Taking Thoughts Captive

    

Our old, carnal nature is very susceptible to temptation. Satan attempts to distract our passion for God by stirring up our former desires for sin. His lies remind us of forgotten memories, which trigger negative thoughts and behavior from our soul. The devil knows that if he controls our thoughts, he will also control our actions.

Discouragement often opens our ears to hear Satan’s lies, but focusing on the positive, beautiful aspects of God and His Kingdom keeps our mind on praiseworthy issues (Philippians 4:8). A grateful attitude will ensure our success in this area. The friends we keep, the people we work with and our other associates may influence us to sin or to walk away from God (1 Corinthians 15:33).

However, as we bring our thoughts into obedience to Christ, Satan has no power over us (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). As we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the former lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5:15-25). We seek to build God's eternal Kingdom, rather than to erect our own little kingdom here on earth (Colossians 3:1). Issues which grieve God's Spirit grieve us as well (Ephesians 4:30).

We can also meet with an older Believer for discipleship, to learn the elementary teachings of the Word (Hebrews 6:1). We devour the Word of God, by using a Bible translation we understand or by using a topical Bible. We attend Bible studies with our church family and in our community. God's Spirit perfects us in holiness with the mind and divine nature of Christ (2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Peter 1:4).

Prayer:

Father God, if we sow sin, we will reap corruption (Galatians 6:7-8). That is why You encourage us not to fellowship with unbelievers who walk in darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14-15; Job 4:8; Proverbs 22:8; Hosea 8:7). You pour out Your wrath on all ungodliness and unrighteousness, which prevent Your elect from knowing Your Truth. Submitting our life to Your Word and living according to Your precepts is the only way we can enjoy a fulfilled life on this earth and be ready to rule and reign with Christ in eternity.

Thought for the Day:

We have less of a desire to partake in carnal behavior every day that we spend with the Lord.

Salt and Light

 

God made His Saints as salt and light in our world (Matthew 5:13-16). As light, we reveal the hidden wounds in a sinner’s life; and as salt, we create a thirst in their soul. Sinners resent being reminded of their sin, and despise those who keep them accountable. Unbelievers often criticize Christians when we tell them the truth. As ungodliness increases with the growing apostasy in our world (2 Timothy 3:12-13), these people attempt to extinguish our light in order to hide their darkness.

When salt sits in the box, it clumps together and loses its usefulness (Matthew 5:13). It is only as we allow Jesus to pour us out, that we are any good to His Kingdom. Speaking God’s truth will season, cleanse, heal, preserve and prevent decay in the life of those who will listen and believe. Hopefully, those whose thirst we amplify will want to quench it with Living Water (John 7:37-39), which only comes through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:14-15).

Salt also enhances sweetness, such as bringing out the natural sweetness of melons. Expecting Christians to be sweet as pie, sinners resent the salty truth of God’s word. It is actually those preachers who dilute and sugar-coat the gospel of Christ that steer people in the wrong direction. They falsely imply that life in Christ is all about health, wealth and success. They disguise sin, calling it a weakness or saying it is biologically predestined; therefore, Jesus accepts it.

These lies lead people down the eternal path to destruction, rather than the narrow way of truth. Eternal joy comes from living in the presence of God for eternity. Although Authentic Believers all over the world are persecuted more and more, just like Jesus was during His lifetime (John 15:20), we are not deterred from sharing the truth of God’s Word. We do not merely listen to the Word and deceive our self, but we also obey God’s Word is Spirit and sincerity (James 1:22-24).

Prayer:

Father God, Your Word is truth and shall never pass away (John 17:17). Help us to be lights, which shine into this dark world, illuminating the way for whosoever will to come to salvation in Jesus’ name (Revelation 22:17). Until we walk in and share Your Truth, it simply remains a thought in our mind and does no good for anyone (2 Timothy 3:7). Your Spirit leads us into all truth (John 16:13). Give us the courage to continue to share it.

Thought for the Day:

The power of Christ working in us can accomplish more than we could ever imagine. – Ephesians 3:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Do You Call Me a Sinner?

The Old Testament contains the Law of God. It is our example of a perfect life. God’s Law contains all of the elements of moral purity, which God expects in our life. However, the main point of this matter is that no human being can live up to this standard. No one can keep every single command of the law. When we transgress the law, we commit sin (Isaiah 59:2). God cannot live in the presence of unholiness (Romans 3:26); therefore, sin separates us from our Holy God (Isaiah 59:2).

Good people do not automatically go to heaven; and bad people do not automatically go to hell. To God, sin is based more on our belief or lack of belief than it is on our behavior (Mark 16:16; Hebrews 3:19). In the Bible, there are no mortal and venial sins. To God, hate is equivalent to murder and lust to fornication (1 John 3:15; Matthew 5:22-28). We are the one, who actually condemn our self to hell forever, because of our sin of unbelief (John 3:18).

The way of the sinner is hard (Proverbs 13:15). Since we deserve to live in hell for eternity, because of our unbelief, Jesus paid our sin debt and died in our place (Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 2:24). If we trust in His sacrifice, He freely removes our sins and gives us His righteousness in its place (Romans 5:10; Romans 3:25; Colossians 1:20; 1 John 2:2, 4:10). God remembers our sin no more (Hebrews 8:12), and He casts them as far away from us as the east is from the west (Psalm 102:12).

When people refuse to listen to God and they walk away from Him instead, they are sinning (Leviticus 26:27). Many people consider evil to be a good thing, and they see good as an evil restriction to our personal freedoms (Isaiah 5:20). If we say we are not sinners, we are actually lying, and the truth does not reside within us (1 John 1:8). However, if we confess our sins, God faithfully forgives us (1 John 1:9), and we will dwell in His House forever (Psalm 23:6).

Prayer:
Father God, Your hand is long enough and Your ear is compassionate enough to hear the repentant and to save us all (Isaiah 59:1-2). Remind us that if we know the right thing to do, and yet do not do it, then we are sinning (James 4:17). Satan, the world and the fleshly nature tempt every living person to sin (James 1:14-15). However, authentic, Born Again Believers do not live in habitual sin. We may fall into temptation now and again, but we do not practice sin as a lifestyle (1 John 3:4, 9). As we walk in Your light, You cleanse us from our sins and restore our fellowship with You and with one another (1 John 1:7). Respect and love for You keep us from sinning (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Thought for the Day:

According to His foreknowledge of our life, God predestined that His Spirit would conform His Saints into the likeness of His Son. – Romans 8:29