Part 3, 3 Levels of Scriptural Understanding
Listening to the Holy Spirit is the difference between being informed and being transformed.
Part 2, 3 Levels Of Scriptural Understanding
God does not promote us because of what is in our heads. He promotes us because of what is in our hearts.
Part 1, 3 Levels Of Scriptural Understanding
The story of the Ethiopian eunuch shows us the three levels of understanding: literal, spiritual and applied.
Without a proper literal understanding, what we call spiritual understanding would be highly suspicious.
Truly wise people are often humble because they know enough to realize that they do not know enough.
Part 3b Biblical Joy
A joy robber is anything that begins to pull our hearts away from the truth of who God is and causes our circumstances to become louder than our confidence in Him.
Where have I been looking for joy that only God can truly provide?
When I am disappointed, where does my heart run first?
What daily habit do I need to practice more intentionally so joy becomes a lifestyle, not just a moment?
Part 3a Biblical Joy
I can endure every kind of season because Christ gives me the strength to do it.
Joy keeps our heart anchored to God. Prayer keeps us connected to God. Gratitude keeps our attention on the goodness of God.
We are not just called to possess joy. We are called to become carriers of it.
Part 2 Biblical Joy
You can be hurting and still possess joy.
Despair tells me what I see, but joy reminds me of what I know.
Don't interpret the presence of trouble as the absence of God.
Part 1 Biblical Joy
Joy grows out of our connection with God.
We cannot expect to produce lasting joy while disconnected from Christ.
Dwelling is essential to receiving your lasting joy
We can never overstay our welcome in God’s
presence.
Part 5 The Whole Counsel Of God
Our faith is a composite of our knowledge, expectations and experience of God.
Disobedience to God changes us, even as believers in Christ: our hearts are hardened.
The Holy Spirit is your Helper for God's Purpose, Not Your Own
Part 4 The Whole Counsel Of God
When it comes to cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit prompts us on how to think in any given situation.
He reminds us of the teachings of Jesus regarding the specific issue we face, counseling us on how to act, or how not to act.
With His gifts, He will prompt us to take a step, speak a word, pray for a person.
If we respond by faith and comply, our obedience will produce results.
Part 3 The Whole Counsel of God
-Jesus has the gentle character of a lamb, and the dreadful strength of a lion.
- To be like Christ is to embody this duality: be gentle like doves and also be "dangerous" (in a spiritual sense) like fire or electricity.
Faithful To The End
A faithful minister must remain true to God and to his word;
remain compassionate to the people;
function as an intercessor;
My faithfulness must never be determined by the faithfulness of the people to whom I am sent, but only by the faithfulness of Him who sent me.
Spirit vs. Spirit
The battle we face is not racial, cultural, economic or political. It is a battle between spirits.
What makes one a Christian is the presence, leading and power of the Holy Spirit.
We must be filled with the Holy Spirit again and again.
Part 2 The Whole Counsel Of God
The Holy Spirit was given to work within us and to work through us.
When He works within us, we are transformed into Christlikeness.
When He works through us, we are empowered to achieve God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.
Part 1 The Whole Counsel Of God
Everything God gives is necessary and sufficient.
The Counsel/Will/Purpose of The Lord for Humanity: The Image of God
Jesus did not come merely to save us as refugees, but He came to pay a King’s ransom for us, as fellow heirs.
You can earn a doctorate in theology, operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit but fail to start the journey into Christlikeness.
Recompense Of Reward
Our salvation is a gift, but our rewards will be earned.
When we receive gifts, we feel loved. When we receive rewards, we feel valued because we are useful.
We are rewarded for pleasing God.
Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons will not be pleasing to God.
God, The Difference Maker
Whatever is happening in the world right now, if you belong to God and your expectations are from God, you will not end up like other men.
God always separates between right and wrong, good and evil, the just and the unjust… eventually.
The inheritance of the saints includes trials and tribulations.
Transformation: God, Our Just Justifier
Spiritual Christians are committed to transformation into Christlikeness.
Self-justification impedes our transformation into Christ-likeness.
Self-justification is an outward manifestation of inner self-righteous.
Transformation: Growing Into A Spiritual Christian
It is possible for a believer in Christ to live an unspiritual life.
To live an unspiritual life is to live in the flesh, in carnality.
The Renewing of the Mind is the process by which we are transformed from Adamic, carnal living to Christlikeness.
Psalm 23, Implication For Believers
“The Lord is my Shepherd” is a statement of faith, a statement of relationship and a statement of duty.
The sheep has two duties: know the Shepherd and trust the Shepherd.
Every test of faith is a twin test of knowledge and trust.
Casting Our Unclean Spirits
Unclean spirits are demons, usually at the root of all kinds of suffering like protracted disease and mental affliction.
Unclean spirits thrive where there is ignorance, unbelief, fear or pride.
Unclean spirits operate like pests. If you tolerate one, you will soon you have an infestation.
When an unclean spirit is cast out, the work of deliverance has only just began.