{"id":10969,"date":"2025-03-17T23:02:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T04:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/?page_id=10969"},"modified":"2025-03-17T23:40:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T04:40:43","slug":"2025-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2-ia-3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/2025-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2-ia-3\/","title":{"rendered":"\u7075\u6027\u6210\u957f 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"10969\" class=\"elementor elementor-10969\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-36c4fd7a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"36c4fd7a\" 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-7248733e\" data-id=\"7248733e\" 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-1eb7a667 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"1eb7a667\" 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\/10969#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\/10969#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-710324bb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"710324bb\" 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-26c85954\" data-id=\"26c85954\" 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-7497fa2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7497fa2a\" 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-ia3-EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p><p><strong><b>On the Front Line (III): Knowing and Serving Our Commander<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>In spiritual warfare, believers must be well-equipped soldiers of Christ. To fight effectively, we must first understand our identity as Christ\u2019s soldiers and recognize the power of our enemy. However, above all, we must know and serve our Commander, God. This article explores the necessity of reliance on God\u2019s strength, faith over human reasoning, and the key characteristics of a faithful servant.<\/p><p><strong><b>Victory Comes Through God\u2019s Strength, Not Human Effort<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Unlike action movie heroes who overcome challenges through personal strength, spiritual battles are not won by individual might. Instead, victory depends on God\u2019s power (Zech 4:6). The Bible reminds us that our true battle is against spiritual forces (Eph 6:12), making it dangerous to rely solely on human ability.<\/p><p>Satan constantly works to deceive believers, making them overly busy with worldly distractions. For example, after a spiritual retreat, a believer may resolve to pray more but soon finds that other responsibilities pull them away. The devil ensures that spiritual growth is hindered by life\u2019s demands. Therefore, true soldiers of Christ must stay vigilant, relying on God\u2019s Spirit rather than their own strength.<\/p><p><strong><b>The Danger of Understanding God Through Human Reasoning<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>A common weakness among believers is the tendency to fit God into human logic. When people cannot understand God\u2019s ways, their faith often weakens. This rationalist approach is dangerous because it assumes that everything about God must be comprehensible.<\/p><p>The Bible reminds us that certain things about God remain mysteries (Deuteronomy 29:29). If we could fully understand God, we would be equal to Him, which is impossible. Misinterpretations of biblical language\u2014such as \u201cGod regretted\u201d (Genesis 6:6) or \u201cGod is jealous\u201d (Exodus 20:5)\u2014can lead to incorrect conclusions about His nature. Rather than analyzing God with limited human perspective, believers must approach Him with simple, unwavering faith.<\/p><p>Having a strong biblical foundation is essential. While it is beneficial to study doctrine, overanalyzing can lead to doubts rather than deeper faith. God\u2019s Word is a weapon (Hebrews 4:12), but it must be wielded with faith, not mere intellectualism.<\/p><p><strong><b>Knowing God on His Terms<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>To serve God effectively, we must understand who He is:<\/p><ol><li><b><\/b><strong><b>God is Supreme and Eternal<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><ul><li>Isaiah\u2019s vision (Isaiah 6:1) contrasts the temporary nature of human rulers (King Uzziah) with God\u2019s eternal kingship.<\/li><li>God is far above human limitations, yet He chooses to reveal Himself to us (John 14:9).<\/li><li>To know Him, we must seek Him through prayer and His Word (Revelation 4:1\u20132).<ol start=\"2\"><li><b><\/b><strong><b>God is Just and Holy<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Some mistakenly believe that God\u2019s love ensures universal salvation. However, His justice requires accountability.<\/li><li>If God was only merciful, He could have ignored Adam and Eve\u2019s sin. Yet, redemption was necessary.<\/li><li>Jesus\u2019 sacrifice demonstrates both God\u2019s love and justice\u2014salvation requires faith and obedience.<\/li><\/ul><p>Elder John\u2019s vision in Revelation depicts God\u2019s throne surrounded by a rainbow (Revelation 4:3), symbolizing both justice and mercy. Though God is loving, sin carries consequences, as seen in King David\u2019s life. True repentance is necessary to avoid God\u2019s judgment.<\/p><p><strong><b>The Making of a True Soldier of Christ<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>Isaiah\u2019s response to God\u2019s call (Isaiah 6:8) shows what a good soldier should be: humble, selfless, and motivated by God\u2019s love. The <strong><b>seraphim<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0in Isaiah\u2019s vision symbolize essential qualities for servants of God.<\/p><ol><li><strong><b> Humility \u2013 Covering the Face<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>The seraphim covered their faces, illustrating humility before God. Unlike Satan, who exalted himself (Isaiah 14:12\u201315), true servants of God must reject pride.<\/p><ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Serving Without Seeking Recognition<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Spiritual achievements should not lead to self-glorification.<\/li><li>Even powerful apostles like Paul and Peter remained humble.<ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Avoiding Spiritual Pride<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Miracles, revelations, or leadership positions should not lead to self-importance.<\/li><li>Jesus, though divine, humbled Himself to serve (Philippians 2:7\u201310).<\/li><\/ul><p>Before stepping onto the spiritual battlefield, believers must cover their faces in humility.<\/p><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong><b> Obscurity in Service \u2013 Covering the Feet<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Feet leave footprints, but the seraphim covered theirs. Good servants of God do not seek recognition or dwell on past achievements.<\/p><ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Not Resting on Past Success<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Paul never became complacent despite his vast ministry (Philippians 3:12\u201314).<\/li><li>Believers must continue striving forward rather than admiring past efforts.<ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Not Dwelling on Past Failures<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Sins repented of during spiritual gatherings must remain discarded.<\/li><li>Those who fall into sin should repent quickly rather than allow guilt to paralyze them.<\/li><\/ul><p>The best soldiers press forward, keeping their eyes on God.<\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong><b> A Heavenly Mindset \u2013 Flying with Wings<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>The seraphim\u2019s flying wings represent a focus on God\u2019s holiness. To remain strong on the front line, believers must:<\/p><ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Strive for Purity<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Holiness is God\u2019s defining characteristic, and He calls His people to be holy (1 Peter 1:15\u201316).<\/li><li>In a corrupt world, believers must resist immorality and secular influence.<ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Recognize God\u2019s Glory<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Isaiah\u2019s reaction to God\u2019s holiness (Isa 6:5) reveals the need for self-examination.<\/li><li>Believers must fix their eyes on God rather than comparing themselves to worldly standards.<\/li><\/ul><ol start=\"4\"><li><strong><b> Purification Through Fire<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>Isaiah was purified when a seraph touched his lips with burning coal (Isaiah 6:6\u20137). This symbolizes:<\/p><ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>The Need for Repentance<\/b><\/strong><\/li><li>God can only use those willing to be refined.<\/li><li>Even faithful servants must seek continual purification.<ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Spiritual Renewal Through the Holy Spirit<\/b><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>The fire represents the Holy Spirit, which empowers believers for God\u2019s work.<\/li><li>A soldier\u2019s effectiveness depends on spiritual transformation.<\/li><\/ul><p><strong><b>Conclusion: Answering God\u2019s Call<\/b><\/strong><\/p><p>God calls every believer to the spiritual front line. However, only those who are prepared, purified, and dedicated can be effective soldiers. Isaiah\u2019s response, <em><i>\u201cHere am I! Send me\u201d<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(Isaiah 6:8), serves as a model for all who wish to serve God.<\/p><p>To be ready, we must:<\/p><ol><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Depend on God\u2019s strength<\/b><\/strong>, not our own.<\/li><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Have faith beyond human reasoning<\/b><\/strong>, trusting in God\u2019s mysteries.<\/li><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Understand God\u2019s justice and holiness<\/b><\/strong>, balancing grace with accountability.<\/li><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Embody the traits of the seraphim<\/b><\/strong>\u2014humility, selflessness, heavenly focus, and continual purification.<\/li><\/ol><p>God asks, <em><i>\u201cWho will go for Us?\u201d<\/i><\/em>\u00a0May our answer always be, <em><i>\u201cHere am I! Send me.\u201d<\/i><\/em><\/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-2493709a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2493709a\" 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-35982bb9\" data-id=\"35982bb9\" 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-33572fde elementor-button-success elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"33572fde\" 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 (III): Knowing and Serving Our Commander In spiritual warfare, believers must be well-equipped soldiers of Christ. To fight effectively, we must first understand our identity as Christ\u2019s soldiers and recognize the power of our enemy. However, above all, we must know and serve our Commander, God. This article explores the necessity [&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-10969","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-06 10:45:49","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\/10969"}],"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=10969"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10976,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10969\/revisions\/10976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}