Suffering

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Strengthing, Suffering, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #57
Suffering #1

Fact #30 Trials can come into my life that are for God’s purposes (Job 1:7).

Why do I have to suffer?
Why is there so much suffering in the world?
Why does the Bible sometimes make suffering sound like a good thing?

Suffering is greatly misunderstood. Some say: “If there is a God why does He allow suffering?” I think what many are actually saying is: “If there is a God and He is in control why is He allowing me to suffer?” Some preachers say God wants you to be continually happy and prosperous but  Job, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, James, and Paul disagree. While there is a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and a joy that is from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) there is also a call to suffering:

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” (Philippians 1:29)

There are times that God wants us to suffer!

Enjoy struggling with that thought and wait for the next TAT ☺.

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My Plans

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, God's Will for Me  

Things Above Thought
TAT #55
So what about my plans?

I understand that God has a universal plan for me but since He has not yet revealed a specific plan for me can I make my own plans for my life? Absolutely! But be careful not to be like the people in Numbers 14:40–45 who made their own plans and then called them the will of God. When they tried to carry them out they were struck down by the enemy. Be like David in 1 Chronicles 22:7–9 who made plans to build a house for the Lord and called them his plans. Even though the Lord did not allow David to build the temple, He honored David’s plan by letting him provide most of the building materials for the temple.

The Lord loves the truth and He loves it when you think like Him! Therefore, make your plans to glorify Him and speak truly about them. Glorify God with your godly motives and thinking and when you make your own plans –  call them yours. AND, never forget His primary plan for your life is to glorify Him by learning the Bible and living by its rules—God’s universal plan for us all.

Glorify God by imitating God and taking responsibility for your plans and actions –  just like David did (Ephesians 5:1; Job 2:3).

Fact # 33: “I am here to serve God and carry out His plan, not to have God serve me and carry out my plans.” (Job 38; Isaiah 43:7).

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Direction

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Faith, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #49
Direction

Well it seems many now have concerns about the direction of the USA.
As most of you know I love to confuse an issue with another question. So let me ask that other question. What is the direction of your life?

So grab your Bibles and let me “clarify” the above question with the following questions.

Who is your God, the government or Jesus Christ?
Do you love with a godly love or with the love that Adam loved Eve in Genesis 3:6? (Cross reference that with 3:17.)
If you were unable to communicate by words, in any way, and your only witness was your life, what would God think about your witness/life?
Which country do you love the most USA or your Hebrews 11:13 & 16 country?

Part of the activity of Things Above Ministries is to encourage and strengthen the remnant from the god of this world who appears to be rapidly constructing his single world government. And as he spreads this government the world gets darker. Therefore let each one of us “stand firm” on and in God’s light. But not just with words but with our entire being.

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Fruit

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Values, Faith, Strengthing, Suffering  

Things Above Thought
TAT #48
Fruit

Some questions have rolled in about the supreme court ruling requiring all states to recognize gay marriage. Please let me point out two more facts: 1) A poll revealed that the president’s popularity increased immediately after the ruling. 2) Most of the Christians I have talked to are disturbed about the situation. But I think there is a more disturbing situation, e.g.:

“If the roots of the tree are rotten don’t complain about the fruit.”

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Spiritual Minded

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

Things Above Thought
TAT #47
Spiritual Minded

Colossians 3:1–2 says to set your mind on things above? Does that mean we are to spend our days thinking about all the objects and beings in heaven? No, it means we are to be spiritually, or godly, minded. “So how do we maintain a godly mind throughout the day?”

The best way I know of is by the rule found in Deuteronomy 6:7:

You shall teach them (the Scriptures) diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

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Prepared?

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Endurance, Faith, Helper, Strengthing, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #44
Prepared

Hostility toward God’s chosen is growing worldwide.
Are you prepared for an obedient life to the LORD in light of this?
Really?
How have you prepared for it?

Let’s go through a short check list:
1.    Strong, intimate and consistent relationships with members of God’s spiritual family?
2.    Consistent Bible study?
3.    Consistent prayer throughout the day?
4.    Recognizing and responding to the Holy Spirit tugging on your heart and working on your character?
5.    A desire for God to use you to glorify Him with your coworkers and worldly friends who are now becoming contentious and hostile toward God’s chosen?
6.    A growing desire to throw off religious beliefs which are created and promoted by human institutions and return to a simple life of obedience base on accurate biblical knowledge?
7.    Feelings of inadequacy and a longing to be with Him in your eternal home?

I’m so convicted by my lack of preparation I think I’ll stop writing now and go study.

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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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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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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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