John 15 is a beautiful picture of the Husbandman’s nurturing and pruning of us as living branches. “Every branch (or, believer) in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” A branch that is not bearing fruit will be cut off by the Husbandman. Another branch, on the same vine, may be bearing fruit but needs purging. The purging is only for the purpose of enabling the Vine to produce more fruit through that branch. Verse six continues: “If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” A man seeking to live independent of the Vine is just like the barren twigs of a branch. Both are unhealthy detractions to the fruit-bearing branches.

It is crucial to note that denying self is not self-denial.  Self-denial is to deny one’s self things as a form of obedience in order to project an image of a person who is bearing fruit. But on the inside, everything remains all about you.  If this sounds like you, you may look alive externally, but you are not abiding internally in the Vine.  You look alive on the outside with your sacrifices painting a well kept facade, but you are dead on the inside.

Self-denial is what we choose when we obey rules for the purpose of outward conformity to a set of standards as proof of our righteousness to people.  That is symbolism.  Paul warned us of these type of Judiazers when he said beware of dogs, evil workers and those of the concision (Phil 3:2).  These people groups stressed faith through outward conformity alone.  Outward conformity should not be onlystressed, but rather should be expressed.  Conformity is an outward expression of your inward Possession – Christ.  Outward conformity should originate from what the Word would suggest; our minds are able to ingest so our hearts can digest.  Then our spirit will impress and the soul, at rest, will beautifully express.  Conformity should be an expression.  Not simply dogmatically stressed by leaders.   When it is only externally stressed, it creates a mess in which your followers regress and eventually digress.  Standards are important (self-denial of your preferences to adhere to particular biblical, spiritual, or professional standards.) Self-denial is admirable and profitable.   But still, outward conformity to the God’s law is not denying self.  It’s only selfish denials.

Self is defined best as “one’s own fondness for their private interests whereby they obtain a sense of personal identity.” It is who you think you can be if you could only be what you wished you could be.  Denymeans “to contradict.” To deny self is simply contradicting that person within us that seeks our own private interests over the interests of the Christ living within us.

We find a perfect picture of One denying self in a garden, on a dark and sobering night. One Man found weeping. His agony is so intense that He is literally sweating drops of blood. His crying words must have shaken the courts of heaven, as His Heavenly Father listened to the weeping cry of His only Son—“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42) He knew the agony of having his own private interests, yet being willing to contradict His flesh and yield to the interests of His Heavenly Father.  There is no better example of One dying to self.

Foreknowing His cross to bear, the Lord Jesus cried out to His inquisitive followers: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up my cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Denying self demands a death. It is a death to the portion of our branch that doesn’t need the Vine—the self life. It bears no fruit. And if it gains control of our being, our entire branch will be full of its death.  But the branch that will remain connected will not be rejected; its life will not be neglected.  Denying self does not look for deliverance of the impending death of self.  But denial of the self life realizes it is the only way to the Life found after the cross. Denying self recognizes it is for the sake of others who may never appreciate it or utilize the benefit of it. Denying self begins with awareness to the emptiness of self and is fanned by a passion to yield to the greater Life living within.

Any spiritual fire that is struggling for oxygenation is being suffocated by the presence of one element—the presence of self. A suffering spiritual flame is in some form or fashion holding on to a private interest whereby one obtains his sense of personal identity. Whatever it is for you, my suffering friend, it is slowly snuffing out your spiritual blaze. You may know in your head that you need to let go. You know the words to say, “I just trust the Lord.”  But in your prayer garden, your words to your Heavenly Father are questions, wondering why He would allow such a threat to your private interests. Sure, they may even look spiritual. But nonetheless, they are yours. And you won’t let go of whatever it is. Friend, it is such a person who has mastered self-denial, but has no clue in denying self.

This principal of denying self lays the foundation to the Crucified Christian Life. When one has discovered it, he too can proclaim as the Apostle Paul, I die daily! Denying self will keep the embers burning of a consistent flame. Denying self will revive a dying flame. And denying self will keep the barrenness removed from our branches.

Good Morning! Why are so many born again believers miserable?  What part of our lives is so bad that the grace of God is seldom enough to endure it, much less enjoy it?  This ought not to be!

Remember that at RU we like to dissect Bible verses and define words.  At RU we consider clichés to be our enemy!  We want to contemplate word meanings whenever we are discussing answers to life’s problems as found in the Bible.

As a result, there is probably no cliché that we re-define and remind more than the word “grace”.  It is best defined as “God’s work on my behalf”.  It is really “God at work, me at rest” in all of life’s circumstances.  The only prerequisite for God’s grace is my “humility in the face of HIS workload”.

So many Christian people I meet are discouraged with their life.  Many of these people seem to struggle to even make it through the day.  But it seems to me that the believers that have it the worst in their daily circumstances are the ones that seem to be the happiest in the midst of it all.  How does that work?  Humility!

Humility is another cliché that needs to be often defined.  Humility is “ubmission to the divine will of God for your life”  Many say they are submitted but when we actually see what God chooses to DEAL out to us in the form of adversity, we must determine by our responses if we are truly submissive.

If I ask my kids to enjoy something that they may find inconvenient and they commit to do so, only to complain and show basic feelings of misery in the midst of that moment of inconvenience, have they truly submitted?  We would all say “no!”

But as His children we often have a different view of submission for ourselves.  As long as we are enduring life without quitting church or publicly blaspheming God then we consider ourselves submissive.  That’s not submission. That is disrespectful and ungrateful endurance.

Humility is better defined by its behavior than by its meaning.  To be humble is to be submissive to God’s will for our life both externally in your words, and internally in our mind.  If that is where we are then God gives more grace, for we have been humbled.  God’s grace will be enough to not only endure our life, but to enjoy our life, no matter the cards we feel have been improperly dealt.

With that said, how does humility behave, that we may compare our thoughts and actions to what God would consider proper behavior?

Humility, fist of all is free of pride (which is an undue esteem of one’s self).  Freedom is free of arrogance (which is an undue disregard for others).  Thus freedom thinks more of others than oneself.  When we are facing difficult circumstance it is very hard to think of others rather than ones self.  Why?  Because we become proud.  Now, yes, we can defend that self-focus as an understandable response to my circumstances but we cannot say we are remaining humble for our focus has changed from others toward ourselves.  God is NOT standing by to do the work in a proud man’s life.  He is standing by to RESIST the word of that proud man.  Even though that proud man denies his pride and defends his self focus.

Humility, as well, is a “modest estimate of one’s own worth”.  When we are struggling with difficulty in our lives, we need to realize that we are nothing and He is our all.  We will then accept our position as deserving of any suffering for His name’s sake.

But usually we assume an “it’s not fair” mentality.  That is not a modest estimate of our worth.  Our feelings in the face of adversity should not be “it’s not fair” but rather it should be “I’m not worthy!”  This small change in your heart’s attitude is what unleashes God’s grace to not only endure that situation, but to enjoy that situation.

Humility is best expressed by one’s “deep sense of unworthiness in the sight of the Lord.”  Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.  Friends, we need to remember to abase ourselves.  If something is happening to us that we would never wish on another, recognize that God has wished it upon us.  When God gives us bread, refuse to think it is a stone!  God sees it as good, why can we not?  We are not humble, that is why we cannot see it as good and that is also why it IS good!

If we are having a hard day, then we need God to do some work, so we just need humility. If we are struggling with a vice, then we need God to do some work, so we just need humility.  If a brother is angry at another, then we need God to do some work, so we just need humility.  If we are facing health issues, then we need God to do some work, so we just need humility.  If we are sick of our life as it seems to play out, then we need God to do some work, so we just need humility.  If we are struggling to make ends meet, then we need God to do some work, so we just need humility.

God’s work on our behalf is available to not only endure it all, but to enjoy it all.  If there is some area of our lives that we are simply trying to endure, then there is an area of our life in which we are not humble.  That makes us proud.

If someone called you proud, what would you say?  If God thought us proud, what would He do?  If something difficult is in your life as a “God designed process of humbling you” then don’t curse it, don’t nurse it, don’t rehearse it, just reverse it.

Humble ourselves and let Him do all your work.  Which would you rather do?  Endure your hard work or enjoy your time of rest.  Humility brings tranquility.

Have you ever notices Philippians 4:13 DOES NOT say “I can do all things through Christ WHO strengtheneth me”?  It uses the preposition “which” to claim our access to His ability (doing all things) and His subsequent strength.

Think for a moment exactly what this means.  He is not teaching us we receive strength to do everything.  It is telling us we can do anything through Christ and this FACT is “that which” strengthens us.

We ought to find “solace for strength” in this fact:  we can do anything through Christ!  Do we believe that is true?  Do we believe we can accomplish the impossible?  NO!  We cannot get ‘er done, but He can!  He can accomplish whatever He chooses to do and He will accomplish that through us. . . if we will let Him!  How does that make you feel?

It should bring each of us a great measure of strength.  But often the faith of Christ (the seventh of nine fruits living within us) is rejected for self righteous doubt.  We believe we can do a lot of things for God!  We even can do some things for ourselves (or our families, friends or preachers) but how much does He do through you?  If it is not EVERYTHING He wishes then it is our “bouts with doubts” that is hindering His ability.

As long as things are going well, I have found that I truly believe that Christ is all I need to complete my life’s tasks properly.  But when things start getting rough, my doubts attempt to overwhelm me and cause me to get rough when things get tough.  It is at times like this I tend to get creative, for I have rejected the truth “Christ is enough”.

In my self effort to creatively do for Him what He has designed Himself to do for me, I fail and become frustrated.  My interpersonal skills go down and I reject His promptings of joy for frustration.  I become harsh rather than gentle.  Instead of longsuffering, I am a bit quick tempered.  What has happened to me?  Why am I responding so rough toward the things I find to be tough?  It’s cause for me, at that particular time “Christ is NOT enough”.  I sometimes unfortunately conclude “I need more of me.  I must try harder or even work longer.  If I buckle down and iimplement more self imposed rules then decide to read more and pray more. I will become a better Steve!

Christ does not want a better Steve.  He wants a deader Steve!  Unless I die to my own self efforts when things get tough, He will not step in and change my outlook.  He promises in Proverbs that if I will “Commit [my]works to the Lord, thy thoughts shall be established”.

If I would give the tough stuff over to the Lord he will establish my thoughts and His established thoughts will not respond rough over that which is, to me, tough!  Established thoughts will rest in the beauty of God’s presence and power and be assured that He will be enough.

Are you like me?  Do you need to be reminded that Christ is enough?  Then you are no different than many Christians.  Paul indicated he knew how to have all his needs met and he know how to go without any needs being met.  However, through it all he was content because he had LEARNED contentment does not come through resentment.  It comes through being willing to give things over to Jesus and be content with our role of proper thinking and His role of productive doing.

When things get tough, I want to avoid being rough, by recognizing “He is enough”!  With that realization as my meditation it should be something “which strengtheneth me”.

Good morning! If you happened to have missed my last posting, allow me to fill you in.  We are in the process of studying a portion of Scripture that has helped my staff and me to realize a previously undiscovered avenue to true Christian freedom!  That’s right, I believe Romans 14:1-5 contains the truths necessary to strengthen and protect your Spirit-filled life and reach a new personal pinnacle with your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Romans 14:1 we saw that there are two basic ways to govern our lives: Liberty and Rigidity.  Liberty is found by adhering to the leading of the Holy Spirit; while rigidity is the rules or boundaries that we or others place over us.  We discussed the role and importance of these two forms of governance as they relate to each other and also established what, exactly, is the source of each.  Furthermore, we learned that it is the responsibility of those of us who strive to live the liberated Christian life to demonstrate, and even teach, the Spirit-filled life found through Christian liberality to our weaker brethren who are dominated, and thus “held back” by rigidity.

That being said, let us now take our study a step further.  In Romans Chapter 14:2, the Apostle Paul tells us, For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Hmm. . . what in the world is he talking about here?  Well, friend, Paul is giving us a metaphor that demonstrates the fact that being governed by a Spirit-filled liberated life is indeed demonstrative of a stronger faith IN Christ and thus renders a greater measure of freedom from the power of sin!

You see, the “one” who BELIEVES that he may eat all things does so because he BELIEVES that he can-He has FAITH! And not just any faith, but a strong faith that is found only by adhering to the Spirit of God and embracing the liberty that God has set before us!  Conversely, we see “another” who limits himself to only herbs.  Why does he do this, you ask?  Because he believes that he is only permitted to do so-he is the one whom God indicates here has a faith that is WEAK!  This individual has limited his freedom IN Christ by subjecting himself to rules and boundaries that are not consistent with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Paul clearly shows us the danger of being a rigidity focused Christian.  Friend, the Lord has a wonderful and perfect life custom-designed just for you. . . all you have to do to enjoy it is to be consistently led of the Holy Spirit.   It is my opinion that the purpose of Romans 14:2 is to make us aware of the trap that results from being dominated by rigidity.  By falling into this “trap” we will certainly stymie our ability to experience the freedom that is found through the Spirit-filled life!  Do not allow yourself to become rigid when the Spirit of God is leading you contrary-allow yourself to enjoy the liberality of the Holy Spirit.

Once again, I want to reiterate that the presence of boundaries and rules is indeed imperative in the life of a Christian.  When our faith falters, as occurs to all of us on occasion, it is our character-imposed boundaries that will keep us upright until communication with the Lord is restored.

Keeping that truth in mind, allow me to conclude with this:  The Bible clearly says in Romans 14:2 that the “one” who is focused on rigidity is weak, and the “one” focused on liberty is strong. . . Why?  Because he BELIEVES!

If we will simply BELIEVE the Spirit-filled life, my friend, our lives will change forever!

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord,
Steven Curington

Good Morning! ACT; REACT; ACT; REACT!!!!  It seems to be the story of my life.  Either I am IN Christ and I am acting and reacting properly or I am IN me and acting and reacting improperly.  It true for me, I’m either IN or I’ve SINNED!

But I can always tell (usually AFTER my mistakes) why I am acting or reacting improperly.  It is a lack of His faith.  We know that James taught us that faith on trial through various temptations will produce patience.  Thus, it is understandable to a loving and patience Father that we will often lack patience.  But it is safe to assume if it takes successful trials to develop patience that we will not have an acceptable level of patience until we have learned to yield to His acceptable measure of faith for any given situation.

I seem to lose my cool every day.  Sometimes this heated moment remains within and few, if any, realize it.  Some think that’s not so bad.  But to be honest, that attitude produces pride.  “As long as no one knows I “got hot” under the collar, they assume I have great patience”.  No, great patience is formed from successful trials and trials are ONLY successful when IN MY HEART I have yielded to His faith in my difficulties not mine own faith, my own doubt, or heaven forbid, mine own unbelief!

If I exercise mine own faith, it is me that is doing the work.  I may be able to keep my temper composed, but it will not exercise His faith, so He won’t be glorified.  He is never glorified by my self righteous acts of the soul.  I will look good, but He will not be lifted up.

If I exercise my own doubt, then not only will He not look good, but neither will I.  Though my self righteous faith will keep my temper in, unrighteous doubt will always let it out!  I won’t be able to maintain my composer for long if I doubt the TRUTH which say’s everything “going wrong” is actually “going right”.  For if all things work together for good . . . then I should never struggle with doubt.  My “bouts with doubt” will make their way out.  When they get out then my reputation is criticized and Christ’s is minimalized.

Finally, if I respond in my own unbelief, I will be of all men, most miserable.  There will be no patience, for there will be no peace.  The Spirit knows what I need when He leads me into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  If I reject those divine circumstances and deem them “unnecessary”, my rejection will produce a reflection of my circumstances.  A “reflection of rejection” manifests itself in negative, pessimistic, critical thinking.  It is at this stage my unrighteous acts of unbelief will cause me to look bad and literally hinder the work of the Lord.

My only recourse is to refuse to ACT; REACT!  Rather, I must REST/RELAX!  I must rest in the fact that Christ will manifest Himself to me if I would but relax in my stressful situations and wait for Him.  That is what patience is.  It is not as much enduring as it is waiting.  We must endure as we wait, but how hard is it to endure when we have faith the endurance is bringing about things that work together for good?  That’s not hard at all.  If I understand through His faith that I must endure these situations that seem bad but work together for good, then I will find the necessary calm to rest IN Him as I relax and wait ON Him.

That willingness to relax and wait on the Lord is the patience He is looking for in tumultuous times.  For it is that patience that is produced by trials of temptation. It is those trials of temptation that prove we are yielding to His faith and it is yielding to His faith that glorifies God and lifts up Christ that others might be drawn unto Him.

I guess we need to get serious about all this stuff and just lighten up!  Sound like an oxymoron?  No, rather, it’s much simpler than that.  He is my proxy or I am mine own moron!

Rules without relationship eventually lead to rebellion.

Recently the spirit of the Lord has led me to study a portion of scripture which has afforded me many great truths that I desire to share with you.  It is my intention to bring to you a series of blogs where I will break down Romans 14: 1-5 and detail Paul’s instrumental teaching as it pertains to Christian liberty.  I think it will help understand why some Christians only do well in an environment of rules and why others who have such great liberty, may sometimes find themselves struggling to live right while proclaiming they enjoy a “great relationship”.

Because this will be a multi-part blog, I will not spend a lot of time on fancy endings.  We will just end at 700 words or so and pick it up again the next time I write to you.  With that said, it is probable taht no single blog will hold the entire counsel of God.  Please give me the grace in this space to place each truth side by side over the course a few days in order that we may see this truth in it’s entirety for what it should be–illuminating!

In simple terms, there are basically two ways to govern our lives.  We can be lead by the liberty of the Spirit-which is granted to us by the Spirit of God, for we know that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is always liberty. Or we can be kept at bay by rules.  It is not liberty.  It is actually a form of rigidity.

Sometime rules come from the Word of God, and we know that these rules can never be contrary to the leading of the Spirit, for the Holy Spirit would never contradict what the Bible says.  We also have rules placed over us by our God-ordained authority, which again are almost always consistent with the leading of the Spirit.  However, we often find that others who are not directly over us want to place rules over us or feel that we should personally impose more rules upon ourselves.  This is where we must proceed with caution. Why you ask?  Because rigidity without liberty is stupidity!

Don’t get me wrong, rigidity (that is to say rules) is good.  Having boundaries and setting personal standards that we refuse to compromise are integral to our Christian stability, especially when our walk with God may seem dormant or distant.  But they are only beneficial if they are spiritual bumper to keep us IN Christ.

But, again I say, when rigidity infringes upon my Christian liberty it is stupidity.  Jesus Christ came to make us free.  We are to live within boundaries, but when our freedom is dependant upon those boundaries we are bound, not free.  Therefore, it is counterproductive to allow ourselves to be made free by rules that squelch the liberty bestowed upon us by the Spirit of God.  We are to be made free by a relationship that leads us to obey all of His rules out of appreciation and selflessness.  Thus, we must strive to strike a healthy balance between the two.

Romans 14: 1 says, Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.   In this verse, is Paul referring to the faith of justification (believing that Jesus died for your sins), or is he referring to the faith of sanctification (allowing Christ to live his life through you)?  Well, friend, he must be referring to sanctification because the faith of justification is either all or nothing.  You cannot be weak in your salvation!  So Paul must be speaking about those who are weak in their ability to yield to the sanctified Christian life.  Keeping that truth in mind, Paul goes on to tell us that we are to receive those who are weak-those who struggle.  The weak in faith are more often then not those who allow rigidity to dominate over their Christian liberty.  That is to say, they focus on obeying rules and boundaries rather than on the intimacy of their walk and the selfless sacrifice of their personal agenda’s.  This ultimately hinders their relationship with the Lord and limits the liberty and power that is found in the abundant, Spirit-filled life.

Furthermore, Paul tells us to receive these weak, rules dominated people of rigidity, but not to doubtful disputations.  This means that we are to embrace these rigid Christians not for the sake of argument or criticism, but rather to show them something better-a better way!  It is our responsibility to demonstrate, and even teach, the Spirit-filled life of liberality to those “weak in faith” (rigidity dominated Christians).

We that strive to live the liberated Christian life can often learn from those who lean toward rigidity, but we do not stand to gain nearly as much as those whom Romans 14: 1 is referring to.  It is by our influence that the spiritually rigid will ultimately discover the freedom found only through the liberty afforded by the Holy Spirit!

Are rules wrong?  Of course not!  Are rules necessary?  Of course they are!  But rules without relationship eventually lead to rebellion.

Whaddya want? Everybody wants something…or do they?  A want is something for which we are desirous but do not possess.  A want can also be termed a “lust” if it is a want something headed out of control.  James tells us in James 1:14, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust (desires), and enticed (instigated to evil—eros: affection that seeks to control).”  

From this verse, we discover that Satan’s standard operational procedure for initiating temptation into our lives is to, first, deceptively draw us away from the Spirit-filled, abundant Christian life. How does he do this? He uses our own lusts, or desires. What else would be so effective other than our own deep-rooted desires that we ourselves have molded into our personal weaknesses over the course of our lives—our very own designer desires?  

Nothing! And, unfortunately, the enemy knows this! Satan then uses intuitively placed stimuli, or outside influences, to entice our desires. To entice means to instigate to evil. Evil is the Bible word for an eros behavior. Eros is a form of false love that seeks to acquire, possess, or control the person to whom it is showered.  So what is this saying, then? Well, the enemy has studied each of us to know what our weak links are, and then places us into circumstances that will make those weaknesses manifest themselves in the hope of spoiling our testimonies through personal gain or otherwise furthering his wicked agenda.  

But, glory to God, the devastation of temptation can be avoided, my friend. Looking back at the verse above from James, we see that up to this point we have only been enticed, or “instigated to evil.” At this juncture, sin has not yet occurred. This all-important pivotal moment is what I call the “meditation of temptation.” But, allow us to look into His Revelation to learn how we can endure the temptation in our meditation and avoid the instigation.

James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.   But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” 

The word count here means to consider. Consider it all joy when you fall into divers–– the same meaning as Peter’s word manifold––or various temptations.  It doesn’t matter how many or how often, we are tempted, we are to consider it a joy.   

Now what exactly is a temptation?  Is it something sinful that you want? Nope. A temptation is a desire to have or do something that you seek to consume upon your lusts.  God doesn’t give you things for that reason, only the enemy does, these imperfect gifts do not come from above nor are encouraged by the Dove!  Peter also taught, as James says, that if you would just count it joy to resist that temptation, you will receive patience.  And that patience will have its perfect work, and you will be made entire or whole.  Don’t try to get it, try to forget it!

When we are able to face temptation with an attitude of joy, we will have the main ingredient to remain obedient.  It is a “perfect” or a spiritually mature person who can endure a temptation.  This person does not “want” for anything, for they realize that Christ is sufficient, and His will is perfect.  Are you pining and whining or resigning and refining?

Do not allow yourself to pine over a deficiency, but rather refine proficiency by considering His Divine sufficiency.  You can then yield to dependency and resign that tasteless tendency!

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Steven Curington

   

“I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.” Song of Solomon 7:10

Good Morning! God world remained undone until man was created. God was discontent with man in an unregenerate state. God is not willing that one perishes.

God thinks of us all the day. The prophet Zachariah says we touch the apple of His eye and the Psalmist said we ARE the apple of His eye. He loves us so much it cannot be defined in human terms.

He has sent a Son to die for us and a Spirit to work for us. Both the Son and the Spirit were from Him, of Him, by Him and for Him. He does not let us die for our sins and He will not let us work for our salvation.

Paul reminded us that we are His workmanship. Not His workers. The word workmanship means “manufactured product”. We are His product that He is manufacturing. He uses many tools to “form us as He conforms us” into His image. We are His and His goal is for us to look just like His Son.

When we awake, we are on His mind. When we sleep He watches over us. When we run, He catches up. When we walk, He wants to be one step ahead, that we may not be weary. When we stand fast His work abounds for we are unmovable.

He is preparing His work within us. He prepares His work without us. He is preparing a place for us. He has prepared a table before us in the presence of our enemies and He is preparing THE table for us to join a great cloud of witnesses for a wonderful supper of Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. HE bids us all to come and dine. In other words, His preparation to receive us unto Himself has been going on for a long, long time, my friend. Yes, indeed, He is getting prepared for us to join Him-it may be today. RU Ready?

He is wondering what were thinking, so he ponders our heart. He is wondering our motives, so He tries our reigns (controls). He is wondering who weare following so He weighs our spirit.

He doesn’t look on our countenance. He doesn’t focus on our stature. He doesn’t consider our comeliness. He doesn’t look on the outward appearance. Thus, give yourself a much needed break and change your focus to inner beauty, perfected by that which is Perfect within you.

Once we have accepted His Son, He looks past our past, past our problems, past our personality, past our procrastination, past our perceptions because we are a part of His people.

He doesn’t care about our possessions, for we ARE His possession. He is our Shepherd and we are the sheep of His pasture. He feeds us, He guides us, He protects us, He leads us, He nurses us and cares for us. That’s not so BAAAAAAd, now is it?

He is everything to anybody who wants to be somebody to “a nobody” that they too may become Somebody’s. And He will do this for EVERBODY. If we will remember just one thing: “your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost . . . and ye are not your own?”

We are not somebody who is “nobody special”. We are Somebody’s special nobody.

Does your current circumstance in life seem utterly unfair?  My friend, don’t despair, rather beware lest ye think it unfair as you start to compare! Comparisons can be not only unwise, but downright dangerous!  I have found the best comparisons are those God has given to us in His Word.  These are those comparisons of persons who have been tested and proved aptitude with a heart of gratitude.  When I think of biblical examples of those who overcame adverse trials to compare as models, some of my favorites include Joseph, Job, and Daniel.   All were excellent men of Christian character who endured attacks, troubles, disappointments, and persecutions.  Yet, in the face of adversity, in the most adverse of circumstances, these men yielded to His unending longsuffering and produced an auspicious witness to the lost around them as a result.

Let’s take a brief look into the lives of these three men.  First of all, Joseph, a man sold by his own brothers into slavery and, while in slavery, being accused of misconduct and thrown into prison.  This is pretty much the lowest of the low – a slave and in prison.  Yet, Joseph did not find his circumstance to be anything but God-ordained.

Genesis 39:21-22 reveals, “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.” I do not believe that Joseph was given this role and authority because he criticized his leadership or complained about his unfortunate accusation landing him in his current situation.  Are you aware that God can uplift you even in a seemingly unimportant role?  I cannot help but think that many of those in prison under his leadership witnessed the true and living God.

As well, Joseph’s forgiveness, when most would struggle with bitterness, is an amazing witness to his brothers.  Joseph stated in Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” He recognized God’s hand in the midst.  How are you faring with unmerited accusations you are facing?

Next, I would like to bring your attention to Job.  After Job had lost animals, servants, and children, the following words were penned:  “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” (Job 1:20-22)

Wow!  I need an attitude such as Job that everything I have I realize is God’s.  He chooses to give, and He chooses to take away.  Even after this, Job suffered ridicule of his friends and physical sickness in his body.  Job was not perfect in the sense that he never sinned, but he was perfect in the sense that he had spiritual maturity to recognize God’s hand in the midst and accepted his suffering as a witness and testimony for many others after him.

Finally, Daniel, what a man of God!  He was a man of prayer.  He was a man who knew the importance of submission to those in authority over him.  However, he was also a man who would not violate God’s commands no matter the trial or the suffering.  When a decree was given that no man should ask a petition of any one save the king for thirty days, Daniel did not stop praying to God.  He even showed his faithfulness to the Lord openly by praying with his window open.

Daniel knew the cost that this witness for God would take.  For not following the king’s decree, he was cast into the den of lions.  God was glorified in Daniel’s suffering as He performed a miracle for him.  “Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

Is your suffering so great that you will not allow God to use it as a witness to bring others to Him?  My friend, you must suffer long if you endure a wrong, for God will use your song as you remain strong to show others they too can belong!

This morning’s quote was once attributed in a sermon I heard to Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.  May I ask you…how have you fared in your thinking this week?  There are two techniques that God uses to stimulate us to a personal examination in order that we may pull down our strongholds.  These techniques are revealed in His Word.

The first is found in II Corinthians 10:5.  It tells us we succeed in our need by, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

We need not allow our thoughts to create the chaos in our minds.  These thoughts, when in abundance will automatically precipitate turmoil in our lives. We must only take time to discern whether or not the thoughts we are considering will ultimately harm our walk with God, and if they do, we must “rid the heads of them there meds!” Toss them as far as you can. In football vernacular, throw the bomb!

But casting out wrong thoughts is only half the battle and nearly impossible without implementing the second step found herein.  At Reformers Unanimous, we teach the doctrine of replacement.  It is not sufficient to simply rid yourself of evil and allow voids to exist therein.  Rather, we must FIRST replace the space in order to do an “about face”!  That’s right. We must captivate God-honoring thoughts to supplant the wrong thoughts we possess and usually prefer to ponder.

I have heard a lot of people say: “Garbage in, garbage out; garbage in, garbage out.”  My friends, this may work for computers but not for processing the worldly things that poison our minds.  The actual formula for this process is: Garbage IN, garbage ON, and garbage OUT!  That is to say garbage enters our minds via our personally stimulated or demonically instigated senses; it then gets framed (conceived) in our minds and passed down onto our heart’s meditations (James 1).  Finally, because our heart dump is overflowing with garbage, it spews over and out in the form of fleshly words or dirty deeds done dirt cheap (sorry, couldn’t help myself!).

So, again, trash comes into the mind.  It is willingly rested upon our hearts.  At that stage what is resting becomes arresting and it controls our tongue or actions as it flows from our mouths or bodies.  Remember the Bible tells us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Thus, we can conclude that when garbage begins to collect upon our hearts, it will eventually be manifested in an ugly display of flesh. We are giving place to the garbage man!

So we see, just as our telepathy trash is processed in this manner, so is that which is quality in its content. This is the second principle upon which we base a proper technique for pulling down strongholds. II Corinthians 10:5 continues, “and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Herein is the scriptural basis for the doctrine of replacement.  The word captivity literally means the state of being a prisoner.

So, we see we are to cast down our bad thoughts by first taking into captivity His good thought – stimulations that arrive simultaneously “WITH the temptation” as our “our way of escape (I Cor. 10:13).  Simplified, it’s the replacement doctrine.  Casting down bad thoughts without replacing them by captivating good thoughts is like casting down a basketball.  It’s going to bounce right back.    That thought will control your heart again and captivate your emotions once more.  If we resist, it will persist!  Rather than resist, replace that thought!  The game changer is when we roll it away and pick up a different ball.  New Game, but this time, it’s with His ball!  The devil must depart and take his ball home with him!

Trust your heart?  No!  Not one part; lest Satan use a dart that makes our negative thinking start.  Rather, on “His chart” will our thinking start.  These kinds of smarts require ole’ Satan to depart.

RU applying yourself to God’s examinations, or RU repeatedly giving place to the devil?

My friends, let it not be a normality that you are found in regularity experiencing a tragedy through the imagery that you were led to see!

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Steven Curington