Category: Level: Intermediate

two friends shapening

The Power Of Our Words

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Who can doubt that our words are powerful yet excruciatingly difficult to control? Speaking to believers, James provides several graphic illustrations to make this clear. ​“If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (James 3:2-5, NIV). Consider how much words from our parents shape our lives. Consider how much the right words from a friend have Continue Reading →

Social justice

Pursuing Social Justice In Christ – Part 2:How Much Can We Transform Society?

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Last week we saw that pursuing social justice is our responsibility because it is part of the kingdom of God that Jesus brought. Will we be able to complete the fulfillment of the kingdom of God? No. We must wait for Jesus to return and execute a final defeat of evil. There is no passage in the New Testament directing believers to fully establish the kingdom of God in this age. Rather, people are invited into the partial kingdom that Jesus has already established. Jesus and his apostles speak of believers finding the kingdom, entering the kingdom and spreading the message of the kingdom so that others may enter. Jesus brought the kingdom so it is here now and people can choose whether to enter or not. But we can not complete it. Yet this lack of full establishment does not discourage us because he is using us to spread Continue Reading →

Social justice

Pursuing Social Justice In Christ – Part 1

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Anyone who longs to see justice and harmony in society should be ecstatic about Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God. Jesus’ goal is a perfectly just society. When we seek social justice in Christ we know that we will bear fruit, whether or not we change an entire society. When we give our lives to provide a better living for humanity our “success” does not depend on outcome. Whatever the results, our efforts to produce change display the light of the kingdom of God for anyone around us to see. The pressure to make sure we achieve our desired results is off of us. God does his part and we do our part and we trust God for the outcome. Ultimately, God will establish complete social justice. As we pursue social justice, what we seek and how we seek it shows others the goodness of God and gives them Continue Reading →

judge discern guilt freedom

More Guidelines For Discernment (Discernment Part 4)

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Last week we gave some guidelines for discernment. This week we present some more specific guidelines for making a discernment decision. The greater the impact on our lives the more we should seek multiple confirmations. At the least there should be deep confidence or a big undeniable confirmation. Impressions from God are generally “gentle, light, and sweet, as a drop of water entering a sponge.” Impressions from evil spirits are “sharp, noisy and disturbing, like a drop of water falling upon a rock.” However, an impression from God can make us anxious, hurt, sad or afraid because of the content of the impression and our normal reaction to it. Thus, it may not bring peace at first and it may take us a while to surrender and accept the message. We should reflect on where the impression would eventually lead us. Is it a good end? Does it please God Continue Reading →

judge discern guilt freedom

Some Guidelines For Discernment (Discernment Part 3)

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We have looked at some importance of discernment in two of our recent posts. Part 1 and part 2. Today we provide a list of some important guidelines for actually doing discernment. In order to improve our discernment we need to be open to impressions from God and step out in faith on the ones that pass the discernment process. In other words, we need to take some risks with ourselves (but be careful with others). Do not use one simple formula for doing discernment. Discernment is not simple and if we reduce it to a simple formula then the Enemy has a great opportunity to deceive us. Some people teach that if it sounds like a voice in your head separate from your voice then it is from God. This doesn’t work because your mind can create voices inside itself that sound like someone else is conversing with you. Continue Reading →