Meditation Chip Brogden

October 5
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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

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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.

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October 3
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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

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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
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October 2
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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

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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
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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

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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
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September 30
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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
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September 28
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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

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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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eptember 27
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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

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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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September 26
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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

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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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September 25
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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

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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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September 24
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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

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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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September 23
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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

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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 22
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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

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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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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

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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 20
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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

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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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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

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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 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

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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 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

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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 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

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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 15
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Do not worry about tomorrow." -MATTHEW 6:34

Most of us, from time to time or nearly all of the time, worry
about something - our health, our finances, our loved ones, and so
on. Yet the Scriptures say to take no thought for your lives and be
anxious for nothing. Why is worry a sin? I know we consider it
"only human," but worry really implies a lack of trust in God. It
is believing a lie. Identify the lie and you can quickly discover
the Truth. What is the lie? That God is somehow less than
sufficient, that perhaps He will not come through for us.

So you see, the enemy gets us to believe a lie, and then gets us to
think that we are just being "human." So then we accept something
less than the normal Christian life - overcoming - and think that
is just the way it is. Remember: satan has no power apart from our
belief in his lie.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september15.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 14
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Our old man was crucified with Him." -ROMANS 6:6

Thank God for the Cross of Jesus Christ! For it is there that my
sins are forgiven; it is there that the "old man" died. Yet it is
also true that there is something as wicked, if not more wicked,
than sin, and that is Self. It is true that every sin is rooted in
Self.

As we must initially accept His death for sin, so we must daily
accept our death to Self. As we are once crucified with Him for the
remission of sins, so we must daily take up the Cross, deny our
Self, and follow Him. We walk in the narrow Way just as we entered
the narrow Gate - by way of the Cross.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september14.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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September 12
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

""He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world...
according to the purpose of His will." -EPHESIANS 1:4,5 ESV

God is not random. He doesn't act without a Purpose, without a
Plan, without some big Universal Goal. He is not haphazard or
accidental. As much as a writer envisions the completed book before
he begins to write it, and as much as the artist envisions the
portrait in her head before she begins to paint it, God sees what
He wants and "all things work together for good... according to His
Purpose" (Romans 8:28). Creation bears witness to a purposeful,
intentional Creator and so do we. Just as the days of Creation
unfold and we see a progressive revelation of the heart, intention,
purpose, mind, and will of God taking shape in Creation, you can
rest assured that through successive ages God is bringing about His
Will, not just in the physical world, but in the spiritual world.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september12.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 13
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to
the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?'" -ACTS 22:6,7

All it takes is a millisecond of time for the Revelation to strike
you down. I recall when I first received the Revelation of Jesus
Christ. I had had many religious and spiritual experiences up to
that point, more than the average person. I had been a pastor and
teacher for many years. I thought I really knew the Lord. But one
day God revealed His Son IN me. I was sitting in the backyard
reading the Word and without warning, in my heart of hearts, I
"saw" (not with my eyes, but inwardly) Jesus seated at God's right
hand, and I saw myself raised and seated with Him in heavenly
places (Ephesians 2:6).

That day was like walking out of one room and into another, closing
the door behind me. I got a glimpse into another world. I saw the
real Jesus and realized He was nothing like flesh and blood had
said. Hallelujah!

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september13.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 11
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should
boast." -EPHESIANS 2:8,9

When you come to the Lord Jesus for the first time, regardless of
the circumstances, it means that on some level you have come to the
realization that you cannot save yourself, that salvation is only
possible through Him. No one seeks a Savior if they believe they
can still save themselves. Only when you realize that you cannot
save yourself will you acknowledge your need for Someone Else to do
the saving. This is usually not the result of some intellectual
argument or emotional plea, but the cold hard reality one faces
after having tried unsuccessfully to do everything on their own.

We may fail once, twice, a dozen times, a hundred times. But when
we finally surrender to God we are decreased, and He is increased.
Practically speaking it simply means a little less confidence and
faith in yourself, and a little more confidence and faith in Christ.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september11.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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September 10
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because
He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
-1 JOHN 4:4

John declares that no matter what comes against us, the One within
us is Greater. It does not matter what you feel like, what you see,
what you hear, what people say, or what the devil does. It does not
matter if Lazarus is dead for four days and is beginning to stink.
It does not matter if the girl dies before Jesus can get there. It
does not matter if the waves are about to capsize the boat. It does
not matter if Paul is stoned and left for dead. Lazarus will be
raised, the girl will be brought back to life, and the storm will
be silenced, and Paul will preach again.

The Greater is always Greater, and the Lesser is always Lesser. We
only have a problem when we see everything else as "greater" and
see Christ as "lesser."

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september10.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 9
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"The Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of
kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and
faithful." -REVELATION 17:14

The Lord is calling out for Overcomers, those who have the
Revelation of Christ and who bear the Testimony of Jesus; those who
demonstrate the preeminence of Christ over all things. That is your
purpose as a Christian - in fact, it has always been God's purpose
for saving you and leaving you on the earth, whether you have
realized it or not. You are NOT on the earth to be constantly
disappointed, discouraged, and defeated. You are on the earth to
demonstrate the preeminence of Christ; to show the world that "the
heavens do rule."

A defeated Christian is a contradiction: it is not your destiny.
Rise up and live according to the truth: that Victory is a Man, and
He lives inside of you, and the One Who lives within you is greater
than whatever comes against you.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september9.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 8
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God?" -MICAH 6:8

According to Vines Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, "Mercy is
the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of
him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the
part of him who shows it."

Ideally, forgiveness is based on repentance; but whether or not a
person repents and asks for forgiveness, they are still in need of
mercy (even if they do not deserve it). If nothing else, we can
pray that a merciful God will open their eyes and show them their
true condition. The question is not whether or not someone deserves
mercy, but whether or not they need mercy, and whether or not my
spiritual life is rich enough to extend it to them.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september8.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 7
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"You seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of
the loaves and were filled." -JOHN 6:26

The ones who seek bread from the Lord will be temporarily filled,
but all who seek the Lord as Bread will be constantly satisfied.
What is more, they will have resources from which to feed others.

It is a shame that many Christians only seek to be filled, and
still they are never satisfied. They are content with a meager
pittance, for a few crumbs from the table (Mark 7:28). They are
constantly obsessed with being filled. To such ones we can only say
that it is time to seek the Lord, not for what He can give you, but
for Himself.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september7.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 5
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"While they were talking and discussing together,
Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were
kept from recognizing him." -LUKE 24:15,16 ESV

You see that Christ is revealed or hidden from men as He so
desires. So many professed disciples of the Lord Jesus fail to
recognize Him.

Even His closest disciples are prone to doubt and unbelief. After
the resurrection, Thomas declared, "I will not believe unless I see
the scars and put my hand into the wound in His side." When Jesus
therefore appeared to them He did not argue or try to convince
Thomas. He simply said, "Look! See My hands and My feet!" When
Thomas saw the Lord, he spontaneously cried out, "My Lord, and my
God!" This is revelation. Revelation does not require any arguing
or convincing, as if it all depends on how well we can make a
defense of the Gospel. I see no argument in the Lord Jesus, I only
see Him. Seeing Him, I am convinced, and no argument is necessary.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september5.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 6
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with
the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he
drank." -DANIEL 1:8

The easiest thing to do is to just go along with things, accept
them as they are, and not make any trouble. But thank God for that
decision! Daniel purposed in his heart - a flame was kindled, and
the longer he thought about it, the hotter the fire burned.

While the others were eating and drinking, Daniel motioned to his
three friends, and whispered, "Eat mine if you will have it - but I
will not sin against the Lord in this thing!" And the three
brothers, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, agreed that they would
not eat the meat or drink the wine either. Hallelujah! This is what
the Lord is after - a small company of two or three, gathered
together under a covenant that they will stand for the Testimony of
the Lord, for something Heavenly, regardless of the cost!

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september6.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 4
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"When John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent
two of his disciples and said to Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or
do we look for another?'" -MATTHEW 11:2,3

Have you discovered Him yet, and is He enough, or do you look for
another? We do not proclaim the preeminence of Christ because it is
a nice doctrine to believe in; for us, it is a matter of life and
death, because everything hinges on whether or not Jesus is
preeminent. If He is preeminent then He is Enough, and there is
nothing else but Him, and there is nothing worth proclaiming except
Him.

To John in prison, and to us wherever we may happen to be, Jesus
says, "No, you did not make a mistake. I am the One, but I am more
than you can imagine, more than you dare to dream. Blessed are they
who are not offended in Me."

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september4.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 3
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden

"It pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell."
-COLOSSIANS 1:19

He must increase; therefore, He will increase, and He is
increasing. It must be so, therefore it is so. It is so simple. He
must increase. Why? Because God has ordained that Christ must have
the preeminence in all things. He clearly does not have that
preeminence in all things now; and so, He must increase until He
does have the preeminence in all things.

This is a Universal Spiritual Principle because it is at work right
now. Whether you believe it or not, whether you understand it or
not, whether you like it or not; the Bible says it must be, and so
it is.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september3.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 2
INFINITE SUPPLY
Today's Message from Chip Brogden
"Called... out of darkness into His marvelous Light."
-1 PETER 2:9

The significant thing to be seen in Creation (and the encouraging
thing to us spiritually) is that God, being God, could not and
would not, permit this chaos, confusion, and darkness to continue
indefinitely. His nature is to bring order, coherency, purposeful
intention, and Light into the world.

We owe our physical life to the fact that God acted upon the chaos
that existed in Genesis 1 and commanded Light to come forth. And we
owe our spiritual life to the fact that God acts upon the chaos and
darkness of our lives and commands His Light to come forth. The
calling forth of Light out of Darkness is a spiritual principle
that teaches us the ways of God. See how He sets aside Darkness
with only a single command: "Let there be Light." It is even more
simple in the Hebrew: "Light: BE!" And so it was.

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

Share your comments:
http://theschoolofchrist.org/daily/september2.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!