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The Apostle John makes things simple, says Pastor Mat. If we do this, then we are that. He gives us a "litmus test" in 1 John 2 for whether or not we know God. We show we know God if.... We show we abide in Christ if... It's a call to remember that it is the eternal things that are important -- this world and all that is in it, is passing away. Do we know that we know God?
The moment you believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and surrender your life to Him, you have the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit awakens your mind and spirit to the things of God. Now you need to talk about Jesus to others. Pastor Mat points out that people will have questions when you tell them about Jesus, and the answers can be divisive. What do you do? That's just one aspect of this study in John.
Do you feel fruitful today? The Apostle Peter tells us we have everything we need for life and godliness, everything we need to be fruitful for God's glory. However, this does not mean it will necessarily be easy. Jesus' power is available for us, but is Jesus enough? These are some of the questions Pastor Mat deals with as we look at what it really means to be partakers of the divine nature and what we should add to our faith.
Which comes first: repentance or forgiveness? The answer may surprise you. Forgiveness is not one-sided, Pastor Igor points out. This study in Luke 17 takes a closer look at forgiveness, along with teaching how to biblically correct others when called for. After all, we want to build one another up, not be stumbling blocks.
There should be a change in our lives when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. And we should keep on changing. How do we keep the fire of our passion for Jesus blazing? Pastor Mat looks at that very question as he begins this series in Second Peter.
What are we called to do as believers in Jesus Christ? In this study in John 7, Pastor Mat points out that the church is called to go out with the heart of Jesus Christ and meet needs. What does that look like? How does that unfold in our lives? This study answers those questions and gives us an exhortation to do something for God's glory with our faith -- given that He has opened up to us rivers of Living Water.
Interesting that Paul's letter written from prison should be known as "the epistle of joy." Pastor Mat points out, however, that if we have Jesus we can have peace and joy in any circumstance. In this study we also learn a "recipe" for how to pray for ourselves so that we will be filled with the fruits of righteousness, truly loving Jesus and others.
In Revelation Chapter Two, Jesus is giving John a message for the leadership of the church at Ephesus. He commends them for their labor, and Pastor Mat reminds us that we all should be laboring for the Lord's glory in the church. But there is a danger associated with serving the Lord, and Jesus addresses this is His words of condemnation and correction for Ephesus. Learn what we must do to overcome.
The Christian life is about trials. Our response to those trials reveals where we are at in our walk with the Lord, how mature and refined we are -- or are not. Few of us enjoy trials and temptations, however. Jesus faced those, as well, in His condescending to identify with us. How He dealt with them is a model for us, and Pastor Jin looks at that in this study in Luke 4. We have a definite weapon when Satan come against us.
Once we choose to follow Jesus there is a battle for our testimony. We see this clearly in Job, where the curtain is pulled back for us to see what is going on in the spiritual realm. Satan wants us to judge the love of God by our circumstances. However, Pastor Mat points out that God wants us to make choices that glorify Him no matter what our circumstances. Listen and find the key for being able to do just that.
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