TechChix Thinks Aloud

My internal thoughts frequently center around two areas, when I think of God.

Part One: How can I learn more about Him and His Word? Lord, what would you have of me today, next week, this lifetime? The answers to those are actually easy and straightforward. Read the Bible regularly. Meditate on His words, day-and-night. Pray as if your life depended on it. And Still your thoughts to allow God to speak into your life.

Part Two: How can I inspire others to want to know you, Lord? How can I encourage Christians to engage in their belief? Lord, keep me humble so that I may not grow frustrated with those who know You, and don’t talk about You. How can I empower others to find their part to play in God’s great commission? These answers are ever so difficult.

Focusing on Part Two above, seems to be the great challenge of my life as a Christian of some maturity. On a personal level, I am the type of person who prefers conversation that “gets to the point”, quickly. My husband laughs at me for telling him, “I love you, but can you give me the Reader’s Digest version?” It can seem rude, but I really feel that time is a commodity that is not abundant at this time in my life. As of April 2008, I will have been a believer in Christ for 10 years.

As a brand-new believer, I fondly recall telling my mother (who is still a non-believer) that she was “going to hell”. Asking her if she cared at all about her eternal salvation. I know, I can hear you all laughing as I write this post. Let’s just say that I am not a Relational Evangelist. I am fonder of beating people “upside the head” with God’s Truth. And no, it has not proved effective. So I feel that my ministry to others relies entirely on (1) me setting the example for others in all aspects of my life, and (2) ministering and mentoring other Christians.

Even five years ago, I would not have necessarily picked either of those two options and proclaimed them to be part of God’s intended mission through my life. Through prayer, patience, learning - it has become abundantly clear to me that God gave me natural talents in the areas of Leadership, Teaching and Communication. These lend themselves perfectly to those two areas of focus I mentioned.

I won’t bore you with the details, but it has recently become a tremendous passion of mine to empower, encourage and challenge Christians to “step up” and take hold of God’s will in their life. Remember what God said: “(15) I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. (16) So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16, NIV) To me - I interpret this as God saying that Christians should be strong, forthright in their belief, and that we should be in this world and not “of this world”. Rise above the mediocrity in which people choose to live; be excellent in all your ways.

One of the ways that I believe one can empower themselves to “live out loud” as Christians, is to read good books AND subscribe to Christian websites that publish QUALITY e-newsletters. One of these sites to which I subscribe (and highly recommend) is FamilyLife.com which is owned by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. They produce a variety of Quality e-newsletters on many topics: Marriage, Family, Children…

[UPDATE-CORRECTION: FamilyLife is not owned by Dennis and Barbara Rainey but is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. Dennis and Barbara did cofound the ministry in 1976, and Dennis is still the ministry’s president and CEO. (Thanks to Scott W!)]

Continue reading below where I have pasted their recent series entitled, “Entering Lion’s Country”. It’s fantastic and totally worth reading. It is a Call to Action for Christians everywhere. Below I have pasted Part One and Part Two. Read both of them.

Let me introduce them with a quote by C.T. Studd, who is a missionary - “Some people want to live within the sound of chapel bells, but I want to run a mission a yard from the gate of hell.” I feel exactly like that…

Entering Lion’s Country
** PART ONE **

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
- 1 Peter 5:8

I’ve been smelling lion’s breath recently, and have nearly gagged at its odious smell. Where have I been? On a lion country safari? In Kenya? Sudan? At the zoo? No. None of these.

Let’s just say I’ve been in lion country.

Pastor and author A.W. Tozer made numerous visits there. In fact, he may have lived in lion country. After a particularly difficult time, Tozer noted the following: “But I will tell you something - it is a delightful thing when you know that you are close enough to the adversary that you can hear him roar! Too many Christians never get into ‘lion country’ at all!”

After pondering Tozer’s observation, I’ve concluded that we should charge headlong into lion country. You see, “lion country” is territory controlled by the devil. It is the daily domain of the ruler of this world.

Lions in Africa prey on weak, unsuspecting animals and those straggling behind the protection of the head of the pack. Likewise, the devil prowls about trying to deceive (devour) those with weak convictions and naive beliefs. For example, if a Christian refuses to submit to the accountability of other believers in the local church, he will find himself isolated, delicious prey for the crafty deceiver. He may not be able to defend himself when he’s faced with temptation.

How does a lion devour its prey? One bite at a time. I wonder at times if twentieth-century Christians have been anesthetized by prosperity and busy schedules while the enemy chews off three-quarters of their legs!

Far too many Christians are being fooled by the enemy. They have been deceived into thinking that run-of-the-mill Christianity is all there is. Jesus Christ may be a part of their lives, but He isn’t Lord of their lives.

I know, because for more than 14 years I was the prey of the enemy. I thought I knew what was best for me. I wanted God only as my emergency Savior, when I was in a crisis and needed Him. And if you’re like I was, the lion has you in his jaws.

Discuss: When was the last time you took a spiritual safari into lion country? What areas of your life would you say are controlled by God, and what areas are controlled by the devil?

Pray: Ask God to help you be of sober spirit and be on the alert to schemes of the adversary.

——————————————————————————————————————————————–
Entering Lion’s Country
** PART TWO **

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
- 1 John 5:19

Instead of falling prey to the devil, Christians must be aggressive soldiers recapturing the land for Christ. One goal of our spiritual battle is to prevent our adversary from having any sphere of influence in our lives.

Successful invaders are risk takers. Men and women of faith and action. The victory will go to those who move their faith the 18-inch distance from their heads to their hearts. Many Christians, however, seem to prefer comfort to conflict.

Winston Churchill believed the battlefield is the place where great issues are resolved. And I believe the great issues of our day will only be decided when well-equipped Christians invade lion country. Just as Churchill refused to negotiate until the adversary had capitulated, neither can we afford to give in to temptation or compromise.

As you encroach on the enemy’s territory, remember these admonitions from Scripture:

Stand firm and let God’s Word be your guide. We have God’s assurance that we won’t lose the war.(see Eph. 6:14-17).

Pray always and give thanks (see 1 Thess. 5:17,18).

Don’t take temptation lightly; flee immorality (see 2 Tim. 2:22).

Walk by faith, not by what you feel and see. God’s Word and His promises are either 100 percent true or they are not. Since His Word is true, your faith is the difference. Grab hold of His Word and step out (see 2 Cor. 5:7).

C.T. Studd, a missionary to China, understood the challenge well. He wrote, “Some people want to live within the sound of chapel bells, but I want to run a mission a yard from the gate of hell.”

The battle has been tough recently, but I wouldn’t trade being in lion country for any of the peace and comfort that depended on compromise.

What about you?

Discuss: Talk with your mate about enemy territory you want to reclaim as a couple. Spend some time in prayer asking for God to show you where He wants you to invade.

Pray: Ask Him for wisdom, guidance and power to stand firm in the battle.

———————————————————————————————————————
Excerpted from “Moments Together for Couples” by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.
Used with permission. Copyright 1995 by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. All
rights reserved.

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