Purity 411 05/06/2021 Purity 411 Podcast
Good morning.
It’s Thursday and
because I normally teach a discipleship class where I encourage others to walk
in the Spirit and follow the spiritual path that God is calling them to, I like
to share an image of a pathway to encourage my friends to take the “path less travelled”
and to live a life of exploration where we not only go out and see the world
that God has made but we also explore our hearts and minds and seek to bring
them into harmony with the plan that God has for our lives.
Unfortunately, due to a public
health concern, the church where I teach is closed and my class is cancelled tonight
and next week. But just because of this
set back, it doesn’t mean that we just quit walking with God.
Like this trail up Hunter
Mountain, the spiritual path of life may be steep and portions of it may be
rocky. The felled tree on this path can
be said to represent the harsh reality that bad things can and do happen during
our journey of life.
I know the difficulty of
the trail and the possible dangers out there may tempt us to just forget it and
not go there at all.
However, the fact that
this trail exists indicates a couple of things. The trail indicates that others
have gone before us. For the Christian,
Jesus and the Apostles started walking the pathway of discipleship over two
thousand years ago and countless saints have followed in their footsteps. Oh by
the way, if you believe you are a saint. Saints aren’t just super Christians.
The term “saint” refers to all who put their faith in Christ.
So, no matter how lonely
the pathway of discipleship may be at times we have to remind ourselves that others
have gone before us and when we walk with God we are never alone.
Another thing that the
trail indicates is that there is a final destination at the end of it and that
it is worth pursuing. So yes, the way may be difficult at times and we may
question why we have to suffer through what we are walking through, but we can
take solace in the fact that others have walked this road before us, and we are
assured by the Lord that we are going in the right direction and no matter what
we may have to persevere through our final destination will be a good one.
So keep walking and
talking with God because when you do you will realize that the next step that
can seem so difficult is possible because He is with you and He will give you
strength.
This morning’s meditation
verse is:
1 John 5:12
(NKJV)
12 He who has the Son has life; he
who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Today’s verse is
a stark reminder that Jesus is the only truth, the only way, and the only
life.
While I may
tend to speak about God in general terms or encourage people to walk on a spiritual
path at times, I always try to make it clear that it is only through faith in
Jesus Christ that we can have a harmonious relationship with God and experience
a new and everlasting life in His presence.
The Apostle John
doesn’t mince words here. If you have
the Son, you have life. If you don’t have the Son, you don’t have life. This is a simple yet difficult truth that is
being laid down here.
Anyone
professing to be a good person or to know God but who can not claim that Jesus
Christ, the Son, is their Lord and Savior is spiritually dead and when their
lives end they will be separated from the kingdom of God and face judgement for
their sins.
While our
eternal destiny is of the utmost importance, life here on earth without the Son
is death too. No matter how nice or how spiritual
you try to be, without faith in Jesus Christ, you have been deceived and everything
you do will be ultimately deemed as a waste of your efforts and of your life
itself.
Faith in Christ,
aka Christianity, is the only way to find harmony with God that is not contingent
on our efforts. All other philosophies
or religions are spiritually blind to the fact that we could never live a life
that is righteous enough to meet God’s standard for holiness.
For fallen man,
living a perfect life of righteousness was impossible. That’s why God sent Christ
to earth. Because Christ is fully man
and fully God, he was not only able to live a sinless life but because of His
infinite nature, He was able to pay, for not just one man’s sins but, for all of
mankind’s sin, and His righteousness was not only imputed to just one man but
to all, making it possible for anyone who puts their faith in Christ to be
justified.
Other religions
and philosophies have their followers trying to make themselves right with God,
or to obtain some perfect state, through their own efforts which is a task that
is not only prideful but impossible.
So encourage
those on the road to perdition, that Christ made a way where there was no way. They can stop trying. They can stop working. Christ did all the work for us. We simply must believe and put our faith in
Him.
I invite all to mt4christ.org where I always share
insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters
in Christ with their walk.
Today in recognition of mental health awareness month we will begin to
share from Dr. June Hunt’s “Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless “.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes
and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and
to support her work. If you need this title you can find it online at several
sites for less than $5.00:
Introduction
“I just want to die. …”
This aching admission has been spoken too many times—and with tragic
results. These five words reveal a soul mired in the depths of despair. All
hope is gone … and all too soon, so is life itself.
No group is exempt from wanting to walk down this dark path of “escape.”
Male and female … young and old … rich and poor—all are found among these
fatal statistics. Yet most people contemplating suicide don’t really want to
die—they just want the pain to stop. Their burden seems too heavy to
bear.
If you’re struggling … if you’re desperate … if you’re contemplating
taking your life, realize this: The Lord longs to heal your heart and restore
your hope. In absolute honesty, go to God about your pain. Say to Him …
“I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God,
protect me.” (Psalm
69:29)
I. Definitions
Does life seem impossible? For over a million people each year who die of
suicide, the answer is yes! And that figure is more than all the
casualties of homicide and war combined!
Think about this statistic—seriously: On average, one person dies by suicide
every 40 seconds somewhere in the world, while up to 20 others are attempting
the same act. That’s an extraordinary number of people desperately choosing
death!
Have your desires been dashed by the pain of depression and despair? Have
your hopes been smashed by hurt and heartache? Have you searched without
success for a lasting solution?
Honestly, are you struggling with thoughts of suicide? Have you begun to
believe the lie that self-inflicted death would be better than God-given life?
Realize, the Lord looks upon you with tender compassion and genuine concern.
He cares about your every need. You can learn how to experience the meaningful
life He has planned for you. He has a perfect plan for you … a plan to free
you from the shackles of suicidal thinking … a plan based on truth, not on
lies. Jesus desires to free you from destructive thoughts and choices. He said …
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free.” (John 8:32)
A. What Are Different Types of Suicide?
Just to hear the word suicide evokes a myriad of feelings ranging
from shock and sadness to guilt and grief. The initial response after suicide
is often: Oh no! Why would anyone resort to such an irreversible act?
We feel a sense of tragic loss when we discover that suicide has snuffed out
one more life … forever. To help someone fight the persistent desire to “end
it all” (a desire called suicidal ideation), there is much we need to
understand about suicide. Since God is our Creator, we need to know God’s heart
on life and death—and that means our own life and death. Throughout the
Bible, life and death are presented in different contexts … but never does
God say we are to pursue death. …
“I have set before you life and death … . Now choose
life, so that you and your children may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
The 5 Sides of Suicide
• Suffering
Suicide
— Suffering suicide is a deliberate act of
killing oneself while in an extreme state of despair. (In Latin, sui
means oneself and cide means to kill.)
— Suicidal sufferers are afflicted with “tunnel
vision”—the only option they see is death. They cannot see any hope that their
painful life will be any different in the future.
Biblical Example: Judas hanged himself in remorse after betraying
Jesus.
“When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was
condemned, he was seized with remorse …. Then he went away and hanged himself
” (Matthew 27:3, 5).
• Supported
Suicide
— Supported suicide (also called “assisted
suicide”) is a deliberate choice of killing oneself with the assistance of
another person.
— Supported suicide (sometimes referred to by
terms like “euthanasia” or “mercy killing”) is an attempt to avoid a painful or
undesirable future.
Biblical Example: The evil king Abimelech asked his soldier to kill
him with a sword in order to avoid the humiliation of military defeat. This
hurried request to his armor-bearer was for “assisted suicide.”
“Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say,
‘A woman killed him.’ So his servant ran him through, and he died” (Judges 9:54).
• Symbolic
Suicide
— Symbolic suicide is a deliberate act of
killing oneself while being influenced by a ritualistic custom or a sense of
honor due to an excessive identification with a certain person, family, or
nation.
— Symbolic suicide is found in different
cultures and enacted in different ways. Types of symbolic suicide include
hara-kiri, suttee, and copycat suicides.
Historical Examples:
- Hara-kiri(hara
means belly and kiri means cutting) is the Japanese ritual of
“honorable suicide” by ripping open the abdomen with a knife (disembowelment)
in response to bringing dishonor on one’s family. - Suttee
(also Sati) is the Hindu custom of a widow cremating herself on her
husband’s funeral pyre to demonstrate her ultimate act of fidelity. This
practice can be either voluntary or compulsory, depending on where the
widow lives. Today in India, suttee is forbidden by law, although some
widows still choose this suicidal act … and still others are pressured
to do so.
Biblical Example: After regaining his supernatural strength,
Samson—one of Israel’s judges— pushed against the temple’s two central pillars
… knowing he would be killed. But he also knew the collapse would kill the
Philistines—the enemy of God and His people.
“Samson reached toward the two central pillars on
which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one
and his left hand on the other, Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’
Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and
all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he
lived” (Judges 16:29–30).
• Shared
Suicide
— Shared suicide is the deliberate act of 2 or
more people who kill themselves based on a prior commitment to do so.
— Suicide pacts are previously arranged deaths
that typically take place at the same time, for the same cause, using the same
method.
Historical Example: In AD 70 after Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the
Temple, the Jews were taken captive and many were dispersed to other nations.
However, around 960 zealots escaped to Masada, a fortress situated on a massive
isolated rock 900 feet high. In AD 73 the Jews of Masada knew their stronghold
could not withstand the overpowering Roman siege. Rather than allow their wives
and children to be tortured, abused, or sold as slaves, they chose to die of
mass suicide. Knowing that these Jewish zealots were well acquainted with the
Psalms, no doubt they could identify with these words. …
“The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the
grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow” (Psalm 116:3).
• Slaughter
Suicide
— Slaughter suicide is the deliberate act of
killing one or more people while committing suicide simultaneously or
immediately following the act of murder.
— Slaughter suicide is called “homicidal
suicide,” which includes killings committed by groups such as kamikaze pilots and
suicide bombers.
Historical Examples:
- Jihad
suicide bombers seek to fulfill the Islamic directive in the Qur’an
against all non-Islamic people: “Fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye
find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in
every stratagem (of war) … Fight those who believe not in Allah.” (Surah
9:5, 29) Those who
die as jihadists are “guaranteed” their place in paradise (along with 70
of their relatives), bypassing the normally required time in hell, and
they are given 72 virgins to enjoy. - Kamikaze
(“divine wind”) pilots in Japan carried out their suicide missions
during World War II by flying their war planes into enemy targets such as
ships and ammunition depots. These pilots believed they were guaranteed a
place with their ancestors and believed their highest service was to die
for the Emperor who was regarded as God. (In 1945, following the Japanese
defeat, the Emperor pronounced on radio, “I am no longer to be considered
a deity.”)
Cultural Example: On Tuesday April 20, 1999—in celebration of
Hitler’s birthday—two sadistic high school students in long, black trench coats
killed 13 people at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. After the
hate-filled massacre—especially targeting Christians—they both committed
suicide. Known as cruel bullies, these two killers lived out this Scripture.
…
“Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to
kill the upright” (Proverbs 29:10).
Bully-cide
Question:
“What is ‘bully-cide’?”
Answer: Bully-cide refers to a person who dies of suicide
because of the torment, fear, and humiliation associated with being bullied.
Immature children are notorious for picking on one another. However, today’s
bullies are far more cruel than in previous generations because, in addition to
bullying their victims at school and in other social settings, home provides no
haven of refuge for those being bullied. These bullies use their cell phones
and computers to attack their human targets at all hours of the day and night.
It’s virtually impossible for victims to find a sense of safety anywhere unless
they isolate themselves and abandon the use of phones and computers. With no
reprieve from the constant barrage of bullying, these victims feel so belittled
and besieged that eventually they …
- Lose their
ability to function normally - Experience
mental and emotional symptoms similar to those who are being terrorized - Suffer
plummeted self-worth and impaired resilience - Endure
such degradation and scorn that some believe suicide is their only viable
option - Could opt
for killing their bullies rather than themselves—or even both
Unless some observant, wise person recognizes their symptoms and intervenes
in their lives in a powerful, caring way, there is little hope for these
strugglers. Parents, educators, and coaches need to take action on behalf of
those being bullied. This biblical passage could not be more relevant. …
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those
staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does
not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know
it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?” (Proverbs 24:11–12)
Suicide Prevention: Hope When Life Seems Hopeless.
—————————-more
tomorrow————————-
God bless
you all!
Join our
Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class via the mt4christ247 podcast!
at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D
Email me
at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your
progress, and to be encouraged.
Encouragement for the Path of Christian
Discipleship
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