“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.”
Thursday, July 29, 2010
So What's Good In Your Life?
It never ceases to amaze me how people talk. I read the Word, I listen to the Word at church and online, and it never ceases to amaze me how I talk. Talking is the most natural thing in the world to do. Silence is the most unnatural thing in the spiritual realm to do. It seems like I’m always running my mouth even when I try to wait silently to hear God’s voice.
I complain about what’s going on around me, I complain about how people talk to each other, and I especially complain about all the complaining other people do. Good grief, where does it end?
I can tell you where. It ends with destruction. Complaining is something that is dealt with very harshly in the Word of God. (Num 11:1) It is also lumped together with sins of the flesh including murder. (Galatians 5) That’s harsh.
So how do we stop complaining? Other than duct-tape over the mouth? Prayer and opportunity. When we decide to be content no matter where we are or what circumstances we are in, we’ll notice an almost miraculous cessation to complaining. When we lose ourselves in Christ Jesus, we’ll obtain His peace and His mind and we’ll be content in who we are in Him. The circumstances won’t matter because no matter what they are, we’re always in Him. (Phil 4:11) He is our strong tower, he is our balm to heal our injuries and our comforter when we are maligned.
As we pray for His comfort and His help, we’ll find more and more opportunity to complain. But don’t do it. Check with the Holy Spirit before you open your mouth. That split second can make all the difference in the world to how your situation plays out.
I complain about what’s going on around me, I complain about how people talk to each other, and I especially complain about all the complaining other people do. Good grief, where does it end?
I can tell you where. It ends with destruction. Complaining is something that is dealt with very harshly in the Word of God. (Num 11:1) It is also lumped together with sins of the flesh including murder. (Galatians 5) That’s harsh.
So how do we stop complaining? Other than duct-tape over the mouth? Prayer and opportunity. When we decide to be content no matter where we are or what circumstances we are in, we’ll notice an almost miraculous cessation to complaining. When we lose ourselves in Christ Jesus, we’ll obtain His peace and His mind and we’ll be content in who we are in Him. The circumstances won’t matter because no matter what they are, we’re always in Him. (Phil 4:11) He is our strong tower, he is our balm to heal our injuries and our comforter when we are maligned.
As we pray for His comfort and His help, we’ll find more and more opportunity to complain. But don’t do it. Check with the Holy Spirit before you open your mouth. That split second can make all the difference in the world to how your situation plays out.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Does God Have Your Attention?
How do you learn from God? By the things that happen in your daily life? By reading the Word? Through the advice of friends? A combo? How does God want us to learn from Him?
He wants us to learn through the Holy Spirit. In I John 2:27, it says, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” The “anointing” and “Him” refer to the Holy Spirit.
Often we go through trials that we think are from God but really aren’t. There’s a very real enemy in our world and in the heavenlies who is determined to “kill, steal and destroy” us. He causes all kinds of bad things to happen…things we wrongfully attribute to God. For example, I heard someone say that she thought God “needed” her loved one in heaven and therefore took him. That’s so wrong. The Bible clearly states in I Corinthians 15:26, that “the last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” So how can death be from God if it is an enemy of God? It can’t be. Neither can illness. God won’t “use” illness to teach you something. God will use the Holy Spirit to teach you.
The problem lies when we do get sick or hurt and turn to God in the midst of it. Sometimes we turn to Him so quickly and discover Him to be right there that we somehow feel that He brought the situation to us. But He didn’t. It’s not His style. All good things come from God. The enemy is the deceiver and would have us believe that he’s the innocent one and that God is the guilty one. But it’s not true.
He wants us to learn through the Holy Spirit. In I John 2:27, it says, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” The “anointing” and “Him” refer to the Holy Spirit.
Often we go through trials that we think are from God but really aren’t. There’s a very real enemy in our world and in the heavenlies who is determined to “kill, steal and destroy” us. He causes all kinds of bad things to happen…things we wrongfully attribute to God. For example, I heard someone say that she thought God “needed” her loved one in heaven and therefore took him. That’s so wrong. The Bible clearly states in I Corinthians 15:26, that “the last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” So how can death be from God if it is an enemy of God? It can’t be. Neither can illness. God won’t “use” illness to teach you something. God will use the Holy Spirit to teach you.
The problem lies when we do get sick or hurt and turn to God in the midst of it. Sometimes we turn to Him so quickly and discover Him to be right there that we somehow feel that He brought the situation to us. But He didn’t. It’s not His style. All good things come from God. The enemy is the deceiver and would have us believe that he’s the innocent one and that God is the guilty one. But it’s not true.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
What Are You Talking About?
I’ve learned a lot lately. I’ve learned to wait silently for God alone and I’ve learned to shut up. Or at least I’m learning to shut up. Sometimes my mouth really does have a mind of its own but I really, truly want my spirit to be the entity of my being that’s in charge. Really.
How does talking impact the average Christian at work or at home? Let me give you an example of what I’ve learned as I’ve waited for God alone: If I’ve prayed and am believing God for a healing, what I say is of critical importance. If I am waiting for God alone, if I am waiting for the Healer, then I won’t have a need to talk about the physical condition that I prayed about. But if I am waiting for the healing, I’ll be tempted to talk about my physical condition and in turn make it worse.
There’s a huge difference between waiting for God alone and waiting for what God does. We have to be content with Him, not with what He brings or gives or does. If we are content with having God (and being content is really just a decision we make) then we will be less likely to complain or check incessantly to see if He’s done what we’ve asked Him to do.
If it’s a healing you’re believing for, you really don’t have to ask God for it. The Bible already guarantees it…by His stripes you ARE healed…remember? So if we ask for it, we’re actually telling God that we don’t believe what He has already made provision for on our behalf. So what do we do? We simply thank Him for His provision. Thank Him for healing you. Thank Him for sending the Healer, the Great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank Him. Thank Him. Thank Him. And then be quiet and wait silently for God alone.
Well, of course you already knew that, right? So why do you still tell people about “your” illness? Listen to the words you say; they are the difference between having a healing and having the Healer. You need the One way more than you need the other.
How does talking impact the average Christian at work or at home? Let me give you an example of what I’ve learned as I’ve waited for God alone: If I’ve prayed and am believing God for a healing, what I say is of critical importance. If I am waiting for God alone, if I am waiting for the Healer, then I won’t have a need to talk about the physical condition that I prayed about. But if I am waiting for the healing, I’ll be tempted to talk about my physical condition and in turn make it worse.
There’s a huge difference between waiting for God alone and waiting for what God does. We have to be content with Him, not with what He brings or gives or does. If we are content with having God (and being content is really just a decision we make) then we will be less likely to complain or check incessantly to see if He’s done what we’ve asked Him to do.
If it’s a healing you’re believing for, you really don’t have to ask God for it. The Bible already guarantees it…by His stripes you ARE healed…remember? So if we ask for it, we’re actually telling God that we don’t believe what He has already made provision for on our behalf. So what do we do? We simply thank Him for His provision. Thank Him for healing you. Thank Him for sending the Healer, the Great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank Him. Thank Him. Thank Him. And then be quiet and wait silently for God alone.
Well, of course you already knew that, right? So why do you still tell people about “your” illness? Listen to the words you say; they are the difference between having a healing and having the Healer. You need the One way more than you need the other.
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