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  I don’t know who needs to hear this, but for all those who are committed to following Jesus and ‘walking in the Spirit and no longer fulfilling the lusts/desires of the flesh nature’ (Gal. 5:16)...this does not mean you won’t ever be tempted to sin again. On the contrary... Nor should one who is ‘walking in the Spirit’ think they will never experience frustration or discouragement. We read where Paul grew ‘greatly annoyed’ with a spirit that was harassing him through a woman, in Acts 16:16-18. You may encounter some strong disagreements with a brother/sister in Christ that can hopefully be resolved in an appropriate manner. You might go through seasons feeling isolated and even abandoned, as Paul often did. In fact, it’s okay to be ‘angry’ at times...provided you don’t ‘sin’ by acting out in that anger (Eph. 4:26). Have you ever wondered why you seem to run into the same ‘tests’ repeatedly when it comes to certain people or situations? How’s that temper doing when you get in h...
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  So...do you want to be ‘saved’ and escape the ‘wrath of God’ that is on the world today? (John 3:36; Rom. 5:9) You might give careful consideration to the words of instruction that Jesus came to give us – ‘Repent’ (turn from the way we have been walking- Eph. 2:1-3) and start following Him. (Matt. 4:17,19). If you don’t repent, things don’t bode well for you, and I don’t say that to threaten anyone; I’m just telling you what Jesus said in Luke 13:3,5. And honestly friends, I don’t know any better way to express what God’s word teaches other than to remind you that this loving and gracious God is ‘long-suffering towards us, not willing that any perish but that all would come to repentance’ (2 Pet. 3:9). Jesus did not come to condemn anyone, given we were already under the penalty of sin (which is death), and condemned. He came to save us from it (John 3:17-18). But there’s just a tad more to this ‘getting saved’ and ‘being conformed to the image of Christ’ than just saying a sim...
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  I’ve always thought it was a bit presumptuous on our part to think we could understand, let alone explain in simplistic terms...the ‘godhead’. If you’ve been around ‘church speak’ for any length of time, you probably have heard terms like ‘Trinitarians’ - those who believe in the ‘Trinity’ which explains God as being ‘3 in 1’ (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Then there is the ‘Oneness’ folks who teach that there is only the ‘One’, and Jesus IS Him- God almighty ...come in the flesh’. Trust me...the divide is so strong that separate denominations have evolved as a result of the differing views. The truth of the matter, if I may be so bold to say...is both sides are right; but leave it to a spiritual enemy to bring more division to the body of Christ. I only bring this up because of a reference I left you with in yesterday’s message citing the writings found in Hebrews 5. It’s a passage that always gives me pause when I read it, as we are told that Jesus the ‘Son...learned obedience...
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  To state the obvious: It’s one thing to have God’s Spirit dwelling within you; it’s another thing altogether to be led by Him.(Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16; John 10:27) As I have grown older (and hopefully wiser)...I find myself being a tad more reluctant to jump the gun and just start telling people what they ‘have’ or don’t have when it comes to spiritual matters in God’s kingdom. Who am I to suggest I know that a person is ‘saved’ or not, or if they have God’s Spirit dwelling in them? All I know to do is point to Jesus and His word and encourage people to ‘examine their own hearts’ (2 Cor. 13:5)... and to make sure they are truly ‘abiding’ in Him (John 15:1-8; 1 John 2:6; 3:6). This I do know, based on what I read in God’s word and have personally experienced myself...that when a person is truly humbled and brought to repentance...that God’s Spirit is most assuredly at work in that person’s heart/life. And such a place brings ‘times of refreshing from God’s presence (Acts 3:19; Jam...
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  “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18) That’s pretty good advice from Paul, especially if you have any sincere intentions of following Jesus and being conformed to His image and likeness; not to mention overcoming the devil, sin, and the flesh as you bear fruit showing yourself to be a child of God. (Rom. 8:14; 29) We do tend to hear though, more talk and teaching about being ‘filled’ with God’s Spirit than we do being ‘led’ by it. Go figure. What’s the point in receiving’ something that special and important if we don’t know how to make use of it? Going around claiming to ‘have’ something without bearing the proper fruit or evidence of it seems to border on spiritual pride, if not downright deception. Years ago, I heard a preacher say half-jokingly and half seriously that he had challenges trying to get people to volunteer around his church. It is hard to grow a thriving church without plenty of support which usually comes in the form of members stepping up to volunteer to...
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  Few of us, if any...enjoy being called out in front of others and ‘corrected’. Whether it’s a parent who does the calling out, a boss, a teacher, or a coach, we would prefer they do it in private to spare our pride/ego. So imagine how Martha must have felt when it was Jesus doing the reprimanding in front of her sister, and the disciples who were with Jesus at that time, and in her own home at that. Then to think it was recorded in the gospel of Luke for all of human history who would follow to hear about it as well. But there it is for us to see and learn from. (Luke 10:38-42) Ever feel like you are being made an ‘example’...for others to learn from? Maybe we would do well to take a few notes from what happened to Martha, especially if you are one who is prone to always jumping up ready to ‘get busy serving’...instead of taking your cue from Mary who chose the more important thing in that moment. You’re probably familiar with the story that is recorded for us in Luke’s gospe...
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  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) What a beautiful promise that is, but be sure to read that promise in context, vs.6-10. I know...it can be a bit of a paradox here when it comes to this ‘drawing near to God’. James encourages us to do this...yet we are told by Jesus that “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44); so which is it? If the first thing that comes to mind is some rash or accusatory conclusion that the Bible is just a bunch of ‘contradictions’ ...and you want to toss that out as an ‘excuse’...then maybe your heart is being revealed here, and you were just looking for a reason to keep living life as you see fit. You wouldn’t be the first person to do this. Plenty of folks just like living in darkness more...and won’t come to the light. (John 3:19-21; Acts 26:18). I also know that ‘God’s eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are ‘perfect’ towards ...
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