Songs

On October 28, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Satan, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #22
Songs

The information about the conflict between God and Satan is not new. Ever since this hidden information was revealed to Paul it has been readily available to us (Acts 26:18; Ephesians 3:9–10; 2 Corinthians 2:11). Our mothers and fathers even sang about it!

“For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe”
(A Mighty Fortress Is Our God)

“Though the wrong seems so oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.”
(This Is My Father’s World)

“The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for low, his doom is sure;”
(A Mighty Fortress Is Our God)

“Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heaven be one.”
(This Is My Father’s World)

“Sure I must fight, if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord”
(Am I a Soldier of the Cross?)

“Let earth adore, let angels minds inquirer no more”
(And Can It Be That I Should Gain)

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.”
(Come, Thou Fount)

Stay strong and keep singing, you are in good company (Hebrews 12:1)!

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Heavenly Witness

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Heavenly Witness, Kingdom, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #20
Witness

No body knows the troubles you’ve seen!

You have tried to be faithful to God and you have seen much hurt and pain from all the confrontations and battles. Some of the pain remains with you today. But understanding yesterday’s battles from God’s perspective lessens today’s pain.

The Good of the battle:

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)

The Glory of the battle:

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan– a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church (that’s you) the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 3:9–10 NET clarification and emphasis added)

In heaven – your pain is known and God is glorified by your faithfulness – in heaven!

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Spiritual Values

On October 28, 2014   /   Bible, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, Heavenly Witness, Suffering, Trials  

Things Above Thoughts (TAT)
Spiritual Values

Have you ever considered what God thought about Job?

When Job was rich and had a wonderful family and was “the greatest lf all the men of the east” God thought:

“There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (1:9)

When Job was dirt poor, with no family and probably the least of all the men of the east God thought:

“There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil.” (2:3)

After Job had verbally rebuffed his friends and spoken about his confusion with how God had dealt with him God thought:

Job was His servant and had spoken what was right about God! (42:7–8)

No where in the book of Job does God think any less of Job because of his physical situation or his mental confusion and honest examination of God. God only thinks about Job’s righteousness.

What do you think about? What does God think about you?

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Pitiful Me

On October 27, 2014   /   Christian Basics, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, God's Will for Me, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts (TAT)

Pitiful Me

Linda Ronstadt sings a sang “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me” it always reminds me of American Christianity. Yes, the Lord has shed many blessings on us but most American Christians still seem to fall into the “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me” category. If we are only seeking a blessing from Him this week we probably fall into the “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me” category. Why is that?
Consider these two points:

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
(1 Corinthians 15:19 NIV)

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)

So are you looking for a blessing –  this week – or for those that will last – for all eternity?

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Our Great Witness

On October 26, 2014   /   Bible, Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, God's Will for Me, Heavenly Witness, Kingdom, Saints, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Whether any person sees us or not each thought we think and each action we take is observed! Our words and our lives are always a present witness. This is what the Lord revealed in Ephesians 3:8–10:

To me (Paul)– less than the least of all the saints– this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan– a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church (God’s spiritual family) the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. (NET Emphasis added)

Our smallest thoughts and actions are always observed in heaven and have huge affects on certain heavenly rulers and authorities for all eternity!

Therefore it can be said that the results of what we say and do today will precede us into heaven and accompany us throughout all eternity. So I say: “Let us watch the small pieces of our lips and lives, they are more important than we know.”

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gETTING lOST iN tHE wORLD

On October 25, 2014   /   Bible, Christian Basics, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, God's Will for Me, Kingdom, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Monday, for most, the first day in the work week; why are you going to work?
Are you working to earn a living? Are you Living?
Are you working to support your family? Are you Supportive?
Are you working for your retirement? How does His Retirement look?
Are you working because it’s expected of you? Are you meeting His Expectations?
Are you working for worldly reasons or for His Heavenly Reasons?

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Matthew 6:33)

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Holding Fast

On October 18, 2014   /   Bible, Christian Basics, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

“What, if anything, helps Americans grow in their faith? When the Barna Group asked that question, people offered a variety of answers—prayer, family or friends, reading the Bible, having children but church did not even crack the top 10 list.

Although church involvement was once a cornerstone of American life, U.S. adults today are evenly divided on the importance of attending church. While half (49%) say it is “somewhat” or “very” important, the other 51% say it is “not too” or “not at all” important. The divide between the religiously active and those resistant to churchgoing impacts American culture, morality, politics and religion.” (barna.org or barnagroup.org)

Are people leaving the church or is the church leaving accurate Bible teaching and His disciples are seeking other sources of teaching? Today is a call to arms:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:22–25 NASV)

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Understanding Trials

On October 15, 2014   /   Bible, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, Suffering, Trials  

Going through a trial that no one understands? You are in good company. Here is a partial list of some who were misunderstood; Noah, Joseph, Job, Moses, Hosea, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and Jesus Christ. (And I have to add that many, if not most, of the godly women in Scripture were misunderstood and taken for granted by the secular society.)

My favorite example of a misunderstood trial is Job. No human, not even Job, was told why he was going through the trial—it remained a mystery. But we are not Job. God has revealed more to us than He revealed to Job. Consider these three points:

1. Job chapter one and two reveals that Job’s trial was to settle a dispute to the heavenly host;
2. Ephesians 3:8–11 reveals that the purpose of God’s Spiritual Family (the church) is to reveal His wisdom to the heavenly host;
3. Ephesians 6:12 reveals we are still involved in that heavenly dispute.

So be encouraged; it’s not that no one understands your trial it’s only that no human understands your trial.

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