A series of articles tracking our dependence on God through The Story.
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5 Steps to Walking By The Spirit
Sounds appealing, doesn’t it?
Many of us have been believers for more years that we care to count, and yet “walking by the Spirit” remains an nebulous concept. You would think by now, someone would have laid it out for us, step by step.
The fact that the concept remains so mysterious to so many of us leads me to a couple of conclusions. Either everyone else is just as clueless, or it …
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So, if we’re a believer, we have the Spirit. And this Spirit was given to us so that we could know the mind of God — a level of communication even deeper than direct conversation. Yet we find ourselves asking how God communicates with us, fearful that the most we can hope for is guidance from documents recorded at least 2000 years ago. How is it possible for us to have the Spirit, yet be …
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How would you define a “spiritual” person?
For as long as I can remember, the pinnacle of the Christian journey has been to achieve “spiritual” status. But what does that mean?
Let’s start with our assumptions. Take a couple of minutes and write down the first things that come to mind about “being spiritual.” How would you describe a “spiritual person”?
What scriptures can you think of that speak to the issue of being “spiritual”?
In the passage …
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“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9
How do your thoughts align with God’s? Do you think like God? Do you ever try?
In light of passages like the one above, is that a silly question?
Clearly, although we can know of God, …
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“But wait — there’s more. If you act now, we’ll also include…”
You probably heard enough infomercials to finish that line a hundred different ways. And although the announcer wants you to believe he’s offering an unbelievable deal, you’re not convinced there’s really anything of value in His offer.
I suspect we sometimes treat promises like the one Jesus made the disciples in Luke 11 with a similar dose of skepticism.
We saw the disciples come to …
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Let’s try a word-association exercise. I’ll mention a concept, you make note of the first thing that comes to mind.
Ready?
Dependence on God.
What came to mind?
OK, one more …
…
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In high school, one of my brother’s friends owned three dogs whose names were logically connected… sort of. They were:
“A”
“B”
“3”
I don’t know about you, but I can appreciate the wit of this. While a certain logic is evident, the third name is unexpected. And it is this surprise which makes it interesting — gives it impact.
I want to return to our exploration of dependence and Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray like Him …
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“Master, would you teach us to pray?”
“Sure. Approach God as your Father, and align yourself with His agenda. Ask Him to fulfill all your needs: provision, forgiveness, and guidance. Just ask, and He’ll give you all these things. He’ll also give you the Holy Spirit, if you’ll ask.”
“Ok, I was with you, right up until the ‘Holy Spirit’ part. Where did that come from?”
Sometimes, when Jesus answers a question, there is a part of …
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What would it mean to “keep Christ in Christmas?”
At this time of year, I frequently hear of the need to “keep Christ in Christmas,” that we are loosing the “reason for the season,” and that recovering a proper emphasis at Christmas must be a priority. Indeed, the trends seem to reflect a declining Christian influence. Christmas break has become Winter Break, “Merry Christmas” is replaced by “Happy Holidays,” and public nativities with Jesus in …
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Ever feel like God is ignoring you? Like your prayers are just dripping off the ceiling?
Have you ever prayed for days, weeks, months, even years for something that seemed really critical, and still God didn’t seem to come through?
Probably all of us have.
After seminary we moved to Colorado to pastor a church. Although we persistently prayed for our house in Fort Worth to sell, it didn’t. Dad had to take over payments, and it …
