Author: Phil Rehberg

weely words of encouragement

God Will Restore Those Who Suffer – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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At the beginning of his ministry Jesus quotes from Isaiah to describe his ministry. “He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18, NIV). The poor no longer need to despair about their condition because Jesus brings the good news that they will be greatly blessed (Matt. 5:3). Those who are oppressed or imprisoned by their circumstances will now be free. Those who are blind will now see. Thus, Jesus will reverse the effects of the Fall and start restoring everything to the goodness and harmony of God. This is the coming of the kingdom of God; Jesus inaugurated it when he came and will complete it after he returns. God will restore those who suffer. This means that everyone who is disadvantaged or Continue Reading →

humility

God Blesses The Humble

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From The Imitation of Christ – Chapter 7. The one who trusts in people or things instead of God is wasting their life. And don’t rely on yourself but rely on God. Don’t trust in your education or the abilities of people. Instead, trust in God who opposes the proud; God blesses the humble. Don’t boost your image with your wealth or important friends. Instead, give thanks to God, who is the source of all good things. He is the great giver and even gave himself for us. Don’t think you are wonderful because of your strength or beauty; it only takes one illness or accident to lose them. Don’t be arrogant about your abilities; God is not happy when we take credit for our blessings. He blesses the humble. Don’t think of yourself as better than others or God will think worse of you. Don’t be proud about your Continue Reading →

weely words of encouragement

You Are A Sibling Of Jesus – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35, ESV). Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, and someone told Jesus about it. Despite the powerful bonds that families had in ancient times Jesus reduces the significance of family bonds in comparison to one’s bond with God through Jesus. Anyone can be a sibling of Jesus! One reason this is encouraging to many is that even if your family was dysfunctional or destructive, the family of God is far more important and valuable. This leads us to the biggest reason that this verse is encouraging: we have the privilege of being “relatives” of Jesus! If we do God’s will we are his brother and sister and mother. Consider Romans 8:29: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he Continue Reading →

inordinate affections, harmful desires attchments

The Trap Of Harmful Desires

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Imitation of Christ – Chapter Six. Harmful Desires. When someone has exorbitant love for something other than God or people it makes them restless. Harmful desires and attachments make someone weak when temptation comes. This carnal person has not died to self and their harmful desires and attachments. Their spirit is weak and they keep looking for worldly pleasure. When they deprive themself of the objects of their harmful desires they become sad and irritable. And when they give in to these unhealthy affections they feel guilty. They also realize they aren’t truly satisfied and didn’t find peace. These harmful desires and attachments keep one from becoming like Christ. Many believers don’t grow because they have so much love for things or themselves. Some of these are fine in moderation, but their hearts are so attached that they prevent them from fully loving God. They wonder why they don’t feel Continue Reading →

weely words of encouragement

We Live In God’s Kingdom Forever – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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Over and over again in the Old Testament the prophets predicted that God would bring his kingdom of peace, love and holiness to earth. God would eliminate everything that was ungodly or destructive. This kingdom would be led by a Messiah and God’s people could live in God’s kingdom forever. The Jews waited hundreds of years after the prophets for God’s kingdom to come; the coming of God’s kingdom would be the arrival of utopia, so naturally, devout Jews constantly yearned for the kingdom. Finally, Jesus announced that the time of waiting was over. He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15, NIV). The kingdom of God had now arrived. But it didn’t come in its fullness because God wanted to allow for an overlapping time when the kingdom was hidden, but those who would believe would live in God’s kingdom forever. Continue Reading →