Does believing something make it true? Can other people “feel” the same way you do? There are people who believe things that are blatantly false! That answers the first question. Every individual is just that – an individual. As an individual, I can’t feel what your feel and vice versa! That should answer the second […]
Do You Feelieve or Befeel?
This weekend I heard a sermon that touched on a few of the biggest disasters throughout history, one of them being the sinking of the Titanic.
Of the 1,347 people who perished, something close to 90% were men who gave up their lives so women and children could live.
In another story, the sinking of a ship called “The Empress of Ireland” in 1914, there were 130 Salvation Army officers on board — some of them old women — who gave up their life preservers, even to strong men, saying, “I can die better than you can.”
What the pastor said made me think: If you were one of the survivors and someone gave his or her life up to save yours, wouldn’t it change the way you lived from that day forward?
Most of us would agree — Yes, definitely!
And yet Jesus gave up His life for us. We have all been on that sinking ship (and maybe still are), but Jesus gave us a life preserver — one he paid for with his life. We have been saved, ultimately, from the greatest disaster.
Has if profoundly changed the way we live? Are we living a true Christian life, or are we only walking with God when it’s convenient?
Most of us don’t think of ourselves as haters, but most of us also turn a blind eye to activities we enjoy — especially when it comes to hearing about the misfortune of others.
While there’s a clear difference between spreading malicious gossip and listening to the latest news, it’s how we process the information that matters.
If you feel put off by it, you already realize the destruction it causes enough to stay away. But if you find yourself encouraging it… enjoying it… that’s a whole different issue.
Welcome to part 6 of the Going By Faith series “Uncovering Going By Faith and Finding Faith.” For the previous confession, click “confessions of greed.”
If you feel like you’ve been living like a part-time Christian, living for God sometimes and turning away other times, take a moment to repent. You can do this by praying with the Bible verse below. Next, read the questions one by one — answer them truthfully. Confess it if you’ve been irresponsible toward God. Be honest — this is between you and Him.
Every “yes” answer means sin in your life. Name it, and let there be no excuse — admit it and ask forgiveness.
Below are three translations of 1 Corinthians 4:2. Reading all three can give us a special glimpse into the true meaning of being responsible with our saved life in God’s eyes.
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (NIV)
“Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” (NLV)
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” (ESV)
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Keeping faith in everyday Christian life helps us get through trials, but it also helps us to live, think and trust like Christ — keeping our hearts open to God to do His work in us, through us and around us. In other words, we become responsible and trustworthy stewards of our faith.
Heavenly Father, shine the light of your love into our hearts so that it can pour out to others. Help us walk with you full-time, in every area of this life you have given us to live. May our life show your glory.
Thank you Christ Life Ministries for granting permission to use your content (concept and confession questions).
John Kilpatrick
96.8K subscribers
36,043 views
Premiered Jun 14, 2024 Vexed Series
An unclean spirit can vex anyone, including Christians. In a 33-part teaching series, John Kilpatrick identifies evil spirits in Scripture and teaches how you can be free from vexation. Just because an unclean spirit gains entrance does not mean it has a permanent home. Jesus cast out demons, and people were healed!
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John Kilpatrick
96.8K subscribers
83,271 views
Jun 7, 2024
Vexed Series
An unclean spirit can vex anyone, including Christians. In a 33-part teaching series, John Kilpatrick identifies evil spirits in Scripture and teaches how you can be free from vexation. Just because an unclean spirit gains entrance does not mean it has a permanent home. Jesus cast out demons, and people were healed!
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One of them subsequently organised a prayer session, where I shared my life story, confessing all the dirt and joys. The two prayer intercessors proceeded to ask more detailed questions about my life events, my family history and where I saw Christ in the midst of the accounts I gave.
Through their questions (prompted by God), my answers and their prayers, it became obvious that there was a long-running generational curse in my family: a spirit of accusation. I sort of always knew this but was never able to piece it together and spear it head-on, until now.
They explained that this generational spiritual stronghold was probably passed down through my grandmother, who was a practising witch back in America.
As a child, my grandmother would pass me gifts and crystals that she said would “protect” me, and even though I knew Jesus was the One who would protect me and didn’t want these gifts, I felt I could not refuse her.
I could suddenly see so clearly how it was Satan’s number one strategy of attack to penetrate my life from a young age. He even used other relationships (men, friends, coaches, colleagues, etc.) to accuse and make me feel like an unlovable, hopeless failure. We prayed for my family and me, proclaiming Christ’s victory over this generational stronghold.
During the prayer, I felt the Presence of God breathing through me and lifting me up in a way I never have before – I felt so connected, light, full, free, joyful, peaceful, complete, and excited!
I was laughing and crying with joy again. The prophesies and words of encouragement given during our prayer time were additional strong affirmations of what God has already hinted to me. I thought I knew, but now I finally (really) know what it means to desire more of Him and less of me.
I thought I knew scripture but it now seems to pop out with a whole new level of understanding.
I have been asking Him to teach me more how to pray. My connection with my Saviour in prayer has deepened beyond description. I no longer am constantly battling the inner shouts of accusation and self-hatred. I know the devil will attack again, but I will continue to proclaim my victory because Christ already has the victory!
After 23 years of following Jesus, I finally experienced living freely in the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection – fully, passionately overflowing, unencumbered by strongholds deep beneath the surface.
Recently, I have been doing some study into the theology of Baruch Spinoza, and I am shocked that I had not come across his work before. While we disagree on the exact nature of reality, we are fully in agreement that not only is God one with the natural world, but within us rather than […]
The God Within You
My wife and I went out last weekend to see a Canon Shakespeare Company production of Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus on a whim. I loved that a small scrappy company was taking it on—I had never seen the play, though I once taught the text at my college 20+ years ago. It was wonderful to watch […]
The Devil in the Machine
Emotional connection is not fireworks.It is not the perfect line said at the perfect time.It is quieter than that.Slower.Harder. It is s two peoplelearning the fragile geographyof each other’s heartswithout trying to conquer them. It matters because life is loud.People touch skin every daywithout ever touching the soul.They speak in quick replies,half-listening,half-leaving,while carrying entire storms […]
Emotional Connection
