Why Is This Person Before Me?

Why Is This Person Before Me?

by David Brenneman 

People and God's Purposes

"If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen."  

1 John 4:20.

    Perhaps you've discovered that one of the greatest enemies of

joy in your life is conflict with others. Relationship problems

in your work, family, church, or community can contribute signifi-

cantly to your sense of discontentment and despondency. Dealing with difficult people is challenging enough, and managing your negative thoughts about them can be even harder.

    Maybe you're stuck being around them, you've had as much as you can take, and you really don't know what to do. But God promises to give you the wisdom and strength you need to deal with them with grace. And the most important step is realizing He allowed those people to be in your life for His purposes. So instead of allowing their actions to become the focus of your think-

ing, ask the Lord what He is teaching you or providing for you

through them

    When the inappropriate, ugly words and deeds of others drive

you to turn toward the Lord, they can actually be the unwitting

agents of your spiritual growth. So make the choice to turn toward

God because that's the way you lay the groundwork for triumph

Jesus, help me to forgive others and to honor You. Amen.

Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley. 

"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Colossians 1:9-12.

"And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister." Colossians 1:21-23.

At various times in the group that I'm a part of, as an example of a situation in life, the leader of the group said out loud what the subject of today's post is about was what he thought when he was a car salesman. The person or people were there, or at least thought they were there, to buy a car. But what they were presenting themselves as and how they were...sometimes was quite different.

In the devotional from Dr. Stanley, we read basically the same thought only expounded upon. Our greatest frictions in life are not with inaimate objects but rather in our relationships with people. The dynamic gets more complicated the more it's understood that it's rooted in how we relate with Jesus Christ. Whether or not He is a person's Savior is where everyone's relationships really begin their impact in the world.

Those who are in Christ are to be more than just on their best behavior. We are to be Ambassador's for Christ. His representatives in this fallen world. It doesn't matter if it's out in public or in the privacy of our own home.  

i was taken to Colossians this morning in my daily reading plan and what Paul talked about seemed to fit. The first portion being of what he was praying for concerning those in that church. It's a prayer we ought to pray for one another.  

We can forget our place and position in this world all to easily. Unexpected pain or an unexpected situation can cause the worst to come out in a person. A testimony that took years to build can take a serious hit but a single instance of a lack of control or lack of judgement. Yet another reason why forgiving others as Christ forgave us was a paramount teaching of Jesus. When asked how many times should someone forgive their brother who sinned the answer is essentially...as many times as they come to us. Whatever it takes.

We're not going to get most of this life right but we can be assured that we cannot foil the plans of God. We simply are not that powerful. Satan thought he could be that powerful until his complete and full defeat at the cross of Jesus Christ.

All he is today is an enraged, twisted, entirely deceptive, prisoner of war. We're called to stand firm in the Lord IN the whole armor of God. Not stand there with no armor on at all. Not to only have certain parts on us. We're to pray for one another. Bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ. Even when we have no idea why the situation with whomever is in front of us is happening...put on Christ.

Our responsibility is to always put on Christ. Put off the old self with it's practices and put on Christ. Do away with who we used to be and be living in the image of the character of our Savior.  

And a news flash for everyone. People everywhere are going to disappoint people everywhere. That's a result of the original sin of Adam and Eve. It will be that way until the call from on high and the Church is taken after those who have fallen asleep in Christ join Him in Heaven.  

If you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior you're going to always have a rough go of it because you have nothing to put on that's different than you already are. The things of God...you're never going to really get until you come in faith to Jesus to be saved.

You're on your own. The good news is that as long as you're breathing there's hope for you.  

That's what Believers ought to always be cognizant of...realizing that they could be dealing with people in this world who are not saved. God isn't willing that any should perish but that all might come to Jesus to be saved. Yes there's going to be those who won't but it's on us to always represent Christ no matter if it's family or a stranger. That's what we're still here for. We don't know who will be that last person that's saved in this Church Age. We have our Savior to represent no matter where we are no matter what we're doing.

Pray for one another.

Stand firm in the Lord.

Bear one another's burdens.

Always be ready to forgive no matter how many times a person asks us to forgive them.  

Always be ready to forgive even if it's only you needing to forgive someone else and you're the only one who knows. Truth is Jesus will know.

These are only some of the reasons why people are in front of us.  

They might only be there just for you to know to pray for them.

They might be right there at the door of their heart and are about to open it up to Jesus...all because of how you will be with them.

They may turn an go away and you may never see them again.  

Point is...Jesus said what we're to do and it's upon each of us to do it.

Obey God and leave the consequenses to Him.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Standing Firm in Our World

Standing Firm in Our World 

by David Brenneman 

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness," Ephesians 6:11-14.

A Defeated Enemy

"When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." Colossians 2:15.

    Christians are not called to defeat Satan. God has already done that in Christ! Nor is it our mandate to "bind" Satan. Jesus has already set limits on the extent and duration of Satan's freedom. Satan, "our ancient foe," was decisively and completely defeated by Christ's sacrifice on the cross and in His resurrection. With regard to Satan, our assignment is to trust in the

victory that Christ already achieved and daily resist him with the truth of his defeat, as Jesus did.

    Satan is the father of lies and a master deceiver (John 8:44).

If he can convince you that God has not defeated him, then you will not experience Jesus' victory. You will find yourself fighting battles that Christ has already won! You will fear Satan though he has already been utterly and humiliatingly defeated Your responsibility is to resist Satan, and he will flee from you (James 4.7). When you resist him, you are acknowledging that Jesus has defeated him and given you victory over his influence. God

has provided you with spiritual armor that is more than sufficient to withstand any assault by Satan (Eph. 6:10-20).

    Christians can become preoccupied with battling Satan.

This deceives them to invest their time and energy attempting to do something that Christ has already done for them. If Satan can divert you to wage a warfare that has already ended in surrender, he will have eliminated your effectiveness where God wants you. Fearing Satan is fearing Prisoner of war. You have no need or calling to defeat Satan; a you need only to apply Christ's victory in every area of your life and to live the victorious Christian life. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day-by-Day.

Did you notice the repeated command? 3 times in 3 verses. Stand firm. It was a very interesting reading last night to read what you just now read from Blackaby. 

I have heard and seen in social media of people trying to do the very things that they spoke of in that devotional (Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby wrote that devotional book and the study materials that go with it.).

People can think they are doing "the Lord's will" by getting caught up in such unnecessary battles. It really falls in line with what we read of Jesus saying of many people saying they did this in His Name and that in His Name.  

As the great hymn goes "where He leads me I will follow". In another devotional I read of "having patience in running with the Lord". 

Much of what we can do is give Satan way too much credit for what's really our own sin nature in what we perceive in our world. We still do have a sin nature. We like to compare and attribute our own contrived explanations to what's not gone right in our world and way too often we take credit for what we really had nothing to do with.

We have it written in the Old Testament of how often and how many of the children of Israel, from Kings on down, didn't stand firm in the Lord...and what the consequences were of that.

We also have those such as Nehemiah and Daniel and others who were shining examples of what truly happens when we do.

For all the wisdom he had, Solomon faltered in a great many areas of his life because of his own pride. His sin nature really got in his way.

Stand firm is repeated in the New Testament in many places. Resist the devil and he's to flee. Reminding him that he's a defeated foe. I really like that last part. He's a prisoner of war trying to change things. There's no other battles that will ever mean anything that Satan's going to try in the near future or in the present. We read in the book of Revelation and other places where it just takes the spoken word of Jesus and it's over. "It is finished!" finished everything. No future battles to be decided. The created being Satan is GOING to spend 1,000 years isolated from mankind. He is GOING to try yet again at the end of that time to muster humanity to fight against the Lord Jesus and will be summarily shut down with the spoken word of the Lord God Almighty.

We are in the midst of a battle and must keep a level head about us. We must keep in mind that passage that says we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free. We must keep our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. We must keep that armor on at all times. We create moments of weakness when we think it's safe to take it off...and are only listening to both our sin nature and Satan's minions when we choose to take it off.  

There's a quote from a movie about getting a person to take off their coat. You don't ask them to do that, you give them a reason to take it off on their own. 

We can't stand firm if we're not ready for the battle. We cannot battle if we don't understand what is going on. What's going on in the lives of every single Believer is that Jesus is keeping His promise to each of us. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. We are to live lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

Look at your life and what all you've allowed to be included in it.  

What are you carrying around that is bogging you down? What have you felt that you can handle that you really cannot? What is taking up your time that you're not as concerned about growing in Christ as you ought to be? What is it of this world that you 'love' that is a barrier to your growing in Christ? It may LOOK like it's not a hinderance but anything that we desire more than our life in Christ is a hinderance.

Stand firm in the Lord. As has been written you can't carry your own cross and follow Jesus if you're carrying something else too.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

A Life Pleasing to God

A Life Pleasing to God

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:1-17.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:22-24.

It dawned on me this morning after reading in Ephesians the connection to what Paul wrote in Galatians. "Fruit of the Light" and "Fruit of the Spirit" being that connection.

As said in prior posts...the aim of this blog is to both point people to Jesus or to get people to return to Jesus.  

The focus is on Jesus in any case.

What we choose to include in our lives as part of our lives has everything to do with what people see of Jesus IN our lives.

If all we ever talk about is our hobby then they aren't hearing or seeing anything to do with Jesus when we do not reference Jesus at all. If all we talk about are statistics and facts about sports and neglect to speak about what we know about our Savior then we aren't showing Jesus to anyone. If all we do is work and talk about work and not about how God used us that day then people still don't see Jesus.

While we're given a great many things that CAN occupy our time and CAN consume what resources we have we must choose the greater thing as Mary was told when Martha complained to Jesus.

Many of my prior likes of certain things in my life I got rid of out of my life because I knew (and sadly still do) know more about such things than I do or did know about my Savior who saved me. As the quote the other day said there is no Christ AND anything. We cannot be fully devoted to Jesus AND to a hobby or anything else. If a man is married to his Wife, then she comes first after Jesus. Then comes the children. Then comes the rest of the family and friends and the rest of the world. 

Jesus should take first place in our lives over everything and everyone else. Those who wanted to follow Jesus as His Disciples had to make that choice when He walked this earth. They gave up everything to follow Jesus. Just look at the comments of Peter on that subject.

How much of your life have you inadvertantly given over to the world that doesn't belong there but does belong to Jesus?

The fruit of the Spirit, fruit of the Light is supposed to be present in the lives of all who are Believers.  

This comes from a right relationship with Jesus. There's those who live in this world and have lived in this world who will lay claim to having done so much for Jesus, mimicing the fruit of the Spirit, who will get told to depart from Him for He never knew them.

So where's your relationship with Jesus? Where has it been, where is it heading? Where is it right now? What are you doing about making that relationship stronger? What have you put in place of Jesus as first in your life? Can you truly say that you seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness?  

The good news is you have been granted the grace and mercy to make the changes that you can make in order to get into a right relationship with Jesus right here right now.  

The question is: Will you pray that prayer? Will you start acknowledging whatever the Spirit is showing you isn't helping your relationship with Jesus?  

Being busy is no excuse. Being restless is no excuse. Being anything is no excuse for not cultivating your relationship with the One who gave His life for you.

Think about it. Have you really honored Jesus in your life by living for the One who saved you?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Who's Life is It Anyway?

Who's Life is It Anyway?

By David Brenneman 

"So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Ephesians 4:17-24.

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:22-27.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17.

My Dear Reader...while we yet live in this world, yet further still in this sin cursed body, live it to the full in Christ rather than to yourselves. 

That's what we read in these passages. That's what we are to be in Christ. Examples unto the world of a life surrendered to Jesus and showing that we are not our own but were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 

Yet the lines are so so blurred between many of those claiming to be Christian's and those who are not. Where's the distinction between the two that the Light of Jesus Christ is supposed to produce? Why do so many professing Christians push the envelope of sin rather that abhor sin as much as our Father in Heaven does?

Rhetorical questions these are. For seeking your response in writing I am not. You need to determine who is really going to take first place in your heart and mind. You WILL give an account of your life before Jesus with whom everyone has to do. Your choices to put anything before your full devotion to your walk with Jesus will be clearly seen in that day. 

Dr. Charles Stanley's Trusting God with Today was pointing out that these useless things we latch onto will not help us at all in that day before Jesus.

We cannot serve God AND anyone or anything. There is no Jesus AND anything that's going to benefit anyone in human history.  

Take time to sit and look at where your time goes in a day, a week even. Where does your enjoyment of life come from? Is it found in your everything or everyone else but when you're with Jesus? Do you intentionally meet with Jesus on purpose to share your heart and life? Is what's important to Jesus important to you? A disciple of Christ follows what their Master, Christ, is doing. A few people are written in the Gospels of wanting to do other things, before they follow Christ. Look at what Jesus told them.  

What you pour the most of you into is what's getting your heart. Can be anything and everything from family to sports to hobbies. How often are you personally meeting with Jesus Christ your Savior? Not a drive-by meeting. A real time spent with Him. A true follow through with your commitment to follow Jesus after you gave your life to Him.  

Who's really calling the shots in your life? Do you ever look forward to your time alone with Jesus? More than you do with ________?

What you reveal will tell you where your heart really is. You will see your own proof as to where you stand in growing in Christ. My Dear Reader do something about it now while you still have that opportunity!

Cultivate your time wisely. 

Let go of useless arguments and passions about things of this world that are doing nothing to cultivate a Christ-like heart in your life. 

Who's life is it anyway? If you truly are a Christ-follower then it should reflect that without question in your life.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Walk Like It's Worthy

Walk Like It's Worthy 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Ephesians 4:1-24.

This morning's reading might be long, but remember, when those in Ephesus received it, they listened to the whole letter, probably all in one afternoon or evening.  

We don't know, and perhaps there's not many left in this world, who truly knows what it means to "expect" a handwritten letter from someone as your only form of communication. These people in this Church, eagerly gathered to hear from their beloved Apostle Paul. They would hang on every word spoken aloud. We, on the other hand, skim through the letter only stopping here and there for what seems to 'speak' to us.

My Dear Reader absorb what you read in your Bible. No you may not remember everything or anything you just read but that's ok. Take it in. It is no failure to be persistent in reading your Bible in the face of such an obstacle. The promise of God in this is that His Word never returns void. It always accomplishes what it was sent to do. 

We often don't take really good care in watching what we have allowed into our hearts and minds. We perceive no dangers and thus never ask the Spirit if there are any dangers. We consider ourselves able to discern some things on our own and thereby trip into thinks best left alone. 

Paul wrote of guarding our hearts. The breastplate of righteousness covers that whole area below the neck to the groin and from arm to arm. It's noteworthy that any attack of the enemy of God will try in any way to be an interference to you receiving information from God on His Will for you for JUST TODAY.  

Today. Jesus said with regards to asking, seeking and knocking to not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. So focus on today in your walk with Jesus.  

Protect yourself is perhaps a better description than guard your hearts. You can't go to a gun fight with a knife as I think the quote from a movie is talking about.  

We show up to a Spiritual battle with sticks when the enemy is ready to hit us with whatever he has been permitted to use. Let that sink in. 

Let it sink in really really well.

Satan's in Heaven right this very moment seeking permission to go after the likes of you and I. He is also accusing us of the things we did yesterday.  

I saw a movie clip this morning of a law professor speaking to students. They were ill prepared to act like responsible, respected, lawyers. Whining about how his teaching methods weren't how they learn and not how to teach them. A real lawyer was sitting in on the class and ripped those students for not taking their profession seriously. 

We need to take our responsibility and Ambassadorship seriously in Christ Jesus.  

We need to do more to remove things that we know aren't God honoring from our lives and replace them with time alone with Jesus. 

Do we even know what it's like to go to our room and pray in secrecy to our Father in Heaven?

Do we even know what it means to block out the world and actually put forth the effort and energy to study God's Word?

Do we even know how to pray a prayer that isn't mindless repetition? A prayer from the heart to His heart?

Do we even know what it means to be still before Jesus, sitting at His feet to learn from Him?

These are the things that matter in walking in a manner worthy of the calling we have in Christ Jesus. 

How often do we only go for whatever feels good rather than what's going to challenge us because we really needed that challenge to grow in Christ?

Fair weather living ill prepares us for the storms of life that Satan's schemes are designed to throw at us.  

He comes prepared to do everything and anything he's been permitted by God to do to any Believer. Read Job.  

Are you now reconsidering your life's choices? Good. Are you taking stock in what's in your life that probably shouldn't be there? Good. Is your mind now considering new ways to walk worthy of your calling in Christ Jesus? Fantastic. This is what it means to be doers of the word and not just hearers only. This is where you develop your RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. Where you get to know Him and He gets to know you. Where you begin to grow in Christ's character. 

My Dear Reader I am speaking as much to myself as I am to all of you. We live in a culture of things. Accumulated things that are a waste of time, energy and effort in our attempts at growing in Christ. We sabotage our own walk. We lie to ourselves as to what an idol is and whether or not they're in our lives. We lie to ourselves as to not having sufficient time to spend with Jesus. Jesus said to take up our own cross and follow Him. Drop what you're considering more important than what's important to Jesus. 

Start walking in a manner worthy of your calling. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Aim Higher!

Aim Higher
by David Brenneman

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21.

The distractions of the world are there because of many things but the biggest is that of keeping the eyes of the children of God off their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

These things that we've included into our lives and the things that are knocking at the door of our hearts to be included might not be the best things to have been allowed into our hearts and minds.

We are peer pressured at a young age to include things, to add things, that those in our world say are trustworthy.  Not realizing that they will be just as much of a trap to us as it was to those who suggested them.

Traps are everywhere.  They invade our minds through ever increasingly intense methods.  We get enticed over and over again with the enemies hope that sooner or later we cave in. 

Aim higher in your desires.  Aim for what the Spirit of God aims to produce in your heart and mind.  Stand guard over your heart.  Really look at what is being protected in Ephesians 6. It's not our physical condition.  It's entirely the spiritual.

If indeed we believe all the Scriptures that teach us the great things about our Lord Jesus Christ then we ought to take seriously everything that the Spirit teaches us about the dangers toils and snares.

Take the Bible seriously about who and what you face in life or you're going to have great troubles and be standing there dumbfounded as to what's going on.

Aim higher.

Paul exhorted the churches to do this.  To look beyond what their eyes could see to that which is unseen.  When the light of Jesus Christ illuminates it exposes everything thought to have been hidden. 

"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:20-21.

We also settle for less when the riches of Christ Jesus are far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think are there before us.

How often do you think outside of your life?  How often do you think of things that are above?  How often are you striving with sin rather than just accepting it as a part of your life?

Aim higher than you have before.  Ask, seek, knock.  Pray on, pray over, pray through.  Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.  Ask that your eyes be opened to what Jesus is doing in your life rather than be ignorant of it.

Get dressed properly in the Lord.
Get an attitude of thanksgiving and ask Him to teach you more of what it means to be in Christ.

Aim Higher!

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Guard Your Hearts in This War

Guard Your Hearts in This War

by David Brenneman 

"And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” Mark 9:17-29.

"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1.

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit." Psalms 51:10-12.

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," Ephesians 6:13-18.

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete." 2 Corinthians 10:5-6.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." 1 Peter 5:8-10.

Guard your hearts my Dear Reader. There indeed was much to preface today's post but then again I only included what I am told to. There's certainly more that applies to guarding the heart. 

We make the gravest of mistakes in not starting early enough in life at guarding our hearts. 

We are indeed influenced by those involved in our upbringing. We are influenced by the peer pressures of others as we are developing in our school years. We are influenced by technology, television, music, entertainment, sports, the internet, political parties, supposed influncers, and even AI - artificial intelligence. 

We are bombarded by small doses of these influences and some make it through. We can easily make the mistake of believing we can take it, we can handle it, we're smart enough and strong enough to persevere. Never seeing that trap we're about to spring.

We live in this rapid-fire world that has no patience to wait for a proper answer. So what is perceived as good is ran with. 

We all do this. Regardless of what psychology says or purported experts say...what the Bible reveals is what is truth. The facts as revealed in Jesus's day are the same as what's in our world today. 

We are in the same spiritual war as Daniel as Jesus as Paul, Peter, James and Timothy. Satan's schemes are well known but all too often disregarded. Called anything but what they really are. Demon possessed people exist in our world today. Cast out demons move on to someone new who's not saved. Demons cannot inhabit the life of a Believer. They can seek to disrupt the lives of Believers. Satan's schemes are his attempts at lobbying for permission for those things.  

We really don't do enough to guard our hearts. The evidence is in the facts of how few Christians are daily in their Bible. It's not that they don't have the time, their choices made that take up their time are what's at fault. Want to really scare yourself about your phone/internet usage? Look at your combined history on your browser. Add in your television and or other social media usage. There's a scary picture. 

We need to guard our hearts. We need the honest report from God that if there be any wicked way in me to cleanse me of it. We need to cultivate our relationship with Jesus more than those things we have made important in our lives. We need to maybe sacrifice some sleep to maintain our time commitment to be reading our Bible or to be in prayer. We maybe need to shut off a few things or drop a few things that have honestly been consuming our hearts.  

We aren't still here after coming to Christ for our own self gratification or self anything. We are here as workers in His fields. We are here to learn to grow in Christ. We are here to be lights in this present darkness. We aren't here to be experts in useless things.  

We aren't here to be consumed by so much stuff that we have no prayer life. That we have no communion time with Jesus.

Our belief needs help. Our prayers ought to include asking for help with our own unbelief. Our prayers ought to be more about what Jesus wants of us than they are about us.

The last 10 months have been an eye opener of learning for me in the dedicated study time that took the place of some other things in my life. 

We can't know or understand how far removed from what God wants of us unless we pray with earnest to need more of Jesus in us than us in us. 

This battlefield of the mind is real. 

This war over the souls of mankind is real.  

This needing to ask for God's help in getting our hearts protected is essential. 

Lord help my unbelief! Lord grow me in you! Lord create in me a clean heart!

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org