Category: Key Growth Posts

holding hands

Our Future Unity With God

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Last week we looked at the scriptural progression of: vision, Christformation and oneness or “spiritual marriage” with God. This week we look at the kind of oneness we will have with God. We know that we will not be one essence with God – we are always created beings. We also know that we don’t know a lot about the details of our final destiny. I John 3:2 explains that what we will be has not yet been revealed. With these thoughts in mind we can reflect on some of what we do know. Reflecting on the marriage analogy used in Ephesians 5 and Revelation 19 and 21 we understand that whatever our relationship to God will be, it will be an intimate one, for this is one of the essential features of marriage. We also understand that we will enjoy affectionate feelings for one another, analogous to the romantic Continue Reading →

spiritual marriage with Chrsit wedding rings

Christformation Leads To Consummation

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In summing up our destiny we can say that God will bring us into his presence (II Cor 4:14) and give us a vision of Jesus that will make us like Jesus (I John 3:2). Theologians refer to this vision as the beatific vision. But is that the end of our destiny? Scripture teaches that there is something more: spiritual marriage. In other words, the marriage supper of the Lamb represents God’s highest goal for humans. In the New Creation we will live every moment in this marriage. This marriage will produce the eternal community of love with God and His followers. The supremacy of spiritual marriage is seen in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 19:7-8 the great multitude declares “…the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.”  The marriage comes Continue Reading →

humility

Upside-Down Leadership – Part 2

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Last week we looked at three foundational attitudes for leadership: thinking of oneself as a student, a servant, and a messenger. Together these attitudes form humility in us. Today we build on humility with more ideas that deepen humility and equip us for mature leadership, whether we lead as a parent, a spouse, an employee, or in ministry. This is a straightforward discussion so please don’t get offended. Truly Love People. This means our heart is committed to the well being of the people we serve, with at least some measure of affection. If we don’t truly love the people then we need to find a way to change our heart or reconsider our calling. Be Weak and Strong. We are a flower in the field but also an anchor in the storm. This sounds like a paradox but it actually makes a lot of sense. Jesus made himself vulnerable for Continue Reading →

humility

Upside-Down Leadership-Part 1

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You just finished leading a great meeting. Everyone was happy and happy with you. Several smiled and thanked you personally. At home you are feeling thankful for being able to lead. Then as you relax your mind starts wandering and thinking about what a great person you are. You are a fantastic leader, so much better than most…whoa! What happened here? You were just thinking about being thankful then you started getting delusions of grandeur. How quickly spiritual pride rears its head. Scripture teaches that you have an old self, or “flesh” that you have to fight. This explains why these temptations and impulses rise up within us. We also have an Enemy that takes advantage of our old self. So we shouldn’t get discouraged by temptations to pride. The early devout Christians considered pride the deadliest of enemies for those pursuing spiritual growth. They observed that once someone decides Continue Reading →

How Do I Deal With Unwanted Thoughts? – Part 2

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This is the second of two blog posts on unwanted thoughts. The first post looked at the stages a thought goes through, and when we need to stop it. This post looks at specific strategies for dealing with unwanted thoughts. First: stay calm. Unwanted thoughts gain influence when we fear them, or stir up a lot of emotion. Instead, “be anxious about nothing” (Philippians 4:6) but rather, as the verse states, “give thanks” for what God will do, and “make your request known” to God to overcome this thought.   Offer your thought to God. Pray something like: “I don’t know where this thought comes from but I offer it to you. I depend on You. You take it. And help me to know how I should respond.” Also, “I can’t stop thinking about this, I can’t do it, You need to.” In this way the unwanted thought turns you Continue Reading →