July
#26 Only Believe 7/6/25
Please consider:
Certainly, it is important to believe; however, believe in what? There is a massive spectrum of belief, inclusive of but not limited to:
- There is no God
- God is distant
- God created all that is and left it for us to manage
- God is transcendent
- God is imminent
- God is both transcendent and imminent
- God provides for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
- God provides for an intimate relationship with Himself
Only to the degree that we believe can we achieve. To believe less than what God has provided for us, we deprive ourselves of knowing the Truth that sets us free.
#27 Simply Stated 7/13/25
Please consider:
What God is seeking in, as, and through us is Spiritual Fruit not religious nuts.
#28 Spiritual Fruit 7/20/25
Please consider:
Spiritual fruit is the result of knowing God. Religious nuts are a result of only knowing about God. Knowing God is intimate, we in Him and He in us, our hope of glory (Col 1:27). Knowing about God is at best merely personal, perhaps awesome, but not intimate.
Matt 7:20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Heb 8:10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
In my opinion, the process of cultivating that intimacy is inclusive of, but not limited to persistent prayer and forgiveness.
#29 The Perils of Not Progressing 7/27/25
Much of our Christian culture is captivated by elementary principles. Although these principles provide an essential foundation, they are best to serve like a compass to lead us to the Living Word. The Living Word is the Spirit of Christ within. It appears to me that the collective amassments of these doctrinal principles become, in essence, principalities.
Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
We have all observed how captivating team spirit can be. It can captivate crowds of tens of thousands of spectators. It is a spiritual reality. Consequently, in a similar fashion, as we embrace principles collectively and stand steadfast, by the strength of our flesh, we can become captive to those principles. Although the principles are of the Godly standard, they rely on the strength of flesh. They are legalistic. They do not witness the Fruit, Freedom, and Power of the Spirit of God.
By the Grace of God, I know that these principalities can be discerned. And once discerned can be eliminated by the power of prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
The Way, the Truth and the Life, not only for the hereafter, but for here and now!
Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
The intent of CRA is:
>NOT to demean other religious perspectives but to share the rationale for a better way;
>NOT to insist but to proclaim what is perceived to be a more excellent way;
>NOT to convince but to reveal the perceived Truth and allow the Spirit of God to convict the hearts and >minds of those who are receptive;
>NOT to force feed but to share
>NOT to intimidate but to encourage;
>NOT to coerce but to invite;
>NOT to argue but to dialogue;
>NOT to divide but to unite.