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New Life Ministry teaching

ONE PLACE TO LOOK

January 13, 2026

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Teaching summary

In this teaching, Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola explain why believers are not meant to compare themselves with others but are called to look only to Jesus. They clarify the difference between true faith and mental determination, showing that faith comes from hearing Christ and agreeing with God. The message centers on Jesus as the only standard and reveals that believers already share His righteousness, holiness, and identity. By fixing our eyes on Christ rather than on people or circumstances, transformation naturally follows.

Bible verses referenced

Romans 5:17- For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:12- For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Romans 8:29–30- For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 John 4:17- Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Ephesians 4:23–24- And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Deuteronomy 28:14–64- And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he has consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.
The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:
And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.
Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.
Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.
Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long; and there shall be no might in thine hand.
The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:
So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king, whom thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.
And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.
He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.
Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he hath destroyed thee.
The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

Galatians 3:13- Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

2 Corinthians 3:18- But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Teaching notes

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction: Continuing the Message on Comparison
  2. Faith Versus Mental Determination
  3. Receiving, Not Doing: The Abundance of Grace
  4. The Danger of Comparing Testimonies
  5. Jesus as the Only Standard
  6. New Creation Identity and “As He Is, So Are We”
  7. Renewing the Mind and Putting on the New Man
  8. Redemption from the Curse and Healing
  9. Beholding Jesus in the Mirror
  10. Closing Encouragement: Just As I Am

Introduction: Continuing the Message on Comparison

Pastor Leonard opens by welcoming everyone and explaining that this message is part two of a conversation about no longer comparing ourselves among ourselves. He reminds viewers that when both parts are watched together, the full message becomes clear. The focus of this teaching is to help believers shift their attention away from people and circumstances and learn to look in only one place.

Faith Versus Mental Determination

Pastor Leonard explains that faith is not mental determination or mental assent. He gives an example of trying to will yourself to do something extreme, like walking across a river, and clarifies that this is not faith. Faith comes from hearing—hearing Christ, hearing words and messages about Christ—and then agreeing with what God says. Faith is coming into agreement with God, not trying to convince yourself that something will happen.

Receiving, Not Doing: The Abundance of Grace

The pastors emphasize that healing, provision, and victory are not achieved by doing something right but by receiving what God has already given. Pastor Leonard highlights Romans 5:17, showing that those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through Jesus Christ. The glory belongs entirely to Jesus and the Father, not to human effort.

The Danger of Comparing Testimonies

Pastor Lori joins the conversation by pointing out how often people respond to testimonies by asking, “What did you do?” She explains that this mindset leads people to compare themselves and conclude that they have already done everything they were told to do. This comparison leads to discouragement, especially when someone respected in ministry becomes sick or struggles. Pastor Leonard strongly urges believers to get their eyes off people and warns against placing ministers on pedestals.

Jesus as the Only Standard

Pastor Leonard references 2 Corinthians 10:12, explaining that comparing ourselves with others is unwise. He stresses that there is only one standard—Jesus. Jesus is the expressed image of the Father, and He alone is the measure. The question then becomes how anyone could ever reach that standard, and the answer is that Jesus lives in us.

New Creation Identity and “As He Is, So Are We

The pastors explain that God predestined believers to be conformed to the image of His Son, citing Romans 8:29–30. Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren, and believers are fashioned according to His image. Pastor Leonard reinforces this by quoting 2 Corinthians 5:17, emphasizing that anyone in Christ is a new creation. This truth is further confirmed in 1 John 4:17, which declares that as Jesus is, so are we in this world.

Renewing the Mind and Putting on the New Man

Pastor Leonard explains that believers must be renewed in the spirit of their minds, referencing Ephesians 4:23–24. He explains that believers are already truly holy and truly righteous, but they must be dressed in that truth through renewed thinking. This transformation happens by renewing the mind, as also stated in Romans 12:2.

Redemption from the Curse and Healing

The teaching shifts to healing, with Pastor Leonard explaining that sickness is part of the curse listed in Deuteronomy 28:14–64. He then points to Galatians 3:13, explaining that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. This redemption covers every sickness, including newly named or newly discovered illnesses. Believers do not need to search for others who were healed; they only need to trust in Jesus’ finished work.

Beholding Jesus in the Mirror

Pastor Lori brings attention to 2 Corinthians 3:18, explaining that as believers behold the Lord, they are transformed into the same image from glory to glory. The pastors encourage viewers that when facing illness or need, instead of comparing themselves to others, they should look into the mirror and see Jesus. As believers look to Him, the Holy Spirit brings transformation.

Closing Encouragement: Just As I Am

The message closes with a powerful reflection on the phrase “Just as I am.” Pastor Leonard explains that God wants believers to understand that they come to Him just as they are, without striving or comparison. As believers receive this revelation, transformation happens naturally. Pastor Lori adds that this message is meant to release people from guilt, shame, condemnation, and feelings of inferiority, encouraging everyone to look only to Jesus.

Thank you for taking the time to read this teaching. We hope this message encouraged you to stop comparing yourself to others and to fix your eyes on Jesus alone. If this article blessed you, please share it with others so they too can experience freedom, confidence, and transformation through Christ.