exercise

How To Gain More Willpower For God

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Do you find that you lack willpower to make the godly choices you want to make? Do you find yourself repeating the same fault over and over? If you want more willpower perhaps it needs some exercise. When God gave us a new birth this included a new will because it was created in God’s image. Ephesians 4:24 says, “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (ESV). So, just as our new mind and new affections should grow spiritually stronger so too should our new will. We should have more willpower to do good. Every part of us should grow more Christlike. If we sharpen our resolve to overcome the Enemy and to control our destructive desires, then we will soon find victory over temptations to our flesh. In this battle it is helpful to avoid wasteful activities and instead make Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

The Poor Will Be Rich – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?” James 2:3-5 (NLT). In this passage James warns churches against favoritism, especially against favoring the rich who often oppressed the poor. Then God gives a tremendous encouragement to believers who are poor. God explains the poor will be rich in faith, and though they are poor now, in eternity they will gain far more than anyone on earth ever had. They will inherit the Kingdom of God! Thus, there is no shame in being poor. Those who are Continue Reading →

teamwork harmony people

How To Get Along With Difficult People

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If we want to live in full harmony with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, then it is essential that we learn to die to self in every way. If we don’t learn to do this, then we will not be able to love and get along with difficult people. It is not easy to live in oneness with others and to steer away from complaining and grudges. We will be blessed if we learn to live in peace until we die, for Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt. 5:8 (ESV) Even when we have to work through a disagreement we can learn to do it peacefully and “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). In order to get along with difficult people we should think of ourselves as pilgrims on this earth. We are just traveling through this place so Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

The Spirit In Us Has Overcome The World – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4, NIV).  This verse is one of our bulwarks against all that would tear us down! God is all-powerful, and his Spirit lives in us, so we can overcome the world. We have his spiritual power that keeps us focused on love and truth, and no spirit, person, institution, or destructive desire inside or outside of us can cause us to stumble when we stay centered on God’s Spirit who has made us his temple and lighthouse for the world. The passage says we have already overcome the world, past tense. God has done it! It is true that we will still suffer from forces in the world. They can inflict great pain, but that does not mean they are superior Continue Reading →

orchestra

What Is Biblical Fellowship? Everyone Contributes!

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If we ask ourselves the question “what does scripture say should happen when believers gather together” (i.e. the weekly service) we might be surprised. One thing that dominates the various passages (Rom. 12:6-10; I Cor. 11:17-24;I Cor. 14:26-33; Gal. 6:2; Eph. 5:19-21; Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:24-25; James 5:14-16) is that there should be the mutual exercise of gifts to edify one another. This may not seem radical at first, but it is rare and it is biblical fellowship. How many Sunday services have you been to where many different people exercise gifts to edify others in a mutual way? Usually the preacher does nearly all the ministry. Preaching is important but is this biblical fellowship? It is true that the worship time is a time when people other than the pastor exercise their gifts. But where are the different people exercising the various gifts in Romans 12 (e.g., exhorting, teaching, Continue Reading →