Transformed by Beholding Jesus by Sebastian Mathews

Transformed by Beholding Jesus by Sebastian Mathews

I am pleased to introduce to you my friend Sebastian Matthews. Sebastian and his family began attending Forward Church in January 2019. They were familiar with grace and the New Covenant message but they did not know how to actuate grace. After a series of frustrations and a devastating loss, they discovered not only the freedom of grace but the power of grace. God’s influence in our hearts is not just unmerited favor, it’s a power that brings about radical transformation in very radical ways. Sebastian teaches what he’s learned and gives a testimony of how it has given way to incredible fruit in just about every area of his life.

FREE SERIES - Detox from Religion

FREE SERIES - Detox from Religion

In this series, I define religion as "your attempt to approach and be acceptable to God through your own efforts." You would never say you are righteous through good behavior, but you might say you are unrighteous through sinful behavior. Both are legalistic and TOXIC.

The challenge with overcoming Toxic Religion is the same as overcoming any addiction, if you take on the identity of the sin, you’ll repeat it, if you take on the identity of someone who doesn’t have that problem, you can walk away from it.

Toxic Religion is focused on sin, failure, guilt, and condemnation. Toxic Religion assumes that you’re evil and you can never do enough. Toxic Religion keeps you focused on the old man and never fully puts on the new man. Toxic Religion will leave you continually seeking God for forgiveness and never truly resting in the peace that salvation by grace through faith should bring. Toxic Religion is addictive and must be cleansed from your identity.

Finish Your Race and Fulfill Your Assignment from God

Finish Your Race and Fulfill Your Assignment from God

God is building his church and you have a significant role to fulfill. Do you know your assignment in the body of Christ? God didn’t create you to do a job for him, he created you to be his child, plain and simple. Acknowledge God as your Father and Christ as your savior and purpose is fulfilled.

However, now that you’re in his family, he has an assignment for you, some people call this a calling. You can accept or decline the assignment, it’s your choice. God will not change his mind about you nor will he revoke your access to Heaven if you don’t fulfill your assignment, but don’t you want to complete what he wants you to do?

You may have multiple assignments throughout your time on earth as a member of his body. Your assignments may be as simple as being kind to strangers but it may also be serving as a missionary to a hostile nation where you lose your life, or any number of assignments in between. Either way, he has equipped you with his spirit, he continually leads you and he will be your peace as you work out the details.

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The Gift of Tongues Aligns Creation to Reflect God's Will

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The Gift of Tongues Aligns Creation to Reflect God's Will

Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve. ~ Max Planck - Nobel Prize in Physics winner, Originator of Quantum Theory

I like to understand things from a scientific perspective, even spiritual things. I think we can apply the rules of science to matters of the spirit, we just have to think spiritually to understand the conclusions. There is a consistent physics to spirit. Physics is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines, and its main goal is to understand how the universe behaves. I believe that the spirit of God within us will teach us the physics of Heaven as we trust God and grow in our identity in Him.

The spiritual spectrum is accessible now. The kingdom of Heaven is at hand, it is within. It is absolutely possible to understand the spiritual spectrum through our scientific understanding of the created world.

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20

This perspective does not put God in a box and it’s not trying to intellectualize spiritual matters, it actually demystifies spiritual realities and helps us interact with God’s spirit in a practical way. I don’t know about you but I’m not satisfied with interesting ideas about God’s power, I want to see results.

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Can You Evolve Spiritually? Demystifying the Gifts of the Spirit.

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Can You Evolve Spiritually? Demystifying the Gifts of the Spirit.

I used to sit on my roof, smoking marijuana, trying to send mental signals to UFOs to pick me up and take me on a trip to the Pleiades. I often used psychedelics to “expand my mind” and help me connect with the multiverse. I had a theory that I was more connected with other dimensions while I was on LSD. While I thought I was becoming more spiritual and increasing my awareness, it was actually leading me to a very dark place. I began to hear audible voices and had a direct, open encounter with multiple demons that lasted for months. This article isn’t about that encounter, it’s about the mindset that facilitated the encounter.

Prayers of the Apostle Paul

Prayers of the Apostle Paul

I’m thankful for the Bible, aren’t you?! The written word is a collection of historical records, poetry, prophecy and doctrine. I personally love getting to peek into the minds and hearts of the authors. The Apostle Paul is an interesting person to study. We get to see his before and after Christ life, what a dramatic conversion! Of course Paul’s writings are where we get most of our New Covenant theology, but there is a specific aspect of his letters that are rich with insight, his prayers.

From time to time I like to look beyond doctrine into the human aspects of the people in the Bible, including Jesus. There are a few interesting things I noticed when looking at all the prayers of Paul, here is a complete collection of the prayers of the Apostle Paul.

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The Five Fold Ministry and God's Church

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The Five Fold Ministry and God's Church

God is building His church in the earth today. His church is also known as the Body of Christ. Every single Jesus follower has an assignment within God’s church or Christ’s body, including you. Some roles are formal while other roles may not even be recognized by the traditional church. I want you to know that you are important, you belong, and God has an assignment for you that brings Him glory and causes you to experience fulfillment.

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The Unknown Healer: Understanding the Gifts of the Spirit

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The Unknown Healer: Understanding the Gifts of the Spirit

The word “gift” is the Greek word charisma. The root word is charis, which is the word for “grace.” Charisma is charis in action. This makes sense when you understand the true definition and function of GRACE. Grace is unmerited favor but it also means “God’s divine influence in your heart.” Grace also means “capacity.” The idea is this, God will empower you in your inner man, your heart. He empowers you to do the things that His spirit is able to do, things you can’t do in your own strength. Things like live holy, heal people, function as a prophet, be righteous, all of which are empowerments (gifts) of His spirit.

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A Condemnation-Free Heart Has Great Faith

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A Condemnation-Free Heart Has Great Faith

Would you like a formula to develop great faith? The kind of faith that can raise the dead and help people experience miraculous healing? The truth is, there is no formula, but there are some necessary components to great faith. #1 key ingredient to developing great faith is to live a life where your heart doesn’t condemn you. #2 ingredient is to keep Christ’s commandments. #3 is intentionally love people. Before you think I’m presenting a legalistic formula that’s based on performance, heart me out, I’m actually talking about what’s going on in your heart and how to develop confidence toward God in your heart, or your inner man.

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Why Isn't Everyone Healed? The Answer May Offend You.

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Why Isn't Everyone Healed? The Answer May Offend You.

God’s promises that are available in Christ are various and plentiful, touching on just about every aspect of life. Promises of salvation, provision, guidance, peace, health, and much more. The availability and application of the promises in Christ are universal. I am going to use the example of health in this article. As I discuss health and healing, think about which promise relates to you.

All believers believe that God can heal. All Jesus followers agree that Jesus healed people. But we disagree on whether God always wants everyone fully healed. If you don’t believe healing is God’s will, prepare to be offended, heck, you might even get offended if you do believe healing is God’s will.

All of us that believe healing is for today have seen some people healed and others not, why? There are only two stories in the New Testament that address the “why.”

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