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Pastor James Griffin: The Struggle Is A Good Sign
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Pastor James Griffin: ‘The Struggle Is A Good Sign That The Spirit Of God Is At Work In Your Life’

by Kriza Jo Tanduyan
written by Kriza Jo Tanduyan

Pastor James Griffin reminded the congregation not to be discouraged by struggles, highlighting that it was a positive indication that the Spirit of God was active in someone’s life.

Pastor James Griffin

The lead pastor of Crosspoint City Church, James Griffin, shared an inspiring video on his Instagram account that offered encouragement to those facing struggles. He emphasized that the struggle is a positive indication that the Spirit of God is active in someone’s life.

“If a person is not struggling in any way over sin, I worry about you,” he shared.

In fact, when he heard people mention that they were struggling, he took it as a positive sign. It indicated that these individuals acknowledged the conflict between their flesh and the Spirit, both contending to prevail over the other.

Pastor James Griffin: The Struggle Is A Good Sign

James Griffin [@pastorjamesgriffin]. Struggles. Instagram, January 19, 2024, https://www.instagram.com/p/C2P5762r94L/

Lean Into The Struggle

Furthermore, he emphasized that internal battles serve as indicators that the Spirit was active in someone’s life, working to save them from the power of sin. Therefore, he reminded the people to find encouragement amid their struggles.

“Lean into the struggle. The great news is the Spirit of God can give you the power to put the flesh to death, that the flesh has no authority over you,” he highlighted.

Moreover, he referenced what Paul said, “You are not obligated to sin any longer. You do not have to say yes.” The enemy tempts with fleshly desires, yet the Spirit aids in victory. He stressed the importance of aligning with God for guidance.

Indeed, what was written in Romans 8:10 was true, “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”

Watch the full video here.

Reference | James Griffin

Header Image: James Griffin [@pastorjamesgriffin]. Struggles. Instagram, January 19, 2024, https://www.instagram.com/p/C2P5762r94L/

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Be encouraged by the struggle
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Pastor James Griffin: ‘Be Encouraged By The Struggle, It Is A Good Sign…’

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

Pastor James Griffin encouraged believers not to be “discouraged by the struggle,” noting that it is “a good sign that the Spirit of God is at work.”

The Struggle

At some point in a Christian’s life, they may face struggles, whether related to sin, addiction, or anything impeding their spiritual growth. This remains a daily reality, even for those who know Jesus. If you find yourself as one of those Christians grappling with something today and seeking liberation, this message from Pastor James Griffin is intended for you.

Be encouraged by the struggle

James Griffin [@pastorjamesgriffin]. Pastor James. Instagram, 19 Jan. 2024, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2P5762r94L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A husband and father, a sincere follower of Jesus, Pastor James shared words of encouragement for Christians facing struggles. He said, “Do not be discouraged by the struggle. The struggle is a good sign that the Spirit of God is at work in your life.”

The Flesh And The Spirit of God

He explained that it is common for a follower of Christ to struggle with sin at times due to an internal battle. The pastor highlighted that this occurs when the Spirit of God is triumphing over the flesh, leading to submission to Christ.

“Because what you’re recognizing is that there’s this war raging between your flesh and the spirit,” he said. “And both of these are trying to win out over the other.”

The Spirit is Working

Pastor James further explained that man’s flesh and the Spirit of God have different objectives. While the flesh seeks to lead a person away from God towards sin, the Spirit of God operates in the opposite direction. He draws a person “away from sin and toward God in the life of righteousness.”

Hence, he remarked that the “internal battle shows that the spirit is in you. That you have been saved, that He is working to save you in present time from the power of sin.”

Thus, Pastor James advised Christians to be encouraged and embrace the struggle. He concluded with powerful words for his listeners, saying:

“The great news is the spirit of God can give you power to put the flesh to death. That the flesh has no authority over you. Paul says in Romans 8 you’re not obligated to sin any longer. You do not have to say yes. The enemy wants you to believe the lie that you have to say yes. That the flesh is too strong for you. That you can’t overcome it. But the spirit of God is there so that you can. And so as long as you will walk in step with Him and yield to Him each day. And ask Him for what you need to put the flesh to death. He’ll give it to you and then He’ll lead you in the way you should go.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James Griffin (@pastorjamesgriffin)

Reference | Instagram – James Griffin

Header Image: James Griffin [@pastorjamesgriffin]. Pastor James. Instagram, 19 Jan. 2024, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2P5762r94L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Drug Addiction Testimony
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Actor’s Struggle With Drug Addiction For 25 Years Ended After Meeting Jesus

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

Actor and former model Jason Umidi’s struggle with drug addiction for 25 years ended after meeting Jesus.

Facing Disappointments

Jason Umidi grew up in church, because his father was a pastor. Being raised in a Christian home, he knew the God of his youth but really didn’t have a relationship with God. Until one day, he had to face the reality of life’s disappointments.

Drug Addiction Testimony

Photo Courtesy | Jason Umidi

On the actor’s website, he revealed how his faith faltered because of his personal struggles.

“Church and its collection of ‘do’s & don’ts’ for how to live your life didn’t soothe my broken soul,” he wrote.

In third grade, the young Jason experienced molestation. That’s when feelings of shame entered his life. During high school, he thought of committing suicide to escape his pain. It greatly affected his self-esteem and mental health.

Struggle With Drug Addiction

Furthermore, Jason suffered from chronic pain and underwent five spine fusion surgeries. He then suffered from bipolar depression. He couldn’t bear the pain anymore, so he turned to opioid drugs and alcohol use to ease his pain.

Photo Courtesy | The 700 Club

“Gone were the conversations with the God of my youth,” he recounted. “And as I struggled alone in my inner darkness, I believed the lie that this life was no longer worth living. This is the enormous cost of addictions. Lives are ruined, hearts are broken, and your sanity turns against you.”

CANDACE CAMERON BURE’S ELDEST DAUGHTER DEFENDS MOTHER AS MEDIA TRIES TO CANCEL HER FAITH

For 25 years, the actor learned to forget his emotional and chronic pain through opioids. There was a time he tried to stop his addiction for his family, but he relapsed every time. Drugs took a toll on his life, and shame became his close friend. His depression only got worse until he reached his breaking point.

That’s when Jesus entered the scene and rescued him from the pit of darkness. A heart full of gratitude to God then filled his life.

Actor’s Struggle with Sobriety Redeemed by Jesus

Reference | Jason Umidi

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without limits
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Life Without Limits Through The Lens Of A Man With “Limitations”

by Christian Learning
written by Christian Learning

Nick Vujicic was born without any arms or legs.  His “disability” was unexpected and a complete surprise to his parents and the doctors.  When Nick shares his testimony he explains how there were struggles growing up, but through choice and perspective he has chosen to live a life without limits.  He attributes his ability to choose a life without limits to God, who provides him with strength to overcome the impossible.

Choice empowers us to live without limits

After struggle with suicidal thoughts as a young man, Nick Vujicic decided – he made a choice – to make his life count.  He could choose to view his physical limitations as a burden or a blessing.  His powerful choice to view them as a blessing help launch him into a successful career as an international speaker.  Today, Nick travels the globe offering hope through his story.

It was his choice to live a life without limits, a life that mattered to God and others.  Nick’s choice to believe he mattered is what powerfully impacted the trajectory of his life!

Finding perspective in the midst of difficulty

Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

The perspective we take in life largely effect how we experience life.  Nick often refers to this verse when sharing his testimony.  God helped him to shift the lens through which he viewed his life.  The truth in Psalm 139 was true about Nick too.  He “was fearfully and wonderfully made“.  Nick could choose to believe the Word of God over his life, there is choice again, or he could live life through the perspective the enemy was trying to feed him.

What will you take away from Nick’s story?

Is there a situation or circumstance that is one choice away from shifting the trajectory of your life? As you’ve read through this article, is there a situation or circumstance that keeps coming to mind? Is there a situation or circumstance that could come to life with a change in perspective?

Take a moment and ask the Lord to speak to your heart.  Remember, you are fearfully and wonderfully made too!

Image credit: @nickvujicic

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Expectations
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Raise Your Expectations of God

by Brian Taylor
written by Brian Taylor

If this year has been for you anything similar to what it has been for me, you may have encountered a lot of intense heat lately. July was a period of intense heat and pressure.  I was thankful for an opportunity to actually get away for a week with my family and visit family. Part of my time away came on the heels of much negative press for my birth place Baltimore, Maryland. If you are unaware of what happened, a spotlight was shone upon the west side of Baltimore when a presidential tweet went out in response to negative comments made by Congressman Elijah Cummings regarding the southern border.

The result of the tweet stirred many nationwide regarding whether the tweet was racist in nature or whether the president had a right to speak about the city in the way he did. In spite of the spotlight that was cast on the city, it struck a nerve and inspired many to spring into action and say that Baltimore is still a great city, even with all that is going wrong.

My time in Baltimore, though short, was dominated by visiting my mother who has been facing a battle of the mind. Seeing my mother living with dementia has weighed heavily on my entire family. Yet, even in the time that I spent with her on this most recent visit, there was a spark of hope and expectation that things would be alright. She recognized me, my wife and children, showed excitement about knowing my name, and even had a spring in her step as she and my stepfather saw us off to our next destination.

As difficult as it is to leave here each time, and as hard it is to know that she is trapped by her mind, I felt compelled to raise my expectations that God is able to reverse her situation, even though I’ve not known or seen it happen before.

In the days since my travels, my region has experienced great rains. These great rains have at times been troubling in the areas that have seen streets that don’t normally flood become flooded. The rains reminded me of Deuteronomy 11:14 which says, “I will provide for your land in the proper time, the autumn and spring rains, and you will harvest your grain, new wine, and fresh oil.” It reminded me that all this year has been the year of birthing, harvest, and the expectation of a new wine and new oil.

The rain reminded me that we are but week away from the ninth month and the Jewish Celebration Rosh Hashanah. The ninth month is a time when mothers bring forth a full-term birth. Even though we are in the eight month we are not far from the ninth month. The rains became a reminder that before a birthing, there is a breaking of water. If you’ve ever experienced your wife’s water breaking, or you have been a mother whose water has broken, you know this is an indication that the time for birthing is close.

As an expectant father, you spring into action. I remember the day my wife went into labor with my daughter, we had everything already packed and ready to head to the hospital for the delivery. My daughter was amazingly born on Labor Day.

Expectations & Faith

I don’t know what your expectations have been in these last few months. I don’t know if you have had the expectation of this being a year of birthing for anything. I don’t know if you have had any expectation of the outpouring of a new wine or oil. I don’t know if you’ve had any expectation of a harvest. I pray that if this year has challenged you and you’ve felt the struggle and strain of plowing and planting, yet not seeing anything produced; hold fast because Labor Day is coming and a harvest is upon us. Raise your expectations. Although your eyes have not seen, nor your ears heard, and it may not have manifested in your heart as yet; believe that God has something great planned for you!

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Articles

The Struggle IS Real

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

It is a constant war of my spirit and my flesh, of my inner Queen who wants to reign with honor, and my fallen nature that still hopes it can fit in somewhere.

I know I am not perfect (that in itself is an understatement).

I get that I am a human and that as long as I live on this planet my spirit and my flesh will wage war with each other. I find it exhausting. Anyone else, or is it just me? I try to do all the right things, say all the right things, think all the right things, feel all the right things, and BAM. There goes my good side right over the cliff.

The struggle is real and the fight is draining.

We ALL fight evil, and temptation, and the lust of the eyes, and all the rest. Simply put, we are confined to sinful bodies. It can come in small doses or large; it can be hasty, mean words or straight up verbal abuse. It can be envy, jealousy, lust, and even hatred. It is oh, so many things that steal our peace and threaten our soul. IT IS WAR! It requires our full attention, our firm resolve, and extreme desperate prayers to God for intervention!

I grew up and spent all my life involved in going to church and church events. I can safely say I probably didn’t have a lot of war between my flesh and my spirt simply because I was so sheltered. This is a nice warm and fuzzy scenario, but in the real world most people are wielding their swords against the plots and schemes of Satan, on a daily basis. I was fortunate, I guess, not to have experienced that. In some ways though, if you don’t experience being in a war you can’t lead an army, and you can’t lead in a battle you have never been prepared for.

Evil is real.

We like to think maybe it’s not. We have downplayed the devil and his cohorts. We have underestimated what they hope to do to mankind. Not that they have more power than God – they do NOT. But we should see evil for what it really is, in order to fight against it. Otherwise you could find yourself standing on a battlefield with no armor and no clue how to survive.

What is temptation?

 

Ouch. “It is the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.” and therefore is a word that conjures up different images in everyone’s mind. Maybe the question is more like, what is temptation to YOU. We all know what is our downfall. We all know what we battle. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13)

You DO know that being tempted is NOT a sin, right?

I didn’t understand  that concept. As one who was sheltered, when temptations started hitting me from all angles I thought I was the worst person on the planet. How could I have thought that? How could I have considered that? Satan would like to believe that his traps set for us, will destroy us in the end. That’s the plan. He tempts us, then shames us for being tempted, then hopes our shame will result in an actual fall from grace, so he can shame us some more and finally, kill us. He kills us from the inside out. That is his plan; same plan as it’s always been. Tempt, shame, destroy.

In my frail humanness and my broken parts, I have come to see that the war between my spirit and my flesh is going to be a journey from the cradle to the grave.

Character is developed in the muddy trenches of life.

When we are called upon to choose which way to walk, or which words to say or not say, or what deed to do or NOT do, every single time we choose well our Spirit man gets stronger and maybe even bigger. I’d like to think my inner Queen is starting to stand up straight and tall, and is ready with her sword to slay the enemy when he sneaks into my courtyard. I like to think I am learning to be my own fierce protector. I like to think I recognize evil when it shows up now. Not always; it can come in disguise – but the stronger my spirit gets the stronger my flesh becomes also. And when they meet up in the heat of the battle, NO enemy is a match for team Jesus!  “Greater is He that is in ME than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

The real secret or key to fighting temptation, and sin, and shame, and all the blah blah blah from satan, is Jesus in us. It really is that simple. Satan shows up at your door? Don’t answer it yourself – send Jesus.  It’s kind of as simple as – if you have a problem with donuts, don’t work in a bakery (I love sugar too much. Just sayin’). And be firm in your decision- yes means yes and no means no with nothing in between. We are all at war with the age old battle between good and evil.

“Greater is He that is in ME than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

#GoodTriumphsOverEvil

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Articles

Justin Bieber Takes A Break From Music To Work On Some ‘Deep Rooted Issues’

by Rhoda Gayle
written by Rhoda Gayle

Justin Beiber says he still isn’t ready to make music as he needs to work on some “deep-rooted issues.” He has asked his fans for prayer and we as fellow believers should stand in the gap for him, in intercession.

“Struggling a lot”

Last month, the Canadian Christian pop star admitted that he was “struggling a lot” and he felt disconnected.

“I always bounce back so I’m not worried just wanted to reach out and ask for you guys to pray for me. God is faithful and your prayers really work thanks,” Justin posted on his Instagram account.


Several of Justin’s friends showed their support for him by giving him words of encouragement. Hillsong New York City Pastor Car Lentz also encouraged Justin by writing, “You’ve got this.”

Justin also revealed that he was unhappy during his last tour.

“I read a lot of messages saying you want an album. I’ve toured my whole teenage life, and early 20s, I realized and as you guys probably saw I was unhappy last tour and I don’t deserve that and you don’t deserve that, you pay money to come and have a lively energetic fun light concert and I was unable emotionally to give you that near the end of the tour,” Justin wrote in another IG post.

Nothing comes before family

“Music is very important to me but nothing comes before my family”

He then emphasized that he isn’t ready to get back to making music because of his family priorities.

“I have been looking, seeking, trial and error as most of us do, I am now very focused on repairing some of the deep-rooted issues that I have as most of us have, so that I don’t fall apart, so that I can sustain my marriage and be the father I want to be,” Justin added.

“Music is very important to me but nothing comes before my family and my health,” he continued.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

So I read a lot of messages saying you want an album .. I’ve toured my whole teenage life, and early 20s, I realized and as you guys probably saw I was unhappy last tour and I don’t deserve that and you don’t deserve that, you pay money to come and have a lively energetic fun light concert and I was unable emotionally to give you that near the end of the tour. I have been looking, seeking, trial and error as most of us do, I am now very focused on repairing some of the deep rooted issues that I have as most of us have, so that I don’t fall apart, so that I can sustain my marriage and be the father I want to be. Music is very important to me but Nothing comes before my family and my health. I will come with a kick ass album ASAP, my swag is undeniable and my drive is indescribable his love is supernatural his grace is that reliable…. the top is where I reside period whether I make music or not the king said so. ???? but I will come with a vengeance believe that.. (grammar and punctuation will be terrible pretend it’s a text where u just don’t care).

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on

Reference: Instagram | Justin Bieber and  Christian Today

Read also:  The Amazing Transformation of Justin Bieber: From Street Singer to Christian Pop Icon

 

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