It's Summer Break !!

How to Think - Pt7 - "Glory in the Lord"

Jeremiah 9:23-24
"Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord."

1 Corinthians 10:12-13
"we dare not ... compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves by themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us... "
1 Corinthians 10:15-18
"not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours ... But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth."
Amen to that last one!  And there's another much like it:
Proverbs 27:2
"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips."

Philippians 2:2-5

"...be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

You might ask what this all has to do with "how to think" -- everything. Much otherwise good thinking, can get severely distorted by one of two imbalances with the regard to right thinking about ourselves.  The first case being, you might think too highly of yourself, far beyond what God has gifted and comissioned in you. This has the obvious problems of me-centeredness and conceitedness. This is what we usually associate with the concept of "pride." And it can totally distort not only our perception of ourselves, but also of the world and the people and situations that surround us and are intersected by our lives. This is poisonous to the Christian's life and source of it.

But also, we might become naysayers of our own true gifts and stations from God. In "false humility" we might claim that we are not smart or wise or attractive or spiritual or talented or gifted -- when we truly are. This is just as wrong. For now we will withhold the blessings of the gifts of God within us ... from each other. This is wrong. You cannot give to others, what you will not accept has been given to you by God. And just why do you think God would give you -- anything? Of course ... its for you to give it away toward the needs of those around you. Your friends need you. The Church needs you. The world needs you. God has given you a part of what they all need. And as Galadriel said to Frodo in the J.R.R.Tolkien story, "If you do not find a way, no one will." And that's very true of you. If you do not admit that God has indeed given you the gift or gifts that He has chosen for you ... then how will you ever see your way clear to the end of ... actually using those gifts to bless the lives of those around you? You -- will be the cause of that "missing part" that those around you are feeling in their lives and walks with God. It is clear. We need each other. We need the Lord. And the Lord uses His people ... to give of Himself to all. False humility is just as bad as being conceited! It still robs everybody of the blessings of God!

Right thinking and wrong thinking about -- who you are, or what is your position in Christ toward this world and toward the Church and toward those around you -- is crucial. Everybody -- ought to be doing what job is theirs to do, from the Lord. But how can you do that if you think that you're supposed to be doing somebody else's job? ... or if you are not about the business of your own ... true job? You can't. So we all lose out. Your thinking on this matter is therefore crucial and critical to the health of the Body of Christ and to your own health. It is a matter of keeping your thinking processes clear and true and accurate. These things are the only qualities that can make your thinking true thinking... valid thinking.  Think about it.

Music vid -- you need the message!

All of you my precious young saints, need to be reminded of this very Biblical truth -- about you an about your true relation to Father God.  Amen.  Your friend, DrJackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSIVjjY8Ou8

How to Think -- Pt6 -- "Defense Against the Dark Arts"

If you ever saw the movie "The Prestige" or have any other information about how stage magicians manage to perform their sleight of hand tricks, then you know already a little bit about how Satan himself also manages to trick people.  But unlike the magicians that perform tricks and deceptions for the purpose of entertainment -- Satan's illusions are not only not entertaining and not funny -- they are in fact quite deadly!

A magician will try very hard to get your attention drawn away from and off the focus of ... exactly where he or she is doing the "trick" part of their performance.  They'll get you to look at something that they are holding high up in the air -- whilst they are actually doing something else in their other hand which is down at their side or behind their back.  The devil and his minions (both demonic and human) will do the same thing.  They will try to get you to look with a microscope at the wrong spot -- some spot you don't need to be looking at -- while what's really gonna doom you later ... is happening in some other spot or setting.  In the case we're examining right now ... that spot Satan is trying draw your eye from is ... the big picture.

The devil will try to get you into tiny details.  Have you ever heard the saying, "the devil is in the details"?  Well, it's true -- particularly in this sense we are describing here.  While you're busily getting into the details in some far off corner of some matter -- your thinking is meanwhile being drawn as far away from the real matter at hand, in the big picture of reality.  We might call it Biblical reality, since knowing what Biblical reality is, will help you to keep your perspective on true reality indeed.  But it is particularly proper to use the term "Biblical reality" ... since the way that it is determined and acquired and maintained is ... by knowing the Scriptural truths about the nature of life and of the universe.

Let's say a young couple professing adherence to a Biblical lifestyle ... becomes tempted to commit fornication (pre-marital sex).  How many times have couples fallen into immorality because they merely told themselves "Oh, well if we're really in love it's okay" -- a short trip from there to -- "Well, we're married -- in God's sight."  How foolish.  Was it really them saying this to themselves, or did they have "help" in coming to these conclusions.  They think it through.  They make many small but powerful considerations.  They weigh their options.  They talk about it and test out how they "feel" about it -- when all along the Bible clearly teaches that sex outside of marriage is a sin.  Why is it a sin?  It is like a dart through your liver, says the Proverb, and "it is for his life" (see Proverbs 7:23-27).  This is a deadly sin that will deeply wound the heart of the ones who commit it.  The devil knows this.  So he tries to get our minds off the big picture, and down into the minutia of the details of a tiny corner of consideration somewhere buried in a deep dust heap obscured from the obvious light of the bigger picture of reality.  "God understands" ... "it's not really wrong" -- and one of the enemy's favorites -- "It won't hurt anybody."  What is born of the flesh is flesh (John 3:6) and sin when it is finished brings forth death (James 1:5).

Ephesians 6:10-14-18-20
"Stand therefore, having our loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod wit the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which his the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit..."

So how does Rabbi Paul of Tarsus instruct us in the Scriptures above, in our defense against the dark arts training?  He likens our spiritual defensive armor and offensive weaponry -- to the corresponding equipment held by the Roman soldiers that had been put in guard over him at the time ... an analogy familiar to anyone living in the boundaries of the then-extensive Roman Empire at the time.

So exactly how did Jesus, in his "temptation in the wilderness" do this thing that Paul was teaching us how to do?  Please refer to www.TheGiftOfChristianYoungManhood.blogspot.com for a more exhaustive and detailed analysis of Jesus' combat with Satan on this occasion (see the right column side "Pages" and click on the one entitled "TEMPTATION") -- but here is the gist of it, at least for the part that most engages the purpose of our discussion on right thinking in this chapter. 

Jesus used several of these equipments in his showdown with Satan.  These are all defenses and weapons also at our own disposal in the same like battles.  Jesus knew who He was.  Not only did he --have-- salvation.  He was salvation.  So he kept on the helmet of salvation.  He knew who He was.  Satan challenged that identity.  (See Matthew 4 for the whole account of this historical event) "If thou [really] be the Son of God [then prove it by using your power to] command that these stones be made bread."  Hey yeah, show us all who you are and -- sure -- then the whole world will believe in you.  Give us proof, said Satan.

Brothers and sisters, people who know who they are don't have anything ... anything ... to prove ... to anyone.  So it was with Jesus.  So it ought to be with you and I, since He lives within us and our identity is in Him.  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." (Galatians 2:20a).  Christ is in us.  That defines who we are and what position we hold and where we stand.  Don't let the devil slap a label on you and then trick you into giving him some "proof" that the label isn't really true.  Don't play his game.  Jesus didn't.  He threw a scripture back at Satan -- one that showed that Satan's question ... was only a temptation -- just a trick to get Jesus to step outside of the resolute peace of God (which passes Satan's understanding, by the way ... see Philippians 4:7).  Jesus kept on His helmet of salvation, to keep Satan's temptation from doing it's work inside His head.  You can do that to.  Just remember who you are.  This also taps into the "belt of truth" aspect of the armor of God.

A Roman soldier had a belt around his waist, but it wasn't designed to protest his waistline area.  It had straps of leather that hung down from the belt to cover his loin area.  The quickest way to put a soldier out of commission temporarily (certainly long enough to kill him at your mercy) is to kick him in the groin.  Unprotected, unguarded, un-safely-kept -- if you drop you guard and let yourself be kicked in the truth -- you're history, and fast in this battle.  Don't drop your guard of the truth.  You need it.  Jesus did, so you do too.

Lastly, of most importance here ... Jesus wielded quite skillfully -- the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Amen.  Once Satan saw that Jesus was gonna use Scripture to battle against him, the devil started quoting the Scriptures to Jesus, in his attempts to bring Jesus to ... his way of thinking about reality.  Jesus wasn't gonna be tricked by that either (since He --is-- the Word made flesh! see the Gospel of John, chapter 1).  He was easily able to shoot back the proper verses that showed that Satan had taken out of context, the Scriptures that he was trying to use deceptively ... upon the One that he was attempting to be a'temptin'.

This sword ... is the only offensive weapon that the soldier had.  The shield (of faith) can be somewhat used offensively, but is clearly designed for defense.  Another thing to note is this -- there are no offensive or defensive weapons for -- the behind.  So you are never to turn your vulnerable back to the enemy.  Face him squarely.  You are, in Christ, way to powerful an opponent for him to defeat you in a fair fight.  There is not defense or armor or weaponry ... to equip the Believer for a retreat from the enemy.  Only one fight are we told can be one only by retreat.  Here it is.  "Flee also youthful lusts..." (2 Timothy 2:22).  God knows our armor and weapons are less effective in that fight, compared to -- running with all your might.  Just stay out of that battle.  When you first begin thinking that you can trifle with that one of the enemy's demons -- well, you've already become toast and are fast on your way to being knocked out in that round of the battle.  Don't even try it.  Run instead.  Amen.

So Jesus' main defense against the darkness was ... the very living Word itself.  He used the Scriptures ... even when the tempter started trying to turn the Scriptures against his victim.  And this defense worked beautifully.  But how can you do this?  You can't ... without knowing those Scriptures, and how to handle them wisely and skillfully -- just like a sword, it's hilt in your hand.  You've got to know the Scriptures so that they will be useful to you in attack on you ... and by you ... in your warfare against the spiritual darkness in high places (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Psalm 119:9
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to they word."
Psalm 119:11
"Thy word have I hid in mine, heart that I might not sin against thee."