Endurance Archives - Things Above Ministries

TAT 208 Small But Important

On December 4, 2024 / Christian Values, Endurance, Helper, Maturing

TAT 208 Small But Important

After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty!” 29 A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth. 30 When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (Jn. 19:28-30 NET)

There is no activity in God’s plan that is so small that it is insignificant.

TAT 133 Three Questions

On February 23, 2024 / Endurance, Maturing, Witnessing

TAT 133 Three Questions

Some of you may remember the number one question that a Christian should have in their toolbox.

When trying to decide if a particular action or activity should be engaged in we need to ask ourselves this question:
#1. Who am I trying to please, me or the Lord Jesus Christ?

Lately I have overheard conversations and discussions concerning the political decisions taking place in Washington and the effect they will have. This brings up a second question we might want to have in our toolbox:
#2. If the government passes that bill into law or enacts that legislation will I still be able to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ in my daily life?

And the last question is one we should have written on the top of our toolbox.
#3. Have I truly dedicated myself to living for the Lord’s glory and His eternal goals for all creation?

TAT 131 The Inch

On February 22, 2024 / End Times, Endurance

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?”.

Health and Body Building

On November 13, 2017 / Endurance, Faith, Goals, Strengthing

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #118 Health and Body Building

We are spiritual beings living in a physical world but do we view and perceive the physical world from a spiritual mind set (Colossians 3:1–2; Romans 8:4–5)? Do we truly believe that spiritual thinking and a spiritual active character impacts our physical world? Over the next few TATs we will examination five areas of our lives that can provide answers to that question.

Area #5 Personal Health – Body Building
A healthy lifestyle is to eat right, exercise and get plenty of rest. Many of us have heard this all of our lives. Ecclesiastes 8:12 says that even a sinner may lengthen his life but is that a good thing? Do we actually want to live longer in a sinful state? Consider these points:
Eat Right: Christ told us that we cannot live on bread alone but that we should live on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He also spoke about living, eternal water (Matthew 4:4; John 4:10–14).
Exercise: 1 Timothy 4:7b–8 tells us “bodily discipline (exercise) is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Proverbs 4:10–22 tells us that godliness is healthy. Psalm 38:3 and 31:10 tells us that sin produces unhealthy bones. (Even during times of unjust suffering, when illness may come upon those living a righteous life, godliness can see us through that illness (Job)).
Rest: Lastly Hebrews chapter 4 tells us there is a 24/7 godly rest for God’s people who are obedient to God.
The bottom line here is: If we are focused more on our physical health than our spiritual health, just what type of body are we building? (See also 1 Cor. 3:10–14)

When and Who

On September 25, 2017 / Blessing, Endurance, Faith, Goals

Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 117 When and Who

Question: God does not contradict Himself but does the Bible?
The two verses below, from the same chapter in Hebrews, seem to be in contradiction.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, (Hebrews 11:39)

Answer: The answer is found in the same chapter.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 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. (Hebrews 11:13–16)

Many of God’s rewards are spiritual eternal blessing and will only be completely acquired after death (Ephesians 1:3–14). If we are only thinking about and looking for God’s temporary earthly blessings then we have reason to raise another question: “Are we trying to follow Christ to please God or to obtain earthly blessings for ourselves?” When do you want your blessings, now or forever? Your answer reveals who you are trying to please.

Limping & Living

On May 9, 2017 / Endurance, Faith, God's Will for Me

Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 107 Limping & Living

In Genesis 2:16–17 the Lord tells Adam not to eat the fruit from a specific tree or he would die. In Chapter three Adam eats the fruit but does not drop dead (Genesis 3:6). When the Lord comes upon the scene, naturally Adam is afraid, of the only thing he has to fear – death, and tries to hid himself from the Lord (3:8–10). The Lord examines the events of the eating of the fruit and starts handing out punishment to the parties involved (3:11–14). The Lord then curses the serpent and makes it crawl on its belly but He does not kill Adam and the woman nor does He even bring up the subject of the death which He has promised (3:14). At the point where we would expect the death penalty to be applied the Lord reveals that the humans are going to stay alive for awhile longer and fight the one who empowered the serpent (3:15)!

“And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; her offspring will attack your head, (*rulership) and you will attack her offspring’s heel (*an element needed for walking).” (Genesis 3:15 with *clarification NET)

Rather than applying complete and total death God left humanity on this earth to destroy Satan’s rulership (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20)!

Therefore with your injured heal, keep on limping through life, being obedient—not to Satan and his dying rulership but to God and His living, eternal rulership!
See also Philippians 3:8–16.

Established

On November 21, 2016 / Endurance, Eternal, Goals

THINGS ABOVE THOUGHTS
TAT # 96 Established

The world is still in turmoil. Just when we think we have established political systems there is rebellion against them. Business practices that have been established for decades change overnight. Well established personal relationships are destroyed over minor disagreements. Everything that is well established and solid continues to change and disappear. Someone once said, “The only constant in this world is change.” Another has said “The only certainties in life are taxes and death.” But the older I grow the more I see those things which we thought were well established and permanent run off the pages of our life like watercolors running down a page of paper in the rain. It is then I praise God for one simple verse:

The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You. (Ps. 102:28)

Serve God in this melting world and be established before Him forever.

Happiness

On June 13, 2016 / Character, Endurance, Joy

Things Above Thought

TAT # 85 Happiness!

Much is being said, written about, preached on, televised, announced, blogged, and tweeted about how God wants Christians to be happy. It’s almost as if Christ came, suffered, and died to make us happy. But I wonder what made Paul so happy that he was –

imprisoned, beaten so many times the number is not recorded, in danger of death, given 195 lashes, beaten with rods three times, stoned, three times, shipwrecked and adrift for 24 hours, frequently in dangers from natural disasters, robbers, Jews and Gentiles, and dangers in the city, the wilderness, on the sea, and even those clamming to be brethren but were not. He even labored with hardship through many sleepless nights, went hungry and thirsty, was often cold and exposed and on top of all that he lived with the daily pressure of concern for all the churches. (2 Cor. 11:23–28) ☺

And what made Christ soooo happy that He –

started His ministry not with an ordination ceremony and then a celebration and a parade but by spending 40 days alone in the desert without food and then tempted by the devil? After that He suffered rejection by His countrymen, His handpicked disciples, and the religious leaders of the religious system handed down by His Father. And if that were not enough He endured the shame and suffering of a trial by those same religious leaders and then the government also turned its back on Him and handed Him over to the worst death any human has ever faced. ☺

So what made them happy? How about –

. . . 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 emphasis added)

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 emphasis added)

Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. (Heb. 11:1 GWN emphasis added)

When God’s heavenly, eternal goals don’t make us happy we might need to spend a little more time with Paul and Christ. ☺

Dead or Alive?

On May 31, 2016 / Endurance

Things Above Thought
TAT # 84 WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE?

Some estimate that over a million people followed Moses out of Egypt. But it is known that only three men from the original adult generation made it into God’s promised land. Not even Moses made it! The great and obedient warriors Joshua and Caleb did enter the promised land. While Joshua was just as strong as he was when he left Egypt the third man had to be carried in. Even though the third man had lost his physical strength his witness to Israel is one of the greatest in the entire history of Israel.

The third man was a slave! But yet he was carried out of Egypt! He never spoke a word to anyone that left Egypt! He never even spoke a word while they were in the wilderness for 40 years! But yet his witnesses to Israel was great!

The third man was Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. He became second in authority in Egypt and answered only to his master, the Pharaoh but he remained a slave. He saved his family and the entire future nation of Israel, by bringing them to Egypt and feeding them during a severe famine. But all that is not the great witness of Joseph. When Joseph died he ordered that he was not to be buried in Egypt but only in God’s promised land. Therefore Joseph’s body was embalmed and placed in a coffin (Genesis 50:24–26).

For 400 years Israel did not have a Bible, they did not have a written Word from God, they did not hear God speak to them, and they did not have a prophet – they only had Joseph’s coffin (Joshua 24:32)!

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of (dead) witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Heb. 12:1 clarification added).

WANTED: ALIVE AND DEAD!
Will you join the cloud?

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All TATs can be found at www.things-above.org under “Blog”

IF

On May 25, 2016 / Endurance

Things Above Thought
TAT # 83 IF

As the old saying goes: “Dynamite comes in small packages.” In the Bible the small word “if” is dynamic, it reveals great actions and great challenges.

SOME GREAT ACTIONS:
If – I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)

I am the door; – if – anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9)

For – if – we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (Rom. 6:5)

So – if – the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

SOME GREAT CHALLENGES
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “– If – you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; (John 8:31)

Jesus answered and said to him, “– If – anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. (John 14:23)

for – if – you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but – if – by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Rom. 8:13)

If – we endure, we will also reign with Him; (2 Tim. 2:12)

To read 1500+ more of these please refer to your Bible.
And remember:
If – we make up our own rules we are living for ourselves and our pleasure.
If – we live by His rules the world will hate us, we will suffer, and we will store up great treasure in heaven (John 15:18ff; Luke 12:33–34).

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All TATs can be found at www.things-above.org under “Blog”

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