{"id":10964,"date":"2025-03-17T21:52:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T02:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/?page_id=10964"},"modified":"2025-03-17T23:40:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T04:40:38","slug":"2025-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2-ia-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/2025-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2-ia-2\/","title":{"rendered":"\u9748\u6027\u6210\u9577 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"10964\" class=\"elementor elementor-10964\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3a0458b4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3a0458b4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-75a4c0b1\" data-id=\"75a4c0b1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b55960e elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"5b55960e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><div class=\"trp_language_switcher_shortcode\">\n<div class=\"trp-language-switcher trp-language-switcher-container\" data-no-translation >\n    <div class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-current-language\">\n        <a href=\"#\" class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-disabled-language trp-ls-disabled-language\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault()\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_TW.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_TW\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\t\t<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-language\">\n                <a href=\"#\" class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-disabled-language trp-ls-disabled-language\"  title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault()\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_TW.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_TW\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\t\t<\/a>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10964#TRPLINKPROCESSED\" title=\"English\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/en_US.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"en_US\" title=\"English\"> English        <\/a>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10964#TRPLINKPROCESSED\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_CN.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_CN\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <script type=\"application\/javascript\">\n        \/\/ need to have the same with set from JS on both divs. Otherwise it can push stuff around in HTML\n        var trp_ls_shortcodes = document.querySelectorAll('.trp_language_switcher_shortcode .trp-language-switcher');\n        if ( trp_ls_shortcodes.length > 0) {\n            \/\/ get the last language switcher added\n            var trp_el = trp_ls_shortcodes[trp_ls_shortcodes.length - 1];\n\n            var trp_shortcode_language_item = trp_el.querySelector( '.trp-ls-shortcode-language' )\n            \/\/ set width\n            var trp_ls_shortcode_width                                               = trp_shortcode_language_item.offsetWidth + 16;\n            trp_shortcode_language_item.style.width                                  = trp_ls_shortcode_width + 'px';\n            trp_el.querySelector( '.trp-ls-shortcode-current-language' ).style.width = trp_ls_shortcode_width + 'px';\n\n            \/\/ We're putting this on display: none after we have its width.\n            trp_shortcode_language_item.style.display = 'none';\n        }\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<br><br><br><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-71e211b5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71e211b5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-423dded9\" data-id=\"423dded9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ac0dae1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ac0dae1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Spiritual14-ia2-EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p><p><strong><b>On the Front Line (II) \u2013 Know the Enemy<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><b>Introduction: Understanding the Battle<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>In the first part of this series, we explored our identity as soldiers of Christ. But to fight effectively, we must also know our enemy. Unlike human conflicts, where enemies are often individuals or groups with opposing views, our true adversary is Satan\u2014an invisible yet powerful force seeking to destroy our faith.<\/p><p>Paul reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). No physical weapon can defeat such an enemy; only the Spirit of God can equip us for this war.<\/p><p><strong><b>The Identity of Our Enemy<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><b>Satan\u2019s Nature: Pride and Fall<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Satan was not always the enemy. Ezekiel 28:12\u201315 describes him as a being of perfection\u2014wise, beautiful, and anointed. However, unlike other angels, who are defined by their duty rather than their appearance, Satan allowed his beauty and wisdom to fuel his pride.<\/p><p>Isaiah 14:12\u201314 reveals Satan\u2019s rebellious thoughts:<\/p><ul><li><i><\/i><em><i>\u201cI will ascend into heaven.\u201d<\/i><\/em><\/li><li><i><\/i><em><i>\u201cI will exalt my throne above the stars of God.\u201d<\/i><\/em><\/li><li><i><\/i><em><i>\u201cI will be like the Most High.\u201d<\/i><\/em><\/li><\/ul><p>This excessive self-focus led to his downfall. Jesus testified to Satan\u2019s swift fall from heaven, likening it to lightning (Lk 10:18). His story warns us that <strong><b>pride brings destruction quickly and often works from within, undetected<\/b><\/strong>\u2014like a hidden disease that can kill before we even realize it.<\/p><p>Paul emphasized this danger when advising Timothy that a church leader should not be a new convert, lest he fall into the same condemnation as the devil (1 Timothy 3:6). Pride blinds us to our faults, making us numb to correction. Even Nebuchadnezzar, though warned by Daniel, still succumbed to arrogance and suffered the consequences (Daniel 4).<\/p><p>Thus, we must continually examine ourselves, removing even the smallest traces of pride. <strong><b>The more we know, the more cautious we must be. True spiritual growth produces humility, not arrogance.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0If we claim to be fruitful but our attitudes are self-exalting, we deceive ourselves.<\/p><p><strong><b>The Enemy\u2019s Strategies<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Satan\u2019s weapons are deception, manipulation, and pride. He seeks to twist truth, stir up arrogance, and blur the lines between right and wrong.<\/p><p><strong><b>Weapon #1: Reinterpreting the Bible<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Jesus called Satan the <em><i>father of lies<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(John 8:44), and from the very beginning, he has been twisting God\u2019s words. In the Garden of Eden, Satan subtly altered God\u2019s command, leading Eve to question its true meaning. His lies are potent because they often sound reasonable and closely resemble the truth.<\/p><p>A modern example is the growing acceptance of homosexuality. Romans 1:26\u201332 clearly condemns same-sex relations as sinful, yet many argue that <em><i>\u201ca loving God would not reject those who love each other.\u201d<\/i><\/em>\u00a0This reinterpretation distorts God\u2019s justice and holiness, making believers hesitant to take a stand.<\/p><p>While God forgives sin, He does not redefine sin as righteousness. As soldiers of Christ, we must be prepared to take a firm stance on God\u2019s truth, even when it is unpopular. We cannot let emotions or societal pressure dilute the gospel. <strong><b>Satan\u2019s whispers may sound compassionate, but they lead to destruction.<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><b>Weapon #2: Leveraging Neutrality<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p><em><i>&#8220;Has God indeed said\u2026?&#8221;<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(Genesis 3:1)<\/p><p>Satan\u2019s first recorded strategy was not an outright lie but a seemingly innocent question. By planting doubt, he weakened Eve\u2019s certainty about God\u2019s command.<\/p><p>Today, Satan uses <em><i>neutrality<\/i><\/em>\u00a0as a weapon. Instead of outright denial, he tempts us to take a passive stance, making us hesitant to reject falsehoods. We may not actively support sin, but we fail to oppose it, thinking, <em><i>\u201cIt\u2019s not my place to judge.\u201d<\/i><\/em><\/p><p>Satan also infiltrates the church by using influential voices\u2014even well-intentioned ministers. This is why believers must test all teachings against Scripture. <strong><b>The truth must be our filter; otherwise, we risk spiritual deception.<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><b>Weapon #3: Stirring Pride<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Satan\u2019s own downfall was pride, and he uses the same tactic to destroy others.<\/p><p><em><i>&#8220;You will not surely die\u2026 you will be like God, knowing good and evil.&#8221;<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(Gen 3:4\u20135)<\/p><p>Eve was not just tempted by the fruit\u2019s beauty\u2014she was enticed by the promise of wisdom. Satan made her believe she could elevate herself to God\u2019s level.<\/p><p>This is still one of Satan\u2019s most effective tools. He convinces people that they are self-sufficient, that they <em><i>deserve<\/i><\/em>\u00a0more recognition, or that they <em><i>know better<\/i><\/em>\u00a0than God\u2019s word. <strong><b>When pride takes root, obedience fades.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0This is why unchecked arrogance leads to spiritual ruin.<\/p><p>The moment we sense pride creeping into our hearts, we must eliminate it before it leads to sin. Just as pride cast Satan from heaven, it can separate us from God.<\/p><p><strong><b>Countering the Enemy<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Since Satan attacks from all angles, we must constantly guard ourselves.<\/p><ol><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Guarding Our Hearts Against Pride<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><ul><li>Recognize that all wisdom, success, and knowledge come from God.<\/li><li>Stay humble, acknowledging that pride is a constant threat.<\/li><li>Regularly self-examine and correct any arrogance before it takes root.<ol start=\"2\"><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Protecting Our Minds with God\u2019s Truth<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Pursue the <em><i>mind of Christ<\/i><\/em>(1 Corinthians 2:16).<\/li><li>Test all teachings against Scripture (2 Timothy 1:13).<\/li><li>Reject neutrality\u2014stand firmly for biblical truth.<ol start=\"3\"><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Strengthening Our Spiritual Armor<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Stay vigilant in prayer.<\/li><li>Deepen our knowledge of Scripture.<\/li><li>Surround ourselves with faithful believers who encourage righteousness.<\/li><\/ul><p>Satan is a master deceiver, and without spiritual vigilance, we will fall into his traps. However, by relying on God\u2019s Spirit, staying rooted in His word, and guarding against pride, we can stand firm.<\/p><p><strong><b>Conclusion: Soldiers on the Front Line<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>As soldiers of Christ, we are under constant attack. Satan uses deception, pride, and temptation to weaken us. If we are not careful, we may not only fall but also become instruments of his work.<\/p><p>However, we are not defenseless. By staying humble, discerning truth, and keeping our spiritual armor strong, we can resist the enemy. The war is real, and the final battle is approaching (Revelation 20:7\u20138). When that time comes, those who are unprepared will be deceived and lost.<\/p><p>We must be ready now\u2014<strong><b>fighting with courage, standing for truth, and remaining faithful until the end.<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><b>Final Reflection Questions<\/b><\/strong><\/p><ol><li>Do I recognize the subtle ways Satan tries to deceive me?<\/li><li>Am I standing firmly in God\u2019s truth, or am I tempted to remain \u201cneutral\u201d?<\/li><li>Do I actively guard my heart against pride?<\/li><li>Am I truly prepared to stand on the front line when the battle intensifies?<\/li><\/ol><p>Let us arm ourselves with God\u2019s truth and fight boldly for His kingdom. The victory belongs to those who endure.<\/p><p>Come join us for the Spring 2025 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC). Bring your family and friends as we understand what it takes to return to God and pursue <a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/2025-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-1\/\"><u>spiritual growth<\/u><\/a>\u00a0life at home, work, and beyond. <strong><b>Save the date, and we look forward to seeing you!<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Thursday, April 17, 2025 6:50PM to 8:10PM<br \/>Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, 2025 9:00AM to 8:10PM<br \/>Sunday, April 20, 2025 9:00AM to 1:00PM<\/p><p>Please find our church location below:<\/p><p><strong>4N550 Church Road<br \/>Bensenville,\u00a0IL\u00a060106<br \/><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/True+Jesus+Church+Chicago\/@41.945266,-87.9536702,18.39z\/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x880fb39f5fbd433d:0x72d82c41e185bf3e!2s4+S+Church+Rd,+Bensenville,+IL+60106!3b1!8m2!3d41.9448745!4d-87.9534209!3m5!1s0x880fb3a1e4e2dd49:0xd44299b704de1192!8m2!3d41.9453743!4d-87.9533863!16s%2Fg%2F1tdn02z1?hl=en\"><strong>Google Maps<\/strong><\/a><\/p><p>In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/service\/live-sabbath-service\/\">services online<\/a>\u00a0or in-person.<\/p><p>Friday Evening Service:\u00a0 7:50PM \u2013 9:00PM<\/p><p>Saturday Morning Service:\u00a0 10:50AM \u2013 12:00Noon<\/p><p>Saturday Afternoon Service:\u00a0 1:30PM \u2013 2:40PM<\/p><p>Email us at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org\">ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-51a8753a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"51a8753a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d1e1ff1\" data-id=\"4d1e1ff1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c19ac97 elementor-button-success elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"3c19ac97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/2025-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Back to Landing Page<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On the Front Line (II) \u2013 Know the Enemy Introduction: Understanding the Battle In the first part of this series, we explored our identity as soldiers of Christ. But to fight effectively, we must also know our enemy. Unlike human conflicts, where enemies are often individuals or groups with opposing views, our true adversary is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10964","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-06 10:38:41","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10964"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10964"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10964\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10968,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10964\/revisions\/10968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}