tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1734013228075463782024-03-19T04:36:37.938-04:00Mark Maulding's BlogRevealing God's Best-Kept Secret
President and Founder,
Grace Life International
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-87238561194171333962016-07-27T21:39:00.001-04:002019-05-01T20:52:18.160-04:00How to Uncover Satan's Lie about Your Identity When You've Been Offended<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the most damaging results of being offended by someone is the message Satan slips into our minds about our identity through what the other person did </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">or said</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">. Satan is our sworn enemy, taking advantage of any opportunity he can to fulfill his mission as recorded in John</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_56603504" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204 , 204 , 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-size: x-large; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:10</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">, to</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">"<em>kill, steal and destroy.</em>"</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the end of the verse Jesus tells us the good news that</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">He</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">came to defeat Satan's</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">plan</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">with His own mission.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">He said,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">"<em>I came that they may have life and have it abundantly"</em>(NASB).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Satan is relentless. He will not stop coming at you until you are dead. Until that day, it's on! Yet, we don't need to be afraid. Rather, we need to be equipped to stop him and to foil his plans towards us. That is why Scripture tells us this about thebattle. <em>Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. </em>(1Peter 5:8 NLT). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We are also told that we can become aware of the strategies and schemes Satan throws at us and everyone else, so that Satan will not outsmart us, for we are familiar with his evil schemes. (2 Corinthians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_56603505" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:11</span></span> NLT) Though he is a deceiver, his strategies and schemes are the same ones he uses over and over. In other words, he is predictable, and God can help us understand what to look for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is certainly true in the area of being offended. When we are offended we may feel hurt, angry, bitter, resentful and more. Satan's strategy is to get us stuck in these emotions and sins. God's remedy to defeat Satan, as we've been discussing the past few weeks, is to Biblically forgive the offender for their offense,and to confess any sin of bitterness we may have towards them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Let me say a few more things about forgiveness before I go any further about the attack on our identity. Forgiveness is not saying that what the person did was OK. It's saying it was not OK, but you are not going to allow that person to keep hurting you by not forgiving them. With that in mind, you may have wondered, "What do I do if someone keeps doing the same hurtful sin towards me? Do I just take it and keep forgiving them?" Jesus says, "No," and gives a three step process to deal with it in Matthew 18:15-17. You can also pray for God to break the stronghold that is causing the person to hurt you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now back to our main topic. Another scheme of Satan is to put a lie in our minds about our identity when we are offended. Don't be surprised if this lie is the same lie you have heard many other times in your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is an example of this. A little boy grew up with his dad never telling him that he loved him but rather criticizing him for everything he did. When he became an adult, he found himself extremely sensitive to any kind of correction from his boss to the point that he would become depressed for days. When he finally forgave his dad, he asked his Heavenly Dad what the lie was. He said, "The lie is this: You are inadequate and therefore unlovable. I gave my Son, Jesus, for you personally, showing how valuable you are to me. You are complete in me and are deeply loved."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri";">Agreeing with God about you defeats the lies the enemy continues to serve up to you! We are told in James 4:7 (first)<em>"</em></span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri;">Submit yourselves to God,</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri";"> (then) </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri;">Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-65454951353650798822016-07-20T22:33:00.001-04:002016-07-20T22:33:27.547-04:00How Confessing Bitterness as Sin Provides Deeper Freedom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A few years ago, a very good friend of mine came to me with a deep struggle. He lived a godly life as he daily tapped into the life-giving grace we all possess in Christ. His problem was that he had legitimately forgiven some people who had beaten him down with with a flurry of hurtful blows from gossip and lies. Yet, his soul was still weighed down with a heaviness he just couldn't put his finger on. My heart definitely went out to him, but I knew he needed more than compassion. He needed God's truth if he was going to be free from this struggle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Holy Spirit had actually been giving me a deeper understanding about bitterness and resentment in my own life just a few weeks before. That is often what He does, isn't it? He shows us the way to freedom so we can help others with a similar struggle, just like 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I told him I thought I knew what his problem was and that God was about to remove this weight from his soul. First, I double checked to make certain he had told his Father two things: all of the things these people had said about him; how each sin against him had made him feel. Next, I asked him if he had released each person from the debt they owed him. Then, I went for what I thought was his real issue. I asked him if he had confessed his sin of bitterness to the Lord. He acted a little surprised at my inquiry but then sheepishly had to admit he had not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Before I go any further, I think I need to communicate some important truths about confession of sin. (Confession means to tell God any sin He shows us and then to repent of it, meaning we turn to Jesus and ask Him to live through us as our only hope of not repeating that sin.) There are two errors we can fall into in this part of our relationship with God. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1. We can confess our sins believing we get more forgiveness from God. In proclaiming that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ in Ephesians 1:3, God includes our complete forgiveness for all past, present and future sins in the following list of those blessings in Ephesians 1:7. <i>In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. The other error we can fall into is believing that because of our complete forgiveness, we have no need to confess our sins to God ever. Sometimes, one of the great challenges we have in our counseling is getting people to take responsibility for particular sins which are a part of their fleshly strategies for living.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, back to my counseling session with my friend. He was willing to live from his identity in Christ as a child of God, who is being corrected by His loving heavenly Father, and confess his bitterness as sin. He wanted to pray out loud with me as a friend, and he did just that. At the end, he thanked God that Jesus had already forgiven him on the cross for his bitterness then said, "Amen."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The moment he opened his eyes, he blurted out, "That is amazing! It's gone! The weight of the struggle inside me is gone. I feel free and at peace."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Where are you today? Maybe you read my blog last week and spent some serious time forgiving people who have wounded you. But did you deal with your own bitterness? It could be bitterness towards some people, yourself or even God. Did you take that to the Lord as well? If not, let me encourage you to take just a moment and pray right now whether you are at home, at work or anywhere else. Tell your Father you have held bitterness inside and that you are ready to get rid of it. Tell Him that you now realize that your bitterness is sin. Tell Him you are confident Jesus died for your sin of bitterness and affirm His forgiveness for it. Finally, turn to Christ in you and ask Him to live through you since He is our only hope for not trafficking in the dark world of bitterness again. My prayer is that this lifts a weight off of your soul that you may have carried for along time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-11273545907357651632016-07-14T11:03:00.000-04:002016-07-14T11:03:42.631-04:00Why Do We Need to Forgive Those Who Hurt Us the Most?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Many of you may not know that one of my four children has Down syndrome. Her name is Bekah, and today she is 25. Bekah went to public school in elementary and middle school and was in normal classes and had lots of friends. Later, she attended college.</div>
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Many years ago, Bekah wanted to try out for</div>
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cheer leading. My wife and I were amazed at how she learned the routines - jumping in the air, doing splits, and yelling out the cheers. Unfortunately, she did not make the team which was very disappointing for her and us. She had a really hard time understanding that she could no longer cheer with the other girls.</div>
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Soon afterwards, we received a letter from the coach explaining Bekah was not cut from the team because of her disability but because...she kicked, hit, yelled and cussed while in line with the other girls. We were stunned, no shocked, because Bekah had never exhibited any of those behaviors ever in any situation. </div>
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At a sleepover a few weeks later, which Bekah hosted in our home, several of the girls who had made the team asked my wife why Bekah had not made the team. My wife gently told them about the letter. They all immediately cried out, "Ms. Ellen, that's not true at all. Bekah didn't do any of those things. In fact, she did great in the tryouts." Ellen called for me and asked me to come hear what the girls were saying. They repeated it all again.</div>
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This person had not only lied but had impugned Bekah's character and we were angry! What had been done to our daughter was dastardly. The question afterwards was, "What are we going to do about this?" We knew we could not pull these girls into a dispute with this coach. So, we had no recourse. This coach had hurt a person who could not speak up for herself due to her disability and there was nothing we could do about it...except forgive. </div>
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Did this person deserve to be forgiven? Absolutely not. But we were not going to allow a root of bitterness to grow within us that Hebrews 12:15 warns about. We were not about to give this person power over our lives. We were not about to give Satan power over us. Was it easy? No! Everything in us cried out for justice but there was none to be had.</div>
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So, we trusted Christ in us, the greatest "forgiver" of all time, to live through us so we could forgive. We wanted to live like who we are in Christ, "forgivers", in obedience from the love in our hearts for our Father. We wanted to "forgive one another just as God had forgiven us in Christ" (Ephesians 4:32) So, we sat before the Lord and poured out to Him our anger, our hurt, and our desire for justice. Then, because God had forgiven us for all our sins we did not deserve to be forgiven for, we forgave this person; meaning, we released the person from the debt we believe they owed us. In this case, the debt would have been an admission to us and especially to Bekah of the wrong they had done. </div>
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A few weeks later, would you believe that we saw this person at a church we were visiting? We were both so glad we had been honest with God about the hurts we received from the offense and then chose to forgive. We live free today from bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness. Praise God!</div>
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How about you? Do you have someone in you life who doesn't deserve to be forgiven? Don't give them or Satan power over your life? Don't live in the prison of unforgiveness. Live like who you are in Christ and forgive. I believe you will agree that Jesus has forgiven us for a lot more sins in our lives than any of us can comprehend. Besides, unforgiveness goes against our new nature.</div>
<br />Don't allow Satan to use your feelings against you and wait until you feel like forgiving. If so, you will never forgive. Do it by faith,not feelings. Go before God and tell Him everything that person did. Tell Him everything you feel about that person and event(s). Then tell Him that just as you did not deserve to be forgiven by Him for your sins, this person doesn't deserve your forgiveness. Tell Him that you choose to release them from what they owe you. Then ask the Lord to heal you. It may take some time for your emotions to catch up with your choice to forgive but they eventually will. Let us know if you get stuck and need help from one of our wonderful discipleship counselors. Remember, forgiveness is a gift FOR US from Father to live more freely in Christ!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-63377509368181302542016-07-06T20:14:00.001-04:002016-07-06T20:14:20.798-04:006 Primary Stages in Our Spiritual Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">How do you know where you are in your spiritual journey? The following is what I see in Scripture, as well as what the staff of Grace Life International and I have observed in our counseling with hundreds and hundreds of people for over 20 years. I would love to hear from you what you think of this. Email me and let me know if you think this is helpful. </span></div>
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<span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">STAGES 1-3</span></strong></span></div>
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<span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">You know that Jesus is IMPORTANT to you. You know Him as your Savior and Lord.</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1. <span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Recognition of God</strong></span> - You are starting to believe IN God, believing there really is something bigger than you, but you are not a Christian, yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. <span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Life of Discipleship</strong></span> - You have come to faith in Christ and are beginning to learn more ABOUT God and the Bible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3. <span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Productive Life</strong></span> - You are serving and doing things FOR God, the church and people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>THE WALL</strong></span> - This is a place in your spiritual journey where things stop working in your life for one reason or another. This occurs typically during stage 3 but might start happening in stages 2 or 3. Often, a person is confused, disillusioned, defeated and/or discouraged during this time. Because you have not yet realized that you have been living much of your life for God walking after the flesh, and these patterns must be broken. </span></div>
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<span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">STAGES 4-6</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>You discover that Jesus is also ENOUGH for you. You realize that He is your Life.</strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4. <span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Journey Inward</strong></span> - You begin to understand that there is a new way to live life and to be in a relationship with God, yourself and others. You typically experience God's love in a very substantial way. This stage often involves a time of personal healing and freedom. The Holy Spirit has given you a revelation of Christ in you and your identity in Christ. (See Ephesians 3:14-21)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5. <span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Journey Outward</strong></span> - Your spiritual journey is continuing as you learn to live, serve and love by faith. You are learning to depend on Christ in you to live through you in everyday life. (See Philippians 1:21) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">6. <span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Life of Love</strong></span> - God's love is filling you and pouring out of you in such a way that it is amazing. </span></div>
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<span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Important Truths About These Stages:</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>You cannot jump around initially</strong></span>. There are no shortcuts or workarounds. You don't go from 1 to 4 or 2 to 5. It's a 1-2-3-4-5-6 process; but once you have gone through them you may skip around and revisit certain stages during different times of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>You can get stuck at any of these stages on your journey.</strong></span> At the same time, there are things that you can believe/do to keep moving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>None of these stages are good, bad, right, wrong or better than another.</strong></span> They just are. It's important to remember that we couldn't have gotten to where we are now without the prior stages. Sometimes, we forget that without our stage of learning Scripture, involvement in our church, and working hard to use what God gave us to bless others, we wouldn't be where we are today in our relationship with Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The majority of Christians never grow beyond stages 1-3. These first three stages produce workers in the church, people who sit in the pews and learn, givers, and volunteers who pull the ministry off. Those in stages 4-6 are involved in ministry in the church also, unless they have burned out in stages 1-3. If so, it may take them some time to recover and re-engage in their ministry in their church. Those in stages 4-6 have a much more fruitful ministry than when they were in stages 1-3. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">These are also based on the book, <strong>"The Critical Journey: Stages In The Life Of Faith"</strong> by Janet Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich along with several other articles and books.<span _mce_style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-23631956410851963062016-06-28T21:46:00.001-04:002016-06-28T21:46:46.345-04:00Why You Don't Have a Sinful Nature<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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God uses birth, not behavior or performance, to determine who you are. As a Christ follower, If you have been considering your behavior or performance to come to a conclusion of who you are and you see yourself only through the lens of what you do or don't do, then I have good news for you! Remember! God uses birth, not behavior or performance to determine who you are!</div>
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<span>When you hear, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace," you have often heard it so many times that you probably nod your head in agreement without giving it much thought. However, you cannot find any New Covenant scriptures which proclaim that you are a sinner as a Christ follower. You may say, "What about where Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:15, </span><em>'This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief</em><span>?" If you start reading in verse 9 and then to 17, you will see the larger story he is using to make this statement. He is saying that because he persecuted the church before he met Jesus on the Damascus Road, he is the worst sinner ever, and if God can save a sinner like him, He can save anyone.</span><span><br /></span><span><br /></span><span>When I played basketball in high school, I set a record for the most rebounds ever in the history of the school. A rebound is when you grab the basketball after it hits the backboard or rim and doesn't go in the basket. To my knowledge, I still hold that record a few decades later. Though I have graduated from high school and no longer attend there, would it be a fair statement to say that I am the "chief rebounder" at my high school? Yes, it would be, though I am no longer a part of that school. It is simply a part of my past, just as Paul being the chief of sinners was a part of his past, though he says it in present tense.</span><span><br /></span><span><br /></span><span>Another issue is that you may have been told most of your life that you have two natures as a Christian -- the old nature and the new nature. However, Romans 6:6 is very clear that your old nature</span><span>,</span><span> identified as "sinner," died once and for all on the cross with Jesus. It was put to death and you were given a new nature - Christ's nature.</span><span> (2 Cor. 5:17) </span><em>Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.</em><span><br /></span><span><br /></span><span>One more challenge you may find is that you grew up reading the New International Version Bible. I like it too, except where they translated the word </span><span><i>flesh</i></span><span> as sinful nature. That is very confusing because the old nature is dead and removed. However, God did not remove the flesh from the Christ follower. In addition, the old nature and the flesh are not the same</span><span>. </span><span> So when you see in places like Romans 8 that we are dealing with a sinful nature, it's easy to make the assumption that you have one. To the NIV's credit, the newest version changed 95% of those back to the flesh, which is more accurate.</span><span><br /></span><span><br /></span><span>Rejoice today! Though you and I can certainly act in a sinful way, we do not have a sinful nature. </span></div>
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<span>Scripture states that the battlefield is in the mind. The conflict is between the flesh and the Spirit, not between two natures. (Galatians 5:17) </span><em>For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. </em><span>(The definition for the flesh is behavior influenced by old patterns of thoughts, feelings and choices, apart from total dependence on Jesus Christ.)</span></div>
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<span>"Why is this so important?" you may be asking. Because it goes to the very heart of the Gospel about what really happened when Jesus died on the cross for us and when we died with Him. Then, God raised us up with Him to walk in newness of life, for the very first time! It goes to the core of who you really are deep within. Can your identity be both a sinner and a saint, based on rebirth? Or, are you a saint who sometimes sins? According to Romans 6, you are a saint who sometimes sins. When we teach this truth on your new identity in Christ to people here at GLI and they have embraced it, we've watched God change their perspective. Why? </span><em>People tend to act in a manner in how they see themselves. </em><span>Will you believe the truth today so you can live freer in your own life?</span></div>
<br />We welcome you to join us at GLI-Charlotte for the Free Orientation that speaks on this Life-Changing Class called Advanced Discipleship Training. In ADT, over 8 months, we learn more about entering God's rest that Hebrews <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1579609954" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4:10</span></span> describes. Orientation begins <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1579609955" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday, July 11</span></span>, from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1579609956" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6-9pm</span></span>. Contact Sandy Witherspoon at <a href="tel:704.522.9026" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+17045229026">704.522.9026</a> or <a href="mailto:sandy@gracelifeinternational.com" target="_blank">EMAIL US! </a>for more information. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <wbr></wbr> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-56139701327889139632016-06-22T22:34:00.000-04:002016-06-22T22:34:30.397-04:00You Cannot Generate Sinful Thoughts as a Christian<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>Have you ever wondered why when you are praying, terrible</span><span>,</span><span> sinful thoughts come out of nowhere into your mind? Have you ever experienced a flurry of thoughts about what a failure you are as a Christian or</span><span>,</span><span> for some, what a great Christian you are compared to others? When we have these sinful thoughts, many of us beat ourselves up. But should we really be beating ourselves up for these very common experiences? Absolutely not!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>Here's why. These sinful thoughts are not coming from you. In fact, you do not </span><span>even </span><span>have the ability to </span><span>generate sinful thoughts. You may be thinking in your mind, "You must not know me very well, Mark, because if you did, you would realize that I can come up with all kinds of sinful thoughts!" Actually, you don't</span><span>,</span><span> and as I said earlier, you can't. Why? It's because as a new creation in Christ, the real you, the true identity can only think and produce loving, righteous thoughts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>1 John 3:6 tells us this: </span><span><em>No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.</em> (NASB) </span><span>The new you cannot sin because you are 100% righteous in your identity in Christ, that is, in your spirit. As a righteous person, you do not have the desire nor the ability to produce sinful or tempting thoughts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>Since that is true, where do they originate from? Sinful </span><span>thoughts originate from one of two places. 1. Indwelling sin or 2. Satan.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>In Romans 7:15-17, the Apostle Paul shares his own struggle with temptation</span><span>,</span><span> how he failed to overcome them and where the temptations were originating. </span><em>For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. </em><span>What does this teach us?</span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Our deepest desire is to live righteously not sinfully!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">There is zero power in the law or in will-power to defeat temptation in our lives! </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Sinful thoughts originate from sin, which lives in our bodies, not from the real us!</span></strong></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">A Christian does not have two natures warring against each other - a sinful one and a righteous one. The sinful one was crucified on the cross with Jesus according to Romans 6:6. Yet we do have an unholy force or power in our bodies that is the source of our temptation called indwelling sin. It's just that this source is not who we are.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>It's like having a splinter in your finger. It hurts like crazy</span><span>! </span><span>I</span><span>t's something in you</span><span>,</span><span> but it's not you. Indwelling sin is in us</span><span>,</span><span> but it's not the real us. Just read the remainder of Romans 7 and you will see this clearly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>Ye</span><span>t, h</span><span>ere is where it's tricky. This "splinter" in us called indwelling sin puts sinful thoughts in our mi</span><span>n</span><span>d which sound just like us talking. They have our same gender, cadence and accent. </span><span>So, it</span><span> certainly sound</span><span>s</span><span> like us</span><span>,</span><span> but because they are sinful thoughts instead of righteous ones, they are not from us. Let me put it this way.</span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Every temptation we have is coming from indwelling sin or Satan not us!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>If you will begin to believe this, you can not only stop beating yourself up</span><span>,</span><span> but you can ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize these sinful thoughts.</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">I remember after having a powerful session in counseling one time, I ran a quick errand to the local Walmart. As I was walking in, I began to be bombarded by these dark sinful thoughts. Knowing the truth, I simply said, "These thoughts aren't coming from me. I died to you sin. I am a righteous child of God." They stopped immediately.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span>We all need to know this truth and to be reminded of it often. I certainly do in my own </span><span>life, for</span><span> sure. Ask God to remind you of this liberating truth</span><span>,</span><span> and watch what He does in your life. You will be amazed and encouraged!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-20123227721580118482016-06-15T19:08:00.001-04:002016-06-15T19:08:45.892-04:00Do We Need to Balance Grace with Law?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What would your life be like if you decided you were going to live totally by grace instead of the 10 Commandments and religious rules? Would you feel free</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">or would you feel afraid? </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Today, some</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">fear that teaching people to live exclusively by grace will lead Christians to increased sinning. There are phrases which have been created to describe their beliefs about this kind of teaching. Here are a few: license to sin, greasy grace, and hyper grace. These fears almost always lead to one conclusion: Christians need some</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">l</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">aw to balance grace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Here is how it is sometimes couched. "God's grace gives us the power to obey the 10 Commandments." I once believed this and taught it. I dedicated myself for over 10 years to calling upon God's grace to give me the strength and power to obey the Big 10. I began this with high hopes and excitement. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071885951" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Five years later</span></span> I was filled with pride and self-righteousness. It ended in a fog of depression and finally giving up on it all. I told my wife one night at the end of this part of my journey, "If this is all there is to being a Christian, it doesn't work, and I can't do this any longer."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">God gave the Law for some very specific purposes: 1. To show people their sins. <em>"Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin"</em> (Romans <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071885952" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:20</span></span> b). 2. To make people sin more.<em> "The Law came in so that transgression might increase"</em> (Romans <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071885953" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:20</span></span> a).3. To minister death and condemnation. <em>"But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory" </em>(2 Corinthians 3:7-9).4. To prepare every person who hears the Law to embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior. "Let me put it another way. The Law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith." (Galatians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071885954" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:24</span></span>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">The moment a person places their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, any allegiance to the Law abruptly stops because we have "Somebody" better. <em>"And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the Law as our guardian"</em> (Galatians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071885955" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:25</span></span>). Why? We have Jesus in us. He is not rule based at all but completely relationship based. Once our focus is on Him, we stop performing the rules for God and depend on Jesus to live a life of love through us. And what is amazing is that when we focus on Jesus, we fulfill the Law without even thinking about it! <em>"Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's Law"</em> (Romans <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071885956" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">13:10</span></span>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">We also have the Law written on our hearts and minds according to Hebrews <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071885957" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:16</span></span><em>."This is the new covenant I will make with My people on that day, says the Lord: I will put My Laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." </em>This is a reference to our identity in Christ as holy and righteous sons and daughters of God. The deepest part of who we are wants to live a life consistent with who we are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">We don't need the Law to balance the life-giving power of living by grace. We have Jesus, Mr. Grace Himself, in us so we can enjoy His love, love Him back and rely on Him to live through our new creation identity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">That night as I laid in that dark room full of despair, my DAD spoke to me, letting me know that He not only loved me but accepted me even if the church I was starting failed. Yet, when God first revealed the love and life of Christ to me, I still did not understand that grace had freed me from the Law. Little by little, my mind was renewed to where I saw that it can't be both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">How about you? Are you ready to give up on Law-based living plus grace-based living? That combination still equals trying harder. If so, you can begin to simply trust that living by pure grace alone is enough. It's a choice I urge you to make today. It may be scary at first, but as you experience more and more freedom to live like you've always wanted deep down inside as a Christ-follower, you will be glad you did!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-67174046069556045912016-06-09T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-09T00:00:27.792-04:00Why Christians Can't "Out-Sin" God's Grace!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever wondered if you've sinned so much that God will give up on you and break His relationship with you? Has it ever gotten so bad that you thought you were in danger of even going to hell? Let me show you how the Gospel of grace can remove those fears. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Romans 5:20, we read, <em>The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We see some very surprising truths here and some very encouraging ones, as well. First, contrary to popular opinion, the 10 Commandments were given so that sin would INCREASE not decrease. Does that surprise you? It did me at first until I received understanding on what God meant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Law was never intended to be a <em>sin-stopper.</em> It was intended to be a <em>sin-revealer.</em> The 10 Commandments were given by God to cause sin to increase in these ways before we were Christ-followers: 1. We become aware of our sins. 2. We sin more when we rebel against the 10 Commandments thinking, "Nobody's going to tell me what to do!" 3. We sin more when we attempt to obey the 10 Commandments in our own strength. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In other words, the Law of God will never empower us to decrease our sinning, but sit will fulfill its purpose to increaseour sinning. This is not because the law is bad. It is not. It's because before we come to faith in Christ, we are bad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After we come to faith in Christ, we have something much better than the Law. We have the Law written on our hearts and the Law-Giver, Jesus Christ, in us to live His life through us. (Hebrews <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_483808004" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:16</span></span> and Galatians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_483808005" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:20</span></span>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second truth we see is that no matter how much we sin, God's grace is greater. For those who don't know Christ, this means that no matter how horrendous their sins have been, God's grace is strong enough to save them. For we who are in Christ, it means that no matter how much we sin, we cannot sin more than God's grace can cover.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The natural question then is this. If I can't <em>out-sin</em> God's grace, what is there to keep me from going wild with my sinning knowing I am covered by that grace? This question is anticipated by the Holy Spirit in Romans 6. It is here where he makes clear that if we stop there, we don't fully understand the Gospel. It is our death with Jesus on the cross to sin that must be understood (Galatians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_483808006" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:20</span></span>). Our identity in Christ is dead to sin's power through it often doesn't feel like it or look like it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm out of time today to tell you more, but let me leave you with two questions. First, will you embrace the radical place you stand under God's grace? If so, it will rid you of a lot of condemnation and fear. Second, I encourage you to register for the remainder of our Foundation for Transformation Conference where we will go verse by verse through Romans 6 next <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_483808007" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday, June 13</span></span>, to unpack this chapter on why grace isn't a license from God to sin. See the sidebar with more details on how to register. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Missed Romans 5? No worries! We will make sure you get to listen to it when you register and pay online for the remaining <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_483808008" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(100, 100, 100); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span> evening classes covering Romans 6-8. You may do so by <a href="https://gracelifeinternational.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/26759" target="_blank">CLICKING HERE</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We hope you will join the many others who will be in our office and online.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mark Maulding</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-7631721341159211392016-06-01T21:42:00.001-04:002016-06-01T21:42:26.553-04:00Misconceptions about Intimacy with God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">For many years, I equated intimacy with God to how long I read my Bible and prayed each day. On the days I did those for 30 minutes, I believed I was intimate with God. However, it was a twisted version of what true intimacy with God actually is, which was rooted in "Checklist Christianity." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Checklist Christianity" is the false belief that by performing certain spiritual activities, I place myself in a position for God to bless me with His love, finances, better relationships and more. It's performance-centric rather than relationship-centric.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Intimacy with God is, at it's core, all about God enjoying us and us enjoying God. Did you know that is the main reason God created us? When we go back to Genesis 2:7, we see this intent clearly. <em>Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">When God saved you He united Himself to you just as He did with Adam, when He breathed Himself into him. He did this so you could enjoy each other. Think about it for a moment. God enjoys you by living in you. Legalism says God loves you but just kind of puts up with you. That is critically contrary to the Gospel of Grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">How, then, can we enjoy intimacy with God the grace way? First, we need to realize that because God is in us, we can talk with Him anytime, anywhere, about anything. We can also hear Him speaking to us in the same way. That includes times we carve out to pray, read the Bible and listen to Him. For example, Jesus spoke about entering into your closet. He was saying that we do well to have a special place we set aside for prayer and that we don't have to pray to impress people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Where is your closet? I had a friend years ago who literally got in the closet in his room and shut the door. The only problem was that it was so dark it scared him, and his prayer time lasted about 30 seconds! Your prayer closet can be a quiet place in your home, your car, your office, a park, or anywhere you want it to be. Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley, forerunners of the Methodist Church, reportedly put her apron over her head and made that her prayer closet, since she could find no place to get away from her 18 children!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yet, intimacy with God exceeds those carved out times. You can pray when you are at work, when you are on an errand, even when you are watching TV. I wanted to watch a basketball game one night and asked Jesus what he thought about that. He said to me that He liked basketball and wanted to watch it with me. We had a great time together!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Intimacy with God can also be times of quiet where you are simply aware that Jesus is communing with your spirit, though there are no words being spoken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Intimacy with God is not about putting ourselves in a position to be blessed. It is enjoying the royal position we already have, in already being blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus! (Ephesians 1:3).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Take off the legalistic glasses preventing your true intimacy with God, and put on the comfortable "Son-glasses" by believing that God enjoys being in you, so that you can enjoy Him, too? Would you stop and tell Him that you believe He enjoys you, just because He is in you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">There is so much more I want to tell you about this which I will be teaching on June 6, from 6-9pm (Romans 5). Though all of the FREE seats for that night are SOLD OUT in our office, you can still come to Romans 5 that first night if you register for ALL of the Foundation for Transformation Conference (Romans 5-8). We have reserved a few seats for people who sign up for the entire Conference which includes June 6, 13, 20 and 27. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://gracelifeinternational.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/26759" target="_blank"><b>REGISTER HERE</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We also have a few seats still left ONLINE that are FREE for June 6, but you need to <a href="https://gracelifeinternational.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/26759" target="_blank"><b>SIGN UP HERE</b></a> ASAP to insure one of the remaining ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-7866071969293361312016-05-25T20:46:00.004-04:002016-05-25T20:46:54.061-04:00What It Means for You to Rest in Christ <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Have you ever wondered what it means to rest in Christ? There are great benefits when we do rest in Him. It reminds me of physical rest. WebMD has a fascinating article listing health benefits when we have a rested body. They include better health, less pain, lower risk of injury, better mood, clearer thinking, better memory and a stronger immunity. ("9 Surprising Reasons to Get More Sleep" by R. Morgan Griffin)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Maybe you know someone like I do who was always tired until they were treated for sleep apnea. If you are not familiar with this disease, it is when a person stops breathing while they are sleeping. Most are treated with a CPap machine which makes certain they get enough oxygen while sleeping. Several of my friends have told me that this treatment changed their life, giving them the rest they needed to have energy for each day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you know that our soul needs rest also? Our soul is our personality. In general, there are introverts, extroverts and what I call inbetweenverts! One of the things you can do to begin to give rest to your soul is to accept the personality type God gave you. Have you ever wished you were like someone who has a different personality type than you? This is personality envy and is a rejection of the unique personality God gave you. Why don't you stop right now and thank God that He gave you the personality you have, even if you don't feel like it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Our soul also has three functioning parts: our mind, which is our "thinker," our emotions, which is our "feeler," and our will, which is our "chooser." These can all get tired when we are not resting in Christ. They can be tired from legalistic Christianity, false guilt, fear of God's punishment, shame, choosing to live from the flesh, worry, pride, anger, depression, believing lies about yourself, rejection, grief, disappointment, misplaced expectations and more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hebrews 4 tells the sad story of how Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years never entering into the rest of living in the land God had promised to them when He led them out of Egypt. They failed to enjoy this rest for one reason only - <i>unbelief</i>. The writer goes on to say that for Jew and Gentile (non-Jews) today, God wants us to enter into a different kind of rest. According to Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, this kind of rest is "soul-rest." It's a way for us to have rest in our mind, emotions and will. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hebrew 4:9-11 says, " <em>9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience." </em>How do we enter into that rest, especially as Christians? The answer is, through faith in Jesus Christ and what He has already done for us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">He has finished what many of us are still trying to finish in our relationship with Him. He has finished these for us: He has made us acceptable to God our Father by 1. Making us 100% righteous in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21); 2. Forgiving us of all past, present and future sins in Christ (Ephesians 1:4); 3. Seating us (in our spirit) in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2:6); 4. Reconciling us as enemies to God by making us His friends (2 Corinthians 5:18); 5. Being well-pleased with who we are in Christ, regardless of our behavior or ministry, just as He was with Jesus (Matthew 3:17); 6. Showing us that we are as valuable as Jesus in the parable of the pearl (Matthew 13:45-46); 7. Convincing us that there is no condemnation from Him when we fail or sin (Romans 8:1); 8. Removing our shame (Romans 10:11); 9. Offering to live His life through us in the power of the Holy Spirit, so that living our Christian lives is not up to us but Him (Galatians 2:20).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">There are many more, but I wanted to show you some of the core work God the Father did through Jesus for you and in you. Do you want to enter into that rest today as a Christian? Why don't you go through them one by one and thank Him by faith that all of those are true of you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't invite you to come hear a very deep teaching on how we can rest in Christ in our Foundation for Transformation Conference which is only 10 days away - June 6. Click here for more information and to register <a href="https://gracelifeinternational.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/26759" target="_blank">https://gracelifeinternational.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/26759</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-34043899188387144042016-05-18T20:48:00.001-04:002016-05-18T20:48:54.907-04:00Why a Christian Can't Be an Alcoholic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It's very easy to beat yourself up. When you sin or fail in some way, Satan puts self-critical thoughts in our minds which sound like our own thoughts. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Then, we run with them and before you know it, we create a narrative about how dumb we are, how ugly we are, what a big failure we are, what a sinner we are or what a terrible Christian we are. We default to letting our struggles define us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yet, I challenge you to pray: <em>"Daddy God, I pray that You would cause my thinking to line up with Your thinking wherever they are different."</em> That is what a renewed mind is. It's the Holy Spirit replacing our stinking thinking with God's astonishing thinking about who He is, who we are and how to live life. I want to focus today on God's thoughts towards us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Our Daddy says in Isaiah 55:8, <em>"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,"</em> declares the Lord. It's very easy for us to take this as a scathing criticism from Him. Yet, it actually reveals God's longing for us that His thoughts and His ways become ours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">When He looks at you, He's not thinking about your failures or successes for that matter. He's thinking about what He did for you and to you in Christ. He sees one of His children who is like Him. He loves you because He sees you as a new creation who is righteous, a saint (holy), complete, forgiven, loving, patient, kind and so much more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I personally had to remember who I was when two people criticized me last week for inviting you in the last few blogs to our Foundation for Transformation Conference (Romans 5-8). One said I had gotten away from life giving blogs. What surprised me is that this person had been transformed by Jesus through GLI. I thought they would want to use those emails to invite people they love who are not free. The other stated that they lived too far away from our office so they no longer wanted the emails. I scratched my head wondering if they had somehow missed that no matter where anyone lives, they can join us via our powerful online system.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sometimes, criticism is valid and we can learn from it. Other times, it's not. Either way, I reminded myself that it doesn't change my identity. I am who Jesus says I am, period.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is why a Christian can't be an alcoholic. That doesn't mean there aren't Christians addicted to alcohol, opioids, meth or cocaine. They need to admit they are addicted and need help so they can get help. Jesus and the experience of His deep love for them can free them from their addiction as they learn who they are in Christ. There's so much more I would like to share with you, like why a Christian can't be a liar, a thief, a pornographic person. Space doesn't permit here, but you will see below that there is a way I can, soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I leave you with two take-aways. 1. Line up your thoughts about who you truly are with God's thoughts about you. 2. Accept my invitation to come hear more at our Foundation for Transformation Conference <b>IN OUR OFFICE</b> or <b>ONLINE </b>so God can personally speak to you about what He's done that makes you as righteous as Jesus Christ. I will personally be teaching the first night, Monday, June 6. This is a FREE CLASS. <a href="http://www.gracelifeinternational.com/" target="_blank">SIGN UP HERE</a> (If you've attended before, invite someone you care about, remembering how God spoke to you there.)</span></div>
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<span _mce_style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Warmly in Christ, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-15258600697258196252016-05-11T19:46:00.001-04:002016-05-11T19:46:22.067-04:00You Can't Spiritually Mature without the Message of Righteousness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">The idea of righteousness is used 50 times in the book of Romans! 50 times is a tremendous amount, isn't it? That lets us know that it is a very big deal to God and should be to us, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Hebrews 5:13 tells us it is such a big deal, that unless we've been clearly taught that we are completely righteous, we can't mature spiritually. <em>Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. </em>If a 3 month old child is drinking mama's milk, we think that is wonderful! If a 13 year old is drinking mama's milk, we know that is weird! This verse tells us that not knowing the teaching about how righteous we are, makes us spiritually immature like that 13 year old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Romans is all about the message of righteousness. It's the message that God is able to save sinners, and not only forgive them but make them as righteous as He is. That is scandalous grace isn't it? It seems too good to be true...but, it's the Gospel!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Let's go back to the number 50 again. In the Old Covenant, every 50 years was called the Year of Jubilee. Here are a few things the nation of Israel would celebrate during that year. Slaves were set free. All debts were forgiven. The land would rest from growing crops. Freedom, forgiveness and rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I don't want to overstate the idea of righteousness being used 50 times in Romans, but it is certainly fascinating that in Romans we learn how God has provided for us freedom, forgiveness and rest...through being made as righteous as Jesus. The #1 question we hear at the Grace Life Conference is...<em>"Why have I not heard this before?"</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I wish I had time to delve into these Scriptures which teach this amazing New Covenant truth, but space does not permit here. However, I can invite you to hear me teach these Scriptures verse by verse on June 6, from 6-9 pm. This is our FREE CLASS that we invite you to that I will personally be teaching and I have to say, it is my most favorite teaching that I do at GLI!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">The truth you will hear that night is what freed me from sin habits I could not stop and transformed my relationships, especially my marriage. I will be sharing more about that then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Won't you join me that Monday night from 6-9? You can hear it live in our conference room or you can hear it live online. However, seating is limited and it's on a first come, first serve basis. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Register quickly online at <a alt="http://www.gracelifeinternational.com" href="http://www.gracelifeinternational.com/" shape="rect" style="color: #009594; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">www.gracelifeinternational.com</a> If attending online, we will send you directions on how to login to the class that night. (Already been? Invite your family and friends!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-25351952050995560042016-05-09T13:14:00.001-04:002016-05-09T13:14:30.194-04:00Come Hear the Other Half of the Gospel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Without hearing the whole Gospel of Grace, we only understand the first half of it and wonder why we struggle so much. It's like trying to live the Christian life with one hand tied behind your back! There is the forgiveness side of the cross of Jesus but there is also another powerful side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Come hear the other half of the Gospel at our <strong>Foundation for Transformation Conference.</strong> At it you will see the following unveiled from a verse by verse study of Romans 5-8.</span></div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Why God unconditionally accepts you (Rom. 5)</span></li>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">How you can overcome sin (Rom 6)</span></li>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Why Christians have something better than the 10 Commandments (Rom 7)</span></li>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">How to live daily in Jesus' resurrection power (Rom 8)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Comments from former attendees:</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">"I now understand that intimacy with God is not about performing for Him but enjoying Him because of what Jesus has performed for me!" John A.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">"I've heard Romans taught many times before, but I've never heard it taught in a way which freed me so much personally!" Gerry C.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">These classes are every <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1568798612" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span> night from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1568798613" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6-9 pm</span></span> <strong>or online!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">It begins <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1568798614" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday June 6</span></span>, and the next three Mondays in June for a total of four weeks. Can't make every <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1568798615" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span>! No problem. We will get the audio and notes to you at no extra charge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Cost? The first class is no charge. $50 pays for the remaining three classes.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">SEATING IS LIMITED IN OUR OFFICE AND ONLINE! </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Register online ww.gracelifeinternational.com Need more info? Email our Director of Training, Sandy@gracelifeinternational.com </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>(</b>While this class can be taken without continuing with our Advanced Discipleship Training (ADT), it is the beginning of it for those who want to discover if God is leading them to continue with ADT.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">In His Grace,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-32741191547730443432016-05-04T21:06:00.001-04:002016-05-04T21:06:03.100-04:00Accelerate Your Spiritual Growth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU9NoY321wdMtRmAW3v0ZVE_jZtylLzc8qlTvcjJAr5cufo-fudGrkk16FVBnFWyJto53Y-omwm-ELPbjGwhFp2ixy4js_PXegpvm3d-57PwtbNDu7KjkgiCiSeZm7fgIW4kXuqfQsjE4/s1600/grow-in-grace-and-knowledge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU9NoY321wdMtRmAW3v0ZVE_jZtylLzc8qlTvcjJAr5cufo-fudGrkk16FVBnFWyJto53Y-omwm-ELPbjGwhFp2ixy4js_PXegpvm3d-57PwtbNDu7KjkgiCiSeZm7fgIW4kXuqfQsjE4/s320/grow-in-grace-and-knowledge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the email I asked you to watch for. This is an eptastic opportunity for you to accelerate your spiritual growth. We've watched God do this in hundreds of lives and now we want you to have this same opportunity for yourself and/or others you care about. Here's how.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Discover the power of God's grace with our Advanced Discipleship Training program (ADT). ADT is an 8-month journey designed to help you encounter the fullness of God's love and learn how to disciple other people in His amazing grace. Each participant receives the following:</span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Live, weekly, grace-based teaching by our qualified staff</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Personal mentoring by a GLI staff member</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Interaction and community within a small group</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Audios and videos by nationally-known teachers</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Collection of specialized books and resources</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Specific training on how to disciple others</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">ADT runs for eight months every <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1570405167" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span> night from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1570405168" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6 - 9pm</span></span> starting <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1570405169" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">July 11, 2016</span></span> at the Grace Life offices in Charlotte, NC. Go deeper into God's grace with three-hour classes taught by our gifted staff. Topics include:</span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Untwisting Your Concept of God</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Embracing Your Identity in Christ</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">How to Forgive from Your Heart</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Resting in Grace versus Exhaustion from the Law</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Hearing God's Voice and much more...</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In case you miss a class, you will receive a free audio recording. Here's what recent alumni say about attending ADT:</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"Next to my salvation, ADT is the greatest experience of my Christian life!" - James C.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"I couldn't have imagined how much more I was going to enjoy God until He replaced my law-based thinking with grace-based thinking at ADT.'" - Joye D</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"I'd trade my seminary education for what I experienced at ADT. It literally changed the course of my life and ministry." - Paul C.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The cost to attend ADT is only $1,700 for eight months of life-changing instruction. Pay up-front for only $1,500 and save $200!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">You can attend at our office or live online through a powerful tool called Zoom. However, seating is limited for both! So decide now if you want to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">To get ADT details or to register email Sandy@GraceLifeInternational.com </span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What if I'm not ready to commit to ADT and the 8-month schedule?</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We offer a "taste" of ADT during the first four <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1570405170" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span> nights in June from 6-9. For more info on this, email our Director of Training, Sandy Witherspoon at Sandy@GraceLifeInternational.com </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In His Grace,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-5351799502652039082016-04-27T14:02:00.002-04:002016-04-27T14:02:39.834-04:00God's Not Building Character in You Ever! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">When experiencing times of suffering, many Christians glibly proclaim, "God must be building character in me." Nothing could be further from the truth! God is not trying to build character in you during times of suffering. Why isn't He trying to build character into us? It's because the moment we responded to Him and believed in Jesus as our Savior, He put all of His character into us. It's already there. That's grace for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2 Peter 1:4a tells us: <em>"For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature."</em> To partake of God's divine nature means we were united to God Himself at salvation. His character was given to us and became our identity in Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's not that we became God nor did He become us at salvation. We remain separate but united. It's like making tea. The tea bag releases its flavor into the hot water and we have delicious drinkable tea. The water takes on the character of the tea, yet, they remain separate. John 17:21 says,<em> that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. </em>(NASB)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hard times are still hard times. Yet, God remains good and can use these as opportunities for the character already in us to come out. In other words, we get to live like who we are in Christ and we can ask Jesus in us to live through us to handle these challenges. 2 Cor 12:9 Each time he said,<em> "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."</em>(NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Our enemy may tempt us to believe that because life is difficult, God isn't really good, He doesn't love us or He's mad at us. God is none of those. He loves us and is good. Because we are united with God and can't be separated from Him, we have the confidence that we can go to our Heavenly Dad and talk to Him all about it. We can tell Him how sad we are, how angry we feel, how confusing life is, how hurt we are and ask Him to speak to us. if you don't know what to pray, take comfort, the Holy Spirit is praying for you according to Romans 8:26. <em> And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. </em> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We may also need to share our struggles with a trusted friend or our small group. Someone asked me recently, who Ellen and I talk to as our daughter's autoimmune encephalitis continues into its second year. Mostly, each other, but we both also have others we can pour out our hearts to for prayer and counsel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">This may be a new thought for some of you. If so, I pray God will make it real to you that He is not trying to build His character in you when times are hard. We may experience Him in a deeper way but His character is already in us. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us this, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> (NLT)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-15977901263245796162016-04-19T18:06:00.001-04:002016-04-20T08:23:39.493-04:00GOD'S GOOD. YOU'RE BAD. TRY HARDER! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A friend told me recently that both of his teenagers rushed in from their youth group meeting and grabbed a bite to eat on the way to their rooms. As they were passing by, he asked them, "How did youth group go?" The 16 year old boy said, "Oh you know, Dad. God's good. You're bad. Try Harder." That's the unfortunate message Christians hear every week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In my recent introduction at our Pastor's Conference, I shared that I believe there are three distinct types of Christians attending a typical worship service each week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Group 1</span> - The spiritually hungry. These are the Christians who have a great desire to grow in the Lord. They are like a dog that is waiting for food by the bowl at meal time who is saying "I'll eat whatever you give me. Just feed me!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Group 2</span> - The spiritually disillusioned. These are the Christians who can't figure out why they can't get Christianity to work for them. They were excited and full of hope in the beginning but now some are disappointed, some are bored and some are ready to give up. They are like the dog that keeps coming to get food. Over time, the dog grows tired of the lack of energy and the lack of flavor from what they eat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Group 3</span> - Those in pain emotionally and relationally. These Christians often carry their secrets and are ashamed to share their struggles. They are like the dog that goes and lies down in a dark place under a bed and doesn't care if they eat or not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you were to ask each of these Christians what the Christian life is all about, they might each answer similar to the 16 year old boy. God's good. I'm bad. Try harder. This view of the Christian life is not only incorrect, it's unsustainable, and it doesn't help either group to experience genuine growth, fulfillment or healing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Gospel of the New Covenant however, can help all three groups. Jesus said, <em>"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied</em>." The Gospel tells us that everyone of us who believe has been given that righteousness, so we can stop looking for it. 2 Corinthians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_896852712" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:21 </span></span><em>He made Him who knew no sin to become sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.</em> (NASB) Believing that you are as righteous as Jesus is the key to spiritual growth, according to Hebrews <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_896852713" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:13</span></span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Gospel tells us that there is hope for those who are disillusioned because they can find that their identity is in their union with God, not in their sins, failures, successes or service to God. Colossians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_896852714" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:10</span></span> says it this way: <em>So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.</em> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And for those in emotional and relational pain, there is hope for you, also. Jesus promised that He came to bind up the brokenhearted according to Isaiah 61:1.In Isaiah 53:4, we are also encouraged by these words. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.(ESV) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Religion and relationships will always let us down or even damage us. The real Jesus in the real Gospel, revealed in the fantabulous New Covenant, will always lift us up and heal us. The Gospel of the New Covenant is this: God is good. You are righteous. Trust Christ in you to live your life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-26822714730643063962016-04-13T22:47:00.001-04:002016-04-20T06:51:40.781-04:00God Loves Jesus More Than He Loves Us, Right?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If we compare the perfect trust and obedience of Jesus to our own,
our immediate conclusion is that God the Father loves Jesus infinitely more
than He loves us. It is difficult to believe it's possible that we are in
the same league as Jesus when it comes to who God loves. I mean, who do
many parents tend to love or favor the most, the child who is the most obedient
or the child who is disobedient?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Most Christians are unconvinced that our Father loves them apart
from their behavior, attitudes etc. It's easy for them to believe in the
deep recesses of their minds that God is keeping score, doling out His love
more when they obey and withholding it when they don't. I was once one of
them. Though I could recite to you the fact that God loved me
unconditionally, I still<i> functioned</i> as if I could get God's
attention through my obedience so He would love me more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus turned this thinking on its head when He prayed an amazing
prayer for His present disciples and the ones who would come later. It's found
in John 17:26 <i>"I have made Your name known to them, and will
make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I
in them."</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus says that He has made the name of the Father known to these
who followed Him while on the earth. To make known the name of the Father
is to reveal Who the Father is, which results in Christ followers knowing how
much they are loved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Can you receive this today? Can you receive that our Father
loves you as much as He loves Jesus, regardless of your good or bad
performance? Jesus prayed for this and I am confident that Father always
answers Jesus' prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is a prayer of faith I challenge you to pray, even if you
don't feel or believe you deserve it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Father, because Jesus prayed for me that You would love me just as
much as You loved Him, I believe that right now. Please deepen my
understanding and experience of Your love for me. Remind me
of this on my good days when life is good and on my bad days when life is
bad. In Jesus Name, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rest in God's love! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Warmly in Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-40834994943695618732016-04-06T20:53:00.000-04:002016-04-06T20:53:04.636-04:00Grace Works! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Grace Works" seems contradictory. It seems more like an oxymoron than a liberating truth. It is actually what is called a double entendre, in that, it has two powerful meanings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">First, it means God's grace in Jesus Christ works to be the true source of change in us. Self-effort rarely brings permanent change in anyone's life. The flesh is the source of self-effort. The flesh includes all of the strategies I have learned to try to cope with life apart from dependence on Christ in me. The flesh is also distinct and unique for every person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">For example, you may have learned to use self-confidence to impress people so you can feel important. That's a fleshly strategy. Someone else may have learned to people-please, so that they agree with anything another says to them as an attempt to avoid rejection and elicit some type of twisted acceptance. That is also a fleshly strategy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Grace works to free us from those kinds of strategies so that our only strategy is Christ in us. Often, the way God accomplishes this is not by delivering us from our situation, but by delivering us from ourselves! That is, our reliance on our flesh! As this happens, our enjoyment of Christ in us and who we are in Him transforms us from glory to glory. That is one way "Grace Works".</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Grace works in a different way, also. As we rely on Jesus in us more and more, the Holy Spirit brings forth good works <em>through us</em><em>.</em> Those works are not the religious works of the flesh but the relational works birthed by grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">For example, because you are a Saint (Ephesians 1:2) which means a holy one, doesn't it make sense that you would want to live a holy life instead of a sinful one? Since you are righteous (2 Corinthians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_661434334" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:21</span></span>) in your identity in Christ, doesn't it make sense that you would want to live a righteous life instead of an unrighteous one? Since you are a child of God (John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_661434335" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:12</span></span>), doesn't it make sense that you would live a life of love, just like your Heavenly Dad, instead of a self-centered one?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I believe you agree that the answer is "Yes," and the power to live like who we are is found in the Holy Spirit filling us with the life of Christ, so He can live through us. (Ephesians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_661434336" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:18</span></span>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">For many, many years, I prayed to be a Godly man. I worked hard at doing the right actions and works that I thought would make me a Godly man. It was intense and I was inebriated with the wine of self-righteousness. One day, after I began to understand the New Covenant, I was riding alone in my car and heard the Lord speak to me deep inside. He said, "Mark, you are already a Godly man, so you can stop trying to be one." It was a liberating moment when I realized, that I was already a Godly man in my identity in Christ. What a relief! I could finally relax. The results? I stopped working to be one and began to live the good works of who I already was...a Godly man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rest in God's grace this week which works!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Warmly in Christ, </span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-3920024453194127442016-03-30T20:26:00.001-04:002016-03-31T15:09:55.604-04:00When Your Problem Is Not The Problem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"My husband doesn't show me love, and I feel so hurt." "My wife is always telling me what to do, and I feel so angry." "Why won't God answer my prayer and bring me a spouse?" "I so often feel defeated and worthless." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">These are the legitimate problems Christians face every day along with many more. We see these brothers and sisters at our conferences and in our counseling. If you relate to any of those statements or have other struggles such as pornography, addiction, or a negative self-image, you are not alone. All Christians struggle with something, and I mean ALL. No one escapes because Jesus said, <em>"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows"</em> (John 16:33 NLT).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope what I am going to share next will give you some hope and encouragement. Very often your problem is not the problem. It doesn't mean that the problem is not real or painful. It often is, but there can be much more at play. Jesus gives us a little clue about this when He continues in that same verse by saying, <em>"But take heart, because I have overcome the world."</em> What does that mean?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Our Father is jealous for His Son, Jesus, to be the center and source of each of our lives. He will not allow anything or anyone else to take Jesus' rightful place in our lives. He loves us too much to allow us to have an idol, because it is damaging to us. An idol can be something we are relying on to do for us what only Jesus can do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Most of the time it's an attempt to get our "LAWS" needs met, meaning Love, Acceptance, Worth and Security. It's enjoyable if others meet those needs in addition to Jesus, but as Sandy Witherspoon, our Director of Training says, "Jesus is the cake, and people are the icing." Yet we easily get those confused.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Because Father is jealous for His Son in us to be revealed to us, He will allow our strategies for trying to make life work, run their course and either fail or fail to meet our needs. Is it beginning to make sense that your problem is not necessarily the problem?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Father's goal is for us to learn to live by <em>faith</em> in Christ in us, rather than just the fact that Christ is in us. I believe that is what the prayer in Ephesians 3 means. Paul leads us to pray that we would be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit so that Christ may live in our hearts through faith (not just fact). Most Christians are confident Christ is in them, but they don't realize that their problems are God's messengers to allow them to know how to live by faith in Christ in them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So how do we deal with our problems when life seems so hard? The best thing any of us can do is tell God He can do anything He wants, to us, for us, and in us to give us a deeper revelation of Christ in us as our All in All. And continue by affirming to Him that we believe that we have been crucified, buried and raised with Christ, such that He is not only our Savior and Lord but also our Life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you are struggling today, would you stop and pray just that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Warmly in Christ, </span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-39277532167663627312016-03-27T14:57:00.001-04:002016-03-27T14:59:19.626-04:00How the Resurrection Buried My Doubts<p dir="ltr">At age 19, I experienced a great deal of doubt as to whether the whole Christianity thing I had been taught since childhood was actually true. I wondered what made it any different than all of the other religions of the world. I read many different opinions about it but none of them satisfied my ongoing doubts. Then I happened upon the writings of historians and others who lived during the same time period of Jesus Christ. What got my attention was their references to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a historical fact. I had read about Jesus' resurrection in the Bible but that could been something someone wrote to make a fascinating fairytale. But now I was faced with historians who were not Christians writing about the resurrection of Jesus as fact, not mythology. I finally realized I had a choice. Believe that Jesus Christ was who he claimed to be, the Son of God and Savior of all who believe in Him, or deny that and turn from the undeniable facts. I chose to believe and it changed the course of not only my life, but the lives of thousands of others whom I have had the privilege to help. So today, on this Easter Sunday, I revel in the transformative power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.</p>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-77988299486514297502016-03-23T22:50:00.000-04:002016-03-23T22:50:00.289-04:00Will You Follow The God-sized Opportunity Before You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKb5aX4U2hIBJyRS_kpgOaweoMGo5cgqHSIziZg0Nn-8Cp1d6pXdsieZjRjfu6RQafUV-SMAkX2ex7MxcOHZsI3cpcNkY4hVNhLyujMgVV_NV0C1bynIfAxG53ptdt7PHQETfcBi3Ol-I/s1600/god-size-vision+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKb5aX4U2hIBJyRS_kpgOaweoMGo5cgqHSIziZg0Nn-8Cp1d6pXdsieZjRjfu6RQafUV-SMAkX2ex7MxcOHZsI3cpcNkY4hVNhLyujMgVV_NV0C1bynIfAxG53ptdt7PHQETfcBi3Ol-I/s320/god-size-vision+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">There are a few times in our lives when our great God places an opportunity before us which is so God-sized, it takes complete trust in Him to believe He will accomplish it. This can only happen if we will follow His lead. I am writing this week to ask you to do just that here at GLI.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">At GLI, we find ourselves in a very similar position today. Our amazing God has placed an opportunity before us to reach out globally 24/7. When it's beyond your ability and He's leading you to do it, that makes it God-sized. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Nine months ago, we were approached by the President of Wildfire Marketing, Rob Eagar, who challenged us to take GLI to a whole new level of ministry. The Board of Directors and the Directors of Ministry were very excited and saw the great potential. After praying, it was decided it wasn't the right time, until Rob approached us again with an even better ministry tool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The ministry tool is an amazing digital marketing plan which will include a state-of-the art website, new branding and the potential to make GLI one of the leading voices of the New Covenant today 24/7. It will provide a weekly digital newsletter/magazine, free teaching resources, inexpensive e-books, audios, videos, webinars and more. These will all be focused on the New Covenant and how to live it in a practical way in everyday life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>To take this step of faith, we need pledges for the $25,000 needed to hire Rob and his highly sought after team no later than this Monday, March 28, the day after Easter. </strong>Why so quickly? Rob is in demand but is holding this spot because he is so passionate about the grace message and how it changed his life. We already have $7250 and with a 5% discount from Rob, we only need $16,500.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">One person who already donated wrote this: <i>"Richard and I would like to give toward this campaign in the amount of $500. As a millennial, I recognize the importance of making these changes and how they will allow GLI to have a greater impact in today's culture. I'm excited to see how God will use these changes to continue to grow this powerful ministry. I hope others feel the same." </i> Iris</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If this ministry has impacted your life and others you know, I challenge you to stretch your faith and give towards the God-sized opportunity just as my wife and I are doing. You can give in two ways: Immediately or by pledge.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Give immediately online <a href="https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/GraceLifeInternationalgeneral" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO DONATE</a> or by mailing a check. Or send your check to Grace Life International 1337 Hundred Oaks Dr. EE Charlotte, NC 28217. All gifts are tax-deductible and are exclusively for this ministry project.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Make a pledge of the amount you want to give and send it in later.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I look forward to reaching, what we estimate will eventually be, up to 10,000 people per month with this ministry tool! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">By His Grace and for His Glory,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-67211770960006704512016-03-21T02:30:00.000-04:002016-03-21T02:30:06.289-04:00How Many “Jesus Points” Do You Have Today?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you smoke marijuana, you get -3 Jesus points. If you read your Bible, you get +1 Jesus
point. If you spend time in prayer, you
get another +1 Jesus point. If you say a
cuss word, you get –1 Jesus point. If you share the Gospel with someone, you
get +2 Jesus points. If you attend
church you get +3 Jesus points. To get a
girlfriend, you have to have at least +6 Jesus points. To get into heaven, you have to have +7 Jesus
points. So, you may have to choose
between going to heaven and getting a girlfriend depending on how many Jesus
points you have.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the hilarious offbeat humor my son, Andrew, and his
buddies would kid each other about during their many summers as Christian camp
counselors. Of course, it was all in
good fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yet, each week behind the smiles and “I’m fine” automatic
responses of many Christians, the idea of earning “Jesus points” is no laughing
matter. I doubt most are aware of this
underlying belief because it’s a system of thinking that has infiltrated every
one of us. We inherited it from Adam,
whose mind was negatively reprogrammed with it when he ate from the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a real tree which represented one of two ways to live
in a relationship with God. The second
and and optimum way to live was to be found in the Tree of Life. The first tree was all about adding up our
+’s and –‘s to determine our acceptance before God. (Genesis 2:9) This is living with a “law mentality”. The second tree was also a real tree which
represented living from the life Christ in us in delightful intimacy, which was
to spill over as unconditional love with other people. This is living with a “grace mentality”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, the “law mentality” doesn’t automatically
leave us when we become Christ followers.
I wish it did. Don’t you? This is why Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23
exhort us to reprogram our minds with grace and truth from an understanding of
the “full” Gospel taught in the preceding chapters of each letter. This is what God does to transform us more
and more!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why is it so easy for us to say to a young child who does
something good that they are a good boy or good girl? Why is it so easy to default to believing
that God loves us less when we sin? Why
is it so easy to jump to the conclusion that God is mad at us because bad
things are happening? It’s because of the “law mentality”. Living from a grace mentality thinks and
lives the opposite way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="h.gjdgxs"></a>When I asked a 13 year old girl if her
dad, a pastor, was any different since he’s learned the grace message in our
ADT, she said with a smile. “Oh yes!
It’s like he won the lottery.
He’s so happy now!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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When our family notices we are different, that’s the “grace
mentality” of Christ in us! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Believe it! It's the Gospel.<br />
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Live Free In Christ, <br />
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Mark Maulding, President and Founder<br />
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www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!<br />
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Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-44647294041692120912016-03-16T20:28:00.000-04:002016-03-16T20:28:08.642-04:00Jesus Can Heal Your Grief and Sadness <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Grief is about loss. We most often think of grief being about those who lose someone in death. That is certainly a great grief but there are many other losses we may grieve about. When our daughter was born with Down syndrome 24 years ago, my wife and I grieved deeply that we had "lost" a healthy child. Others grieve over the loss of their own health, the health of someone close, a reversal in their financial situation, the heartbreak of a wayward child (at any age), experiencing a divorce, betrayal and much, much more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Most of us have heard appropriately that there are stages in grief that a person often experiences. These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Yet, the deep sadness of loss may go on long after.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">There is a somewhat surprising Scripture regarding our griefs and sorrows. It describes something Jesus did on the cross for us. Isaiah 53:4a says, <em>Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.</em> The Hebrew meanings of griefs and sorrows are just what they say. They are connected to the sufferings we experience in this world. The verse says Jesus has already borne our griefs and sorrows. If Jesus has already borne these for the believer, then how can we experience this in real life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I was discussing this with our Director of Counseling, Tom Short, recently and he was sharing what God was showing him about people's griefs and sorrows. In a time of prayer, he asks the Lord to show this person their emotional pain. As the Lord takes them to the event(s) surrounding any grief or sorrow, he instructs the person to speak out loud the deep sadness that he/she is feeling about that deep loss. Once they have, he asks the person to give all of that grief, pain and sorrow to the Lord and to let Him take it away. He and the counselee stay in this time of prayer until God replaces those with relief and peace. In fact, Tom and his wife spent some time praying through some grief in her life several months ago and God used it to heal her physically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This may not be the only way we experience God's comfort during grief, but it is helping many, including me. Before I even knew Tom was using this in his counseling, I recently spent some time talking to the Lord, asking Him to show me my places of grief and sorrow. Much of it had to do with my daughter's present and long lasting illness. I told the Lord all about it. Then, I gave it to Him based on Isaiah 53:4 quoted above. Little by little, I sensed the burden of a lot of it lifting from me. I'm asking Jesus to show me if there is more. I hope you too, by faith, will ask God to show you your losses, that you may not have thought about. Then tell him how you feel about each one and spend time giving them to Him until you sense His peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you realize now that you are stuck in grief and would like someone to talk to, who can lovingly help you give your griefs and sorrows to the Lord, please contact us at 704-522-9026. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Warmly in Christ,</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-56267989182184144952016-03-09T20:33:00.000-05:002016-03-16T20:11:21.056-04:00The Sadness and Self-centeredness of Suicide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We sat together stunned again this morning in our staff prayer time. The teen of a friend of one of our staff members took his own life. Satan had duped another one into believing suicide was the only option he had.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The second leading cause of death among teens and college students is suicide. It is also the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and that rate is climbing. The next highest group who commits this sad atrocity are middle aged males.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I and my staff have great compassion for those contemplating suicide. When they look at their circumstances, they see no reason for living and have lost hope that anything will change. And, some of the Christians we counsel struggle with this. Those outside of Christ are even more vulnerable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My good friend, Vlado Hoblaj, now Director of Hope for Croatia, tells of how, as a young rising rock-n-roll star, he had planned to commit suicide. He was just waiting for the right time. He loved music and the stage yet, he was empty, hopeless and purposeless. Then he heard about Jesus and was gloriously saved. Yet, he still struggled with depression until he was taught the Gospel of Grace also known as the New Covenant or the Exchanged Life. Today, he is one of the most joyful people you will ever meet and has an incredible ministry to his entire country and beyond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Suicide is not only sad, it is actually self-centered. You may think I am being harsh but in reality, those who commit suicide are the ones being harsh. They leave behind a string of broken hearts - parents, children, a spouse, friends and even church family. They leave behind guilt laden friends and family members going over and over in their minds "How did I miss it? I could have and should have done something to stop this." And many of these family and friends have a wound in their heart which may never go away - without them knowing how Jesus can heal them. If you are one of those left behind, we are available to help you find that healing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please understand that many of the thoughts entering your mind are from Satan, whose mission in life according to John 10:10 is <em>to kill, steal and destroy</em> your life. He wants you dead. But, don't do it! You will hurt a lot of people. Don't listen to the enemy telling you everyone, including you,would be better off if you were dead. That is not true!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">There is hope for you in Christ. In the remainder of that same verse, Jesus compares His mission of life to Satan's mission of death by saying, <em>I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of</em>. (The Message) Several of our staff were tempted just like you to take their own lives before they began to experience the love and life of Jesus in them. Now, they are so healed they are able to show God's answer to others struggling with the same issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you know someone who is threatening suicide, especially if they are telling you their plan, get them help immediately! Don't be concerned about hurting their feelings or believing you will betray them. Call their family, their pastor or the Suicide Prevention line below. Better to have them mad at you rather than dead. Or, get them to one of our counselors even if it means coming with them the first time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you are the one having suicidal thoughts, please stop and call us right now for a consultation at 704-522-9026. We can see you in person or by Skype. Or, we can refer you to one of our partner ministries in the USA or Europe. If our office is closed, please call the National Suicide Prevention line 1 (800) 273-8255. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173401322807546378.post-948697630922617552016-03-02T20:36:00.001-05:002016-03-16T20:13:16.074-04:00Your Secrets are Satan's Weapons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you have a secret struggle which no one knows about except you? Many people do and they work very hard to keep it buried in the dark cave of forgetfulness. Yet, it just won't cooperate and be quiet. It keeps crying out begging you to release it. You've tried to silence it by tying it up with the chains of shame, fear, and guilt. Intertwined in this horror movie is Satan's scary part of the script where he repeats over and over: <em>"</em><em>You can never tell anyone what happened. It's too painful to share with anyone. What would they think about you if they knew? People aren't going to believe you anyway."</em></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">What we don't realize is that the prince of darkness forges weapons against us whenever there is a secret we are hiding. His weapons keep us imprisoned in a place of torment. And unless you share this secret with someone, and I mean the right someone you can trust, Satan will harass your soul and you will never live fully free. You may have told this secret to your Heavenly Father over and over with sincere sorrow and real regret but it may still haunt you night and day.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The way out is to let your secret out so that The Truth, Jesus, can shut Satan's mouth, unchain and get you out of that miserable cave. The Holy Spirit tells us in James 5:16a <em>Confess your sins to one another that you may be healed</em>. This doesn't mean to share it with your small group or your <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2078462895" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> School class but with someone you are certain can keep a confidence and who can share with you how Jesus can heal and free you. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">When a secret is exposed to the light, the burden of it often gets lighter immediately by just sharing it. It takes two things to enable us to share our secret(s) with someone. 1. Deciding you want to be free from its torment. 2. Asking God to bring you to the right person you can share it with. The sharing will be the beginning of your healing and freedom, blessings which are already yours in Christ, but you are not yet experiencing in this area of your life.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Aren't you ready to live free? Decide today you want to be free and ask God to bring you to that much needed person.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you need help, contact us at <a href="tel:704-522-9026" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+17045229026">704-522-9026</a>. We are there for you. We have 40 staff who can see you in person or by Skype. We also have many other trusted Christian counselors all over the USA and Europe.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Believe it! It's the Gospel.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Live Free In Christ, </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mark Maulding, President and Founder</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!</span></b></div>
Mark Mauldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04672711377887866888noreply@blogger.com0