Steel Bard Thoughts

 There are actually several reasons as to why even other Christians will misunderstand you and treat you differently. You see, there are levels of spiritual growth and everyone is a work in progress. So, while we should never be filled with pride or compare ourselves to others, it's important to understand why even fellow believers might misunderstand you or treat you differently. You see, it's one thing when the world rejects you. It's another thing when you feel like the body of Christ is rejecting you. You see, as someone who is all-in, you stand out. And I want to help you understand why it is that you stand out even among other Christians, why they misunderstand you, and how to navigate that in a way that's spiritually healthy. Now, I want to reiterate this point. This is not a point of pride. It's because of the grace of God. It's because of the power of the Holy Spirit that we make our progress in the spirit. And as we respond in obedience to the leading ...

 Beloved, have you ever looked someone in the eyes and felt a chill? A subtle warning, a whisper in your spirit that says, something is not right? You feel it, don’t you? And yet… you brush it off. You smile. You laugh. You tell yourself, they are my friend. But today, the Word of God says to us: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Yes! The world is full of wolves hidden in the guise of friends. And they do not reveal themselves all at once. No! They hide their teeth until the moment they strike. They mirror your thoughts, echo your laughter, appear loyal, but their loyalty is a mask. Their kindness is a performance. The Scripture reminds us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Oh, church! A true friend stands beside you when life is simple, yes! But also when life is cruel! A true friend walks with you in suffering. But a wolf? A wol...

 THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF MUSIC — WHAT ARE YOU ALLOWING INTO YOUR SOUL? Music has incredible power. Just a few notes can instantly transport you back to a specific moment in your life. A song on the radio can lift your mood, make you want to dance, bring back memories, or even make you feel sorrow. But have you ever stopped to think about what you are allowing into your heart and mind through the music you repeatedly consume? The Bible tells us: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” — Proverbs 4:23, KJV Notice that Scripture says keep thy heart. Guard it. Watch over it. Be careful what you allow to repeatedly occupy your thoughts, desires, imagination, and emotions. And Paul gives us another command: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely... think on these things.” — Philippians 4:8, KJV That means Christians should not ask only: “Do I like thi...

 THE POWERFUL MAN NEVER FITS IN — BUT HERE'S WHY Before you feel broken by the world for not fitting in, listen carefully. Machiavelli discovered a brutal truth about power and human nature. The moment a man becomes powerful, he can become unacceptable to those who feel threatened by him. But Scripture gives us a deeper perspective. Jesus said: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” — John 15:18, KJV And again: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world... therefore the world hateth you.” — John 15:19, KJV There is a kind of separation that comes when a man refuses to live according to the values of the world. But understand this carefully: Christian strength is not about becoming better than everyone else. It is about becoming faithful to God. The moment a man begins to rise quietly, steadily, without needing the approval of the crowd, he steps onto a path that most people will never dare to walk. Not...

 Understanding Satan's Continued Existence in Light of Scripture Why hasn't God destroyed Satan? God is holy. God is righteous. God hates evil. Yet Satan is still alive. He continues to deceive, tempt, accuse, and bring suffering into the world. Why? The Lord is all-powerful. He could destroy Satan instantly. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” — Luke 1:37, KJV So why hasn't He done it? The answer is not that God lacks power. It is not that Satan is God's equal. And it is not because God has somehow lost control. The Bible presents something very different. Satan is a defeated enemy whose final judgment has already been determined by God. Jesus said: “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” — John 12:31, KJV And Scripture tells us that Christ came specifically to destroy the works of the devil: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” — 1 John 3:8, KJV So today we ...