Archive for the ‘Spiritual Warfare’ Category
“God With Us: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love!”
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Leave a comment Christmas Reveals The God Who Is Always Near
As Christmas approaches, many of us are not longing for more celebration, we are longing for relief. December often arrives with exhaustion. Schedules fill up, spending piles on, emotions run close to the surface, and even the gatherings we hope will bring connection can carry tension and unspoken strain. We rush toward one day of joy, only to feel strangely empty, tired, or deflated when it passes.
For many, this season doesn’t feel light or magical. It feels heavy. We carry grief, disappointment, unresolved relationships, financial pressure, and the sense that nothing quite goes the way we planned. Beneath the lights and songs, there can be a quiet cloud of weariness, sadness, and confusion.
Scripture does not ignore this reality. It names it honestly:
Romans 8:22–23 (CSB) “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”
And yet, this is exactly the kind of season into which Advent speaks.
As Advent comes to its close, we have been formed week by week by hope, peace, joy, and love. These are not passing emotions or seasonal themes. They are names for what happens when God comes near. Christmas is not the story of God stepping in only when things go wrong. It is the declaration that God has always intended to be with us, in joy and in sorrow, in clarity and in confusion. In Jesus Christ, God does not merely respond to human need; He reveals who He has always been.
Scripture tells us plainly how this love is made known:
1 John 4:9 (CSB) “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.”
Hope is born not because the world suddenly improves, but because God has arrived. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ. Joy is not the denial of suffering, but the deep assurance that life is held by God. Love is not something we create, but something we receive because God loved us first.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit God define love for us. We do not define it ourselves.
As the apostle John declares: 1 John 4:8 (CSB) “God is love.”
1 John 4:16 (CSB) “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.”
These are not sentimental statements. They are theological declarations. They tell us that love is not merely what God does when circumstances demand it. Love is who God is. And Christmas represents the moment when that love takes flesh and dwells among us.
Theologian T. F. Torrance captures this truth beautifully: “God loves you so utterly and completely that he has given himself for you in Jesus Christ his beloved Son, and has thereby pledged his very being as God for your salvation.”— T. F. Torrance, The Mediation of Christ, p. 94.
This is the heart of Christmas: God does not give us something other than Himself. He gives Himself. His love is self-giving, faithful, and permanent.
In a world filled with uncertainty and noise, Christmas reminds us that the most serious reality in our lives is not the chaos around us, but the God who has come to dwell with us. God is not distant. God is not neutral. God is near and He is love.
Writing in the midst of a broken and violent world, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminded the Church: “God loves human beings. God loves the world. Not an ideal human, but human beings as they are; not an ideal world, but the real world. What we find repulsive in their opposition to God, what we shrink back from with pain and hostility, namely real human beings, the real world, this is for God the ground of unfathomable love.”
A Reflection Moment:
Pause for a moment and consider this: God did not wait for the world to become peaceful and perfect before coming near. God did not wait for us to become joyful or loving before acting. Love arrived first.
Where do you need to stop striving and simply receive this love again?
What fear might be loosened if you trusted that God has already moved toward you?
This Christmas, rest in and enjoy the good news that the One who is our hope, peace, joy, and love has come near and He is here to stay.
“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
“God Is for Us; The Satan Against Us!”
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Leave a comment 
Part A:
Part B:
Full Message:
Scripture: Acts 2: 36-41 James 4: 7-10
Summary:
This powerful message, based on Acts 2:36–41 and James 4:7–10, highlighted God’s holiness, the reality of spiritual opposition, and the gift of repentance. Pastor Timothy Brassell reminded us that our God is a consuming fire. A God who says “yes” to His Son Jesus and “no” to anything that stands apart from Him. Repentance is not simply about turning away from sin; it is about turning toward Christ in trust and obedience, a continual relational act empowered by the Spirit.
As Karl Barth reminds us: “The preaching of the Gospel is the power of God because it brings about repentance, the radical turning of man away from himself and to God, away from sin and to grace.” (Church Dogmatics II/2, p. 744)
The sermon emphasized that salvation is dynamic, not static. It is not just a past event but an ongoing journey of becoming, walking with Christ daily, saying “yes” to God and “no” to all that opposes Him. In this battle, we are reminded that the adversary is real. Satan seeks to divide, deceive, and discourage, but he is not God’s equal. In Christ, we resist him by submitting to God, drawing near to Him, and relying on the Spirit’s power.
Repentance, Pastor Tim explained, is one of God’s greatest relational powers. It may feel painful, like going against yourself, cutting off something familiar, but it is the way God- Father-Son and Holy Spirit, turns our lives right side up. Just as 3,000 people responded to Peter’s message at Pentecost, we are urged today to respond with faith, repentance, and baptism, receiving the promise of the Spirit.
And as Augustine declared: “The devil is conquered, not by our power, but by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.”(Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 84, §2)
In Christ, we share in His victory over sin, death, and the devil. Salvation, therefore, is not simply about avoiding evil, but about entering deeply into the life of God who is for us, even as the adversary is against us.
Key Points and Highlights
- God Is a Consuming Fire 🔥👑
- Theme: God’s holiness includes both a “yes” to His Son Jesus and a “no” to everything opposed to Him. He accepts us in Christ while rejecting sin and rebellion.
- Discipleship Question: Where in your life do you need to say “no” so that your “yes” to Christ is clear?
- #GodIsAConsumingFire
- Repentance: God’s Relational Power 🔄❤️
- Theme: Repentance is not simply turning from sin but turning toward Christ in trust and obedience. It is one of God’s greatest relational powers, a continual act that often feels painful but turns our lives right side up.
- Discipleship Question: How will you practice repentance as a daily response to God’s love this week?
- #DailyRepentance
- Salvation as a Living Journey 🚶♂️⛰️
- Theme: Salvation is dynamic, not static. It is not just a past event but an ongoing walk of faith and obedience. In Christ, we say “yes” daily to God’s transforming work, trusting Him to complete what He has begun.
- Discipleship Question: What step of obedience is God calling you to take right now in your journey?
- #LivingSalvation
- The Adversary and Our Resistance ⚔️🐍
- Theme: Satan is real and seeks to divide, deceive, and discourage, but he is not God’s equal. We resist him by submitting to God, drawing near to Christ, and relying on the Spirit’s power. The devil is conquered not by our strength but by Christ’s blood and our faithful testimony.
- Discipleship Question: How can you actively resist the enemy this week by submitting to God?
- #ResistTheEnemy
- Hope in the Victory of Christ ✝️🏆
- Theme: Christ has already defeated sin, death, and the devil. Repentance, baptism, and life in the Spirit anchor us in His triumph. Our calling is to share in His victory and bear witness to His saving power.
- Discipleship Question: How can remembering Christ’s victory give you courage in the struggles you face?
- #VictoryInChrist
Reflection Moment
Take a pause and ask yourself:
Where is God calling me to turn from self-reliance and cling to Christ more fully?
Remember: Repentance is not condemnation. It may feel costly, but it is God’s gift of love and power to turn you right side up in Christ. Your victory is not found in your strength, but in the blood of the Lamb and in the Spirit who empowers your testimony. It is God’s-Father, Son and Holy Spirit invitation into deeper life with Him. Resist the adversary not by fear, but by fixing your eyes on Jesus, who has already overcome.
“Grace That Goes First!”
Filed under: Ascension, Ascension of Jesus, Bible, By Karan Barthelmy-Harris, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father Loves and Like You Celebration, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Grace In Motion, Having The Peace Of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Came First, Jesus Christ, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Live The Gospel, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pursued By God, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Love, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
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“We love because He first loved us.” —1 John 4:19 (CSB)
Before you ever moved toward God, He moved toward you. Before you repented, before you prayed, before you even believed, He had already set His love upon you. THAT’S GRACE!
“God does not wait for man to turn to Him; He goes to meet him.”—Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics IV/2, p. 752
In Christ, the Father and the Spirit ran to embrace humanity: fallenness, rebellion, shame and all. Jesus didn’t wait for us to get it together. He stepped into our mess. The Spirit didn’t demand we earn His presence. He was poured out freely. The Father didn’t withhold His love until we deserved it. He gave us His Son while we were still enemies. “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”—Romans 5:8 (CSB)
This is grace: God didn’t wait for you to change. In Jesus and by the Holy Spirit, He came to change you by love.
“God does not wait for us to believe or behave before including us in His grace. In Jesus, He already has.”—Gary Deddo, Clarifying Our Theological Vision, GCI.org
God is not keeping His distance, waiting for you to fix yourself. He has already come near, already included you, already begun the work of making you whole in Jesus Christ. The cross isn’t a symbol of what we must do for God; it’s the declaration of what He has already done for us and with us.
The love of the Trinity is not reluctant, it is relentless.
The Father ran to meet us.
The Son gave His life for us.
The Spirit came to dwell within us.
Three Persons, one God, moving together in love to bring us home. “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” —Ephesians 2:18 (CSB)
So now the question becomes:
Who do you need to pursue today, not because they’ve earned it, but because God pursued you? Maybe someone has hurt you. Maybe they’ve drifted. Maybe you’ve distanced yourself, waiting for them to make the first move. But what if grace calls you to go first, not in your own strength, but with the strength of Christ and by the Spirit who lives in you.
Let your life reflect the rhythm of the Triune God: ✨ A love that doesn’t wait. ✨ A grace that goes first.
Prayer
Lord,
You loved me before I ever reached for You.
You came near when I was far, and gave Yourself without waiting for change.
Thank You for pursuing me with grace.
Now help me do the same.
Where I’m tempted to hold back, let me move forward in love.
Where I want to wait, give me courage to go first.
Let my life reflect the mercy You’ve shown me.
Make me a witness of Your grace in motion.
Amen.
“6 Ways Of Understanding God’s Gracious Judgement!”
Filed under: Ascension, Ascension of Jesus, Bible, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Easter, Evangelism, Fiction, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Resurrection, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Believe By Grace, Bible, Break The Idols, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Church As Reminder, Closer Than You think, Communion As Life, Disrupt To Heal, Evangelism, Face To face Faith, Faith, For The Other, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God Gets My attention, God Is For Us, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Gospel Cpmmunity, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Grace Together, Graceful Disruption, Grief With Grace, Having The Peace Of God, Hope In grief, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Intimate God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Has Overcome, Jesus Is For You, Judged To Be Free, Judgement As Love, Knowing The Father's Love, Led by The Spirit, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, mission minded, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Outward Faith, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pray To Live, Real Presence, Receive Jesus Fully, Relational faith, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Revelation 1, Revelation 1: 4-20, Revelation 2-3, Scripture Is Life, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, Spirit Of Truth, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Woken By Love, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
Leave a comment 
Part A:
Part B:
Full Message:
Scripture: Revelation 2-3; Revelation 1: 4-20
Summary:
In this theologically rich Ascension Sunday message, Pastor Timothy Brassell unveils Jesus Christ not only as Savior but as God’s active, relational, and loving judgment. Drawing deeply from Scripture and lived experience, he explores six “ways” of understanding God’s judgment in Christ, each centering on the truth that God-Father, Son, Holy Spirit is for us, not against us. Rather than punishment, judgment is presented as intimate correction, grace-filled disruption, and a call to deeper relationship with the Triune God. Pastor Tim calls the Church to repentance, trust, mission, and communion in light of Jesus’s ongoing presence in and with all creation.
Key Points and Highlights:
1. Jesus Is God’s Judgment of Love
Theme: Jesus reveals God’s judgment as a relational act of redeeming, not condemnation.
Quote: “God’s judgment in Christ is: ‘I am for you.’”
Discipleship Question: Do I truly believe God is for me, even when I face hardship or correction?
#JesusIsForYou #JudgmentAsLove #GodIsForUs
🛐 2. We Mourn With Hope
Theme: In Christ, grief is transformed by hope because judgment has already been dealt with at the cross.
Quote: “We mourn, but not as those without hope.”
Discipleship Question: How can I grieve and still anchor my hope in the victory of Christ?
#HopeInGrief #JesusHasOvercome #GrieveWithGrace
💥 3. Judgment Is Intimate, Not Distant
Theme: Jesus’s judgment is relational. He draws near to correct because He desires deeper intimacy.
Quote: “Jesus is seeking to be more intimate with you… that’s why He gets in your face.”
Discipleship Question: What obstacles am I clinging to that keep me from intimacy with Christ?
#CloserThanYouThink #IntimateGod #FaceToFaceFaith
⛪ 4. The Church Is a Reminder of Truth
Theme: Christ uses the Church, not to shame, but to remind us who we are in Him.
Quote: “Gather with others to remind each other what’s true.”
Discipleship Question: How is community shaping my understanding of who I am in Christ?
#ChurchAsReminder #GospelCommunity #GraceTogether
🚫 5. God Judges Our False Idols
Theme: God opposes the thoughts and behaviors that distort our identity and keep us from Him.
Quote: “God is against you, when you are against yourself.”
Discipleship Question: What lies am I believing that God may be disrupting for my healing?
#DisruptToHeal #JudgedToBeFree #BreakTheIdols
🌍 6. Judgment Is Always Missional
Theme: God’s judgment extends outward through creation and especially through humanity. It is never self-centered.
Quote: “Salvation is never just for you. It’s always for the other, too.”
Discipleship Question: Is my faith focused inward, or is it driving me outward toward others?
#MissionMinded #ForTheOther #OutwardFaith
🔥 7. God’s Disruption Is Grace
Theme: Sometimes God’s love comes in the form of disruption because His will is to draw us close.
Quote: “He’ll kick your legs out from under you if it will wake you up to His love.”
Discipleship Question: Am I recognizing God’s loving interruptions in my life?
#GracefulDisruption #WokenByLove #GodGetsMyAttention
🕊️ 8. The Spirit Makes God’s Judgment Believable
Theme: Only the Holy Spirit allows us to receive and trust that God’s judgment is for our good.
Quote: “You can’t receive that truth without the Holy Spirit.”
Discipleship Question: Am I listening to the Spirit or to my circumstances?
#LedByTheSpirit #BelieveByGrace #SpiritOfTruth
📖 9. Scripture and Prayer Are Participation
Theme: Reading the Word, gathering with believers, and praying are how we align with God’s relational judgment.
Quote: “Prayer isn’t a religious checklist. It’s how you survive as a living person.”
Discipleship Question: Am I relating with the Relational God, or checking religious boxes?
#PrayToLive #ScriptureIsLife #RelationalFaith
🍞 10. Communion Is Receiving the Judge Who Saves
Theme: The Eucharist is not a ritual. It’s a real participation in Christ’s glorified life.
Quote: “This is participation with Him in His ascended life.”
Discipleship Question: Am I receiving Christ in communion as a living relationship or as tradition?
#RealPresence #CommunionAsLife #ReceiveJesusFully
Context:
This message was delivered on Ascension Sunday and serves as a theological meditation on what it means that Jesus Christ is both Lord and Judge. Rather than presenting judgment as divine wrath or rejection, Pastor Tim reorients our understanding of judgment to be about God’s relentless pursuit of relationship, holiness, healing, and hope. The sermon touches on themes of grief, correction, community, creation, mission, and communion, all through the lens of Christ as the relational Judge who is present, active, and victorious.
Reflective Moment: Come Closer
Take a quiet moment to ask:
Am I letting Jesus be near enough to correct me because He loves me?
Am I resisting the very disruptions that are meant to restore me?
Have I made salvation about me alone, or am I joining God’s mission for others?
Come as you are. God’s judgment is not a hammer. It’s a hand extended in love.
“Sent to Share – Living the Resurrection Now!”
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Leave a comment Devotional By Pastor Timothy Brassell
Scripture: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”
— John 20:21 (CSB)
Today’s Reflection:
In the quiet after the resurrection, Jesus didn’t come with fire from heaven, but with something even more powerful: peace and purpose.
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
These are not just words for the disciples; they are words for us. The resurrection isn’t only a celebration of the past or a promise of the future. It’s a living reality that changes how we walk through each moment of each ordinary day. We’re not just receivers of grace; we’re sharers of it. As we live sent lives, we don’t go alone; we go for and with each other
“The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him… again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Sharing grace isn’t always dramatic, it’s often quiet, relational, and consistent. God sends us to speak encouragement, truth, and hope into one another’s lives, especially when faith feels uncertain.
Mary Magdalene was told not to cling to the risen Jesus, but to go and tell. That same divine pattern lives in you. Even your “boring days” are holy ground when you live under Christ’s reign.
“Your day has purpose. Jesus is walking with you on your boring days.”
And the great comfort is this: “The urgency is on, but the pressure is off.”
God-Father-Son-Holy Spirit, sends you, but it’s not on your shoulders. It’s His Spirit working through you that does the heavy lifting.
God and Evil Are Not Equals:
One of the most profound truths is this: Evil is not eternal, and evil is not God’s equal.
“Evil doesn’t sit beside God as an equal force; it’s a distortion; a twist in creation that God is straightening out in Jesus.”
There is no cosmic tug-of-war. There is only one Sovereign God, and in Christ, evil has been decisively defeated. It’s not a matter of if, but when it will be gone forever. Evil may have twisted creation, but in Jesus, God-Father-Son Holy Spirit, is redeeming what He made, not replacing it. Our bodies, our relationships, our time, all of it is being redeemed and we’re called to participate in that straightening work, not by power, but by presence, prayer, and proclamation.
“The resurrection is not the reversal of a process but its completion. It is not the denial of the cross, but its vindication.”
— Lesslie Newbigin, Truth to Tell, p. 45
Living on God’s Calendar:
When you live under God’s calendar, nothing is wasted. That means when you’re doing dishes, struggling through studies, or enduring pain Jesus is there. The time you once saw as pointless is now sacred. You’re not waiting for heaven to begin resurrection life. You’re already living in it.
You are a dual citizen, walking in this world while belonging to the next. That’s why your habits, priorities, and even relationships begin to shift. You’re not just reacting to life anymore; you’re living sent with purpose.
“You can live slower and stronger now under the calendar of Jesus Christ.”
Just as the Father sent Jesus into a broken world to redeem it, He now sends you into your family, your neighborhood, your job, your daily routines to participate in that same redemptive work. We live between resurrection and return. In this in-between time, we are not passive. We are active participants in God’s Kingdom mission.
“Our sole future is that He will come, just as our sole present is that He has come.”
— Karl Barth, Dogmatics in Outline
This quote reminds us that we don’t just look forward; we live fully in the now. The resurrection isn’t an interruption to history; it’s the anchor of it. Christ has come. Christ is coming. And in the middle, we live sent.
Reflective Moment:
Take a breath. Sit with these questions:
- What has Jesus taught me lately?
- Am I clinging to safety… or stepping out in faith?
- Who around me needs to know that evil doesn’t win?
Let the Spirit place someone or something on your heart. Then move toward them with love, light, and truth. Today, take what you’ve learned, big or small and share it. Write it. Speak it. Text it. Live it. You don’t need to be perfect; just present. You’re not sent because you’re strong; you’re sent because Jesus is risen, and He lives in you.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life. You’ve not only called me to Yourself ; You’ve sent me into the world You are redeeming. I confess the times I’ve retreated into fear or comfort when You were calling me to share. Help me live in the truth that evil is already defeated, and that time is not my enemy; it’s Your tool. Let my moments be filled with eternity. Fill me with peace. Move me in power. Let me live and love as someone sent. In Your victorious name I pray, Amen.
Commissioning:
Now go; loved, empowered, and sent by the risen Christ. Live sent.
“Refined by Fire: Holding Firm and Finding Strength in God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”
Filed under: Bible, By Karan Barthelmy-Harris, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: #Faith Refined, #Stand Firm, #Victory In Christ, 1 John 4:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Already-But-Not-Yet, Basic Christian Doctrine, battle, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God is Faithful, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, Hold Tight To Him, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Is Enough, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Life's Struggles, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Refined By Fire, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
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“The way to strengthen faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” — George Müller “You will never know the fullness of Christ until you know the emptiness of everything else.” — Charles Spurgeon
Are you experiencing a season that is grueling? Is the enemy relentless, attacking from every direction?
For those who are truly all in for Christ, the battle is intense. The enemy doesn’t waste time on those who are lukewarm—he goes after those who are stepping fully into their calling, those who are surrendering completely to Jesus. When that happens, the resistance is stronger, the attacks are fiercer, and the struggles feel overwhelming. But that’s also when faith is refined, strengthened, and made unshakable.
Even in the fire, victory is already secured. God [Father—Son—Holy—Spirit] is the One holding His people through, strengthening trust, deepening faith, and renewing hearts. The obstacles may not disappear, but there is fresh endurance to face them. It’s like being made new—new strength, new resilience, new clarity of mind. When eyes stay fixed on Christ, fear fades, and tears dry up because confidence is rooted in Him.
The enemy’s goal has always been to distort identity in Christ—to shift focus away from the truth of the Gospel and toward fear, doubt, and condemnation. But Scripture is clear: “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). When trials come, the response must be to stand firm, knowing that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The real battle is in the mind, and staying rooted in truth is what brings victory.
Yes, the enemy is persistent, but he is already defeated! Those who stand firm in Jesus will not be moved. No matter how painful, no matter how fierce the battle, the foundation remains unshaken.
As Christians, we live in the “Already but Not Yet”—experiencing the blessings of new life in Christ, like forgiveness and salvation, while still awaiting the full realization of that life, including the resurrection of our bodies when Christ returns. We have a glimpse of heaven now, but the fullness is yet to come.
We can be assured that God [Father—Son—Holy—Spirit] NEVER leaves us where He finds us. He is good, His presence is real, His power is real, His Gospel is real and He can be trusted with all. No matter what comes, hold tight to Him—because He is already holding tight to you!
“The Father’s Surprising Relationship With Josh During COVID!”
Filed under: By Timothy Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Adoption, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Ephesians 3:14, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, Mark 1:15, Maryland, Matt 28, Matthew 28: 18-20, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus
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Part A:
Part B:
Full Message:
Scriptures:
Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:15, Ephesians 3:14
Summary:
Pastor Timothy Brassell shares the inspiring testimony of his brother Josh Brassell, who experienced a profound spiritual transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sermon emphasizes the importance of a relationship with God, participation in faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit in bringing people closer to Jesus Christ. Pastor Brassell highlights how God uses personal relationships to draw individuals to Himself, showcasing Josh’s journey as an example of God’s surprising and gracious work.
Context:
This sermon reflects the ongoing efforts of NewLifeFellowshipMD to connect with and inspire their congregation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus on personal testimony and practical application of faith highlights the church’s commitment to fostering deep, transformative relationships with God. The story of Josh Brassell serves as a powerful example of how God’s love and grace can bring about profound change, even in difficult circumstances.
Key Points:
🌟 God’s Active Presence
The Holy Spirit is dynamic, working to share Jesus’s relationship with the Father and draw people into communion with God.
🙌 Personal Testimony
Josh Brassell’s story of transformation during COVID-19, highlights how God reached out to him through personal and familial relationships.
📖 Scriptural Foundations
Scriptures from Matthew, Mark, and Ephesians are used to illustrate God’s mission, the call to repentance, and the importance of personal names and relationships in God’s plan.
🛡️ God’s Timing and Call
Emphasis on God’s perfect timing in calling individuals by name, illustrates this with Josh’s experience of being drawn to faith during a challenging period.
🤝 Participation in Faith
The importance of active participation in faith, including attending church, engaging in discipleship, and living out the teachings of Jesus in everyday life.
🎁 Transformation and Giving
Josh shares how his newfound faith led to significant personal changes, including learning to give generously and living with a mindset of glorifying God in all actions.
🛠️ Practical Changes
Examples of practical changes in Josh’s life, such as improving his work ethic, controlling his speech, and positively impacting those around him through his faith.
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1.) gbu-hamovniki.ru
The Father Loves and Likes You 2023 Workshops
Filed under: Ascension of Jesus, Bible, By Calvin Simon, by Cathy Deddo, by Dr. Gary Deddo, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Cathy Deddo, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Dr. Gary Deddo, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Good News Celebration, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Humor, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Father Loves and Like You Celebration, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Union with Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Cathy Deddo, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Dr. Gary Deddo, Forgiveness, God - Father-Son-and Holy Spirit, God's goodness, God's love, God's Providence, God's Truth, Gospel, Jesus, Jesus' Lordship, Jesus' Salvation, Lord of History, Lord of Time and Space, Ocean City, Our Christian Identity, Prayer, Relationships, Spiritual Struggles, Struggling with Evil, The Evil One, The Father Loves and Likes You 2023, The Father-Son-Holy Spirit-God, The Lord's Prayer, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Workshops
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Discover how the Gospel of the Father-Son-Holy-Spirit-God can guide us through the trials and tribulations of today’s world in 5 insightful teaching sessions. 
[Special guests Gary and Cathy Deddo lead us on a transformative exploration of Who Jesus is and our identity in Him amidst the challenges we face as the Church. Don’t miss out on this enriching experience and check it out! 
]
#GospelConference
#FaithInChallengingTimes
#NewLifeBaltimoreGCI
“The Scope of Christ’s Lordship”
“The Scope Of Christ’s Salvation”
“The Lord’s Prayer”
“Living As Christian’s In This World”
Becoming An Ethically Responsible Christian Disciple! Part 3 (Our Christian/ Biblical Worldview)
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Lent, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Active Participation With Jesus, Adoption, Christian Living, Colossians, Discipleship, father, Fruit of God's Grace, GCI Baltimore, God Father Son and Spirit, God in Flesh, God Incarnate, God Likes You, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Gift, God's Grace, God's Healing, God's Hope, God's Humility, God's love, God's Love And Life, God's Mercy, God's Mission, God's Patience, God's Power, God's Presence, God's Unconditional Love, Gospel, grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, Grace Communion International, Humanity Uplifted, Humility, Humility of God, Humility of Jesus, Incarnation, Included In Christ, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Is God's Love Revealed, Jesus is the way the truth and the life, jesus ministry, JESUS THE CHRIST, Jesus' Presence, Love, Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit, Participation with Jesus, Participation with Jesus Christ, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Baltimore, Purpose, Receiving God's Love, Relationship With Jesus, Salvation, Salvation By Grace Alone, Salvation In Christ, Sharing God's Love With Others, Spiritual Maturity, Spirituality, The Father, The Father's Love, The Father-Son-and-Spirit-God, The Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit Of Love, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Unconditional, Unconditional Love, Union and Communion, Union with Jesus Christ, Wholeness in Christ, Worship
Comments (2) 
Part 3A:
Part 3B:
Full Message:
Bible Verses: Colossians (various scriptures)
Introduction:
“How Do I Become An Ethically Responsible Christian Disciple?” That is the question this series is trying to answer as it lays the foundations of this sermon firmly on THE Foundation of Jesus Christ, Himself, in his Person and Work. As we face the “waves and pounding surf” of the bad philosophies and false ideas and ideologies of this world, we need not be shaken because our house is built upon a rock, THE Rock, Jesus Christ! We are encouraged by the Lord Jesus to be careful how we build. The Lord Jesus Christ in calling you to Himself in His relationship with His Father does so that you might know Him and, incredibly, share in his very mind with him! NOT sharing in a mind like his, but sharing in his very own mind, in the Spirit!
Theological Theme:
“Ethics” is a way of understanding how we are to relate to our neighbors, horizontally, in the light of Who Jesus is and Who we are in Him, as we seek to glorify the Father with Jesus! As those who trust him, Jesus Christ is our Ethic! When we are directly relating to God, that’s worship. When we are relating directly to our neighbor for God’s sake, that is ethics, or witnessing to and participating with the God we worship in His love toward others.
Christ Connection:
In one paradoxical way of putting it, Christian ethics are really the end of ethics as we once thought of them! We’re no longer centered on proclaiming a nice, neatly-packaged system of rule-keeping, laws or instructions, as if that is what the bible/Christian life primarily is. We’re now centered solely on the Rule-Keeper, the Law-Giver, and THE Loving Instructor – Jesus Christ, Himself! He is our Ethic! In an intimate relationship with Him he guides and leads us by the Holy Spirit, even in the minutiae of everyday living, that we might participate with Him in glorifying His Father in a human way! In Jesus we are becoming a repetition of Jesus and His Father in an earthly way by the Spirit!
Missional Application:
The Father sent his Son Jesus into the world because of his great love for the world. John 3:16. This love for the world is what we seek to participate in both within and outside the Church in participation with Jesus and the Father. This quote from Henri Nouwen is written with just this kind of love for others in mind:
“For Jesus, there are no countries to be conquered, no ideologies to be imposed, no people to be dominated. There are only children, women and men to be loved.” — Henri Nouwen
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Becoming An Ethically Responsible Christian Disciple! Part 2 (Our Christian/ Biblical Worldview)
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Children's Ministry, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Humor, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Active Participation With Jesus, Adoption, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Colossians, Colossians 1, Colossians 2, Colossians 3: 17, Colossians 3: 23, Discipleship, father, Fruit of God's Grace, GCI Baltimore, God Father Son and Spirit, God in Flesh, God Incarnate, God Likes You, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Gift, God's Grace, God's Healing, God's Hope, God's Humility, God's love, God's Love And Life, God's Mercy, God's Mission, God's Patience, God's Power, God's Presence, God's Unconditional Love, Gospel, grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, Grace Communion International, Humanity Uplifted, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Is God's Love Revealed, Jesus is the way the truth and the life, jesus ministry, JESUS THE CHRIST, Jesus Transforms, Jesus' Authority, Jesus' Presence, Jesus: True God True Man, Love, Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit, Participation with Jesus, Participation with Jesus Christ, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Baltimore, Perichoresis, presence, Purpose, Receiving God's Love, Relationship With Jesus, Relationships, Salvation, Salvation By Grace, Sharing God's Love With Others, Spiritual Maturity, Spirituality, The Father, The Father's Love, The Father-Son-and-Spirit-God, The Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit is to be worshiped, The Holy Spirit Of Love, The Holy Spirit's Power, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Unconditional, unconditional acceptance, Unconditional Love, Union and Communion, Union With Jesus, Union with Jesus Christ, Wholeness in Christ, Worship, Worshipping Jesus
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Part 2A:
Part 2B:
Full Message:
Bible Verses: Colossians (various scriptures)
Introduction:
Because Jesus Himself is our Ethic (our humanity living properly among his neighbors and glorifying the Father), ethics is the free gift of God given to us in Jesus Christ. Christian ethics are not a way to earn God’s love or a way to earn salvation through human works and achievements. It is the gift of participating with Jesus in his human life by Grace! Jesus is God’s Grace to us! Ethics is what it means to participate with Jesus in living his life in this world by the Spirit!
Theological Theme:
You begin life as a child but only so you can grow up into an adult. Similarly, through your union and participation with Jesus, by the Spirit, you are in the state of growing up and becoming a little Christ who glorifies the Father.
Christ Connection:
Jesus is the One Who stands in our human place and lives life in this world with our human nature and on our behalf in a renewing way that brings and gives us revitalized human life, destroying sin completely. He Himself, then, is our Ethic. He is the way we are called to live! Jesus is our proper human response to God and our neighbor! He is the only true Learner of God, and the only human fully obedient to the Father, AND he was and is this so that we might participate with him, glorifying the Father!
Missional Application:
As members of Christ and as people in this world, Christians have a dual citizenship. We have a complex responsibility – the response-ability of Christ, by the Spirit, to be equipped for the works of Christ’s service in the spheres of the Church, the Kingdom, and the State. The goal and mandate is to prioritize our relationship with God, and then, at his direction and under his authority over all, to love everyone, pointing them, through his mission, to him that they too may be in union and participation with him.
Photo Compliments: www. justbetweenus.org