"WHAT" IS NOT ENOUGH - WHY YOU NEED "HOW"

Lately I have found myself quite often thinking in terms of "I wish I'd known that when I was younger," or more specifically "Oh if only someone had taught me that years ago!"

I remember hearing GREAT bible teachings when I was much younger than I am now, and with my head stuffed with impressive knowledge I bet I really thought I was something in the Lord!

So why then did I fumble and fall so often?  Why did sin still plague me and lead me fully astray far too many times?

I have since come to a wiser place and deeper understanding that knowledge and "knowing to the end of doing" are two different animals!

What good was it to know the greek word for this or the cultural reasons for that when I had no idea how to apply the TRUTH to my own thoughts and actions in order to produce godly fruit that glorified my God? (and  brought the blessings I so desperately wanted to see in my life?)

Have you ever felt that way?  Like you've just spent an hour or two even, listening to a really terrific sermon, a great teaching straight from the Word of God; it was so good you have a page or two of notes because what you were hearing excited your soul and stirred your heart.  Then you get in a quiet place the next day, on your own, just you and your bible and a willing spirit, and you begin to go over the notes and realize that it is terrific information, important information, life transforming information - but that's all you have.

Cold. Flat. Lifeless. Powerless. Information.

There is nothing about how that information is to be applied so as to bring about the life changes you really want, you desperately need to make.

And it is so FRUSTRATING!  You go back to the scriptures and read but the life and power and understanding just aren't there or at least, not easily understood; or you realize that you just don't get it.

This is why so many people don't pick up the bible and read it every day.  They know they "should" because that's what everyone tells them, but it is just dry words to them and the possibilities only seem to taunt them in the frustration they are feeling in being unable to grasp how to to apply and receive and enjoy the TRANSFORMATION AND NEW LIFE that is so obviously promised.

That may not be your experience but that was my experience.  I kept thinking there was a secret key ingredient that was just MISSING from me.  Maybe my past was too bad, too traumatic, too SINFUL  for me to experience what I came to call the VOILA' - that incredible moment when the Word of God and the desire in my heart came together to produce FRUIT!  Fruit that blessed me, blessed those around me, and glorified God Almighty!

It's why the focus here at Turn the Tide Ministries is on explaining and sharing as much as possible the PRACTICAL APPLICATION of what is in reality and truth a spiritual occurrence.

2Corinthians 5:17 shares a TRUTH
If any person is IN CHRIST they are a new person, the old has passed away, BEHOLD all things are become new.

How does that work exactly?  Perhaps you have confessed Christ as Savior (and if not, this is the first thing that must happen to begin a new life) and yet the same tired feelings plague you, the same nasty words come out of your mouth and the same defeated thoughts are swirling around in your brain.

THAT IS FRUSTRATING ISN'T IT?!?!

And most teaching stops with telling you what you SHOULD be, what you OUGHT to do, how things ARE SUPPOSED TO BE; but they never really tell you HOW!

Here's how, and if you will do your part, God who cannot lie will absolutely do His part.

Romans 12:2  YOU reject the ways of the world by simply NOT ACTING THE SAME WAY (Be not conformed to this world) and change your thought patterns by your will and decisions to the thought patterns of truth (by the renewing of your mind) and God will bring about the spiritual transformation so you ARE shining His light and living His truth and doing His will (that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God).

You renew your mind by reading the bible so it's in your head and the SPIRIT will bring it down into your heart in a spiritual act we can't understand but we can receive.

OUT OF THE HEART COME THE ISSUES OF LIFE; Proverbs 4:23

If the word of truth isn't in your head, it can't be brought to your heart and then come out in your life.

Get that word in there!  It probably won't happen overnight, but as you stay faithful, He Who is faithful will continue to work.

2Corinthians 10:5 tells us to cast down imaginations that exalt AGAINST GOD and instead, bring every thought into obedience to Christ.

How?  By being aware of what thoughts we are harboring and allowing to occupy our minds and asking God to help you get rid of those that don't please Him!

Practice; yes, just like if you were learning to play the piano, practice thinking right thoughts.  (Philippians 4:8)  You won't learn the piano overnight and you'll never learn without practicing!

We call this Practicing Intense Godliness.  We are deliberate about it.  We are committed to it.

Read Romans chapter 6.  Apostle Paul taught how to live as a new creation in Christ.  He gave practical advise for living as a Christian.  He didn't mention weekly meetings or financial concerns  because that isn't what living a Christian life is about.  Gathering with the saints, supporting the works of ministry are side effects of a Christian life.

The actual Christian life is about pleasing GOD in your personal everyday life first!  Romans 6 is an excellent starting point, and if you hit a sticking point that you aren't sure of, ask your pastor, your bible study teacher or click here  for help.

I have since discovered, as I pray you will too, that VOILA' moments are happening all the time as we walk with the Lord and grow deeper with Him in wisdom and understanding.  They aren't a one time thing but a constant in the life of those who choose to live a Christian life!

We pray that everyone reading these words will be inspired to GO READ GODS WORD and begin to see the transforming word of the Holy Spirit in their lives to their blessing and Gods honor, in Jesus mighty name, AMEN!

Recognizing Truth

There is so much noise clamoring for our attention day in and day out.  From the moment we awake to the moment we close our eyes to sleep we are distracted by this and that.  Bombarded by ideas and thoughts and feelings and emotions and desires and news of the actions of others and the reactions of others and being pulled this way and that way by so many telling us we should think this or think that or feel this or feel that or do this or do that or vote this way or behave that way........ we've become a world of regurgitated information that never stops with 24 hour news cycles and endless television shows and video's on youtube and instant information from any search engine on the internet and a constant stream of noise and interruption and WATCH THIS HEAR THIS THINK THIS BELIEVE THIS TRY THIS DRINK THIS EAT THIS DO THIS BE THIS...

Until we just don't know any more what are we supposed to be doing thinking feeling being

ROMANS 12:2a  and do not be conformed to this world.......

How many of us are watching news on the tv, reading the newspaper, listening to radio?  How many are active on Facebook, Twitter and receiving emails constantly from one source or another?  How many have family, friends and neighbors, co-workers who all have opinions and are only too happy to share those opinions with us?

Over time all of this exposure to all of these thoughts and feelings and opinions mix with our own and we get worn down.  The clear line we may once have drawn for ourselves between what we chose to believe and what we now think can become blurred.  

The clear line between right and wrong, righteousness and sin becomes blurred and faint and slowly fades away until we become uncertain, unclear about right, wrong, acceptable and unacceptable.  We begin to think there may be a gray area, we don't want to offend others who also believe what they believe just as strongly and sincerely as we believe what we believe and after all how can we really know?  How can we truly say this is right or that is wrong when surely what is right for one in ones circumstances may not be right for another in another circumstance.

How can we be sure?

ROMANS 12:2b but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.....

To be transformed is to be you, but different.  Think about the movie or the toys, the Transformers.  First it's a robot and then it transforms into a car and vice versa.  It's still what it is but it is transformed, changes shape and purpose and becomes something entirely different, yet still the same parts and pieces.

Our instruction is clear.

We must NOT be conformed: compliant, accommodating, integrated, yielded to this world, but instead we are to be TRANSFORMED: altered, reconstructed, revolutionized, translated, remodeled and MOLDED.....

HOW?

by renewing our minds.

Among all the tv, radio, newspapers and internet, how much time and how often do you pick up your bible?

Until you are introduced to TRUTH you will never recognize TRUTH.  Truth is the only thing that will set you free from political correctness and confusion over right and wrong and indecision and uncertainty!

The truth is Jesus. Jesus tells us that there is no middle ground, no gray area.  Let your yes be yes!

Matthew 5:37 is clear.  

Let your Yes be Yes and your No, No.  For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

The world would tell us there are mitigating circumstances and "gray" areas where one thing or another are difficult to choose from, where what might be wrong in one situation may be right in this situation.  When a clear violation of what is right and wrong isn't clear.  The world contradicts the TRUTH and pressures us to accept the contradiction and conform to a manner of thinking that leads to behavior that is clearly in violation of what God has revealed is righteous behavior.

Such as when abortion would be acceptable. The world would confuse us with goobledygook double speak about emotions and thoughts and feelings and womans rights and womans health issues and a womans right to choose; BUT GOD tells us that every person is made, formed and created by Him and He personally formed each of us and covered us in the womb of the mother! (Psalm 139: 13-16)

While the world clamors to fill our heads and hearts and half truths and confuse us with too many choices so we might never know the clear path of truth, God gives us simple, easy to follow instructions.

We must be BORN AGAIN.  Repent of our sin and be forgiven.  Accept that Jesus died in our place and rose from the dead to redeem us from evil.

We all fall short of Gods glorious perfection.  We all sin, even AFTER being born again! Even after the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts we fall, we mess up, we choose wrong, we SIN!  And God still makes a clear way for.

I John 1: 8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 

As long as we let the world dictate all our thought and actions the line between right and wrong will continue to fade and the false gray area will continue to look like a safe place to dwell.  The opinions of many will sway us and the rule of majority will even convince us that we are right.

But the day will come when we will stand, ALONE, before the God Who Created the universe.  No mother, no father, no sister, no brother, no husband, no wife, no son and no daughter.  No neighbor, no friend, no pastor, no preacher,  just we alone with our God to answer to Him and be judged by Him according to His perfection and holiness and righteousness.

Jesus will be the only one standing with each of us.  What you have done with TRUTH, for Jesus Himself is the TRUTH, will determine whether that TRUTH will recognize YOU at that time that determines your entire eternity.  And it won't be about what all that other noise influenced you to think and say and do.

It will all be about whether or not you recognized TRUTH.  If you did, then TRUTH will now recognize YOU and be your advocate and speak on your behalf to the great God Almighty.  Or will TRUTH do with you what you did with TRUTH?  Be silent, reject it, fail to recognize it?

DON'T BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.......

                      BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND

that you may PROVE what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

There surely is a LOT of noise working hard to get our attention.  And it would be easy to get confused and wonder how we could possibly know where TRUTH lies.  Trust the still small voice in your heart.  For God has called us to know the TRUTH and God desires that all men should repent and come to a saving knowledge of the TRUTH.  

It is always right to LOVE; and God has proven His love by sending His son to shine TRUTH on all who will receive it with gladness!

Do you WANT to be made well?

Asking a question like this of someone who is suffering and has suffered for a very long time from a debilitating and dreadful disease might seem cruel and heartless.

Afterall, who doesn't want to be made well when they are sick?  Are there people who might actually prefer their pain and suffering to health and well being?

Before you get the idea I am totally heartless, let me just reveal the truth.

I didn't ask this question of anyone.

Then who did? you may wonder.

JESUS DID!

It was the question he asked a man who had suffered from some terrible infirmity for 38 years!

John 5: 1-9

After this there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus wet up to Jerusalem.  Now there was in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed waiting for the moving of the water.

for an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made well of whatever disease he had.

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity THIRTY EIGHT YEARS! (emphasis mine) WOW!  That is a very long time to be sick!

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time He said to him, "Do You want to be made well?"

The sick man answered him " Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool ;when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming another steps down before me."

I find it interesting that this mans answer was not a resounding YES!, but instead, an excuse of why in 38 years he hasn't been made well!

What would you have answered?

Is it possible that we are so comfortable in our infirmities where little is expected of us , where much is done FOR US, where there is little to no demand made upon us, that we, too would have offered Jesus an excuse for remaining as we are rather than grabbing hold of the opportunity to heal and grow and move forward?

Is it possible that we simply don't care enough to do the deeper, harder work of lining our own thoughts, words and actions up with the Christian belief we claim?

I think we can all agree that none of us is "there yet", however, it is just as appropriate to say that there should be some kind of evidence that we are on our way to that standard the Lord puts in front of us as a challenge!  "Be ye holy as I am holy."

Verse 8: Jesus said to him, "Take up your bed and walk."

Do you hear Him giving you a similar command?  No excuses, just take charge of the words you speak!  Take control of the way you treat others!  Forgive as you have been forgiven!  Give grace as grace has been made yours!

We slip, but are we taking steps to STOP SLIPPING?  To be a christian is as simple as calling on the name of Jesus.  To LIVE Christian is to surrender to the Holy Spirit to be changed, TRANSFORMED, by the Word of God!

Honestly?  That's the hardest work of all!

What Evangelism is

Jesus Saves....we assist!

Reputation vs TRUTH

Amazingly enough and although I’ve read the book of Acts numerous times, the other day while my husband read chapter 5 to me something I’d never noticed before captured my attention and demanded further investigation.

Read with me a little bit, and see if you catch it:

Acts 5: 17-29

¹⁷ Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, ¹⁸ and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

²¹ And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

²² But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, ²³ saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside^[a] before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴ Now when the high priest,^[b] the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. ²⁵ So one came and told them, saying,^[c] “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. ³¹ Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Take another look, specifically at verse 28.

Now if I may ask you a question. 

IfRo you put men in prison and the next morning they weren’t in there despite the locked doors and guards, wouldn’t your first question be HOW DID YOU GET OUT OF PRISON?

The very fact they didn’t ask the question indicates to me they already knew the answer.  So they were asking the only question that mattered to them – WHY DID YOU THWART OUR AUTHORITY?

Their only true concern was what they saw as the diminishing of:

Their POWER: because they liked ruling it over others

Their POSITION: in the community which afforded them “special” treatment

Their PRESTIGE: recognized and respected by everyone as being ‘above’ and more important

When we go about our lives, what are our major concerns?  Are we focused on the integrity and purity of God’s word and our adherence to it?  In our churches, are our concerns about teaching and demonstrating Truth or have we been swayed into false concern over protecting our own “reputations”?

Asking the tough questions will help us not only to examine our own hearts, but to keep them right and in alignment with the will and purposes of the Lord.

It's far too easy to slip and fall into "worldly" thinking and actions, especially when so many actions of our churches are difficult to differentiate from actions in the world.

To experience transformation that pleases the Lord, we are NOT to conform to this world!

(Romans 12:2)

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