Defying the Enemy...by Doug Thompson

The apostle Paul was writing a letter to the Ephesian church concerning many facets of individual life and the life of the church as a whole. Then when he gets down to his final thoughts, he makes a remarkable statement: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might...for we wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against princialities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
He follows this up with a charge to the church to stand against the "wiles of the devil" by taking up the whole armor of God in order to withstand Satan in the evil day. If ever there was an evil day, we are living in it, and it is getting worse as time passes. A quick parousal of a newspaper will more than authenticate that truth. The more a nation blocks God out of their society, the more wickedness and evil prevail.
As Christians, it is our duty to stand against Satan, against wickedness and evil, and against a society that is moving further and further from God. By putting on the whole armor of God we will be able to stand. I'll discuss this more in the next blog.

Deferring to Others...by Doug Thompson

A faithful man shall abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Proverbs 28:20

I was watching two little tykes playing the other day, when one of them decided that he was bored with the toy he had, so he tried to take away the toy the other little guy was playing with. Well the results were instantaneous; the struggle was on, the cries rang out, and both of them were very upset. The one was upset because he couldn't have the toy he wanted. The other was upset because he couldn't keep the toy he had and play with it.

As I watched, the mother of the tyke whose toy was being "stolen" went over and picked up the toy that had been disgarded by the other. When her son saw the other toy, he let go of the one he was struggling over, and grabbed with glee the other toy. The screaming and struggling stopped immediately, and peace reigned once again.

Sometimes as believers we set on sights on the things of others, and wonder why we don't have the same or similar things. We struggle with God to try to get what maybe is not ours to have. Or we get envious in our heart and try to "steal" a friend or a spouse. The struggle within will immediately alienate us from the Lord and His purpose for our life. In these instances it is best to just let go of these things, and defer to others what God has given them, and be content with what we already have.

God will bless this attitude, and will even give you the desire of your heart, if you will be faithful to Him, setting your sight on His purpose, and not your own.

Dangling Your Feet In The Water...by Doug Thompson

Summertime is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere of the world. It is during the summer that we usually take time out for family vacations. Some folks travel to distant destinations to find rest and relaxation on a sandy beach. Others plan elaborate activities of camping out, hiking or panning for gold. But others just sit beside the pool in their backyards and dangle their feet in the water, trying to cool off a little from the heat.

When God made water, he made an element that is so versatile. We drink it to stay alive. We pull fish out of it as a sport or as a job, but also to stay alive. It falls from the sky to water crops, that help us stay alive. We use it to clean our bodies, and help us stay alive. We are baptized in it as a symbol of eternal life that we have received through faith in Christ, testifying that we are alive in him. Water is vital to life.

It is also a biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit, which gives us life, and is a constant fountain springing up within us that lets us know we are his, and he is ever present within us. He gives us inner strength when we face difficult times. He cools us off emotionally from the heat of spiritual battles. He is our source of rest and relaxation spiritually. He fills us with refreshing, life-giving water that allows us to carry on daily. We should never take a vacation from him.

Surely water is the most common element on the face of the earth. We can dangle our feet in it to refresh us. But the Holy Spirit of God is far more important in our lives. We need his refreshing filling every day. And there is nothing common about the Holy Spirit of God. He is vital to our lives.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..."
Acts 1:8

Discerning God's Purpose...by Doug Thompson

"...for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45

The rains have come and gone, leaving destruction, distress, and disaster; even death. The sun comes out and shines as if nothing had happen at all. Yet it's rays illuminate the countryside revealing all of the damage that so many folks have suffered, and are still suffering. Some have said that we haven't seen this kind of flooding in nearly 100 years in many parts of the country.

So, where does God fit into all of this? Surely he controls the sky, the clouds, the rains and the winds. Yet the Scriptures clearly tell us that no evil proceeds from God, nor is he the author of evil. James puts it this way: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing". James 1:3,4

Wanting nothing, or lacking nothing. The life of Joseph reflects this very idea. Sold into Egyptian slavery by jealous brothers, Joseph went through a series of trials, temptations and testings. He never lost hope and his faith in God was rewarded by being elevated from prison to the highest position in Egypt under Pharaoh. What his brothers meant for evil, God used to save Jacob and all his family from the terrible seven years of famine lacking nothing.

When you suffer pain, God can use it to bring something worthwhile into your life through it. When the floods of life produce great loss, God can replace it with something far better. When one of your expectations in life is not realized, God can substitute something of greater value in its place. Truth is, we don't have to understand God; we just have to trust him and let him turn our negatives into positives. Let him fulfill his purpose in your life.

Delight To Do The Will Of The Lord...by Doug Thompson

I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8

Why does it seem to be so hard to remain upbeat all the time? I guess what I mean is, how can I maintain a constant, positive attitude in everything I do? Now before you accuse me of being an idealist, let me try to explain from God's Word what I mean.

The first factor we consider is the word "delight". It means to please, or to satisfy, or to find joy. All of those things seem positive to me, which brings up the second factor, "Just where do I find that delight?" The Psalmist indicates that doing the will of God produces "delight". And the way that is accomplished is to know where and how to discover God's will.

The Psalmist goes on to show us the dynamics, or the third factor, of knowing God's will. It is accomplished by searching for and finding the "law" of God written in the heart, or in other words, memorizing God's principles. When faced with any situation, the Spirit of God will prompt us with the Word, allowing us to faced the issue with truth, leaving us free, positive and delighting in God's will.

Memorize the Word where you discover the many facets of God's will. And then when faced with a difficult situation, ask the Lord to remind you what His will is concerning the issue at hand, and you will delight in knowing that God has given you the answer already. What a mighty God we serve!

DOING THINGS MY WAY...by Doug Thompson

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov. 3:6

God made mankind with a free will to choose. Each one of us makes thousands of decisions every day that determine the direction our life will take. Some of these decisions are menial, unimportant things that don't make much difference in anything. But there are those larger moments when the choices we make change the entire path and purpose of our lives.

Some decisions are made after much deliberation and careful thought. Others are forced upon you in a split second with no thought even possible. In either case it is always essential that you be in communication with God or sensitive to His Word when faced with your decisions, because if your way is not His way, you are in for negative results.

Acknowledging God in every decision you make results in two basic things: 1. You maintain a clear conscience, and 2. God directs your paths or in other words makes your paths straight and smooth. How positive your life can be by simply employing the principles and promises that God has given you in His Word, and proving what is His good and acceptable and perfect will. When God is working in your decisions, your faith is real and your path becomes crystal clear. Acknowledge God in all of your decisions, and watch Him work on your behalf!

Disintegrating Families by Doug Thompson

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy... 2 Timothy 3:1,2

Perilous times! Paul, in writing to Timothy, describes what life would look like during the church age, or the age of grace. He gives a very precise description of life, as if he were reading today's newspapers. The truth is that Paul had to face the same things back in the first century that we do today, including homosexuality, incest, boasters, proud people etc.

One thing he did mention to Timothy was the breakdown of the family, that is, lovers of their own selves and disobedient to parents. The family today, in general, has ceased to find harmony and purpose, both individually and as a unit, and is disintegrating from within. Parents no longer care for the morality, integrity and character of their children, much less their own. Children have no reason to obey their parents. Families today are individuals, each doing his or her own thing, going their individual ways, and just stopping off at the house long enough to find a change of clothing, eat a quick bite, and grab a few hours of sleep before taking off again and doing the same thing.

God is no longer in the picture of the greater majority of homes in America, and less than 25% of all families attend church on Sundays, the Bible and God have been expelled from our public schools and then we wonder why the moral fiber of the United States is disappering. It is a sad scenario, and even the churches of today don't have the backbone to teach the full truth of God's Word. It is a tragedy to see families split up, not just once, but multiple times, and children raised under these circumstances. Commitment seems to be a thing of the past.

It is high time for America to wake up and see what has happened, and what God wants to do to restore America to its foundational principles. This will only happen when parents accept their responsibility to God and to their children. Take time for the Lord. Teach your children Biblical principles. Let God know that the door is open to your family and your household. Let's be the exceptions in our land.

Disputes...by Doug Thompson

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? Mark 9:33

It is nearly impossible to live without having a dispute with someone. If you are married, you know what I mean. Disputes usually result from differences concerning small, insignificant matters that are blown out of proportion, and become unrealistic or unproductive points of contention.

In the case above, Jesus perceived that a couple of the disciples were disputing the matter of which one of them would be the greatest. They were embarrassed about the issue of their dispute, and kept silent. Mind you, they were arguing this point in the presence of THE GREATEST who ever lived on the earth. From there Jesus gave a concise explanation of "greatness" that is involved in true discipleship. In a word, servant! He who humbly becomes a lowly servant in last place may possibly be elevated to first place.

Most disputes are about who is right, or who is in control, or who has the right perspective, or who has all the facts. And most disputes are usually settled when one party humbly admits error, or yields control, or gains understanding concerning the issue, or gets all the facts straight, and seeks harmony rather than disputing.

Wouldn't the world be a better place if we could get this principle right? Think about what Jesus said the next time you get into a dispute with someone.

Design vs. Evolution...by Doug Thompson

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou art our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isa 64:8

The great controversy of Intelligent Design vs. evolution continues. Ben Stein has produced a very factual and thought-provoking movie entitled Expelled. Of course, the evolutionary science faction has denounced the movie as total myth and fantasy, and has decried that Stein is non-scientific, and his prejudices are evident.

But when push comes to shove, the facts speak for themselves. All of the interviews are done in such a way as to let each scientist the freedom to express his or her own opinions, beliefs, or ideas as personal and with complete candor.

Stein finally shows the inadequacies and fallacies of proponents of evolution and their total disdain for those that hold an oposing position. Proponents of Intelligent Design are slowly losing the freedom to express their opposing positions or even question evolution, which is now taught as absolute fact in our educational system.

When all is said and done, Intelligent Design is just as viable, if not a more acceptable explanation of our existence here on this planet. Perhaps the Bible is worth believing after all. I believe it. Do you?

Deepening Relationships...by Doug Thompson

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him... Titus 1:16

Our life consists of relationships. How we deal with people depends on how much we know them and can respond to them based on that knowledge. Paul told Titus to keep his eye on people that claimed to know God, but their actions denied his existence in their lives. So many times we hear people say they have a working relationship with God, but the evidence is to the contrary.

Your relationship with God can only increase as you spend more and more time with Him. By reading, studying, meditating on, memorizing and sharing God's Word your growth in Him increases. Prayer and communicating with Him on a moment by moment basis builds a strong bond between you and Him. God so desires to have an intimate and deepening relationship with each of His children. Determine in your heart to spend as much time with the Lord as you possibly can. It will enhance your ability to respond to HIm correctly in any given situation of your life.

Dangerous Doctrines of devils...by Doug Thompson

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
1 Timothy 4:1
Paul, here, is setting the stage for Timothy as to what he should expect in the latter times (the age of grace). Let's consider a bit of the language Paul uses:

1. ...Spirit speaketh expressly... This is not just some random idea or a passing thought. It is concrete, straight-forward, no-messing-around truth you can expect to happen. GOD SAYS SO!

2. ...some shall depart from the faith... This does not refer to individuals who were true Christians, then left their faith. It refers to a general departure from recognized biblical truth during the entire church age (nearly 2,000 years).

3. ...giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. During the church age there will be people who will follow after doctrines that persuade men that God is not truth, that the Bible is not accurate or relevant, and that Jesus' death was not necessary.

Oprah Winfrey is now purporting a "new" idea of religion that accomplishes what Paul warned against. According to her and her "spiritual advisor" God is in everything; he is in you and you are your own god. You don't have to believe anything; as a matter of fact, faith isn't even necessary. What is important is the way you feel about yourself. Feelings are everything, and as long as you are feeling positive about yourself and everyone around you, then you are fulfilling your purpose in life. Don't worry about sin; there is no such thing. You are the most important person in the world, and as long as you are in control of your feelings in a positive way, everthing will work out ok. Shades of Gnosticism!

What's more, according to the "new" idea, the cross of Christ is just a symbol of the difficulties we face in life. The death of Jesus was not substitutionary; he didn't die for our sins, he was just a man, and gave a nice example of life.

As Paul warned, we need to beware of new doctrines.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:8, 9

Dependable God...by Doug Thompson

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. Isa 46:9

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to day and forever. Heb. 13:8

God is immutable, meaning He never changes. That is the reason we can trust Him at all times. That is the reason His word is always trustworthy. That is the reason faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. It never changes; it always produces the sames results when put to practice. So, ask yourself the question, "If God is always the same, and never changes, then why is my life so inconsistent?"

The answer to that question is obvious. We do change. We have mood swings. We change our approach to situations. We sin. We are inconsistent. We are human. We are weak. We succumb to temptations. That is why we must have an unchanging God to bring stability and consistency to our feeble lives. Even as believers in Christ, we are susceptible to sin. Thanks be to God for His rich mercy and Grace, and to His son Jesus, who is always the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Through them and the Holy Spirit we can find stability and consistency in our daily walk. Have you found them? Have they found you?

Dwelling on Temptation by Doug Thompson

If you have ever been on a diet, you know the stomach-tugging, mouth-watering feeling of seeing a nice piece of pie or a donut or perhaps a rich-looking piece of cheesecake, and just oooing and ahhhing over it. Your head says "No", but your tastebuds say "We want; we need; give it to us; we want satisfction.". And the more we dwell on it, the stronger the desires grow.

Satan knows what we want. He knows our weak areas of desires. Same goes for our flesh and its weaknesses. The lust of the eye can be quite powerful. We are tempted on so many different fronts, and like the pie, the donut, or the cheesecake, the more we dwell on sin, the stronger the desires grow. But just looking at pie, donuts or cheesecake will not add one ounce to your weight.

Likewise, temptation is not sin. James tells us that if we will humble ourselves before God and resist the devil, he will flee from us. Humbling ourselves is not easy. Resisting is hard work. But it can be done with the power of the Spirit and in the powerful name of Jesus. We can lay aside the weight of sin by dwelling on a spiritual diet of "consuming the Word".

Death: Your Enemy or Your Long-awaited Friend

by doug Thompson...

Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints. Death is one of those things that we can never truly get a handle on until it's our turn to die. And then after the fact it is too late to tell anyone about it. Many people fear Death, because it is an unknown area, and we don't exactly know what is beyond Death. It becomes the enemy to avoid at all costs.

But the believer in Christ should not see Death as an enemy, rather as a long-awaited friend that transports us from one uncertain, unpredictable life into a positive, eternal and perfect life with our Creator. Granted, those of us who are young and are looking forward to many more years on earth are not inviting Death to intervene just yet. However, there are those who have lived a very full life and are ready to face friend Death with open arms and a sense of great relief.

But Death is no respector of age. It can occur at any moment, and in just about any circumstance or situation of life. The real question concerning death is this: Are you prepared for its results? Those who know Christ as Savior are prepared; not necessarily for the when, but for what comes afterward. For those who don't know Christ, Death is the dreaded enemy, and brings ultimate separation from God. How do you see Death...as a friend or as an enemy?

Difficult to Understand

by Doug Thompson. The Bible is not exactly the easiest book to understand...there are things that not only puzzle us, but things that the writers themselves did not comprehend. For example, we have the coming of Messiah. Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a day on which the Jews celebrated the triumphal entry of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, into Jerusalem as King. They had anxiously awaited his coming for centuries, according to Old Testament prophets.

However, this coming Sunday we will celebrate the resurrection of this same Messiah who rose from the dead, having been rejected as King and crucified only a few short days after presenting himself to the Jews to be their King. Jesus even predicted all of this would happen. But interestingly, while knowing of his impending death, he was simultaneously preparing his disciples to head up the church, which he also formed during his earthly ministry. The prophets correctly predicted this, as well, but could not did not and understand its implications. What a dilemma for them, as well as for the disciples who did not understand it either until after the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.

Perhaps you have encountered some mysteries or difficult passages in the Bible. If you lack wisdom, ask God, and He will give it to you liberally, according to James. However, know that many things will remain "hidden" until God teaches us ALL things in eternity. Then your understanding will be complete.

Decisions, Decisions!

by Doug Thompson. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 Solomon here reveals that your life consists of decisions; thousands of decisions every day, and these decisions determine how you live. You choose to be happy or sad. It is your choice to be grumpy or upbeat. You determine to be active or lazy. You decide to sin or remain pure. Solomon says that if you base your decisions on God's principles by acknowledging His truths, that He (God) will direct your paths, or make your paths smooth and straight. If you choose righteousness, the apostle Pauls tells us that all things will work together for good, to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose. A happy, productive, purposeful life is available to all who choose it. Choose God's way and you choose fruitfulness. Choose your own understanding and selfish desires, and you wind up with far less than best; even misery. Like Joshua declared, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". Choose you this day whom you will serve.

Don't Lose Hope!

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Just what is hope, anyway? Here are a few definitions:

1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: I hope he feels better soon.

2. a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.

3. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. I hope the Colts will win the 2009 Superbowl.

4. to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early Spring.

Hope is about the future, something we look towards, someone who can help, or desiring that things will all turn out ok. Hope coupled with faith, its sister, is very powerful. Then, when we join these two with God's love and His sovereignty, we discover the foundation upon which every Christian should base his or her life's decisions.

Losing hope is to say God doesn't love you. It says that He is not sovereign and is not in control. Losing hope says faith is irrelevant, which means God's Word is not trustworthy. Losing hope is a tragic emptiness.

So, don't lose hope! It will make you seem weak, and it will make God look bad in the eyes of others if you do.

God says, "Now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love)." Hope therefore is your dependence on God's love, relying on the promises in His Word, and believing that He will bring to pass only those things that are worth looking forward to. I hope you understand this truth!

Doug Thompson's weekly insight

Doug Thompson serves as Ministry and Maturity Pastor at Indianapolis Baptist Temple. You will be encouraged by Dr. Thompson's weekly insights.