Sunday Words of Encouragement January 28, 2024 - What is Your Condition?

I don’t have water this weekend as my well pump went out Saturday afternoon when we had another storm and power outage. Fortunately, my well man checked it today and will fix it in a day or two.

I pulled these notes from our Sunday School Teacher’s message in June. During that month we were focusing on movement of youth around the world. Some SS members noted how the OU women's softball team gave thanks and testimony. We need to recognize our joy comes from the Lord. Lift our eyes up to Christ and give Glory to God.  We pray that the Lord raise up a standard!

Our teacher’s message was “I just dropped in to see what condition my condition is” (Song by Kenny Rogers.)
Our condition is beyond just physical. It is emotional, political, and Spiritual, tied up in our personal, family, social, and work settings . What is “conditioning”? Think of things we connect to condition: hair, air, wood. The purpose of conditioning is reinforcement. We adapt, modify, or mold to be conformed.

Our world is being conformed. Christ followers need the precaution to watch, check up on our condition. Determining illness is not always simple. It takes more than self-examination. Many people act with wrong, secret motives. Jeremiah 17:9-10.

Paul recognized that he had feelings that drew him to this life and other feelings that drew him to eternal life with God. He couldn’t trust his own feelings. Philippians 1:20-26. The heart can deceive but Spirit can reveal. We are told to be careful of judging others when we have our own blind visions. Matthew 7:1-5.

Too much propaganda in this world is directed to turn us against each other. Jeremiah 13:10-11.  What we allow in our eyes and ears is processed in the soul. We need to discipline ourselves to run the race God has set for us. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

Check for weaknesses: Superman’s kryptonite, Samson’s hair. Judges 16. Popeye needed spinach, not extra hamburgers.

Have we clothed ourselves with our Spiritual tights and capes? God's armor. Ephesians 6:10-18.
Revelation speaks to seven churches and five get a bad diagnosis. They don't see their true condition.

Be diligent and turn away from your indifference. Find others, like a small group, to keep you accountable. Do not be conformed to this World.

I like this song for this message: All the Pretty Things. 

Verses for Today:
Jeremiah 13:10-11  NIV
10 These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless! 11 For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.’

Lord, help me to focus on You and Your Will. Help me remember that the things of this world are fading in the light of eternity.