Meditation Chip Brogden

October 19
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Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good." -GENESIS
50:20

The story of Joseph is not just the story of Joseph. It is the
story of how God works everything together for His Purpose. No
matter how far removed from that Purpose things seem to get,
eventually we see its fulfillment.

At some point in eternity we will all stand before God and will
finally see His Ultimate Purpose fulfilled. Then we will look back
on the sad history of the human race and we will see how God
brought something good out of every evil thing that ever rose up to
challenge His Purpose. For some people the existence of evil is a
stumbling block. If God is good, why does He allow evil? A better
question is: how can God allow evil and still manage to bring
something good out of it in the end? Evil is not a stumbling block
to an all-powerful, all-knowing Creator who specializes in bringing
good out of evil. What He did for Joseph He will do for all
Creation.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october19.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.


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October 18
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Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
-MATTHEW 28:18

The only legitimate power in the universe belongs to the Lord Jesus
- all other power is either illegitimate or temporal. If THE power
belongs to Him, then it cannot belong to anyone else. Jesus says,
"All authority [power] has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth." That is a very broad statement, is it not? Absolute power
over all of creation!

In a world in which men (and devils) wrestle for dominion, joust
for position, seek the preeminence for themselves, strive to exert
their influence over others, and lust for more and more control
over one another, we as the Body of Christ may simply raise our
hands to heaven and lift up our eyes to our Head in Whom God has
vested all of His omnipotence and declare to the universe, "YOURS
IS THE POWER, and apart from You, we can do nothing."

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october17.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 17
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Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"We do not yet see all things put under Him; but we see Jesus."
-HEBREWS 2:8,9

Today, Scripture acknowledges, we do not YET see all things
submitted to Him. I must say I find that word "YET" terribly
exciting! That word "YET" means that something is in store for
everything that remains unsubmitted to the Lord Jesus Christ. The
presence of the word "YET" means its manifestation is inevitable.

We are not pretending to see something that does not really exist -
yes, we agree that we do not YET see all things submitted to Him,
things are bad, and will probably get worse; BUT we do see JESUS,
and for the Christian who seeks first the Kingdom of God, that
revelation is sufficient. You may see every fact to the contrary
and argue against Him, but we see Who He is by revelation, and by
revelation we know that what we see happening in the unsubmitted
earth today will be set in order when Christ and His Kingdom are
manifest in all of creation.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october17.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
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October 16
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming
toward Him, He said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread, that
these may eat?' But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew
what He would do." -JOHN 6:5,6

When we see a need we grow frustrated. But when Jesus sees a need
He already knows what He wants to do. Not only will He meet the
need, but He will reveal Himself in the process. Sometimes He will
leave the need unmet, at least for a season, and just reveal
Himself to us as All that we need (2 Corinthians 12:8,9).

This explains why it sometimes appears that the Lord delays in
answering us. He already knows what He is going to do, but we do
not know. He waits for us to see if we will trust Him as Infinite
Supply. Is Jesus "Lord" only after He answers us? Or is Jesus
"Lord" whether He answers us or not? The Lord's "proving ground" is
just there, in between the Need and the Answer. And sometimes it
is, indeed, quite a stretching, and a thorough test.


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http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october16.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

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October 15
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"We also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ...He is
able even to subdue all things to Himself." -PHILIPPIANS 3:20,21

Everything is moving back TOWARDS a Christocentric universe, so
that as it was in the beginning, so it will be in the ending. Just
as all things have their source and beginning in Christ, so all
things will have their ending in Christ. He subdues all things, in
order to gather together and reconcile all things, that He may fill
all things.

What a task that is! How can that be? How can all things ever be
subdued, gathered together into one, reconciled, and filled by
Christ? We cannot say how, but we know that "He is able." Praise
God, how can we doubt Him? How can we question this Man? Do we not
yet know that He is the Preeminent One? Let us bow down and thank
and praise God that He is able!

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

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http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october15.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 14
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life... He
who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." -REVELATION
2:10,11

The Crown of Life comes to those who lose their life daily in order
to gain His Life daily. Overcomers cannot be hurt by death because
they have already died - not once, but thousands of times: taking
up the Cross daily, denying Self, and following the Lord. Thus, the
highest call is not to lay down our physical life as a martyr, but
to lay down our Self life as a disciple.

We can lay down our physical life in an instant, but to take up the
Cross daily is the truest test, and much more difficult. It
requires us to be "faithful unto death." This is the secret of the
Overcomers.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october14.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

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October 13
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"In Him... being predestined according to the purpose of Him who
works all things according to the counsel of His will." -EPHESIANS
1:11

Here we have a three-fold witness to God's Ultimate Purpose and
Intention in Christ. First, God has a Will. Second, God's Will is
"all things in Christ." Third, God is working all things according
to this Purpose.

The fact that God has a Will, and works everything according to
this Will, is critical. There is a Purpose, a reason for being.
Nothing is created apart from this Purpose. You are not an
accident; you are not a mistake; you are not just a quirk of fate
or a victim of circumstance. There is no such thing as "luck."
There is an infinitely wise Creator Who stands behind His Creation,
and He has brought nothing into being without having first
completed it in His Own Mind first. He does not make things up as
He goes along, reacting to difficulties with a new contingency plan
when things do not go as expected. God has no "Plan B." He uses
everything - the good, the bad, and the ugly - to accomplish His
Purpose.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october13.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 12
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless
at Your word I will let down the net." -LUKE 5:5

When we cease trying to do what we cannot do then the Lord will
begin to do what only He can do anyway. "And when they had done
[what Jesus said to do] they caught a great number of fish, and
their net was breaking" (Luke 5:6). Peter, James, and John can try
as they might and do their best, but without the word of the Lord
it is in vain. They might have saved themselves a lot of effort had
they sought the word of the Lord to begin with.

Which would you rather have: a whole night of wasted effort on your
own, or five minutes of abundance with the Lord? Yes we should
work, but first we must wait. And if we will wait for the Lord then
we will have Infinite Supply for the work at hand.


Source: "The Church in the Wilderness" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-church-in-the-wilderness.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october12.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 11
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Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that
they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they
realized that they had been with Jesus." -ACTS 4:13

When people are in your presence, what do they touch - a system of
beliefs, a code of conduct, an ethical standard, or a Person? We
may have an abundance of words and teachings, but all of them
together are nothing but letters if they are not constantly
pointing us to a Living Christ.

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october11.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
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October 10
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring
forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? O my Lord, I am not
eloquent... but I am slow of speech, and slow of tongue." -EXODUS
3:11; 4:10

We know that in fact Moses was mighty in words and in deeds (Acts
7:22). But he no longer saw that as an asset anymore. That is
exactly the type of person that God is looking for. He is not
searching for those naturally gifted souls who think they can do it
and then set out in their own strength! It is those who embrace the
weakness of the Cross and allow God's strength to be perfected in
them that He is looking for.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october10.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 9
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"'You have put all things in subjection under His feet.' For in
that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is
not put under Him." -HEBREWS 2:8

This possession and subjection of all things to Christ is not a
passive, disinterested, distant, absentee ownership, like a clock
that was once wound and now ticks all by itself long after the
watchmaker has left it. Make no mistake: at the core of this
spiritual and physical universe is a living, powerful, proactive
Personality at work to bring fallen creation back to its original
state, back into line with God's Purpose, Heart, Mind, Desire, and
Plan, which is CHRIST FILLING ALL THINGS, CHRIST UPHOLDING ALL
THINGS, CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF ALL THINGS!

Come quickly Lord Jesus! May Your Kingdom be manifest!

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october9.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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Share this message with your friends!.

October 8
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"And [God] raised us up together, and made us sit together in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus." -EPHESIANS 2:6

Do you see yourself seated with Christ in the heavenlies? Paul saw
it, and prayed the Ephesians would see it. When the Lord showed me
that I was raised together with Christ and was made to sit (past
tense) in the heavenly places with Christ, do you think it changed
the way I saw the world? Absolutely! No more was I looking at
things from "ground level," but from the heavenly realm.

Things look decidedly different when viewed from above.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october8.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 7
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we
also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." -1 JOHN 3:16

This increase of Christ and decrease of Self does not begin on a
universal level, but goes to work individually, quietly, in the
innermost being of every true disciple. This process of increasing
Christ and decreasing Self began long before you even gave your
heart to the Lord. It made the actual giving of your heart to Him
possible. But He must continue to increase, and so this process of
increase will continue beyond that initial coming to the Lord and
will be the means through which you are to grow spiritually.

In like manner, you must continue to decrease, and so that process
of decrease will continue beyond that initial coming to the Lord
and will also be the means through which you are to grow
spiritually. You need both the increase and the decrease. They both
work together, and one is not possible without the other.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october7.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 6
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to
quarrel over opinions." -ROMANS 14:1 ESV

My children are immature, but I cannot expect them to be anything
other than immature so long as they are children. I am lovingly
committed to their long-term growth. In the same way, let us not
despise the spiritually immature or the weak in faith. Instead, the
Word tells us to receive them and watch over them. For those of you
who are further along, never forget how many years of God's
dealings it took to bring you to the level of experience you take
for granted today.

Source: "The Church in the Wilderness" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-church-in-the-wilderness.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october6.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 4
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"In my prosperity I said, 'I shall never be moved.'" -PSALM 30:6

It should be obvious that God will not give us grace while we are
still proud. Why? Because He will allow no flesh to glory in His
presence. When we cease doing what we cannot do then He begins to
do what we cannot. The problem is that we still think we can do so
many things. We must learn sooner, rather than later, that "apart
from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Nothing!

But it is human nature to try and do it ourselves. This human
nature is the flesh. It prevents us from entering into Grace. God
cannot save someone who is still trying to save themselves.
Similarly, God cannot do what we are still trying to do. He will
wait - weeks, months, or years - until we have exhausted our
strength. When our strength is completely gone and we finally go to
Him in weakness, He becomes our Strength and we find Grace is there
to do the impossible. Then we know it was not us, but the Lord. All
praise goes to Him, and we retain nothing for ourselves.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october4.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 5
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and
heard His word." -LUKE 10:39

There are two elements here: she sat at His feet, and she heard His
Word. You must sit at His feet and hear Him for yourself. Entering
into the Lord's thought, becoming acquainted with His Ways as well
as His Word, takes the sort of love-devotion Mary demonstrates.

The Greek here is continuous action: she "kept on listening."
Martha listened too, but when she arose to prepare dinner, Mary
remained. As we progress we will see that Mary has discovered
Spirit and Truth, and from henceforth she is always at the feet of
the Lord in one way or the other.

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october5.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 3
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach
Christ crucified." -1 CORINTHIANS 1:22,23

Unfortunately, salvation as preached today results not in death,
but in "swooning." There is an ecstatic joy and the "near death
experience" of a token surrender, but it is not real death. The
convert merely changes his conduct, cries a few tears, yet he still
lives. The outward deportment may be different, but he has not
died. He commences to follow the Lord and fill his life with
spiritual activity, but his many failures and shortcomings prove
something is missing in his experience. What is it?

He knows the Cross only as something Jesus died on for him. The
Cross does not represent his own death, but his Lord's death. It is
seldom presented as anything other than the means of atonement and
forgiveness of sins. Few realize it is the means by which we enter,
as well as live, the Christian life.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october3.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
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October 2
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"I am the Lord, I do not change." -MALACHI 3:6

God sees all things before they happen, therefore God is never
surprised or disappointed. Since He is never disappointed, He can
never be discouraged. Since He is never discouraged, we can be
confident that He will accomplish, perfect, and complete what He
sets out to do no matter how far off course or dark things seem to
get.

His Will and His Kingdom are not optional. His Will is not a mere
wish or a hope. His Word is a statement of purpose, a foregone
conclusion. Since God created time, He is above, beyond, and
outside of time; therefore, the passage of time does not diminish
His Will one iota. He is as zealous for the accomplishment and
fulfillment of His Will today as He was 2,000 years ago, and at
creation. He does not tire, He does not become stressed out, He
does not become unenthusiastic. We can always rely upon the
zealous, persistent Purpose of God.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october2.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
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October 1
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by
any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that
I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid
hold of me." -PHILIPPIANS 3:10-12

Many years after having first put on the Lord Jesus, Paul declares
that he is still trying to apprehend the One Who has already
apprehended him. The height, width, breadth, length, and depth of
this New Man, this Heavenly Man, is quite beyond what we can
measure apart from Spirit-revelation. We are more familiar with and
have more confidence in the old man than we do in the New Man. By
the grace of God, this has to change. When we truly see the New Man
we transcend the old man. And this, in a nutshell, is how God
accomplishes the work of decreasing us and increasing Christ.

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/october1.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!

September 30
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding
out!" -ROMANS 11:33

To illustrate, let us imagine that we here on earth desire to reach
the moon. That is a definitive goal which we can see. We can
measure the distance and make plans to reach the moon. To us here
on earth that is the ultimate in space exploration. Now let us
imagine that one day we reach the moon. Just as we become
acclimated to this enormous triumph, our eyes turn upward yet again
and we see the vast expanse of space, the innumerable stars,
planets, and galaxies, stretched out before us for more than
15,000,000,000 light years, and enlarging its borders faster than
we could ever hope to keep up. We will never get to the end of it.

This, in a nutshell, is what it is to find ourselves lost in the
depths of Christ. The more we know of Him, the less we realize we
know.

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september30.html

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THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
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September 28
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing." -MATTHEW 6:3

Jesus did not advocate anonymous charity in order to make us
paranoid or fearful of being caught doing a good deed. He did it to
liberate us, to enlarge us, to help us experience the pure joy of a
no-strings-attached gift, to ensure we would not become proud, and
very importantly, to prevent others from rewarding, manipulating,
regulating, or expecting us to give to them on a continual basis
apart from His direction.

He understood how easily people, even with the best of intentions,
make value judgments of others based on material possessions. He
obviously didn't want that to be the case among His people.

Source: "The Church in the Wilderness" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-church-in-the-wilderness.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september28.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
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eptember 27
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you..." -EPHESIANS 4:1 ESV

To be the prisoner of the Lord means that we accept the sentence of
death and are resigned to our fate. We are not the Lord's prisoner
if we are still protesting our innocence. If we do not agree with
the Lord that Self is worthy of death then we unnecessarily delay
the inevitable.

If we must take up the Cross and be crucified, it is better to
submit ourselves to it as Christ did, giving up our spirit into the
Father's hands, and bowing our head in peace. So let us drink the
Cup that the Father gives us. If we struggle and protest, like the
two thieves, then we only prolong our agony, and the soldiers must
come and break our legs. Either way, the Cross means death. The
sooner we surrender to it, the sooner we find Resurrection.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september27.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!
September 26
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of
God." -MATTHEW 5:9

Peacemakers are simply agents of Grace, showing people the way to
the Prince of Peace. Peacemakers are ambassadors sent to represent
the King and His Kingdom.

What is the message? It is the message of reconciliation, the
message that all is forgiven, the message of hope, and love, and
grace, and a thousand other good things (see 2 Corinthians
5:17-21). It is the most awe-inspiring mission a human being could
ever have: to represent Heaven in the midst of Hell; Light in the
midst of Darkness; Liberty in the midst of Bondage; to proclaim the
preeminence and Lordship of Jesus when we do not yet see all things
submitted to Him (Hebrews 2:8). And to do all this in a way that
does not drive people away or turn them off, but causes them to
fall in love with Him and make their peace with Him - not through
forced submission, manipulation, or fear - but willingly, gladly.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september26.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!

September 25
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"You younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of
you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility." -1
PETER 5:5

If our desire is for maturity, that is, if we desire to come to the
full-knowledge of Christ and grow up into Him in all things, we
should naturally pay attention to those who are elder in the Lord.
My elder brother, or my elder sister, has walked with the Lord
longer than I have. The implication is that they are more conformed
to the image of Christ than myself; they have experienced a deeper
work of the Cross than I have; thus, they have more practical
wisdom than I do, they have something to teach me, and I need to
hear Christ in them so I, too, can grow.

It should be obvious to you who is, and who is not, your elder in
the Lord. And, it should be plain to see that not everyone who is
older is necessarily elder. If you say you are a believer but you
live no differently from the world, then you can be as old as
Methuselah yet you are certainly not an elder.

Source: "The Church in the Wilderness" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-church-in-the-wilderness.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september25.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!
September 24
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
-GALATIANS 2:20

Most of us are still trying to attain something and have not yet
realized that we have already obtained it. We wear ourselves out in
order to be Christ-like. We are hoping that through much effort we
will one day reach some standard to which we can finally say we are
living like Jesus. But this is not God's way.

It is not a changed life that God seeks from you, but an exchanged
life - that is, your life is to be given up in exchange for His
Life. That is the exchanged Life: my life for His Life.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september24.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!

September 23
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter."
-ISAIAH 64:8 ESV

I went to a pottery once and watched the potter form a lump of clay
into a jar. He demonstrated the technique and in his skilled hands
the jar began to take shape. But there was something about it that
was not quite right, something was a little off. I didn't see
anything wrong with it, but the potter did. So he just crushed the
whole thing back into a shapeless lump like it was no big deal and
started again.

Notice that he did not throw the lump away and say the lump was no
good. Nor did he blame the lump for not turning out correctly. Nor
did he get angry, frustrated, or upset. It was just easier for him
to start over with the lump and work with it until it was perfect.

Well, that was encouraging to me! The lump really couldn't do
anything to help itself get any better, or make itself more worthy.
It was just a lump, yielded to the potter's hands.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september23.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!

September 22
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will
give power over the nations." -REVELATION 2:26

The Remnant is not an exclusive, elitist circle of super-spiritual
saints. Not at all. The promises are made to the "whosoevers."

Anyone can be a friend of God! Anyone can overcome! But we know
that everyone will not. Why won't they? I wish I knew why, I wish I
could explain it, but I cannot explain it, and I just know it is a
fact that everyone will not go on with God. We know it from
history, we know it from looking around us right now. Everyone is
not going to press into God, everyone is not going to seek His
Kingdom, everyone is not going to lay down their life and follow
Jesus. Not that they CANNOT, but they WILL NOT.

Anyone can, everyone won't (in fact, a large majority will not),
but SOMEBODY will. That group of "somebodies" who will is the
Remnant.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september22.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!

September 21
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you
should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain." -JOHN
15:16

When we allow the Holy Spirit to increase Christ, and when we allow
the Cross to do its work of decreasing Self, the fruit will come
forth in abundance. This makes everything we experience worthwhile.
What is the fruit of the Spirit? It is the reward, the prize, the
end result of all those seasons of increasing and decreasing: the
character and nature of Christ reproduced in a person. It is the
precious Seed finally coming into maturity.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Against such
there is no law (Galatians 5:22,23). Fruit is not how much work we
can accomplish or how many things we can do for God. Fruit is, "How
much of Christ can be seen in me instead of me?" The fruit of the
Spirit is found in the transformed character of someone who walks
with Jesus in the Difficult Path.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september21.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!

September 20
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"We rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
-PHILIPPIANS 3:3

Can you see that "Self-Esteem" actually takes you further away from
Christ-Esteem? Self-esteem increases Self. But Paul said we rejoice
in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. When I have
lost confidence in myself then I can put all my confidence in
Christ. He is increased as I am decreased.

Some years ago I was teaching at a men's retreat. I was met at the
airport and we stopped to get something to eat on the way to the
retreat area. The brothers were excited and looking forward to the
weekend. One of them exclaimed, "I just want more of the Lord! More
of the Lord!" I was about to agree when the Holy Spirit gave me a
flash of new understanding. I said, "Brother, it is not more of the
Lord that we need; we just need less of everything else!" Of course
there is nothing wrong with wanting more of the Lord, but there is
so much that gets in the way of Him already.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september20.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.

©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!
September 19
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you
abide in Me." -JOHN 15:4

It is never a question of how to get the Life to flow, or how to
get the Lord to move. To tap into the Infinite Supply it is only a
matter of being yielded to the Lord and emptied of ourselves. When
this happens then the Life will flow of its own accord.

On the negative side, this Life answers to every assault of the
Adversary and stops his harassment against us. On the positive
side, this Life supplies us with all the spiritual resources we
need to maintain our abiding relationship with the Lord Jesus. With
less of me, there will be more of the Lord: this is a spiritual
law. Therefore, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september19.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!

September 18
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world." -JOHN 16:33

Since we cannot avoid having tribulation in this world, we might as
well make the best possible use of every circumstance we find
ourselves in.

Begin to see all your temptations, tests, and trials as
opportunities for growing, maturing, and learning how to live as an
Overcomer. Then your problem will become your greatest opportunity
for knowing God - for the depth of your revelation is measured by
the depth of your suffering.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september18.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!

September 17
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"His mother said to the servants, 'Whatever He says to you, do
it.'" -JOHN 2:5

If only we would heed this advice from Mary. To be sure she has
learned this in years gone by. Through many experiences she has at
last learned where to go. Her automatic reflex now is to go to
Jesus and lay the problem at His feet: "They have no wine." That is
all. In this relationship she makes no demands, she does not even
ask Him outright to do something. He knows what she means. It is an
understanding that is borne out of relationship.

This, brothers and sisters, is the whole purpose for the trial you
find yourself in. It may be that you have no oil, no bread, no
fish, or no wine. Whatever the situation, bring your problem to the
Lord of Infinite Supply, and do whatever He says to do. He wishes
to reveal His glory in you. He longs to see His Power displayed
through your weakness. The very thing you see as a problem is
really an opportunity to see Jesus in a depth you cannot otherwise
see.

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september17.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!
September 16
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave
woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." -GENESIS 21:10 ESV

Often the greatest hindrance to the best is the good. The greatest
hindrance to Isaac is Ishmael.

There are many good things we can create, many good things we can
do. But only one thing is needed (Luke 10:42). We have to discover
the "one thing," and we only discover it when we are seated at the
feet of Jesus. When we are only motivated by what JESUS needs, not
what MAN needs and not what we think WE need, then we are on the
path of continual and perpetual blessing.

Source: "The Church in the Wilderness" by Chip Brogden
http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-church-in-the-wilderness.html

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september16.html

---------
THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST is dedicated to your spiritual growth and
maturity through Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-based
discipleship that focuses on relationship, not religion. To find
out more about us, visit http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org.
©2012 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
Share this message with your friends!