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Spiritual Warfare
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
When Satan’s will is thwarted we are doing spiritual warfare. Notice the methods given to us in this passage for spiritual warfare. Perhaps a bit different than we normally think of spiritual warfare! And it has to do with the liberating power of the truth…the Gospel!
- Braden
Angels & Demons
I haven’t seen the movie “Angels and Demons,” but it has created buzz in our
culture. The crew at Westminster has created an informative and helpful
website here: http://www.truthaboutangelsanddemons.com
Check it out so that you can “be prepared to make a defense to anyone who
asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3.15).
- Jon
Abounding Work
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
We can abound in the word of the Lord and know that it will be worth it. It will last. You won’t regret it.
- Braden
Parking at Next
Parking at Next is going to be around $26 per day depending on where you park. So I would suggest that you carpool and split this cost!
- Braden
Striving
Strive to excel in building up the church 1 Corinthians 14:12b
In an extended teaching on the right use of the spiritual gifts in the gathered church, Paul, having established that love is the motivation to use the gifts in chapter 13, now gives flesh to the bones of love and says that we are to strive for something. Our love for Christ and his body leads us outward towards the church and we are called to ‘strive to excel in building up the church’. We are to use our gifts and our energies to build up the body of Christ which he bought with his own blood (Acts 20:28). What are you striving for these days? Career? Comfort?
A career is where we fulfill a large part of our calling in this world to serve. But it is not our entire calling. It is not our identity. We are part of a lasting city. We are part of the church that Christ spilled his blood for. When we strive to excel in building up the church, we are striving for something that Christ strives for and something that will last. Work hard at your job, but set limits. You are a finite creature and have limited capacity to strive. Save much strength for the body of Christ—to build it up.
Comfort can be good. We all need rest. But it can also be the thing that saps us of energy to serve in the kingdom. Many of us probably need to set aside our own comforts and strive for something greater. I know I do.
Let’s strive for what Christ strives for—his church—the current members and those he has yet to save.
-Braden
The Armor of God
Tomorrow I’m preaching on Ephesians 6:13-17 which details the armor that God has given us in the fight against Satan. Pray for me that I would keep my eyes fixed on serving God faithfully. Pray for the word to go forth and do all that God has willed for it to do. And come expectant-not because of me-but because it’s God’s very words to us that we preach.
Braden
What is the will of God?
Whatever the Lord pleases, he does Ps 135:6
Wow. The will of the Lord is whatever he pleases. So, if I understand this rightly, in the trials that I face it pleased the Lord not to withold them from me. There is something about seeing me press in to his power during the trial that is more pleasing to him than a comfortable life. As I meditated on this verse this morning, I was strengthened to remember that whatever comes my way, God has willed it and will cause it to work for my good (Rom 8:32). We serve a God who is so much greater than us in all his ways.
If you’re humble, you’ll read.
“It’s a humbling thing for me to read a book. Most books take at least
several hours of combined time to process, and I have to forsake other
distractions in order to focus and benefit from what I am reading. Most of
all, I can’t talk back. I am forced to just listen, patiently follow and
receive, to think another man’s thoughts after him.”
- Monergism
Click here to find a recommended reading guide from Monergism. It’s
outstanding! Print it out, give it out, buy the books, read the books, and
apply the books.
Jon
Personal Assistant Needed
Disabled lady needs assistance with activities of daily living (i.e. showering, dressing, etc.)
in the mornings (5:15-7 am), evenings (6:30-8:00 and/or 9:00-11:30) several days a week,
and on weekends (throughout the day). Looking for 1-2 ladies who are dedicated, responsible,
and detail-oriented. This is a paid position.
• No experience/special certifications necessary
• Must have a permit to work in the U.S. and be proficient in English
• Have own transportation and good driving record
• Be able to lift at least 85 lbs.
• Be punctual and reliable
• Must like dogs and assist with grooming/caring for service dog
For more information, please contact Nadia at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Gospel-centered Interview
I recently had a job interview for a sales position with a roofing company in college park. The interview
was in a small cluttered office with a couple of guys, Rick and Dave, wearing jeans and sweatshirts. I sat
there awkwardly on a couch in a full suit.
During the interview itself I mentioned I am a Christian and work with integrity. Rick proceeded to tell me
that about his Muslim faith & background in that he seeks to work with similar values. I kept that little piece of information close at hand.
After the interview portion ended, lasting maybe 10 minuets, I proceeded to ask him if he was a practicing
Muslim and attended a mosque. He said he was practicing and that he prayed five times a day. That little
conversational match sparked an hour and a half long discussion about faith, God, and Christ, with topics
ranging from the end times, Mohammed, the New Testament, lust, and the message of the cross.
By the end of our time, Rick still held closely to what he thought, but I’m pretty sure Rick had never had a
conversation like that before, much less a job interview. I left hoping that Rick was able to see—through the Spirit—the authority of the claims of Christ through me. I prayed for him as I left the building.