B2B Concert of Prayer – Lukewarm #726

Posted on January 17, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 726

“Lukewarm”

Rev 3:14-22 (NIV) “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. … Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on is throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

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An allegorical story is told of a man who had half of his body in a heated oven and the other half in a freezer compartment. When asked how he was feeling, the man stated just before he died: ‘On average, I’m OK’. Silly as it is, this story illustrates the point that being average is not necessarily an indicator of goodness.

Being lukewarm, neither hot nor cold is also not necessarily a good thing as is evident from our reference Scripture. When we come to believe that being a Christian means that ‘I’m no worse than the other guy’ we have become lukewarm in our relationship with Jesus. When we believe that the ‘good things we do offset our occasional ‘bad’ things so that ‘on average, we’re OK’ then we are about to be spit out of the mouth of the Lord.

Jesus wants no-compromise, fully obedient, fully committed, passionate disciples. Jesus does not want average Christians measured against the corrupt moral standards of society. Jesus wants Christians who earnestly seek to measure up to His standard, the standard of the Word of God.

One stumbling block that tends to average out our fervor for the Lord is that of material wealth.

The Laodiceans were a prosperous people with fertile land and good grazing ground for their sheep whose raven-black wool was famous. Because of their prosperity Laodicea became the center for the region’s financial operations and banking. And also because of their prosperity the people became lukewarm in their faith. They began to trust in their possessions and material comfort and over time withdrew from God, foolishly believing that they had no need of Him. Sound familiar?

What temperature would the Lord say you are: hot, cold, or lukewarm?

Are you content with being an average Christian?

Were you closer to the Lord during a time of your life when you had less material possessions?

Pause and reflect on the words of the Lord to the church in Laodicea. Open the door to His knocking and renew the passion of your faith and relationship with Jesus.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Steadfast Love #725

Posted on January 9, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 725

“Steadfast Love”

Hosea 10:12 (ESV)     Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies…
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The word ‘love’ is extremely diluted in its meaning in our society today. We love everything from hamburgers to cars and various sports. Somewhere in that grouping we also love our spouse, children, and yes, of course our Lord.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. – 1 John 2:15

Genuine love is found only in the steadfast love of God. This character of God’s mercy and loving-kindness should also be evident in the life of Christians who are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you…know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:17

Steadfast love is constant and dependable. It does not waver with circumstances. It remains even when it is not returned in like kind. Steadfast love does not depend upon material wealth or poverty, sickness or heath, difficult trials or easy times.

You say you are a born-again Christian, then how can you ‘fall out of love’ with your spouse? If the fullness of God dwells in your heart then how can you give up on your marriage covenant? Where is steadfastness in quitting?

Note from our reference Scripture that we reap steadfast love from sowing righteousness. God rains righteousness upon us when we seek Him and His righteousness first in our life.

…be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith… – Phil 3:9

The problem for many believers has to do with their fallow ground. Fallow ground is unplowed, unused, and unproductive land. We can correlate it to our use of the fixed amount of time we have here on earth. Are you making good use of your ‘fallow ground’ – your time, for God’s purpose and plan for you? Have you let your fallow ground get hard, full of rocks, weeds, and junk from this world? Through willful sin, are you sowing the seeds of iniquity which will only give you a harvest of injustice. Have you become accustomed to eating the fruit of lies that the enemy has sown as counterfeit righteousness?

God’s call to you today is to break up your fallow ground. Break up the hardness of your heart toward your spouse, family members, or other relationships in need of mercy. Remove the junk and debris – the trappings of this world that you have placed first ahead of your relationship with God. Remove the idols in your life that render your time unproductive for God such as an unhealthy preoccupation with satisfying the desires of the flesh with food, stimulants, and material possessions.

Make your priority to sow the seeds of God’s righteousness and you will reap steadfast love. Then you and others will enjoy God’s presence and the active fruit of the Spirit in your life.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Non-Negotiable #724

Posted on January 3, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 724

“Non-Negotiable ”

Romans 14:10 (ESV) … we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
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The old saying goes that God made men, but Sam Colt made them equal. Horace Mann stated that “Education … is the great equalizer of the conditions of men…” The truth of the matter is found in the infallible Word of God:

The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all. – Prov 22:2

…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment… – Hebrews 9:27

The great equalizer of all mankind is that we are created by God and that these bodies we are given will die and we will all bow before Him. We all pass this way only once and we will all acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. This is the inevitable fact of life. It is non-negotiable. It is not open for debate. There are no loopholes to be found in the truth of God’s Word. We have a saying, ‘My way or the highway’. God would say to us, ‘My way IS the highway’. In fact God says His way is the ONLY way.

Why then do we act and behave as if this life will never end? Why do we choose to burn time away selfishly seeking to satisfy the lusts and desires of our flesh without giving our Father God a second thought? Why do we spend our energy and time chasing after a counterfeit ‘good life’ and never being able to have rest, contentment, and peace in the abiding presence of our Lord? The wisest man that ever lived called it ‘a chasing after the wind’.

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 1:14

God did not give us life for the sole purpose of entering a competitive rat race to see how much we can accumulate and consume during the finite time we have here on earth. Our natural flesh will never be content and always want more. We become a slave to its passions when we make our priority the things of this world. God wants our priority in this life to be to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Our first priority must be a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ who has reconciled us to a Holy God by His death and resurrection. This is non-negotiable.

Time is a gift from God. We are all given a finite amount of it determined by God. This too is non-negotiable. How are you investing it? Is the majority of your time being wasted in pursuit of fleeting selfish pleasures? Or is your time wisely invested for eternal dividends by seeking God first and serving Him in the here and now?

When you go to work, take Him with you. Serve your customers (even the difficult ones) with love in His Name and for His glory. Serve your coworkers and those whom you supervise in the same manner. See all people through His eyes of love. Act selflessly and not selfishly toward your spouse, family, coworkers, even strangers.

This is impossible for the natural man to do with any consistency. However, through the abiding presence of God’s Holy Spirit, this can be your identifying character. May you heed the non-negotiable truth of God’s Word and invest your life today with eternity in mind.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Not Your Fathers Oldsmobile #723

Posted on December 26, 2010 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 723

“Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile”

1 Samuel 17:32-45 …Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around …. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul … So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine … in the name of the LORD…

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In 1988 General Motors had a marketing campaign that attempted to rebrand its Oldsmobile product line from that of a ‘respectable’ car to one that was ‘cool’ in its appeal to younger buyers. They claimed that this ‘Was not your father’s Oldsmobile’. The idea was that this car was uniquely and personally yours in its appeal and styling.

It can also be stated that when it comes to our relationship with Jesus Christ that what is needed is ‘Not your father’s relationship’, nor your mother’s relationship or your Pastor’s, your friend’s or anyone else’s for that matter. The relationship that is needed with Jesus Christ is uniquely and personally yours. Just like David could not go out and do battle with Goliath wearing Saul’s armor, neither can you do spiritual battle with someone else’s armor or faith. Likewise, someone else’s faith in Christ cannot be your basis for salvation and eternal life.

Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. – Isaiah 36:6

Many people, when discussing their faith, talk about the religion or denomination that their parents belonged to. Some claim not to have any faith because their parents did not. For others, their entire faith relationship resides in their membership in a particular church denomination. It is time to shed our victim mentality (It is my Parents’ fault) and the false security of religiosity crutches and stand on our own two feet and make the decision for ourselves concerning our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

… For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. – Romans 14:10

The truth of God’s Word is that every knee will bow before God and give an account. At that time we can look around for Parents, Popes, or Pastors to speak on our behalf and they will not be found. Only Jesus Christ, our advocate, will be able to stand up for us and say to His Father, ‘I know him and he knows Me. I died for him and paid the price for his sin’.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

If you do not have the blessed assurance of eternal life, ask God to reveal Himself to you by His Holy Spirit and to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. Make your relationship with Jesus uniquely and personally yours.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you … For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.- Matthew 7:7 & – Luke 19:10

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Light in the Shadow #722

Posted on December 20, 2010 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 722

“Light in the Shadow”

Psalm 36:7 (ESV) How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings … in your light do we see light.

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For many people the Christmas Season is a sad time. The month of December has the distinction of being the leading month for depression issues and our current national economic crisis has only exacerbated the issue. A recent USA Today article states of the US Postal Service that “Santa Claus and his elves are seeing more heartbreaking letters this year as children cite their parents’ economic troubles in their wish lists.”

Perhaps your circumstances have changed for the worse this past year through the loss of a loved one or perhaps through the loss of a job or foreclosure on your home. While everyone is singing “Joy to the World”, you feel like you are under a shadow of gloom and as a child of God, you wonder why He is treating you so poorly.

Consider the possibility that the shadow you are under is the Lord’s shadow of protection. It may not feel like it. It may not be comfortable, but it very well may be His providential protection and part of His plan for you.

Joseph was under the Lord’s shadow of protection when he was in the house of his father and he remained under the Lord’s shadow of protection throughout his ordeal in the pit, a slave in Potiphar’s house, unjustly imprisoned in jail, and ultimately second in command in Pharaoh’s service.

…for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. – Psalm 63:7

Paul had some serious ‘shadowy’ moments himself having been beaten, stoned, and imprisoned yet he writes in his letter to the Philippians that he has learned to be content in whatever situation he is in.

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Phil 4:11-13

Like Paul and Joseph, we will have seasons of abundance where all is bright and sunny. We will also have shadowy times that seem perilous and gloomy. It is during these times that we need to look for the light of Christ in the shadow. This is a time to trust in His Word for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

This Christmas season reflect on the prophecy of Jesus’ birth from Isaiah 7:14 that His name shall be Immanuel, which means God with us. No matter your circumstance – no matter the shadow that surrounds you, Immanuel, God is with you.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:1

Even in the shadow, His light guides and provides. Merry Christmas.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Fueling Hope #721

Posted on December 12, 2010 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 721

“Fueling Hope”

Psa 33:13 – 22 (NIV)    From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches  all who live on earth … the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,  to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

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‘This is hopeless!’ He exclaimed after receiving another job application rejection letter. ‘Again they say that I am over qualified. Who will hire someone at my age in this economy?’

Across town an employed salesperson complains about yet another rejection. ‘No one is upgrading or investing in this economy. How am I going to earn enough commission to pay the bills? There is no hope in keeping our house out of foreclosure.’

Next door a husband and wife stressed by two full-time jobs loudly argue about how their money is to be spent and how the care for their children and household chores are to be done. Intimacy and love has grown cold and they both secretly wonder if there is any hope for their marriage.

Our enemy, the Devil, is in the ‘Hope Stealing’ business. If he can convince you that there is no hope for the future, he can immobilize your spiritual growth and hinder your testimony of faith.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1

Faith is fueled by the certainty and conviction of our hope in the Lord. A lack of hope destroys individual lives, marriages, and ministries. Jobs and businesses are lost when people lose hope for the future and cease investing effort. A lack of hope leads to depression. The World Health Organization reports that depression is the strongest risk factor leading to suicide. On average there is one suicide every 16.2 minutes. Teen suicide is at an epidemic rate (11 per day) because of a lack of hope.

…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. – Isa 40:31

We allow Satan to steal our hope when we lose sight of who God is and who we are in Him. God wants our hope to be placed in His unfailing love. We allow our hope to be stolen when we vainly place our hope in ourselves and our abilities. We fancy ourselves as ‘survivors’ able to make it through any trial on our own wits, abilities, and strength. Others foolishly place their hope in bank accounts, their employer, spouse, parent, or a friend. Misplaced hope is easily stolen bringing us to the brink of destruction.

Fuel your faith by solidly establishing your hope through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. May His light burn brightly in your life, no matter your circumstances, so that He may light the path for others in need of Him through your lifestyle example of faith.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Rom 15:13

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Trust but Verify #720

Posted on December 6, 2010 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 720

“Trust but Verify”

Matthew 21:28 (ESV) A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.

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The late US President Ronald Reagan used the signature phrase ‘Trust but verify’ often in his negotiations with the then Soviet Union. There is wisdom in that phrase. All too often we trust people and take them at their word only to find out later that we were betrayed. This is particularly bothersome when the reputation for not being trustworthy is true of those professing to be Christians.

Many people claim to be loyal, but it is hard to find a trustworthy person. – Proverbs 20:6

Trust relationships are fragile and easily broken. Once broken, they are very difficult to repair and rebuild. A truly trustworthy person would not take offense to a request to verify. When offense is taken it is usually because there is something to hide.

Verification is accountability – to your parents, spouse, Pastor, or your employer. A trustworthy person does not fear accountability.

…the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. – Dan 6:4

Trustworthy people say what they mean and mean what they say. You can count on a trustworthy person to do the work asked of them and that they will do it to the best of their ability as unto the Lord. A trustworthy person puts in an honest day’s work without theft of time or materials.

If you travel on business will your itinerary and expense accounting pass the scrutiny of your employer and your spouse?

Will your teenager’s cell phone and personal computer stand up to verification for purity and integrity of character? Will yours?

We all struggle to continually walk the fine line of integrity and trustworthiness. An honest man may steal food in order to feed his starving family. A desperate salesperson may stretch the truth in order to make a sale and earn commission. Economic and social environmental pressures can sometimes cause a breakdown between what we value and how we actually behave.

If you have been betrayed forgive the other party and do not let a root of bitterness take hold. Extend to them grace and mercy. Pray that you may be purged of all that would render you unworthy of the trust of others. Seek the power from God’s Holy Spirit to stay the course and walk the walk of integrity before God and all men.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Common Denominator #719

Posted on November 28, 2010 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 719

“Common Denominator”

James 3:13-4:3 (ESV) … where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice… What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have… You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel…

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Is your world marked by strife? Do you dread going to your place of work because it is a hostile environment full of tension between people? Or perhaps the opposite is true and you prefer the work environment to the strife that awaits you in your home with your spouse, parent, or teenage son or daughter.

“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. – Matt 12:25

‘Divide and Conquer’ is an age old military tactic that has remained highly effective over the centuries. Dysfunction and disunity within a corporate body, whether it is a church, family, military unit, or business entity becomes a dividing force that destroys it from within. Denominators are dividers and God’s Word tells us that there is a common denominator or dividing force behind the strife we experience. This common dividing force is our worldly passions of jealousy and selfish ambition.

The enemy of your soul cannot steal your salvation but he can disrupt your peace. Through your response to strife, he can hinder your spouse, children, acquaintances, and friends from having a personal relationship with Jesus by disrupting your testimony of faith.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Phil 2:3

First, as Christians we must not be the source of strife. Jesus taught us that no servant is greater than his master and the character of Jesus, our Master, was that He counted others more significant than Himself and looked not to His own interest. He demonstrated this by washing the feet of the disciples, even the feet of His betrayer. His ultimate demonstration was by His death on the cross to pay the price for all our sins and make a way for us to be reconciled to a Holy God and receive salvation through Him.

Second, as Christians we are to be a multiplying force of God’s presence and peace to counter the divisive effects of the enemy.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. – James 3:17

Note that purity precedes power. Note also that the wisdom of God is that we be impartial. Avoid taking sides in a strife situation. Let the Truth of the Word of God be the objective standard.

May the abiding presence of God through you bring peace and sow the seeds for an abundant harvest of righteousness.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Without Ceasing #718

Posted on November 21, 2010 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 718

“Without Ceasing”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (ESV) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
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In a perfect physical world there would be no friction or resistance. Energy would transfer efficiently without loss. Machines would achieve perpetual motion and operate effortlessly without ceasing. Consider for the moment the spiritual realm. What friction or resistance exists that hinders your ability to ‘rejoice always’ and to ‘pray without ceasing’? The reality of our world environment is that we are subjected to circumstances that hinder our prayer life. Our flesh has its passions, wants, and desires and it resists being denied its appetites.

…I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. – 1 Peter 2:11

When everything is ‘going our way’ and life is good our flesh is satisfied and we easily offer up praise and thanksgiving to God for a blessed life. It is when we are dealing with failing health, a financial crisis, unemployment, or being underemployed that the sacrifice of praise is required. When the friction of circumstances bears down on our flesh the battle for our peace of mind is waged. We don’t feel like praying let alone praying without ceasing. We don’t want to praise God and our tendency is to complain and gripe.

A biblical symbol for the Holy Spirit is oil and just like oil is used to lubricate and compensate for friction in the physical realm, so too is the oil of the Holy Spirit necessary when the friction of life circumstances wears us down.

…be filled with the Spirit…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… – EPHESIANS 5:18

The Word of God instructs us that our ability to continually give thanks and pray no matter what our circumstances are is predicated on being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. – Romans 8:26

Do you want peace that surpasses all understanding? Do you desire the fullness of joy that comes from being continually in the Lord’s presence? Do you want to live an overcoming life in the power and authority of the Name of Jesus? You can have this and a prayer life that is as continual as your breathing.

First, cleanse your temple through repentance for the sin habit that you know defiles your temple and hinders your communion with God. The Holy Spirit has already whispered what is necessary. You need only obey. Receive the forgiveness that comes by the cross of Jesus Christ and renounce your lifestyle of sin from the past. Second, actively seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Have a prayer discipline that worships God and seeks His presence rather than offering up ‘magic genie give-me’ prayers that are selfishly centered on the desires of your flesh.

May you be filled with the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. May your prayer life be without ceasing as you live and move and have your being in the authority of the Name of Jesus.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Temple Guard #717

Posted on November 14, 2010 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 717

“Temple Guard”

2 Cor 6:16 (ESV) …we are the temple of the living God…

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In a television commercial, Sally Fields intones ‘I’ve got this one body and this one life…’ as she makes the pitch to sell a drug against bone loss. When you stop to think about it, her statement is a profound truth. In this life we have only one frail and perishable body which the Word of God tells us is the temple of His Holy Spirit. So why don’t we guard it and care for it accordingly?

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. – 2 Tm 1:14

As born-again Christians, we are expected to act and behave as ‘temple guards’. We are expected to glorify God in our bodies.

…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. – 1 Cor 6:19

The temple of the Holy Spirit should not spew forth filth. Rather it should be a source of the cleansing, pure, living water of the Word of God. People should be drawn to the presence of God in His temple, not repulsed by an empty whitewashed tomb.

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! – Psa 141:3

The temple of the Holy Spirit should not be defiled with idols and the storage of impure things.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. – Psa 119:9

What we allow ourselves to see, hear, and ingest can be damaging to God’s temple. We need to guard against the feeding of our minds impure images and course talking. This is a challenge when we are immersed in a world environment that is hostile to God. This is why God’s Word exhorts us to daily put on the full armor of God giving us the shield and weapons to fend off the attack against the Temple of God. Unfortunately, too many of us neglect our armor or willfully indulge in entertainment activities that store impurity in our temple mind. Given the right trigger, what is stored within will eventually manifest itself.

There are idols that we worship with our temple bodies: things we turn to first, before turning to God for comfort and peace. Food, nicotine, alcohol, sex, materialism, and slothfulness can all become idols that defile and do irreparable damage to our temple body. Obesity is linked to adult onset diabetes and it has reached epidemic proportions in our society due to our sedentary lifestyle and idol worship of high calorie and high fat ‘comfort’ foods. The damage to our temple bodies from Type 2 Diabetes is totally preventable causing the CDC to consider this a ‘wasteful disease’.

Prayerfully assess your guardianship performance with respect to your physical body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. What is God asking you to change and improve upon? Be obedient to His leading and conviction. Can you enter into a lifestyle fast from all that is damaging to God’s temple? Will you seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness? Do you love Him enough to live a life in obedience to Him?

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. – John 14:15

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God

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