IBS
The fining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD trieth the hearts. Proverbs 17:3
So ignite for me seems to have ignited the furnace im in cuz it feels like I've been in a furnace and it does not feel great and I'm bummed for you guys cuz I don't want to be a downer and I want to make you all happy and encouraged and loved but I'm in a furnace so it's hard but later I'll be gold so that's exciting actually when I look at it like that. Also 1 Peter 4:12-13 says "beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice inasmuch ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." which is also exciting and gives me a better perspective and is comforting
Application
Endure through faith and patience
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Monday, April 3, 2017
Ibs phillipians 3:8
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."
I'm not sure but I think Paul is saying here that everything is dung compared to Christ, this is true. A study was done back in the day, ppl gave kids a marshmallow and told them if they could go a certain amount of time without eating the marshmallow they would get more marshmallows at the end of the time, the study followed the kids through their lives and concluded that the ones who waited were more successful in life. What I'm trying to say here is that it's just a better idea to wait and get the extra marshmallows later; suffer the loss of immediate gratification, that you may win the delayed gratification of more marshmallows later. To be more clear, lose the things that keep you from deeper fellowship with Christ.
Application
There's a marshmallow on the table of my heart, but through prayer, wise counsel, and discipline, I will not eat it, I will wait for God's marshmallows, God's blessings of knowing Him more and anything else He has for me
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."
I'm not sure but I think Paul is saying here that everything is dung compared to Christ, this is true. A study was done back in the day, ppl gave kids a marshmallow and told them if they could go a certain amount of time without eating the marshmallow they would get more marshmallows at the end of the time, the study followed the kids through their lives and concluded that the ones who waited were more successful in life. What I'm trying to say here is that it's just a better idea to wait and get the extra marshmallows later; suffer the loss of immediate gratification, that you may win the delayed gratification of more marshmallows later. To be more clear, lose the things that keep you from deeper fellowship with Christ.
Application
There's a marshmallow on the table of my heart, but through prayer, wise counsel, and discipline, I will not eat it, I will wait for God's marshmallows, God's blessings of knowing Him more and anything else He has for me
IBS Luke 2:46 "and it came to pass, that after 3 days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."
"Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war." Proverbs 20:18, "for by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety" proverbs 24:6, "be quick to hear and slow to speak" it says somewhere else. These are just a few of the many many verses that say we should ask questions and listen, but besides all of those, If Jesus, God with us, asked questions and listened to people, we should ask questions and listen to people. It is not humble to assume you are right about something, so practically that looks like asking other people questions and listening to them and considering what they say. I don't understand how the whole 100% man 100% God thing works out, but I know it is true, and I know that God in human flesh asked human beings questions and listened to them, how much more should I, Anthony, 1 semester community college drop out, don't know how to do anything, speck of dust in the universe, ask people questions and listen to them? Oh another thing I think we can take out of this is we should preoccupy ourselves with seeking truth and the things of God, as Jesus did. If we love the truth we will ask questions and seek the truth, not just assume we know the truth or not care about the truth. Jesus was a student, God studied, so should we.
Application
I'm going to ask Jordan questions tonight about spiritual stuff, maybe field time idk, also ask my teammates what I should ask him
"Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war." Proverbs 20:18, "for by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety" proverbs 24:6, "be quick to hear and slow to speak" it says somewhere else. These are just a few of the many many verses that say we should ask questions and listen, but besides all of those, If Jesus, God with us, asked questions and listened to people, we should ask questions and listen to people. It is not humble to assume you are right about something, so practically that looks like asking other people questions and listening to them and considering what they say. I don't understand how the whole 100% man 100% God thing works out, but I know it is true, and I know that God in human flesh asked human beings questions and listened to them, how much more should I, Anthony, 1 semester community college drop out, don't know how to do anything, speck of dust in the universe, ask people questions and listen to them? Oh another thing I think we can take out of this is we should preoccupy ourselves with seeking truth and the things of God, as Jesus did. If we love the truth we will ask questions and seek the truth, not just assume we know the truth or not care about the truth. Jesus was a student, God studied, so should we.
Application
I'm going to ask Jordan questions tonight about spiritual stuff, maybe field time idk, also ask my teammates what I should ask him
IBS "give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." Proverbs 9:9
True. I don't even know what to write, last week of training, God has given me a lot of instruction during this time. In the proverbs their are two kinds of people the foolish and the wise, the wicked and the righteous, so like as christians we're always trying to be humble and all that so we will say things like we are fools and wicked rather than saying we are wise and righteous, but that is not entirely true, our old man, our flesh, is foolish and wicked, but the new man is wise and righteous. So often I have this fake humility where I just put myself down, calling myself foolish and wicked, my flesh is that, but I am a new creation, he who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God, we were once darkness but now are we light in the Lord, this is a bit unorganized but I'm just trying to get something out so I'm writing everything that comes to mind. With all that said, I can confidently say this applies to me, not that I always walk in wisdom, I mostly don't, but in the end, in the big picture I am wise and righteous because of what Christ has done for me, I am his workmanship, my Father ain't raise no fool. So yeah I will increase in those things cuz Jesus. Praise the Lord
True. I don't even know what to write, last week of training, God has given me a lot of instruction during this time. In the proverbs their are two kinds of people the foolish and the wise, the wicked and the righteous, so like as christians we're always trying to be humble and all that so we will say things like we are fools and wicked rather than saying we are wise and righteous, but that is not entirely true, our old man, our flesh, is foolish and wicked, but the new man is wise and righteous. So often I have this fake humility where I just put myself down, calling myself foolish and wicked, my flesh is that, but I am a new creation, he who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God, we were once darkness but now are we light in the Lord, this is a bit unorganized but I'm just trying to get something out so I'm writing everything that comes to mind. With all that said, I can confidently say this applies to me, not that I always walk in wisdom, I mostly don't, but in the end, in the big picture I am wise and righteous because of what Christ has done for me, I am his workmanship, my Father ain't raise no fool. So yeah I will increase in those things cuz Jesus. Praise the Lord
IBS mark 4:10-11 "and when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables"
"Ask and you shall receive seek and you shall find", unto these it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, ask about the things of God, seek Him with your whole heart and you will find him. Austin has often told me about how the disciples were those who after the initial message or teaching would come to Jesus and ask about it. I make everything so difficult, looking everywhere for answers except to the one who actually has the answers, I don't know why, it's like a disease or something, it's like spiritual retardation. The crowds would come to Jesus for food or healing but ultimately for joy, which is all anyone ever seeks, and when they did not immediately receive what they wanted in the form they thought they wanted it they left and returned to their everyday lives of seeking whatever in all the wrong places. I do the same thing so often, the correct way is to come to Him, ask, wait, receive, give thanks and praise. It really is as simple as it seems
"Ask and you shall receive seek and you shall find", unto these it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, ask about the things of God, seek Him with your whole heart and you will find him. Austin has often told me about how the disciples were those who after the initial message or teaching would come to Jesus and ask about it. I make everything so difficult, looking everywhere for answers except to the one who actually has the answers, I don't know why, it's like a disease or something, it's like spiritual retardation. The crowds would come to Jesus for food or healing but ultimately for joy, which is all anyone ever seeks, and when they did not immediately receive what they wanted in the form they thought they wanted it they left and returned to their everyday lives of seeking whatever in all the wrong places. I do the same thing so often, the correct way is to come to Him, ask, wait, receive, give thanks and praise. It really is as simple as it seems
IBS 2 Samuel 11:11-13
"And Uriah said unto David, the ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. And David said to Uriah, tarry here today also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abide in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house."
If someone in authority told me I could go home for a week or so to relax and leave my team here in Guatemala to continue studying and going on outreaches, I would not, I wouldn't even consider it. We are, like Uriah, soldiers, and we are at war, as christians and also as ignite class 12. That example is not likely to happen, however many Christians today in the United States live a soft cushy seemingly comfortable life of leisure, spending their lives playing games and buying toys, supposing grace allows for this, it does not. I'm not saying we should all go out and street preach or go to Somalia and become martyrs, but we should be where Christ is, seeking to save the lost and obeying the will of the father, whether that is in Somalia or in New York simply running your corner bodega in as godly a manner as you can. Christ will return at any time, if you have set your hand to the plow do not look back. Also if you find yourself sinning do not use that as an excuse to go farther into sin, but do what is right, as Uriah did.
Application
If Austin says I can go home for a week while my team is still on the field or in training I will not. But also I will watch and pray that I do not fall into lazy physical comfort seeking so called Christianity
"And Uriah said unto David, the ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. And David said to Uriah, tarry here today also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abide in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house."
If someone in authority told me I could go home for a week or so to relax and leave my team here in Guatemala to continue studying and going on outreaches, I would not, I wouldn't even consider it. We are, like Uriah, soldiers, and we are at war, as christians and also as ignite class 12. That example is not likely to happen, however many Christians today in the United States live a soft cushy seemingly comfortable life of leisure, spending their lives playing games and buying toys, supposing grace allows for this, it does not. I'm not saying we should all go out and street preach or go to Somalia and become martyrs, but we should be where Christ is, seeking to save the lost and obeying the will of the father, whether that is in Somalia or in New York simply running your corner bodega in as godly a manner as you can. Christ will return at any time, if you have set your hand to the plow do not look back. Also if you find yourself sinning do not use that as an excuse to go farther into sin, but do what is right, as Uriah did.
Application
If Austin says I can go home for a week while my team is still on the field or in training I will not. But also I will watch and pray that I do not fall into lazy physical comfort seeking so called Christianity
IBS
"for bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
So one day our bodies are going to be decomposing in the ground so all the effort we put into building up our bodies is not going to last, but our Spirit will live for ever so we ought to build that up instead. Not that we shouldn't exercise our bodies, but it only profits a little. Actually Now that I'm thinking about it and am looking at the context I don't think Paul is writing about working out, and that that assumption might just be me presupposing my own experiences and culture into the text, but I think he's talking about outward actions in general, particularly ones having to do with spiritual progress. In verse 3 he writes about those that will depart from the faith in the future, who will tell others not to marry and to obstain from certain foods, which are outward practices, bodily exercises that profit only a little
I think it was Augustine who once said "what good is it to abstain from wine when one is intoxicated with anger" abstaining from wine is a bodily exercise and is profitable for sure, but anger has to do with the inner man, with our Spirit, it is much more profitable to abstain from anger than from wine. Drinking wine becomes unprofitable when it affects our inner man, when it causes us to lust or be angry. So sure abstain from wine or relationships or foods or whatever, it will help some, but most importantly exercise yourself to be godly, which consists at first in the invisible world of thoughts and feelings. The Pharisees were all bodily exercise and no godliness. Jesus said not only to not commit adultery physically but equally as important to not commit adultery in your heart. Godliness has to do I think with character. So yeah I think he's just tryna say we ought to "look not at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen, for the things that are seen are temporary but the things that are not seen are eternal"
Application
I'm not going to look at outward obedience or bodily exercise as success, simply not acting on my wrong desires, but I will seek godliness by having the correct heart, by not giving in to wrong things in my heart, I will do this by prayer and depending on God, coming to Him empty handed and unable
"for bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
So one day our bodies are going to be decomposing in the ground so all the effort we put into building up our bodies is not going to last, but our Spirit will live for ever so we ought to build that up instead. Not that we shouldn't exercise our bodies, but it only profits a little. Actually Now that I'm thinking about it and am looking at the context I don't think Paul is writing about working out, and that that assumption might just be me presupposing my own experiences and culture into the text, but I think he's talking about outward actions in general, particularly ones having to do with spiritual progress. In verse 3 he writes about those that will depart from the faith in the future, who will tell others not to marry and to obstain from certain foods, which are outward practices, bodily exercises that profit only a little
I think it was Augustine who once said "what good is it to abstain from wine when one is intoxicated with anger" abstaining from wine is a bodily exercise and is profitable for sure, but anger has to do with the inner man, with our Spirit, it is much more profitable to abstain from anger than from wine. Drinking wine becomes unprofitable when it affects our inner man, when it causes us to lust or be angry. So sure abstain from wine or relationships or foods or whatever, it will help some, but most importantly exercise yourself to be godly, which consists at first in the invisible world of thoughts and feelings. The Pharisees were all bodily exercise and no godliness. Jesus said not only to not commit adultery physically but equally as important to not commit adultery in your heart. Godliness has to do I think with character. So yeah I think he's just tryna say we ought to "look not at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen, for the things that are seen are temporary but the things that are not seen are eternal"
Application
I'm not going to look at outward obedience or bodily exercise as success, simply not acting on my wrong desires, but I will seek godliness by having the correct heart, by not giving in to wrong things in my heart, I will do this by prayer and depending on God, coming to Him empty handed and unable
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