Archive for the ‘Already-But-Not-Yet’ Tag
“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!
Jesus Is Our Wonder-Full World Tomorrow – TODAY!
Filed under: Ascension, Ascension of Jesus, Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, 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, 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, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Already-But-Not-Yet, Baptizing New Believers, Believing Jesus, Discipleship, eternal life, Evangelism, Everlasting Life, Faith, First Appearance of Jesus, Glorification, Go And Make Disciples, God Is Love, God's Creativity, God's Deliverance, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's Healing, God's love, God's Salvation, God's Spontaneity, God's Unconditional Love, Hope, Hope and Love, Life Of New Creation, Love, Make Disciples, Multiplying Disciples, New Believers, New Has Come - Old Has Passed, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Baltimore, Pointing Others To Jesus, Receiving Jesus, Second Appearance of Jesus, Self-giving, Selflessness, Sent Out By Jesus, Sent Out By The Father, Sent Out by The Holy Spirit, Sharing Christ, Sharing God's Love With Others, Sharing The Gospel, Teaching New Believers, The Gospel Preached, The Gospel Proclaimed, The Gospel Taught, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Your Best Life Now
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Audio – Part 1a: 25 min
Audio – Part 1b: 26 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Matthew 28
This message proclaims Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son! It proclaims how he is The Life of New Creation breaking into the present right now, by the Spirit! He has come and appeared, and is still here by the Spirit, saying he would never leave or forsake us! At one and the same time, He is also yet coming in his second appearance! Although we don’t get to experience the fullness of his life here and now, even with the Spirit (you don’t get “your best life now”), you can indeed get “your best taste now” as we await the fullness experienced in glorified human bodies! A taste may only be a taste but it’s not meaningless, rather a taste is meaningful and provides hope! We only get a taste right now or else we might think the corruption still in the world represents part of the whole thing that’s coming, and it doesn’t! We don’t want to get totally locked into the here and now and “trade our inheritance for a bowl of soup”. On the other side we don’t want to be so future-oriented only that we are of no earthly good as the Spirit lives in us to lay out the red carpet for Jesus’ soon coming return! From the Father, through Jesus and in the Spirit we can live in the tension of the “Already-but-not-yet!”
Missional Application:
We’re not just called to raise children, maintain households, make widgets and spreadsheets, and create music, do homework assignments, or oversee projects, deadlines and inventory! We’re also called to make disciples who can make disciples that the world may know Jesus starting now – as many people as possible! Others who can also begin receiving and helping to share in God’s Love and Life proclaiming the Good News of the “Wonder-full World Tomorrow – Today!” There is no discrimination or respecter of persons but to all who believe and receive in him, he gives the right to become the children of God!
Photo Compliments: alwaysnjoy.com