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?”.

Timing

On October 30, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Helper, Strengthing, Witnessing  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #42
Timing

“Tell no man”
I loved the April 7th reading of Oswald Chambers. How many times have you heard a preacher, teacher, or lecturer tell us don’t tell anyone about something? None! Yet in Mark 9:9 Christ Himself is telling these two men not to tell what they had seen – UNTIL – He was risen.

The proper truth shared at the proper time is always important.
Let our timing be perfect. Study and be prepared to do so.

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FOCUS!

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Goals, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #41
Focus

Doing the Lord’s will is not always enjoyable. I know that sounds like heresy to some Christians but look at Job, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Paul, and of course our Lord Jesus Christ, they all had lives of great suffering but they endured. Why were they able to do so? I also know I am called to suffer (Heb.12:2; Col. 1:24–28; 2 Timothy 2:3).
James tells me that suffering can make me perfect and complete (James 1:2–4). But why is it important for me to be complete and perfect? Hebrews 11 and 2 Tim. 2:12 answers that question – to prepare me for a particular spot in God’s eternal kingdom. I know my salvation was achieved by Christ and is secure but there is more possible, (1 Corinthians 3:14–15; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5).
The strange thing about my suffering is that when I focus on the joys, comforts, and present rewards on this earth I become less comfortable and less intimate with my Lord Jesus. Present earthly joys, comforts, and rewards blind me from the joys of my present sufferings. But when I focus on the future eternal joys and intimacy with Christ then my present sufferings seem to disappear.
It is my eternal focus that strengthens my present endurance in all my sufferings and turns those sufferings into joy (Heb. 12:2). Look at the focus of each of the following verses.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.
(Heb11:1 NET Bible)

For if only in this life – I – have hope in Christ, – I – should be pitied more than anyone – else.
(1 Cor. 15:19 NET Bible, personalization added)

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. 11:16)

fixing our eyes on 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)

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Failure & Living

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Faith, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #40
Failure & Living

None of us live a consistent righteous life as Job did.
Some claim to be so sinful that they never see hope.
Some just keep on enjoying their sin!
Others keep waiting for the Lord to magically transform them into a perfect person.
Many join a comfortable religious group and settle into comfortable ruts.

A few try to recognize, acknowledge, and accept their sin, then repent from it and start again.

“Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again, but the wicked will be brought down by calamity.” (Pro 24:16 NET)

Let us not be discouraged by our earthly sin; let’s get up again and stand firm in our faith.
And let us be those who encourage and help others to – look up, “get up” and stand.

“I would rather fail trying to live for my Lord than to live as a failure.” (Anonymous)

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Regret & Reality

On October 30, 2015   /   Faith, Strengthing, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #39
Regret and Reality

If we have not had regrets we have not dealt with reality.

If we have regrets we are not dealing with reality.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

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Simple & Abundant

On October 30, 2015   /   Endurance, Faith, Strengthing, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #38
Simple and Abundant

The entire human race was plunged into sin because Adam and the woman took one bite out of one piece of fruit. Job was blessed abundantly simply because he forgave his friends (Job 42:10). Naaman was healed of leprosy because he simply washed in the Jordan river rather than doing a great and might work of his own (1 Kings 5:1–14). Moses was kept out of the promised land because he simply struck a stone with his staff (Num. 20:11–12). We are saved into an abundant spiritual life because of one person (Rom. 5:19).

Many are now telling us that we all can do great things. Hollywood releases movie after movie of simple people doing great things, becoming great people, and we all cheer at the end. The countries of the world have a “New World Order” in mind and are looking for great people to lead us into that “new” frontier. A bigger and better world order with abundance for everybody.

But what about the simple things that God asks us to do every day of our lives? He simply asks us to be obedient to Him and then to wait for His blessings ………………………………………… even if they come after death ……………………………………… and last for all eternity (Heb. 11:1–40).

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Improvement or Perfection

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Eternal, Satan, Strengthing, Trials  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #37
Improvement or Perfect?

Paul lived under a dictator who demanded that the citizens revere him as a god and killed all who disesteemed him. To improve on that problem Paul wrote volumes on government improvement? No he wrote:
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, (Titus 3:1)

Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1)

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. (1 Peter 2:13–14)

Paul suffered much for his faith—many imprisonments, close to death several times, 195 lashes, beaten with rods three times (number of lashes unknown), stoned, three times, shipwrecked and drifted for 24 hours, in frequent danger from and in the environment, in the cities, also from robbers, from his own countrymen (Jews), from Gentiles, and from false brethren. He labored through hardship, many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst (often without any food), and without proper clothing to protect him from the elements. Apart from all that, there was the daily pressure of concern for God’s spiritual family (2 Corinthians 11:23–28). To improve on that problem Paul wrote volumes on the “getting even” aspect of faith? No he wrote:

malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
(Titus 3:2)

It seems to me that Paul had a “hidden” agenda:

“for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11–13 emphasis added)

Paul’s “hidden” agenda was equipping us so that we could work in the service of building up (perfecting) other saints, helping each other mature to the fullness of Christ.

So how’s all our “building” coming along today? Are we working for human improvement or godly perfection?

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Darkness or Light

On October 30, 2015   /   Darkness & Light, Eternal, Satan, Sin  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #36
Darkness or Light

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God (Act 26:18)

I love Paul’s call. He was sent to the Gentiles to free them from the darkness of Satan’s rulership so that they may turn to God. But how was he to do that? He was to “open their eyes.” Today we have a rampant problem with this and it is an ancient one:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;  (Isaiah 5:20)

Peter had this problem: after the Lord told him about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection, Peter rebuked Him because he held the “light” of a worldly view of suffering and death. So the Lord said to him:

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Matthew 16:23)

Where is your mind today? Is it on the “light” of human interest or on the “darkness” of God’s interest?

Let us set our minds on things above and live in God’s wonderful true Light.

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Foolish or Faithful

On October 29, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Goals, Saints, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #35
Foolish or Faithful

The Colossian believers are identified as “saints and faithful” (Colossians 1:2). “Saint” is a believer’s heavenly and eternal status. “Faithful”refers to one’s earthly walk with the Lord. The Galatians are identified as “deserters” and “foolish” (1:6; 3:1).  Both appear to be God’s children!

What kind of child are you, a foolish deserters or a faithful?

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Don’t Be Satisfied

On October 29, 2015   /   Bible, Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Faith, Goals, Reigning, Strengthing, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #34
Don’t Be Satisfied

Are you satisfied with your biblical knowledge? Are you satisfied with the frequency with which you learn biblical knowledge? Are you satisfied with your biblical study habits? Are you satisfied with your ability to help others understand the Bible? Are you satisfied that the biblical knowledge you have is accurate? Don’t be satisfied with biblical knowledge!

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,
(Col. 1:9– 10)

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