Author: Phil Rehberg

spiritual hedonism

Are You Tempted By Spiritual Hedonism?

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One of the deepest unhealthy attachments for maturing disciples of Jesus is spiritual hedonism. It has many variations and its veins reach deep down to the core of our being. It is best to assume that it will be a threat to your maturity for the rest of your life. No matter how much we grow spiritual hedonism will invent new ways to infiltrate our soul. Spiritual hedonism is the disordered attachment to pleasure (we use the words “sweetness” and “consolation” interchangeably with “pleasure”) from God or from following God. Our old self naturally desires to fall in love with the pleasure we receive through God instead of God himself. This is deeply ingrained in us because God made us for pleasure but our desire for pleasure was corrupted in the fall of Adam. Now our desire for pleasure creates distortions in our spiritual growth. In the next age, God Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

We Will Yet Praise Him – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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Why, my soul, are you downcast?Why so disturbed within me?Put your hope in God,for I will yet praise him,my Savior and my God. Psalms 42:11 (NIV) Psalm 42 is the psalm that begins with the Psalmist declaring that he thirsts for God like a deer thirsts for water. Then he explains his thirst: “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3, NIV). Later he wonders is God has forgotten him in the midst of oppression from his enemies. Sometimes it will feel like God has forgotten us. All we can see is the painful circumstances surrounding us. We cry out but nothing happens. In such times it is easy to forget how God has proven himself to us in the past. We have experienced his Spirit in our hearts; he has delivered us from trials. Therefore, our distress is an opportunity to learn deeper faith. This comes Continue Reading →

attachments

Overcoming Distractions And Attachments

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As we love God and choose to focus on Christ we will notice times when other things take our focus off of him. Our affections drift off to something else. It might be projects, or food, or sports, or shows, or drugs, or status, or people, or career, or a particular self-image, or sensual pleasure, or money or a thousand other things, but it is surprisingly easy for us to transfer our focus and affections to other things. This is the same dynamic that affects those who initially hear Jesus’ message: “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced” (Mark 4:18-19, NLT). The distractions of life can be very frustrating because our new Adam desires Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Blessing For Helping The Weak – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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Blessed are those who have regard for the weak. Psalms 41:1 (NIV) God has a big heart for those who are weak, troubled, needy. That is why he will bless those who help the weak: they are doing God’s work. They satisfy God’s heart to help those who need help. This is one of the defining traits of a faithful Christian, to watch out for weak and determine how to help them. This encourages us because we know that even though we are not benefitting ourselves when we sacrifice our time and effort for another, God will provide a blessing even greater than if we had just focused on ourselves. Thus, the one who loves God by helping the weak comes out ahead of those who do not. Our blessing may not come until the next age but it will surely come and our joy will endure. God Will Show Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

God’s Plans For Us – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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Many, Lord my God,are the wonders you have done,the things you planned for us. Psalms 40:5 (NIV) God has plans for us. This is the rock of our soul, that we know he will do good for us. For the rest of our life on earth, he will give us victory over sin and trials. We will radiate Christ’s light to those around us. We will enjoy God’s Spirit and live with peace and joy. In the next life we will be free from our old corrupt self. We will see Jesus and be transformed to be like him, which means the image of God will be fully restored in us. We will be “married” to Christ so that his divine nature will permeate us. We will live in eternal bliss. God will reward us individually for the sacrifices and good works we have done in his name. We will Continue Reading →