LIVING ABOVE LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES

LIVING ABOVE LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES – Neil Anderson

Philippians 4:11

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am

Some of us tend to assume that it is God's will if the circumstances are favorable and it isn't God's will if the circumstances are unfavorable. Next to the Bible, I would guess that more Christians are "guided" by this means than any other. Yet of all the possible means of guidance, this is the least authoritative and trustworthy.

I had the privilege of pastoring a church that purchased new property and went through a building program. Through most of the process the circumstances didn't seem favorable. Twice I sat with the mayor, who was also a local real estate agent, and asked him if he thought our plans were feasible. He advised us not to make the land trade, and he didn't think the city would allow us to build. He knew the real estate and the political climate better than anyone in the city. But the land swap increased our assets by millions and the city planning commission voted 7-0 in favor of our building plans.

You may have to set sail by the tide, but you'd better be guided by the stars or you're going to end up on the wrong shore. Circumstances may have their effect on your plans, but you have a far greater accountability to God. Make sure you follow Him, not the tide of circumstances.

I heard a motivational speaker say, "I don't like to recruit Christians because when the going gets tough they quit, concluding that it must not be God's will." Generally speaking, I believe that Christians should live above life's circumstances and not be guided by them.

Also be careful about applying too much significance to unusual circumstances or coincidences. "It must be God's will. Why else would that book by lying there!" It could be God's will, but I would never take that kind of a sign on its own merit. I have helped many people in occultic bondage who have made bizarre associations or attached far too much significance to irrelevant events.

Prayer: Lord, I determine to test all guidance by Your Word and not to be swayed away from Your will by circumstances or popular opinion.

 

 

EVERY GOOD THING

EVERY GOOD THING: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father...." James 1:17 wp.me/p29yfQ-u3 #good #gift

From Blueprint For Life

From Blueprint For Life

On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito of Japan officially surrendered. World War II had finally come to an end and people around the globe celebrated a return to more peaceful times.

However, on a small island in the Philippines, four Japanese soldiers continued to fight.

They spent their days hiding in the mountains and conducting guerrilla attacks, eventually killing over thirty people. No one could have anticipated how long they would continue fighting a war that had already been won.

One day, they found a leaflet announcing the end of the war but dismissed it as allied propaganda. Five years passed before one of the four surrendered. Four years later, one of the soldiers was shot and killed. The two remaining soldiers continued their mission for the next seventeen years, until one of them was killed in a shootout with local police.

Hiroo Onada, the final remaining solder, refused to give up until his commanding officer was found and brought to the island to fulfill the promise made in 1944, “Whatever happens, we’ll come back for you.”

Onada fought 30 years longer than he needed to, in a war that had been over for decades. This is a picture of the reality that Paul describes in Galatians 5:1:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Because of Christ, freedom is now. So often, we live like freedom is coming later, at some far-off date in the future. Unfortunately, for this reason we often choose to fight a battle that has already been won. Paul continues in Galatians 5:4-5. . .

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

The Galatians initially embraced the message of grace. But over time they returned to their former habit of measuring their righteousness based on how well they observed the law. They were fighting a war that was already won. This was a trap. Once Christ sets us free, it is our choice to continue in the freedom of living by faith in the power of the Spirit or return to the slavery of trying to earn righteousness by human effort.

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Questions for Reflection

Are you fighting a war that has already been won by trying to earn favor from God and righteousness through your own effort?

Digging Deeper?

Look up Philippians 3:9. What does this scripture say about the true source of righteousness?

Put It Into Action

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal to you if you need to fully embrace the righteousness that has been given to you through Christ. Next, write Philippians 3:9 on a notecard and place it where you can see it each day.

 

 

CONFESSION:

CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful & just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us.” 1Jn1:9 wp.me/p29yfQ-tZ #light

COMMIT YOUR WORK:

COMMIT YOUR WORK: “Commit your work to the Lord, & your plans will be established" Prov16:3 wp.me/p29yfQ-tV #career #mylife #devotion

Thank God for the Sending of the Holy Spirit

Thank God for the Sending of the Holy Spirit – Matthew Henry

For the sending of the Holy Spirit to supply the want of Christ’s bodily presence, to carry on his undertaking, and to prepare things for his second coming.

I bless you that when the Lord Jesus went away, he sent his people another Helper to be with them forever, even the Spirit of truth, John 14:16-17(ESV) who shall glorify the Son, for he will take what is his and declare it to them. John 16:14(ESV)

That being exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:33(ESV) he poured it forth as rivers of living water. John 7:38(ESV)

Blessed be God for the signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, with which God bore witness to the great salvation. Hebrews 2:3-4(ESV)

And blessed be God for the promise that as earthly parents, though evil, know how to give good gifts to their children, so my heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him, Luke 11:13(ESV) that promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of my inheritance until I acquire the possession of it. Ephesians 1:13-14(ESV)

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director

864 226-6193

www.havenofrest.cc

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Since the first moment good came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true that Satan attempts to hinder us in our spiritual walk. From every direction on the compass, all along the line of battle, at the line of advance and at the rear and at the dawn of day and at midnight, "Satan hinder[s] us." If we work in the field, he seeks to break our plow; if we build a wall, he works to tear it down; in fact, wherever we desire to serve God in suffering or in conflict--everywhere--"Satan hinder[s] us." 

 

When we first looked to the cross for eternal life, he waged fierce conflicts to hinder us from coming to Jesus Christ. And now that we are saved, he attempts to hinder the process that is perfecting our personal character. Perhaps you are congratulating yourself, saying, "So far my walk has been consistent. No one can challenge my integrity." Beware of boasting, for you are yet to be tested. But it will happen, for Satan will direct his power against your strongest and most well-known virtue. Even if you have been a firm believer thus far, it will not be long before your faith will be attacked. Even if you are as humble as Moses, who was "more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth" (Num. 12:3), expect to be tempted to speak in an unadvised way.

 

Satan is also sure to hinder us when we are earnestly engaged in prayer. He seeks to stem our insistency and fervency in order that, if possible, we will miss God's blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant when it comes to obstructing other Christian efforts, for there has never been a revival of faith without a revival of his opposition. For example, as soon as Nehemiah began to "rebuild the wall of Jerusalem" (Neh. 2:17), Sanballat and Tobiah attempted to hinder them.

 

What should we learn from this? We should not be alarmed because "Satan hinder[s] us," for it is proof we are on the Lord's side and are working for Him. And in His strength we will win the victory and triumph over our adversary.

 

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 5:8-11).