Unity of Moral Action

How to Control Your Thoughts

Ken

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5 KJV). Mind control is not an external force demanding compliance, but it is the inner direction of the indwelling Holy Spirit inspiring and persuading us to pattern ourselves into the image of Jesus Christ. “For whom He did foreknow [us], He also did predestinate [us] to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren [us]” (Romans 8:29). 

First, it is possible to control all our thoughts for the LORD, or we would not be commanded to do so (2Corinthians 10:5), because “His commands are not burdensome” (1John 5:3 NIV). 

Second, thought control requires complete submission to God. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [Lordship of Christ], and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Third, thought control must be total or not at all. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). 

Fourth, thought control must be directed by the Holy Spirit inspiring us to obey God. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). 

Fifth, thought control requires our complete cooperation, as if we were following in the steps of Christ.  “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1Peter 2:21). 

Sixth, thought control necessitates us to think and have the heart attitude, What would Jesus do in this circumstance? “What wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). 

Seventh, thought control must be God’s normal means of building His Kingdom, and requires (of course, not all at the same time):

A- Hearing, reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God, i.e., “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).

B- Singing God’s Word, which is worshipping God, i.e., “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). 
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).  

C- Praying in the Spirit, quietly or out loud, i.e., “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27). 

If we are so occupied with God, He will be in all our thoughts. The wicked are not so. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4). 

Father, may You inhabit all our thoughts, for You are worthy. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Ways of His Words (Psalm 119:3)

Ken

“They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways” (Psalm 119:3 KJV). Negatively, we do no evil. How can we be so sure? Because, positively, we are walking in His ways. This is positive holiness, for we are separated to “walking in His ways.” In our Unity of Moral action, we cannot be both holy and sinful at the same time. If we are truly doing no iniquity, then we are walking in His ways. Our purpose, intention, or emphasis must be Him. Loss of that intention, all is lost. We must persevere “to the end” (Matthew 10:22) with wholehearted devotion to Him. LORD, make it so. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Treasuring His Word (Psalm 119:2)

Ken

“Blessed are they that keep [Hebrew, nâtsar, guard, watch, observe] His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart” (Psalm 119:2 KJV). Why are they blessed? For two reasons. They (1) “keep His testimonies,” i.e., because they are important, so they obey them, and (2) “seek Him with the whole heart,” i.e., emphasis is upon the LORD, and absolute giving of the heart to Him. None other than “whole heart” seeking is possible, since “no man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). LORD, deliver us from half hearted seeking, believing we can be blessed by such deceptiveness. Show us Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Opinion: Another Lone Gunman

Ken

“For loners, they sure are a big group,” observed Wall Street Journal columnist, Peggy Noonan (July 14, 2024). Thomas Matthew Crooks (20-years-old) joined the fraternity of loners to attempt an assassination of a US President, then he was killed by the US Secret Service after wounding former President Donald Trump (R) at a campaign appearance in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13th. Sadly, one other was killed, and two others were injured by the gunman. Freedom to choose does not guarantee the right choice. Why did he act? It is not certain. Not requiring a conspiracy or even a clear political statement to explain the assassination attempt; it is only clear, God cannot always wisely prevent sin.

Why did Crooks act? “Having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12 KJV). A generation set adrift without hope will lash out against any authority, which to them represents God in their lives. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). Only the “power of God” (1:16) could change that negative outcome.

Unless the Church embraces doctrine: (1) requiring “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14), (2) understanding you cannot be holy and sinful at the same time, since “no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24) and “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” (James 3:11), and (3) promising the Holy Spirit’s assistance “which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), then we will be powerless to prevent more lawlessness. No more assuring anyone of Heaven, while pulling a trigger to assassinate a President.

LORD, the world is turned upside down, when the Church does not have the understanding or influence to keep us from consuming ourselves, our families, our churches, the nation, or the world. Let understanding start with us and spread to the world. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

James 3 Commentary

Ken

Practical Christian Wisdom from the New Testament Book of James

Taming the Tongue (James 3:1-12)  

Verse 1: “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1 NIV). 

All disciples are to be teachers, for Jesus commanded us, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV). All of us must be careful about hypocrisy, for we do not want to be numbered among those, who “say, and do not” (Matthew 23:3 NIV). But, the special gift and office of a teacher, as in “pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11 NIV), should not be assumed lightly. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48 NIV). Greater blessing will come to that teacher; but, greater judgment will also come against that teacher for misuse of that gift. 

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