Blessed Are The Poor – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mt. 5:3 (ESV) This is the first of the famous beatitudes which are the beginning of the famous Sermon on the Mount which is considered the core of Christian living taught by Jesus. The poor in spirit are those who recognize that they are spiritually destitute on their own,. Since this sermon is spoken to Jesus’ disciples (Mt. 5:1), Jesus is implying that when we recognize we are not self-sufficient, come to him and follow him, then the kingdom of heaven belongs to us! Even though we are spiritually rich (Eph. 1:3) our posture before God should be one of humility, like one in poverty depending on the generosity of another. This is a matter of our interior life, not our external actions, although later in the Sermon, Jesus makes it clear that without external actions, we Continue Reading →

To Know Christ More Through Suffering

In Philippians Paul ties our spiritual growth in with essential spiritual truths. Jesus’ resurrection was the beginning of new creation. This week we look at closer union with Jesus’ cross and resurrection. In Philippians 2:1 Paul instructs the Philippians: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ” then please be one with each other. Paul considers Christians to be united with Christ. Then in Phil. 3:10-11 Paul talks about his spiritual growth, his desire to know Christ: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (NIV) Notice that Paul is expanding on his union with Christ. He wants to experience more union with Christ. Specifically, he wants to experience Jesus’ “resurrection from the dead” for himself, which has not happened for him yet. Continue Reading →

Absorbing Scripture Satisfies Your Desire For Growth – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

“I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” Acts 20:32 (ESV). This quote is from Paul’s speech to the elders of the Ephesian church, and he emphasizes how important the “word of his grace” is for our spiritual growth. If we devote ourselves honestly and wholly to God’s words, absorbing Scripture, then his words will definitely build us up. This means meditating on them; chewing them until they because part of us. Then, we will be assured of gaining an inheritance with the rest of the saints of God, which reminds us of Jesus words to “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Mt. 6:20).  Below is an effective pattern for absorbing Scripture (meditation): Activational Scripture Reading. Use the four headings to remind yourself to practice absorbing Continue Reading →

What Is The Purpose Of The Christian Life?

What is the Christian life all about? Sometimes we find ourselves wondering “What is the purpose of the Christian life?” Who can deny that it is important to have a general idea of what discipleship and spiritual formation are all about. What are we supposed to focus our energies on in the Christian life? And what is spiritual formation according to Scripture? One place we can find this in Scripture is in Paul’s prayers for the churches. One particularly helpful prayer for spiritual growth is at Philippians 1:9-11: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (NIV) The progression in this Continue Reading →

We Will Reign With Jesus – Weekly Word Of Encouragement

“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” Rev. 3:21 (ESV). God wants us to “conquer” this life by overcoming the sin in ourselves and living a Christformed life. This includes being faithful in the midst of trials and suffering. No matter what happens “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). In the end we will reign with Jesus. If we will persevere and be faithful to the end, then we will actually have the privilege of sitting with Jesus on his throne. This means that we will reign with Jesus! This seems too good to be true but it is an important biblical theme; God promises a reign of the saints in Rev. 2:26-28 and we see it fulfilled in Rev. 22:5. Jesus reigns Continue Reading →