tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71181208268919976462024-03-05T21:41:03.213+05:30Praise the Lord Jesus ChristThis is a website where I blog about my lord and savior jesus christ, and the difference he made in my life. I will also seek to share the word of God and the wonderful revelations which the holy spirit will give us. Turn to Jesus, forsake your old ways, know the truth and the truth will set you free.Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-5245951424497790872017-10-19T00:22:00.001+05:302017-10-19T00:22:33.516+05:30Demanding Great Sacrifices - Trial of Faith Series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Gen 22:1-2</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him,
"Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then God said, "Take your son, your only son,
Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a
burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Abraham
is called the <b>Father of the Faithful</b> because he had a faith that was a <b>living
faith and a tested faith</b>. Our faith is proven by the relation with God and
the obedience we have. There is a false faith and there is a true faith. True
faith is not one that merely demands the benefits from God, it is one of
submission & love which yields to God's demands. True faith gives our
entire being to the Lord - our full obedience, our possessions, our emotions,
our time and even (in this case), our own son. One of the great trials of faith
is when God places great demands on us. As we meditate on Abraham's faith,
let's pray that the word of God imparts this same faith to us. (<span style="color: blue;">Rom 10:17</span>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The greatest demand<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love .. <span style="color: blue;">Gen 22:2<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every
good and perfect gift comes from the Father God (<span style="color: blue;">James
1:17</span>) and so it was with Isaac. A miracle baby who came to this blessed
family after a long wait, yea, even many years after their bodies had become
unable to produce a heir. In <span style="color: blue;">Gen 21:6</span>, we learn
that Isaac was named laughter, because he indeed became their joy. Over a
period of time, God saw that it was time to test Abraham with regarding Isaac,
because God cares about what holds our affection. We need to inspect our own
hearts to see if there is anything in our lives which we hold more precious
than God (Even nearly so!). It may be our family, children, job, even ministry.
If so, it's time to mentally place it on His altar. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
when God demands Abraham's sacrifice, He specifies 3 times - Your son, your
only son, whom you love! It may be easy for us to give our money or something
which we don't hold so dear. But when it comes to the delight of our heart, are
we willing to place it on the altar of God? Remember, it is He who gave us all
these things in the first place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The faith that goes at a command<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go to the region of Moriah - <span style="color: blue;">Gen 22:2<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Obedience
to God is shown in small and subtle ways. There is a lukewarm way to obey Him
and there is a zealous way! There is a difference between merely obeying His
commandments and delighting to obey His commandments (<span style="color: blue;">Psa
40:8</span>). While the task before him was unpleasant, yet, look at the zeal
of this man of God. He wakes up early next morning and got up and saddled his
donkey. He took 2 servants and Isaac and he himself cut the wood for laying
Isaac. Such a precious task cannot be entrusted to mere servants. The disciple
of Jesus is one who pays the price of Discipleship. There is something costly
about Abraham's offering. It's not a half-hearted sacrifice - it is loving God
with all your heart, and your soul an</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">d</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> your strength. Can you imagine the pride
and joy that wells up in our Lord's heart when He sees His dear child joyfully
zealously fulfilling his demands ? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">In
all this, Abraham doesn't pause to consult with his wife. There is no place for
human emotions while performing God's will. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Because of her</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> tender and genuine love for Isaac, Sarah
is not going to aid Abraham in this sacrifice. If anything, her desperate love
for her son will be a hindrance to the sacrifice. Like Paul says: I conferred
not with flesh and blood. (<span style="color: blue;">Gal 1:16-17</span>). This
is why James says: faith without works is dead. (<span style="color: blue;">James
2:17</span>). Abraham's actions </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">were</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> proof that he had faith. He climbs the
mountain, builds the altar and lays the wood in order and binds the son to the
altar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Word of Faith<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We will worship and then we will come back to you - <span style="color: blue;">Gen 22:6</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">As
Abraham climbs the peak of Moriah, he leaves his servants behind. These are
times that you must gird up the loins of the mind and leave many things behind
(the donkeys and the servants) to go and worship the Lord. Here is a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">key</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> -
Abraham perceived this sacrifice as worship to the Lord. He viewed it as
reverential - giving God what he demands and what is due to Him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Look
at the words of faith that come forth from this patriarch. 'We will worship and
then we'll come back to you.' At this point, I believe Abraham remembered the
covenant that God gave him. (<span style="color: blue;">Gen 17:19</span> - where
he promises the covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham and in <span style="color: blue;">Gen 17:21</span>, He names Isaac as the partaker of the
covenant blessing.) So long as that covenant is there, Abraham realized that
even if he had to kill Isaac, The Lord is able and faithful to restore Isaac (<span style="color: blue;">Heb 11:17-19</span>) because the Lord doesn't alter the word
that has proceeded from his mouth! And </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">faith in his
heart overflowed and became the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> word of faith</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> in his mouth</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">- </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">We will come back</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">”</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
when Isaac asks him about the sacrifice animal, Abraham says: the Lord will
provide. Oh for a faith that doesn't crumble even at the highest pressure of
testing, or in the last hour!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The obedience of Faith<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While
focusing on the faith of Abraham, It would be sad if we missed out to observe
the submission and obedience of the young man Isaac. One who could easily
overpower the old father - Yet, he chose to be fully submissive. He chose death
to himself. He chose the will of his father. In this, I see a clear pattern.
One who was submissive to God sets forth a blessed example which his
generations would want to imitate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Secret of faith - fear of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Now I know that you fear God,
because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son - </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Gen 22:12</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The climax of the story is the proven faith - a hand that is lifted
upon the sacrifice, a heart that is ready to do His will. And at the moment
comes the Word of God to stop! And the Lord gives a certificate to Abraham. Now
I know you fear God because you didn't withhold the son from me. What is the
Lord's testimony regarding us ? We talk the talk. But may the Lord give us a
faith to walk the talk. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jehovah Jireh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">So Abraham called that place
Jehovah Jireh. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it
will be provided" </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Gen 22:14</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On
that day on Mount moriah, there was a ram that was caught in the thicket and it
was provided by God as a substitute for Isaac. The whole episode was a test for
Abraham's faith. There was no use for humanity if Isaac is sacrificed. God's
provision was given to bring Isaac back from death. Yet, this serves as a
powerful foreshadow of the redemption plan of God for mankind. (Instead of
Abraham, consider God the Father. Instead of Isaac, consider Jesus) Travel a
few centuries down and see God sending His son Jesus to the earth - as the Lamb
of God who take away the sin of the world. He Himself had given Jesus - His
son, His only son, whom He loved. <span style="color: blue;">John 3:16</span>
reminds us of this truth. <span style="color: blue;">Rev 13:8</span> says: Jesus
was the lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. The only difference
was, Jesus had to die to bear our sin and to bear the punishment for our sin. <span style="color: blue;">Isa 53</span> says: the chastisement for our peace was upon
him. and by His stripes, we are healed. For all the above stages of Abraham's
life, there is a corresponding parallel from Jesus' life. Indeed on the mount
Calvary, the Lord provided a fountain of life for us for our cleansing. and
because of the love of our God and obedience of our Lord Jesus, we are redeemed
from death to eternal life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-71807789053976153482017-09-28T00:58:00.001+05:302017-09-28T00:58:18.468+05:30Handling Success - Trial of Faith Series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Ki 18:7</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">a </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">And the LORD was with him <b>[Hezekiah]</b>; he was successful in whatever he undertook.</span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the last message we looked at Peter's life to learn God's plan for us in the face of our failures. Today, let's look at the next trial of our faith. <b>Success.</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In some candid discussions with many true men of God, I have come to the conclusion that <b>Success is a more difficult trial of faith than failure</b>. The danger of going through failure is that you may fall prey to unbelief and become bitter towards God. It may happen to a few people, but the common response for failure is that it drives us back towards God. What is the usual result of success ? The normal believer tends to become proud, his heart is lifted up and he forgets the God who gave him the success in the first place. It takes a<u> very tender heart </u>to maintain that humility before God and give Him the glory for any success which He has granted us. Let's look at the example from the <b>life of King Hezekiah</b>.</span></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lord was with him</span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The name Hezekiah means "Yahweh is my Strength". True to his name, the Lord did mighty things through this wonderful king. If you read from </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Kings 18:3-8</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">, we note the following things about his blessed reign.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Ki 18:3</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - He did right in the eyes of the Lord (as David)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Ki 18:4</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - he eradicated idolatry in all known forms, even destroying the bronze serpent which had existed as an idol for nearly 1000 years!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2Ki 18:5</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - He trusted the Lord and the word of God declares him to be a king unlike any other before or after him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Ki 18:6</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - He held fast to the Lord and didn't cease to follow Him. He kept the commandments of the Lord</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Ki 18:7</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - The Lord was with Him and therefore, he was successful in all his endeavors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Ki 18:8</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - He didn't bow down before the Syrian kings and defeated philistines across their borders.</span></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A man whom the Lord honors and protects!</span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Truly, he was <b>one of the best kings </b>to grace the throne of Israel. There is a touching account of the King of Syria threatening to annihilate Israel. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 32:1</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> (read from v1 to v19) Hezekiah prayed to the Lord (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 32:20</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) and the Lord sent an angel which consumed 185,000 soldiers of Syria (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2Chr 32:21</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">). I especially loved the Word of God which says </span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 32:22</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> So the <b>LORD saved Hezekiah</b> and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">If we have any doubt concerning this, the Lord says: it is <b>He</b> who delivered the nation. Not the might of armies or the wisdom of a king. But the end result of this deliverance was that the fame of Hezekiah spread far and wide and many came to him with precious gifts and he was highly regarded by all nations. (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 32:23</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">)</span></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The beginning of the end - Pride</span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Alas, the result of such fame was a falling away. </span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 32:25</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> says: But Hezekiah's heart was <b>proud</b> and he did <b>not respond to the kindness</b> shown him; <b>therefore</b> the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The result of that wrath was an illness which came to the King and he was near death. he prayed to the Lord and the lord answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. (Read </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Ki 20:1-11</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) And he repented of the pride in his heart (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 32:26</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) and the Lord's wrath didn't appear to them in that generation. But the result of this prayer was an increase of his life by 15 years. That led him to commit even more mistakes in his later years and he also fathered Manasseh. (If you read </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 33:1-11</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">, you can see the amount of evil that this young king heaped on himself and israel) While Hezekiah accomplished much in the secular realm in the added years(</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 32:27-30</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">), we see the steady decline of his spiritual life as the end comes.</span></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The end - God leaves him to test his heart</span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Chr 32:31</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, <b>God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">When God leaves us to test us, he expects us to rely on what He has taught us in the past. He expects us to use the wisdom and unction that He deposited in us prior to the test. It is for us to understand the contents of our heart more clearly. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Ki 20:13</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> says - he exposed every little bit of his kingdom to the envoys of the enemy as a result of his pride and that mistake was instrumental in the nation being carried away to Babylon at a later point in time.</span></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is our lesson from this ?</span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Do I write all this to diss a godly king ? Am I magnifying his mistakes ? Am I trying to erase the good he has done by focusing on his mistakes ? Not at all! I believe all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for our instruction, correction and reproof. It is good for us to take valuable lessons from all these scriptures because we are near the end times. (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Cor 10:11</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">). Where Hezekiah pleased God, let us desire to imitate his life. Where he fell short of the glory of God, let us take it as a precious example to guard against. Remember, if a spiritual giant like he could fall, so could we! Am I against success ? Not at all! I desire success and I believe it is the <b>plan of God for all his disciples to enjoy success</b>. That's why the precious promises are given to the victors (7 letters of revelation + </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rev 21:7</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">). But in our successes that we enjoy, <b>do not forget </b>to attribute glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving to the One who made it possible for us. As Jesus said - Without me, you can do nothing! My prayer is that however well we have begun our spiritual race, God give us the grace to fight the good fight, finish our race and keep the faith and to appropriate the eternal rewards kept for us(</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Tim 4:7</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Further reading : </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Chr</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"> 28:9 & Deut 8:2</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-15499840773907301102017-09-10T00:06:00.002+05:302017-09-10T00:06:57.418+05:30Failures and God's plan for us - Trial of Faith Series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Failures & God's plan for us</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">There's something in all of us that intuitively resists failure. Yet, all of us have been touched by failure at some point of our lives. We may have recovered from those failures, but even now, there is that shame that is associated with the failure. When we look back, we may think "God! Surely we knew better than that!". Today, I would like to meditate on failure as a great trial of our faith. We may have failed in our jobs, academics, in our family life, in our </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Christian</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> walk, in our ministry. Let's ask the Lord for a faith and a relation with the Lord that's strong even in our times of failure.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Luk</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">e</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"> 22:31-32</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But <b>I have prayed for you</b>, Simon, that your <b>faith may not fail</b>. And when you have turned back, <b>strengthen your brothers</b>." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Peter was a strong apostle. Even before he was raised in the apostolic ranks, we see a strength of personality in him. A natural leader, an impu</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">l</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">sive man, one who wouldn't hesitate to leave the boats and follow the Lord, one who would easily jump out of the boat to swim to the Lord or to leave the comfort of the boat to walk on water. The owner of a large heart - one who desired to do much for the Lord. We see him as a natural choice. Yet, the spiritual world operates on principles which are contrary to nature. In his very strength lay a weakness, which if allowed to continue, would bring down his ministry and life as a crack in the foundation can bring down the house that it's founded upon. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">P</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">ls note: Peter was strong - but his confidence was in himself and not in God. The high degree of revelation that he received from God elevated his spirit and the calling as a leader further cemented the pedestal on which he had placed himself. The immense potential of Peter as a threat to his kingdom & the impetuous statements he made about his infallibility attracted satan's desire to sift Peter as wheat. But remember, God's on the throne! </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">Can we start seeing satan as a mere instrument in God's hands to produce the transformation in us - to reveal our weaknesses, to cut us to shape, to remove our rough edges?</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The greatest hindrance to Peter being used as a disciple and apostle is not satan. It is Peter himself. He is totally self confident but his confidence is not in God. He is rather proud of himself and thinks he'll never ever betray the Lord. <span style="color: blue;">Mat 26:33</span> - though all leave you, I will not be offended with you. <i>(in other words, Lord, you don't know what you are talking about - I am made of better stuff than all the others!) </i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lord sees pride as a greater danger than any other sin. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Unless Peter learns to rely on Jesus and Him alone, he will never be able to qualify for the apostolic task that Jesus had for him. His current spiritual state meant that he had to be sifted before the Lord could use him. Sifting meant that the grain and chaff in Peter's life is to be separated. Sifting meant that the false foundations which he may have laid for his life (natural strength & ability) will be demolished before the true foundation (Christ) is laid. Sifting meant severe trials that he will go through. Yes, it even meant failure - to the point that Peter will deny the Lord before a little servant girl. How the mighty fall!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">This is not just about Peter</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. I</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">t's about every child of God who has been given a promise by the Lord. In the above verses, the Lord says: <b>I have prayed for you.</b> Our High-priest (the Lord Jesus) is not one who is untouched by our weaknesses. He is not bothered about your failures. You may fail - <b>But your faith shouldn't fail</b>. Today, we can stand and say that we have been buffeted by forces and people stronger than us. And to our grief, we've failed far too many times. Yet, we are here by God's grace, thanks to His intercession for us. (there</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> lies the difference between the apostasy of Judas and the restoration of Peter)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">A failed (and restored) Peter is a tender-hearted Peter. No more confidence in self. Humbled and yielded as a vessel in the Lord's hands. He is no more desirous of being No.1. But is thankful that his name is in the book of life. He doesn't compete with his brethren. He is able to stand with them on the day of Pentecost and preach the Good News. As the Lord prayed for him, once he was converted he was able to strengthen his brethren. It is such a person who is able to pen the verse <span style="color: blue;">1 Pet 5:10</span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">to the edification of the weak brethren who may be in a season of trials. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">And</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> <i>the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,<b>after you have suffered a little while</b>, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast</i></span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear friend, if you have failed, you are in good company. We are in the hands of a potter who makes us into a beautiful vessel even despite our failures and shortcomings. But our faith - let it not fail!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-21945319402273448802017-09-05T14:36:00.001+05:302017-09-05T14:36:29.052+05:30Chastisement and Discipline - Trial of Faith Series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 12:5-6</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Many of the trials of our life are because we have committed mistakes. The Lord prefers that we endure His punishment and disciplinary action than to suffer the judgment and be separated from Him for all eternity. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Punishment </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">≠</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> Judgment. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">In an earlier thought, we meditated on the Lord who tries the righteous (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Jer 20:12</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">). The same God chooses to discipline us with his chastisement because that is a <b>mark of our Sonship</b>!</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> I may observe many children in my neighborhood committing mistakes and sins. And I do not go about beating them for their sins. But if <u>my own son</u> does a mistake, I wouldn't think much about rebuking him and maybe even beating him, because I'd much rather that he accepts my punishment and be provoked to righteousness. The punishment that we endure as a child doesn't spoil our relation with the Father. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">In fact, our relation with Him is stronger after that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The word says: <b>Do not lose heart</b> when He rebukes you. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Job 5:17</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> says: Blessed is the man whom the Lord corrects. So don't despise His chastening. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rev 3:19</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> reminds us: that He is indeed interested in correction and repentance (Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.) </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Prov 3:11-12</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> reminds us the same fact, but also adds this truth - For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: grey; font-size: 12pt;">[<i>in whom</i>]</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> he delighteth. If the Lord delights in you, he will correct you! He is not done with you yet. He knows that your heart is still soft and tender and will yield to His correction. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 12:9</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> says: If you endured your father's punishment (and yet respecte</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">d</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> them for it), How much more should we submit to the Lord who holds our spirits and live unto eternity?!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">One of the reasons why you lose heart is when you look around. You may observe many, even people who seemingly know the Lord, who seem to do their own evil plans and yet, they are not touched by God. They don't seem to be rebuked by Him or punished. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 12:8</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> soberly reminds us that it's only the <b>True Sons </b>who are chosen for discipline. The illegitimate children are not disciplined. They are left to reap the consequences of their evil.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the ultimate good !</span></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 12:10-11</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that <b>we may share in his holiness</b>.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it <b>produces a harvest</b> of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Dearly beloved, take courage and strengthen yourself (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 12:12</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">). The reason why we maybe in a season of heaviness is because of His loving chastisement and punishment. It is going to produce a holy Fear in us which will provoke us to greater holiness and righteousness. Indeed, all things work together to the good of those who love God and those who are called unto His purpose to work in us the image of the Lord Jesus Christ himself.</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-58695491360751834072017-08-18T20:24:00.002+05:302017-08-18T20:24:30.481+05:30Refining process - Trial of Faith Series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>Trial of Faith - Refining process</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Isa 48:10 </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried and chosen you in the furnace of affliction<span style="color: blue;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the difficult processes of the various trials of faith involve a deep cleansing of the heart of the saint of God. The <span style="color: blue;">Psa 17:3</span> reminds us that there indeed is a God who visits us to test us and to prove us! And His tests involve a refining process.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Peter 1:7</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> says - The trial of our faith is like the purification of precious gold. The refining of gold involves extreme heat which separates the pure gold from the base metals which are united into the matrix of the gold ore. (<span style="color: blue;">Jer 9:7</span>says: I will melt them and try them! <span style="color: blue;">Isa 1:25</span> says he will purge away the dross and take away the tin) God sees in us the ability to hold the divine substance (<b>nature of God</b>). This is why He created us in His image and likeness. From the day that he saved us through faith in Jesus Christ, He is at work cleansing our heart from all filthiness of flesh. The refining process is designed to separate the base from the holy. That's why Job knew despite his many trials that once he is tested, he shall come forth as pure gold (<span style="color: blue;">Job 23:10</span>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Zec 13:9</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> reminds us that he will refine us like silver and test us like gold - before he calls us His people and His children. <span style="color: blue;">Mal 3:3</span> says: God shall purify the levites (a picture of the new testament royal priesthood) before His coming (so that the day of His coming will be hope & joy for us and not judgment). Many of our life circumstances are tailor</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">-</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">made to complete the good work that he has started in us.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indeed most of the saints of God came to know Jesus personally as they went through difficult trials of refining in their life. <span style="color: blue;">Isa 48:10</span> says: behold I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction. Dear friend, take heart. the Lord knows what he is doing. <span style="color: blue;">1 Pet 4:12</span> is our strong hope in trials - don't be surprised at the trial that you are going through. It's not something strange and unique for you. All saints of God go through it. You will not be tested beyond your ability and along with every trial, he will make a way of escape. If you hold onto Jesus, he will see you through the trial and you will emerge better finer and stronger (and more Christ-like) through it all. God bless!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-58874934393008999342017-08-03T13:02:00.002+05:302017-08-03T13:02:54.712+05:30When God Delays - Trial of Faith series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Ps 13:1</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we are on the topic of the <b>trials of faith</b>, one of the foremost tests for a disciple of Jesus is the trial of waiting. Or what we could call "<b>Divine Delays</b>". If you find yourself waiting, if you think the Lord has passed you by, if you find that the Lord has delayed beyond your expectation, take courage. You are in good company. All the saints of God have gone through this process. Abraham, Moses, David, even in the new testament the saints of God have waited fearfully for a lord who seemed delayed. But remember, the eyes of the Lord are always on those who wait on Him and whose hearts are perfect towards him. A quick search in the Old testament on the words "How Long" yields a rich set of verses of the heart cry of the dear ones who waited for the Lord <span style="color: blue;">Ps 6:3</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Ps 13:1</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Ps 35:17</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Ps 79:5</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Ps 80:4</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Ps 89:46</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Ps 90:13</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Ps 94:3</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Hab 1:2</span>; <span style="color: blue;">Zech 1:12</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does God need our advice ?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">In the above Psalm, David (one who was after God's own heart - to whom the Lord revealed the greatest truths in that dispensation) goes through a period where he fears that the Lord has forgotten him and where He has seemingly hidden His face from David. In <span style="color: blue;">Psalm 40:17</span>, the saint of God cries out that he is poor & needy and to not tarry, but to come to his help fast. You can't speed God up! <span style="color: blue;">Isa 40:13-14</span> says: What man has taught God or been His counselor ? We may yet face even physical anguish as we wait for the lord! (<span style="color: blue;">Psa 69:3</span>) Indeed the promise of God says: <span style="color: blue;">Psa 25:3</span> - those who wait on the lord shall not be ashamed. In some of the earlier posts, I've written on this topic. I believe this is one of the most common, Yet most difficult tests of a christian disciple.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Read these 2 posts for some thoughts on the same.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/04/do-will-of-god.html&source=gmail&ust=1501831162122000&usg=AFQjCNF2-M2S_0CqIG5ERgtEGPg7Iwfl2Q" href="http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/04/do-will-of-god.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://believerblogs.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>in/2017/04/do-will-of-god.html</a> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/03/wait-upon-lord.html&source=gmail&ust=1501831162122000&usg=AFQjCNGNUrQINYIXd9y5cSDFYxh3IHCHnA" href="http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/03/wait-upon-lord.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://believerblogs.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>in/2017/03/wait-upon-lord.html</a></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Family that Jesus loved</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 11:5-6</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> - Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Is the Lord cruel to wait when His dear friend is sick unto death? The Lord's love is not an assurance that His loved ones shall not suffer or go through dark nights. But His love is indeed an assurance that He will be with us in those troubles. He will not leave us nor forsake us. While you are waiting, you may think the Lord could have done better (<span style="color: blue;">John 11:21</span>). But as Jesus told the grieving family in <span style="color: blue;">John 11:40</span>, only Believe and you will see the Glory Of God. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The more He is making you wait, the more is the glory that will be manifest.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be patient</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">James 5:7</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> - During the times of delays and waiting, sow the precious seeds patiently. And as a farmer rejoices not at sowing but when the fruit comes, you shall also rejoice surely. <span style="color: blue;">Heb 10:36</span> reminds us that we need to patiently wait and do the will of God before we reap His promises. The light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory. As Job says: (<span style="color: blue;">Job 23:10</span>) He knows the way I take. when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold!</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We faint not!</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Cor 4:16</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. <span style="color: blue;">2 Cor 4:1</span> - since we have received this ministry by God's mercy, we do not lose heart.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having these promises, dear friend, don't lose heart. Hold on to the Lord.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">David cries in his despair three times - that his soul was downcast. He addresses his soul's disturbance and decides " I will yet praise HIM". <span style="color: blue;">Psa 42:5</span>, <span style="color: blue;">Psa 42:11</span>, <span style="color: blue;">Psa 43:5</span> Praise Him, while you are yet to see Him move and surely at the right time, He will move heavens in your favor.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God Bless!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PS: In the days ahead, I hope to write on topics of the various trials of faith - like delays, choices we make, divine silence, suffering, difficult way, making great demands, illogical counsels from God etc. The first post of this series is here. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/08/trial-of-your-faith.html&source=gmail&ust=1501831162122000&usg=AFQjCNEW8BxKCcBUJsuGdEidkXf5QOMzUg" href="http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/08/trial-of-your-faith.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://believerblogs.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.in/2017/08/trial-of-<wbr></wbr>your-faith.html</a></span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-82727271065023223252017-08-01T14:16:00.002+05:302017-08-01T14:16:23.707+05:30Trial of your Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Job 7:17-18</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and <b>test him every moment</b>?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">One of the most unpleasant parts of our Christian journey is the tremendous amounts of tests and trials that we have to endure. In the above word, there is a cry of a man who endured a tremendous testing, probably at a degree more than what we would ever experience or understand. The ways of God mandate that a believer should be<b>tested and tried</b>. Faith that is untried and untested cannot be rewarded or recognized. Also, in the process of testing, the believer is made aware of his own weaknesses and, by the grace of God, he can work out his weaknesses to ensure success in the later trials of his life. The Lord also mandates that a believer should pass the tests that he has failed - so we are also </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">aware</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> that the circumstances that tested us to failure may appear again, and if we are diligent in the tests, we will succeed in them surely.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This experience is what makes the apostles write so soberly about the testing of mankind. <span style="color: blue;">1 Pet 1:6-7</span> comfort us in our various tests.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though <b>now for a season</b>, if need be, ye are in heaviness through <b>manifold temptations</b>: That the <b>trial of your faith</b>, being much more <b>precious than of gold</b> that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Read this earlier post where I noted a few thoughts on the same. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/05/gods-power-in-our-trials.html&source=gmail&ust=1501662599709000&usg=AFQjCNFOES1cK73LBylQMRbCXs_bP_ZzSw" href="http://believerblogs.blogspot.in/2017/05/gods-power-in-our-trials.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://believerblogs.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>in/2017/05/gods-power-in-our-<wbr></wbr>trials.html</a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Lord sees our hearts which are in heaviness through 'manifold' temptations. During this weary period, the Lord reminds us to hold on strong, for in His sight, this trial is very precious and this is real Gold in His sight. The Church of </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">L</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">aodiceans are exhorted to buy the 'tested' faith of Gold from the Lord (<span style="color: blue;">Rev 3:18</span>) for this makes a Christian 'Rich' spiritually. This is why James writes the cryptic statement to rejoice in trials. <span style="color: blue;">James 1:2-3</span>.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Remember dear saint of God - the promises of God are here to comfort us and to stand by us in our journey of Faith. <span style="color: blue;">1 Peter 4:10</span> talks of the <b>'manifold' grace of God</b> (Gk: </span><b><span lang="EL" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;">ποικίλος</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">). The very same word is used to describe the<b>'manifold' trials</b> that we face in <span style="color: blue;">1 Pet 1:6</span>. The literal meaning of the word is 'Many colors or hues'. This means that for every color of temptation or trial that we face, God offers to us the very same color of grace that is needed to overcome that trial. How great is our God! <span style="color: blue;">1 cor 10:13</span> remind us that we will NOT be tested beyond our ability and along with every test, he will make a way of escape!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">If you are in a season of continuous testing or trial or temptation, dear saint of God, the Lord has not passed you by! He is constantly monitoring your test and your response to it. He will NOT allow the test to be more than what you can bear. He will give you the right measure and flavor of grace to overcome. In fact, He has faith IN YOU that you will overcome. You will emerge from the faith finer and more precious than before. The success of this trial means an eternal reward for you. Take courage ! God bless</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PS: In the days ahead, I hope to write on topics of the various trials of faith - like delays, choices we make, divine silence, suffering, difficult way, making great demands, illogical counsels from God etc.</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-37727526077212149992017-06-30T12:11:00.000+05:302017-06-30T12:11:19.296+05:30Meditation of my Heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Ps 19:14</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear friends, at the outset, let's just humbly echo the prayer of this dear saint of God - <i>Oh Lord, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Meditation is what <b>we think</b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> -</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <b><span lang="X-NONE">what we dwell upon</span></b><span lang="X-NONE"> in our hearts. Meditation helps us to be in contact with the spirit world. We are created with capability to allow our minds to communicate with the Lord God creator <b>as well as</b> evil forces. (As a side note, herein is the danger of 'other' forms of meditation like yogic, buddhist, etc - where you bare your mind in meditation and open your mind to intrusion from evil forces. See </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the testimony of a former new-ager mystic who understood this and turned to Christ </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.simonarich.com/about-simona-rich/" style="color: #1155cc;">http://www.simonarich.com/about-simona-rich/</a>).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Our mind is very precious to God -</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">He desires a deep fellowship with the human race which He has created in His image & likeness. One can't fellowship with a lower creation (for example, however much a person likes his pet dog, the dog will remain a dog and man will remain a man and the dog can never understand the mind of the higher being.) Contrast this with what Paul says in <span style="color: blue;">1 Cor 2:16</span> For who has known the mind of the Lord ? that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. A born again person has the ability to <b>understand things of God & to have </b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">H</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">is mind</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> in a sense. And I thank God for Him opening this way to deep fellowship with Him, Yea, even to the extent that we are now His sons! (<span style="color: blue;">John 1:12</span>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">We are the temple of the Living God - and our mind is the sacred place, so it's so essential to keep it Holy & Blameless. The most valuable real-estate in the world is your mind. (The lord estimates a human soul to be more valuable than the full value of the created earth!).</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The world system (i.e. TV, news, advertisement, media, internet, facebook, email, youtube, etc) are vying for finding a place in your mind and selling it's goods and ideas to your mind. Once it finds a place in our mind, we will tend to incubate it and meditate it till it influences our thoughts, values and actions.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At this juncture, the prayer of this Godly man in <span style="color: blue;">Psalm 19:14</span> comes to our mind. If ever we've needed it more than ever before, it is NOW. Dear child of God, make it a point to <b>study the thoughts of your mind</b> to see what is occupying your mind for most of the time. List them - are these thoughts of evil origin, worldly origin, fleshly origin, thoughts of harm or thoughts of the holy spirit. <b>Let not satan and his world system occupy the precious space in the temple of the living God.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meditation is dwelling on the thoughts</span></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">You are what you think. <span style="color: blue;">Proverbs 23:7</span> says, “As he thinketh in his heart so is he.” . (If you see the portion in <span style="color: blue;">Ezekiel 8:8-12</span>, it is a picture of the Lord seeing into the recesses of </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">people’s</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> heart.) <span style="color: blue;">Proverbs 24:9</span> reads, “The thought of foolishness is sin...” In <span style="color: blue;">Matthew 5:28</span>, Jesus said that whoever looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beloved, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">A holy inner life is the only thing that pleases God. <span style="color: blue;">1 Samuel 16:7</span> (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">) Praise the Lord for His great power, love and grace to transform our meditations. <i><span style="color: blue;">Ephesians 4:22-24</span> (4:22) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; (4:23) to be made new in the attitude of your minds; (4:24) and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Child of God, may we be gripped by this holy desire to have a mind that's renewed that meditates on the things of God always.</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-44719730068676875592017-06-15T20:43:00.001+05:302017-06-15T20:43:11.044+05:30Salvation to the Uttermost<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;">(</span></b><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 7:25</span></b><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;">) </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Wherefore he is able also to <b>save them to the uttermost</b> that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Often in our lives, after we experience the joy of salvation, we may get complacent about the grace that the Lord offers us and imagine that we have completed the race. This is so far from the truth! The race is ahead of us - this is why Paul says he is straining towards the mark of the high calling in </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Phil 3:13-14</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> and only in the epistle that he writes just prior to his death does he say that he has finished the race that was set before him (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Tim 4:7</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">). Here's an illustration for the stages of Salvation that Jesus offers us.</span></span></div>
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<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" height="20" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-bottom: 1.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; margin: 0px; width: 104pt;" width="138"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stage 1</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-bottom: 1.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; width: 110pt;" width="146"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stage 2</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-bottom: 1.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; width: 116pt;" width="155"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stage 3</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" height="20" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; height: 15pt; margin: 0px; width: 104pt;" width="138"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saved</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 110pt;" width="146"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being Saved</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 116pt;" width="155"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shall be saved</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" height="20" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; height: 15pt; margin: 0px; width: 104pt;" width="138"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Past</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 110pt;" width="146"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Present continuous</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 116pt;" width="155"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Future</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" height="20" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; height: 15pt; margin: 0px; width: 104pt;" width="138"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Justification</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 110pt;" width="146"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sanctification</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 116pt;" width="155"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Glorification</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" height="20" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; height: 15pt; margin: 0px; width: 104pt;" width="138"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spirit renewed</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 110pt;" width="146"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mind being renewed</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 116pt;" width="155"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Body shall be renewed</span></td></tr>
<tr height="35" style="height: 26.25pt;"><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" height="35" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; height: 26.25pt; margin: 0px; width: 104pt;" width="138"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unable to not sin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(before the new birth)</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 110pt;" width="146"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Able to not sin</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid white; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 116pt;" width="155"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unable to sin</span></td></tr>
<tr height="35" style="height: 26.25pt;"><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" height="35" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-bottom: none; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; height: 26.25pt; margin: 0px; width: 104pt;" width="138"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Given power to be sons of God</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border-bottom: none; border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid white; border-top: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 110pt;" width="146"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being led by the Spirit as mature sons</span></td><td align="left" class="m_6490113507293122658gmail-xl63" style="background: rgb(219, 229, 241); border: none; color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; width: 116pt;" width="155"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sons of God revealed in glory</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">Look again at the verse </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 7:25</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> - He is able to save to the uttermost - those that come unto God by Him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">1) Jesus is able</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> to save us to the uttermost - The ability of God is a great relief for us. When paul cries out the cry of despair (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 7:24-25</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) - Who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?!, he immediately is inspired by the Holy Spirit to thank God <b>through Jesus Christ</b> - for that is the key to victory! Jesus is able to save us! </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Jude 1:24</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">says: Jesus is<b> able to keep you</b> from falling and He shall present you blameless before the presence of the glory of God with much joy! What a loving God ! His joy at presenting us on that day will be much greater than any joy we've seen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">2)</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus is able to <b>save us to the uttermost</b> - Beloved, the hope for us is that the Lord is able to save us to the uttermost. As I have heard some of the servants of God say - The Lord is able to save the "Guttermost" to the "Uttermost". However dark and sinful and ugly your past was, the Lord is able to bring to completion the salvation plan for our lives and He is able to complete the good work that He has begun in us. (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Phil 1:6</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">). In other words, he is able to transform the chiefest sinner before the throne of heaven into a Glorified person who shall live and reign with the Lord Jesus forever enjoying the eternal rewards and a close fellowship with the Lord Himself - IF - he comes to God through Jesus! </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Samuel 2:8</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - In the inspired words of a Godly mother - Hannah, "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">3)</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> Those who come <b>to God through Jesus</b> - The fullness of salvation is available only to the people who come to God through Jesus Christ. Many people try to come to God on the basis of their works, some on the basis of false human doctrines and philosophies, some through other people and so-called 'gods' and so-called 'saints'. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Tim 2:5</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> reminds us that there is one God and there is one mediator between Man & God - Jesus Christ! In </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 14:6 </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus says: I AM <b>the</b> way <b>the</b> truth & <b>the</b> life - No man comes to the father but by Me. Meaning, Jesus is the <b>only way</b>. He is the <b>only truth</b> and He is the <b>only source of Life</b>. The work of intercession that Jesus does for us is the basis of our standing righteous before God.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Why should we seek another way to save our souls when the Lord says: He is all-sufficient to save us to the uttermost ?!</span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-58752214067075136042017-05-29T15:22:00.001+05:302017-05-29T15:32:35.688+05:30Key to Progression - Faithfulness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Luk
16:10-12 ESV</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">“One who is </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: #c00000; font-size: 12pt;">faithful in a very little</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> is also
faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest
in much.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">If then you have not been </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: #c00000; font-size: 12pt;">faithful in the unrighteous
wealth</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">, who will entrust to you the true riches?<b> </b>And if you have not been </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: #c00000; font-size: 12pt;">faithful
in that which is another's</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">, who will give you that which
is your own?<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There's
something in the heart of the Lord which looks at the people who are faithful
in the humdrum things of life. His heart goes out to the shepherds in the
wilderness, the watchmen on the towers, the farmer with the yoke of oxen, the
woman at the well, the tax collector tallying his returns, etc. Often, we miss
the opportunity to see God and to serve Him in the ordinary ; we wait for the
extraordinary move of God and miss His sweet presence and favor in the ordinary
essential phases of our life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
tender eyes of God are looking at us to reward us at the station where He has
placed us. His heart yearns to see us faithful, even as He was faithful. No one
has taken a demotion as our Lord, (<span style="color: blue;">Phil 2:5-8</span>)
who being God emptied himself and took on the form of a servant. He who made
all of creation with a Word toiled and sweated in a carpenter's shop to produce
a perfect piece of furniture during His earthly years here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the above passage, we notice 3 conditions of catching His attention when he
looks at us for faithfulness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Be faithful in little (<span style="color: blue;">Luk 16:10</span>)</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> - While we are waiting for the Big things
in life, be faithful in the little things. Bloom where you are planted! Bring
forth the fruit in the things which no one notices and rewards. Be faithful
when no one is watching. And the Father in heaven who sees it all, and sees
your heart, will surely reward you - and yea, even reward you publicly. How can
someone be given a charge of a large project or a task till his ability and
faithfulness is proven in the simpler tasks ? If it's true in the secular
world, how much more it is relevant in the spiritual world ?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
moral choices that you exercise to be faithful in the little situations are the
same choices that you will make in an enlarged place. The moral fiber has to be
developed through the 'seemingly little' daily tasks and choices. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once
you are faithful in the little matters, have faith and expect God to bless you
with greater things. (<span style="color: blue;">Mat 25:23</span>, <span style="color: blue;">Luk 19:17</span>). These rewards would be compounded in
eternity as you demonstrate your faithfulness in spiritual matters as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Be faithful in the matter of money (<span style="color: blue;">Luk 16:11</span>)</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> - A believer is a person who has a
radical attitude regarding everything. His attitude changes during his
conversion towards himself, towards God, towards money, towards this world,
towards sin, towards religion, towards his neighbors, etc. One of the key
changes is regarding money. We read that love of money is the root of all evil
(<span style="color: blue;">1 Tim 6:10</span>) and we also know that Godliness
with contentment is a great blessed state to be in (<span style="color: blue;">1
Tim 6:6</span>). A disciple of Jesus has a refined attitude concerning money.
He has a higher awareness that he is a steward of God's money and he will use
it faithfully. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For
example, if you take your money ($2000) to the bank and a few weeks later, you
visit the bank and talk to the manager. The manager says: "Your account is
now at $1500 - because I used $500 for a good charitable purpose" - How
would you feel ? You would feel that the manager is an unfaithful steward. Now
God is the person who gives His money into your hands. And he expects you to <b>ask Him and get His approval</b> before
using it. The attitude of a disciple is : God's will over my will in every aspect
of his life - including money. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be
the master over your money - and better still, allow God to be master over your
money. <span style="color: blue;">Mat 6:24</span> - No one can serve two masters
- It's either God or Money. If you are unfaithful in matter of money, we cannot
expect the Lo0rd to grant us eternal riches. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Be faithful in another's (<span style="color: blue;">Luk 16:12</span>)</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> - When we are working in another's
enterprise (whether secular or spiritual), our attitude and output matters for
the Lord. Simply put, the Lord's expectation from us is that we would work in
another's company or organization as we would for our own organization that we
formed or created. May the Lord sharpen our hearts to come to the level of
accountability that He expects and rewards. In <span style="color: blue;">Col
3:22-24</span>, the Lord talks about the work ethic that he expects from us. Do
it with sincerity, and heartily as though you are doing it for the Lord - and
He shall reward you! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Col 3:22-24</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">
NIV Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything;
and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with <b>sincerity of heart</b> and reverence for
the Lord.<b><span style="color: maroon;">
</span></b>Whatever you do, work at it <b>with all your heart</b>, as <b>working for the Lord</b>, not for men,<b><span style="color: maroon;"> </span></b>since
you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is
the <b>Lord Christ you are serving</b>.<b><span style="color: maroon;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May
the Lord enable us to fulfill these conditions that He may count us worthy of a
progression in His sight. God bless you!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-25992632230391837392017-05-06T22:15:00.000+05:302017-05-06T22:15:03.329+05:30Sealed by the Holy Spirit - Assurance of Eternity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Eph 1:13-14</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> (1:13) </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">In whom ye also </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: grey; font-size: 12pt;">[<i>trusted</i>]</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> (1:14) </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the greatest joys of salvation, as far as I am concerned is the hope of eternity that the Lord gives to everyone who is saved by Him. Personally, I find that more motivating for me to complete my race than all the blessings which we can enjoy here on earth. That fullness of salvation, where I am saved from my sins and my tendency to sin, where righteousness and peace reigns forever - where I shall be with the Lord Jesus forever - that gives me the desire to press on towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These verses above struck me as I was meditating the word today. In these verses, I see a divine progression for a believer towards eternity. Let's take a look at that.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Heard the Word of Truth</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">When we were without Christ, the Lord came seeking us and through His divine channels (I.e. the word of God, through human beings, through media, etc) He proclaimed the Word of Truth to us. It is this word of Truth that sets us free (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 8:32</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free). This is the reason why children of God (and especially those who would dare to call themselves servants of God) are exhorted to Show themselves approved to God, unashamedly dividing the Word of Truth (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Tim 2:15</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">). It is this truth that shines into our dark places and sets the captives free. In </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Eph 1:13</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">, the Lord calls this the Gospel of our salvation. Blessed are the feet on the mountains of those who bring this good news and the message of hope to the masses.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">But - It is not just sufficient for the word of Truth to be proclaimed, it is necessary for it to be heard! The word of God reminds us - let him that has ears, hear what the spirit says! Every one has ears. But few have the real "ears" to hear what the spirit proclaims through the word of truth. But blessed are those who<b> really hear & respond positively</b> to the Word of truth - for salvation is offered to such! As it is written in </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">James 1:21</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word<i> (Implanted/Rooted in you)</i>, which is able to save your souls.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. In Whom Ye Trusted</span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gospel declared and heard is not completely effective. It is the gospel that is <b>"believed in"</b> that has the power of God unto salvation. The final choice of this belief rests on the person. God can't make you believe. It is a free will choice that you're going to make. Always. And always remember, when you hearken and believe the gospel, you are not trusting mere words, but you are trusting the Word of Truth, and you are trusting a person - Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. A simple thought for us to store away - The Good news is a Person - Jesus Christ. It's all about Him, His love, His sacrifice, His church and His plan for it, His second coming and an eternity that is spent with Him. He is the author and finisher of our salvation, and He is indeed the reward that we are running for. Look to Jesus & trust Him implicitly - irrespective of the spiritual season of your life.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. After you believed</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Continuing from Point 2., The blessing of salvation is opened to us after we believe. I am not talking about an empty acknowledging of a fact - but a trust, a reliance, and a faith in the Lord and His salvation plan. I am talking about a </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 11:1</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> kind of faith - one that appropriates and sets on a higher level the eternal, unseen realities of the Kingdom of God more than the reality of the present evil age that we live in. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">James 2:19</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> reminds us that even the devils also believe and they tremble. But that belief doesn't lead them to salvation. But the Lord in His mercy has opened to us the way of salvation, in that He enabled us to repent and to believe and become born again.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Sealed with the Holy Spirit</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The blessedness of salvation is made manifest to the believer the moment he becomes born again. The Lord accepts him into the household of God (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Eph 2:19</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) and gives him the ability to become a son of God and a partaker of His divine nature. He sends the Holy Spirit (which is Himself!) to dwell with us and we become the temple of the Living God! We carry in our body, the manifest presence of God himself. The spirit of God renews our spirit and begins the life-long work of renewal in us - which implies a renewal of the spirit - Justification, a renewal of the mind (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 12:1-2</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) - sanctification & Finally a renewed glorified body - glorification (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 8:21</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The word (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Eph 1:13</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) says : This is a seal! Something which is an assurance which cannot be broken. This seal cries inside us convincing us that we are indeed the Sons of God! This assurance of God's love causes us to experience the freedom whereby we can call the creator of heavens and earth as our Father and witnesses the truth that we are indeed his children! Not just that, the spirit of God is sent to us as an earnest (or downpayment) of the eternal inheritance that He has stored for us.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me illustrate. Let's say, we are planning to purchase a house which costs $100,000. We do not make the full payment upfront. We just may give a small initial downpayment (Maybe $15,000) and then continue to make the payments as we progress in construction. Dearly beloved, the spirit of God that He has given in our hearts is just a small foretaste of divine glory. He is but one aspect of heaven that we are enjoying here on this earth. How much more glorious is our life in heaven and how much more we should be motivated and driven by eternity !</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May the Lord bless you as you meditate on this reality. God Bless!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-42951314871462040762017-05-01T19:47:00.001+05:302017-05-01T19:47:16.574+05:30God's power in our trials<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1Pet 1:3-7 </span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;">(1:3) </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> (1:4) </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> (1:5) </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> (1:6) </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> (1:7) </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.</span></span></i></blockquote>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These passages come forth from the pen of Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit to provide much strength and hope for the Christian who is buffeted by trials of their lives. The summary of the passage is the deep conviction that God is all powerful in our trial and that He is fully in control. I'd like to just touch upon a few things which ministered hope to me.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Living Hope</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Pet 1:3</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Your hope is only as powerful as your God</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">. Your hope is only as alive as your God! We are blessed to know and serve a Living God - who submitted to death for a period to provide the precious salvation for all of us and who, by the power of the Holy spirit was raised from the dead and is alive for ever more, and is even now seated at the right hand of God! When we were born again, these verses remind us that we were born again to a living hope of our resurrected savior. Also see {</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">2 Th 2:16</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">} What is this living hope ? Read on...</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. An Inheritance</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Pet 1:4</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">We all would love to receive an inheritance! (It's joyful because we didn't expect it when we were born, we receive beyond what we could have got out of our own work, and we receive the remaining portion of the fruit of a patriarch's entire life effort! All because we remained in the family). The heavenly riches have a great parallelism to this! The living hope of a believer is in the inheritance - but contrary to an earthly inheritance, it is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. It's kept in the heaven for us. <b>It's the salvation package for our eternal life.</b> It contains <u>spiritual blessings</u>, it contains <u>intimacy with God</u>, it contains an <u>eternal ministry</u>, Eternal <u>rewards</u>, etc. (We are joint heirs with Christ, and as Christ suffered and obeyed the Lord, so shall we inherit along with Him if we are obedient to the Lord!) </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Cor 9:25</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">reminds us that our effort for running this race is to win an eternal crown - so much more glorious than a medal that we receive when we win a race here on earth.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Power of God as our guard</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Pet 1:5</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> who<b> by God's power </b>are being guarded <b>through faith</b> for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Our salvation would be worth nothing if it were </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">solely </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">dependent on our human frailty to keep something so precious! </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Indeed, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">God has kept a role for us - we need to cooperate with His plan for our salvation. We have to repent, believe & submit to Him, we have to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus. While this is true, the promise of God comes that it's finally God's power that is guarding these promises for us. <b>We are kept by the power of God</b> (<i>see </i></span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Jude 24</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, see also </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 16:25</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">, </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Eph 3:20</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) This protection is available to us through faith. The full salvation package is ready to be revealed at the last time!</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Rejoice in your trials</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Pet 1:6</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Lord frequently makes impossible demands on our lives - Does anyone really rejoice in their trials? It's so unpleasant. (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 12:11</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The constant running theme of scripture is the <b>testing of mankind</b>. From the book of Genesis to revelation, we always come across this theme. (<i>i.e. the testing of Adam, to the testing of every single patriarch, to the testing of kings and kingdoms to the testing of Jesus to the testing of the disciples and apostles to the testing of the Church to the testing of the inhabitants of the eternal kingdom whether or not they would follow satan</i>). It's the Lord's good pleasure to try us and to test us to prove us worthy of His kingdom. Also the trials in your life produce the very precious proof of patience and endurance in your life. (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 5:3</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Jas 1:3</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">).</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">1 Pet 1:7</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> says: so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The reason why the Lord tests us is because faith that is tested and proven is much more valuable than the faith that is untested. The fire of the trial doesn't just test us, it purifies the faith. As Job says in </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Job 23:10</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - He knows my way. I shall come forth as gold when He has tried me. <b>It's not forever </b>that the test will continue - </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Heb 10:37</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">. The Lord will n<b>ot test you beyond your ability</b>. His desire is to purify you - not to destroy you! Often He chooses you in the furnace of affliction (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Isa 48:10</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">)</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"><i>1 cor 10:13</i></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><i> No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. </i>The Lord says: <i>After you have suffered a while through your trials, he shall restore, confirm strengthen and finally establish you! (</i></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"><i>1 Pet 5:10</i></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><i>).</i> Praise the Lord who truly makes all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and those who are called unto His purpose.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May the power of God be manifest in your trials and may He strengthen you through these verses. God bless!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-12328728020699159462017-04-28T01:04:00.000+05:302017-04-28T01:04:01.110+05:30How precious are His thoughts towards me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">What a wonderful God we serve! </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Psa 139:17</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> says: <i>How <b>precious towards me are your thoughts</b>, How vast are the sum of them. If I count them, they are more than the grains of sand!!</i> Dear friend, if the word of God says this, it is true indeed. Today, let's just look back and thank the Lord for His loving care towards us - through thick and thin of our lives, through times when we walked along His path, yea, even in times that we rebelled and went away, such was the love and patience of our Lord. His love is manifest in the level of attention He has for us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">1. He numbers our hair</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Mat 10:30</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Fear not, dear friend! you are of much more value than a sparrow. The Lord says - they fall to the ground and the Lord knows them. How much more will He care for us who are made in His image, and especially if we have believed Him unto eternal life! The very hairs of our head are numbered. Our God loves us so much that every tiny detail of our lives has his undivided attention. All that He wants us to do is: To acknowledge Him before others (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Mat 10:32</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">) and He shall surely do the same before our father in heaven!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">2. He names us by a personal name</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 10:3</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">---</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;"> The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Have you had the experience of the Lord addressing you personally ? Ever felt like the bible was written as a personal love letter between the Lord and you? Such is the intimacy that the Lord has for us, that he calls us by a pet name! We are not one in a multitude for Him. We are precious! So precious that He bled on the cross for us. For me! For the Joy set before Him, he endured the cross, despising the shame. (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Heb 12:2</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">). The good shepherd of our Soul shall call us forth by our names! And better still, he shall give us a new name (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Rev 2:17</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">) as we enter into eternity with Him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">3. He records our conversations and even our thoughts</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Mal 3:16</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So often, we have casually mentioned our good and godly desires before others in God-fearing conversation, and the Lord who paid attention and heard it wrote it in a book of remembrance and even gave us those things that we desired! This verse reminds us that His attention is on us and he grants us the desires of our heart and the things we casually mention in conversation. Beloved, how is your conversation ? We can't afford to be profane in our conversation because the Lord records it all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">4. He numbers our steps</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Job 31:4</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The eyes of the Lord are on his beloved and He observes the ways that a man takes and even his steps. He is so keen, even to count the steps of a man. Spiritually, the Lord keeps an account of the steps that we take to grow in Him, to be more righteous, the steps of faith, the steps according to his will, etc. Let's desire to please Him forever more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">5. He bottles our tears</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Psalms 56:8</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we seem to be wandering about in our lives, dear saint of God, when your pillows are made wet by your tears, when your heart groans waiting for the Lord, remember, we serve a God who bottles our tears. Every single tear has been seen and recorded by the Lord and He will surely give you an answer. He shall not pass you by! He shall not leave you in the pit. He shall raise you up to the heavenlies where He is and where we belong!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember His love & faithfulness as you desire to love Him & serve Him all your life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God bless!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-82368861633311305462017-04-24T14:51:00.000+05:302017-04-24T14:51:07.223+05:30Do the Will of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Heb 10:36</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> KJV </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">For ye have need of <b>patience</b>, that, <b>after ye have done the will of God</b>, ye might <b>receive the promise</b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Heb 10:36</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> AMP </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">For you have need of <b>steadfast patience and endurance</b>, so that you may <b>perform and fully accomplish the will of God</b>, and thus <b>receive</b> and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Living in an <b><i>age of instant gratification</i></b>, it is difficult for us to understand the concept of patience. In the post-digital era where information and services are on our fingertips, we have to go back to the old paths to learn the <b>ways of God</b>. All things spiritual come with patient expectation. God's gifts may be given in an instant, but His fruit may take years to come to maturity and sweetness. We may be saved in an instant when we truly believe. But the fact is, while <b>we were</b> saved in an instant (<i>justified</i>), <b>We are</b> still being saved (<i>sanctified</i>) and yet, We wait for the final redemption where<b>we will be</b> saved (i.e. <i>Glorified</i>).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Consider these verses again: <b>For you need to have patience</b>! I have often written about the need for the Christian to <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://believerblogs.blogspot.com/2017/03/wait-upon-lord.html&source=gmail&ust=1493107708526000&usg=AFQjCNE_jbqgZg3p4AsOSnLIXmeSsBnVoA" href="http://believerblogs.blogspot.com/2017/03/wait-upon-lord.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">wait on the Lord</a> before they receive certain blessing. Yet again, I want to stress today on the need to fulfill certain requirements before we come to enjoy the blessings that the Lord has given us. Pl</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">ea</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">s</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">e</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">note: I am not trying to stress on works for salvation! I believe fully that <u>salvation is a free gift</u> from God received <u>by grace through faith</u>. Yet, spiritual life is an<b> endurance race</b> than a 100m dash, and the way to prepare for a race is through patient training for years! No one has won a race because they decided one fine day to participate in it! It needs a <b>decision</b> to participate, a<b>determination</b> to win, <b>discipline</b> to stay on training, <b>humility</b> to yield and change where it is necessary and <b>dedication</b> to suffer the process because they consider the reward to be worth it. This is the sum & substance of spiritual endurance too!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit. And in some of the older saints, I have seen this mature fruit where they wait with expectancy and much patience because they <b>count Him faithful</b> - He that has promised will surely bring it to pass. Finally, it boils down to our relation with the Lord. If we're right with the Lord and if we enjoy His presence, we will have no shortage of the fruit of patience in our lives!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note again the words - After you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise! We want it all NOW! But God insists that it is <b>only after we do the will of God </b>that we can come into our promises. Dear friends, find His will for your life. Seek it with all your heart. For the will of God is your sanctification. Decide and desire to be purified progressively and to be made more conformed to His image. (and His nature). As we submit to this for our lives, we will see the great move of God bringing us closer to His precious promises for our lives.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prayer: Father God, we know you're preparing us for eternity with you and we thank you for the grace that you have given us through your son Jesus. May our live reflect His goodness. Teach us to patiently endure our Christian lives that we may come to the reward that you have kept for us. Teach us to do your will and be in your will. If we have strayed, nudge us back to the center of your will. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God bless you!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-88780639239721515252017-04-18T17:54:00.002+05:302017-04-18T18:02:09.361+05:30Don't live among the dead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;">Luke 24:3-6</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">And as they were afraid, and bowed down </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: grey; font-size: 12pt;">[<i>their</i>]</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> faces to the earth, they said unto them, <b>Why seek ye the living among the dead?</b></span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">He is not here, but is risen:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">In the last few days, most of my meditation centered around the events of the Lord Jesus' last few weeks here on the earth - and as I was meditating on these themes, the words of the bible passage above was quickened in my heart. One of the key expressions of Christian faith is the LIFE that the Lord promises us. Our Lord was not to be shackled by death, and He rose from the dead on the third day. (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 8:11</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> promises that if the Holy spirit lives inside us, then the same spirit who raised up Jesus Christ shall also make us alive).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">After Jesus' resurrection, the group of women came to the tomb where he was laid and they found the tomb empty. Are you glad that we serve a <b>LIVING God</b> ?! All other God-men and demi-Gods and so-called saints are dead and gone. But our savior is alive - and He lives forever more. He's not just alive ; He is here right inside us!!! </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Christ's resurrection is one of the most foundational aspects of Christian faith. This is what separates our faith from all others. Jesus said so many things related to this. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 14:6</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> I am the way, the truth and the life. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 11:25</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> I am the resurrection & life. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 1:4</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> In Him was life and the life was the light of men.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consider again the verse: <b>Why seek ye the Living among the dead?</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Often, we find many people eagerly accepting Jesus Christ as their savior. They even get baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. But their ways rarely, if ever, change! One of the key reasons for this, is that they continue to stay among the dead, even after they are made alive! One of the key principles of this scripture is: If you have been made alive (if you were dead in your sins earlier, and are now made alive by the Lord), <b>then don't stay among the dead</b>!! I.e. All around us, in our day to day life, the world offers umpteen opportunities to sin and go back to the old life. The believer consciously (and often at a great personal cost!) has to separate himself from these opportunities.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">OK. This is a bit difficult for us to understand. So let me illustrate. Let's assume there was this person who died. His body is now in the morgue (mortuary) and is among about 30 other corpses. Imagine ; Suddenly the Lord brings this man back to life and gives back to him the breath of life. He is now alive. He wakes up and realizes that he is in a mortuary. What sane man would continue to remain there? He'd be up and he'd rush out of that atmosphere of death as quick as his legs could carry him!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Now, where can we find a similarity in our lives ? We may be born again, but we may have consciously submitted ourselves to vain human traditions which keep us away from the Lord. We may be still in the <b>friendships </b>which take us back to the path of death. We may still be in <b>dead assemblies</b> or the <b>religious traditions</b>or <b>idolatry</b>, which is a rebellion against the living God. We may consciously be <b>living in sin</b> and living our <b>old life</b> without tapping into the abundant supply of grace which powers us to walk righteous and blameless! The same Lord who cried out to Lazarus "</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">Lazarus, come forth.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">" is crying out to us! Come out!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">2 Cor 6:17-18 </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">Wherefore <b>come out </b>from among them, and <b>be ye separate, </b>saith the Lord, and <b>touch not the unclean</b> [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 6:21</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> says: What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: grey; font-size: 12pt;">[<i>is</i>]</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> death. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">But the Lord continues in the next verse (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 6:22</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) that we are made free from sin and we are to become servants of God. The fruit that God expects from us is - Holiness and the end thereof is Everlasting Life.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Old Life in Sin (Rom 6:21)</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New Life In Christ (Rom 6:22)</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Constant Shame</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Constant Joy</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Servants of uncleanness & iniquity</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Freed from bondage of sin</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Servants of God</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bitter fruit of fleshly works</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blessed fruit of Holiness</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">End is Death</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">End is Everlasting Life</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May the Lord lead us to this blessed path of victory!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">God bless you!</span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-21200924293262153592017-04-13T23:58:00.001+05:302017-04-13T23:58:24.369+05:30Behold the Lamb of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 1:29</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “<b>Behold, the Lamb of God</b>, who takes away the sin of the world!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The central theme of the Bible is <b>God’s wondrous compassion </b>for the human race, which was created in His image and likeness but has fallen so far short of His nature and goodness. Through the disobedience of the first man Adam, sin (meaning: all that is evil) entered into the world and shattered the communion between Mankind and His Maker.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The wretched sinfulness of mankind</span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The common cry of all men with a conscience is that we be delivered from our sins. The greatest burden that Man has to carry is the burden of sins. From Adam, man has carried this burden for the Word of God says: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Look into ourselves and we will see a law in our body and mind which is contrary to Godliness. (<span style="color: blue;">Rom 7:23</span>). This portion, i.e.<span style="color: blue;">Rom 7:16-25</span>, reminds us that in our flesh, there is no good thing!(<span style="color: blue;">Rom 7:18</span>) We end up doing the evil that we don't desire to do instead of the good that we desire to do! (<span style="color: blue;">Rom 7:19</span>) Such is the depraved state of man. Out of the lips of such a man comes the cry - O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the shackles of this body of death. (<span style="color: blue;">Rom 7:24</span>)</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Love of God</span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But though God is a holy and just God, and though he hates sin and wants to punish it, He is also a loving God (<span style="color: blue;">1 John 4:8</span>,<span style="color: blue;">16</span>). He desires fellowship with mankind and He desires that we are restored back to a relation with Him. This very same love is what sent Himself to Earth as Man Christ Jesus to bear our sin. The most famous bible verse (<span style="color: blue;">John 3:16</span>) reminds us that <b>God</b> so <b>loved</b> the world, that he <b>gave</b> his only begotten Son, that whosoever <b>believeth</b> in him <b>should not perish</b>, but have <b>everlasting life</b>. To redeem humanity, God decided that He would bear the punishment for all humanity.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God Himself had to pay the price to redeem us back into fellowship with Himself. Thus, it was He who had to give His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our sins. He therefore had to become man. God the Father prepared a body for His Son in the womb of Mary of Nazareth. Jesus was conceived by the third member of the Holy Trinity, the blessed Holy Spirit.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He bore our sin!</span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The primary task of the Lord was to be the <b>Savior</b> - to <b>save people from their sin</b>. <span style="color: blue;">Mat 1:21</span> - He shall be named Jesus, For He shall save His people from their sins. When he was taken by the Jews and the Romans and crucified, the Lord laid on him our sins. In the garden of Gethsemane, the Lord sweated drops of blood and became exceedingly sorrowful even to the point of death because of the weight of the sin of the world. To be more specific, He bore my sin & yours! And He took this burden to the cross. The nails of the roman soldiers didn't bind the Lord to the cross. It was His love for us that bound Him to the cross. It was my sin that held him there.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Slain from before the foundation of world</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">As Jesus came to this world as a baby (</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">conceived by</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> the Holy Spirit &</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> born of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> the virgin Mary), remember, His life purpose was to live as man, to be tempted as we are, yet be pure and without sin, so that He could be the blameless Passover lamb who would die for us and whose blood will consecrate the new and living way for us to enter into the presence of God. By whose blood we are promised reconciliation with God! <span style="color: blue;">Rev 13:8</span> says, Jesus was The lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world. Because even then God knew that Man would sin and He had to prepare the plan to restore humanity.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Son of God called Jesus, meaning “Savior”, lived a life without blemish. He then offered Himself without spot to His Father by the power of the Holy Spirit. Accepted and approved by God, <b>Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God,</b> who became the sacrifice for all who believe, upon the cross of Calvary outside the walls of Jerusalem. He was buried in a garden tomb, and He was <b>raised on the third day</b> as a sign for our justification.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He shall come again!</span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lord Jesus lives forevermore seated at the right hand of God until He comes again with 10,000 of His saints to receive all who believe on His Name, and to punish all who reject Him with eternal fire. This great salvation, which cleanses us through His shed blood on the cross of Calvary, is available to all. <b><span style="background-color: cyan;">We must simply believe, confess we are sinners, ask Jesus to forgive us, ask Him to come into our hearts, and receive Him by faith. Then we will be born again by the Spirit of God and become a son or daughter of the Living God.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What must we do?!</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">As the jailor in <span style="color: blue;">Acts 16:30</span> asked, you may now be thinking - What must I do to be saved? My answer to you is: <span style="color: blue;">Acts 16:31</span> -<b> Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved and your household!</b> Who shall not perish - it is he that believes in the Lord! <span style="color: blue;">John 1:12</span> says: as many as believed Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">John 3:16</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">).</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I invite you, blessed friend, <b>to do so now and receive Jesus as your Savior.</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also I invite you to read your bible prayerfully (and experience the treasures of God’s Word, which is a guide for believers from earth to heaven.) Do so prayerfully and your eyes will be open to the wondrous truths that are contained therein. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the <b>truth shall make you free</b>” (<span style="color: blue;">John 8:32</span>). The <b>Good news</b> for the believer is that the Lord shall prepare us to be like Him and to make us as Kings and priests in His kingdom for all eternity.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this season, when the world around is remembering Jesus & His sacrifice, My prayer is that it will cease to be an empty yearly, seasonal meaningless ritual and that it will become a daily meaningful reality to be lived and to be experienced.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">God bless you!</span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-31028999144378104332017-04-10T23:15:00.001+05:302017-04-10T23:15:41.884+05:30Faith of Moses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Faith .. Moses<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievmHakGr8eAMFXcihT4fxpI9xg5i-43HMX-tQ2hNOxKbU-bHbJHtSeIYXS9jzckwt_OSixeOK2rlC1FGoCyDjq4e7bevOQevPPcI6dJVZ8b0rR72GSAiGm39gtyReRClcGKpFyHfMqGX9/s1600/faithofmoses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievmHakGr8eAMFXcihT4fxpI9xg5i-43HMX-tQ2hNOxKbU-bHbJHtSeIYXS9jzckwt_OSixeOK2rlC1FGoCyDjq4e7bevOQevPPcI6dJVZ8b0rR72GSAiGm39gtyReRClcGKpFyHfMqGX9/s640/faithofmoses.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most exciting chapters of the
bible is <span style="color: blue;">Hebrews 11</span> because it summarizes God's
view of who all are worthy to be placed in the hall of fame of Faith. And
amongst the faithful of the Lord who are mentioned there, one of my personal
favorites is Moses. While this account just makes a casual passing mention of
David (<span style="color: blue;">Heb 11:32</span>), despite him being called a
man after God's own heart (<span style="color: blue;">Acts 13:22</span>), the
word dedicates 8 verses to the faith of Moses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moses is <b>a model of faith</b> for all of us. In the below excerpt, we will look
at a few reasons why he qualified to be in this hall of fame. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. He forsook worldly
titles - <span style="color: blue;">Heb 11:24</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By faith Moses, when he was grown
up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">H</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">ere was a man who was the second in
command of the land of Egypt (which is equivalent of the Americas today in
terms of the development (social, scientific, economic) and also the decadence
and depravity (moral, spiritual, etc). He was </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">earmarked</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> to become the next pharaoh probably. And
yet, look at the humility of this man, who when called by God refused the title
that the world offers. He refused to be called the son of the Pharaoh's
daughter, and chose to identify himself with the slaves of Egypt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How easy it is to fall into the trap of
earthly honors and glory, all at the cost of forsaking the heavenly! As the
Lord reminds us, <b><i>what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul</i></b>?
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. He chose
affliction over pleasures - <span style="color: blue;">Heb 11:25</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">choosing rather to be
mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christian life is all about choices. God
honors you for your choices. You win or lose rewards based on your choices. You
choose to follow God (or not!). Moses chose well. He chose to be afflicted
along with the children of God and he chose NOT to enjoy the pleasures of sin
for a season. Remember, friends, the pleasures of sin are but for a season. It
always tastes bitter at the end. Moses chose suffering afflictions with the
slaves of the land rather than continuing to enjoy sin. He had set his mind on
eternity and a healthy, holy fear of the Lord consumed him. It provoked him
onto the righteous path and to forsake the way of sin. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are either a friend of God or a friend
of the world system. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Moses chose
the friendship with the Creator and that comes at a cost - of leaving and
forsaking Egypt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. He chose the
reproach of Christ - <span style="color: blue;">Heb 11:26</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He considered the reproach
of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the
reward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even before Christ was manifest on this
earth, there are people who suffered reproach for his sake! Moses bore the
reproach of Christ. Even today, there is a reproach that the world will place
on us purely because we are a zealous disciple of Christ. Friend, welcome and
embrace this reproach. I'd much rather be reproached by men than be reproached
by God. Again, Moses chose reproach over the treasures of Egypt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Once you have tasted the heavenly and once
your spiritual eyes are opened, you know that the <b>best that the world</b> can reward you with is but <b>dung and trash</b> compared to the eternal weight of glory. Paul had
such a mindset. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">(<span style="color: blue;">2 Cor 4:17-18</span>) For this light
momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that
are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are
unseen are eternal. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">(<span style="color: blue;">Phil 3:8</span>)</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Indeed, I count everything
as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For
his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in
order that I may gain Christ<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every saint of God who has been used by
the Lord had this mindset. Again, Moses chose wisely. The word of God says: he
chose thus because, he was able to look heaven-ward and see the reward that is
waiting for him if he chose the narrow way here on this earth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. He left Egypt
behind - <span style="color: blue;">Heb 11:27</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By faith he left Egypt, not
being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is
invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only a person who <b>leaves Egypt behind</b> can lead a band of 3 million souls across the
wilderness and towards the promised land. Only a person who sees how vile Egypt
and the pharaoh are in God's eyes can decide and choose to leave Egypt behind.
The lesson for the believer is that we have to <b>forsake the world</b> and the good of the world to <b>follow Jesus</b>. It's one or the other. While leaving Egypt behind, he
was more aware of the invisible God and desirous of pleasing Him than, the
visible wrath of Pharaoh and his displeasure. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being born again opens our eyes and
magnifies the emotions of our Lord God in comparison to the opinions of mere
mortals. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">5. He obeyed the word
of God - </span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">H</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">eb 11:28</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By faith he kept the
Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might
not touch them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moses was faced with the command of the
Lord to observe the Passover to save the souls of the Israelites. A new
commandment. The realm of the unfamiliar. Yet, what a blessed type of the
precious sacrifice of the Lamb of God who took the sin of the world! By
observing this commandment, Moses <i>opened
the way for the salvation of the Israelites from the realm of Egypt</i> and
their subsequent journey to the promised land. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's only by that Faith in God that you
can obey the commandments of God. If we love God, we will obey his
commandments. It's only in loving him and obeying Him, that we can please Him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">When you are faced with the situations
like Moses, my prayer is that all of us will choose wisely to obey Him as we
have seen in the above situations. What a reward to this man of God to
immortalize his faith in the Hall of Fame. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">May we choose
wisely when we are at the crossroads!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God bless you!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-37177767803996313382017-04-06T23:26:00.000+05:302017-04-06T23:26:18.559+05:30Heart of Missions - Nations as our Inheritance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSb9VBPYzfKRJ7ssBveo-ydh6CYCEKeFM-T7RJvSYgABgzHVQ3NhKdpvVZW7n-RNcTQiv9lveKz1twh8JiqaRq_HJuZ1rlUYmy1pdMudZPpbyJmDRdGwUgnBn8j8OLuJ6BXSEWGvNGUIn/s1600/nations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSb9VBPYzfKRJ7ssBveo-ydh6CYCEKeFM-T7RJvSYgABgzHVQ3NhKdpvVZW7n-RNcTQiv9lveKz1twh8JiqaRq_HJuZ1rlUYmy1pdMudZPpbyJmDRdGwUgnBn8j8OLuJ6BXSEWGvNGUIn/s640/nations.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-transform: uppercase;">Psalm 2:8</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: #243f60; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-transform: uppercase;"> – Ask of Me, and I will
give You the nations as Your inheritance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">While this is a messianic prophecy, it will
truly be fulfilled by the body of Christ (i.e. us). We, the blood-purchased
saints, are the ones who are the royal priesthood who have the charge of
reaching the world and work towards expanding his kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="X-NONE">ASK OF ME </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">– The Lord commands us
to Ask Him – ask Him to give us the nations as our inheritance. We are expected
to be passionate and intentional in our evangelism and disciple-making. As you
map your heart’s passion for the lands of India, as you feel the spirit of God
move you into a deeper prayer for a state or a region, ASK the lord to grant
you that land as your inheritance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="X-NONE">I WILL GIVE YOU</span></b><span lang="X-NONE"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">– The Lord promises with His unchanging word
– I WILL. You are asking The Most High God, who <b>can</b> and <b>will</b>
answer your prayer, because it’s a biblical surety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="X-NONE">THE NATIONS AS YOUR INHERITANCE </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">– The lord is never slack concerning his promises. While the result of
our prayer may seem overwhelming, he promises you an eternal inheritance in the
coming kingdom; He promises you that the land that you ask in your prayer shall
be granted to you. He promises that the regions which didn’t know Christ will
lift His name high, as a result of your simple, persistent prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Caleb in the Old Testament fully followed the
Lord (<span style="color: blue;">Deut 1:36</span>), and he asked the lord for the
land of Hebron (<span style="color: blue;">Josh 14:12</span>) and the Lord gave
him the land of Hebron as his inheritance (<span style="color: blue;">Josh 14:14</span>).
The land was filled with giants, but by faith, Caleb at his 85<sup>th</sup>
year waged a good warfare, and drove away the giants from the land and
possessed his inheritance (<span style="color: blue;">Josh 15:13-14</span>). We
can also possess our inheritance by 1) </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-transform: uppercase;">Praying</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> for the regions and lands of our burden 2) </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-transform: uppercase;">Sending</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> the gospel into those lands 3) </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-transform: uppercase;">Going</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> into the lands to proclaim the gospel of the lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Missions,
after all, is simply this: Every heart with Christ is a <b>missionary</b>,
every heart without Christ is a <b>mission field</b>.” - Count Zinzendorf<span style="color: #4f81bd;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-72712578499799190112017-04-04T20:31:00.002+05:302017-04-06T15:02:35.243+05:30Power of your choice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE8bXeDXLLckyYxvJNnTVkXtlC-KvNKAmhAcAIIYoTrGFHxg0ogblAIHPt9FP0RtObC2Sdd0N2v-j7OTUI3kSAlEuBYor4SV6ghdJzxkwI_UO8iM2_V-e4R3OUMpJYTF2jmU7PyQ3y240/s1600/choice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE8bXeDXLLckyYxvJNnTVkXtlC-KvNKAmhAcAIIYoTrGFHxg0ogblAIHPt9FP0RtObC2Sdd0N2v-j7OTUI3kSAlEuBYor4SV6ghdJzxkwI_UO8iM2_V-e4R3OUMpJYTF2jmU7PyQ3y240/s320/choice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ezra 7:10</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">For Ezra had <b>set his heart</b>
to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules
in Israel.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">A lot of our spiritual life depends on <b>what we decide to do</b> with the opportunities that are given to us. Ezra set his heart to study the law and to do it and to teach it. These words remind us two things.</span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">1) </span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">T</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">here is a<b> power of our choice</b> - God honors and aids our good desires of our heart. We'll meditate more on this in the devotional today.</span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">2) </span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">T</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">he way to be a disciple is to first, set your heart, then to <b>study</b>, then to <b>do</b>, and finally to <b>teach</b>! How often do we fail in honoring this biblical order ? In <span style="color: blue;">Acts 1:1</span>, the holy spirit mentions that this was indeed the order followed by our Lord. He did and then He taught. If we reverse the order, there is no life in our teaching, because we haven't yet been obedient to the word that we're ministering!</span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coming back to the power of our choice.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">To stay pure</span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In <span style="color: blue;">Daniel 1:8</span>, we see the blessed man of God deciding (purposing) in his heart not to defile himself with the king's dainties. How many Christian men and women have been able to remain pure and undefiled in the midst of an evil and perverse generation, purely because they decided in their heart and God honored their good desires.</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">A Tongue without guile</span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In <span style="color: blue;">Ps 17:3-5</span>, we see the man of God crying to the Lord to preserve his steps, but before that, he shows his strong decision to not let his mouth transgress. The Lord helps those who have this brokenness and desire in their heart.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Life & death before us</span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear friend, life and death kept before us. What we choose determines where we are!</span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a sober account in the new testament, (<span style="color: blue;">Acts 5:4</span>) we see a christian couple who purposed in their heart. But alas, their decision was not to remain righteous, but to lie to the Holy Spirit (and pretend as though they had given the full price of the land sales!). Their decision ends up with the first judgement that is seen in the apostolic times. Let every man minister or give according to what he decides in his heart! Not deceitfully, not grudgingly. </span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">II </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">C</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">or 9:7-8</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">)</span></div>
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<b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As for me & my family...</span></b></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In <span style="color: blue;">Joshua 24:15</span>, a man of God places the option of serving God vs serving the idols of the land and makes a choice. <b>As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord!</b> What enabled him to serve the Lord faithfully, but not the others? It's the relation that he had with the Lord and the consecration that he had. This is what makes him to see the faithfulness of God. The works are evident to all men - but few are the ones who know the ways & nature of our Lord.</span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">God honors our purpose & choice & consecration - but what makes the choice work is our faith, our relation with Him</span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today, friends, let's just think of one thing. What is the desire of your heart? And what have you purposed in your heart ? Let us pray and choose wisely to walk in the Lord's path and to please Him with our choices and if our choice be such, the Lord will give grace!</span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">God bless you!</span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-10372491159710248132017-03-31T23:37:00.000+05:302017-04-06T14:41:09.484+05:30Strength of a Disciple of Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Psalm 20:7-8</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but <b>we rise up and stand firm</b>.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Christian faith demands that we put our trust, not in the human might and power, not in the things which are valued according to this world system, But in the <b>might and strength of our Lord Jesus</b>. As the Word of God says, we walk by faith and not by sight. (<span style="color: blue;">2 Cor 5:7</span>)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Often, in our faith walk, we come across people who (bless their souls) are constantly scheming, planning, whose trust is in their own strength and might or the might of money or weapons or their influence or their heritage. This verse reminds us that such a person shall surely be brought down and they shall fall - Because the source of their power is earthly and corrupt. But for the child of God who trusts in the Lord, the promise of the Lord is that he shall raise and stand upright. Friends, our trust is in the name of our Lord and surely, that <b>divine source of power</b>will keep our feet planted on the rock of Christ Jesus. Our <b>Faith rests in the power of God</b> - not in the wisdom of men (<span style="color: blue;">1 Cor 2:5</span>). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>What rest we enjoy</b> when we trust the Lord and His name. Mountains may shake, but such faith shall not be shaken</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> for our rest is in the power of our God. <span style="color: blue;">Jer 17:1</span> says: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and <b><u>Him alone</u></b>.<b> He shall be fruitful</b> ! Dear friend, are you leaning on the crutch of this world? Those who lean on the world (i.e. trust in chariots and horses) shall experience the frailty of that crutch and they shall be brought down and fail. But <b>they that know the Lord shall be strong and they shall do mighty works</b>. (<span style="color: blue;">Dan 11:32</span>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Zech 4:6-7</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you're faced with a mighty mountain, don't despair. It's not by our puny strength or power that we will conquer it, but <b>by the Spirit of God</b>, and the strength of the Lord of Hosts. Our Lord will fight our battles for us and He shall make the mighty mountain that's standing in His path to be converted into level ground. In our weakness, our Lord's strength is made manifest. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the Christian song goes, Strength will rise as we wait upon the lord!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God Bless you! </span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-58513776197281331432017-03-28T20:39:00.002+05:302017-04-06T14:41:09.556+05:30Seek The Lord<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Isa 55:6</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> Seek the LORD</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> while he may be found; call on him while he is near.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amidst the busy times that we live it, seeking the lord becomes a boring & irregular chore that we would rather skip. But dear friend, the power that is given in this privilege of seeking the Lord is just awesome. It's not like the Lord to hide himself - But He delights in revealing himself to the ones who diligently and earnestly seek Him. <i>Seeking the Lord refers to the time that we spend reading & meditating on His Word, in prayer and listening to His voice.</i> In the beginning of the year, I felt that this year the focus is on us to seek the Lord's face and I <a href="http://believerblogs.blogspot.com/2017/01/seek-his-face-focus-for-2017.html" target="_blank">blogged </a>about it. Today, the word for us is - <b>To Seek Him</b> - While He may be found and to call on Him while He is near! It's an exhortation to prioritize this <b>above all other tasks</b>, however important they seem.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Mat 6:33</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> - Seek First the Kingdom of God</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">. Remember the promise of the Lord to seek first the Kingdom & His righteousness and <b>all these things shall be added</b> to you. Provision is promised to the ones who shall seek the Lord & his kingdom first. When we seek Him first, all our worries about today and tomorrow shall melt away only to be replaced by a peace that He shall grant us the <b>grace and provision that we need daily</b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Psalm 63:1</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> - Seek the Lord early.</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> As David was in the desert of Judah and when he was on the run from Saul, every day brought new challenges and adversities. What can you do if the king of the land commands his choicest army chiefs to pursue and destroy you? David, at that time, sought the Lord early. <b>Not just early in the day, but early on in his life</b>. Before the problem became a crisis, he sought the Lord early. What comfort it is to face our day of adversity after we've sought the Lord and met Him early on! This is the battle strategy of the saints of God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">1 Chronicles 16:11</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> - Seek the Lord always.</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> Let our attitude of seeking the Lord </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">& prayer </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">be like breathing. Let it be something that we do often & always. Let it be something that we do even without others noticing it. Realize that it is as essential for our spiritual life as breathing is for our </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">physical</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;">Ezra 7:10</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> - Seek the Lord with a prepared heart.</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.6px;"> God honors our consecration and a consecrated and prepared heart is capable of receiving and retaining God's grace much more than a vile and untidy heart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">My prayer is that we will become as a generation of those who seek the Lord and who are satisfied with nothing less than His fullness. As the Word reminds us (</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Psalm 34:10</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">), The young lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord <b>lack no good thing</b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God bless!</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-53458470561345441132017-03-25T17:17:00.002+05:302017-04-06T14:41:09.550+05:30Rejoice in the LORD always<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCOwVN93PE6SFpa_J5Q7yzpUfL-VEZVuUM52U2X7q_7KJjV0T6pZxhqeIUdoOZMRMWf4oepw5M27FxPWhfMI6Im1WMxcfKz0CKEquc0PxeVwYJ3pODo4O3TZYyCnvQSzMHXfyZupAO20S/s1600/rejoice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCOwVN93PE6SFpa_J5Q7yzpUfL-VEZVuUM52U2X7q_7KJjV0T6pZxhqeIUdoOZMRMWf4oepw5M27FxPWhfMI6Im1WMxcfKz0CKEquc0PxeVwYJ3pODo4O3TZYyCnvQSzMHXfyZupAO20S/s400/rejoice.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<b>Phil 4:4</b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Rejoice in the Lord always</b>. I will say
it again: Rejoice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What an amazing and seemingly impossible
command from the Lord!<span> </span>We have no
problem obeying this command when "the Lark's on the wing and the snail's
on the thorn and all's right with the world". Natural joy bubbles up
inside us and we're good. But it's so difficult when we're going through the
trials of our life and when we face much distress and opposition and we can but
see darkness all about. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Christian life is not always smooth
sailing. There are storms of our life which we have to face. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">T</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">here
are rough waters. But the promise of the Lord is that He is always with us. We
can face the challenges in <b>partnership
with our Lord</b>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The same passage reminds us:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(<span style="color: blue;">Phil 4:6-7</span> ) Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. And the <b>peace of God</b>, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. </span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In <span style="color: blue;">Rom 14:17</span>,
we understand that the real fruit or characteristic of the Kingdom of God is
the values of <b>Righteousness, Peace &
Joy in the Holy Spirit</b>. When we are part of this kingdom, these values
become part of our very being. These values represent the Lord himself. And the
Lord wants us to be as He is. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, What happens when we come before the
Lord with a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">sad
and dejected</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> face? When we appear before the Lord with
a sad face? He takes it personally. Let's see the example of a man (Nehemiah)
who appeared before the King Artaxerxes with a sad face. <span style="color: blue;">Neh 2:1</span> says: Nehemiah was the wine bearer for the
king and had never appeared before him with a sad face but now he comes before
the King and he notices the sadness of his face. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="border-color: windowtext; border-image: none; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-color: currentcolor; border-image: none; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin-bottom: 5.25pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Neh 2:</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span lang="X-NONE">And the king said to me, “Why is
your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the
heart.” <b>Then I was very much afraid</b>.
</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nehemiah was afraid, because</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> to
be sad before a king implies that you are sad to be in His kingdom. You are
disgruntled to be his subject. But as Nehemiah explained his burden to the
king, we see the king passing a favorable edict which led to the will of God
being done for Jerusalem's walls. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If that was the state of an earthly
kingdom, how much more careful should we be as we are in the Kingdom of our
dear Lord! Friends, the <b>Lord is not
asking us to fake it</b>! He just wants us to be <b>full of trust</b> in Him and be <b>fully
aware</b> that He has a plan for us, and that <b>peace and that assurance</b> has to translate into the fruit of the
Spirit of <b>Joy</b> in our lives.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> (i.e. when we are able to
be joyful with the help of the holy spirit even in the <b>adverse</b> circumstances). </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The key, dear friends, is to let your
heart cry be known to the Lord. Cast your burden on the Lord for He cares for
you. Let your prayers and petitions be known to the Lord - don't take the
anxiety. The Lord has heard your case. As it says in <span style="color: blue;">Ruth
3:18</span> , <b>Wait,</b> dear child, till
you learn how the matter turns out. <b>For
the Lord will not rest, </b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">till He</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> settle</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">s</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> the matter today</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God bless you! </span></span></div>
Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-1953091699116162132017-03-22T16:31:00.001+05:302017-04-06T14:41:09.494+05:30Pray for Kings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvkvMVkTp1rMMKWF095tLKzJcCnyz8fpWFL7mpCQtCkIE1McOb4LVBEq7oYod6XPdNgDoBbOzqSf9K0_f69wX0xfOhfVVWZtaquo2AmZV0HxWqlyn4Yv7RzJjyBMyQSUkj7pDMC5V-n35/s1600/prayforkings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvkvMVkTp1rMMKWF095tLKzJcCnyz8fpWFL7mpCQtCkIE1McOb4LVBEq7oYod6XPdNgDoBbOzqSf9K0_f69wX0xfOhfVVWZtaquo2AmZV0HxWqlyn4Yv7RzJjyBMyQSUkj7pDMC5V-n35/s400/prayforkings.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1Tim 2:1-3</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First of all, then, I urge that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for <u>all
people</u>,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">for kings and all who are in high
positions</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is good, and it is pleasing in the
sight of God our Savior</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear friends, I thank God for the freedom
that we enjoy in many nations in this world to worship Jesus in spirit and
truth and to proclaim our faith freely. </span><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But not every place has
this privilege</span></i></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
Always, everywhere, the "spirit of the world" is opposed to the
proclaiming of the truth! In the apostolic times, we see the men of God much
taunted and persecuted for their passionate preaching of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. In such a context, Paul exhorts the church to pray for all </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">people</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, especially to those who are in
authority & the kings especially. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why should we do this ? Because <b>it's
pleasing in God's sight</b>. Because, this prayer will help the authorities to <b>change
their mind</b> concerning our faith and will cause us to lead our lives in a
quiet & peaceful manner with the <b>precious fruits of godliness & honesty</b>.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These people may even come to the faith!!
Verse 4 says: It's God's will that <b>all men are saved</b> and that they
should come to the <b>knowledge of Truth</b>. Dear child of God, the <b><span style="background: aqua;">Lord has uniquely positioned you</span></b> to minister
the gospel to certain people who may be your <b>friends, relatives and
colleagues</b>. No other evangelist may reach them, but the Lord has given them
into your hands to lead them to a knowledge of Truth. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A verse in </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Phil 4:22</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
is a great encouragement for me. It says: <i>All the saints greet you,
especially those of <b>Caesar's household</b></i>. Someone in those times had
the anointing and calling to go into the Caesar's palace to proclaim the gospel
to them, and as a result many were saved there. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I thank God for all the blessed
missionaries who are taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the un-reached
nations and people groups. But that leaves a lot of people within our reach -
Whom we can reach with the message of God's love, if only we are filled with
God's love for them, and boldness for declaring the gospel to them. Like Paul
says: we need to come to the stage where we say: I am not ashamed of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God to salvation!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pray for all people without ceasing! Pray
for Kings & rulers & governments! Pray for nations! Pray for your near
& dear! Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send His chosen ones into
the fields. Ask the Lord to show you the people whom you should be reaching
with the Gospel. As we pray faithfully, we will see the hand of the Lord moving
in our nations and turning the hearts of even the rulers towards the Lord
Jesus. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 1.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God bless you !</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-510653882748799122017-03-19T20:13:00.000+05:302017-04-06T14:41:09.547+05:30Receiving Spiritual Blessings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj2K0FjBk2ONUu2igo2sdyEmeJnmBINE-eK1Vh_7DRddYDqZXPKBJDRlzTJ8NCsZ4HFwWwww6ZEcn8w7nzCG21Gp3fOPNZY2ysOtgCS78H4Y0JYTEpLMMLJMm6YJxSYw5d0HxILAuI95_/s1600/spiritualblessings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj2K0FjBk2ONUu2igo2sdyEmeJnmBINE-eK1Vh_7DRddYDqZXPKBJDRlzTJ8NCsZ4HFwWwww6ZEcn8w7nzCG21Gp3fOPNZY2ysOtgCS78H4Y0JYTEpLMMLJMm6YJxSYw5d0HxILAuI95_/s400/spiritualblessings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eph 1:3</span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: black;">Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who <b>has</b> blessed us <b>in Christ</b>
with <b>every spiritual blessing</b> in the
heavenly places</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">This is one of the most profound
truths and promises in the New Testament. This reminds us that if we are a <b>real disciple</b> of Jesus, who has been <b>obedient to the commandments</b> of Jesus
according to the New Testament pattern, we <b>HAVE</b>
already been blessed with <b>ALL</b>
spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. Note: </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="m_5932075264256343556gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">1-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">We are not blessed with
<i>some </i>blessings – <b>We are blessed with it
all</b>! The full salvation package is ours. Every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places is ours to claim and to enjoy !</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="m_5932075264256343556gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We are blessed with <b>Spiritual blessings</b>! It’s very easy for
a believer to misunderstand that salvation package covers every desire of ours
(whether it be spiritual or carnal). But this is not biblical. </span></span></div>
<div class="m_5932075264256343556gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3- We are blessed with these spiritual blessings <b>already </b>! We don't have to wait till we reach heaven for these. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gen 24:10</span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eleazar</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"> had the full resources of his
master </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as he went out to seek a bride for his
master’s son. Abraham is an emblem (or type) of Father God, Isaac is a type of
Jesus Christ and Eleazar is a type of the Holy Spirit. Rebekah is the emblem of
the bride. The Holy spirit is sent out to <b>prepare a bride</b> for the Lord Jesus
and He brings along ALL the blessings that the father God wants us to enjoy. As
we are being prepared as the bride of Christ, we need all </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">blessings in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Such huge spiritual blessings are
needed for us to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust as the
word reminds us in</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Pet 1:4</span></span></span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We have abundant spiritual blessings
accrued to us in our heavenly bank account. Yet, there is a huge difference
between having a million dollars in your bank and being able to use portions of
that money <b>as each need comes.</b> In the word of God, we can see some reasons why
most of the believers of Christ don’t enjoy the level of spiritual riches that
the Lord wants us to enjoy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><b>Hindrances to Prayer</b></u></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="m_5932075264256343556gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You do not ask God <span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">James 4:2</span></span></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"><b> –</b> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This may seem very obvious, but millions of Christians don’t
enjoy certain spiritual blessings simply because they don’t ask the Lord. You
have to ask because you are conscious of the spiritual need. The word of God says:
Blessed are the poor in spirit. It’s the contrite and poor in spirit who shall
receive their answers to prayer. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="m_5932075264256343556gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You ask with wrong motives – <span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">James 4:3</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>–</b>
The Lord looks into our heart and one of the main reasons why He will not
answer our prayers is that we have wrong motives <u>hidden in our heart.</u> Often,
these are so well hidden that we ourselves don’t face these motives as wrong or
evil. You ask with the motives of <u>satisfying your own desires</u> (and especially
the desires of a worldly kind – as the Lord in the very next verse condemns the
worldliness in a Christian – Friendship with the world is enmity with God). </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="m_5932075264256343556gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You are double minded and without Faith <span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">James 1:6</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>– </b>If
we are without faith, if we continue to doubt our God, the word says: we
are
unstable, double-minded and we shall not receive anything from the Lord.
If you
see the gospel accounts of Jesus’ healing and deliverance works, often
the
person receiving the healing had a clear idea as to what they wanted.
It's impossible to please God without Faith. Believe in Him and what
mighty works He can do for you !</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;">As
we correct these above 3 hindrances to prayer, I am sure we would enjoy
more of the spiritual blessings that the Lord desires to fill us in our
lives. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Ask God</b> ! Ask with a <b>pure heart </b>and motive ! Ask <b>with Faith</b> ! </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.25pt;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear friends, the world has never been
as evil as it is now. We need the real power of our Lord in order to survive
the earthly life without being defiled. May the Lord grant us a renewed prayer
life and a life of greater intimacy with Him in order to appropriate ALL the
spiritual blessings of Our Lord in the heavenly places!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">God Bless !</span></span></div>
Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118120826891997646.post-84575119918907303212017-03-17T18:47:00.000+05:302017-04-06T14:41:09.619+05:30Shine as Beacons of Light<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1IpcIwb6nCN0jbAQwZH9gGPfB0XuNX30EkcUFcxVuy9_0k5HseHFfH5CXAqmi3_DmOXkkb_dp44odWaKTCJpWccJQT3vjiWWaWKBlB-L3VC5HTchIyDm-hl4SXlz2RB79Z3hrKHqQMno/s1600/beacons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1IpcIwb6nCN0jbAQwZH9gGPfB0XuNX30EkcUFcxVuy9_0k5HseHFfH5CXAqmi3_DmOXkkb_dp44odWaKTCJpWccJQT3vjiWWaWKBlB-L3VC5HTchIyDm-hl4SXlz2RB79Z3hrKHqQMno/s400/beacons.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Phil 2:15-16</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">That <b>ye may be blameless</b> and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,
in the <b>midst of a crooked and perverse
nation</b>, among whom ye <b>shine as
lights</b> in the world;</span><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: maroon; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Holding forth the <b>word of life</b>; that I may rejoice in the
day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus Christ says: You are the <b>Light
of the World</b> - A city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. The world lies
today, in the dominion of the wicked one. The prince of this world has darkened
the minds and hearts of the people who do not believe in Christ & His word
and overall, the darkness pervades the entire world. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The daily news tells us that Mankind has never been so
advanced in technology, but never more depraved morally & spiritually. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Into this gross darkness comes the precious Light that the Lord sends
forth. This verse above reminds us that <b>WE</b>
need to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, in the midst of
the evil & perverse & wicked generation which surrounds us. When we <b>eschew evil and when we are blameless</b>,
we become the bright lights or beacons which shall lead the world around us to
the good news of Jesus. As Paul says: <b>We
are the letters</b> that God is writing to the men around us. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The world is so in need of a Godly example in the midst
of all the immorality and permissive standards. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Some may not hear the gospel,
but <b>seeing the transformation</b> in us
& our holy walk, they shall become desirous of knowing our Lord personally.
</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">We cannot sequester ourselves into an ivory tower of
righteous living. The gospel has been given to us so that others can see the
fruit it produces in us. This fruit comes at a cost. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">What is the cost that we
should pay ? </span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">1) Hold forth the word of Life - </span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Phil 2:16</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">– If we don’t have the <b>word of life</b>, we don’t have the real
light that the Lord wants us to spread. This is the torch that we hold forth. When
we do that, our lives first come under the scrutiny of the word of God. In that
light, we are transformed because we are able to see ourselves and the world as
the Lord sees it. This means investing time in the word of God and <b>allowing ourselves to be changed</b> by it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">2</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) Adopt a different attitude
towards the world - </span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Jas 4:4</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - reminds us that friendship
with the evil world is enmity with God. A changed disciple of Jesus can only
see the world system in this light</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">.
Our value system (which comes from the word of God) is diametrically opposite
the world system’s values. Reach out to the world to save them – but don’t be
part of the world system and adopt its values. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">3</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) Be innocent of Evil - </span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Rom 16:19</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> -</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> A rose flower grows up from
soil that is full of manure. Yet, it's fragrance is not tainted with the smell
of the soil in which it grew. We can't blame the world for the evil works that
we do. The Lord wants us to produce the fragrance of the Word of God through
us. He wants our lives to be untainted by the stench of the world around us.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">4</span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">) Live righteously, soberly
& in a godly manner - </span></b><b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">Tit 2:13</span></b><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> - The grace of God is given
to us to live in such a manner, denying ourselves the opportunity to give way
to ungodly & worldly lusts. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">It’s
this kind of life that makes us prepared for the coming of the Lord. And this
is the witness that the lord finally desires through us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Through such a set of people, the God is still able to <b>turn the world upside down</b> as He did
through a <b>band of dedicated disciples</b>
in 1st century AD. May the Lord provoke your heart to submit joyfully to this
light & easy yoke of being His disciple. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">God bless you !</span></span></div>
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Thomas Mathewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04236547864652526225noreply@blogger.com0