January 21, 2010
Date: January 20, 2010
Published by Practical Spiritual Warfare web site, a division of Mission Miami Valley, 718 Stratford Dr., Sidney, Ohio 45365 and authored by Dr. D. Vincent (Bud) Ford, president. This e-zine is dedicated to providing valuable, practical information for dealing with the chaotic and confusing times in which we live.
Practical Spiritual Warfare Web Site Dr. D. Vincent (Bud) Ford End Times Preparation Web Site
Contents
1. Strategic Advice for the Remnant –Strategies to Win Spiritual Battles - “The Reason for The War”
2. Tips for Kingdom Living – Christ-likeness
3. Scripture Guidance & Inspiration
4. Thoughts to meditate on – A Hand’s-on Approach
5. Articles Pointing to the End Times
6. Site Build It - Follow your passion! Check out the links below. http://buildit.sitesell.com/
7. Announcements -
1. The Reason for The War
We were originally created in the image of God and for His Glory; we were created as a bride for His Son, Jesus Christ. Whether being created as a bride for Christ caused Satan’s pride to turn to jealously is not know for sure, but what is known is Satan is determined to destroy us and separate us from God. It may be that he wants to cut God’s heart by taking us away form God.
In Genesis 3 we learn that our involvement in this invisible war with Satan started when Adam and Eve gave in to temptation in the Garden and were influenced to disobey God. Without even intending to Adam and Eve joined Satan in rebellion against God, resulting in our inheriting a nature opposed to God, a nature that consistently disobeys Him. As a result we inherited a nature opposed to God.
This mind set of our nature opposing God is received at birth. What we have inherited is the result of the constant influence of demons on our ancestors and is called our “old nature”, or our rebellion against God. But we also have a “sin nature” which comes from our OWN TENDENCIES TOWARD SIN; this is our yearning to please our bodies at the expense of our own spirits. We will look at this later.
Our sin not only separates us from God, but it puts us under Satan’s control. While Satan wants to destroy us God wants to save us from our waywardness and evil deeds.
Because God refuses to force Himself on anyone, but gives everyone FREE CHOICE, Satan, on the other hand, appears nearly as strong as God in his involvement with us. (Appears is the key word here). God waits patiently and as a result there is an INVISIBLE between us and the forces of evil. We often lose many battles to the demonic.
We are separated from God and condemned to death (eternal separation) from God because of our sin. Bud God loved us so much that He made a special plan for us to save us. (John 3:16-17)
The death and resurrection of Jesus not only made it possible for us to have salvation but also initiated the defeat of Satan and his demons. Though Jesus began the process of Satan’s defeat, He passed the responsibility for finishing the job on to His Body, the Church composed of all those who have accepted His salvation. By fighting and conquering under the authority of Jesus, the Church is gaining on the job training for eventual rulership of the entire universe.
2. Tips for Kingdom Living – Christ-likeness
How can we possibly even try to live like Christ?
By ourselves we cannot hope to live like Christ, because we are not capable of it. But controlled by the Spirit of Christ in us, we can. Romans 8:9 & I Corinthians 1:30.
How then do we cultivate the Christ-like spirit within us?
As we let Christ control our inner life, he also controls our outer expressions of that inner life. 2 Cor. 3:18
We are made more like Christ simply by believing in Him. 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11.
We grow in Christ-likeness by constantly learning the truths of the Bible, and living by them. John 17:17.
We become more Christ-like by working hard to keep sin out of our lives. 2 Cor. 7:1.
How can we hope to be Christ-like? On our own, it is impossible, for we are a sinful people. But we can give our bodies to God as an offering, a living sacrifice to Him; He will help us have Christ-like conduct. Rom 12:1-2.
This becomes a test in faith in Christ – are you living as He wants, are you living a Christ-like life? If you are, it would suggest that Christ lives in you. If you are not, it would suggest that He does not live in you. 1 John 2:3.
3. Scripture Guidance & Inspiration
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.
Proverbs 4:18-19
The King James Version
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Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.
Mark Twain
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D. Vincent (Bud) Ford
4. Thoughts for Meditation
A HANDS-ON APPROACH -- Genesis 1:1-31
Although it may be tough to wrap our minds around, let's allow our imaginations to kick into full gear. Let's attempt to mentally go back to the beginning and discover something very special about God's creation process. In the beginning, in the midst of the vastness of the universe, God's spirit hovered over one tiny spot - the spot where He would create what we know as the earth. In this one minute segment of the universe, big things began to happen. Imagine how very spectacular the whole process had to have been.
He starts with light and darkness, separating them and calling them day and night, even though the sun and moon and stars will come later. Can you imagine the massive swirl as light and darkness spin and separate? Maybe something like the northern lights on steroids? Then He separates the water, making the one that rises above to be what we call the sky. Watch as formlessness becomes form, as the sky is separated and rises majestically up above the expanse of a huge globe of water. He separates the waters below, letting dry ground appear, making the land and the seas. Then, whole continents erupt, creating tidal waves we cannot even fathom… that make the tsunami look like a ripple in a pond. Listen to the groaning and heaving as mountains grow and valleys recede, volcanoes explode, rivers begin to form and flow to the sea. At last, He sets apart the sun and the moon and the stars. Suddenly, in the darkness above you, clear and definable sources of the light appear in the darkness that has been there since God spoke light and darkness into being. Then he fills the seas and land with living creatures, and the sky with birds, and also plants – millions of species of plants. Watch them appear. See the earth suddenly full of moving, breathing, teeming life! It's incredibly busy, incredibly beautiful and, up until now, it's been incredibly noisy!
And then, suddenly, all becomes quiet. God is ready to put the crowning touch on His magnificent creation. And He is finished with special effects. Now He is ready to form the most special part of His creation. All of the universe is silent with reverence as He bends down to painstakingly craft a man from the dust of this earth He just has spoken into existence. Shortly thereafter, all is quiet again as He gently forms a woman from the rib of the man. Breathing into them the breath of life, He gives them the unique quality that sets them apart from the rest of creation. He gives them their souls – that part of them that is a direct reflection of Him. And because of this unique quality, they have the ability to communicate with Him, to have a one-on-one loving relationship with Him… and they also have the ability to choose not to do those same things.
In all of His creation process, God took an active part. He designed everything and spoke it into being. But with the creation of man and woman, He took a hands-on approach, forming every organ, every pore, every hair in a careful and meticulous way – crafting this unique part of His creation – crowning each of them with that unique reflection of Himself within their souls.
He's still doing the same thing today. Right now, He has His mighty hand on you and your life in that same, deeply personal way that He did with Adam and Eve. Awesome, isn't it?
Dogwood Ministries
5. Articles Pointing to the End Times Watch
[Note: The number following End Times Watch is the sequence number for the End Times article and is inserted to assist the reader in locating the article as well as assisting the search engines.]
End Times Watch 100 - Qatar tops Iran's list for missile strike should war break out – www.worldtribune.com
ABU DHABI — Qatar has been informed that it would be the first target of an Iranian missile strike.
A report by a British diplomat said Doha has been told that it would be the first Gulf Cooperation Council state to come under Iranian attack in any regional war. The diplomat cited Qatar's hosting of the air operation command for U.S. Central Command
End Times Watch 101 - Abbas urges US 'endgame' unless Israel halts settlements – www.news.yahoo.com
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) – Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas urged Washington on Sunday to declare an "endgame" to resolve the decades-old Middle East conflict if Israel does not agree to halt settlement growth.
Abbas, in a statement carried by the official Wafa wire service, said Arab states and the Palestinians would present a unified position to the United States offering two options.
End Times Watch 102 - Newest attack on Christianity: Just shut up! – www.wnd.com
Noise ordinances latest weapon against churches.
A Christian legal organization in the United Kingdom is reporting a skirmish victory in the latest war against Christians and their churches – the demand that they essentially be silent in their worship.
Cases have cropped up in recent months both in the U.K. as well as the United States in which governmental bodies have demanded that Christian groups essentially be silent – so that no one can hear their worship.
6. Site Build It (SBI)
Discover your passion and learn a easy to follow, step-by-step 10 day process to design your own web site around that passion; a web site that will rank in the top 20% of all web sites. At the same time you can SUPPLEMENT, OR REPLACE, YOUR INCOME while following your hearts desire.
Take a look at some of the possibilities; you’ll be glad you did.
- Quick Tour Slide Show:
- Site Build It Home page:
- Find Your Business:
- I Love SBI:
- What’s your passion?:
- Fantastic, easy to use tools and training:
The networking available with the internet is mind boggling, and the use of the internet seems to be limited only by our imagination.
It is rapidly becoming the source of commerce. Don’t get left behind in communication, commerce, networking, information and you name it.
I have found a way to benefit greatly with the Site Build It approach and I want to share it with you.
Check out the above links by clicking on the picture. You owe it to your self to see this wonderful user-friendly tool.
7. Announcements
Ø The theme of www.PracticalSpiritualWarfare.com centers around practical, everyday ways to deal with the battle of living in this current season and preparing for the end times the world is getting ready to enter.
Ø We all need to become the person God designed us to be. Those who have thought they “had it all together” are finding they have just scratched the surface. You need to discover God’s destiny for your life, the reason you were born. There is help for you on this journey – I will soon be a Nationally Certified Life Coach and you can web mail for more information.
Ø Thank you for all your comments about this e-zine, The REMNANT, they are an encouragement to me. If you have any questions or comments, I encourage you to send a web mail.