NASB
For this purpose I also labor, striving according to his power which works mightily within me.
ESV
For this I toil, struggle with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Purpose-
Question we all need to ask? Put God 1st in the purpose. What is your purpose?
Failure is ok - Take the moment to “stop” and ask God? Its ok, ask God right? Different? Heart?
Read More• no matter how much planting & watering we do— when we don’t include or allow the Holy Spirit to be the SUNLIGHT .... they will not thrive.
• secular counseling & “tools” are: helpful but not successful WITHOUT THE SON
1 John 1:5
“God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
When we are providing Godly “tools” by planting seeds & watering— we will not see growth & maturity in others if the SON is not invited in to grow the seed!
• You are NOT responsible for another persons growth... that is the SON’s!
Read More“For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives IN you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. NLT
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Secret- “not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others.”
But our culture has a fascination with secrets- & we WANT to know the “SECRET!”
• That’s why Satan baits us with believing “they” know something I don’t know.
• “They have something I don’t have “
GOD REVEALS SECRETS IN HIS TIMING :
This is what Paul meant: — God revealed the “mystery” in His PERFECT timing!
• God is not a secret keeper but a mystery revealer (in His perfect timing)
⁃ Dan 2:47
“The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries.
Read MoreFor all that is HIDDEN/SECRET will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is CONCEALED will be brought to light and made known to all.
👉So pay attention to:
H O W Y O U H E A R !
To those who listen to my teaching: MORE understanding will be given.
—>But for those who are NOT listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
(Listen & silent have the same letters)
Who & what are your INPUTS?
He Takes my dead marriage and makes it a living marriage
• He takes my dead dream & makes it a living dream
• He takes my dead joy & makes it a living joy
• He takes my dead faith & makes it a living faith
• He takes my dead hope & makes it a living hope⚓️
Col 1:24
“Now I rejoice in what I’m suffering FOR YOU in my body, for I am PARTICIPATING in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church”
Am I “participating” in my suffering?????
👉Participatory sufferer
(OR)
👉Spectator Sufferer?
• Participatory— - suffering has revealed my calling. -Fully in & engaged!
-God & others focused
• Spectator- -suffering has become my identity
-Inward focused (all about me).
Read MoreGood News -Jesus paid for ALL our sin by dying on the cross. PAID IN FULL
This is a divine invite, not a man-made invitation.
Focus is on the perfection of Jesus! That’s enough.
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. That’s enough.
It is proven and written “according to Scripture.” That’s enough.
The theme of the whole Bible - salvation of mankind THROUGH Christ. That’s enough.
Read MoreThree reason why Jesus died a violent death:
First, Jesus died to present us as holy “set apart.” He sacrificed his life for me/you!
Second, Jesus died so we could be blameless. While we still sin, His sacrifice provides FORGIVENESS of our sins.
Third, Jesus died to make us right with God, something ONLY Jesus could provide – not in our works/efforts. Above reproach = no criticism can be made.
Read More• I was alienated from God in MY MIND— but NOT GODS!
• God doesn’t Separate & alienate— we do!
(Sin DOES grieve the heart of God... & that’s exactly why He sent His son to resolve the issue!)
SIN ➡️FEAR ➡️ SHAME
• SHAME: Identity driven (I AM wrong)
• GUILTY : Action driven (I DID something wrong)
• SHAME: self-focused
• The REMEDY: God-focused
Read MorePaul is facing the lies that were coming into the Colossian church, that Jesus was not fully God.
• you may have heard powerful sermons & seen signs & wonders — but still doubt!!! (just like the disciples & Colossians)
Matt 7:22-23
“ Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. (& you never KNEW ME AS GOD-IN-FULL)
• It’s not until we are IN THE STORM, will we know all Gods fullness dwells in Jesus!
Read MoreIn order for Christ to be head of the church, he needs to be head of the individuals of the church.
Revelation 2:4 — the church BODY lost their FIRST LOVE
• God has to be the HEAD,
SO THAT.... He can be my FIRST!
But we often make Him the arm or the leg.... & not the head (the central control tower of my life)
Read More1. “He is BEFORE ALL things &
2. IN Him all things are held together.”
⁃ The enemy uses fear to manipulate us!
—The opposite of fear isn’t faith... it’s LOVE!
— B U T.... We find COURAGE when we know LOVE has gone before me!
Jesus you existed before all creation and exists now! You are timeless and stopless (lol unstoppable).
Read More“For IN him ALL THINGS were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; ALL THINGS have been created THROUGH him and FOR him.”
“We may assume we are blessed when life goes well and cursed when it does not. But trouble is a blessing when it makes us stronger, and prosperity is a curse if it entices us away from God.”
Read MorePaul is reminding the Colossians of their
NAME/IDENTITY = R E D E E M E D !!!!!
God gives us powerful ingredient of REDEMPTION— so that we have it to give out to those who do not deserve it!
The bad news is that there is sin and humans are the ones maintaining and increasing the value on sin. The good news is that God loves the world so much that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He Redeemed us!!!!
Read More“For he has RESCUED us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred (brought)us into the Kingdom of his dear Son (light)
God:
1. RESCUES
(then....)
2. TRANSFERS
When we are clothed in lies, fear, guilt, shame which gives us a false identity (typically based on our SIN or our CIRCUMSTANCES) God rescues us from the darkness and transfers us by way of TRUTH (typically the opposite of what we are thinking/lies we are believing). Then we are given a new thought, new name ànew identity.
Read MoreWhen we understand and value the glory that awaits us, we are better able to endure whatever comes our way in this life. We can give God praise even during trials because we have His guarantee that we will receive all He has promised: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all"
Read MoreAnd he’s OVERFLOWING with joy!!!
The pursuit of happiness: an illusion of Satan. (It “adds” gods)
Could it be that true joy is found in our humility & weakness?
And since joy isn’t a feeling- but a person- joy is FINALLY found while IN the humility (I am weak but you are strong)
The Holy Spirit will empower me to build this capacity to accept:
Delay
Trouble
Suffering
All the while not getting angry, upset AND actually experiencing JOY!
Read MoreColossians 1:10 “ then the way you live, will always honor and please the Lord,
and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better”
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