Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and . . . be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and . . . put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4: 22-24 Apostle Paul shares important insights about the life – long process of pursuing holiness. As new creatures in Christ, we are to put off anything and everything that is apart of our old sinful life. This could be habits, attitude, impure motives, and so forth. We must daily put on the new self. These are the…
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Jubilation Of Holiness
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah. But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah. Offer right sacrifices and put your trust in the Lord. Psalm 4: 1-5 What words come to mind when you hear…
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The Heart of the Matter
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worhsip me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men,’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:6b-8 Do you know where your heart truly is? Is it far from God or is it close? In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders were highly respected and were considered holy. They were the experts of the Old Testament law. The religious leaders prided themselves on keeping the law. Their outward behavior could not be critized. The only person that could was Jesus. He did call them out. True…
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Getting Ready
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27 My second son is getting married this year. There is a lot of planning going on. There is excitement! There is stress! However, on my part, there is peace with this union. I see God, working in both of these young people. They are getting ready both ceremonially and spiritually with all the feels. …
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God Is Calling To Us
My Grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Have you been called to God to repent? In what ways has He used to call you to repentance? God will use many ways to get our attention on repenting from our sin. The Holy Spirit will speak to us, He will use our own conscience to convict us, He may allow us to “get caught” or He may even use another believer to confront us. However He chooses to confront us, it is best…
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Metanoeo: To Think differently
. Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 Before sin becomes an act, it forms first in a thought. This is what we call being tempted. This is when we should cry out to God for help resist the sin. If we don’t then we will fall into the temptation and sin. God has given us a means to escape from sin’s lure and grip. It is the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. He convicts us. He calls us to turn around and change the direction…
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Being Honest With God
.For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long . . . I acknowledge my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity. Psalm 32: 3, 5 How honest are you with God about your sin? Do you try and hide it? Deny our sin whether it is blaming others, or making excuses for ourselves comes naturally to us. We do not need to be taught this. When our triune God is living in us, we still fight the battle to be deceitful. God cannot bless us if we are unwilling to acknowledge the truth of our sin. Read 2 Samuel 11. …
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Seeking Him
. “The sacrifice of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”. Psalm 51:17 Today lets’ take some time to read more scripture and seek God. Pray and ask God to speak to you on what he would like to show you about where your heart is. I am going to list some things about proud people and humble people. When you feel God tugging at your heart strings stop and focus on this area of your life. Let’s get closer and deeper with God. Proud People: Do you focus on the failures of others? Do you have a critical, fault…
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Two Choices
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24 Does you heart tend to serve pride or humility? When our hearts are inclined towards pride or humility, it becomes evident when God brings to our attention something in our lives that is not pleasing to Him. Let’s take a look at two kings in the Bible. First lets look at Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 12:1-5. “When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of…
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Peace On Us
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, Isaiah 32:16–18 Do you have a peaceful habitation? Is it secure? I am sure you have been hear this phrase over and over “we are living in uncertain times”. How depressing does this sound. It does not sound peaceful or secure. Well, we find our peace in God, in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit during this…