{"id":10919,"date":"2025-03-17T21:15:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T02:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/?page_id=10919"},"modified":"2025-03-17T23:40:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T04:40:31","slug":"2025-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2-ia-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/2025-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2-ia-1\/","title":{"rendered":"\u7075\u6027\u6210\u957f 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"10919\" class=\"elementor elementor-10919\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-60853976 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"60853976\" 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-2d8e917c\" data-id=\"2d8e917c\" 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-28cfaef8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"28cfaef8\" 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=\"\u7b80\u4f53\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_CN.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_CN\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7b80\u4f53\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=\"\u7b80\u4f53\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_CN.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_CN\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\t\t<\/a>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10919#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_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10919#TRPLINKPROCESSED\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\">\n            <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        <\/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-25678c0b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"25678c0b\" 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-48e83716\" data-id=\"48e83716\" 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-65ec929 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"65ec929\" 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-ia1-EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p><p><strong><b>On the Front Line (I) \u2013 Knowing Who You Are<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><b>Introduction: A Call to Be Soldiers<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Soldiers are admired for their discipline, courage, and willingness to protect others. Many aspire to be like them, yet being a good soldier requires sacrifice, endurance, and a constant state of readiness.<\/p><p>As Christians\u2014especially as members of the True Jesus Church\u2014we must understand that we, too, are soldiers. Our battle is spiritual, and we must ask ourselves: <strong><b>Do we truly know who we are? Do we understand our purpose? Are we prepared for the fight?<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><b>Our Identity: Soldiers of Christ<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>When we were baptized, we became children of God through His grace (John 1:12\u201313; 3:5; Romans 6:4). At that moment, we also enlisted in His army. Unlike worldly military drafts, our enlistment is voluntary\u2014we choose to accept God\u2019s calling.<\/p><p>Even those baptized as infants must personally experience God\u2019s grace to fully embrace this role. Not everyone receives this privilege; while God loves all, only those who respond to His call are chosen. This makes our identity as soldiers of Christ both an honor and a responsibility.<\/p><p>Do we cherish this calling and take it seriously?<\/p><p><strong><b>The Role of God\u2019s Army<\/b><\/strong><\/p><ol><li><strong><b> Ready to Fight<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Most military forces have different roles, with some actively engaging in battle while others remain on defense. However, as soldiers of Christ, we cannot afford to be passive. Our enemy\u2014Satan\u2014is constantly attacking, seeking to weaken our faith and prevent us from saving souls (1 Peter 5:8).<\/p><p>The battlefield is not far away, it is in our daily lives. Whether at home, school, work, or church, we are always in spiritual warfare. If we do nothing, we risk being overrun. Instead, we must actively resist the devil and fight back with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11\u201312).<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong><b> Determined to Save<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>King David\u2019s mighty warriors were chosen to fight on the front lines (2 Samuel 23:8\u201312). While we may not be called to physical battles, we fight a greater war\u2014one for souls. Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, preached a single sermon that led 3,000 people to repentance and baptism (Acts 2).<\/p><p>As spiritual soldiers, our mission is to rescue people from the captivity of sin. This aligns with the motto of the US Army\u2019s Special Forces: <em><i>De Oppresso Liber<\/i><\/em>\u2014&#8221;to liberate from oppression.&#8221; We fight by spreading the gospel, helping others see their need for Christ.<\/p><p>We may feel unqualified, but God equips those He calls. David\u2019s mighty men were once outcasts, and Peter was impulsive and fearful. Yet through training and the Holy Spirit, they became strong. Likewise, we must equip ourselves with God\u2019s word and Spirit to stand firm in battle.<\/p><p><strong><b>The Characteristics of God\u2019s Army<\/b><\/strong><\/p><ol><li><strong><b> Clothed in White Linen<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>John saw the heavenly army clothed in fine, white linen (Revelation 19:14). This represents the holiness given to us at baptism (Revelation 7:13\u201314). However, we must actively keep our robes unblemished (Rev 3:4, 16:15).<\/p><p>Are our thoughts, words, and actions pure?\u00a0<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong><b> Riding on White Horses<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>The heavenly army rode white horses (Revelation 19:14), just as Jesus did when He went out conquering (Revelation 6:2). The white horse symbolizes the True Jesus Church, through which Christ fulfills His mission.<\/p><p>Do we firmly believe that the True Jesus Church is God\u2019s chosen church in these last days?<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong><b> Staying Focused<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p><em><i>&#8220;No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.&#8221;<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(2 Timothy 2:4)<\/p><p>As Christian soldiers, we cannot allow worldly distractions to pull us away from our mission. This does not mean abandoning school, work, or responsibilities but keeping God as our top priority.<\/p><p>What are we focusing on today?<\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong><b> Being Watchful<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>King Solomon\u2019s elite guards were always ready for battle (Song of Solomon 3:7\u20138). They were armed, vigilant, and prepared for any threat. Their readiness reflected their humility, they knew their weaknesses and remained alert.\u00a0Likewise, we must never assume that our faith is strong enough to withstand all temptations. Satan is always scheming, using impure thoughts and worldly temptations to weaken us. Our defense is prayer and God\u2019s word.<\/p><p>Do we rely on the Holy Spirit and keep God\u2019s word in our hearts?<\/p><ol start=\"5\"><li><strong><b> Willing to Suffer<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p><em><i>&#8220;You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.&#8221;<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(2 Timothy 2:3)<\/p><p>Soldiers endure hardship, and as soldiers of Christ, we must be willing to suffer for Him. Preaching the gospel or serving in church may require sacrificing comfort, leisure, or even time with loved ones.<\/p><p>Yet, Jesus endured the ultimate suffering for us. If we are truly His soldiers, are we willing to suffer for Him in return?<\/p><p><strong><b>Willing and Able<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>One US Army battalion\u2019s motto is <em><i>Volens et Potens<\/i><\/em>\u2014&#8221;willing and able.&#8221; Jesus willingly gave His life for us, and though unworthy, we received the gift of salvation.<\/p><p>As His soldiers, we must be both <strong><b>willing<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0to fight and <strong><b>able<\/b><\/strong>\u2014equipped with faith, the Holy Spirit, and God\u2019s word. The battle at Armageddon is near (Revelation 16:16), and only those who fight to the end will stand victorious.<\/p><p>Are we ready to stand on the front line for Christ?<\/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-39c5b5a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"39c5b5a\" 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-74aab141\" data-id=\"74aab141\" 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-14fe5ad2 elementor-button-success elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"14fe5ad2\" 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 (I) \u2013 Knowing Who You Are Introduction: A Call to Be Soldiers Soldiers are admired for their discipline, courage, and willingness to protect others. Many aspire to be like them, yet being a good soldier requires sacrifice, endurance, and a constant state of readiness. As Christians\u2014especially as members of the True [&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-10919","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-06 10:49:56","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10919"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10919"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10961,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10919\/revisions\/10961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}