weekly words of encouragement

Our Eternal Blessings – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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David’s eternal blessings: “He asked life of you; you gave it to him,length of days forever and ever.5 His glory is great through your salvation;splendor and majesty you bestow on him.6 For you make him most blessed forever;you make him glad with the joy of your presence. (Psalms 21:-4-6, ESV) In this Psalm, the king of Israel, presumably David, is thanking God for the blessings he has given to him. The king asked for life and God gave him a long life. God brought glory to the king by saving him and clothed the king in splendor. God became present to him and gave him joy and eternal blessings. What does this have to do with us? Remember that God gave us eternal life; he made us immortal. And, we are a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9) and that God repeatedly promises in the New Testament that we will rule with Jesus. Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

Trust Christ In Trials – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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Psalms 20:6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (ESV). Whether it is a major loss or some other circumstance that is causing distress in our lives, it is important to remember to trust Christ in trials. Many of us will be disrupted by various trials, challenges, opposition, sickness, neglect or loneliness. And yet, in the midst of all this, we know that God hears our prayers for our needs. Our response is to trust Christ in trials. God will act; he may not prevent all suffering we want to avoid, but he is with us, and he can bring good out of bad. Remember his promises and how he has acted in the Continue Reading →

discernment scales justice

Discernment Guidelines Release The Spirit – Part 2

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Over the years I have experienced impressions through others (and myself) that were clearly from God and helpful, and others that weren’t from God. Using reliable discernment guidelines has been very important, even if there is a long learning curve. Last week we looked at the biblical idea of discernment and how discernment provides a safe place to release the Holy Spirit. This week we will look at some basic discernment guidelines that we can apply to hearing from God. In general, if a perception fits with the New Testament, especially the fruits of the Spirit, then we can consider if it might be from God. Otherwise, we shouldn’t consider it. This is probably the most basic of the discernment guidelines. It is especially important to keep in mind the virtues of the Holy Spirit. Anything from God will reflect His good nature. Just because a perception is good doesn’t mean it is Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

Jesus’ Commands Bring Joy – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart” (Psalm 19:8, NLT). We may not normally think of God’s commandments as sources of joy. We tend to think that they are challenging and that it may be a struggle to keep them. But if we reflect a little more, we realize that God’s commands bring joy and life. A few lines earlier in this Psalm, we learn that God’s instruction revives the soul (v. 7). So, God’s commands don’t just keep us from being destructive; they also guide us into peace and maturity. They guide us into communion with God in Christ. That is why God’s commands bring joy, they bring us closer to him. This is why Jesus said: “If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15, NLT). He wants us to follow what he taught (the Sermon on the Mount and everything else) because Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

Rescued From Tribulation – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me…He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (Psalms 18:4-5, 19, NIV). In this Psalm King David had been attacked by powerful enemies and his reign was in jeopardy but God powerfully intervened and strengthened the king and he was rescued from tribulation. How does this apply to Christians? Under the new covenant believers have no geographic kingdom in this world (John 18:36) and “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world” (Eph. 6:12, NIV). We also have the enemies of general corruption around us that damage us, the enemy of our old self which tries to take us from Christ and the Continue Reading →