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For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Romans 1:16
Hi Everyone & Welcome! I am not a preacher, a teacher, or anything like that. I'm just an ordinary everyday person that may not know much - but of this one thing I have absolutely no doubt:
There is only One True God and He loves us so much that He sacrificed His only begotten Son to die for us. There Is No Greater Love Than This! Jesus died for you and for me, and He did so voluntarily so that we could be saved and live for eternity with Him.
Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."
Our true purpose in life is to serve the Lord. We are to love one another, take on each others burdens, and spread the Good News of His Love. It is our Great Commission, the Only Truth, and our Blessed Hope!
Jesus loves you so very much! So, hurry, don't put it off another minute. Get your free ticket to Heaven and reserve your seat now!
Jesus is coming back soon! Having that kind of peace is true rest within your heart, and it only comes from knowing who you are in Christ!
So come on, fill that void in your life, finally - once and for all! It's the only way, the absolute ultimate, and you do not want to miss it!
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We must remember that we have the most powerful force of the universe on the inside of us! We must keep the right attitude. We must be happy in spite of our circumstances. We must stay faithful in times of testing, remembering always that God uses the tough times, the proving grounds, to grow us up!
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Watch your thoughts: They become your Words.
Watch your words: They become your Actions.
Watch your actions: They become your Habits.
Watch your habits: They become your Character.
Watch your character: It becomes your Destiny.
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.I will be ashamed no more. I refuse to be one who claims to know Jesus Christ, but doesn't even know why I believe what I believe! Psalm 119:2 2 Timothy 2:15
I choose to become learned in God's Word. I will move on toward perfection by learning the elementary teachings of Christ and then build upon that foundational knowledge. Hebrews 6:1-3
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For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
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There was a young man in Napoleon’s army who committed a deed worthy of death. The day before he was scheduled for the firing squad, the young man’s Mother went to Napoleon and pleaded Mercy for her Son. Napoleon replied, “Woman, your son does not deserve Mercy!” “I know that!” she said. “If he deserved it, it would not be Mercy!”
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Mercy is when God does not give us what we deserve. Instead he gives us Grace. It is love that is given when it is not deserved. It is forgiveness given when it is not earned. It is a gift that flows like a refreshing stream to quench the fires of angry condemning words.
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For Christians, the Bible must always be the factor in understanding what is happening in this world. And regardless of what some might say, the earth is the Lord's and nature is God's system, full of warnings and signs of the times.
Keep in mind that doctrine is constant. It's interpretation that changes with understanding.
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When we take parts of Scripture out of context, we could miss the true meaning altogether. Verses make sense in light of chapters and chapters make sense in light of whole books. So, we need to get in the habit of reading systematically, reading one book of the Bible at a time, in its entirety, to understand the big picture.
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Memorizing the Word of God will cleanse and renew your mind. It will help keep you from sin. It will help you say "NO" to your flesh, and it will protect you from wrong thinking patterns. We can memorize more than we realize! "Oh how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97
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The move today is to UNIFY all religions; to Christianize all cults, religions and cultures in the name of world peace. Major denominations have taken a turn to the left, bringing the world into the Church. This new and final Church is prophesied in Scripture.
Wow, it's easy to see that Christianity is rapidly tumbling into apostasy. The times of the Gentiles are coming to an end. We must remember that just because a religion says it is Christian, does not make it so.
To be born again means we have to convert; we must separate ourselves from worldliness. We must be careful to discern the Truth by comparing Biblical teachings to what the world is teaching. Our focus must stay on eternal life with Christ Jesus!
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Acts 1:8 tells us that we are to be witnesses for Christ. To witness means we are to tell others what we know about something.
So to witness for Christ means we are to tell others about the salvation the Lord Jesus Christ freely gives to everyone who will receive Him. True Christians will not be ashamed to witness for the Lord! Romans 10:11
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A terrible failure has occurred in the life of the Church. The Church has grown away from the simple system that made it so powerful and such an impelling influence upon society in its early years. Gradually a terrible distortion has come about.
The Church has become identified as a building. Somewhere down the line, we started referring to these structures as "THE CHURCH". So now the building has become the symbol of the Church INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE!
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But did you know that the word "Church" literally means “called out assembly”? The Church is the living body of believers who have been called out of this world.
Christians cannot be classified by any organization. We will find Christians everywhere, in many different groups, and it is our responsibility to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace wherever we find them.
There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to one hope when you were called. Ephesians 4:4
Throughout the history of Israel, the temple, or the tabernacle before that, was called “the house of God.” God signified His Presence there by the "shekinah glory" that was located in the Holy of Holies.
And today, church buildings, temples, cathedrals and tabernacles have all been called “the house of God”. But as we look at the teaching of the New Testament, we find that it is not the building that is the church. It is the people!
Anyone who has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour is a member of "The Church". Our denominational membership is in no way connected with our membership into the body of Christ. The true Church is a spiritual body of believers who have truly received Christ! Matthew 11:28 John 1:12 John 5:24 Acts 16:31 Romans 10:13
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According to Romans 14:17 and Luke 17:21 the Kingdom of God is a Spiritual Kingdom that is presently within the hearts of ALL God's people. Those of us who have received Christ as our personal Saviour have already been translated spiritually into this great Kingdom. Ephesians 1:3 Ephesians 2:6 Colossians 1:13 So beware of anyone who speaks of their Church as being the one and only true Church because the true Church is not any organized group of religious people.
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Are their any Saints in this world today? The word “Saint” is a word that makes us all shudder a little bit, I think. We don't like to be called Saints because we think of a Saint as being unreal, you know. . . "holier -than-thou", so unlike us today.
But the Saints of the New Testament were people just like us. They had their struggles and difficulties, disturbances at home, problems at work, and troubles.
But the one remarkable thing about them is that they were different, which is the basic meaning of the word Saint. In the Greek, it is derived from the word for holy, which means distinct, belonging to God, and living differently.
Holiness is a mark of the Saint, but Saints have problems like everybody else, they just handle them differently. They have different lifestyles. They are the faithful in Christ Jesus.
So guess what? If you are a child of God, you Are a Saint! That means you have been set apart to follow Christ. You are different because your sinful heart has been washed by the blood of Jesus!
We need to be actively pursuing holiness to help us as we grow into our commitment with Christ. We must always remember that we are His Representatives in this fallen world!
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Agape Love ... just what is it? It is genuine Godly Love. It is something we do not have naturally. We have to have God in our lives to have this kind of love.
The supreme measure of Agape Love is God's Love for us. We have a God who loved us, not because He found anything beautiful or attractive or desirable in us, not because we deserved it, but just because He Is Love!
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The Scriptures tell us that we are to pursue love. We are to go hard after it. We are to make it our aim. Why? Because love is necessary to please God! Love allows us to trust and is strengthened by working through conflicts together. It is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished. One of our main goals in life should be to learn how to love!
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Love is the driving force behind the Christian life. The whole message of Christ is to love one another, be kind and speak the truth! The entire law of God can be summed up in relation to love.
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As Christians, we should strive to set an example for other believers. We should be concerned-about and aware-of how we come across to other people. We should always be sensitive as to how others see us.
When we use our speech and our conduct to set good examples, three qualities will come through; love, faithfulness and purity.
This is very important because without these qualities, our words mean absolutely nothing - they become null and void.
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You can tell the gospel is having its effect upon you when you are becoming a more compassionate, loving, patient, tender- hearted person, and you are reflecting these qualities to people around you.
That is what Jesus said would happen, and that is why His great commandment to us is that we should love one another.
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew 5:44
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The Born Again believer has no appetite for sin. To an absolutely transformed individual, sin will be repulsive, and if they should fall into error, their heart will rush to the cross for cleansing.
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Did You Know? "Oil" in the Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelation represents the Holy Spirit at Work, while "White Garments" are a symbol of Practical Righteousness. "Water" is used as a Symbol of Life and the "Rainbow" is a symbol of God's Mercy.
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Water baptism is important because it represents the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:21 As Christians, we submit to water baptism out of obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, but it should not be confused with salvation. A person is spiritually baptized by the Holy Spirit the moment they receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Ephesians 4:5 Galatians 3:27 Romans 6:3-4
Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
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We need to know the ways of God; His perspective on this world, history, current affairs, the future, our work; We need to know what brings Him joy and what causes Him to grieve. We need to ask God to show us His Ways.
Psalm 25:1-22 says: Show me Your Ways, O Lord, teach me Your Paths; guide me in Your Truth and teach me. Thank You, Lord. You are my everything. You're all I need.
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When we praise God, it takes us into His Presence. Praise defeats Satan. It is a cure for spiritual dryness. God loves Praise and He is looking for worshipers. He deserves our worship and praise!
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Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me and making me for Your unique and special reason. I know I serve a great purpose in Your Kingdom because You made me. Forgive me when I forget that and help me to feel Your love today. Equip me to give that love to all those I come in contact with.
I long to be transformed more into Your Likeness. Thank You for the opportunity to serve those that You have placed in my life. Refresh me by Your Holy Spirit and fill me with a passion to serve You daily.
Help me to acknowledge You in all things, Lord. I desire to be devoted to You wholeheartedly with all that I have and do. Help me to have a willing mind and spirit when You nudge me to do the things that aren’t always comfortable, desirable, or even make sense to me. Uncover the ugliness of my heart where my motives are wrong and selfish, and help me to have a humble heart and open hands to whatever You ask me to do.
Thank You for making the ultimate sacrifice for me so that my sins can be forgiven. I trust my faith that my past has been wiped away and I have been given a new start. I don’t trust this by my feelings, but by the truth of Your Word. If You said it’s true, I believe it. Thank You for giving me such a wonderful gift.
Thank You for always being by my side to comfort me and for allowing me the privilege to share Your Goodness with others. Give me the correct words to comfort the hurting people I meet. Thank You, Lord, for the joy that comes after the weeping. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
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Matthew was written to show the Jews that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, The King of Israel. Mark was written to the Romans, showing Jesus as the obedient servant of God. Luke was written for the Greeks, emphasizing the Lord’s humanity. John was directed at the Church, showcasing His Deity.
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Salvation is not something that just happens to us and then we forget about it. We should be continually examining ourselves to make sure that we are in the faith. We should love Christ so much that we don't want any kind of sin to get in the way of our relationship with Him!
Christians should be careful to set very high standards for themselves. It's very important that we marry the right mate, obey the great commission, train our children in the ways of God, honor our parents, enjoy the Christian walk and request wisdom from God continually. Our relationship with Jesus should be far more important than anything else that is happening in our lives today, tomorrow, or any time!
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As Christians, we are to always walk in the Spirit. We have not ended our walk when we've learned a new lesson from God because tomorrow there's another step, another the next day, and another the day after that. We're so happy when the Holy Spirit helps us to achieve some kind of victory, like giving up a bad habit, that we just want to settle down there and enjoy it - but He will not let us stop. The Christian life is a continual progress.
A truly spiritual person will always say there is so much more in their life that needs to change. That is the mark of a person who truly wants to know God. If you are a true believer, if you are really growing in your faith, you will always be open and humble, realizing there is so much more to learn.
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We know that the Holy Spirit is sealed within us because the Lord promised us that He Is! 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 2 Corinthians 5:5 Ephesians 1:13-14
Every believer sins at times and then we feel sad about it later. That’s when the Holy Spirit is convicting us and moving us to confess, so we can be forgiven and then restored to fellowship with God. When a believer sins, it does not mean they are not saved. Romans 7:18-19 tells us that Paul, no matter how hard he tried, even he could not stop sinning. Romans 7:18-19
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Wow, God says, "I have made my children in such a way that when the people of the world are sitting, my children will be standing. When the world is standing, my children will stand out. When the world stands out, my children must be outstanding. And when the devil dares the world to be outstanding, my children will be the standards to be used!"
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God wooed us and won us, sought us out and, brought us to see that the age in which we now live is under the bondage of a lie. He has opened our eyes to the truth. As our age deteriorates, and our civilization nears the point of utter collapse, we can thank God that we will be snatched away like Noah and his family because our hearts are responsive to the appeal of God's Grace.
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The fruit that God expects of the vine is moral character - described in Galatians as the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control. The fruit is Christ-likeness and the very purpose of the vine is to produce such fruit.
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Do you believe that whatever happens, happens - that we can’t do anything about it anyway, so why even try? Isaiah 38:1-5 tells us about a man whose life was increased by fifteen years simply because he prayed!
Fate is thought of as a predetermined course of events beyond human control. This belief is called "fatalism" and is a major premise of Islam, which demands total submission to the sovereignty of Allah. It's also widely held in Hinduism.
Christians need to know that fatalism is not a Biblical concept, so we need not have this attitude or worry about us.
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If you are saved, God knew you would be before He even created this earth. Before He gave Adam his first breath, He looked down throughout the vast span of time and saw the beginning from the end. And that's when He saw the very moment you made your personal decision to accept the pardon that Jesus purchased for you. (He foreknew.) Then He made reservations for you in His Kingdom, promising to never blot your name out of the Book of Life. (He predestined.) Then when the time was right, He spoke to your heart, already knowing that you would respond. (He called.) And when you did, He cleansed you from all your sin, and from that time forward, He regarded you as if you'd never sinned at all. (He justified.) One day He will give you a new eternal body and a place near Him in His Kingdom. (He glorified.)
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
It is His answer to the attack of the devil, who comes to discourage us, defeat us, lure us aside, deceive us, or mislead us in some way. We need to be exposed to Scripture so the Spirit can use this mighty sword in our lives. If we never read or study our Bible, we are left exposed to defeat and despair. We have no defense and we have nothing to put up against these forces that are at work. We must read our Bible daily.
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This is the truth that will deliver us from the pressures of these times. We must hold things lightly. We must not think that houses, cars, money, and material gain are all that important. Even if we lack these things, the great treasures of our life remain untouched.
To strive constantly to gain what every one else has is a mistake. God teaches us to hold these things lightly. We must never forget that we are IN the world but not OF it. We are never to settle down here for good. We are like pilgrims just passing through, even though we are involved in it, and very deeply at times.
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We think realistically when we think like God because that's when we begin to see ourselves the way we really are. We must saturate ourselves in the thinking of God.
When we see our children, our homes, and our nation the way they really are, we can separate ourselves from the illusions and delusions of this mixed-up and confused world. Then we can begin working toward wholeness, healing and the strengthening of what really abides.
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