S7E11 - It Is Humbling When...
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
If humility is the key to the Door of the Kingdom (and we think it is) then a few things must be considered. Jesus is clear that He is the Door to His Father and His Kingdom. The keys to the Kingdom were given to the right person. This has nothing to with church authority and everything to do with Peter's magnificent followthrough in his imperfect faith. Peter promised never-ending allegiance to Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have...
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S7E10 - I Bow My Knees
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:7-9 Jesus spends much time explaining His Kingdom. He is the Door of the Kingdom, of course, but we enter through this Door through the reality of humility. Let's take a look at part of this woven thread!...
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S7E9 - Deep Calls To Deep
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
We thought it was a good time for a deep dive into who is really in control. Let's follow the thread. The evil one manipulates us with fear. "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." (Hebrews 2:14-15) God's perfect love casts out fear. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who...
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S7E8 - The Joy of Forgetting
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
As humans we cannot help but carry our own amount of weights. Disappointments. Bad memories. Unfulfilled hopes. Critical words. Jesus commented on the weight He places upon His followers: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30) The word yoke encompasses the idea of weights and balances. If you have every contemplated Proverbs you have encountered how God feels about "just"...
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S7E7 - Full of Joy
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
As you know, at Fourthstream we are all about following, knowing, and applying the woven threads of the God Story. Today we are talking about joy - which is a major thread! There is a strength which comes from God and is powerful in very practical and amazing ways. We will do our best to consider the panoramic specifics of what joy brings into the world - and into the heart and life of a Jesus follower. The Source of Joy - Nehemiah 8:10 The Jews had returned from a long and painful captivity. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther were raised up to encourage joy among those who...
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S7E6 - Forever True
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
The concept of forever is tough to grasp. Everything about being human eventually runs into limitation. "As for the days of our lives, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years. Yet human pride is only labor and sorrow, for soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Your angerand Your fury, according to the reverence that is due You? So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." - Moses in Psalm 90 There are a couple of important keys to unlocking a life of hope. The first is...
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S7E5 - Hand of God
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
When God's hand moves His will is done - on earth and in heaven. His authority backs up His intentions seamlessly. There is no hesitation. There is nothing that can stop it. He thinks and His hand moves and His will is done. In Mary's prayer of praise to God in Luke 1:49-52 she says: “For the Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is His name. His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who revere Him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down...
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S7E4 - Wickedness
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
The wickedness thread from the God Story is extensive. Here are a few of the central elements. The word itself is tied to "working at things which are not just" so there must be distinct departure from the truth to become a "worker of wickedness." This differs from the sin which is endemic to the entire human race. Sin is our condition of rebellion and separation from our Creator. Wickedness is our choice to reject God and subjugate others. When one thinks about wicked people usually some sort of injustice comes to mind. Oppression. Human trafficking. Abortion. Taking the life of another....
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S7E3 - Over Our Heads
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
Humanity has been and continues to be a slippery group. Our propensity to blame and accuse others, to consider ourselves greater and others lesser, and to justify our own acts toward others is epic. "But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; saying “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. “Since the days of our...
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S7E2 - Love Your Neighbor
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
The Hebrew word for neighbor means companion or friend. It focuses His people on our identity as sons of Adam. By caring for and about our neighbor(s) we are carried into God's world. This is a central thread in the Word of God, so it is key to our spiritual success. When Jesus quotes the Law of Moses to the man who wanted to know the greatest commandment: "One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all our heart, and with all your soul, and with all...
info_outlineWe have enjoyed our time together discussing the power of God's Man/God's Woman for doing good in our world. Obviously, we have just scratched the surface on these ten topics, but this book was written to provide a home base for each of these critical conversations as you grow in your own faith and try to help others do the same.
What are the good questions of life? When we live in an inquiring manner we expand the depth of our minds and hearts. There are obviously core questions, but we must hold the unfolding questions of our personal growth experiences up to God's core as we search for true meaning.
How does a person leverage the mind, heart, soul, and conscience? Awareness of the distinctions in each of our identities is key to making the most out of our choices and actions. When we can sift the events of our lives through these God-given assets: mind, heart, soul, and conscience we can find depth for who we are becoming.
My personal vision: what is it I want out of life? It is easy to live in a distracted and shallow manner. While we may find happiness, this in no way assures depth in heart and mind - or true joy. So it is important for me to have a compass when it comes to what I desire and pursue.
How do I find, cultivate, and grow solid relationships? We got some good feedback on this chapter as you appreciated looking at how God describes the core of relational success. This does not happen without living in a principled way, investing in true relationships which produce fruit. Depth takes prayer, work, and above all - a forgiving heart toward one another.
What have I (we) found that has helped establish, nurture, and guide our home? When we find and adapt to God's principles for the home we will find God's design for success. It is not a matter of being perfect parents, but being sensitive to God and one another as we work to build a Kingdom home.
What have we found to be our personal strengths and vulnerabilities? Personal honesty is the best policy for sure. When we are vulnerable with God we are teachable in the deeper things of life. This opens us to others within the imperfect world of relationships, and helps us to embrace our journey with humility and hope - two key elements for putting it all together.
How do we go about helping others combat timidity, fear, and identity issues? Because we are born into a world at war, we are susceptible to the schemes of the wicked one. When our timidity is exchanged for courage, our fear for hope, and our learned identity is secure in Jesus - we are able to help others do the same.
What we have found to help us connect with our/my spirituality? God can be a distant concept for our human hearts, but we have been given the Word of God and His good Spirit to connect us with Him from the inside-out. This allows us to live with what we call a satisfied mind, and fuels a life of spiritual work and hopeful enjoyment. Being spiritual is much different than being religious.
What does the Light and Darkness conversation bring to my/our trajectory? To be discerning in our lives we must make use of the tools God has given us to find our our way. The Bible is a book which contrasts the light and the darkness that exists all around us. This says it all: "...but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." - 1 John 1:7
What things have helped me/us put it all together and make life count? We are hopeful that this book and the time you have spent thinking some of these things through has resulted in clarity for your spiritual journey with Jesus. After all, He is the way - He is the truth - and He is the life!
These topics and principles can give us a home base for expanded understanding as we grow in wisdom and experience. "Wisdom is the ability to put knowledge into practice."
Let's Make it Count!
Brent Harris and Dave Nadler
All of the assets of Fourthstream.com and BrentHarrisBooks.com are dedicated to your success concerning all the works of your hands.