Christian Living
The Christian life is a fight against evil forces from without and temptation from within.
If we stay true to God and his Word through it all, He promises an end, a rest, and a crown.
Our citizenship in Christ's Kingdom is sure, our destiny is set.
Let God's peace guard your heart.
Ephesians 2: 7 ~ TPT
Throughout the coming ages we will be the visible display of the infinite, limitless riches of his grace and kindness, which was showered upon us in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-2 ~ TPT
Walk holy, in a way that is suitable to your high rank, given to you in your divine calling. With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience.
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Grace & Kindness
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Walk Holy
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Tender humility
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Quiet patience
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Gentleness
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Generous Love
Ephesians 4:21-32 ~ TPT
If you have really experienced the Anointed One, and heard his truth, it will be seen in your life, for we know that the ultimate reality is embodied in Jesus!
Now it is time to be made new by every revelation that's been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has recreated you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness.
So discard every form of dishonesty and lying so that you will be known as one who always speaks the truth.
And don't let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin! Don't let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not for even a day. Don't give the slanderous accuser, the Devil, an opportunity to manipulate you!
Do not steal! Instead, be industrious, earning an honest living, and then you'll have enough to bless those in need.
Never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.
Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults.
Be kind and affectionate toward one another.
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Embodied in Jesus
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Be made New
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Be transformed!
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True Holiness
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Do not lie - always speak the Truth
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Do not be dishonest
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Control your emotions
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Do not steal!
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Earn an honest living!
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Bless those in need
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Words = Beautiful Gifts!
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Encourage others
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No bitter words
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No temper tantrums
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No revenge
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No profanity
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No insults
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Be kind
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Be affectionate
Walk in Love
Walk in Light
Walk in Wisdom
Speak to one another in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs.
Ephesians 5:1-21 ~ NKJV
Be imitators of God, as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Be wise and understand what the will of the Lord is. Speak to one another in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:8-13 ~ TPT
Once your life was full of sin's darkness, but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him.
Your mission is to live as a child flooded with his revelation-light!
And the supernatural fruits of his light will be seen in you - goodness, righteousness and truth.
Then you will learn to choose what is beautiful to our Lord.
And don't even associate with the servants of darkness because they have no fruit in them; instead, reveal truth to them. Whatever the revelation-light exposes, it will also correct, and everything that reveals truth is light to the soul.
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Union with Christ
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Revelation Light!
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Fruits visible
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Goodness
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Righteousness
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Reveal Truth
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Don't associate with servants of Darkness
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Light to the Soul
Ephesians 5:15-21 ~ TPT
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Do not get drunk on wine, which is rebellion and leads to debauchery [indulgence in sex, alcohol, or drugs]. Instead, be filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Keep speaking to one another with words of Scripture, singing the psalms, hymns, and spontaneous songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be supportive of each other in love.
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Live as wise
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Do not be foolish
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Know God's Will
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Do not drink to get drunk
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Don't be rebellious
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No debauchery
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Be filled with Holy Spirit
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Worship the Lord
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Give thanks
Paul contrasts getting drunk with wine, which produces a temporary high, to being filled with the Holy Spirit, which produces lasting joy. Getting drunk with wine is associated with the old way of life and its selfish desires.
Philippians 2:4-5 ~ TPT
Abandon every display of selfishness.
Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests. And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before you - let his mindset become your motivation!
Philippians 2:12-23 ~ TPT
Believers Shine like Lights in the World
Continue to make this new life fully manifested as you live in the holy awe of God - which brings you trembling into his presence. God will continually revitalise you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him.
Live a cheerful life, without complaining, for then you will be seen as innocent, faultless and pure, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the world, offering them the words of eternal life.
Carrie a passion for the welfare of others in your heart. Do not be like some who seem to be busy seeking what is best for themselves instead of the things that is most important to our Lord Jesus Christ. Live in such a way that you will have an excellent reputation.
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Shine your Light!
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Live cheerfully
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Stop complaining
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Speak words of Eternal Life
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Be compassionate
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Know what is important to Christ
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Excellent reputation
Philippians 4:4-5 ~ TPT
Always be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One! Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near.
Philippians 4:6-7 ~ TPT
Don't be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God's wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:4-5 ~ NKJV
Rejoice in the Lord, always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men.
The Lord is at hand!
Philippians 4:6-7 ~ NKJV
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Imagine never being anxious about anything! It seems like an impossibility - we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayer.
Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.
Philippians 4:8-9 ~ TPT
So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind.
And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always, and the peace of God will be with you in all things.
Philippians 4:8-9 ~ NKJV
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.
And the God of peace will be with you.
Joy in Serving
Joy in Believing
Joy in Giving
The Joy of the Lord is your Strength!
In contrast to happiness stands joy. Running deeper and stronger, joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love and work in our lives - that He will be there no matter what! Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Christ.
Colossians 2:6-7 ~ NKJV
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built upon Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 3:1-3, 8 ~ NKJV
Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died [to the old man], and now your life is hidden with Christ in God.
You are to put off all these:
anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of God who created Christ.
Colossians 3:12-16~ NKJV
The character of the New Man
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
BUT, above all things put on LOVE, which is the bond of perfection!
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, and be thankful!
Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:17~ NKJV
And, whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.
Doing "all in the name of the Lord Jesus" means bringing honor to Christ in every aspect and activity of daily living. As a Christian, you represent Christ at all times - wherever you go and whatever you say. ~ Footnotes NKJV
More will follow..