HillThread ~ Supporting Missions

Numbers 15:39-41
“You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.”

At times, people will say, “I’ve made Jesus a part of my life.” But this statement reveals that they have missed the point. The truth is, Jesus can never be simply a part of life; at salvation, Jesus becomes our life—everything revolves around Him, because He is the central focus.

For the believer, the essence of living is to walk in childlike obedience to Christ. That means we express His righteous life simply by faith; to do this, we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit for enablement and divine grace for forgiveness when we stumble. And stumbling will occur because we live amidst two kingdoms that are in constant conflict. On the one hand, there’s the pull of the world, and on the other, the pull of God. In other words, Satan throws temptations our way, but from our Father comes the appeal of holiness, peace, and joy in Christ.

That’s why Jesus taught, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The way to do this is by opening God’s Word daily and letting Him use Scripture to flush from our minds anything that doesn’t fit with His priority (Rom. 12:2). We are also to remind ourselves frequently of His commands and His greatness (Ps. 105:4-5; Num. 15:37-41).

The battle is ongoing. And it rages not just in the realms of education, science, politics, and finances but also within every human heart. Since there’s no way to make it in life without Christ, it’s critical that we keep God’s priority as our own and make continual course corrections to stay on track.

This Bible Study is from A.W. Tozer:

“The Bible demands immediate action, faith, surrender, committal. Until it has secured these, it has done nothing positive for the reader, but it has increased his responsibility and deepened the judgment that must follow. The Bible was called forth by the fall of man. It is the voice of God calling men home from the wilds of sin; it is a road map for returning prodigals. It is instruction in righteousness, light in darkness, information about God and man and life and death and heaven and hell. Further, the spiritual life of each individual depends upon the response to that Voice in the Word!”

Hebrews 4:12-16
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Lord, may my response to Your Word be one that will make Your words like sweet music to my ears. May I yield to the seed of truth of Your Word, and may it be righteousness in me.

While there are many religions, there is only one way to heaven. Jesus clearly states that “no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). He used several picturesque descriptions to emphasize this point—He called Himself the way (14:6), the door (10:9), the living bread (6:51), and the good shepherd (10:11).

God does not expect people to follow a ritual to make Jesus Lord of their lives—you can use any words you’d like. However, some biblical elements are essential when beginning a relationship with Him:

1) Confess your sin and admit your need for a Savior (1 John 1:9).

2) Place your trust in Jesus Christ as the only possible Savior, acknowledging that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).

3) Believe that your sins are forgiven and your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life (1 John 5:11-13).

Every person has a choice to make. Death is inevitable, but we can decide whether we will enter God’s presence or eternal torment. Let me make this very clear: What a person believes about heaven and hell won’t influence God in the slightest. People will be judged not by their attitudes but by the truth of His Word.

The Bible declares that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. His gospel is a straight path from the pit of sin to the glory of heaven—with the promise of an abundant life in between. What we must do is go through the Door and follow the Way to taste the Living Bread.

So here’s a thought . . . quit spending money.  I call it the “Go One Month Without Buying Anything New” challenge.  Basically, the only rule is that you don’t buy anything new for yourself for one month.  I know, I know, it’s pretty self-explanatory. Don’t worry, we’ve already began searching for a “name the challenges guy”.

But in all seriousness, think about how much stuff you purchase in a given week, month, and even a whole year.  Sometimes it seems like we never put our wallets down.  We convince ourselves that the stuff we want to buy is a necessity when in reality it’s just stuff that will end up as clutter around the house.  We want and we want and we want.  We tell ourselves that we have to have the biggest and the best and the newest and the most fashionable items out there.  What we need is to re-examine our priorities.

For this challenge, I’m not talking about food or anything else that might keep you alive and in good health  (it’s going to be up to you to define what a necessity is).  Instead, this challenge targets those material goods that advertisers have convinced us that we “deserve”.

So here it is:  try living the next month as though you were on a mission trip.  If you’ve never been on a mission trip, then listen up.  Learn how to live with what you already have; without buying new clothes, or new shoes, or any new “stuff”.  Obviously this will take some getting used to.  It will also take some planning on your part.  Don’t be fooled, this challenge will necessitate patience and probably cause a change in the way you think about your money and your spending habits. When you take on this challenge, don’t be surprised if you come out a different person.

Jesus spent a lot of time teaching us to love God before anything else.  He taught us to be humble, to serve others in love, and to be selfless. If we aren’t careful, the opportunities around us to share God’s love may be obstructed because of our greed and our need to consume.

Deuteronomy 20:1-4
“When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’”

A lot of negative emotions accompany hardship: frustration, despair, fear, and doubt. People ruled by those feelings often make poor choices. This is why I recommend that you decide now to respond to troubled times the way the Israelites did: with praise. Even in the darkest hours, worshipping God fills the heart with joy and the mind with peace. A believer who is filled in this way can wisely keep a commitment to obey the Lord no matter what.

Worshipping the Lord enlarges our vision. By doing so, we begin to see how He is at work in the world, perhaps in ways and places we never noticed before. More particularly, we see what God is doing in our situation and notice areas where He requires our obedience.

Our human tendency is to plot a course through a situation toward the easiest solution. But believers who strike out on their own do not mature in faith. Moreover, they miss out on the blessings of following the Lord’s plan. Stopping to praise can divert us from the easy way out and direct us to the right path—namely, the way of God’s will. Taking a step forward in faith can be frightening. However, believers are completely safe risking their whole future on the Lord’s faithfulness. He has never disappointed anyone!

It’s hard to despair while honoring the Lord for His love and strength. We can dispel doubt by recalling His past faithfulness—and ease frustration by committing our future plans to Him. Praise is not the obvious reaction to hardship, but it is the wisest response.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

God’s care for us extends to the details of our lives. He knows when His children hurt and longs to offer comfort (Isa. 49:13).

The Lord’s compassion is personal, continuous, and always available. We receive His comfort through the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. There is no situation or time when He is inaccessible to the believer—we can be consoled and reassured at any time, day or night.

Consider how the compassion of God was demonstrated through Jesus’ life. He interacted even with the “untouchables”—people whose bodies were infected with a contagious disease (Luke 17:11-14). And no sickness of ours will prevent Him from caring for us.

Jesus had compassion on people with medical conditions (Matt. 14:14). He not only healed them physically but also gave an even greater comfort—new life through the forgiveness of sins. And while our infirmities may remain, the Lord lovingly strengthens us to persevere (2 Cor. 12:7-9).

And what about the messes we get into? Peter’s betrayal of Christ was met with forgiveness (John 21:15-17). Thomas’s doubts were answered by Jesus Himself (John 20:27). Our mistakes won’t stop Him from loving us. Even to His enemies, Jesus left the way open for repentance.

God’s comfort and care are adequate for anything we face, whether it’s declining health, insufficient finances, or family trouble. Then, once we’ve experienced His consolation, we are to become bearers of comfort to others. People everywhere are in great need of His compassion.

Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:23–24
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.”

In one place our Lord speaks of moral conduct, and says in effect, “Go out into the world and live lives so pure and good that your fellow men cannot but see; and when they see they will glorify God who has given such moral power unto men.” In the other He says, “Do not make a show of your kind acts. When you help your neighbor, when you minister to the poor, be sure your motive is right. See that your motive is to glorify God and not to earn a cheap reputation as a philanthropist or a heavy giver. Seek not to be known for your generosity, for there lies a snare, and you must by all means avoid it.”

From the Scriptures quoted and from countless others we gather truths which may be condensed into this admonition: “Live a pure, righteous life and do not hide it from the world. As much as lies in you, do good to all men, but do it unobtrusively so as not to draw attention to yourself nor bring embarrassment to the one you help.”

Unquestionably we are here to do good, but good that is done boastfully destroys itself in the doing. Kind acts are fragile things and must be handled carefully if they are not to become unkind and actually injure the one for whom they are performed.

Daniel 6:10
“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed [the law stated that no one may pray to any god or man except King Darius] he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.”

The apostle James challenges us to understand the connection between faith and obedience. In James 2:17, he writes that faith without works is dead. In other words, we cannot have unshakable beliefs without obeying.

Developing steadfast trust takes time. We are born spiritually through simple, childlike faith that receives Jesus as Savior. Convictions are nourished by a growing knowledge of God and a deepening confidence in Him. Experiencing His protection, provision, and power in moments of testing strengthens our beliefs. Each time Daniel’s loyalty was tested, he chose to depend on God. Sometimes the circumstances were thrust upon him—such as whether to eat food sacrificed to idols. At other times, he voluntarily initiated a difficult situation in order to help (Dan. 2:24). In each case, he followed God’s leading.

Hebrews 11 shows that obedience is critical to steadfast faith. Noah, when warned about things not seen, obeyed God and built the ark. At the Lord’s direction, Abraham left home to go to a place not yet known to him. The apostle Paul was planning to arrest Christians when he encountered the Savior. He did a complete turnaround—despite threats, beatings, and shipwrecks, he obeyed the Lord and preached the gospel.

Knowing and trusting God through His Son, experiencing His presence, and living obediently are the elements needed to develop an unshakable faith. Jesus Himself said that our work is to believe in Him (John 6:29). With the Holy Spirit’s help and our cooperation, each of us can have a Daniel-like faith.

2 Samuel 22:31
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”

We are not perfect; God is perfect. We are flawed; God is flawless.

God takes his perfection, mixes it with the blood of Jesus Christ, and paints his perfection over our imperfection. God takes his flawlessness, couples it with His strength, and forges it to the flaws that weaken us.

What does this mean?

If you struggle with perfectionism, or if your experience growing up was parents that loved you based on what you accomplished or how you failed, then ask God to help you deeply understand that He loves you unconditionally. You can not earn your way into His love because He freely gives it. You don’t need to be perfect; and there is no way you CAN be perfect. Praise God for Jesus!!

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24)

If you are frustrated with your flaws, then be honest with God. Ask Him to help you see how He works through your flaws and than you can view your own flaws as God’s way of keeping you dependent upon Him.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 )

Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Experiences affect how people think about themselves and what they choose to believe. Sometimes negative events create a hurtful thought pattern that can play in a person’s brain like a continuous tape loop. When that tape gets switched on, it triggers anxiety in the heart of the listener. Shutting it off permanently requires faith in the Lord.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. Suppose that little Tina’s efforts to do well were often rejected by her parents. She heard, “You can do better than that” or “Your sister did much better at your age.” Tina rarely received praise for a job well done. Now an adult, she refuses to apply for a job promotion, even though her boss is encouraging her to do so. Why? Because she fears being found inadequate. Tina may not be able to name her fear, but it certainly holds her back.

There are several other potential root causes of anxiety. An exhaustive list would not fit here, but the following are a few of the more common ones:

A belief that one can’t reach a set standard
Guilt over past sin
An erroneous idea of God as a punisher
Attitudes instilled during childhood
Even if one or more sounds familiar, don’t despair. These roots can be yanked out.

When feeling anxious, ask yourself what produced the uneasiness. Knowing which incidents nurture fear can point you to the underlying cause. Let God help you reject the unhealthy thought pattern and replace it with assurance that those who listen to Him live free from the dread of evil (Prov. 1:33).