They may appear momentarily attractive and entirely harmless, since many do not display themselves in wrongful actions, but they are in reality enemies that bring great harm to your very soul. They make you spiritually weak, ineffective, and bring dangerous deterioration to the spiritual part of you - your person. They are hostile toward your soul.
What is "they"? "The flesh" or "Sinful desires" that Peter says (1 Peter 2:11) "wage war against the soul." Happily, according to 1 Peter 1:14 it is possible for us to win the victory against these "evil desires" and maintain a healthy soul.
What are some of these "desires?" They are fittingly described in Galatians 5:13-25. A sample list from the text includes: "biting and devouring each other, sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activity, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and all kinds of sin." This is a description of life prior to the saving and changing power of Jesus. Sorrowfully those things can still exercise great influence on us and can tear apart our souls.
How do we protect our souls in this war?
(1) Allow the powerful harvest of Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control) to determine our thoughts and actions. Galatians 5:22-23
(2) "Abstain" = "continually keep away from or avoid; don't let yourself indulge in them at any time." 1Peter 2:11.
(3) Live in awareness of what spiritual damage fleshly desires and thoughts can have on your soul.
With you in the battle, Bob
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Worry, Worry, Worry
What are you so worried about?The kids, your checkbook, your job, your health. The weather, your parents, the church, the news. Gas prices, the food bill, the neighbors, the traffic, the terrorists, the past. Your friends, your death, your taxes, the future. Etc ...
Noted Christian counselor Archibald Hart talks about how to turn worry into action -
"Excessive worrying is a habit of your mind, and you need to break this habit without denying that something may be wrong. The most constructive way to do this is to work out what part of your worry is useless and what part should be converted into an emotion called concern.
Excessive worry that never moves you to take action is unhealthy. On the other hand, being concerned about a problem is healthy because you understand what you can and cannot do to deal with it.
How is concern different from worry?
Simply put, worry is that kind of unproductive mental activity that keeps thoughts revolving endlessly in our minds, creating stress in our bodies.
Concern, on the other hand, is a kind of mental activity that focuses on a problem with a view to taking some action that resolves it."
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes" - Matthew 6:33-34 (The Message).
How is concern different from worry?
Simply put, worry is that kind of unproductive mental activity that keeps thoughts revolving endlessly in our minds, creating stress in our bodies.
Concern, on the other hand, is a kind of mental activity that focuses on a problem with a view to taking some action that resolves it."
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes" - Matthew 6:33-34 (The Message).
It's in His most capable hands ~
Linda
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Powerful Praying
Who can pray and realize results that are beyond what we could ask or imagine ? (Ephesians 3:20). James says that you and I can pray and expect those kinds of answers. Listen to what the Lord's brother says in James 5:16b: "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Who is a "righteous person"? Not one who is sinless and perfect. But, the repentant individual who has confessed their sins to Jesus, accepted His saving work, and has confessed relational sins to those who he/she has offended. That one is living in harmonious relationship with both God and with their brothers (James 5:16a). That is a costly requirement (in terms of pride), but one that all of us can meet.
What happens when those people pray? God listens and He answers with His limitless power - it is effective! We take note that prayer in itself is not some kind of magic. But, it's power is unlimited in that the child of God calls on his Father who responds according to His will through His infinite goodness and ability.
What have you been afraid to ask God for? Have you felt like you did not have enough faith to see powerful results? Neither fear nor a certain degree of faith are part of this injunction. Jesus told His followers "You have not, because you ask not." Sounds like it is time to ask your Father for that which is powerful, effective, and beyond what we could even imagine.
What just came to mind when I said that last sentence? Take that very thing to Him right now and watch Him show who He really is and what He can really do.
Praying for/with you, Bob
Who is a "righteous person"? Not one who is sinless and perfect. But, the repentant individual who has confessed their sins to Jesus, accepted His saving work, and has confessed relational sins to those who he/she has offended. That one is living in harmonious relationship with both God and with their brothers (James 5:16a). That is a costly requirement (in terms of pride), but one that all of us can meet.
What happens when those people pray? God listens and He answers with His limitless power - it is effective! We take note that prayer in itself is not some kind of magic. But, it's power is unlimited in that the child of God calls on his Father who responds according to His will through His infinite goodness and ability.
What have you been afraid to ask God for? Have you felt like you did not have enough faith to see powerful results? Neither fear nor a certain degree of faith are part of this injunction. Jesus told His followers "You have not, because you ask not." Sounds like it is time to ask your Father for that which is powerful, effective, and beyond what we could even imagine.
What just came to mind when I said that last sentence? Take that very thing to Him right now and watch Him show who He really is and what He can really do.
Praying for/with you, Bob
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
God's Standard for Relationships
When God gave us the Ten Commandments (not the Ten Suggestions!), He gave us distinct directions on how relationships work. He used the negative to help us understand the positive. The negative -don't steal, commit adultery, covet, murder, etc.; the positive - Leviticus 19:8, "love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus reinforced God's positive in Matthew 22:37,39 saying that the greatest commandment was to "Love God" and to "love our neighbor as ourself."
What does obedience to that command look like in daily life? Dr. James Boice suggests a few practical applications are: (1) listen to one another, (2) share with one another, (3) forgive one another, and (4) serve one another. Those are all positive.
Paul, in Romans 13:10, looks at the negative side by saying "Love does no harm to its neighbor (the one next to us)." "Harm" according to the Arndt and Gingrich "Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament" is that which is "injurious, dangerous, or pernicious." That covers a lot of territory in how we relate to people.
It is a choice to love people like God loves us and to not "harm" them. Will/does what I say, do and plan bring injury or harm to another? That is the question.
The early church was filled with diversity which gave opportunity for great harm to each other; yet, it was said of them, "How they love each other!" Are people who observe us at home, at work, at church, and on the sports field saying, "How they love each other" ? They can easily tell if we are bringing harm or love. The opportunity is there for either of those actions.
Today, let's choose to bring blessing and encouragement instead of harm and injury.
Loving Him and you, Bob
What does obedience to that command look like in daily life? Dr. James Boice suggests a few practical applications are: (1) listen to one another, (2) share with one another, (3) forgive one another, and (4) serve one another. Those are all positive.
Paul, in Romans 13:10, looks at the negative side by saying "Love does no harm to its neighbor (the one next to us)." "Harm" according to the Arndt and Gingrich "Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament" is that which is "injurious, dangerous, or pernicious." That covers a lot of territory in how we relate to people.
It is a choice to love people like God loves us and to not "harm" them. Will/does what I say, do and plan bring injury or harm to another? That is the question.
The early church was filled with diversity which gave opportunity for great harm to each other; yet, it was said of them, "How they love each other!" Are people who observe us at home, at work, at church, and on the sports field saying, "How they love each other" ? They can easily tell if we are bringing harm or love. The opportunity is there for either of those actions.
Today, let's choose to bring blessing and encouragement instead of harm and injury.
Loving Him and you, Bob
Friday, June 6, 2008
Finishing Well
One goal of a Jesus follower is to hear, "Well done good and faithful servant." But, how do we finish well?
Paul gives us some insight in Philippians 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."
Some of the necessities for "finishing well" from this text are:
(1) Memories of what God has done, the people He has used, and what He has said. Memories bring encouragement.
(2) Prayer that is frequent, focused, and fervent.
(3) Companions who connect deeply with our soul and walk with us on the way.
(4) Endurance that does not allow us to give up or drop by the wayside -"from the first day until now"
(5) Security that God will do what He has promised to do through the power of Holy Spirit.
With these five keys in place, we are on our way toward the prize as we "run the race set before us."
Any one of these five that need to be added to your life?
Running to win, Bob
Paul gives us some insight in Philippians 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."
Some of the necessities for "finishing well" from this text are:
(1) Memories of what God has done, the people He has used, and what He has said. Memories bring encouragement.
(2) Prayer that is frequent, focused, and fervent.
(3) Companions who connect deeply with our soul and walk with us on the way.
(4) Endurance that does not allow us to give up or drop by the wayside -"from the first day until now"
(5) Security that God will do what He has promised to do through the power of Holy Spirit.
With these five keys in place, we are on our way toward the prize as we "run the race set before us."
Any one of these five that need to be added to your life?
Running to win, Bob
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