Thursday, June 15, 2006

DTPs

Remember viral infections were treated by doctors & quarantine meant the isolation of diseased people & pets? No Longer. Nowadays computer get sick. I was infected with gastric flu that brought me down a single week, yet I pushed on with my work leading to stairways of nowhere. I was diagnosed with ulcers deep in the throat that generated high fever, dizziness & great fatigue. Finally my system ‘crashed’ resulted in the much needed rest...

Think of our mind as a computer made to store & process massive amounts of data. Think of our strengths as software. Pianists are loaded with music programs. Accountants seem to be born with spreadsheet capacity. Fun lovers come with games installed. We are different, but we each have a computer & software, & sadly, we have viruses. You & I are infected by destructive thoughts...[I was suffering in depression silently]

Computer viruses have names like ILOVEYOU, Klez & Chernobyl. Mental viruses are known as anxiety, bitterness, anger, guilt, shame, greed & insecurity. They worm their way into our system & diminish, even disable, our mind. We call these DTPs: destructive thought patterns. Do you have any DTPs? When you see the successful, are you jealous? When you see the struggler, are you pompous? Ever argue with someone in your mind? Rehash or rehearse your hurts? Do you assume the worst about the future? If so, you suffer from DTPs...

What would our world be like without then? Had no dark or destructive thought ever entered your mind, how would you be different? Suppose you could relive your life sans any guilt, lust, vengeance, insecurity, or fear. Never wasting mental energy on gossips or scheming. Would you be different?

Oh, to be DTP-free. No energy lost, no time wasted. Wouldn’t such as person be energetic & wise? A lifetime of healthy & holy thoughts would render anyone a joyful genius. But would you find such an individual? An uninfected computer can be bought - but an uninfected person? Impossible. Trace a computer virus back to a hacker. Trace our mental viruses back to the fall of the first man, Adam. Because of sin, our minds are full of dark thoughts. "Although they knew about God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile & their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools" [Rom. 1:21-22 NIV]...

Blame DTPs on sin. Sin messes with the mind. But what if the virus never entered? Supposed a person never opened Satan's emails? What would that person be like? A lot like the twelve-year-old boy seated in the temple of Jerusalem. Though He was beardless & unadorned, this boy's thoughts were profound. The boy name Jesus...

Why? What made Jesus different? The Bible is silent about His IQ. When it comes to the RAM size of His mental computer, we are told nothing. But when it comes to His purity of mind, we are given astounding claim: Christ "Knew no sin" [2 Cor. 5:21] Even the demons declared His unique status, "I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" [ Luke 4:34 NIV]...

The loudest testimony to His perfection was the silence that followed this question. When His accusers called Him a servant of Satan, Jesus demanded to see their evidence. "Which one of you convicts Me of sin?" [John 8:46]. Ask around my circle of friends to point out my sin, and watch the hands shoot up. When those who knew Jesus were asked this same question, no one spoke. Christ was followed by disciples, analyzed by crowds, criticized by family & scrutinized by enemies, yet one person would remember Him committing even one sin. He was never found in wrong place. Never said the wrong word. Never acted the wrong way. He never sinned. Not that He wasn't tempted, mind you. He was "tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" [Heb 4:15]...

Lust wooed Him. Greed lured Him. Power called Him. Jesus-the-human-was tempted. But Jesus-the-Holy God-resisted. Contaminated email came His way, but He resisted the urge to open it. The word sinless has never survived cohabitation with another person. Those who knew Christ best, however spoke of His purity in unison & with conviction. And because He was sinless, His mind was stainless. DTP-less. No wonder people were "amazed at His teaching" [Mark 1:22 NCV]. His mind is virus-free...

But does this matter? Does the perfection of Christ affect me? If He were a distant Creator, the answer would be NO. But since He is our Savior & redeemer, the rely is a super sized YES! We are made to be like Christ! God's priority is that we be "transformed by the renewing of your mind" [Rom. 12:2 NIV]. You may have been born virus-prone, but you don't have to live that way. There is hope for your head! Are you a worrywart? Don't have to be one forever. Guilt plagued & shamed stained? Don't have to be one forever. Prone to anger? Jealousy? Jesus can take care of that. Jesus can change your mind...

God answers our prayers. He changes the man by changing the mind. And how does it happen? By doing what we are doing right now. Considering the glory of Christ. "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" [2 Cor. 3:18]. To behold Him is to become like Him. As Christ dominates your thoughts, He changes you from one degree of glory to another until - hang on! - you are ready to live with Him. How Great is our God! Amen?!

Heaven is the land of sinless minds. Virus-free thinking. Absolute trust. No fear or anger. Shame & second-guessing are practices of prior life. Heaven will be wonderful, not because the streets are gold, but because our thoughts will be pure. So what are you waiting on? Apply God's antivirus. "Set you mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died & your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." [Col. 3:2-4]

Inspired by:

Max Lucado

26 comments:

Michael said...

Very good preaching there.

Tom Scepaniak said...

This is good! I'll read this one over and over. Your in our family's prayers.

Tom

Kitty Cheng said...

Dear Brother Godwyn, pray that you'll recover from your gastric flu, throat ulcers, fever, dizziness and fatigue soon. Take lots of rest, water and fruit. Don't worry about anything, but in everything trust in the Lord.

yes I must admit I have DTPs / mental virus every now and then too. And God's antivirus in Col 3 is awesome!

Thanks brother for a beautiful and encouraging entry.

Take care and will keep you in prayers. Just let me know if you want to chat on msn ok?

An Ordinary Christian said...

I am reminded of a verse I read Sunday from Romans 8. We suffer like Christ so that we may also share in His glory. His glory is coming. Now is the time for faith. There will be a time when the time for faith has passed. Now is the time for faith because now we can not fully see, but there will be a time when we will be fully seen and we will fully see and we will see Him like He is and we will be like Him. Hang tight (is that only a California expression?). May God be with you and comfort you, strenthen you and may you find your joy in Him. "And this is eternal likfe, that we may know Him." Phil 3 - it is an honor to share in the sufferings of Christ - to share in the fellowship of His sufferings, to be known in that place as one who is faithful to go after Him there. "Will you also leave?" Jesus said to Peter after many turned away. "To Whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life."

audrey` said...

Please take care, brother.
Kitty has alot of good tips for you :)

Nunzia said...

wow. I really hope you will feel better soon!

jel said...

Brother Godwyn, hi praying that you are one the road to being well again!

God's blessings on you my friend

Godwyn Lim said...

Hi Bruce,

Thank you for visiting! It's all about Jesus, our source of eternal blessing:-)

Have a good week ahead! God Bless!

Godwyn Lim said...

Dear Northern Farmer,

Thank you for your prayer, I am recovering with all the prayers that bless my health! Almost 100 fold of healing:-)

"Being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform."

Our God we serve is a Good God Amen?!

God Bless!

Godwyn Lim said...

Sister Kitty,

Yup, we will pray & fellowship on MSN. Thank you for your prayers. I am recovering finally...

"Heal me, O LORD, & I Shall be healed; saved me, & I shall be saved: for thou art my praise." Jeremiah 17:14

Praise Jesus for His broken body that heals us, forever! Have a good week ahead!

Godwyn Lim said...

Hey Sister,

Thank you for your words of encouragement. Though I suffer for awhile, I feel my leap in faith with constant thought of the broken body, Jesus gave for us to be whole!

"For I will restore health unto thee, & I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD..." Jeremiah 30:17

We are all healed in the name above all, Christ our Lord!

Godwyn Lim said...

Sister Audrey,

Yup, Kitty prays with me when we yak on MSN from time to time. I am finally recovering & looking forward to be in the House of God to praise the Lord as I am made whole with His Grace...

Have a good week ahead! God Bless:-)

Godwyn Lim said...

Hi Nunzia,

Thank you, I am reaching 100 fold of healing from all the prayers!

May the Lord keep you & Bless you!

Godwyn Lim said...

Dear Sister Janice,

I am feeling better finally today. It took a long while this time when I fall sick...

Thank you for all your prayers & emails that constantly reminding me, The Lord is with Me!

God Bless:-)

Anonymous said...

This is very good. If we are in tune with God then our computer will have the strongest anti-virus plan out there. But if we let that anti-virus down in an area. Then our computer does become week. The great thing is that whatever we are weak in. God will make us strong. All we have to do is give God all our weaknesses. Let Him take control of those things. And when we do. We will become strong. I'm still praying for ya. That God's healing power is overflowing you. So you can have total restoration in your body and your mind. God Bless.

Rulan said...

May the Lord overflow you with His healing oil and bring you to full recovery.

Your post reminds me of the verse...
A merry heart does good like a medicine.

God bless you and keep you.

Godwyn Lim said...

Hi Pastor Josh,

Thank you for your prayer & kind guidance. I have try to let go let God, let Jesus takes over my life.

I always believe just like you say, let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich & let the sick say I am whole!

Just come Jesus come! Embrace us O Lord!

God Bless! Have a great week ahead.

Godwyn Lim said...

*Hugs* Sister Rulan,

Indeed a merry heart does good like medicine! Rejoice in the Lord always, & again I will rejoice.

I'm getting better, just that last night the fever came back again. I bind all sickness in Jesus name!

It's good to hear from you again! God Bless!

Kitty Cheng said...

Dear Godwyn, so glad you are recovered now. Praise the Lord!

Godwyn Lim said...

Hi Sister Kitty,

Thanks to the brothers & sisters prayers I am well enough to face my big piles of work! It's good catching up with you with MSN.

We will pray more than next time on MSN ya!

"And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, & He Healed them all." Luke 6:19

Anonymous said...

i hope you're feeling better each day.

audrey` said...

Yeah!
You're feeling much better now.
Our God can heal.
Praise Him!

Wow!
Praying and yakking on MSN with our dear Kitty.
Sounds interesting :)
Enjoy.

Godwyn Lim said...

Hi PIA,

Thank you for your concerns, I am getting better each day:-)

"Confess your faults to one another, & pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Have a great week ahead!

Godwyn Lim said...

Sister Audrey,

Praise Jesus, I am healed for His body was broken on the cross for us! Amazing Grace isn't it for us the sinners:-)

Yes, yaking with Kitty on MSN was fun but we don't login often. Hey sister do you or anyone yak on MSN often? It's a good way to fellowship, join us!

God Bless!

Mark D said...

Good analogy!

Godwyn Lim said...

Dear brother Mark,

Thank you, have a great week ahead! God speed:-)