The Weblog of Timothy B. Gowens

Proverbs 21:21

He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.

Have you ever known someone who seemed to have it all? They were honored – Perhaps wealthy – from all appearances they seem clean and fresh – content with their life and those who are in it.

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I think that if we were honest, this is exactly what most of us want. We want to be clean – honored – blessed with family that is the same – financially free – and truly able to do whatever we want when we want to do it.

I know that I want to have a life like this. BUT… Although God does desire blessings on our lifes, and He does raise up those who are really blessed and honorable, He never does so APART from trials and struggles and strong temptations – FIRST! This is just His way! He is more interested in how we respond in spiritual maturity – rather than our ease in life’s circumstances.

BUT SO FEW FIND:

RIGHTEOUSNESS – LIFE – HONOR – PEACE – JOY – CLEANLINESS FROM SINS EFFECTS – FRESH LIKE MINDED CHRIST CENTERED THOUGHTS –

BECAUSE – we don’t pursue them. Most Christians are:

1. Weighted down with sin and fear that is hard to carry and bear. They developed besetting sins when they were young and now they are hard to let go of. Fear Grips most of us because we have not learned to trust. (Ps. 84:11-12)

2. They do not know what they believe and cannot even support what they think they believe – because they do NOT STUDY GOD’S WORD

3. They are mostly like the world because they associate and feel more comfortable with the unsaved and unsantified. ( Perhaps they aren’t really saved anyway – Thank you “Seeker Friendly Movement” )

4. They do – what fullfills the flesh. They seek Pleasure and fullfillment more than they do the things of God as revealed in His word.

SO… Pretty heavy hugh? I am sorry if I come across frustrated or harsh. I have the gift of prophecy and so some may take offense to my forth-right-ness. But God has provided us a way to find the things we all want. It is simple and straightforward. If we – As Children of God – have come to Christ as prescribed in the Word of God, then we are to pursue:

1. Righteousness. This is whatever is apart from Sin. Things that are RIGHT and HONOR God. We are to shun anything that does not fit into this. The Spirit of God will show you if you are His son.

2. Mercy. Mercy from God for your sin. Do not allow sin to reign in your thoughts – actions – attitude – belief. FIGHT THEM and be quick to ask for the Mercy of God when you fail – because you will. Get back up. The wise man fall down but gets right back up again – because of the Mercy of God. It is yours in Christ.

WHAT will you FIND then if you pursue Right things.

1. The verse does not speak of this – but you will find persucutions, but rejoice! Your reward in heaven is great. (Matt. 5:10)

2. Life – Jesus came that you may have life and have it more abundantly! Abundantly found in Him alone. By the way… I am not speaking about things or money although they in them selves are not evil or wrong. I am talking about LIFE in Christ and Christ alone.

3. You will find Righteousness and all the things that come with it. Cleanliness of conscience. Free to enjoy God. Sin is no longer a dominating quality in your life because of what you NOW pursue. Being clean feel great. Being Right with God is a blessed feeling. When you sin, you are really saying to God that I will do as I want – and I will find fullfillment APART from obedience and righteousness. Come on… Really… Do we ever find that? Just be clean and walk in the righteouness of God, washing your mind with the Words of God every day, and the Peace that is only found in being obedient to Scripture. (Rom.12:1-2)

4. Honor. Humble yourself and God will exalt you in His time and in accordance to His purpose. But he rarely does so because HE DOES NOT SHARE HIS GLORY WITH ANYONE OR ANYTHING. How humble are you? When you do get the honor – Do you wear the hat? Be careful… Don’t think you bring anything to it. Real Honor is always attached to the truly humble, because God wants to share with you honor – but He does not want you to build your life on that platform of praise for your good deeds. What happens to you when you are treated like a servant – or persucuted? Do you well up with Pride and say…. “Hey… I am such and such… Do you know who you are speaking to or treating like this? Come on…. I am __________!”

Well, I hope this challenges you. It sure does me.

Tim Gowens

Please Read these passages!

Mark 9:42-48

1 Cor. 15:33

Col. 3:5-11

Starving the flesh of it desire is a basic function of any and all godly Christians. We must starve the flesh of its desire to sin. We walk and exist in this world – encased in fallen flesh and we will until the day we die and our salvation is complete. But until that great day you must put aside the flesh and its desires. Let me give some simple examples:

1. Are you overweight? You must put aside the things that make you overweight. This require action on your part to put off the access to the food that makes you overweight.

2. Lust – Get a brother in Christ to put some computer software that will block any and all access to porn sites. If you are married – ask your wife – for purity sake to put a block that is password protected on the programs that show porn – no matter to what degree it is. All needs to be blocked – giving no opportunity to fulfill the flesh and its desire for Lust. You may need to completely cut out T.V. or movies for a while. q

3. Does a person bring you down? Graciously cut them out of your life.

4. Is there someone at work that tempts you to sin? Find another JOB!

5. Is there a neighbor who tempts you to sin – or have you sinned with a neighbor? MOVE!

In other words… Get serious about submitting to the Lord. Cut out any and all ways that you can be tempted. You take control you the life God has given – in the power of the Spirit within you. Remember – God does not call us to Holiness – and not empower us in the Spirit to be so. We are complete in Him. And remember – the best place for any Believer to live life in in the center of God’s will.

Eph. 1 3-9 (Emphasis mine- Bold equals His work – Italic equals what we receive)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the word, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which HE made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself

These are the things HE has done

1. who has blessed us God has chosen to bless those whom He wanted to – not based on any merit or decision that I make or ever made – but according to the Kind intention of His will. He just wanted to be a blessing to some – those whom He chose.

2. He chose– I did not choose Him – but He chose me. (John 15:16) By the way… I couldn’t have chosen Him, because I was dead in my trespasses and sins. (Eph.2:1) Can a dead man choose anything? Can a spiritually dead person choose God and make himself acceptable to God? NO we cannot. Jesus  did choose us before the foundation of the world. I cannot choose for myself or anyone else that I dearly love.

3. He made us accepted  – Notice what it does not say… We can make ourselves accepted. We cannot make ourselves acceptable before a holy God. Only HE can do this and only according to the kind intention of His will

4. grace which HE made to abound – Can I make God’s grace abound toward me or anyone else that I want this to occur to? NO! Notice it is HE made –  not me and my words or efforts – made. I cannot make anything happen in someone else’s life. I can only be obedient and let God (if He wills it so) do His work through me.

5. His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself  It is only the Good pleasure of His perfect will that bring spiritual growth into someones life. No matter how hard I pray – or how long – if that person is not part of the Good pleasure of Gods will for salvation, and that person is not part of that which He purposed in Himself – I will never see them come to salvation. I could wear holes in my floor with my knees – and cry a river of tears – but “I” cannot effect God’s predetermined will on anything. I am not a factor in this. Nor are you.

WE GET THESE THINGS

1. every spiritual blessing – What does the word Every Mean? It means every… All… nothing left out. We have all that we need to obey and live and walk as we should.

2.  we should be holy and without blame –  Holy – means without sin in our lives. Without blame – means that as others look at your life they have no valid reason to blame you for sin or wrongdoing.

3. having predestined us to adoption as sons – We are the Sons of God, and we are, because He predestined us to be so. Not because He saw anything within my fallenness or being dead in my sin. I bring nothing to the eternal “Why” God does anything. NOR did God look from eternal past and saw that I would choose. I couldn’t choose. I was dead in sin. NO – He chose me because He wanted to show kindness and Grace to me.

4. accepted – I am accepted into the family of God. I have an eternal family in a beautiful place called heaven.

5. we have redemption – I am redeemed. This is  to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity in sin, by paying a ransom. Jesus Redeemed me from my death in sin and gave me an new life in Christ. (2 Cor.5: 17)

6. forgiveness of sins – Thank God this is an on-going event. I am still encased in this fallen flesh and sometimes sin. I am forgiven the moment I repent and ask for it. (Rom8:1) .Jesus is the reason for it. When He died, I died and now my life is hidden in Christ. (Rom. 6)

7. riches of His grace  – Grace has been said to mean – God’s riches at Christ’s expense. I like this. I think that this is clear and easy to understand. MAN…. how rich is the Grace of God? I will one day know for sure.

8. wisdom and prudence – Wisdom is the ability to do the right thing when to many it is not clear. God gives it liberally to His children (James1:5) and always in accordance to what He has already revealed in His word. It is never a “new” word of wisdom – but always in total and complete agreement with all the written word. It (only God’s Word) can be counted on to give you wisdom. It is the only source. Prudence – provident care in the management of resources; economy; frugality. A person who is sloppy with their money is not prudent. This is the work of God and can be understood by the careful study of the Word Of God.

9. made known to us the mystery of His will –  Who lives my christian Life? Not me or is it me. Yes – I certainly have a part – but not apart from God. It is like the little boy who is rowing the boat with his grandfather in a small boat. Sure he may have some small effect – but it is the will and strength of the old sea captain (the grandfather) who is steering and providing the real strength. There are many mysteries in the Bible. 

            a. Predestination and Election – and the Responsibility of Man

            b. Who wrote Scripture – God or man

            c.  Who lives my Christian life – Me or God?

            d. Eternity – Huhhh..God was not created? He has no beginning or end?

             f. The Trinity – How can something be 3 and 1 at the same time?

            g. Was Jesus God or man? How can anything be 200%?

Well… These are the mysteries and they are not a problem for God. I can’t get there with this little worm mind of mine – but they are not a problem for God. I must trust in the Character of God – that I have come to know. It is trustworthy.

Well… Time to end this blog. But Remember this… God Loves those whom He chose. Those who are loved and chosen by God will come to know it because of the faithfulness of God.

I have a very special person in my life that I love very much that is not right with God. So do you. So what should be my response? I should trust them to God and watch for the open door. Col. 4:2-4 says… Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us,  that God would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.  SO I will continue to pray that God will open the door for me to lovingly and patiently speak the mystery of Salvation. I will share in the pain that I believe God feels regarding this person – while trusting Him through it.

Colossians 2:5-6

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth; fornication uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolarty.

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Scripture is clear! Idolarty is when we worship ourselves by being involved with fornication, uncleanness, sinful passion, evil desire, and covetousness. Lets break this down.

1. Fornication – sex outside of marriage.

Well… all who get involved with Fornication, do so out of pride and selfishness – seeking pleasure  – and not the glory of God. I think that some folks may say and justify their action by saying something like this… ” I just love him so much, and he needs it. We are gonna some day get married anyway so who am I hurting?”

SEX is not a need or else God would meet that “need” outside of marriage in a way that honors Him.  Sexual desire is put into us for us to learn self control (spirit filled – self control) and to learn to put yourself second and God’s desire for purity 1st  in your life.  It is training ground for the righteous. Beside… Even in marriage we need to learn to master this desire and always give it – instead of always seeking to be given to. Sex in marriage can become idolarious if we are not careful with it. WE (mostly men) can seek this out in marriage – to the degree that we only want sex – not concerning ourselves with your wife and her desire for those things outside of sex. Husbands – love your wifes as Christ loved the Church – putiing himself aside and seeking Purity (sinlessness)  for His bride – the church.

2. Uncleanness – anything that is a sinful thought

Our hearts are truly rotten – still – in this unredeemed flesh. I find myself thinking really rotten evil thoughts sometimes. Putting them aside and casting my thoughts onto Him – and Heaven (Col. 3:1-3)  is the way we streatch out our wings ( so to speak) and sore above our fallenness. We cannot do this apart from the filling of the Spirit of God. We must let the word of Christ dwell richly in us (col3:16) and then we will overcome the rotten thoughts that we all have. This too is Idolarty – if we allow ourselves to waddle in the mire of our own fallenness. We as Christians say… ” I can’t help what I think.” Yes you can! God does not call us to Holiness without equiping us to do so. We are complete in Christ for all obedience. (Col. 2:10) The Spirit of God is there and wants you to submit your thoughts to the pulling down of every thought that exalts itself against the Knowledge of God. But we must learn to do so – in the Spirit – by our belief and submission. It is a yeildedness that we walk in.  Else we remain a stinky thinker and your life will look just like everyone else. The light will NOT shine through. Perhaps this person is not a believer – but is deceived. Check yourself!

3. Passion – A strong desire for what is wrong

Thoughts produce your passions. Passions will lead you to either what is good and right or what is sinful and hurtful. Which will it be – Christian? Good passions that come from God or a passion for what is wrong and sinful – leading to death? Idolarty will show up here when you start worshiping what you are passionate about.

4. Evil Desire – A desire for anything that is not pure and right.

Evil Desire can be a desire for someone who is not your husband or wife. It can be for Money – Power – Fame – Importance – Self esteem (as compaired to humility before God) the death or demise  of someone position whom you do not like – Your position in life or job – Nice things…. all of which are not of God. If you are seeking these things know that you are an Idolarter and you need to check yourself to make sure you are really in the faith.

5. Covetousness – Wanting what is not yours

This flows in conjuction with evil desires. This is when you want what you do not have! You want it with a passion! I believe this is most likely refering to 2 categories. A relationship with someone specific – or Materialism. You look at what some other person has and you tell yourself – I want that! We covet our neighbors Wife (Husband) – Cars – House – Kids – Money – Power – Talent – and so on and so on. YOU ARE REALLY JUST WORSHIPPING YOURSELF!

Idolarty today,and in any time that has passed – is the worship of self. It is  what this thing or person make ME FEEL like – which is PRIDE –  the core corruption.  Submit to God – stop doing those things that are Idolarty – Stop worshipping yourself and your pleasure –

START HONORING GOD – WALKING AS THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

Zech. 4:6

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel; Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, Says the Lord of Hosts.

Col. 3:16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly

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One of the greatest mysteries about God is this… Who lives my christian life? Is it me or is it God? There are many many places in scripture where we are told to Walk – or Do – or be – but MY SIN always seems to be present and my WALKING AND DOING AND BEING. I  always struggle. (Rom. 7)

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I have come to the place where I am understanding that sin in me is only overcome by the Spirit of God in me. I must learn to put out the wings of my spirit and sore above the pull of my sin. It is kinda like gravity… Sin is always pulling at me. BUT GOD has put in me a greater property – it is that of Aerodynamic… My submission to the Truth of God. Just as the wings of a airplane have a greater power over gravity, So the spirit of God within me has the greater power. The spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. The choice is mine. I can stay on the ground (stay influence by my sin – miserable – walking a guilty distance) or I can keep my mind on things above (Col. 3) and allow the Spirit of God Fill me and WALK – DO and BE what HE has called me to.

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Conclusion… Only the Spirit of GOD within me can overcome my pull to sin and death. I MUST learn to walk in spirit and I will not fulfill the sin within me. (Col. 2:6-10) I am complete in the Spirit of God and I can choose to not sin. YOU can too – if you are a true believer. This is our greatest Benefit…We can choose, whereas before, we could only eventually choose to sin. Praise God for His Spirit!