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Does God allow trials for hidden purposes?

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What is a test, a trial and a temptation? We must let the revealed Word of God define such terms and put them in proper context of how we should understand the presence of those terms and experiences in our lives.

We see in James 1, 1 Peter and 1 Corinthians 10 that trials/tests are the result of falling into temptations. James says to count it all joy when we fall into temptation and that we should access patience to endure the temptation.

This language makes it sound like God is somehow involved with with the temptation/trial because we are to have patience in it but James later instructs us to not even say that temptations are from God. When you thoroughly study the words; trials, tests and temptations, you find that they are always evil, they are never from God and God will make a way out for you.

Keep in mind that we will have tribulation in the world and suffering/persecution may come for his name sake but the Word of God never associates those things with what we define as tests or trials of our faith. Sure your faith may be tested if you’re persecuted but that is not a trial from God to see if you’ll pass a test to receive what he gives only by his spirit.

In short, a temptation is a test of your faith. All temptation is evil, as we see from the prayer of Jesus in Matthew 6:13.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

James 1:13 says that temptation/trial is not from God and definitively instructs us to not even say they are from God. He goes on to say only good things come from God.

To quickly address the testing of our hearts as mentioned by Peter, God isn’t testing our hearts with trials, he does it inwardly with his Word and his spirit. The very word for test in 1 Peter is a different word meaning prove. God makes our hearts stronger with his spirit and Word, not external trials and difficulty.

This matters because we need to be able to trust God, not be confused by his “mysterious actions” in our lives.

Have you ever been confused by this scripture, “God won’t put more on you than you can bear?”

If you have been confused by that passage, that’s because it’s not in the Bible. Sorry to trick you but it’s shocking how many people misquote that passage, which is actually a promise of deliverance from God.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

There are several points to notice in this passage:

  1. The word temptation is clearly used here but this is the main passage people use to describe the nature of a test/trial from God.
  2. We must remember that James definitively instructs us to never say temptation is from God. Thereby we are to never say the test/trial is from God.
  3. It doesn’t say the trial is from God, it says when it comes God will make a way out. Paul said it another way in another place, “out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
  4. This sounds like God is bringing the temptation and the way out at the same time but by James definitive statement, we know this can’t possibly be true.

This passage also erases the idea that God is allowing tests/trials in our lives for his hidden purposes. How? Again, in light of James 1, God is in no way related to temptation. So even though this passage seems to indicate God is allowing them, James says it’s not from God.

You see, God has to allow everything on this planet because he gave authority over it to mankind. He has to allow all of our choices no matter how much sin and death is produced. The fact the God is allowing trials is not because he has a purpose for it, it’s because he’s sticking to his word. That’s why the promise of a way out is so vital to notice and focus on about this passage, it’s clear God’s involvement in your tests, he wants to rescue you from them!

God is not experimenting on you to develop his spiritual purposes, he does that by his spirit, not external trials. You can trust him. He has good plans for you.

This is a technical issue to dissect in a short article, please take the tie to watch this short video and listen to this full length teaching. My prayer is that it brings you clarity but also equips you to have this conversation with your friends and family. You may be convinced in your heart that God is not making your life difficult but I’m sure you have family and friends that think God’s ways are confusing and he’s doing things to test them…you need to be able to inspire them to trust God by walking them through the passages I address in this teaching.

Notes from “Is God Creating and Allowing Tests and Trials?” #3 from my current series on the sovereignty of God (UNEDITED)

God’s ultimate will for humans is Heaven on earth, he crated it that way and he’ll put it back that way and he gives all in between the opportunity to receive eternal life through faith in the sacrifice of Christ.

Last week we addressed suffering and persecution and whether they are necessary for salvation. Based on the many passages we read, suffering and persecution come for the words sake or for his name sake, not something you endure in your body to gain or attain an aspect of the salvation that is only available by grace through faith in the sacrifice of Christ.

This week let’s talk about tests and trials. What did Jesus say about them? Seems like a good place to start, wouldn’t you agree?

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, G3986 but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: G3986 the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
James 1
v2 My G3450 brethren, G80 count it G2233 all G3956 joy G5479when G3752 ye fall G4045 into divers G4164 temptations; G3986 (an experiment, attempt, trial, proving)
v3 Knowing G1097 this, that G3754 the trying G1383 ( twice – 1 Pet 1:7) of your G5216faith G4102 worketh G2716 patience. G5281
v4 But G1161 let G2192 G0 patience G5281 have G2192 her perfect G5046 work, G2041 that G2443 ye may be G5600perfect G5046 and G2532 entire, G3648 wanting G3007nothing. G1722 G3367
 
What is patience?
A fruit of the spirit
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
What God has for us begins in spirit and manifests to us by grace through faith, not endurance through suffering. The larger point or hermeunitic is that we are to stay spiritually minded, affirmed of who we are in Christ, when we face physical trials and difficulties, thereby sharing in the same kinds of sufferings Christ suffered so the focus stays on him and he be glorified…which is different than the process of salvation.
Can enduring under temptation teach patience…yes
But let’s keep reading…
 
12 Blessed G3107 is the man G435 that G3739 endureth G5278temptation: G3986 for G3754 when he is tried, G1384 G1096 he shall receive G2983 the crown G4735 of life, G2222 which G3739the Lord G2962 hath promised G1861 to them that love G25him. G846
13 Let G3004 G0 no man G3367 say G3004 when he is tempted, G3985 G3754 I am tempted G3985 of G575 God: G2316for G1063 God G2316 cannot be tempted G551 G2076 with evil, G2556 neither G1161 tempteth G3985 G0 he G846 G3985 any man: G3762
14 But G1161 every man G1538 is tempted, G3985 when he is drawn away G1828 of G5259 his own G2398 lust, G1939 and G2532enticed. G1185
15 Then G1534 when lust G1939 hath conceived, G4815 it bringeth forth G5088 sin: G266 and G1161 sin, G266 when it is finished, G658bringeth forth G616 death. G2288
16 Do G4105 G0 not G3361 err, G4105 my G3450 beloved G27brethren. G80
17 Every G3956 good G18 gift G1394 and G2532 every G3956perfect G5046 gift G1434 is G2076 from above, G509 and cometh down G2597 from G575 the Father G3962 of lights, G5457with G3844 whom G3739 is G1762 no G3756 variableness, G3883neither G2228 shadow G644 of turning. G5157
Don’t accept your problems, God will show you a way out
1 Pet 1
6 Wherein G1722 G3739 ye greatly rejoice, G21 though now G737for a season, G3641 if G1487 need G1163 be, G2076 ye are in heaviness G3076 through G1722 manifold G4164temptations: G3986
7 That G2443 the trial G1383 of your G5216 faith, G4102 being much G4183 more precious G5093 than of gold G5553 that perisheth, G622 though G1223 G1161 it be tried G1381 with fire, G4442 might be found G2147 unto G1519 praise G1868and G2532 honour G5092 and G2532 glory G1391 at G1722 the appearing G602 of Jesus G2424 Christ: G5547
After applying proper exegesis (fancy word for study) we see trials are always associated with temptation and we have a definitive statement that they’re not from God. (Abraham if we have time)
It’s an opportunity for his strength to be matured in your weakness
Joy in your weaknesses and temptations because it’s an opportunity for you to learn to be strengthened by his grace
Some would say:
“God allows us to experience them, but they are allowed for our benefit, to strengthen our inner man as we overcome them through the power of Christ in us”
But Ephesians 3 tells that we are strengthened in our inner man ultimately by his love shed abroad in our hearts for the purpose of making us whole
It’s is a skewed view of God and his dealings with man that he is allowing hardship for the purpose of making us stronger. That’s a view point rooted in the idea that anything you do in the flesh adds to what God does by his spirit through our hearts. I find that perspective carnal, arrogant and self-righteous.
God would much more prefer that you not be weak and not fall into temptation, rather that walk in peace and confidence of faith in Christ and the power of his spirit within you.
Fools learn by stripes but the wise learn by instruction
repeated over and over in Proverbs
Let’s look at one of the most misquoted passages in the Bible in light of what we have just studied.
God won’t put more on you than you can bear
1 Corinthians 10
The context is instruction from Paul over matters like fornication and idolatry but this applies in a broader perspective of our personal lives, in other words this passage can be universally applied to all believers.
There hath G2983 G0 no G3756 temptation G3986 taken G2983you G5209 but G1508 such as is common to man: G442 but G1161God G2316 is faithful, G4103 who G3739 will G1439 G0 not G3756suffer (allow) G1439 you G5209 to be tempted G3985 above G5228that G3739 ye are able; G1410 but G235 will G4160 G0 with G4862the temptation G3986
We know it’s not from God, “but when the temptation comes”
also G2532 make G4160 a way to escape, G1545 that ye G5209 may be able G1410 to bear (endure) G5297 it.
endure: abide, remain, last, continue, persevere
This is a clear and perfect example of why it’s improper to translate God allows into God causes. God won’t put more on you than you can bear. God has to allow everything that man chooses.
God tries our hearts
1 Thes 2:4 But G235 as G2531 we were allowed G1381 of G5259 God G2316 to be put in trust G4100 with the gospel, G2098 even so G3779 we speak; G2980 not G3756 as G5613 pleasing G700 men, G444but G235 God, G2316 which trieth G1381 our G2257 hearts. G2588
This says nothing about how God tries or approves our hearts
So we must study out other places where God and our hearts are mentioned
The bottom line conclusion we can draw about how God tries, tests, or proves our hearts is by his spirit, in our inner man, specifically by shedding his light and love in our hearts so we will be strengthened and walk in the power of his grace.
If we take the Bible at its word, we learn that trials are always connected to temptations and temptations are not from God.
Modern Christianity has associated trials with persecution or discipline from God but the Bible doesn’t connect those concepts in such a way. You may need to reconsider what you believe about difficult situations in your life such as sickness, job loss, premature death, injustice, etc…
++++++++++++
A temptation is a test of your faith
All temptation is evil (matthwe verse)
Definition of temptation and trieth
God doesn’t test you with evil or even externals
God proves (tests) the heart (greek word here, different word)
So how and why does God prove our hearts (this may be called discipline or chastisement, those who he is cleaning…a thorough cleaning to become a new creation. All these doctrines have to compliment, not contradict each other. Cleansing under discipline must compliment faith-righteousness apart from the law. The dividing rod of truth is fully revealed and understood in the finished work of Jesus. The works of Jesus, in his body and beyond must be the foundation for every doctrine we parse. We start with Jesus, not end at him.)
How
A thorough study of how God works with our hearts is through questions, teaching from his word, revelation from his spirit with the effectual saving grace which lies within the blood of Jesus
Why
Because he loves us
For his glory
Transformation
How about Abraham?
Did Abraham kill Isaac?
What did Abraham think would happen if he did? Good would raise him
To compare yourself and your temptation to Abraham is contextually improper and self important
God specifically tested the hearts of 2 people, Abraham and Jesus, both of which he established covenants through
You are not Abraham and you are not Jesus
There was more going on that God was doing with them than to read yourself into

The post Does God allow trials for hidden purposes? appeared first on Forward Ministries.

Is It God’s Will for You to Suffer? Is It Necessary for Holiness?

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The broad view of God’s will for mankind is Heaven on Earth. He created it that way in the Garden of Eden and he’ll put it back that way after the Resurrection. The time in between is the result of mankind allowing sin into the world with death as the result.

What’s at stake is the character of God when we talk about suffering, persecution and tribulation (I have another article on trials and temptation here). We must clarify the context of His relationship with believers under the New Covenant.

God doesn’t change but the covenant did.

In the process of awakening unto righteousness we must learn to detach from the flesh anything that is given as a gift by God in Christ.

There is a notion that we are made holy through suffering. The problem is that’s actually never taught in the Bible. There are some passages where it’s inferred by certain denominations and schools of thought but when you examine the passages that discuss suffering you find it’s not from God for his own purposes related to salvation. When studying this topic we must also not forget how holiness and righteousness come under the new covenant.

In short, when we put our faith in Jesus (become born again of the spirit) we are cleansed (sanctified) by the eternal, sacrificial blood of Jesus. This leaves us holy or set apart for the masters use. God then presents us to himself as holy and unblamable in Christ. He gives us a new heart and makes us one with himself. In this process we become his children, joint-heirs with Jesus and accepted in Christ. In this process we gain the same standing with God as Jesus because he shares everything he has with us. We’re not god or becoming a god, we’re just given the righteousness of Jesus. His spirit then emits grace into our hearts to transform our mind, soul and actions to match what he’s done in our spirit.

All that’s left is to yield to his spirit because he’s already made us holy and unblamable. In no way can we add to that by our efforts, good or bad. In no way can we take credit for any aspect of this unmerited salvation that we receive as a gift in Christ.

Where do you get your beliefs?

We must make sure our beliefs are based on the Word of God rather than our interpretation of our circumstances. We often learn the hard way from our mistakes or adverse situations and come away with the conclusions that God crafted the experience because in the end it drew us closer to him. That’s a dangerous process that may lead us into error. Review these passages at face value and see if you’ve been reading anything into these ideas that are not present in the actual passages that address suffering.

Our foundation for salvation must be firmly planted in the fact that we’re saved by grace through faith alone, the works of our flesh or the endurance of our patience has nothing to do with it.

Romans 3 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Tribulation

To press or afflict.
A word study on this reveals tribulation comes from the world or from God toward his enemies. Believers will never experience tribulation from God but we may experience it from his enemies.

Persecution

Galatians 3:12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Persecution comes from the world as we display our faith.

Suffering

Acts 5 ESV 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor (atimazō 818 – verb – to dishonour, insult, treat with contempt) for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

God sends Ananias to Paul at his conversion.

Acts 9 ESV 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer (paschō 3958 – to undergo, to have an experience – can be applied in a good way or bad way) for the sake of my name.”

The suffering they experienced was because they preached the name of Jesus. It was not a test from God for them to earn favor, blessing, holiness or righteousness.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer (sympaschō – 4841 – to suffer or feel pain together) with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (syndoxazō sün-do-ksä’-zō). 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Look at Young’s Literal Translation for more clarity.

YLT 17 and if children, also heirs, heirs, indeed, of God, and heirs together of Christ — if, indeed, we suffer together, that we may also be glorified together.

If we’re to suffer with Christ we must ask a few questions about his suffering.

Q: Where did Jesus’ suffering come from?
A 1: The religious who wanted to kill him
A 2: From God on the cross on your behalf

So which kind of suffering can you expect? We will not suffer like Christ on a cross under God’s judgment because that was only for the Messiah to endure on behalf of mankind, so the only suffering that Jesus experienced that we may experience os for our faith in him…not from God.

“To be glorified with him” is not talking about salvation. When you do a study on glorifying God it’s talking about your life putting the focus on Jesus or exalting Jesus. Jesus is glorified when you remain faithful in the face of persecution and suffering which comes as a result of your declaration of faith in Christ.

Persecution, hardship, suffering, loss, death and illness are not methods God uses to develop you into the person he needs or wants you to be. They also do not produce the spiritual fruit in/through you that he desires you to develop. His desired fruit in you is from his spirit within you and his word abiding in you. Your flesh and what you do in the body do not produce God’s spiritual purposes but your endurance in the face of such things can point to him and bring him glory. When you declare the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ you may encounter hardship and even death but those results have nothing to do with what God is doing in you by his spirit.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Remaining in faith in Christ is “to you of salvation,” not the enduring of suffering.

2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself.

This is a completely different Greek word for suffer which means: remain, to persevere: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ. Also, he does not deny us for not suffering properly, he denies us if our faith is not in him. This passage is a perfect example of erroneous doctrines which teach that salvation is related to suffering. In fact we clearly see that faith is the issue in this passage.

So how are we cleansed and made holy?

This is where an understanding of the Old COvenant rituals and ceremonies are beneficial. A garment, table, lampstand, cup, bowl and even a human was made holy through the proper type of cleansing or sanctification. The right kinds of oils, spices, garments and blood were to be applied to set apart (make holy) a garment, dish or even human. Even under the Old Covenant no human or thing were made holy through works of any kind.

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

No works of the flesh, including enduring suffering gain any aspect of the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

It is God who cleanses us with the sacrifice of Christ and presents us holy to himself. We do not endure suffering or pass tests then go to God to present ourselves for acceptance.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Every aspect of salvation, righteousness and holiness that God requires from humans is by grace through faith, not endurance through suffering. Just because there is instruction about how to handle suffering doesn’t mean it’s from God to accomplish his spiritual purposes. We must not read into scripture something that isn’t there. The fact that you learn patience or perseverance in a trial doesn’t mean that God crafted the trial for you. Patience is a fruit of the spirit. The process is this, while enduring suffering, remain patient because patience (spiritual fruit from God) is what produces the aspect of salvation we attributed to the trial itself.

I pray that this article helps you sort out areas where you still have the flesh, and anything you do in it, connected to the spiritual attributes God requires from you. This of course does not invalidate holy living, it just places the credit where credit is deserved, squarely and fully on Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection.

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God will not get mad at you or rebuke you

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God is all powerful and has the power to do anything he wants at any time but has chosen to give mankind dominion over this planet and limit himself to our choices. YOUR CHOICES MATTER, THEY ARE SHAPING YOUR FUTURE AND YOUR CAPACITY TO FOLLOW GOD.

We learn a valuable lesson from the Israelites from their time on the desert. They experienced the wrath of God as a curse because of their hardness of heart. God responded to them in anger and actually enacted a curse that they would not enter into the rest (the land of Canaan) that he wanted for them. Thankfully we live under a different covenant.

Here’s the curse:

So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. Hebrews 3:11

We see God’s anger then his rebuke with a curse.

But then we have this promise after the finished work of the Messiah:

To me this is like the days of Noah, (the cross of Christ) when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Isaiah 54:9

Why the change? We know God doesn’t change so something else must be going on here.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13, 14

God will never be angry with you, rebuke you or curse you because Jesus became and took all the for you! We should be able to say amen and rejoice for eternity on that truth. But just in case you have a legalistic nerve that is bulging right now…

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1,2

This is not a license to sin!! To suggest that telling people God will never be mad at them equates to permissiveness really only reveals a carnal mindset in the hearer to me. Let’s compare spiritual with spiritual and be mature believers in our understanding of the New Covenant. It’s time the body of Christ give the uncut truth about the finished work of Jesus without fear of people misusing the liberty. Have a little faith in the Holy Spirit to lead people into freedom!!

 

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You Know Everything Jesus Knows

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What if you knew what God was thinking?

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

I pray this article becomes a meditative exercise for you, so you’ll grasp the depth of what Jesus is saying. First, you’re not a servant of God, you’re a friend. Of course we serve God by loving people but God defines the context of our relationship with him as friends. You’re a friend of God. And as a friend, he has made known to you EVERYTHING he made known to Jesus.

What do you think the Father has told or made known to Jesus? Do you think there’s anything the Father held back? Did God want Jesus confused? Did the Father want Jesus wondering what he was doing in his life, as we often do?

Keep in mind, this passage is right in the middle of Jesus’ teaching about abiding in him and his desire that we bear fruit in him. This is not an specific promise to just his disciples, this is one of his most basic directives to all believers, so verse 15 is also a promise FOR YOU!

No! Colossians 2 says this about Jesus; “in Christ all the fullness of God lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” In no way am I saying you are Christ or will become a god, the point is, the fullness of God was in Jesus. If the fullness of God was in Jesus, it’s safe to say the Jesus knew much, if not all, of what God knows. Again, think of the statement, I’ve made known to you everything the Father made known to me.

This is one of those concepts we can’t extrapolate a new doctrine but we can ponder the depths of what is being said. This makes me think of the fact that we have the mind of Christ, that the spirit of God is within us leading and guiding us into all truth, reminding of what what God has said and telling us things to come. (John 16:13)

What does this look like in your life today?

Do you ever think there was a time Jesus was confused about his life? We know he asked for another way just before his death but God’s not asking you to become the sin of the world so that situation is unique to Jesus. Do you think Jesus worried about money? Do you think Jesus ever felt cut off from God? Do you think Jesus felt like God wouldn’t show up for him? No, because he knew God in a way no one ever had before! He’s made that same kind of relationship available to you.

Think about this, what kinds of things do you think the Father told Jesus those nights when he was alone on a mountain, praying? Instruction for the future? How much he loved him? Where he would go the next day? Do you think the Father withheld anything Jesus needed to know?

Too often believers feel confused about the will of God in their lives. We feel like there’s something we’re missing, if God would just tell us what to do then we’d do it…right? It sometimes feels as if God is hiding information from us for some unknown reason, but it’s not true.

Tapping into the mind of Christ within us can be a different process with everyone but there are certain principles that are true for all believers. You are forgiven, you are loved, you are one with God, you are a joint-heir with Jesus, you redeemed from the curse of the Law, God has good plans for you and he is leading you from the heart by his spirit. Our response is to get into agreement with his spirit and follow him.

I have lots of messages and articles addressing how to renew your mind and get into agreement with God but I wanted to write this article to help you realize that God is not withholding information from you. Your solution is not knowing something you didn’t know before. Your solution is already in Christ because he is our wisdom and Christ had made know to us everything the Father made known to him. You don’t have to ask God what you;re supposed to do, you actually already know. You just need the confidence in your heart to take the steps he’s leading you to take.

If you still struggle with knowing what direction to go, remember who you are in him and ponder your friendship with God until confidence in your relationship is restored…then move forward boldly!

The post You Know Everything Jesus Knows appeared first on Forward Ministries.

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My Best Messages Ever, Living from the Heart

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Jesus said we would have the foundation to understand all his teachings if we understood the parable of the sower.

Here’s the bottom line. God spreads the seed of his word (Jesus) and the receptiveness of our heart determines the degree to which his seed (Christ) will take root and grow in our lives. Then he says the degree of intention and meditation we give to that word, or allow that word to abide in us, will affect our earthly experience of His Heavenly Kingdom. He gives us a secret of how this kingdom works, he says it’s like a farmer who sows seed, sleeps and wakes up to find the seed has reproduced after it’s own kind.

Our lesson is that it’s not our job to make the seed (kingdom) grow in our lives, it does that all on its own but the receptiveness of our heart determines how much of it we’ll allow to grow in our lives. The receptiveness of our heart is developed as we become whole through God’s love shed abroad in our hearts. We can never earn blessing or qualify for more of God but the confidence of our heart toward his character will limit or allow his presence to influence and move in our lives.

This series describes the function of grace in the heart and how to yield to the influence of the free-gift of righteousness that we receive through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. When you understand the role of the heart in our experience of the kingdom you will be empowered and inspired to dig the roots of your heart/beliefs into the indwelling presence of God and discover the ever present transformative power of God within each and every believer.

Living from the Heart 300

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The post My Best Messages Ever, Living from the Heart appeared first on Forward Ministries.

Change Your Life by Choosing Your Thoughts

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You only allow yourself to think thoughts that match your self-image. The thoughts you choose to dwell on are shaping your life. You can change your entire life by dealing with your thoughts. The way to change your abiding thoughts is to repaint the self-image on your heart to look like Jesus.

Imagine a tornado of thoughts swirling around you, you choose which one to reach out and grab. But first you look at your self portrait to see what you look like, which determines what thought you’ll grab and dwell on.

Do you see yourself as a failure? Guess what thoughts you’ll think
Do you see yourself struggling with your emotions? Guess what thoughts you’ll think
Do you see yourself as fat? Guess what thoughts you’ll think
Do you see yourself as sad? Guess what thoughts you’ll think
Do you see yourself successful? Guess what thoughts you’ll think
Do you see yourself righteous? Guess what thoughts you’ll think
Do you see yourself holy? Guess what thoughts you’ll think
Do you see yourself full of grace and favor? Guess what thoughts you’ll think
Do you see yourself loved by God? Guess what thoughts you’ll think

You already know that your beliefs determine your thoughts and your thoughts determine your choices and actions. But you may not know you don’t have to be a victim of your thoughts. It’s your mind, your life and they’re your choices. Only allow the ones that match your new creation self to roll around in your mind. If you allow your thoughts to be influenced by God’s truths, by your new creation self-image, you will get used to thinking God’s way and you will follow him when he leads because you’ll already think like he’s thinking.

Don’t wait until your point of weakness to seek God, seek him now. Listen to the message below for more on finding grace in weakness. I also address Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

 

Think Like Heaven 300

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Message Titles

  1. What is Repentance?
  2. Think Like Heaven
  3. Think Like God
  4. Points of View
  5. Ambassadors of Heaven

How would your life change if you knew what God was thinking?

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus launched his public ministry with a call to repentance. To repent is to have a change of mind. We needed to think differently because Jesus was joining people to his kingdom in a way that was not possible before.

Discover how to be spiritually minded and continually walk in the spirit. Being spiritually minded is the key to experiencing life and peace. Believers have been given the mind of Christ which means we can know his thoughts and Think Like Heaven. God doesn’t want you in the dark, wandering around trying to figure out this thing called life. God has given you the gift of a renewed mind and continually speaks to you because you are his children.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.

In this empowering series, you will:

  • Discover true New Covenant repentance
  • Develop your spiritual mind
  • Think Heaven’s thoughts and let go of carnality
  • Have your mind renewed and see the Kingdom
  • Come into harmony with God’s thoughts
  • Unlock the mystery of walking in the spirit
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The post Change Your Life by Choosing Your Thoughts appeared first on Forward Ministries.

How Do I Change My Spouse or Child?

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“I am experiencing transformation like never before. I feel God’s love now. How do I get my spouse or child to feel what I’m feeling?”

Have you said something like this? 

I have heard this question dozens of times from people who begin a heart journey of connecting with God within but want the people in their lives to do the same. There is such freedom when we realize that the changes we’ve desired for so long come from the power of God’s spirit within rather than God acting on us outwardly, that we want everyone to experience the same liberty. We often begin to try to teach the people in our lives what we’ve learned but it only turns to frustration. It may even cause one to be disappointed in God all over again if they think God is not moving on the person they love.

The only path for their heart is love. As you love them, they begin to know and feel love which in turn can be the tipping point to be able to receive and experience God’s love. Ephesians 3 tells us that God’s love in our hearts makes us whole. If you desire to see change in people you love, just love them and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.

The post How Do I Change My Spouse or Child? appeared first on Forward Ministries.

How Do I Make My Heart Soft Toward God So My Natural Desires Change?

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Religion encourages a change in behavior as proof of holiness. Grace empowers a change in the desires of the heart, which drives behavior. If you leave out the heart, you leave out grace.

The heart craves what it thinks it needs to survive, the flesh seeks to survive without God. The flesh isn’t concerned with truth, only satisfaction, which can masquerade as peace. The heart or the real you knows there is a truth. That’s why it seeks to make sense of things it knows to be wrong or have been promised by God but may not be in our lives. If it’s not in ones life, we will seek a justification, often putting the blame on God.

To experience all of God, our hearts must be fully persuaded of his character and Christ’s finished work. 

Many believers still struggle with destructive habits, sin and doubt. Some teach that those are natural issues out of a wicked heart. But we know that God gives believers new hearts that are not wicked. The remaining issue is to root our hearts in his love for us to the degree that our natural cravings and desires change. This is not through our own effort, it’s the fruit of his spirit influencing us, which we must choose to allow.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:4-6

 

The post How Do I Make My Heart Soft Toward God So My Natural Desires Change? appeared first on Forward Ministries.

We Need Revival! But What Is It and How Does It Happen?

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Does revival tarry because we’re not praying or fasting enough?
Is God waiting on us to be humble enough?
Is God waiting on us to be more holy before he’ll heal our land?

That’s a big fat no!

Revival is not something God does in response to man, revival happens when we respond to him. God is not waiting on us to get more humble and holy, he’s already given us everything in Christ. In fact God is not waiting on anything…except for us to believe and live in the power of his grace. We hold the key…Christ in me.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is an illegal prayer under God’s New Covenant in Christ:

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

First of all, where is Heaven?

Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

This means that according to 2 Chronicles 7:14, God would be hearing us from within us. He’s in there because Jesus’ blood has cleansed us, which is the process of sanctification, and left us in a set apart state (holy) for the purpose of housing his spirit. God is one with and lives in believers.

Another point…God has already given us everything that pertains unto life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Yes, our world may not be experiencing God’s life and godliness but it is already in each and every believer. The godliness that we long to see is not something that God will send us when we’re humble enough, the nations will experience it when believers live in the righteousness, peace and joy that he’s already given us in Christ. This is only possible through his grace, which is in more abundance than we can exhaust.

The body of Christ is divided in how we think revival happens and God’s role in it. Some folks chalk revival up to a “sovereign” move that he just decides to release at some point in time, usually associated with something that believers do, whether it be praying, fasting or possibly experiencing persecution. Some think that revival will come when believers start doing more miracles and displaying more supernatural power. While that is needed, it’s not the path Jesus gave us. God is certainly still active and moving in the earth today by his spirit, there is nothing else to pour out or release that isn’t already resident within each and every believer.

Jesus said our love for one another will be a testimony that we follow him and our unity will inspire the world to believe.

The last point in 2 Chronicles 7:14 says that God will forgive us once we’ve prayed enough, stopped sinning enough and become humble enough. Under the New Covenant the process of forgiveness changed. God has sovereignly forgiven all sin in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Looks closely, God was not holding THE WORLD’S trespasses (sins) against them, not just believers. God is no longer holding the world’s sins against them. For clarification and for my anti hyper-grace readers, sin still kills, it hardens our hearts, it should be avoided, his grace is the power to live above sin, we still must confess him as Lord and receive the free gift of righteousness to be born again…BUT, God, through Christ, has chosen to not be angry with us, he simply chose to forgive us. He set us free so we could freely choose him. There’s a new system, the currency is the blood of Christ rather than the blood of goats and bulls.

Revival will come when forgiven people live in the power of righteousness, peace and joy…motivated by love, unite together in that love and take the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to the world, not when we do something in our flesh that causes God to quit withholding.

Rise up church! Stop letting race divide us, stop letting religion divide us, stop letting tradition divide us, stop letting cultural differences divide us…unite his love toward the world and we will see a revival like never before!

So The World Will Believe front

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Message Titles

  1. Faith Begins With Love
  2. Love is the Way of the Kingdom
  3. Who is your Passion
  4. Defy Your Excuses

Jesus tells us there’s only one way to reach the world, LOVE. Love is the only strategy that never fails. His strategy has two steps…

STEP 1: Our love for one another should be a testimony to the world that we follow Jesus. There should be something different in the way we treat each other that sends a message to the world that Jesus followers have a unique relationship with one another that is rooted in love.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35

STEP 2: There should be a unity among believers that the world is compelled to believe. The strength of this unity is our love for one another and the purpose of this unity is so the world will believe.

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21

When we allow division to dwell within the body of Christ we are working against God’s plans to reach the world. In this series I challenge the church to take Jesus at his word and begin to walk according to his commandments and purposes.

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The post We Need Revival! But What Is It and How Does It Happen? appeared first on Forward Ministries.

Our Freedom in Christ Comes Parallels Our Freedom in the USA

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In the U.S.A. we just celebrated our Independence from tyranny, over taxation and religious control through monarchical rule. I shudder to think what our founding father’s would think of the current state of the nation with the tax rates and separation of Christianity from public life… but that’s another topic.

I’m writing to you today to tell you a story about my trip to Washington D.C. a couple of summer’s ago. Sara and I took our kids to tour the museums and see the monuments. It was a wonderful experience, I highly recommend it. Given that we’re both artists we were overwhelmed by the art. I have to say, the most memorable part of the trip was not the art, it was seeing Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. It’s a beautiful piece of property on the Potomac River.

As the guide led us through his home, we stopped in front of a room in which George held personal meetings. The guide told us that he would have met with people like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and the list goes on.

Apparently he met often with Thomas Jefferson. I don’t remember if the guide actually said this or I imagined it but I remember thinking that they would have sat in this very room to discuss the founding of our nation and the principles recorded in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.

My imagination and my pastoral instincts began to take over. I could imagine conversations about freedom and personal liberty and how they were basic human values and rights. I could see them discussing how to structure the government of this new nation in such a way that the people were in charge and could vote to preserve their freedom. I could hear them discussing how difficult it would be to inspire a nation to not only value freedom but properly steward it and do what was necessary to protect it.

They had seen the effects of people’s dependencies on a governing body and they wanted to instill absolute independence in each and every American so this nation would live out its days as a free and sovereign nation.

I began to relate to these conversations as a pastor. As ministers we are to set people free from religion, the power of sin, the fear of death and carnal thinking. We are to encourage them to choose life and not be distracted by the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things. We are to inspire people to properly steward the freedom from the law of sin and death we have in Christ so we don’t enter back into the slavery of sin.

This is why I believe the USA was founded on Christian principles, no other god values freedom but the Father of Christ. No other god in all the religions of the planet give people free will.

God the father, maker of Heaven and earth, giver of Christ for the redemption of mankind desires that we live totally free. He created this earth and gave dominion to mankind and said subdue and prosper.

The Declaration of Independence reflects these principles:

“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

They recognized the freedom and the authority given to mankind by God over creation and wanted to structure a nation in which we could live out those God given freedoms.

Unfortunately this foundation has been corrupted and God is systematically being removed from the fabric of the governing body and even culture. But we as children of God are still free and no one can take that away.

The whole earth is waiting for the sons of God to manifest their sonship and live in the authority we have through our joint-inheritance in Christ. God’s grace is powerful enough in our hearts to strengthen us to live free from sin, fear, doubt, shame and even death.

I pray our nation finds its way back to Christian principles and once again draws on the wisdom of God to govern and protect the blessings of liberty. I pray you rely on God’s grace and live free from the pitfalls of this world and properly steward your freedom in Christ.

I go into much more detail on these ideas in this message.

Thank you to those of you who support Forward Ministries with your financial gifts. If you value our ministry, please consider partnering with me. Thank You!

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Grace and peace to you,
Clint Byars

The post Our Freedom in Christ Comes Parallels Our Freedom in the USA appeared first on Forward Ministries.

Looking at Unseen Eternal Truth with Your Heart

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God is shining the light from the face of Jesus into your heart. Connecting with that glory inwardly is the secret to outward transformation. Seeing his righteousness in the deepest part of your being will facilitate an environment of peace and his peace will guard those deep places of your heart. In that environment, righteousness and joy will effortlessly grow and take over every part of your being.

You have to think from the inner man, in the presence of God, aware of Christ in you, beholding what’s true of him in spite of what the world and your actions say is true of you. In that place his peace will guard your heart, the place your beliefs dwell. In that place, under his influence, honest before him, seeing his reality as your own, you WILL transform.

Set your mind and heart on God, change the way you think, get into agreement with what Jesus has already done in you and your emotional/thought life will change which means your actions will change

Transformation is effortless but you must choose to draw on the only source that can produce transformation…Christ in you.

 

Grace Works from the Heart front 300

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CDs

Message Titles

1. Conquering Temptation
2. God is Active in Our Lives
3. Grace Works from the Heart
4. Grace Reigns through Righteousness
5. Confession unto salvation
6. The Law of Death vs The Spirit of Life

Have you ever asked “HOW DO I GET GRACE TO WORK?” Every aspect of salvation works by grace through faith. Every blessing and promise you’ll ever experience from God is spiritual in nature and exists in a dimension called Heaven. The essence of the Kingdom of Heaven dwells within each believer. Intellect or dead works only serve to hinder manifestation, what’s needed is the power of grace working from the heart.

Grace is not magic, it’s just spiritual. In this series I teach you how to access that spiritual reservoir of Heaven within and walk in the power of God’s grace from the heart.

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CDs

 

FREE MESSAGE FROM THIS SERIES

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