HOW DO WE LIVE?

Part 2

"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you"
(James 4:7).

In our last devotion we read the ways God wants us to positively live for Him in the midst of this depraved world. Today, we read the Scriptures where He tells us explicitly what our reaction should be to the evil around us. Once again, we are not left in the dark about what God wants us to do. He does not want us to tolerate evil but to turn from it. He does not want us to make friends with it but to fight it.

Jesus Christ came into this world to "destroy the works of the devil." Jesus now lives in us by the power of His Holy Spirit and He still has the same mandate to destroy the devil's works. We do not give one inch to the devil. Instead, in the name of Jesus Christ and in the power of prayer, we destroy his works. Make time to look up the Scriptures as you check out the following 21 points.

1. Abhor evil (Romans 12:9).

2. Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

4. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11).

5. Cast down imaginations and every lofty opinion raised against God (2 Corinthians 10:5).

6. Cast off the works of darkness (Romans 13:12).

7. Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2;12).

8. Depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19).

9. Do not allow sin to be named amongst us (Ephesians 5:3-5).

10. Do not be conformed to this world system (Romans 12:2).

11. Do not be friends with the world (John 15:19 and James 4:4).

12. Do not get entangled with the affairs of this world (2 Timothy 2:4).

13. Do not have fellowship with the works of darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14-16 and Ephesians 5:11).

14. Do not love the world or the things in the world (1 John 2:15, 16).

15. Do not partake of sin (Ephesians 5:7).

16. Flee from sexual immorality (Acts 15:10, 29; 1 Corinthians 6:18; and 1 Thessalonians 4:3).

17. Lay aside every weight and sin (Hebrews 12:1).

18. Mortify the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13 and Colossians 3:5).

19. Put off the flesh, the old man (Ephesians 4:22-24, 31 and Colossians 3:8).

20. Resist the devil (Ephesians 4:27; 6:13 and James 4:7).

21. Separate from all that is unclean (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18).

22. Stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11, 13, 14).

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"I thank you, dear Lord Jesus, that You died on the cross to deliver me from the power of this evil world. I know I cannot oppose evil in my own strength, but only in the power of Your name and the power of Your Spirit who dwells within me. Give me strength to not yield to my flesh, but to the power of Your Spirit. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

In the power of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I denounce all sin and deception that would lure its way into my heart and my home. 

HOW DO WE LIVE?

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world"
(Titus 2:11,12).

How does God want us to live in this lascivious society with deception and evil all around us? What should our lives look like to the people around us? What kind of a testimony should we have in our speech, conduct, and dress? As I thought about the answers to these questions recently, I was amazed how abundantly God shows us the way. He does not leave us in the dark. I found 50 ways and I know I have not exhausted them all.

In the following Scriptures God shows us clearly how He wants us to live. He wants us to live . . .

1. Abounding in thanksgiving (Colossians 2:7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

2. Abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

3. Blamelessly (Philippians 2:15).

4. Circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15).

5. Cleaving to that which is good (Romans 12:9).

6. Conforming to the image of God's Son (Romans 8:29).

7. Contending for the faith (Jude 1:3).

8. Doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

9. Fervently serving the Lord (Romans 12:11).

10. Fighting the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12).

11. Filled with the knowledge of God's will (Colossians 1:9).

12. Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

13. Forgetting those things which are behind (Philippians 3:13).

14. Glorifying God ( 1 Corinthians 6:20).

15. Glorying in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14).

16. Godly ( Titus 2:12).

17. Holding faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:19).

18. Holding fast our confession (Hebrews 10:23).

19. Holding forth the word of life (Philippians 2:16).

20. Holily (1 Thessalonians 2:10 and Titus 3:5).

21. Honestly (1 Thessalonians 4:12).

22. Humbly (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).

23. Increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).

24. Justly (1 Thessalonians 2:10).

25. Keeping His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:14 and 1 John 5:3).

26. Keeping myself in the love of God (Jude 1:21).

27. Laying down my life for the brethren (1 John 3:16).

28. Meekly (1 Peter 3:4).

29. Patiently (Romans 12:12).

30. Purely (1 Timothy 5:22 and Titus 2:14).

31. Reaching forth and pressing on for the prize of the high calling of God (Philippians 2:13, 14).

32. Righteously (Ephesians 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:11 and Titus 2;12).

33. Pleasing the Lord in all things (Colossians 1:10).

34. Putting on the new man (Colossians 3:10, 12).

35. Praying continually (Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Jude 1:20).

36. Presenting my body a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

37. Redeeming the time (Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5).

38. Renewing my mind (Romans 2. 2).

39. Rejoicing in the Lord always (Romans 12:12 and Philippians 4:4).

40. Richly filled with God's Word (Colossians 3:16).

41. Setting my affection on things above (Colossians 3:1, 2).

42. Shining like lights in this dark world (Matthew 5:16 and Philippians 2:15).

43. Soberly (Titus 2:12).

44. Speaking with grace and truth (John 1: and Colossians 4:6).

45. Unblameably (Colossians 2:22 and 1 Thessalonians 3:13).

46. Unreproveably (Philippians 2:15; Colossians 1:22 and 1 Timothy 6:14).

47. Walking in wisdom, light, and love (Ephesians 5:2; Colossians 4:5 and 1 John 1:7).

48. Without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27 and 1 Timothy 6:14).

49. Worthily (Ephesians 4:1; 2 and Thessalonians 1:11).

50. Zealously (Titus 2:14).

We certainly have all we need to keep us on track, don't we?

NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Dear Father, I thank you that You have given me Your precious Word that shows me the way to live. Help me to not only be hearer, but a doer of your word. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I want to shine like the stars in the midst of a dark world. 

A FLOCK MENTALITY

Part 4

"Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey"
(Ezekiel 34:22)

Today we look at the last five ways God cares for us as a flock. God . . .

INCREASES HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

A shepherd always wants his flock to increase. The interesting thing is that sheep are good at increasing. They frequently have twins, and sometimes even triplets. God also wants His flock to increase. He is a God of increase. In Ezekiel 36:37, 38 He says: "I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord." This is a prophetic Scripture for Israel and how that when God brings His people back to the land, as He is doing today, that He will increase them. Not just a little. He wants the waste cities FILLED with flocks of men.

Isn't it interesting how God talks about "flocks of men"? He is the shepherd of flocks of men. He wants us to see our family as a flock, too. You won't want to put a stop to your growing family. That's not God's shepherd heart. If you have a shepherd's heart, you'll want to increase your family. You will have a flock mentality.

LEADS HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

Psalm 77:20 is such a beautiful Scripture. It says: "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." Read also Psalm 80:1. God wants to lead your flock too, but just as He chose Moses and Aaron to lead the children of Israel through the wilderness, He has chosen YOU to lead your children through the wilderness of this evil world with all its fleshly and worldly temptations.

What a responsibility we have as mothers to always keep close to the Lord in order to hear His voice. We can only lead our little flock in God's ways as we follow closely to the Shepherd ourselves.

What does a shepherd do? He leads his flock-- to good pastures, to clean water, to places of peace and security. As shepherding mothers we must also lead our children. We can't be apathetic, status quo, or laid back. We are LEADERS--leading our children closer to God, leading them to the good pasture of His Word, leading them in truth in the midst of a deceptive world, leading them in holiness in the midst of an immoral society, and inspiring them to be lights in the midst of the darkness.

A true shepherd doesn't lead his flock sometimes, or whenever he feels like it. Every morning he wakes it is his fulltime job to lead his flock to their daily pasture. Dear mother, each new day you must also lead your children closer to God, further in the pathway of God, and more and more in His truth.

The shepherd goes before his sheep and leads them. You also are out in front, showing your children the way. "Come on, Children. This is the way we walk in this world." Your great task of leading your children is as great as the leader of a nation. You help to determine the fate of the nation as you daily lead your children away from darkness and more and more into the light. You become a threat to the enemy as you diligently teach your children in the truth,

And we must not forget God's promise to you in Isaiah 40:11: "He gently leads those that are with young." Are you pregnant? Do you have little ones around you? God gently leads you. He doesn't expect you to be involved in all the activities at church and outside the home. He lets you lag behind a bit. Relax and slow down; enjoy your pregnancy. Don't rush around everywhere; enjoy your little ones.

MAKES HIS FLOCKS TO LIE DOWN IN SAFETY

Isaiah 17:2 speaks of "flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid." Read also Jeremiah 33:12. The true shepherd does not want his flocks to be agitated. He wants them to be in safety and where they will not be afraid. This is the blessing of the home. It is a sanctuary God has given to us to care for our flock and to keep them safe from the world and the wiles of the devil. Yes, there will come a time when they will have to go out and face this world, but we are making them strong and getting them ready. We don't send them out before their time.

SAVES HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

A shepherd is gentle with his sheep, but he must also be brave when he has to save one of his flock from the prowling enemies, such as a lion or bear. The devil, like a roaring lion, prowls around trying to get access to our children (1 Peter 5:8). He wants to infiltrate their minds with his deceptive philosophies. With all the electronics of this age and the epidemic proportions of pornography and immoral living, we must be constantly on the watch. Sometimes he may grab one of our children. What do we do? Wring our hands and cry? No, we rise up with courage and go after the enemy. We will pull t hem out of his mouth (1 Samuel 17:34-36). We will not sit down until we rescue our child and bring them safely back to the fold. We will not allow our children to become a prey to the devil. Read also Ezekiel 34:8-10 and Zechariah 9:16.

SEEKS HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

Ezekiel 34:12: "For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out." We will always have the flock mentality. We cannot rest if one is out of the fold. We guard our whole flock.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"Dear Shepherd of the sheep, please help me to be a faithful shepherdess, constantly watching out for prowling enemies that would take my children as prey. Help me to observe, not only the outward, but what is going on in their hearts. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am a flock guarder.

A FLOCK MENTALITY

Part 3

"He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands"
(Psalm 70-72).

We are back in the New Year to continue our series about having a "flock mentality." God thinks of us as a flock, so we also need to think like God thinks. So far we have looked at how God makes families like a flock, feeds His people like a flock, and gathers them like a flock. He also . .

GUARDS HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

Jeremiah 31:10 (HCSB) says, "The One who scattered Israel will gather him. He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock." A faithful shepherd guards his flock day and night. He keeps his flock together and watches that one sheep or a couple of sheep don't lag behind, or get away on their own. As we also watch over our little flock, we not only watch over them individually, but collectively. We know where each one is at all times. Because we have a flock mentality, we are never quite happy until they are all in the fold together.

GUIDES HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

Psalm 78:52 says, "He made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock." The shepherd is always with his sheep to guide them to the best pasture.

Just as God guides His people like a flock, He wants us to guide our families like a flock also. We learn from His example. There are so many activities for our children to get involved in these days that it's easy for the family to become fragmented as each child gets involved in their individual activity or sport outside the home. Sometimes we may have to say No to certain individual activities in order to keep family intact. Keeping our family like a flock should take precedence over individuality which often turns to selfishness and eventually weakening the family unit.

I also witness the strength of families serving the Lord together, rather than individually. I think of the Waller family and their eleven children who ten years ago went to help the farmers on the West Bank of Israel. They have continued to go back every year with their whole family. Now four of the children are married and the grandchildren are being born. The whole family continues to serve the Lord together as three generations (I should say four generations, because the grandparents have also been involved as much possible also). The strength of their family togetherness is now impacting the world.

The grown children now head up the ministry in so many areas as it continues to expand and enlarge. This last fall they brought 500 helpers from many countries of the world to help harvest the grapes on the mountains of Israel. They are influencing senators and congressmen in the White House as they inform them about Israel. They could never have done this individually. Their strength is their togetherness as a family.

Instead of sending your children on a mission trip on their own, why not go as a family? We are a far greater influence in the world when we do things as a family than individually.

HOLDS US RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FLOCK

Proverbs 27:23 says, "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." The words "be thou diligent" are actually yada in the Hebrew. The next words "to know" are also yada. It is repeated twice. Yada means "to know intimately." God wants us mothers to know exactly what is happening and everything that is going on in our little flock. When we stand before the Judgment Seat, we won't be able to use the excuse that we didn't really know what was happening because we were too busy being involved in this group or that organization, or even ministry in the church. Our first and foremost responsibility is to know what is going on in our flock. This takes vigilant watching.

The second part of the Scriptures says "look well." The word "well" in the Hebrew is a word that means "the heart." The New Living Translation correctly states: "Put your heart into caring for your herds." This is something we have to put our whole heart and soul into. It's not just making sure they are fed, clothed, and safe, but we are to watch over their souls and spirits too.

When God speaks to the shepherds in Ezekiel 34:10 He says, "I will require my flock at their hand."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"Dear Father, please give me your wisdom as I guide and watch over the flock you have given to me. I know that you hold me responsible for caring for them and training them. Help me to be a faithful shepherd. Please help me to understand the importance of guiding them as a flock, not only individually. And please help me to guide them skillfully. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Just as Jesus is the Good Shepherd, I also want to be a good shepherdess of my flock. Each day I will gather, guard, and guide my flock, for this is good shepherding.