There were seven sons of Sceva traveling around casting out evil spirits by calling on the name of Jesus Christ. They said to the evil spirit in this one man, “we adjure you by Jesus Christ who Paul preaches to come out.” The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on the seven of them and gave them the mother of all beatdowns. That one man beat the seven of them so badly that they ran from the house wounded, bleeding, and naked! Read the account for yourself (Acts 19:11-17).
Who am I? Just a soldier in the Army of Jesus Christ.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. Psalm 37:27-33 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
It’s crazy to believe you can have the fruits of perseverance without the testing of your determination. He who wins is the one who keeps his hand on the plow when it hurts. He who loses gives up and turns back before reaching the end of the row. So press on, fight on, struggle on, accept the pain, and know that all who remain standfast in Christ have already won! Remember that no matter what comes or doesn’t come, Almighty God is your sustainer. He alone is worthy of complete trust. Depend only on Him and all that happens will only increase the strength of your faith. Faith can only be exercised when our interpretation of reality contradicts the word of God. The word of God is completely reliable. Doubt your doubts that arise only from fallible human reasoning, deceivable physical senses, interpretations based on limited information, or the feelings triggered by circumstances. Indeed, this is the only time when faith can be expressed externally by our words and deeds. Blessed are all who speak and do the word of God in the face of trials. We may have to sow in righteousness with tears, but we have a divine guarantee to reap a bountiful harvest with great joy.
Question
Why must we be born again?
Answer
Imagine the earth breaking free of its orbit around the sun and spinning out into the darkness of other space (Scripture). Physical life on earth may continue for a short period of time in such a case, but essentially it would be dead as soon as it starts moving away from the sun (Scripture). Trapped on a dying planet heading into the dark abyss, self on the throne of the heart makes it impossible to reverse course (Scripture). The salvation plan of God is to restore fallen humanity to its proper orbit by creating it anew (Scripture. Because death came to all as a result of the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, this new creation requires being spiritually born again (Scripture). Impossible to understand when self still reigns supreme (Scripture). Deny self, believe the word of God, and you will see the light of the gospel (Scripture). Pick up your cross, die to self, and you will live the new life (Scripture). Follow Jesus, place the will of God in its rightful place, and all of life makes sense (Scripture).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
8 O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Psalm 89:8-14 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
Do what you can, with whatever you have right now, wherever you may happen to be. Don’t wait for things to be perfect. Don’t expect life to always be pleasant, nor should you expect things to always be easy. Pray and seek to do the right thing according to the word of God always and in everything. Not that we are sufficient to make things happen for ourselves as some motivational speakers vainly boast. Our sufficiency comes from God alone. This understanding is the first important step. To know that God must provide all. Without this first step, the second step of working for the glory of the Lord will prove to be an impossible work too great and a burden too heavy for us. The second step entails exercising faith to put the hands to the plow, fixing the eyes on Jesus Christ, and waiting on the Lord in eager expectation of the fulfillment of all His precious promises. By faith we take the first step, then second step, and then the next. Just as every baby must first crawl and then wobblingly walk about, the same is true for spiritual babies as we learn to walk in the Spirit wholeheartedly trust in our God. This we can and will do, because it doesn’t depend our strength. It depends on God, and He is forever faithful to do just as He has promised. Abba, Father. We believe.
Question
How can we be happier in the everyday things of life?
Answer
Eliminate the words “I have to” from your thinking and speech (Scripture). Practice using “I get to” instead (Scripture). The former is of the letter of the law and latter is under grace (Scripture). The “have-get” swap, switch, or correction seems a small thing, but the results can be felt immediately (Scripture). For example, the next time you catch yourself saying “I have to go to work,” immediately correct the statement with “I get to go to work” (Scripture). The tough things in life become less so when we consider them as much of a blessing from God as the more pleasurable things in life (Scripture). A heart is full of gratitude is the attitude that increases the level of daily happiness (Scripture).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
98 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Psalm 98 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
Yesterday is gone forever. Don’t allow it to distract you from the now. Ready or not, tomorrow stands at the door. Take the discomfort necessary to be ready for it, or you will be forced to suffer the greater pain born from procrastination later. Do not deceive yourself by saying in your heart “when the time is right, I will live wholly for the Lord.” Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ with your whole heart right now, then step out in faith and obedience. We don’t need to rely on our own strength to do this. The needed grace for the humble is both a precept and a promise. Our part is to willfully consent to be humble, and the promise is that God will make us so. The hand of faith can only receive what the eye of faith sees as the will of God. Humble yourself by depending on God to provide all the grace you need to do His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Question
What is important?
Answer
Knowing your place is important (Scripture). In 100 years, only a few of us will be remembered by those who come after (Scripture). That is not important though (Scripture). Knowing our place requires us to love much (Scripture). Knowing our place calls for us to accept the responsibility to do what we can for God and others (Scripture). Indeed, we will be accountable to God whether we choose to accept this responsibility or not (Scripture). God requires that we love Him with all our heart and Gabriel the Archangel can do no more than that (Scripture). Greatness doesn’t matter at all (Scripture). The particulars of our individual call are unique, but the general call of God is the plain command to do what we can (Scripture).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:9-16 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
Choose your friends wisely. All doers of dirty deeds done in the darkness will forever fear the light of discovery. Saying that everyone else is doing it will never make what is wrong something right. Even in the light, the lure of material gain can be blinding. Money does seem to be the answer for everything in the natural, which is the external world perishing all around us. If the inner man trusts in money however, it only draws him to the things of earth and away from the living God. Have faith in God. Watch and pray to guard the affections of your heart. God will certainly keep you. Choose to believe that He will do just as His word promises. Be quick to dismiss what you see and feel as the mere temporary things that they are. Physical realities determined by our natural senses change as fast as the wind and weather. Put your trust in the word of God instead. What God has said, that will always stand.
Question
What are the fiery darts of the wicked?
Answer
These fiery darts are interpretive stories created in our imagination assigning meaning to what we experience in everyday life that cause only fear, uncertainty, and doubt (Scripture). First step requires light to recognize the source of all our self-talk that is contrary to the word of God (Scripture). The heart must be guarded against these fiery darts because unchecked they breed only dead flies (Scripture).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know my necessities before I ask and my ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and mercifully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
37 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. Psalm 37:1-7, 23-24 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
A lot of the slick advertisements these days make promises of all sorts of benefits for only a little time, money, and effort. The common marketing message is that life can be improved without having to turn from a lifestyle that only leads to physical disease and spiritual suicide. They claim all one needs to do is buy this new breakthrough pill/program/product, and problems will melt away like mythical lemon drops above storybook chimney tops. Yet there is nothing new under the sun. There are only different versions of what has already been. The best that worldly wisdom can do is to make a person pretty and rich in this temporarily while leaving them totally unfit for eternity. Let those who have ears to hear incline their heart to the wisdom of the Lord Our Righteousness. Believe the Word that properly prepares us to live now in this world so as to be prepared to enter into eternity in the next. Stand firm in faith or you will not stand at all. To be salt and light in this perishing world, act out your faith with appropriate words and deeds.
Question
What is the most precious resource on earth?
Answer
Time is the most precious resource we are given as each tick of the clock passes through our fingers only once and then it is gone forever (Scripture). We are not our own, therefore our time is not our own (Scripture). Youth is wasted on the young primally because in vanities they waste so much time acting as if they will be young forever (Scripture). Sowing wild oats only brings suffering and pain (Scripture). O Lord, teach us to number our days (Scripture), and work in us to make our calling and election sure (Scripture).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know my necessities before I ask and my ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and mercifully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Other than the standard things recommend by most people, I have found that the less television I watch the better I feel and the more time I have to purse other things that enhance my health and well-being.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
Look at the lifestyle of the middle-aged and it is easy to predict their future quality of life should the Lord allow them to live to be old and gray. Another thing just as certain — (no matter who you are, what titles you have won, or how much money you have) – there is no value in material gain without knowing Jesus Christ. Faith in God and prayer in accordance with the Word is far more effective than diet, physical exercise, performance enhancing drugs, and any other combination of things based solely on the elementary principles of this world. The truth of God is the solid rock of eternity. Physical realities are merely the shifting sands of now. As we learn to depend upon the truth of God rather than our physical senses, only then do we become free. Build your life on the truth of Jesus Christ and blessings for self and others will follow.
Question
Why is the love of money the root of all evil?
Answer
Holding the reins of the heart is what we set our love upon (Scripture). This is why we are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart (Scripture). If we set our affections upon money instead, it will always be like a scorching fire and there will never be enough no matter how much we get (Scripture). Money can buy ease and comfort for the body, but not peace and salvation for the soul (Scripture). Setting money up as the secret idol of the heart is like a sharp stick that pierces the hand that leans on it (Scripture). Through both poverty and riches, dark nights and bright days, God can always be relied upon for His faithfulness and lovingkindness (Scripture). Trust in, relying on, and adhering to God is infinitely better than lots of money (Scripture).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know my necessities before I ask and my ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and mercifully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
20 This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:19-24 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
To be born again means to be fully alive. Just as we can be here in America and at the same time be present in Thailand with a video chat, so too do we inhabit this physical world while simultaneously being seated spiritually with Christ in the Kingdom of God. The vain dream of the natural man is being able to just sit around all day counting his money without a problem in the world. While being alive spiritually means come rain or come shine, we have learned to trust the Lord. Faith allows us to either be the hammer or the anvil as God commands. And we know and depend on the grace of God to lovingly care for us always. Let His peace rule in the heart. He is the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, and He is more than willing to provide for all the needs of His children. Nothing is impossible for God and no good thing does He withhold from those who love Him. Take your eyes off the visible and enter His courts with praise and thanksgiving. Sow with tears if need be. God will wipe away every tear and bring you in with a bountiful harvest.
Question
Why obey God?
Answer
Obeying God is the only real proof that we know God (Scripture). To know God is to love God (Scripture), and to love God is to obey God (Scripture). God is absolutely good (Scripture). God is love (1 John 4:7). Every normal human parent will make sure that everything is as good for a beloved child as possible according to the parent’s knowledge, ability, and resources (Scripture). God is far better than the best of human parents could ever be (Scripture). God has perfect knowledge of the past, present, and future (Scripture). God has unlimited ability to speak and create just as easily as we can speak and blink (Scripture). There is no such thing as scarcity for God, as He has unlimited resources far beyond what we can imagine or think (Scripture). God is also just and a consuming fire (Scripture). We either come to see the light of the gospel and participate in God’s great program for salvation (Scripture) or we remain in darkness condemned to be cast away forever (Scripture). Woe to those who refuse the carrot of God’s grace (Scripture), and thereby choose the stick of eternal damnation (Scripture).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know my necessities before I ask and my ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and mercifully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:12-15 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
Stuck in a rut or living the dream? One thing is certain. Regardless of your current situation, it is likely that someone somewhere in this world is suffering with more difficulties and in greater pain than you. Somewhere someone would love to be in your shoes. Complaining, grumbling, and fault-finding only serve to blind us. When the mind is occupied with these things, it becomes difficult to see any of the good around us and effectively blocks the way into the rest of God. It is in thanksgiving rather than complaining, praise rather than grumbling, and prayer rather than fault-finding which leads to the promised rest in the Lord. All circumstances are temporary and God is in control of all. When you know that God is faithful, all difficulties can joyfully be accepted as an opportunity to exercise faith in God. You will see the glory of God if you are willing to believe. God has promised it.
Question
Does physical appearance matter?
Answer
Not for its own sake (Scripture), but all healthy things are beautiful (Scripture). Being obsessed with the appearance of self is a vain idolatry that only makes one more unhappy with it every passing year and new wrinkle (Scripture). Appearance is an important minor that is easy to care for once we focus on the major, which is the development of the beatific vision of a Christ-like character of the soul (Scripture). Rightly ordered, all things are done for the glory of God (Scripture).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know my necessities before I ask and my ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and mercifully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Faith and Fitness Blog 