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Why It’s Easier to Encourage a Mature Believer  (Blog – 9/16/22)
As a pastor, I have been given authority to teach Holy Scripture. I have authority to teach obedience. A mature person understands that whenever I’m teaching obedience, I’m actually encouraging them into the sphere of God’s love.

Authority-Orientation
The human flesh hates the idea of submitting to anyone or anything in this world! The fact that God has ordained pastors teaching obedience rubs people the wrong way.

Ro 7:21-23
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
 
Ac 5:40-42
and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
 
Caution Regarding Your Understanding of Sanctification
You’ve got to make the distinction about God’s PROMISES and your current ABILITIES. If you don’t, you will become discouraged.

Php 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
 
Be On Guard For Your Soul
We must stay closely tied in to the teachings and the authority, as a protection for ourselves and others, especially when we don't "feel like it". Heb 10:25, 13:17
 
Ac 20:28
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
 
Regarding Blessings
A blessing from God does not mean that He meets you at your fleshly desires. Instead, He strips you of any notions of satisfying your human flesh and then supplants them with His own doctrines. As a result, you approach Him reverently, seeking to understand whatever His will might be instead of with self-serving demands.

Regarding Blessings
We are not here to acquire earthly blessings, but to be a blessing for the Lord and for others, by the grace and power of God!
 
Emotional Salvation Isn’t Enough (blog - 7/26/19)
The demands from God never waver. A person must address their own sinfulness before His holiness. Emotional relief may come with sanctification, but sanctification must begin where it begins with every other human being who’s ever been saved, with repentance.

Mt 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
 
Regarding Blessings
A blessing from God does not mean that He meets you at your fleshly desires. Instead, He strips you of any notions of satisfying your human flesh and then supplants them with His own doctrines. As a result, you approach Him reverently, seeking to understand whatever His will might be instead of with self-serving demands.

Godliness looks more like a fortress than a rose.

Obedience always implies submission to an authority.

Encouragement
The end goal of worldly encouragement is benefit to self, whereas the end goal of Biblical encouragement is benefit to God.