Daily Devotional - 1474 - With the heat turned up!

Daily Devotional – 1474 – With the heat turned up!

Some thoughts for today by Papa “J”

Papa J's Rules for Livin #45 (from 2008)

I cannot stand people who are always unreasonable! They are illogical, self-willed and self- centered and obnoxious; but then I looked in the mirror!

Comments and Challenges

Bunker gear (the firefighters shield). Fully clothed including an air tank, a mask, a helmet with attaching face shield and boots; the extra weight is about 50 pounds. Then the need to climb ladders or stairways becomes extremely exhaustive with this gear on. Now, add a hose full of water at eight pounds per gallon it is no joke, the higher one climbs, the weightier the hose. 

Trusting your equipment and trusting what you are able to do is a constant concern. Training gives the firefighter the RIGHT to be in actual emergencies you are where you are simply because you have trained to be there; on the front line. Your air tank will keep you there for about one-half hour, but the tank becomes very hot. Have you ever tried to breathe hot air, it can shatter your trust in the equipment, how about watching your helmet face shield start to melt? It is pure scary.

You stay but you want to run, then someone pats you on the back and says, we need to move back. Scene safety takes over and on that command you retreat to a cooler area. Finally the scene commander tells everyone to evacuate the building, that you've done all that can be done. Now the outside crew will surround the building and drown it with water from all sides and whatever is in the building will be destroyed.

Ephesians 6:16

I looked at Ephesians yesterday and spoke about the armor of God which is “putting on Christ and making no provision for the flesh” Romans 13:14, but now imagine going to fight such a fire like the one above in your daily street clothes, the heat from such a fire would ignite your clothing in less than 30 seconds and yet day after day born again believers, wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast and start their day without even saying, "Good Morning Lord"

Ephesians 6: 16 – begins with a LOUD command, "ABOVE ALL" above all of what Paul? Well if you are going to go out and face the fire of the enemy, at least go out with the shield of faith. And we say, "I have faith" so I always have my shield with me, but let me ask you; does it start to melt when the heat is cranked up? Yes, the faith shield will melt without; Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit so do not forget to speak to God before you go out.

We need to know that the shield is not something we tuck under the arm. Faith is to stand between us and the dangerous darts of circumstance. Notice the wicked ones darts, they are "fiery" ones. Like real fire some of the devil’s darts are capable of melting your shield of faith. Some heat up your capacity to breath and all of the devil's schemes are designed to make you turn and run.

By the way the shield is attached to the helmet, but not to protect your face from the fire, but to protect your face from taking a direct hit from some fiery object that you may not see coming. Faith needs to be realized to be effective in the things hoped for. In other words; if we are to have any hope of quenching the fiery darts of the evil one, then we must realize that faith is attached to salvation, the ultimate source of protection. Heb 11:1

Retreating to safety is not cowardly like the disserting of a post, retreating is realizing that the battle is the Lord's and when He intervenes on our behalf; we must be willing to retreat to the safe haven of rescue. John 3:22-36, (see verse 30) John the baptizer could not accomplish the ministry that God gave to Jesus so it was necessary for Jesus and His ministry to increase and for John's ministry to decrease. Even the apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Thursday's Blog - The Importance of Meditation

Thursday’s Blog – The Importance of Meditation

My guess is being a day ahead of the rest of the world is just as bad as being a day behind. The news of the future, as well the news of the past is only good if you know it. So in case you missed it as I did; tomorrow is Friday, yesterday was Wednesday and today is Thursday!

Bible Challenges and Comments

How often do we meditate and pray? Meditation provides the pathway to the Throne of God. One way of meditation is to review a scripture passages that relate to praise like: “Our Father who is in heaven, holy is Your Name” Matthew 6:9-13. Or maybe there is a need, then Philippians 4:19 and again in Philippians; for strength to endure a difficult moment, Philippians 4:13.

As for us who Trust in Jesus Christ; God does not let us live a helpless or hope so life, we are covered by Him as adopted children with an inheritance that cannot be compared to anything this life in the flesh could ever give or afford. Therefore the more we meditate and the more we pray, the more we who trust God are aware of His benefits. So we should know and appropriate the “benefits” of Our God.

 

(1)   Hezekiah humbled himself because he was sick; God healed him, however he failed to honor God with thanksgiving and praise and nearly lost his kingdom. This led to his repentance and God restored his kingdom, 2 Chronicles 2:24-26.

(2)   Psalm 68 a Psalm of David – The God of our salvation “LOADS” us with “BENEFITS”, Psalm 68:19.

(3)   What are some of the benefits of the God of our salvation? Forgiveness, healings, safety, rewarding us with His lovingkindness and tender mercies, like food and clothing and He keeps us strong in old age. Psalm 103:1-5

(4)   Thanksgiving and Praise to God for all of His benefits toward us; is all that the LORD God seeks in return. His ear is inclined toward us; He alone provides deliverance of our soul in death. He alone provides rest for our soul. The list of His benefits is for you to read and meditate on… so do it! And be blessed – Psalm 116:1-19.

Our position in Christ is secure, someone who does not have this security may see you and me as weak, or needing something to “prop” us up or lead on, but these folks may only know of the Shepard of Psalm 23, meaning they do not personally KNOW the Shepherd who gives what we lack for our soul. He gives us rest for our soul, He gives us refreshment for our soul, in fact; God restores our soul. He alone leads us in these paths for His Name’s sake.

Yes we do walk through the valleys and circumstances of life but we do not lean of Him and yet we Fear Him with AWE! Thus we do not fear the world since evil is not present when God is walking with you. Yes He has a rod and a staff to keep evil and sin from us and to provide comfort, too. In the presence of the enemy who see us; some who even call us friend or relative, these see that God meets all our need and will one day give account to God on our behalf – 2 Corinthians 2”12-17. We do not peddle the Word of God we live it.

Thursday's Blog - Righteousness

Thursday's Blog - Righteousness

Thursday’s Blog – Righteousness

If you were a calendar… your days would be numbered!

Okay, you didn’t like that one. Why can’t a bicycle stand on its own? Because it is two tired!

No doubt you did not like that one either… but those new corduroy pillows I bought are making headlines!

Okay… enough already!!!

Bible Challenges and Comments

In Ephesians 6 the apostle Paul describes six pieces of armor (1) a belt, (2) a breastplate, (3) a pair of shoes, (4) a shield, (5) a helmet and (6) a sword. No doubt you know this passage of scripture very well as these are often spoken of from the pulpit. Having this armor on should have a very real meaning to us, but I sometimes think that in our morning devotions and preparations of the day we become complacent about the seriousness of our life in Christ.

(1)   The belt as Paul shares is a belt of “truth” not only biblical truth, but also being truthful in all aspects of life.

(2)   The breastplate as the apostle continues is the armor of “righteousness” not being offensive with being right all the time; but by allowing the “righteousness of Christ” to control you.

(3)   The shoes as he describes are shoes of the good news of “peace” one shoe = peace with God, while the other shoe = peace with mankind.

(4)   The shield, the apostle says that the shield is “faith” faith in God and the bravery of walking by faith in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

(5)   The helmet as Paul relates is the covering of protection that God give eternal life; the confidence of being a child of God and this confidence is witnessed by those who know you.

(6)   The sword as Paul continues is all we need to defend the testimony that God saves through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. We must be willing to live the resurrected life not only in the sanctuary but also in the grocery store.

If we fail to take serious the battle faced; which is moment by moment, we will suffer defeat. The armor is not a daily donning and then forget it, but a constant need for battle. Physical armor of this kind would be very weighty, between 50 and 75 pounds of excess weight to carry. In many cases this armor was worn while resting so it is not just for eight hours or while you are active, but even when you sleep.

Now let me also add our daily chaffing and burdens of life, family issues, financial issues, health issues and the list can go on.

The armor that the Apostle Paul describes is “Spiritual Armor for spiritual conflict” and the burdens of life are “life verses conflict in the mind” both the conflicts and the burdens fight for victory. How do we carry all of this potential weigh? Our physical nature cannot handle excess weight and neither can our mind and spirit; the breaking point is very real.

Looking at Matthew 11:20-30 another familiar passage. The people of this time were impenitent; their cities were full of idolatry like Tyre and Sodom and yet Jesus says that the judgment of these cities in the Day of Judgment would be more tolerable for these than the judgment coming on Capernaum, the city where Jesus is speaking. 

Individually, community and nationally we carry the heavy burden of coveting and idolatry; these are the national sins of Israel so why should we think that we are better than Israel. No not for a moment believe we are better off than Israel. Therefore Jesus Christ can and is the ONLY ONE who is able to say: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

If we allow ourselves to focus on the physical problem or one segment of the spiritual solution; like just a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, a pair of shoes, a shield, a helmet or a sword; and are not moment by moment thinking of the whole armor we are missing the mark.

Jesus says “Take my yoke upon you and learn FROM Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” And the Apostle Paul gives further instruction. Romans 13:11-14. Verse 14 – but put on the LORD Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Therefore Jesus Christ is: TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, SALVATION AND THE LIVING WORD. And without Christ we have NONE of the above.

Daily Devotional - Positionally Seated

Tuesday’s Blog – Positionally Seated

Proverbs 10:31-32 – The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Bible Challenges and Comments

In a room full of people the roar of perverse conversation is loud and overpowering. The work place, in the school, at any sporting event and in the home of the unbelieving (Proverbs17:1) there is little quietness because of the strife. 

God has called us out of the world of strife and placed us in the kingdom of Christ. Note Colossians 3:1-3. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your affection (peaceful position) on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Andrew Murray in his book; The Inner Life makes this thought clear that if we have an audience with God through Christ, then we must also have a spiritual sense of need to live in the place He has for us in Christ. Positional sanctification sets us apart from the perverse audience of the world and to step into this unacceptable perverseness of the tongue and action is to reject the positional grace of God.

I suppose it is difficult to realize the purity of being in Christ; I mean, how often we do we think about the holiness of Heaven and our position in Christ. Jesus Christ is seated at the “right hand” of God. Look! If the throne room was an automobile and Jesus was driving and you are His passenger in the front seat, you would be sitting at His “Right Hand”. Or more biblically stated; you are sitting with Christ in the “holy of holies”.

How is it then we seem to make ourselves comfortable in both places? From one side of our life (the flesh) we find ourselves with the talk of the world and covet their conversations, this is idolatry; Colossians 3:4-6 and this causes God’s wrath to come on the sons and daughters of disobedient believers. The result is that the world sees God’s children the same as they see them self and our testimony as a child of God is ruined.

The struggle of being in Christ or in the flesh is strong and one reason it is so strong is that our view of our position in Christ is upward, sort of like always striving to be there with Him (in the flesh) and of course that will never happened… “Flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of God” 1 Corinthians 15:50. 

To correct this, we must do as the apostle Paul teaches in Colossians Three and simply be seated with Christ at His Right hand. The view from the Top is to be positioned from above where Christ is; rather than fleshly positioned or earthly aware. In this position you and I cannot see the next devilish punch or where it is coming from. The character of a heavenly position is Colossians 3:12-17.

Daily Devotional – 1473 – Dispensational Promises

Daily Devotional – 1473 – Dispensational Promises

Some thoughts for today by Papa “J”

Frederick the Great of Germany was a bit of a skeptic because of his association with Voltaire, the French infidel. On one occasion he addressed his court chaplain with these words: “Give me proof that the Bible is a Divine Book.” His chaplain replied, “The Jew your Majesty, the Jew.”

Comments and Challenges

What is a promise? A promise until fulfilled is always a pending agreement. Once it is completed it becomes a successful conclusion. When concluded; one party receives what the other party has agreed to give. A promise is never broken as long as the one who promises lives. Since God does not die, but lives eternally He will keep His promise to Abraham, the father of Israel.

The Promise: Genesis 12:1-3 – Now the LORD had said to Abram (Abraham): Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you’re a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing, I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the nations of the world shall be blessed.

Have you ever made a promise and over a period of time had the experience to see failure on the part of a child, a husband or wife? Maybe even a grandchild whom you promised that when they were of age you would be there to help them step into college or adult life. Along the way you see failure and your heart aches to fulfill the promise and do as much as you can to keep the person focused. (So you modify the promise) Also you may even give good counsel; if not by yourself, then you send someone whom you have faith in. (another modification) You even sacrifice your love for the individual and then send more people who you trust to keep the promise ALIVE.

Frederick the Great of Germany received a truthful but brief message from his court chaplain: it was now up to Frederick to search out the matter. Do you have thoughts like Frederick? Here are some passages of scripture to help clear the mind. Jeremiah 31:31-37; Romans 9:1 through Romans 11:36. God has not forgotten or broken His Promise, nor has He given up on His Chosen People. The promise of God for Israel keeps the Jew focused on Genesis 12:1-3, the dispensations of time keep the Gentile focused on God who will fulfill His Promise. 

God has a plan for Israel and the truth is that the PLAN includes YOU and ME; TRUST GOD and live in His Truth; there are many Voltaire’s in the world; there is only ONE God. Like the original Voltaire, these antichrists die and their beliefs die with them; but God lives FOREVER so His Promise will never die. The final modification is: “I am the Resurrection and the Life” John 11:25-26.