Grace
The Fiery Trial
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What have I Been Doing For Two Years?
I can only guess at what people must think about my extended hiatus and total lack of visibility over the past two years. Though my response will probably be less that adequate, it is the truth and will have to suffice.I have, for the past two years, been under a severe spiritual attack. My motives have been questioned, by integrity challenged, my veracity put to the test, and my faith has been tried in on a daily basis. It has been a season of not only testing, but the end result has been spiritual growth. I find the irony to be almost comical in that the title of my last posting here in Lessons For The Heart was Growth In Grace!
Over the past two years I have been ministered to by angels; Lilian, Samantha, Kurt, Maria, David, Kevin, and others. I have been told by others that my unshakeable stand for the absolute authority of God's Word is wrong and that I should be willing to compromise on that in order to maintain peace and unity. It was proclaimed that my insistence on obedience to the clear commands of Scripture was unloving.
My faith has been tried, refined. And I am all the better and all the stronger for it. Though it was not pleasant at the time, the results are beyond words.
I will, once again, be posting here and sharing what the Lord has put upon my heart. My immediate prayer is that you will forgive me for so long and absence and return here again if perhaps I may impart some truth, or blessing, or strength, or hope for your time(s) of Fiery Trial.
Grace and Peace
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Growth In Grace
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What Is The Growth Of Grace?
It is another way of expressing the idea of an increase in the power of the Holy Spirit in the activities of the whole of Christianity. That increase is realized in all of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, e.g., Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance (Galatians 5:22, 23)Along with this is connected an increase in the knowledge of Messiah as our Lord & Savior.
Knowing Messiah As Lord
Knowledge is either speculative (theoretical) or it is experiential, but it cannot be both at the same time apart from Messiah.Both forms of knowledge must be united, and the object of these two forms of knowledge is Messiah as our Lord & Savior.
- Romans 2:20
- Romans 10:2
As Lord, it includes his divinity and his incarnation, as it is the *theanthropos whom we recognize as Lord. An increase in this knowledge of his entire person must include:
- A clearer understanding of God (the Word) electing to become a man himself.
- A clearer understanding of his glory.
- A clearer understanding of his exaltation and dominion.
Knowing Christ As Savior
This includes,A firsthand knowledge of what he does for us in this character.
Inward experience of his saving work on our own souls.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Means Of Growth In Grace
The necessary conditions of all growth are light, food and exercise.Light and warmth. This is, so far as spiritual life is concerned, the favor of God, the assurance of it, the experience of it. We must bring our souls under the direct influence of God’s love. The more this is done, the more life shall we have. However, it must be in the way the gospel prescribes.
The food of the soul is truth.
a. This must be pure, i.e., scriptural
Hebrews 5:12, 13
1 Peter 2:2
b. It must be daily received.
c. It must be appropriated, and applied.
The exercise of grace. This includes,
All acts of worship.
All exercises of faith and love, etc.
All outward duties performed in obedience to God and to promote his cause.
Evidences Of Growing In Grace
We are not taking about being zealous or being either guided or driven by feelings/emotions. Nor is it about enjoyment, per se. We are speaking of an increase in—Our submission to the truth.
Our conformity to Christ.
Philippians 3:10
Our power to resist sin and to hear and to do the will of God.
*The word theanthrōpos refers to the entire, concrete person of Messiah—one person in two natures—rather than viewing the matter from one or the other of the natures in an abstract manner.
Divorce & Remarriage
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Perhaps Yeshua’s words to us in Matthew 5:31-32 have divided more people; families, friends, and churches, than any other words he spoke. At the very least they have served as a point of heated contention for centuries. It should not be surprising then, that the road to understanding this difficult subject has many problems. Yet it is God’s will for us both to know his will and to do his will. Read More...