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WHEN 'MARANATHA' IS A MEMORY

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WHEN 'MARANATHA' IS A MEMORY

“Increasingly, I find myself deliberately contemplating what kept Jesus on His own cross out of necessity for mine. Scripture says that as He stared down the barrel of His own death—not only a terrible way to die, but bearing the weight of wrath for many—it was “the joy set before Him” that kept Him from cowardice. Anything less than that same obsession will consign us to our own demise at the hands of the “pride of life,” “lust of the flesh,” and “the cares of this world.” So what is it on the other side of the “Maranatha!” cry, when “Maranatha” is a memory that can keep us going? These are the things we should meditate on constantly.

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A HEAVY STONE // PART III

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A HEAVY STONE // PART III

"We know that when the gospel of the Kingdom is preached to all nations, then the end will come... Until then, we have a responsibility —given to us by Jesus — to bear witness to His coming Kingdom. We have been commissioned by the Lord to preach the gospel to all nations. And to do so while living lives consistent with the Sermon on the Mount. The timing we leave to Him, but the obedience is still on us."

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A HEAVY STONE // PART II

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A HEAVY STONE // PART II

“the identity of the Church is bound to the history of the Jewish people.” and because of that, it is vital that we have a right understanding of this fact: “God’s discipline of Israel has always been, and will always be, with the purpose vindicating His name and winning back His wayward son. The coming trouble is no exception.”

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A HEAVY STONE // PART I

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A HEAVY STONE // PART I

What does it mean to stand with or against Israel? This is a weighty and nuanced issue. And the consequences are everlasting. We should be eager then to allow Jesus to define what He means by standing with or against Israel.

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PLANTING GARDENS IN BABYLON

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PLANTING GARDENS IN BABYLON

“Sometimes we overthink what this needs to look like, in the same way William Wilberforce very nearly abandoned a strategic and influential political position because he’d elevated the dignity of vocational ministry above any other job. But can you not bear witness while you serve in Congress? Can you not bear witness as a cafe barista? Shouldn’t you though, wherever you are? Surely there are gardens to plant in Babylon.”

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FLAMES OF GLORY

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FLAMES OF GLORY

Of all the elements He could’ve used, why did God choose fire? It’s a polarizing thing, it can destroy as suddenly as it can bring life. It can scald as easily as it can bring soothing comfort. Much like the Savior who warned us that His coming would be divisive in the world, fire can be terrifying or a great source of peace. His fire refines and sanctifies, it tests and reveals the quality of anything placed in it. Fire only burns that which isn’t holy. Put something holy in the fire, and it will come out as gold.

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THORNS AND THRESHOLDS

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THORNS AND THRESHOLDS

In the middle of an intense moment of battle and desperation, God commanded Joshua to debilitate his armies. Why is it that God made them weak, instead of simply making them victorious? It serves us well to find the areas where we’re resisting being made meek and lowly—these are the exact areas God wants to put His glory on display in our lives.

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TO WASH A TRAITOR'S FEET

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TO WASH A TRAITOR'S FEET

It’s no accident that Jesus introduced the commandment ‘to love each other as He loved us’ in the same moment He felt the sting of betrayal and denial from two of His dearest friends. If He could get on the floor and wash their feet knowing how deeply they’d wound Him, we can certainly set aside our offenses and forgive each other—for the sake of our own health, for the growth of the church, for the needs of the lost, and for the glory of God.

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THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH, AND DEATH OF TRIBAL PARTISANSHIP

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THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH, AND DEATH OF TRIBAL PARTISANSHIP

One sure thing must happen to the bride before she can truly call for the Bridegroom: she must be absolutely united in purpose and pure in heart. All lesser agendas and allegiances must be given up. Beloved ones of God, do you see how we can hasten the Day of the Lord?