Tag: Christian Victory

2 Corinthians 7:11 The Benefits of Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:11 (KJV)
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

There is a kind of sorrow that is of little use and is in many ways destructive. It is:

  • A sorrow after a worldly sort
  • A sorrow for getting caught and
  • A sorrow over the consequences

Those with this sorrow have no intention of changing but of making better sure they don’t get caught again. These who sorrow after this sort hate the source of their sorrow and will blame that source rather than their actions.

There is another type of sorrow, which is after a godly sort. Albert Barnes says of it,
“…such sorrow as has respect to God, or is according to his will, or as leads the soul to him. This is a very important expression in regard to true repentance, and shows the exact nature of that sorrow which is connected with a return to God.”

Those who sorrow after a godly sort:

  • Benefit from the sorrow, are
  • Thankful for that sorrow and
  • Appreciate the source of such sorrow

To my readers:
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For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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2 Corinthians 7:11 The Benefits of Sorrow

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2 Corinthians 2:1 How to Conquer Depression

2 Corinthians 2:1 (KJV)
But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

The apostle often gave reference to his personal disciplines:

  • He counted gain loss that he might win Christ
  • He pressed toward the mark
  • He kept under his body to bring it into subjection

Here he said he “determined with (himself).”

Paul told us that the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. In other words, none of us have to be driven by:

  • Our emotions,
  • Our temptations or
  • Our lusts

As believers God has given us the power necessary, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to conquer and put into subjection those things. We can determine to be in charge of them.

I would suggest that in order to do so a few things have to be in order:
We have to determine ahead of time.
To wait until the moment of crisis to choose is to choose crisis.

He have to count the flesh dead
That just means we accept that it has no power except what we give it.

We need to be surrendered to the Holy Spirit
He is, after all, the One with the power.

We need to be immersed in the Bible.
Which is the key to cleansing our way and finding that Christ satisfies.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

 

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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2 Corinthians 2:1 How to Conquer Depression

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Nehemiah 6:19 Good Lesson

Nehemiah 6:19 (KJV)
Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

The threats against Nehemiah were real. There were people who would have slain him if given the opportunity. Nehemiah also had false friends, men who pretended to work along side him but had allegiance to Nehemiah’s enemies. Also, there were the letters from Tobiah that must have been of a threatening nature, because their intent was to put him in fear.

What I notice is that none of this distracted Nehemiah.

  • He was aware of it.
  • He prayed to the Lord about it
  • He kept a record of it

but he didn’t stop because of it.

Good lesson here.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

 

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Nehemiah 6:19 Good Lesson

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Acts 24:16 Paul’s Exercise Routine

Acts 24:16 (KJV)
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

At fifty-seven years old I now find that I have a great deal of pain in my body. Things are getting tired and muscles long neglected are being less forgiving than in my younger days. I am coming to realize that, if I am to keep moving, I am going to have to exercise carefully and regularly.

Paul exercised too. But the sort of exercise he spoke of was on a much more important level than merely to mitigate pain. Paul’s exercise plan involved two key elements, each related to the other; he exercised to have a conscience void of offense:

Toward God
This, I am sure is in order of priority. His first concern was toward God. He one time wrote that he preached not as pleasing men but God. Paul strove in exercise to see that his conscience was right with God. This would have required that he knew God’s will, character and word. We can’t have a conscience right with God unless we know what is right with God.

Toward men
This can be a complicated thing since men are so diverse and even the same man can be fluid, pleased by one thing today and another tomorrow. Paul must not have meant that he tried to make everyone happy. To have a conscience void of offense toward man means to do for every man what we know and believe to be in that person’s best interest.

This strategy of exercise has led to Paul’s effective ministry two thousand years after his own passing. His regular exercise cost him at the moment but paid off eternally.

 

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

 

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Acts 24:16 Paul’s Exercise Routine

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Acts 17:13 A Case Study in Avoiding Burnout

Acts 17:13 (KJV)
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

We all go through seasons that are just not pleasant. Paul went through one of those in this chapter.

  • Thessalonica was so dangerous Paul only stayed three Sabbaths.
  • Berea looked like it was going to be a great work until the Jews of Thessalonica came and ran him again out of town
  • Athens wasn’t violent but it may have been the most discouraging of all because, with a few exceptions, his message had no power upon them

And all of this was after Paul’s imprisonment in Philippi.

Paul becomes a case study in avoiding burnout right here. He left Athens to go to Corinth where Paul later testified he came to town discouraged. I see these as Paul’s tools to lift himself out of despondency:

  • First he never quit witnessing or worshipping.
  • Second he got a bit of alone time
  • Third he found some friends
  • Fourth he got some diversion
  • Fifth he got some support

Corinth turned out to be a great ministry for the apostle.

To my readers:
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For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Acts 17:13 A Case Study in Avoiding Burnout

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1 Chronicles 21:1 (KJV) Satan’s Devices

1 Chronicles 21:1 (KJV)
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Though he has certainly been present many times previous to this, we have here the first instance of the name Satan. First mentions are always important in the Bible and we should see this as an important account.

Satan’ attack is against Israel
He did not specifically attack any one man. He attacked a nation of people.

These were the Jews. Satan’s ought against them is unique because Israel’s relationship with God is unique. Satan cannot predict the future but he is intelligent and surely knew by now that the Messiah would be from Israel.

I imagine that Satan still attacks whole nations of people more aggressively than he does individuals.

Satan’s attack was through David
His target was Israel but by tempting David he hit the nation. One of the reasons we ought to pray for those in authority is that Satan Will mostly likely hurt a whole people by hurting her leadership.

Satan’s attack was quite subtle
One would be hard pressed to find a terrible sin here. All David did was number his army. Though there must have been something more here because Joab knew it shouldn’t have been done, still this is not one of those heinous and obviously horrible sins.

The most terrible sins may be the ones we don’t think are so bad. We think they are acceptable so we excuse them. There is no such thing as an acceptable sin.

Satan’s temptation was through David’s pride
At least this is the most common understanding. The three things in the world are the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Pride was the sin that led to Lucifer’s fall. Pride prevents God’s grace being upon us.

Satan’s first mention is not as dramatic as a person might think. No one was demon possessed, no one was murdered but a tragedy happened nonetheless.

Don’t allow a seemingly small sin be the destroying sin in your life.

 

To my readers:
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For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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1 Chronicles 21:1 (KJV) Satan’s Devices

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Acts 9:31 (KJV) The Importance of Church

Acts 9:31 (KJV)
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

I am interested in the word “churches”.

Gill writes that the Alexandrian version, as well as those of the same family of versions, read it in the singular. Gill is quick to note that the plural is more accurate as the context reveals, speaking of churches throughout Judea Galilee and Samaria. We ought to be careful not to refer to churches in the Catholic/Protestant vernacular “the Church”. Even in the most innocent usage of the term we are promoting a universal one church ecclesiology.

What interests me is how quickly these churches were founded. In a period that would have been about three years long, the Christians in the church at Jerusalem had scattered and reorganized themselves into churches. It illustrates how essential churches were to these early believers. Though being organized into churches increased the risk of persecution they sought each other out and formed churches.

How important is membership and participation in a local New Testament Baptist Church!

 

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

 

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Acts 9:31 (KJV) The Importance of Church

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John 16:32 (KJV) Alone But Not Alone

John 16:32 (KJV)
Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

Jesus said He would be alone but not alone.

No one likes being isolated. We all enjoy company and friendships.

  • To have someone to bounce ideas off
  • To have someone to point out when we take a wrong step
  • To have someone to pick us up when we fall

Is a treasure indeed.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says,

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

No doubt we like it best when we have help. But the Christ, as was Christ, is not alone even when he is alone. The Christian, as did Christ, always has the companionship of God.

 

To my readers:
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For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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John 16:32 (KJV) Alone But Not Alone

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John 12:26 (KJV) Real Servanthood

John 12:26 (KJV)
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

There are three connected thoughts concerning servanthood in this verse:
Serving Christ is following Christ
It is not doing as you will and calling it the service of God. It is not improving on what Christ has called us commanded us and instructed us to do. It is not changing His Word or updating His commission. Following Christ is simply doing as Christ teaches in the Bible.

Serving Christ is being with Christ
There is an implication and a promise in this verse. The implication is that, as we are following Christ, we will naturally be wherever Christ is. Christians will be in church because that is where Christ is. (I know that modern believers, so-called, say that Christ would be in the bars and skid rows and dark places of the earth, ministering to the down and out there. I do not deny that need but simply say that the Bible teaches Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. He commands us not to neglect it. He therefore does not neglect it Himself. He is at church.

The promise is that, whenever we follow Christ He is there. He promises that as we obey the great commission He is with us always. He promises, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

Serving Christ brings the blessing of God
“…him will my Father honor.” Everyone wants to hear the Father say, “Well done.” This is how it happens:

  • Serve the Lord
  • Follow Him and
  • Be where He is

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

 

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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John 12:26 (KJV) Real Servanthood

Please consider helping our church’s teen department by signing up for cash back shopping at Bible Baptist Church Fundraiser. This program has three levels of participation, the first being completely free. Email me for a free one month VIP membership.

John 11:15 (KJV) The Intent of Christ

John 11:15 (KJV)
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Jesus’ intent was that the believers might believe. The chapter is filled with believers who still needed to believe.

  • Each of His disciples had questions of faith
  • Martha certainly had questions of faith even
  • Mary, who had set at His feet, had questions of faith

They each believed but they each had holes in their belief. The intent of the Lord was to fill in those holes that these believers might believe.

The intent of the Lord is still “that ye might believe“. Sometimes the tests to bring us into believing can be very painful:

  • A death in the family
  • A difficulty in circumstances
  • A dive in economy

Those of us who call Christ Lord can find ourselves wondering:

  • Why the Lord tarries
  • Where are the answers to our prayers and
  • How will He ever deliver us from this trial

We believe in Him but we have questions. We have holes in our faith.

Jesus intends to fill those holes.

 

To my reader:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

 

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others

John 11:15 (KJV) The Intent of Christ

Please consider helping our church’s teen department by signing up for cash back shopping at Bible Baptist Church Fundraiser. This program has three levels of participation, the first being completely free. Email me for a free one month VIP membership.