Category: Level: Intermediate

walking in the spirit

Are You Walking With The Spirit?

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“Keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25 NIV). The Holy Spirit guides us with the power of the presence of his goodness more often than with specific words that we hear inside our heads. God gives us his flow of life when we focus on his Spirit: “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires . . . the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8:5-6 NIV). This is the practice of walking with the Spirit, and it is one of the most fundamental disciplines in the Christian life, though it often doesn’t make it on lists of spiritual disciplines! Walking with the Spirit is a little abstract but not difficult to learn how to do. Often the felt Continue Reading →

Our Return To The Garden

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God has an amazing plan for us after Jesus returns. Along with being in the direct presence of Jesus and the Father, we will live forever in a perfect community of love with God’s followers. This is what God originally intended for humans in the Garden of Eden, and after Jesus returns, we will return to the Garden. He told Adam and Eve “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals” (Gen. 1:28 NLT). If Adam and Eve and their descendants had not sinned then they would have built a community of people who were completely godly. Thus, their “city” would have been a fantastically harmonious and loving community. It would have been thoroughly creative and constructive as everyone joyfully used their God-given creativity to create and build beautiful and glorious homes Continue Reading →

future

The Power Of Focusing On Our Destiny

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Nothing motivates humans like the hope of a wonderful destiny. And if that destiny is certain then people become absolutely fearless because they dwell in the peace of knowing that no matter what happens their ultimate future will be blissful. This is why God wants us to be absolutely confident in our destiny with him. Thus, one of the most important spiritual disciplines is focusing on our destiny, so we can grow in our confidence. This confidence will strengthen us to endure any troubles. We realize that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18 NIV). Focusing on our destiny enlightens our minds to see beyond the physical realities around us to the reality of the kingdom of God around us. This unstoppable kingdom marches along its predetermined course, bringing all the people of God to the complete fulfillment of Continue Reading →

prophecy

The Marriage Of Prophecy And Discernment

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May of us have experienced disappointments with those who give prophecies. We know that Scripture gives high honor to prophecy. When someone prophesies this means they are speaking spontaneous words from God. This reflects God’s desire to communicate with his children and give them encouragement and instruction (1 Cor. 14:31). God values prophecy and instructs us to “be eager to prophesy” (1 Cor. 14:39 ESV). Yet, prophecy and discernment must be combined if believers want to edify others. In practice it is common to find many problems with the exercise of the gift of prophecy. The one receiving the prophecy often adds their own interpretation when they express it which damages what God is trying to say. Also, in their zeal to be supportive of prophecy many leaders do not apply the principles of discernment which leads to “prophets” giving advice about others’ futures which ends up taking people down Continue Reading →

Big brother

Jesus Is Our Big Brother

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The family of God has an unusual genesis. It has a Father like other families but it also has another member who made the family possible: a big brother. In the family of God everyone has a big brother and Jesus is our big brother. He is the “oldest” of the siblings because He is the first of the newly designed humans, the first of the new Adams. He was the first to live an ideal human life and he did this is order to blaze a new trail for the rest of us to follow. The power he had to be the first new ideal human is available to us too. When we first believe, we receive a new self that is like Jesus’ pure human self but it is an infant new self. God’s goal was to choose people “to become like his Son, so that his Son would Continue Reading →