V Errors Through The Centuries
Church history affords a number of illustrations of how people have tried either to reject or rationalize this God-man mystery. The two erroneous extremes just discussed have appeared in many forms throughout the centuries and will continue to arise as long as people refuse to bow to the authority of Gods revelation of Himself in the Scriptures.
The Gnostics were among the first who perverted the Biblical doctrine of the God-man. Because of their dualistic conviction that matter is evil, they refused to believe in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Theirs was a form of Docetism, a doctrine that taught Christ only seemed to have a real body. They believed that Christ tricked the evil god of the Old Testament at the Crucifixion because His body was not real.
The Apostle John fought against the developing Gnosticism of his day and urged his readers to test the spirits, for every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God . John was vehemently opposed to this denial of the full humanity of Jesus, calling it the spirit of the antichrist.
Another controversy related to the issue of the God-man was generated in part by Arius of Alexandria in the early fourth century. Arius said that Christ was different from God and was of another substance. The conflict that arose from this led to the important Council of Nicea in A.D. 325.
Eutyches, in the fifth century, arrived at the unusual viewpoint that Christ was neither truly human nor divine, but was a tertium quid .
Seven Lessons For What We Say
Wanting to set an example with our speech, what kind of example should we set? What does a man of God sound like in the wild?
The letters of Paul say a great deal about what we say, distilled below into seven lessons . Before we get into the seven, though, one verse in particular might serve as a worthy banner over the rest:
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
If we want to set a good example in our speech, we should strive for our words to be a grace to others. Do our words consistently and effectively minister the grace of God to those who hear? Do they lead them to see and savor more of God? Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, Paul says elsewhere, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear .
To fill out that graciousness, though, Paul gives us a number of specific principles for guarding our mouths and serving others in all we say.
He Keeps His Mind Sharp
A Godly man desires to be wise so he can make good choices. He studies his Bible, and he works hard to make himself a smarter, more disciplined person. He wants to know what is going on in the world to see how he can do God’s work. He wants to know God’s answer to any situation he may face. This means spending time in bible study, doing your homework, taking your schooling seriously, and spending time in prayer and church.
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How Does The Holy Spirit Guide The Godly Man
The Holy Spirit guides a godly man and helps him to follow Gods will. The Holy Spirit gives the godly man strength, guidance, and comfort. He leads the godly man in the right direction and helps him to discern right from wrong. The godly man relies on the Holy Spirit to guide him in all of his decisions and actions
Bungoma Residents Worship Kneel Before Man Claiming To Be Jesus: Huyu Yesu Anaponya
- Mwalimu Yesu claims he is the son of God who was sent to the world to deliver humankind from the shackles of sin
- The father of eight has his church situated in Tongaren, Bungoma county from where he runs his mission
- The faithful of his church regard him as their Messiah who has the power to heal the sick and perform miracles
Years after the Jehovah Wanyonyi craze cooled off, there happens to be another deity in Bungoma county.
Unlike Jehovah Wanyonyi, who claimed to be the Supreme Being preached in houses of worship, the new deity claims he is Jesus, the son of God.
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Powerful Characteristics Of A Godly Man
When I say that the average Christian man today lacks many of the essential characteristics of a Godly man, I believe you will agree with me.
And youre not alone many have come to that conclusion as well. But the good news is that you can help change that fact in your church, family, and community.
So today, well look at a few powerful biblical virtues that will not only change your life for the better but also have a ripple effect on those around you.
So, without further ado, lets get started. For thousands of years, men have studied rigorously various male characteristics to determine the most significant ones. And there are as follow:
Ways To Find A Godly Man
So, now you know all the characteristics of a godly man. Hence, it is clear that he is a good man who can make your life better positively. Any woman will love to have a godly man as her life partner.
But how to find a godly man?
Here are a few tricks-
You will find him religiously visiting churches, mosques, or temples on auspicious days and Sundays. But, be sure to reach early as such men do not prefer gatherings of regular people.
He will be a crucial team member of the community. Hence, you will find him as a key worker of the church service team or the local relief team. He will always be there to help people in need.
If you want to attract a godly man, you have to do it in a godly way by respecting and following the characteristics of a godly man. So, you have to be generous, honest, and helpful to ensure he gets attracted.
You will find a godly man as a volunteer during relief operations and charity organizations. He will be there for charity sales and auctions in the locality.
He will attend preaching concerts and theological conferences regularly. So, you can find him in those places.
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Amazing Men From The Bible To Inspire Boys
Were raising Christian kids in a world that points to all kinds of different role models for boys, some of which are good, some not so good. If you asked most little boys in our world today who their heroes are, you would probably hear a lot about athletes or entertainers. Or maybe even superheroes. These days, even professional video gamers or YouTubers may make the list. Probably not as much about everyday guys who are great dads or loving husbands, or men who serve others in humility and sacrifice themselves for the needs of others.
While our culture tells our boys to be strong and successful in the ways of the world, the men in Scripture can show them what it means to be strong in the Lord and successful in His eyes. If you really want to inspire your sons with stories of strong and successful men of God, all you have to do is open the pages of your Bible. Use these stories in your family devotional times to inspire your sons to grow into strong men of God.
Five Characteristics Of A Godly Man
1. Stand Strong
A godly man is expected to stand strong and hold fast to the truth of his Heavenly Father that was revealed through Jesus Christ even in the face of challenges, attacks, hatred, persecutions, criticisms, and sufferings.Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests, and to the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 1:18-19Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15:58
2. Step Up
3. Speak Out
4. Stay Humble
5. Serve the King
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John Lived A Full Life In Love With The Savior
The youngest of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, John outlived them all. His lifespan probably covered almost all of the first century A.D. Traditionally, John was the author of the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation.
The Gospel of John includes arguably the most famous Bible verse, John 3:16. Not surprisingly, John uses the word love more than the other three Gospels combined. Its true that every New Testament book uses the word love repeatedly, but 1 John uses it far more often than any other New Testament epistle . John even uses love repeatedly throughout the book of Revelation.
No wonder John often is called the apostle of love. Then again, make no mistake: John wasnt in love with love. Instead, he deeply loved the Savior. He also deeply loved his fellow brothers and sisters in Christand rejoiced greatly when they walked in the truth.
After the Lord Jesus Christ gives me a bear hug and welcomes me into heaven, I cant wait to get another bear hug from the apostle John. What a welcome that will be!
David Sanford coaches leaders passionate about demonstrating the relevance of Jesus Christ in every major sphere of life. His book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, and Amazon. His speaking engagements have ranged everywhere from The Billy Graham Center at the Cove to UC Berkeley .
More Troubles Ahead And Increased Pressure On Europe To Unite
COVID and the effects of Russias invasion of Ukraine have destabilized the world, especially Europe, and it is in times of crisis that strong leaders come to the fore. High inflation and unemployment in the early 1930s brought Adolf Hitler to power and we all know how that turned out. So, does the Bible have anything to say about the future of Europe?
The prophet Daniel interpreted an unusual dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had, explaining that the king saw an image of a man that represented four great empires, beginning with his own Chaldean empire. History shows that the next three were the Medo-Persian, the Greco-Macedonian, and the Roman Empires. Other scriptures describe these same four empires as wild beasts and the last one, the Roman Empire, would continue in one revival after another until the end of the age when God would intervene. The end of this Roman system is described in Daniel 2, beginning in verse 41:
Could there be any better description of Europe today? The dream of a United States of Europe, despite a continuing effort to bring such about, has never fully materialized. These nations do not mix any more than iron and clay. Yet, the prophecy indicates that ten nations or leaders will come together for a short time. Revelation 17 speaks of this final empire as a ten horned beastthe ten horns matching the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzars image.
Trend #1: The crisis in Europe will continue until a strongman arises to bring ten kings together.
Expect:
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No Course Corrections For 2022 And Beyond
When we think of 2022, another disaster that only got worse was the weather. As of November 10:
According to the United States Drought Monitor, 47 percent of the land area of the contiguous 48 states is experiencing various degrees of drought, nearly all of it in the High Plains or from the Rocky Mountains westward. Drought affects the entirety of nine states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon and North and South Dakota .
Major reservoirs such as Lake Meade and Lake Powell are at record lows, threatening agriculture and electric power generation.
Further east:
Water levels on the Mississippi River normally decline in the fall and winter, but not by nearly as much as they did in October 2022. Drought and Barge Backups on the Mississippi .
The Mississippi river is critical to moving agricultural and construction supplies to the Gulf of Mexico for export, but as Fox News explained:
Critical ship and barge traffic for the agriculture industry has been disrupted.
The river moves more than half of all U.S. grain exports, but industry estimates cited by the federal government show the drought has reduced the flow of goods by about 45%.
Barges have been stuck there, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, and ships have been advised to lighten their loads .
But its not in America alone. Note this further report from The Verge:
In What Ways Was Job A Godly Man
Job was a man of great faith and trust in God. He was tested by God and endured great suffering, yet he remained steadfast in his faith. He was a man of great patience and humility, and he even praised God in the midst of his suffering. Job was a great example of a godly man, and he is praised by God for his faith and obedience.
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Recap: 6 Things The Godly Man Never Forgets
#1 The belt of truth: The godly man seeks biblical truth and lives with integrity.#2 The breastplate of righteousness: The godly man guards his heart.#3 The shoes for your feet: The godly man is ready to go with the Gospel.#4 The shield of faith: The godly man lives by faith in God.#5 The helmet of salvation: The godly man allows the spirit to control his mind and thoughts.#6 The sword of the spirit: The godly man knows and correctly uses Gods Word.
Question: Which piece of armor do you need to work on or practice with to be more ready for battle? Tell us on twitter @manhoodjourney or you can always .
Simeon And Anna Rejoiced Over The Newborn Messiah
Simeon lived in Jerusalem. Anna lived in the Temple itself. Their stories are told in Luke 2:25-38. Both were prophets. The Lord had told Simeon that he would not die in old age until he had seen the Messiah. Then the Lord spoke through Simeon exalting the Christ child and speaking words of exaltation and warning to the newborns mother, Mary.
While Simeon was so happy he was ready to die, Anna probably was older. The literal reading of the text says she had been married for seven years and then lived as a widow for eighty-four more years. If Anna was married at age 13 , she would have been 104 years old when she walked up and joined Simeon.
Unlike Simeon, Anna had never felt more alive. We read that she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem . I can imagine her radiant smiles and excitement as she went around the Court of the Women talking with everyone she met. I wouldnt be surprised if shes still doing that in heaven!
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A Godly Man Must Think Like Christ
In December 1999 Time magazine named Albert Einstein Person of the Century. The article states, The touchstones of the erathe Bomb, the Big Bang, quantum physics and electronicsall bear his imprint.
He was as brilliant as his hair was messy!
Albert Einstein, however, was not alone. Mental giants like Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking also had gifted minds. So, this begs the question: What if you could harness their intellectual firepower? What if you could think like them? Whose mind would you pick?
But beyond IQ, there are more profound issues.
A godly man desires spiritual knowledge, wisdom and understandingthings that academia cannot teach and IQ alone cannot grasp.
A godly man wants to think like his Creator. A godly man strives to think like Jesus Christ!
You may be thinking to yourself, How can a man think like Jesus Christ? It seems as if its not possible! Well, with God, anything is possible.
One time when Jesus disciples were amazed at what they heard, Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible .
Paul said something extraordinary in his first letter to the congregation in Corinth. He said that if you have the gift of Gods Spirit in you, you can begin to discern spiritual things! But he who is spiritual judges all things .
He quickly followed up with an astounding claim: But we have the mind of Christ .
He Gives Without Complaint
Society tells us to always look out for #1, but who is actually #1? Is it God? It should be, and a Godly man knows it. When we look out for God, he gives us a heart for giving. When we do God’s work, we give to others, and God gives us a heart that soars when we do it. It never feels like a burden. A Godly man gives his time or his money without complaining because it’s God’s glory he seeks. We can start developing this selflessness by getting involved now. If you don’t have money to give, try your time. Join an outreach program. Do something, and give something back. It’s all for God’s glory, and it helps people in the meantime.
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