“Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.” — Romans 5: 3-5
From generation to generation there has always been a remnant that has remained loyal and passionate to continue to grow the Church and pursue the lost. These determined followers loved not their lives unto death and sacrificially went to the regions beyond. This fire of God for the nations must once again be kindled in our hearts.
Jour 1: Le Saint-Esprit est là, tout près de vous Jésus a dit : "Et moi, je prierai le Père, et il vous donnera un autre consolateur, afin qu'il demeure éternellement avec vous, l'Esprit de vérité, que le monde ne peut recevoir, parce qu'il ne le voit point et ne le connaît point ; mais vous, … Continue reading 7 jours pour se laisser guider par le Saint-Esprit
A while ago, I read a quote by Charles Spurgeon that was something along the lines of, “If ever you come across a piece of Scripture you can’t face, read it until you can.”
This simple statement changed the way I read Scripture.
You see, there are many passages I avoid — no, not drawn-out lineages, rules for the building of the temple, or ‘scary’ things I don’t understand — but passages that CONVICT me.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
It’s often easier to avoid the things from Scripture that convict us, rather than to work through them, asking Holy Spirit for fresh revelation, and fresh grace so that we might continually grow in relationship with Him.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
You don’t have to be a Scholar to read and understand Scripture. If teenage fishermen were entrusted with this Message, and we have the Holy Spirit, it shouldn’t be hard to read, understand, and apply the FULL teaching we have through Scripture.
Nowadays, we have various options available to us — beautiful hardcopy, leather bound editions in many languages, or digital easily-accessed apps which give us the Bible on multiple devices. But this is not how Scripture started out. Most of the New Testament was written as letters to new believers to the many new churches that were found across the world. The Old Testament is made up of chronicles, stories, laws, prophesies, et cetera!
There is so much more to the Word than black and white (and red!) letters which provides us with a manual to living a God-filled life.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
The Word is living and powerful and active!
When you’re offended by something, view this as the perfect opportunity for God to renew your thinking, for Holy Spirit to establish a new heart within you, for you to grow into the likeness of Christ. Don’t change Scripture to fit your convictions. But align your convictions to the Truth of the Word so that you might discover and grow in the fullness of all that God is, and who He is in you and through you!
There are a lot of people these days who are “cherry picking” scriptures which support their lifestyle choices, while they often ignore the context, as a whole, from which those scriptures are drawn.
This first verse here in Romans 8 is one of those scriptures. For, these people assume they are “in Christ Jesus” merely because they made a profession of faith in Christ, or merely because they made some acknowledgment as to who he is as the Lord, the Christ, the Son of God. Or, perhaps it was because they repeated some words after someone in a prayer where they were then congratulated that they are now in God’s family.
But, is that all there is to it to be “in Christ”? Or, is there more to it?
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life…
[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which … Continue reading je cours
rejoice || wilderness a well in the wasteland. There are times in life where we're "stuck" in the in-between. One of the toughest lessons I've had to learn, is to actively wait while I'm in the in-between. As Westerners, we're conditioned to be time-conscious -- not to waste time, but to save it and steward … Continue reading rejoice in the wilderness
"I was once young, and now I am old, but not once have I been witness to God's failure to supply my need when I had first given for the furtherance of His work. He has never failed in His promise, so I cannot fail in my service to Him."William Carey1761-1834; British missionary to India … Continue reading seed for sowing
"The world asks, 'what does a man own?' Christ asks, 'how does he do it?'"Andrew Murray1828 - 1917South African pastor and author "You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him." - Deuteronomy 15: 9 - 10 When Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, they … Continue reading the purpose of wealth
"After these things, I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands." - Revelation 7:9 How did this great multitude get there? Someone went, someone was sent, … Continue reading every tribe and tongue
"We must be global Christians with a global vision, because our God is a global God." - John Scott, 1921British Pastor and Evangelical leader "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, 'come to Macedonia hand help us.'" - Acts 16:9 Recognizing God's appeal … Continue reading vision for the harvest
Three years ago, my friend Sanet told me, "Aligning yourself with Holy Spirit is more important than aligning yourself with offense," and it still resonates within me -- when we choose to align with Holy Spirit, and allow Him to renew our thoughts and hearts, offense becomes a matter of little importance as we learn … Continue reading Christian Compassion
compassion calls you out of the boat, beyond your self-imposed limitations, beyond your comfort zone, into the uncharted waters where the glory of God dwells.
In 2010 I had a dream in which I was standing on a balcony, and I was browsing through the stars in much the same way that you would browse through Google Sky Maps.
I remember that the galaxies I saw before me seemed thick and soupy and I couldn’t resist the urge to dive in. So, I jumped over the balcony rail and I started swimming through the stars.
As I swam, I came to a white house with Grecian pillars framing the front door. I wanted to knock, but before my knuckles could reach the door, a woman with long dark hair opened the door, and she spoke to me in Hebrew, saying “I know why you are here. You have come to find the one they call Yeshua.” And then she invited me inside. Up until this day I have no idea how I was able…
the sons of God are lead by the Spirit of God || Romans 8:14 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua . For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what was impossible for … Continue reading mid-week encouragement
As a kid who grew up in the lush green that the Northern Drakensberg had to offer, I've always imagined Psalm 23 to resemble the rolling foothills of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
However, upon visiting Israel in October 2018, I came to know the bitter truth -- the green pastures David spoke of look nothing like the paradise of my childhood.
The reality of the Psalm 23 in which David's praise-song was set, was rugged and harsh desert landscape, just outside of Palestine.
Stepping out in faith is not knowing that Peter walked on water. Faith is getting out of your own boat, whether you're wearing a life jacket or not, and whether you're knee deep in the water and surrounded by a storm or not, to still trust that God has plan for your life; knowing Holy Spirit will guide you; knowing Jesus will reach out to catch you; knowing Father will embrace you; and doing the impossible because God is a God of wonders.
