Marching for Freedom, Walking in the Spirit– Purity 1086
Purity 1086 07/05/2023 Purity 1086 Podcast
Purity 1086 on YouTube: Coming Soon!
Good morning,
Today’s photo of the peak of the roof of my
countryside home over a stand of roadside flowers and underneath a cumulus
cloud filled, clear blue sky comes to us from yours truly as I captured this
scene on my way back to “home sweet home” while out walking the dog yesterday
afternoon.
Well, it’s Wednesday – or this week’s second Monday
for those of us who enjoyed a day off for the July 4th holiday- and
I chose today’s photo because of those flowers, that sky and I figured that the
peak of the roof of our place in the country was enough to visually represent
“hump day”.
Yesterday, was our nation’s Inpedendence Day and I
was honored to celebrate my freedom as an American by marching in a parade as a
volunteer for Operation Adopt a Soldier, carrying the flag for the Untied
States Navy, the branch of the military that my father served in as a medic on
the USS Sanctuary during the Viet Nam war.
So while I may not be as hyper patriotic as some, I am proud to be an
American, love the freedom we enjoy as its citizens, and respect and appreciate
the heroes that have served and died in its service. So marching in a parade to
celebrate our country and to honor our servicemen seemed like a small cost to
pay and an appropriate way to express my love, gratitude, and appreciation for
America.
Although yesterday started off with rain and
overcast skies, my prayers for “no rain during the parade” were answered and
the sun came out in force as it was a hot one yesterday. But we got it done and
I am happy to have done something to honor our country and military on the 4th
of July.
For many the 4th is a day to feed the
flesh. While marching in the parade, I saw one man wearing a red, white, and
blue t-shirt with “BEER, BBQ, and FREEDOM” that demonstrated this fact. BBQ’s are an Independence day tradition and
while I have the penchant to rage against the machine of tradition in general,
I may have been influenced by the holiday spirit because I had a craving for
“burgers” and gave into it by stopping at the grocery store to get the fixings
for a 4th of July feast. It was the 4th after all so I
enjoyed some cheeseburgers and hot Italian sausage on lettuce, and a red,
white, and blue dessert of blueberries, strawberries, and whipped cream! I indulged but kept it relatively low carb,
and did go on a couple walks with the dog and marched in a parade so I don’t
feel like I went too far astray from my health goals.
Before the feast, upon arriving home, I felt the
obligation to take my canine pal, Harley, for a walk – to march in a parade of
two with him, and even though I was free to say no, sometimes we choose to
surrender our “rights” to serve others, even canines, and I’m glad I did.
While I freely chose to march in the 4th
of July Parade, you can easily slip into a negative attitude toward the things
in life that you commit yourself to and lament over the “things I have to do
now”. Our selfish wills (or the unseen
spiritual forces of darkness) can easily take our decision to do something good
and try to use it against us by complaining of a loss of our personal freedom
to “do nothing” or “do what I want to do with my day off”. So there can be some resistance before we do
good things, which we should just push on through by doing “what is right”, but
that selfish attitude (or those demons) can be just as busy at trying to steal
our peace or joy on the other side of the good works we do.
After “doing what we had to do”, our selfish wills (
or the enemy), can seek to siege control of the rest of our day and the flesh
can take over causing over indulgence and possibly cause offense in our
relationships as we “want to be left alone!”
So when I got back to countryside, I could have scolded the enthusiastic
canine and told him to leave alone as I wanted to rest, but luckily I have been
walking in the Spirit long enough to freely choose to do “what is right” in
serving others, even doggies. So
although I had just returned from marching in a parade, I took the dog for a
walk, and despite the afternoon heat I was glad I did it because little did I
know it at the time but “joy” was waiting for me just down the road a
piece.
After I surrendered to taking the dog for a walk in
the afternoon heat, I realized just how absolutely gorgeous the day was and how
truly blessed I am to have a home that is surrounded by the natural beauty of
God’s creation on every side. So as I
walked, I let the dog off his leash – I have “trained” Harley to walk freely
ahead of me as I walk along Waite Rd and he has been good not to go rogue and
is obedient to “come” and “stay” and to be put back on his leash when
commanded. As Harley and I walked down
the shady side of Waite I was overcome by the simple beauty of our country
road, the surrounding forest, and the brilliant blue sky and shining sun above
us. I just marveled over the beauty around me and reflected on my journey of
life that brought me to that place and rejoiced. I was happy to be where I was and amazed by
the goodness of God to guide me to such a time as this.
In thinking about these things this morning, I can
see the practices of the Christian disciple at work: service, taking thoughts
captive, appreciation, gratitude, contentment, prayer, and self-control (to
some extent) are all in the mix here as
part of my daily “walking in the Spirit”. When we walk in the Spirit it’s not
surprising to experience the fruit of peace and joy along the pathway of
Christian discipleship. So let’s be mindful today as we go back to work to
remember who we are in Christ and to keep walking and talking with God.
——————————————————————————————–
For
those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide,
I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/ .
Today’s
Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By
John G. Kruis.
(
While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick
google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late
author’s work. (https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Scripture-Reference-Counseling-Kruis-ebook/dp/B00CIUJZT2?ref_=ast_author_dp )
This
morning’s meditation verses come from the section on Adultery:
Proverbs 7:1-27 (ESV)
1 My son, keep my words and
treasure up my commandments with you;
2 keep my commandments and
live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
3 bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my
sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from the
forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
6 For at the window of my
house I have looked out through my lattice,
7 and I have seen among the
simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,
8 passing along the street
near her corner, taking the road to her house
9 in the twilight, in the
evening, at the time of night and darkness.
10 And behold, the woman
meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
11 She is loud and wayward;
her feet do not stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in
the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.
13 She seizes him and kisses
him, and with bold face she says to him,
14 “I had to offer
sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;
15 so now I have come out to
meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch
with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen;
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill
of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at
home; he has gone on a long journey;
20 he took a bag of money
with him; at full moon he will come home.”
21 With much seductive speech
she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
22 All at once he follows
her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast
23 till an arrow pierces its
liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him
his life.
24 And now, O sons, listen to
me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not your heart turn
aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths,
26 for many a victim has she
laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is the way to
Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
Today’s verses fall under
the 6th point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section
on adultery, 6. “The adulteress’s snare leads to misery.”
Who knew that Proverbs was
filled with warnings against the sexual immortality of adultery! Well, anyone who studies them I guess! And
that is why we need to read the word of God – to know what’s right and to
receive the wisdom of God that is contrary to the world’s wisdom.
In the world, there is an
attitude that you should take what you want to please you and to “live it up”
as long as you don’t “hurt people” or “get caught!”
But the word of God tells
us different. God warns us of the temptations out there and commands us to
steer clear of the evil that looks so desirable. The end of those who fall into adultery and
sexual immorality is death – Sheol is hell.
So we pursue to please God even with our sex lives by avoiding the
“easy” man or woman that would invite us to sin.
———————————————————————-
As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I
always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to
assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from The Holy Spirit By A.W. Pink.
As always, I share this information for educational
purposes and encourage you all to purchase A.W. Pink’s books for your own
private study and to support his work. This resource is available online
for $0.99 (https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Spirit-Arthur-Pink-Collection-ebook/dp/B008CM5292/ref=sr_1_3?crid=AHKAQOM39CTN&keywords=a.w.+pink+the+holy+spirit&qid=1684376225&sprefix=a.w.+pink+the+holy+spirit+%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-3)
A.W. Pink’s The Holy Spirit
12 – The Spirit Enlightening
Inward
Darkness: Active Opposition to God
This inward darkness which fills the soul of
the natural man is something far more dreadful than a mere intellectual ignorance
of spiritual things. Ignorance is a negative thing, but this spiritual
“darkness” is a positive thing—an energetic principle which is opposed to God.
The “darkness” which rests upon the human soul gives the heart a bias toward
evil, prejudicing it against holiness, fettering the will so that it never
moves God-wards. Hence we read of “the
power of darkness” (Col. 1:13): so great is its power that all under it love darkness “rather than light” (John
3:19). Why is it that men have little difficulty in learning a business and are
quick to discover how to make money and gratify their lusts, but are stupid and
unteachable in the things of God? Why is it that men are so prone and ready to
believe religious lies, and so averse to the Truth? None but the Spirit can
deliver from this terrible darkness. Unless the Sun of righteousness arises
upon us (Mal. 4:2), we are shut up in “the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude
13).
Because of the
darkness which rests upon and reigns within his entire soul, the natural man
can neither know, admire, love, adore, or serve the true God in a spiritual
way. How can God appear infinitely lovely to one whose every bias of his heart
prompts unto hatred of the Divine perfections? How can a corrupt soul be
charmed with a Character which is the absolute opposite of its own? What
fellowship can there be between darkness and Light; what concord can there be
between sin and Holiness; what agreement between a carnal mind and Him against
whom it is enmity? False notions of
God may charm even an unregenerate heart, but none save a Divinely-quickened
soul can spiritually know and love God. The true God can never appear as an
infinitely amiable and lovely Being to one who is dead in trespasses and sins
and completely under the dominion of the Devil.[1]
—————————more
tomorrow————————
Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage
Breaker”, “Freedom in Christ” series of Discipleship Classes 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). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available
on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and
Audible.com.
These teachings are also available on the
MT4Christ247 You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MT4Christ247
Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and
to be encouraged.
My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian
encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ), her
Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on
Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)
For those who require the assistance of a Deeper
Walk International Prayer Minister to experience healing or your freedom in
Christ, I highly recommend Christy Edge’s Life on the Edge Freedom Prayer
Ministry. You can schedule a session by going to : https://cedge216.wixsite.com/life-on-the-edge
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this
publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to
reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries,
or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication,
and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the
author may represent.”
Encouragement
for the Path of Christian Discipleship
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