Category: Level: Intermediate

heavenly body, shining

We Will Be Beautiful – Our Future Christformation Part 3

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We have been looking at our future Christformation into New Adams after Jesus returns. In the past couple of weeks we have looked at how God will give us Christlike bodies and give us his goodness. As New Adams we will also be beautiful. In Revelation 19–21 there are five phrases referring to the beautiful appearance of the saints, the bride of Christ (19:8; 21:2, 11 (twice); 21:18-21.) In that section God appears to be showing off his bride’s beauty and John seems dazzled in 21:11 when he observes that she has the “glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel.” Surprisingly, in the last four chapters of the Bible, the bride’s beauty is extolled more than God’s! This demonstrates his humility and love as well as his desire to establish a community of people that radiate his beauty. Thus, in Revelation 19-21 God is not predominantly interested Continue Reading →

heavenly body, shining

The Joy Of Our Future Christlike Bodies – Our Future Christformation Part 1

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After Jesus returns all our striving for Christformation will be over and we will finally enter our time of rest (Hebrews 4 and Rev. 14:13). Our internal struggle against sin will be complete and we will experience the overwhelming bliss of perfect peace. No possession on this present earth can come close to the value of our future Christformation. This is why God instructs us to “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13, ESV).  Christformation is promised many times in the New Testament. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29, ESV). 1 Corinthians 15:49 states: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (ESV). Philippians 3:20-21 promises: “But Continue Reading →

spiritual counselor

A Spiritual Counselor Can Change Your Life

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A spiritual counselor is a treasure. A spiritual counselor is someone who has the knowledge, experience and maturity to accelerate your Spiritual growth. They are hard to find but they often make the difference between plateau or progress. If I had to choose just two channels of growth, one would be activational meditation on Scripture and the other would be a good spiritual counselor. A good spiritual counselor (whether they call themselves a coach, mentor, or director – we are not referring to counseling for psychological disorders) should hold you accountable in areas of purification and other commitments. They should know how to apply the principles of discernment (which we looked at in the chapter about exercising discernment) to your ideas or to any impressions you think you might have from God. A counselor who just affirms all the impressions you think you are getting from God is not helpful. Continue Reading →

friends

Looking For A Soul Friend?

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The 6th-century Celtic nun St. Brigid is reported to have said that “A person without a soul-friend is a body without a head.”[1] No matter how much status we have in the body of Christ we are to develop interdependence with some believers and express our need for them. In a godly relationship we go beyond encouraging and affirming one another in Christ. If it ended there it would become narcissistic for both, easily devolving into boosting each other’s self-esteem and just pleasing each other instead of pleasing God. Rather, since our top priority is pleasing God, it means that we help our friend to become like Christ and invite them to do the same to us. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17, NIV). We are secure in the friendship, so we are free to help each other to die to self. We point out Continue Reading →

two friends shapening

Christformed Communication: Give Weight, Respond Accurately, Express Accurately.

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It is helpful to remember the basics of thoughtful speech. We should look people in the eyes, smile or have a positive facial expression, present a welcoming physical posture, be aware of their emotional state before we respond, watch carefully for their reactions, don’t be suspicious, use “I” language to express yourself, listen carefully and try to understand their thoughts, and ask clarifying questions. When we speak we want others to give weight to our words. Likewise, when others speak we honor them by giving weight to their words. They are expressing themselves, and even if they are doing it poorly we display how much God values them by considering their words and trying to understand them better. We are Jesus’ ears for them. Giving weight to others’ words is often the most important element of Christformed communication. Part of valuing others’ words is responding accurately. Our words should fit Continue Reading →