Hello Noble Partners,

Failing forward is the key to growth in marriage. Remember the 3 phases of life:

1. Learning phase – were we are failing forward in the vision of God’s Noble Call
2. The Growing phase – when we are figuring out the mysteries of God’s kingdom
3. The Decline phase – when we begin to get lazy and look for a comfortable spot to lie down

You are in the learning phase, expect to fail but remain hopeful. Without hope you cannot rejoice in the small steps you have begun to take. Remember the Stockdale paradox, the Vietnam prisoners of war who made it through their P.O.W. experience were those who faced reality but had an unwavering faith that all things would work out for the best and in God’s timing. It wasn’t the unrealistic optimists nor the unbelieving pessimists.
The seed of the kingdom has been sown into your marriages, you determine the soil type it falls on. Will you allow your heart to remain hard because of having been trampled on in the past, Satan will come and snatch it from you because of your unwillingness to “Stand Forth” (see Mark 3:3) and become whole in Christ Jesus.

The other type of soil would be those who have gladly received the word, they saw quick growth. They attended a conference, gladly received the teaching, applied some of it during the weekend and experienced growth. They went home and experienced some suffering or affliction because of the Word and quickly gave it up. They did not have the endurance because they were not rooted in Christ Jesus. They tried to apply truth in the power of their flesh instead of the power of Christ. We must be connected to the root of Christ and be willing to be made willing to receive God’s grace to live for Christ and allow the flesh to be put to death.

I urge you therefore brethren, be of one mind and of one spirit. Allow the mind that was in Christ Jesus to be in you, take on the form of a servant, humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and depend on Him for your strength. The greatest of all is the servant of all. Give each other grace and mercy along with truth. We put our expectations in God (Psalm 62:5) and focus on Christ in us the hope of glory.

I am on my way out the door but I wanted to get a quick e-mail off to you, keep on running the race, don’t sit down, though you fall seven times, God will pick you up if you ask. I believe Jesus would say to you men, “Stand Forth, arise out of the midst, you are no longer normal men, you are called to be Noble.” Read Mark 3:3, see how Jesus calls us to Himself first. Get your needs for security and significance from Him so you have something to give. Put no confidence in the flesh, you are noble in Christ Jesus.

May His Kingdom Come in our lives,

Chris Hogan

Posted by Chris Hogan on Thursday, March 17, 2005 at 00:00 AM