Psalm 23: A Not-So-Simple Soul-Cry & Heart-ResponseIn any language, the words we use carry a depth of meaning that cannot always be conveyed just from the word alone—and we will delve into how “not-so-simple” Psalm 23 actually is.
PoG_BibleStudy_Psalm23.pdf Adobe Acrobat document [238.1 KB]
Trusting the Father (Lessons 001 - 052)Complete Bible Study Lessons on Trusting the Father. This is a sharing of my Religious Deconstruction into a Relationship with the Lord (God as a Father / Parent, Jesus Christ as my Older Sibling, and the Holy Spirit as my Counsellor / Therapist).
Trusting the Father (Lessons 001 - 052).[...] Adobe Acrobat document [7.0 MB]
Trusting the Father - PrefaceThis Bible Study series shares my journey and relationship with the Lord, in hopes that it helps set you free from religion, fear, and strongholds. In this lesson, we will look at the Purpose, Guidance, Beliefs, and Lessons in this 52-part series as we begin learning to Trust the Father.
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Trusting the Father - 001 Character & Nature of God: GoodWhen we think of God, we do not always think of Him as being a good person—as we would ourselves judge a person we see or meet living in this world. We oftentimes give more “good” credit to people around us than to God. Yet it is God that lives up to His own “Good” standard and will always Himself follow the guidelines He gives us.
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Trusting the Father - 002 Character & Nature of God: LoveJust as we can confuse ourselves as to what is “Good”, we can confuse ourselves to what is “Love”. Growing up, the kind of love my dad had for me included punishment (abuse)—and the religious church I grew up in interpreted God in that same fashion: out to get me “in love”.
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Trusting the Father - 003 Character & Nature of God: JesusThis is one area of God’s character and nature I did not relate together—that God is exactly as Jesus is; and Jesus exactly as God is. So, even though I read about God “doing” things in the “Old Testament” of the Bible, I could override or put-aside those things if they contradict anything Jesus demonstrated. Jesus came to reveal the exact true nature and character of God: both as a Father and as what that really looked like.
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Trusting the Father - 004 Character & Nature of God: Holy SpiritLooking back on my life, even into my childhood (before I became a believer), I can recognise the Holy Spirit with me. And even as a believer, seeing, feeling, and hearing Him as He helped guide my life.
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Trusting the Father - 005 PeaceJohn Lennon’s Imagine envisioned a world with peace. However, it was often a world ‘without’ something. Yet the Lord understands there will always be something in this world that will create conflict to try and disrupt our own peace. However, it is not the lack of conflict that brings peace, but the ability to maintain a personal peace in whatever comes your way—allowing your relationship with the Lord to bring you peace in the midst of conflict.
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Trusting the Father - 006 GraceGrace is God’s provision for our everyday lives (hence why He gave us the ministry name: Provisions of Grace). Too often, I found myself working for God, or working to live this Christian life. However, God’s Grace has eliminated the need for me to abide by the Law. And likewise, is gifting me the ability to live an Abundant Life. You and God are a team; and He will never abandon you to be “on your own” to live this life.
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Trusting the Father - 007 Faith & Belief / UnbeliefWe have to let go of the religious notion of needing “more faith” or to just “believe more”. These are misnomers. Our only requirement is to believe (not have some level of belief). Likewise, our Faith is gifted to us for use by the Holy Spirit. We don’t need “more faith”, we express faith as a fruit—that being the Faith of Jesus.
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Trusting the Father - 008 Health & HealingGod wants you well, and we should never second-guess that. Christ broke the curse of sickness and disease through the Cross; let’s believe this.
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Trusting the Father - 009 Trials / Temptations / DisciplineI grew up feeling that it was the Lord always bringing (or “allowing”) hardships on my life—always testing me over and over again. Of which I always seemed to fail. But this is not the case: it is “the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy”. It’s not God testing you to whom you are in this world; it’s this world that is testing you to whom you are in Christ. There is freedom knowing God is not out to test, tempt, or physically discipline you.
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Trusting the Father - 010 Satan Defeated! We Have AuthorityMost of my life existed as a defeated Christian. Then I came to realize that my life as a Christian had power and authority—both my own and through the Lord. Christ defeated Satan and he is beneath me (beneath all humans). And when I became a believer, I inherited that same authority that Jesus Christ Himself has. Let’s discover the authority we have to overcome any and all challenges that come our way.
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Trusting the Father - 011 IdentityWhom we are is more than what we see in the mirror. When we are Born-Again, we are instantly changed from being of this world to being of our Father God. Our identity becomes that of our Father in Heaven, and just like our sibling Jesus Christ. How fantastic is that! How you see yourself can affect your everyday life. Let’s know we are Born of God!
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Trusting the Father - 012 Tabernacle: Body, Mind, Soul, Heart, SpiritOur makeup as a human being, plays a role in how we engage with the world around us; and the Lord as well. We are the Lord’s creation, made in a very specific way—a way that replicates the Tabernacle design He gave to Moses. Knowing the different parts of our being gives us insight into the various ways our life is impacted.
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Trusting the Father - 013 Tabernacle: BodyOften, we feel that our existence is just being a “body” on this earth; but it is more than that, housing our Mind, Soul, Heart, and Spirit. Yet this body we exist in is only temporary—so even if it is suffering in this world, we can have joy that we will get a brand new one. However, let us not forget the power and authority we still have in this world to guide, shape, and heal our bodies.
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Trusting the Father - 014 Tabernacle: MindOur mind can guide alot of what we do by its thinking and imaginations; impacting our lives and the lives of those around us. Yet, we can renew it away from the influences of this world and shape it into acknowledging and accepting a greater Truth from the Holy Spirit inside of us. And in doing so, create a healthier life and lifestyle.
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Trusting the Father - 015 Tabernacle: SoulOur soul is where the core of our emotions lie. Knowing that they derive from a specific location in our being helps us to understand the why’s of them and address their needs; also seeing the affect these emotions can have on our decisions (will) in life. We can then embrace emotions as God-given (not fearing them); while also being able to evaluate the ability to overcome them or to choose with them.
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Trusting the Father - 016 Tabernacle: HeartOur heart is alive. It is the basis for where and what we believe; and can positively or negatively affect our experiences in life. I have found that I used to live my life as a lowly “sinner saved by grace”. This sin-conscience dwelt on my heart, often condemning me. But once I believed that I was Righteous, not a sinner, that religious heaviness on my heart lifted—transforming my heart from that sin-conscience to a righteous-conscience.
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Trusting the Father - 017 Tabernacle: SpiritWhom we are in the core is a spirit. In essence, we are a spirit, with a heart, soul, and mind, in a body. Our actions (will) all stem from our spirit inside-out. And as we clear hindering filters from our heart, soul, mind, and body, our Born-Again Spirit can flow freely—doing the Will of the Lord in us. Our body may die, but our spirit exists in eternity; and will either eternally live WITH the Lord in Heaven/New Earth or live SEPARATED from the Lord in Hell. When we believe through the heart in Christ Jesus, our spirit is Born Again into a Holy Spirit—becoming the Spirit of Christ!
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Trusting the Father - 018 Believing in Christ Jesus & Forgiveness of SinsOur sins of the flesh were all forgiven at the Cross (long before we ever commit them). And when we believe in Christ Jesus, our Sin of not believing in Him is forgiven. When we understand these two “sin” aspects, we can let go of so much of the confusion revolving around the concept of sin. The Lord did the work of removing any hindrance sin could have in keeping us from believing in Him; yet He could not violate our free-will in not believing. So let us let go of the weight and power of sin in our lives and just believe on Him!
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Trusting the Father - 019 Taking the Worry Out of Sin (Religiously)Being raised in a legalistic church, I developed a religion that kept me focused on sin—in trying to avoid sin. I got trapped in a winless system, for the more I focused on trying not to sin, the stronger sin became. But when I realized Christ took care of all those fleshly sins “once and for all time” at the Cross, I stopped worrying about those sins and thinking that they had an affect on my relationship with the Lord.
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Trusting the Father - 020 How Do We Live as Christians (Believers)My entire Christian life and its way of living changed the instant that I was Baptised in the Holy Spirit. I began to heal from religion, letting go of trying to live that “righteous” lifestyle and started letting the Lord guide me to heal me. He not only transformed how I read and understood the Bible, He continually shows me His ability in me to get through the challenges that this life brings.
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Trusting the Father - 021 A Redeemed & Reconciled (Not Fallen) WorldLet’s stop blaming Adam and Eve; let’s celebrate even more, what God has done through Christ Jesus. No longer are we under a curse. Nor are we subject to the Devil. Christ Jesus, as a human being, took back what Satan stole—restoring humanity’s God-given authority over the works of the Devil.
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Trusting the Father - 022 Righteousness Is Not A Behaviour!We should never believe that who we are is what we do. As a believer, regardless of what you do, it cannot take away your God-Gifted Title of Righteous. If you are a non-believer, you don’t have to change your behaviour (“get right”) before believing.
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Trusting the Father - 023 Salvation / SavedNo matter what you are facing in this life, you can be freed (saved) from its power over you. Our Salvation into Eternal Life with the Lord is brought to us by Christ Jesus for us to believe into that Salvation. But also, we are and can be Saved from the perils, diseases, strongholds (self), and obstacles we face on this earth—we just need to allow Him into those aspects of our Spirit, Heart, Soul, Mind, and Body.
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Trusting the Father - 024 God Allowed It?Don’t blame God for the misfortunes of this world. He is the Author of Life, not hardship or death.
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Trusting the Father - 025 The Lord's PrayerLord, “Teach us how to pray”. Let’s not pray as in the Old Testament. But let’s pray as confident God will hear us and answer us.
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Trusting the Father - 026 BaptismsContinually immerse yourself in who He correctly is; and in His Righteousness. We need not worry about ritualistic washing, but to know that we can have a “clear conscience” before the Lord.
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Trusting the Father - 027 Filled With The Holy SpiritThis is the greatest thing in my life and walk with the Lord: to be Baptised and Filled in the Holy Spirit. No longer was I a cowardly Christian pushed around by just any doctrine—He showed me Himself and with that came the Dynamite Power and Authority He desires so much for us to have and continually walk in.
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Trusting the Father - 028 The Humanity of JesusI think it’s easier to view Christ Jesus as God, than it is to see Him as Human. But right now, a human sits in the Throne Room next to God the Father on Humanity’s behalf. And as a human, He knows exactly what you are facing in your life in this world—He is more than empathetic, He lived it and experience it, and showed us how to overcome it!
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Trusting the Father - 029 The Thief (Discernment & Battle)We live in a world where there are many things we have or desire that others want to steal from us or keep us from having. Some, because they are jealous and want what you have; others because of their own lack; and some because they just don’t want you to have it.
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Trusting the Father - 030 Humility, Obedience, & TrustOne of the most difficult things I have to do in life, is let go of trying and doing, and just submit to the Lord. As He shared with me, “Life does not become easier… it becomes a life of Letting Go of SELF and holding onto ME.”
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Trusting the Father - 031 Our Responsibility (With the Lord)“Take my yolk, it is easy” says the Lord. An invitation to be along-side Him as you journey in this world. He never wants you to do life alone. You are His personal child, and He wants to take care of you with you. He will lead the way, but we must act into that direction He needs us to go in.
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Trusting the Father - 032 Money, Tithe, & GivingIf you felt guilty reading that title, then this is what you need to hear. Many of us have been abused by guilt from the “church” or our upbringing. So, let’s be free from that obligation, abuse, and guilt!
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Trusting the Father - 033 LovesWho and what do you “love”; and what kind of “love” is it? Our goal is to exist and be as Love (Agape Love). This encompasses the Agape Loving of the Lord your God with all your being (filters and restrictions removed); and then to Agape Loving others the same way—oh, and that includes Agape Loving yourself!
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Trusting the Father - 034 Fruit of the Spirit (Just Be)Fruit comes naturally when connected to the source. He is our Vine, we are the branches from the Vine. He supplies the nourishment for us to manifest His Fruit out from His Spirit in us. And because we are perpetually connected, we can always produce fruit—to “Just Be Him”.
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Trusting the Father - 035 GiftsWe have all been given the same Holy Spirit—as such, we have all been given the same Gifts. Let us freely give and use those Gifts, as they are provided without debt (hence why it is called a gift).
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Trusting the Father - 036 Armour of GodWe must recognise that as we live on this earth, things are going to try and “steal, kill, or destroy”. It is a battle out there in the world, but also in (and against) our Spirit, Heart, Soul, Mind, and Body. Let us “dress for battle”. There is no reason to ever take off His Armour!
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Trusting the Father - 037 Repentance & ConscienceThere’s another one of those guilt-ladened words: Repentance. But don’t worry, we’ll just change our thinking and let go of any guilt-conscience.
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Trusting the Father - 038 The LawWe do not live by or under the Law. We may fully know that; yet, it can still deceptively show up in a Law-based mindset / heartset / attitude.
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Trusting the Father - 039 Your AdversaryYou will be surprised in realising who you’ve made as an enemy—it’s not always Satan.
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Trusting the Father - 040 Final JudgementBe Bold as a Believer: No Fear, No Worry, No Doubts, No Punishment, No Torment; just His Love! The Lord holds “no records of wrongs” in your life (or anyone else’s). Thus, we have to let go of the fear that all my “sins done in secret” (or any of them) will be revealed at Final Judgement. A person is only judged by whether they Believe in Jesus Christ or don’t. That’s all it is; and not everyone will be at the “Great White Throne of Judgement”.
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Trusting the Father - 041 Fasting (Meat & Drink)Fasting is not about getting God to move based on sacrificing something. Nor is it a calendar-ritual or religious requirement. It is there to help break through your own unbelief.
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Trusting the Father - 042 Soul (Emotions & Feelings)Emotions are not to be ignored or treated as “not from God”. The Lord has the same emotions He Created in us. How we respond (feel) from the emotions can be a sign of what is in you, and a choice on how to act on that feeling. Don’t deny them, push into them with the help of the Holy Spirit to guide you.
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Trusting the Father - 043 Storms of LifeWe will all have literal and figurative storms come in our life. Some we avoid, others we calm, and others we go through. The Lord says we will have persecutions (personal storms) in this world—in all the situations we face, let’s stay focused on Him in those storms. He is the calm in the storm!
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Trusting the Father - 044 Our Duality (Flesh & Spirit / Healed & Unhealed)It is that we all live in a reality where we exist in both the Flesh (unhealed) and the Spirit (healed). We cannot deny either of them, but can discern them better. And then learn to live more from our healthy Spirit (our “new man”) rather than our unhealthy Flesh (our “old man”).
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Trusting the Father - 045 Sowing & ReapingWhen we live from the Spirit, we reap the benefits (Life) of the Spirit. When we live from the Flesh, we reap the destruction of the Flesh. It is not God bringing injustice, calamity, hardships, trouble, and the like—this destruction is a result of you, me, and everyone who lives out from the differing areas of the Flesh (those unhealthy / unhealed parts).
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Trusting the Father - 046 Ministry TypesWhen we learn about the Lord through one of these Ministry Types, we get a glimpse of who the Lord is from that understanding. When an Apostle shares and demonstrates the Lord in them, we see Him from that perspective—the same when from a Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.
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Trusting the Father - 047 Body of Christ (Individually & Collectively)There are parts within each one of us, as Created from the Lord, that represent the parts of Christ. Every human being has those Christ-aspects, God-aspects, and Spirit-aspects that represent the Lord. Let’s embrace each and every one of those parts in each and every one of us—for as we each represent the Lord in a specific area, we collectively represent the Lord as a whole.
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Trusting the Father - 048 Overcome The WorldThere is so much that happens in this world that wears on us and tries to constantly bring us down—often us trying to get out from all that happens to us from our conception, upbringing, and adulthood. Christ overcame all He suffered, and so can we! And from that, bring healing to ourself, for ourself and others.
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Trusting the Father - 049 As A ChildWe have a Father in Heaven who is also Jesus’s Father. Jesus was His child. We are His child. Sometimes we forget to “be a child” to the Lord, and understanding what that means or looks like. But we have Jesus to look at to see what a Father-Child relationship is with God our Father. And we can “come to Him as a child” when we believe that He can be trusted—not as like our earthly parents, but as the utmost perfect Loving Father who only does bring Good into our lives.
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Trusting the Father - 050 FreedomWe may not know we have been captive in a way of thinking, believing, feeling, or behaving; but we have been given the ability (because of Christ) to break free from those mental, emotional, and religious strongholds that limit who we are created as (and can “Just Be” as). Let’s break off the fears and shackles that bind us; so that we truly can live the life that is, “as Christ Jesus is, so are we in this world”.
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Trusting the Father - 051 [Correct] KnowledgeWhether we believe the lie, or don’t believe the truth, we are deceived. With so much “knowledge” available to us, we often don’t know what is true. Hence why, having the correct knowledge of the Lord is crucial to a richer life.
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Trusting the Father - 052 Moving Forward...When we do grow and learn in that correct knowledge of the Lord, we set a firm foundation to grow and develop our relationship with the Father: Trusting the Father
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Trusting the Father - Conclusion & Further Topics of StudyBecause the Word of God is Alive and Active, it will always bring meaning and purpose to your life where you are. Your relationship with God the Father is not through the Bible, but a personal one-to-one connection in the Spirit. And never stop learning about Him in all the different circumstances, situations, and seasons of your life.
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