March 2025
#5A God is Eager to Bless
Luke12:32 "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Matthew 6:10 "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
I believe that God blesses us in two primary ways:
A) The Warm and Fuzzy—This includes all that is wonderful, desirable, and aligned with God's Highest and Best for us.
B) The Cold and Abrasive—This has two aspects:
1B serves to strengthen us, build character, and develop steadfastness.
2B shakes everything in us that is shakable—that is, every disposition and circumstance inconsistent with God's Will, Way, Highest and Best. This includes, but is not limited to, learned behaviors, conditioned responses, unforgiveness, traditions, habits, cultural and religious influences, false beliefs, unbelief, and countless other worldly dispositions.
In God's awesome and wonderful way, we can discern—individually and/or collectively—the difference between these two aspects.
Relationships as a Means of Discernment
One primary way we discover these aspects of our dispositions is through relationships. Scripture commands us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Without godly love, no relationship or circumstance can be a true blessing—to us or to others.
Our earthly relationships, both with ourselves and with one another, serve two purposes:
1. They bring out the best in us (the warm and fuzzy).
2. They expose the cold and abrasive to either build character or reveal areas needing transformation.
As we cultivate discernment—individually and/or collectively—we learn to differentiate between these aspects of character.
Circumstances as a Means of Discernment
Another primary way God reveals whether we are experiencing His Will and Way, Highest and Best is through our circumstances. Just as with relationships, circumstances bring out both the best and the worst in us.
When the yoke is easy, the burden is light, and the path is clear, we are experiencing the warm and fuzzy (A).
When we anguish, toil, or spin, we are confronting what is shakable (B)—not what builds character, but what needs to be surrendered to God.
We can be thankful for both categories A and B, recognizing that each serves a purpose in our spiritual journey.
Overcoming the Shakable Through God's Power
As we deepen our understanding of God's prayerful provisions, we can—by His Presence and Power—identify what is shakable(2B). This allows us to address it, not merely through our strength, but through the presence and power of God. Attempts to accomplish godly objectives through fleshly effort alone have no lasting benefit.
Individually, we may consider the power of prayer:
"In the name of Jesus Christ, I forgive and/or confess ________.Amen."
For deeper, more complex spiritual bondage, we may seek the assistance of those with comprehensive ministry Gifts of the Spirit [1], including Discernment, Faith, and Intercessory Prayer.
The Process of Sanctification
As we prayerfully avail ourselves of a deeper aspect of God's presence and power, we can experience the extrication of what is worst in us and its replacement with a further anointing of God's Spirit—His Love. This added anointing provides a greater manifestation of His highest and best for us.
This is the ongoing process of Sanctification, an ever-deepening transformation and anointing of His Spirit and ongoing progression described as:
"The mystery hidden for ages and generations, which is Christ in you(us), the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:26-27)
It is Christ being formed in us, allowing our light to shine ever more brightly as we bear greater witness to the world—not just in the hereafter, but also in the here and now—of the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus Christ.
When the Going Gets Tough...
When we face the cold and abrasive, we continually have the opportunity—individually and collectively—to ask ourselves:
2B or not 2B?
P.S. Please consider that, absent of the evidence of conspicuous results, we may rest assured that we have not availed ourselves of the fullness of God's provisions for us. It is by our Fruit and not our doctrine that we are to be known. Here again is another opportunity, in our collective togetherness, to pray together and reason together, as a Christian culture, and discover what we are missing.
[1] It has been my experience that many counselees have, at best, a superficial knowledge and appreciation of Ministry Gifts of the Spirit.
#5B Distinguishing Between Truth and truth
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.
Please consider:
The Truth is that we were created in the image and likeness of God. The Truth is who God created us to be. The truth is that humanity has been held in captivity for ages and generations. This captivity is evidenced to greater or lesser degrees throughout humanity. The truth of captivity is inclusive of, but not limited to, learned behaviors, conditioned responses, cultural influences, generational influences, indoctrinations and so much more.
The Truth is that Jesus Christ has come to set the captives free. To the degree that we have availed ourselves of the privileges of Salvation AND Sanctification we are free to be who God created us to be. To the degree that we are merely Saved and not completely Sanctified we remain in captivity. The limitations of captivity reveal the truth of our captivity.
God has provided for us all that is necessary to discern that which is still not sanctified. God has provided us with all that is necessary to extricate that which is still not sanctified. God has provided us the ability for a greater anointing of his Spirit, which is a greater anointing of Christ within our hope of glory.
Action?
#6 Intimate Relationship with God
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Please consider:
It is awesome and wonderful to cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; however, I do not believe that it is the ultimate of God's provisions. I believe that we are invited to an intimate relationship with God the Father. I believe that we also have the privilege of Knowing Him as Father.
Matt 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Col 1: 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
Prayerfully asking and seeking and knocking can open the door to that Profound intimate awareness.
#7 Serving God
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
Please consider:
Many perceive that serving God is putting Him on a pedestal and praising and worshipping Him or merely being obedient to the words of the Bible. This may not be a bad way: however, I do not believe it is the best way. True serving comes from the anointing of God's Spirit. It conveys the Love of God and the Fruit of God in service to others. It's a matter of Inspiration and the power from the heart and not merely motivation which is the strength of the flesh. It entails the Wisdom of God not only to do the right thing but to do the right thing in the right time and in the right way. It is the essence of worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth.
Prayerfully asking and seeking and knocking can open the door to that Profound intimate awareness.
#8 Simple Prayerful Disciplines
1 Thes 5:17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Please consider:
Prayer is powerful, especially in the name of Jesus Christ. We have the privilege of confessing, of forgiving and of giving thanks and so much more. These are simple prayers that may be spoken aloud or silently. They may be spoken in the quiet of our own prayer closet or in the midst of all kinds of activity.
Forgiving seems to disentangle us from the mental and emotional snares. Confessing seems to dissipate the inner turmoil of guilt. Giving thanks is like a tuning fork, bringing us into alignment with God's will and way.
It is obvious that giving thanks for the good things is easy to do. The greater challenge is giving thanks in everything. Giving thanks is not a matter of appreciating the circumstance it is absolutely the matter of recognizing the presence and sovereignty of God in the midst of the circumstance. Yet, as difficult as it may seem, it is possible with ease in the name of Jesus Christ.
#9 Cultivating the Awareness of God's Still Small Voice
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Please consider:
For our own well-being and the well-being of others, it is profoundly important to awaken to and cultivate the ability to know and trust God's still small voice.
A significant number of Christians do not acknowledge God's still small voice for several reasons. Some because they do not recognize the privilege to do so, others do not feel worthy of doing so, or do not know how to do so, or they frequently are discouraged from doing so for fear of not discerning between feelings or emotions or deceiving spirits.
It is possible to cultivate the essential discernment in the name of Jesus Christ and to test every spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. I don't know precisely how to recommend for all individuals to do so. I only know that prayerfully in the name of Jesus Christ, it is possible to do so.
#10 Do Not Judge
Please consider:
Matthew 7:1-3
"Judge not, that
ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and
with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why
beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the
beam that is in thine own eye?"
It is not necessarily for of our judgment of others that we are judged, but rather by our judgment of others. In doing so, we reveal a trait within ourselves—one that we may more easily recognize in others, even though it is also present in us. While the fault may be more obvious in them, it is undeniably true for us as well.
It is not merely what we recognize, but the disposition with which we recognize it. Recognition that is accompanied by anger, venom, hatred, or bitterness is not a godly disposition. Our judgment serves as a mirror, reflecting a godly principle that grants us the opportunity to recognize our own bondage.
Recognition with a disposition of love is called righteous judgment, or in other words, discernment. And yes, there is such a thing as righteous anger. It may manifest in actions, as seen when Jesus cleansed the temple. In my opinion, both in Him and in us, righteous anger is best understood as a firm verbal and demonstrative response, intended for edification rather than destruction.
If we discern—whether individually or collectively—that our disposition is less than godly, we are given an opportunity to seek God's provision through His presence and power. This process can be pursued individually or with professional help. When done rightly, it leads to redemption and true freedom.
#11 Faith In or Of
New International Version Gal 2:16
"Know that a person is not justified by the works of the
law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So
we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the
law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
King James Bible Gal 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed
in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Please consider:
I have long been perplexed by these different references regarding faith. This is true for many translations of the Bible. I recently asked a friend of mine who is a scholar of sorts to help me to understand. He provided me with eight pages of reference sources debating which is correct. The intellectual assessments to me are confusing and conflicting.
However, I have found comfort in reviewing the commentaries. It leads me to the conclusion that both have relevance. It is not necessarily either or. It is a matter of both depending upon the context.
To me, faith in Jesus Christ is a matter of the mind. It is a matter of intellect. It is a matter of knowing about God. On the other hand, Faith of Jesus Christ is a matter of the heart. It is a matter of Knowing God. "And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest" ( Hebrews 8:11). It is evidence of having been awakened to the profundity of the Spirit of Christ within which is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Faith in Jesus Christ is awesome and wonderful; however, I believe that it brings us to an open door through which we may enter as we die (progressively and cumulatively in God's provisions for Sanctification) to matters of the flesh (mere intellect) and are born anew in the Spirit.
"… But knowledge puffs up while love builds up" (Corinthians 8:1). God is Love and the Spirit of God, which is Christ, builds up. As we are built up, we have Confidence, we Bear the Fruit of the Spirit. The effects are Confidence, Assuredness, Justification and Righteousness. We know God's Will and do God's Will with ease in loving and peaceful ways.
By contrast knowledge puffs up. Well-meaning as it may be, it may lead to that which is merely strength of flesh and not the Power of God. The effects often lead to self-confidence, self-reliance, self-justification, and self-righteousness.
Consider the Faithful of God (Hebrews 11), who not knowing about Jesus Christ, had Faith by His Spirit in them. They knew the Will of God and Confidently did the Will of God. For Jesus Christ said Matthew 12:50 "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. "
Consequently, in my opinion, faith in God precedes Faith of God in our quest to know and do God's Will and Way, highest and best.
Blessings,
Robert Benedict
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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 thes
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.