IQ #258 God's Commitment to You

Greetings to you, my friends, I hope 2016 has started out in a way that is challenging you into making the necessary changes in your life.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Years ago the coach on our church softball team gave us instructions after we had won the first game of the season to not wash our uniforms until we lost a game. Kind of a strange request and maybe a bit on the crazy, but we were all fairly young and all a bit on the crazy side too, so we agreed. Wives and families were not as gung ho.

Well, we amazed our coach and terrified our families and anyone within our unified aroma, by going undefeated in our league and a tournament along the way. We did finally lose a game in another tournament after league play was over. Prayers were answered. Wives and families rejoiced, opposing teams and umpires were thankful. We may have even received a thank you note from the EPA. Washing machines went into overdrive and I believe the uniforms walked themselves into the tubs.

There is a time for everything and even a loss can be a good thing.

I must admit it was a refreshing change to put on a clean uniform. Our coach never asked us to not wash our uniforms again as word came down from the top (his wife).

2016 will be full of changes and all those changes will affect you in some way. Some of these changes may take you on a roller coaster of emotions and possibly cause you to make rash decisions if you are not grounded in God’s Truth.

To find stability and to make sense of these changes, turn to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. He is constant and totally reliable. Let God’s Holy Spirit guide you in the best way for your life.

James 1:17                                                                                                                                           

"Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows"

God never changes. In fact, it is impossible for God to change. The influences that cause change in your life have no effect on God. He will never be stronger or weaker. His knowledge and wisdom will not increase or diminish. God does not compromise or change His values. And God does not have mood swings. Life and its uncertainties may shake you, but God-the Rock of Ages-does not move. If you cling to Him, His strength will sustain you.

God's unchangeable ways assure you of unwavering guidance.

Psalm 18:30 "As for God, His way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true."

God's principles for life never change. His guidelines, given in Scripture, produce fruitful lives when you follow them.

God's unchanging commitment guarantees everlasting security. If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can be assured of eternal life. God is eternally committed to your redemption, your spiritual growth, and your eternal destiny. God's commitment to you is as strong as He is eternally constant. The storms of life are continually changing, but God remains the same. He is consistent and reliable. He is your anchor. You can count on God because He never changes.

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever"

With the love of Jesus Christ,
Papa John

IQ #257 Focused on God and Fully Dressed

To God’s holy people in Alien Youth, Guided by Truth, and the faithful in Jesus Christ: Grace, peace and fulfillment to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The 2015 Christmas and New Year’s season has passed and a brand new year awaits our every move and thoughts. I don’t know about you, but my mind and body are on the tired side, as so many activities, responsibilities and mental preparations over the past several weeks left little time for decent rest. My bad. However, on New Year’s Eve Connie and I got to hear several of our daughter, Carrie’s friends give testimony during the service at their church. The main theme and New Year’s resolution for 2016 was and is, ‘Focus’. Keeping focused on God’s Word and remaining consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ is their goal not only for themselves but their whole church body. Awesome! I was inspired and quietly adopted their goal as my own as well.

It is so easy after time has passed after experiencing moving services, spirit filled retreats and camps, to slowly drift away from those deep felt convictions given to God and our Lord Jesus Christ. It doesn’t happen on purpose, but it happens to each and every one of us if we fail to keep God’s truth in our minds and hearts, on our tongues and through our actions on a daily bases.

I feel it is lame to blame our shortcomings on anybody else or things that distract us, but in this case I wish to make an exception. A group of middle and high school students have begun a series on evil spirits, demons and the supernatural that purposely try to separate us from God. Are they real or imaginary?

As real as God the Father our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are, so too are the evil forces in this world.

 Ephesians 6:12

 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

Satan will use every source of evilness to disrupt our personal connections with God, even if it is just a little bit at a time. If we are not prepared and fully focused on God, Satan’s trickery will make his evil lures appear perfectly innocent to the unwary.

How can we combat these evil filled distractions from our daily lives? First, we must take in the scripture that surrounds Ephesians 6:12, understand it and apply it to our lives.

Ephesians 6:10-18 The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

If you dress yourselves in the full Armor of God, remain focused and in constant prayer with God, you will fend off any and all evil forces so that your life will be filled with joy. Can you do this by yourself? NO! Absolutely not!

Surround yourself with like minded followers of Christ Jesus. It is our Christian fellowship with each other that contains; encouragement, compassion, dedication, knowledge, wisdom and a love for each other in the name of Jesus Christ that is needed and justified through God’s Word, as relayed by the Apostle John.

1 John 1:3-4

³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴ We write this to make our joy complete.

Do you have on the full Armor of God? If so you have the army of God at your side ready to do battle with you and for you. If not, it is time to get dressed and prepared for battle. Satan and his evil forces will not wait. Have faith in God’s promise for you.

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Proverbs 2:2-5

² turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— ³ indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, ⁴ and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, ⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

So, for the year 2016 and the remainder of your life; remain focused on God and fully dressed.

With the love of Jesus Christ,

Papa John 1:08:16