M.t. Clark shares how illness and his wife Tammy Lynn's care taught him about spiritual rest and refuge. He references Charles Stanley on God as an unshakable rock and Hebrews 10:10 on sanctification, arguing that ministers need timeout to avoid burnout and that weakness becomes strength through divine deliverance.
Welcome to the MT for Christ 247 podcast. I'm M.t. Clark, and this is today's photo. To see today's photo, go to mtforchrist.com or follow me, M.t. Clark, on Facebook or Twitter. Today's photo of Freedom Road under clear blue skies comes to us from yours truly as I captured the scene while out walking with my canine pal Harley back on July 13th. Well, it's Saturday, and I am so glad to be back at my countryside home with my beloved wife Tammy Lynn. Yesterday's work was tedious and long, and even though I had looked forward to going north all day, I was so wiped out and congested that I called Tammy Lynn to give her the option of telling her sick and tired husband to go south. Thankfully, Tammy Lynn is a kind and compassionate caregiver and she insisted that I come up so we could be together and she could take, take care of me. Um, last night she anointed me with various essential oils and got some extra rest, and, and I got some extra rest. And so far this morning, I feel much better, uh, than yesterday, perhaps proving that I physically needed to be with my wife. Uh, I recently completed all the courses of Bob Larson University, which teaches about spiritual warfare, exorcism, demonology and deliverance. In his book Jezebel: Your Number One Spiritual Enemy, Larson attests to the need for those— and for those involved with combating the spiritual forces of darkness— to take a timeout every once in a while. Larson writes, if I expect to be able to help others and go back into such intense battles, I need my timeout. I needed my timeout. For me, time out is often the normalcy of an enriching marriage and a close family. That's my refuge, a place where I can unwind and deal with real-world stuff. Every man or woman of God needs such a place. Your Damascus could be a special geographical location that's a retreat, or friends with whom deep emotional bonds exist. It can also be, as it is with me, the love of a spouse, and the joy of parenting. To any minister of deliverance who reads this and who with any regularity faces down Jezebel and company, find your place of timeout before you burn out. I did a marathon session of studying the demonic in the last few weeks, and I suspect that part of my tiredness and illness is due to the fact that I was quipped equipping myself to fight the enemy like never before. Uh, based on how I feel this morning after an evening in Tammy Lynn's presence, I think I, like Larson, find my refuge in my, in my wife, and she provides just what I need to take a timeout—kindness, gentleness, and love. Uh, her caring attitude takes care of my physical needs, and her faith keeps me grounded in trusting the Lord. When things are out of control, when we get sick, suffer unexpected losses, or are going through a season of trials, we need to take a rest, as Larson suggests. And we also need to remember that God has provided us with all we will ever need. The In Touch devotional with Dr. Charles Stanley talks about where we can find stability in trouble— troubling times, so I'm sharing it on the blog today. Dr. Charles Stanley writes, um, Things That Cannot Be Shaken. But in a world that often seems to be spinning out of control, believers in Jesus have the privilege of sharing the best news imaginable. We have something that's stable, something completely secure. There is a rock on which we are able to stand, and it cannot be shaken. That unshakable foundation, of course, is Almighty God. We can trust that Scripture is his unchanging, relevant truth for all time. We can depend on a secure, eternal relationship with the Lord, and we can be sure that an everlasting heavenly home awaits all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. We can have stability even in this unstable world. Among the people you know, who needs this life-saving good news? Don't wait, share it today. Dr. Charles Stanley. Amen. I think everybody I know needs this life-saving good news. And so I did share it today. So friends, it is my prayer that no matter what your circumstances might be during Labor Day weekend 2024, you will find some time to take refuge, find rest for your souls, and rejoice because of the rock on which we stand. Gives us all the stability that we need. Today's Bible verses come from the Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling by John G. Cruis. This morning's meditation verse is Hebrews 10:10, which says, by that will, by that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Today's verse is the second of three passages of scripture that fall under the 16th point of our Counseling Reference Guide's resource section on the forgiveness of sins. And that 16th point is: In love, Jesus died to make us holy. We are without blemish. Today's verse gives us the fantastic news that somehow, positionally, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we have already been sanctified once and for all. We become new creations in Christ. We are born again, and one of our birthrights as children of God is Christ's imputed righteousness. Regardless of our performance, somehow and in some way, God makes us holy, sanctified, as he is holy. Uh, of course, we are commanded to repent of our former ways of darkness because what God has done in the Spirit can be reflected in reality as long as we keep on walking and talking with God. So rejoice, you are sanctified already. So go amaze your family and friends by letting that spiritual reality manifest in your day-to-day life. As always, we encourage everyone to go to mtforchrist.com, where we always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist our brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. Today we continue sharing from According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament by Stephen F. Alford. And in Alford's devotional, he prompts us to read a chapter of scripture. Today's chapter is 2 Timothy 3, and from that chapter he shares a portion of verse 11, which says, "Out of them all the Lord delivered me." And Stephen Alford writes, Paul testifies here to the delivering power of the Lord. He had endured severe persecutions and afflictions, but in them all faith in the Lord had delivered him. Paul was one who could glory in infirmities, in weakness, because in them he proved the power and grace of the Lord. When I am weak, he could say, then I am strong. And then Alford writes, oh, for this faith that accepts such afflictions and persecutions as blessings in disguise, as the means whereby the power and grace of the Lord is experienced in mighty deliverances. And then he ends by praying, give me the faith to prove the truth of this verse, O Lord. Amen. Amen. Amen. Yeah, when we're weak, we can be strong, but that's only when we stand with the Lord. So, um, we ask the question, have you fully surrendered to God? Um, if so, things will change God will give you a purpose and meaning for life, and he'll direct you to work out your sanctification here on earth that you already have. It's just a matter of, you know, following Jesus. So that's what we recommend. And when you follow Jesus, you'll end up in things like ministry. Me, I'm in— I've been called to lead the Celebrate Your Freedom support group at Starpoint Church on Wednesday nights in the Capital District. We invite you to come for Christian recovery and discipleship. Each Wednesday. And also, if you're not local, we offer our freedom teachings on the MT for Christ 247, um, YouTube channel. Basically, we have playlists for The Bondage Breaker, Victory Over the Darkness, Freedom in Christ, Celebrate, uh, the Celebrate Freedom discipleship course, and all kinds of other playlists. So we invite you to check it out and to be encouraged in your faith. Because we all need one another in the body of Christ. And, uh, so we ask the question: are you empty for Christ too? If so, that's great. Keep on walking and talking with God. Um, if not, just pray, uh, for the Lord to reveal himself and keep seeking, because if you seek him, you will find him. And so let's pray. Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank you for another day in your kingdom. Lord, we thank you so much for all that you do for us. We pray for anyone listening or reading today's message, Lord, that you'd bless them and their families for this holiday weekend. Um, let them draw close to find rest and refuge and, uh, the stability that's only found in you, Lord. As for me, we've just prayed for you to continue the healing that you're bringing and, uh, just keep leading me in the way I should go. Lord, we thank you, we praise you, we love you, and we pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Making Too Many Mistakes and The Mercy of God’s Grace and Favor - Purity 1811
