Things Above Thoughts
TAT 131 The Inch
In Revelation 13:11–18 we read of one who has worldwide control over all humanity. Without their approval no one can buy or sell anything! While they have control of the entire world they are also the enemy of God. How is it possible that such a person could obtain such control over this earth? Possibly because of fear!
Most of us believe that if someone put a gun to our head and said “deny Christ or I will shoot” we would not fear, we would say “pull the trigger.” But the greater problem, a lest fearful problem, is a problem of inches. Back in the early 1900s the government tried to implement a Social Security program which would require everyone to receive a specific, individual, number. It was met with such resistance the government had to first implement it as a voluntary program and stated, in writing, that the numbers would not be used for identification purposes. My Social Security card, obtained in the 60s, has, in writing, in capital letters, the statement “FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND TAX PURPOSES – NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION.” The government has “inched” its way along to its present position with required Social Security and identification. Another example of “inching along” is realized in treaties the government made with some Native American tribes: “as long as the grass grows and the water flows.” Therefore it is true, it is not the gun we need to fear the most but the inch.
In this time of fear let us not establish a flimsy framework of control which can inch along into a worldwide system of control that can be used by a future antichrist.
On the bright side, it might be nearing the time for us to say – “just pull the trigger?”.
Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 108 The Cup or the Promises?
Recently I was asked why I always end my prayer with “please come quickly Lord Jesus.” Then someone said “yeah, it’s going to happen anyway so why pray for it?” This is something with which I constantly struggle. I pray for it because not only is it the last prayer/promise in the Bible (Rev. 22:20) but also because I want out of here!
Many of us know the last part of Philippians 4:6–7: “. . . let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” But would I pray that prayer if I met the qualifications listed in the first part of verse 6? Those qualifications are “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving . . .”? If I were not anxious and always thankful for everything, what prayer requests would I have?
In the garden, prior to the cross, Christ prayed: “. . . take this cup of suffering away from me. However your will must be done not mine.” (Luke 22:42 GWN) In the rest of the prayer, found in John 17, He prayed, not for more peace or strength to face His suffering, but for things that God had already promised would come about! He knew God’s will and that is what He prayed for!
Do I just want to get rid of the cup He has given me and get out of here, or do I, like Christ, accept His cup and pray, in accurate and specific detail, for His promises to be completed?
Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 107 Limping & Living
In Genesis 2:16–17 the Lord tells Adam not to eat the fruit from a specific tree or he would die. In Chapter three Adam eats the fruit but does not drop dead (Genesis 3:6). When the Lord comes upon the scene, naturally Adam is afraid, of the only thing he has to fear – death, and tries to hid himself from the Lord (3:8–10). The Lord examines the events of the eating of the fruit and starts handing out punishment to the parties involved (3:11–14). The Lord then curses the serpent and makes it crawl on its belly but He does not kill Adam and the woman nor does He even bring up the subject of the death which He has promised (3:14). At the point where we would expect the death penalty to be applied the Lord reveals that the humans are going to stay alive for awhile longer and fight the one who empowered the serpent (3:15)!
“And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; her offspring will attack your head, (*rulership) and you will attack her offspring’s heel (*an element needed for walking).” (Genesis 3:15 with *clarification NET)
Rather than applying complete and total death God left humanity on this earth to destroy Satan’s rulership (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20)!
Therefore with your injured heal, keep on limping through life, being obedient—not to Satan and his dying rulership but to God and His living, eternal rulership!
See also Philippians 3:8–16.
Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 106 Proper
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, (Rom. 1:28)
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the person of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)
I pray that I do not live my life by popular human standards but properly by the Lord’s standards.
Therefore I keep asking myself: How well do I know His Scriptures?
Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 105 Big & Little
Oswald Chambers wrote: “Readiness for God means that we are ready to do the tiniest little thing or the great big thing, it makes no difference.”
Whether the Lord calls me to big things or little makes no difference to me. BUT the results are important to me! I want to do little things and receive big results and blessings. I do not want to do big things and receive little results and blessings. Nor do I want to simply stand firm on a little godly ground in my life and receive big persecution!
Big blessings with little effort and little suffering, that’s me!
Things Above Thoughts
TAT 104 Truth, Testing, Intimacy
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words
Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. (Prov. 30:5–6)
Our opinions do not create, establish, or validate truth.
When we add our opinions to God’s word we become liars—enemies of Christ.
But when we obtain accurate information from God’s written word we can take refuge in Him—intimacy with Christ.
When God’s word in me is tested then my lies are revealed and my intimacy with Christ can grow.
Don’t fear testing it can lead to intimacy.
Things Above Thought
TAT 102 Adjustment #2
One of the benefits of living the eternal life is that when “the living” go to heaven there will not be an enormous adjustment.
Was that a hard thought to grasp? Consider these:
1. The New Testament is an eternal covenant (Isa. 55:3; Eze. 37:26; Heb. 13:20)!
2. Today we are to live by faith (Rom. 14:23; Heb. 11:6). Faith in its most simple definition is knowing God’s word (the Bible) and living by God’s word—know the Bible and live the Bible.
3. For all eternity we will live by faith, knowing God’s word and living by God’s word.
4. For those who learn to live by God’s word in this life, it will not be an enormous adjustment to live by God’s word for all eternity.
Just think about it, we can live the eternal life now!
On March 20, 2017 / Faith
Things Above Thought (TAT)
TAT #101 Adjustment
One of the benefits of living the eternal life is that when “the living” go to heaven there will not be an enormous adjustment.
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.
On February 13, 2017 / Faith
TAT Things Above Thoughts
TAT #99 Solid Faith
Is your faith strong? Maybe you don’t know much about the Bible but no matter what reasoning, arguments, or persuasions, you encounter you hold on to your faith. Consider this:
Obstinate: Perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion.
Faith: “So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17)
How many words of Christ do I know?
Things Above Thoughts
TAT #98 Important Gifts
But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love. (Eph. 4:15–16 NET)
God gave gifts to all of us so His body could and would grow up. While surveying all the gifts listed in the New Covenant I found that there are two gifts that are more important than all the others. What do you think those two are?
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The two most important gifts are yours and mine.
