𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

Originally at Antioch, the word Christian was used as a derogatory term. It’s widely speculated that local, non believing Greeks or Romans first used it (Acts 11:26), to describe the new sect of locals who were disrupting social order and challenging people’s comfort. I’d imagine they’d see Paul or Barnabas walking down the road again and again, and scoff, cursing the word “Christianos” with disdain. It’d be about 20 more years before Peter would use the word again (as scripture, inspired by God), this time vindicating it, and them, in 4:16 - Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. It was approximately 60AD and Christians were being persecuted by then, names we’ll never know, but faces we’ll see one day. Peter is essentially saying, ‘Yes, they call you a Christian, and now you suffer for it, but don’t be ashamed in the name or the suffering; glorify Him in it.’ Amen, brother.

18 hours ago (edited) | [YT] | 41

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

19 hours ago | [YT] | 77

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

1 day ago | [YT] | 71

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

Many miss this point: the gospel is meant to be offensive. That’s why a sugar coated gospel is powerless to its hearer. The gospel is designed to confront the areas of our hearts that rebel against God, and that confrontation “feels”offensive, especially at first, and it should. That offense presents a choice: burn your nets and immediately follow Jesus, or turn back to the world and create a version of Jesus who tolerates compromise. The gospel should offend. A faithful preacher will offend. A true disciple will not soften the truth to avoid offense. We’re all learning, praise God for His grace, but this right here is the dividing line: when our desire to please others or ourselves becomes greater than our desire to please God, so much so that we begin preaching an inoffensive gospel, this is where the slow drift into false teaching begins.

2 days ago | [YT] | 243

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

Don’t judge yourself harshly. Don’t underestimate Gods work through you. Don’t compare. Stop rehearsing the imperfections. Don’t slow down to mope. Don’t try to figure it all out. Don’t worry, nothing will look the same by Spring.

Don’t stop, soldier.

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

Job’s account is of someone with sincere faith, still mixed with fear and human understanding, whom God led through a process in order to restore not just his possessions, but his faith itself. Job’s transformation is tantamount to his restoration, and his repentance in 42 is still so humbling to us today.

Job didn’t simply lose things and get them back. He was brought through suffering, questioning, humbling, and surrender so that his relationship with God could deepen and mature. God wasn’t after external restoration alone, He was after internal transformation.

Does this sound familiar?

Job went from manifesting his fears over himself (3:25) to submitting to God and coming to know Him more deeply and personally. What happened to him was devastating. Yet his restoration couldn’t have been maintained by his former faith, which -though sincere- was still mixed with worry and fear.

Job spends chapters going back and forth with God, questioning, reasoning, and trying to understand what was happening, only to realize how foolish he had become in trying to explain or manage God. In chapter 42, he humbles himself and confesses, “I know so little, and You know all, Lord.” And it’s only then -and after he blesses and prays for the friends who had mistakenly mistreated him- that God begins to restore him.

Restoration is a process, and it won’t look how you expect.

Jobs restoration wasn’t one big windfall. It takes time to build new businesses, to create new relationships, and time for children to be born and grow. Healing, stability, and joy don’t happen overnight.

The way to block restoration with a quickness: Refusing to humble oneself and repent like Job in 42. Becoming weary and then bitter. Falling away. The way to stay aligned with the Spirit: Humble yourself before God. Remind yourself who He was in the word and who He is to you. Restoration is God’s work, but it’s time for many to walk into their Job Chapter 42: Surrender. Repent. Restoration.

We can never fully know what God is up to, but like God so amazingly and clearly made known to Job, He has everything under control.

———

“I Babbled On About Things Far Beyond Me”

Job 42 1-6 (MSG)
Job answered God:
“I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything.
Nothing and no one can upset your plans.
You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water,
ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
made small talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking.
Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’
I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise!
I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.”

4 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 213

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

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