by David Brenneman
"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance." Titus 2:1-2.
"Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect." Titus 2:6-10.
"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:1-18.
The Idols That Impede Your Faith
As we direct our focus to the Father and wait patiently for His will to open wide the way in our lives, we may discover that there are many things standing in the way of deepening our relationship with God and exercising our faith in Him.
These strongholds—or idols—are very subtle. They steal into your life covertly, rooting themselves in your emotions and becoming more important to you than God.
"No one can identify an idol except the Lord… and He sees your heart clearly. Anything that competes for your total devotion to God is an idol in your life. So what is it in you? What are those things—hidden or known to you—that stand in your way of waiting patiently for the Lord’s will to manifest in your life? Ask the Father to reveal them to you. He’s promised He’ll be faithful to show you if and where an idol exists. But be very careful that you don’t rationalize away what He reveals to you. If the Lord puts His finger on something in your life, then set your mind to deal with it immediately.
Here are some common idols in our lives: Our Own Understanding, A Sense of Security, Goals and Dreams, Relationships, The Past, Hobbies." - Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley 'Waiting on God'
Our deeds, our thoughts and actions, even our intentions are more often than not in our own understanding. The things we started to think about but dismissed. The things we've added to our lives that we don't see anything wrong with. We see them as things to enjoy but don't see that they might be really impeding our walk with Jesus.
In what Paul wrote to Titus we read how young men are to be and see that building progression to what one is to be as a mature man. We read in James of the tongue...and know what Jesus said was the literal heart of the matter...from out of our hearts comes everything and we know it finds its way to our lips.
We have to ask Jesus what the strongholds are, what the idols are, what is impeding our walk with Jesus because we cannot trust ourselves to know on our own.
Proverbs 3:5-6 are quotes by themselves a lot but include verse 7 add verse 13.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil." Proverbs 3:5-7
"How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding." Proverbs 3:5-7.
When we read, understand these things and add in Matthew 6:33 "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." Things take a different turn in our understanding.
The often missed thing in the Gospels is the Disciples seeking out where Jesus went. Seeking Him should be our thought of the day.
I completely agree with Dr. Stanley on the spiritual truth that we cannot trust ourselves to be fully honest with ourselves about everything pertaining to ourselves with regards to sin's utter sinfulness.
Seemingly innocent things are taking us away from giving our whole heart to Jesus. We are insensitive to the point that the thought won't ever cross our minds.
Read that again.
We have allowed things in our lives to shape our attitudes towards ourselves and others...by our own understanding. Not by way of the Word of God because we've never considered or conceived in our understanding to ask God what He says about these things. We understand them as fun and harmless...why?...think about this HARD...because the WORLD says they are harmless!
We can more easily let the world sway our thinking and what maturity is in Christ than to seek out and apply what the Bible says that we're to live as, as Ambassadors for Christ.
When some think of the helmet of salvation...this helmet has a mouth guard, it isn't a hard hat. It protects the head all over.
We can be so easily swayed by people, both the mislead Believers as well as well meaning unbelieving in our lives. This takes us directly to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus our Lord.
We aren't to be wise in our own eyes but seek out the will of God for us. We cannot trust our hearts to make the right choices on our own. God's will for each of us in Christ is our sanctification. Our becoming more like Jesus rather than our world in which we live.
Have you asked Jesus what strongholds that are in your life that need to go? Don't think you have any? There's your first mistake. We all are human and live among humans therefore everyone is either on the Lord’s side or the devil's side.
Seemingly innocent stuff keeps the Word of God from progressing through our world. People see us n don't see Jesus...to our shame and dishonor.
Stop and reflect. Stop and ask Jesus to show you what's a stronghold, what really is an idol in your life.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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