10th September 2014 BE ON GUARD Luke 21:34 “But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose;”(Amplified Bible) The above verse encourages us to be on guard and ensure that depression is not our heart’s portion as a result of our self-indulgence (excesses), drunkenness and worrying about the cares of this world and life. Being on guard in this sense means that every born again believer must continually run a spiritual filtration process in their lives. In science, filtration is a mechanical or physical operation which is used for the separation of solids from fluids (liquids or gases) by interposing a medium to fluid flow through which the fluid can pass, but the solids (or at least part of the solids) in the fluid are retained. It has to be emphasized that the separation is NOT complete, and it will depend on the pore size and the thickness of the medium as well as the mechanisms that occur during filtration. It is clear that in scientific filtration you set the standards of filtration – you determine what can or cannot enter. Filtration is used for the purification of fluids: for instance separating dust from the atmosphere to clean ambient air. Spiritual filtration entails you deciding that you will remove from your lifestyle everything that does not glorify God or enhance your love for Him. If anything stops you from advancing God’s kingdom get rid of it. If you do not do this we see from Luke 21:34 that you will suddenly find yourself in a trap or noose that you created yourself. This noose has the capacity to strangle you or cause failure in your endeavours. However, whilst you are suddenly trapped, the truth is you arrived at this place over a period of time through making “small” bad decisions with a destructive cumulative effect. WHY? You did not apply spiritual filtration. The job offer you have received, with the massive package will it advance God’s kingdom or take you away from it? If it is from God then definitely God’s kingdom will be advanced. The boyfriend you have does he make you hotter for the things of God or is he taking you into a spiritual freezer? The friends’ home you allow your children to go and sleepover with their friends does it edify them or expose them to satanic attack? The business deal you are chasing will it cause you to be a blessing to your family or will it invite strife? The friends you have and their counsel, do they advance God’s kingdom or bring it into disrepute? Etc? Have you applied spiritual filtration today? If this devotional has blessed you, please pass it on and also email us your feedback to [email protected] To subscribe to receive the Bolts of Wisdom daily devotional click here God bless you. Pastor Andrew Mutondoro website: oca.org.za
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:32:18 +0000
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