Category Archives: Growth/Pursuit

Gospel Centrality, Growth/Pursuit

Beatitudes: Life of Comfort

The poor in spirit mourn over their sin and the pervasiveness of sin in the world.  They recognize that the world is broken.  This mourning produces a longing for greater things, for eternal things.  God comforts those who mourn.A Life of Comfort (Matthew 5:4) by Brandon Barnard

Gospel Centrality, Growth/Pursuit

Beatitudes: Poor In Spirit

The poor in spirit are spiritually bankrupt and broke; they bring nothing to the table to negotiate with.  When you are poor, you can’t protect or provide for yourself without outside help.  This is an ongoing attitude in the life of a believer.Poor In Spirit (Matthew 5:3) by Mark Henry

Faith, Growth/Pursuit

Ultimate Trust

“Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them” (Isaiah 19:1 ESV).  “They will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.” (Isaiah 19:3–4 ESV).

Egypt’s ultimate trust was in their idols and the ultimate result was oppression.  Where is your ultimate trust?  Does that trust lead you in to freedom or oppression?  The interesting thing about idols is that you can inquire of them for wisdom and direction, but they don’t answer.  Where do you go for wisdom, insight and direction?

Growth/Pursuit

The genuineness of faith is proved by endurance

“The way to fight sin in our lives is to battle our bent toward unbelief.  We are prone to drift away from a hearty confidence in who Christ is, what he has done for us, and all the promises that are sure because of Christ.  We must never let go of the blood and righteousness of Christ as the ground of our right standing with God and guarantee of all God’s promises.”

“There are church-attending people who believe they are saved because they once prayed to receive Jesus, not realizing that the genuineness of that experience is proved by endurance:  “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

Battling Unbelief by John Piper (page 89-90)

Growth/Pursuit

Nothing can thwart the sovereign will of God

“The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.”
This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:24–27 ESV)

Nothing can thwart the sovereign will of God – not even the most powerful force on the planet.  Nothing is can challenge the power of the Almighty.  His will comes to pass 100% of the time.  Nothing takes Him by surprise.