TAKE THE FAITH ROAD! by GENE MCGUIRE February, 2014

 “And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

 

COMMENT: The other day I looked at the”American Scene” in the Washington Times Newspaper. Just for the fun of it, I decided to find out the ratio between good and bad news. Out of 23 different articles, only 9 were positive, the rest depicted crimes, natural disasters and terrorism. I had a relative in Detroit who had been nicknamed “411” (Information). She was “addicted” to TV news. During the day she listened to every newscast she could and even went to bed with that one-eyed monster on, fearing that she might miss some “important” happening. I am sorry to say that she was a very fearful person; since September IIth she wouldn’t fly in planes and the fear of being the recipient of “road rage” curtailed her driving. Our world continually bombards us with fearful images. As Christians, it is imperative that we renew our minds with God’s Word and try to minimize our exposure to the anxiety-provoking rhetoric of the world. (Well, some of you may be taunting me with: “Gene, you mention a lot about things from the Newspapers in the daily “Thoughts”. Aren’t you being a little hypocritical?”) Yes, I do subscribe to the “Post” and the “Times”, but I am very selective about what I ponder. Just as faith is the evidence of things hoped for, fear is the evidence of things dreaded. What was that which Job said? “That which I have feared has come upon me. And what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25)

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Joshua 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:7 and 1 John 4:18

WISE SAYING: WITH THE WORD OF GOD YOU MIND’S RENEWED, WITH THE WORDS OF THE WORLD IT IS SUBDUED. (gene mcguire)

Related articles

• A Good Reason To Give Thanks! by Gene McGuire January 28, 2012 (greatthanks.wordpress.com)
• Fear is not your Friend (faithman247.wordpress.com)
• Casting Down Imaginations, Pulling Down Strongholds, and Rebuilding Walls (beholdwriter.wordpress.com)

MY NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE by Gene McGuire January 1, 2013

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

     I send you my best wishes for a wonderfully blessed New Year. I was trying to think of a subject that would be most appropriate to write for our first message in 2013 and I came to the conclusion that we might profit from some new thinking this year. I really shouldn’t say what we’ll discuss today is new because it has always been in God’s Word, but many Christians are not really aware of it. I’m talking about getting the full benefit of salvation.

     There are two different words used for salvation in the Old and New Testaments (ye shuw’ ah and soteria). but they both have the same meaning: deliverance, safety, healing and soundness. This may come as a surprise to some who believed their salvation only guaranteed them a place in Heaven. Let me quickly say that if it were the only provision that salvation offered, it certainly would be enough; but when God saved you, He had more in store for you. Many scriptures bear witness to this fact. Galatians 3:14, which tell us the blessings of Abraham are ours, is only one example. You can receive all the other promises of God the same way you received your deliverance from the kingdom of darkness.

     Romans 10:9&10 states: “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That is the procedure for receiving all the other promises of God . . . . believing and confessing. When the confession of your lips harmonizes with the confession of your heart, you will then have the thing sought after. A search of the letters to the Churches in the New Testament will give you a vivid description of who you are in Christ if you are a believer. It may not be manifest in your life at this moment, but that is still part of your inheritance as a child of God. Let’s use an example. Philippians 4:19 proclaims “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” You might say this is definitely not true in your life because you have nothing but lack. Well I want to tell you there is a difference between “facts” and the Truth. God’s word is true regardless of what may be manifest at any particular moment in your life.

     We should take God’s Word, personalize it, and begin to confess it. Our example from Philippians would then read, “My God supplies all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. Repeat it aloud and often because faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). As you hear God’s Word, the belief in your heart will grow and, as we said before, when the confession of your heart harmonizes with the confession of your mouth, you will receive. We just used that Philippians scripture as an example. There are a multitude of other promises you should personalize and use. When you start this process you might encounter some difficulty. Your mind might balk at confessing things which haven’t been actualized as yet. You need to override those objections and boldly declare what God has said about you. In addition to that you must persist! Your confession is planting seeds of faith in your heart. They won’t bear fruit overnight. Just as the farmer must be patient, you must be patient. It may take weeks of months, but if you continue and don’t faint, your harvest will be bountiful!!!

May the NEW YEAR bring you many blessings,

GENE

Related articles

• The 2013 Salvation Promise! by Elaine Davenport January 1, 2013 (healmenow.wordpress.com)
• How to become a Chrsitian, it’s simpler than you think. If you’re already saved then pass this on to someone who isn’t! (pastormikesays.wordpress.com)
• Are You Asleep? (pilgrimpassing.com)

TAKE THE FAITH ROAD! by GENE MCGUIRE APRIL 30, 2012

 “And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

 

COMMENT: The other day I looked at the”American Scene” in the Washington Times Newspaper. Just for the fun of it, I decided to find out the ratio between good and bad news. Out of 23 different articles, only 9 were positive, the rest depicted crimes, natural disasters and terrorism. I had a relative in Detroit who had been nicknamed “411” (Information). She was “addicted” to TV news. During the day she listened to every newscast she could and even went to bed with that one-eyed monster on, fearing that she might miss some “important” happening. I am sorry to say that she was a very fearful person; since September IIth she wouldn’t fly in planes and the fear of being the recipient of “road rage” curtailed her driving. Our world continually bombards us with fearful images. As Christians, it is imperative that we renew our minds with God’s Word and try to minimize our exposure to the anxiety-provoking rhetoric of the world. (Well, some of you may be taunting me with: “Gene, you mention a lot about things from the Newspapers in the daily “Thoughts”. Aren’t you being a little hypocritical?”) Yes, I do subscribe to the “Post” and the “Times”, but I am very selective about what I ponder. Just as faith is the evidence of things hoped for, fear is the evidence of things dreaded. What was that which Job said? “That which I have feared has come upon me. And what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25)

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Joshua 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:7 and 1 John 4:18

WISE SAYING: WITH THE WORD OF GOD YOU MIND’S RENEWED, WITH THE WORDS OF THE WORLD IT IS SUBDUED. (gene mcguire)

Related articles

• A Good Reason To Give Thanks! by Gene McGuire January 28, 2012 (greatthanks.wordpress.com)
• Fear is not your Friend (faithman247.wordpress.com)
• Casting Down Imaginations, Pulling Down Strongholds, and Rebuilding Walls (beholdwriter.wordpress.com)

Who’s That In The Mirror? by Gene McGuire November 30, 2010

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

COMMENT: Our Lead Scripture is in operation in the natural as well as the spiritual. I know I must have told you about how I started my Life Insurance career as a complete failure, mainly due to shyness and a lack of confidence. My sister Frances asked me why would I leave teaching to become a salesman since I wasn’t “outgoing and sociable” as most of them are.  This situation was miraculously turned around when I became involved with Personal Achievement Institute, an organization that helped me change that self-image by “self talk” that was directly opposite to how I previously felt about myself. I still remember one of the “confessions” written on a 3 by 5 card which I was instructed to read aloud 100 times a day.

“I’m a fantastic, intelligent , cool, calm self-confidence man. I speak in a clear, concise and exciting manner. I’m at ease in the presence of all people because I realize that they are just that, people.  Everyone finds it a real pleasure to be in my company.”

It really worked! My sales soared and I was promoted into District management in Detroit and a few years later Agency Management in Washington D.C. Now let’s look at ourselves as Christians. Some people will say it is okay for us to call ourselves “sinners” because we all sin. I understand where they are coming from, but I refuse to label myself a sinner; I choose to call myself “righteous”. (2Cor. 5:21) I firmly believe that our “who” will determine our “do” If I firmly established in my heart that Jesus’ righteousness has been imputed to me (Romans 4:24), there is a much greater chance for me to reject choices that are ungodly. I won’t be foolish enough to say that we would be sinless when we have the correct image of who we are in Christ, but I am sure that we would sin less.

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Romans 4:13-24

WISE SAYING: YOU CAN’T PRODUCE IN YOUR BEHAVIOR WHAT YOU DON’T BELIEVE ABOUT YOURSELF.

Character Flaws by Gene McGuire September, 2010

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. . . . .” (Romans 12:2)

COMMENT: Dear Saints, I often talk about some of my character flaws, but today I want to tell you about a “victory”! When I first became a Christian I read a booklet that told me to start sitting in the front of the church so I would not be distracted by others. Well, as time went on, I realized there was another reason to take a front seat. . . . . I need a lot of room when I worship the Lord. A couple of months ago a new couple joined our Church and one Sunday morning I walked up the aisle to see “my space” occupied by the newcomers. I was pleased that my response was calm as I took a seat across the aisle. I was pleased because I know that if the same situation had taken place a few years ago, my self-centeredness would have been on display.

I’m sure I would not have said anything to the couple, but I am positive that I would have made it my business to arrive early the next Sunday and “reclaim” my seat. The “squatters” haven’t been in church for several Sundays but I have respected their “territory” by leaving it empty. If, in the future, someone decides to preempt my current “abode”, I thank God that I will react in the same godly manner I just told you about.

SCRIPTURE STUDY:1 Corinthians 13:4 – 7

WISE SAYING: ANGER IS ONE LETTER SHORT OF DANGER!

Sincerely Yours, Gene McGuire