Faith Archives - Page 4 of 7 - Things Above Ministries

God’s Plan & my plans

On October 30, 2015 / Christian Basics, Faith, God's Will, God's Will for Me, Suffering, Trials

Things Above Thought
TAT #56
God’s Plan and my plans

God wants me to be happy, prosperous, and satisfied so — is that how I should make my plans?
Well maybe, but first consider these:

“Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” (Job 3:1)
“He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.” (Matthew 14:10)
“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,” (Hebrews 11:39).
“But first He (Christ) must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” (Luke 17:25)
“Although He was a Son, (Christ) He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews. 5:8)

“for I will show him (Paul) how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16)
“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

“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.” (Hebrews12:2)
“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)

Just make sure that what you consider to be happy and prosperous, and also satisfies you, are the same “things” which Christ considers to be joyous and prosperous and satisfies Him.

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).

God’s Universal Plan

On October 30, 2015 / Christian Basics, Faith, God's Will, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #53
God’s Universal Plan

God has a plan for all who want to follow Him, a universal plan. This plan applied to Adam and Eve and to every person who wanted or now wants to follow Him. God’s plan is this – don’t make up your own rules for your good life, learn God’s rules and follow them.

Eve tried to make up her own rules for her good life, it didn’t work then and it doesn’t work now (Genesis 3:5–6; John 3:36). When we do not obey the LORD’s rules we set ourselves up as a god and make up our own rules (Genesis 3:5; Isaiah 14:13–14; Joshua 24:15).

So just where do we find the rules of God’s universal plan for our life? The Bible! See 2 Timothy 3:16–17 with special attention given to verse 17. But be aware that a simple single reading will not completely reveal God’s entire universal plan all at once. He did not design it to work that way and there’s too much information to grasp in one reading! Relax and keep reading it over and over and take time to enjoy each little bit of new information you find and understand.

God’s universal plan for our lives should be universal in our lives.

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).

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.

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.”

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.

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.

God’s Plan

On October 30, 2015 / Bible, Christian Basics, Faith, God's Will, God's Will for Me, Heavenly Witness, Satan, Victory, Witnessing

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #43
Understanding God’s Plan

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” And 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 1:6–8)

If you think you’ re only one, unimportant, person and that what you do makes little impact, then you have a problem. You have a problem of a lack of understanding. When you think you are small and unimportant you do not understand all the facts. When you understand God’s designed witness to the angels you realize you are important:

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, clarification added)

They are watching our daily lives to understand God’s wisdom and by this we glorify God!

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)

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)

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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