John 5:44 How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God.
Let us be careful that we do not hinder our faith in Christ that brings validation and satisfaction, because we are looking for the hollow approval and validation from Men.
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If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you... (Rom 8:11 ESV] YES, I know I said "crap"...it felt weird to write it, but it's truly what it is. Maybe you're like me. You got crap in your life that you're tired of. You question why you can't "just do it!" like the pastor or the spiritual giant in your church. Q:How do I experience the most abundant life? A: listen to worship music, be with JESUS!! Q: How do I stop doing the things I don't like and regret? A: Read, pray, JESUS!! Q : How do kick ____ in my life? A: online sermons, quiet time with JESUS!! Maybe you're like me. I rehearse these type questions about my life, my inadequacies over and over and finally resort to firing back some surface-level, all-inclusive answer to satiate my unrest. Try ot pump myself up because victory is just over the horizon. I never arrive at the horizon! But, I ALWAYS end up at the scriptures. The hope and truth it shows me, was better but far different than I thought... "And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." (Luke 19:41-42 ESV) Wow, they could have known the things that made for peace, but they missed something. The path to peace was hidden from their eyes. We all desire peace in our lives. We want to be AT PEACE through all the trials and struggles and confusion around us.
Something causes us not to see the pathway of peace. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 “My dress,” the young girl murmured, her words slurred through swollen lips. “Please give me my dress. I want to hold it.”
The Christians surrounding the girl’s bed were sad. Because of her extensive internal injuries, doctors could do nothing for her. Weeks ago... (Continue Reading) "1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. I noticed 2 sets of statements about this scenario that reveal 3 groups of people that are commonly found today. I also see the apostles responses.
1. The apostles spoke in SUCH A WAY as to reach the Greeks (they needed empirical evidence) and the Jews (They were legalistic religious guys). ---> Same two group of people that we have today!! We need to be spirit-filled of course, but mindful that we must be aware of the person(s) before us and be diligent to deliver the message of the gospel in such a way that accounts for the ideology of the listener. BE COMFORTED....The spirit steps in once we step out! 2. The apostles did signs and wonders AND spoke in such a way that Jews and Greeks (remember they represent the same kind of people we have today) BUT some didn't believe and succeeded to "poison the minds" of the BELIEVERS!! ---> Wow. Yes it can happen. You can do all the right things including perform miracles and many still won't believe. This third group EFFECTIVELY COMBAT the gospel - poisoning the minds. 3. The apostles responses that we should learn from Christ by the Spirit:
Let's be on our knees and at the feet of Jesus that the Holy Spirit may fill us and work these things in our lives. As Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing." but it "is the will of my Father that you bear much fruit." Let's do it. "The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don't want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions. The attitude of a child of God should always be, 'Speak, for Your servant hears.'" --Oswald Chambers, from My Utmost for His Highest. "38 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40 Whoah, wait a minute! Did He say we can be free from all things? What kind of things!? Well, in vs 39 He says the stuff in the law of Moses (the commandments) that we try to live by but doesn't make us free. Remember in Romans
"For a majority of the people...had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. How can this be? A nation comes before God and violates his holy directions and God rewards this with a healing?
We see some beautiful dynamics here; Hezekiah in a sense is Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Looking for consolation? Here it is...
What does God desire? In other words what does He exalt? It's explained here... What attitude and mindset did Jesus have that will change me life? It's demonstrated here... Do you know how you are going to do the will of God? It's in here... How do we desire and thr actual ability to do God's will? Its also written here... God is good. Read this passage and comment on which verse jumps out at you. "33 He Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. 35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! 37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. 38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared." (Psalm 119:33-38 ESV) |
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Mario Cassase is a follower of Christ. His desire is to be real with the church and encourage her to live in ultimate freedom by knowing the Truth intimately - His name is JESUS, and we need Him to make us like Him, one truth at a time.. Archives
March 2016
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