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| PSALM 31 IN TIMES OF STRESS, DEPENDING UPON GOD REQUIRES COMPLETE COMMITTMENT. GOD WILL ALWAYS COME TO OUR AID WHEN WE CALL ON HIM. DAVID SAYS: "PRAISE BE TO THE LORD, FOR HE HAS SHOWED HIS WONDERFUL LOVE TO ME WHEN I WAS IN A BESIEGED CITY. IN MY ALARM I SAID,"I AM CUT OFF FROM YOUR SIGHT!" YET YOU HEARD MY CRY FOR MERCY WHEN I CALLED TO YOU FOR HELP. LOVE THE LORD ALL HIS SAINTS! THE LORD PRESERVES THE FAITHFUL, BUT THE PROUD HE PAYS BACK IN FULL. BE STRONG AND TAKE HEART, ALL YOU WHO HOPE IN THE LORD." |
| IISAIAH 40:31- HOPING IN THE LORD IS EXPECTING THAT HIS PROMISE OF STRENGTH WILL HELP US TO RISE ABOVE LIFE'S DISTRACTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES. IT ALSO MEANS TRUSTING IN GOD. TRUSTING HELPS US TO BE PREPARED WHEN HE SPEAKS TO US. THEN WE WILL BE PATIENT WHEN HE ASKS US TO WAIT AND EXPECT HIM TO FULFILL THE PROMISES FOUND IN HIS WORD. THE WORD "WAIT" IN HEBREW MEANS "TO WAIT WHILE WORKING" THIS MEANS THAT WE CONTINUE DOING GOD'S WILL FOR OUR LIVES EVEN IN THE MIDST OF TRIAL AND TRIBULATION. |
| PSALM 91- GOD'S PROTECTION IN THE MIDST OF DANGER. GOD DOESN'T PROMISE A WORLD FREE FROM DANGER, BUT HE DOES PROMISE HIS HELP WHENEVER WE FACE DANGER. GOD IS A SHELTER, A REFUGE WHEN WE ARE AFRAID. THE PSALM WRITER'S FAITH IN THE ALMIGHTY GOD AS PROTECTOR WOULD CARRY HIM THROUGH ALL THE DANGERS AND FEARS OF LIFE. THIS SHOULD BE A PICTURE OF OUR TRUST--TRADING ALL OUR FEAR FOR FAITH IN HIM, NO MATTER HOW INTENSE OUR FEARS. TO DO THIS WE MUST "DWELL" OR "REST" WITH HIM. BY INTRUSTING OURSELVES TO HIS PROTECTION AND PLEDGING OUR DAILY DEVOTION TO HIM, WE WILL BE KEPT SAFE. |
| MARK 1:17- JESUS' FIRST WORDS TO PETER WERE,"COME, FOLLOW ME." HIS LAST WORDS TO HIM WERE, "YOU MUST FOLLOW ME." EVERY STEP OF THE WAY BETWEEN THOSE TWO COMMANDS, PETER NEVER FAILED TO FOLLOW--EVEN THOUGH HE OFTEN STUMBLED. WHEN JESUS ENTERED PETER'S LIFE PETER DID NOT BECOME A PERFECT PERSON. WE OFTEN WONDER WHAT JESUS SAW IN SIMON PETER TO PICK HIM AS ONE OF HIS FOLLOWERS. JESUS WASN'T LOOKING FOR PERFECT PEOPLE. HE WANTED REAL, EVERYDAY PEOPLE THAT HE COULD CHANGE THROUGH HIS LOVE AND SEND OUT TO OTHERS TO TELL THEM OF THE LIFE CHANGING LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST. |
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| Salvation Deliverance of various kinds, for example, deliverance from the enemy (Exod. 14:13). In the Bible it is God who brings salvation from temporal as well as spiritual ills. Thus in the Gospels, referring to his miraculous healings, Jesus sometimes says, "Thy faith hath healed you" (Luke 18:42). Characteristically, the term refers to salvation from sin (Rom. 1:16; I Thess. 5:9). Salvation means the decisive defeat of sin on the cross, but also victory over evil in a believer's daily life. Its full content will be realized only in the life to come (Heb. 9:28; I Pet. 1:5). Sanctification The process of developing holiness. God said to Israel, "Ye shall be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:44-45). Because God wants us to become like him, it is necessary that his people be a special kind of people, holy men and women. The basic idea in sanctification is "being set apart for God"; those thus set apart live in a way that is pleasing to God. They have no power of their own to do that, but God enables them (II Cor. 3:17-18). Sanctification is not an option. God requires it of all his people (I Thess. 4:3). 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 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. |
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| FALSE FAITH |
| Don't be Fooled by Counterfeit Faith By Whitney Hopler Live It Editor January 31, 2002 Trust only in Christ, who is truth personified Crosswalk.com Live It Channel - Many philosophies and religious systems masquerade as genuine spiritual truth. But beware. If you place your faith in anything or anyone except Christ, your faith will bring you harm instead of healing. Tragically, some people have used Christ's name to peddle their counterfeit forms of faith to people, poisoning others seeking spiritual growth. But once you trust in Christ, who is truth personified, He will help you avoid the clutches of spiritual abuse. Here are some principles to keep in mind as you discern what constitutes healthy faith: Consider your motives for participating in religious activity, such as joining a church. Realize that the only healthy motive for engaging in any religious activity is to seek a deeper relationship with God (not to escape pain, pursue greater personal power, bolster your self-esteem or any other misguided reason). Accept God's deep and unconditional love for you without trying to earn it. Know that salvation is also a gift that cannot be earned. Be honest about the emotions you experience. Realize that all people struggle with anger, fear, doubt and other tough feelings at times. God understands completely and doesn't expect you to see the fallen world unrealistically through rose-colored glasses. Don't expect that God will definitely heal you or someone you're praying for if you just have enough faith. God can and does heal people, but only if it's His will for them, despite how much faith they have. Understand that clergy people are fallible because they are human. Never assume that every pastor, priest, or other minister can be trusted; instead, pray about what he or she tells you and make sure it aligns with the Bible. Look to God Himself as your ultimate authority. Similarly, don't feel obligated to submit to any other person who is not truly following Christ, such as an abusive spouse. Don't expect financial rewards for your faithfulness. When you give money, do so to express your love for God rather than to receive a material gain on your investment. Serve others out of love, but set boundaries with them so you have the time and energy to meet your own needs as well. When you live a balanced life, you'll actually be better able to serve others. Actively use the talents God has given you to follow where He leads rather than passively waiting for God to do all the work to make things happen as if by magic. Realize that Christ cannot be just a great teacher. Either He is who He claimed to be - the Savior of the world - or He is a fraud. You need to decide for yourself based on the evidence. Know that God is not too big to care for you personally. Every aspect of your life matters to Him. Understand that God's ultimate goal isn't necessarily for you to be happy, but to be holy. As He transforms you, you will likely experience some pain, but you will also discover joy, which is deeper than happiness and doesn't depend on circumstances. Don't try to become like God yourself; that's impossible. Instead, acknowledge what Christ has done to bring you into a relationship with God and rely on the power the Holy Spirit gives to live your life well. Adapted from Toxic Faith: Experiencing Healing from Painful Spiritual Abuse, copyright 2001 by Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton. A Shaw Book published by WaterBrook Press, Colorado Springs, Co., www.waterbrookpress.com. |
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