tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76130994991342045012024-03-13T20:13:52.967-07:00Living Scriptures DevotionalsGinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-7818355831617958012020-05-27T05:08:00.002-07:002020-05-27T05:18:15.725-07:00GOD'S WILL IN THE EVIL DAY<br />
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Ephesians 6:10-18<br />
(10) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the <b>strength of his might</b>.<br />
(11) Put on the <b>whole armor of God</b>, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.<br />
(12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over <b>this present darkness,</b> against the spiritual <b>forces of evil</b> in the heavenly places.<br />
(13) Therefore take up the <b>whole armor of God</b>, that you may be able to withstand in <b>the evil day</b>, and having done all, to stand firm.<br />
(14) Stand therefore, having fastened on the <b>belt of truth,</b> and having put on the <b>breastplate of righteousness,</b><br />
(15) and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the <b>gospel of peace</b>.<br />
(16) In all circumstances take up the <b>shield of faith</b>, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;<br />
(17) and take the <b>helmet of salvation</b>, and the <b>sword of the Spiri</b>t, which is <b>the word of God</b>,<br />
(18) <b>praying at all times</b> in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,<br />
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<b>What is God's will for me in such an evil day,</b> when evil men prevail; and no matter what good people do to expose them, they come up with scheme after scheme and lie after lie to tear down the foundations of all God has given for the good of mankind and blessing, and seek only to steal, kill, and destroy? Should I just throw up my hands in despair and hunker down, waiting for the Lord to take us away? Should I fight the political battles and seek to destroy their political power? Should I answer back anger for anger, insult for insult, hatred for hatred? I must be careful not to let myself be "overcome by evil" but instead overcome evil with good. I must remember the battle is a spiritual one and that evil men and women are under the influence of the powers of darkness which they do not even understand. They think they are free, but they are enslaved to powers beyond themselves that are very antagonistic to God, His Word, His church, and all that God has done in the world or will do.<br />
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What's my response? This is what I've been seeking God to show me. Are we going to change the world? Make America great? Are we going to bring back the love for God's Word and respect for His church in this world again? Are we to fight for a "kingdom" now? But as I read all Paul's letters to the church, and especially Ephesians, I see that we are called to a heavenly calling and that our citizenship is in Heaven and we are, in this earth, Christ's ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20).<br />
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Ephesians 6:10-18 gives us instructions for what are to do to "withstand in the evil day," which we are surely in. If we are not in His Word, we are in a most dangerous position and will not be able to withstand all the schemes and attacks of the enemy. It is more crucial than ever that we understand our place in Christ, that He has put us (Ephes. 1-2:10). The armor of God is another way of explaining that position in Christ. All that we do is to be done "in Christ" and in His name. It is "in the strength of His might" alone we stand. If we don't start there, we already are on sinking sand. We have to remember the battle is with spiritual powers, not physical even though we see the physical powers being used by them at work.<br />
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We have to "stand firm" or we won't stand at all (Isa. 7:9b). The only way to do this is by spiritually "putting on the WHOLE armor of God." This is ALL THE TIME. This isn't one day walking in faith, another day walking in righteousness, and another day in truth, etc. This is daily understanding what we are in Christ, having our position in Him, facing the world, the flesh and the enemy in Christ with what HE has provided for our defense against all, and facing and withstanding and not being moved from our position falling into spiritual defeat, fear, or sin.<br />
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We have His truth, not the worlds to stand firm in. We have His righteousness, not our own by any of our own works and His Spirit "making all things new" within us enabling us to yield to and walk in that righteousness and to call on Him as our advocate. We have perfect peace through the Gospel of His salvation that keeps our hearts enabling us to walk, and do the work He calls us to, facing the enemy and the world. We have a shield of faith - faith in His infallible Word that He always upholds and will not fail one dot or tittle. We can hold on to that Word and hold it forth and hold it up against fiery darts of disillusionment and doubt or threat or fear the enemy throws at us. Our minds are protected by the salvation that cannot ever be taken from us. We can never be snatched out of His hands (John 10:28), and His Spirit is our guarantee that that salvation is sure and secure (Eph. 1:14). We have the "Sword of the Spirit" - His Word, to defeat every attack against us, so we must learn it, study it, meditate on it, know it, and know Him! If we are not being filled with the Word of God we have only our own fleshly mind to fight with. We do not have the mind of Christ which is revealed in His Word. Our minds are not being renewed by His Word, but are being influened by the flesh and the world - not much different than an unbeliever under the influences of the powers of darkness. What is my influence? I must be on my guard and aware of that at all times. There is a darkness in this world and a "mind" controlling the minds of so many. Satan knows how to brainwash masses of people using many avenues, such as the media, games, music, schools, and any way he can to get into the human psyche and manipulate.<br />
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Romans 1:21-22<br />
(21) For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.<br />
(22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools,<br />
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If we give up God's reasoning, we lose all ability to reason sanely, lose all common sense, and become fools... Webster's 1828 dictionary: In scripture, fool is often used for a wicked or depraved person; one who acts contrary to sound wisdom in his moral deportment; one who follows his own inclinations, who prefers trifling and temporary pleasures to the service of God and eternal happiness.<br />
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Our minds are to be influenced by the truth of God's Word, walking in His light, learning to know Him and His will and to discern right from wrong according to His Word. This is how we are to look at this evil day. If we are to do anything else, any work of God, it has to be from this foundation. If not, then it is futile...only the work of flesh which is no better than what unbelievers are doing in the world, and will not contribute to God's will at all.<br />
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As we stand in His armor, His provision, in Christ, we are to pray with all prayer and supplication, continually. If we are praying we are not fainting. If we are praying we are laying all out to God Who hears and answers. If we are praying for each other we are bringing God's grace and help to one another, so that all may stand against the powers of darkness. We cannot forget prayer. It is an important privilege and tool God has given to us. By prayer the powers of Heaven are sent forth into action against the powers of darkness to defeat them and bring God's grace and work, turning what the enemy means for evil into good.<br />
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We are not to "fear what they fear" or give in to the pressure of the world. We are to stand in His armor. We are to hold forth the Word of life to whosoever will receive it. We are to continue until He comes being His ambassadors in this world. We are to suffer patiently, as we wait for His redemption. We are not to think we will eradicate evil or set up His kingdom in this earth. He will do that when He comes. We are to remember He has given us "every spiritual blessing in the HEAVENLIES" (Eph. 1), at our disposal to enjoy and stand in here on earth until we are redeemed from these bodies of death and taken to "be with Him where He is forever (John 14:3)."<br />
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Revelation 3:10-13<br />
(10) Because you kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial, the one being about to come on the whole inhabited earth in order to try the ones dwelling on the earth.<br />
(11) Behold, I am coming quickly. Hold what you have that no one take your crown.<br />
(12) The one overcoming, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall not go out any more, not ever! And I will write the name of My God on him, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name.<br />
(13) The one having an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.<br />
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Maranatha!GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-91471726722966099402019-07-18T04:16:00.000-07:002019-07-18T04:16:21.696-07:00GOD'S PURPOSES WILL NOT FAIL<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span lang="en-US">And
it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and
the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they
cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And
God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children
of Israel, and God had respect unto them. (Exodus 2:23-25)</span></b></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">God
had a purpose. From the beginning of Abraham's call, to Joseph's
being sold into slavery, to the children of Israel becoming slaves in
Egypt – God had a purpose. Even the means the enemy uses to
oppress, to conquer, or to destroy God has already worked out
according to His plans for His people. We, as New Testament
believers have the advantage of looking back and seeing how God
worked to deliver the children of Israel and all His workings, how He
used the hardness of Pharaoh's heart, how He used everything that
happened to Moses, all for His plan to be carried out and His
covenant to be kept with Israel. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
farther we proceed in the sacred writings, the more the history both
of the grace and providence of God opens to our view. He ever cares
for his creatures, and is mindful of his promise. </span><span lang="en-US"><u>The
very means made use of to destroy his work are, in his hands, the
instruments of its accomplishment.</u></span><span lang="en-US">”
(Adam Clarke on Exodus 2:25)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="en-US">And
I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders
in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I
may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my
people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great
judgments. </span><span lang="en-US"><b>And the Egyptians shall know
that I am the LORD,</b></span><span lang="en-US"> when I stretch
forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from
among them. (Exodus 7:3-5)</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
enemy has always had his servants that he raises up to oppress God's
children. Today we see much oppression against both Israel and the
church. Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy wherever he gets a
foothold and is able to do so. Yet God has His promises for both
Israel and His church. The very oppression and persecution he uses,
God is also in control of and we can be sure He will use only to
carry out His purpose in both. We don't need to fear or fret, as it
says in Psalm 37, when we see the enemy seemingly prevail. God is
not sleeping, nor does He need to be awakened. He hears our groaning
and our cries. Just as He had a plan for Moses, and used even the
king's edict, to kill all Hebrew babies, to actually save Moses and
all that happened after, He has a plan today. Just as He used the
hardness of Pharaoh's heart for His own purposes, He will use the
hardness and plans of the pharaoh's of today that come against Him
for His own deliverance of God's people. When we are trusting in
God, we should not want any other way or plan than the one He has
chosen, even though it may mean hardship before it is finally carried
out. God's plan is perfect. Let us not settle for anything less.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When
we are in God's plan, trusting in Him, there is nothing He will not
deliver us from or through. We fret and fear over political powers
that threaten to take away our freedom, but nobody can take away
God's freedom to do as He wills. He will even use their evil for good
in what He seeks to accomplish in His church and ultimately to
fulfill His promises to the nation of Israel. We need to walk by
faith in His purposes, which will never fail, not in fear of the
enemy. When we find ourselves at the Red Sea, with no way of escape,
and the enemy pressing in, we need to trust His hand, and not look
for our own way of escape. He is able to open up the Red Sea and
make a way through. He created that sea for His own purposes, and to
glorify Himself among His people and among the enemy. When we find
ourselves in the wilderness, we know we can trust God is with us
making all provision for us and has already planned what He will
reveal of Himself to us through it and when He will bring us to the
promised land awaiting us. His purposes will not fail. We can fail
to trust and make our wilderness journey all the harder and longer,
however, if we do not put our trust in Him. But we need to remember
- <i>“</i><span lang="en-US"><i>Humble yourselves therefore under
the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter
5:6)</i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and...</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="en-US">...the
God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ
Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
must go through our oppressions, our persecutions, our sufferings,
our red seas, and our wildernesses in this world. But we can do so in
faith, understanding God's will and purpose, trusting His hand,
knowing He still is in control, and that salvation and deliverance is
His will always for His children. He will reveal His glory through it
if we trust Him.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Because
the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we
know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together
until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.<br />(Romans
8:21-23)</i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="en-US">And
we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="en-US">What
shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us?</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Romans
8:31)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<br />GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-50710881819124071522019-04-20T05:29:00.000-07:002019-04-20T05:29:25.786-07:00FACING THE DARKNESS<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>FACING
THE DARKNESS</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mat
26:34-35</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(34)
Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the
rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(35)
Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny
you!” And all the disciples said the same.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mat
26:37-39</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(37)
And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be
sorrowful and troubled.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(38)
Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death;
remain here, and watch with me.”</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(39)
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying,
“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Jesus
knew sorrow and grief that I don't think we can fully grasp. He knew
pain and suffering (Isa. 53:3-11), and knows how to share in ours.
He knew, as man, what it was like to face the worst kind of evil. He
knew the powers of darkness that were about to come against Him, and
the unspeakable agony He was about to face as He took on our sins,
even "becoming a curse" for us (Gal. 3:13) - He Who knew no
sin, so that we might become "the righteousness of God" in
Him (2 Cor. 5:21). </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Even
Jesus, being both God and man, knew the weakness of human flesh and
that there was no power in the flesh alone, no matter the strength of
the human will to do right. No matter the determination to stand, He
knew only dependence on the power of God would enable us in the
frailty of our flesh to stand against the evil and darkness of this
world. A concept very difficult for us to understand is that Jesus
was both fully God and fully man. I don't think I completely
understand all that that means, but what struck me about this portion
of Scripture is the sorrow of His soul, knowing that He, being God,
would take on something so repulsive to Him, so unbearable, something
that was repulsive to the Father and would cause the Father to turn
His face from Him as man (Matt. 27:46). </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">Thomas
Constable (Expository notes of Dr. Constable), writes: "</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Jesus
cried out the words of </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Psa_22:1</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>because
His Father was abandoning Him.</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
It was out of a similar sense of abandonment that David originally
wrote the words of this psalm."</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">"</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Separation
from the Father must have been the worst part of the Cross for Jesus
who had never before experienced anything but intimate fellowship
with His Father. Jesus became the center of God's judgment on
mankind's sin (cf. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Rom_3:21-26</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">;
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>2Co_5:21</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">)."</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
something was so grievous and caused so much sorrow "even to the
point of death" for our Savior. He cried out "if it be
possible, let this cup pass from me." If there were any other
way at all to obtain our salvation, surely the Father would not have
sent His only begotten Son to the cross. If there were some way we
could earn it ourselves, if there were some other sacrifice that
would do it, or if there were any other remedy at all for our sin,
Jesus would not have died for us. And so He prayed, "not my
will but Yours be done." </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">Peter
was fully determined to go as far as to die for His Lord. His spirit
was willing - even boldly determined! Jesus knew the flesh. He
knew, even He the Son of God, though in the form of human flesh, must
fully depend on the Father, on the power of the Spirit to overcome
the flesh. "</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><i>Watch
and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak.”</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="zxx" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Mat
26:41)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Having
a willing spirit is not enough to face the darkness and evil in this
world. No matter how determined we are to stand against evil, it is
not enough. We must learn to know our own flesh and see it for what
it is. Once we do we will never again trust it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">Thomas
Constable (Expository notes of Dr. Constable), states: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">"The
contrast between the flesh and the spirit is not between the sinful
human nature and the Holy Spirit (as in </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Gal_5:17</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">)
but between man's volitional strength and his physical weakness (cf.
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Mat_26:35</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">).
We often want to do the right thing but find that we need
supernatural assistance to accomplish it (cf. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Rom_7:15-25</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">)."
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In
a day when we are facing the darkness of human depravity, as we see
it seeming to abound more and more, and seek to overcome all that is
of God and all that is good in our world, how much we need to think
on this portion of Scripture. What a blessing it is to meditate on
what our Lord endured, and how much He loved us, the sorrow and grief
He bore for us. And what a sober reminder that if the Son of God
Himself walked in such utter dependence on the Father, how much more
do we? How little we should trust ourselves or put any hope in our
own strength, our own determination or will power. It is never our
will power or faith in our faith that will keep us in the hour of
trial. It is only our being "strengthened in the power of His
might" (Ephesians 6:10-11), and dependence and trust in His
provision, His promise, and His power indwelling us. Our will, our
faith, our hope may all fail us in the darkest hour, but He will
never fail us. Christ alone is the strength of our salvation and the
strength of our hearts. We must look to Him, and never trust in
ourselves, neither for obtaining salvation nor to keep ourselves as
we face the darkness (1 Peter 1:5). </span></span>
</div>
<br />GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-88963268818176311452019-02-01T05:39:00.000-08:002019-02-01T05:39:12.811-08:00BIBLE NUGGETS: LET THERE BE LIGHT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EwjKEBk_r8/XFRLWp4nkJI/AAAAAAAAAow/4vkC3vml6-AhLgHh7NjL1Ucq6IuY3Wm1gCLcBGAs/s1600/let%2Bthere%2Bbe%2Blight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EwjKEBk_r8/XFRLWp4nkJI/AAAAAAAAAow/4vkC3vml6-AhLgHh7NjL1Ucq6IuY3Wm1gCLcBGAs/s400/let%2Bthere%2Bbe%2Blight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="Normal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">And God said, "Let there be light," and there
was light. (Genesis 1:3)</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">God said, and there was - and this is how it is today and
forever. Man thinks he can create the
world the way he wants but it is only as God says it will be in the end. It is only God Who brings light into the
world. Man does not like His light. It exposes his lies, and his evil
intentions. So he seeks to counterfeit
or snuff out the light. But that's
impossible. Not only is God the creator
of light but He, Himself is the light.
All who want His true light may have it if they ask in humility and faith.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">He was in the beginning with God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">All things were made through him, and without him was not
any thing made that was made.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">In him was life, and the life was the light of men.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light,
that all might believe through him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the
light.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming
into the world.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">He was in the world, and the world was made through him,
yet the world did not know him. (John 1:1-10)</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the
kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, (Revelation 21:23 - 24</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp
or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and
ever. (Revelation 22:5)</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">From the beginning satan has tried to snuff out that
light, or counterfeit it. But God
separates the light from the darkness and makes all things clear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">And this is the judgment: the light has come into the
world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works
were evil. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(John 3:19)</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In the beginning God said... and there was. In the end, also, it is God Who says. It is God Who has the final say. It is God Who destroys the darkness. God, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Savior,
will Himself, being the light, dwell with us forever. </span>GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-32033141861503728432019-01-05T06:56:00.001-08:002019-01-05T06:56:03.130-08:00BIBLE NUGGETS: HE CARES FOR YOU<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QC9SOv59oco/XDDFFiGMgKI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/twCteZQGF5Md7GLrm7oksZAL9eX6q3btACLcBGAs/s1600/Father%2Bchild%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QC9SOv59oco/XDDFFiGMgKI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/twCteZQGF5Md7GLrm7oksZAL9eX6q3btACLcBGAs/s400/Father%2Bchild%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Do you ever doubt God's care for you? Do you ever wonder, when everything seems to be going downhill in your life, if God is paying attention at all? If He is doing anything about it? If He really truly sees and cares about the pain in your life? I think we've all been there. Even if we won't voice it, we probably, as believers, have felt it in our hearts. At times we can feel all alone in our sorrow, or our pain or our trial. It looks like all is hopeless and all that is left is to expect the worst, with no help, it seems, from God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<i><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1 Peter 5:6-7</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(7) casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.</span></b></i><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(<span style="background-color: white;">Amplified Bible, Classic Edition</span>) <span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span><span style="background-color: white;">Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,</span></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span class="text 1Pet-5-7" id="en-AMPC-30471" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>Casting the <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-AMPC-30471c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-AMPC-30471c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+5&version=AMPC#fen-AMPC-30471c" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span>whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-AMPC-30471d" data-link="[<a href="#fen-AMPC-30471d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+5&version=AMPC#fen-AMPC-30471d" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</span>once and for all] on Him, <b><u>for He cares for you affectionately <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">and</i> cares about you <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-AMPC-30471e" data-link="[<a href="#fen-AMPC-30471e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+5&version=AMPC#fen-AMPC-30471e" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</span>watchfully</u></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Ironside:</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">“He careth for you.” It is of all-importance to realize that God’s heart is ever toward His own. He is no indifferent spectator of our suffering. He feels for us in all our afflictions and bids us cast every care upon Him, assured that He is concerned about all we have to endure. Weymouth has rendered the last part of this verse, “It matters to God about you.” How precious to realize this!</span></blockquote>
<div class="verse" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">If we trust His love (demonstrated at the cross) for us, then we can easily cast or "throw upon Him" all that causes us anxiety or care, knowing His care for us is perfect, greater than any other, and unfailing. </span></div>
<div class="verse" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Romans 8:31-32</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?</span></div>
<div class="verse" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(32) He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?</span></div>
<div class="verse" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Casting — once for all: so the Greek aorist.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">care — “anxiety? The advantage flowing from humbling ourselves under God’s hand (1Pe_5:6) is confident reliance on His goodness. Exemption from care goes along with humble submission to God.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">careth for you — literally “respecting you.” Care is a burden which faith casts off the man on his God. Compare Psa_22:10; Psa_37:5; Psa_55:22, to which Peter alludes; Luk_12:22, Luk_12:37; Phi_4:6.</span></blockquote>
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<span class="text 1Pet-5-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"></span></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Adam Clarke: </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"in all their afflictions he is afflicted." "He will bear both thee and thy burden."</span></blockquote>
GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-36716097009257632692018-12-21T07:07:00.002-08:002018-12-21T07:07:11.311-08:00BIBLE NUGGETS: THE STEADFAST LOVE OF A BABE IN A MANGER<br />
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<b><i>Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but <u>steadfast love</u> surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. </i></b><br />
<b><i>(Psalms 32:10)</i></b><br />
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Trust His love, trust His goodness, trust His purpose, trust His holiness, trust His righteousness, trust His faithfulness, no matter the sorrows you must endure. These are sure things of God's attributes that we can count on that are "immovable."</div>
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Even though there are also many sorrows for the Lord's children, He is our reason to rejoice, because His steadfast love surrounds us, no matter the fiery furnace we must walk through in this life. The many sorrows of the wicked lead only to hopelessness and despair. But in Christ there is no sorrow that does not have a good ending.</div>
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Definition of steadfast (Webster's dictionary)</div>
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1a : firmly fixed in place : IMMOVABLE</div>
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b : not subject to change</div>
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2 : firm in belief, determination, or adherence : LOYAL</div>
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Your love for me is immovable, dear Lord! You are loyal to Your promises. How secure! How wonderful! What peace and assurance I have in Your love! It's not subject to change. You will not suddenly change Your mind or heart toward me, and nothing can separate me from Your love.</div>
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Romans 8:28-39</div>
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(28) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.</div>
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(29) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.</div>
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(30) And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.</div>
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(31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?</div>
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(32) He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?</div>
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(33) Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.</div>
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(34) Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.</div>
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(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?</div>
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(36) As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."</div>
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(37) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.</div>
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(38) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,</div>
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(39) nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.</div>
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May God's steadfast love fill your hearts today, surround you, and lift you up with His wings to enable you to soar above whatever in this life you face today. Long ago, He came to us as a babe in a manger. God became man. He came out of steadfast love and a promise of redemption for mankind. All who put their faith in Him now receive eternal life and a joy that will never end. It's a steadfast promise, that came out of a steadfast heart of love to mankind. It will not be broken for all who put their trust in Him. </div>
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John 1:12-14</div>
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(12) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,</div>
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(13) who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.</div>
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(14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.</div>
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GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-39865080314328585912018-11-09T04:38:00.002-08:002018-11-09T04:38:58.773-08:00BIBLE NUGGETS - A LIVING HOPE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>A LIVING HOPE</u></b><br />
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<i><b>1 Peter 1:3-5</b></i><br />
<i><b>(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be <u>born again to a living hope </u>through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,</b></i><br />
<i><b>(4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,</b></i><br />
<i><b>(5) who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.</b></i><br />
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<b><i>Begotten us again</i></b> — of the Spirit by the word (1 Peter 1:23); whereas we were children of wrath naturally, and dead in sins. (Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown)<br />
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<i><b>But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, </b></i><br />
<i><b>(Ephesians 2:4-6)</b></i><br />
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<b><i>Lively</i></b> — Greek, <b>“living.”</b> It has life in itself, gives life, and looks for life as its object [De Wette]. Living is a favorite expression of Peter (1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 2:5). He delights in contemplating life overcoming death in the believer. Faith and love follow hope (1 Peter 1:8, 1 Peter 1:21, 1 Peter 1:22). “(Unto) a lively hope” is further explained by “(To) an inheritance incorruptible ... fadeth not away,” and “(unto) salvation ... ready to be revealed in the last time.”...“Unto a hope living (possessing life and vitality) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.<br />
J, F, & B<br />
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We have a living hope, a living now, now alive, very much alive hope, that won't perish or change until all is fulfilled and we are finally redeemed and with our Savior forever! This hope never dies because it is all in Christ Who was raised from death, and we are in Him raised from the dead and alive and seated with Him in the Heavenly places, where the powers of darkness cannot ever destroy. God's power makes it so. There is no power that can change it or destroy it or snatch us out of His hands!<br />
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<b><i>Psalms 73:25-26</i></b><br />
<b><i>(25) Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.</i></b><br />
<b><i>(26) My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.</i></b><br />
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He alone is the power and strength of my salvation. I need not fear the powers on earth, of evil, or the weaknesses and failures in myself. Nothing can overcome Christ and His power of life in me. Paul and Peter preached the same Gospel (Ephesians 1) contrary to what some believe. <br />
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Our hope is one always living and never dying. It is an ever living confidence in His work and power, in His righteousness, in His grace, in His resurrection, and His life indwelling us that will never leave us or forsake us. May the Lord direct His Word to your hearts and give you confidence and peace today through whatever trials you face in this world, <b><i>"For, "Yet a little while, and the coming One will come and will not delay" </i></b><b><i>(Hebrews 10:37)</i></b><br />
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GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-57708865117820881332018-08-12T04:05:00.002-07:002018-08-12T04:05:45.659-07:00GOD'S WONDERFUL PURPOSE<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">So often I've asked God, "What is Your
purpose?"</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Especially when we go
through trials we wonder what His purpose is.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Our perspective usually will determine how we view "God's
purpose" through our trials.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">If we
are coming from a carnal perspective, we are thinking of how God's going to
work our experiences together for our happiness and ease in this life and give
us all our dreams eventually and make us successful.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">No wonder so many worldly minded believers
are disillusioned with Christianity when things begin to fall apart, when
trials come, and when hardship seems to take over their lives and they don't
find their dreams come true.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do we
really want His purpose, or to convince Him to agree with ours?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">One thing we can be sure - God loves us and He is for us
(Romans 8).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we don't always know or
understand the lessons He is teaching us, or how He is developing His own
character in us, or how He will bring us through a particular trial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we try to determine His purpose for a
particular trial, we find we cannot, or if we think we have, we find we were
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as a parent disciplines a
child and trains that child toward the maturity and character he will need in
life, God disciplines us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That child
most likely will not understand until he is much older, why his Father
disciplined him, and may even doubt his father's love or intentions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Many times I find God has chosen a particular discipline
for me that He has not chosen for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why is it they are able to go about enjoying certain things in life that
I cannot?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why have I had this particular
thing to deal with all my life, yet others never have to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet when I look back I see how God has used
it to teach me self-discipline, contentment, trust in Him, reliance on His
power, and I see there is a purpose that is beyond just my comfort or
happiness. He has done something inside of me that only He could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has produced a character inside me that
would not have come if I had always had everything the way I wanted it to
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has turned my heart from pleasing
myself to wanting to please Him in all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I've had to look to His Word to find His mind and heart, and I've had to
submit myself to His will in the matter and realize I don't belong to me, I
belong to Him - bought with His blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I've had to replace my delight in some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thing</i> to delighting in Him and His will, trusting His love and
purpose in all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Romans 5:10)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For if while we were enemies we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are
reconciled, shall we be <b>saved by his life</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">It's His life that now lives in me, saving me from the
corruptions of the flesh and of this world. His very life is in me and is
continually making known to me His own mind and heart through the obstacles I
face here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am always tempted to take
the way of the flesh rather than the way of the Spirit when my happiness, my
comfort, my desires are threatened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
His life is always at work in me to produce that life in me, conforming me to
it, as He is fitting us for Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is fitting us for His very own presence, to dwell there with Him forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have already, through faith in Him, been "put
into Christ" when we trusted His salvation alone for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now He is working that salvation out day by
day in our lives to conform us to the new creation He has made us in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Do we ever think our Abba, Who loved us so much that He
sent His only begotten Son to be a sacrifice for us, ever for a moment neglects
our highest good?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we ever think He
has somehow forgotten us now and has left us to somehow figure our way out of
the seemingly impossible trial we face?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do we for a moment think that it is not important to Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we trust His love no matter what seems to
be happening to us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I remember at one point in my life, when I came to one of
the darkest moments of my life, I felt I was at a sort of cross-road. Will I
believe in God or not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I trust His
love or not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is God good or is He
not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose to believe, solely because
of what His Word said, that He is God, that He is faithful, that He is good,
and no matter what things looked like, I would praise Him through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a long trial that had years go by
before things got better or before I saw God's answers to prayer and
fulfillment of promises I felt He had given me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I grew more than ever during that time, in my trust in God and in
His Word and He often manifested His love and goodness to me though
circumstances were very bleak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned
more than at any other time in my life that He was faithful and that though I
was weaker than ever, He was strong enough to hold onto me when I could not
even hold onto Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that it
was He all along that had always held onto me and kept me, and I learned to
rest in His care and in the outcome of all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">This was not a one time lesson that I learned and then
suddenly everything went my way, and now I have this wonderful fulfilled life
of all my dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've had to relearn it
or should I say, reapply it again and again in more trials and situations in my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I've learned that as long
as I'm in this body of flesh in this world I will continually have to apply
that faith in new ways, as I walk through this journey facing the world, the
flesh, and the devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can never let
down my guard, become weary in well doing, or give up and faint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've wanted to many times!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've wanted to say, "Lord haven't I had
enough grief?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough sorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough hardship?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn't there ever a time to just enjoy life
and be done with the trials?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's
not that the Lord has not given me so many blessings and enjoyments in
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, because of the trials and
what God has worked in my heart through them, I am able to enjoy those little
things in life all the more and give Him glory for them, delighting in Him all
the more and the blessings He has given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Simple pleasures mean more to me now than ever. He has given me much joy
and even taught me to rejoice in my trials, not waiting for them to be
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has taught me more about
enjoying life than I was able to do before the trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact sometimes when I see a godly trait in
my heart, I am amazed and wonder, "Wow... that is not me... that's You
Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did You do that in my
heart?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Romans 5:2-5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through him we have also obtained access by
faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only that, but we rejoice in our
sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and endurance produces character, and
character produces hope,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and hope does not put us to shame, because
God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been
given to us.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">James 1:2-5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet
trials of various kinds,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for you know that the testing of your faith
produces steadfastness.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,
who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">It's when we endure the trial walking by faith, simply
trusting His hand through it all... those nail scarred hands... that we find it
produces endurance, character, hope, steadfastness and even joy in our
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us have seen undisciplined
children who are not at all happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
cry and throw tantrums when they don't get their way, and the more they are
given in to, the more unhappy they become, and the more tantrums they
throw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet a disciplined child has
learned to be secure in their parent's love and care and is content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the same with God's children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who accept His discipline and do not
throw tantrums, trying to get their own way, but trust His way, even if they
don't understand it, find a contentment in life and security in His love and
care and even in His discipline. Each time they are tempted to balk under His
hand of discipline, they are reminded it is from His love and they must instead
exercise faith in Him and walk the path He has chosen for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">2 Peter 1:3-4<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His divine power has granted to us all things
that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to
his own glory and excellence,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by which he has granted to us his precious
and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because
of sinful desire.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">It is through trusting His great and precious promises and
applying them to our lives, that we escape the corruption that is in the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Christians do not escape
that corruption because they live the Christian life their way instead of God's
way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They make their own decisions based
on what they want in life instead of seeking God's will for their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they mess up their lives and the
corruption of the world, they find, has taken over their lives or families,
then they cry out to God and wonder why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is always teaching us to trust Him and to walk according to His
Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is His purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's conforming us to the image of His Son,
for His own glory, and our ultimate glorification in Him (Romans 8:28-31).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we do walk in faith, trusting His
promises His divine nature is formed in us more and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">2 Peter 1:5-8<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this very reason, make every effort to
supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and knowledge with self-control, and
self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and godliness with brotherly affection, and
brotherly affection with love.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For if these qualities are yours and are
increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The more we learn to know Him, the more we tend to walk
like Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He alone knows the path He has
chosen for each one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to
trust Him all along that path, and apply His Word, appropriate by faith His
promises for us, and walk in faith, believing He has provided "every
spiritual blessing in Heavenly places" for us and "all that we need
that pertains to life and godliness."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we're faced with what feels like the impossible, we can know that
if God brought us to it, He also has a plan through it as we trust in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our hearts sink for fear of what may be
coming in an evil world that is more and more hostile toward believers, we can
look to Him and know He has already seen what's ahead and is there waiting for
us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He already has made the way for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can only get through it in a way
that will bring Him glory and benefit our own lives if we trust Him through it,
knowing He does have, indeed, a wonderful purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">One thing that has happened in my own life that is only a
result of God's discipline, through my trials, is a true love for God's will in
my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to "accept"
God's will because I knew in my head it was right and best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I didn't "love" God's
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've learned now to love His will
because I've seen and understood His will is not only best, it is the only will
that is good and that is life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've
learned to delight in His will because I delight in Him - in all He is. I don't
always like the pain it brings me through, but I trust and love His will, will
get me through the pain, and life will be at the other end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't want God to be anything other than He
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't want to make Him into my
image. I don't want to bring Him down to my level or to force Him (as though I
could), to bend to my will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to
know Him truly, to know His will, to have His will alone be carried out in my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want His purpose to be fulfilled
in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm so thankful for His purposes
and that He is faithful each day to all His children, to never give up working
out those purposes in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
longsuffering, patient, and kind to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is for us, so who in the world can be against us? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-20683648752547148492018-06-25T06:29:00.001-07:002018-06-25T06:29:14.550-07:00 PERSUADING OR MANIPULATING OTHERS FOR CHRIST<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vwPiaIkVulo/WzDnIjwABXI/AAAAAAAAAl8/8erVuSK8aR4ottG7cHw81xy0TvJWnu2awCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20151017_131719177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vwPiaIkVulo/WzDnIjwABXI/AAAAAAAAAl8/8erVuSK8aR4ottG7cHw81xy0TvJWnu2awCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20151017_131719177.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And since he could not be persuaded, we ceased and said, "Let the will <br />of the Lord be done"<br />Acts. 21:14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Acts 18:4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he reasoned in the
synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">2 Corinthians 5:11<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore,
knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to
God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Galatians 5:8<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This persuasion is
not from him who calls you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">PERSUA'DE</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">, v.t. [L.
persuadeo; per and suadeo, to urge or incite.] (<i>Webster's 1828 dictionary)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">1. To influence by argument,
advice, intreaty or expostulation; to draw or incline the will to a
determination by presenting motives to the mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">2. To convince by argument, or
reasons offered; or to convince by reasons suggested by reflection or
deliberation, or by evidence presented in any manner to the mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Persuasion is neither good nor bad
in itself, except for what a person is using to persuade another and to what
they are being persuaded to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some use
truth or facts well presented to persuade. Christ in many ways, spoke to Israel
and to the crowds to persuade them to see the very truth they were told by the
prophets of the Old Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke
clear truth to persuade them of their own salvation through Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many who preach the Gospel use good teaching
methods to teach the truth of the Word to try to clearly make it understood and
persuade others to come to that salvation that is by grace alone in Christ
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet the enemy is hard at work to
pervert that same Gospel and persuade others to turn away from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He uses <u>manipulation</u>, to twist that
truth to persuade against it, or to pervert it somehow so its power is
nullified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">We must be careful when we seek to
persuade others of God's truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
well-meaning believers who love God with all their hearts have tried to
manipulate, in their flesh, thinking they were doing God's will, and doing it
because of their love for God, but misunderstanding His Word, His will, and His
purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Peter is a good example. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Matthew 16:21-23<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(21)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that time Jesus began
to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from
the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day
be raised.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(22)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Peter took him aside and
began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never
happen to you."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(23)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he turned and said to
Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not
setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">John 18:10-11<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(10)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Simon Peter, having a
sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.
(The servant's name was Malchus.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(11)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Jesus said to Peter,
"Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father
has given me?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I read several definitions and
arguments between the difference of persuasion and manipulation online. Many said the difference is in the
motive. Persuasion is for the good of the
other, but manipulation is for the benefit of oneself. I don't agree with that completely. I see many in Christian circles who have a
motive of loving God and wanting to defend God's Word, but who can also be
manipulative and controlling in the way they do it, thinking truly, like Peter,
that they are doing God's will. At one
time I very fervently tried to persuade people that they could lose their
salvation, thinking I was defending God's Word of truth. I loved God and loved His Word and loved the
truth. I was sure I was right because I <i>studied </i>it thoroughly. But I was wrong. Gradually God showed me through His Word, and
deeper understanding of what it means to be "in Christ" and have
"eternal" life in Him, that I had been wrong. Like Peter, I was going against His Word and
purpose without realizing it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I see manipulation as someone who
is either convinced of something themselves or perhaps has selfish motives, and
uses whatever tactics he/she can to control others thinking to persuade them,
whether good intentions or evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christians operate in their own flesh to try to do the work of the Holy
Spirit at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don't stop at a
persuasive argument according to Scripture for the truth, but they must
<u>manipulate </u>that person emotionally into accepting it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are many ways to emotionally or spiritually control others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are guilt methods, condemning them if
they do not accept your argument, or making them feel like a lesser
Christian if they disagree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is emotional
manipulation in social media... "unfriending" someone who does not go
along with your manipulation, and going beyond that, putting them down in the
eyes of others, <i>slandering </i>them , telling others if you listen to that person you aren't really
walking with the Lord, or you are deceived, or in some way making them feel
they just are not very spiritual unless they follow your persuasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We must be careful in "contending for the faith" and "exposing false teaching" that we are not slandering a person's ministry and turning people away from true Biblical teaching that ministers to others for Christ. I've seen this happen, unfortunately because of one area of disagreement. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">If we are to persuade others to
follow the truth by the Spirit, we must give up our own manipulative tactics
and controlling ways to persuade them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
controlling people don't even know they are controlling. We must learn what our
job is and what the job of the Holy Spirit is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our job is to give the Word, in humility and love, realizing we can be
wrong too in some area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if we are
right, we must trust the Lord to lead us to give His truth in the right spirit,
at the right time, and to leave it with Him to persuade the heart and mind as
He works in the hearts of others. If we act out of our own fleshly passion
instead of being led by the Spirit we turn more people away from the Word, instead
of drawing them to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I've been under manipulating
pastors who use many tactics to control their audience. I've been manipulated
spiritually and emotionally. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've also
been under teachers who persuade by opening up God's Word of truth, and by His
Spirit, enlighten so that it is plain to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those who have been taught by God, know that it was only the Holy Spirit
Who brought the truth to their hearts and opened it up to them to see. If we
are not willing to give room for the Holy Spirit to work in hearts as we speak
truth to them, but try to manipulate them instead into listening, then we are
guilty of acting in our flesh like Peter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's bad enough to destroy God's work in the heart of another by our
manipulation when we are right, thereby perhaps hardening another's heart
against the truth when we seek to persuade them of it, but it's even worse when
we are actually wrong in our understanding of God's Word or His will or purpose
and then manipulate others into following us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I have two things I do now, if I
sense I am being manipulated by another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I feel I am sure and know I'm right in a particular teaching and have
been taught by God, but another is just as sure and trying to manipulate my
thinking on it, I take it before God and say, "Lord I believe You taught
me this, but if I have more to learn, please show me. If I'm right please
confirm Your Word to me, and if not, please open my blinded eyes to see more
clearly." Pray it with sincerity. And then go to the Word itself, not just
to your own arguments. Look at the Scriptures and arguments of the other in
light of God's whole Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
arguments come out of Scripture taken out of context mixed with human
reasoning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">If you cannot do that no matter
how right or studied you think you are, you are trusting your own flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it takes time for growth in a
person's life, including your own, before you are even able to accept certain
concepts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Proverbs 3:5-7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do
not lean on your own understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will
make straight your paths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Be not
wise in your own eyes</b>; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Pride keeps us from seeing our own
blindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pride in our own intellect,
or our own understanding of the Word, or in a favorite teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being part of a group that makes us feel a
family or belonging also keeps us blind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you are made to feel loved and accepted in a certain group of
persuasion or denomination or cult, it's almost impossible to even allow
yourself to look at anything differently, as it would possibly mean you being
cut off from this family of like-mindedness and the close bonds that are
associated with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is how cults
keep their members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The threat of being
cut off or disfellowshipped is very strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This can happen on social media as
well.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Certain groups of like-mindedness
group together, back each other up in their arguments and usually follow a
leader. Many times they don't have their own local church to attend, but the </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Internet</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> becomes a replacement of this.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> They really haven't learned "the body" of the Lord. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">They gang up with each other
against others and use emotional attacks rather than sticking with Scriptural
discussion. It's an unwritten rule that if you disagree with usually one or two
who rule the persuasion in this group, you'll be bashed, and disfellowshipped
from being a part of them.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So you just
go along with whatever they post without challenging whether or not you see
differently in the Word.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This is
allowing yourself to be manipulated by flesh, rather than persuaded by the
Word.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">If you go to the Word and the Lord
shows you otherwise, you need to listen to that, not this person, yet not with
a haughty spirit but in humility and grace and allow God to work.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We can rise up with our own manipulation in
the flesh right back also as we see differently and use attack tactics to try
to win the argument.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sometimes we have
to agree to disagree until the Lord brings more light to one or the other, love and bear with one another, pray for one another, and have a humble heart that is teachable,
but not manipulatable.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">There's a
difference. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">There's a time to back out of an
argument, when it becomes one sided and is no longer a discussion. If the other
person is "convinced" and insists you agree, then you have to leave
it and pray God will show you and them more clarification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can't do that you aren't relying on
the Holy Spirit but your are trying to control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Manipulation is just having to control by human tactics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I'm still learning, but I've gone
through a long, long journey with learning to not allow myself to be
manipulated and not to manipulate others myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've learned to see the same tactics over and
over. It's one of the hardest areas I believe, for especially more mature
Christians, and especially if you are passionate about certain teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they have walked with the Lord a long
time, and learned much and studied much, they feel they have a full grasp on
certain subjects, and they are blind to this area of their flesh and become
prideful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others see it and back away from
them and they don't understand why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
see themselves as contending for the faith and just write those off who won't
accept it as not seeing or accepting <i>truth</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they don't see that others feel the manipulation and feel the flesh
at work and are unable to receive anything from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I believe in our day especially,
it is more and more important to learn the schemes of the enemy, the
manipulation tactics in the world, and in the church, in the news, and in
social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible tells us to be
"sober-minded" and "watchful."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to be alert to the tactics of the
enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, alert to the tactics of
manipulation he even uses in us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody
loved his Lord more than Peter, yet satan tried to work through Peter against
His Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we're not careful he can do
the same with any of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(1 Peter 5:5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, you who
are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with
humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to
the humble."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(1 Peter 5:8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sober-minded; be
watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(2 Corinthians 2:11)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so that we
would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Satan is master of manipulation.
He knows very well our weaknesses and our fleshly flaws and strongholds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He uses them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is why we are to never give the enemy a foothold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our own flesh, unsubmitted to the Lord, is
the enemy's foothold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Grant us true humility and grace
and most of all, reliance truly on Your Spirit, dear Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we grow in this grace more and more for
Your glory, in Jesus name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-69354889292211376972018-05-26T05:41:00.000-07:002018-05-26T05:41:47.619-07:00THE CLOTHING THAT GOD ALONE PROVIDES<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w-l6bWGb-Z0/WwlVxxPpTcI/AAAAAAAAAlY/j41ltYVaeosIwiJQcpfYbp4cRbVsTwu2QCLcBGAs/s1600/beautiful-bloom-blooming-1108650%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w-l6bWGb-Z0/WwlVxxPpTcI/AAAAAAAAAlY/j41ltYVaeosIwiJQcpfYbp4cRbVsTwu2QCLcBGAs/s400/beautiful-bloom-blooming-1108650%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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To be clothed is to be covered with something, or to be
empowered or endowed with something. The Hebrew word is "labash."</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">"A very important figurative use of </span><span style="font-family: "Doulos SIL";">labash</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> is found in Judges 6:34, where the stative form
of the verb may be translated, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">'The
spirit of the Lord clothed itself</b> [was clothed] with Gideon.'<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea seems to be that the Spirit of the
Lord incarnated Himself in Gideon and thus empowered him from within. The
English versions render it variously: 'came upon' (KJV, NASB, JB); 'took
possession of' (NEB, RSV); 'took control (TEV); wrapped round' (Knox)." -
Vine's OT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">How remarkable to think God clothes Himself with
us when we become His children!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know
in His Word, in many places, how God clothes the sinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of
Eden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right away they saw that they were
not clothed. They were naked. But God made skins out of the sacrifice of an
innocent animal and clothed them Himself. When we see our own sin in God's
light, we also see how naked we are before Him, as our guilt is completely
exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God clothes us with His
righteousness - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"I will greatly
rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with
the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as
a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a
bride adorns herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Yet, the Bible also tells us
that Christ is "in us" - being clothed with us as His dwelling
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Or do you not know that your body is a <u>temple of the Holy
Spirit within you</u>, whom you have from God? You are not your own." (1
Corinthians 6:19)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">"To
them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the
glory of this mystery, which is <u>Christ in you</u>, the hope of glory."
(Colossians 1:27)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God has empowered us in every way for His perfect
salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He becomes our clothing and
we become His temple, where He permanently indwells us (John 14:16) and Who
will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). If we don't have the right
clothing, we cannot be welcomed into His presence. It is only the clothing He
provides that will be suitable. His presence could only indwell what is
righteously clothed before Him, according to His standards alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since it is His perfect clothing supplied,
not our own works, He is able to always indwell us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">"But
when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no
wedding garment. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a
wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants,
'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 22:11-13)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The only way to have the right
clothing is to acknowledge our nakedness and then to simply ask Him, believing
in His provision. But when we think to trust in our own, no matter how
glamorous or rich it may look to us, we will not be properly clothed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"For
you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that
you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from
me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that
you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and
salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see." (Revelation 3:17-18)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Many places in Scripture tell
us to "put on" Christ, or to "put on" certain actions or
attitudes, that are those of the Spirit Who indwells us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot put them on unless they have been
given to us. They are given to us by the blood of Christ and we are empowered
to "put them on" in the indwelling Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not self-effort but walking in faith
that "puts on" the clothing already given to us. We have been given a
new position that places us "in Christ" when we are born again and an
imputed righteousness that is His righteousness alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've been given the clothes to wear. Yet it
is still our responsibility to "put them on" outwardly in our actions
and attitudes as we walk by faith in that which has been given to us. We also
have the Holy Spirit indwelling us as the empowerment to clothe ourselves. It
is not our flesh trying to copy the "clothing" of righteousness that
only Christ can give.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He alone IS our
righteousness, and we are to clothe ourselves outwardly with the inward
clothing provided as He lives in and through us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">"I
have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who
lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What a marvelous salvation we
have! All the clothing we need to live godly in this world and to prepare us
for the eternal inheritance we have in Christ, has been provided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can never produce it ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can never imitate the right clothing in
our flesh by our striving. We can never change our own clothes, but when we
turn to Christ in faith and believe Him for His salvation by grace alone
through faith alone, we are clothed by Christ Himself for the perfect salvation
He has made for us. We have had our filthy rags removed, and have been clothed
with the perfect clothing He provides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
now <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yield</i> to Him by faith and daily
"put on" Christ as He abides in us. As we live in this world, the
world can only recognize to Whom we belong if we are outwardly clothed in the
King's apparel, as we live daily by putting on what He has provided. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-46382968390665755052018-05-10T09:31:00.003-07:002018-05-10T09:31:52.020-07:00THE FLESH VS. THE SPIRIT<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itQHvQ-JKZ4/WvRzv0cnjUI/AAAAAAAAAk4/EMMlXLHA-yEPJ6AUetv0Up4k1qgQbLXsQCLcBGAs/s1600/climbing%2Bmy%2Bmountain%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itQHvQ-JKZ4/WvRzv0cnjUI/AAAAAAAAAk4/EMMlXLHA-yEPJ6AUetv0Up4k1qgQbLXsQCLcBGAs/s400/climbing%2Bmy%2Bmountain%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's an ongoing battle for the believer - the flesh vs. the
Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact it is a sure sign that
you are in fact born of the Spirit that you have this battle going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who denies that it is there is simply
lying to themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a new
nature in the believer that pulls us toward God's will, works in us the mind and heart of God, convicts us when we go against that,
works in our hearts to "will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians
2:13)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An unbeliever does not have that. The believer has a sense of fellowship with God when he is abiding in Him, and a sense of loss and separation from God when he is walking in the flesh.</div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Galatians 5:16-17</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(16)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will
not gratify the desires of the flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(17)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the desires of the flesh are against the
Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are
opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Romans 7:15-17</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(15)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For I do not understand my own actions. For I
do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(16)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with
the law, that it is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(17)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin
that dwells within me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">1 John 1:8</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(8)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we say we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Note that John included himself in this statement - "if
we say WE have no sin." Sin refers to the sin nature… the principal of sin
that still abides in us as new creations in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we are to recognize this sin nature as
well as learn to see it as God sees it, and agree with Him, taking His side against it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to walk "in the Spirit" or
as abiding in, trusting in, filled with, and controlled by the Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is only in doing this that the desires of
the flesh are not gratified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
never, even for a moment, please God in our flesh, being controlled by and
motivated by and relying on our flesh, or human nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order, then to grow in our walk with Him,
we must learn to recognize the tactics of, not only the devil, but our own
flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a process of sanctification
or growth, and it is not automatic in a believer's life. And we don't automatically possess this ability no matter how close to God we are. </div>
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Hebrews 5:13-14</div>
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(13) for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.</div>
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(14) But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.</div>
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We must learn that our flesh is our own worst enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as we hold onto it, in any way, we
fall under its deception and we cannot please God. </div>
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Some of the influences of our flesh are very subtle and we
are blind to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are not asking
God to reveal our flesh to us, we are unable to "put it off," and
"put on Christ."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why a
believer who is not spending time in the presence of God, in the Word, letting
his flesh be exposed openly there, and receiving His fresh manna day by day, is
never able to grow in Him or please Him, regardless of what "Christian
service" he seeks to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Romans 8:5-8</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(5)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who live according to the flesh set
their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the
Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(6)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For to set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(7)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the mind that is set on the flesh is
hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(8)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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If we would please God we must learn to recognize the flesh
in ourselves and subdue it, by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes
when we have been Christians for a long time, we develop a "religious
flesh" that we think to be God's direction in our lives. It's hard to see
it, unless God reveals it. It comes through God's training and chastising as we learn to apply His Word to our walk.</div>
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Some of the most subtle flesh I have seen in myself and
others is trust in one's intellect, or their own understanding, even their own
thinking on things because they "studied."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've had many times in my past in my walk
that I "studied" very diligently, God's Word, and thought I knew and
I very zealously defended what I thought was a particular teaching there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trusted in my studying, my conclusions, and
how I saw it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sure I was right.
But because I was not yet at a place of spiritual maturity in the working of
God's Spirit in my heart in certain areas, I was unable to see more clearly the truths I was
overlooking or misunderstanding. Sometimes it is only through that growth
process that we are able to understand certain concepts in God's Word, and we
need to allow room for the Holy Spirit also to work in others' lives to bring
them to that place, rather than argue "Biblical facts" with them when
they can't see them. Some things are not learned intellectually, but only through God's working them into our hearts. We may think we understand the "letter" but have no experience with the truth behind it.</div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Proverbs 3:5-7</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(5)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do
not lean on your own understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(6)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will
make straight your paths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(7)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD,
and turn away from evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I silenced in argument all who came against what I saw at one time. I was out to straighten everyone out and correct them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God humbled me in such a way that I had
to bring my own understanding before Him (thought I did that, but yet I was
wrong), and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He showed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has ways of showing us when are heart
finally gives up its own defenses and purely wants God Himself to reveal light
to the heart and mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I was
seeking His truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I was, and
wanted to defend truth, but yet I was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we fail to see that no matter how learned and studied we are that we
can be wrong that we can study wrong, that we are depending on our own
reasoning because of preconceived ideas, or that we have been more heavily
influenced by a theology or teaching or study method so that we are more
relying on that than on the Lord, we can't get out of the way of thinking our flesh
or another's intellect has led us to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is only God Who reveals light. Our intellect can never do that. Our reasoning
can never bring us to God's conclusions. We can even come to a place where we only trust our own reasoning and disregard sound Bible teachers and become a church unto ourselves, withdrawing from the church.</div>
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I've learned also, that the flesh is easily manipulated by others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've learned not to let others manipulate me
regarding what to think, to believe, to act on, or not to let them control who
I associate with, who I listen to, who I respond or don't respond to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well meaning people who have a controlling
personality, though thinking they are doing the Lord's service, can control and
manipulate you so that you seek to please them instead of God Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You almost come to the point where they take
over the place of the Word itself and the Holy Spirit in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don't dare disagree with them because you
won't hear the end of it if you do, so you go along with, cater to, agree with,
and abide by their unspoken "rules" of "fellowship" in the relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don't act without asking yourself how
they will respond or think of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
are unable to trust yourself to seek God yourself for His approval or asking
yourself what pleases God, instead you are concerned with whether or not you
are following along with this persons approval. You are unable to trust God to lead you in discernment but you have to go along with whatever their "discernment" is.</div>
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In such cases, by God's Spirit, you have to come away from
that relationship and dependency on it and let God renew your mind and heart in
His Word and stand against this manipulation, even if this person has led you
into some great truths in the Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is the power of the flesh on both sides - the manipulator and the manipulated.
If you are in the place of the manipulator, you need to see what you are doing
is your flesh, and that you are not trusting God to work in others' lives, but
you are trying to be in the place of the Holy Spirit and controlling them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are the manipulated, you have to see
what is happening and turn away from it. </div>
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The flesh is more subtle than any other enemy we have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan is certainly subtle and knows how to trap
us in his snares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet what does he use
to trap us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He uses our own flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He uses our own desires of the flesh and
temptations, our pride and our religious flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knows our weaknesses and what we have not gotten control of through
the Holy Spirit in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are
an intellectual person, he uses that, and the pride and dependence on that
intellect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He uses your religious flesh of thinking you are more mature in the faith than you truly are, to convince you of what a great Christian you are and leads you into
self-righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even uses a false
humility, which is the flip side of pride to make you think you are a very
humble Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we ever escape
the pitfalls??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> How can we possibly discern our own hearts? We can't. </span>Only by abiding in Christ
daily, putting no confidence at all in our flesh, being on our guard and asking
God to reveal our flesh to us, can we be enabled to see, and walk in His light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When He
does we are to confess (agree with God), taking His side against it,
acknowledging it, not thinking that the flesh will ever improve, but instead
putting our confidence in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and relying
on the Holy Spirit to work in us to conform us to that righteousness outwardly,
yielding to His working by faith day by day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no short cut in our Christian maturity. We <i>will </i>make mistakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must acknowledge that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We <i>will </i>deceive ourselves or be deceived by
others. We must acknowledge that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
must trust in God alone to keep us, to teach us, to train us and to correct
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must not let our flesh or the
flesh of other people take the place of the Holy Spirit in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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I Peter 5:5b… "<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility
toward one another, for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>'God opposes the
proud but gives grace to the humble.'" We're all learning. If we come to the place where we are unteachable and think we can't learn yet from another, we're not in a safe place to be. We're under the influence of the flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">May the Lord grant us that grace of true humility before Him, and love
and grace toward others as well, as we are all being conformed to the image of
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we "bear with one
another" in love as Christ bears with us, in longsuffering patience and
kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Until that day when we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is, may our hearts be always trusting in Him. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-7604763995156004152018-01-27T06:08:00.000-08:002018-01-27T06:08:01.835-08:00WHAT IS TRUTH?<br />
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<i>John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth
will set you free."<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I
am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.</i><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>John 18:38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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What is truth? Just
like Pilate, many today are asking that question. Oprah Winfrey,
at the 75th Annual Golden Globes stated, "Speaking 'your truth' is the
most powerful tool we have.'" These days everyone has their own
"truth" which has completely redefined what the word means. In fact it has turned the word, truth, into a
lie. This is the pattern of Satan's
subtle way of lying to us. He turns
everything to mean the very opposite of its true meaning or essence. Satan has
convinced the world of his lie that he has used for ages past - that speaking
his lie which he convinces the deceived is truth, is the most powerful weapon
there is. Indeed, it is his only weapon
against us truly. Just as in the garden, he first convinced Eve that what God
said was not true and gave God's Words a little twist so that it appeared he,
himself actually had the real truth for Eve and it would benefit her. This is his same deception today, and it is
working well through the world's media and those given over to his ways. <br />
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But Jesus Himself claimed to <b><i>be</i></b> the truth. He <b><i>is</i></b>
the way, the truth, and the life. So all
truth is measured by Him, the living Word, and the written Word which He gave
and stands by. It is this truth by which
we receive freedom from the corruption of this world, our sinful nature, and
the bondage of lies. It is only this
truth that sets humankind free. Lies
will always end in a bondage of sorts, even though their appeal promises
otherwise. Lies appeal to our senses,
our self-love, our pride, our passions and desires, but they draw away from God
and a true relationship and understanding of Him. Therefore, in some way, even as we are
Christians, born of His Spirit, we can unknowingly be under a wrong
relationship with God or bondage to some lie that gives us a wrong concept of
God, of His salvation, of His love toward us, or of His ultimate plan. There have been times in my Christian life
when I walked under fear and oppression because Satan convinced me of a lie
about God, or about my standing with Him.
You see, he is not only the accuser of the brethren, but he is an
accuser of God to the brethren as well.
When God opened my eyes to see His Word and the truth of Who He is, what
His gift to me truly is, what His love to me is, I was set free! Satan could no
longer torment me or deceive me. I saw
the truth! I saw Jesus.<br />
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His lies sounded true. They even sounded Biblical. I read
those Scriptures over and over. So how do we know what is truly
"Biblical?" There are many, many groups out there claiming a corner
on the truth. There are many Christians claiming a love for the truth, and that
they only teach truth. In fact I came
across a website once that named itself "The Truth." Yet this person, as I began reading their
blog, showed his "truth" was in his own interpretations, not in the
Word itself and if you disagreed with his interpretations, he condemned you and
said you hated the truth. So many
Biblically illiterate follow these types of people because they don't read the
Bible and study it as a whole for themselves, but just follow someone who seems
to have a corner on it all, and think themselves in the truth because of that. <br />
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Why, if we all love the
truth, are there so many differences in Christendom over what truth is? I see 3 things, at least which I have
observed in my own life, that at least influence some of that. 1) We are still
in this body of flesh and have a sinful nature, even though born again. The
flesh strives against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh… <i>"</i><i>For the desires of the flesh
are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh,
for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want
to do</i>" (Galatians 5:17). Though we may even convince ourselves
we desire God's truth, our own hearts can deceive us and there may be some
teaching or thought that appeals to our sinful nature - yes, even our religious
flesh. We can be masters at deceiving
ourselves and convincing ourselves we have the truth, even using God's Word to
stand on, and this because… </div>
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2) Satan sees the
weaknesses in our flesh and uses them to persuade us, just as he did with Eve,
and even as he tempts us because of the lusts of our own flesh, he persuades
our religious flesh that is it something good, it is "Christian" and
it is "truth." What does it
produce in us? Does it open our hearts in love to God, humility toward
ourselves, grace and love toward others?
If not, it probably isn't the whole truth and nothing but the truth. </div>
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3) We all come from
different backgrounds, as well as denominational backgrounds and teachings. As
a new believer, I bonded immediately with those who showed me Christ. Those who taught me that I could be saved
through faith in Jesus Christ and that I could count on His Word that saved me,
I trusted that they had the truth of His Word to teach me how to live it. Now they were good Christian people who loved
God, but they also had some things wrong which I did not understand for a long
time in my Christian walk. Because of that, for many years I lived under a
bondage and fear of God that was not the kind of fear a believer in Christ
should have. But I only saw certain
Scriptures through the eyes of those who taught me certain doctrines. I was blind to seeing it any other way. I loved the truth. I gave my all to that
truth, trying to live according to it. I defended that truth with all I
had. But the hardest thing for me to one
day finally go through, was to face that what I thought was truth and clung to
as truth was not the truth at all. As I got on my face before God, and asked
Him to just take away all I had understood until now that was not right, and
teach me over again, teach me His true Word, He began opening my eyes,
reminding of times in my experiences that He tried to teach me, ways He tried
to show me, and how I was so stuck on what I had learned that I was blind to
it, but suddenly now my eyes were really seeing His Word, and what it was
saying. I was set free. When His truth comes into our hearts it sets
free and we are free indeed. His whole
Word began to open up to me more and more as I learned what it meant to be
"in Christ" and crucified and risen with Him, passed from death to
life, now able to live by the Spirit unto Him in newness of life.</div>
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Sometimes it takes a
crisis of faith in our own lives to drive us to really, really take a look into
His Word more thoroughly. Perhaps we
haven't learned how to study His Word. I
wish when I had first become a Christian, someone would have given me a class
on how to study His Word. There are
methods people use with His Word to come to a conclusion, which is really a
mishandling of His Word. We hear His
Word in a message but don't perceive it is misused, taken out of context, or
not accurately comparing Scripture with Scripture. We need to be of a humble heart and a
teachable spirit in the church, as we learn His Word from one another,
"speaking the truth to one another with love." We are in different
places in our walk, where spiritual pride should never have a place in our
minds and hearts. </div>
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The most learned
Christian scholars do not have a corner on the truth, because they have studied
hard. Sometimes we can study ourselves
right into the wrong thinking. We cannot depend on our own intellect or ability
to study. We must depend on God alone,
as His truth is spiritually discerned, not intellectually. He can use our intellect when given over to
Him, but if we trust in that itself, we are open for deception. We must bring it to Him, surrender it to His
cross, as it is also our flesh, and trust Him to fill us with His Spirit of
truth that leads into all truth. If we
cannot admit that we can be wrong, than we are already deceived. We are
deceiving ourselves. Yes, Christians can
be deceived. Yet if we <b>abide</b> in the Truth, we come to know Him
more and more and grow in His truth and understanding. One of the hardest things is to admit to
ourselves that we were deceived or that we were wrong. But it is one of the most freeing things as
well. May the Lord teach our hearts and lead us into His truth alone, and bring
us the grace to overcome through that truth, in Jesus name. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-46748719686301928112017-11-28T11:54:00.000-08:002017-11-28T11:54:01.481-08:00FULLY CONVINCED HE IS ABLE TO SAVE<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">And
the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing
which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy
cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the
sixth month with her, who was called barren. For <u>with God nothing shall be
impossible</u>. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord<u>; be it unto
me according to thy word</u>. And the angel departed from her. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Luke 1:35-38)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">And
blessed <span style="color: grey; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">is</span> she that
believed: for there <u>shall be a performance of those things which were told
her from the Lord. <o:p></o:p></u></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Luke 1:45)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Mary believed God, and the Son of God was miraculously
conceived in her and born from her.
"Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a <b>performance</b> of those things which were
told her from the Lord." This
miracle was an act from God. Mary simply
submitted herself to the Word sent by God to her from the angel, and believed
him. God performed the rest. A miracle took place, wrought by God, not
man. There was nothing any human being
could do to bring about the Savior of the world or Israel's Messiah. Just so, there is nothing man can do to bring
about another birth, the new birth of the believer -the life of Christ Himself
born in us. It is an act of God as we simply believe (trust in, adhere to, rely
on) <i>into</i> Christ, the only provision
for our salvation. </div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">But
to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the
flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(John 1:12-13)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">For
by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it
is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are
<b>his workmanship</b>, <b>created</b> <b>in Christ Jesus</b>…<span style="color: teal;"> (Ephesians 2:8-10a)</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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The Word of God is powerful and able to fully work in us
what He says He will do. It is the power of God that performs in us the new
life, when we believe in Him as our Savior, making us a new creation in Christ
Jesus. It is not our performance or works that saves us. What a wonderful salvation the Lord has
brought about for us! Man tries in so
many ways to complicate it with his own religion or works but God has shown us
all through His Word, that man is unable to be righteous at all, and God alone
is able to save us by fulfilling the righteousness and the penalty of the law,
and becoming our salvation, imputing righteousness to us. To think to save
yourself by performance or works is to degrade that salvation and nullify it
(Galatians 2:19-21).</div>
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What a wonderful gift God has given to the world! It should encourage our hearts to know that
just as He fulfilled His promise to come
to us, and to give the gift of His Spirit to dwell in us (Romans 8:9), that He
will just as surely fulfill His promise to complete our redemption by coming
again to take us to be with Him, changing our bodies to be like His, so we are
enabled to dwell with Him forever in unbroken fellowship. The first part of our salvation was
accomplished by giving us a new birth into Christ. We are given a promise by His Spirit, a
guarantee by that, that we will also see the completion of our redemption and
enter into our inheritance </div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">In
him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the
guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise
of his glory. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Ephesians 1:13-14)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I remember when I was a young
teen, seeking for the truth, seeking God's salvation, having been convicted of
my sin, and knowing I was lost and on my way to hell, how joyful I was to
discover that there was salvation for me!
I didn't know very much about God at the time. I didn't really know a
lot of doctrine or theology. I didn't
even know that much about Jesus. but just as when Moses held up the bronze
snake in the wilderness (Numbers 21:9, John 3:14) and all who looked upon it
were healed, I looked upon Jesus one day, believed in Him and what He did for
me, and asked Him to save me… and He did.
I remember when the person who prayed with me that day, told me He would
come into my heart and live there how joyful I was. Come into my heart? Yes!
Suddenly my eyes were opened, and I understood that I was a
"whosoever" and that Jesus died for me. For a couple years before that day I walked
around in darkness, trying desperately to clean up my life, to be better, to
quit sinning. But all my efforts were to no avail. I tried reading my Bible but didn't
understand it. What I did understand
from it was that I was a sinner and worthy of death. There was no escape from the law of God. I was struck by it. I cried out to God to show me if I could find
His salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God answers those desperate
cries. Anyone who seeks to know Him in
truth, God will answer that. He is so
eager to save "whosoever will."
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">My prayer is for many this
Christmas season to learn of His wonderful gift of salvation, and simply turn
to Him, <i>repent</i> (change your mind) and
believe in Him alone to save you, and trust that His Word is true, and He will
perform it. Blessed are you if you
believe what the Lord has spoken.
Blessed indeed, with everlasting life that can never be taken from you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Like Mary I want to sing, <i>"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the
Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble
estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me
blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his
name.'" <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Luke 1:46-49)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">My confidence in eternal
salvation does not come from myself, my goodness, any works I've done but I
have a confidence that what the Lord has spoken in His Word regarding His
salvation for "whosoever will believe in Him" is true and He will
perform it. It is for all! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Abraham was… <i>"fully convinced that God was able to
do what he had promised." <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Romans 4:21)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I am also fully convinced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-60911501275275958942017-11-21T18:40:00.001-08:002017-11-21T18:40:41.456-08:00LIVING IN THANKFULNESS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIerPM5Iu2o/WhTihA6p4mI/AAAAAAAAAjI/E9kP8a1_r6ofLDkf36Y1yqHmqe-h_40BwCLcBGAs/s1600/i%2Bgive%2Bthanks%2Bto%2Byou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIerPM5Iu2o/WhTihA6p4mI/AAAAAAAAAjI/E9kP8a1_r6ofLDkf36Y1yqHmqe-h_40BwCLcBGAs/s400/i%2Bgive%2Bthanks%2Bto%2Byou.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>This is an oldie but a goodie that I wrote several years ago. Still very relevant to today! I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving day!</b></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;">Col. 2:6.."As you therefore have received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and establised in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it <underline><b>with thanksgiving.</b></underline></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;">Phil. 4:6-7.."Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, <underline><b>with thanksgiving,</b></underline> let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The secret of having joy is learning to live in thankfulness always in all circumstances. This is God's will for us and He knows if we are always grumbling and unable to be thankful in <b>all things</b> that we will not have His joy and may even fall under the trials and temptations in our life. His joy is our strength and ability to endure.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">We are told to be thankful always...everyday...in all things, not just one day a year. Don't we feel good when we've spent Thanksgiving meditating on all the things we are thankful for? Just think if everyday was Thanksgiving! It should be for the believer in Jesus Christ!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I looked in my Thesaurus for synonyms of Thankful. Here is what I found: grateful, appreciative, acknowledge, give recognition, contented, satisfied, indebted to, pleased, kindly disposed, overwhelmed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The opposite of thankfulness is ungratefulness. Here are some synonyms for that: thankless, selfish, lacking in appreciation, grasping, demanding, forgetful, self-centered, unmindful, heedless, careless, insensible, dissatisfied, grumbling, unnatural, faultfinding, oblivious.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Quite an interesting comparison in attitudes here. I know for myself when my children are ungrateful it makes me hurt very much that they don't recognize what I have done for them...how I've given myself to them, even sacrificing my own wants or needs. It makes me feel they are so self centered when they only want more instead of being thankful for what they have as if they deserved it when it was a special treat or gift given. How rude someone seems to us and greedy when they are given a gift and turn their nose up at it because they wanted better.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">When we realize how much God has saved us from, sacrificing His own Son for us when we were gross sinners, who deserved His wrath; how can we be discontent with what He has given us? We are saying..."God...I deserve more!"</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;">1 Thess. 5:18.."in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Matthew Henry Commentary: "If we pray without ceasing, we shall want matter for thanksgiving in everything. We should be thankful in every condition,even in adversity as well as prosperity. It is never so bad with us but it might be worse. We never can have any reason to complain of God, and have always much reason to praise and give thanks. This is the <i>will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us, that we give thanks.</i> He allows us to rejoice evermore, and appoints us in everything to give thanks."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">John Gill's Exposition of the Bible: In everything give thanks… That is, to God the Father, in the name of Christ; see (Ephesians 5:20) thanks are to be given to him for all things, as the Ethiopic version renders it; for all temporal good things; for our beings, the preservation of them; for food and raiment, and all the mercies of life; for the means of grace, the word and ordinances, and the ministers of the Gospel; for spiritual blessings, for electing, redeeming, regenerating, adopting, pardoning, justifying, and persevering grace: for a meetness for heaven, a right unto it, and a good hope of it; and especially for Jesus Christ, for such an husband, such an head, such a surety and Saviour, and advocate with the Father, as he is; and for life, peace, joy, comfort, righteousness, and salvation in him: and thanks should be given to God in every circumstance of life; in adversity, as Job did; when not in so comfortable and agreeable a frame of soul as to be wished for, since it might be worse, and is not black despair; even under the temptations of Satan, since they might be greater and heavier, and since the grace of God is sufficient to bear up under them, and deliver out of them, and since there is such a sympathizing high priest and Saviour; and in afflictions of every kind, since they are all for good, temporal, or spiritual, or eternal.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">You see in giving thanks always we are protected from giving the devil a foothold in our lives through fear, unbelief, discouragement...etc. To give thanks is to say God is in control...I trust Him with all of my life everyday and am content and overwhelmingly grateful for what He has provided according to His abundant grace, knowing I deserve nothing but death and wrath.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">We give thanks even in adversity! Nothing is really adverse when we are in Christ, because...Rom. 8:28..<i>"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."</i> and...Rom. 8:31..<i>"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"</i> and...Rom. 8:37...<i>"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Today and everyday let us <b>live</b> in thankfulness!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">God bless and keep you!</span></div>
GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-35624905913546883742017-10-14T05:20:00.003-07:002017-10-14T05:22:46.066-07:00PSALM 23 PRAYER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxB7BuxgnTIN7CvP_rxkhbt3z8x-cwmD7eoHPcuhwSzxCM494b3gfe429LrKQdT9LfdIpd59xQozswSTWEGFg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://livingscripturesdevotionals.blogspot.com/2017/10/psalm-23-prayer.html">http://livingscripturesdevotionals.blogspot.com/2017/10/psalm-23-prayer.html</a></div>
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There are days when my heart is full of prayer, but no words. I often look to the Psalms to find the words to express the prayer of my heart to God. I don't know another Psalm that more people have found solace in than Psalm 23. I have so often found it just the right prayer of my heart to my Shepherd, and the peace of knowing He is all to me.<br />
<br />
He reveals Himself to us in so many ways. A father, a brother, a husband, a bridegroom, a Savior to the uttermost, our portion, our daily bread, our all sufficiency, our Shepherd. He is a protector of our souls. A Shepherd provides all, guides and protects and keeps from all predators. There are times in life when the "valley of the shadow of death" seems incredibly real. We must walk through it. I never looked at this Psalm as being for the dying. I find it is for the living - those who walk with the Lord through this world, which is a valley - a very dark valley with death always overshadowing on every side. But when we walk through it with our Shepherd, He cares for every need, provides every want, protects, guides, delivers, feeds, anoints, and we have assurance that in the end we will arrive at our destination, to dwell in His Heavenly home forever with Him.<br />
<br />
I hope you will enjoy this video I put together above as a prayer and meditation. It's very short. If it blesses you, please share it with others.<br />
<br />
Yours in Christ,<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>Ginny</i></span>GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-55401631028748976522017-09-23T03:34:00.000-07:002017-09-23T03:34:48.745-07:00MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CsccRlTJ1Yo/WcY4fAKrVII/AAAAAAAAAiY/khR937ZHIlY5EnQGsx5dEAwkIJZ69TmrQCLcBGAs/s1600/waves%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bsea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CsccRlTJ1Yo/WcY4fAKrVII/AAAAAAAAAiY/khR937ZHIlY5EnQGsx5dEAwkIJZ69TmrQCLcBGAs/s400/waves%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bsea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><i><b>And he said, "My presence will go with
you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence
will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><b>(Exodus 33:14-15)</b></i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Are you familiar with the song, "I'll Go
Where You Want Me to Go?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="BODY" style="margin-left: 113.4pt; tab-stops: .25in 113.4pt;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It may not be on the mountain</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’s height,<br />
Or over the stormy sea;<br />
It may not be at the battle’s front,<br />
My Lord will have need of me;<br />
</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But if by a still, small voice He calls,<br />
To paths that I do not know,<br />
I</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’ll answer, dear
Lord, with my hand in Thine,<br />
I’ll go where You want me to go.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="BODY" style="margin-left: 113.4pt; tab-stops: .25in 113.4pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="BODY" style="margin-left: 113.4pt; tab-stops: .25in 113.4pt;">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Refrain:</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
I</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’ll go where You want
me to go, dear Lord,<br />
O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;<br />
I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,<br />
I’ll be what You want me to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="BODY" style="margin-left: 113.4pt; tab-stops: .25in 113.4pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Perhaps today there are loving words<br />
Which Jesus would have me speak;<br />
There may be now in the paths of sin,<br />
Some wand’rer whom I should seek;<br />
O Savior, if Thou wilt be my guide,<br />
Though dark and rugged the way,<br />
My voice shall echo Thy message sweet,<br />
I’ll say what You want me to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">There’s surely somewhere a lowly place,<br />
In earth’s harvest fields so white,<br />
Where I may labor through life’s short day,<br />
For Jesus the Crucified;<br />
So trusting my all to Thy tender care,<br />
And knowing Thou lovest me,<br />
I’ll do Thy will with a heart sincere,<br />
I’ll be what You want me to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Moses said to the
Lord, "If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from
here." I've been saying the same to
the Lord lately. "Lord, I can only
go where You're taking me right now if Your presence is with me and You take my
hand and lead me through it. I cannot go
there without You." What's
impossible for man is possible with God.
God is still doing the supernatural.
For me, the strength to go through this trial and what I see coming on
the horizon, will take nothing less than the supernatural power of God
upholding me through it all, in order for His will to be done, for His name to
be glorified in me, and in order for me to stand and walk this path without
fainting. If God's presence does not go
with me, I can't. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">So often we say,
"I can't Lord." I think I've
learned that does not phase God. Our
"I can'ts" don't stop God.
What hinders His will is when we stop there and don't see that </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">He can</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. Our
"I can'ts" should only help us more fully to cling to and trust in
and rely on His "I can." So many
times in the past, as I look back, I see how often I came to an "I
can't" mountain. But God showed me
through it Who He is to me, how much He loves me, His grace is sufficient, His
power made perfect in weakness. We hear
that over and over, and it's easy to say, "Yes, Lord!" when all is
well, but when you are plunged into something you never thought would happen to
you, that you dread, that you just cannot handle, it's a bit different to say,
"You can, Lord!" when you want
to scream, "DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN!" But as we, very shakingly take
His hand, choose to trust the Lord, and choose to let Him walk you through this
no matter the outcome, He always does reveal His glory in it. If we walk in bitterness, self pity, fear,
anxiety, etc., we don't escape the circumstances, we just don't see His glory
in it or experience His power to go through it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Moses said,
"Please show me your glory." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(Exodus
33:18)</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">This is where the
Lord wants to get us to in our hearts, in our motives, and in our true desire.
"Please show me Your glory."
This is what I've learned to say and to truly seek. Oh, I am not so strong as to not want His
deliverance from the circumstances! I do pray for that. But I also pray, "Lord, not my will but
Yours be done. Show me Your glory."
I can pray that, not because I am so spiritual or good in myself, but
because the Lord's working and chastisement in my life has shown me over the
years that His will is good, and way better than mine. His glory is my delight and life and
blessing, and whenever He is glorified, it brings light to all who see it. His glory is beyond our imagination and those
who love Him are those who are privileged to see it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">And he said, "I
will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The
LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy
on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face,
for man shall not see me and live." And the LORD said, "Behold, there
is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes
by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand
until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my
back, but my face shall not be seen." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(Exodus
33:19-23)</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Yet some day, oh what
joy! Some day, we who are in Christ, will see Him face to face! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">See what kind of love
the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we
are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared;
but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him
as he is. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(1 John
3:1-2)</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">When I see His glory,
even in the small glimpses He gives us now in this life, it strengthens me, it
emboldens me, it encourages me to go on, and walk wherever He takes me in this
life. It takes away my fears and
anxieties and His presence with me gives me the peace and assurance I need to
boldly walk where He is leading, knowing He is sufficient for whatever is
ahead. What He calls us to, He equips us for, IF we are trusting in Him and
abiding in Him. In His presence we can
face the storm, the hurricane, the tsunami, the fire, or whatever we are led in
to. A long time ago, the Lord spoke to
my heart, as a young believer seeking His guidance and provision regarding
college and His will for my life, "Ginny, I have your whole life all
mapped out for you." So I didn't
know this was on the map, but I don't want to take a wrong turn off the map
that He has for me, so I take His hand and let Him lead me through whatever is
ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">But now thus says the
LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not,
for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not
overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the
flame shall not consume you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(Isaiah
43:1-2)</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Did He promise this
just to Israel? Or to us also?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">For ye have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit
of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs;
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(Romans
8:15-17)</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose. For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be
for us, who can be against us? He that spared
not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him
also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's
elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from
the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is
written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep
for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(Romans
8:28-39)</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">So with confidence, I
pray, Lord, if I must go through this fiery trial, please go with me, taking my
hand, giving me the strength and be glorified through it. Please let me see Your glory, in myself, and
in others through me, and let that glory have its way to bring forth light and
truth and life. Let Your presence go
with me and bring rest. In Jesus name and through His power alone, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-68521705110953833272017-09-06T10:11:00.001-07:002017-09-06T10:11:03.223-07:00HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RmKvuU2qMrQ" width="560"></iframe>
<a href="https://youtu.be/RmKvuU2qMrQ">https://youtu.be/RmKvuU2qMrQ</a>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Decided to try a video project today. Narration from Psalm 33. The whole earth is in turmoil, but God has the earth in His hands. As we trust in Him we do not need to fear or be shaken by anything in this world. He Who created it has the world and us in His hands. The world will come to an end, and He will shake what can be shaken (At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." This ph</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">rase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.)<br />(Hebrews 12:26-27) but those who trust in Him will have everlasting life in Him. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Are you feeling shaken today? We are seeing natural disasters increase all over the world and here in our own nation. We are seeing evil and violence wanting to force and bully their way and bring lawlessness and disorder. We see injustice. We see lies prevail. What can we do? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">We can look up, as the Bible tells us because our redemption draweth nigh. It means evil is being exposed and those who have rejected Christ are being given over to their own evil ways because it's what they insist on and the whole earth is groaning for its redemption, and all these things are a sign that our redemption draweth nigh. Birth pangs continue to become stronger (Matt. 24:8). Even so, many will refuse to look to the Lord and see He alone is our Savior. He alone, Who made the earth and all who are in it, can save, can heal, can restore, and in Him alone is there hope. He will shake what can be shaken, what man has put his trust and hope in. He will show it for what it is. When He removes His hand of protection we see it for what it is, and we cry out to God because we know instinctively, even if we've claimed to not believe in God, that there is a God Who can do something. No, He is not a big genie in the sky who will fix your life just the way you want it. He has warned over and over again through His Word and His prophets, and His servants of what the natural consequences are of rejecting or ignoring His Word and His commandments and refusing His only salvation.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>Yet He holds out His hand still,</b> even as He lets us see what happens when men reject Him...chaos. It should cause us to stop and ponder. It should cause us to run to His Word to find light and truth and meaning. It should cause us to see how futile everything we hold dear in this world is and how short our lives are, and how very dependent they are on Him. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">God loves us. He loved us so much that He came here to this earth in the form of a man, suffered and died for our sins, even though spotless and guiltless Himself, and says all you need do is believe on Him, just trust Him as your Savior from all that causes evil...SIN...and you can be saved and live in His Heaven of perfect love and beauty and glory forever and ever. You don't have to earn it. You can't make yourself acceptable or ever save yourself. If you could He would not have had to bear the cross. Just come to Him. He bids all to come to Him. And all who come to Him He will in no wise cast out. Just call on Him in faith. Believe in Him with your heart and mind and strength. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">(John 6:35)</span></span><br />
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All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. </div>
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(John 6:37)</div>
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There is a place where no storm or natural disaster can touch, where no evil will ever be, where only love and joy and peace abound. This is the inheritance of those who trust in Him.</div>
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Revelation 21:3-8</div>
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(3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.</div>
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(4) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."</div>
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(5) And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."</div>
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(6) And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.</div>
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(7) The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.</div>
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(8) But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."</div>
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GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-1552297159223785472017-08-09T19:32:00.003-07:002017-08-09T19:32:37.145-07:00FEAR, ANXIETY, WEARINESS OF THE SOUL<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knBqTcJrb0s/WYvErt_lKKI/AAAAAAAAAh4/LZZwAqkKw_gT1-CPx_NNwNHplc4ut7rQQCLcBGAs/s1600/roaring%2Blion2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="940" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knBqTcJrb0s/WYvErt_lKKI/AAAAAAAAAh4/LZZwAqkKw_gT1-CPx_NNwNHplc4ut7rQQCLcBGAs/s400/roaring%2Blion2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">2 Corinthians 1:8-10</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(8)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For we do not want you to be
unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so
utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(9)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Indeed, we felt that we had
received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves
but on God who raises the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(10)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> He delivered us from such a
deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will
deliver us again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I've experienced a weariness of soul
lately. I've battled anxiety and
fear. I tend to run away and want to
curl up in a corner that's safe and escape it all. But sometimes life won't let us escape. Fear
and anxiety is like a relentless pounding away on you until you can't take
anymore. I can almost relate to what
Paul said above "Indeed, we felt that we received the sentence of
death." Not that I am dying of
anything but in my soul, I felt "the sentence of death" or that I was
dying inside and could never stand up again.
But, as Paul also said, <b>"But that was to make us rely not on
ourselves but on God who raises the dead."</b> Sometimes we feel just dead
inside and lose hope. No strength left
for the griefs and sorrows it throws at us.
No more fight in ourselves. No
hope of happiness in this life again.
The enemy of our souls brings us down further and further into the
muck. He exaggerates the trial in our
minds so that the battle is, in our mind, way beyond the actual facts and blown
out of proportion. Or he blinds us to
the real battle and the seriousness of it as we try for sanity's sake to block
out reality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God does neither. God reveals truth to our hearts always. He shows us the proper perspective rather
than an exaggeration, and He also shows us the reality of a situation.
Sometimes truth brings us fear and anxiety, but when God brings unpleasant
truth to us, He also brings assurance of His presence, His power, and His
deliverance so that we do not despair but rest in His unfailing love. So that
we look beyond the trial and see Him.
Long ago I wrote down a saying I read, "every impossibility is an
opportunity for God to reveal Himself and show His strength." So many times since, I've had to put that to
the test and say, "Lord, here's Your opportunity. Take it. It's too much for me." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I'm learning a few things about fear and
anxiety and weariness. First of all, <b>you'll
never ever be free of fear if you are afraid of the fear.</b> The more you run from it, the more it chases
you down and overcomes you. It is like a
roaring lion. We fear its torment. So we run from it. The fear of the fear is worse than the actual
object we are fearing! It is a vicious cycle. Soon the panic beomes the thing
you fear and you forget the reason for it. I used to have a recurring nightmare
of a bear chasing me and I would run with all my might but as in dreams so
often, my legs would become like lead, and not move and I would almost be
overtaken by the bear and then I would wake up.
I know at that time the dream was coming because of a particular fear
that was chasing me. Finally I faced the
fear. And in my dream I faced the bear
and defeated him. Finally I faced my
fear again recently and told myself, "so what if this fear causes me
pain." It won't kill me. If it does, good! I'll be home with
Jesus. But it won't. I CAN endure it, and I can go on because in
the fear I have found the presence of Jesus there. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in
the fiery furnace, when I let the flames of fear surround me, they don't scorch
me at all. The presence of Jesus is
there with me in it and I find myself thankful for the trial that brought me to
such a presence of His love and fellowship.
I wouldn't know this fellowship outside of this furnace. So let the fear come. The flames won't kindle upon me. Christ is in me. I learned to lay down in the fear instead of
struggling against it. If I perish I
perish. But I didn't. I rose up again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Another thing that I gained through my anxiety
attacks, was again to go back to what the Lord had given me years earlier, to
flood my mind with His Word. I again
made a recording of Scripture and listened to it. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the
Spirit of the Lord raises up a standard against Him (Isa. 59:19). His Word is that standard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God's Word is healing, soothing balm for the
soul, faith building, and it is personally spoken to the heart of the believer
who is trusting in Him and looking to Him.
Again I experienced such a faith and confidence in my God through the
midst of the fire of anxiety. I've
always said anxiety is a greater pain than any physical pain I have ever
endured. I understand my son's suicide
because of the unrelenting anxiety he endured.
I don't condone it and I know God had a better plan, and if we resort to
that, we miss all God had planned in revealing Himself to us and blessing our
lives. But I do understand the intensity
and unbearableness of the pain and his inability to bear it any longer. If someone held your hand over a fire how
long do you think you could keep it there?
What if they gave you pain meds to help?
Or stood near you patting you on the back cheering you on or trying to
console you? NONE OF THAT would stop the
intense pain of the fire consuming your hand and you would not even be able to
think about anything else or listen to them. Many say suicide is an act of
selfishness, and in some cases it may be, but much of the time, it is simply an
act of escape from the horrible fire inside you. Only God Himself can walk into
that fire with you and keep it from harming you and deliver you. God has a better way. We have to look to Him. I have found in the
midst of my anxiety and unbearable pain, many times, that as I cry out to Him
in my weakness and helplessness, and flood my soul with His life-giving
powerful Word, He heals, He gives faith, He raises me up, He restores. He strengthens for the battle and enables me
to rest in Him even as I cast my care onto Him and know the battle belongs to
Him. He gives me the power of patience,
as I wait for Him. I can afford the patience knowing He will come and He will
answer, and He will do all He said "in yet a little while."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I guess I'm bearing my soul right now and
exposing myself and making myself very vulnerable, yet I feel compelled to both
reach out with hope for those who are struggling with this, and wanting to give
God glory for the wonderful discovery of Him I am finding through it. I even truly (surprising to myself) came to
the point I thanked God for the trial because of what I could see it producing
in my heart. Yes there was still pain, but with it a sweetness and
comfort. Just as there is nothing more
painful in my mind than fear and anxiety, there is nothing more wonderful than
God's very presence. I wish I could
describe it, but there is no way to do that.
You have to experience it. It's
in our pain we experience the greatest manifestations of His very presence and
reality, almost as tangible as if we could see Him face to face and reach out
and touch Him. No - even more tangible than that, because He is on the inside
of me manifesting His presence and power in me. I wish I could give that to
every one of my readers without the pain of the trials, but it is the pain of
the trials that brings that kind of presence to us. Because of that, I am no longer afraid of the
fear. I'm no longer afraid of the
anxiety. Let it come. Christ comes with it.
His promises become more precious to me and more alive. His Word opens up to me and becomes my
delight more than it ever could otherwise.
He becomes my peace. He
Himself. I no longer look for peace
separated from Him. He IS my peace. It makes me want to walk very close to Him,
abide in Him, and let nothing disturb that fellowship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I know that I know He will answer my prayers,
and that He will fulfill His perfect love and plan for me. I know that I know I
can count on Him to see me through, even though I don't feel able at all. I know that I know my God is faithful and
keeps His Word, and because I have been listening to His Word I know what He is
saying to me and I have an answer to all the fiery darts of the enemy. They cannot penetrate this armor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I also learned something about weariness.
Sometimes we grow weary and just need to lie down. When you do, don't quit, don't give up, but
lie down and rest. Rest in Jesus. Commit yourself and your life into His hands
and casting all onto Him. Rest and let
Him build you up again until you once again can walk and not faint, and run and
not be weary. Rest in His promises. Let the hymns minister to you. Exhaustion can
give us a distorted view of life and troubles.
When Elijah was weary from the battle he became depressed and God gave
him rest and fed him. So rest and let
God feed you. You'll see everything
differently. You don't feel that you can
do the smallest task when you are weary and tired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Matthew 11:28-30</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(28)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Come to
me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(29)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Take my
yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(30)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For my
yoke is easy, and my burden is light."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The burden becomes too much when we pull
against the yoke and strive in ourselves.
If we rest in His yoke we will find the strength to go on. When our soul
is in intense battle, our bodies also become very tired and weak. We don't feel strength to go on. It is as we
physically lie down and rest, quit striving, and learn of Him, letting Him
reveal Himself to us that our bodies also find refreshment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Our thought life plays a major role in our not
becoming depressed. Paul said for a
reason to "rejoice always."
Our thought patterns can actually alter our brain waves. We can get stuck in a negative brain wave
pattern. In order to pull out of it, we
need to rejoice in the Lord, pray, trust, be thankful, think on the right
things. At first this takes work. That's
why I listen to Scripture. It does that
for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Philippians 4:4-8</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(4)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, rejoice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(5)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Let your reasonableness be known
to everyone. The Lord is at hand;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(6)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(7)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(8)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Finally, brothers, whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is
anything worthy of praise, think about these things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">May the Lord minister to you and build you up
in His faith today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-37281381934539921532017-08-03T06:09:00.000-07:002017-08-03T06:09:44.217-07:00REVISITING MY PORTION, THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART<br />
I wrote a devotional on <a href="http://livingscripturesdevotionals.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-lord-as-our-portion.html" target="_blank">The Lord As My Portion</a> a while back. I find myself once again praying over and over, "You, Lord, are my portion" as I'm once again being led through places in this life I don't want to go, and as life takes turns I wish I could reverse but can't. Once again I'm reminded of the fact that God alone is the portion of the Christian. We are blessed in many ways in this world, given many gifts and pleasures in this world, and enjoy the provisions of the Lord. But every once in a while, the Lord reminds us that it is not those things that are our life or our portion, but it is He Himself. Sometimes life is full of uncertainty and fears. When that happens once again we must draw close to the Lord and ask Him to show us that He indeed is our portion, and to manifest Himself as that in our situation. It doesn't matter that I share details of my own burdens because we all have them. We're all from time to time plunged into overwhelming life situations that we think are beyond our endurance. Our hearts faint. But when we call out to Him and feed on His promises we find He indeed is the strength of our hearts and our portion. I revisited my earlier devotional this morning and felt God wanted me to listen again to what He had given to me then. Once again, and in fact even stronger than the first time, it strengthened my heart, so I put it to video and hope that it will be a blessing as well and encouragement to some, to trust the Lord to be your portion, no matter what you are facing. <a href="https://youtu.be/2IhN18WZZHk">https://youtu.be/2IhN18WZZHk</a> <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2IhN18WZZHk" width="560"></iframe>
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<br />GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-84588561430222830212017-07-19T06:52:00.000-07:002017-07-19T06:52:19.893-07:00BOWING DOWN TO THE WORLD'S IMAGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vfPgsVAWhG4/WW9j0B19KnI/AAAAAAAAAhc/F5eBbrbu6NwXPkLjW_uXdjpRNnRYssbhQCLcBGAs/s1600/daniel_three_hebrews_refuse_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="600" height="258" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vfPgsVAWhG4/WW9j0B19KnI/AAAAAAAAAhc/F5eBbrbu6NwXPkLjW_uXdjpRNnRYssbhQCLcBGAs/s400/daniel_three_hebrews_refuse_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold,
whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the
plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to
gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the
treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the
provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had
set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the
treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the
provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had
set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the
herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and
languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp,
bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden
image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and
worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace." <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Daniel 3:1-6)</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Have you ever imagined yourself in such a
situation as the one above? Have you
thought about what you would do? Many
Christians, today, are even now being faced with the above situation
daily. Some giving up their lives. To some, it is obvious. They are told renounce Christ and bow down to
allah, or die after we have fun torturing you for a time and then let you die
the most horrible death we can think up for you. But here in the West it is much more subtle. In America we hear "Bow down to the
political correctness, the god of this world, of humanism, or we will destroy
you one way or another." Many
churches are bowing down to them and teaching their congregations to do so as
well, rather than standing for God and His Word and trusting Him to walk through
the fire with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">As believers in the Word of God, walking
according to that Word, just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could not but
stand true to God and bow down to the true God of Heaven alone, we cannot bow
down to the god of this world, the god of humanism. Some, even in our beloved "free"
America have been harassed, fined, imprisoned, or even killed because of it.
Yet there are those among the "church" that seem to want to bow down
to the image created by man. There is
another jesus, another church, another christianity that they bow down to which
pretty much bears the exact same image as the image of the god of
humanism. They have even written their
own "bible" (The Message), which is not even a paraphrase, but a
rewriting of God's Word and makes it the laws of humanism, rather than
God's. It is man's bible, not God's.
Sadly many Christians are fooled by it, thinking it's just another paraphrase
and they read it and replace God's Word with it. Since they are not really
abiding in or studying God's Word they cannot discern the clear difference in
the way it is reworded. How subtle the
devices of the enemy! If he cannot get you to stop reading the Bible
altogether, he will give you a corrupted bible that sounds like God's Word but
is changed enough so that those who don't love His Word will be fooled by it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">These things you have done, and I have been
silent; <b>you thought that I was one like yourself.</b> But now I rebuke you
and lay the charge before you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Psalms 50:21)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">And now we have books like The Shack, that
promote a different god, a different jesus, a different Holy Spirit, than that
of the Bible. So many are worshipping a
very humanistic image, in one form or another and think by doing so they are
saving themselves. This humanistic jesus appeals to them and the passions of
their flesh and does not require holiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What image do you bow down to or worship. To worship means to bow down, to prostrate
oneself, to do homage. In our hearts we
do homage to and serve either the God of Heaven, or the god of this world or
the god of self. As believers in the One
true God, we cannot have two masters. We
must hate the one and love the other. We
cannot bow down to the world's system or their image of another jesus, and yet
be true to the real Jesus of the Bible.
We think to compromise and be okay with both, but we are lying to
ourselves. You will not have the
fellowship with God or the power in your life to live for Him if you are
compromising with the world. You are putting yourself in a place of
"enmity" to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">There are certain Jews whom you have appointed
over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or
worship the golden image that you have set up." Then Nebuchadnezzar in
furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they
brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them,
"Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my
gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when
you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every
kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and
good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning
fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. <b>If this be so,
our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and
he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. <u>But if not</u>, be it known to
you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that
you have set up." </b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Daniel 3:12-18)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Notice the response of these three young men
of God. "But if not, be it known to you O king, that we will not serve
your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." Even if God does NOT deliver us, we will
still not serve your gods. No matter
what, we will not bow down to your image.
So often we put conditions on our service to God. If God answers my prayers, I'll serve
Him. If God gets me out of this one,
I'll serve Him. If God shows Himself to
me in the way I want to see Him, then I'll serve Him. But when a person has the One true God living
in his being, and <i>truly knows</i> the God of the Bible and abides in Him,
then no matter what the consequences, the pain, the inconvenience, the
discomfort, we just have to say no to the god of this world and yes to the God
we know and bow down to Him alone, regardless of the consequences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">This story is always a strength to me, because
it presents a clear picture. So often
the picture is blurred and we think we can compromise a little here and a
little there so as not to suffer the "offense of the Gospel" from the
world around us. We are always being
tempted to compromise and try to hold onto both worlds. We cannot hold onto both the flesh and the
Spirit. We must give in to one or the other.
We only deceive ourselves in our compromise, and we cave in to and bow
down to our flesh, all the while deceiving ourselves into thinking we are
walking with God still (Gal. 5:16-17).
There are always consequences for our choices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God did deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednigo through the fire and out of it, and in the process Nebuchadnezzar saw
the power of God and acknowledged Him as a true God. Though Nebuchadnezzar did not yet recognize
Him as the <u>only</u> true God, He protected God's followers because of it,
and allowed them their worship of God.
Sometimes standing with uncompromising firmness allows God to show
Himself strong through us to the world around us, and some are delivered out of
the world as they see God's glory. Other
times we are weak for His sake and not delivered from the perils we face
because of our stand for God. Many over
the centuries have been martyred because of their testimony for the Lord. But
just like these three young men, we must decide who our God is and who we will
bow down to or not, whether or not He delivers us in this life. Ultimately all of God's children will be
delivered, whether through death and being brought into our eternal home with
Him, never to be touched by evil again, or through rapture, being caught up in
the air to meet Him when He comes in the clouds to gather His church home to be
with Him forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">"If the world hates you, know
that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world
would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose
you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I
said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me,
they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do
not know him who sent me. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(John 15:18-21)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">So often our hearts fool us into thinking we
can have our Christian life and be loved by the world as well. But as the days grow more and more evil, the
line is being drawn more clearly between those who are bowing down to the god
of this world and those who are servants of Christ. The only way you can know for sure is to read
the Word of Christ, and seek to understand what He has clearly said about
Himself to all those who would want to know Him and belong to His family. Many pastors and teachers today are telling
their congregations and followers that they don't need to read the Bible. They only need to empty their minds and be
still and listen to <i>the spirit</i> speak to them. But if they are not comparing all to the Word
of Jesus, then they are listening to a different jesus, not the true Jesus of
the Bible. If they are being told by
that jesus of the humanist making or that of a demonic spirit, that they don't
need God's Word, then it is a counterfeit and they are being led astray into
deception.<b> God's Spirit always draws
us to the Word of God - the very Word that He Himself inspired men to write</b>.
He has never changed or disqualified that Word or lowered its significance.
Jesus said the first important sign of the last days would be deception, that
even the elect themselves, if it were possible, (and the Greek implies that it
is), would be deceived by false prophets, teachers, and false Christs. If you are joining forces with the world that
hates the Bible and hates all followers of it, then you are bowing down to the
wrong god whether you are in a Christian church or not. I don't care how loud or lively they sing,
clap, jump up and down, fall down, or what manifestations you are experiencing
or seeing, if they are not bowing down to the God of the Bible but find
themselves to be friends with the world, then they and you are in "enmity
with God." (James 4:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Time is short for us on this earth. We must "choose this day" whom we
will serve (Joshua 24:15). Today is the
day of salvation for all who would come to Him (2 Corinthians 6:2). He calls all and says "whoever will
come, let him come and drink freely."
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The Spirit and the Bride say,
"Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the
one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without
price. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Revelation 22:17)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">To those believers who are in a false church
preaching the gospel of this world rather than the Gospel of Christ, come out
from among them and turn to the true Christ and His true Word of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has
light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a
believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with
idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make
my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from
them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I
will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the
Lord Almighty." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(2 Corinthians 6:14-18)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Have you truly received the Gospel of
salvation through the true Christ of the Bible?
Have you been born of His Spirit?
<u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/helpseek/salvatio.htm"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/helpseek/salvatio.htm</span></a></span></u> Don't gamble with your eternity. You can know for sure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-83266731445692988912017-07-07T07:06:00.000-07:002017-07-07T07:06:00.144-07:00SHOULD WE HATE THE SIN AND LOVE THE SINNER?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kD3mrHwj6Cw/WV-TH4j0GVI/AAAAAAAAAg8/sF861FBYOVw_Ko35YYCubXVMLrmgBU_sQCLcBGAs/s1600/rain%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bjust%2Band%2Bunjust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kD3mrHwj6Cw/WV-TH4j0GVI/AAAAAAAAAg8/sF861FBYOVw_Ko35YYCubXVMLrmgBU_sQCLcBGAs/s400/rain%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bjust%2Band%2Bunjust.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">There is a lot of hate being
passed around on the internet and on the news media and all over our nation
right now, and the world, for that matter.
As Christians we need to read what God's Word has to say on it. We need to not take a verse here and a verse
there and ignore others but to get the mind of Christ, the true heart of God on
the matter. I am very disturbed by
Christians who think it's okay to hate anyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">I've seen Christians taking Old
Testament verses and saying, "See? We are to hate those who are evil, not
love them! How can we love those who are evil?" We forget that we too were considered evil in
God's eyes, even if we think we are less evil than those who demonstrate their
evil more outwardly. We forget what we
were washed from and saved from. We also
don't realize the extent or potential for the evil in our hearts that God saved
us from. If we hate sinners, we have no
concept of how much God has forgiven us, and we don't at all understand His
salvation. We don't understand what His sacrifice meant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">I remember once when there was a
serial rapist in the Twin Cities area, and he targeted teen girls who were
alone, walking somewhere. He would
snatch them off the sidewalk and throw them in his trunk, take them to some
remote area and rape and kill them. One
girl escaped to tell the story of all he did, which was horrendous. I had such a hatred for that man and as I
struggled with the Scriptures that told me to "love my enemy," and
pray for them, I could not. I cried out,
"God I don't want that man to be saved. I want him to go to hell and get
what he deserves! How can you love a man
such as that or forgive what he did?"
The Lord, I believe, spoke back to me clearly, in my spirit,
"Aren't you glad that I can forgive sin that horrible?" I realized He
took that horrible sin onto Himself, as though He Himself were the guilty
party! I just broke down and realized
just how horrible and evil sin is, and that there is none of it God will not
forgive if we come to Him in repentance.
Would I want God to limit what sins I could be forgiven of? What if He only forgave the "good
sins" or the "acceptable sins?"
But He forgives all. "All
who come to Him He will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">If anyone from ISIS, who committed
horrible crimes against the church, came in repentance (acknowledgement of
themselves as a lost sinner having a change of heart toward God, believing in
Him), then they would be forgiven. If Hitler had repented and turned to Christ,
he would have been forgiven. Paul, who
persecuted the church, caused Christians to blaspheme, and murdered them, was
forgiven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">I've heard Christians reject the
notion that we are to "hate the sin but love the sinner." They quote Old Testament verses. Yes, God indeed hates evil. He indeed hates sin. He "hates the wicked" and will one
day punish them. But He also loves them
enough to die for their sin so that they can be saved from that wickedness
rather than receive His wrath. How can
He do both? How can He tell us to hate
evil, yet love and pray for those who do evil?
Because He "wishes that NONE should perish but that all should come
to repentance." He Himself has
become a PROPITIATION for them, having taken unto Himself, the wrath of God due
them. If they do repent, He has made the way for them to be washed, cleansed
completely, and delivered once and for all of that evil, and made a new
creation, so that they can one day stand before Him, perfectly holy and pure
and spotless. It is all by the blood of
the Lamb, not anything they do. If we
think that only certain sins God will forgive but not all, we have no idea then
for sure that He will forgive ours. We
have not seen the potential to evil and gross sin in our own hearts. If we did we would humbly bow down before God
in awe of this merciful God, and just weep with thankfulness of all He has
forgiven and done in us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">If not for the sake of an evil person,
for the sake of Christ Himself and His love, I pray for the evil person. Not because I could love anything about them,
what's in their heart, or their actions, or even the kind of person that would
give themselves over to such horrendous evil, but I pray for them for the sake
of Christ... for the sake of His blood and sacrifice... because it is to His
glory to save and deliver, and that His great unspeakable sacrifice was not in
vain for that person. In fact, all the more is He glorified when evil is conquered.
You can say, "well they will deserve everything they get." Yup, they will, and we who are Christians, are
NOT getting what we deserve, yet we deserved the same - accept for Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Romans 5:6-11</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(6)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For while we were still weak, at
the right time <b>Christ died for the ungodly</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(7)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For one will scarcely die for a
righteous person</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even
to die—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(8<b>)</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> but
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(9)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Since, therefore, we have now
been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath
of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(10)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For if while we were enemies we
were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are
reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(11)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> More than that, we also rejoice
in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received
reconciliation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Christians sometimes act like God saved them
because they were so loveable and good.
We were repulsive to Him. We
looked horrible and ugly to Him. He saw
all the evil in our hearts, and yet, rather than pour out His wrath on us, He
came in the flesh, taking on our likeness and weakness and gave Himself up in
our place, becoming that very evil He so despised, becoming a curse for us, and
imputing His own perfect, pure, holy, righteousness into all - whosoever - no
matter how evil a sinner - into their hearts if they only confess their evil,
agree with Him about His righteous judgment of it, and believe in (accept,
trust in, adhere to, rely on) Him and that sacrifice, receiving His eternal
life. Some of us, sadly, think there was
very little of sin for the Lord to forgive in us. We then have no idea of the
depth of His love. Paul said he was "the chief of sinners." All of us, if convicted by the Holy Spirit of
our sin, will feel the same way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(Luke 7:47)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are
forgiven; for she loved much: <b><u>but to whom little is forgiven,</u></b><b><u>
<i>the same</i> loveth
little</u></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">There are some sins that are more horribly
wicked and have greater consequences and harm to others <u>in this world</u>,
but in eternity, all sin is equally guilty of separating us from a perfect holy
God. The greatest sin of all is to
reject that sacrifice which alone can save us.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hebrews 10:28-31</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(28)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Anyone who has set aside the law
of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(29)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> How much worse punishment, do
you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of
God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and
has outraged the Spirit of grace?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(30)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For we know him who said,
"Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will
judge his people."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(31)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> It is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">It was the greatest show of love there ever
was, and the only remedy for evil. <b>To reject that is to embrace all evil, and
to take sides with evil and the "evil one"</b> who led the first
rebellion against God, Lucifer, the devil.
To reject that is to one day become completely empty of all good that
even now they enjoy of the goodness of God and all conscience, that is as well,
a gift from God where evil to any degree is restrained in them, and to become a
full manifestation of evil just as satan is, and just as all those they despise
as being evil are. In those who reject
that marvelous provision God has made for them, evil will take over their
hearts and minds. They think themselves
to have some morals and goodness, but they will find out whatever good at all
that they are capable of in this world has been granted them of God, by the
presence of the Holy Spirit in this world Who was sent to convict the world of
sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
To the extent one rejects God's Word, the more evil will overtake
his/her heart. That restraint will be completely gone after they leave this
world. Those who accept God's great
sacrifice will take on the nature of God Who alone is good and will be free
from sin and evil in themselves and will be given new incorruptible bodies that
will never have any evil in it, or never die or be corrupted again. This is
only through God's provision through Jesus Christ. There is nothing in us that
can save ourselves. Our greatest
"goodness" is no measure at all to the holiness and perfection of
God. It is unacceptable before Him and He
sees our true nature for what it is - evil.
It opposes Him, Who <i>is</i>
goodness and holiness and righteousness and love. Our best acts are as filthy rags in His
sight. He sees them for what they are -
our trying to be our own god, and have our own righteousness. Not until we
accept His imputed righteousness, can we be counted righteous before Him. His alone will suffice in Heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Here are some verses to think on:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Matthew 5:43-48</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(43)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> "You
have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(44)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> But I
say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(45)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> so that
you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on
the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(46)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For if
you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax
collectors do the same?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(47)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And if
you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even
the Gentiles do the same?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(48)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> You
therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Matthew 24:12</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many
will grow cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Luke 6:27</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> <span style="background-color: white;"> "But I say to you who hear, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Love</span> your enemies, do good to those who hate you,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Luke 6:28</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> bless those who curse you, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">pray</span>
for those who abuse you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Luke 6:32</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> "If you <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">love</span>
those who <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">love</span> you, what benefit is that
to you? For even sinners <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">love</span> those who <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">love</span> them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Luke 6:35</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> But <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">love</span> y</span>our enemies,
and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be
great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful
and the evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">*Note, He does not say love your enemies, as
long as they aren't too evil or as long as they aren't too terrible or as long
as they have not committed the most horrible acts of violence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Romans 12:17-21</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(17)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Repay no one evil for evil, but
give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(18)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> If possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(19)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Beloved, never avenge
yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(20)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> To the contrary, "if your
enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for
by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(21)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God is merciful beyond our comprehension!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">2 Peter 3:9-10</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(9)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> The Lord is not slow to fulfill
his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, <b><u>not wishing
that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(10)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> But the day of the Lord will
come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the
heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works
that are done on it will be exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">His promise to those who come to Him in
humility to find His salvation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Revelation 21:3-7</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(3)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And I heard a loud voice from
the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will
dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them
as their God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(4)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> He will wipe away every tear
from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning,
nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(5)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And he who was seated on the
throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said,
"Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(6)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And he said to me, "It is
done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I
will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(7)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> The one who conquers will have
this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God is
able to hate evil, and say, as in the Psalms He hates the wicked and is angry
with them every day, and yet to send His only begotten Son that
"whosoever" no matter how wicked, believes in Him, will have eternal
life. He clearly says that He takes no
pleasure in the death of the wicked, and that He wishes that none of them would
perish but have eternal life, and yet in his "hating" them, it is not
that He wishes their destruction but He must hate evil as He is perfectly good
and evil cannot be allowed to harm what is good or to corrupt it if one truly
loves. Love must not ever allow evil to
corrupt all that is good or then evil would overcome good. But yet He most definitely loves the sinner
as is revealed on the cross of Jesus Christ.
So Jesus Himself was the One Who became the object of God's hatred...
His wrath upon sinners. God's wrath was poured out upon Him for us. Because of this we are to love the sinner, as
He loved them and made propitiation for them.
To not see this is to despise what Jesus did for sinners. (Isaiah 53) The very reason we still see evil
in the world and God does not instantly end it or judge it is because of His
love for the sinner and His desire for "all to come to
repentance." He is longsuffering
and patient, still drawing as many as who will come, out of the evil in this
world to receive His salvation and deliverance from evil. This world and its
evil is very temporary. Eternity will be
with Him and evil will be defeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">1 Corinthians 6:9-11</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(9)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Know ye not that the unrighteous
shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(10)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(11)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> <b><u>And such were some of you:
but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">So yes, we must hate the sin, but love the
sinner, just as Christ loves the sinner, and gave Himself up for them, and just
as He loved us in our sinful condition, seeing the very depth and potential for
the evil nature that we once were controlled by. If we love Christ and understand His sacrifice for sinners, we will love the sinner for His name's sake, and for His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">1 John 4:7-12</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(7)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Beloved, let us love one
another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and
knoweth God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(8)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> He that loveth not knoweth not
God; for God is love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(9)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> In this was manifested the love
of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world,
that we might live through him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(10)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Herein is love, not that we
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son <i>to
be</i> the propitiation for our sins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(11)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Beloved, if God so loved us, we
ought also to love one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">(12)</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> No man hath seen God at any
time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-88233494766377363482017-07-05T06:21:00.001-07:002017-07-14T08:32:15.459-07:00WHO IS THIS GOD WE PRAY TO?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CMRQDE1-ezk/WVznm4i-OYI/AAAAAAAAAgg/fKwK1sQTY4glHGHKa1CLy1505ptWxFKugCLcBGAs/s1600/how%2Bmajestic%2Bis%2Byour%2Bname.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CMRQDE1-ezk/WVznm4i-OYI/AAAAAAAAAgg/fKwK1sQTY4glHGHKa1CLy1505ptWxFKugCLcBGAs/s400/how%2Bmajestic%2Bis%2Byour%2Bname.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this is eternal life, that they know
you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hear,
O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said,
"Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I
seek." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: teal;">(Psalms 27:7-8)</span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is something inside every human being that draws
us to God, that makes us want to reach out to Him, to know Him. The ultimate thing in life is to truly know
God. God gave us the gift of prayer in
order that we may inquire of Him and learn to know Him and to reach out and
find Him. Some, instead of reaching out to find Him create their own religions
or their own gods. That inward need is
there, for a God, for an object of worship, yet if they don't seek to find and
know the One true God, they will end up creating their own. This in itself is
evidence of God. There is one prayer that the unbeliever can pray that will be
heard of God, and that is the prayer to know Him, to be forgiven and to become
a child of God. All other prayer is the
privilege of God's born again children alone - those who have been washed in
the blood of the Lamb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prayer opens up our hearts to know God. Even as we come before Him with our needs, we
must humble ourselves and acknowledge Who He is. Prayer opens the door of our hearts to Him. The ultimate purpose of our prayer is to know
God, be united with Him, and to submit our hearts to Him, that He may be
glorified. As His children, we have the
privilege that no other has, to come before His throne of grace and mercy,
boldly, through the blood of Jesus Christ and His merit alone. We have unbroken access to Him. What a great privilege! How little we make use
of it! What promises He gives us if we
just come to Him in prayer! He promises
to hear. He promises to answer. He
promises His presence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prayer is not just asking. Prayer is listening. Even as we sit at His feet through the
reading of His Word, meditating on it, letting Him speak to us through it, we
are in communion with Him and there is a fellowship. It's so important to have this part of prayer
in our lives in order to come to Him with our supplications and intercessions
and requests. When we lay our hearts
before Him and let the Holy Spirit speak to us through His Word, we find our
hearts brought nearer to His, our minds cleansed of our own or worldly thoughts
and ways, and we are able to pray according to His will, and to understand His
will and purpose more accurately. Many
times when it seems our prayers are not answered it drives us to seek His
understanding through His Word and in the process of prayer the answer comes by
His changing our hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this is the confidence that we have
toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if
we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests
that we have asked of him. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1 John 5:14-15)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of
spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of
the heart. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Hebrews 4:12)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without prayer we will not have the blessed fellowship
with God which He desires for us.
Without prayer we cannot truly grow in our knowledge of Him the way He
wants us to. Without prayer we miss out
on receiving all that He has for us as our gifts and privileges in Christ. Without prayer, He is not glorified in us the
way He desires to be. Without prayer we
become self-focused instead of God-focused.
Without prayer, we are only depending on ourselves, our own ability,
wisdom, understanding, and strength, rather than leaning on Him. We are saying, in essence, we don't need God.
A church without prayer will be a lifeless ineffective church. How important
then is it that we know the God we pray to, and what He is about? How can we pray effectively if we don't?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who is this God we pray to? He is the One true God. He is truly beyond our comprehension but He
has revealed certain things about Himself in His Word and through Jesus Himself
coming to us. He wants us to know those things that He revealed about Himself,
to seek Him and to find Him. He wants us
to know Him rightly. Anytime we have a
wrong concept of Him or of His salvation, it lessens our ability to be
effective in prayer or in our walk with Him, or in our testimony to
others. To learn of His attributes gives
us more help in our prayer life and more faith and purpose as we pray. We can only learn of His attributes through
His Word and our giving ourselves over to it, to keep it, to meditate on it,
and to obey it. It is only God Himself
Who can reveal Himself to us. We cannot
form our own concepts of God based on what kind of god we desire, as so many do
today in the apostate church. They don't
like the God of the Bible so they form their own god, lessening His true
attributes and bringing Him down to their own level, rather than letting Him
bring them up to His. They have no idea
what they miss! The god of their making
is always more like them. God wants to
raise us up to where He is and make us like Him. There is no higher glory! How awful it is
then, when we have a lesser view of Him and do not seek to know Him rightly and
give Him the true honor of Who He is as revealed to us in His Word. Our prayers to this lesser god can never
bring God's blessing. We must know Him
rightly and come to Him humbly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who is this God we pray to? Who He is <i>not</i>, is a genie we can use
to get all we want in this world and manipulate according to our own use. That, again, is to bring Him down to our
level or even below that, where we become the god and He our servant that we
think to command. If we are to know Him
rightly, we must also give Him the right place in our hearts. I am always in awe when I hear God calling
Himself "I Am." He is so
beyond our comprehension that there is no other way to describe Him other than
simply "I Am." He simply is,
and always was and always will be. He is
the great I Am. He is Who He is, perfect in all His ways, with no need to ever
change. That leaves us with a sense of great awe. It is something we can't grasp fully, yet we
know it is true. How can He explain
Himself to us? Yet He has expressed
Himself to us through Jesus Christ Who was the exact representation of Himself
in the flesh. God's attributes are
simply what is true of Him, and He reveals that to us in His Word in many ways,
even in the many names of God. Each name reveals to us a particular attribute
of God. Yahweh Shalom - the Lord is
peace, Yahweh Shammah - the Lord is there, Yahweh Tsidkenu - the Lord our
righteousness, Yahweh Nissi - the Lord my banner, Yahweh - the self existent
One, and many more names of God are given to us in His Word, always revealing
to us an attribute of God. This is the
God we pray to. This God has so much
about Him that we can never completely know all there is to know about
Him. Yet He reveals so much of Himself
to us in His Word and in our relationship with Him through the Spirit when we
become His child through being born again by faith in the finished work of
Christ. What riches then to discover this awesome God!! He is a God of love, a God of wonder, a God
of perfection in every way! How can we
not be grateful for and want to pursue this God and pray to Him? He gives us the privilege, as His children to
do so. Are we using this privilege? Do we really grasp what He has given to us?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we pray to God, many times we want God to be a
certain way. But we must learn to love,
not what we want God to be, but what and Who He truly is. In learning His attributes, we learn to love Him
more and wonder at His glory more and more and desire that glory. We learn to pray, as the song goes, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="BODY" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: 0in 113.4pt;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;<br />
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;<br />
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,<br />
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="BODY" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: 0in 113.4pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="BODY" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: 0in 113.4pt;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;<br />
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;<br />
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;<br />
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The more God is our true vision and the more clearly
we see Him, the more effective our prayer life will be; and the more effective
our prayer life is, the more clearly we will see Him and know Him, and the more
He will be glorified in our lives. Our motives for prayer will be less and less
of what we want and more and more what He wants. Our Christian lives will become more
fruitful. If we abide in Him, truly, we
must abide in Who He really is, not what we want or imagine Him to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If God reveals His attributes to us in His Word, He
wants us to discover them and He wants us to respond to them. We must form our
own ideas of Him and our responses and our actions then, based on those true
attributes of God, and as we choose to look to Him and walk with Him, we learn
to "put on Christ" and those characteristics of Christ will more and
more, hopefully be seen of Him in our own walk and interaction with others as
well, bringing forth fruit, so that others are drawn to seek Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do we demonstrate to the world around us what God is
like? Or are we praying to a god of our
own making and showing the world a god of our own making as well? The right
answer will affect, not only our lives and walk with God, but the lives and
destiny of others around us that we touch as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The more we seek to know
the One true God, the more love for Him we will have and that love will flow
from us to others. What is the greatest attribute of God? "God is love"<i> - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In
this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son
into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we
have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for
our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No
one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is
perfected in us. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: teal;">(1 John 4:8-12)</span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our prayers then, should flow from love, to a God of
love - God's love for a lost and dying world, which He shed His precious blood
for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a wonderful God we have! What a blessing to know that He loves us, and
wants us to know Him and invites us to do so! May we pursue Him harder and pray
more earnestly while He gives us breath! </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Edited, 7/14/2017</span></span></div>
GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-14379804840567168182017-06-14T11:18:00.001-07:002017-06-14T11:18:22.992-07:00PUSHING THROUGH ADVERSITY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MFJQgvge6U/WUF42fLzTuI/AAAAAAAAAfU/ICxTgDkqTVYxkt3YTPXYe6bCA_8Miw2ewCLcBGAs/s1600/by%2Byour%2Bendurance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="456" height="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MFJQgvge6U/WUF42fLzTuI/AAAAAAAAAfU/ICxTgDkqTVYxkt3YTPXYe6bCA_8Miw2ewCLcBGAs/s400/by%2Byour%2Bendurance.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I went for a walk this morning, and noticed in several places along the side walk that there were things growing right through the black top. I was amazed. Then I saw this little flower, so pretty sitting there in its glory having pushed its way through the black top, as though it were saying, "Nothing can stop me! I've broken through and I'm victorious and I'm beautiful!" <br />
<br />
It made me think of our different responses to adversity in life. This little flower's response to all hindrance to its life gave me faith. It stirred up a kind of hope, a feeling of endurance and reluctance to give up or let myself become discouraged. It was as though God placed it there for me to say, "Never grow weary, Ginny. You will surely reap if you faint not." This little flower had some pressure, some adversity, some resistance to push through but it endured. Life gives us many types of resistance to the Gospel of our Lord. It gives us much resistance to the message of life He has given us and wants to tell us continually, "give up! give up! give up! It's no use! Why are you fighting against a world that is determined to hate God?" <br />
<br />
Some have formed a movement of resistance today. It's a resistance against anything of God, anything of the Bible, and anything Christian. It manifests itself in politics, in religion, in counterfeit Christianity, and as the Bible told us, it comes against all that is of God with a vengeance. How can we stand in such an evil day? How do we push through the resistance of life that seems to never end. It's not enough that the world is against us, and a false church as well, but the circumstances of life and perhaps our health can be a heavy weight we must also push through.<br />
<br />
We can overcome, just as this little flower. We can keep reaching up for the sun. We can not even look at the adversity but instead look up to the Son and see He is there, He is faithful, He is ever giving us the grace, the power, the encouragement, the hope, and the promise that is sure, we will reap if we faint not. we will by our endurance through His power, gain life and have victory. We will win this battle. We will break through every barrier and every resistance. Why? Because He has. <br />
<br />
<i>John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.</i><br />
<i>John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He Himself has overcome every resistance in this world that could possibly come against us and nothing can stop His plan for His church. Nothing can defeat His children. If He says don't be afraid, it's not just an empty phrase, but it is with power and meaning and truth. We have no reason to be afraid if He says we don't. So we do not have to "let our hearts be afraid." Even though in this world we have tribulation and resistance and many times it seems, defeat...yet He has overcome the world and anything it can do to harm us or separate us from His love, or defeat His purposes from being carried out. Our own purposes, goals and dreams may have to be taken to the cross, but His will be carried out, and His purpose for each of His children is more than we can fathom. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So push on dear child of God! don't be dismayed. Push through every obstacle that comes against you and keep looking and pushing forth toward the Son. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-5167068811905305532017-06-10T06:42:00.000-07:002017-06-10T06:42:11.830-07:00COMMUNION WITH THE SON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9lBQ6F0vOo/WTv2CKch3mI/AAAAAAAAAe4/GVP43mT0o-8ccsK5w_e5wrFyq00YBOViwCLcB/s1600/the%2Bday%2Bthat%2BI%2Bcalled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9lBQ6F0vOo/WTv2CKch3mI/AAAAAAAAAe4/GVP43mT0o-8ccsK5w_e5wrFyq00YBOViwCLcB/s400/the%2Bday%2Bthat%2BI%2Bcalled.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="BODY" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="BODY" style="tab-stops: 0in 113.4pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="BODY" style="tab-stops: 0in 113.4pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">O
soul, are you weary and troubled?</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">No
light in the darkness you see?</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">There</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’s light for a look
at the Savior,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">And
life more abundant and free!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="BODY" style="tab-stops: 0in 113.4pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="BODY" style="margin-left: 15.0pt; tab-stops: 0in 113.4pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Refrain:</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,<br />
Look full in His wonderful face,<br />
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,<br />
In the light of His glory and grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="BODY" style="margin-left: 15.0pt; tab-stops: 0in 113.4pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="BODY" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="A"><b><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/_/Lemmel_Helen_H/?sortby=author"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Helen H. Lemme</span><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">l</span></a></span></i></b></span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, 1922</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Normal" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-align: center;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Song of Solomon 1:4 </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Draw me after you; let us run. The king has
brought me into his chambers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<i><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Psalm 27:8</span></u></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> You
have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face,
LORD, do I seek." </span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are you weary and troubled? Aren't we all at times? And more so as the days grow evil. So many
times in our Christian walk, we find ourselves dry, empty, filled with the
cares of this life or the bitterness of the evil and deception in this world,
fearful of what may happen, and we have failed to see our eyes somehow have
gotten off from the Lord, our hearts away from the fellowship and communion
with Him, and we've become preoccupied and distracted and yes,
manipulated. The Lord is always faithful
to draw us back, again and again, as we become distracted. He is faithful to draw us again to His love,
to the communion He desires to have with us daily. That communion is but a glimpse of the
perfect communion we will have with Him one day in eternity, when corruption
puts on incorruption and we are clothed with perfection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We may sing songs in church, we may
participate in "worship services" and think we are worshiping the
Lord, yet if our hearts are not in a daily communion of worship, we have not
yet entered into the true worship that that Father seeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when
the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father
is seeking such people to worship him. (24)
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and
truth."</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is there maybe a lack of worship in your
daily life? Is this perhaps what is
missing? Do you take time to sit at His
feet before you start your day, meditating on His Word, asking Him to speak to
you there, interacting with Him as He does, bowing down to Him, praising Him,
thanking Him, trusting Him, surrendering your heart to His? Do you see your daily life as an act of
worship as you go on in that fellowship throughout the day, pondering what He
has spoken to you that morning? Do you
act on what He has revealed to you? I
know I find too often I fail to, until He reminds me again, in His loving way,
that my act of worship is to take His Word to heart, bow down to it, and
believe it and act on it</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, exercising faith
in it</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are times we find ourselves in a
spiritual dessert, and soon anxiety takes over our lives, or bitterness, or
some other fruit of the flesh, rather than the Spirit. When this happens it is a signal for us to again,
"turn our eyes upon Jesus" and "look full in His wonderful
face" and when we do the "things of this earth will truly grow
strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." We do that by once again taking time to
worship Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if
any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup
with him, and he with me.</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">John 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me,
he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and
make our home with him.</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To think of it! God Himself desires our
communion!! God's love for us is greater
by far than we can fathom! </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We fail to receive and
experience the love He longs to reveal to us.
</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He delights in us and wants us to delight
in Him. We are missing out if we think
we are serving Him, yet are not enjoying that communion with Him each day
through His Spirit in our hearts opening up His Word to us, making it personal
and living and life giving. If we are
not responding to His love, giving thanks, offering ourselves in worship to Him,
then we are missing out on the most vital part of our walk with Him. If we are not abiding in Him each day how can
we bare any fruit at all?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide in me. (5) I am the
vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that
bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Too often in my own life, when I find
myself weary, dry, or fearful, I have to ask myself, "am I abiding?" Another way of looking at it in modern terms
"am I plugged in?" "Am I
vitally connected?" He says it is
in keeping His commands or His Word that we stay abiding in Him, and in doing
so we show we truly love Him (John 15:9-12).
That does not mean to live by the law, but to hear His Word, His heart,
and agree and seek to do all His will.
He has shown us His will in His Word.
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If we abide in His
love, we walk in His love toward one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One day I was depressed and weary of life
and just complaining in myself. I was
prompted by the Holy Spirit as I read John 15 to "abide in Him" which
meant keeping His Word which told me to trust in Him, to believe in His
purposes and His love, to rejoice in Him.
I could not hold onto my weariness then, but had to give myself to His
Word and do so. His presence filled me
and gave me the power of it as soon as I made the choice. So many days I find in this dreary world I
need fresh manna from above. I need to
go to Him and listen to Him and worship Him.
To worship Him is an act of surrender and faith. You can't worship Him and hold onto your own
ways of thinking and doing. No wonder He
calls us to worship Him.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> It
is for our own sake when we do. As we
delight in Him we are set free from ourselves and from any power on this earth
that could harm us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Worship causes our attention to focus on
Him, His glory, all He is and does and has promised. We forget ourselves and are filled with faith
as we do so. Worship is a privilege only
God's true born again children have. No
person who does not have His Spirit is able to truly worship Him. It is His presence inside of us that draws us
to Him and reveals Him to us so that we can truly worship His glory, which then
becomes our glory and delight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Worship is not a hyped up emotion. Anyone can have their senses stimulated and
brought to a sense of euphoria through the flesh. Loud music that stimulates the senses does
not create true worship. Worship is of
the heart as we look at His glory, and see Him, and respond by bowing down our
hearts in admiration and surrender to such an awesome God. We may say we want to be like Jesus, but in
order to do so we must walk with Him, fellowship with Him, and abide in His
Word. There is no other way. We grow more and more like Him as we commune
with Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lord, open our eyes to see, our hearts to
receive, our ears to hear, and our spirits to worship You! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</script>GinnyLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128392808101198901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613099499134204501.post-80657191116185814442017-05-26T12:23:00.001-07:002017-05-26T12:23:27.174-07:00LOPSIDED CHRISTIANS<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jsZZci5ojPs/WSh7PSaNkGI/AAAAAAAAAec/LSWB9p8XAkk0o8RUiGvkNXqVEBbjQa_4ACLcB/s1600/send%2Bforth%2Byour%2Blight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jsZZci5ojPs/WSh7PSaNkGI/AAAAAAAAAec/LSWB9p8XAkk0o8RUiGvkNXqVEBbjQa_4ACLcB/s400/send%2Bforth%2Byour%2Blight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Proverbs 18:17</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> The
one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines
him. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Psalms 43:3</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Send out your light and your truth; let them
lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Grace vs. law, love vs.
correction, works vs. faith, free will vs. predestination, eternal life vs.
losing salvation, pre-trib, post-trib, or pan-trib, etc. etc. - there is a
constant argument on these subjects and others in the Christian faith. The "discussion" of them is good,
since discussion - true discussion - causes us to go to the Word to discover
what it is saying. But many times we can
become lopsided Christians, because we are not taking the whole of Scripture,
but instead looking at just the Scriptures that fit our argument, for whatever
reason, and trying to fit the rest into it.
I'm just seeing a lot of lopsidedness on the internet and on social
media these days, so it has been taking up a lot of my thoughts. I've seen myself as lopsided sometimes, and
I've been in lopsided churches. One
thing I've noticed is that when the Lord opened up His Word to me and showed me
the truth in a particular area, all the pieces fit together without being forced very nicely and
understanding came along with joy and peace
and delight in His Word. It
brought life to me. When I was lopsided
there was not that, but always a striving to fit things together, and a sort of bondage, even though I was unaware of it until I was freed from it. God's truth always sets free when accepted
and understood. It brought me closer to
Him, and I enjoyed His unbroken fellowship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">When I was a young Christian I was
under a strong bondage of legalism. What
I mean by that was that I felt that my works mattered greatly to my salvation,
and that if I didn't measure up to the standard given to me by a certain
denomination or even my own scruples, that I would lose my salvation. I felt God was always mad at me. It was a very works based way of trying to
live the Christian life. I knew I was
saved by grace, and that it was through the blood of Jesus, but somehow I felt
it my obligation to "keep" it.
I was being taught a lopsided view and none of the pieces fit together
right. They were always being squeezed in here or there. Many places in the Word seemed to
contradict one another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">After years I discovered the other
side - grace. I discovered that I was
saved through grace alone, by faith, and that it was not a performance based
life at all! It was such a blessing and
deliverance to me that I became somewhat lopsided. I was stressing grace so much in my
discussions that I made it look as though sin was nothing - and people could
have taken it to be </span><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/antinomianism.html"><span style="color: blue;">antominianism</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">. I didn't think that way, but I
came across that way to some. I focused on this grace to the point that I was
missing the importance of obedience and its rightful place. As I grew in my Bible study I began seeing
that the more I experienced of this grace and love of Christ, the more my heart
desired to be obedient to Him in everything, and I grew in my disgust and
hatred of sin in myself, all the while knowing I was not under condemnation - I hated anything that would displease Him, Whom my soul
loved. Once free from the <u>principle
of law,</u> I was free to live truly by the law of love. My focus was now off
from myself and performance and was on Christ. I began to understand grace and
obedience rightly. I began to see the
danger of being lopsided in either direction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">So many times as believers, we
become lopsided in our theology, because we focus on one aspect that has in
some way ministered to us, or awakened us.
Or we focus on one aspect, that we are misled by men in, to the point
where we cannot see the whole. Many times
we try so hard to hold to a particular teacher that no matter what that teacher
says, we have to defend it, right or wrong.
We fail to check the Scriptures and study it ourselves asking the Holy
Spirit to be our teacher. There are Scripture verses that seem to contradict
one another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Romans 3:27-28</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(27)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Then what becomes of our
boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by
the law of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(28)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> For we hold that one is
justified by faith apart from works of the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Romans 4:2-3</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(2)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> For if Abraham was justified by
works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(3)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> For what does the Scripture say?
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">James 2:21-24</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(21)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Was not Abraham our father
justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(Thayer on justified: to <u>show</u>, <u>exhibit, evince</u>, one
to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered). (His works
made manifest and showed evidence of his faith).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(22)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> You see that faith was active
along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(23)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> and the Scripture was fulfilled
that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as
righteousness"</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">—and he was called a friend of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal" style="margin-left: .25in; tab-stops: .25in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(24)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> You see that a person is
justified by works and not by faith alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">So some, thinking there is a contradiction,
choose either works or grace... but fail to see what is being said is not a
contradiction at all, if taken in the whole of Scripture. If you see it as a contradiction, you have to
take one and discard the other, rather than to take them both and see what they
are really saying and what the whole context says in both books. If you do this you will see that they are
saying the same thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Scofield: </span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are<i> two aspects</i> of <u>one truth</u>. Paul speaks of that
which <b>justifies man before God</b>, namely: faith alone, wholly apart from
works; James of<b> the proof before men</b>, that he who professes to have
justifying faith really has it. Paul speaks of what God sees -- faith; James of
what men see -- works, as the visible evidence of faith. Paul draws his
illustration from (<span style="color: green;">Genesis 15:6</span>) James from
(<span style="color: green;">Genesis 22:1-19</span>). James' key phrase is
"ye see" (<span style="color: green;">James 2:24</span>) for men
cannot see faith except as manifested through works. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
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<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We have to be careful to lay the right
foundation, which is always Jesus Christ and His finished work. Many take their one sided view of Scripture,
or obscure hard to understand verses as their <i>foundation </i>for their views rather
than starting from the true foundation of His finished work. Many also don't understand correct
definitions of words and even as they are arguing their different sides to each
other, they have different definitions so neither understands the other and
nothing is settled. "Never take a difficult
passage of Scripture to explain away a clear cut passage of Scripture" -
J. Vernon McGee. I've seen this done
many times over. There is also correct
hermeneutics in studying and "rightly dividing" the Word of
truth. You cannot just make a Scripture
say what you want it to say out of context, or without understanding who it is for, or the time period it was given.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I can tell when I'm with certain people, that
there is no discussion because they only want to argue. There is a difference. When one wants to <i>argue</i>, there is no
<u>discussion</u>, but only their lopsided view they want you to hear, all while they
are not at all listening to you so that there can be a discussion. A discussion involves <u>give and take</u>, looking
honestly at the issues on both sides, pointing out the reasoning according to
Scripture clearly, being willing to be taught, having a heart to learn truth,
and realizing that Scripture is spiritually discerned and sometimes is a matter
of maturity in the faith, realizing we have to allow the Holy Spirit time to
work in a persons heart, even as He has in our own. Love, with humility and grace, keeps from
pride and anger and aggressiveness or "snarkiness." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2 Timothy 2:23-25</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(23)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Have nothing to do with foolish,
ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(24)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> And the Lord's servant must not
be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(25)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> correcting his opponents with
gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the
truth,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We can be lopsided if we are so adamant at
convincing someone of their error, that we forget grace and love. We become dependent on our fleshly ability to
convince by argument rather than seeing the real need or the real issue of the
heart, as Jesus always did, and trusting the Holy Spirit to work through us,
and to know when to speak and when not to. I am always impressed with the way
Jesus, in Scripture never seemed to answer the direct question of some, but
instead spoke directly to the real heart need, with true wisdom, in each case. It seemed as though He were ignoring their
questions, but He really saw their heart and knew what they really were dealing
with and needed to hear (ex. Nicodemus when he came to Jesus by night, the
woman at the well, many times with the Pharisees). <b> Only the Holy Spirit knows what is in a
person's heart and what their heart is really seeking. </b> This is why our flesh cannot save anyone or
convince anyone. Only His Spirit can, and we are only of use as we are led by
Him. If we are given to frustration and
rage, or snarkiness, we are not being led by Him. Do you want to reach your brother or sister,
or do you want to be proven right and win an argument, which you don't really
"win." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Some become lopsided because the word
"love" has been so redefined by the world to mean acceptance of every
ungodly lifestyle and sin no matter how gross, and a disregarding of the
well-being and salvation of the sinner.
So they jump all over it in their flesh and come across, just as they
are accused of by the world, as mean-spirited, self-righteous haters. It will do no good for them to try to
convince the sinner that they love them and are trying to save them when they
are lopsided and aren't showing them that.
Here again, the definition of words needs to be clarified as well as
seen in the life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">If someone is not yet prepared to
"discuss" it does no good to argue.
To argue then, is only a matter of our pride trying to be
"right" or vindicated in our stand.
I've seen Christians on social media become so disgustingly nasty or
condemning in their remarks to one another, because they had to prove their
view was the correct one, that I am just flabbergasted that they cannot see how
they are coming across to, not only that person, but others who are
watching. It grieves my heart and I'm
sure grieves the heart of God, when we claim to follow Him but pushing our theology or views onto others is more important than how we represent
Him. I've seen Christians post vulgar
things that just astounds me, and use name calling and ridicule, and then they
turn around and brag about their beliefs as being superior to others. I've seen Christians post a mixture of
occultic practices and Scripture and tear down anyone who tries to lovingly
point them to see it. How much we must
grieve the Holy Spirit and quench Him in our lives!! How much we play into the hands of the devil!
Lord, help us to see our lopsidedness and to care about the things You care
about, seeking truly to know You and walk in fellowship with You! How sad to put ourselves in a place where
those who see our error are afraid to come along side of us, because we are so
obstinate and unteachable. How sad if we
have the truth but turn it into something else because of the way we present
it. God help us! Do we want people to see You, or us? Help us to discern our own hearts! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I'm sure this is not all I or others could say
on this subject, and I'm sure there could be many discussions on this subject,
but I hope it will at least be enough to cause each of us to question ourselves
before a Holy God and loving Savior. I
hope it will not be used as another "argument" to throw in someone's
face, but be used as a private moment of examination of our own hearts. As I see these things online, that's what it
has done to me. It has made me much more
thoughtful of how I am representing the Lord I love and how I am affecting
people who I touch one way or another every day. May the Lord enable me to always truly
represent Him and to discern when I'm being lopsided. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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