Overcomers Get All The Good Stuff! 6

GodThoughtsWired!                     Tuesday, June 15, 2010

An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

overcomers get all
the good stuff!
6

For an in-depth discussion of spiritual warfare click on, The Bible Says Series, Armor of God.

OVERCOMING...DEMONIC FORCES

"To him who overcomes..."
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21

The fifth (no particular order) and final of the five key areas in which we must {attain the knowledge, develop the skills, and cultivate the will} to overcome is:

-Demonic Forces.

 "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 6:12

As far as we are concerned, the skill is simple. "Don't give the devil an opportunity" (Ephesians 4:27). However, this is only half the battle because, "The devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). He is proactive!

So, when the devil (demons) come knocking on your door the key is to "resist him (them)" (see 1 Peter 5:9). James 4:7 promises, "resist the devil and he will flee from you." (see Jesus in the wilderness for a perfect model of this, Matthew 4:4-10).

And how do we "resist" demonic forces? By putting on the full armor of God.*

"Take up the full armor of God,
that you may be able to resist..."
Ephesians 6:13

*For an in-depth discussion on this topic, click on: The Bible Says Series: Armor of God.

Overcomers Get All The Good Stuff! 5

GodThoughtsWired!                    Monday, June 14, 2010

An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

overcomers get all
the good stuff!
5

OVERCOMING...OTHER PEOPLE

"To him who overcomes..."Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21

The fourth (no particular order) of the five key areas in which we must {attain the knowledge, develop the skills, and cultivate the will} to overcome is:

-Other People.

 "'They will fight against you,
but they will not overcome you,
for I am with you to deliver you',
declares the Lord."
Jeremiah 1:19

Relative to the others, this is by far and away the greatest challenge (in my opinion). The following is what I call "The Grand Test:"

Let the positives in others point you
toward God, Without allowing the negatives  to pull you away from Him.-pastor Brad

I've been studying (and attempting to practice) this concept for a little more than 12 years now and I've identified three components. Three keys to becoming an overcomer in the area of other people. "The Grand Test" requires three attributes:

1.  Love. This kind of love, found only in God, "Does not take into account a wrong suffered" (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

2.  Humility.  "For this finds favor (with God), if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly..."
(1 Peter 2:19-20).

3.  Submission. "While being reviled, He did not revile in return, but kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges justly" (2 Peter 2:23).

Yes, I call it "The Grand Test," and we are given this test virtually every day...sometimes many times a day. Love, humility, submission. The highest of the "high roads."

But "To him who overcomes..."

Overcomers Get All The Good Stuff! 2

GodThoughtsWired!                  Wednesday, June 9, 2010

An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

overcomers get all
the good stuff!
2

For further study click on The Bible Says Series, Sin & Salvation.
Also, check out pastor Brad's youtube channel:
GodThoughtsLive!

OVERCOMING...SIN

"To him who overcomes..."
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21

The first (no particular order) of the five key areas in which we must {attain the knowledge, develop the skills, and cultivate the will} to overcome is:

-Sin.

"Sin is crouching at your door,
and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
Genesis 4:7

Yes, we must master sin. "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). That being the case, it simply boils down to skills and choices. Is it fair for me to suggest that, "The time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries" (1 Peter 4:3).

So, skills and choices. First, the skills:

 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the flesh in regard to its lust."
Romans 13:14

Solomon put it this way,

"Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it and do not walk by it; turn away from it and pass on."
Proverbs 4:14-15

And then, the choices. "Choose for yourselves today, whom you will serve...But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself" (Joshua 24:15; Daniel 1:8).

Skills, choices, mastery over sin. And the overcomers get all the good stuff...

FOR ETERNITY.

For further study click on The Bible Says Series, Sin & Salvation. 

Also, check out pastor Brad's youtube channel: GodThoughtsLive!

"God-Rejected Minds"

GodThoughtsWired!           Friday, May 21, 2010

Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

"GOD-REJECTED MINDS"

STUDIES FROM ROMANS 1

 "God gave them over to a depraved mind..."
"Romans 1:28 (bold mine)

Moral perversion results in mental perversion. This study from Romans 1 gives us a picture of the heathen world some two-thousand years ago, as well as a marvelous portrayal of the headlines in today's newspapers.

The Greek word here, adokimion translated "depraved mind," is synonomous with the term "reprobate." It literally means "rejected after testing." Whenever men reject God they are in danger of God rejecting them (see also Matthew 10:32-39). The retributive response of God is the righteous infliction of...JUSTICE (the reader, pastor or lay, who cries out "But what about grace!"...is watching too much "Christian" television).

When we give ourselves over to sin we ultimately become slaves of that very sin.  "Promising them freedom (i.e. alcohol, drugs, sexual perversion) while they themselves are slaves of corruption (teachers who reject the "our part" of Christianity) for "by what a man is overcome by this he is enslaved." 2 Peter 2:19

As I've written about several times before, one of life's greatest lessons is:

SIN TAKES AWAY OUR UNDERSTANDING.
-see Hosea 4:11,14; Romans 1:31

Sin makes even the otherwise wisest among us...STUPID. This is why Solomon rightly declared,"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid" (Proverbs 12:1). Speaking from painful experience, this is the great danger of giving into your lust.

Moral corruption has mental consequences.*

*And by the way, this is a universal principle that applies to everyone everywhere. Like gravity, it doesn't matter whether or not you believe in it...it will ALWAYS apply to YOU! In fact, a refusal to acknowledge this powerful biblical truth is a grand example of the very process at work!

Some of My Notes: Matthew 16:21-27, part 3

GodThoughtsWired!                     Thursday, May 6, 2010

An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

some of my notes

MATTHEW 16:21-27

PART 3:  The Essence of Discipleship

"He (Jesus) turned and said to Peter,
'Get behind Me Satan!' You are
a stumbling block to Me;
for you are not setting your mind
on God's interests, but man's."
Matthew 16:23

I find it significant here that Jesus identifies Satan as the originator of all "self-interest." Indeed, the lifestyle of the true disciple is one spent in the pursuit of "God's interests." Consider the following teachings of Jesus. I call it, "The Essence of Discipleship:"

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Matthew 16:24

Indeed, sacrifice and self-denial are synonymous to following Christ. This is why, for example, teachings such as the "Prosperity Doctrine" are so disturbing to me. It is certainly true that God has called us to the "abundant life" (see John 10:10), and the "prosperity of the soul" (see Psalm 25:12-13) however, if God chooses to bless us materially, it will only be as a bi-product of prioritizing His kingdom ahead of our own (see Matthew 6:33-34), and attempting to put Him first in every area of our lives (see Colossians 3:18).
Again, according to Jesus, the author of all self-interest is Satan himself!

He who has an ear to hear...let him hear.

Some of My Notes: Matthew 16:21-27, part 2

GodThoughtsWired!                 Wednesday, May 5, 2010

An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

some of my notes

 MATTHEW 16:21-27

PART 1

"He (Jesus) turned and said to Peter,
'Get behind Me Satan!'  You are
a stumbling block to Me;
for you are not setting your mind
on God's interests, but man's."
Matthew 16:23

Wow! Several things here. First of all, Jesus is aware that His ensuing suffering and death were a part of God's perfect design for Jesus' life. His entire life was predicated on accomplishing the works of His Father (see John 17:4). Toward that end He said things like, "I can do nothing on My own initiative...I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me..." (John 5:30).

It is only in this light that we can understand Jesus' emotions here. He was fully dedicated to His Father's will and devoted to "God's interests" alone. Peter's comments, although quite sincere, were being used by the Devil to tempt Jesus to set His mind on His own interests, rather than God's. At a time when Jesus needed enCOURAGEment to carry out His Father's wishes, Satan was trying to tempt Him to get His eyes off of God and onto His own worries and fears.

We are aware of how deeply God's plan of suffering and death troubled Jesus from His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Father, if Though art willing, remove this cup from Me, yet not My will, but Thine be done" (Luke 22:42).

Some of My Notes: Matthew 16:21-27, part 1

GodThoughtsWired!                     Tuesday, May 4, 2010

An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

some of my notes

MATTHEW 16:21-27

PART 1
"From that time Jesus Christ began to show
 His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem
 and suffer many things...and be killed..."
Matthew 16:21

It was His Father's will that Jesus suffer and die on the cross for our sins. INCREDIBLE! Suffering and torturous death were both a part of God's perfect plan for His Son, Jesus. For most of us, I think, it's VERY HARD TO ACCEPT that pain and suffering can be a part of God's best for our lives (see Job 1:8-2:7; Deuteronomy 8:3; 2 Timothy 2:3; Hebrews 5:8; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 2:19-20; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

 Peter certainly didn't understand it.

 "And Peter took Him aside and began
to rebuke Him, saying,'God forbid it, Lord!
This shall never happen to You.'"
Matthew 16:22

That seems like a very natural, caring response to me. Peter loved Jesus and, like us, we would never choose any of our loved ones to suffer. We never want to see those we care for suffer harm. I would have thought that Jesus would be comforted by such loyalty and concern...

BUT HE WASN'T!