Weekly words of encouragement

Freedom And Confidence With God – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“In [Christ] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Eph. 3:12 (NIV) This is a simple but enormous promise for us. Since Christ has paid all our debts we can always approach God without any restrictions. This reminds me of the annual entrance into the holy of holies conducted by the Jewish high priest each year. Only one person could enter, only once a year, only in the Temple, and only the high priest. But now all of us can enter, any time we want, anywhere we want, and we don’t have to be a top religious leader. Better yet, we can be confident that God will welcome us and bring good to us. The Jews did not have this confidence under the old covenant. There is an unverified tradition that the high priest had a rope tied around his ankle when he entered Continue Reading →

spiritual growth, resurrection

What Is The Prize That We Press On Towards?

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“One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. Phil 3:13-15 NIV) For a long time the meaning of this passage was foggy to me. What is the goal Paul is talking about? And what is the prize, and is it different from the goal? The answers were important to me because Paul said it was “One thing I do” which meant it was central to Paul’s life. Also, Paul says those “who are mature” should have the same view as Paul! But how can I have the same view as Paul if I don’t know what the prize is that Paul is pressing on towards? If we are going to Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Our Destiny Is Incomparable Blessings From God – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“God raised us up with Christ…in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:6-7 (NIV) It is hard to think of greater words of encouragement than these. God has already raised us up spiritually with Christ and the reason he did that is so that in the next age (after Jesus returns) he could give to us incredible blessings. These blessings are “incomparable”; in other words, they surpass, exceed, transcend other riches. They are beyond other blessings we can imagine. This is God’s intention and future for us. This truth is a tremendous encouragement for keeping our focus on Jesus and fully surrendering ourselves to discipleship and spiritual growth. Simple application: put your name in the verse instead of “us.” Then say it out loud three times. Trust. See The Salvation Of Continue Reading →

cross suffering

Christlikeness requires “Cross-likeness”

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In Philippians Paul ties our spiritual growth in with essential spiritual truths. Last week we looked at the way in which Jesus’ resurrection was the beginning of new creation. This week we look at closer union with Jesus’ cross and resurrection. In Phil. 2:1 Paul instructs the Philippians: “if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ” then please be one with each other. Paul considers Christians to be united with Christ. Then in Phil. 3:10-11 Paul talks about his spiritual growth: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (NIV) Notice that Paul is expanding on his union with Christ. He wants to experience more union with Christ. Specifically, he wants to experience Jesus’ “resurrection from the dead” for himself, which has not Continue Reading →

heaven eternal perspective

Has The New Creation Already Started?

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The reason we ask this provocative question is because of some mysterious passages in the New Testament that make us wonder when the New Creation starts. One of the most striking passages is Ephesians 2:6: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” (NIV). Notice that “raised” is in the past tense. Christians have already been raised in some way. But even more important is the fact that we have been raised “with Christ”. Thus, we are joined with Jesus in his resurrection. And because we are joined with him part of us is currently dwelling in heaven! So what does this have to do with the New Creation to come? The answer is that Jesus’ resurrection is the beginning of the New Creation. And in the Old Testament the idea of resurrection was connected with the new ideal Continue Reading →