Are you Nourishing your Inner Man?

The Lord taught me that the first business I needed to attend to every day was to have my spirit happy in the Lord. My first concern shouldn’t be thinking of ways to serve the and glorify the Lord,  but rather, how to get my spirit into a happy state, and how to nourish my inner man. –George Mueller

The Cleansing of the Inner Depths of the Heart

“Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, as do stripes the inner depths of the heart.” ~ Proverbs 20:30 NKJV

      The blows and stripes referred to in this verse are accurate metaphors of the discipline that we must go through to be cleansed from strongholds and bad habits. In Christ Jesus we are forgiven from all sin, but we often have ungodly habits and strongholds of sin which must be beaten and wounded until they die.

      Our strongholds and bad habits are like cancers that tap into our soul’s “blood supply.” They drain the resources that are meant for our nourishment, peace, and joy. We can never break free from these strongholds without the Lord. Yes, we may break away from some bad habits, but we cannot eradicate the cancerous evil at its very root—only the strength of Christ can do that.

      Likewise as you pursue the wisdom of God, your natural, fleshly man must be beaten and wounded. Your natural inclinations of selfishness must be purged. The process will be painful for you are being separated from the aspects of your old nature which made up you. This process will span the entire length of your life: there will always be another stronghold or something to deal with while you are on this earth, BUT IN CHRIST YOU CAN CONQUER and OBTAIN THE PRIZE!

        As you walk through your life this week remember, dear friends in the Lord, that the blows and wounds—yea the purging of your soul—is necessary for your new life in Christ to continue to grow. Just as a plant must die some day; it will be replaced by another or perhaps many more plants; and the dead plant becomes fertilizer for the new plant. As you abide in Christ, the Lord must discipline you to make room for more of His Spirit and love: to plant new plants, new groves of vegetation that produce fruits of gentleness, love, joy, peace, kindness, self-control and more Christlike character traits where old ones of greed, hate, and condemnation once stood.

     Stand firm and embrace the Lord’s discipline (chastisement) for He is purging your inmost being!  Take Courage brothers and sisters, the Lord is your strength!

It’s better to do the Hard Stuff

It’s better to do the Hard Stuff

“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

Eccl 7:2-4 (KJV)

     This Scripture presents a mindset that is a polar opposite of what we often hear in America. We hear the message of just live and enjoy life! Smile more and don’t think too hard. The Word declares a different message right here, though. Read the verses above again slowly.

“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting.” That Scripture has impacted me big time as a young Christian man. I have seen two applications which I’d like to share with you. 1) Is it really better to just feast on life or to consider and contemplate some of its hardships like death. If death comes so quickly, how should I live my life? Should I really just not stress about the small stuff, or is the small stuff what determines whether I’ll ever make it to the big stuff (faithfulness principle, Luke 16:10)? While almost everyone young seems to cheer, “just have fun and experience life!” think about your actions. Look at what Ecclesiastes 11:9, 12:1(KJV) say:

  “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. . . . Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them”

  2) Going to a funeral may actually be for your benefit. Preachers know that at a funeral many more people are open to Christ that may be very stubborn at other times; the reason is because the people are considering death and its reality right then. Eternity seems much closer.

   Another point on funerals: even as a Christian, I was impacted by going to a couple of funerals. This verse was in my mind around those times and the tragedies that had occurred also brought many to the side of the family and sharing of the impact that the deceased had made. I was speechless and struck to the heart—life is so fleeting and next to accepting Christ, reaching and touching others lives with Him is very important.

   What we have looked at today is probably not the most encouraging, but it is the Word. Let’s pray:

      Lord Jesus, may You speak to us by Your Holy Spirit who You said will lead us into all truth (John 16:13) and give us insight into what we should do with what we have read. Lord, may every heart be receptive and moldable to Your small, still voice speaking to them. In Jesus Christ’s Mighty Name, may these things be done. Amen.

 

Thought 269: Conviction from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 269

Conviction

     Convictions are an important component of your Christian faith. As you mature spiritually, you should develop convictions based on what you’ve learned in the Word of God. Today, examine your “convictions.” Re-evaluate them to see if there is opinion wrapped up in them or a strong Biblical foundation, having Christ as the chief cornerstone.

Thought 265: How God Speaks versus How The Devil Speaks from Ryan's devotional book series Thougths

Thought 265

How God Speaks versus How The Devil Speaks

     God says give and Lucifer says take. Further, God often speaks in a small, still voice despite His vastness (few ever hear Him audibly); yet Satan rants, raves and condemns because of his smallness. God is love, a consuming fire, and the Light. God teaches abstinence, reserve, conviction, balance, stewardship, conduct and love. Next time you struggle with whether it is God or Satan speaking to you, examine the voice.

Thought 249: Ever tried to lessen the pain of spankings? from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 249

Ever tried to lessen the pain of spankings?

  Have you ever tried to lessen the pain of spankings? I sure have! I remember one time I put on three pairs of sweatpants so that my spanking wouldn’t hurt. Long story short, my sin found me out and I still received that spanking—without the extra padding. In a similar manner, we get spiritual spankings from time to time. Scripture calls these “spankings” discipline or chastening and even declares that without them that we would be illegitimate spiritual children.

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:5-11 KJV

Thought 237: 2009 Clarity. . . . 2010 Moving Forward from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 237

2009 Clarity…. 2010 Moving Forward

 A previous pastor at my church, Pastor Brock, preached a couple of sermons, each at the beginning of separate years in which he testified to what God had spoken to him about the coming year. God revealed to Pastor Brock that the year of 2009 would be a year of CLARITIY in our decisions, dreams, and desires; the truth was that it was a year of clarity for me. When I look back to 2009 I remember the joy of rededicating my life to the Lord, of being called into the ministry, of being told to write this book, of water baptism, of the birth of my second sister, and of much more. It was a year of clarity! Is all this a big coincidence? No, this is God simply using a servant of His to spread His word to His people and it was proved true over the course of that year!  Nothing happens by accident, because God reigns over all. God still speaks today, He is not silent and uninvolved!

In 2010, a few months before God moved him to a different state, Pastor Brock again had a message. This time the message was Moving Forward in faith, future, favor, and finances. Well, it is only September 9^th as I am writing this, but yet again this message has rung true in my life. This year hasn’t been as clear as last year was and I have had to exercise faith much more. Likewise, financially, God has blessed me with work and monetary gifts, my average income per year, based on a rough estimate will be doubled by the end of 2010.  In terms of favor (grace), God has been raining down many blessings this year: from completing my Gold Medal of Achievement (like Eagle Scout) to the blessing of being self-taught in 11^th Grade (except for Spanish and geometry)—I am also doing better and developing self-teaching skills that are bound to prove beneficial over the course of my life. In addition, God has helped me to realize that my work with young men isn’t about helping them earn a Gold Medal of Achievement that is simply a benefit. The ultimate goal is for me to continue to be faithful to Christ and mentor the young men that God allows me to serve. God also led me to start teaching a Young Adult Bible Study which has had some pretty neat results.

To keep this short, I won’t go on about the many other ways the Lord has blessed and helped me Move Forward this year, but I pray the Holy Spirit will reveal to you some of the things that He has done in your life over the course of a years’ time.

  I have found that writing a list or article about what God has taught me throughout a year to be a source of encouragement. Perhaps if you develop a similar compilation it will be an encouragement to you.

Thought 225: Hard Times produce a stronger Christian from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 225

Hard Times produce a stronger Christian

“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 1:2-4 KJV

 

  We all must go through storms so that our roots will go deeper, so that our foundation will be shown for what it really is. It is nearly impossible to grow if everything is always easy. Was learning to read easy for you? Was learning to drive easy or a little bit challenging?

  When we prepare to learn something that we don’t know anything about, we willingly subject ourselves to hard times and work. Perseverance gets us through. It is the same in our spiritual lives: when the seasons of Euroclydon (Acts 27:14) attack us, it is easy to want to give up, to doubt, to fear; but we must hold on like Job:

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. . . .” Job 13:15 KJV

Job was willing to continue living for God even though he didn’t understand why all the horrible trials he was going through were happening, why God wasn’t speaking, and why the dearest person in the world to him, his wife, was telling him to give up and die by cursing the God who created him. Job must have felt an enormous inner attack by Satan; yet we see him hold on to trusting in God.

   Every Christian will go through hard times because it is part of the Christian life. Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, persecuted, and killed, likewise His followers have been beaten, made fun of, belittled, killed, and persecuted throughout history. Take courage dear brothers and sisters, hard times are a season of life. Even though it seems too hard to bear the Lord has promised He will not let us go through more than we can bear:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV

Thought 223: The SOLID Rock, The Sharpening Stone from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 223
The SOLID Rock, The Sharpening Stone

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”      Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

 People can sharpen each other; but I submit to you is that Christ is sharpening us. . . As we read the Word, we are transformed and as apply what we’ve learned to our lives, we are like a piece of pottery in the Potter’s hands: be shaped and molded into the vessel that He desires.

Another analogy would be this: imagine yourself one day becoming a beautiful sword with precious gems inlaid in the hilt with a shining yet strong blade. All you are right now is a hunk of dirty old medal, and the gems are lying in a pile on a nearby table along with the sword polish across from the furnace. In order to be turned into that beautiful sword you have to be put through extreme fire—and heat!—sometimes to the point of becoming a liquid metal. You have to be beaten into shape and engraved with your Maker’s signature. The dirty, undesirable metals have to be drawn out so that you can become a pure weapon, worthy for your Master to use. It is the same way in our Christian walk, we don’t shine right away; our sword polish hasn’t been worked in enough. We grow brighter each day, yet we never reach the perfection on this earth: the metal we are made of has to pass into death so that the last bit of fire I’m not talking about “purgatory,” I’m talking about our sanctification [the process of becoming holy] on this earth which culminates in glorification [perfection] when we are united with Christ.) can cleanse us as we march over into eternity in Heaven. I’m not talking about purgatory, I’m talking about our sanctification on this earth and our glorification when we are united with Christ.

Thought 210: The Word from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 210

The Word

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:22-27 (NIV1984)

  Meditate on what this verse means in relation to your own life.

Thought 203: Learning? from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 203

Learning?

       Throughout our lives the Lord wants us to grow. The Holy Spirit has many things that He wants to teach us and review over and over again with us. But we have to listen to grow. It’s just like when you were a kid and your Mother told you not to touch the stove, but you did—without listening obediently we won’t grow. Not all of the Holy Spirit’s lessons for us will be profound, but they will get through each day of life.

          Read John 14:1-17:26  slowly and meditate on it. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and make your heart receptive before you begin.

Daily Devotion from Ryan Marks book Thoughts

Thought 143

1 Corinthians 7:27 vs. Proverbs 18:22

The Finding Principle

 ^“Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:27 (NIV1984)

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.” Proverbs 18:22 (NIV1984)

    At first glance these Scriptures can appear to contradict each other: after all, one says don’t look for a wife and the other says that he who finds one receives favor from the Lord. How do you find something without looking for it? The answer is actually  very simple. Think about when you have misplaced an important item like your keys. As you look in odd places, you find things that you didn’t even know were there, right? It’s the same in our lives. If we seek the Lord Jesus and His kingdom first, then everything else we need will be added to us (Matthew.6:33). If you need a wife (or husband), God will provide (check out Genesis 24 for an example)!

    Are you unmarried? Don’t go looking for a wife! Seek the Lord. He will lead you and, as you follow Him, you will find that wife: find what is good and receive favor from the Lord!

Daily Devotion from Ryan Marks book Thoughts

Thought 125

Spiritual Growth

         Did you know that you choose how fast you grow spiritually? Well, you do. If you have a willingness to do the Lord’s will, learn from your mistakes, turn form your wicked ways after repenting, and learn wisdom from godly mentors, then you are going to grow faster than someone who does not. We see a similar principle in physical life: some people mentally and emotionally “grow-up” faster than others. They do so by practice: they have to put forth effort to control their minds and emotions and when they do so, their character shows forth as responsible, wise, and mature character. Again, many people who grow faster did so because they chose to learn from their mistakes and apply themselves. It is the same spiritually: will you put forth the effort to grow and learn or will you just ‘go-along-for–the-ride’?

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:1-5 NIV

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV