Category Archives: Spiritual Development

Practical teachings from the Bible for every day living.

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Why There Is No Condemnation In Christ

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A man came from Europe to this country in 1867. He became dissatisfied and went to Cuba when they had that great civil war there. Finally he was arrested for a spy, court-martialed, and condemned to be shot. He sent for the American Consul and the English Consul, and went on to prove to them that he was no spy. These two men were thoroughly convinced that the man was no spy, and they went to one of the Spanish officers and said, “This man you have condemned to be shot is an innocent man.” “Well,” the Spanish officer says, “the man has been legally tried by our laws and condemned, and the law must take, its course and the man must die.” And the next morning the man was led out; the grave was already dug for him, and the black cap was put on him, and the soldiers were there ready to receive the order, “Fire,” and in a few moments the man would be shot and put in that grave and covered up, when who should rise up but the American Consul, who took the American flag and wrapped it around him, and the English Consul took the English flag and also wrapped it around him, and they said to those soldiers, “Fire on those flags if you dare!” [D. L. Moody, Anecdotes and Illustrations of D. L. Moody Related by Him in His Revival Work, ed. J. B. McClure (Chicago: Rhodes & McClure, 1878), 147–148] That’s how it is in Christ. We were condemned by the law. But God, in the person of Jesus, wrapped His robe of righteous around us. And though we were condemned to be executed to a devils hell, yet because of Jesus we are sons of God on our way to heaven.

The Bridge Commentary consists of four sections: Definitions, Background, Comments and Questions. The Definitions section explains all significant Greek words found in all the verses of this passage. The Background section contains material which will help to frame the passage in it’s 1st century setting. The Questions section includes queries you may want to ask of the text. Finally, the Comments section contains observations of the verses sorted in word or phrase order.

 

 Click on this link for a flow diagram of this passage.

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Why Redeemed People Can Walk Free from Fear

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An Indian fable says that a mouse was in constant distress because of its fear of the cat. A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat. Immediately it became afraid of the dog. So the magician turned it into a dog. Immediately it began to fear the tiger. So the magician turned it into a tiger. Immediately it began to fear the hunter. Then the magician said, “Be a mouse again, you have only the heart of a mouse and I cannot help you.” If you have Holy Spirit ‘In Him’ truths registered in your heart, if you know who you are in Christ, you can walk free from areas which have hindered you in the past. In this post we are going to look at one of those areas, fear. You can boldly walk free from fear in Jesus Name.

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#S3-001: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Soul from Going Tilt [Podcast]

Soul Power for Your Present Hour

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Finagle’s Laws of Information state the following:  One, the information you have is not what you want.  Two, the information you want is not what you need. 1 In this information glutted age, how does one discern between the two?How can you tell what you want from what you need? Knowing the answer is a key to keep your soul from going tilt.

This is part two of the Series entitled, ‘Soul Power for Your Present Hour’. You can find Part One ‘Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development’ here, Part 2 “Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development” here, and Part 3 “More of Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development“.

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#S2-052: Light on Life Season 2 Review [Podcast]

Light on Life Season Reviews

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This is a special edition of the Light on Life podcast because it’s Season Two, Episode 52 which means two full years of Light on Life. And so that’s what we are going to celebrate today. We will look at year two in Review. We will detail the most downloaded episodes and posts for this past year as well as Season One. And finally, we will go into some direction for Season Three’s edition of Light on Life.

You can find the Season One Review here.

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#S2-050: More of Why Renewing the Mind Is Important for Soul Development [Podcast]

Soul Power for Your Present Hour

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One gentleman said he met a young man not long ago who dove for exotic fish for aquariums. He said that one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium you put it in. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet. 1 You can be a six inch Christian or you can become a six foot tall fully matured full grown believer. To expand, to grow, to develop you have to go bigger in your thinking. Get out of the small tank of worldly thinking and jump into the great ocean of the knowledge of God found in His Word.

This is part two of the Series entitled, ‘Soul Power for Your Present Hour’. You can find Part One ‘Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development’ here and Part 2 “Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development” here.

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#S2-049: Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development [Podcast]

Soul Power for Your Present Hour

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An unknown writer said, “This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.1 Romans 12:2 details for us the importance of renewing the mind with God’s Word. Why renewing the mind is important for soul development is what we’re looking at in this week’s Light on Life.

This is part two of the Series entitled, ‘Soul Power for Your Present Hour’. You can find Part One ‘Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development’ here.

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#S2-048: Why It’s Important to Understand the Serious Power of the Soul [Podcast]

Soul Power for Your Present Hour

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A Swedish doctor in a new book says he discovered the human soul weighs 21 grams. He placed beds of terminal patients on sensitive scales and saw the needle drop when the patients died, he says. 1 Twenty-one grams is roughly three-quarters of an ounce. Is this all the soul is, less than an ounce of your human make-up? In this week’s Light on Life Podcast, we are going to jump into this are of the human soul as we strive to understand it’s serious power.

This is part one of the Series entitled, ‘Soul Power for Your Present Hour’. You can find Part Two ‘Why It’s Important to Understand the Serious Power of the Soul‘ here.

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#S2-047: How To Make Sure You Are An Instrument of Righteousness [Podcast]

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A college Sophomore was in need of a car and had a series of dreams one night and everything was in yellow, everything! Early the next morning he began to hit the used car lots, looking at one car after another. Finally he found God’s will for him: a yellow car, yellow inside and out. He didn’t even ask to drive it. He just bought it. Turned out to be a lemon. 1 Yellow in your dreams is hardly the way to acquire God’s will. Jesus knew what the Father’s will was for His life. One day Jesus began to share with His disciples some of that plan. He met with some resistance. What lessons can we learn from Matthews account of this encounter?

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What Does Offense Have to Do with Living a Fruitful Life?

The Parable of the Sower

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Jesus gives us the essential reason why we must have our roots in Mark 4:17. The King James uses the word ‘offended’ which means to fall. Jesus is saying, ‘Make sure you allow God’s Word and God’s love to be rooted in you or you will fall away when the enemy sends affliction and persecution your way. People who are rooted in love endure. They endure persecution and affliction. They understand it is for the Word’s sake.

This is part 7 of the Series “The Parable of the Sower?” You can find Part 1 ‘What Is the Parable of the Sower [Podcast]’ here, Part 2 ‘How Important is Understanding Jesus Parables?‘ here, Part 3 ‘What Are Fruitful and Unfruitful Places with God?’ here, Part 4 ‘In the Parable of the Sower, What Is Wayside Ground?‘, Part 5 ‘How Can You Become a Man of Understanding?’ here‘, Part 6 ‘How Meditating the Word Makes You Sharp in the Things of God’ and Part 7 ‘In the Parable of the Sower, What Is Stony Ground?’
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How Can You Become a Man of Understanding?

The Parable of the Sower

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D.L. Moody said these words on the subject of understanding. “It makes all the difference in the world how we look upon God. Some people fear God, but when they understand that He is their Father, that fear is gone.” 1. How we are to look upon God and God’s Word is laid out for us in the pages of the Bible. You can become a man of understanding.

This is part 5 of the Series “The Parable of the Sower?” You can find Part 1 ‘What Is the Parable of the Sower [Podcast]’ here, Part 2 ‘How Important is Understanding Jesus Parables?‘ here, Part 3 ‘What Are Fruitful and Unfruitful Places with God?’ here, Part 4 ‘In the Parable of the Sower, What Is Wayside Ground?‘.
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What Are Fruitful and Unfruitful Places with God?

The Parable of the Sower

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A rich man said to his minister, “Why is it everyone is always criticizing me for being miserly, when everyone knows that I have made provision to leave everything I possess to charity when I die?”
“Well,” said the minister, “let me tell you about the pig and the cow. The pig was lamenting to the cow one day about how unpopular he was. “People are always talking about your gentleness and your kindness,” said the pig. “You give milk and cream, but I give even more. I give bacon and ham—I give bristles and they even pickle my feet! Still no one likes me. I’m just a pig. Why is this?” The cow thought a minute, and then said: “Well, maybe it’s because I give while I’m still living.”  1. Our desire as believers is to be rich in fruit and good works while we are alive. The Parable of the Sower gives us insights into the realm of fruitfulness showing us exactly how we come to this.

This is part 3 of the Series “The Parable of the Sower?” You can find Part 1 ‘What Is the Parable of the Sower [Podcast]’ here; Part 2 ‘What Was the Disciples Understanding of Jesus Parables?‘ here.
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How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty

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Guilt has been defined as an unpleasant knowledge that something wrong has been done. It involves fear of punishment, shame, regret, and remorse. It involves feeling’s of low self-esteem, inferiority, depression and anxiety. Many of God’s people are motivated and moved by the sense of guilt in their lives. The scriptures teach believers to be Spirit led rather than guilt led. Are you saying ‘Yes’ to things when you should be saying ‘No.’ It’s time to put guilt in it’s place and move up in the things of God.