“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht   

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/

1 Timothy 1:18-20… Thischarge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected,concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (NKJV)

After listening to 2 days of Dr. Charles Stanley’s 20 minute audio sermons this morning, I am writing for anyone who is not “Walking in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), on a more or less continuous basis.  This would include any Christian who does not have the Lord as first and most important in their lives all the time.

This group of people would range from the extreme, backslidden Christian…to the Christian who has taken their eye off of the Lord, if only for a short time.  The two days of audio sermons were titled… “Shipwrecked Saints – Part 1 & Part 2″, dated July 25 & July 26, 2013…and can be found by going to the following web site… http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/audio-archives and scrolling down.

Dr Stanley uses the idea of a ship in various stages of being in less than perfect condition, in comparison to the spiritual condition of the Christian; and makes some very important recommendations to help the Christian get back on course to where they are again walking in sweet fellowship with the Lord. 

There are any number of reasons ships (and Christians) are in less than perfect condition, ranging from neglect, drifting, collision, carelessness, and storms.  I believe Dr. Stanley’s wise counsel could help Christians who find themselves in all kinds of less than perfect relationships with the Lord, to see themselves with-in one of these categories.  And Dr. Stanley’s advice just might help steer the wayward Christian back onto a Spirit led course, that will have them again filled with the love of Christ that passes knowledge (Ephesians 3:19)…with God-given supernatural peace which passes mortal understanding (Philippians 4:6-7)…and a joy for life that the Spirit filled Christian will have.

My previous 2 days of writing tie right into Dr. Stanley’s teaching.  When we as Christians take our eye off of the Lord, and His leading of our lives through the urging of the  Holy Spirit (even if it is only for a short time)…we are sinning in God’s eyes.   The Christian is in jeopardy of suffering chastising and even scourging, in order for God to bring them back into submission to His will for their lives, for those who have been trained by it…

Hebrews 12:11…  Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, butpainful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceablefruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (NKJV) 

You can find this writing at www.Godsmanforever.wordpress.com by typing in 7/29/2013 & 7/30/2013 into the search window.

The Christian who is “Walking in the Spirit” is Satan’s worst enemy.  They will be disciples of Christ who typically help to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And Satan will do his best to draw them back into his deceitful web of sin, in order to immobilize their capacity to share their love of Christ with those around them in need of hearing the truth from God’s Word.

Please consider spending time to listen to Dr. Charles Stanley, and his recipe for re-claiming God’s richest blessings that He showers upon His obedient children.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for men of God like Dr. Stanley.  Help all of us Lord, no matter what spiritual state we find ourselves in…to be urged to learn all that we can from those around us that can help us with their years of experience they have obtained through finding a faith that works.  Keep us humble, and always open to ways we can improve our walk with You.  I pray for this fullness of Christ in all of our lives, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

Blessings in Christ,  bruce r mills