Picking a Fight with a Giant

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“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. . . . for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”” – 1 Samuel 17:45,47

The odds are never going to be in your favor when you are up against the unrighteousness and hatred of mankind.  The very presence of evil is cloaked and hidden beneath the exterior strength of a society that is driven by the self righteous, self promoting and often times blasphemous intent to demonstrate their authority in numbers and size.  Just this week, we hear of another story where the ACLU, “America Civil Liberty Union”, has taken up sides with a group of Atheists and attacked a small school in a rural community of Jackson, Ohio; to force them to remove a portrait of Jesus Christ hanging inside of the school.  Their claim that the hanging of this portrait inside of a public school building was “unconstitutional” is based on their interpretation of the 1^st Amendment of the United States Constitution.  This portrait has been hanging on this wall of the school since 1947, but all of a sudden 3 local parents find it offensive and through the Freedom from Religion group filed a law suit to have it removed. 

This is the face of the 21^st century Goliath.  There have always been those groups of individuals and organizations that refuse to accept the existence of an Almighty, Omnipotent, Sovereign God.  From the Old Testament, through the New Testament and throughout the history of the world people have attempted to refute the One True God.  Why should we believe anything in today’s world would be different.  I get very frustrated when I watch the news and hear of the acceptance of Buddhism, Islam, Wicca, Taoism and so many other organized belief systems, yet Christianity remains at the center of attack on religions.  Why is that, and why has it always been that way?

Do you have the resolve of David?  To courageously stand up and claim God as the One True God, and stand up for His Son – Jesus Christ requires that you must go against the Goliath’s of this world.  It requires that you step up to the battle, despite the odds, despite the power, authority and intimidation that is being cast down around you.  Just as David stood before the Philistine and his entire army and refused to back down in fear, we must stand up today and fight these battles head on.  “The battle is the Lord’s and He will give you unto our hands.” 

What is different in your battle today?  If you are fighting a battle for righteousness and holiness and the sanctity of God’s values, then stand up and fight with the strength of God Almighty behind you.  Do not fear the world, for there is nothing in this world that can come against you in victory, as long as you are representing your Father in heaven, and fighting on His behalf.  Don’t tell me they are bigger, stronger, and have a larger presence (through the media and governments of this world).  David was a shepherd, with a sling shot and five stones standing alone on a hill-side outside of Bethlehem, surrounded by an entire Philistine army and one giant of a man.  The thing that they all underestimated though was that David was not fighting a battle for himself, he was fighting on behalf of God Almighty and when God is on your side, there is nothing that is unachievable.

This world is not going to stop attacking the Christian church, because it is afraid of what it stands for.  The reality is that the Christian principal beliefs; that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God, was born of a virgin, lived, died and rose again on the third day to redeem mankind’s sin; scare most people.  They do not like the thought that there is only one way to heaven.  They do not like the thought that they must abide by a truth that their life is filled with sin, that must be atoned for.  They do not like having to conform to a selfless, servant heart existence, rather than an existence based on self promotion.  They do not like believing in something they cannot see, feel or touch.  Therefore, they try to abolish it, just as they have done for thousands of years.  God cannot be abolished, and one day they will have to answer to Him, just as Goliath and the Philistines did.  So, pick up your stones today, enter into the battle and fight on God’s behalf, your victory awaits you.
             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Freedom is not Free

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“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” –1 Peter 2:16

The debate will continue long after my feet have left this earth.  It started centuries ago and continues to this very day.  A man’s freedom to do and say what he wants often times encroaches on another man’s freedoms or liberties and in this case who is rightfully due their respective freedom?  There were 10 Amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791,  drawn up to ensure that the rights and freedoms of the people, were addressed with some order and that people were given the freedom to pursuit life outside of the tyranny of the Government.  These 10 Amendments (known as the Bill of Rights) can be found here.  Today I want to focus on one of those 10 Amendments, and it is the most commonly referenced of all the Amendments. 

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

We have freedom of religion.  It is not something that can be or ever should be imposed by our Government.  One of the greatest freedoms we experience in this life should not be guarded and managed/controlled by mankind.  It is a spiritual freedom, one that each of us in our own manner must come to experience.  Within the United States of America we have a melting pot of religions expressed throughout our land.  Statistics would show that within America we have those who are Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, New Age, Christian and even those who have no belief or are agnostic.  This freedom is essential to the core of what our fore-fathers put into the Bill of Rights.  As much as I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, there are those who believe that he was just a great prophet or really nice guy.

I can’t force someone to believe as I believe.  There are countries in the world which will try to force their citizens to believe in a single religious view as if the matter were something that man could control.  The reality is that each of us must come to this awareness and spiritual understanding on our own.  That right, that freedom was originally granted by the Creator of the Universe, not by mankind.  Despite that fact that it is written in the Bill of Rights, it is inherently given by God himself.  He is not going to force you to believe in Him, or to love Him.  The freedom that He grants has not changed.  Since Adam and Eve were given freedom in the garden of Eden, every human born has had the same freedom of choice.  They made choices and introduced original sin into the world, by choosing against God’s plan for their life.  They chose to follow the evil that was in the world, and pursuit the freedom of separation from God, over the freedom that is granted by serving and living for God.

We are making the same choices today.  The world knows about God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ.  Yet, there are those in the world who are choosing to turn away from God and pursue the world’s freedoms, rooted in evil and deception.  One cannot pursue the world’s freedom and expect to fully serve God, for God’s ways are not of this world.  Each of us are making choices for the worlds freedoms each and every day as we choose to follow God’s plans or our own plans.  You are no different than Adam and Eve.  God is saying “Follow Me”, and you are saying “No, I know where I want to go.  But I still love you God.”  Don’t be misled by the freedoms that the world has granted you and confuse them with the ultimate freedom God has in store for you in eternity.  Think through your decisions carefully and evaluate them based on who’s path are you really following.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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Bible Study – James (day 9)

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“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” – James 1:26-27

Self control and humility.  Two words that are often times foreign in the 21^st century vocabulary.  As we discussed a few days back, the words that come from our lips cannot return thereafter and must be carefully chosen before speaking.  Rash, crude or abusive language is demeaning to other individuals regardless of it’s intent.  It demonstrates to the other individual that they are less worthy of intelligent conversation.  Often times it expresses an anger or aggression that might be otherwise kept inside.  Let’s be honest, when is the last time someone used foul language with you and your immediate reaction was “Wow, that person is very articulate and well spoken.”  Generally, it is just the opposite reaction.

But it happens.  We lose our temper and words have come from our mouth before we are capable of stopping them.  What if you heard your Pastor, Priest or Minister using curse words from the pulpit?  Would you consider them educated, full of the Holy Spirit and the love of God?  Your impression of them would certainly be diminished based on their choice of words of this nature.  We can’t demonstrate God’s love, mercy and kindness and then turn around and carelessly lose control of our words and actions.  We have created an image of hypocrisy and reduced the image of God in the eyes of the beholder.

We must be able to exercise self control in this walk with God.  The eyes of the world are upon you at all times when they realize that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.  There is a natural tendency in all mankind to evaluate and judge the authenticity of your claim to Christianity.  Jesus Christ set a very high bar for what Christianity looks like.  Completely unachievable in this lifetime, but a goal none the less.  His actions represented God the Father in everything He did, and so should ours.  But it’s so much more than actions, it must come from the heart, mind and soul.

The more you are learning and strengthening your walk with Christ, the more you are naturally inclined to emulate and present His love, purity and humility to others.  There is an old saying, “Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.” (Charles Caleb Colton), and it holds so very true in today’s world.  We need to imitating Christ and let others imitate us in our actions, words, motives and love towards others.  Take control of our words and actions so others can see the Holy Spirit that lives within you, not so that you can look pious, holy and religious to those observing your actions.  This little shift in your thinking will do incredible things for God’s Kingdom, because people will take notice and want to know what makes you different.  Then you have the perfect opportunity to tell them.

ACTION: Church services are on Sunday, Wednesday and sometimes on Saturday night.  It is expected that you put on your best behavior during those times.  The real question is who are you when you aren’t in the comfort zone of the church sanctuary, or around your fellow Christians.  Focus this week on living and demonstrating the “Christ-likeness” throughout the entire week through your language, actions, serving others and humbleness.  See what a difference this new you will make in those around you.  

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://www.10minutereader.com