Time Out – Refuge, Rest, and The Rock – Purity 1440
Purity 1440 08/31/2024 Purity 1440 Audio Podcast
Purity 1440 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of Freedom Road under clear blue skies comesto us from yours truly as I captured this 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 TammyLyn. 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 TammyLyn to give her the option of telling her sick and tired husband to go south. Thankfully TammyLyn is a kind and compassionate caregiver and she insisted that I come up so we could be together and she could care for me. Last night she anointed me with various essential oils, and I got some extra rest, and so far this morning I feel much better than yesterday, perhaps proving that I physically needed with my wife.
I recently completed all the courses of Bob Larson University, which teaches about spiritual warfare, exorcism, demonology, and deliverance, In his book, Jezebel -Your’e #1 Spiritual Enemy, Larson attests to the need for those involved with combatting the spiritual forces of darkness to take a time out every once in a while. Larson writes:
“If I expected to be able to help others and go back into such intense battles, I needed my time out.
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 minster of deliverance who reads this, and who with any regularity faces down Jezebel and Co., find your place of time-out before you burn out.[1]”
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 equipping myself to fight the enemy like never before. Based on how I feel this morning after an evening in TammyLyn’s presence, I think I like Larson find my refuge in my wife and she provides just what I need to take a time out: kindness, gentleness, and love. 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 InTouch Devotional with Dr. Charles Stanley talks about where we can find stability in troubling times so I am sharing it on the blog today. Dr. Charles Stanley writes:
“…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 unshakeable foundation, of course, is Almighty God. We can trust that Scripture is His unchanging, relevant truth for all time (Matthew 24:35). 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 (Revelation 21:2-4). 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.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/ .
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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 verse comes from the section on the Forgiveness of Sins (God’s Forgiveness).
Hebrews 10:10 (NKJV)
10 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 fifteenth point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on the Forgiveness of Sins (God’s Forgiveness).
16. 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, and He is holy.
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.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com 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 “According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament” By Stephen F. Olford – A Collection of Devotional Journals: 1940-1941.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Olford’s books for your own private study and to support his work. This resource is available online for less than $10 at many sites.
MORNING READING: 2 TIMOTHY 3
“Out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
– 2 Timothy 3:11
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 weaknesses, because in them he proved the power and grace of the Lord. “When I am weak,” he could say, “then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).
O, 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.
Give me the faith to prove the truth of this verse, O Lord.
Amen.[2]
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“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
[1] Bob Larson, Jezebel: Defeating Your #1 Spiritual Enemy (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image, 2015).
[2] Stephen Olford and Heather Olford, According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament, A Collection of Devotional Journals 1940-1941 (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008).
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