Faith Fights

What is the agenda of God?  The agenda of God for you is eternal; it transcends this life and carries you into eternity with Him.  You could not contain it all even if He revealed it to you.  It is your work to simply love, trust, believe and obey Him. Session in Pain, pg. 133

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: As you enter a new year consider that the Agenda of God is the most important agenda of all. His agenda encompasses your past, present, and future and streams you into a magnificent life plan. You could never have imagined the wonder He holds for your life. God’s Word promises, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

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LEAVING BABYLON PG. 32

Human governments at every level became necessary systems for protection and survival. From nations to families, we needed governments to rule, protect, and provide for the survival of the human race. With our human governments in place, we began to separate into various groups to manage this care and protection. This separation led to the development of diverse loyalties as each group looked out for its own interests. In our arrogance, jealousy, and greed, we began to fight wars over what we could take from others. Throughout human history, we have seen the conquering of smaller nations and the abuses of minorities and weaker groups. Anyone who did not live within a fair and strong system of government was at risk for abuse and death.

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: As hard as we have tried within our own ways and means, Peace on Earth still eludes us. Many have come to the conclusion that the only way to Peace on Earth is through the Christ. The Savior of the world, who came over 2000 years ago to bring the only way to Peace of Earth. Through His sacrifice men and women have become brothers and sisters bound together by His Holy Spirit who brings PEACE.

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:14

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I understood why so many people live in pain today because of unfulfilled dreams.  Whether it is family plans, financial plans, or overall lifestyle plans, if it is not subjected to the agenda of God, it is in critical danger of failure.  I believe it is good and wise to get an education, plan financially and make plans for our family’s future, but our plans must never take precedence over the direction of God. — Sessions in Pain pg. 115.

Author’s comments: One prayer that I have learned to pray over the years is, ” Lord, You must increase and I must decrease.” These were the words of John the Baptist as Christ was coming on the scene and his life as the forerunner of the Christ was coming to a close. John knew it was time to yield his ministry to the greater One. May we all have such a heart before God, to yield our will to His; to lay down our agenda at His feet, trusting in His plan for our lives. Like John, we must learn to think of the eternal as we lay down the temporal.

John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. ⁸ I baptize you with  water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” – Mark 1:7-8 NLT

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Leaving Babylon pg.17: In Genesis 25, the Bible records the story of two brothers, Jacob and Esau. Esau, being the older brother, was promised the family birthright blessing. Jacob, the younger brother, through the planning and manipulation of his mother, took advantage of his older brother during a time of desperation and obtained his brother’s birthright. Esau sold that which was most precious to him, his father’s blessing and his future, for a bowl of soup (Gen. 25:28–34). In the same way, Babylon takes advantage of the people of the earth. She pushes them to sell themselves and others for what they are desperate for and what she has trained them to desire – power.

In Genesis 25, the Bible records the story of two brothers, Jacob and Esau. Esau, being the older brother, was promised the family birthright blessing. Jacob, the younger brother, through the planning and manipulation of his mother, took advantage of his older brother during a time of desperation and obtained his brother’s birthright. Esau sold that which was most precious to him, his father’s blessing and his future, for a bowl of soup (Gen. 25:28–34). In the same way, Babylon takes advantage of the people of the earth. She pushes them to sell themselves and others for what they are desperate for and what she has trained them to desire – power.

We have new terms to describe the ways in which we exploit each other today. Cyberbullying is a term that our current culture uses to describe exploiting someone on the Internet. Cyberbullying involves posting pictures or other harmful information about others on the Internet. There  are  websites designed  to  pay the creator of any type of works based on the number of hits (people accessing the information) that they receive. Gathering an audience rules over what is ethical. The human casualties are growing as people become drunk with betrayal and crave money and fame over human lives.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  Hebrews 4:13 BSB

Picture credits: wgvunews.org, dailysabah.com

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The Apostle Paul longed to know Christ at this level, for he said, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…”(see Philippines 3:10).  Do you know God at this level?  Do you know Him beyond the limitations and cares of this temporal life or is your entire existence confined to the here and now?  It will all pass away my friend.  We see it pass away for many people each day as they slip into eternity, many without warning; and yet we continue to cling to what is here and now.                      Sessions in Pain pg. 137 (edited for blog)

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: We must learn to think in the eternal and live in the eternal. Make decisions that effect eternity rather than just tomorrow. Love and give of yourself as if today was your last day living in the temporal – it just might be.

Picture credit: Echoes in Eternity

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Leaving Babylon pgs. 83-84

The children of Babylon seek to rid the world of righteousness.They hate the light because it exposes them for what they really are. Cain killed his brother because Abel exposed the poor quality of his gift. Cain then attempted to deceive the omniscient God concerning the murder. Babylon pushes us to hate the light of God’s truth and encourages us to seek to hide in the darkness of lies. Remember,Cain always had a choice. God told him,“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it” (Gen 4:7, nkjv). God sought to help Cain. God  described “sin” as having a desire (a willful and purposeful appetite) for Cain. Babylon has intellect and purpose, and if we choose to ignore its desire for us, it will take over our lives. Cain chose to reject God’s truth and chose to kill his brother. God made it clear to Cain that he could rule over the desire of sin. Humanity always has a choice to sin or not to sin.

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Speak to yourself with psalms and spiritual songs, making melody in your heart to the Lord.  I promise:  He is faithful.  Trust God to carry you to a better and liberating place.  I know the hurt was great, but God is greater; and the One who can heal all wounds invites you to begin again.

Sessions in Pain, pg. 121

“O You who hear Prayer, to you all mankind comes.” Psalm 62:2

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Leaving Babylon pgs. 42-43

As Babylon soothed our flesh, we became fond of her. We saw her ways as the best way, and even the only way to live in this world. Her methods of living became our first nature. She dictated the way to live so that we could continue to feel good. We believed that her way of doing things is the ultimate “right way,” and anyone who would suggest another set of values was repulsive and foolish to us. We believed that what is seen and felt rules over that which came by faith. Therefore, we clung to mother Babylon, believing she was the source of everything we needed in our lives.
We learned to like sin. It is her sweet milk. We promote it, condone it, and legalize it. We soon learned that sin made us feel good for a season, but it eventually soured in our stomachs. In recent years, Colorado and several other states have legalized recreational marijuana growth and sales for adults. As citizens, we were told that the tax from marijuana sales would go to our schools to help our children. Following this legalization a hard truth became clear as “pot shops” and “pot gardens” rose up in our communities and neighborhoods. I have some dear friends whose next-door neighbor grows marijuana in his backyard. Each night when it’s warm, they can smell the pot smoke in their home as their neighbor has pot gatherings at his home. The incidents of marijuana found in our schools with our children rose along with the incidences of dangerous and fatal marijuana-related acts in our communities. As a physician, I have a deep concern about the impending negative impact on the overall mental and physical health of our citizens in the coming years.
However, we continue to drink from the breast of Babylon, for we had become addicts. We are dying but blinded to the alternative. So we cling to her breasts as we spiraled out of control. Our world, our communities, and our families—all on a collision course with death. It is only the arousal brought by the Holy Spirit that makes us aware of her poisonous effects. It is only the hand of God that can pull us out of the chaos on this ball of confusion.

“A man’s temptation is due to the pull of his own inward desires, which can be enormously attractive. His own desire takes hold of him, and that produces sin. And sin in the long run means death—make no mistake about that, brothers of mine!” James 1:14 Phillips

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