Tag Archives: compromise

The Devil’s Triangle

Posted on July 14, 2016 by expressyourself4him

Across the surface of the earth, there are small sections which produce anomalies.  For one reason or another, abnormal, odd or strange events seem to happen within defined areas.  One of the most famous occurs over water, others take place in the mountains and some form a triangle between three specific geographical points.  Whether you are referring to the Devil’s Triangle at sea or a 44 mile highway loop in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, some places appear to be cursed, filled with a history of accidents, disaster or tragedy.

And that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will, 2 Timothy 2:26.

Although I don’t want to jump to conclusions, these places produce acts and occurrences that defy science.  While several of these unusual accounts can be explained due to rare barometric conditions, others seem to be linked to the supernatural.  According to the apostle Paul, people will experience traps set by the devil, demonic influences or powers of darkness.  Thus, when you find yourself within the snares of the Devil’s Triangle, you need to know what you’re up against.

In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient, Ephesians 2:2.

As a fallen angel, Satan controls the airspace, sending minions to create havoc throughout the face of the earth.  These invisible attacks plants seeds of doubt, urges hearts to indulge in worldly pleasures and promotes a New Age mindset.  Sometimes this involves sending people into our lives that lead to subtle changes in the form of compromise.  While people may visit places on earth known as the Devil’s Triangle, you don’t have to leave your home to experience a spiritual war upon your soul.  Prepare yourself with prayer!

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Receive Your Call

Posted on March 17, 2016 by expressyourself4him

Before you can receive a call, you have to hear or sense it.  Depending upon where you are in life, distractions can delay, postpone or cause individuals to miss their call.  If you allow compromise, impatience and selfish ambition to influence your decisions, you could bypass the life God created for you to live.

So she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said, Genesis 16:2.

When individuals feel like they missed God’s calling, panic is a common response.  Thinking God was not going to honor the promise of a child, Sarah became desperate.  This fleeting act isn’t uncommon as people today often lower their standards before waiting to receive what they desire.  Subsequently, careless acts often leads to disappointment, resulting a second rate life, without any clear direction or idea if people are on the right track.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8.

Despite your current situation, its never too late to receive God’s call.   Therefore, remember the words of Isaiah, keeping an ear open for God’s voice.  Wait in eager expectation, ready at a moment’s notice.  Thus, when a faint whisper is spoken, you will be ready to receive God’s call.  Don’t be afraid!  Rather, trust in the Lord and God will make your paths straight.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Change Your Name or Change Your Direction?

Posted on February 20, 2016 by expressyourself4him

Alexander the third of Macedon reigned from 356 Before Christ to 323. Alexander spent most of his time as ruler sweeping through Asia and Northeast Africa on an unprecedented military campaign. One story I recently heard about Alexander makes him the great as history remembers him. During one battle, a fellow solider fled the scene, retreating from the action. Observing from a distance, the ruler couldn’t help himself, addressing this coward, quickly catching him on his horse. The Great confronts this man, “what’s your name Soldier,” Alexander he replied. Disturbed, Alexander looked this man straight in the eyes yelling, “change your name or change your direction?”

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ, Romans 10:17.

When the United States of America was founded in the late 17th century, pilgrims fled England for religious freedom. In the centuries that have followed, immigrants left their home country to discover and live the American dream. Unfortunately, groups like the ACLU have embraced spirits of disrespect, encouraging a new generation to burn and trample the flag which so many have died to protect. If Alexander the Great returned today to lead this country, I’m sure he’d lead a passionate plea to change your name or change your direction.

That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God, 1 Corinthians 2:5.

Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the ice berg. As Christians go full steam ahead, the name doesn’t mean what it use to. A lack of biblical understanding, years of compromise and worldly influences have turned the faith of many in a different direction. Blending in like a chameleon, its hard to tell Christians from ordinary people. Perhaps the Amish are right, trying to hold on to biblical values without being corrupted by modern conveniences. Whatever the reason, I feel an urgent sense to profess the words of Alexander the Great to those floundering in their faith, “change your direction or change your religion.”

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Making A Deal with the King of Sodom

Posted on February 11, 2016 by expressyourself4him

From time to time, you might find yourself in a precarious situation.  When under pressure, you might make a rash decision, forcing the issue without thinking about the consequences of an action.  Before you pull the trigger in the future, perhaps its better to wait and see if Lord is in agreement until making a deal with the King of Sodom.

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, Genesis 14:17.

As one king came to meet Abram, another, the King of Salem brought bread and wine.  Serving as a priest of the Most High God, Melchizedek blessed Abram and give him a tenth of everything he had.  This visit provided Abram with the assurance of deliverance, that God would be faithful to protect God’s people from their enemies.  The thought of a potential compromise was no longer necessary.

That I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich, Genesis 14:23.

This passage of the Old Testament teaches a valuable life lesson.  If you place your trust solely in the Lord, you won’t be obligated to another party or person.  Like Jesus’ words in the Our Father, Matthew 6:9-15, our hope should be placed in Christ alone to provide daily bread.  Therefore, do not waver in your faith as temptation approaches.  Rather, follow the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 so that you won’t be swayed by deals from the king of Sodom.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Bend without Breaking… I Don’t Think So

Posted on February 4, 2016 by expressyourself4him

As technology evolves, the development of statistics has exploded.  Subsequently, professional sports now collect several interesting stats.  In football, if a defense gives up lots of yards, but holds their opponent’s to field goals, these teams are referred to as having a bend but not break defense.  When a winning squad has a comfortable lead, some coaches will go into what’s called a prevent defense.  On a few occasions, this decision has back fired, resulting in a shocking comeback victory for the losing team.

No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes, Psalm 101:7.

This mentality has carried over into life, leading to a serious moral dilemma.  As lines between right and wrong have been altered, erased or removed, the concept of integrity is disappearing.  Whether its a co-worker, politician or student, people seem to have become experts on compromise, using exaggeration, generalization and rationalization to justify their actions.  If I didn’t know the truth, I’d be tempted to suggest that maybe its okay to bend the rules a little bit without actually breaking them.

For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light, Luke 8:17.

One of the reasons the media rejects Christianity is that its full of standards for life.  If the Bible’s commandments, decrees and laws can be brought into question, doubt will cause many to lose faith, turning their attention toward man made guidelines.  In additional, if the resurrection of Jesus can be proved to be a hoax, the principles of the Bible will be dismissed.  However, the Word of God continues to be the anchor of faith for those who believe today.  Therefore, don’t be fooled by modern logic, bending but not breaking rules.  Rather, hold fast to the apostles teaching, testing everything you hear with scripture so that you won’t find yourself living in a prevent defense mode.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Expecting to Find a Place of Prayer

Posted on January 6, 2016 by expressyourself4him

In recent years, cynicism, doubt and hypocrisy have hardened many hearts.  Trying to find real genuine people who aren’t hiding behind a series of lies is tough.  Perhaps this explains why Bible believing churches are vanishing, pressured to confirm by a liberal culture.  Jesus predicted this in the last days where a decaying spiritual climate would develop.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, Matthew 24:12.

At one time in America, churches were the center of cities, towns and rural communities.  If you needed assistance in form of advice, food or shelter, there was usually some place you could go for help.  In the first century, if there weren’t enough men to start synagogues, worship took place outside of towns, usually at the nearest body of water.  Thus, when the apostle Paul traveled to Philippi he expected to find a place of prayer.

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there, Acts 16:13.

One of the cornerstones of the first and second great awakenings were nightly prayer meetings.  Although initial events only brought out a few participants, concerts of prayer spread as a spirit of conviction led people to confess their sins.  Unfortunately, in this day and age, a sin isn’t what it use to be.  Compromise, justifying actions and the elimination of absolutes have breed lukewarm spirits.  Thus, there isn’t a sense of urgency to get right with God.  As a new year begins, may be people will change for the better, developing hearts that expect to find places of prayer.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

A Day of Laziness

Posted on January 1, 2016 by expressyourself4him

While some individuals will be making last second New Year’s resolutions, there is an invisible obstacle that tends to sneak up on the unassuming.  Commercials such as “you deserve a break today” feed into this mindset.  Thus, if you let your guard down, become complacent or careless, a day of laziness can be the beginning of the end of your dreams.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied, Proverbs 13:4.

As I reflect upon what is left of 2015, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been a victim of days of laziness.  Somewhere along the way, a laissez-faire spirit entered my body.  Sleeping in here and a lack of discipline there has resulted in a luck luster year.  Before I could mount a comeback, compromise has stalled my momentum, leaving sorrow and pain in my heart.

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor, Proverbs 21:25.

Unfortunately, my spiritual state is like a lukewarm bottle of water on a sunny spring day.  Poor decisions on days of laziness have led me to a tattered soul.  There is no one else to blame but me.  The only blessing is that tomorrow is another day filled with God’s mercy, forgiveness and grace.  Therefore, I press on, hoping to avoid days of laziness in 2016 so I can begin to take hold of that which God has prepared for me in advance to do.

by Jay Mankus

 

1 Comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Real Faith in Rough Times

Posted on October 22, 2015 by expressyourself4him

In sports, it doesn’t take much to decipher contenders from pretenders.  As a season lingers on, the cream usually rises to the top.  Sure, there will always be cinderellas or underdogs, but momentum only takes you so far.  Thus, when push comes to shove, the heat of competition distinguishes champions from losers.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ, Romans 10:17.

Faith is not as easy to measure.  Some denominations encourage a quiet faith, allowing your actions to speak for themselves.  Meanwhile, other churches are vocal, focusing on evangelism, preaching and salvation.  The methods used by these ministries can be offensive, rubbing outsiders the wrong way.  This is when God places people in rough times so that real faith can blossom.

Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep, Acts 7:60.

One of the apostles named Stephen found himself in a life and death situation.  Based upon the events of Acts 7, keeping his faith private would have saved Stephen’s life.  Yet, something inside of him felt keeping quiet would be a form of compromise.  Therefore, between a rock and a hard place, Stephen became one of the first Christian martyrs, stoned to death for his faith.  His response to this persecution demonstrated real faith in a rough time.

by Jay Mankus

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Genuine Spiritual Growth

Posted on September 27, 2015 by expressyourself4him

There is a fine line between learning and teaching.  Sometimes a speaker can be entertaining without conveying any true substance.  Others may communicate a wealth of knowledge, yet do so in a dry and boring manner.  Based upon biblical accounts, genuine spiritual growth occurs when the Holy Spirit moves individuals to preach about the resurrection of Jesus.

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this, Acts 3:15.

Today, church growth is inflated as crowds flock to the most popular worship center until something more flashy, hip or trendy comes along.  Thus, as one congregation takes on the unhappy from another church, the numbers are like a shadow game, staying the same despite the appearance of growth.  Under pressure to perform, the leaders may compromise, lower their standards or water down their message to keep their critics happy.

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand, Acts 4:4.

Although there are several good books and resources on the subject of church growth, history reveals 3 essential ingredients which inspired individuals to embrace faith.  First, a commitment to prayer church wide sets the stage for spiritual revival, Acts 2:42.  Second, accountability and fellowship produces intimate relationships, encouraging individuals to make Christianity a lifestyle.  Finally, teaching must be consistent, based upon the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  When a body of believers embraces and practices these principles, the next Willow Creek Community Church will be born.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

For Those Who Are Far Off

Posted on September 18, 2015 by expressyourself4him

There is a misconception that the Bible is full of big words, too hard for the average person to understand.  While the historical context of each book requires research and dry reading from time to time, this best seller is fascinating.  Each time I open the pages, its nice to know that the message relates to those who are far off.

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” – Acts 2:39

Since compromise was conceived in the Garden of Eden, defined boundaries have become easier to overlook.  In fact, modern cultures have taught young people to tests the limits, challenge authority and resist law enforcement.  This trend has infected souls, turning right from wrong into a series of gray areas.  The longer you go down this road, the further away you will drift away from the Lord.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

I once believed God was like the tattle tail in class who always tried to get everyone in trouble.  However, when I look at the passage above, Jesus wants to help people not taunt or trash individuals.  Therefore, whether you are far off, acting like a prodigal or struggling to find your way, call out to the Lord and He will make your paths straight, Proverbs 3:5-6.

by Jay Mankus

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →