MEN APPLYING GRADUATE LEVEL CHRIST-LIKENESS
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Toiling Harvesters
LUKE 10:1-12 (KJV), “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” Here’s what my figuring tells me, 70 new disciples plus the 12 Apostles equals 82 men, divided by pairs of two is 41 men. That equals to me a minimum of 41 cities and places He wants to reach; maybe they’ll be able to reach 82.
At the time of this writing, I’m estimating that He’s only had three years left on earth. I believe that is what prompted Him in verse 2 to express His desire, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great,” (the Greek word for “harvest” is therismos, pronounced ther-is-mos. It means reaping, i.e. the crop [harvest], and the “crop” they will be reaping is: the many human spirits they will be winning to God.) “…but the labourers are few” (the Greek word for “laborers” is ergates, pronounced er-gat-ace. It means “toiler,” figuratively a teacher) “…pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers (those who He’s sending who will toil at teaching — for the harvest of the spirits of those in each of the cities) into his harvest.” Based on His own experiences, He recognizes that their audiences will not always be welcoming them, so He warns them in verse 3, “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” He continues through verse 12. But remember too, these 82 men had the privilege of preparing each city/town for Jesus’ visit.
That’s what Christ Quest Ministries, through the Christ Quest Institute’s Fellow Warriors classes wants to accomplish. We want each Fellow Warrior - husband - to get victory over their sin nature as they learn how to daily defeat it through becoming spiritually mature like the Christ and portraying Him to their wife and family as noted in Ephesians 5:25 through 27.
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MY SPIRITUAL UMBRELLA/CUP RUNNETH OVER
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Only 8 seconds!
I’ve heard that you have 8 seconds to capture the attention of most people today, especially young people. Of course, Jesus would have known that thousands of years ago which would prompt Him to write 1 Timothy 4:13 (KJV) where He exhorts us by saying, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
I’m going to personalize this verse for my own application. Its focus is on me reading, sooo, “Till I (Jesus) come, give attendance — attendance involves attending – attending means, the process whereby a person has entered into the act of being able to concentrate on something. Of course this being the Bible, which is a Spiritual Document, it’s requirements will be spiritual concentration.
For example, attending a wedding ceremony has the purpose of concentrating on the wedding. Attending a sports event has the purpose of being able to concentrate on who you want to win. All of those take more than 8 seconds.
“to reading" — in this instance it would be concentrating on “God’s Instruction Manual for Life” (aka the Bible) so I can make application and experience on-going spiritual maturity.
“to exhortation" — exhortation consists of words, a speech or discourse that encourages, incites, or earnestly advises. So, as I learn how to make specific application of “God’s Instruction Manual for Life” wherein others will hopefully see the peace, joy, and purpose in my life, and if it prompts them to ask about it, I can exhort them.
“to doctrine” — a particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion; a body or system of teachings relating to a particular subject: And since this is from the Bible it’s about godliness and Christ-likeness.
In this age of videos, podcasts, etc., too many Christians are seeking entertainment on their phones and are in grave danger of forgetting the importance of reading “God’s Instruction Manual”. The word translated “reading” in this verse is Greek, anagnosis, and is a compound word meaning essentially “a renewal of knowledge.” Why renewal? Because our sin nature (the same one the Apostle said he struggled with) is committed to our not becoming Christ-like! And he’s had millions of people and thousands of years of practice on defeating Christians, keeping them away from being literal, living examples of the Christ.
A sermon or lecture is information wherein the requirements are to listen, to be heard; an educational film or video is information wherein the requirements are to see; but a book is information where the requirements are to read. And it’s repeatedly available to be reviewed and rehearsed, again and again, until more firmly learned and applied. Then too, concerning the Bible, if I expect to retain that knowledge, it’s to my advantage to take notes — physically, mentally, but especially spiritually. That same truth is expressed by the verb used in that verse, “give attendance” which literally carries with it, “continue steadfastly.” In Acts 2:42 (AMPC) it’s translated, “And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction (of God’s Instruction Manual).”
As I read and study the Scriptures, I will be in attendance - the process whereby I’m concentrating on training my mind to operate with God’s thinking, words, and actions. The ability to do that could even lead to others recognizing the difference in my thinking, words, and actions prompting them to ask how I did that.
But if that’s not enough motivation, in I Peter 3:15 (especially in the AMPC version) of the Bible, we’re commanded to “be ready always to give an answer (Greek apologia, a systematic defense) to every man who asketh you a reason (Greek logos, a logical explanation) of the (Christian) hope that is in you.” To do that requires a steadfast predominant, continual, study of the Bible. Which enables me to experience Psalm 119:11 (KJV), more and more, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
If I’m going to be a truly effective and influential Christian, I need to be a biblically informed Christian.
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Update on our kitchen project:
The five to six week delivery for the kitchen cabinets countertop did not get here until after 2 months.
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Because I added three feet of new cabinet space, it required a new countertop, and the countertops don’t match now. Here’s the next part of the kitchen remodel so the counter tops will match. And the sink being worn out, old and discolored while the spickets leak they too need to be replaced. Then I will be finished.
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TO QUENCH YOUR SPIRITUAL THIRST
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Adequate Praise
When you read the book of Psalms, did you notice David’s praise was constant. His heart/spirit seemed to find anything and everything possible to be grateful to God for, and he went on and on and on in his praise.
In spite of honorable intentions, I think most Christians have been deceived into thinking they are giving God adequate praise. The deception has been accomplished through a simple phrase that is quite common in the Christian community. The phrase is “Praise the Lord!” or “Praise God!” Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that we need to discontinue those phrases. I’m only trying to point out its inadequacy in order to promote better understanding of adequate praise for bringing greater joy to ourselves and to God.
Testing for authenticity
If it really were an adequate expression, it would prove beneficial for use elsewhere. So, let’s give it a try. How about in a marriage relationship?
What would be the likely response from a wife if her husband said, “Praise my wife!”?
In years gone by, we had our live classes and when we ask the women how they would respond to that expression, they almost unanimously would respond with, “For what?”
- It doesn’t deliver the specific “what-fors.”
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It doesn’t require that a Christian specifically identify and precisely understand how God is connected to, and has purpose for, everything in life.
- While sounding excellent and respectful, it does not demand that a Christian’s verbal expressions note the wide scope of God’s sovereignty.
- Without specifics, the Christian is not blessed, nor was the one who didn’t hear any specific credit given to God when the statement was made.
I discovered that I’m not one who thinks about or recognizes many of God’s blessings. Not even those in plain view, much less those disguised as lessons, designed to build Christ-likeness in me by also learning how to defeat my flesh.
A better discovery
But I also discovered there was something I could do that would serve as a means of training my spirit to more effectively notice God’s blessings and help me develop the ability to speak of the characteristics of gratefulness and appreciation.
That would be learning to notice and compliment my wife Nancy for the things she did and does — things that were praiseworthy, things that are noticeable because they are physical in nature. However, I need to develop the ability and habit of watching for, and being alert to, praiseworthy things that are spiritual in nature.
For example: Yes, if she’s the cook, we can say, “Thanks for cooking the meal.” But if it’s going to minister to her spirit, it would sound something like this, “I love the way you are so responsible, creative, and dedicated to caring for us as you always prepare such tasty and healthy meals for us!” This is said with a smile and a look of honoring her.
Here’s the ultimate benefit of becoming alert to those things Nancy does that are spiritual in nature. Since God is Spirit, my capacity to perceive spiritual things in Nancy is accompanied by the ability to recognize God’s Spirit acting in my behalf through her.
Here’s a verse that’s an encouragement from Psalms 100:4 (KJV), “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
His gates means that you’re on the property; His courts mean you’re inside His living quarters. It helps me to make this comparison: Her gates mean in her mind; Her courts mean in her heart/her spirit.
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CHECK OUT UPCOMING CLASSES
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NEW CQI+ ONLINE CLASSES COMING IN FEBRUARY
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Spiritual DNA Online Learning Course
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It is a fact that God has made us unalike. Yet, we seem to expect everyone to think and act as we do. This usually causes hurt feelings that go uncared for. Wouldn’t it be great if we had been taught to understand God’s design about motivational gifts as we grew up? Consider the value of learning about motivational spiritual gifts. Purchase the new CQM Spiritual DNA learning course to gain understanding of each spiritual gift.
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