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The victorious spiritual life If our mind is filled with a world of thoughts that are contrary or even dishonorable to God, how can there be room for us to conDr. Billy centrate on Holland His goodness, peace, and hope? When Mary was about to give birth and there was no room in the Inn, God was also allowing us to see that many people in this world have no room in their life for Jesus. Their heart and mind is filled with carnality, selfishness, arrogance, and negative influences. This is why the enemy of our soul has created many obstacles and diversions for the purpose of redirecting our attention away from our Lord. Secular reading material, video games, movies, cell phones, and television are only a few distractions that can be snare traps which can replace and redirect our mental and spiritual focus away from Christ. Having a disciplined mind for God is a key to living a victorious spiritual life. When we talk about our love for the Lord, there are plenty of ways to prove we are not just cluttering the air with empty words. The call to take up our cross and follow Christ, has everything to do with our level of devotion to Him. When a person falls in love with someone, this is all they think about. Why? Because whatever captures our heart has also captivated our mind. If Jesus has been invited to sit on the throne of our heart, we are sitting at His feet intently waiting for Him to speak and always ready to respond and obey His voice. Our desire to please Him is a direct result of our love for Him. Within this personal and intimate relationship is the reverential fear and awe of who He is. This respect of His holiness is the beginning of wisdom and causes us to be humble and grateful for His presence. Until sin convicts and wounds our heart to the point of weeping, we have not understood the full meaning of spiritual transformation. The term lukewarm is mentioned in Revelation chapter three and the passage in context is generally talking about a person who is drifting along in a
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spiritually lethargic state and is convinced they are approved and acceptable in the sight of God. In verses 15-19 God declares, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you might be rich; and white raiment, that you might be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve that you might see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” To say the least, this is a sobering warning for all who proclaim to be followers of Jesus. Deception is common and as we were saying before, this can easily happen when we are not constantly devoted and focused on God. The true Christian life is not about fulfilling our own plans and then squeezing Jesus in if we have some extra time. This is referred to as, “broad way thinking” which allows carnality to influence and manage our priorities. In reality, our relationship with God is about abandoning our life, laying down our will, and rising every morning singing, “I surrender all, all to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” Sadly, many have never realized what this means and most have no intention of learning. John the Apostle said in chapter three and verse 30, “He (God) must increase, but I must decrease.” Why did he say that? He was trying to explain that our old nature is filled with a strong love for pleasure and our heart only has one throne. We cannot be filled with God if we are already filled with everything else. Those who hide behind the mask of denial, have willingly convinced themselves they can have their cake and eat it too. This is a lie from the dark side. We cannot serve God and our carnality at the same time. If we fail to control our thoughts, our thoughts will not hesitate to control us. Read more at billyhollandministries.com
Local church calendar A Christian Fellowship 150 Fellowship Ln, Sherman, TX 75090 (903) 815-1333 Wednesday 6:30 pm – Potluck Meal 7:00 pm – Worship Service 7:00 pm – Jr & Sr High Youth Sunday 9:30 am – Sunday School (all ages) 10:30 am – Worship Service 10:30 am – KidZone Children’s Service (5yr – 12 yr.) Community Bible Fellowship 415 S Collins Fwy, Howe, TX 75459 Wednesday 6:30 pm - Food and Fellowship 7:00 pm - Community Kids (ages 3 - 6th grade, nursery available) 7:00 pm - Youth and Adult Bible Study Sunday 10:30 am - Worship Service First Baptist Church Dorchester 11831 FM 902, Dorchester, TX 75459 903-476-5525 Wednesday 6:00 pm - Meal (Donations for adults and kids eat free) 6:30 pm - Praise service 7:00 pm - Youth Bible Study 7:00 pm - Adult Bible Study 7:00 pm - RA's/GA's/children's group Sunday 9:00 am - Men's Prayer Time 9:45 am - Sunday School 10:45 am - A.M. Worship Service 5:00 pm - Adult Choir Practice 6:00 pm - Evening Worship First Baptist Church Howe 100 E. Davis St., Howe, TX 903532-5504 Tuesday 7:00 pm - Bible Study Wednesday 5:30 pm - Kids Choir 6:30 pm - Team Kid 6:30 pm - Youth Ministry 6:30 pm - Adult Bible Fellowship Sunday 9:15 am - Bible Fellowship 10:30 am - Kids Church 10:30am - Worship Service
First United Methodist Church of Howe 810 N Denny St, Howe, TX 75459 903-532-6718 Monday 9:30 am - Care Team Meeting 10:30 am - Pastor's Bible Study Tuesday 9:30 am - Women's Bible Study 11:30 am - Out and About with Pastor Zack 6:30 pm Boy Scouts Wednesday 9:00 am - Wednesday Workers 6:30 pm - Jr. High and Sr. High Youth Saturday 9:00 am - Feed My Sheep (1st and 3rd Sat each month) Sunday 8:40 am - Fellowship and Donuts 9:00 am - Sunday School 10:00 am - Worship service 3:00 pm - Cub Scouts Howe Church of Christ 1205 N Collins Fwy, Howe, TX 75459 903-532-6441 Wednesday 7:00 pm - Bible Classes (all ages) Sunday 9:00 am - Bible Classes (all ages) 10:00 am - Worship Service 5:00 pm - Worship Service New Beginning Fellowship 910 S Denny St, Howe, TX 75459 903-532-6828 Wednesday 7:00 pm - Radiate Youth 7:00 pm - Sanctuary of for prayer Sunday 9:30 am - Sunday School (kids, youth, women, men) 10:30 am - Worship Service 10:30 am - Kids Church
Times are subject to change. Please check with each church for any possible changes
Verse of the week Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
