What is Being "In Denial"?

Do you know someone who is IN DENIAL? They might be obnoxious but are oblivious to it. They can hurt and offend others without ever realizing they’ve wounded someone. Some people are in denial because they won’t acknowledge the elephant in the room. The problem is obvious to outsiders, but those “on the inside” are afraid to admit the dire reality of the situation.

Before Paul was converted, his name was Saul and he nodded with approval as he watched Stephen being stoned to death. His fellow Pharisees had laid their cloaks at Saul’s feet and he was “watching out for the coats of those who were killing him” (Acts 22:20). I’m sure Saul felt honored to be put in charge of guarding the coats, making sure no one would steal them. He probably thought, “Out of all the people here, they chose ME to protect their robes!”

Saul believed he was doing the Lord’s will as he carried out his religious duties, but he was blind to the truth and in denial. I’m sure the Lord had tried to point out the elephant in the room but Saul didn’t want to see it. Religion is Satan’s counterfeit that keeps people busy as a diversionary tactic. Some people are very busy doing church activities (guarding the coats) while their hearts are totally disconnected from God. Here are three reasons Saul was in denial:

1. He was spiritually blind.  A deceived person doesn’t know he is being deceived. A blind man cannot see, no matter how hard he tries to see. Although Saul thought he was pleasing God by guarding the coats, he saw nothing wrong when God’s servant Stephen was murdered. When a person is spiritually blind they cannot see what is obvious.

2. He had submitted to “group think.” Group-think is when you let others think for you. Saul was more interested in what his fellow Pharisees thought than what God thought. A cult is a group of people that follow a domineering leader who, through intimidation, controls what everyone thinks. Before you join any church or organization, make sure it is spiritually healthy. If you sense something isn’t right, be willing to walk away from it. After Saul “saw the light” and realized he belonged to the wrong group, he chose to leave them.

3. His priorities were misplaced. When a person is in denial, he will put great effort into things that don't matter, while ignoring the things important to God. Saul thought protecting the coats was more important than protecting an innocent man from being killed. The wrong priorities always keep us from having the right priorities.

Are you in denial? Is someone you know in denial? The answer is to pray, “Lord, if I am not doing what pleases you, open my eyes so that I can see.” And then have the courage to change course.

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  

www.makinglifecount.net  Making Life Count Ministries

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The Sure Cure for Worry  proves that GOD IS IN CONTROL and you can trust Him to take care of the problem that worries you.

Looking for a good book to study in a SMALL GROUP? Slaying Your Giants is filled with interesting stories and Biblical insights, and includes a free 20-Lesson Discussion Guide.

VIDEO TEACHING (10 minutes): "7 Signs of the End-Times"  Four signs have come to pass, but 3 other signs might be a while before being fulfilled.

Read 200 free BIBLE STUDIES at www.makinglifecount.net 

A Tale of Three Crosses

The Bible mentions three men dying on crosses and they all have a story tell.

Cross #1—a thief DYING IN SIN. “And one of the criminals who hanged there was hurling abuse at Him saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save yourself and us” (Luke 24:39). This thief called out to be saved, but he wasn’t sorry for his sins. He wanted to be saved from punishment for his crimes but his heart had not changed. This man died IN his sins.

This man represents those who want to be saved from punishment but don’t want to be saved from their sins. Jesus told the Pharisees (who rejected Him), “I go away, and you shall seek Me, and shall die IN your sin; where I am going you cannot come” (John 8:21) Jesus said that dying in your sins keeps you from going where He was going, which was Heaven.

Cross #2—a thief DYING TO SIN. The second thief said, “We are receiving what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong…Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 24:41-43). This thief was sorry for his sins and wanted Jesus to save his soul. This thief represents those who see Jesus dying for their sins, have a change of heart and are willing to die to their sinful ways.

Cross #3—a Savior DYING FOR SIN. Jesus went to the cross for one purpose—the die for the sins of the world. Isaiah 53:6 says, “The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). That means salvation from sin is only found in Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:21 says, “He will save His people from their sins.”

Both thieves called out to be saved but only one was saved. What was the difference? The first thief wasn’t sincere and had no change of heart. If Jesus had set him free, he would have returned to his life of crime. The second thief wanted to be saved from his sins. If Jesus had set him free, he would have turned from his sinful life and would have followed Him. Which one of these thieves represents you? www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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NEW VIDEO TEACHING (10 minutes): "7 Signs of the End-Times"  Four signs have come to pass, but 3 other signs might be a while before being fulfilled.

Read 200 free BIBLE STUDIES at www.makinglifecount.net 

Looking for a good book to study in a SMALL GROUP? Slaying Your Giants is filled with interesting stories and Biblical insights, and includes a free 20-Lesson Discussion Guide in the back of the book.

The Sure Cure for Worry proves that GOD IS IN CONTROL and you can trust Him to take care of the problem that worries you.

God Wants You to Pay Your Taxes

Tomorrow is April 15, the deadline for paying your income tax. Did you know that it is God’s will for you to pay your taxes? You probably haven’t heard too many sermons on this because it’s not a popular topic, but it is in the Bible. Someone asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” He answered, “Render to Caesar the things that are Ceasar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Luke 20:22, 25). Jesus was accused of being “a friend of tax collectors” (Luke 7:34), which means that He wasn’t continually fighting against them. Paul adds, “For because of this you also pay taxes...render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due…” (Rom. 13:6-7).

No one enjoys paying taxes, but these verses helped me realize that since the Lord wants me to pay my taxes, I can do it honestly in obedience to Him. It doesn’t matter whether or not you agree with how the government spends your money. I’m sure that many Christians in the early church didn’t agree with how Caesar spent their money either! The Lord wants you to pay your taxes, not because you agree with all government spending, but because that’s what He commanded us to do.

Here are a couple of suggestions: First, take every legal deduction that you are allowed, but don’t cheat on your taxes by claiming expenses that are not true. Remember, Jesus wants us to be honest. Second, pay your taxes as an act of obedience to God and it will give you a different perspective and motivation, which will take some of the pain out of it. You can pray, “Lord, I’m paying my taxes as an act of obedience because this is what You’ve told me to do.”

You might not agree with me on this topic, but as a follower of Jesus Christ I believe this is the right thing to do. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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NEW VIDEO TEACHING (10 minutes): "7 Signs of the End-Times"  Four signs have come to pass, but 3 other signs might be a while before being fulfilled.

Read 200 free BIBLE STUDIES at www.makinglifecount.net 

Looking for a great book for SMALL GROUP STUDIES?  Slaying Your Giants is filled with interesting stories and Biblical insights, and includes a free 20-Lesson Discussion Guide in the back of the book.

The Sure Cure for Worry Learn to trust God no matter what you are going through.

Oxymorons

An oxymoron is when two words with opposite meanings are joined together, such as:

Act naturally

Found missing

Good grief

Sanitary landfill

Small crowd

“Now, then…”

Civil disobedience

Numb feeling

Unbiased opinion

Jumbo shrimp

Soft rock

Pretty ugly

Only choice

Boxing ring

Liquid gas

Same difference

Tight slacks

Definite maybe

And how about this one …“No, Lord.” It’s an oxymoron to say Jesus is your Lord when you refuse to obey what He says. Jesus said, "And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) 

When you become a disciple of Jesus, you agree to obey Him. So when the Holy Spirit tells you to quit your immoral behavior, clean up your impure mouth, or correct your negative attitude, do you say, “No, Lord” or “Yes, Lord”? He is not your Lord unless you say "Yes" and then follow through with the change.

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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Read 200 free BIBLE STUDIES at www.makinglifecount.net 

Helping the Other Team Win?

Philippians 2:4 says, “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” When was the last time you chose second place to help someone else win?

Something extremely unusual happened in 2008 at a softball game played by Western Oregon and Central Washington University. At stake was a bid to the NCAA’s Division II playoffs. “Never in my life had I seen anything like it,” said Central Washington Coach Gary Frederick. “It was just unbelievable.”

Central Washington was leading 2-1, when Western Oregon sent one of their worst hitters to the plate. Five-foot-two-inch Sara Tucholsky had never hit a home run in her entire life, but this day would be different. Against all odds, Sara hit a pitch over the center field fence for an apparent three-run home run. All she had to do was run around the bases.

But when Tucholsky got to first base, she collapsed on the base path, having torn her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee. Her injury made it impossible to finish rounding the bases, which meant she would not be credited with the only homer in her lifetime.

The rules prohibited her teammates from helping her around the bases. If they touched her, she would be called out. As Sara lay on the ground, the first basemen from the opposing team, Mallory Holtman, asked the umpire if the rules also disallowed the other team from carrying her around the bases. The umpire said nothing in the rulebook prohibited the opposing team from helping her.

Holtman asked a teammate to lend her a hand. The two of them picked up Tucholsky and resumed her homerun walk, pausing at each base to allow her to touch the bag with her uninjured leg. By helping her complete her home run, they were also risking losing the ballgame, which would keep them from going to the playoffs.

“We started laughing when we touched second base,” Holtman said. “I looked up and saw the entire Western Oregon team in tears.” Tucholsky said, “My whole team was crying. Everybody in the stands was crying. My coach was crying.” The Central Washington players ignored their goal of winning and going to the playoffs so they could help their injured opponent.

Western Oregon went on to win the game 4-2. By helping their opponent win, Central Washington was eliminated from the playoffs. Some things are more important than winning ball games. When you deny yourself to help another person, it brings a smile to God’s face. When was the last time you chose to take second place? (Slaying Your Giants by Kent Crockett, Hendrickson Publishers 2013, pp.112-113). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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NEW BIBLE STUDIES at www.makinglifecount.net   

Bible Prophecy: “1260, 1290, and 1335days” explains what happens on these days in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

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Not Under Law  Now that we are under grace, what keeps people from sinning?

VIDEO on “The Antichrist”  This will be a world ruler will control all buying a selling by making everyone receive a mark on their right hand or forehead. www.makinglifecount.net 

The Sure Cure for Worry Learn to trust God no matter what you are going through.

A Pessimistic View of Psalm 23

This will give you a smile from my book Slaying Your Giants

Commentary on Psalm 23 

by Ima Whiner

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

“Shall not want”? Give me a break. I want lots of things. I’d like to have a nicer house, a better job, and a pay raise. I want people to do what I say, when I say. And I wouldn’t mind winning the lottery either.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

I have a problem with the words “makes me.” That sounds a bit legalistic to me. First you say I can’t want things; now you’re making me do things. 

He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

I don’t want to be guided down the paths of righteousness. I prefer the more scenic routes. How about leading me to Hawaii for a change? What about Vegas? I’m getting a little tired of the paths of righteousness. The next thing you know, you’ll be leading me down a dark alley.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You are with me.

What am I doing walking through the valley of the shadow of death? I thought I was supposed to be lying down in green pastures. Did you take a wrong turn, or what? And you call yourself a Shepherd?

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

To tell you the truth, a rod and staff are not my idea of comfort. A rod and reel, I’ll take. A back massage would be even better. Skip the rod and staff.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Great. Out of all the restaurants in the world, you choose the one where my enemies like to eat. I’m sure I’ll relish every bite of that meal.

You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

I don’t want any oil on my head. I prefer shampoo. And for goodness sake, can’t you stop pouring before my cup overflows? What kind of waiter are you anyway? How would you like to have hot coffee spilled all over your hand?

Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I don’t want to be confined to a house forever. That sounds like a prison. It might be nice to step outside once every thousand years or so. I never will understand why so many people love the Twenty-third Psalm.

(Kent Crockett, Slaying Your Giants, Hendrickson Publishers, 2013, pp. 116-117) www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com 

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Watch this NEW VIDEO on “The Antichrist.”  He will be a world ruler who will control all buying and selling by making everyone receive a mark on their right hand or forehead. www.makinglifecount.net

Drawing a Boundary Line

FACT: Some relationships will put you in bondage. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to keep this from happening. You probably know of a spiritually unhealthy and bossy individual who is uncomfortable to be around. This person acts authoritatively and might pose as a leader, but is actually a “controller” who is driven to make everyone do what he or she says.

These arrogant people won’t take anyone else’s advice because in their minds they always know what’s best. They manipulate others through intimidation, fear tactics, and mind-control. Those who live under their thumb are afraid to do or say anything that will upset them. You know that you’re under their control if you find yourself walking on eggshells whenever you are around them.

It takes tremendous courage to stand up to a domineering person and not be intimidated. God says, “Do not fear their intimidation” (1 Pet. 3:14). The Holy Spirit doesn’t use intimidation and pressure to guide His people. Drawing a boundary line will keep dysfunctional people from taking control of you. Without any boundaries, abnormal people will use you and abuse you.

You may not be able to control what others do, but you can control what you allow others to do to you. You must draw a boundary line to keep the bullies out, but allow the friendly people in. Richard Innis says, “Healthy boundaries are to protect ourselves from toxic people, from controlling and manipulating people, con artists, abusive people, and those who want to use us for their own ends.”

When Paul was being pressured to conform to those with ulterior motives, he drew a boundary line and stood firm against them: “But it was because of the false brethren who have sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour” (Gal. 2:4-5).

Contrary to popular belief, God does not call you to be friends with everyone. In some cases, He wants you to stay away from them and even says, “Do not even eat with such a one” (1 Cor. 5:11). You can be friendly to everyone, but you must use wisdom in selecting your friends. Choose those who will encourage and build you up, not browbeat and intimidate you. Remember this important truth—God has called you to peace, not bondage (Gal. 5:13). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  

www.makinglifecount.net  Making Life Count Ministries

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Many CHURCHES AND SMALL GROUPS are studying Slaying Your Giants which includes a 20-Lesson Discussion Guide. It’s filled with interesting stories, humor, and practical advice about how to conquer 20 giants (fear, depression, discontentment, anger)

WATCH THIS UPLIFTING MUSIC VIDEO by Nicole C. Mullen "Holy Captivated"

The Sure Cure for Worry contains amazing true stories and gives indisputable proof that God is in control and He doesn’t want you to worry.

What is Making Life Count Ministries? (3 min. video)