14 November 2021
Two-Minute Features | 21 November 2021 | 07 November 2021

Legalism vs. The Spirit of God's Power (TMF:1745)

Friday, November 19, 2021
Peace to Live By: Legalism vs. The Spirit of God's Power (TMF:1745) - Daniel Litton
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       We know that Jesus said he would be with us always. Truly, we are never alone, no matter how we may feel. And that’s a great thing for us. This bearing witness by the Holy Spirit is also an external thing, something that occurs outside of us for everyone to see. The outpouring of a true Christlike character is shown forth in us, as we relate to other people bearing the Spirit’s fruit toward others, and using that fruit in our lives in general. The more legalistic a believer I think the less the Spirit of God is about to bear witness because the legalism snuffs out God’s power and replaces it with a logical, ritualistic way of living that is powerless. Hence that’s why legalistic Christians are generally uncomfortable to be around; they lack that warmth and acceptance we like to feel from other Christians. I know for me personally, I feel much more comfortable around balanced and even perhaps too liberal of believers versus those who are legalistic or severe.

Having an Incorrect View of God, Part 2 (TMF:1744)

Thursday, November 18, 2021
Peace to Live By: Having an Incorrect View of God, Part 2 (TMF:1744) - Daniel Litton
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       None of you fathers out there expect your son to only care for gifts you pick for him, or to only want to go places that you specifically want to go, or to like things and seek after things only you have an interest in, and of which he is not interested in. None of you are like that. So, why in the world would we accept a picture of God like this? Who would do that? God is better than our earthly fathers, not worse. Even Jesus made this argument. Some of you need to print what I just said and keep close by to remind yourself of the way things actually are with God. Verse 16: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:16-17, ESV). It certainly is the case that as Christians we can expect to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, confirming that we are a Christian, that we belong to God.

Having an Incorrect View of God, Part 1 (TMF:1743)

Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Peace to Live By: Having an Incorrect View of God, Part 1 (TMF:1743) - Daniel Litton
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       From time to time we are told and taught that we need to give up what we want for what God wants. However, let us translate this so called wisdom into an earthly father-son relationship. What Dad out there, listening to me today, is there who doesn’t want to give your son at least some of the things he wants? I would venture to say that all of you would agree with me that you give your son things he desires. You give him gifts he desires, take him places he wants to go, support him in interests he likes even though you may not particularly care for them. Why is it that some out there say that with God we have to give up all these things? None of you fathers out there expect your son to only care for gifts you pick for him, or to only want to go places that you specifically want to go, or to like things and seek after things only you have an interest in, and of which he is not interested in. None of you are like that. So, why in the world would we accept a picture of God like this? Who would do that?

God Cares About What We Care About (TMF:1742)

Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Peace to Live By: God Cares About What We Care About (TMF:1742) - Daniel Litton
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       Let us bring to mind what Paul told the Ephesians: “we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him [that is, Christ Jesus our Lord]” (Ephesians 3:12, ESV). We can be bold before God, just as a child. If there is something we want or want done for us, we can tell God plainly. And we have confidence that God now is on our side, that he cares about what we care about. We are frequently taught that what we desire and care about is dumb and stupid, and that we need to align our cares with God’s cares. But remember, we are indwelled by the Spirit, so our cares often are already God’s cares. The haters are gonna hate. Anyway, we have confidence before God like a child. We believe that God is going to work toward us in the way that we desire him work. In one the of churches my own Dad used to take me to when I was growing up, the minister there always like to quote the verse, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (Mark 10:15, KJV). So many pastors need to learn this.

God's Not Going to Do Something Against Us (TMF:1741)

Monday, November 15, 2021
Peace to Live By: God's Not Going to Do Something Against Us (TMF:1741) - Daniel Litton
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       And these wreck-of-a-fathers can exist inside the church walls also, especially in legalistic churches. The good news today is that God isn’t like this as our Father. He’s the nice, cool Dad you saw other’s had. He’s the Father you wished your dad acted like when you were a child. That’s God. A good father-child relationship then is one that is based on closeness, kindness, trust, and one of which there is a lack of fear, a lack of slavery to fear. Yes, you may fear your dad in that you revere him, but you really shouldn’t fear your dad in that your afraid he might do something to you, or against you. Let us bring to mind what Paul told the Ephesians: “we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him [that is, Christ Jesus our Lord]” (Ephesians 3:12, ESV). We can be bold before God, just as a child. If there is something we want or want done for us, we can tell God plainly.