SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARTICLES
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The still-life painting
Strong-willed people create their own reality—either an idealism image or a hyper-spiritual façade—and condemn people who don’t live within that contrived reality. They experience little, if any, guilt about their self-absorption and lack of love and grace towards others. They live free from God because their outward façade, ideal image, and/or lifestyle is sufficient. The surreal painting
Weak-willed people create their own reality through self-condemnation. They experience self-imposed guilt, which binds them. They too are free from God. |
… or Free in God.
But now you find your identity in Him—
- I am His!
—and are free in God! Praise His Name!
Real life—His Life neither a strong will, nor a weak will, but a yielded will. They relate to Father-God through the Spirit because of His Son. God has strengthened the weak-willed or tempered the strong-willed as they obeyed Him. character of His Son, Jesus! |
Sin is no longer master over you (Romans 6:14). You became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed; and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:17-23). You believe in Him, continue to abide, know the truth, and the truth has set you free (John 8:31-32). you shall be free indeed. ~John 8:36 You were called to freedom and will not use your freedom in Christ as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love you will serve one another (Galatians 5:13) because you are a bondslave of God (1 Peter 2:16). you have grown: changed from one state to another— from slave to sin to bondservant of God. |
STEWARDING LIBERTY
For the abiding believer—especially for a believer who has been freed from binding religious mindsets/images, self-centeredness, overemotional spirituality, and/or unbelief—managing freedom in Christ is daunting at first; but the sweetness of a deep, loving, caring, mutually blessed relationship with the Savior and Lord of our lives give us hope to go on in this world.
- walking in the liberty of sound doctrine,
not conforming to images of man.Biblical principles themselves are not Life-giving,
only the Spirit of God gives Life.Biblical principles act as the skeleton in our lives, holding us together. Without the structure of Life-giving Biblical principles, we become like jello. Then we can fit into any form/pattern presented to us (have you ever seen jello molds?) But when we renew our minds through sound doctrine, that sound doctrine provides a skeleton of Life-giving principles which hold us together so we simply cannot be pressed into the molds of men—nor do we want to be.
- being rather than doing. (This two-part conversation between a woman of God and me goes more deeply into this concept.)
If we are waiting around for God
to tell us to do something specific,
we miss liberty. - joining God in His work rather than “doing something for God.”
As we freely choose to join Father-God in the work He is already doing (John 14:10) through His Spirit, Christ will be reflected in what we do if we are hearkening to Him, obeying Him in our personal conduct, and abiding in Him. It is freeing to know that God does not need us; instead, we desperately need Him. He is at work in homes, churches, and the world at large.
It is your liberty to choose where you want to join Him in His work (1 Corinthians 6:17) as a member of His Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). As you yield your will to Him, He can and will work through you (Philippians 2:13) and your now prospering soul (3 John 1:2).
Thank You, Lord,
that You willingly gave Your Life for us and to us
and that You work through our yielded hearts. - being faithful stewards of what He entrusts to us.
Stewardship:
Management or administration
of the property or affairs of others.Matthew 25:15-28 reveals that, without any direct instruction, the Master entrusted His servants with His possessions according to each servant’s ability. The one who knew his Master as a hard Man was afraid of Him and did not exercise his liberty wisely while the others two stewarded their Master’s trust in them by investing His possessions through wise administration.
The most precious thing the Lord has entrusted
to His people is
relationships.As we exercise our liberty in Christ, relationships will be of primary concern to us—first with the Lord Himself, then with our immediate household, then with those in the household of faith. Our wise stewardship in these three areas prepares us to exercise our liberty in relationships with those in the world.
For though I am free from all,
I have made myself a slave to all,
that I might win the more.
~I Corinthians 9:19
has opened your eyes, ears, and heart to His work in your life—
how He uses relationships and circumstances in His child training of you
and that you are beginning the process of being released to His love
so you can minister His love to others,
especially your husband and children,
from the overflow of His love in your heart.
~Matthew 25:21
SERIES
Links and Navigation Help
- Create Margin
Purposefully develop an environment that fosters spiritual growth. - Hearken!
Cultivate discerning the meaning of His message to you. - Invite the Lord’s Chastening through Obedience
Obey—through your personal conduct—the seemingly little things God has set before you.- Distinguish Between Works and Obedience
A practical example - Love is Born of God
A Failing Marriage Testimony
- Distinguish Between Works and Obedience
- Believe and Abide, Part 1 of 3
Believe and Abide, Part 2 of 3
Believe and Abide, Part 3 of 3
Believe Him as you abide and be released to love. - Simply Surrender
Now that the flesh has no power over you, walk in the Light and simply surrender. - Worship and Pray Without Ceasing
God seeks you to worship in spirit and in truth moment by moment. - Be Content and Hope in Christ
Serve the Living God, in Whom you find your contentment. - Wisely Steward Your Liberty
You are free indeed! Praise the Lord!
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