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I  HAVE  LEARNED  THE  SECRET

5/10/2021

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May 10, 2021                                          I  HAVE  LEARNED   THE  SECRET
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Paul learned an amazing secret; it is interesting that he ‘learned’ the secret; it was not ‘part and parcel’ with becoming a believer. For many, finding contentment is like chasing the elusive butterfly; you think you have got it, but then you don’t have it. There is a great tendency to connect contentment with circumstances; but the secret that Paul learned enabled him to be content in any circumstance-and that is amazing! When we face adverse circumstances-when we suffer loss, or when things are not what we desire them to be-we may lose our contentment, unless we have learned this secret. The secret Paul learned made it possible for him to be content even when ‘going hungry.’ It is also interesting to see that Paul had learned to be content in prosperity and being filled. Riches and prosperity bring with them even greater challenges that would rob one of his or her contentment. Living with little or living with much is not the issue in itself; it’s how we view what we have and not allowing what we have to own us. Paul does not specifically tell us in this passage just what the secret was that he had learned, but as we read the letters of Paul, the secret becomes clear. Paul came to know that his life was in Christ and Christ was in him; he did not just know this in his mind alone but knew it in the deepest part of his being. He knew that God was His Father, and because God was his Father, he knew that God was directing his life and watching over him. He also knew that even in difficult times, God had not forsaken him, but was at work furthering His plans and purposes, and would use the adverse situations for good. Paul was able to see the big picture; he knew that God was ruling and he knew that God had a grand plan for the redemption of man, and this enabled him to see beyond the immediate circumstances. Paul knew that followers of Christ would suffer tribulations, but he also knew that God would enable His followers to be overcomers even in the most difficult situations. Paul’s passion to fulfill God’s purposes for his life was the driving force in his life, and nothing or no one could distract him from that purpose. Paul knew the promises of God for those who love Him and who walk according to His purposes, and he knew the great inheritance that was awaiting the redeemed people of God. Finally, Paul had an abiding trust in God, he knew that God was good, and that God was using all things for good, even though he may not understand the how and why. The good news is that you and I can learn the ‘secret’ just as Paul did.
2 Corinthians 12:10; 7:17 “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”      “Only let each person lead the life the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.”
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
1 Timothy 6:6-8 “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”
Blessings,
Buddy

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PAY  CLOSE  ATTENTION

5/8/2021

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May 8, 2021                                         PAY  CLOSE  ATTENTION
Hebrews 2:1: “For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
Before Jesus came, God spoke through the prophets in many ways according to Hebrews 1:2. Now, God has spoken to us in His Son whom He appointed heir of all things. The fact that God, the creator of the universe, sent His Son to talk to His people is, as they say-mind boggling.  This being the case, surely man would pay close attention and would cling to every word that Jesus spoke. God, being our creator, knows exactly what we need and only He knows what brings fulfillment in life. God has written the ultimate owner’s manual on how to live life. God desires that we experience full, overflowing life and Jesus is the one who holds the keys to life-a life of purpose and fulfillment.  Yet, because of the fallen nature of man, man cannot and does not in his fallen state receive the council and wisdom of God. Only as one puts his faith and trust in God; only when he is reconciled to God; can he know God and only then can he experience life as it was intended to be lived. We must not make the mistake of thinking that living the life that God has for His people is automatic. It is possible for believers to become dull of hearing and thus drift away from what God has spoken; Hebrews is a warning to us about drifting from all that Jesus accomplished on the cross on our behalf. There is a type of fear that is healthy and having a healthy fear of drifting from God is certainly a good kind of fear. In Hebrews 2:3 we read: “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”  Again in Hebrews 3:13-14 we find another warning: “But encourage one another, day after day, as long as it is still called Today, lest anyone of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.”  Satan’s plans and schemes have the goal of deceiving man just as he did in the Garden of Eden with his first encounter with man. God has done a wonderful work; He has called us to be His own; He has revealed Himself to us; He has made us new; He has given His Spirit to live in us; and He has made us His own. We live in a world of turmoil and we have to deal with the effects of the sin that come as a result of man rejecting God. However, we can live in peace and we can live in the light as God’s people. God extends us a wonderful invitation-He invites us to enter into His rest. Again, entering His rest is not automatic-it is possible not to enter His rest. In Hebrews 4:1-2 we read: “THERFORE, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” Knowing God, walking with God, and enjoying God, is an active process. Our faith is to be active. Hourly, daily we are to be “fully engaged” with what God is doing-conscious of His presence. No matter what we are doing, we find rest when we live according to His design. So, let each of us pay close attention and let us not neglect our great salvation.
1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore gird your mind for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
 


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THE  BATTLEGROUND

5/5/2021

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May 5, 2021                                                     THE  BATTLEGROUND
Philippians 4:6-9 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Without any doubt, we need to absorb the truth of these verses. We live in a day when, anxiety, worry, fear, loneliness, addictions, broken relationships, and depression, seems to be more the norm rather than the exception. The good news is that as believers, we do not have to live according to the ‘day in which we live’ or according to the ways of the culture-that really is great news for us. God does not leave us alone to figure it out, but gives us specific instructions on how to know and experience the peace of God no matter what is taking place in the world around us. (Let me say up front-we are here to have influence in the culture; we are not to ‘bury our head in the sand’. Our having the peace of God is an influence on the culture.)  The way to experience the peace of God is clear; prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving to God is the antidote for anxiety and the like. We have the power to lay aside the things that would rob us of the peace of God. As we truly trust God and pray to Him, and give thanks to Him from the deepest part of our being, we will experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,” and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. Having the peace of God is not dependent on circumstances; nothing or no one can rob us of His peace when our hearts are turned to Him. We have an important part in the process, yet all too often this is where so many err. We must own our thoughts-we determine what we think about-and that is a powerful truth. There is no end to the ills of society, to the problems all around; if not alert, we will find our minds dwelling on these things-and that is our undoing. Paul gives us a rather narrow list of things that we are to let our minds dwell on. (Again, we are not exempt from problems and we must deal with unpleasant issues-but we are to do with the peace of God ruling in our hearts.) We are to set out mind on what is true, honorable, of good repute, what is pure and lovely, what is excellent, and anything worthy of praise. The battle is won or lost depending on where we set our mind; that sounds rather simplistic, but that is the battleground. The key point we must not miss is that we must have our mind submitted to the Spirit; we must not let our mind choose what it thinks about; our mind is to serve us. If we take the bridle off the mind, we lose the battle. Yes, it is possible to “be anxious for nothing” and it is possible and to experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension.” Some say we are born either with a positive mindset or a negative mindset and that is how we live; we are born with certain tendencies, but the truth presented above is for every believer.
Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Blessings, Buddy
 

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AND  SUCH  WE  ARE

5/3/2021

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May 3, 2021                                           AND  SUCH  WE  ARE
1 John 3: 1-3 “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
These verses are packed with life changing truths; to understand, to believe, and to embrace what is written will impact our life-our core being-in a dramatic way. We can causally read these verses and agree that they are really good verses, but somehow not allow the truths of what we read to penetrate our spirit and our heart. John begins by telling us to “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us.” We must ‘see’ the love God has for us; we can talk about the love of God and read about it, but nothing really happens until we ‘see’ the love God has for us personally. We may see the fruits and evidences of the love of God with our physical eyes, but the primary ‘seeing’ must be in our heart. Out of His love for us, we are His children. We cannot yet fully grasp what it means to be a child of God, but what we can understand of it certainly is a life changer; it changes our perspective of life at the core. Knowing beyond any shadow of doubt that God is our Father eliminates worry, fear, and doubts and gives us a secure hope. We should not be surprised that the world does not know us or understand us because it does not know God-we are indeed marching to a different drummer. We are His children now, but awesome things are coming-change is in air! We do not know just what we will be-but it will be fantastic. When He appears-and that could be any day now-WE WILL BE LIKE HIM! And WE WILL SEE HIM JUST AS HE IS! No human being has ever seen God AS HE IS-but we will. (Perhaps Adam and Eve saw God.) Somehow, this reality of us seeing God as He is and knowing that we will be changed-that we will become like Him-causes us to purify ourselves. (God does cleanse us, but we also must make the choice to lay aside what is impure.) Note: it is not suggested that we should purify ourselves-we will purify ourselves when we see what is in store for us. This purifying ourselves implies that we will have a desire to live holy, to rid ourselves of anything unlike Him. We know our Father now, but we are going to meet Him face-to-face!! We must be dressing ourselves up for this visit. As His children, we now resemble Him, but we are destined to become like Him---‘Like Father, like son.’ The key question for us is, is our hope fixed on Him? If it is, then proof of that is that we will be purifying ourselves just as He is pure-we will be getting ready to meet our Father, face-to-face.
2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Blessings,
Buddy

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