Goals Archives - Things Above Ministries

TAT 130 Goals

On February 20, 2024 / Christian Values, Goals, Maturing

TAT 130 Goals

Heb. 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

Eph. 5:15–16 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

“Making the most of your time” is in the middle voice; that means when we make the most of our time we will take part in the results. As one grammarian stated it: “to buy up for one’s self or one’s advantage.” Here in Ephesians & in Hebrews the goals are for eternal spiritual rewards. Are you “buying up” spiritual rewards for yourself? A good weekend project might be to list your top 5 eternal goals you have for yourself.

Two of my goals are:
1. To have free movement throughout all the people and beings in heaven (Zech. 3:7).
2. To have (produce) – a very small fire – on my day (1 Cor. 3:15).

The Economy, God’s Plan or Reverse Logic

On November 27, 2017 / Blessing, Eternal, Faith, Goals

Things Above Thought
TAT 120 The Economy – God’s Plan or Reverse logic?
(Area #3 of testing our spiritual thinking.)

For the profit of godly wisdom is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. (Proverbs 3:14)

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (Philippians 3:8; see also Philippians 3:8–14)

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)

The physical riches of God’s temple in the OT were almost un-comprehendible. God also gave riches to some rebellious nations – when it was necessary to His plan. God had given the riches of a wonderful land to the rebellious and sinful Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Then He removed those riches and gave that land to another rebellious people—Israel (Deut. 9:9–6). He did this at the proper time – according to His plan (Gen. 46:3).

Bottom Line: The person thinking spiritually does not have a personal value system based on reverse logic—that physical prosperity means one is godly, and that a healthy national economy is the source of peace and security ( Exodus 3:8; Ecclesiastes 6:2; Luke 12:15–23). One who is thinking spiritually knows and understands God’s plan and therefore values godly wisdom, knowledge about Christ, and a godly love above money. Such people reveal their godly value system with their money.

Health and Body Building

On November 13, 2017 / Endurance, Faith, Goals, Strengthing

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #118 Health and Body Building

We are spiritual beings living in a physical world but do we view and perceive the physical world from a spiritual mind set (Colossians 3:1–2; Romans 8:4–5)? Do we truly believe that spiritual thinking and a spiritual active character impacts our physical world? Over the next few TATs we will examination five areas of our lives that can provide answers to that question.

Area #5 Personal Health – Body Building
A healthy lifestyle is to eat right, exercise and get plenty of rest. Many of us have heard this all of our lives. Ecclesiastes 8:12 says that even a sinner may lengthen his life but is that a good thing? Do we actually want to live longer in a sinful state? Consider these points:
Eat Right: Christ told us that we cannot live on bread alone but that we should live on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He also spoke about living, eternal water (Matthew 4:4; John 4:10–14).
Exercise: 1 Timothy 4:7b–8 tells us “bodily discipline (exercise) is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Proverbs 4:10–22 tells us that godliness is healthy. Psalm 38:3 and 31:10 tells us that sin produces unhealthy bones. (Even during times of unjust suffering, when illness may come upon those living a righteous life, godliness can see us through that illness (Job)).
Rest: Lastly Hebrews chapter 4 tells us there is a 24/7 godly rest for God’s people who are obedient to God.
The bottom line here is: If we are focused more on our physical health than our spiritual health, just what type of body are we building? (See also 1 Cor. 3:10–14)

When and Who

On September 25, 2017 / Blessing, Endurance, Faith, Goals

Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 117 When and Who

Question: God does not contradict Himself but does the Bible?
The two verses below, from the same chapter in Hebrews, seem to be in contradiction.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, (Hebrews 11:39)

Answer: The answer is found in the same chapter.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13–16)

Many of God’s rewards are spiritual eternal blessing and will only be completely acquired after death (Ephesians 1:3–14). If we are only thinking about and looking for God’s temporary earthly blessings then we have reason to raise another question: “Are we trying to follow Christ to please God or to obtain earthly blessings for ourselves?” When do you want your blessings, now or forever? Your answer reveals who you are trying to please.

Focus

On February 28, 2017 / Faith, Goals

Things Above Thought (TAT)
TAT 100 Focus

Now faith is the assurance of things assured of , the conviction of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)

I seem to focus on the good old days and on my earthly goals. BUT, I tend make the past better than it was and my earthly goals are seldom met. Hebrews 11:14–16 and Phil. 3:13–14 make it clear that God’s people focus on the His assured goals in the eternal future—the things He has assured us of but that we do not yet see.

As I now think about it, there is little, if any, assurance for me in the good old days, and zero assurance concerning my earthly goals. I think I need to adjust my focus to things with more assurance—the only things with any real assurance.

Established

On November 21, 2016 / Endurance, Eternal, Goals

THINGS ABOVE THOUGHTS
TAT # 96 Established

The world is still in turmoil. Just when we think we have established political systems there is rebellion against them. Business practices that have been established for decades change overnight. Well established personal relationships are destroyed over minor disagreements. Everything that is well established and solid continues to change and disappear. Someone once said, “The only constant in this world is change.” Another has said “The only certainties in life are taxes and death.” But the older I grow the more I see those things which we thought were well established and permanent run off the pages of our life like watercolors running down a page of paper in the rain. It is then I praise God for one simple verse:

The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You. (Ps. 102:28)

Serve God in this melting world and be established before Him forever.

Death Stare

On June 20, 2016 / Eternal, Goals

Things Above Thought
TAT # 86 The Death Stare of a Dead Camel

Remember the rich young man in Matthew 19? He was rich and he had also kept the OT law but he knew he was “dead” so he asked Christ: “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” He did not like the answer and walked away. Do you like all the answers Christ gives you in the Bible? If not why?

Who do you think the rich man was trying to please? Certainly not Christ.
What did he consider to be valuable? Certainly not eternal life.
Who are you trying to please?
What do you consider valuable?

When our goals are not eternal then we have the death stare of a dead camel.
The rich young “dead camel” had that stare (Mat. 19:16–24).
If you are staring at your earthly riches and also at the eye of the needle then you have the same death stare of a dead camel.

Prayer

On April 25, 2016 / Christian Basics, Endurance, Goals, Heavenly Witness, Prayer

How to pray? Make sure you know for what you are praying.

For what should we pray? For health? For safe travel? For a successful operation? For a good business decision? For a new whatever ? To handle money wisely? A good retirement? To be happy? To be safe? To have a nice house? To have a safe and happy family? That everybody else be godly so it will be “good” for me?

The purpose of this enlightenment is that through God’s spiritual family the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 3:10 NET, clarification added)

And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, (Heb. 11:36–12:1 NET)

Or should what we pray for be the strength to be obedient so that God’s wisdom and glory will be revealed no matter how it affects us?

New Country

On February 22, 2016 / Christian Basics, Faith, Goals

Things Above Thought

TAT #75 The New Country

After watching all the political hoopla on TV I am more thankful than ever that I have dual citizenship. I don’t speak much about it but many years ago I applied for and received dual citizenship status. It has taken some time and some adjustment but America is no longer the country of my primary interest. I am now making plans to move to my primary country of interest. I don’t know how long the preparations will take but that is of little importance to me. I rejoice in the fact that my primary country of interest adheres to God’s laws and treats its citizens with honesty, love, and fairness. If I could afford to move today I would but I have to resolve my debts here before I can move.

My primary country of interest:

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. . . . But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Heb. 11:13–16)

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, (Eph. 2:19)

My debts:

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another . . . (Rom. 13:8)

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. . . . What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge . . . (1 Cor. 9:16–18)

Suffering #5

On November 23, 2015 / Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Goals, Suffering, Trials, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #61
Suffering #5

Jesus Christ came and enable us to be obedient to Him. Can obedience bring happiness? Absolutely! Will it always bring happiness in this life? Absolutely not! (Just ask Job, John the Baptist, or Paul.) Is obedience better than happiness? Absolutely!

If our sole purpose of obedience is to make us happy now – who are we serving?

If we suffer in this life for His eternal glory we will be happy for all eternity.

Fact #27 Even when I’m hurting, questioning why, and wanting to die, it is still possible to be in the center of God’s will (Job1:21–22; 3:1–26; James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:6–7).

(The numbered facts above come from the pamphlet “A Glimmer of Light” found on the web site.)
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