Faith Archives - Things Above Ministries

TAT 128 Look Up

On March 23, 2018 / End Times, Eternal, Faith

Things Above Thought
TAT 128 Looking Up

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Col. 3:2)

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. (Matt. 24:30)

I have started a new habit; everyday I make it a point to gaze, not just look, into the sky. Where is He? Will He come today? Will I be one of the first to see the sign? These three things I know: 1. All the answers to all my problems and my savior will come from above not through humans, or human agencies, on this earth (Mat. 24). 2. I don’t look up (gaze) near enough. 3. No matter what your beliefs about the end times His return is a solid, factual, real promise. This will happen!

So if these are the end times then stop looking around, wondering what is going on, and start gazing up.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Col. 3:2)

Spiritual Thinking Summary #2

On December 29, 2017 / Faith, Spirituality

Things Above Thought
TAT 124 Spiritual Thinking Summary #2

If you do not realize there is a spiritual realm and that it is permanent and more important than your present temporary physical realm then you
– do not understand or grasp the importance of Christianity.
– have reason to question your progression in godly maturity.
– have reason to question your salvation.
(Pick one or all.)

Spiritual Thinking & Religion

On December 18, 2017 / Faith, Spiritual Gifts, Strengthing, Traditions

Things Above Thought
TAT 122 Religion – Going or Being?
Area #1 of testing our spiritual thinking test.)

EVERY SCRIPTURE is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NET emphasis added)

I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to GO beyond WHAT IS WRITTEN,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. (1 Corinthians 4:6 NET emphasis added)

. . . not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’ “You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, . . . “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; YOU SHALL NOT ADD TO NOR TAKE AWAY FROM IT (God’s Word).” (Deuteronomy 12:30–32 emphasis and clarification added)

Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition. He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition. (Mark 7:8–9 NET)

Worldly Religion verses God’s spiritual family? How do we tell the difference?
Is your church trying to perform many of the duties in the New Testament or are you?
When you go to church do you utilize your spiritual gifts or do you simply sing and hear a sermon (1Corintheians 14:1–40)?
There are only two offices in God’s spiritual family, bishops and deacons, and their duties are to be the spiritual parents of God’s spiritual family (1 Timothy 3:1ff). How many offices does your church have?
Do you feel comfortable with your religious traditions but uncomfortable with the simple Word of God?
Summary: Any operational model of the church that is not found in the Bible has “added to” the information from the Bible!

Bottom Line
Spiritual thinking people are people dedicated to the Lord God not to public opinion, popularity, or tradition. Do you “GO to church” or are you BEING a part of God’s spiritual family?

Spiritual Thinking, The Government

On December 4, 2017 / Character, Faith, God's Will

Things Above Thought
TAT 121 The Government – What were you thinking?!
(Area #2 of testing our spiritual thinking test.)

When Christ walked the face of this earth, the head of the government was considered to be God. If you placed any other god higher than him, by law, you could be killed. One might think that Christ would have something to say about that government, and He did:

Speaking to Pilate, Christ said: “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above . . .” (John 19:11)

Speaking to the believers in Roman He said: “For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” (Romans 13:1)

Earlier, Nebuchadnezzar was told: The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men.” (Daniel 4:17)

When we think human rulers are going to destroy our world and thwart the good that we are trying to do then we need to think again: “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings” (Daniel 2:21) And: “. . . the rulers of this age, who are passing away;” (1 Corinthians 2:6)

Satan has blinded the minds of many to the important issue of the day: “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see (understand) the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4). While living under the rule of a horrible government, Christ himself made no political changes, nor did He ask any of His followers to make political changes. Christ did not even pray for political change! At your last election “What were you thinking?”

The Bottom Line: Christ lived His life with a spiritual mind-set and spiritual goals, according to God’s spiritual plan. And to this day He is still working on that spiritual plan—God’s eternal rulership of all creation (Colossians 1:19–20)! Is that how you think? If so, is your thinking revealed in the daily activities of your life, for all the heavenly host to see?

The Economy, God’s Plan or Reverse Logic

On November 27, 2017 / Blessing, Eternal, Faith, Goals

Things Above Thought
TAT 120 The Economy – God’s Plan or Reverse logic?
(Area #3 of testing our spiritual thinking.)

For the profit of godly wisdom is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. (Proverbs 3:14)

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (Philippians 3:8; see also Philippians 3:8–14)

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)

The physical riches of God’s temple in the OT were almost un-comprehendible. God also gave riches to some rebellious nations – when it was necessary to His plan. God had given the riches of a wonderful land to the rebellious and sinful Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Then He removed those riches and gave that land to another rebellious people—Israel (Deut. 9:9–6). He did this at the proper time – according to His plan (Gen. 46:3).

Bottom Line: The person thinking spiritually does not have a personal value system based on reverse logic—that physical prosperity means one is godly, and that a healthy national economy is the source of peace and security ( Exodus 3:8; Ecclesiastes 6:2; Luke 12:15–23). One who is thinking spiritually knows and understands God’s plan and therefore values godly wisdom, knowledge about Christ, and a godly love above money. Such people reveal their godly value system with their money.

#4 Spiritual Thinking, The Enviornment

On November 20, 2017 / Faith

Things Above Thought
TAT 119 The Environment – Live It or Lose it
(Area #4 of testing our spiritual thinking.)

Yes Virginia the climate is changing, it has been changing since the flood of Genesis 6. This earth is not perfect and the Lord will not let it go on forever in its imperfect state:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)

The environment is screaming at us!

For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, And also the fish of the sea disappear. Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Hosea 4:1–6 underline added)

When there is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery that environment is screaming, there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God. When there is violence and bloodshed, that environment produces mourning, languishing people, and the animals on the land, in the sky, and in the sea DISAPPEAR.

The above verses tell us that the changing environment has nothing to do with politics or programs, it has everything to do with obedience to the LORD. So the next time we think that the primary activities in helping the environment are to vote a certain person or party into office, or to start an environmental protection program, we need to ask ourselves ………………
as spiritual beings are we thinking spiritually.

Bottom Line: Because of our lack of godly knowledge and a godly life, our world is being, and will be, destroyed; live It or lose it.

(For the short version of this TAT read, from top to bottom, the underlined portions.)

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.

Sanctified?

On September 18, 2017 / Faith

Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 114 Sanctification

Christ told Paul to:
open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me. (Acts 26:18)

Sanctified: set apart.
Place our faith in Christ and be set apart. Place our faith in anything else and remain in the crowd, Satan’s dominion.

Domination or Relation

On August 22, 2017 / Faith, God Satan Conflict

Things Above Thoughts
TAT # 113 Domination or Relation

To turn “from the dominion of Satan to God.”

Satan’s Dominion: A system of rule among rebellious angels.
God: The perfect, supreme being.

Satan’s Dominion: the emphasis is on a system of rebellious rulership.
God: the emphasis is on a living being.

Point:
To be dominated by a system of rebellious angelic rule or to come into a personal relationship with the only God in existence. The choice is ours daily.

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