January 22, 2023                                            MIND  SET
Romans 8:5-8,12-13 “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh id death, but the life set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”        “So then, brethren, we are under obligation not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
 One clear truth that we find in Romans chapters seven and eight, as well as in many other scriptures, is that a believer can choose to live according to the flesh; but it is also clear that if they make that choice, it is just that-their choice, since the power of sin over us has been broken and we have been made new. It is a fact that the flesh battles against the Spirit, but the flesh is always defeated when we live according to the Spirit. Our mind-set is critical; our mind can be set on the flesh, or on the Spirit. If you are employed, it’s likely your mind set is to go to work and do a good job. If your goal is to be a professional athlete, then your mind is set on practicing your chosen sport. Like so, if we are followers of Christ, then our mind should be set on growing in the faith, learning of Him, following His commands and teachings, and listening to and obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If our mind is set on acquiring riches and material gain, popularity, looks, or whatever, then our mind is set on the flesh. The key is, where is our heart and what is our main pursuit in life. There is nothing wrong with having material possessions or being in good physical condition and good health, etc; it’s a problem when things other than knowing God and walking in His ways become our priorities in life. These verses call for a self-evaluation; let us look within and determine if our mind set is on the Spirit of God who is working in us, or if our mind set is on doing what pleases self-the flesh. If we find that our mind is set on the flesh, then we are called to die to self if we are to experience God. The good news is that the mind set on the Spirit, and we are saying no to the flesh, then we will live!
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 mind on things above, not on things on earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Blessings,
Buddy

 
January 19, 2023                                               CONTENTMENT
Philippians 4:6-7, 11-12, 19   “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.”      “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.”     “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Paul had an amazing testimony; the good news is that all believers can have the same testimony. In the day in which we live, there is much that we could be anxious about, but I suppose that is the way it has always been. Paul begins with saying to ‘be anxious for nothing;’ some might say that surely he did not mean that in a literal way; and others might say that Paul was special or unique-what he said is not for all believers. Let us embrace ‘being anxious for nothing’ as a word for us and discover that it can be true of us. Being anxious for nothing does not mean that we live in denial or that we ‘bury our heads in the sand.’ We do experience trials and difficulties, but our response can be such that we deal the difficulties is such a way that we are not anxious about them. When things come into our life that has the potential to make us anxious, we are to make our request known to God-through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Supplication means to ‘plead humbly.’ When we make our request to God in this way, His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Another important aspect of not being anxious is to learn how to be content in all circumstances-wow! Paul experienced extremely difficult circumstances, yet he lived in contentment; he knew how to get along with humble means, AND he knew how to live in prosperity with contentment. (Prosperity has its own way of making one anxious.) Paul goes on to say that he had ‘learned the secret’ of being filled and going hungry and of having abundance and having need. That is amazing. Note that Paul learned to be content-it was not automatic; and he learned the secret of being content in all circumstances. How do we learn, and what is the secret? I’m sure I cannot answer those questions fully, but I do believe that the answer revolves around the issue of knowing and trusting God in the deepest part of our being-more than with a head knowledge. I must believe that God is all powerful, all knowing, and that He alone reigns over all; whatever comes my way, God has allowed it. By our own action or inaction, we can bring about certain circumstances, but even so, God has allowed it and He can use the circumstances for our own good and for His glory. Finally, we can find contentment because God has promised to strengthen us and to supply all of our needs. He may not supply all our wants, but He will supply what we need, and with that, let us be content.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness and contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this 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

 
January 17, 2023                                    A  SURE  FOUNDATION  IS  LAID
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and then fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.”
There is hardly anything worse than discovering that the building that was built is faulty-after the building is complete. In life, whether we are conscience of it or not, we are building; our routines, the things we spend time doing, what we have as priorities, how we relate to others, are all a part of the building process that each of us are about. (Our life is the building.) The truth that we must not miss is that the foundation has already been laid-and that is Christ Jesus. As we see above, we have many options of what materials we can use in what we are building-gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw. The sobering reality is that one day our building, our work, will be tested by fire and it will become evident what materials we used in our building. Should our building survive the fire, then we will receive a reward from God! Jesus is the foundation and it is a foundation of forgiveness of sin, restoration to our Father, a new identity (new creations), being made a part of the body of Christ, and given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The eternal truths of the scriptures are the sure foundation. Jesus came and demonstrated and taught the gospel of the kingdom-as He did, He was laying the foundation. Foundations are to be built upon-that’s where we come in. We are to be building with gold, silver, and precious stones-and we find those materials in His word. We can build with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, patience, prayer, hope, encouragement, edification, bearing burdens, giving, serving-and the list goes on. What we build with these materials will last-it will stand the test of fire. We must resist living according to the wisdom and the ways of this world; instead we are to live according to the ways of God, and we learn of His ways as we read His word. It is futile and totally wasteful and unfulfilling to build with anything other than the materials that God has given to us to build with.  Today, let us be about building from a kingdom prospective, knowing that what we are building will survive the fire and that we will be rewarded as a faithful builder.
Mathew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasuries in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Blessings,
Buddy

 
January 15, 2023                                          A  CHEERFUL  GIVER
2 Corinthians 9:6-8,10-11 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything you may have an abundance for every good deed.”        “Now He who supplies seeds to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”
The truths presented in this passage of scripture are counter-culture; the culture promotes getting while the kingdom of God promotes giving. God is a giving God and it only stands to reason that His followers would be givers as well. The fact that God loves a cheerful giver should serve as a motivation for us the be ones who have a giving nature. The simple truth that is so powerful and life-changing is the law of sowing and reaping. The awesome good news for us is that if we sow bountifully we shall also reap bountifully; and the opposite is also true; if we sow sparingly, we will reap sparingly. This principle of sowing and reaping has a way of exposing our hearts; and it also exposes whether one is living for self or living according to the ways of God. Our sowing must not be done to bring attention to ourselves and we must not take credit for the good works we might do. It is God who enables us to sow good seed-and He gives us seeds to sow, AND He multiplies our seed for sowing-we will never run out of seed! Because God’s grace abounds to us, we are sufficient for every good deed. As we are about sowing good seeds, God supplies all of our needs. There are limitless numbers of ways to sow good seeds; it may be giving in some material way; we can give words that would bless and encourage; we may meet a physical need that someone has; we may visit the sick; we may pray for someone; prepare a meal; we can sow seeds of forgiveness….and the possibilities go on. If we truly know God and we know our true identity as believers, it will be our nature to sow good seeds-we are not to give or sow under compulsion. This principle of sowing and reaping does not mean that we must meet every single need we see; but it does mean that we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in prompting us as to how and when we can sow good seeds; we should have the attitude of looking for ways be givers-not looking for excuses to withhold. God says that He will increase the harvest of our righteousness and that we will be enriched in everything for all liberality! We can give out of the abundance that God supplies. The end result is that sowing good seeds produces thanksgiving to God.
Proverbs 11:24-25 “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Blessings,
Buddy

 
January 13, 2023                        GRACE  AND  PEACE  BE  MULTIPLIED
2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
It seems that many are desiring a simpler life style-and that is understandable as we live in a complex culture that constantly demands much of us. Families sharing meals together, enjoying conversation without getting a text message, playing a game in the back yard, or just taking a leisurely walk and enjoying God’s creation is so often illusive. The awesome good news is that God knows the deepest longings of our hearts, and He has made provision that we might live life as He designed and that we could be truly fulfilled. Peter begins this chapter with the prayer that “Grace and peace be multiplied to you;” and it is just that-the grace and peace of God has been extended to us. By His grace, through His divine power, He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. It is not by our effort, but by His divine power that we have been given everything pertaining to life and godliness-what a blessing. Peter tells us that these things come to us through the true knowledge of Him. It is critical that we learn of God according to His word and not according to our own definition of God; there are many false concepts, false religions, and false teachings of who God is and what He is like. We must be constantly forming our beliefs around the truth of God’s word. We may not completely understand what it means that we ‘have been given everything pertaining to life and godliness.’ We have to work, we have to pay bills, we have to maintain what we own, we sometimes endure sickness and loss, and we may at times feel discouraged. BUT, God enables us to overcome what we face; we have all we need in Him; in Him we have peace, patience, hope, joy, courage, steadfastness, wisdom-and the list goes on. God makes us new, and in our newness, we discover that we are indeed complete in Him, lacking nothing. Sure, we face difficulties, but He has made us sufficient to meet and to overcome the challenges we face in life. And hear this-God has given us precious and magnificent promises in order that WE might BECOME PARTAKERS OF HIS DIVINE NATURE!! Yes! We can live life in this fallen world with His divine nature empowering us and guiding us every step of the way. We are not God, but we can think like God and we can act like God and we can respond like God-and that is what God is desiring for us.
1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:24 “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy

 
January 11, 2023                                  NOT  OF  THIS  WORLD
John 18:36 “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”                                                          We spend a lot of time in this world working, shopping, taking care of the house, perhaps being involved in sports or hobby, social activities, attending church, etc. We tend to live as though this world is our home. On several occasions Jesus said that His followers, even though they lived in the world, they were not of the world, but belonged to His kingdom-which was not of this world, or realm as we read in the above verse. It’s a major deal for us to get this point; we have been transferred to the kingdom of God; we no longer belong to this world system. This reality may seem a bit confusing; how do we live 24/7 in this world, but yet not belong to it. The kingdom of this world is physical and it will pass away; the kingdom of God is spiritual in nature and is eternal. Even thought the kingdom of God is spiritual, it has great impact on how we live in the physical world. We must be settled in the fact that the spiritual is far more important than the physical, and because it is, we must be focused on our spiritual relationship with God. The life we live in this world is to flow from our relationship with our heavenly Father. (Our marching orders for life on this earth are to be from God.) As believers, we are spiritual beings who impact the world around us. We are not a body with a spirit, we are a spirit with a body. The emphasis of the above verses, and many other verses, is that we are to walk or live in such a manner that is worthy of God, that honors God, and that reflects His nature to those around us-that must be our over-riding desire. Once we learn of our true identity as His sons and daughters, once we discover that we have been transferred to His kingdom, and once we learn that we are first spiritual beings who are joined to God, we will not live according to this fallen world system-there is so much more. As we read the scriptures, we learn of the ways of the kingdom of God and how we can be expressions of life in the kingdom of God here on the earth. We have been sent into the world, but we are not of the world.
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Blessings,
Buddy

January 9, 2023                                       HAVING  STRONG  ENCOURAGEMENT
Hebrews 6:18-20 “in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. The hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
There are three realities that each of us must face: we live without hope; we live with a hope that is based on self and the world around us; or we live with a hope that is rooted in the knowledge of God. The hope that is based on self and/or the world around us is not a steadfast hope. For many, hope is dependent on the circumstances or on their ability to bring about the desired outcome. The hope that is rooted in God is steadfast and is not dependent on the will of man or on circumstances. The acid test for the believer that reveals the source of hope is adverse circumstances, when everything seems to be wrong, when things are not what we desire. Depression and anxiety can be signs that our hope is not coming from our relationship with God. It seems that the more affluent a society or individual is, all too often, hope in God wanes. As believers, it is wise, and it is scriptural, for us to examine ourselves for the purpose of making sure we are spiritually healthy. One reason for evaluating our spiritual health is to determine where our hope lies. A foundational truth regarding hope is that of knowing God according to the scriptures-who He says He is-not who we think He is. Not knowing God according to who He says He is an unsure foundation that will not stand the test and will lead to disappointment. If we are to have a steadfast hope, even in an affluent society, and even in the midst of trying times, we must continually feed on the truth of God’s word, increasing in the knowledge of Him. When we believe that God is who He says He is, when we believe that He is sovereign, when we believe that His plans and purposes will come to pass, and when we know that we belong to Him and are being used by Him, we will have an abiding hope and we will be encouraged because we know that God never fails. This does not imply that we are oblivious to or in denial about the fact that we do encounter trials and difficulties; it does mean that we are confident that God works in and through the difficulties we face. For sure, our soul needs an anchor in the days in which we live. The only sure anchor that holds in the most violent storm is our relationship with Jesus-He is THE anchor; if our anchor is anywhere else, the storms will prevail. We have been given the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the things of God, and as we come to know God and to know who we are in Christ, we will experience the sure and steadfast hope that is rooted in God Himself. Whatever you may be facing, let your hope in God be strong.
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Psalm 147:11 “the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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January 6, 2023                                    BE  TRANSFORMED
Romans 12:1-2 “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
We hear a lot about self-improvement; we should pay attention to our state of being; eating heathy, physical exercise, and continuing to learn, and etc. However, let us not overlook the transformation work that God does in us. As I often say, God is not out to make us better or refurbish us, but to make us new creations. If our focus is on ‘trying to do better,’ and if we rely on self-effort, we will experience frustration in our spiritual life. We must live according to the truth that God has revealed, not according to our own understanding and our own preferences. The truth is that Jesus came to redeem us and to transfer us from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light where we live as sons and daughters of God. He has transformed us, made us new with new hearts and new minds and new spirits, and has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to live according to the ways of God. God has done all of that; yet there is a part for us to be about; we must by faith believe that we are who He says we are and that He gives us the power to live this new life. Not only are we to believe that God has done these things, we must embrace them and put them into action. In the passage above, we find a warning to believers; even though we have been made new, it is possible for us to be conformed back to the world. For that reason, we must be continually being renewed in our minds; we must think on the things of God and always be pursuing what God has for us. The life of a believer is a life of being pro-active in the things of God. There is a great opportunity for us; we can now present our bodies, our life, as a ‘living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God.’ We no longer have to live a sub-standard life where we experience frustrations, failures, bad attitudes, boredom, discouragement, doubt, fear, or whatever. The life we live day by day can be a living testimony of how God has transformed us; we can be expressions of the character of God. Paul began this passage by saying “I urge you.” Let us be reminded that God Himself is urging us to present ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice to Him.
1 Peter 1:15-16 “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
Matthew 5:16  “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Blessings,
Buddy   

 
January 4, 2023                                            NEW  CREATIONS
Romans 6:4 “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Galatians 2:20-21 “I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
We may get so use to our routines in life that we forget that we are new creations. Being made new creations is revolutionary-it’s out of the norm! We have not been refurbished, but made new creations; we are no longer who we use to be, and life is not what it use to be. I do not fully understand the implications of this, but if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, (dying to ourselves) we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. And, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life. Paul said in Galatians 2 that it was no longer he who lived-but it was Christ living in him. The amazing thing is that we can walk in newness of life; we no longer have to live in the ‘ho-hum’ of life or have to live without direction and energy for life. Rather than being exhausted or overwhelmed in life, we can experience the life of God in us renewing us and giving us hope in all circumstances. It may sound over-simplistic, but as we are experiencing this newness of life, the grass will be greener and the skies will be bluer because we have the very life of God in us. We can be thankful that the old things-who we use to be and all of our failures-have passed away-and the new has come. This does not imply that we are exempt from trials in life; but it does mean that we experience victory over whatever trials we face. Being new creations and walking in newness of life calls for faith; by faith we believe the truth that God has declared and we walk in it-we apply it. We cannot live ‘our life’ and at the same time experience His life. The crucial point of all of this is that of dying to ourselves and being raised to a new life in Christ. The Spirit of God has been given to us to lead us and to reveal the truths of the word of God to us; our part is to be sensitive to the Spirit of God and to follow as He leads.  Living as new creations does not happen automatically; we must by faith in what God has declared, ‘put on’ the new person we are.
Ephesians 4:22 “You were taught, with regards to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Blessings,
Buddy

 
January 2, 2023                                               GIVING  THANKS
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 5:20 “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.”
One thing for sure; we must get our focus off of the immediate troubles if we are to live out the instructions we find in these verses. We must not operate totally on our own reasoning and understanding; we cannot be guided by human wisdom and human interpretations of circumstances. These two verses, and really all of scripture, require faith. How can one ‘rejoice always’ when their love one suddenly dies, or when their house and all of their possessions are destroyed in a house fire. How can one ‘in everything give thanks’ when they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Are we really to give ‘thanks for all things?’ These are not easy questions to answer; but nonetheless, we must seek out what God is saying about giving thanks for all, and in all things. I do not think that God expects us to give thanks for having a terminal illness, or for any such circumstance; but I do believe that we are to give thanks for what He is going to do in and through adverse circumstances. That is where our faith is required. Often, when trials come, we see no way that good will come out of the trial; but that is when we must trust our loving, all-knowing Father-that He is working all things for our good if we love Him and are desiring to walk in His ways. Just as having an ungrateful heart produces bad fruit, a grateful or thankful heart produces good fruit. We can easily be thankful for the ‘good’ things in life, but learning to be thankful in all things and for all things takes us to a new and better life-a life of trusting God, knowing that He ultimately will use even the most difficult times for our good and for His glory. So, even though we may not ‘feel’ like it or even though we do not understand why God has allowed certain trials to come our way, let us be ones who gives thanks to God for all things-just as He instructs us to do. Remember that God is sovereign and remember that He loves us and will never forsake us. (It goes without saying, but it is fundamental that we love God and are walking according to His leading; in other words, if we are not walking according to the ways of God but are living according to our own dictates, then we will miss out on some of the blessings and promises of God.)
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.”
Blessings,
Buddy