“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45 KJV)

“Auto Responder” Mechanism

I spend a lot of time finding and applying God’s promises to my life! Because of this habit, the promises are always on my mind and often just roll off my tongue instantly and without thinking while I’m in a conversation with just about anyone. This ‘auto responder mechanism’ happens because “out of the abundance of a man’s heart, so he speaks”.

It happens for everyone

This auto-process actually happens for everyone, not just for me! But the subject matter varies. My sports minded friends can roll off amazing sports facts and statistics instantly because that is what they love, think about, concentrate on, are passionate about, and have filled their minds with, and so it just instantly comes out of their mouths effortlessly. I have some friends who are always “talking politics” and other friends with other interests they care a lot about, and so that’s what they talk constantly about. Whatever is foremost on their minds gets talked about with enthusiasm and often passionately. Some of these friends are amazed that I can quote so much scripture without looking at the Bible.

How I Do It

They sometimes ask me how I am able to do it. Truthfully, I do not work at memorizing Bible verses, I just spend a lot of time reading the Bible, looking up things and thinking about what I have read. And, because that is what I am focused on, it comes out easily in conversation. Truthfully, I am amazed at others who can remember so much sports stuff. But again, it’s a matter of focus. If you want to have the powerful Word of God at work in your life and have it pour out your mouth easily, you have to make the Word of God your “treasure”. Incidentally, a few years ago I had a booth at a business trade show and spent several days talking business to many prospects who stopped by to talk about my products. When the show ended, and I was packing up, a man from the booth next to mine came over to speak with me. He reached out to shake my hand and got tears in his eyes as he spoke to me. He said, “Mike, it was a pleasure being next to you and it was such a blessing and inspiration to me. I am a brand new Christian and I just marveled over and over how easily you quoted scripture to people and shared your faith so easily with people!” I thanked him for his kind words, but truthfully, I couldn’t remember having spoken to a single person at that trade show about God! But, that’s what happens when the Word of God becomes a part of your normal speech. It just happens without you really noticing. Make God’s Word your focus and eventually you will “have the mind of Christ” and His Word will come out of your mouth from “the abundance of your heart!”

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (1 Cor. 10:3-5 KJV)

There is so much meat to meditate about; to claim for yourself, and to praise God for, in the above scripture! It is powerful! As usual, it helps to look at each part of any passage of scripture, dissecting it, so to speak, to find out what is really being said.

Breaking it down and looking at it piece by piece closely (My comments in parentheses) …

“For though we walk in the flesh, (we do live in a human body, it’s a fact) we do not war after the flesh: (our battle is not fought physically using our fleshly body). For the weapons of our warfare (yes, it’s an actual war but we DO have weapons available to fight and win it!) are not carnal (carnal means “of the flesh” and of the “human senses” – of touch, taste, sight, hear and smell) but mighty through God (how mighty is this?!! Why would we ever give into worry?!) to the pulling down of strong holds; (for pulling down those gripping, insidious, sins/problems/any disease or sickness/the lack of any kind of need being met – the list goes on and on of serious things that have held onto you so strongly). Casting down (exactly what it says!) imaginations, (most of the fearful things attack your mind and make you “imagine” worse case scenarios) and every high thing that exalteth itself (anything that claims to be higher and more powerful than God! Which, of course, is a lie from the pit of hell!) against the knowledge of God, (notice that the attack is against “the knowledge” of God, what you know about Him) and bringing into captivity (captures it) every (every means, well, it means “every”!) thought (what you think) to the obedience of Christ.”

Therefore…

Know this, that your primary battle is fought and won within your mind! That’s because “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov 23:7 NKJV). You win every battle with the Word of God! In fact, it’s already won by what Jesus did on the cross for you. You have a multitude of God’s promises to cover every single need. And they are all “Yes” and promised by Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20). But, the devil tells you they won’t work for you! So you doubt the Word of God! And that makes faith not work! But understand this, the devil cannot do anything to you without your cooperation! Remember this huge promise, “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!” (John 8:36). And, this one, too, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV).

“Remember this: whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.” (2 Cor. 9:6 NIV)

The Bible says plainly that “you reap what you sow” and everything you sow (good and bad) works like a seed in God’s kingdom way of doing things. And there are many, many verses in the Old and New Testament that clearly say this. Yes, it is very important to understand “seed, time, and harvest” principles. And yes, you need to be planting good seeds into God’s kingdom. This is the main way God blesses his kids. In fact, this is something that God tells you to test Him about (Malachi 3:10), and He says the blessing will be so large you won’t be able to contain it.

Don’t throw out the baby!

So, don’t get put off by looking at people you are turned off personally by who tell you to send them your “seed faith” money. Just because there are people who may be using these principles in ways you don’t like don’t make God’s Word and promises of provision untrue. Don’t throw out “the baby with the bath”! The devil loves to get you to not do God’s principles (for any negative reason) so that you won’t benefit from them!

Check out the fruit

Yes, you MUST plant money as seed, but do what I do! I find ministries that I really trust and believe in and then I support them! I look at their fruit (you will know them by their fruit). And I check them out in other ways too (through legitimate agencies who track non-profit’s money usage), so that I can make sure my money is being used as they claim it is and in ways which bring the most increase. And I then give cheerfully to them because “God loves a cheerful giver!”

Don’t eat your seed!

By the way, when I first discovered these principles, I had very little. And I was tempted to eat my seed rather than to sow it! But God showed me something powerful about sowing seed in the following verse: “Be not deceived, God is not mocked! Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7 NKJ). First, you always get the same thing you plant! If you plant a radish seed, you won’t get potatoes! If you plant discord you won’t get peace. It works the same way with everything in God’s created world, including money! Secondly, you get more than what you plant! If you plant just one corn seed, you don’t get back just one corn seed, you get a plant with lots and lots of corn! So, it doesn’t take much seed to get a great harvest! And then thirdly, it comes later (takes time). Seed not only must be planted in good soil, but it takes time for it to grow and produce a crop that you can harvest. That’s why it is important to be planting good seed of all kinds continuously.

Be a cheerful giver. God loves them!

I give every way I can and I am very much blessed because of it! I once only had little to plant, but now I can sow and reap much more. Praise God!!!!

“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:20 NLT)

We should never look to wealth and riches to find our happiness. In the gospel of Luke, verses 12:17-21, a rich man planned to build bigger barns to store up his excess grain, “but thinking to himself, he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. And God said unto him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided? So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Notice the last part here, that he “lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”. The problem wasn’t that the man was wealthy. It was that he was selfish and he was storing up his wealth only for himself and not to be used “toward God”.

Have the same mind of Christ

And we should have the “same mind” of Christ (Phil. 2) to do what is needed according to the calling God has called us to. The Apostle Paul said it this way in 1 Cor. 9:19, “Although I am free from all men, I have made myself to be a slave to all that I might win the more…. and I do it all for the sake of the gospel that I may share the blessing therein.” And, keep in mind that what Jesus did on the cross paid for over 8,000 powerful promises that covers every possible provision. And the main thing to understand is to use whatever you have been given by God to serve Him and others and to “establish His Covenant on earth.” By the way, I have been poor and also rich, and rich is far better! And I don’t apologize how God blesses me. 

Psalm 68:19 – “Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits.”

“… He is risen, as He said.” (Matt. 28:6 NKJV)

He is very much alive and active in our lives today!

Easter is the day we celebrate the wonderful fact that Jesus rose from the dead, just exactly as He said He would do! And, that changed everything for believers who have put their faith in Him. The sin debt has now been paid in full and people can now become transformed by His Spirit by receiving Him as their personal Savior! (John 1:12). And we now serve a savior who is very much alive and who is very much active in our lives today!

I think it was said very well in the lyrics of the old hymn “He lives (I Serve a Risen Savior)” that was composed in 1933 by Alfred Henry Ackley (1887-1960).

Read his well written words and apply them freshly today in your life!

He lives!

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;

I know that He is living whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

Refrain:

He lives, He lives,

Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives,

Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair;

I know that He is leading thro’ all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing will come at last.

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

Refrain

“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (Phi. 1:6 KJV)

Have you given much thought about the many good things from Christ Jesus which are in you according to the Bible? Well, you have an amazing amount of powerful resources at your disposal. If you don’t know what they are and if you aren’t using them, you are really missing out!

The knowledge of what you have in Jesus is powerful 

“Acknowledging every good thing which is in you in Jesus” is a very powerful exercise to do, and it has the power to make “the communication of your faith effectual!” Just think about what you have as a Christian! If you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, your list will begin with Jesus, Himself, (Christ in you – Col. 1:27). Then, you have the Holy Spirit – (Spirit-filled – John 14:16). And then there is the Spiritual fruit which He produces in your life (the fruit of the Spirit – Gal. 5:22-23). And, of course, there are His many gifts that He gives to believers – (Spiritual gifts – Rom. 12 & 1 Cor. 12). And, don’t forget the Word of God itself, that you have hidden in your heart – (Psalm 119:11).

The devil is a liar so don’t listen to him!

The devil deceives God’s people by telling them they are helpless and powerless! Nothing could be further from the truth! “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to His own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3 ESV). Do a personal survey to discover who you are in Jesus and what you have according to what He says you have! That knowledge is empowering!

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV)

What’s real and what’s fake?

As I write this, the main stream media is filled with much discussion and opinion on the topic of so called, “fake news.” And, every side of every issue is accusing the other side of being guilty of it. And, quite frankly, it's hard to tell the difference between what is real news and what is fake news because each side spins the “facts” to support their own opinions.

How can they do this with actual “facts” you may ask?

Wall Street Journal columnist, James Taranto, opined on Twitter: “Fact checking” is opinion journalism pretending to be some sort of heightened objectivity.” Simply put, “fact checkers” cherry-pick the statements to “fact-check” and then decide which data to back it up with. In short, statistics can be manipulated to come up with any conclusion wanted to promote.

This is nothing new

the enemies of Jesus took statements He had said and twisted them to use against Him. “Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” (Mark 24:57-58)

What is truth?

According to the dictionary, truth is the quality or state of being true; truthfulness, honesty, accuracy, correctness, validity, factuality, and authenticity. The exact opposite of truth (antonyms) is falsehood, dishonesty, fiction, and lies.

Truth comes from God

·      Jesus is the truth – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 NIV)

·      Jesus’s Word is truth - “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 NIV)

·      Jesus is full of grace and truth - “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NIV)

The truth test

 “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”  (1 John 1:6 NIV)

 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.” (James 1:18 NIV)

 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:5 NIV)

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NIV)

"I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12 NIV)

God is light with no darkness

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5 NIV)

The Word of God gives light and direction

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my pathway.” (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130 NIV)

We must walk in the light

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:5-9 NIV)

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” (Psalm 116:15 NIV)

Recently I lost two pastor friends. One died suddenly on the mission field in another country and the other died locally of a heart attack while helping a neighbor. I will miss them both and know they have been promoted to a new home prepared for them in Heaven. (Rom. 8:16-17)

When people near us die, it helps to focus on important Bible truths.

We don't grieve as others do!

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 ESV)

We are temporarily here

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die.” (Ecc. 3:1-2 KJV)

We have a permanent home in heaven

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Phil. 3:20-21 NIV)

We have much to look forward to

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Rom. 8:16-17 NIV)

Be of good courage

“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.”  (2 Cor. 5:6-9 NASB)

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9 NIV)

Steve Mason and Felix Anderson, my dear brothers in the Lord, I'm looking forward to seeing you again someday in heaven!