tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27117920451146291412024-03-12T18:23:56.601-05:00Cookie's Jar of ClayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-16621310433251353762014-04-12T22:47:00.001-05:002014-04-12T22:47:30.031-05:00Hated For The LIGHT<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I felt I needed to break my long silence. I've dropped off of the blogosphere for a while now and haven't really gotten the chance to write down the lessons that the good Lord is allowing me to see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tonight is going to be different because I strongly believe it is time for me to get back to writing. I've been hiding in the dark for a long time now and I don't like it. It made me feel sick that I've only placed the Light of Christ in the cupboard of my life this past year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I haven't finished my series on Mary as the mother of God, but I will have to do that some other day. Tonight, I am compelled to write about the way the world deals with the Light of Christ that is in every redeemed believer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Bible tells us in John chapter 3 verses 19-21 the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">"<a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-19.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">19</a></b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">And this is the condemnation, that <b>light is come into the world</b>, and <u>men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil</u>. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-20.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>20</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved</b>. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-21.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>21</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."</span> </span></i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8brKckXPMQZoMvRRsRaMltj_1okIaANT3exGfRkVKmZi3B8OSXD6k3Ie8PYa0KxEKmfJ7Z2SR0YWyknlq4MElS0BTPAomisbQX6tPPjQo-i05I4JIw8G9wXY-ZPqBbzQNdvU1d2iKA/s1600/Light_of_the_World_Main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8brKckXPMQZoMvRRsRaMltj_1okIaANT3exGfRkVKmZi3B8OSXD6k3Ie8PYa0KxEKmfJ7Z2SR0YWyknlq4MElS0BTPAomisbQX6tPPjQo-i05I4JIw8G9wXY-ZPqBbzQNdvU1d2iKA/s1600/Light_of_the_World_Main.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When God sent His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, He brought LIGHT into this dark and fallen world. That light paves the way to the narrow path that leads to life everlasting. However, we know clearly that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 8:28) and this is why the world LOVED DARKNESS rather than light. The world's deeds are evil and the Light of Christ exposes just that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the lingering questions I have from some of my Christian sisters is the question why a certain person in their life continues to hate them no matter what they do. It doesn't really matter if they show grace for every moment, or try to live peaceful lives, there are certain people in their lives that writhe at the idea of having them around! It's quite disturbing even in some of their marriages where the husband is a professing christian and remains just that--"professing."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's never easy for a bible-believing, God-fearing woman to live with a man who isn't really saved, and continually finds fault in her. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I've seen my female Christian friends brokenhearted
for YEARS because of the fact that their husbands act more like an enemy than
a spouse.</span><br />
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<!--EndFragment--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's the way the world acts around believers. Just as Jesus Christ explained that the world WILL hate His followers, you see those who are of the world feel all the anger and turbulent emotions inside that are simply bitterness and hatred toward Christians. Why such hostility? Because, the Light of Christ could actually HURT them. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2n3Pt-6KLaFw9SIyvmQ7ifZqN6YnIsDMtV6xOv9-Kl_Slg7PllcqFzWKpD9OD4aRgTT_lvQvKveix2UhH7l_-MlPsjzNB3ykC0sgb_MDC7PPKTHPTJ1cHrNgw76Be5MYFNWfYAp3xg/s1600/670px-Stop-Squinting-Step-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2n3Pt-6KLaFw9SIyvmQ7ifZqN6YnIsDMtV6xOv9-Kl_Slg7PllcqFzWKpD9OD4aRgTT_lvQvKveix2UhH7l_-MlPsjzNB3ykC0sgb_MDC7PPKTHPTJ1cHrNgw76Be5MYFNWfYAp3xg/s1600/670px-Stop-Squinting-Step-3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever noticed that when you stay inside a very dark room and your eyes have accommodated to the darkness long enough that when someone flicks a bright light ON it will make you quickly squint? It's because the brightness will hurt our eyes once we are too accustomed to the dark.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When direct or reflected light, like sunlight reflecting off of snow, gets to a certain intensity (4,000lumens or so), our eyes cannot absorb all of the light. We squint because the glare causes actual discomfort!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's basically what happens in the spiritual realm when the Light of Christ shines brightly from the life of a believer. Those who belong to the darkness of this world, who are very accustomed to the ways of darkness and sin, will find the brightness of Christ offensive. They simply love darkness and will hate you for bringing the light of Christ with you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every sin is usually done in darkness... done in hiding, and the world loves it that way. John chapter 3 tells us that those who love sin REFUSE to come to the Light! They simply refuse to get themselves accustomed to brightness and they refuse to learn to LOVE the Light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That, dear friends, simply amazes me, because by nature we are all sinners and love every dark nook and cranny of this world. We love sin and we hate the light and could NEVER naturally come to that Light by our own will. It is but the GRACE of God that one gets drawn to that Light of Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love how verse 21 of John chapter 3 said that those that "<i><span style="color: red;">doeth truth cometh to the light</span></i>." "DOETH" in this particular verse is <span style="line-height: 1.2em; text-align: center;">ποιέω (</span><em id="yui-gen105" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">poieō) </em><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">which means to perform, to do, to act. And "TRUTH" is </span><span class="Gk" id="yui-gen76" style="background-color: #f9fafb; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">ἀλήθεια</span><span style="background-color: #f9fafb; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> (</span><em id="yui-gen77" style="background-color: #f9fafb; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">alētheia</em><span style="background-color: #f9fafb; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">) which means what is true in any matter of consideration. This same word matches that of the Truth spoken of by Jesus in John 17:17 when He prayed to the Father...</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fafb; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">"<b><i><span style="color: red;">Santify them through thy TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH</span></i></b>."</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When Jesus prayed this prayer for His disciples and the rest of the people who will come to Trust His Name for salvation, He was asking the Father to set apart a people using God's Word which He himself established as (the) Truth. It is that which is TRUE in ANY MATTER OF CONSIDERATION!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those in darkness who will receive the Grace of God will eventually be set apart from the rest of the world of darkness. Only then can one person learn to love the Light of Christ Jesus. Only then will His light become MAGNIFICENT instead of appalling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One thing that is clear to me, though, is the fact that God has made available the TOOL for anyone to find that Grace. That tool is God's WORD which is the ultimate source of Truth in this life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyone in the dark who will open up God's Word and soak upon it WILL FIND THAT GRACE THAT WILL LEAD THEM FROM DARKNESS TO CHRIST'S LIGHT!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyone who does not love God's Word will find Christ's light in every believer disturbing. They will squint, they will squirm, they will complain because they do to want to be subjected to that brightness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Got someone you know who loves the darkness and finds Christ's light in you offensive? Pray for them and share God's Word. It is only through that tool that a mind that loves darkness be cleansed and renewed to move toward the Light the shines on the narrow path that leads to eternal life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be encouraged, beloved! God bless your journey with strength and perseverance for His glory!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-54982715120358213572013-05-02T23:21:00.000-05:002013-05-02T23:23:45.274-05:00MARY: The Mother of Jesus or The Mother of God? (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Billions around the world today profess faith in Jesus the Nazarene who is believed to be the Son of God. Many know that He was prophesied to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem and will be crucified, died, buried and resurrected. His glorious gospel or message of HOPE and redemption for mankind is a reality that is readily available to anyone who will believe in Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus is addressed "Lord and Savior" by any professing Christian in the world today. Anyone who is brought up in the Christian faith know that Jesus is Lord and the Savior of the world from sin and death. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, there is a very interesting twist in the development of "modern christianity" that led to the belief that Mary, Jesus Christ's mother, has also officially become the "mother of God" because Jesus is also God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was the teaching that I grew up with while holding on to Catholicism. Majority in the catholic world have a special devotion to Mary as the mother of God since the Roman Church established this particular dogma of Mary, Mother of God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">According to <a href="http://www.catholicdoors.com/misc/apologetics/marymother.htm" target="_blank">CatholicDoors.com</a>, "</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Church Tradition reveals to us that <i>the faithful of the Catholic Church</i>, <i>from the days of its birth, have always believed that Mary was the Mother of God</i>. Because of this belief that existed during the first centuries of the Church, the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (431 A.D) proclaimed the dogma of Mary, Mother of God."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although traditions are a part of the life we live while on this earth, I strongly believe that there is a need for us to search Scripture and study directly from God's Word in order to TEST and PROVE if the traditions handed down to us are really in-line with God's Truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, what is really the TRUTH about Mary's role and title in life? It is imperative that we will find the answer to the question, "Is MARY the Mother of God?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Growing up in a Catholic culture, I have always been taught that the role Mary plays in the Catholic Church is very special. She is esteemed as one who is able to hear the prayers of many catholic faithful. She is honored, adored, revered, venerated (or worshipped) as the Queen of Heaven because the Roman Catholic Church has also taught that she was assumed to heaven and was crowned to be the queen of heaven alongside her Son and God the Father. There are devotions to the Mary of the Catholic Church and these devotions are vast and vary widely within the Church's faithful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The myriad of prayers offered to Mary by the Catholic faithful is evidence of the deep veneration, honor and glory given to her as the "Mother of God". Her role has been elevated to not only being the mother of Jesus on earth, but she has also now become the mother of God Almighty. Her deification in the Catholic realm is something that most catholics do not really ponder about. It seems to be natural and a given for anyone born into a Catholic family to be brought up believing that Mary CAN and indeed hear the prayers of billions across the world and that she can help the many souls who run to her for assistance. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWFFibFqb40hc3VF2K-nWWGNSNPRqOJpIHATNrGh_i7j9lkCBYX2oZYsj2CFJPRv45c-rjnp5wpGy_xsSjBDcuSjZNYKcKG3No4XLdRcbFi249LvC0pHVv5K8g_0SzsHqBpX6cKEUoM4/s1600/queen+of+heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWFFibFqb40hc3VF2K-nWWGNSNPRqOJpIHATNrGh_i7j9lkCBYX2oZYsj2CFJPRv45c-rjnp5wpGy_xsSjBDcuSjZNYKcKG3No4XLdRcbFi249LvC0pHVv5K8g_0SzsHqBpX6cKEUoM4/s640/queen+of+heaven.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many catholics do not see anything wrong with praying to her as someone who is able to answer prayers of billions of souls across the world. I know that first-hand as I once was a Catholic myself. The upbringing of a person in a catholic culture allows one to embrace fully what the Catholic church teaches about Mary. She is easily loved by billions of souls as their Co-Mediatrix and the Mother of their God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A careful look into these beliefs, though, must lead us to seek for more answers if one would want to be fully standing on God's TRUTH and not just handed-down traditions. For example, many catholics do not really think twice about Mary's ability to hear ALL of the prayers sent by billions of people across the globe. If she does, there is only one way she can do so... be as OMNIPRESENT & OMNISCIENT as God Himself! But catholics refuse to believe that Mary has been deified by the church. There is still that place of shadows where things aren't really as clear as they should be for everyone to understand and that they will leave it as it is and take whatever the Magisterium of the Roman Church teaches as Truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But does the Mary of the Bible really deserve the honor, glory and worship that the Catholic church gives to her? Is she really the Mother of God who is now a co-mediator, able to hear every prayer and help every soul in need who calls to her? Must we really hold her up as the "Queen of Heaven," the "most gracious Mother of God"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let us dive into God's Word for the answers...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I. The explanation of the Catholic Church</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If we look at this explanation from this angle alone, we can indeed see the seemingly logical flow which will result to the conclusion that Mary is the "Mother of God". According to the Catholic church, since Mary is the mother of Jesus and Jesus is truly God, then Mary is the mother of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although we see scriptures here to supposedly support the three arguments that will conclude to Mary being the mother of God, we MUST test it against God's Word and see if these were really so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's search and study God's Word for this, shall we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">#1 <b><i>Mary, the mother of Jesus</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's never a question that the young virgin named Mary was the one chosen by God to be the vessel for His only begotten Son. Years before this event even took place, prophets of old had already prophesied of the virgin birth of the One who will save His people from sin and death.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The gospels were clear that it was Mary, the descendant of David from Nathan's lineage (see Luke 3) who was the one chosen by God Almighty to be the vessel of His incarnate Word. His eternal plan for the salvation and redemption of humankind was fulfilled in the virgin birth of Jesus <i>through Mary</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It doesn't take a scientist for us to acknowledge that any woman who carries a baby inside her womb for nine months and gives birth to that baby is the biological MOTHER of that child. A MOTHER can also be a mother through adoption, but Mary's <b>motherhood</b> came by the work of God through her. She was and is the mother of the mortal and fully human Jesus that she carried for nine months in her womb, as well as gave birth physically. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever asked why Jesus had to be born of a VIRGIN birth? Well, because humanity has already fallen since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and sin and death entered the world through one man (Romans 5:12). Many stumble upon the truth of Jesus the Son of God becoming fully human because of this particular truth, that ALL have sinned. How can a HOLY, HOLY, HOLY God be born of sinful flesh? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;">There is honesty in that question because </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scripture tells us that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)! Since God's Word is truth (John 17:17), then Mary and Joseph were sinners as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They <b>both</b> were under the same curse that the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE was under after the fall. ALL, EVERYBODY, EACH HUMAN BEING fell short of the glory of God because of sin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mary was very much aware of her own <i>sinful nature, and it is because of this that </i>she acknowledged <u>how GREAT & MIGHTY a work GOD is going to do through her </u>when the angel Gabriel told her of God's will. Her own words show us what she understood to be TRUTH in her life...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">46And Mary said, <b>My soul doth <span style="font-size: large;">magnify the Lord</span></b>,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">47And my spirit hath rejoiced in <b><span style="font-size: large;">God my Saviour</span></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>48</b></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">For <u><span style="font-size: large;">he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden</span></u>: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>49</b></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">For <b><i>he that is mighty hath done to me great things</i></b>; and holy </span><i style="line-height: 22px;">is</i><span style="line-height: 22px;"> his name.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Mary responded to her cousin Elizabeth with a very REVEALING STATEMENT that God was and REMAINS her SAVIOR. The word "Saviour" in its <a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/4990.htm" target="_blank">original form</a> literally means "a deliverer." This truth must resonate in us because sin and death is a reality for ALL OF US, including Mary's, and she acknowledged God to be her SAVIOUR, because she KNOWS and understands that she needs REDEMPTION from the wages of SIN which is death.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">She has understood that it was God's sovereign Grace to look upon HER despite her "low estate" and to do great things through her. She described herself as having a "LOW ESTATE," which is the greatest evidence of how she understood her fallen state. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">The term "low estate" that Mary used was actually </span></span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Cardo, GentiumAlt, 'Galilee Unicode Gk', 'Galatia SIL', 'Palatino Linotype', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 24px;">ταπείνωσις, εως, ἡ </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">(</span><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/5014.htm" target="_blank">tapeinósis</a>), which literally means </span><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">inner lowliness describing the person who </span><i style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">depends</i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;"> on the Lord rather than </span><i style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">self</i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">. It is spiritual abasement or "humiliation". Metaphorically, it </span><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">lead her to perceive and lament her (moral) littleness and guilt.</span><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;"> Mary was greatly humbled by the</span></span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> fact that even with her fallen state, God chose her to be the vessel of God's fulfillment of prophecy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Mary was a virgin who never had a sexual relationship with a man before. She asked the same question when she replied to Gabriel, "How can this be?" But let's take a look at the angel Gabriel's response to her...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">And the angel answered and said unto her, </span><b style="font-size: 15px;">The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee</b><span style="font-size: 15px;">, and </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee</span></b><span style="font-size: 15px;">: <i>therefore also <u>that holy thing which shall be born of thee</u> shall be called the Son of God</i>." (Luke 1:35)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is very interesting to see that the angel Gabriel explained to Mary how it will become possible that she will bear a child WITHOUT any sexual relationship with a man (because human nature calls for BOTH a man and a woman to be united physically in the sexual act in order to procreate)... and so he said, "<b>the POWER of the HIGHEST shall OVERSHADOW THEE</b>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is not based on biblical truth that the Holy Spirit had to go through a form of physical/biological union with the virgin Mary in order to have "made" the baby Jesus. <b><i>This is a heresy that is taught by some religion today</i></b>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scripture tells us that it is through the POWER of God Most High that shall "<a href="http://biblesuite.com/greek/1982.htm" target="_blank">OVERSHADOW</a>" Mary that will bring forth the possibility of the Son of God to be placed in her womb. I love to do root word studies and just to share with you... "overshadow" here in the root word means 'to envelope'. Scholars present that this overshadowing "brings about God's deliberate wisdom into the scene. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">the </span><i style="color: #001320; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">immutable aspect of God's plan</i><span style="color: #001320; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> – <b>purposefully arranging </b></span><i style="color: #001320; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b>all physical circumstances</b></i><span style="color: #001320; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">, which guarantees every scene of life works to His eternal purpose. It is </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">"God's immutable will for </span><i style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">physical circumstances.</i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 24px;">""</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now, as the angel Gabriel explained to Mary, God's sovereign POWER is going to be what makes God's plan possible. Because of the virgin birth, Jesus Christ never had the taint or curse of SIN in him (Hebrews 4:15) as he wasn't born out of the sexual union of a man and a woman. Is there any passage in Scripture that can show us of what God has done in Mary's womb? Well, t</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">here is a very beautiful truth written in Hebrews 10... </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, <i>and</i> not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">2</b></span>For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">3</b></span>But in those <i>sacrifices there is</i> a remembrance again <i>made</i>of sins every year. <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">4</b></span>For <i>it is</i> not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">5</b></span>Wherefore <b>when he cometh into the world</b>, <b>he saith</b>, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, <span style="font-size: large;">but <b>a body hast thou prepared me</b></span>:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">6</b></span>In burnt offerings and <i>sacrifices</i> for sin thou hast had no pleasure.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">7</b></span>Then said I, Lo, <b><span style="font-size: large;">I come</span></b> (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">If Jesus was formed from the biology of Mary, the flesh of Mary is under the curse of sin and so Jesus would have been born in sin as well. But this wasn't the case as we see here. In verse 5, Jesus said that God has PREPARED A BODY for Him and that He came to do the will of God.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Is it possible that when the power of God most High overshadowed Mary, He arranged for a body to be formed in the womb of a virgin? It is untainted by the curse of sin because it was not created out of the biological make-up of Mary and Joseph! Read Luke 1:35 again, and you will see that the angel Gabriel even described the baby as "<b>THAT HOLY THING which shall be born</b>..." </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Remember, that Scripture tells us THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE (Romans 3:10). This is because of the sin that entered through one man. But the body of the baby in Mary's womb, the angel Gabriel described as a "HOLY THING." Why? Because it never had the unrighteousness that ran through all of mankind. The flesh which bears flesh is carnal and is destined for death. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The body that God prepared for the Lord Jesus was formed NOT out of the biological processes that occur when an ovum is fertilized by a male sperm, but it is out of the POWER and OVERSHADOWING OF GOD ON HIGH! Impossible, you say? Well, the angel Gabriel said it once to a perplexed young virgin who asked, "How can that be?"... and he told her... "With God nothing is impossible." (Luke 1:37)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">It is undeniable that Mary is the mother of Jesus, who is the baby that was in her womb. It was through her that the virgin birth became fulfilled. Her faith made her obey and walk on even when her eyes cannot see the possibility of the message of Gabriel in the human realm! Her response testifies of her humble obedience to the sovereign power and might of the God Almighty, and her utmost joy to have found favor in the eyes of her God.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Now Mary carried the baby Jesus in her womb for 9 months and gave birth to him physically. Does this officially make her the mother of GOD? We will continue to seek for God's Truth from His Word in the next part of this series on MARY: The Mother of Jesus or The Mother of God?</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-35944719117021244662013-04-25T01:13:00.000-05:002013-04-25T01:13:43.373-05:00Where's Your FULL Armor?! (Part 2 of 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fight a good fight, and finish the course strong!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've gone through a few of the important things our King issues to us as a full armor for the battles we will wage in. We have so far established in the <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://purplecookiejar.blogspot.com/2013/04/wheres-your-full-armor-part-1-of-2.html" target="_blank">first post</a></span> that the FULL ARMOR of GOD <b><u>must be put on</u></b> by those who profess allegiance to Christ Jesus, the King. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's look at that list again, shall we?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><b>11Put on the whole armour of God,</b> that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-12.htm" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><b>12</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">places</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-13.htm" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><b>13</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Wherefore take unto you <u>the whole armour of God</u>, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-14.htm" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><b>14</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Stand therefore, having your <b>loins girt about with truth</b>, and having on <b>the breastplate of righteousness</b>; </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-15.htm" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><b>15</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And your <b>feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace</b>; </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-16.htm" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><b>16</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><u>Above all</u>, taking <b>the shield of faith</b>, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-17.htm" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;"><b>17</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And take <b>the helmet of salvation</b>, and </span></i></span><i style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><b>the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God</b>: (Ephesians 6, KJV)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>#4 - The shield of Faith</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WUyqkSKs7uwZwmBhSBFi9D5F9c3qsdnj2oPWDqz0LobOwtMA6he2vLOsn05hs7EgeSbX6A4v3E0m79duGHoshi3kLVkeyT-NUWvsavPgr7t1GfWYVWX-3TYAPsIfpgL3GHE-E5PV8Po/s1600/shield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WUyqkSKs7uwZwmBhSBFi9D5F9c3qsdnj2oPWDqz0LobOwtMA6he2vLOsn05hs7EgeSbX6A4v3E0m79duGHoshi3kLVkeyT-NUWvsavPgr7t1GfWYVWX-3TYAPsIfpgL3GHE-E5PV8Po/s320/shield.jpg" width="172" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If there's one thing we don't want to be without in the battlefield, it is going to be our shield. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The "Scutum" or "shield" in Latin, is the body shield that is carried by Roman soldiers. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It is light enough to be held in one hand and its large height and width covered the entire wielder, <i>making him very unlikely to get hit by missile fire and in hand-to-hand combat</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whether the attack is from a distance or right in front of you, the soldier's ability to cover himself entirely with the shield helps greatly in his ability to win the fight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Word of God describes Satan's attacks as "fiery darts." They aren't only sharp, they're also on fire! This gives me the idea that inflicting PAIN is one of the enemy's main purpose. Whether it be physical, emotional or psychological pain, the devil's primary tactic is to inflict pain to a believer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever been burned or scalded? Have you ever had a splinter stuck in your skin? What was it like? Irritatingly painful, right? It's that kind of pain that that the devil wants to inflict to us. It is the kind of pain that takes our minds off of more important things and keeps us focusing on the area that hurts. It makes us whine and cry, even! It is just something that <i><u>hinders our ability to focus on the task at hand</u></i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can you see why we are given a shield of faith? Because Faith PREVENTS US from getting hurt, distracted and hindered by the devil. We will be able to move forward and conquer! We will be able to push forth against the attacks of the enemy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why a shield of FAITH? Well, Scripture tells us this...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now faith is <b>the substance of things hoped for</b>, <b>the evidence of things not seen</b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Faith is an assurance of what we have in the promises of our King. It is the ultimate REALITY of the hope we have in Christ. This faith is the evidence of the things we do not see. It gives us the boldness to move forward KNOWING that our King has ultimately won the victory for us. It is our holding on to the promises that we have in our risen LORD! It is FULLY TRUSTING in the FINISHED WORK of the reigning King of kings!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The shield of faith prevents us from wallowing in the pains of life. That is why no matter what we are going through in our battles, when we raise up our shield of faith, we KNOW that everything will be alright because of the promises of our King who has ultimately won the victory!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our situation may be bad, or we might be going through a whole lot of fiery trials at the moment, but raising up our shield of faith allows us to regain our posture, our strength, our stance in the battle because the shield absorbs the pressures that will come from the fiery darts of the enemy. And it helps to prevent us from feeling totally debilitated by pain. We CAN move forward! We CAN fight back! For we KNOW our King has ALREADY WON THE VICTORY. The end of the story has already been written. The end of the war has already been established. Our King REIGNS VICTORIOUS and we reign victorious together with Him! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Got a LOT of fiery darts aimed at you today? RAISE UP YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH and KNOW that Christ has won the victory already!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>#5 - The helmet of salvation</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQT-BRiFAWVPNSP51OaNoNB3DuT4ItM2hr7T6eQ2dzdZteKCphdAeY-nFg4pbN3dvqcMLlv_HjEJqvqRrW4ck_3deHm0Q33ezo9JQQ09Cmr51lt2Mp_R4Brq9_Jy7Eezqkxma0tdSiUs/s1600/helmet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQT-BRiFAWVPNSP51OaNoNB3DuT4ItM2hr7T6eQ2dzdZteKCphdAeY-nFg4pbN3dvqcMLlv_HjEJqvqRrW4ck_3deHm0Q33ezo9JQQ09Cmr51lt2Mp_R4Brq9_Jy7Eezqkxma0tdSiUs/s200/helmet.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It doesn't take a scientist to know that a helmet is a head protective gear. No matter the shape, color and style, helmets protect the entire head from any kind of injury. I'm sure we all don't need a Nursing or Medical degree, either, to know that injuries to the head are almost always fatal. If not, one ends up either confused or in a coma!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I remember when I used to work at the trauma step-down unit of a hospital in East Texas. Most of our patients were trauma-related injuries and one of the most difficult to handle of all these are those with head injuries. They are the most unstable ones on the floor as they could be in a very confused state, or they could crash on you at any moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The head is a very important part of the body as it is where the brain is housed. And we all can agree that the brain is the central computer of our entire body! It is the pretty much the main switch for every automatic vital process going on in our bodies. Any disruption in the brain or central nervous system, could lead to the shutting down of the rest of the vital processes of the body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's the physical picture of it. But let us not forget that our heads are also responsible for the thinking process. Our minds function to allow for normal psychological and emotional responses to take place. You might be familiar with the phrase, "The mind is the battleground." That is somewhat true because our mind plays a vital role in our functioning as a whole individual. It is the seat of our knowledge and understanding and holding fast to what we have been taught.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scripture tells us this in Romans 8:7...</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"T<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">he <span style="font-size: large;">carnal mind</span> </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>is</b></i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b> enmity against God</b>: for <b>it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be</b>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all have carnal minds. Our first birth has brought us into this life in the flesh. Jesus explained it to Nicodemus that that which is born of the flesh is flesh. The flesh is carnal, and thus our minds are initially carnal. Unfortunately for that, God's Word said that the carnal mind is enmity against God! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our carnal train of thoughts and understanding of life is against that of God's perfect will! It refuses to be subject to the law of God, and it refuses to understand the ways of God because it just doesn't have the capacity to do so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What is the end of being carnally-minded? Read Romans 8:6. The end of it is DEATH. If we are not saved, we will DIE not only physically, but also spiritually... eternally separated from God in hell in the end!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isn't it amazing that our King issues us the very thing we need to protect us from the very thing that hinders our full allegiance to Him? We are issued the helmet of SALVATION! We have to have this helmet ON to renew our minds and subject our thoughts to the LORDSHIP of Christ Jesus! This is what Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter 3... "YOU MUST be born again."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Only those who are SAVED from sin and death can fully pledge allegiance to the King. Only those who receive the issue of the helmet of SALVATION, can become a soldier of Christ. And this we ought to realize... as part of the full armor of God, this too is ISSUED TO US... given FREELY by Grace... for we are SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH alone. We do not work for it, we do not strive for it, we do not achieve salvation with our own effort. It is GIVEN to us by the King. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The helmet of salvation then protects us from any driving thoughts that will lead us to rebel against God. It allows us to UNDERSTAND and ACCEPT WILLINGLY the battle commands of the sovereign King! It prevents our thoughts from going back to our carnal nature, but instead protects our minds in Christ Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This helmet of salvation allows us to do the following for the glory of our King...</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you been born again? Do you have the helmet of salvation? The words of Jesus our King should ring out in our lives... REPENT! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Turn away from your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus to save you. Trust FULLY in His FINISHED and COMPLETED work on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins and for bringing you into new life with Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>#6 - The sword of the Spirit</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sword of the Spirit, <br />which is the Word of God</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aaaah, saving the BEST for last. What's a christian soldier doing in war without his or her sword, right?! This is the ONLY item that we can use for offensive moves! Our King didn't just give us ways to defend ourselves, but He's also given us a way to STRIKE BACK AT THE ENEMY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is sharp, it penetrates through and through, and it kills the enemy!!! Hallelujah!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">For the word of God</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">We have to understand properly that the sword of the Spirit is part of the FULL ARMOR OF GOD. Those who profess allegiance to King Jesus PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR! There is a problem if a professing soldier is all geared up for war but fails to pick up his or her sword! Imagine a soldier standing in the battlefield with the devil prowling around like a lion just waiting to strike and the soldier only has his shield, helmet, breastplate, belt and sandals! You can't spank that lion with your belt! You can't throw your shield at it, either, in order to defeat it! You probably can run as fast as you can with your sandals but the devil WILL eventually catch up to you when you're tired! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The enemy doesn't go away! He is persistent and DETERMINED, most of all! We have got to KNOW HOW TO USE OUR SWORD TO STRIKE THE ENEMY DOWN! Now there's something important that we must ponder upon here. Many today believe that they need to have leaders to teach them the Truth in Scripture. That means, you are giving YOUR SWORD to others for them to use for you! If you think that you can't personally STUDY and master the use of your sword with your own hands then you do not belong to the army of God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">His soldiers EACH carry their own swords and USE their own swords against the enemy! We are only <b>deceiving ourselves</b> into thinking we are part of the army of God if we gear up but do not take control of our swords.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The devil is cunning. He has devised a way to lie to so many by convincing them that the sword of the Spirit can only be used by those in authority or leadership in church. Unfortunately for many today, they take everything from their spiritual leaders hook, line and sinker and never bother to check if things were really so. Many are being deceived that they must not read the Word of God by themselves because it will just confuse them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Well, a soldier in war who doesn't take up his own weapon to fight back against the enemy is a soldier who's dead. And no matter how much we convince ourselves that we belong to the army of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are nothing but a counterfeit without our FULL ARMOR which includes the use of the sword of the Spirit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Beloved, are you standing face to face with the devil who is prowling like a lion? PICK UP YOUR SWORD AND STRIKE!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">"16</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">All scripture </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;"> given by inspiration of God, and </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;"> profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_timothy/3-17.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>17</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">The King issues the FULL ARMOR OF GOD to His soldiers. Do YOU have yours? Are you FULLY geared up for battle? Onward Christian soldier and march valiantly into war!!! </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-68171736476575459162013-04-23T11:12:00.001-05:002013-04-25T01:14:34.006-05:00Where's Your FULL Armor?! (Part 1 of 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, <br />as a roaring lion, walketh about, <br />seeking whom he may devour:" <br />(1 Peter 5:8, KJV)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every professing Christian would probably agree with me when I say that this Christian journey involves a constant, daily spiritual battle. The enemy, who's the devil, is said to prowl around like a lion seeking whom he may devour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now, if indeed we believe that we wage war with a rather persistent, vicious predator of an enemy, we ought to also believe that we should NEVER be left out in the battlefield naked and vulnerable to his attacks, right? If we are indeed waging a spiritual war against the devil and his demons, we MUST be completely geared up for the battle!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know that a king would always have his soldiers ARMOR UP properly for war and equip them for what they will face in the battlefield before sending them out to the fight. No kingdom will ever have soldiers and warriors who only know how to chant and march and not fight! </span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The armor of God</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isn't it amazing that the King of kings also equip his people for the spiritual battles that they will wage in? The Lord God Almighty has not left his followers in the fight without anything to use. He has given the armor for which we SHOULD utilize in our spiritual battles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all know what He gives for the war... we all know what we have as our armor. The Bible tells us this...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-11.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>11</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><b>Put on the whole armour of God,</b> that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-12.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>12</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">places</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-13.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>13</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Wherefore take unto you <u>the whole armour of God</u>, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-14.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>14</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Stand therefore, having your <b>loins girt about with truth</b>, and having on <b>the breastplate of righteousness</b>; </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-15.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>15</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And your <b>feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace</b>; </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-16.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>16</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><u>Above all</u>, taking <b>the shield of faith</b>, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-17.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>17</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And take <b>the helmet of salvation</b>, and </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><b>the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God</b>: (Ephesians 6, KJV)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The person who professes faith in Christ but does not put on the full armor of God is nothing but an empty professor. He is one whose faith is dead. He is just a warrior-wannabe who stands confused and deceived in the ranks while stark naked. What will he do in the battlefield if he does not have his breastplate guarding his chest? And just imagine him fully clad with the armor but without his helmet protecting his head! Worst of all, imagine this so-called soldier going to battle all geared-up, except that he does not have his sword with him! What an embarrassment that would be to the king to which he professes loyalty to! And what great DANGER he is putting himself into by thinking he belongs to the King and yet does not bear the marks thereof! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Bible tells us we must take upon ourselves the WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD... that is the FULL, COMPLETE GEAR that God made available for those who are His. The WHOLE ARMOUR must be present so that we may be ABLE (skilled, adept, competent, equipped) to stand against the devil!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">#1 - Loins girt with TRUTH</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcUXEnJwmN2iV0T6wfQB-w37iyzHp7tWHf8wmmSWAsth_UbU0FzimANcIh12u1sCv7Y5PzGWZo5uUaq2Cj8Q8QLw8TkEyEtkYDd3dqUDvHfA53ncFNCp_6VqecaB701knSP-ZtdwnNg/s1600/belt-truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcUXEnJwmN2iV0T6wfQB-w37iyzHp7tWHf8wmmSWAsth_UbU0FzimANcIh12u1sCv7Y5PzGWZo5uUaq2Cj8Q8QLw8TkEyEtkYDd3dqUDvHfA53ncFNCp_6VqecaB701knSP-ZtdwnNg/s1600/belt-truth.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">We've got to get the big picture here! Why are we to "girt our loins" with Truth? Well, let's start by defining "LOINS." Which part of the body is this, anyway? Medically speaking, it is </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">the part of the body that is situated on <i>each side of the spinal column</i> between the hip bone and the false ribs. It's basically what we call the lower back or the "lumbar region." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Now, this region </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">has a large and complex group of muscles that work together to <u>support the spine</u>, <u>help hold the body upright</u> and <u>allow the trunk of the body to move, twist and bend in many directions</u>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Okay, if the loin is the region that keeps our body <b>UPRIGHT</b>, <b>helps in our standing and lifting, as well as allows us to move, twist and bend in many directions (flexible in other words)</b>, then we can definitely see the spiritual aspect to this. Girding our loins with Truth allows us to be protected in order for ourselves to remain STANDING during the battle! We shall NOT easily fall under the attack of our enemy! We are stable in our stance against the devil because we what keeps us upright is the TRUTH.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">TRUTH is what will hold us up and allow us to become agile in dealing with whatever the enemy brings against us during the battle. We can skillfully fight with the devil and remain upright and standing stable all throughout the fight! TRUTH will keep us from falling away... </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">And where do we get our belt of Truth? We get the answer to that in John 17:17...</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><i>"God's WORD is TRUTH."</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>#2 - Breastplate of Righteousness</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">According to wikipedia, a </span><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">breastplate</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> is a device worn over the torso to protect it from injury. It </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">was one of the last pieces of functional armour to be abandoned with the development of firearms, because it protected the vital organs without limiting mobility.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I strongly believe that the deadliest hit we can receive on the torso is that which will sever the heart! Though all of the organs in our torso are vital, there probably wouldn't be any quicker death than to receive a direct blow to the body's central blood-pumping organ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Many passages in the Bible describe the human heart as desperately wicked and deceitful of all things! Jesus also said that out of it spring evil thoughts and wickedness that defile a person. We all have an inherently wicked and unrighteous heart! And this wickedness and love of sin is the deadliest of all in the spiritual sense! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Death has entered all of us because of one man's sins (Romans 5:12), and since we ALL have sinned against God (Romans 3:23), Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of our sin is death! The heart is not something we must take lightly and for granted because it is desperately wicked. The enemy can easily attack it with a deadly blow, rendering it hardened or deceived which leaves a person dead spiritually! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">That is why we need to PUT ON the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is the only thing that can SAVE us from the deadly result of sin in our hearts! But wait, the Bible said it's the breastplate of <i>RIGHTEOUSNESS</i>! We have to understand that this is ONLY available THROUGH the Grace GIVEN TO US by our King. We cannot be righteous because NO-ONE is righteous, no not one according to God's Word! This is why we have to <b>PUT ON</b> this breastplate of righteousness and trust in its FULL & COMPLETE capacity to save us from death. What exactly is this breastplate of Righteousness? Well, Romans 13:14 makes it clear for us...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">But </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: large;">put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ</span></span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">, </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">and make not provision for the flesh, to </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">fulfil</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;"> the lusts </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">thereof</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">."</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">It is <u>the righteousness OF CHRIST that we must put on</u> in order to protect us from the deadly blow brought about by a corrupted heart. We do not have any righteousness of our own, therefore we must RELY ON THE FULLNESS OF JESUS CHRIST's RIGHTEOUSNESS to save us from the wages of sin which is death! We must only TRUST FULLY in what CHRIST JESUS has done, completed and finished on Calvary in order to be saved from death and sin.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>#3 - Feet shod with the preparation of the GOSPEL OF PEACE</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyL-0nfkNCIcjVDxDPoiRqd81jY7fAi6CVDromySCQb2yE3PdRsCy5lNeE41QN9EB4VFSVvBFSLGXzGpSNUG-g80PLKgzWPOmaLth4xEBFosoLlFMS73tWwPJGxYMctt2EQf-SbetLQ/s1600/Caligae+sandal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyL-0nfkNCIcjVDxDPoiRqd81jY7fAi6CVDromySCQb2yE3PdRsCy5lNeE41QN9EB4VFSVvBFSLGXzGpSNUG-g80PLKgzWPOmaLth4xEBFosoLlFMS73tWwPJGxYMctt2EQf-SbetLQ/s320/Caligae+sandal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The caligae are heavy-soled hob-nailed military </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">boots</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> known for being issued to </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Roman legionary</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> soldiers and auxiliaries throughout the </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Roman Republic</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Empire</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. Worn by all ranks up to and including </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">centurions</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, no other shoes in history are as symbolic of the <i>expansion of an empire</i> as the famed caligae. These military boots were </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">designed so as to reduce the likelihood of blisters forming during forced marches, as well as other disabling foot conditions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It isn't difficult for all of us to understand that footwear is very important in protecting our feet. An injury to our feet can be debilitating, and it could leave us unable to move forward, unable to fight well, and even unable to run from danger. Our footwear allows us to march forward in battle and helps us "expand" the work of the kingdom of our King!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The gospel of peace is a sure fit for our feet. It not only protect us from getting debilitated in the battles we wage in, but it also allows us to march on to expand the cause of our King. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you noticed that one of the biggest tactic of the devil, our enemy, is DISCOURAGEMENT? And what happens when we are stricken with it? We become debilitated and unable to continue with any work that God has called us to do. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">The gospel of PEACE is the very thing that keeps us MOVING FORWARD. It is our stabilizer next to our belt of Truth. It is the message of HOPE that allows us to keep going no matter what is going on around us in our battles. It is the message of HOPE that gives us the peace that surpasses understanding! And it is the very same message we use to CONQUER, even those who are enemies of God, and reach them with the message of Hope that can turn them into a friend of God!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A true soldier of the LORD marches on in battle with the gospel message to reach the lost. No true soldier goes into battle barefooted. No true follower of Christ remains silent in his profession of faith. With feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of Peace, he MOVES FORWARD, reaching far and wide for the sake of the glory of THE KING! No part of the full armor of God is too small, as even His Word tells us this in Romans 10:15...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How beautiful are the feet of them that <span style="font-size: large;"><b>preach the gospel of peace</b></span>, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and bring glad tidings of good things! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, are you armored <span style="font-size: small;">up yet? :) We'll look int<span style="font-size: small;">o the rest of the things we need to have ON for the battle in the second part of this series. See <span style="font-size: small;">you then<span style="font-size: small;"> in the <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://purplecookiejar.blogspot.com/2013/04/wheres-your-full-armor-part-2-of-2.html#.UXjJn7_8tRA" target="_blank"><b>next post</b></a></span>!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-36540492610333258652013-03-19T23:39:00.001-05:002013-03-19T23:40:12.872-05:00Who Is Your Teacher?<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have recently come to a point in life where the Word of God is again magnified much more than I had allowed it to be in my personal Christian walk. So much of my Christianity and the doctrines of faith that I have come to uphold were taught of me by preachers and bible teachers who I was given the privilege to sit under their teachings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I always thank the Lord for the bulk of godly men who are preaching from the Word and are preaching the true biblical gospel message of Christ. They all were used by God greatly to help me mature in my walk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, there was one truth that I had overlooked all these years that I've been professing to be a follower of Christ. <i>I have not taken heed of the admonition of the apostles Paul and John to test everything against Scripture and to search Scripture to see if these things taught to me were really so.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All the years that I lived my Christian life, I've never come to a daily practice of TESTING everything against the Word of God. I've been accustomed to sit under a preaching and take things hook, line and sinker! I was always confidently convinced that unless it was really an obviously false gospel (like the one coming from a Word of Faith teacher or a Prosperity Gospel preacher), the teachings of most pastors will always bring an uncorrupted message. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The gospel message is the most critical message a person should get unadulterated! I strongly believe now that it is for one's GENUINE salvation that one should HEAR from the Truth in God's Word in order to have faith on the Grace that is freely given to us through Christ Jesus. The journey with the Lord begins with this crucial message of Hope. But not all of Christianity today preach about the TRUE message of the gospel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Having been exposed to Christianity through an evangelical community in the past, my mind has always been made up that those who pray the sinner's prayer attained the Grace and salvation that is in Christ. It wasn't until God was maturing me in my walk with Him that He showed me the errors of that practice, and I came to realize that it was opposed to what the Word of God calls sinners to do--to repentance. I had a false profession in the past but God led me from that erroneous path into the path of Truth in Repentance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Majority of western Christianity today has accepted this easy belief system where a person can say a sinner's prayer during a pastor's altar call and will then be welcomed into the "family of God." <b>There was no call to repentance, to turning away from sin, to counting the cost of following Christ!</b> Everything was fire insurance... trying to make you believe that one is going to heaven because one has uttered the prayer and that nothing can ever separate the person from God's love now that he/she is "saved"... not considering the fact that so many professing Christians today show NO SIGN of regeneration at all!!! So many STILL love this world that God has supposedly taken them out of!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yet, it wasn't just the easy altar call... it wasn't just the Sinner's prayer that God brought me to see the error. Time after time God brings me to a point in my life when He magnifies His Word so much that I can't help but see the error in whatever counterfeit or erroneous "christian" belief I've held on to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lately, He's done it again. God has challenged the view of end-time events that I've always been taught and I've always accepted to be true. It is a pivotal moment because the change of view that He's allowed me to have led me to truly COUNT THE COST of following the Lord Jesus! It has allowed me to have my profession of faith in check, as well as keep me standing strong in the Faith with which I have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me share this passage in Scripture...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">26These </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">things</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> have I written unto you concerning them that <b>seduce you</b>. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">27But the <u>anointing</u> which ye have received of him abideth in you, and <b><u>ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie</u></b>, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:26-27, KJB)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God has clearly said in His Word that we have this anointing in us that teaches us ALL things and IS TRUTH, and is no lie. Every true believer and follower of Christ receives the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon his/her salvation which leads one into all truths. We are sealed by His Spirit and this anointing is what will TEACH US of all things. God said that in the new covenant HE will teach us His precepts... and that we will no longer have the need for another man to teach us because GOD will be our teacher!</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">But the Comforter, </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">which is</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh, how we've neglected this Word from the Lord today! So many out there... and God's Word calls them "seducers"... are out to convince you that you STILL need someone to teach you about things and that you STILL need to have someone help you to understand the bigger picture! Many in Christianity today are TOTALLY DEPENDENT on the teachings of another mortal being! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have become a people that so easily and eagerly follow whatever teacher that would present themselves to be WISE and REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE of the things written down in God's Word. Many today simply open their Bibles on Sundays during the reading of God's Word for that day and for the rest of the week leave the Holy Writ to gather dust at one corner in the house!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">HOW can GOD teach us if we never even bother to SIT DOWN BEFORE HIM AND LEARN FROM HIS TRUTH IN HIS WORD? We have been listening to SEDUCERS all this time and have taken all of their teachings hook, line and sinker!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would encourage everyone to sit down and spend time studying Scripture. I would encourage us to RETURN TO THE TRUTH IN GOD'S WORD AND LEARN FROM HIM and not from somebody else. These are critical times we are living in and Jesus warns of a great "falling away" of many. He spoke of the love of many growing cold and brethren betraying one another because of becoming OFFENDED.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will soon post about my change of view on End-time events and I pray that you will sit with the King himself and allow the anointing in you to teach you of all things. HE WILL TEACH YOU IF YOU LET HIM. HE WILL SHOW YOU IF YOU WILL NOT COME FILLED BY THE TEACHINGS OF SEDUCING SPIRITS. He will teach you into ALL TRUTH!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-49696565201803421822013-02-06T11:22:00.000-06:002013-02-06T11:23:08.177-06:00Heart Talk: A Seeking Heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seeker-friendly</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're all too familiar with that passage in Matthew 7:7 where Jesus encourages us to ask and we shall receive, knock and it shall be opened and SEEK and we shall find.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many people today are<i> believed to be</i> "seekers" of the things of God. But in reality, not many "seeking" people are really after the genuine TRUTH of God. In fact, big (<i>yet superficial</i>) churches today are labeled to be <span style="color: blue;">"seeker-friendly"</span> or <span style="color: blue;">"seeker-sensitive" </span>just because they try to cater to whatever worldly and carnal pleasures many people want to have in a church. These churches make sure that their image is "cool" for the current trend of the time. Disco lights, coffee shops, shorter sermons, a more casual atmosphere and things as such are just some of the many requirements that a "seeker" of today might want to have met in a church setting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But what is it really that God wants a "SEEKER" to do? Is it enough for one to<b> want to be in a so-called church community</b> that isn't too intimidating, that allows one to still enjoy the simple pleasures of this world and to go along with the flow? What was the kind of seeking that God really meant when HE talked about <b><span style="font-size: large;">seeking</span></b> in the Bible? Surely, it is not about those who seek the comforts and pleasures of this world in the pot of so-called <i>modern Christianity</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>God is looking for a different kind of <i>seeking heart</i>...</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seek and you shall find...</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The word "seek" is considered a transitive verb. Transitive verbs are action words that REQUIRE AN OBJECT. If used alone, one can be left wondering what comes next for the action word. For example, "give". You must have an object to come after the action word "give" in order to have a sentence that makes sense... in order for that action verb to make sense! Give what? Give _<u>_(you fill in the blank)___.</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SEEKING is the same. As a transitive verb, it needs an object to make full sense of this action verb. SEEK WHAT? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You might find it interesting that when you study on the word "seek" using a Bible concordance, you'll find that it comes up with a whole LOT of verses that admonish you to <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">SEEK THE LORD</span></u></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God's Word is rich in scriptural encouragement, admonition and challenge for all of us to SEEK THE LORD and all His Glory! It is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY that we should seek. The object of our seeking has to be THE LORD GOD ON HIGH! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is interesting to know that both in the Hebrew root word and the English (Merriam-Webster) present day definition, to "seek" literally means <span style="font-size: large;"><i>to resort to</i>! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you know that when we "resort to" someone or something, we are actually frequenting, going to, habitually visiting one that affords aid or refuge?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No wonder the Word of God tells us to <b><i><span style="color: red;">SEEK THE LORD</span></i></b>! If we truly OBEY that passage in Scripture, we are actually going to <u>frequently, habitually GO TO THE LORD for refuge because HE IS ABLE TO AFFORD AID & REFUGE</u>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those who are true "seekers" are looking for refuge and aid. But come to think of it, we ALL NEED refuge and aid because we ALL have sinned (Romans 3:23) and we all are destined for eternal damnation (Romans 6:23, Hebrews 9:27). We ALL are BROKEN & UNDONE because of mankind's fall in the garden of Eden. We ALL NEED something that could help our brokenness and aid us into complete healing and deliverance of whatever bondage we are in!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, people who come to a church community looking for things like the kind of lights and music they should have during worship, or the length (or the lack thereof) of their sermon time, or a coffee shop and an internet cafe and many other "services" and "ministries" a church can possibly offer to people, have got it <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">ALL WRONG</span></u></b> just because <b><i>the object of their seeking isn't really GOD--the One who affords aid or refuge</i></b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They come to church NOT because they're seeking after God, His Truth and the things of God, but because they're seeking to meet the needs of their flesh and carnal minds for superficial comfort and relaxation on a Sunday morning. Or, they are running after the comfort and sufficiency of one's own religious efforts, which they then consider a "spiritual" experience and some "spiritual" points for heaven because they've gone to so-called "Church" for that day and have done their duty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Listen, beloved... ARE WE REALLY SEEKING AFTER GOD & HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>Seek ye the LORD</b>, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>seek righteousness, seek meekness</b>: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger." (Zephaniah 2:3, KJB)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>TRUTH for a seeking heart</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><u>God speaks to us through His Word</u></i>. Hebrews 1:1-2 clearly states that:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1"<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>2</b></span><b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Hath in these last days spoken unto us by </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">his</span></b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><b> Son</b>, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember, that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word WAS GOD (John 1:1). And this Word BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US (John 1:14). And all Scripture testifies about HIM and all of Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for everything we need to grow spiritually and everything we need to KNOW & FIND GOD (2 Timothy 3:16)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If God's Word is the available source of His Truth for us today (John 17:17 says so) THEN IT IS A MUST FOR US TO STUDY AND READ FROM THE BIBLE FREQUENTLY, and HABITUALLY in order for us to FIND GOD and be afforded HIS aid and refuge!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>If we are TRULY SEEKING AFTER GOD, we will be DRAWN TO HIS WORD and will be DRAWN TO OBEY HIS WORD! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You see, many of us THINK we are seeking after God but we're really <b><i>just going around looking for others to agree with our preconceived ideas</i></b>. <b><u>We aren't really completely willing to LISTEN TO GOD'S TRUTH and OBEY & ABIDE BY GOD's WORD</u></b>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We may THINK we are seeking God, but it is NOT UNTIL WE TRULY SEEK HIM WITH ALL OUR HEARTS that we will be <u>WILLING ENOUGH TO HABITUALLY READ HIS WORD, SUBMIT TO HIS WORD & YIELD TO HIS WAYS</u>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Listen, beloved. God said...</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>"<span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/jeremiah/29-11.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">11</a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/jeremiah/29-12.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">12</a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Then <span style="font-size: large;">shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me</span>, </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">and I will hearken unto you. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/jeremiah/29-13.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">13</a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And <span style="font-size: large;">ye shall seek me</span>, and find </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">me</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">, <span style="font-size: large;">when ye shall search for me with all your heart</span>. " </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">(Jeremiah 29:11-13)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Are YOU READY to truly SEEK THE LORD, beloved? Are YOU really ready to LISTEN TO HIS WORD? Are YOU completely WILLING to abide by HIS WORD? </i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-48997600683358840542013-02-01T13:00:00.001-06:002013-02-01T13:01:01.069-06:00Heart Talk: Stubborn & Rebellious Know-It-Alls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The know-it-all</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I bet you that you've already encountered one of the <b>most</b> <strike>annoying</strike> difficult personalities in the world in Mr. or Ms. "know-it-all." These are the individuals who seem to really know it all, and I mean ALL, no matter what you try to converse them with. They are full of their opinions and could never hold a decent conversation <i>unless</i> they say the last word and make the strongest point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are those with <b>hearts</b> that are already full <i>of their own ways</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can't really tell them anything, suggest to them something nor teach them new things because they live their lives <b>convinced</b> that they already have the answer for everything!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They are resistant to change and the opinions of others, as well as are very adamant about putting their defenses down. These are hearts that are closed and hearts that are hard. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And because of that, they have a haughty spirit that goes with it. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fools despise instruction</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although resistance to change is a good character trait to have in life (so as not to be gullible in many ways), it is important for us to understand that it has to be had in MODERATION. Anyone who puts their guards up for anything that might lead them to folly and downfall is commendable. BUT, anyone who puts their guards up EVEN IF THEY ARE BEING PRESENTED with TRUTH and WISDOM is to be considered A FOOL! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyone who despise the instructions of God is a TOTAL fool!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don't look at me as though I label people. It is the Bible that speaks of those who hate knowledge as "Fools." You see, the world may contribute to one individual's quest for knowledge about things, yes, but one can NEVER grasp the entirety of the world's knowledge with the finite mind. Most importantly, there is a kind of knowledge that is based on the ways <b>WE</b> PERCEIVE things and may never really be in-line with pure Wisdom and Knowledge from above.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">There is a way which <b>seemeth right</b> unto a man, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">but the end thereof </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">are</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> the ways of death." </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">(Proverbs 14:12, KJB)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The know-it-alls will always be convinced that THEY are ALWAYS right... That their thoughts about matters of life and their opinions on just about everything is the only way to go. A website even puts it this way: Their opinions are gospel and yours is lower than dirt! Sigh... Their motto is usually "My way or the highway." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The danger to knowing it all is the fact that there is a way which SEEMS right to us, but the end thereof are the ways of death.</span></b> We may THINK we KNOW IT ALL but the things we hold as true in our heads may not be the RIGHT things in the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What kind of wisdom and knowledge should we pursue and what should we test OUR ways against with? Whose voice should we HEARKEN most importantly?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everything should be tested against the TRUTH in God. And we SHOULD (not an option) really hear what GOD has to say about everything!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>God's words and his commandments</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God GIVES wisdom and understanding. And He gives the kind of wisdom and knowledge that <i><b>leads to life</b></i>. Proverbs 2:6 tells us that <i><span style="color: red;">the LORD giveth wisdom</span></i>... and that <b><u>OUT OF HIS MOUTH comes knowledge and understanding.</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If what God has spoken (out of His mouth) gives us knowledge and understanding, then there is a need for us to SEEK EARNESTLY TO HEAR HIS WORDS in order to gain the wisdom that comes from Him. What gain is there for us to run after the wisdom of this world, when we stand to be NOTHING before the throne of God at the END of it all?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God's WORD is where we receive knowledge and pure wisdom. It is a GUIDE to us, just as the Psalmist said "It is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Look at how God puts everything in perspective in His Word for us. His ways lead to LIFE and life abundant with Grace and is everlasting...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My son, <b><span style="font-size: large;">if </span></b>thou <u>wilt receive my words</u>, and <u>hide my commandments with thee</u>;</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-2.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>2</b></a></span>So that <i>thou incline thine ear unto wisdom</i>, <i>and</i> apply thine heart to understanding;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-3.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>3</b></a></span>Yea, <b>if</b> thou criest after knowledge, <i>and</i> liftest up thy voice for understanding;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-4.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>4</b></a></span>If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as <i>for</i> hid treasures;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-5.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>5</b></a></span><b>Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>and find the knowledge of God</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-6.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>6</b></a></span>For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth <i>cometh</i> knowledge and understanding.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-7.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>7</b></a></span>He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: <i>he is</i> a buckler to them that walk uprightly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-8.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>8</b></a></span>He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-9.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>9</b></a></span>Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>yea</i>, every good path.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-10.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>10</b></a></span>When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-11.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>11</b></a></span>Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-12.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>12</b></a></span>To deliver thee from the way of the evil <i>man</i>, </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from the man that speaketh froward things;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-13.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>13</b></a></span>Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-14.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>14</b></a></span>Who rejoice to do evil, <i>and</i> delight in the frowardness of the wicked;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-15.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>15</b></a></span>Whose ways <i>are</i> crooked, and <i>they</i> froward in their paths:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-16.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>16</b></a></span>To deliver thee from the strange woman, </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>even</i> from the stranger <i>which</i> flattereth with her words;</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/2-17.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>17</b></a></span>Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Proverbs 2:1-17, KJB)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many people today do not care about God's Word. In fact, just recently, this <a href="http://mobile.wnd.com/2013/01/massive-number-of-u-s-cities-abandon-bible/" target="_blank">article</a> was published regarding a GREAT falling away of people in trusting in the Word of God. Many simply are abandoning the Bible and go their own way thinking, believing and convincing themselves that THEIR WAY is the best way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've seen people who are blessed by God to be in power and to receive so much from above, but never really acknowledge whom it was that their bounties and graces are coming from. These hearts believe in their own capabilities and trust in their own selves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The WARNING we all must take heed</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately, though, there is a GRAVE thing written about stubborn, know-it-all hearts in Scriptures. Those who REFUSE... and I mean, really REFUSE to hear God's voice in His Word has an END to their stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God, who uttered the guiding principles and cues above, also uttered these words for those who forsake His wisdom and instructions:</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>11</b></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">But my people <b>would not hearken to my voice</b>; and Israel would none of me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>12</b></span><span style="line-height: 22px;"><i>So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in <u>their own counsels</u></i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Psalm 81:11-12)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>21</b>Because that, when they knew God, <b>they glorified <i>him</i> not as God, neither were thankful</b>; but <b>became vain in their imaginations</b>, and <b>their foolish heart was darkened</b>. <span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>22</b></span><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Professing themselves to be wise</span></u></i>, <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">they became fools</span></u></b>...</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Romans 1:21-22)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b>28</b>And even as <b>they did not like to retain God in </b></span><i style="line-height: 22px;"><b>their</b></i><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b> knowledge</b>, <i><u>God gave them over to a reprobate mind</u></i>, to do those things which are not convenient; </span><span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>29</b></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, </span><span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>30</b></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, </span><span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>31</b></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: </span><span style="line-height: 14px;"><b>32</b></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">Who <b><u>knowing the judgment of God</u></b>, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Romans 1:28-32)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God's way is the ONLY WAY we should consider in our lives. And His VOICE is the voice we MUST allow to speak in our lives. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HIS KNOWLEDGE should be the only wisdom and knowledge we pursue and RETAIN in our minds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is a grave danger of being given over to our own stubborn and rebellious know-it-all ways. We may end up really getting what we wish for... and that end is not something we want to find ourselves in, as we will already be given over to reprobate mindedness which views evil as good and good as evil. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We will become too drunk with the wine of our OWN counsel that though we know the judgment of God, and that those who commit such evil things will fall under His wrath, we will no longer be sensitive to any of it and will LOSE THE FEAR OF THE LORD WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE. <b>We will be <u>given over</u> to a mind which finds pleasure in doing the very things that God detests!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Will YOU take a look at your life and see if you are seeking God's Wisdom and Knowledge, beloved? </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Will YOU take a moment out of your busy life and ponder upon whose counsel you are listening to? YOU might have been listening to YOUR OWN VOICE FOR A LONG TIME NOW...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is no time waste, dear one...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is NOW time to be turned back to God... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"<span style="color: red;">Turn us again, O God, and cause THY FACE to shine; and we shall be saved. Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause THY FACE to shine; and we shall be saved." </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: red;">(Psalm 80:3,7)</span></i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-78409211874943425232013-01-21T00:48:00.002-06:002013-01-21T00:53:58.362-06:00The Proud and the Humble at Heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Pride of Self</b><br />
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Pride is perhaps the most important issue that all of us <b>should overcome</b> in this life. The Bible tells us that <span style="font-size: large;">God opposes the proud </span>(James 4:6)! So, we must understand that there is something we need to do with the pride in our hearts in order to be right with God.<br />
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Pride is defined by Bing.com as <b><i>the feeling of superiority and the satisfaction with self</i></b>. We have to understand that this definition is TRUE for what every person has in his and her heart. No matter how much we try to deny it or sugar coat it, Pride is something that is a part of the human nature.<br />
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Most people would probably deny that they have any pride in their hearts because most of us view being PROUD as an act of "boasting." However, if we look at the above definition of the word "Pride," we ought to realize that it doesn't necessarily mean <i>the act of "boasting" </i>as boasting is to speak with excessive pride.<br />
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<u>The mere act of being satisfied with ourselves is Pride itself!</u> The idea that we are satisfied with where we are in life right now and what we have done so far is quite a dangerous thing to have. Being satisfied with the life we have here and now, without thinking of eternal consequences is a dangerous thing. Being satisfied with our efforts at religiosity and piety is a very dangerous thing to have in this life as this satisfaction leads us away from realizing our great NEED for Christ. And the very fact that we are satisfied with our SELF and NOT with CHRIST, is a grave danger for our soul.<br />
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<b>Pride before the fall</b><br />
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The Bible talks a LOT about the proud. There isn't anything good that comes with it. Every verse in Scripture that points out Pride is pretty much telling us that it leads to destruction in the end.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">A man's <b>pride</b> <b>shall bring him low</b>: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." (Proverbs 29:23, KJV)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">The <b>pride of your heart has deceived you</b>..." (Obadiah 1:3)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><b><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Pride </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">goeth</span></b><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b> before destruction</b>, and an haughty spirit before a fall." </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">(Proverbs 16:18)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pride leads to nothing but destruction. How so? Because pride <i>deceives</i> us into believing the lie of <b>SELF-SUFFICIENCY</b>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pride allows us to believe in OUR abilities, in OUR good works, in OUR religiosity, in OUR achievements and in the power of SELF. Pride blinds us from the truth of our depravity and the truth of our great need for a Savior. Pride also hinders us from actively seeking Christ because anything we do that shows our acknowledging Christ's superiority will be a sign of inferiority--the exact opposite of the mind setting of the Proud.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">God is opposed to the proud because it denies the Grace that He so freely gave through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God is opposed to the proud because it denies the TRUTH found in His Word that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. He is opposed to the proud because it denies that JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY Way, Truth and Life any person can have in this life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Destruction awaits the proud of heart because the Bible tells us that the wages of our sin is DEATH. This death is not just the physical death we all are destined to face, but also the spiritual death that sends a soul into eternal torment in the lake of fire, separated from the Grace and Holiness of God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Many today would rather cling to the pride of life rather than humble themselves before the throne of Grace. Why? Because the proud harbors <b><span style="font-size: large;">the fear of man</span></b> in their hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Contrary to the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom, the fear of Man brings a snare to one's life (Prov. 29:25). It allows one to cling tightly to the idea of superiority and self-satisfaction which gives one the <i>fear of rejection by other people. </i>It breeds <i>the fear of ridicule from others </i>who are also self-sufficiently proud. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">The mind-set of the proud makes him or her think about other people's opinions more than what the Truth in the Word of God says. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">"What will others say about me?" </span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">"What will they think of me if I follow Christ?" </span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">These are the constant thoughts of those chained down by Pride.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">The proud has the world revolving around THEM. They would always have the world for their audience and refuse to SUBMIT to the most important audience of ONE who is before the throne. Many would rather cling to what family, friends and society would dictate today, rather than HEED what the Word of God says.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>Humility & Healing</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The human nature is broken. It is in our carnality that sin abounds and death reigns. But there is healing available for those who are WILLING to accept the cure in CHRIST JESUS. He himself said, "Ye MUST be born again."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Humility takes A LOT of courage. It takes a LOT of courage to be humble enough to accept the fact that we are LOST and UTTERLY DEPRAVED apart from the Grace of God in Christ Jesus. Humility calls for courage to run AGAINST the flow. Humility calls for the courage to stand up when everyone else remains seated. Humility calls for the courage to come forward FOR CHRIST, when the rest of the world mock and scoff at the sideline. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">The woman in Mark chapter 5 who suffered from a bleeding disorder for years laid down her defenses and touched the hem of Jesus' clothes just so she can be healed. When Jesus asked who touched Him, she mustered all the courage to come forward from amidst the crowd and fell down before Him. She became the center of attention, but it didn't matter to her. She could become the subject of mockery and scoffing for as a woman she was NOT supposed to touch Jesus in the first place, but she risked all that knowing that HEALING can only come from CHRIST.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">HUMILITY brings us to the throne of Grace... to that point in time when we accept our depravity apart from Christ. Humility brings us to that place of obedience where we submit ourselves to the FULL Lordship of Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Is Pride keeping you from running to the throne of Christ's Grace today? Is Pride deceiving you greatly into thinking you can work your own salvation? Is Pride deceiving you into believing the lies that God's Word cannot be the absolute Truth?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Humble yourselves before the LORD JESUS, beloved... this is the way that God accepts...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The sacrifices of God </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">are</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalm 51:17, KJV)</span></div>
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He does not oppose the humble at heart, but rather gives them the Grace they need for the moment. Are you afraid to come to Christ because of what others might say? Are you afraid to come forward during a church fellowship to acknowledge your need for Christ because of what you think others may think? Destroy that Pride in your heart, dear one... before it destroys you in the end.<br />
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:) Here's a bumper sticker to remind us all that...<br />
<iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="320" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6696401.741;sz=320x320;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802463524;pid=23038724;usg=AFHzDLu76MCksoI_hkXJWyr5C1fu2R2xcA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cafepress.com%252Fmf%252F5578675%252Fbumper-sticker-humility-is-not-a-weaknes_bumper-sticker%253Fcmp%253Dpfc--f--us--090--23038724%2526sourcecode%253Daffiliate%2526pid%253D6673073%2526utm_cp_signal%253D382%2526productid%253D23038724;pubid=615341;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.cafepress.com%2Fproduct%2F23038724_480x480_f.jpg;width=320;height=320" vspace="0" width="320"></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8_HjEMBoB8Hfux-UA7eGmCfna4EiYYI9SumqlXbtmyUzdlThaaJgvHoGKA9ShKbJyic-oYr0NOh3lI16yC24FWgJ4bJpGxWJsTmf9Kymfey_qL2NiBAeouKinQh18SyZnteTiIIHXG8/s1600/jar+blog+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8_HjEMBoB8Hfux-UA7eGmCfna4EiYYI9SumqlXbtmyUzdlThaaJgvHoGKA9ShKbJyic-oYr0NOh3lI16yC24FWgJ4bJpGxWJsTmf9Kymfey_qL2NiBAeouKinQh18SyZnteTiIIHXG8/s320/jar+blog+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-15802971986834954752013-01-03T11:56:00.002-06:002013-01-03T11:57:23.629-06:00New Year's Recipe to SUCCESS!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl1pqwhDlbldWlJnFZunqA_LeYIt4rIDfe5mOrd6z_S5_Qe6A6odCeucL2pbPnnlZk1tA8r581lqFKJsh0R_ol0GokISfmjMtPyR9_zTB4yzzZaDWWJt3xUSCOmeJuXNqyXCfrDV3NFU/s1600/happy-new-year-2013-wallpapers-hd-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl1pqwhDlbldWlJnFZunqA_LeYIt4rIDfe5mOrd6z_S5_Qe6A6odCeucL2pbPnnlZk1tA8r581lqFKJsh0R_ol0GokISfmjMtPyR9_zTB4yzzZaDWWJt3xUSCOmeJuXNqyXCfrDV3NFU/s400/happy-new-year-2013-wallpapers-hd-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">New Year Resolutions</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aaah... it's a new year again. 2012 has gone by in a flash and we're now starting fresh with 2013. But then again, are we really?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Studies have found out that people set a LOT of goals around the New Year's celebration and many still stick to the practice of making a New Year's resolution. In fact, a study shows that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">40 to 45 percent of American adults make one or more resolutions each year.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, it's no wonder that notes to self for the fresh year will (again) be posted up on a wall or the fridge. We all get excited as we set out anew with our personal goals. The list can range from diet and exercise, to financial strategies, to keeping life simple and resolutions to a happier lifestyle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Made to be broken</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whatever it is that we put in our list, New Year resolutions will always affect the way we live in the first couple of months of the year. Yep! You read that right. Just the first couple months. You see, studies also show that just like many promises, most of these resolutions are actually </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">made to be broken</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. We all start strong but pretty much wane along the way. Research has it that people spend six to eight weeks on average before giving up on their resolutions!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've come across an <a href="http://ph.news.yahoo.com/why-suck-keeping-resolutions-032345832.html" target="_blank">article</a> that tried to explain why we fail greatly at keeping with our New Year's resolutions. Interestingly, the writer presents the evidence to be this:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This is the scientific explanation for why most people who make New Year's resolutions don't succeed, in a nutshell: the brain wasn't designed to do so. </i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Apparently, we are hard-wired to resist change; it is built into our human nature. The harsh truth is that everything inside you will fight improvement; that is our physical, biological make-up.</i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">So, with all that scientific reasoning of why we fail to keep our resolutions, what was the article author's final conclusion? He </span></span><span style="line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">said, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;"><i>So why are we so bad at keeping New Year's resolutions? Part of it is human nature, but I'm convinced that the other part of it is that we experience resolutions as a kind of wishing. <b>We have a daydream of what we desire to be in the future, and we hope, rather than will, that we get there.</b> The difference is that the former requires a genie; the other <b>requires that we stop looking for a magic carpet, find a map, and start walking to our destination.</b></i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients: A will and a roadmap!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I agree with the article's author. Most of us remain daydreamers of the good life and are merely wishful thinkers of the better life we all wanted to achieve. We simply lack the WILL to "get there."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now, don't get me wrong. There are a LOT of people out there who are very good at keeping their goals and achieving what they want to have and be in life. A closer look in their lives, though, would reveal that they are successful because of the two ingredients mentioned--WILL and some sort of MAP!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's take a closer look into those main ingredients to success, shall we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The BEST roadmap to life</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If we really would sit and ponder about our resolutions we'd soon realize that each of them has something to do with improving the life we have HERE ON EARTH. We all want the better and happier life while on THIS SIDE of eternity. Yet, we all know that our pursuit of happiness and success here on earth is spiced up with all matters of troubles and tribulations. So, is there any hope for us at all to <i>really attain</i> that happiness we all constantly pursue? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, let me share to you the BEST map for it all...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"1<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">My son, <u>forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments</u>:</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-2.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">2</a></span>For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-3.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">3</a></span>Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>write them upon the table of thine heart:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-4.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">4</a></span>So shalt thou find favour and good understanding </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>in the sight of God and man.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-5.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">5</a></span><u>Trust in the LORD with all thine heart</u>; </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>and lean not unto thine own understanding.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-6.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">6</a></span>In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-7.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">7</a></span><u>Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil</u>.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-8.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">8</a></span>It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-9.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">9</a></span><u>Honour the LORD with thy substance, </u></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><u>and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:</u></b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/proverbs/3-10.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">10</a></span>So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">presses shall burst out with new wine.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Proverbs 3:1-10, KJV)</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It doesn't take a scientist to figure that out. God's Words are simple and easy to understand. They are very easy to follow, too... BUT, (let's put the but here...) there's the second ingredient that is a requirement for success. The WILL to follow the roadmap laid out before us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The WILL of the matter...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The question then boils down to this:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are YOU willing to SUBMIT to God and do things HIS WAY </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">when it comes to the pursuit of happiness and success?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEqKlVniPohNkwoWrtFEc9UrwffyqBXg6J5gRp1QASlrskg6_FOI9KMGdHjyYSvHzhFwJx9dVRUq59aT15Fkt5hgc-BUFg6ZL0K5HRcxDLmF7BmviQHLyVwW7FamXoKSEpi7wjhauFWc/s1600/surrender-and-submit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEqKlVniPohNkwoWrtFEc9UrwffyqBXg6J5gRp1QASlrskg6_FOI9KMGdHjyYSvHzhFwJx9dVRUq59aT15Fkt5hgc-BUFg6ZL0K5HRcxDLmF7BmviQHLyVwW7FamXoKSEpi7wjhauFWc/s320/surrender-and-submit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The result will depend on your honest answer to that question. The roadmap is there, and all you need is your UTMOST WILLINGNESS <i><b>to submit to His ways</b></i>. Are YOU up for it? Remember, it ain't that easy because you aren't really WIRED for change and submission to authority.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Want some helpful hints for this new year's road to success? Here they are:</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>"T<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">he carnal mind </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">is</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Romans 8:7)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">them</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">, because they are spiritually discerned. " (1 Corinthians 2:14)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">" (John 3:6)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">Marvel not that I said unto thee, <u>Ye must be born again</u>." (John 3:7)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">And here are some helpful hints that will make the success go beyond this short-lived life on earth... here's to make it last for ALL ETERNITY...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> If thou wilt be perfect, go </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">and</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">and</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> follow me." </span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">(Matthew 19:21)</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> </span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." </span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">(Matthew 6:19-21)</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Want to get to where you want to be this New Year 2013 and beyond? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God's Word gives us the roadmap! Do you have the WILL to follow Him?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8_HjEMBoB8Hfux-UA7eGmCfna4EiYYI9SumqlXbtmyUzdlThaaJgvHoGKA9ShKbJyic-oYr0NOh3lI16yC24FWgJ4bJpGxWJsTmf9Kymfey_qL2NiBAeouKinQh18SyZnteTiIIHXG8/s1600/jar+blog+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8_HjEMBoB8Hfux-UA7eGmCfna4EiYYI9SumqlXbtmyUzdlThaaJgvHoGKA9ShKbJyic-oYr0NOh3lI16yC24FWgJ4bJpGxWJsTmf9Kymfey_qL2NiBAeouKinQh18SyZnteTiIIHXG8/s320/jar+blog+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-1647404444505447842012-12-15T01:09:00.003-06:002012-12-15T01:09:44.442-06:00Joy to the World: A Savior was Given<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An evil, lost and dying world</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqN87qsvarmRTeprfamd4kAIAcdapPhtzhApEhkLKfZ5ByNQDyAgAJzMEp0QH0i_yYzoTokFFvbv2Jfe3fA1LDPnBFzvRVjhTX29jm1P0OkhZOYbcQIzA1ZuEP63Lb4iMqiaN1Mfu_bY/s1600/Just-Broken-Heart_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqN87qsvarmRTeprfamd4kAIAcdapPhtzhApEhkLKfZ5ByNQDyAgAJzMEp0QH0i_yYzoTokFFvbv2Jfe3fA1LDPnBFzvRVjhTX29jm1P0OkhZOYbcQIzA1ZuEP63Lb4iMqiaN1Mfu_bY/s320/Just-Broken-Heart_1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It doesn't take a scientist to see what kind of world we all live in. There's too much evil around us that it can't be denied there is something wrong with all of us. We always get in each other's way and there seems to always be evil thoughts in a man's heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tragedy strikes humanity every so often and today was not an exemption. The massacre of 27 people, 18 of which are small children in Sandy Hook Elementary School of Newtown, Connecticut, leaves us bewildered of the evil that is among us. How can a person be so heartless? How can a person be so cruel? So depraved? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oftentimes, we look at tragic situations like this and condemn the acts of violence that lead to the loss of precious lives. Yet, we fail greatly to acknowledge that every single day, humanity showcases this heartlessness and cruelty and depravity in many other tragic areas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This same depravity rules in the lives of those who perform abortions; those who wreck havoc in families through divorce; those who disrespect another's heart by lusting and fornicating with them; those who abuse themselves with substances; those who gossip and destroy others by words; those who abuse others physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually; those who lie and cheat their way to the top; those who selfishly indulge their greed with unnecessary shopping sprees while others in the world starve to death; and the list can go on and on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are realities that we deliberately ignore, as if they are not a problem to our society. This is our DEPRAVITY. We have all been living in this delusion of grandeur where we think of ourselves highly as we look down on those labeled as "criminals." We have this distorted reality of sin which makes us think there are lesser and/or greater degrees of sin in this life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our problem lies in the grass-root level of it all... and that is our sinful, carnal way of life. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) that:</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">The heart </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> deceitful above all </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">things</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Our hearts are<b><u> DESPERATELY WICKED</u></b>! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #001320;">The word </span><b style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">desperate </span></b><span style="color: #001320;">is defined as </span><i style="color: #001320;"><b>extreme, awful, and beyond hope</b></i><span style="color: #001320;">! </span><u style="color: #001320;">That defines our REALITY</u><span style="color: #001320;">. God's Word speaks a great amount of Truth in Romans 3:10 when it tells us that, "</span><span style="color: red;"><b>THERE IS NONE righteous</b>. No, NOT ONE</span><span style="color: #001320;">!" God could not find a single heart, a single individual, a single human being who isn't depraved! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">ALL OF US, in the eyes of the Holy God, are sinners and as we live with hearts that are desperately wicked, there isn't really anything in us that seeks after God. How amazingly accurate God's Word describe humanity to be. His word saith in Romans chapter 3:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">11</b></span>There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">12</b></span>They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">there is none that doeth good, no, not one.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">13</b></span>Their throat <i>is</i> an open sepulchre; </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">with their tongues they have used deceit; </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the poison of asps <i>is</i> under their lips:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">14</b></span>Whose mouth <i>is</i> full of cursing and bitterness:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">15</b></span>Their feet <i>are</i> swift to shed blood:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">16</b></span>Destruction and misery <i>are</i> in their ways:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">17</b></span>And the way of peace have they not known:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">18</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">There is no fear of God before their eyes</span></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Isn't this the reality of humanity? There is <u><b>NO FEAR OF GOD before our eyes</b></u>. We all have the audacity to live our lives in our own way, thinking that our way is right! We come up with depraved thoughts to try to convince ourselves that our choices lead to life. Oh, but God's Word just couldn't stop EXPOSING THE REAL DEAL with us!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUh2A4TZ4k1rxvUaMoGw-EdyATHd0nCPMOyhTCtACirS3tLeb2LTsQ6oOifjQm1ebbneAtRKjjfcBO2u6jH2QiazSt0WCYjg7JrmuaLEj3kf3TwYuZBJGT_f4Rd-Cl_vH9HP54BoqGa0/s1600/efforts.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUh2A4TZ4k1rxvUaMoGw-EdyATHd0nCPMOyhTCtACirS3tLeb2LTsQ6oOifjQm1ebbneAtRKjjfcBO2u6jH2QiazSt0WCYjg7JrmuaLEj3kf3TwYuZBJGT_f4Rd-Cl_vH9HP54BoqGa0/s320/efforts.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">but the end thereof </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">are</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;"> the ways of death." (Proverbs 16:25)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">All we like sheep have gone astray; </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">we have turned every one to his own way..." (Isaiah 53:6)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">But we are all as an unclean </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">thing</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">, and all our righteousnesses </span><i style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">are</i><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;"> as filthy rags; </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Still think you are a "good" person? We won't even come close to PASSING the test if God's Law (the 10 commandments) are used to test us. Have we lied? Have we stolen anything (no matter how small it was)? Have we looked at another with lust? (That's the same as adultery in God's standard!) Have we dishonored our parents by disobeying them? Where do we stand when God uses HIS laws to see if we really can be considered "GOOD" in His eyes?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Reality is, WE DON'T STAND A CHANCE! God is a Holy God and He doesn't fool around like we do. When He demands holiness and righteousness, it is the perfect holiness and righteousness that is of Him! Unfortunately for us, there isn't anything we could ever do to attain THAT! No amount of religious practices, or practical prayers, or mystical experiences could wash us clean from the filth of our sins! No degree of piety nor amount of penance could clear our record before God. Remember Isaiah 64:6? Our righteousness are as FILTHY RAGS!!! We are enslaved to our sins and chained to death! What else can we do? Where do we go?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">We need something else other than ourselves! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We need... a Savior...</span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTigDmRHxxHOI__H6fVxe8c1aua4rh4h0vEO3e5DUDaKh9Wl0DMYiH6gUVREfGWFF9ogLiGJO4O884CieydvjyQbQeVZhpRnh3F66D9Y35WJIxOIyc0NhnXGCKVS7W6wYCF38MBt3BfBA/s1600/chains-broken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTigDmRHxxHOI__H6fVxe8c1aua4rh4h0vEO3e5DUDaKh9Wl0DMYiH6gUVREfGWFF9ogLiGJO4O884CieydvjyQbQeVZhpRnh3F66D9Y35WJIxOIyc0NhnXGCKVS7W6wYCF38MBt3BfBA/s320/chains-broken.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b><u>Joy to the World: A Savior was given</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">It is critical for each one of us to understand AND accept our depravity. This depravity places us in a tight situation with God because our depravity calls for His righteous judgment to fall upon us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The Bible is clear that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). We deserve an end to this depraved, sinful life and that is death. We all became destined for an eternal separation with God in hell (the second death, Revelation 20:14), because none of our filth, unrighteousness and depravity can come near the holy throne of God in heaven!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Our verdict? GUILTY. Our case? HOPELESS... </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">But not UNTIL...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." (John 3:16)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">And this is the witness, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5:11)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God's Word tells us that because He does not want any to perish but for all of us to come to repentace, He sent His only begotten Son to save us from our sins! His precious Son because the sin-offering that we drastically needed in order to be saved. His precious Son, Jesus Christ, died a sinner's death (though He did not sin) in order to rise from the dead and bring us into new life for eternity!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED? Well, it should begin by acknowledging our NEED for a Savior. We cannot fully embrace the work of Jesus and the gift of salvation which He offers us UNTIL WE COME FACE TO FACE WITH OUR DEPRAVITY! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">JESUS <i><u>finished the work of salvation</u></i>! He completed what God had demanded as payment for our sins! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFxPlSOxgxrUyHeJ9nbEi5o-SYTBJBX_ddCPMcGKBUt9Of9YafYD9JerSey4uT1m9yMzMtjlJWtpTC0NSQ4RvC_J4qBRG-fG1e_dntBN2Qx14WbTvjaV_RavPg_dxile3FFChWv0mgYg/s1600/jesus-savior-of-the-world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFxPlSOxgxrUyHeJ9nbEi5o-SYTBJBX_ddCPMcGKBUt9Of9YafYD9JerSey4uT1m9yMzMtjlJWtpTC0NSQ4RvC_J4qBRG-fG1e_dntBN2Qx14WbTvjaV_RavPg_dxile3FFChWv0mgYg/s320/jesus-savior-of-the-world.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">2</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">3</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="text-decoration: none;">4</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">I have glorified thee on the earth:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;"><b>I have <span style="font-size: large;">finished</span> the work which thou gavest me to do</b>." (John 17:1-4)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, </span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It is finished</span></b></span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:30)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">When something is FINISHED, it means it is DONE and whatever work that is that needed to be finished, it is finally OVER. Jesus paid the FULL price for sin when He died on that cross. He took the punishment for sin, or the wage of sin which is death! BUT, because He is the only begotten Son of God, WHO IS GOD Himself, He was buried for 3 days and on the third day ROSE FROM THE DEAD because death could not hold Him!!! Hallelujah!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">THAT is His promise of eternal life. All that we have to do is to TRUST HIM and TAKE HIS WORD FOR IT that He has paid the price in FULL! What does God's Word say?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fffefd; line-height: 21px;">That <b>if thou shalt confess with thy mouth <span style="font-size: large;">the Lord Jesus</span></b>, and<b> shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead</b>, <i><span style="font-size: large;">thou shalt be saved</span></i>." (Romans 10:9)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Seems to be too simple, right? Unfortunately, though, that is the stumbling block of many people. So many want to give themselves that feeling of accomplishment and doing something for the sake of their own salvation so they get the "reward". </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The guilt of SIN in our lives is so heavy that many deceived hearts tend to want to do things ON THEIR OWN to really feel that they became good enough to appease God's righteous judgment. UNFORTUNATELY, though, GOD ONLY ACCEPTS THE ONE and ONLY WAY HE HIMSELF HAS GIVEN TO US! His only begotten Son died an undeserved death on the cross to save us from our sins and to save us from death... it's THE ONLY WAY. Jesus proclaimed that clearly! HE IS THE WAY...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">This is why we need a good does of REALITY and a face to face session with our depravity and sin in order for us to realize WE NEED JESUS and WE CRITICALLY NEED WHAT HE ALONE HAD and CAN OFFER! Our sinfulness, filth and most of all our SELF-RELIANCE ought to bring us to our knees in Repentance to God as we grow that Godly sorrow that will plant the FEAR OF GOD in our lives!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Let's break it down to get to the bottom...</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>CONFESS</b>--meaning, "acknowledge something to be TRUE"...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>THE LORD</b>--meaning, "one with considerable power and authority"...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>JESUS</b>--meaning, "who saves us from our sins"...</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><i>We must BELIEVE and FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE that GOD'S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON indeed SAVES US FROM OUR SINS by His CONSIDERABLE POWER and AUTHORITY!</i></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">BELIEVE<i>--meaning, "</i>to accept something as TRUE<i>"</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">THAT GOD--meaning, "the supreme, ultimate reality Being who is</span></span><span style="line-height: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe."</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">RAISED --meaning, "moved above"</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">HIM --pertaining to JESUS CHRIST</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">FROM THE DEAD --meaning, "from having lost life; <span style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">Not having the capacity to live.</span>"</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><i>We MUST accept the FACT that God supplied His only begotten Son to powerfully save us from sin and death by MOVING FROM THE STATE OF HAVING LOST ETERNAL LIFE, to MOVING ABOVE THAT BY LIVING FOREVER!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">My question is simple... Since JESUS FINISHED THE WORK OF SALVATION for mankind, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">do YOU really believe in HIM as the One who SAVES YOU from sin and death? Do you COMPLETELY ACCEPT THAT WHAT HE'S DONE BRINGS YOU ETERNAL LIFE? Do YOU really BELIEVE all THAT HE IS BEING THE ONLY WAY TO RECONCILE WITH GOD?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">You must, beloved... for that is the ONLY TIME when you will achieve and understand the JOY that came when the Savior was given... </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-53506846823020479252012-12-09T00:47:00.000-06:002012-12-09T00:47:16.183-06:00Joy to the World: The Light Has Come!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Walking in darkness</u></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I remember a time in the past when my little hometown in the Philippines would have regular schedules of a blackout. It became part of everybody's daily living when, on certain days of the week, the lights just won't turn on and entire neighborhoods would start the nights out really dark. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's nothing much that anybody can do in the dark. Even with the luxury of owning a source of emergency lighting such as some flashlights, rechargeable lamps (which is what we mostly used at home) and some candles, the dark will still pretty much debilitate us. It just wouldn't allow us to see as much as we need to, much more do what we're supposed to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The physiology of sight is a complicated thing, but the bottom line of it is that seeing will be impossible without the presence of light. The human eyes have to catch rays of light that are then absorbed by light receptors in the interior portions of the eye, which will then be processed by the brain into images that will eventually become clear pictures before us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No matter how sensitive these eye receptors are and how complex their processes can be when it comes to interacting with the brain to form the picture, seeing is not possible if there isn't any ray of light to work on! When our eyes eventually become adjusted to seeing in a dark room (like in a theatre), it is solely because our light receptors in the eyes caught on some light rays. Without light, we are just as blind as a mole!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can you imagine what it will be like if we never have a sun to light our days? Or if there was never a moon to shine light during the night? We would all be groping around for everything for sure if we never have any source of light!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Living in the dark</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is quite interesting that the Bible talks about the LIGHT that came into our dark world. Isaiah 9:2, prophesied this about the Messiah, who fulfilled it when he visited a certain town in Capernaum:</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." (KJB)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The prophet Isaiah spoke about those who are walking in darkness, and that they will see light. But take note that he spoke of a light that's not just any kind of light. He said that these people that walked in darkness have seen a GREAT light and that this light shined upon those that dwell in the land of the shadow of death!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are two (2) things we can observe from Isaiah's prophecy about the people who will see a great light. These people:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Walked in darkness</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dwell in the land of the shadow of death</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We ought to realize that these does not only describe those who were living in Capernaum. These description fits every human being on planet earth--in a SPIRITUAL SENSE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We ALL walk in spiritual darkness and we all dwell in the land of the shadow of death! When the fall of Adam happened, the Bible tells us that death became the consequence of that sin of disobedience and that death was passed on to ALL human beings because ALL HAVE SINNED (Romans 3:23)! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sin alienated us (humankind) from God and our spiritual understanding is darkened because of the sin that is in us (Ephesians 4:18)! Paul even added that there is this "blindness of the heart" in people! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like in Isaiah's prophecy, God's Word rings true to all of us as we ALL walk in darkness spiritually and that we dwell in this land of the shadow of death! Isn't death a reality to all of us? Isn't death like a shadow to every one of us living on this earth? Death is a shadow as it follows our every move. <b><u>Death is inevitable</u></b>!!! This is our reality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There isn't really any hope in the above situation. We ALL have sinned, says the Word of God and death is upon us all. We are SPIRITUALLY in DARKNESS because there isn't any LIFE IN US ANYMORE because of sin's consequence. Technically, we are already dead IN our sins! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just like in the physiology of sight, we cannot really SEE OUR REALITY because of our spiritual darkness. UNLESS there be a ray of Light to shine upon us, we are good as dead and hopeless as can be. We just CANNOT HELP OUR OWN SELVES!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>The Light has come!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How wonderful it is to read the Bible and be made aware of the consistency of Truth in ALL of God's Word. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 John 1:5</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> tells us this:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">that <b><span style="font-size: large;">God is light</span></b>, <b>and in him is no darkness at all</b>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God is light. The apostle John made sure we get this message right! God's Word has made it clear that we are all living in darkness and dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, but there IS hope...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"1<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>2</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">The same was in the beginning with God. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>3</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>4</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><i>In him was life</i>;<b><span style="font-size: large;"> and the life was the light of men</span></b>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We just got reminded that we are all living in darkness and that death is a reality to us all because of our sins. In the end, we really deserve the fullness of DEATH as the book of Revelation calls the lake of fire, the SECOND DEATH. But now we read that GOD IS LIGHT and IN HIM WAS LIFE! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isn't it amazing that the two main things that are a reality in our lives, God used to be the platform for our HOPE and SALVATION?</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are living in darkness --> GOD IS LIGHT and HE IS THE LIGHT OF MEN!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We dwell in the land of the shadow of death --> IN HIM WAS LIFE and the life WAS HE LIGHT OF MEN!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The promised Messiah came in the form of God's only begotten Son. He was the Word that John spoke about and He was the LIGHT that was prophesied in the past. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY HOPE and SALVATION for ALL OF US who are in utter darkness.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Joy to the World, the LIGHT has come!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What an AMAZING Creator God! In our depravity and sinfulness, He has provided a way to give us eternal life (John 3:16). In our utter blindness and spiritual darkness, He provided THE LIGHT! In the midst of our dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, He provided LIFE! God indeed does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). He is not willing that any should perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">What an AMAZING REALITY!!! What a WONDERFUL TRUTH that is! </span></b></span><b style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It surely and truly IS <span style="font-size: large;">JOY TO OUR WORLD</span> which is engulfed in darkness and sin, </b></div>
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<b style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">because <span style="font-size: large;">LIGHT has come!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Reality Check</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One thing has to be placed into consideration, though, because we have been living in darkness for so long. <b><u>HOW SHOULD WE REACT TO THIS LIGHT that has come upon us?</u></b> We need to ask ourselves this question because, just as eyes that had been used to the dark for so long are adamant to come to the light; and just as any bright light exposes everything that is hidden in the dark, JESUS, who is the Light of the World will do the same to us in our spiritual darkness!</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"19<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And this is the condemnation, that <i>light is come into the world</i>, <b><u>and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. </u></b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>20</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><u>For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. </u></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>21</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">But <b><span style="font-size: large;">he that doeth truth cometh to the light</span></b>, <b>that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God</b>." (John 3:19-21, KJB)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus' own words will serve as our warning. Light indeed has come to our world, BUT we are sinful people and our deeds are evil. NONE OF US doeth good, according to Psalm 14:3! None of us understands and none of us seeks God, says Romans 3! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">John acknowledged this fact in <span style="color: red;">John 1:5, "</span></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">And the light shineth in darkness; and </span><b style="color: red; font-style: italic;">the darkness comprehended it not. </b>We all are unrighteous and all of our secret deeds are evil. The dark conceals all this and DOES NOT ALLOW US TO SEE. We are not aware of this depravity and NEED FOR A SAVIOR until we come to the Light to shine upon us!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus bids all to COME TO HIM. He will not force you to follow Him. It has to be YOUR OWN PERSONAL CHOICE to come to His Light and be EXPOSED FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE BEFORE HIM.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The LIGHT OF JESUS will expose who we really are--sinful, depraved, spiritually blind, technically dead. The more we come near the Light, the more our evil deeds become manifest before our eyes, and the more the REAL PICTURE OF OUR LIVES come into view. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Are we scared to come to the Light? Are we scared to have our evil deeds exposed? Are we too comfortable in the darkness of our sins? WE MUST COME TO THE LIGHT in order for us to be redeemed!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">UNLESS WE REALIZE WHAT OUR SPIRITUAL STATE REALLY IS, WE CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND OUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR. NO-ONE WHO LOVES THE DARKNESS COMES TO THE LIGHT. Do YOU love darkness? Or are you willing to risk being exposed for who you are, and come to the LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST and be saved? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b>JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD and IN HIM IS LIFE. We cannot continue to live in the dark if we truly want to have LIFE and LIGHT in our world. We cannot continue to convince ourselves that we can attain righteousness and heaven with our own attempts at being good. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b>COME TO THE LIGHT... COME AND HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST FOR </b></span></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">HE IS THE ONLY WAY PROVIDED BY THE FATHER. <span style="font-size: large;">THERE IS NO OTHER WAY</span>. YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF FOR THERE IS ONLY DARKNESS IN YOU. YOU NEED THE LIGHT. YOU NEED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Will you come to the Light today, beloved? Let HIM open your understanding and shine HIS LIGHT upon you today. Let HIM show you your TOTAL depravity and sinfulness. And let that lead you to a godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Let HIS LIGHT SHINE SO BRIGHTLY IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WILL NOT WANT TO GO BACK INTO UTTER DARKNESS AND LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Repent... turn from your sins... turn to the LIGHT... and follow HIM ALONE!</b></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-69626022801446503532012-11-28T00:21:00.000-06:002012-11-28T17:50:15.985-06:00"Struggling-with-SIN", Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I find it rather amusing how the Lord works to allow us to learn directly from HIS WORD when He wants to expose a false teaching! I've heard many different sermons from different "bible-teachers" and I've grown to love and respect a few of them, but over the years I've as well dropped and left many of them along the way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The reason I would no longer listen to a bible teacher or be a part of anything he works on is because at one point or another, </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God exposes the real heart and message using the Truth in God's Word</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oftentimes, I feel my spirit <i>immediately</i> discerning a false teacher with the message that he preaches, but sometimes, there are some of them who are very much like their father, the devil, who are very cunning in all their ways. One would have to really sit down and STUDY THE WORD for themselves in order to TEST the spirit of these kinds of bible teachers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning, God allowed me to go over some old notes I have in my sermon notebook and somehow, He led me to my notes on a particular message I've heard sometime in July of this year. I said some "amens" back then, but God brought me to read His Word this morning to review and test that teaching against Scripture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Word of God commands us to do that, anyway. I cannot stress enough the importance of reading and studying Scripture personally. God can speak through the message of a sermon, no matter how deceptive it is formulated to be by the preacher, but HIS SOVEREIGN TRUTH will never change and it always prevails in His Word. And this Truth will expose every dark corner, every nook and cranny of every message a so-called "bible teacher" will have embedded in their message! God's Word will shed light to ANY subtle lies of the enemy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>The "Struggle" with Sin</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #001320;">The sermon notes that God made me go over again this morning was one that was based primarily on </span><span style="color: red;">Romans 7:11-25</span><span style="color: #001320;">. My notes showed that the preacher said that the apostle Paul <b><i>still </i></b>struggles with sin 27 years after being saved! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The message was all about <i>struggling with sin in these last days</i> and living in light of the judgment to come. Now the message was opened up by a personal testimony of the preacher about how he "struggled" with some things over the years now. That he's gotten victory over some things but hasn't done so in others. All that made him conclude for himself that he is truly unworthy to do the work of the Lord, but is humbled to have been called to do it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #001320;">My notes showed that the teacher taught primarily from </span><span style="color: red;">Romans 7:11-25</span><span style="color: #001320;">, and it shows us that as Christians it is not </span><i style="color: #001320;">supposed</i><span style="color: #001320;"> to be a surprise for us if we "struggle with sin" ("fall into sin" is the subtle message) </span><b style="color: #001320;">regularly</b><span style="color: #001320;"> because even the apostle Paul "struggled" with it on a daily basis. The teacher goes on to say that Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God's Grace is sufficient in times of weakness and that Paul's thorn in the flesh was an avenue for God's power be manifest through our weakness. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">My notes went on to show that this teacher mentioned 1 John 1:9 as an important tool and confidence of Christians, as it reminds us that we just NEED TO CONFESS our sins to God and know that Christ's forgiveness is available to us every time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The message ended with the twist on continuing to do the work of God to reach other people with the gospel message in these last days. It sounded like a legitimate message, an encouragement of Christians who consider themselves weaklings for "struggling" so much on a regular basis with sin, but must continue to fight the good fight and run the race until the end.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #001320;">This teacher's message was simple: </span><i><span style="color: blue;">The Christian life will be a DAILY STRUGGLE with SIN, and though it's not a license to sin, we <b>need not be discouraged</b> because great men like the apostle Paul even "struggled" with it during his time. Suffice it to say, though, that we can always <b>run back</b> to Jesus to confess our sins and be forgiven because the Bible tells us that God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This we MUST remember that we may be encouraged to continue to do the work of the Lord by not focusing on our weaknesses, but to focus on reaching the lost in these last days.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My question is this, "Should THAT be the case for true, genuine believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ? Should we <i>regularly</i> encourage ourselves to stand up again after "struggling" with sin and run back to the throne for mercy (again)? Was this REALLY the case for the apostle Paul?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Word of God in context</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Over the years, the Lord has taught me to never take a verse or even a couple of them out of context. I have to go back and also read forward a few verses or even a chapter before I consider the message that pops out of a certain verse. Verses pulled out of their context do so much damage in the end.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">So, let me share with you what the preacher said was Paul's heart cry on his "struggle" with sin. <span style="color: red;">Romans 7:11-25</span> says this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">"<span style="color: red;">11</span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">For <b>sin</b>, taking occasion by the commandment, <b>deceived me, and by it slew</b></span><b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">me</span></b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">.</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-12.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>12</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">Wherefore the law</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;"> </span><i style="line-height: 22px;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. </span></span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-13.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>13</b></a></span>Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-14.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>14</b></a></span>For we know that the law is spiritual: <b>but I am carnal, sold under sin.</b> <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-15.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>15</b></a></span><b>For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. </b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-16.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>16</b></a></span>If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that <i>it is</i> good. <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-17.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>17</b></a></span>Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-18.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>18</b></a></span>For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but <i>how</i> to perform that which is good I find not. <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-19.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>19</b></a></span><b>For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.</b> <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-20.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>20</b></a></span>Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-21.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>21</b></a></span><b>I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.</b> <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-22.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>22</b></a></span>For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-23.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>23</b></a></span>But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.<span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-24.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>24</b></a></span><b>O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? </b><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/7-25.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>25</b></a></span>I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (emphasis given during the message)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Unfortunately, though, the above verses cannot be taken out of the context and used to back up what the preacher spoke of in his message. Romans 7:16-25 is just a small portion of the HUGE TRUTH about SIN. <span style="color: red;"><u>One has to read beginning in Romans 5:18 all through Romans 8:9. </u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The apostle Paul started to speak about the Truth of the gospel in Romans 5 and that by one man (Adam) SIN </span></span><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">enter into the world, and DEATH BY SIN, and that it was passed upon ALL men. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul then explained that just as JUDGMENT came upon all men to condemnation because of that one offense, the FREE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD became available unto ALL MEN through the obedience also of one man (Jesus) for the JUSTIFICATION of us all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Paul said that the LAW OF GOD was given (entered into the scene of the world) in order for SIN to be revealed. It <b>established GOD's ABSOLUTES</b> and made it clear for mankind that <u><b>the SIN that was passed on to ALL OF US is, in fact, an offense against God</b></u>. But, Paul added, where sin abounded, the GRACE of GOD did much more abound.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Since in the chapters before this in <span style="color: red;">Romans 3:23</span> Paul already mentioned that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God, we now understand that as sinners, the <b>judgment of God for sin</b> is poured toward us which is DEATH BY SIN. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">The apostle Paul explained it in <span style="color: red;">Romans 7</span> that the LAW (which established that SIN is a GREAT OFFENSE against GOD) only has dominion over man for as long as he LIVES. When he dies, JUDGMENT FOR SIN has then been passed. And he that remains CONDEMNED remains DEAD for all eternity!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">But the beauty of the GOSPEL TRUTH is presented by Paul in that he did mention in <span style="color: red;">Romans 6</span> that those who DO BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished and completed work of salvation are baptized into HIS DEATH. Those who do believe and trust in the Lord Jesus to save them from sin and death are BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM and are RAISED UP FROM THE DEAD IN NEWNESS OF LIFE!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">This goes with the Truth that Jesus mentioned to Nicodemus in <span style="color: red;">John chapter 6</span> that we <i><b>MUST BE BORN AGAIN</b></i>. Because, our first nature is that of SIN--<i>carnal and dead</i>! And so we read in</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"> <span style="color: red;">John 3:16</span> that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes in Him SHALL NOT PERISH but have everlasting life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">The context of the above passage of Scripture is not that Paul was saying he is STILL in that state of "struggling" even AFTER HE WAS BORN AGAIN! That portion of Scripture shows Paul explaining on the natures we all have which is the carnal AND THEN the spiritual. Take note of what he said as an opening to his long explanation of the law of sin and death in us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Before Paul started speaking and explaining the Law of sin and death in a person's life in Romans 7, he went on to say this in Romans 6:18-23:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: red; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><b><u>Being then</u></b> <b><span style="font-size: large;">made free from sin</span></b>, <i>ye became the servants of righteousness</i>.</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: red; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="color: red; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-19.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>19</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: red; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for<b><u> as ye have yielded</u></b> your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; <b><span style="font-size: large;">even so now</span></b> yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-20.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>20</b></a></span>For <span style="font-size: large;"><u>when ye <b>were</b> the servants of sin</u></span>, ye were free from righteousness. <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-21.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>21</b></a></span>What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things <i>is</i> death. <span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-22.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>22</b></a></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">But now </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>being made free from sin</u>, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. </span><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-23.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>23</b></a></span>For the wages of sin <i>is</i> death; but the gift of God <i>is</i> eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Look at verse 19 above and see that Paul said, the saints HAVE YIELDED (past) their members servants to uncleanness, but then continues to say EVEN SO NOW (at present, that they are ALREADY BORN OF GOD), they now have to yield their members servants to righteousness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Look at Paul's use of words here... In verse 20 he said, they WERE (past) servants of sin. But when he got to verse 22, he said BUT NOW (at present, having been born of the Spirit already) they have been MADE FREE FROM SIN and BECOME (present) SERVANTS TO GOD!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Chapter 7 starts with this... "<b>Know ye not, brethren</b>, (for <span style="color: red;"><b>I speak to them that know the law</b></span>,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?" Paul is now using this to open his remarks on the Law of sin and death in chapter 7! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Take note that he said, "I speak to THEM THAT KNOW THE LAW...". Paul spoke of the role of the Law in chapter 5 saying that the Law imputed SIN. And this is what he expounds in Chapter 7 when he spoke of what the Law of sin and death is in our beings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">When Paul talked about doing the things he did not do, he simply was using illustrations of the fact that there is that Law of Sin and Death, and the Law of LIFE in Christ Jesus upon which every believer is MADE FREE with!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">(Continued in <a href="http://purplecookiejar.blogspot.com/2012/11/struggling-with-sin-part-2.html" target="_blank">PART 2</a>)</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-57496975699036214842012-11-28T00:20:00.001-06:002012-11-28T00:20:45.793-06:00"Struggling-with-SIN", Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>Dead IN Sin or Dead TO Sin?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;">We read in the New Testament of those witnesses of the life, death and resurrection of Christ, and Paul reiterated the Truth of the gospel message in <span style="color: red;">Romans 6:9</span> saying that knowing that Christ Jesus was raised from the dead, He will no longer die for DEATH has NO MORE DOMINION OVER HIM. Christ Jesus DIED UNTO SIN ONCE and WHEN HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, He LIVES unto God.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">Take note of what the apostle said next in <span style="color: red;">Romans 6:11-18:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;">"<b>Likewise</b> <b>reckon ye also yourselves to be <u>dead indeed unto sin</u></b>, </span><b style="color: red;">but <u>alive unto God</u> through Jesus Christ our Lord</b><span style="color: red;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="reftext" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="reftext" style="margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-12.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>12</b></a></span><b><u>Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body</u>, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. <span class="reftext" style="margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-13.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">13</a></span>Neither yield ye your members <i>as</i>instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: <u>but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead</u>, and your members <i>as</i>instruments of righteousness unto God. <span class="reftext" style="margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-14.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">14</a></span>For <u>sin shall not have dominion over you:</u> for ye are not under the law, but under grace.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="reftext" style="line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="reftext" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-15.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">15</a></span><u><i>What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.</i></u><b> </b><span class="reftext" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-16.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">16</a></span><b>Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?</b><span class="reftext" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-17.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">17</a></span><b><u>But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin</u>, <u>but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.</u> </b><span class="reftext" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/6-18.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">18</a></span><b><u>Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;">The apostle mentioned in verse 9 and 10 that because death has NO MORE DOMINION OVER CHRIST when He rose from the dead, Paul then followed up with this admonition for those who BELIEVE in CHRIST JESUS:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: red;">LIKEWISE</span> --> in other words "IN THE SAME WAY"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: red;">RECKON</span> --> means to "THINK OR ASSUME" or "CONSIDER AS BEING"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: red;">YE</span> --> "YOU" addressed in plural form (this was a letter <b><i><u>to the saints in Rome</u></i></b>. Romans 1:7)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;">Take into consideration who are called the "SAINTS" by reading 1 Corinthians 1:2</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: red;">ALSO YOURSELVES</span> --> continuing on with whom he addressed the letter to... (<i><u>born-again believers of the Lord Jesus Christ</u></i> who were in Rome)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><i><span style="color: red;">TO BE DEAD</span></i> --> speaking about the death of our carnal beings to gain NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS. (Jesus spoke of the NEED to be born again in Spirit in John 3:5-8, because the first nature we are born into is of the flesh, or carnal. Read more about being born-again <a href="http://purplecookiejar.blogspot.com/2010/08/from-caterpillars-to-butterflies.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: red;"><i>INDEED</i></span> --> means "IN FACT" or "WITHOUT A DOUBT"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><i><span style="color: red;">UNTO</span></i> --> archaic word for "TO"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: red;">SIN</span> --> the GRAVE OFFENSE AGAINST GOD that was passed unto ALL MEN from Adam.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul admonishes a TRUE BELIEVER in CHRIST JESUS, one who has BEEN BORN AGAIN, to really consider, or <b><u>assume the state</u></b> of being <b><span style="font-size: large;">DEAD TO SIN</span></b> and no longer <b>DEAD IN SIN</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The excuse to "struggle"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is very important that we STUDY and UNDERSTAND God's TRUTH directly from HIS WORD. So many preachers today talk about this thing called "struggling with sin" and ?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many Christians today believe in this false belief that they are STILL defeated, frail, lacking victory AND have to REGULARLY struggle and fall into sin in their lives! Many professing Christians make this "struggle with sin" an EXCUSE to a life of carnality! Many would convince themselves that they do not have the power to OVERCOME their sinful habits because it's okay to be weak anyway, because God's Grace is sufficient in weakness! But is it really like that?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I've mentioned, it is VERY IMPORTANT to study the Bible in context because EVERYTHING IN GOD'S TRUTH FALLS INTO PLACE as we read and study and learn from Him directly. Why can't we excuse our REGULAR, HABITUAL SINNING with the idea of "struggling with sin?" Because the apostle Paul never spoke of sin as a REGULAR PART of his NEW LIFE IN CHRIST!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Listen to his very words in the letters he wrote to the saints...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">There is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:5)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For to be carnally minded </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> death; but to be spiritually minded </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> life and peace. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/8-7.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>7</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Because the carnal mind </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.</span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/8-8.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>8</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">(Romans 8:6-7)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> " (Romans 8:9)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And if Christ </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">be</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> in you, the body </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> dead because of sin; but the Spirit </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> life because of righteousness." (Romans 8:10)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/8-14.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>14</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. " (Romans 8:13-14)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" (Colossians 3:5)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5:24)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">him</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:6)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>What about Paul's "thorn in the flesh"?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>"</b></span></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 22px;">And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me <i>a thorn in the flesh</i>, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/12-8.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>8</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 22px;">For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/12-9.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>9</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 22px;">And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/12-10.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>10</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 22px;">Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul spoke of a "thorn in the flesh" which he asked the Lord to remove, but thrice it was denied. Now many Christians today believe that this "thorn in the flesh" is comparable to Paul's constant "struggling with sin!" Even the so-called Bible teacher whose message I listened to mentioned that Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was something that HINDERED HIM and KEPT HIM BACK in attaining victory! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Knowing Paul's stand against SIN and Paul's belief on a true believer's VICTORIOUS life in Christ Jesus, it just goes to show that the above kind of teaching is nothing but a happy session of twisting and misusing scripture to excuse carnality!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">CONTEXT is always the key and we need to step back a little to see and understand what Paul is talking about when he spoke of his "thorn in the flesh." Take note that Paul said he was given a thorn in the flesh, which was then followed by a phrase giving light to what this "thorn" was--<b style="font-size: x-large;">the messenger of Satan to buffet me! </b>God's Word itself shows us what this thorn is, contrary to what the teacher said in his message that God didn't allow us to KNOW what this thorn was so we can "fill in the blanks" for whatever it is that we all may "struggle with!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We ought to study Scripture ourselves and learn from GOD'S WORD DIRECTLY to TEST every spirit that puts itself up as an authority on Scripture. Read 2 Corinthians 11:16 - 12:10 and see how it shows off <b><u>Paul's accounting of his measure as an apostle of Christ</u></b>. He even considered his accounting a "little boasting" of himself and his accomplishments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Through those passage in Scripture we see Paul establishing himself as one who is indeed a minister and a labourer of Christ. I remember him saying the same things in the book of Galatians when he described himself as a Pharisee among pharisees... he was all THAT, in short! So Paul was in the line of proudly presenting his credentials as an apostle of Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But he concluded his accounting with 2 Corinthians 12:5-10:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">Of such an one will I glory: <u>yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities</u>. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/12-6.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>6</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">For <u>though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool</u>; for I will say the truth: but </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">now</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">to be</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">, or </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">that</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> he heareth of me.</span></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/12-7.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>7</b></a></span>And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, <b><u><i>there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. </i></u></b><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/12-8.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>8</b></a></span>For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/12-9.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>9</b></a></span>And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/12-10.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>10</b></a></span>Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul NEVER talked about any regular STRUGGLING WITH SIN in the context! He was talking about this thorn in the flesh BEING GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD to keep him in check lest he become so proud of who he was and what he's done for Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The thorn in the flesh was said to be the "messenger of Satan". Have you ever read the book of Job? You might as well know that GOD ALLOWED Satan to wreck havoc in Job's life. A messenger of Satan can may well be the fallen angels or demons or demonic spirits that are in this world. Their purpose we read in verse 7 --> Paul said they were given <b>TO BUFFET HIM</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The word buffet means:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To drive or force with...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To hit or beat...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To force with difficulty...</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Review Paul's account of his experiences and see that he's been through so many persecutions as an apostle of Christ. THESE were SOVEREIGNLY ALLOWED BY GOD, through that messenger of Satan, in order to KEEP PAUL's PRIDE IN CHECK!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nowhere did Paul ever talked about a CONSTANT STRUGGLE WITH SIN! How can he have one when he KNOWS he has been CRUCIFIED IN CHRIST and it is no longer him who lives BUT CHRIST LIVES IN HIM?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A constant "struggling with sin" is the excuse of a carnal "christianized goat". Many Christians today are so lukewarm and given over to carnality that their tickling ears receive messages that "encourage them" in their frail, defeated so-called christian lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CONTINUING WITH SIN. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The apostle Paul shouts out this beautiful Truth in Romans 8:1 that every professing believer must come in terms with:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>"<i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">There is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit</u>." </b></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-58691007953347594132012-11-24T01:16:00.001-06:002012-11-24T01:17:36.687-06:00When God's Word Ain't Enough<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been away from my blog for quite a while now but I am compelled to write again simply because of the many things that are already rapidly enfolding before us today. I cannot continue to keep silent when the devil is working double time to deceive an entire world into perdition!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Second hand Word</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the past couple of weeks, biblical prophecies are lining up like crazy before the believer's and watchman's eyes. Everyone who looks for the return of the King of kings are excited as they are scared for the lost world. Many of God's people are now sounding the alarm (yet again) for the rest of the world to "BE READY" for the Lord's return. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For billions of Catholics around the world, however, that reality of Christ's return has been turned into a fantasy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just recently, Pope Benedict XVI gave a message to the rest of the Catholic world that <i>Jesus never talked about His LITERAL return</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, I have to point out that it has always been the call of the Magisterium that the laity (or common individuals not ordained into priesthood) <u><b>do not have the capacity </b></u>to understand Scripture and that <i><b>they NEED</b></i> their spiritual leaders--priests, bishops and the Pope--to tell them exactly what the Word of God means.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has always been like programmed messaging where the faithful get bombarded by subtle messages that suggest the Bible to be DIFFICULT to understand. Now, many may say, "I don't believe it because the Magisterium never said anything like that!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, here's the quote from the Pope himself...</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, <u><b>Jesus’ discourse about the end times</b></u> (in technical terms, his “eschatological” discourse) <b><u>is proclaimed at Mass</u></b> (cf. Mark 13:24-32). This discourse is also found, with some variations, in Matthew and Luke, and <b><u>it is probably the most difficult text in the Gospels</u></b>. - Pope Benedict XVI (Source: <a href="http://www.zenit.org/article-35982?l=english" target="_blank">Zenit.com</a>)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Vatican has always made it a point to keep people away from God's Word and for billions of faithful to settle only for the "SECOND-HAND WORD." It's like a mind game played over and over so as to convince you that reading and understanding God's Word is TRULY A DIFFICULT TASK. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Indeed, many fall into this programming. I know this as true because I once believed in it as well. I once believed that I cannot really sit down and study the Bible myself because it is too confusing (I could lose my mind) and too difficult to understand. I used to believe that I really NEEDED the help of the Pope to define for me what the Word of God says. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately for many, that mindset only leads to trouble. It only leads to IGNORANCE of God's Truth which can be found and read FIRST-HAND in the Bible today. And unfortunately for many, ignorance to ANY law is never an EXCUSE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>God's Truth in His Word: The Plumb Line of ALL Teachings</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Sanctify them through thy truth: <b><span style="font-size: large;">thy word is truth</span></b>." (John 17:17, KJV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God's Word is TRUTH. It is forever, it is infallible, it is final, it is Truth. No wonder that we can read verses like the following which always POINTS US BACK TO GETTING INTO THE WORD OURSELVES!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The apostle Paul even talked highly of the Bereans because of their ATTITUDE toward Scriptures.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>All scripture</b> </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> given by inspiration of God, and </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><u>is</u></i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><u> profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness</u>: </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">" (2 Timothy 3:16-17) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Truth First-hand</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although the Catholic church teaches its faithful that the Bible is difficult to read and understand, God's Word simply rises up and tells one otherwise. Although the Pope points out that the Gospels are difficult to read, the Word of God simply rises to clarify things and TELLS US THAT WE MUST INDIVIDUALLY study and search Scriptures to test the things that we are being taught.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, what about Jesus' return? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Pope already suggested that God's Word is difficult to understand, but he does not end there. No. He continues on with what he does best--<i>to twist and corrupt Scripture</i>--as he goes on to say,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Jesus says: “The sky and the earth will pass away but my words will not pass away” (Mark 13:31). In fact, we know that in the Bible the word of God is at the origin of creation: all creatures, starting with the cosmic elements – sun, moon, sky – obey God’s Word, they exist insofar as they are “called” by it. This creative power of the divine Word (“Parola”) is concentrated in Jesus Christ, the Word (“Verbo”) made flesh, and also passes through his human words, which are the true “sky” that orients the thought and path of man on earth. <b><u>For this reason Jesus does not describe the end of the world</u> and when he uses apocalyptic images he does not conduct himself like a “visionary.”</b> On the contrary, he wants to take away the curiosity of his disciples in every age about dates and predictions and wishes instead to give them a key to a deep, essential reading, and above all to indicate the right path to take, today and tomorrow, to enter into eternal life. </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">(Source: </span><a href="http://www.zenit.org/article-35982?l=english" style="line-height: 17px;" target="_blank">Zenit.com</a><span style="line-height: 17px;">)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> It is interesting to note that the Pope did not believe that the passages we read in Mark 13 pertains to a time when the world will LITERALLY experience the wrath of God and second coming of the Son of God! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One simply has to read the book of Revelation, especially chapters 19-22, to know that John's visions clearly show a LITERAL TRIBULATION PERIOD and RETURN OF JESUS from heaven! </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"11<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">was</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>12</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">His eyes </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">were</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> as a flame of fire, and on his head </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">were</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>13</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">And he </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">was</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. " </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;">(Revelation 19:11-13)</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But not only that, but during the ascension of CHRIST into heaven, two angels TESTIFIED that He WILL BE RETURNING TO EARTH! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, <b><u>he was taken up</u></b>; <b><u>and a cloud received him out of their sight</u></b>. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px;"><b>10</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 14px;"><b>11</b></span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; line-height: 22px;">Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 15px;">" (Acts 1:9-11)</span></span></span></div>
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<b>When God's Word Ain't Enough</b></div>
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The moment you give in to the lie that God's Word isn't enough for you to learn the Truth and learn from it first-hand, then you are simply giving room for blind and deceptive spiritual leaders to lead you on to the broad way that leads to death.</div>
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Only through your <b>personal reading and studying of God's Word will the LIES of the devil be exposed</b>. I pray that you will SEEK GOD'S TRUTH and SEEK THE LORD while He may be found. The world is changing and changing really fast, beloved. The Lord Jesus is returning soon... LITERALLY. Will you continue to listen to deceptive lies? Or will you run to Jesus and let HIM teach you of His Ways.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">"<b><u><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">The law of the LORD </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> perfect, converting the soul: </span></u></b></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">the testimony of the LORD </span><i style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">is</i><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> sure, </span></b></span><b style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">making wise the simple</b></u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">." </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">(Psalm 19:7)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." </b>(Psalm 119:105)</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-82624383139595164452012-10-01T15:11:00.000-05:002012-10-01T15:17:26.663-05:00"Walking Away from Rome" in PDF format<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Get your PDF copies of "<i>Walking Away from Rome</i>" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/108110153/Walking-Away-From-Rome" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-57344478077401706962012-05-12T15:06:00.001-05:002012-05-12T15:13:53.910-05:00Receiving the Word with Readiness of Mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A willing mind</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When we read the book of Acts, we will get to see and understand the sovereignty of God's plan of salvation where the Gospel message is preached TO THE JEWS FIRST, and then to the Gentiles. Paul drove this fact home when He wrote in Romans 1:16 that <b>the gospel </b>is <i>the power of God UNTO SALVATION</i> to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While reading through the book of Acts, I find it truly amazing to see how powerfully the apostle Paul was used by God in his ministry. We all know that Paul was a Pharisee who was above many by being well-learned of Scriptures and the Jewish traditions! In fact, he even described himself as MORE exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers and that he beyond measure persecuted the church of God! (see Galatians 1). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But when the apostle Paul met Jesus and HEARD HIS WORD on that road to Damascus, his life was RADICALLY CHANGED! I love how the apostle wrote this in Galatians 1:11-12, </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither </span><u><b>received it</b></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> of man, neither was I taught </span><i style="font-size: 15px;">it</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">, </span><b style="font-size: 15px;">but by the revelation of Jesus Christ</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">. (KJV)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Greek root for the English word "received" in the above verse is (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #071018;">paralambanó), which means to <i>take, admit, acknowledge, receive</i>... it is <i>to take or receive by showing <u>strong personal initiative</u></i>. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #071018;">Now "initiative" is defined as the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ability <b>to act on your own</b>: the ability to act <b>and <u>make decisions without the help or advice of other people</u>. </b>That goes exactly with what the apostle Paul explained to his receiving the gospel by the revelation of Jesus Christ. He was not taught by any human being about the TRUTH but was taught by GOD Himself. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is how we encounter the REAL GOSPEL MESSAGE. We can only get to know HIS TRUTH when we listen to HIS WORD and not man's word. Many can come our way teaching us <b>about </b>God <u>BUT we MUST come to a point in our lives when MUST USE OUR OWN STRONG PERSONAL INITIATIVE to search Scriptures and decide to receive the gospel message for our own personal salvation!</u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just like the apostle Paul, it is only through a willing mind that the gospel may be RECEIVED by a person. It takes a strong PERSONAL DECISION to acknowledge the message of the gospel and believe in it for salvation.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the things I always like to go back to read in the book of Acts is Paul's missionary journeys. One particular journey he made that I really love is that to Berea. And of all the places he's been to and the people that he's encountered, there wasn't anyone else he's commended more than he did the Bereans. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take note of how the apostle Paul pointed out his commendation for the Bereans as compared to those in Thessalonica. He described those Jews in Berea as MORE NOBLE because they <i>RECEIVED THE WORD WILL ALL READINESS IN MIND</i>!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The word "received" here is (dechomai) in Greek which means <i>to receive in a welcoming way</i>. And it is very interesting that the phrase "readiness in mind" is (prothumia) in Greek and means <i>eagerness, or ready-willingness</i>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but I think there is a point here that's been driven in-- we are to RECEIVE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IN A WELCOMING WAY, HAVING OUR MINDS READY WILL ALL EAGERNESS TO ACCEPT ITS TRUTH IN OUR LIVES!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What have you done with the gospel message shared to you by someone? Do you resist it? Do you fight with it with doctrines of your belief? OR Do you WILLINGLY accept and receive it gladly with all readiness of mind? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beloved, time is running out. There's just a few grains of sand remaining until GRACE becomes unavailable and WRATH & GOD's JUDGMENT is poured out. SEEK THE LORD and HIS TRUTH in HIS WORD. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Listen to the message of the gospel... that message that tells you that you are a sinner before the Almighty Father and that there is NOTHING you can ever do to save yourself. You deserve eternal punishment for your sins in hell for all eternity! BUT God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son and whoever REPENTS (turn from your evil ways) and BELIEVES IN HIM and His completed work on that cross on Calvary WILL BE SAVED! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Read your Bibles... SEEK HIM and HIS TRUTH there... HE ALONE SAVES.</span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-91822185991021580862012-04-26T00:44:00.003-05:002012-04-26T01:02:43.781-05:00Checking For Spiritual Counterfeits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Useless as a counterfeit</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A counterfeit is defined as a copy of something made in order to defraud or deceive people. It is also defined as something that pretends in order to deceive somebody. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all hate counterfeits. Not to mention, counterfeit money! I mean, just think about what it would be like to receive a bundle of $100 dollar bills and to later on find out that they were all counterfeit money! No matter how REAL they may look like, anything that is counterfeit is USELESS in the end.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps the worst kind of counterfeit is what we can call the "Spiritual Counterfeit." This here is something that will affect not only your present life on earth, but will affect your eternal destination as well! Who would want to have something that promises them heaven, but in the end will prove to be as useless as that bundle of cash in the after life? Just ponder upon Jesus' own words:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, </span>I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">. (Matthew 7:22-23)</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spiritual counterfeits are just like their tangible counterparts. They are just a <i>copy</i> of what is real, and they are made in order to <i>defraud or deceive</i>. The Bible cautioned us about these spiritual counterfeits, describing them as wolves in sheep's clothing! (see Matthew 7:15).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many spiritual counterfeits come looking like the real thing, sounding like the Truth, and acting like they really are the real deal. And just like any good counterfeit money out there, you have got to <b>look closely into the subtleties</b> in order to recognize that what you have in your hand isn't real after all.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Checking things out at ALL times</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Counterfeit money can go unnoticed if unchecked. Business owners find dealing with counterfeits a headache. For one, there is no way to be compensated for accepting the fake money and the end scenario is a <b>loss of profit</b>. We are just fortunate today to already have measures to detect the bad bills. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, we see clerks almost always check the cash that come their way for the very reason that even $1 and $5 bills are being faked. One just have to make sure to check everything out nowadays to detect whether it is fake or not. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much like the counterfeit money, we ought to also develop that REGULAR HABIT of checking everything spiritual that comes our way. John, the apostle, even made mention about this in his epistle in 1 John 4:1, </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Beloved, </span><b style="font-size: 14px;"><u>believe not every spirit</u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">, but </span><b style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">test the spirits</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> whether they are of God</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">: </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (KJV)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the apostle Paul warns us about spiritual counterfeits in his letter to the Galatians when he said,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How to spot a counterfeit</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, how exactly do we check to know if something is a counterfeit? More importantly, how do we know how to spot a SPIRITUAL counterfeit?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, the answer would be similar to how people detect any kind of counterfeit... STUDY & KNOW THE ORIGINAL TO BE SO FAMILIAR WITH IT THAT ANY SUBTLE DEVIATION FROM IT CAN BE EASILY DETECTED. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People who are experts on historic documents, paintings, signatures and the like only study and become well-versed with the original. They become so familiar with how the original looks like that any subtle deviation from the original becomes easily apparent to them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is how we spot a spiritual counterfeit as well. We ought to STUDY and become very familiar with the original source of TRUTH, and that is the Word of God. The Bible tells us this:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Study</span></b> <b>to shew thyself approved unto God</b>, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>a workman that needeth not to be ashamed</i>, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>rightly dividing the word of truth</u></b>. (2 Timothy 2:15)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA4VJ3Zae7I-5ddq6jSd5DGwRsuOVGLlEsB5FwZtvnBcV7FQcX8FrkBhA0EiV8Li4CKwQVkj0q7KhOl-oz_0W5y9uWoa1aHU99WAZqZi1mYn4lNH0ix_i59pxdF9l37WhCqGtRUnAomw/s1600/bible-studying-pen-papger.gif.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA4VJ3Zae7I-5ddq6jSd5DGwRsuOVGLlEsB5FwZtvnBcV7FQcX8FrkBhA0EiV8Li4CKwQVkj0q7KhOl-oz_0W5y9uWoa1aHU99WAZqZi1mYn4lNH0ix_i59pxdF9l37WhCqGtRUnAomw/s200/bible-studying-pen-papger.gif.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In order for us to know how to spot a spiritual fake, the Bible tells us that we must STUDY the Word of Truth. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now many will try to tell us that <i>they </i>have the word of Truth, a revelation from God, or a divine appointed from God. So, we also must know where to get the Word of Truth! Well, here is what the Bible tells us:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Sanctify them through thy truth: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">thy word is truth</span></b>. (John 17:17)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>the words that I speak unto you</u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">, </span><b style="font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;"><i>they</i> are spirit, and <i>they</i> are life</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">. (John 6:63)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>For the word of God <i>is</i> quick, and powerful</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">is</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><i>Is</i> not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">; </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">and like a hammer </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">that</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> breaketh the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i style="font-size: 14px;">As for</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> God, his way </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">is</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> perfect: </span><b>the word of the LORD is tried</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">: he </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">is</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> a buckler to all those that trust in him. (Psalm 18:30)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>Every word of God <i>is</i> pure</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">: </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">he </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">is</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Proverbs 30:5)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">The </span><b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>LORD</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">are</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> pure words: </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">as</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> silver tried in a furnace of earth, </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>All scripture <i>is</i> given by inspiration of God</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">, and </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">is</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, we use a kind of light to check for counterfeit money. It is the quickest way to check for fakes and everything is exposed the moment it is exposed to this light. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spiritual counterfeits can also be easily exposed through the Light. And if you wonder what light exposes fake spirits, listen to what the Bible says...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; text-decoration: none;">Thy word</span> <u><i>is</i> a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path</u>. (Psalm 119:105)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beloved, TEST everything against the perfect and pure Word of God. Do not rely on the words of mere man. Study the Word of God always in order to equip yourself with the TRUTH!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come to the LIGHT of His Word to expose what is not true! Get in the habit of TESTING EVERYTHING as they come your way! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, if someone comes to you claiming to have authority over things including the "interpretation" of God's Word, keep in mind this one important reminder from the LORD...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><i>It is</i> better to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">trust in the LORD</span> than to put confidence in man</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">. </span><b>It is better to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">trust in the LORD</span> than to put confidence in prices.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> (Psalm 118:8-9)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Isn't it amazing that the Word of God provokes us to STUDY HIS WORD? Many of us go through life thinking that the sermons we listen to on Sundays are enough for us to get by the rest of the week.<br /><br />We don't even realize that by relying solely on what others teach, we have placed ourselves in the spot of being deceived. The Word of God tells us to TEST EVERYTHING AGAINST SCRIPTURE. How then will we KNOW if something is against God's Word if we DON'T READ GOD'S WORD IN THE FIRS<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">T PLACE???<br /><br />Beloved, God's Word COMMANDS US TO STUDY! The root word used here is spoudazó and it means to "give diligence", to be EAGER and ZEALOUS about it!<br /><br />Aren't you EAGER and ZEALOUS for TRUTH? I believe most people are! But we seek for the TRUTH in all the WRONG PLACES!!! We run to self-help books, listen to inspirational speakers, seek for it in various experiences in life that may touch the spiritual and mystic areas therein. Oh, but beloved, here is the ONLY PLACE we all can find TRUTH ---> John 17:17 ♥</span></span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-73443965069961418562012-04-11T09:03:00.000-05:002012-04-12T11:10:50.369-05:00The Choices We Make<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The options we have in life</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many of us encounter the Lord Jesus Christ in the middle of everything we have going on in life. God has that ability to meet us smack dab in the middle of our busyness in "living" to offer us an invitation that leaves us with only TWO choices to consider. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We oftentimes see how Jesus offers an individual these choices when one encounters Him. His usual invitation is the simple phrase, "<i>Come follow Me</i>." But such is an invitation that is easier "heard than obeyed." Many of us find it too difficult to choose to follow Christ because of the high cost of following the Savior. But if we truly sit down and consider the options we have, we will soon realize that we have the best chance with what Christ has in store for us!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Option #1: PERFECTION!</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The rich young man in Matthew 19 who approached Jesus asking Him about having eternal life was serious with his query. In simpler terms we put it as a query on how to "get to heaven." I totally understand why of all questions he could ask the Lord this was the one he came up with. Who doesn't want to get to heaven, anyway? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Majority of the people you meet in this life would always want to be in that better place. They would usually want to know HOW to eventually end up in that perfect place of bliss. And so this rich young man had raised up a very important question that we all would like to know the answer to.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus didn't hesitate to uphold God's Law as soon as He replied. He immediately told the young man about following God's commandments. I truly find it impressive, though, that the young man responded by saying he's done <i><b>everything</b></i> that was written in the Law since his childhood. I mean, I'm not even close to keeping HALF of them! Now this young man had done it! Listen to what he said, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"<b>All these things</b> have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" (Matthew 19:20)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am sure that Jesus, being Omniscient, knew just that. But I believe the Savior deliberately started off with God's commandments in order to present to the young man a Truth that we all must encounter in our lifetime. Jesus wasn't impressed with what "good works" we are able to do in life. It isn't enough to get us eternal life! Jesus stressed the fact that IF indeed we rely on our own good works, we MUST be PERFECT in every way with it! Just listen to what he said in reply,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus said unto him, <i><b>If thou wilt be perfect</b>, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and <b>come and follow me</b></i>. But when the young man heard that saying, <u>he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions</u>. (Matthew 19:21-22, KJV)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You see, beloved, heaven is a perfect place which requires us to BE PERFECT in order for us to be there! God's ways are perfect. His ways are pure. There is no hint of imperfection anywhere around Him. And so we MUST become perfect, too, if we long to be in that place with Him. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The young man was <b>a good person</b>, no doubt about that! <b>But he wasn't perfect</b> because HE STILL LACKED something. He needed to be PERFECT in every way in order to get to heaven.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And one thing more, the Word of God has to say this about the Law...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #071018;">"Therefore
by the deeds of the law <b><u>there shall no flesh be justified in his sight</u></b>: </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #071018;"><b>for by
the law <i>is</i> the <u>knowledge of sin</u></b>." (Romans 3:20)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Option #2: Follow Jesus</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unfortunately for all of us, <u>nobody is perfect</u>. The Bible clearly tells us that we ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God! (see Romans 3:23) And no matter how much we try to be GOOD and do all the works of righteousness in this lifetime, the taint of sin in our lives makes our good works still stand as FILTHY RAGS before the throne of the PERFECTLY HOLY GOD! (see Isaiah 64:6)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What then is our hope, you ask? Well, the hope we have lies in the very words of Jesus as He replied to the rich young man. "</span><br />
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="22" cellspacing="0" class="mainbk" style="background-color: #b9e3ff;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td class="bluebk3" style="background-color: #f9fdff; background-image: url(http://kingjbible.com/lline.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; text-align: justify;" width="98%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320;">"Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and <b>come and follow me</b></span></u></i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">."</span></u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus didn't say to the guy go and sell all that you have and give to the poor in order for you to have eternal life. He said go and sell and give in order for you to have treasure in heaven. The "good works" we do to others doesn't really GET US TO HEAVEN. We may have a reward waiting in heaven BUT it is NEVER <i>the way</i> <i>to have eternal life</i>!!! What is THE WAY? I'm glad you asked...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: normal;">"<b>Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: normal;"><b><u>no man cometh unto the Father, but by me</u>.</b>" (John 14:6)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Are you seeing this, beloved? Jesus clearly tells us that the only way to get to heaven, to have eternal life is THROUGH HIM. That is why all this time He's been telling people everywhere, "Come follow me!" What will your response be?</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>Tough choices</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">The young man found that option too costly for him. He realized he couldn't let go of what he has in life in order to follow the Savior. You see, when we make a choice, we only take ONE option. We can never choose both. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">When we encounter the Truth of the Savior being the ONLY Way to the Father, we have to make a tough decision. Should we go on with what we're so used to, trying hard to do it OUR WAY and be as good as we can be but still come short of perfection? Or should we drop everything we are so accustomed to and leave all that behind in order to follow Jesus Christ?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Tough decision? Yes. Impossible to make the right one? No. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">There's a LOT of people in Jesus' time who encountered him and came to heed His invitation IMMEDIATELY! No questions asked, no bargaining done. And there are some today who, by the Grace of God, are able to SEE the ONLY HOPE we have in Christ and without hesitation drop everything to follow the Savior.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEV0KFCtbYlcdpU04PGt3l-1pESC9q6MMo91kPJgcloqFw85utHmmX5bhuvhIbxIGMxOJZ7iRtCMIsRSw_v5xn5IGMBfdoumDMkjUjllSgRpCKouBoPAGVHL78IG-KgvPqZuNzPevBhE/s1600/john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEV0KFCtbYlcdpU04PGt3l-1pESC9q6MMo91kPJgcloqFw85utHmmX5bhuvhIbxIGMxOJZ7iRtCMIsRSw_v5xn5IGMBfdoumDMkjUjllSgRpCKouBoPAGVHL78IG-KgvPqZuNzPevBhE/s320/john.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Take the brothers James and John. The sons of Zebedee were among the first disciples called out by Jesus (see Matthew 4:21-22). They were fishermen and on the day that they encountered Jesus, they were with their father mending their nets. I learned that nets only need mending after a great harvest, so this family must have had a good-standing fishing business in Galilee.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Now I truly believe they were a well-off family, too. Why? Because the Bible gives us the impression that they must have owned the boat. When the brothers followed the Lord, their father Zebedee was left with the "hired men" working for them (see Mark 1:20).</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Same invitation, same class in life, totally different response. The Bible tells us that they immediately left the ship and their father and followed Jesus (see Matthew 4:22). They dropped their nets, which I bet was pretty much their family's symbol of everything at that time, and followed Jesus. They left their father behind, who I bet was one of the most important people in their lives, and they followed Him. No second thinking. No doubts about the Savior.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">We all are "rich" with something just like the young man who approached Jesus. We can be rich with material stuff for one, but we can also be "rich" with the traditions we've been accustomed to, or the teachings of belief systems that we've held dear for so long. We can be "rich" with relationships that we may tend to value more than the relationship we can have with the Savior. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Just remember, beloved, we only have TWO CHOICES. Don't wait until it's too late. As Joshua said, "Choose ye THIS DAY whom ye will serve..." Tomorrow may already be too late.</span></span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-8979931568245672852012-03-19T07:47:00.000-05:002012-03-19T07:47:39.962-05:00Comfort in Waiting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." (Isaiah 40:1, KJV)</span></div>
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We all have those moments when we cry out to God asking for His grace or His mercy upon our circumstances. These are those moments when we lay down everything before His throne and plead for Him to intervene in our life's chaotic journey.<br />
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The Word of God tells us that He knows our requests and needs even before we have uttered the words to it! (see Matthew 6:32) And His Word reassures us that as long as our hearts are in-tuned with Him and our souls are right with Him, God HEARS our prayers (see Proverbs 15:29 and Psalm 4:3). As we allow this truth to sink into us we ought to realize that there is comfort there already. Knowing that the Almighty God, whose throne is in heaven, HEARS the prayers of us mere human beings is comfort in itself already. But we know the hardest part is the next step, which is waiting upon the Lord's response to our prayers.<br />
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Waiting is perhaps the most difficult and most challenging thing to do in this life. We all have that time when we have to allow life to take its course as we wait for things to change, for results and outcomes to be seen. As believers, we know that waiting involves FULLY TRUSTING in the Lord's PERFECT WILL to come to pass in our lives--which is in reality, EASIER SAID THAN DONE!<br />
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Isaiah 40 edifies our spirits as we wait upon the Lord. Perhaps one of the most well-known and well-loved verses in the Bible, Isaiah 40:28-31 reminds us of this truth...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, <i>that</i> the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, <b>fainteth not, neither is weary</b>? <i>there is</i> no searching of his understanding.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>He giveth power to the faint</b>; and <b>to <i>them that have</i> no might he increaseth strength</b>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">But <b>they that wait upon the LORD shall renew <i>their</i> strength</b>; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; <i>and</i> they shall walk, and not faint.</span></div>
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Notice that verse 31 tells us that they that wait upon the LORD <i>shall RENEW their strength</i>. I love it that the Word of our God acknowledges the fact that the waiting game can zap the life out of us! It is never easy to wait, especially if the waiting period for an answer to our prayers has turned from days into years. But Isaiah 40 shows us just <b>how much our Father in Heaven KNOWS our frailty and our "easy-weariness"</b>.<br />
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His Word promises us one thing... when we DO wait upon HIM, we shall regain our composure and we shall renew our strength. Take note of what His Word says... <b>HE will be the one who will give power to the faint... HE will be the one who increases our strength! </b>No wonder we read in Isaiah 40 verse 1 the very words of God Himself speaking and breathing Peace into one's soul "Comfort, my people... Comfort ye..."<br />
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God made sure that we will KNOW that HE is aware of our tendencies to become weary during the wait. But He didn't end in just letting us know that, He goes on to COMFORT US as He MAGNIFIES HIMSELF and reminds us of WHO HE IS in the bulk of Isaiah 40. Just read verse 10 down to verse 29 and you will see what God is doing in the midst of these verses! He is basically straightening us up and making sure we re-focus on the very fact that HE IS GOD!<br />
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The wait indeed may get us down and we may even fail and become discouraged sometimes as we give in to the pressures around us. We tend to lose our sight on the perfect end that we know God has prepared for us and we tend to have our eyes wander off of JESUS and His promises!<br />
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The wait can get us weary, especially if we have pleaded for years and years about the same thing before the throne of God. BUT, we can take comfort in knowing that God Himself made sure that we KNOW one very crucial Truth that makes waiting for HIS answer and HIS perfect will to pass worthwhile...<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but <u>the word of our God shall stand for ever</u>. </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">(Isaiah 40:8,KJV)</span></b></div>
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There is comfort in waiting and waiting upon the LORD because we know that He knows our every need and He knows the very details of our hearts' cry. There is comfort in waiting upon the LORD because we know that He hears our every cry and plea from His throne in heaven. There is comfort in waiting upon the LORD because we can fully trust His promises in His Word for they are TRUE and they WILL stand for ever. Things may change around us and time may pass us by, but we know that whatever the LORD has spoken in His Word for our lives SHALL COME TO PASS.<br />
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And perhaps the greatest comfort there is for those who wait upon Him is the fact that in the end, after all the dust settles and <b>we've learned and grown and matured in our walk with God</b> as we wait on His perfect timing and answer for everything we've surrendered to Him, we know that HIS WORK all throughout the time of our waiting and upon the time of His answering will ultimately bring GLORY TO HIS NAME...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">make straight in the desert a highway for our God.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed</u></b>, <b><u>and all flesh shall see <i>it</i> together</u></b>: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken <i>it</i>. (Isaiah 40:3-5, KJV)</span></div>
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<b>The ultimate end and goal of our waiting is to have the glory of the LORD revealed in and through everything that He has done, is doing and will continue to do in our lives! </b>Everything is ultimately for HIS GLORY not ours! Therefore, we can indeed take comfort while waiting because we know that in the end, <i>ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE</i> (Romans 8:28).<br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-87604471987154753052012-01-31T22:57:00.001-06:002012-01-31T23:02:29.348-06:00Praying Boldly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Prayer is the lifeline of every believer. It allows us to approach the Father's throne of Grace. It allows us to come boldly before Him to plead our case. </div>
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Prayer is our way to communicate with God directly and pour out all of our heart before His majesty and sovereignty. It is through praying that we bring Him praise and adoration, worship and thanksgiving as we spend intimate moments with the Lord our Savior.</div>
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I have always known that as a child of God I can come boldly with my petitions and lay them down before His feet. I regularly bring requests before Him knowing that He listens to every plea. However, it wasn't until recently that God taught me about a more intimate level of praying and petitioning. </div>
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I was reading from the book of Psalm tonight and God reached out to show me and teach me more about praying. You see, for years I have been used to praying and bringing my general petition to God. Yes, I bring my heartaches and my tears, and of course my joys and my victories before Him, but I never really learned how to honestly lay bare my heart before Him. It seems like I wasn't really honest about what I feel in my heart and what thoughts I have running through my mind. </div>
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I have come to realize that most of my petitions were somewhat "guarded". I never heard myself cry out to God about something and asking Him to intervene in <b><i>very specific ways</i></b>! But when I read the words and the emotions that flow through the Psalms of David, I realized that his heart was totally exposed before the Lord.</div>
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<b>He wasn't holding back any</b> requests for vengeance on his enemies, for example. His words weren't sugar-coated to make them sound "safe" and "godly." Some of the words in David's Psalms even sounded like praying a curse over the ones that bothered him! I have to admit, I have never been THAT honest with the Lord.</div>
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I admit I used to feel uncomfortable and feel guilty if I find myself or anyone else praying in a manner that would say "let them be condemned!" <i>But that's exactly what David asked from God when he came before him in troublesome times.</i> David, the man after God's own heart, was very honest with the way he felt about his enemies that he was able to write down the transparent, unsugar-coated Psalm 109. </div>
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Maybe that was what God acknowledged when He called David as a man after His own heart. David's total <b>honesty and transparency before the Lord</b> allowed his relationship with Him to be more than just the formal God-Man relationship. David's many psalms show the very wonderful, intimate, honest and open relationship he had with His Maker. His words flowed from a heart that knows exactly WHO HE HAS IN HEAVEN! His words were the words of a heart of one who truly comes boldly before the Lord, not thinking about what God might judge him to be, but confident that God understands every single weighty issue brought before His very throne of Grace!</div>
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It doesn't necessarily mean that when we are troubled by something or someone that we will go ahead and ask God to send fire and brimstone upon those causing us grief or concern. That is not my point at all. What I learned is the fact that when we do pray, we must realize that coming boldly before the throne of God is an invitation to present our heart's cry with all honesty and transparency. No matter how ridiculous, how stupid, how unrealistic we feel our petitions may be, our hearts should learn to lay EVERYTHING DOWN before the Lord Jesus' feet.</div>
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God's will always prevails, and praying honestly doesn't necessarily mean that we get what <b>we</b> want. But it does mean that when we rely FULLY upon the Grace of God, for Him to look upon our circumstances with love and compassion, we know that HE will work out everything for our good in the end. God doesn't want us to hold back anything when we approach His throne of Grace. He wants to have EVERYTHING laid down before His feet. May we not cower and prevent ourselves from turning our relationships with God into the deeper, more intimate one that He so wants us to have with Him!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">(James 5:13)</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0dSVnU7zAylIjyZOTEYpuNjaBJBkeoVJ-E0SMJEr66rSI2H9m8A1oO3BOOam-98xjE5t2sX5_fzSuJuhtj2Oi36FwQD6hV_qAc9jO8GIVJ32C0Ae-EQ6z2bNWf9QhR5WJ73Hj9BOVuI/s1600/jar+blog+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0dSVnU7zAylIjyZOTEYpuNjaBJBkeoVJ-E0SMJEr66rSI2H9m8A1oO3BOOam-98xjE5t2sX5_fzSuJuhtj2Oi36FwQD6hV_qAc9jO8GIVJ32C0Ae-EQ6z2bNWf9QhR5WJ73Hj9BOVuI/s320/jar+blog+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-40393532592092717612012-01-15T09:31:00.000-06:002012-01-15T09:35:45.293-06:00A Feast That Will Go Down The Fiery "Pit"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://graceandspace.org/welcome/images/stories/novena_pics/nov_stonino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://graceandspace.org/welcome/images/stories/novena_pics/nov_stonino.jpg" /></a></div>
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Excerpt from <i>Walking Away from Rome</i>, Chapter 8 - A Mystical Faith:</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I watched her kneel, dressed in white all over, in front of
the altar. Her long, black curls covered most of her shoulders as she bowed and
prayed. The adults in the family were told beforehand that she would need to
pray before the Santo Niño would grant us the dance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The statue she was invoking that day was a large
image in the middle of the altar. It was carved out of wood and was formed as a
little child with curly hair. One would immediately notice its dress of white
and a red velvet cape adorned with gold trimmings. It was the dress of royalty.
Golden embroidery was elegantly sewn all over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ornate decorations also adorned the statue. A little metal crown
was sitting on its head. Likened to a king’s crown, miniature jewels were
attached to it. A gilded chain was suspended around its neck with a little
pendant. A little scepter hung from its right wrist looking like a gold staff,
its right hand raised as a gesture of blessing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There was a little golden ball,
the replica of the world, topped with a miniature cross on its left hand. Its
shoes were of shiny metal made to look like little golden boots. Everything
about the Santo Niño was elegant and very regal.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was crafted to look that way and was finished off with
its own round pedestal. It stood there on the altar with the grandeur of a king
on his throne—bold and requiring honor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Santo Niño became one of the well-loved figures in Filipino culture. Its initial arrival on Philippine soil dates back to 1521 when the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan bequeathed the<br />wooden image to the wife of Rajah Humabon, Cebu’s chieftain, during his arrival. It became an emblem of friendship with and allegiance to Spain, as well as a symbol of the natives’ conversion to<br />Christianity.<br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Devotion to the Santo Niño didn’t spread until its re-discovery in 1565 by the mariner, Juan de Camus. He arrived in the Philippines under the second generation of the Spanish colonial campaign of Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and he found the image of the unscathed Santo Niño inside a pine box. When Camus presented the image to Legazpi, who was a devotee of the Child Jesus; and to the Augustinian priests, they were so humbled by the significance of the finding, that<br />they solemnly carried the image in a procession to a tentative chapel. Legazpi later ordered the creation of the Confraternity of the Santo Niño de Cebu and installed a festivity to commemorate the finding of the Holy Image. This celebration survives today, on the Third Sunday of January.</span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> ~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<a href="http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/98013/sinulog_queen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/98013/sinulog_queen2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Sinulog festival is one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines with a very rich history.
The main festival is held each year on the third Sunday of January in
Cebu City to honor the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus, who used to be
the patron saint of the whole province of Cebu (since in the Catholic
faith Jesus is not a saint, but God). <i>It is essentially a dance ritual
which remembers the Filipino people’s pagan past and their acceptance of
Christianity</i>.</div>
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The festival features some the country’s most colorful displays of pomp and pageantry: participants
garbed in bright-colored costumes dance to the rhythm of drums,
trumpets, and native gongs. The streets are usually lined with vendors
and pedestrians all wanting to witness the street-dancing. Smaller
versions of the festival are also held in various parts of the province,
also to celebrate and honor the Santo Niño. There is also a Sinulog sa
Kabataan, which is performed by the youths of Cebu a week before the
Grand Parade. <a href="http://sinulog.ph/" target="_blank">Source - Sinulog.ph</a></div>
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This festival has become more than a religious commemoration. The entire city of Cebu, Philippines becomes a rich market that brings tourists and natives together in a big shindig. It has become commercialized more than anything as street fairs, sports tournaments, cultural and art shows, as well as the extravagant street parade fill the entire month's schedule of activities.</div>
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Although this feast is a celebration of the Roman Catholic statue of the Child Jesus which Roman Catholics venerate, and although the people would shout and cry "PIT SENYOR!" as a chant calling out to the <span style="font-size: small;">Santo Niño as the Child Jesus, </span>this celebration <b>is an abomination to the One True God</b> of Heaven and Earth.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">"<b>Thou
shalt not make unto thee <span style="font-size: large;">any</span> graven image</b>, <b>or any likeness <i>of any thing</i></b>
that <i>is</i> in heaven above, or that <i>is</i> in the earth beneath, or that
<i>is</i> in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to
them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God <i>am</i> a jealous God, visiting
the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth <i>generation</i>
of them that hate me..." </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">(Exodus 20:4-5)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: black;">There is no excuse for breaking this commandment, nor will there be an excuse for anyone to be ignorant of the Truth in God's Word. We ought to encounter and embrace what is TRUTH in the Word of God because going against it will have us end up in the fiery pit. </span></span><br />
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"Turn you not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God." </div>
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(Leviticus 19:4)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"'<b>Do not make</b> <b>idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves</b>,
and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I
am the LORD your God."</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">(Leviticus 26:1)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; <span style="font-size: large;"><b>for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day </b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i style="color: red;">that</i></b></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire</b></span>: </span><b><span class="reftext" style="color: red;"></span><span style="color: red;">Lest ye corrupt </span><i style="color: red;">yourselves</i></b><span style="color: red;"><b>, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female</b>, </span><span class="reftext" style="color: red;"></span><span style="color: red;">The likeness of any beast that </span><i style="color: red;">is</i><span style="color: red;"> on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, </span><span class="reftext" style="color: red;"></span><span style="color: red;">The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that </span><i style="color: red;">is</i><span style="color: red;"> in the waters beneath the earth: </span><span class="reftext" style="color: red;"></span><span style="color: red;">And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, </span><i style="color: red;">even</i><span style="color: red;">
all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve
them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the
whole heaven."</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">(Deuteronomy 4:15-19) </span></div>
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<b>To whom then will you liken God? or what likeness will you compare unto him? </b></div>
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<b>(Isaiah 40:18) </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, <span style="font-size: large;">and idolaters</span>, and all liars, shall have
their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is
the second death.</b></div>
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(Revelation 21:8) </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">That
is pretty much the only "PIT" that people will cry about in the end.The
Word of God is very clear to those who heed it's warning. There should
NOT be any kind of image to represent ANYTHING that people should bow
down to. God is Spirit and we only should worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (see John 4:24). Anything PAGAN that we try to Christianize is nothing but an old trick that the devil uses to deceive many. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">May we be very careful to heed the Word of the Lord God Almighty. No excuses... No buts... No compromises...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I am the LORD: that is my name: <span style="font-size: small;">and my glory</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> will </b></span><b><span style="font-size: small;">I not give to another, neither my praise to graven image</span>s</b>. (Isaiah 42:8) </span><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0dSVnU7zAylIjyZOTEYpuNjaBJBkeoVJ-E0SMJEr66rSI2H9m8A1oO3BOOam-98xjE5t2sX5_fzSuJuhtj2Oi36FwQD6hV_qAc9jO8GIVJ32C0Ae-EQ6z2bNWf9QhR5WJ73Hj9BOVuI/s1600/jar+blog+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0dSVnU7zAylIjyZOTEYpuNjaBJBkeoVJ-E0SMJEr66rSI2H9m8A1oO3BOOam-98xjE5t2sX5_fzSuJuhtj2Oi36FwQD6hV_qAc9jO8GIVJ32C0Ae-EQ6z2bNWf9QhR5WJ73Hj9BOVuI/s320/jar+blog+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-46149817596341782182012-01-11T23:52:00.002-06:002012-01-11T23:53:01.271-06:00Lessons From "Where's My Water?" (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://theappera.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Wheres-My-Water-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://theappera.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Wheres-My-Water-2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. <span class="reftext" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/1_john/1-6.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>6</b></a></span>If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth (1 John 1:5-6, KJV)</span></div>
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The more levels you complete by getting clean water to Swampy, the more you will encounter difficult obstacles along the way. At some point in time, you will face the possibility of contaminating your clean water if you are not careful.<br />
<br />
With one wrong move, your clean water could easily get dirty before it reaches Swampy. It is interesting to see, though, that no matter how continuously flowing the clean water is, it just doesn't make the contaminated water clean. It ALWAYS does the opposite... the clean water always gets dirty instead! You can't pretend it to be clean and allow it to reach Swampy because the alligator will cringe away from it when it flows through the shower head.<br />
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When we ponder upon it more deeply, a christian's life will reflect a similar picture. In a way, those who have been made righteous in Christ, cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb, CAN and WILL no longer have anything to do with the filth and contamination of sin in the world! There will be a need for strategies to keep away from anything that could contaminate our lives with sin.<br />
<br />
Oftentimes we see professing Christians "talking the talk" and knowing the truths found in the Bible and yet they continue to live in darkness. They continue with habitual sins and are either adamant or totally oblivious to the new life that a new creature in Christ should have.<br />
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Many live lives mixing their perceived "Christianity" with the ways of the world! This isn't supposed to be the case for people who have been born again in Christ Jesus! We must, therefore, test ourselves to see if we are truly IN FELLOWSHIP with our Lord and Savior!<br />
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The Bible tells us that we LIE if we have convinced ourselves that we have trusted in Christ and yet we continued on with our worldly living! A person who has been made clean and new by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ CAN and WILL NO LONGER continue to live in sin!<br />
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Not that one will become sinless. But the Holy Spirit that has been deposited in one's life will now become the guide to which a person will live a life that sins less. We can never become perfect while in this corruptible body, but we can always become more than conquerors and will have the power to RESIST the devil and RESIST sin!<br />
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There is no mixing of things. The things of God are righteousness and holiness and it can NEVER be mixed with the bitterness, lasciviousness, immorality and filth of sin in this world.<br />
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Do we SAY we "love" Christ?<br />
Do we say we "trust" in Him?<br />
Do we SAY we believe in Him?<br />
Do we Say we are following His footsteps?<br />
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It is very critical then that we check and measure ourselves with Scripture's rule. Because, if we say those things and <i>STILL also enjoy drunkenness, or watching TV programs that glorify homosexuality, immorality, debauchery, and filthy language,</i> THEN we are but LYING to ourselves!<br />
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Darkness and Light DO NOT MIX! Clean water and contamination DO NOT WORK together! Righteousness in Christ DO NOT MIX with worldliness. Therefore, TEST YOURSELVES!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">And hereby we do know that we know him, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">if we keep his commandments.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/1_john/2-4.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">4</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><u>He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him</u>. </span><span class="reftext" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/1_john/2-5.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">5</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. </span><span class="reftext" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/1_john/2-6.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">6</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.</span></b></span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-2779153168912503022011-12-29T07:35:00.001-06:002012-01-11T23:06:28.208-06:00Lessons From "Where's My Water?" (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have you played this new and amazingly fun game from Disney? It's an application you can download to your mobile device and use to kill time when you have nothing better to do! (hehe) Surprisingly, this game stayed on top of the Favorite List for 3 weeks since its release around September 2011, even knocking off the Angry Birds from their perch!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My son loves this game as much as I do. He is so into puzzles and strategic games that he's really having a LOT of fun playing with Swampy, the reptilian hero in this particular game. I like the idea that this Disney game is Physics-based, and so I have no problem with my 7-year-old getting hooked on it! (A homeschooling mom's favorite: Work & Play rolled into one! Hehehe...)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Swampy is a pretty interesting alligator, though. You'll find him so different from the rest of his peers. He's actually become an outcast and the ridicule of his "congregation," (Yes, a group of alligators is called just that) because of his un-alligator ways. ;) </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/best-android-games-of-2011/WheresMyWater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/best-android-games-of-2011/WheresMyWater.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Swampy loves to keep himself clean and has good manners, mind you! That is why you will have to find ways for him to get some CLEAN water in the shower because unlike the rest of the alligators around him, he hates contaminated water!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now I'm sure most of you are scratching your head right now and are probably asking yourself why a christian blogger is now sounding like a techie blogger in her post! Don't worry, I'm not changing my blog's theme nor the heart of my niche. ;)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just wanted to share the lesson we all reflected upon very early this morning. The kids woke up pretty early (think 4:30!) as their dad prepared for work. Because my son is hooked on "Where's My Water?", he was already fidgeting with my phone at this time... (My 4-year-old daughter and I had our turns, too! Hahaha!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then something just hit us when we were about to get back in bed. God somehow used the game to remind us of how magnificent His Grace is in the life of an individual. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The bible tells us this in 2 Corinthians 5:17,</span><br />
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<tr><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20" style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Therefore if any man <i>be</i> in Christ, <i>he is</i> a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, Swampy somewhat became a picture of that! I told the kiddos that Swampy is just like a person who places their genuine and full trust in the LORD Jesus Christ! We become a new creature in Christ and would no longer behave the way we used to! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The moment an individual places their faith in the <b>COMPLETED WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS,</b> Jesus' blood cleanses our hearts from all unrighteousness and filth of sin (Revelation 7:14), and we become squeaky clean as Swampy! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God's Word reminds us that it is <i>ONLY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH that we are saved</i> (Ephesians 2:8). <b>No amount of our own good works could ever make us HOLY and RIGHTEOUS before the eyes of God</b>. No matter how much we give to the poor and needy, no matter how nice of a person we are toward others, no matter how many times we piously follow religious rituals and ceremonies, we still stand GUILTY before God for the sins we've committed! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Our good works may seem to dust off some cobwebs on the surface and <i>around</i> our hearts, but it can never cleanse the very core of it that is tainted with SIN. (Romans 3:23) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">The Word of God clearly tells us that <b>our good works are as filthy rags before the eyes of the HOLY and ALMIGHTY GOD</b>! (Isaiah 64:6) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>That is why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins! That HIS righteousness may become OURS the very moment we trust in HIS COMPLETED work on the cross. Through HIM and HIM ALONE will we find the forgiveness of our sins and the ONLY Truth and Way to eternal Life! </b>(see John 3:16, John 14:6, and Romans 3:24-26)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Before the New Year rolls in, try to examine yourself and reflect on the Truths found solely in Scripture. Ask yourself if you've honestly embraced CHRIST JESUS' completed, FINISHED WORK on the Cross. Have you placed your faith in HIS death and resurrection as the ONLY WAY to have eternal LIFE? Maybe today is the day of YOUR Salvation. Encounter God's Truth in His Word.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But if you say you have indeed placed your trust in Christ ALONE, there's more to it than that! We had a few more lessons that God reminded us of as we reflected on Swampy's life. We'll touch that in the next part of this Lessons from "Where's My Water?" series.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Y'all take care always!</span></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2711792045114629141.post-88558930542078583892011-12-23T21:30:00.002-06:002011-12-24T01:32:29.283-06:00Neverthless, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Everybody would probably agree that this year has brought many turmoil in our lives. From countries being shaken by earthquakes and tsunamis, to cities rattled by protesters, to families devastated by either war, famine, accident, job loss, foreclosures, natural calamities, disease and illness, or the global economic slump.<br />
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Not only that, but we also get a dose of agitation from those groups of people who just really love to wage war against Christmas. From the atheists who put up their billboards to mock the Almighty God they so willingly deny, and even to the many christians who are critical about the celebration itself.<br />
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There is so much hullabaloo around this particular season, really. From the over-commercialization of it, to the pagan roots of many of the traditions, Christmas has become a fiasco in itself. Many around the world either focus on Santa and his reindeers, or the extravagant and insane holiday shopping and gift-giving.<br />
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I understand that today there's a lot of people becoming critical about the Christmas tree and the lights, or the mistletoe and the hollies. Many raise eyebrows at christians celebrating this season in December and many other this and that of the whole Christmas shebang!<br />
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What amazes me, though, is that many christians have allowed themselves to become so critically minded about all these Christmas things that they lose focus on what I believe is more important. We raise so many issues that we attempt to slap at people's faces and shove what we perceive is right down other people's throats that we no longer shine forth the good news of Christ's birth and the JOY that His Grace brings!<br />
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I honestly don't teach my children the "magic" of Santa nor anything mystical about the Christmas tree in our living room. Nor do we teach them that Christmas is about frantically shopping for presents and having plenty of gifts to open on Christmas Day.<br />
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But, we allow them to enjoy the season of remembering the miracle of the birth of our Savior, as well as understand how blessed we are to have the most important gift of eternal life through JESUS CHRIST.<br />
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In my own humble opinion, the many things we see and do today should always reflect the love of Christ and that we should seek to bring only HIM all the glory He deserves. It doesn't matter whether others meant the December celebration for evil, or whether they meant it to rob us of God's Truth. GOD will still bring to pass that which is good and that which accomplishes HIS purposes to save souls.<br />
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Unless the food on our tables and the decor of our homes are <i>deliberately</i> offered to demons, THEN, I would strongly become very critical about it. BUT if we could only take the Christmas season and make GOD bigger and the center and focus of it all, then whether it be celebrated in December, September, July or August; whether it be celebrated with presents under the tree or not; whether we have abundance to celebrate the day or none at all, the Christmas celebration could and SHOULD be an avenue to show CHRIST's LOVE to a dying, dark and lost world!<br />
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I really would prefer we all FOCUS on the NATIVITY rather than the festivity. I'd rather we focus on JESUS' BIRTH rather than focusing on pagan traditions. I'd rather we USE THIS TIME TO GLORIFY GOD by sharing the gospel to the lost, rather than turn unbelievers off by our insensitivity and critical spirits. I'd rather we USE this "IN SEASON" to bring the JOY of the good news of the Savior's birth and the GRACE He freely offers to all who believes, rather than focusing on what others SHOULD be doing and SHOULD NOT be doing.<br />
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There are indeed many stark ungodly practices we see around us this Christmas Season and we should be discerning enough to see where our hearts are founded upon as we celebrate the season, but it SHOULD NEVER HINDER A TRUE CHRISTIAN from SHINING Christ's LIGHT, GLORY and TRUTH in the picture! We are planted in an evil and fallen world... may we LET OUR LIGHT SHINE before men, THAT THEY MAY GLORIFY OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN!<br />
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We may see heartaches and desperation around us... we may experience difficulties and hopelessness in our lives. We may learn about pagan and unbiblical practices around the Christmas tradition...<br />
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but nevertheless, <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">let me wish you and yours </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">a BLESSED and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!</span></i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">The SAVIOR and LORD, JESUS CHRIST, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">was, is, and always will be </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">THE REASON FOR CELEBRATING THIS SEASON. </span></div>
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Choose ye this day, then, who you want to serve, focus on, and glorify during this holiday season! </div>
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But as for me and my house, I WILL SERVE, FOCUS, and GLORIFY </div>
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the LORD JESUS CHRIST alone!"</div>
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<tr><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><i>"But as for you, you thought evil against me; </i><b>but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive</b><i>. (Genesis 50:20)</i></span></td></tr>
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