There can be a difference between what we know and what we trust. God is good but do we trust God's heart even if we do not understand His hand? In this episode, Dr. John and Mark answer, "Why does a God of love allow suffering?" Knowing Christ as Life helps us to take doctrine to experience and theology to a testimony. The guys speak to 4 words: 1. Know the truth. The old man, who you were in Adam before salvation, was crucified. This truth is not a hope but an already accomplished fact. 2. Reckon on the truth. The word, "reckon," is an accounting term that means to add up the facts and to count something to be personally true. It is a step of faith. Reckon 6:11 is the first commandment in the Boof of Romans. As believers, we are appropriate Christ as life. The question is, "Have we trusted what we say we know?" Watchman Nee said, "I cannot do something if it has already happened." 3. Yield to the truth. We are commanded to present/offer ourselves to Christ for Him to live in and through me. Jesus himself modeled this when he said, "I can of Myself do nothing (John 5:30)." The power of surrender is Holy Spirit in us. God wants your body to be His instrument. Christ in you can do everything greater, better, bigger, and more powerful! 4. Walk in the truth. Walking is an idiom for practical Christian living. We walk, not in our strength, but through Holy Spirit's power, we participate with Christ. The focus of our walk is Christ in you!

Books mentioned:

"The Gospel to Saints" by John R. Van Gelderen

www.revivalfocus.org

"The Normal Christian Life" by Watchman Nee

https://www.amazon.com/Normal-Christian-Life-Watchman-Nee/dp/0842347100/ref=sr_1_2?crid=26YCSYIKK2M74&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.13W_-UfXlodeVRdpcWGgM1DVncU8kSpRMYatJjRPUJgq1YA2RpQO1e0FUN11XFjFG-bRhhGlOrSyqVQ8rCjOo01EjtOK9LSj2PuVkmHUA43f4eoyTLfBqcNWqm1ID1ukmIFn0cXKWJAsoFboEMOm4GVNjI8rYqOuMBTnJ4fe0m5Un9Ys1o-GoRbj6LqWu9cy21yAmTStwVD16_leYW1l5pW0Vh0ICF-vKcmGGlLetk_joroZj7VBcveVt90JZCUdKsHmd0eyVgwuvz2EMRf4cGmYvTCHiLuYFehBZV3esmc.DRxEw86rNq0eE6ciIWWDaScIHFGkPsJCzA47B6N29Z0&dib_tag=se&keywords=watchman+nee&qid=1708549451&sprefix=watchman+nee%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-2

We all want a "why" when things happen. We love the phrase, "God will not put more on me than I can handle?" However, maybe he will help you discover a different functional source of living. We tend to view trials in life as either a lack of faith or something we have done wrong. Sometimes, trials bring us closer to Christ and they also are proof that our self-sufficiency isn't sufficient. In this episode, John and Mark define providential pressure and discuss a GFI talk called, "Crowded to Christ." Links and books mentioned will be added below. Mark and John discuss how God's grace exceeds your outward pressures. The guys also discuss these providential pressures, which include spiritual standards and life experiences. We see in the story of the prodigal son that his trials crowded him back into a loving and forgiving father. We read how Jonah's trials crowded him to the point of surrendering to God. It may be through the disillusionment of your current life that you come to identification and the real meaning of Galatians 2:20. Jesus Christ wants to be your functional life source, which isn't to ruin you but to empower you. Never forget that the suffering of today is not comparable to the glory that awaits us.

Books

Crowded to Christ by L.E. Maxwell

They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman

Links

None but the Lonely Heart Devo: http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

7 Steps of Freedom: https://www.ficm.org/steps-to-freedom-in-christ/

Aron Kim YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aaronkim1074

Christ is Life Conference Video Download: https://grace-fellowship-international.myshopify.com/products/christ-is-life-conference-videos-on-line-access

Upcoming Events:

Seminar: https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/event/finding-joy-4/

Workshop: https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/event/exchanged-life-counseling-workshop-6/

All of us have experienced rejection, which Dr. Solomon describes as the lack of meaning love. All people need to feel secure and significant. Security speaks to who I am and includes the need to feel important, needed, wanted, understood, and missed. Significance speaks to what I do and speaks to the need that what I am doing is needed, that am I making an impact, and does my life have meaning. In this episode, Mark and Dr. John describe the difference between overt and covert rejection. Overt rejection may be abuse or hurtful and negative statements. Covert rejection comes in the forms of the death of a loved one, overprotection, and favoritism of a sibling. Dr. John makes the point that rejection may not be intentional and that children are good observers but not good interpreters. A child may hear he wasn't planned by his parents, but he is in the plan of God. Rejection is a leading cause of rebellion and it affects all relationships. We reject people and often they will reject us back. However, we may reject God but He never rejects us! Mark and John walk through the emotional attitudes and reactions of rejection toward self, toward spouses/children, and God.

Dr. John mentions a website: www.fathersloveletter.com

Dr. John quote, "God knows us best and loves us most."

Finally, we discuss how to overcome rejection, which is acceptance. Ephesians 1:6 states that we are "accepted in the Beloved." We need to accept our acceptance! We are saved and kept by grace and we are accepted by this same grace. God welcomes us and we are not on probation.

Could it be that God is wearing the white shirts with two rust stains to show how creative His kids are?

In season two of the podcast, Mark and John discuss identity. This is such an important question; "Who am I?" In this episode, we discuss the difference between what describes us and what identifies us. So many people are wearing an invisible name tag given to them by someone else. However, our identity flows out of what God says not what we have done or through what others say. Our experiences do not define us and so many people live replaying negative events, which has made them identify as victims. Did you know that 80% of all our self-thoughts are negative? Dr. John states a minus becomes a plus by adding a vertical line! When we live with a biblical identity, these negative thoughts become positive! Again, Mark and John state our identity isn't based on our past, our positions, our popularity, possessions, or potential.

Ephesians 1:1-6 states we are saints, which isn't based on our works but on Christ's finished work on the cross. We are blessed, which means we lack nothing. We are chosen and that means we are a #1 draft pick! God didn't settle for us, He chose us before we did anything good or bad. We are adopted, which means secure and finally, we are accepted. This acceptance isn't based on performance but on grace. Stand up and stand on your true Biblical identity.

If you desire the PDF called, "Who Am I?" please email us at [email protected]

If you are interested in learning more about GFI's Exchanged Life Coaching, email [email protected]

In this episode, Dr. John and Mark discuss the difference between self and Christ being your functional source of living. We are called to live by faith so trusting in self-sufficiency doesn't work. As we exchange our self-life for Christ, Dr. Griffith Thomas says there is a 4-fold call: "Come unto Me as Redeemer, Learn of Me as Teacher, Follow Me as Master, and Abide in Me as Life."

If you would like to give a year-end gift to GFI, please choose the "Good Cents" campaign. https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/about-gfi/donate/

Dr. Woodward and Mark discuss how to survive, or better yet, thrive during this holiday season. John and Mark first discuss grief. Some people enter this season with loss. Whether it is the loss of a thing or a person, John discusses how grief is part of the journey, and we need to draw upon grace and not focus only on negatives. We focus on Jesus and those around us. We can have peace and joy during any season or difficulty because Jesus is peace and joy, and He is in us. Next, John and Mark talk about the stress of the holidays. We all have places to go, houses to decorate, and gifts to buy. John discusses how happy things, like cooking Christmas dinner, can still bring us stress. We walk with Christ, not our checklists. Mark states that we do not have to be everything, not buy every gift. They guys discuss self-imposed stress, which is performance-based acceptance. Just because it has always "been done that way before" doesn't mean it has to stay that way. Jesus brings rest, and we are accepted in Him, so we do not have to meet everyone else's expectations. Finally, John and Mark discuss hurt. Some of our rejections are from those we will see during the holiday. Christ meets our needs, and Mark teaches the differences between forgiveness and trust. Forgiveness is immediate, but trust takes time. Mark tells us to begin now surrendering fears, anxiety, and all of the "what if's." Surrendering is not putting our heads in the sand, but allowing God to do through us what we cannot do on our own. Episode 16 teaches on surrender and passivity. Mark and John end the podcast with a prayer.

Did you know that your psychological issues affect your body? Dr. John and Mark discuss how things happening in your body, may actually originate first in the mind and emotions. Our physical health also affects us emotionally. Sleep is a great example; when we do not get enough sleep, it affects us. In this episode, Mark shares his personal story of weight loss and victory. Dr. John teaches about gender identity and also how our identity isn't based on the body or age. 1 Corinthians 6:19 states that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. In verse 20, we are commanded to glorify God in our spirit and body. Our bodies belong to God because He purchased us with His blood. So the goal should not be looks or weight, but health. We are to steward our health and God wants to bring healing to you spiritually, emotionally, and physically!

The soul is the seat of our personality; in the soul, we find our mind, will, and emotions. In this episode, John and Mark discuss how the soul functions mentally and emotionally. They ask the question, "What identity do I live from?" Is it self-life or Christ's life? There is abundant life in the spirit but defeat in self. Doubt is a great example; doubt gains traction in the soul even though we have assurance and security in our spirit. John discusses how rejection and disappointments affect the soul with feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. John also discusses the differences between real and imaginary guilt. The common struggles of worry, doubt, and fear are also addressed. The flesh life brings about many psychological symptoms and problems. Mark teaches us the difference between a reaction and a response. He also states that when we are living selfishly, we tend to blow up or clam up. There are so many ways we try to mentally escape but when Christ is life, He can bring mental health. Listen to the end as Dr. John teaches on depression and anxiety and ends with Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus gives rest to our souls because when we are saved, he redeems our spirits!

What has Christ done in our spirit? In this episode, Dr. John and Mark discuss the spirit of man and if you want to see this illustrated, please download the GFI app using the link below. In this episode, John and Mark discuss salvation and the assurance of salvation. If you have questions regarding salvation, please email us ([email protected]). They also explain what is meant by the security of the believer. John and Mark also speak to the fact that we are accepted in the Beloved! Friends, the pressure is off because we are accepted in Christ! Let us ask you, "Have you ever accepted your acceptance?" Our standing is not based on our performance but on the faithfulness of God. Do not base your life on emotion but on facts. John 10:28-29 speaks to salvation, assurance, security, and acceptance. Ephesians 1:1-6 speak to our acceptance and identity.

Good Cents Giving Link: https://gracefellowshipinternational.com/about-gfi/donate/

GFI App:

Apple Store link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6446342103

Google Play Store link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.subsplashconsulting.s_S8HP79

www.howtobeachildofGod.com

Books:

"Blessed Reassurance: Finding Security in Christ." by Dr. John Woodward

Book link: https://grace-fellowship-international.myshopify.com/products/blessed-reassurance-finding-security-in-christ

"The Pressure is Off" by Larry Crab

Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Pressures-Off-Breaking-Rules-Performance/dp/0307730530/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PHBX8UNSR6SZ&keywords=the+pressure+is+off&qid=1698680319&sprefix=the+pressure+is+%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1

The links to the app and websites are listed below. The wheel diagram is a very effective tool used in both counseling and life coaching. In this episode, John and Mark give an overview of the diagram and how it speaks to our spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Our spirit speaks to how we relate to God. Our soul is the seat of our mind, will, and emotions; through our soul, we relate to others. Our body is our earth suit and it is how we relate to the world. Dr. Solomon states, "Man is a spirit, has a soul, and lives in a body." Identity and rejection are also discussed. Dr. John shares Dr. Solomon's story as a glimpse of grace. No matter where you live, we are available to you! Please reach out by emailing [email protected].

GFI App Link:

Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6446342103

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.subsplashconsulting.s_S8HP79

www.elcmatters.org