Jesus the Goodness of God Our flesh is constantly bent on evil because of its nature, and so outwardly and inwardly temptations and trials come, bringing opportunities for you to choose the good and so glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus the goodness of God gives you the power to wield your sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to disarm the enemy. Watch him retreat as you choose good over evil. God is always reaching out His hand to you, empowering you by His Spirit to live a life of integrity and so bring praise to His Name_ As you hold out the Word of life, trust God to light your path. Remember that you are a diplomat, an ambassador bringing good news of the Word of truth to a fallen and deceived world. Build one another up in the faith, confessing your sins, praying and exhorting one another in Christ. Remember that you are covered in the righteous blood of Christ and that your sins have been forgiven. Allow God’s goodness to fill you with over flowing joy!
“Everyone needs to know how to protect themselves in a threatening situation,” says Tracy Radford of Totally Christian Karate (TCK). For 20 years, this fifth-level black belt martial arts instructor has been equipping children and adults to defend themselves against both physical and spiritual attacks. Discipleship training with a kick!
“TCK is a fully insured, safe, humane mixed martial arts program,” she says. “We won’t teach you how to be a bully. We teach only self-defense and containment so that students, ages 4 to 80, can protect themselves and possibly a friend or family member.”
Radford started martial arts training at age 13. “I was a hyper kid. It helped me focus and gave me an outlet for all my energy.” Years later, she met TCK’s founder, Mitch Freistat. She enrolled as a student and became an instructor. When Freistat moved to Florida, Radford took over the leadership of Asheville TCK. “I’ve known some of the students since they were five years old, and many are now TCK instructors. They’ve overcome physical challenges, learning disabilities, and family tragedies. They’re more than students. They’re family—my spiritual children and grandchildren.”
“The physical training supports us in spiritual battles, not the other way around. We may never have to defend ourselves or our loved ones physically, but as Christians we’ll be engaged in spiritual warfare daily.” Integral to TCK training are 104 Bible studies, which are mastered alongside 104 martial arts skills during a two-year period. “Every move has a name, like ‘shield of faith’ and ‘belt of truth.’ Students learn scripture verses with each move.” Every 75-minute class includes cardio warm-ups and stretch drills, learning a new move, working in skill-level groups, Bible study and prayer.
“Everyone is encouraged to give their absolute best, but we also understand that everyone’s best is different,” Radford adds. “I have ADD myself, so I know how effective the TCK system is with students who have learning disabilities. It combines movement with learning and increases their focus and self-control.” TCK welcomes both “at risk” students and children in therapeutic foster care. “Sometimes they only participate for a few weeks or months, but the Bible truths we plant in their hearts each week may produce fruit we never see.” TCK also offers demonstrations and seminars based on the armor of God, which are suitable for VBS programs, schools, and youth groups. Women’s self-defense classes are available as well.
Because the Biltmore Square Mall closed, Radford is looking for a new facility with at least 2500 square feet. Currently, classes meet at four different area churches—Covenant Community, Biltmore Baptist, the ACTS church, and Trinity of Fairview.
“Other martial arts programs teach that power comes from within you, that you can do anything. At TCK we teach the opposite: power is God-given and we can’t do anything without Him. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, but what empowers us is knowing Whose we are.”
“We take a sport, something active, and make it a part of your daily faith walk.” Martial arts makes it fun, but the spiritual warfare training makes it invaluable for any Christian of any age.
The first class is free, so why not give Totally Christian Karate a chance to “kick” your spirit and body into optimum shape?
For more information about the classes, demonstrations, and seminars TCK offers, visit www.totallychristiankarate.com or call 423-464-3851
Jesus, the Gospel of Peace asks, why do most people work hard for money to have a comfortable house, to have quiet in their home, and to have solid relationships? Why do they take vacations in desolate places? They are looking for peace – refuge from the turmoil without and from the turmoil within! As children of God and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ we have peace – not as the world gives, but only as Christ our Savior can give – true spiritual peace from a right relationship with God. Our world needs this good news of the gospel of peace. Share this good news with others as a gift from the Prince of Peace!
The good news of the Kingdom of God is a strong weapon against the enemy. As Jesus teaches us about this Kingdom, the deceptions of the enemy become obvious. Anger; the love of money, position, and self; fornication; greed; ambition – all are supposed to lead to happiness and satisfaction; but instead they lead to emptiness and frustration. None are acceptable in the Kingdom of God.
Remember the Kingdom you have been invited into. It has a Ruler who loves you with an everlasting love. Instead of sin there will be holiness. We will worship and praise the King along with all of the saints and the angels.Meditate upon the magnificence of this Kingdom and spread the good news!
STUDY
Who needs to know about the Gospel of the Kingdom?
What is the Gospel of the Kingdom?
Where is this Kingdom of God?
Why would you want to enter this Kingdom?
When could you tell others about the Gospel of the Kingdom?
Prophecy is a wonderful and powerful gift from God and a strong weapon against the enemy. To speak God’s message to others, to build them up in their faith, to comfort, convict, or convey the Lord’s direction to another are several uses of prophecy. Prophecy is an awesome privilege and blessing from our Lord to us. The way of love towards others is the motivation and source of this power.
Learn to listen for that quiet, still voice inside your heart from God’s Holy Spirit, so that you may know if God is trying to use you to convey His message to others. Read and open your heart to the prophecies in God’s Word so that you may be blessed by them and be equipped to use them against the enemy in the event of an attack.
We as Christians are blessed to be able to call our God both Father and Friend. But because of the wonderful accessibility Jesus has given us to the Father we sometimes take for granted whom we are approaching as we enter into His presence. Remember that God is holy, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!
Worship God in Spirit and in truth and the enemy will not be able to touch you. There is a wonderful feeling of peace and security when we are sitting at the feet of Jesus worshipping Him. At His feet we see a glimpse of heaven, where we will worship with all of the saints as well as the angels. Worship is a strong weapon against the enemy; use it often.
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Who should we Worship and who should we not Worship?
Jesus the Living Stone is LIFE! is what our loving Creator has in store for you – not a life of just making it through day by day; but an eternal, glorious, rich, abundant, peaceful, joyous, blessed, full life! Does this kind of life come from money, prestige, fame, fortune, spouse, position, poverty? NO! This life is found in only one way – through a loving relationship with your Savior, Lord, and God. True life is found only in Him. Nothing else will satisfy. The alternative is death, eternal separation from God. Stay close to your God throughout your day and enjoy the life that He has given you. The enemy doesn’t have a chance.
STUDY
Who is the Living Stone?
What kind of Life does Jesus have in store for you?
Where do you find the Life? ‘
Why does Jesus offer to you this abundant Life?
When can you experience the Life Jesus offers you?
How can you experience the Life Jesus has for you daily?
Our flesh continually cries out. “I want, I want. “The Holy Spirit, as He battles against our flesh, points us to Jesus and what He desires in our lives. This ultimately results in a breaking of our spirit and heart so that we can be remolded into the image of Christ. If we do not submit to this changing of our will, we stumble and break, only to be snared and captured by the enemy.
Praise be to God for His Son, the Stumbling Stone who causes us to examine our path, and Who changes our lives from the inside out so that we may receive all that He has to offer, because He loves us.
STUDY
Who is the Stumbling Stone?
What is supposed to be your reaction when you Stumble?
Just as the officers and mighty men pledged their submission to Solomon their King, we are to pledge submission to our King. This submission is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom and strength. There can only be one king in your life at a time. Sometimes we allow the King of the universe to take the throne of our lives, and sometimes we sit on that throne. This failure to submit was our enemy’s downfall. Stay in submission to your King with a quiet and gentle spirit, so that you may hear His still small voice as He tries to bless you with wisdom and instructions which are for your good and His good pleasure.
If the angels, authorities, and powers in heaven are in submission to Christ, how much more should you and I be! Submit yourself and all of your life as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, for He alone is trustworthy.
STUDY
Who should you Submit to daily?
What part of your life should you Submit to your king?
Where in your life do you find the most difficulty Submitting to God?
Integrity, a powerful weapon and seldom found in the world and can be used to powerfully impact the lives of others. Obeying the law, paying taxes, being faithful in marriage. dealing honestly in business, living up to your word, and doing right even when no one else is looking are examples of actions and attitudes of integrity which break down the enemy’s strongholds in other people’s lives and our own. The enemy knows that if he can cause us to compromise our integrity, our effectiveness as a witness for Christ will be lessened. And so he attacks in this area persistently.
There is a great cloud of witnesses counting on your integrity to glorify God and to promote the gospel in love and in truth to the world around you. Be on guard against the enemy’s schemes! Do what is right!
STUDY
Who needs to have Integrity?
What is Integrity?
Where in your life do you struggle with Integrity?
Why is acting with Integrity important?
When have you acted with Integrity and were persecuted for it?
How does living with Integrity effect your relationship with God?
