Closed Minded Systems

                                                             When The Door Slams

There is a way that appears to be right, But in the end it leads to death.                                                                                                                  Proverbs 16:25 NIV 

        The belief system of the religious people share much in common with cultist. First and foremost, the belief systems of the religion are characterized by closed-minded. They are not interested in rational cognitive evaluation of the facts. The organizational structure interprets the facts to the religion/cultist, generally invoking the Bible and /or its respective founder as the ultimate source of its pronouncements.

        Such belief systems are in isolation; they never shift to logical consistency. They exist in what we might describe as separate compartments in the cultist's mind, and are incapable of penetration or disruption if the individual religion/cultist is completely committed to the authority of his organization.

        Secondly, religion/cultist belief systems are characterized by genuine antagonism on a personal level since the cultist almost always identifies his/her dislike of the Christian message with the messenger who holds such opposing beliefs.

        The identification of opposing beliefs with the individual in the framework of antagonism leads the religion almost always to reject the individual as well as the belief, a problem closely linked with closed-minded and one that is extremely difficult to deal with in general dialogue with cultists. Almost without exception, all religion/cultic belief systems manifest a type of institutional dogmatism and a pronounced intolerance for any position but their own. 

        A final mark of a religious cult is the unwillingness of the leaders to let the people grow up. A true shepherd will do everything he can to bring Christian people to maturity as quickly as he can. He will seek to avoid necessary teaching, nor will he try to keep people from maturity. Many religious cults perpetuate spiritual dependence so that their followers lose the ability to make independent, rational decisions. Related Bible Texts: Mark 13:6; Galatians 1:8; 2 Peter 2:17-19.

        Think about this: Cults often center around a man or woman who is trying to gain power, money, or influence from manipulating people. When someone says he has a unique insight from God or is the special one that God has anointed to reach the world, you are dealing with satanic behavior.

        Renewal: Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, I am he, and will deceive many (Mark 13:5-6 NIV).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.    Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness                    

      

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True Wisdom

                                      When The Door Slams

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.                                                                               John 15:4-5 NKJV 

        True wisdom is found in establishing a balance in teamwork with God. It seems so often there is a tendency to go to one extreme or the other. We can adopt the philosophy of "Let go and let God" and sit back and expect God to do everything. However,  I have found that if I am lazy, God won't do it for me. 

        On the other hand, there have been times when I have gone to the other extreme of trying to do it all on my own and proceeding almost as if God was not around. That too, has usually ended in failure. 

        Philippians 4:13 brings these two contrasting extremes into balance: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The verse is not saying I can do it all, period. Nor is it saying Christ does it all. It is a joint project, a teamwork relationship, a partnership. 

        Today's passage uses an example from nature to illustrate the same point. The branch without the vine or trunk soon withers and dies and produces no fruit. The trunk provides nourishment to the branches, which produce the fruit. Teamwork is God's mode of operation.

        Think about this: When you embrace God's love, you are transformed. When you embrace God's love, you feel differently about yourself, your neighbors, and your world. When you embrace God's love, you can keep your problems in perspective because you know that every earthly inconvenience is temporary but God's love is eternal

        Petition: May I be careful and watch myself closely lest I forget the things my eyes have seen or let them depart from my heart as long as I live. may I teach them to my children and to their children after them (Deuteronomy 4:9). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                    

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All Of Us Are Aging, All We See Is Ourselves

                             When The Door Slams    

Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.                     2 Corinthians 4:16 AMP  

        It's been said that young people look forward, old people look back and the middle aged just look tired. There is truth in this statement, think about it! How much better it would be if each age group would look at their present reality from a new perspective.  

        All of us are aging . We cannot avoid it no matter how hard we try. Yet how frantic we get trying to be younger, thinner, and wealthier. All we can see is ourselves.

        If we viewed our aging process with an eternal perspective, we would not be so quick to forget how important inner beauty is. We would be the kind of people who don't forget to count their blessing even if it became a necessity to also count calories.

        We would be aware that once we get to know good people, they all become beautiful. We, as older people, would build our lives into younger people so that when we die all our wisdom would not die with us. We would live each day with compassion knowing that it is a precious, never to be repeated , gift. 

        Think about this: The next time you feel as if you are experiencing "things you can't change," remember that learning to accept your realities is a sign of your eternal hope. When circumstances look so threatening and overwhelming grant that we may look first to the LORD commandments and His promises.  

        Renewal: "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29-31 NIV). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.    

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Peace Is An Ingredient Of Life

                                                          When The Door Slams

My Son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life [worth living] And tranquility and prosperity [the wholeness of life's blessings] they will add to you. Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart [see Col 3:9-12].                             Proverbs 3:1-3 AMP 

         At the suggestion of the rabbi, a Jewish boy made a list of the great values he would pursue during his lifetime. He included fortune, fame, and physical health. When he finished his list, he excitedly gave it to the rabbi. With his years of experience and wisdom, the rabbi looked over the list in search of one particular word. It wasn't there.

        The rabbi turned to the little boy and said, "You have missed one of the most important values of life, and that is peace of mind. What good is fame, what good are money and fortune, and what good is physical health, if you do not have peace at the core of your life?"

        Some Jewish people continue to use the same greeting they have used for centuries: "Shalom"--which mean peace.

        Peace is an ingredient of life all of us desire. Solomon, in talking to his son, shares that he will have peace plus long productive days and a long life if he will determine to focus on God's Word and follow God's commands. God's Word contains principles that can make life more fulfilling, more meaningful, and characterized by peace. God has our best in mind. The intent of His commands is not to control us, but to enrich our lives.

       Think about this: Peace is not something I seek. It is the by-product of following God's commands.       

       Affirmation: The one who habitually keeps His commandments [obeying His word and following His precepts, abides and] remains in Him, and He in him. By this we know and have the proof that He[really] abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us[as a gift]                    1 John 3:24 AMP.

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of  unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.   

                                                                Never Rest Ministries