If someone tells you they’ve actually seen God, this is a big RED FLAG this person is not speaking truth. Our human eyes could not behold Him and live. John reiterates this when he clearly says, “No one has seen God at anytime.” (1 John 4:12) But we can often see God in others, can’tContinue reading “Have you seen God?”
Author Archives: Kim Jaggers
Are you growing in your love for others?
Am I growing in my love for others? As John moves on, and says, “Beloved let us love one another,” (1 John 4:7), it may seem as if he is switching gears from talking about discernment between spirits of truth and and spirits of error but he is actually saying this is a good testContinue reading “Are you growing in your love for others?”
Calling Wrong Things Right & Ice Cream.
They are of the world.We are not.And there are spiritual forces at work among us. Remember, in this ancient letter we are studying, John “presented the world not as the global earth or the mass of humanity, which God Himself loves (John 3:16). Instead it is the community of sinful humanity that is united inContinue reading “Calling Wrong Things Right & Ice Cream.”
Truth. Not just a wishful hope!
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) ❤️ It’s not you “will” overcome them. You HAVE overcome! This isn’t a motivational speech. It’s truth! It’s a done deal.It’s certain.It’s finished. Not because of youContinue reading “Truth. Not just a wishful hope!”
He who is in us is greater-but first this…
I can’t wait to get to 1 John 4:4! It’s one of my favorite verses! It’s honestly part of the reason I was drawn to this letter by this beloved disciple. But I can’t just rush to the hope of 1 John 4:4, “He who is in you is greater than he who is inContinue reading “He who is in us is greater-but first this…”
Don’t be quiet
Christians around the world, in Syria and Congo right now, are being slaughtered. We should pray and we should remember. We should make our voices heard. It’s easy to sit here on my couch, coffee in hand and read these words in 2 Timothy from my pretty Bible, and miss the profound depth of them.Continue reading “Don’t be quiet”
One thing that can help you with fear…
I’m sick of seeing the enemy rob us of so many good things God has planned for us because of fear. The enemy really uses that. But here’s one thing I’ve learned that has disarmed him time and time again in my life: When I hear the enemy telling me all the bad things thatContinue reading “One thing that can help you with fear…”
We can lose things and not lose hope.
This is God’s commandment-believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 3:23). Stop. John is talking to believers and he says God commands you believe? Don’t they already believe? When we dig deeper (I pulled out a commentary), we understand this means believe and keep believing on the Name of Jesus Christ.Continue reading “We can lose things and not lose hope.”
Mad at God and believing Satan’s lies
Whatever we ask, we receive! That’s sounds a lot like a genie in a bottle kind of prosperity God—not the Most High Holy of Holies. So what does John mean when he writes, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in HisContinue reading “Mad at God and believing Satan’s lies”
Don’t fall for the lie that you are defined by your past.
Yesterday, I wrote briefly about how sometimes our hearts, and the enemy, condemn us for things God has already forgiven but that God is greater than our hearts (from 1 John 3:20). The evil one is masterful at deceiving even God’s children into believing God can’t possibly forgive them and that they will always beContinue reading “Don’t fall for the lie that you are defined by your past.”
God is BIGGER than our feelings!
God is bigger than our feelings! We’ve been talking about asking the Lord to show us sin; but sometimes, some of us, can take this too far. Our hearts condemn us when they shouldn’t. Sometimes, we feel guilty and ashamed not because of unconfessed sin, but for sins God has forgiven, or because we haveContinue reading “God is BIGGER than our feelings!”
Are you really helping others if you never speak truth?
John keeps going on about loving others and he reminds us of how Jesus loved us —“He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16). Now, you likely won’t be asked to die for someone else, but John says if you seeContinue reading “Are you really helping others if you never speak truth?”
Not just some of me. All of me.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy name!Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits! (Psalm 103:1-2) Oh my soul.Bless HIS Holy Name with ALL that is within me. Not just some of me.All of me. But all of me is prone toContinue reading “Not just some of me. All of me.”
Loving & Forgiving Others is part of Following
John says if you don’t practice righteousness, you’re not a child of God. He then goes on to say in that same verse “nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10) John is emphasizing that loving others is an absolute basic characteristic of a Christ follower (1 John 3:11). He pointsContinue reading “Loving & Forgiving Others is part of Following”
Uncomfortable Truth
The beloved disciple of Jesus, John, seems to be repeating himself, but perhaps he is reinforcing this very big point…you can’t keep on walking in sin as if it is no big deal. If you can, you may not be a child of God— Remember, John’s audience is the young church—believers. But, as in anyContinue reading “Uncomfortable Truth”
Sin, left unchecked, hurts us and others.
It is increasingly unpopular to use the word “sin”. It’s even more out of fashion to use the word “lawlessness”. Who among us has heard that word from a pulpit lately? Who talks about keeping God’s law when it is much more palatable to talk about rivers of grace? But here goes John, right hereContinue reading “Sin, left unchecked, hurts us and others.”
Hang on! Because One Day!
God’s children look different than the rest of the world. The world doesn’t really know, understand, or celebrate us, do they? John told us, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not knowContinue reading “Hang on! Because One Day!”
What could make a Christian ashamed?
John urges believers to “abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28) What might make me ashamed as a Christian standing before the One who died for me? Perhaps if I’ve lived my life for me instead of Him? WeContinue reading “What could make a Christian ashamed?”
Part of my story
Are you heading to church today? Excerpt from my book…. Growing up in the South, I have always been in church—a Baptist church, of course. In fact, at age nine, I clearly knew that I was a sinner and needed a savior. I knew the “right” answer. After all, the preacher had said it everyContinue reading “Part of my story”
Do you ever have a “check” in your Spirit?
“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.” (1 John 2:26) There are great efforts, by spiritual forces in high places, to deceive us and those we love (Eph 6:12). They use people, especially those with large platforms, but they also use people you and your kids might comeContinue reading “Do you ever have a “check” in your Spirit?”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 