Aug 19, 2016
God has angels, why does he not use them for His work instead of man?
In Pastor Damian Kyle’s message “The Fall of a Great Man” from the series “The Making of a Psalmist” he asks this question and also answers it.
Damian Kyle is focusing on the time in David’s life where he falls into sin with Bathsheba. Now there isn’t any way we as humans can be perfect. Sin will always find a way to express itself but Damian Kyle said that when we are occupied with doing the Lord’s work, we are less likely to fall into sin. That would be one of the reasons why we are chosen to do God’s work.
Even when we do fall into sin, He gives us the victory in trials. He picks us up and tells us to try again. Being in God’s will, might be hard but being outside of His will, would be even harder. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10. We are God’s masterpiece, Christ has restored us to Himself and we are now holy and blameless in His sight. “Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without fault.” Colossians 1:22
This brought a new question into my mind; why wouldn’t God use us for His work? Without the perfection of Christ I am nothing. Because I am incapable of living a perfect life I need the application of the righteousness of Christ.
When Christ came to die, His joy was set before Him and that joy was me. In His eyes, we are nothing less than perfect. “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the world of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised from the dead.” Ephesians 2:1-2, 4-5a
—School of Discipleship student
School of Discipleship CA
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Jun 24, 2016
It seems the storm around us is always raging which in this case would be translated into trials. Lately the Lord has been teaching me about fighting battles. I have been finding encouragement from 2 Chronicles 20:15-17. My most common way of battling against my struggles in life is to worry and over process these things in my mind. Once the enemy has gotten me with worry he then proceeds to attack me with discouragement which is one of the enemy’s most successful ways of prying into our hearts. One day after the passage in 2 Chronicles was shared with me by a friend it really caught my attention and even more so after I went to read it for myself. King Jehoshaphat was instructed to not be discouraged, because the battle didn’t belong to him but to God. All he was supposed to do was to go out the next day, take his position and watch God take the battle.
At the same time as I read 2 Chronicles 20 I had been reading through 1 Samuel 14.
In verse 10 Jonathan say that if they are called by the Philistines to come up and fight and that it would be a sign that the Lord would help them defeat the Philistines. The Lord showed me how this can be true for me today. Even though my battles may not be an army of men, whatever it may be, health, battles of the mind, the Lord is ready to help defeat the army. The Lord desires for me to hand the battles in my life over to Him and there is no other way for me to find victory. With this I was so encouraged to know that no matter what comes my way it’s not my battle, its God’s.
—School of Discipleship student
School of Discipleship CA
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Apr 14, 2016
One thing I have realized is that the Christian life is an uphill climb. It’s not easy and I never was promised an easy life. But don’t get me wrong, it’s worth it. It is through trials that we are made steadfast. I have slowly been learning this and I am realizing more and more that blessings are received through trial. Through my trials the Lord is strengthening me and making me more like Him. Trials are fruitful soil. I have been learning to be content and joyful through trials and struggles. It is through the trying times that my Godly character can shine through and through this I can be an example to others. When we persevere to the end there is a reward that awaits us in Heaven.
James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
—School of Discipleship student
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Mar 28, 2016
Just a few weeks ago, I heard the song of a robin for the first time this year and I saw new life beginning to poke out of the ground. It just amazes me how God created His masterpiece so perfectly. How is it that plants, know when it is safe to poke their little heads out of the earth, or hibernating animals know when to wake up from their winter sleep? Or, how about the thought: of how birds know when it is time to come to their summer home.
Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”
Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind-livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened.
God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
—Genesis 1: 20, 24-25
As I ponder this season of new life I also can’t help but be in awe of the New Life we are offered through the suffering of our Lord and Saviour. How precious this gift is and how He delights to give it to His children.
Let’s embrace this promise given to us!
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”
—John 10:10
—School of Discipleship student
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Sep 29, 2015
It appears to be mid-September already! That is the 8th month of the Discipleship program and I find myself asking the question “where has the time gone?”
Christmas is coming, graduation is just around the corner and it feels like I just got here. However I do feel like I have learned so much in the past 8 month despite it feeling so short. Through many trials the Lord has always remained faithful and in times of need God has been my great provision. Through this my love for Christ has really grown.
I praise the Lord that He called me to School of Discipleship. Here I have gained another family, have learned and continue to learn to live as a true disciple as well as have had many fun events and activities.
With only 3 months left I look forward to what the Lord will all teach me yet in my time here. I already can say that this is a year that has changed me forever and I will never forget.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
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