“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…”
For as many years as I’ve read this scripture I’ve always thought it was a wonderful provision of the tools that we have to fight against the world and its powers. And it is. My biggest problem is that I thought the enemy was “out there” somewhere or “in” someone else. But I was wrong…really wrong. Read on.
“…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)
Our warfare is in our own mind. If it weren’t, the scripture would not be constructed to tell us to bring every thought captive. We can only control our own minds; we can’t control someone else’s thoughts, so this scripture is written specifically to let us know that the warfare we are engaged in is in our own thought processes. We just erroneously think our enemy is someone else. But it’s always the enemy attacking our own mind.
Don’t get me wrong, we DO walk in authority and we CAN bring down strongholds with the power of the Word of God, but more often than not, we have to bring our own thoughts into submission to the Word and that means tearing down our own strongholds. How many times are you in “conversation” with someone and you hear yourself saying things you said years ago before you were saved? Before you had the mind of Christ? Before you had His authority to say His words?
C’mon now, admit it! I know you’ve said stuff!
Life and death are in the power of the tongue and the tongue is controlled by our thoughts. That’s what the apostle meant when he said to “fight the good fight”. He didn’t mean a fight against anyone else; just a fight against the thoughts in our own minds.
The workplace is a great place to bring your thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
All About Him
Maybe it’s just because I’m trying to listen so carefully…
At this particular juncture of my life, I really don’t want to listen to anyone or anything other than the Holy Spirit. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not getting weird (well weirdER) and I’m not going to shut myself off from mankind and/or the church. It’s just that I want to make sure that every step I take is really the direction in which He wants me to go. How about you, isn’t that all you really want, too?
I’ve been given a wonderful ministry through which to minister to God’s people who have to get up every morning and go to work; often to jobs they don’t like with people they don’t like. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re Christians, we love everyone, and everything we do is “unto Him.” Right. Hold that thought!
But every day, millions of folks just like us get up and have to face issues that tempt them, challenge their beliefs, and try to get them to cast aside their convictions. In other words, the world is out to get them to relinquish their belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s that simple. Every workplace has its challenges and they are in your life for one reason: so the enemy can throw darts at you until you get tired and quit resisting.
But the enemy is a liar! As long as you keep focusing on Jesus (even during the day, just a well-written post-it note can knock the devil on his face) you’ll be able to overcome anything the enemy throws at you.
No matter how hard it gets at work, or at home for that matter, listen carefully for the voice of the Holy Spirit, try to make every thought and every decision Christ-centered, and you’ll be okay. I promise. And better than that, God promises!!!
At this particular juncture of my life, I really don’t want to listen to anyone or anything other than the Holy Spirit. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not getting weird (well weirdER) and I’m not going to shut myself off from mankind and/or the church. It’s just that I want to make sure that every step I take is really the direction in which He wants me to go. How about you, isn’t that all you really want, too?
I’ve been given a wonderful ministry through which to minister to God’s people who have to get up every morning and go to work; often to jobs they don’t like with people they don’t like. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re Christians, we love everyone, and everything we do is “unto Him.” Right. Hold that thought!
But every day, millions of folks just like us get up and have to face issues that tempt them, challenge their beliefs, and try to get them to cast aside their convictions. In other words, the world is out to get them to relinquish their belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s that simple. Every workplace has its challenges and they are in your life for one reason: so the enemy can throw darts at you until you get tired and quit resisting.
But the enemy is a liar! As long as you keep focusing on Jesus (even during the day, just a well-written post-it note can knock the devil on his face) you’ll be able to overcome anything the enemy throws at you.
No matter how hard it gets at work, or at home for that matter, listen carefully for the voice of the Holy Spirit, try to make every thought and every decision Christ-centered, and you’ll be okay. I promise. And better than that, God promises!!!
Friday, August 13, 2010
All About Me
The popular phrase, “It’s all about me” has actually become a lifestyle here in America. Everything we do, everything we buy, and everything we say is centered around what “I” want and what “I” need and about having it “my” way. This philosophy is the antithesis of what the Bible teaches us.
I think John the Baptist hit the mark when he was talking about Jesus and said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) So what happens when we decide not to decrease our own self-importance? We lose focus of our Lord and we lose our love and passion for Him. And what happens when we decide not to increase Jesus in our lives? We lose focus of our Lord and we lose our love and passion for Him. Same coin; two sides. But the result is the same.
Every moment of every day we have to realize that the Holy Spirit is resident within us. Talk to Him; listen to Him; obey Him. Live a lifestyle that enables Him to live and move and have HIS being within you. He’s there…will you let Him increase in your daily activities? Will you let Him increase in your thoughts? Will you let Him increase in your relationships?
Don’t try to hang on to what you were and behave in accordance with your own reasonings. Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you and you will become that new creation who loves the Lord and allows Him to increase in all you do.
I think John the Baptist hit the mark when he was talking about Jesus and said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) So what happens when we decide not to decrease our own self-importance? We lose focus of our Lord and we lose our love and passion for Him. And what happens when we decide not to increase Jesus in our lives? We lose focus of our Lord and we lose our love and passion for Him. Same coin; two sides. But the result is the same.
Every moment of every day we have to realize that the Holy Spirit is resident within us. Talk to Him; listen to Him; obey Him. Live a lifestyle that enables Him to live and move and have HIS being within you. He’s there…will you let Him increase in your daily activities? Will you let Him increase in your thoughts? Will you let Him increase in your relationships?
Don’t try to hang on to what you were and behave in accordance with your own reasonings. Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you and you will become that new creation who loves the Lord and allows Him to increase in all you do.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Is It Prayer or Wishful Thinking?
Let me give you the bottom line first:
Prayer without faith and without knowledge of God’s word, IS just wishful thinking and nothing more.
So who has faith? Only those who call upon the Name of our Lord can have faith that He will do what He has promised to do. And He will do what He promised only for those who have faith in Him. Kinda both sides of one coin, don’t you think?
Today, America is in an uproar because there are people coming into our country illegally and demanding the same rights as those people who took the time and effort to learn about our nation, study our ways, and complete the requirements for citizenship. The church should actually be in an uproar, too, because there are people coming who are demanding that God give them the same “gifts” that He gives His children. They want the healing but not the Healer, they want the provision but not the Provider, they want to speak in tongues without obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Having said that (again probably), how do we get answers to prayer? By having faith. Invite the Lord Jesus to live in your heart; ask for forgiveness of sins; repent (turn around from the direction you’re heading); and read the Word. Once you know and understand that God wants you well, that He wants your needs met, and that He really delights in your presence as you delight in His presence, you’ll know how to pray. Faith is what delights the Lord but you can’t have faith unless you know what has been promised to you and Who promised it.
Stop your wishful thinking. Pray the promises of God into your life and you’ll be amazed at the clarity of the scripture that says, “Now this is the confidence that we have; that whatsoever we ask according to His will, He hears us; and if He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions we’ve asked of Him.”
Prayer without faith and without knowledge of God’s word, IS just wishful thinking and nothing more.
So who has faith? Only those who call upon the Name of our Lord can have faith that He will do what He has promised to do. And He will do what He promised only for those who have faith in Him. Kinda both sides of one coin, don’t you think?
Today, America is in an uproar because there are people coming into our country illegally and demanding the same rights as those people who took the time and effort to learn about our nation, study our ways, and complete the requirements for citizenship. The church should actually be in an uproar, too, because there are people coming who are demanding that God give them the same “gifts” that He gives His children. They want the healing but not the Healer, they want the provision but not the Provider, they want to speak in tongues without obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Having said that (again probably), how do we get answers to prayer? By having faith. Invite the Lord Jesus to live in your heart; ask for forgiveness of sins; repent (turn around from the direction you’re heading); and read the Word. Once you know and understand that God wants you well, that He wants your needs met, and that He really delights in your presence as you delight in His presence, you’ll know how to pray. Faith is what delights the Lord but you can’t have faith unless you know what has been promised to you and Who promised it.
Stop your wishful thinking. Pray the promises of God into your life and you’ll be amazed at the clarity of the scripture that says, “Now this is the confidence that we have; that whatsoever we ask according to His will, He hears us; and if He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions we’ve asked of Him.”
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