who you are in Christ

In our current study group, we are going through Romans 12. We are kind of following Chip Ingram's study: Becoming a Romans 12 Christian. http://www.truespiritualityonline.org/r12

Tammy gave us some handouts that are encouraging and we wanted to share them. These are from Chip Ingrams study:

https://r12online.s3.amazonaws.com/SELF%20ASSESSMENT%20-%20Prayer%20Cards.pdf

and, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST,
THEN JUST INSERT YOUR NAME INTO THE BLOCK BELOW.
YourName
YourName		is able - Philippians 4:13
YourName		is abounding in grace - 2 Corinthians 9:8
YourName		is abounding in hope - Romans 15:4, 13
YourName		is Abraham's offspring - Galatians 3:29
YourName		is abundant - John 10:10
YourName		is accepted - Ephesians 1:6
YourName		has access - Ephesians 2:18
YourName		is adequate - 2 Corinthians 3:5
YourName		is adopted - Ephesians 1:5
YourName		is alive - Ephesians 2:4-5
YourName		is an ambassador for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
YourName		is anointed - 1 John 2:20
YourName		is anxious for nothing - Philippians 4:6
YourName		is the apple of His eye - Zechariah 2:8
YourName		is appointed by God - John 15:16
YourName		is the aroma of Christ - 2 Corinthians 2:15
YourName		is not ashamed - 2 Timothy 1:12
YourName		is assured of reward - 1 Corinthians 15:58
YourName		is assured of success - Proverbs 16:3
YourName		has authority over the devil - Luke 9:1
YourName		is baptized into Christ - 1 Corinthians 12:15
YourName		is beautiful - Psalm 149:4
YourName		is becoming a mature person - Ephesians 4:13
YourName		is becoming conformed to Christ - Romans 8:29
YourName		is a believer - Romans 10:9
YourName		belongs to God - John 17:9
YourName		is betrothed - Hosea 2:19-20
YourName		is blameless - 1 Corinthians 1:8
YourName		is blessed - Ephesians 1:3
YourName		is blood bought - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
YourName		is bold - Proverbs 28:1
YourName		is a bondservant - Psalm 116:16
YourName		is born of God - 1 John 5:18
YourName		is born again - 1 Peter 1:23
YourName		is bought with a price - 1 Corinthians 6:20
YourName		is a branch of the True Vine - John 15:5
YourName		is His bride - Isaiah 54:5
YourName		is His brother - Hebrews 2:11
YourName		is brought near - Ephesians 2:13
YourName		is built up - 1 Peter 2:5
YourName		is buried with Christ - Romans 6:4
YourName		is called - 1 Peter 5:10
YourName		is calm - Philippians 4:6
YourName		is cared for - 1 Peter 5:7
YourName		is carried - Exodus 19:4
YourName		is changed - 1 Samuel 10:6
YourName		is a child of God - John 1:12
YourName		is cherished - Ephesians 5:29
YourName		is chosen - 1 Peter 2:9
YourName		is circumcised spiritually - Colossians 2:11
YourName		is a citizen of heaven - Philippians 3:20
YourName		is clay in the potter's hand - Jeremiah 18:6
YourName		is clean - Ezekiel 36:25; John 15:3
YourName		is cleansed - 1 John 1:7,9
YourName		is clothed with Christ - Galatians 3:27
YourName		is a co-heir with Christ - Romans 8:17
YourName		is comforted - Jeremiah 31:13
YourName		is complete in Christ - Colossians 2:10
YourName		is confident - 1 John 4:17
YourName		is confident of answers to prayer - 1 John 5:14-15
YourName		is confident He will finish me - Philippians 1:6
YourName		is confident He will never leave me - Hebrews 13:5- 6
YourName		is a conqueror - Romans 8:37
YourName		is content - Philippians 4:11
YourName		is content with weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:10
YourName		is continually with God - Psalm 73:23
YourName		is controlled by the love of Christ - 2 Corinthians 12:10
YourName		is courageous - 1 Chronicles 28:20
YourName		is created in Christ for good works - Ephesians 2:10
YourName		is created in His image - Genesis 1:27
YourName		is crucified with Him - Galatians 2:20
YourName		is dead in Christ - Romans 6:4
YourName		is dead to sin - Romans 6:11
YourName		is a delight - Psalm 147:11
YourName		is delighted in - Isaiah 42:1
YourName		is delivered - Psalm 107:6
YourName		is desired - Psalm 45:11
YourName		is determined - Philippians 4:13
YourName		is a disciple - John 8:31-32
YourName		is disciplined - Hebrews 12:5-11
YourName		is drawing near with confidence - Hebrews 4:16
YourName		is empowered to obey - Philippians 2:13
YourName		is encouraged - 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
YourName		is enlightened - Ephesians 1:18
YourName		is enriched in everything - 1 Corinthians 1:5
YourName		is equipped - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
YourName		is established Deuteronomy 28:9
YourName		has eternal life - John 3:36
YourName		has every good thing - Philemon 6
YourName		is exalted at His right hand - Acts 2:34-35
YourName		is faithful - Revelation 17:14
YourName		is family - Psalm 68:5
YourName		is far from oppression - Isaiah 54:14
YourName		is favoured - Job 10:12
YourName		is a fellow citizen with the saints - Ephesians 2:19
YourName		is a fellow worker - Colossians 4:11
YourName		is filled - Acts 2:4
YourName		is filled to the fullness of God - Colossians 2:9- 10
YourName		is filled with the fruit of righteousness - Philippians 1:11
YourName		is filled with the fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23
YourName		is filled with the knowledge of His will - Colossians 1:9
YourName		is filled with joy - John 17:13
YourName		is a finished product -in progress - Philippians 1:6
YourName		is a first fruit - Romans 8:23
YourName		is forgiven - Ephesians 1:7
YourName		is formed in the womb by God - Jeremiah 1:5
YourName		was lost, but now is found - Luke 19:10
YourName		is a fragrance - 1 Corinthians 1:15-16
YourName		is free - John 8:36
YourName		is freely given all things - Romans 8:32
YourName		is gifted - Romans 12:6
YourName		is given His magnificent promises - 2 Peter 1:3-4
YourName		is given His Holy Spirit - 2 Corinthians 1:22
YourName		is glorified with Him - 2 Thessalonians 2:14
YourName		is God's child - John 1:12
YourName		is God's gift to Christ - John 17:24
YourName		knows God is for me - Romans 8:31
YourName		is gracious - Proverbs 22:11
YourName		is granted grace in Christ Jesus - Romans 5:17,20
YourName		is guarded by God - 2 Timothy 1:12
YourName		is guarded by God's peace - Philippians 4:7
YourName		is guaranteed - Ephesians 1:13-14
YourName		is guided - Psalm 48:14
YourName		is guiltless - Romans 8:1
YourName		is the head - Deuteronomy 28:13
YourName		is healed - 1 Peter 2:24
YourName		is healthy - Deuteronomy 7:15
YourName		is an heir of God - Titus 3:7
YourName		is helped by Him - Isaiah 44:2
YourName		is hidden with Christ in God - Colossians 3:3
YourName		is His - Isaiah 43:1
YourName		is His handiwork - Ephesians 2:10
YourName		is holy - Ephesians 1:4
YourName		is honoured - 2 Timothy 2:21
YourName		is humble -Philippians 2:24
YourName		is the image of God - Genesis 1:27
YourName		is the image and glory of God - 1 Corinthians 11:7
YourName		is an imitator of God - Ephesians 5:1
YourName		is in Christ Jesus - 1 Corinthians 1:30
YourName		is included - Ephesians 1:13
YourName		is indestructible - John 6:51
YourName		is indwelt by Christ Jesus - John 14:20
YourName		is indwelt by His Spirit - Romans 8:11
YourName		is inscribed on His palms - Isaiah 49:16
YourName		is inseparable from His love - Romans 8:35
YourName		is an instrument of righteousness - Romans 6:13
YourName		is joyful - Philippians 4:4
YourName		is justified - Acts 13:39
YourName		is kept - Isaiah 38:17
YourName		is in a Kingdom of priests - Revelation 1:6
YourName		is a king's kid - Psalm 44:4
YourName		knows all things work together for good - Romans 8:28
YourName		knows in Whom he believes - 2 Timothy 1:12
YourName		is known - 2 Timothy 2:19
YourName		lacks no wisdom - James 1:5
YourName		is lavished with riches of His grace - Ephesians 1:7-8
YourName		is led in Christ's triumph - 2 Corinthians 2:14
YourName		is liberated - Romans 6:23
YourName		has life abundant - 1 John 4:9; John 10:10
YourName		has life and peace in the Spirit - Romans 8:6
YourName		has light - John 8:12
YourName		is a light in a dark place - Acts 13:47
YourName		has life flowing through me - John 7:38
YourName		is like a watered garden - Isaiah 58:11
YourName		is a living stone in a spiritual house - 1 Peter 2:5
YourName		is the Lord's - Isaiah 44:5
YourName		is loved - John 3:16
YourName		is loved constantly, unconditionally - Isaiah 43:4
YourName		is loyal - Psalm 86:2
YourName		is made by Him - Psalm 100:3
YourName		is a magnifier of God - Psalm 69:30
YourName		is marked - Ephesians 1:13
YourName		is a member of His body - Ephesians 5:30
YourName		is might in God - Luke 10:19
YourName		has the mind of Christ - 1 Corinthians 2:16
YourName		is a minister - 2 Corinthians 3:6
YourName		is a minister of reconciliation - 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
YourName		is a mountain mover - Mark 11:22-23
YourName		is named - Isaiah 43:1
YourName		is near to God - Ephesians 2:13
YourName		is never forsaken - Hebrews 13:5
YourName		is new - Ephesians 4:24
YourName		is new born - 1 Peter 2:2
YourName		is a new creation - 2 Corinthians 5:17
YourName		has new life - Romans 6:4
YourName		is part of a new race - 1 Peter 2:9
YourName		is not condemned - Romans 8:1
YourName		is no longer a slave to sin - Romans 6:6
YourName		has not been given a spirit of fear - 1 Timothy 1:7
YourName		is obedient - Isaiah 1:19
YourName		is an object of mercy - Romans 9:23
YourName		is obtained an inheritance - Ephesians 1:11
YourName		is of God's household - Ephesians 2:19
YourName		is on the winning side - Colossians 2:15
YourName		is one with Him - John 17:23-24
YourName		is an overcomer - 1 John 5:4-5
YourName		is pardoned - Jeremiah 33:8
YourName		is a partaker of Christ - Hebrews 3:14
YourName		is a partaker of the Holy Spirit - Hebrews 6:4
YourName		is a partaker of grace - Philippians 1:7
YourName		is a partaker of the promise in Christ - Ephesians 3:6
YourName		has passed from death to life - John 5:24
YourName		is patient - James 5:8
YourName		has peace - Philippians 4:7
YourName		is one of the people of God - 1 Peter 2:9
YourName		is being perfected - 1 Peter 5:10
YourName		is pleasing to God - Psalm 149:4
YourName		is God's own possession - Titus 2:14
YourName		is possessor of all things - 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
YourName		has the power of God behind me - Philippians 3:21
YourName		has power - Acts 1:8
YourName		has power over the devil - Luke 9:1
YourName		is predestined - Ephesians 1:11
YourName		is prepared beforehand for glory - Romans 9:23
YourName		is prosperous - Psalm 1:3
YourName		is protected - Psalm 91:14
YourName		is provided for - Matthew 6:33
YourName		is purchased - Revelation 5:9
YourName		is purposeful - Psalm 138:8
YourName		is qualified - Colossians 1:12
YourName		is raised up with Christ - Ephesians 2:6
YourName		is ransomed with Him - Isaiah 35:10
YourName		is rare - Proverbs 20:15
YourName		has received mercy - 1 Peter 2:10
YourName		has received an unshakable Kingdom - Hebrews 12:28
YourName		is reconciled to God - Romans 5:10
YourName		is redeemed - Galatians 3:13
YourName		is refined - Isaiah 48:10
YourName		is reigning with Him - Romans 5:17
YourName		is rejoicing - Romans 5:2-3
YourName		is renewed - 2 Corinthians 4:16
YourName		is His representative - Matthew 5:16
YourName		is rescued - Colossians 1:13
YourName		has rest provided - Matthew 11:28-30
YourName		is rewarded by God - Isaiah 49:4
YourName		is rich - 2 Corinthians 8:9
YourName		is righteous - Ephesians 4:22
YourName		is rooted and built up in Him - Colossians 2:7
YourName		is royalty - Romans 5:17; 8:16-17
YourName		is a royal priesthood - 1 Peter 2:9
YourName		is safe - Psalm 4:8
YourName		is a saint of God - Psalm 34:9
YourName		is the salt of the earth - Matthew 5:13
YourName		is sanctified - 1 Corinthians 6:11
YourName		is satisfied - Jeremiah 31:14
YourName		is saved - Ephesians 2:8
YourName		is sealed by God with His Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13
YourName		is seated with Him - Ephesians 2:6
YourName		is secure - Deuteronomy 33:12
YourName		is sent - John 20:21
YourName		is set free - John 8:31-32,36
YourName		is sharing Christ's inheritance - Romans 8:17
YourName		is sharing His glory - John 17:22,24
YourName		is His sheep - Psalm 23:1
YourName		is sheltered - Psalm 91:1
YourName		is shielded - Psalm 91:4
YourName		is a slave to righteousness - Romans 6:18
YourName		is His soldier - 2 Timothy 2:3-4
YourName		is a son of God - Romans 8:14
YourName		is stable - Isaiah 33:6
YourName		is standing in His grace - Romans 5:2
YourName		is standing firm in Christ - 2 Corinthians 1:21
YourName		has my steps established by the Lord - Psalm 37:23
YourName		is strengthened in Him - Ephesians 3:16
YourName		is strong in the Lord - 1 Corinthians 1:8
YourName		is amply supplied - Philippians 4:18
YourName		is sustained from birth - Psalm 71:6
YourName		is a temple - 1 Corinthians 3:16
YourName		is thought about - Psalm 139:17-18
YourName		is transferred into His Kingdom - Colossians 1:13
YourName		is transformed - 2 Corinthians 3:18
YourName		is treasured - Psalm 83:3
YourName		is triumphant - 2 Corinthians 2:14
YourName		is unafraid - Isaiah 44:2; 51:12
YourName		is understood - Ephesians 1:8
YourName		is united with Christ - Romans 6:5
YourName		is upheld - Psalm 37:17
YourName		is upright - Psalm 7:10
YourName		is unblemished - Colossians 1:22
YourName		has understanding - 2 Timothy 2:7
YourName		is useful for His glory - Isaiah 43:7
YourName		is valuable - Luke 12:24
YourName		lives in victory - 1 Corinthians 15:57
YourName		is walking in His light - 1 John 1:7
YourName		is a warrior - 2 Corinthians 10:4
YourName		is washed - Titus 3:5
YourName		is watching for His return - Luke 12:37
YourName		is weak, then   is strong - 2 Corinthians 12:10
YourName		is in a wealthy place - Psalm 66:12
YourName		is welcome - Luke 11:9
YourName		is being made whole - Mark 5:34
YourName		puts on the whole armour of God - Ephesians 6:11
YourName		is wise - Proverbs 2:6
YourName		is His witness - Acts 1:8
YourName		is His workmanship - Ephesians 2:10
YourName		is not of this world - John 17:14
YourName		is His worshipper - Psalm 95:6
YourName		is worthy - Revelation 3:4
YourName		is yielded to God - Romans 6:13
YourName		is yoked with Jesus - Matthew 11:29
YourName		is heaven bound, guaranteed. - I Peter 1: 4
		Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant.
		You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for.
		You are a blessing to the world.

Tammy did forward the Excel spreadsheet that would automatically populate your name. Pretty cool. Please contact me if you would like this.

Ambassador

In our study during our lunch hour we spoke about Romans 12:1

an escalator?!?

God's Escalator Ride Posted: 21 Aug 2018 01:45 PM PDT Philippians 2:12-13 appears to be a dichotomy: “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Who does the work – me or God? We often call our relationship with Jesus a “walk,” but, in some ways, it’s a ride on God’s escalator because He’s the one changing us, moving us onward and upward. So, what’s our “work” and why is it described so seriously (“with fear and trembling”)? Paul explains in Romans 7:7-25 that our flesh is always in battle with our spirit. Both sin and God’s Spirit live in us. Sometimes we mistakenly think that we can relax because God is doing the work. But we must actively cooperate, putting our hearts, souls, minds, and strength into our “ride” (Mark 12:30; Romans 8:12-13). We must plant our feet firmly on the steps, grasp the handrail, look forward, and refuse to get off at exits of temptation (Proverbs 4:25-26).  https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2018/08/gods-escalator-ride.html

embarking on a new study

We are embarking on a new study: https://livingontheedge.org/series/true-spirituality/daily-radio 

Please feel free to stop by and join us.

God's Dream for Your Life, Part 1

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12

Scripture says that the Creator of the universe knows you and longs to have a relationship with you. He has a dream for your life! Would you like to know what God’s dream for your life is? Chip explores Romans chapter 12 to find the answer to that question.

God's Dream for Your Life, Part 2

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12

"What does living like a Christian really mean? How do the day-to-day, rubber meets the road, ""what am I supposed to do now?"" questions get answered when circumstances leave an honest person really struggling? Chip shares that God has a dream for you - yes, you - and as incredible as that idea sounds, Chip explains what that means."

How to Give God What He Wants the Most, Part 1

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:1

What causes God’s blessings to flow to you and me? Is it following a list of rules or religious practices? Or maybe just a random choice made by Him alone? Chip looks at how God chooses on whom He will pour out His blessings …and how you can begin receiving those blessings starting today.

How to Give God What He Wants the Most, Part 2

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:1

What does God want from you the most? If you knew the answer to that question would you live differently? In this message, Chip shares, from scripture, what God is looking for from you and me. Join Chip and discover how to give God what He wants the most.

MESSAGE NOTES

a population not often thought of

I'm back in school. I just love learning through the lens of God. What I mean by that statement is that every subject is put through the filter of scripture. Right now one of my classes is Human Sexuality. It is a psychology class. 

We do what they call discussion boards. We post our assignments there and other students have to choose two to reply to as a way of expanding our assignment. I'm sharing an assignment here but I am not giving credit to the person who wrote this because I don't think she would want me to. 

This assignment was to be our opinion on how the church is handling human sexuality.  

Here is my post:

Our discussion board forum this week is to be written considering the last two weeks’ worth of lessons regarding how the church is succeeding or failing when it comes to guiding singles on matters of sexuality and cohabitation. I am going to flat out say what I know regarding this issue. The church is failing entirely regarding singles of all ages. Our churches are not instructing children on what the Bible says about our bodies and relationships. The church is not talking to our teenagers about their bodies and relationships. The church is not talking to divorced people or widows and widowers. The church is silent.

Now when I see someone make such a statement, my thoughts are that this person needs to go to other churches. Just because this is their experience does not mean that this experience holds true everywhere. The problem is that our textbook agrees with my summation, as did our lecturers, as does our behavior here in the United States (and probably other developed countries). No one can tell the difference between a Christian single and a pagan single. Christians cohabitate together, have sex together, at nearly the same rate as non-Christians. What’s really crazy is that the Bible is clear on what we are to do with our sexuality: 

“1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:3

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

Matthew 5:28

but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Hebrews 13:4

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge

Galatians 5:19

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

Romans 13:12-14

The night is almost gone, and the day is near Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

So many scriptures tell us clearly to abstain from sexual impurity. Yet for the most part, our churches are entirely silent. Singleness is not a disease that needs to be feared. I love what Pastor Chris Adams, from a lecture from week 4, Single Sexuality, said when he quoted something Stanley Hauerwas stated about how “singles are radical in their love for the church. Singles show that relationships and not just reproduction propagate the gospel.”

This same lecture, Single Sexuality, had some great ideas about how the church can begin to help by introducing the “theology of being single, the theology of being married, the theology of personhood” – why we are here on this earth. The way I see it Christians are here to be in a relationship with others so that we can tell them about Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. Churches, which is us, we need to spend more time using the scriptures so that we can tell people how God wants us to live fully in relationships with Him and with others. We need to talk about what it means to be a Christian. What it means to be a single in a relationship with Jesus, or to be in a marriage in a relationship with Jesus. None of this should be scary. I wish I would have known more about this 'theology of being a person' from the beginning of my life, upon my marriage and now upon my singleness.

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Sexuality  

HS 303 Single Sexuality lecture

Here is her reply to me:

I think you touched on a population in the church that is often not thought about in regards to teaching abstinence and cohabitation. That population would be those who have been married before and now are single. It seems that there is a majority of that group that believe the "rules" which are actually the Word of God do not apply to them anymore. I have a personal interest in this because my mother is in this category. She is in her late 50's. She has been single for over 20 years. She is now in a relationship and is sleeping with this man. It has been 4 years. There is no commitment. Her good friend has decided that she does not want to be married to her boyfriend but wants to continue having sex and possibly live together. I know both of these ladies were very involved in their churches. No one is touching the subject. No one is rebuking them. Your scripture references were more than enough proof of what God has to say on the matter. You are correct, the world should be able to differentiate between a Christian single and a non-Christian single. Unfortunately, sometimes there is no difference. 

Here is what I replied to her:

Amanda, I'm sorry. I'm in the same age group as your Mother and I have done what she is doing. Two people gently awoke me from my blindness regarding my sin. One was my own daughter who simply asked me if what I was doing was considered Christian. She is not a Christian. She thinks that it is all white noise but she knew that I had considered myself a Christian. What she asked kept coming into my mind. 

The other person was a co-worker who didn't know about my boyfriend. She just ran me through the 10 commandments like Ray, oh what is his name . . . Ray Comfort does when he is evangelizing. "Have you ever stolen something? I said NO. She said, "not even a pen?" Yes.  "Have you ever lied?" Yes. Anyway, she opened my eyes to just how much I let slide. I started looking into Ray Comfort and his ministry and this sermon helped me see just how far away from Christ I was: https://www.livingwaters.com/hells-best-kept-secret/ 

Keep praying for your Mother. If you haven't asked her like my daughter did then maybe you could just ask her nicely and maybe have a discussion about it but don't let her sway you from your path. She'll probably defend it at first. Then just don't bring it up again. Sometimes the smallest, most innocent comment, speaks the loudest. And pray. Always pray. :) I'm praying for my daughter. She helped save me so I am pretty sure that the Holy Spirit is working within her. I just love God and all the ways He surrounds us with Himself. 










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