On Fire for God – The Most Important Thing About Us Purity 1399

Good morning, welcome to the MT for Christ 24/7 podcast with me, M.t. Clark. Uh, we've decided we're playing with the, uh, the video blog, so we're, we're doing our best to, uh, up the production value. And I didn't look like— I didn't like looking like Max Headroom yesterday, uh, embedded into the PowerPoint like that. So we're, we're doing this, and hopefully, it won't be a total disaster. But anyway, we move along. Um, good morning. Today's photo of a bedraggled tree and a picnic bench under a canopy on the shores of an unknown body of water as the sun blazes in a late afternoon sky comes to us from an unknown Facebook friend who shared this vacation park sunset scene on social media on July 10th. I am embarrassed to say that I forgot and currently don't know which one of my friends shared this delightful that has me thanking God it's Friday. But if this beauty is yours, let me know and I'll photo credit you on the blog after the fact. Well, it's Friday, thank God, and it has been another— it has been a hot week in upstate New York, and my mind isn't as sharp as it used to be in remembering things like who posted that photo. And in my faith walk, I often find myself asking it or reminding myself I know that when I come across an encouraging word, message, or lesson about the truths of who we are in Christ or how living in the kingdom, quote unquote, works, I have discovered the fairly obvious fact that we can easily forget or take for granted that the most important thing about us is our relationship with God and knowing him through our faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation and our relationship with our Heavenly Father should be at the forefront of our minds and be a part of, uh, not part of, if not the major focus in our lives, as it not only gives us our self-worth, but it will ultimately determine what happens next in eternity. Uh, recently I've been in the midst of a mini revival of the spirits of sorts, as I have repented of my, a few fleshly food compromises and general laxity in my walk near the end of June. I've, I've declared July a month of repentance and of drawing closer to God as I prepare for for the second round of recovery ministry with the Celebrate Freedom support group at Starpoint Church. And the Lord has blessed it by putting messages, songs, and revelation on my path that have reminded me of the importance of being on fire for the Lord and of a regular practice of joyously singing and, uh, singing truth and thanksgiving to the Lord in impassioned, worship and praise. We have been listening to messages from pastors and teachers from different ends of the spectrum of Christian teaching that have given me a contrast of charismatic Holy Spirit fervor, good traditional biblical teaching, and recognition of truths from brain science that have reminded me of things I know, right, but may have forgotten in my experience as I was a little exhausted at the 6-month mark of 2024 and was seeking some rest and comfort during my quote-unquote birthday month. Um, but the smoke has cleared from those proverbial birthday candles, and I'm now inspired to take on the second half of the year with enthusiasm. I felt the Lord did cause me to rest after 6 months of intensive ministry, prayer ministry training, and several studies. But, uh, now I feel that things are shifting into go mode as the Lord has impressed upon me that that I, me specifically, uh, have something to say that needs to be shared and published. Yesterday the Holy Spirit seemed to be pushing for me to get going with the next thing, which, to be honest, I'm not 100% sure what that will be. Previously I had a feeling— there goes the train— previously I had a feeling I should edit and publish my master's dissertation as I feel that the Celebrate Freedom discipleship course could provide Christians with good teaching and encouragement for a path to freedom in Christ. But I also got the impression, um, or I get the impression that I also need to do something new, and I'm full of, and I'm full of a rush of ideas of what that could be. More on that if it actually comes to fruition. Um, so what am I saying? Nothing new to the blog, I'm sure, but I wish to encourage myself and you that the way that we flourish in life is directly related to our acceptance of and commitment to who we are in God's kingdom. And the level of our joy and growth as a person of, of wisdom is directly related to our efforts to grow in the wisdom of God's word in ways Charles Stanley's In Touch devotional message from today reminded me that the one who spoke the universe into existence still speaks just as powerfully through the pages of the Bible that you hold in your hands. At the moment of salvation, believers receive the Holy Spirit, and the lines of communication with the Lord are established. Then whenever the scriptures are read, children of God can hear his voice, and the Spirit enables them to understand and to put into practice what they've heard. To be able to live the Christian life and to experience freedom, peace, and joy in life, we need to read God's word, uh, and let the Holy Spirit speak to us as we reflect on God's truth. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, for the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. As we read the word, God is reading us. He is discerning our thoughts and intentions. And I believe if we are repentant and seeking to do his will, God will see that and empower us in our spirit. Um, as the In Touch devotional message for today says, this book has the power to change our life if we believe the Lord and do what it says. God uses the Bible to transform us from the inside out. Before reading scripture, ask him to help you hear and understand what he's saying. As you believe and obey, your spiritual hearing will become more acute, and your time in the word will become an intimate conversation with the Lord. That's what I'm talking about— an intimate conversation with the Lord. Walking and talking with God, right? I agree with Charles Stanley and know that he speaks the truth from my past experiences with the Lord. When we believe and prayerfully read the Bible, our spiritual hearing becomes sharper, and when we obey what it says, God leads us into pathways of righteousness, peace, and joy, and our walk through our day-to-day existence becomes a marvelous journey of purpose and adventure. So get psyched! Remember your salvation and what you have lived through, but press on in your walk today. Be on fire today and move on to the next thing. And don't be shy in sharing your faith, for we are not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it has the power to save others from eternal separation from God in hell, and it can resurrect us in our joy and kingdom calling. You know, God didn't save us just to give us peace. He saved us to be his ambassadors. So let's represent the kingdom with our sanctification and with our joy for living with and for him. Today's Bible verses come to us from the Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling by John G. Crews. This morning's meditation verses come from the section on false prophets and teachers. And today the verses are Jeremiah 13:16-24. And the word of God says, thus says the Lord of hosts, do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless. They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord. They continually say to those who despise me, the Lord has said, you shall have peace. And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they shall— they say, no evil shall come upon you. Upon you. For who has stood in the council of the Lord and has perceived and heard his word? Who has marked his word and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury, a violent whirlwind. It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and performed the thoughts of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel and had caused my people to hear my words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings. Am I a God near at hand, says the Lord, and not a God far afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places so I shall not see him? Says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? Says the Lord. He does fill the heavens and the earth. Today's verses are the first of two passages of scripture that fall under the fourth, uh, point of our Counseling Reference Guide's resource section on false prophets and teachers. Um, and that fourth point is God warns his people not to listen to the false prophets who say that he will not punish unrepentant sinners. Today's verses are clear in presenting the possibility that anyone speaking about peace and assures no evil coming upon you, but who fails to preach about repentance and a turning and the turning from our evil ways, may very well be a false prophet. I understand the logic behind the seeker-friendly gospel. Catch those dirty fish and let God clean them up, because frankly, we can't save or change anyone. However, when we only preach the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of salvation without teaching about God's holiness and his call for us to turn from sins that are commonplace in our secular society, we could not only be accused of practicing bait-and-switch tactics— I know I was upset when I realized I should stop my sins, uh, of the flesh after coming into the kingdom— um, but we could also find ourselves on the sharp end of God's wrath. As we could be considered a false prophet, lulling people asleep with a gospel of cheap grace. As much as I try to emphasize the joy and peace of the Lord, I also try to be clear about living according to our faith, following God with how we live our lives by obeying his word. Like me, that might mean recovery and a radical renewing of the heart and mind. But the Lord gives us that when we put our faith in Jesus by giving us the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin and lead us into all truth. But the word also indicates we can quench the Spirit and continue in our sins and possibly be told the bad news that we were only fooling ourselves and thinking we were Christians, as Jesus will say, depart from me, I never knew you. You who practice lawlessness. So don't just think you are a Christian. Know you are, are a Christian by living like one, by repenting of your sins and living for God's purposes. Uh, and then we move along. As always, we encourage you to go to M.t. for Christ, where we always share insights and from, uh, Christian theologians and counselors to assist you in your walk. And today we continue sharing from According to Your Word, uh, Morning and Evening Through the New Testament by Stephen F. Alford. And today's devotion highlights 2 Corinthians 9, and from that, Alford shares a portion of verse 7, which says, God loves a cheerful giver. And Stephen Alford writes, giving must not be haphazard and must be as a man purposes in his own heart before the Lord. Must not be without a grudging heart, but with unstinted love and joy. This is best illustrated in the story of the widow and the two mites. She gave all. Not grudgingly, but with cheer and love. Giving must not be the outcome of obvious necessity. In fact, if necessity arises, it is the evidence of grudged giving. The necessity would never arise if believers gave, gave as is laid down in this chapter. God loves a cheerful giver, and giving is a special love of God experienced only by those who give purposefully, cheerfully, and regularly. And Alfred ends by praying, make me, Lord, a cheerful giver. Amen. Amen. Yeah, the teaching on giving tithes and offerings and sacrifices, um, you know, has been updated, uh, to include the fact that we should be cheerful givers. And, um, so we should be. And if you are immature in your faith like I am, uh, that might be an issue. Um, so Give all you can for the Lord, and, uh, if it's 10% or more, God bless you. Um, if it's less, I can understand and relate to that. You know, uh, one thing to remember about tithes and offerings and doing things according to the law is that we'll never obey the law perfectly. Um, well, and thus we'll always have sin in our life. However, we can improve in different areas. Uh, the Lord puts it on your heart and convicts you, uh, to give, you know, give, and don't begrudge other people, um, from giving, and, uh, try to follow them. But at the same time, you know, that's one area of repentance. Uh, the other areas of life, your sanctification, um, sexual immorality, addictions, things like that, those are important too. And I know people who— I know someone who's, who's tied up in, in an addiction who gives faithfully. Um, their tithing hasn't blessed them into freedom. Um, and you know, but how awesome is that, that they tithe even though they're not walking in it? So, you know, no judgment, there's no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. God loves you, and only he will judge us and reward us according to our works. So Uh, that's what we work, you know, we'll, we'll see what happens on the next side. We'll never be able to pay back God for his free gift of salvation, but we should work and represent, uh, his kingdom the best we can and support it, um, all his kingdom work. And, um, you know, have you fully surrendered to God? Like I indicate all the time, I'm a work in progress. So even though it's empty for Christ, as in I empty myself for the Holy Spirit to be filled, you know, to fill me and to, uh, uh, to guide me. Uh, you know, we're still a work in progress. However, we do offer Christian teachings through our YouTube channel and our blog posts that could encourage you in our walk. So we point you to mtforchrist.com. Locally, if you're in the Capital District, uh, Celebrate Freedom support group, which is a recovery and discipleship, uh, support group, uh, we'll be meeting on Wednesdays at 6:30, uh, starting July 24th. And so you should check out the church website, Starpoint Church, and go to the support groups page and, you know, register for our group. And we can see you walking and talking God and, and experiencing your freedom in Christ when you join us, uh, starting on July 24th. You know, why not start a new beginning and get free of those hurts, habits, and hang-ups by the end of the year? It's a powerful program based on Celebrate Recovery's teaching and our community of hope and peace and joy that we try to bring to it. And of course, there's— we also have an offering for the men out there anywhere. This fall, Freedom in Christ Ministries is doing a whole bunch of different discipleship courses. So we encourage you to go to ficm.org to check out all courses. If you're a man, however, and want to sit in a course that I lead, the Freedom in Christ course, um, there's a group on Tuesday nights at 6:30, uh, that I'll be leading. Um, registration is open now, so go to, uh, ficm.org to sign up. And as we say, you know, uh, let's keep walking and talking with God, and, uh, let's try to surrender to him, uh, everything we can, uh, because he's given us so much with our lives. And, um, That's, that's that. Um, apparently the— yes, and now I'm going to stop the recording and wish everyone a good day. Uh, after I pray. Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank you for another day in your kingdom. We thank you so much for all that you do for us. We, we, um, pray for you to bless us in our walk today. We pray for you to bless anyone watching or reading today's message, that they'd be encouraged and that they— you come alongside them and their prayer request. And Lord, we just, uh, we ask for you to go before us, open our eyes to the things you want us to see, and lead us in the way we should go, as all we want to do is represent you in your kingdom. Lord, we thank you, we praise you, and we love you, and we pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.