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?”.

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.

Happiness

On June 13, 2016 / Character, Endurance, Joy

Things Above Thought

TAT # 85 Happiness!

Much is being said, written about, preached on, televised, announced, blogged, and tweeted about how God wants Christians to be happy. It’s almost as if Christ came, suffered, and died to make us happy. But I wonder what made Paul so happy that he was –

imprisoned, beaten so many times the number is not recorded, in danger of death, given 195 lashes, beaten with rods three times, stoned, three times, shipwrecked and adrift for 24 hours, frequently in dangers from natural disasters, robbers, Jews and Gentiles, and dangers in the city, the wilderness, on the sea, and even those clamming to be brethren but were not. He even labored with hardship through many sleepless nights, went hungry and thirsty, was often cold and exposed and on top of all that he lived with the daily pressure of concern for all the churches. (2 Cor. 11:23–28) ☺

And what made Christ soooo happy that He –

started His ministry not with an ordination ceremony and then a celebration and a parade but by spending 40 days alone in the desert without food and then tempted by the devil? After that He suffered rejection by His countrymen, His handpicked disciples, and the religious leaders of the religious system handed down by His Father. And if that were not enough He endured the shame and suffering of a trial by those same religious leaders and then the government also turned its back on Him and handed Him over to the worst death any human has ever faced. ☺

So what made them happy? How about –

. . . Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2 emphasis added)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4 emphasis added)

Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. (Heb. 11:1 GWN emphasis added)

When God’s heavenly, eternal goals don’t make us happy we might need to spend a little more time with Paul and Christ. ☺

Dead or Alive?

On May 31, 2016 / Endurance

Things Above Thought
TAT # 84 WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE?

Some estimate that over a million people followed Moses out of Egypt. But it is known that only three men from the original adult generation made it into God’s promised land. Not even Moses made it! The great and obedient warriors Joshua and Caleb did enter the promised land. While Joshua was just as strong as he was when he left Egypt the third man had to be carried in. Even though the third man had lost his physical strength his witness to Israel is one of the greatest in the entire history of Israel.

The third man was a slave! But yet he was carried out of Egypt! He never spoke a word to anyone that left Egypt! He never even spoke a word while they were in the wilderness for 40 years! But yet his witnesses to Israel was great!

The third man was Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. He became second in authority in Egypt and answered only to his master, the Pharaoh but he remained a slave. He saved his family and the entire future nation of Israel, by bringing them to Egypt and feeding them during a severe famine. But all that is not the great witness of Joseph. When Joseph died he ordered that he was not to be buried in Egypt but only in God’s promised land. Therefore Joseph’s body was embalmed and placed in a coffin (Genesis 50:24–26).

For 400 years Israel did not have a Bible, they did not have a written Word from God, they did not hear God speak to them, and they did not have a prophet – they only had Joseph’s coffin (Joshua 24:32)!

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of (dead) witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Heb. 12:1 clarification added).

WANTED: ALIVE AND DEAD!
Will you join the cloud?

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All TATs can be found at www.things-above.org under “Blog”

IF

On May 25, 2016 / Endurance

Things Above Thought
TAT # 83 IF

As the old saying goes: “Dynamite comes in small packages.” In the Bible the small word “if” is dynamic, it reveals great actions and great challenges.

SOME GREAT ACTIONS:
If – I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)

I am the door; – if – anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9)

For – if – we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (Rom. 6:5)

So – if – the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

SOME GREAT CHALLENGES
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “– If – you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; (John 8:31)

Jesus answered and said to him, “– If – anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. (John 14:23)

for – if – you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but – if – by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Rom. 8:13)

If – we endure, we will also reign with Him; (2 Tim. 2:12)

To read 1500+ more of these please refer to your Bible.
And remember:
If – we make up our own rules we are living for ourselves and our pleasure.
If – we live by His rules the world will hate us, we will suffer, and we will store up great treasure in heaven (John 15:18ff; Luke 12:33–34).

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All TATs can be found at www.things-above.org under “Blog”

Hard Times

On May 9, 2016 / Endurance, Maturing

Things Above Thought
TAT # 81 HARD TIMES

This TAT is for the mature who are going through hard times.

Even if he slays me, I will hope in him. . . (Job 13:15 NET)

Living

On May 2, 2016 / Christian Basics, Faith

Things Above Thought
TAT # 81 LIVING

Recently I began to wonder what it would take to get me well and as the old saying goes, “to once again be placed among the living.” That led me to think about all the things that it takes to live here in America. Of course the basic necessities came to mind first: food, air, water, some degree of shelter, and rest. Then the secondary items came to mind: clothing, a job, and transportation. Then all the other “stuff” started flooding into my mind: education, money, credit cards, a good medical plan, haircuts, vacations, a hobby for mental relaxation, a lawnmower, a retirement plan, a savings account for a “rainy day”, a TV (to stay well-informed), a phone, a radio, a washer and dryer, and even mouse traps and flypaper. Oh my, how much – stuff – it takes to be placed “among the living”! After all if you do not have most of that stuff you would not be considered as “among the living” you would just be “existing.” Christ had a different take on how to be placed “among the living:”

But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matt. 4:4 NET)

He was quoting from Deuteronomy:

So He humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the LORD’s mouth. (Deut. 8:3)

Be humble, be fed His Word and only then is it possible for me to be “among The Living.”

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?

The Battle

On April 18, 2016 / Endurance, Strengthing, Suffering, Trials, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #79 The Battle

I need the battle. Without the battle there is no struggle. Without the struggle there can be inactivity and that can be confused with victory and peace.

When I’m in a period of inactivity I let my guard down and one of Satan’s flaming arrows finds its mark. The battle then returns but now I’m wounded and weak, down on one knee; facing the dirt not the heavens. What do I do?

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. (Eph. 6:13)

Even when I’m wounded, weak, and down I will once again take up the full armor of God and stand firm against Satan’s attacks.

Let us not be inactive, it is now time to take up the full armor and prepare for the evil day – the battle is coming.

Why?

On April 11, 2016 / Endurance, Faith, Trials, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #79 Why

Many are starting their weeks with a common question “Why?”.
Remember;

Fact #31. I must have a heavenly view of life and eternal goals before my earthly life will make any sense (The book of Job & Col. 3:1–2)

Fact #32. The logic of cause and effect, which only considers the physical realm and physical information, is incomplete and inaccurate because it does not consider the spiritual/heavenly information (Job chapters 3–37).

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All Numbered Facts are provided in the free pamphlet “A Glimmer of Light”; Go to “Publications/Free Publications/Glimmer of Light”.

Matrix or Message?

On March 21, 2016 / Christian Basics, Darkness & Light

Things Above Thought
TAT #77 Matrix or Message?

“The deadliest Pharisaism today is not hypocrisy, but unconscious unreality.”
(Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest: Selections for the year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering. March 16th reading)

When our unconscious unreality sets in we truly believe what we have created is real and godly!
● In the garden the woman’s unconscious unreality was “nor shall you touch it” (Gen. 3:3).
● Some have an unconscious unreality standard by which they judge others (Mat. 7:1–2).
● Some have an unconscious unreality of salvation and godly living (Mat. 7:22–23).
● Pilate questioned: “What is truth?” and Job declared: “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (John 18:38; Job 42:3 NASB, underline added)

The only thing that destroys unconscious unreality is conscious knowledge of God’s written Word and an obedient life to Christ based on that accurate biblical knowledge.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32 NASB, underline added)

“ but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7 NASB)

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21 NASB, underline added)

Our unreal matrix or His real message? Choose this day which you will live in (Joshua 24:15).

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Things Above Thoughts