, and the people of Nineveh.
Why did Jonah turn and run from the presence of the Lord? He was out of fellowship with God because of pride, selfishness, fear, jealousy and hatred, and you can add some others. Does this sound as though my name and yours can replace Jonah’s name in verse three?
One of the first things we hear from a Colony of Mercy man who has fallen back into his addictions is, “I stopping reading my Bible and praying and then stopping attending church and all the functions associated with church. My accountability partners stopped hearing from me, I avoided them. I got out of fellowship with God and turned my back on Jesus!” Once that intimate fellowship with God is ruptured, pride, selfishness, fear, jealousy, and hatred replace the fellowship with God. Christ has been replaced by the former lusts of life.
In Colossians 3:1-3 we read, “If then you have been raised up with Christ; keep seeking the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” NASB
God got Jonah’s attention in the belly of the great fish. Where will God take you before He has your attention? Jonah repented, and God provided a way of escape and a second chance because Jonah repented and was obedient.
God is the God of Love, Mercy and Grace. He will give you multiple opportunities to confess your sins and have your fellowship with Him restored. I am thankful that God’s grace is extended to me even though I fail Him through my disobedience. Won’t you confess to God and be restored to enjoy the fellowship of God?
I am certainly glad that God is the God of second, third, and fourth chances, aren’t you?
In Jonah 3:3, we read “So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord.”
Where is your Nineveh, the place you know God is directing you? God will make the way where there seems to be no way and you will know Victory in Jesus. Read Colossians 3:1-17

Someone in your life running from God? Pray! Then share today’s devotional with them. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 6: Exodus 39-40; Matthew 23:23-39

I Don’t Have To

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I Don’t Have To

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” I John 1:6 (NKJV)

“I don’t have to.” These are the words I used growing up almost daily. I would like to say that I outgrew such disobedience and blatant disregard for authority, but I would be lying. I kept that phrase for most of my adult life as well. It kept costing me greatly (more than I ever could afford), but my pride wouldn’t let me drop it.

You can use your own imaginations, how many things have come into your life that go against your will and immediately “I don’t have to” is the first thought that enters your mind? Satan sifted me with these four little words. “Chris you should stop drinking – it will kill you.” – “I don’t have to.” “Chris you shouldn’t put drugs first and your family second – it’s tearing them apart, you should stop.” – “I don’t have to.” “Chris stop going down this road of self-destruction, you’ll either end up in jail or worse, dead.” “I DON’T HAVE TO.”

These examples are but a few, but you get the point. When my old slavemaster sin snapped his fingers I sprung to attention ready to run here and there in a frenzy of chaos, fear, anger, and hopelessness, sinking farther and farther into the pit of depravity.

But, thanks be to God, who is rich in mercy, who brought me out of that darkness and into His marvelous light. (I Peter 2:9) It’s true, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ freed me from that bondage, now I am a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:18).

Now the indwelling Christ reigns supreme in my heart and that old slavemaster sin has no dominion over me. When the accuser tells me to go and sin, that I’m already forgiven, I tell him – “I don’t have to.” When he lies and tells me I can get away with it just this once, I tell him – “I don’t have to.” When he says nobody will know, besides you earned it, I tell him – “I don’t have to.” I have grown in His grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18) (thanks be to God) and truly have come to believe and know that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (John 6:69).

When I am faced with the many choices of the heart; I choose Christ. Brothers, we will always be faced with the choice to tip toe back into bondage, but we can say “I don’t have to” to the father of lies. Can we live as freed men fearing that day when we are found out to be a fraud, can we live our lives in bondage forever waiting for others to find out we serve sin? God forbid!!!

There is permanency in our emancipation. God intended us to be free, forever (Romans 8:15). Don’t live this life in fear, wondering how long before you slip back into the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1). Just say, “I DON’T HAVE TO… I choose Christ.” — Chris Connors is Director of Housekeeping at America’s KESWICK and a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 5

Great Quote: There are also many expressions which may provoke a smile: but let it be remembered that every man has his moments when his lighter feelings indulge themselves, and the preacher must be allowed to have the same passions as his fellow-men; and since he lives in the pulpit more than anywhere else, it is but natural that his whole man should be there developed; besides, he is not quite sure about a smile being a sin, and, at any rate, he thinks it less a crime to cause a momentary laughter than a half-hour’s profound slumber. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

So, What Does It Mean — Part 2

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So, What Does It Mean? Part two

“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

Today I continue on with what I covered on a chapter called “What does it mean to become a Christian?” from Wayne Grudem’s book Christian Beliefs. I had a few points that I shared with a men’s bible study I had been part of. Yesterday was my first point “Effective Calling” today I will cover “General Calling and the Gospel Calling.”

Now Grudem comes out and states “Not all gospel calls are effective. The job of believers is to explain the gospel message; it is God’s job to make that message or call effective.” So with that out of the way it is up to us to go forth and preach and the Gospel. We have to go out and share what the Gospel of Jesus Christ has done for us in our lives.

The Bible verse I have used today was written to the Thessalonians who were told by Paul in his first epistle that they needed to live their lives in anticipation of Christ’s return. So they did what they thought they should do and that was to quit their everyday routine and wait for Jesus. But that lead to all kinds of mischief that arose in their boredom. Paul had to adjust his Gospel call in his second epistle. He had to encourage them to live holy and connect with God, not stand around and wait.

Verse 14 begins with “To which He called you by our gospel”. This is God choosing us to salvation and His calling us to it in time. This means that from the moment you believe the truth you go on doing. There is nothing there that says “Hold on, wait a minute.” When Lydia heard what Paul was preaching in Philippi she and her household became baptized and persuade Luke, Silas, Timothy and Paul to more than likely open her home to these men for prayer meetings. Philippi needed this, didn’t it?

So the end result was a general/Gospel calling that had been presented to all and becoming an effective call to someone who’s time it was to receive. To borrow something from my Bible commentary what we have here is “a system of theology in miniature,” God has shown us that salvation “originates in a divine choice, is wrought out by divine power, is made effective through a divine message, and will be perfected in divine glory.”

Are you ready to receive? And then are you ready to do? — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent Freedom Fighter contributor

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 4

Great Quote: “Conversion is the lifelong transformational process of being remade into the image of God. It is so much more than simply trying to avoid sin. The focus of repentance and conversion is Jesus, not my sin nor my self. My attachment to sinful ways of being is much too strong to ever be undone by mere willpower. There is no substitute for surrender to divine love as the fuel to propel such undoing. Divine love (accepting of the Gospel- my note) transforms both my heart and my will. Divine love enables me to choose God’s will over mine. Without this, repentance will be nothing more than a self-help scheme based on effort and resolve.” David Benner, Surrender to love

So What Does It Mean? Part One

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So, What Does It Mean? Part one

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30

Sometimes on Tuesday night’s I attend a men’s bible study that has in its attendance, brothers from various churches in my area. We decided to take a look at Wayne Grudem’s book titled “Christian Beliefs”. This small book is based on his much larger “Systemic Theology” book. This stuff gets “heavy mental” and had lead into some great apologetic discussions.

The book has 20 basic questions that start with “What is the Bible?” to “What is Heaven?”. I just recently lead a Tuesday night and my question was “What does it mean to become a Christian?”. There were a few points that I had covered from that chapter and I would like to share them with the Freedom Fighter Brethren.

The first is “Effective Calling”. As Grudem put it this is a summoning from the King of the Universe Himself. It is through the human proclamation of the Gospel and it results in saving faith. God calls his people “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9) and calls them “into the fellowship of His Son” (1 Cor. 1:9; cf. Acts 2:39). But I would like to dig slightly into the aforementioned verse.

In verse 29 of Romans 8 God foreknew us in the past. But it is not enough to say that God foreknew those He knew would repent and believe. He knew everyone who would ever be born. It’s in that foreknowledge that God embraces those whom He foreordained to be conformed to the image of His Son. It is knowledge with purpose that could never be frustrated. It is His foreknowledge that insures repentance and belief.

At verse 30 it is the predestined who are called in time. Not only do we hear the Gospel but there is response to it. This makes it a conversion-producing effective call of God. Those who respond are “also justified” and clothed with the righteousness of through the merits of Christ. Then those who are also justified will be “also glorified” as if we have already received it.

This part of the Roman epistle is one of the strongest passages that the New Testament speaks on the eternal security of the believer. For it is for every million who are foreknown and predestined by God, every one of that million will be called, justified and glorified. Take a look at John 6:37 and compare the “all.” Are you one of the million? And have you been called? — Today’s Freedom Fighter was written by Colony grad, Chris Hughes. I love this brother.

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 3

Great Quote: Wheresoever God may lead you, there you will find Himself, in the most harassing business, as in the most tranquil prayer. Francois Fenelon

Wandering Thoughts Part 2

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Wandering Thoughts Part 2

Here is part two of the devotional written by Fenelon on the topic of “wandering thoughts.”

It is enough to look to God with confidence, without trying to explain the past or reason out the future. If something distracts you from Him, then turn back to Him just as quickly as you can. You will make a lot of progress if you just keep turning back to God. This is much better than getting all upset about your faults and failures.

As for the depression that grows out of a melancholy personality, there are natural things that will help you — a good diet and exercise (Oh boy … conviction 101). You have have regular struggles with depression, like you would a headache, but it will pass. Your imagination sinks in deep despair, but the will, which lives by faith and not emotion, can pull you out. The question is not what you feel, but what you will.

If anything is capable of enlarging the spirit and freeing you, it is entire surrender to God. Nothing will keep your mind calm, content, and joyful as living like a child in the arms of God.

Christ wants you to follow the will of God and live it out in the present moment. God has not designed His will to torture you or to overwhelm you in such a way that you always are looking at your performance.

When business keeps you from seeking God, then see Him working in you even then. See Him in all things. Always sing within you the songs of Zion — for the heavenly Zion is your true home. Speak simply, cheerfully, an trustfully, with the pure freedom which God gives to His children.

Just a reminder that these words were written over 400 years ago by this amazing giant of the faith. How are you doing with your wandering thoughts?

It was good to be at Faith Bible Fellowship Church (Fleetwood, PA) this weekend and to meet a number of our Freedom Fighter family. Special thanks to Dave and Roseann Rothenberger, dear friends who hosted me for the weekend. Dave and Roseann, you filled my tank. Thanks to Pastor Jerry Brush and the congregation at Faith for the warm hospitality.

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 2; Exodus 29-30; Matthew 21:23-46

Great Quote: It is not what I do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through me. God does not want worldly successes, He wants me. He wants my heart in submission to Him. Life is not just a few years to spend on self indulgence and career advancement. It is a privilege, a responsibility, a stewardship to be lived according to a much higher calling, God’s calling. This alone gives true meaning to life. — Elizabeth Dole

Living a Life of Worship

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LIVING A LIFE OF WORSHIP

Today’s Freedom Fighter was written by Robert Hayes, Director of Program Ministries at America’s KESWICK. I thought it would be a great way to help us prepare our hearts for this Lord’s day.

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;” (Psalm 95:6)

Can you imagine how bland worship would be if it meant that we merely showed up at church on Sunday morning, dressed just right, smiling as we go in, observing people going through the motions of the program, the choir sings, preacher speaks and of course we collect a little money – what a mundane experience that would be week after week. I am so grateful that God desires so much more for us. In fact I believe that all of life is a worship service.

Some miscellaneous thoughts on worship:

1) Worship takes preparation – Psalm 24:3-4; Psalm 51
2) Worship has an audience of One – Psalm 63:1-5
3) Worship is active, not passive – Psalm 95:1-6; Psalm 96; Psalm 100
Psalm 46:10 (Be still… that’s is an interesting action)
4) Worship requires living a life of obedience – Romans 12:1-2
5) Worship is a choice – we don’t always feel like worshipping. Acts 16 is the story of Paul and Silas in prison — they prayed and sang despite their circumstances.

When we rehearse and remember all that Christ has done for us, and appreciate the fact that He desires to have a personal relationship with us, our life is so much more meaningful when we actively spend TIME with Him – not just on Sunday, but Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Warren Weirsbe said “When the heart is set upon God, true worship will not depend upon outward stimulus, it will be in constant progress. Exhortations like “Pray without ceasing,” and “Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually,” or “All you do in word and deed, do to the glory of God,” will take on their intended meaning. This means that all of life becomes a worship service. If Christians were devotedly practicing this lifestyle, a corporate service could not miss being a great blessing, for it would simply be a continuation of a worship service begun days, (or weeks or months) before.” Robert Hayes

God’s Word for YOU: Proverbs 1; Exodus 27-28; Matthew 21:1-22

Great Quote: “God no longer holds you responsible for the smallest sin. Every single sin is forgiven. When faith is said to be credited for righteousness, it is because of what your faith receives: when you believe, Christ’s righteousness is credited to your account, and your sins are credited to his account. If both of these things do not happen, you cannot consider yourself forgiven. Sin would be charged to your account. In the gospel, two things happen: first, God removes the charge of sin against your account. Second, God gives you the gift of righteousness from Christ. You receive this double gift when you receive Christ’s redemption through the shedding of his blood.” Walter Marshall, sermon, “The Doctrine of Justification Explained and Applied”

Wandering Thoughts Part 1

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Wandering Thoughts (Part 1)

This one was just too good to pass up. Do you have “prayer time ADD?” Do you find yourself sitting down to pray and all of a sudden you are no longer praying because your mind has wandered into other areas?

If so, (and I think the club is bigger than we think …) Than this one is for you. It is from THE SEEKING HEART by Fenelon:

How do you deal with wandering thoughts and lack of enthusiasm during prayer? Set aside a regular time to be alone with God. Just be content to yield yourself without reserve to God. Don’t go out looking for the cross, but when the cross comes (and it will), do not let God’s work pass without letting the trials become fruitful to you.

Accept, despite your natural reservations, all that God brings to you to exercise your faith. Don’t worry about whether you will have the strength to do the right thing. Grace comes only in the moment that you need it. Just be willing to receive your trials with a cheerful heart.

When you see your thoughts wandering, call yourself back to the present moment, but do not struggle with your thoughts. Just stay in the present and you will soon notice your Lord by your side again. The more you turn back to Him just as you sense yourself wandering, the sooner you will have the blessing of knowing the indwelling presence of Christ in a more constant and familiar way.

When you are completely given to God, all that you do is profitable, even if you don’t do much. Offer your future up to God, and don’t try to figure out what will happen to you. It shows your faithfulness when you want to know the future that God has chosen to conceal from all of us.

Leave your future to God. The best preparation is to die to self-will and give yourself wholly to God. Your spirit will grow as you become less weighed down by your self-nature. You get used to a life full of stride and endless labor and think this is normal. You will be surprised to see how simple and straightforward your life in God is …”

Practical insight from a man who had a deep walk with God over 400 years ago. I will share part 2 on Monday. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s Word for YOU: Proverbs 31; Exodus 25-26; Matthew 20:17-34

Great Quote: The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. I must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and I obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Andrew Murray

Cultivating Silence

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Cultivating Silence

One of our “senior” staff members, Miss Ingrid, has an wonderful love affair going on with her Savior. She is an amazing lady. Anyone who knows Miss Ingrid has heard her say, “Shhhhhh! You need to listen.”

We’ve talked the last two days about our thought life and today I want to suggest to you that one of the ways to “bring every thought captive” is to learn to listen. Have you ever found yourself saying, “I wish I could turn my brain off?”

One of the disciplines that I need to work on in my life is asking God to control my random thoughts so that I can quiet my heart and mind and listen for His voice. That isn’t easy in this world of noise that we find ourselves in.

Listen to the words on a godly man written over 400 years ago:

Simply bringing yourself quietly before God will do more than worrying or being too religious. Silence is important. Even when you cannot find total silence, you might try letting others take the lead in conversations. There is no better way to quench the natural strength of your old nature than by silencing it. Guard your tongue. As you become aware of the presence of God within, you will see how He is able to keep your words, thoughts, and desires in check.

This work all happens gradually, so be patient with yourself as well as with others. Try to practice silence as much as general courtesy permits. Silence encourages God’s presence, prevents harsh words, and causes you to be less likely to say something you will regret. Silence also helps you put space between you and the world. Out of the silence that you cultivate, you will find strength to meet your needs.

No matter how much you cultivate silence, there will still be many disrupting situations in which you will find yourself against your will. God knows that you want to have much time to pray, but He still allows you to be surrounded by things that seem to prevent prayer.

Learn to love God’s will more than sweetness of self-chosen prayer. You know very well that you do not need to pray in your closet to love God. When He give you time, take it to pray. When there is not time, be satisfied anyway. Lift up your spirit to Him without making any outward sign. Talk only when necessary. Bear the hardest things that cross your life.

You need to deny yourself more than you need more light. Be faithful in keeping silent, and God will keep you from evil when you talk. Accept what God chooses for you. This is more important than what you choose for yourself, for you are much too easy on yourself.

Day by day give yourself to God. He carries you in His arms like a mother carries her child. Believe, hope, and love like that child. Look with love and trust to your heavenly Father.” — Written by Fenelon THE SEEKING HEART

David wrote, “Be still and know that I am God …” Sometimes we need to take the bull by the horns and cry out to God and ask Him to cease the inner turmoil caused my our thoughts. Maybe part of the taking every thought captive process is simply crying out “Be still!” And then allow the Spirit of God to begin to speak His thoughts into our souls.

I know that this is something I need to develop. How about you? I think I will put Miss Ingrid’s picture on my desk. It will be a good reminder — SHHHHH! LISTEN!!! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30, Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20:1-16

Great Quote: The gospel, applied every day to our hearts, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. The assurance of His total forgiveness through Christ’s blood means we don’t have to play defensive games anymore. We don’t have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can say we told a lie instead of saying we exaggerated a bit. We can admit an unforgiving spirit instead of continuing to blame others for our emotional distress. We can call sin exactly what it is, however ugly and shameful it may be, because we know Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross. We have no reason to hide from our sins anymore. – Jerry Bridges The Disciplines of Grace

Can I Have My Cake and Eat it Too?

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Can I Have My Cake and Eat it Too?

I have a confession to make. I did have a very good gooey piece of the world’s greatest chocolate cake at lunch yesterday. Mrs. Ruth Raws, Pastor Bill’s wife, makes THE BEST chocolate cake. I thought it rather funny that on a day when I was trying to get you all not to think about cake — that she shows up with chocolate cake.

God keeps hammering me about my thoughts. Right away people assume that when someone is open to talking about struggles in their thought life that are struggling with lust or sexual temptation.

First of all, I would be a big hypocrite if I said I never had those thoughts enter my mind! I am reminded of my dear pastor friend who was very transparent with me and a friend over breakfast. After his grilling us about our thought life, my friend said, “Must be nice to be in your 90’s and not have to struggle with lustful thoughts.” This saint, and I mean saint, replied, “Matthew, I may be old but I am not dead.”

Have you allowed your mind to dwell on things like jealousy? Covetous thoughts — “Your house is bigger than mine? How come he’s go a new car and I am driving this beat up old one? How about thoughts of resentment? We may have been slighted, looked over for a promotion or a raise (what is that these days?), not included in a social event, and wrong thinking takes over.

Our thoughts do matter to God. I think that is why Paul’s words are so strong when he writes: “Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or worthy of praise — think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Yesterday I had two of my teams sit down to talk about perceptions that have crippled our ministry from moving forward for too many years. Perceptions become realities in our minds and before we know it, our thinking gets out of whack, and before we know it — we are thinking very wrong and sinful thoughts. Yesterday was a day of laying down the gauntlet and saying, “We aren’t going to think that way anymore.

Our negative thinking is so destructive that Paul very clearly reminds us of this truth: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV) Paul is talking about some pretty decisive steps to bring our thoughts in line with the way God wants us to think.

When was the last time you thought about your thoughts? We may pride ourselves for not gossiping publically, or not committing adultery, or now being mean to our neighbor of co-worker. BUT have you thought about it in your mind? The grand connect is that HE KNOWS OUR THOUGHTS! HE WANTS US TO SUBMIT OUR THOUGHTS TO HIS CONTROL. Am I willing to take them captive or do I want to have my cake and eat it too. Well guess what — that isn’t possible. Think about it. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 29; Exodus 21-22; Matthew 19

Great Quote: “If sin comes into the life of the believer, he should immediately become concerned with it. It should cause him to rush to the Lord in confession and repentance, and it should cause him to build every bulwark possible against the recurrence of the sin.” – Donald Grey Barnhouse