fruit of the Spirit

Episode 98

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Disciple Up #98
Wounded By the Church, Pt. 2
By Louie Marsh, 3- 6-2019

Very common problem –

My Personal Story: Don’t focus on blame – focus on responsibility and YOUR responsibility in particular. Get on with fixing that instead of futilely trying to fix blame – let God do that.

DO NOT buy into the Victim Culture! – Rom. 8:37 “…we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us…”

Three Don’ts:

  • Don’t DEMAND MY (OR OTHER’S) rights
  • Don’t focus on WHAT I’VE LOST
  • Don’t let my ANGER OR PAIN drive me

14  Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15  See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Hebrews 12:14-15 (ESV)

Three Do’s:

  • Focus on WHOSE you are.

1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

Whose am I? My self? My family’s? My culture’s? Or JESUS’?? 

You know what the right answer should be to that question. What you need to do now is to find out if the REAL answer and the RIGHT answer are the SAME answer!

  7  For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8  If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8 (NIV)

  • Focus on OBEYING God’s Call.

18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

2  to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3  to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. 4  They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Isaiah 61:2-4 (ESV)

God’s Call on All Disciples: To Proclaim…

  • The Good News
  • Liberty to the Captives
  • Sight for the blind
  • The Lord’s Favor & Judgment
  • To comfort those who mourn
  • To strengthen them to maturity
  • To restore what has been devastated

3  Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Hebrews 12:3-4 (ESV)

You have to keep working for the Lord through this process. He will bring healing and understanding to you through the work you do for him.

 Right now there are people here who aren’t doing anything and others who are doing far too many things. Those of you not really engaged need to step up to those doing too much and say, “Hey, I’ll take that.”

 Please Get In Touch!

Email – louie@discipleup.org

 


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Episode 97

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Disciple Up #97
Wounded By the Church, Pt 1
By Louie Marsh, 2-27-2019

Very common problem –

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/february/wounded-church-harvest-bible-chapel-elders-resign-mars-hill.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/03/08/amid-a-wave-of-church-hurt-one-boston-pastor-tries-to-repair-christians-relationship-with-god/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.baf5369876bf

My Personal Story: Don’t focus on blame – focus on responsibility and YOUR responsibility in particular. Get on with fixing that instead of futilely trying to fix blame – let God do that.

 The CCR Story and My Response

Restoration: Rising From the Ruins Again

Remember Whose You Are

By Louie Marsh, April 14th, 2013

Christ’s Church on the River, Parker AZ

Three Don’ts:

  • Don’t DEMAND MY (OR OTHER’S) rights

38  “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39  But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40  And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41  And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42  Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:38-45 (ESV)

This runs against our fallen human nature. We want things to be “right” or “fair,” and can easily justify fighting for that. TALK ABOUT MY “RIGHTS” FROM 2 YEARS AGO, AND MY DECISION NOT TO PURSUE THEM.  But what does God say?

19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21 (ESV)

When I fight for my rights or others, I am pushing God aside and in effect saying, “I got this Lord, don’t worry about it.” But Scripture says we are to leave this to God, for only God knows what is ultimately right and He and He alone is the one judge.

34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34 (ESV)

This is the ultimate example of not fighting for your rights. Here is the great act of evil ever committed on planet earth.  How does Jesus respond? Not by claiming his rights, but by in effect saying, “Father, release these people from the consequences of their actions. No consequences Father, just another chance for them to get right with you.”

Don’t focus on WHAT I’VE LOST

19  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)

I lost my job, possibly my career, many friends, my house.  And that struggle became a revelation when I realized what it showed was not how bad they were, but that my heart was in the wrong place.

 Please Get In Touch!

Email – louie@discipleup.org

 


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Episode 96

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Disciple Up # 96
The Gifts & Being Filled with the Spirit
By Louie Marsh, 2-20-2019

Cognitive Dissonance

What is the Relationship Between the Gift of the Spirit and being Filled with the Spirit?

4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 (ESV)

1  Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2  And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3  Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. Acts 6:1-3 (ESV)

15  who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16  for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17  Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19  saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:15-19 (ESV)

44  While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45  And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46  For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, Acts 10:44-46 (ESV)

4  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV)

11  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12:11 (ESV)

Fake Bible Verses From Politicians:

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/speaker-pelosi-called-out-for-repeatedly-using-fake-bible-verse

James McDonald Fired:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/february/james-macdonald-fired-harvest-bible-chapel.html

 Please Get In Touch!Email – louie@discipleup.org

 


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Episode 60

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Disciple Up # 60
Fruit of the Spirit #4 – Patience
By Louie Marsh, 6-13-2018

Welcome to the Disciple Empowering Podcast!

Quotes On Patience:

“There is nothing which so certifies the genuineness of a man’s faith as his patience and his patient endurance, his keeping on steadily in spite of everything.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“A blessed spirit is a mould ever more and more patient of the bright metal poured into it, a body ever more completely uncovered to the meridian blaze of the spiritual sun.” -C.S. Lewis

“If I have made any improvement in the sciences, it is owing more to patient attention than to anything beside.” – Isaac Newton

“There is no love of God without patience, and no patience without lowliness and sweetness of spirit.” – John Wesley

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” – Augustine

1) When I lose my peace then I need PATIENCE

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, …Galatians 5:22 (ESV)

  • From two words μακρός, LONG   & θυμός, SOUL

 Old versions translate it “Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger,

  • I can be patient when I rely on GOD’S MERCY.

6  The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, Exodus 34:6 (ESV)

20  because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 1 Peter 3:20 (ESV)

2) This fruit keeps me from QUITTING MY MINISTRY.

  • Without patience I will FAIL TO ENDURE to the end.

 3  remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV)

22  and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22 (ESV)

  • Patience is necessity if I am to fulfill my MINISTRY

14  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (ESV)

The Disciple Up Low Down on the Importance of Patience

3) How should I HANDLE my anger?

25  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27  and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:25-27 (ESV)

  • Speak the truth lovingly without regard to the CONSEQUENCES

15  but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; Ephesians 4:15 (ASV)

Don’t be afraid of people getting angry with you – don’t give into the fear of men.

14  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 1 Peter 3:14 (ESV)

  • RECOGNIZE the power of anger.

5  And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Mark 3:5 (ESV)

  • UNDERSTAND it’s not always sinful to be angry.

14  In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15  And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16  And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17  His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” John 2:14-17 (ESV)

  • Deal with my anger quickly.

17  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19 (ESV)

 Please Get In Touch!Email – louie@discipleup.org

 


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