How is your Thought Life?

I can hear many now asking "what business of yours is my thought life"? I would have to answer that it is none of my business but did you know that God is very concerned about it? I offer the following scripture;


2 Corinthians 10:4-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Allow me to be honest with you. For years I considered my thought life to be my own and that it was my actions that mattered. I didn't think a person could really control the thoughts that came into their mind and as long as you didn't act on them that you were OK. Matter of fact it seems that I heard it many times as I was growing up "it's your actions that count". Well maybe with man that is true but with God it is a different matter altogether. You see the part of us that is going to live with God for all eternity is not man at all but our spirit that was created in God's image and must be allowed to have total control over our life. Scripture tells us that flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God. You say but this is an impossible task and I will echo that too but here's what Jesus had to say;
Matthew 5:20
New King James Version (NKJV)
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.


Mark 10:25
New King James Version (NKJV)

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

His disciples were dismayed at that statement and ask Him "if that is the case then who can be saved"? His answer;

Mark 10:27
New King James Version (NKJV)

27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

What I'm talking about here in nitty gritty worldly terms could be called "where the rubber meets the road of our Christian life and witness. Either you got it or you don't and sooner or later it will be revealed.

Mark 4:22
New King James Version (NKJV)

22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

Now before you give up, staggered by the impossibility of it all I will attempt to lay out the path for you according to scripture but also my experience. First of all I would never try to point the way if I had not already walked the path myself and I will be perfectly honest, it is a difficult path but not an impossible one and ever so worth the effort.
There are so many professing Christians that talk the talk but can't or don't walk the walk.
They are long on words but short on power. The Apostle Paul seemed to think that power was more important than words.

1 Corinthians 2:4
New King James Version (NKJV)

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

1 Corinthians 4:19
New King James Version (NKJV)

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

1 Corinthians 4:20
New King James Version (NKJV)

20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

Please, I am not writing this to judge or condemn anyone. I feel very sorry for the bulk of Christianity today because these things are not being taught. Some would say well if we don't know then we can't be held accountable to which I must answer "yes you will be because you have been given the written Word of God" and if you would spend the time to study it combined with sincere prayer then the Holy Spirit would reveal these things to you.

John 16:12-14
New King James Version (NKJV)

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The scripture states that "He Who began a good work in you will continue it until the day of Christ". Which means that it was the work of Christ to save you and He is still at work to form you into His image. The real question is whether we will cooperate or not. We still have a freewill and unless we are willing to give it up for the greater treasures of knowing Him and being known by Him then we may end up being passed by in the end.

Jesus came to earth to live as a man and to prove that man empowered by the Holy Spirit could live a life of perfection wholly pleasing to God. His death and resurrection then made that same life possible for every living human being alive then or to be born throughout the remainder of the earth age. The acceptance of what He did for us immediately sets us free from the power of the devil and sets us into God's kingdom and then the battle begins. We have actually been given a brand new life and that life is supernatural in nature because it is the very life of Christ empowered by the very same Holy Spirit that was Christ's strength and comfort during His life on earth. Some would say but Christ was perfect and that is true but He was perfect because He was totally submitted to the Father and therefore never quenched or grieved the Holy Spirit Who was the source of His power and perfection. My point here is that whatever Christ could do we can do because His Spirit will empower us if we are willing and will seek Him. This is not conjecture but scriptural truth.

Philippians 4:13
New King James Version (NKJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

There are steps to be taken that are crucial to success and I will lay them out as best I can. To say that exactly the same steps are what each person must do would be wrong because all of us are different and the degree of our problems vary but these are general guidelines and I believe they are essential in their basis.

1. You need to be really ready to change, ready to give up your thought life to be purified by the Holy Spirit. You need to come to the place that you literally hate the things you think. No smoker can ever quit until he is no longer in love with smoking or gets any pleasure from it because his heart will continue to cling to the habit even though his body is trying to cast it off. After all what does a few moments of fantasy thinking hurt? If you loath it you will find a way to reject it.

2. If you don't loath it or see it as sin but feel that you should then pray and ask God to make you loath it because you want to please Him. Don't be surprised at what He takes you through to produce that feeling in you. He will never refuse to answer a prayer like that. What you must keep uppermost in mind is that whatever God demands He also will provide the way for us to fulfill that demand even if we're not willing but you sort of want to be willing then ask Him to make you willing. This is dangerous and much better if you can get yourself into that place because He will take you seriously and you never know what it will take to get you there.

3. As always the very best way to get in harmony with God and have your desires become His desires is to spend time with Him. Many people who do not have a good walk with God do not have a disciplined life. They are late to bed and late getting up and they never really have time to spend with the Lord in reading His Word nor to pray. In order to do this effectively one must have privacy and not be disturbed by anything. Early morning is the best time before the busyness of the day begins pressing in and it always does.
King David practiced that all his life.

Psalm 5:1-3
New King James Version (NKJV)
A Prayer for Guidance. A Psalm of David.
5 Give ear to my words, O Lord,Consider my meditation.2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,My King and my God,For to You I will pray.3 "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord"; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.


Psalm 63.1&2
New King James Version (NKJV)
O God, You are my God; "Early will I seek You";My soul thirsts for You;My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,To see Your power and Your glory.

4. Ask God to be your help. If you don't have faith to believe that He will then you have a more fundamental problem that must be dealt with. You simply don't know Him very well and there is only one solution for that and it is to spend more time with Him. You say "well I'm just too busy for that". Yes we are all to busy and all for the wrong reasons. What will it profit a man if he should gain the whole world but in the end lose his soul? There is really no valid effective argument that we will be able to give to God when we face Him in judgement. Consider the following verses.


2 Peter 1:3
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,


Matthew 6:33
New King James Version (NKJV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The first verse above states that He gives us everything we need for both life and for godliness. It does not say He gives us some things we need but all things.
Then the second verse again repeats it saying ALL things, not some things.

You say "but that hasn't been my experience" to which I will answer, but you haven't done your part. We have to come to realize what FIRST really means.
That means nothing else before ME. The first commandment of Exodus 20 is "Thou shalt have no other gods before ME." In reality if HE is not first in everything then we have other gods before Him and we will never be able to know the full height, depth, length and breadth of the love of God. Ephesians 3.17-19





Let's bring this down to an earthly level for a minute and consider this example.


A neighbor who has just purchased the house next to you and before moving in needs some renovation work done. Being new in town he asks you if you know if a certain contractor who's name appears in advertisements in the paper is a good and honest person who will do a good job and be trustworthy. This could go several ways. You may say "well I have heard that he is" which would be hearsay or you could say "I have heard some not so good things about him" which would also be hearsay and not necessarily true. Or you may say that I have had several things done by this person and found him to be trustworthy, honest and fair as well as a good craftsman, hire him you won't regret it. Now there's only one way that you could honestly tell your neighbor the last statement and that would be if it were true and you really did have extensive personal experience with him and found him to be even better than the stories about him. You may even be able so say that if there are any negative reports circulating about him that they simply cannot be true because I know him better than that. So the conclusion has to be that personal experience trumps hearsay. How many Christians conduct their life based on hearsay rather than personal daily experience with God?





The written Word of God is absolutely true but is only hearsay and powerless until you decide to own it by living it and experiencing it and then you will understand what real faith is. It is wrong to say that God wants to play a roll in your life but it is true to say that God wants to play the "only roll" in your life and if you allow it and hunger for it then you will discover what an awesome God He really is and why men like Abraham were willing to give everything they had up to follow Him including the sacrifice of his son.

5. Swallow your pride and freely admit that you are powerless within yourself to live a truly holy life and humbly come before the Lord and tell Him that you want to be an overcomer and bring Him glory in all things but that the power to do it is simply not in you but that if He will do it in you that you will heed and follow all that He asks. From the moment you do that in sincerity and I do mean sincerity because the Lord knows your heart and you cannot fool Him with half hearted petitions, from that moment, every time a sinful or unholy thought comes to your mind there will come a check in your spirit from the Holy Spirit and here's what you must do at that moment. If you are alone speak out loud and say thank you God for the reminder because by the strength you provide I can bring every thought into captivity in obedience to Christ. Just begin to praise Him or quote scripture and you will soon discover the power of the spoken Word. If you are with someone this can be done silently in your mind because the dynamic here is that you cannot think two completely different thoughts at the same time and every time you turn from evil to good there comes more power and more intimacy with Christ through the Holy Spirit.

I think most people who read this will reject it for a variety of reasons. Some will see it as legalistic and some will see it as just too much trouble and a little silly or they will think "I just can't and I know it". The last is the best option because it is actually closest to the truth and here's the scripture to prove it;


John 15:5
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Everyone knows that if you cut a branch off of any tree or vine or living plant that the branch will immediately begin to die and that is what Jesus is saying about us, that He is the very life blood that keeps us going or produces anything worthwhile in us or from our lives that touches others in a positive way but it is not automatic. We have a responsibility to work at the relationship between the vine and the branch and then HE will do the rest. So it's OK to say I can't do it but it must be followed with this conviction;

Philippians 4:13
New King James Version (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This then puts the emphasis where it needs to be and the credit and glory for success is not on us to make us prideful but all goes to Him Who gave Himself for us.

6. Last but not least begin to devour scripture. We spend far more time eating than studying scripture and Jesus said that "man should not live by bread alone but by every Word out of the mouth of God. Until the Word of God becomes our main food we will not discover the abundant life that Jesus said He came to give us. It amazes me that Pastors don't teach this. Someone may come to him and say I'm broke, my wife is sick, my car broke down and I'm just having an awful time. I read in the bible that Jesus said that He came to give us life and that more abundantly so where is this abundant life? Since the man is not experiencing this abundant life the Pastor explains that the scripture really means something else rather than telling him the truth that he simply isn't doing his part. The Christian life is a covenant or agreement between two parties and it is valid only when both parties do everything that is sealed within it. Even the minutest scripture has it's purpose and meaning and if you don't seek to discover it and live by it you will experience less than has been provided.

God bless you all and may He put in your heart a passionate desire to know Him and walk with Him more fully.

john

PS. If you are helped and encouraged by these messages please pass them on.

Dumbing Down the Church Through Unity

Hello Friends,
It's been a long hiatus. There's good reason that I haven't written for so long. Have you tried drinking coffee and eating a donut while racing over rough terrain on a snowmobile or 4 wheeler at 75 miles per hour? That's about as possible as gargling peanut butter.
It has been a wild ride that the Lord has taken me on in the ongoing process of revealing Himself and His ways to me but has definitely been worth it. I will not discuss it here for some things are just too precious and personal to share but suffice it to say that I'm back and more in love with Him than ever.

Recently He drew my attention to a book published in 2006 that I read with great interest that caused me much consternation. The purpose of this blog is to draw the reader to also read the book because it contains information that any lover of Christ needs to know and right now. Those who are earnestly watching and waiting for Christ's return can see many things happening that point to that event approaching and I am among that number. I have often spoken of the things we can see such as nature becoming unnatural in it's behavior and political events and of course the economy as well as wickedness and lawlessness abounding just as scripture said it would. I have often tried to encourage God's people to be more fervent in their faith and to follow the Lord more fully but I must say that until I read this book I had no idea how far down the road of apostasy the Church system really is. One of the signs mentioned in scripture is "a great falling away" which I had always assumed to mean "people turning away from Church and Christianity". Here's the verses.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
New King James Version (NKJV)

The Great Apostasy
2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ[a] had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Today in the U.S. we have mega churches with upwards of 50,000 attendees or even more but it turns out that many of them have fallen away from the truth and that is no different than turning away from God altogether.

Before I get into it I must lay some ground work for I fear that if I don't you won't follow through and fully read the book. I will be providing a link where the book can be read online for free so there is no cost. Even if you are a well grounded believer you still need this information so you can help others avoid or escape from deception.

The scriptures warn us in many places to be aware of deception yet few seem to be able to discern deception when they see it for it comes in subtle ways and only those who are close to God and sensitive to His Spirit are able to see it even when it is pointed out to them.
I believe pride and complacency are the greatest causes of spiritual blindness that exist.

Luke 21:8
New King James Version (NKJV)

8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore[a] do not go after them.

Jeremiah 29:8
New King James Version (NKJV)

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.

Jeremiah 49:16
New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Your fierceness has deceived you,
The pride of your heart,
O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Who hold the height of the hill!
Though you make your nest as high as the eagle,
I will bring you down from there,” says the Lord.[a]

Obadiah 1:3
New King James Version (NKJV)

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
You who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Whose habitation is high;
You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’

Obadiah 1:7
New King James Version (NKJV)

7 All the men in your confederacy
Shall force you to the border;
The men at peace with you
Shall deceive you and prevail against you.
Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you.
No one is aware of it.

Make special note of the above passage for it says that men at peace with you shall deceive you. The book I am going to recommend to you is all about establishing peace at all costs even above doctrine about Christ.

Matthew 24:4
New King James Version (NKJV)

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

Matthew 24:11
New King James Version (NKJV)

11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Many folks overlook scriptures like this because they don't know a prophet and do not think we have them anymore when the truth is that anyone who proclaims to speak the Word of God even if it is the written Word of God could be considered a prophet according to scripture because a prophet speaks forth as inspired by God or His written Word. He is not necessarily only a proclaimer or for teller of future events previously unspoken.

Matthew 24:24
New King James Version (NKJV)

24 For false christ's and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Even today already there are false signs and wonders being performed but people are being deceived by them for if they see anything that seems supernatural they immediately assume it is God because they lack the discernment that is a gift of the Holy Spirit to those who walk in the Spirit.

Romans 16:18
New King James Version (NKJV)

18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

In the scripture above is says that they are serving their own belly which is referring to human appetite and lusts including greed for money, power and influence and that to a large degree is what we are dealing with today aside from the fact that they are driven by a satanic scheme that is much bigger than them and they are but dumb pawns following after the god of this world.

1 Corinthians 3:18
New King James Version (NKJV)
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

The above scripture should sober us all for it speaks of us deceiving ourselves and it literally means that if you are proud of your intelligence and think you could not be fooled that you are ripe for deception. The bible calls us to be humble in all we do and say and if we want wisdom to ask God for it. If you get your wisdom from Him then pride will not come along with it as a fringe benefit or companion as it does when we get our wisdom through worldly means.

2 Corinthians 11:3
New King James Version (NKJV)

3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity[a] that is in Christ.

Galatians 6:3
New King James Version (NKJV)

3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Another scripture that shows the danger of pride. I don't care who we are or how much education we have or how successful in life we are, we are still nothing for every breath we draw is given us from God and He is no respecter of persons.

Ephesians 5:6
New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 2:4
New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

2 Timothy 3:13
New King James Version (NKJV)

13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

So many Christians who read these scriptures think that it is referring to the world and all the evil and deception that is there but it is not for the Bible was not written for the world but the people of God and the dangers that exist within the Church. Satan does not have to get you into gross sin to steal your soul, all he needs to do is deceive you into believing a lie and he's got you.

Titus 1:10
New King James Version (NKJV)

The Elders’ Task
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision.

The above verse refers to a particular kind of deception that they were dealing with in the early Church which is legalism and that is still around today as well. However there is a huge difference between legalism and fundamentalism. Hang onto fundamentalism. That is what is being undermined to the detriment of true Christianity which is called the "Narrow Way".

2 John 1:7
New King James Version (NKJV)

Beware of Antichrist Deceivers
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist.

This is something we as Christians have been taught to watch for since we were baby Christians and that is good but the new thing today is not to deny that He came but to deny that the things he said were really true or more important than the things that Mohammad or Buddha or Hari Krishna had to say and people are eating it up because it makes it easier to get along with each other. The tendency

Jesus didn't come to unify, He came to separate us from the world but many have forgotten that or are not willing to accept separation because it costs.

Matthew 10:33-35
New King James Version (NKJV)

33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Christ Brings Division
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;

We can say we believe in Christ but if we don't believe the truth about Christ then we are deniers of Christ whether we think we are or not.

I find it very interesting that at this time in history that two of the most precious documents ever put on paper have come into disrepute at the same time. The Holy Bible which is God's everlasting Word and the United States Constitution which is based on the Holy Bible and without doubt is the best form of government ever devised this side of heaven.
Both are being scoffed at and held at derision because they both stand in the way of evil men and their evil desires. Friend's if you won't grab a hold of something that has solid foundations and hang on for dear life you will get washed out in the great tsunami of evil that is washing over this land and the whole earth.

It will cost you no doubt but the scripture says "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole earth but looses his soul". It may end up costing us our life to defend our faith but there is a life beyond that lasts for eternity and that is a long time to enjoy our right decisions but also a long time to have regrets.

I have a lot more to say but lest the reader get weary I will post the link to the book and pray that you will diligently read it and afterwards begin to diligently study the scriptures so that you will be equipped for whatever lays ahead. I will be writing much more concerning the value of knowing scripture. It has much value for everyday life and few really understand that.

This book is an expose on the wildly popular book titled "The Purpose Driven Life" written by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California. Many have read his book and never noticed one single thing wrong with it and that is because of the absolute scriptural ignorance that exists among church goers today as well as the desire to eliminate friction at all costs.

http://www.inthenameofpurpose.org/page2.html

This is the link for the entire book. If you open it up all you need do is click on any chapter and it will open up for you to read. I highly recommend that you read chapter 22 first because it will give you so much alarming information that it will make you want to read the rest of the book.

Friends I ask one other thing and that is if you are helped or blessed by this blog please forward it to your friends as well. I never ask for finances or any other return from anybody for what God gives me freely I also will give freely and He takes care of my needs. I have no other motives but to serve Him and help others to know Him better.

God bless you all.
john