TAT 134 ALL ELSE

On February 25, 2024   /   Darkness & Light  

TAT 134 ALL ELSE

Every once in a while there seems to be a surge of information concerning Satan’s schemes, conspiracy theories, rumors of subversive organizations trying to do away with America and Christianity, and new sightings of extraterrestrials walking among us. It is possible to spend hundreds of hours listening to and researching all of this, maybe even a lifetime. After all “We need to know our enemy and his schemes.” But after we have heard it all, please remember, that one simple fact stands above ALL ELSE:

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. (Eccl. 12:13)

Please be careful about the amount of time you spend studying information about Satan and his schemes. There is no end to it, the flesh loves it, and it can consume you.

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Eat Well

On August 4, 2017   /   Bible, Darkness & Light, Faith  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 110 Eat Well

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom. 12:2)

The only way to transform our minds is to have a proper and consistent mental diet of the bread of life, God’s Word (John 1:1; 6:35). Without this diet we are spiritually anemic and can not know the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. As the old gardener said: “It’s important to know the difference between mulch, manure, and oatmeal.”

Without a proper and consistent diet of the Bible we will never know what we are swallowing. Eat Well!

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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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Your Greater Witness

On February 16, 2016   /   Christian Basics, Christian Values, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Faith, Heavenly Witness, Witnessing  

Things Above Thought
TAT #74

So you think your private life is private:

The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:8)

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)

There are more watching than you know.

Fact #6 Among God’s saints, Godly truths and God’s character are being revealed to the rebellious angels in the physical realm (Job 1:8; Ephesians 3:10).

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God’s Law

On October 30, 2015   /   Bible, Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Strengthing, Trials  

Things Above Thought
TAT #50
God’s Law

America takes another step into the darkness. A single law now stands against God’s law. God’s Chosen stand in disbelief, shocked and dazed. What do we do now? Maybe there’s someone we can ask. I know, let’s ask some of God’s Chosen in China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. Maybe someone there knows how to stand firm against governments that write ungodly laws.

But wait there is someone we can ask. Some of us may even know of him. He has lived under one of the darkest governments of all time, a government that actually hunted and killed God’s Chosen. Yet we know that he stood firm for many years until the government finally tracked him down and killed him. Some say he made notes on how he did it. Surely those notes would help us. If we can find them, reprint, and distribute them, maybe we can learn how to stand firm in our faith in the encroaching darkness.

Does anybody know where we can find a New Testament?

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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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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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No Fear

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

Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 23
No Fear

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for You are with me (Psalm 23:4)

David did not fear anything evil had brought or could bring upon him because God was with him.

If we are not living with our eternal Lord Jesus Christ, then we are in fear for and of  “today’s self”. God has made daily eternal life available to us in which there is no fear of evil.

(Now if I can just get over my own stupidity. Back to His Word!)

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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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