Idols for guys like us.

[Chuck7]

Folks,

The Bible says this...
Col.3:1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

and ...

John 14: 23 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words.

With that in mind..What are some things that keep us from spending quality time in prayer and in His Word. When we put these things before God they are idols.....

Col.3:5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Over seas we have physical persecution. Here in the states our enemy is more crafty. We are lured with an array of things and toys to keep us from quality Bible study and prayer....

Matthew 13:22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Let's list some of these idols that may come before folks like us...time burners or smoke screens if you would. These are the idols and cares that keep us from reading God's Word
Hunting .Net
Fishing
Hunting
Your mind on buying more hunting and fishing equipment
Chatting with friends
Worrying
Eatting
TV
Other hobbies.

This is not time a fly by night thought.Jesus has been having me read Col.3 everyday for quite a while now. The message is for me but someone else may need ot hear it as well. OK then what is the remedy. REPENT.
Now we all know repentance is not gradually turning away.It is a complete 180 degree turn around. For me....I know a very simple way. The scripture says..
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

It's called kiiling or mortifying your flesh. Here is what it looks like in the practical. A few years ago I went through 89 days of drinking water only and only one meal a day . I kept a journal and these are some things I remember writing.
A. I 've never felt so good in my life. EVERYDAY JOY
B. The joy of the Lord is nonstop
C. LUST is gone I'm free.
D. Love is automatic and sharing Christ is as easy as breathing.
E. Lost 50 pounds.
F. I'm energized.
G. The best one...I'm free from the bondage of people. I have the power to say NO when I want to say no. I am no longer a people pleaser but my eye is single to serve God. "For if I yet serve people I can not be the servant of Christ."
H. More prayers are answered. " For a doubleminded man recieves nothing from the Lord."

What happened ..why did I stop?? PRIDE I forgot it was His grace that empowered me. I thought it was my 'Own self control' When I thought like that I was powerless .

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
and..Romans 8:13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Enough said..think about it. Concerning Hunting. Net...I plan to check on here twice a day. AM and PM . Let it be known .Jesus is coming very soon. " KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS."
Rev. 2:4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Your brother in Christ ,
Chuck7

You know up until a couple of months ago, I thought I was safe from idolitry until I understood what it was. Boy, its my worse sin. I stay on the go. Every weekend, its ridin my cycle, surf fishin, turkey huntin, bow shoots. Every weekend. And work about 60 hours a week and eat up at least 12 hours a week in the car getting to and from. So when I tried to do some ministries, I keep saying I don't have time. But I know thats wrong of me. I should be saying, boy I don't have have time to go surf fishin cause I got to give the Lord his due. And I feel so sad about it.

[dabowhunter]

Thank you Chuck. Much of what you speak and versed you quote could and is aimed at me for I feel the conviction that comes from the Holy Spirit working in me. I would like to hear more about your 89 days and how it affected you, what you ate, your health during and after.....dabow

[m.t.hands]

great lesson and reminder chuck

keith

[Chuck7]

Dabowhunter,

Thanks for the encouragement MT Hands and Dabowhunter,
Here my answer Dabowhunter,,



This is my answer to your question about the 89 day partial fast.
First of all in 1976 I experienced some great things in God. Through backslidings etc. my faith has diminished somewhat. I find myself much like the fleshly man spoken of in Romans 7. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. However : the victorious Christian life is in Romans 8 "œTo them which are in Christ Jesus who walk in the Spirit and not the flesh." Like I said, I"™ve experienced some wonderful things in Christ and know that they are still available for us today. However: it"™s been my experience that they are given to those who truly despise this present world and love God with ALL their heart. I"™ve read a few books on fasting and it doesn"™t matter if it was a baptist ,. Penetecostal or whatever they all said they had much greater strength . Fro me..anything less than 100 per cent is a little leaven. And we know that it only takes a little leaven to leaven the whole lump of dough.
Now to the 89 days. If your sugar drops so much where you need it then have a little juice. This was my experience. Since there is no way your going to eat you can be more productive because your mind is not on food. About 2:00 PM your mind will start drifting off into space. Your thoughts of God become more settled and stead of scattered. You love people but not a man pleaser.because your mind is on pleasing God only. I ;m not really concerned what others think. After a couple of days you will sense a real deep peace and you will feel a passion for folks who are lost. You will have periods of fatigue but a quick nap will refresh ya right up. And eventually about 1 week your body will be used to it. Meanwhile your pants size will shrink . It takes energy to live and you are burning stored fat. Your mind is so single toward God you will realize you haven"™t even coveted over any toys or lust. "œFor godliness with contentment is great gain."� I do believe Christ Jesus is coming back and I would love to great Him when I"™m at my best state.:.dead to self.
Also"¦one can know God"™s will better in their life without being wishy washy.
Romans12:
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present YOUR BODIES as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d]

After the 89 days I forgot it was Christ in me granting me the ability and strengh so in pride I began getting puffed up. I fell and never could get the faith again . One of the worse things God can do is let us have our way and for us not to feel convicted. The reason for the daily fast is because it gives you victory daily instead of once in a while. How does it give you victory ..your enemy your flesh is put on the cross that day. For us who have been born with a double portion of the flesh, fasting may be the prescription. By the way ..after one week you shouldn"™t get fatigued . Today is day 1 for me. I"™m tired of short changing myself , my family and the Lord. I know what a genuine Christian looks like and by God"™s grace I"™m putting on the new man and by God"™s grace the old man will stay dead this time. God bless,
Chuck7

[Chuck7]

My dear friend,
As I am on this journey I have forgotten a few more blessings to add to this list.

"A. I 've never felt so good in my life. EVERYDAY JOY B. The joy of the Lord is nonstop .C. LUST is gone I'm free.D. Love is automatic and sharing Christ is as easy as breathing.
E. Lost 50 pounds.
F. I'm energized.
G. The best one...I'm free from the bondage of people. I have the power to say NO when I want to say no. I am no longer a people pleaser but my eye is single to serve God. "For if I yet serve people I can not be the servant of Christ."
H. More prayers are answered. " For a doubleminded man recieves nothing from the Lord." "
add ons
I. The desire not to sin instead of to sin.
J. Not wanting to move away to another town to find peace for true LIFE is of the mind / spirit and it comes from only one source ."Knowing the Son." True life is not found in things .It alone is found in the Son.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
K. My wife's depression lifted yesterday. She said this." I got my Christian husband back." Husbands....you hurt more than just yourself when you are not wholely right with God.
Ephesians 5 :25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Have a great day church.
In Him,
C7