Excuses, Excuses, You'll Hear Them Everyday, Part 1...

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And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. – Exodus 3:14

It seems like everyone, from time to time, finds excuses that hinder our relationship with Jesus Christ. So many times we don’t serve God because we have a “good” reason that we can’t. Even Moses, when approached by the Lord, had excuses that he couldn’t follow the task that God had laid before him. See, Satan loves it when we make up excuses, because that means we aren’t following God’s will for our lives. God has specific plans for each and every one of us. When we decide that we can’t follow God’s plan, Satan wins. Let’s look at the story of Moses for example.

Let’s start at the beginning: Moses kept his Father-in-law’s flock. He led the flock to the backside of the desert, to Mount Horeb. While there, Moses sees a burning bush. He approaches it, and The angel of the LORD speaks to him. Moses is asked to take off his shoes, and then he is told that God has come to deliver Israel. Imagine Moses’s surprise and excitement! Then, God tells Moses that he is the one that is being sent to do the job. Wow! Now imagine Moses’s excitement as it turns to fear! What happened next is classic in even our lives today; Moses gave the Lord excuses. Let’s look for a few minutes at the excuses Moses gave the Lord. I believe we will see that often times, we use the same excuses! In this story, Moses used five excuses as to why he couldn’t serve. Let’s look today at the first two excuses:

Moses’s first excuse: “I am not worthy for the task.” “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh…?” – Moses told God that he was not worthy enough for such a monumental task. Moses knew he had made some mistakes in his life, and he didn’t think he was good enough to serve God on this level. Now this excuse, it seems, is a good, righteous excuse. I mean, after all, we aren’t worthy of anything, it is God that is worthy of all! However, this excuse is used too often, and couldn’t be farther from the truth. What did God tell Moses when he said he wasn’t worthy? God replied, Certainly, I will be with thee…” God tells Moses that He will be with him every step of the way! God is all knowing, all powerful, and all seeing. The Creator of the universe has a plan, and it involves you! God doesn’t make mistakes! If He has something for you to do, and you say you aren’t “good” enough to do it, than you are limiting and doubting God! He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. So often we say, I’m not worthy…”, but could it maybe be that we are just scared of what is to come? This excuse sounds so good to our ears, and we can actually make ourselves believe it! When God calls us to something, that means He will be with us til the end of it. With God with you, you CAN do it!

Moses’s second excuse: “I don’t know what to say. I don’t know enough. I don’t even know Your name! When they ask me a question, “What shall I say unto them?” – Here is another classic excuse that we as followers of Christ use when we are scared. “I don’t know what to say!” How many times do we use that excuse so we don’t have to witness to that man in line behind us at Wal-Mart? How many times do use this excuse to get us out of telling our friends about Jesus? God told Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel.” See, Moses didn’t have to worry about what he should say, God told him what to say! It’s the same with us, we don’t have to worry about our tongue getting tied up, or about messing up what we are saying. God will tell us what to say! God here tells Moses His name: I AM THAT I AM. This is the name translated Jahovah, Yahweh, or LORD. Moses didn’t have to worry about telling people who sent him, God said the “I AM” had sent him! Then God tells Moses His message. “The LORD God of your fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob appeared unto me and sent me to you to declare, I have seen your afflictions in Egypt and will bring you up to a land flowing with milk and honey.” God not only told Moses who He was, He now tells Moses EXACTLY what to say when He gets there! All Moses has to do is repeat what the Lord has told him! Easy, right? Now, isn’t that our job, to sweetly echo the Gospel call? All we have to do is simply repeat the message that Jesus asked us to tell the world! We must simply share the Gospel with the world! All this being said, this excuse doesn’t seem to hold water either…

This is two out of five excuses that Moses uses with the Lord. Check back in the next day or two, I will be posting the other excuses then. I pray that we will realize that our excuses are nothing in the Lord’s eyes! We may be able to fool ourselves, or our Pastor, or of friend’s when we don’t serve God, but we can’t fool God! Let’s stop the excuses, and start the service!

If you have any questions, comments, or just have something you want to share, comment below, or email me at romans58ministries@yahoo.com. God bless!

For HIM,
Dan

At the Top of Your Checklist

School is officially in session at Heartland Baptist Bible College. I am already overwhelmed by the many projects and lesson plans to fulfill by the end of the semester! The numerous physical and mental demands of college life remind me that time with God is the most important appointment of my day. Balancing school, work, music lessons, and a social life has the tendency to force unnecessary errands out of sight and out of mind. We must be extremely cautious to never put God on the "back burner," if I can say that without sounding irreverent.

A wise man once said that if you are too busy for God, then my friend, you are too busy. Another wise man said that he esteemed the words of God's mouth more than his necessary food. If there is anything you need to cut out of your schedule, make it anything but God. Perhaps waking up a few minutes early to pray or skipping breakfast for Bible reading would be more spiritually profitable than saying you'll spend time with God when you "get around to it." If your schedule is insane, drop ten minutes of sleep or skip the Frosted Flakes, but do not neglect your personal devotions.

During my sophomore year I was challenged like never before to improve my fellowship with the Lord. He is not an impersonal force -- He is a real Person, and He wants to spend time with you. How does it feel when one of your friends says they will meet up with you, but never show up? The Bible mentions that we are capable of grieving the Holy Spirit. How do you think God feels when you make a decision to have daily devotions, but do not follow through on that decision? I am not bringing God down to our level, but it is perfectly biblical to say that we grieve the Lord by neglecting daily prayer and Bible reading.

As this semester begins, allow me to challenge you ladies (and myself!) to keep personal devotions at the top of our checklist. Since the Lord has been so good to us, we should desire to have this fellowship with Him. The wonder of it all is, He wants it even more than we do! Allow Him to guide you throughout your busy day, and your day will go so much smoother. Keep Him first every day of the semester, and it will be the greatest semester ever.

Little Things to be Thankful about

Have you ever thought about how much you have? How much the Lord has given you? I know I don't do it all the time!
As I looked around tonight at my siblings, I think "Am I really thanking the Lord every day for the wonderful family he's given me?" At that time when you are arguing with your brother or sister, or telling them to go away.... do you ever stop to think about this: What if something happened to them tonight or tomorrow... you can't take words or thoughts back, so you would be stuck with guilt! What about with your parents, or with your husband/wife?
I try to remember this each time. I look around and thank the Lord for the wonderful home he has provided me with... a warm bed to sleep in at night, a roof to keep me dry from the rain, snow and severe weather, a computer to be able to keep in touch with friends and family, a piano that I can make music on to honor and please the Lord, Food to keep me healthy and full, and so much more that I can't even describe how good I really have it!
I know that I do not do this, but it is something that we all should be doing..... think of all the little things that the Lord has provided us with that we don't even second think about.... bikes to ride, a paved road to ride it on, wonderful green grass, bugs (believe it or not!), friends, shoes, clothes, water, people that invent things to help us do better in life, health---- and on the list goes of all those little things that we miss thanking the Lord about!

Lets try to think about this as we go through life!


Thank you Lord for EVERYTHING that you have given me, my freedom, my Liberty, my church, my home, my family and friends... YOU ARE SO GOOD TO US!

Contentment

I was reading a book that said a discontent girl was praying and the Lord impressed on her heart that she was being arrogant in her complaints toward God. Not being satisfied is like telling God that you are not content with the decisions HE made for you, in the place and circumstances He put you in. How dare we tell the Lord whats good for us, as if HE doesn't know whats best. Something to think about. 

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

1 Timothy 6:6-12 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

How to Kill A Church, Part 2 of 3

By Davis W. Huckabee

I. BY STAYING AWAY FROM IT

II. BY STARVING IT

III. BY STRIFE IN IT

Strife has probably killed almost as many churches as any other one thing. When two people are in disagreement, and both are utterly selfish, it will cause a strife which will grow until it consumes the whole church, unless the church takes steps to end the strife. Strife is a mark of spiritual immaturity and carnality: "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ .. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and &visions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" I Cor. 3:1,3.

Strife generally has its roots in pride, for where there is strife, both parties proudly assume that they are right, and will not admit even the possibility of being wrong. At the same time, neither will try to see the other's point of view, nor will either admit that the other could be right in the least degree. It is a fortunate church which does not have such an undercurrent of strife. Strife is also promoted by self-righteousness in that one looks down upon others, while exalting self in his own mind. He takes the attitude of the Pharisee in Luke 18:9ff. Pride stands in the way of humility, which is always the first step toward repentance.

One of the most tragic forms of church strife is when a member, or group of members, get their feelings hurt by the preaching (which is very common when the preacher is faithful to preach against sin, and to declare the members' duty). Often the dissident members will mount a campaign to run the preacher off, and the most common excuse used is that he is a "dictator. " Now we have no sympathy with a genuine dictator in the pulpit, but ere a man of God is stigmatized as a dictator, men had best consider what the preacher is commissioned and commanded to do: he is to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, " II Tim. 4:2. "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear, " I Tim. 5:20. "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, " Tit. 1: 13.

On the basis of these, and the many other similar texts, the preacher has a duty to not only declare the truth, but also to rebuke those members who are living wayward lives, and no one has a right to call him a dictator for only doing his duty. This is not to say that he may use the pulpit to chide members for personal differences of opinion, nor that he should jump upon and spur every one for every little misstep. The wise pastor will quickly learn to use Christian psychology even in the most serious breaches of Christian ethics, and that "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger, " Prov. 15: 1. A belligerent or overbearing preacher will produce only heartache for himself and discouragement for the church.

Strife between the members of a church and the pastor often destroys a church for the simple reason that by rebellion against the pastor, the members are rebelling against the Lord, for though the church may vote to call a man as pastor, yet if they are led of the Lord in doing so, the pastor is made the superintendent or overseer (Grk. "bishop") over the flock, Acts 20:28. Not only so, but the preacher, when he stands to declare the gospel, is an ambassador for Christ, beseeching men in the stead of Christ to be reconciled to God, R Cor. 5:18-20. And yet more so, when he preaches Christian responsibility to believers, they are obligated to obey and submit themselves, for the pastor is accountable to God for them, and thus it is a solemn thing to disobey when the pastor is only endeavoring to lead one on to serve the Lord better and more faithfully. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. for that is unprofitable for you, " Heb. 13:17.

Some churches degrade the pastoral office to that of a mere figurehead, and treat the pastor with less respect than any layman in the church; sometimes they let their independency and autonomy go to their heads, and they think they can run the preacher off any time they don't like what he says. But it is noteworthy that the Scriptures give not a single example of the dismissal of a pastor from a church, nor of a church even challenging the authority of the pastoral office.

It is to be granted that the church has authority over its members, including the pastor, but it is also true that the pastor is a man specially called of God to his office, and he stands in a special relationship to God, and while on rare occasions it may be necessary to dismiss and exclude a preacher because of immorality or heresy, yet a church should be very slow to take any action against one of the Lord's prophets without good reason. "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses, " I Tim. 5:19. "Touch not mine anointed, and do myprophets no harm, " Ps. 105:15. http://independent-baptists.org/

Praying for Revival

Our family is currently attending Lighthouse Baptist Church in Mustang, OK with Pastor Rick Carter. He is gearing the church up for the fall revival, and he is doing something I have been impressed with. Instead of just asking the church to "pray for revival", he is actively leading them to pray for revival in the following ways:

Week One - Self Examination Pastor asked us to read a booklet of self-examination (handed out in church service), a sort of diary/Bible study on hindrances to prayer. He asked for volunteers during the service, and the following week, handed out the booklets to everyone who said they would read it and pray this week, alone, for revival. Psalms 66:18

Week Two - Prayer Partners Pastor asked for volunteers who would pray with a prayer partner once a day through-out the coming week (meeting in person, or by phone). As ladies and men stood, he paired them up with someone they might not normally have a friendship with, and asked them to get together after the service to decide on a time and location/method to pray together every day. This is an excellent tool not only for praying in pairs, but also as a reminder to take time to pray every day. Matthew 18:19

Week Three - Cottage Prayer Meetings Pastor asked people to volunteer to open their homes every day of the week for church members to congregate at in prayer and a little fellowship.

Week Four - Round The Clock Prayer On the final week, we are going to be praying as a church on a schedule 24 hours a day. I don't know yet what kind of impact this will have on our Fall Revival, but I do know that it has already begun revival in my heart, and my thought is that it was a good idea to share. http://teachus2pray.blogspot.com/

Brokenness!

Brother Andrew Schank

Before one can be mightily used of the Lord, they must be B.R.O.K.E.N.! It is when we are stripped of ourselves that we can be the canvas upon which God can paint a divinely inspired mosaic. The raw material from which God creates a great servant is one who is first broken. We see this illustrated on our own kitchen counters. Bread is made from wheat, but the kernels have to be stripped of its skin and then ground into powder. This flour is used along with other ingredients to make the dough. When placed into the oven, the bread comes forth. Our lives as believers are no different!

Recreation Or Brokenness...

Much of the time we would rather amuse ourselves or let our minds escape into the imaginary. Rather than soberly fighting the good fight, we play at it like kids play Cowboys and Indians. Sometimes the Cowboys win, sometimes the Indians win. Know this: brokenness will not be attained in the recreation's coliseum. We must walk with God and guard against this. Consider what Richard Baxter says:

"Recreation to a minister must be as whetting is with the mower - that is, to be used only as far as is necessary for his work. May a physician in plaque-time take any more relaxation or recreation than is necessary for his life, when so many are expecting his help in a case of life and death? Will you stand by and see sinners gasping under the pangs of death, and say: "God doth not require me to make myself a drudge to save them?" Is this the voice of ministerial or Christian compassion or rather of sensual laziness and diabolical cruelty?" - Richard Baxter

We Must Be Broken!


The Apostle Paul wrote about this in his letters to the Church at Corinth. Consider the following:

(1 Corinthians 4:9) "For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men."  (KJV)

(2 Corinthians 4:10-11) "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."  (KJV) 

When one uses the word “mightily” we do not necessarily mean a feat of magnificence. Many so-called great things have been accomplished by famous Christians, but that does not mean they were mighty. The flesh can bring about big victories, but they cannot truly be characterized as mighty. To be "mightily used of the Lord" is going to mean giving your all: all of you and all you have. When we have this kind of surrender, then we can begin to prosper from the afflictions God is breaking us with. This is a daily battle for the believer.

The Question Is... Are You Broken As A Hard Working Pastor?


I ask you… "Are you broken?" No, it is not desirable, or easily entreated. What I have described is not some “deeper life” prescription, but what the early church practiced. I am finding that it is better to not fight against my circumstances from a rebellious teenager attitude, but rather, accept them from a loving Heavenly Father as a trusting toddler. Being a good steward of our trials, burdens, and afflictions is paramount if we are to be a servant of the Lord. Will you quit kicking and screaming and let God break you? It is for your good and His glory. As with Job, you too can be far better off after the furnace of affliction by coming through it God’s way!




Ask God To Break You!

Brokenness is what makes the fragrance of a rose smell so good. Many Christians do not have the sweet odor of brokenness in their lives. Instead, they have the gall of bitterness. Invite God to be thorough with you. Ask Him to break you. Ask Him to give you the faith to trust Him with this in your life. In coming days, I feel like the only ones who will endure the persecution are the ones who have been willing to enter the seminary of brokenness. Enroll today! Start the pathway to brokenness, and you will be much better material from which God can develop a mighty servant from.

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Please Share An Event, Or Circumstance Where You Can See How God Broke You For A Specific Purpose!

The Five F's of Fashion

The FIVE “F’s”:

Fashion, Fit, Femininity, Function, and Frugality

            My prayer and purpose for this topic is to strike that balance between being “in this world and not of this world” in regards to The FIVE “F’s”: Fashion, Fit, Femininity, Function, and Frugality in a way that conforms to God’s word.

            Please enjoy reading my philosophy and frustrations of fashion as it relates to being a child of God, and recognize the tongue in cheek humor to be just that; good humored fun.

FASHION:  The ever changing styles that we in some form or another are bound to because we live in this world.

FIT:  The biggest obstacle to modesty is fit.  If you can find the right fit, you don’t have to pull up on your tank top, tug down on your skirt, look at your butt in the mirror hoping there is enough “slack in your slacks,” or wonder if what you are wearing is figure flattering or figure revealing.  Yet, there are not a lot of clothes made to FIT a Christian.  The solution to this is for what I am constantly working toward.

FEMININITY:  God wants us to be feminine.  Regardless of what articles of clothing you are wearing, you should be feminine.  That is what the cut of clothing defines.  Yet a life changing moment for me was when I heard this advice from a wise “aged woman”, “Wear a skirt whenever you can.”  “You mean, wear something other than jeans and a cute shirt????!!!!!”  I believe there are times when a skirt is not appropriate, but most of the time a skirt is a great option.  We should embrace our femininity and enjoy it.  Get out of the denim rut and wear a sundress or in the winter a cute skirt and boots.  It will make you smile.

FUNCTION:  This is where the call to appropriateness comes.  Skiing is NOT the place for a fun skirt.  Mowing the yard is NOT the place for a cute sundress.  Doing dishes is NOT a place you want to wear your Sunday best.  I like a challenge though and I wanted to see if I could conquer the “skirt only” world and see where exactly “wherever I can” meant, and outside of winter sports, there is a skirt for everything; and I mean EVERYTHING.  It’s ALL about the fabric.  Shoes on the other hand are a little bit tricky, because (except for crew socks) socks and skirts make your legs look like stumps; add a pair of unwisely chosen sneakers with them and you look nonsensical.

FRUGALITY:  This is a wise quote by Shirla Jones:  “… the goal is not to spend an excessive amount on clothes.  The goal is to look your best within your budget.”  I believe that when God says in Matthew 6:31-34 that we should take no thought about what we shall wear (stop worrying) and to seek ye first the kingdom of God (be faithful in tithes and offerings and give with simplicity by faith to those in need) that He will indeed provide for your needs, sufficient unto the day.  There is a balance between budgeting and faith.  When you need it He will provide it, and do your absolute best with what He provides.  Find that balance between spending needlessly and being miserly, knowing that you are not a beggar but a child of the KING.  Let me add this though, NO WHERE, NO HOW, does God “PROVIDE” with a credit card.  Stay out of debt.


CONTINUED:  The Five Fs of Fashion - FIT

BOOK TRAILER: Roadmap Through Revelation

Who Are You?

by Pastor Peter Baugh

"And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know: but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." (Acts 19: 11-20)

"Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" What an intriguing question. "Who are ye?" We find it posed by the devil-possessed man to the seven sons of Sceva who were attempting to perform an exorcism. "Who are ye?" We can almost hear the sneer in the voice of this deranged demoniac. We can almost see the snarl, the lip curled in derision, the leering grin of a madman. "Who are ye?"

Contextually, this confrontation took place at Ephesus, during the two-year ministry of the Apostle Paul in that city. From Scripture, we know that this city was a cesspool of occult activity. A C Gaebelien described it like this:

"Ephesus was a stronghold of Satan. Here many evil things both superstitious and satanic were practiced. Books containing formula for sorcery and other ungodly and forbidden arts were plentiful in that city. The Jews themselves were contaminated with these practices."

Thus it becomes obvious that this two-year ministry of the Apostle Paul represented an ongoing spiritual warfare. Ephesus was a battlefield. On the one side stood arrayed the hosts of Satan. On the other side stood Paul and a growing body of believers who had rejected the occult activity that festered there, a small band led by an apostle, under the captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Over the course of the campaign for Ephesus, numerous conflicts took place. Scripture makes it clear that the cause of Christ emerged victorious in verse 20:

"And so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."

However, we do notice that this word "prevailed" appears more than once in this passage. It occurs the first time in verse 16:

"And the man in whom the unclean spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed..."

This is the only instance in this inspired record that indicates a victory of any kind for the hosts of darkness at Ephesus. It therefore stands as a sobering warning for Christians of every age afterwards of the dangers involved in spiritual warfare. It ought to be duly considered, and taken much to heart.

Transitioning from Prophets to the New Covenant Priesthood of Evangelists

“12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:12-17).

Matthew 4:12-17 gives us the context of the dispensational transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant and provides us insight into the primary directive of New Covenant responsibilities for all believers of the Church age. Matthew 4:12-17 transitions us from the prophets/evangelist and priests of the Old Covenant as spokespeople for God to the New Covenant prophets/evangelists and priests as spokespeople for God. The responsibilities involved in this transition are critical to defining New Covenant faithfulness for every believer.

According to the inspired words of the Apostle Paul, “prophecies, they shall fail” (I Cor. 13:8). What this means is that new revelatory “knowledge” (I Cor. 13:8, “knowledge, it shall vanish away”) of future events and the revelation of God’s will to the prophet will vanish away or come to an end, i.e., cease. This would happen “when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (I Cor. 13:10). The Cannon of Scripture was sealed with the completion of God’s prophetic revelations to the Apostle John with what we know as the “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:1). This cessation of prophetic revelations is confirmed by the last few verses in the book of Revelation:

“18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).

In Revelation 22:6-7 we have God’s command for earning rewards for all New Covenant prophets/evangelists/priests (all Church Age believers). It defines the transitional issue of responsibilities of New Covenant believers that is taking place in Matthew 4:12-17. The key word is the word “keepeth” in Revelation 22:7 and the responsibility of spiritual influence delegated to us in the Great Commission.

“6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:6-7).

The word “keepeth” is translated from the Greek word tereo (tay-reh'-o), which means to keep an eye on, to guard, or preserve. This is very similar to God’s command to the Jews of the Mosaic Covenant.

“And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them” (Deuteronomy 5:1).

The word “keep” in Deuteronomy 5:1 is from the Hebrew word shamar (shaw-mar'). It has almost exactly the same meaning as the Greek word tereo (tay-reh'-o) used in Revelation 22:7. Deuteronomy 5:1 gives us a threefold expansion of God’s expectations regarding what it means to “keep” His Word.

Latest Quotes and Quips

Christianity is not about who you were, or even are, but whom God will cause you to be.

When Satan reminds you of where you have been, remind him of where he is going.

‎"If you took all the Baptist doctrine out of the Protestant church they would be Catholics. If you took all the Catholic doctrine out of the Protestant church they would be Baptists." - Mickey Carter

A defeat that leaves you humble is better than a victory that leaves you proud.

Eternal security is not a Baptist doctrine, it's a Bible doctrine.

The man who walks with God always arrives at his destination.

"Rest in this - it is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call, or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond, or what have you." - Jim Elliot

"The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation." - C.H. Spurgeon

Problems are just opportunities to test God's power.

Give God what is right, not what is left. http://baptistquips.blogspot.com/

How to Stop Complaining

Opening Days at Heartland Baptist Bible College are in session, and the first few days of the semester are devoted to preaching. One of the most incredible messages this week was about the sin of complaining. The children of Israel would whine and complain about everything, which kindled God's anger. I had always known that complaining wasn't "good," but I never thought of it as "bad" until I looked a little closer and saw that God considered it a serious sin. Complaining is so evil in God's sight that He sent fire from Heaven to burn up the whiners!

Seeing how wicked complaining is made me want more than ever to watch what comes out of my mouth. However, it's difficult to put a finger on how exactly to stop complaining. The preacher mentioned how people who don't complain generally have a healthy prayer life. Although this puzzled at me at first, I thought about it for a minute and realized that he was right.

David often spoke in the Psalms of pouring out his comlpaint before the Lord. In my own life, I think back to times I would cry out to God about how fet up I was about a situation. After a few minutes of going on and on about it, I would start to feel kind of silly. My whining soon turned into praying for that very situation. Instead of huffing and puffing to your friends about the unfairness of life, tell God how you feel. Cast all your care upon Him, and if you allow Him to speak back to you, He will begin changing your heart about the thing that used to look like such a big deal. Complain to God and you'll get it out of your system and have a new attitude, so you won't have a need to complain to anyone else.

If you decide to adopt this principle into your prayer life, don't stop at just whining to God and saying "amen." Read His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and change the way you think. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Your attitude will improve, your relationship with God will flourish, and the petty things that used to bother you won't seem that important anymore.

90 Day Bible Reading Challenge

I am going to join another IFB KJV member in her challenge to take the next three months and read the Bible through. Adorning Grace's blog inspired me to set this as a goal. I, too, "need a special something from the Lord and I believe this is a good place to start."

In addition, I will post the daily reading schedule on the KJV Devotions area of this website, starting on 9/1/2010. Have you signed up for the devotions by email? If not, I encourage you to do so, the email via feedburner works very well, is readable, and dependable.

Devise your own schedule, or use the 90 day schedule HERE. If you start by 9/1/2010, you can be finished by the end of 2010.

How Satan Destroyed America

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I am a flag waver.  I blink back the tears at the sounding of the national anthem, my heart swells with pride when hearing the stories of my country's history.  I believe America is a nation blessed by God and has been used by God to do more for the cause of Christ than any other nation.

She's come a long way, baby.

According to Revelation 13, there will come a day in the future when the world will submit to one man who is indwelt by Satan himself.  The world will operate on one currency, one socialist-communist political system with nations having little to no individual sovereignty in of themselves, and the only accountability will be to the State government run by the antichrist.  Over the first couple hundred years of its existence, the United States of America has epitomized the exact opposite of what is necessary to accomplish the Enemy's final plan of total world supremacy.

It would be reasonable to conclude that the Enemy has done everything he can to destroy America, and in this article we will look at some of the ways in which Satan tried to destroy America, and what strategy he is successfully employing today.  This article isn't meant to be all-inclusive.  I'm sure the one who is wiser than Daniel has several other strategies that he's employed that I'm not aware of.  This article is meant to be realistic, not pessimistic.  I believe in my heart that there is still hope for our country.
 

First Tactic: Military Force

George Washington at Valley Forge

The most obvious one, destroy and enslave by military force.  Upon declaring its independence from the tyrannical English throne, the colonies were locked in war with the strongest nation on the planet.  The colonies represented religious freedom, freedom from the state religions to be found all throughout Europe.

They also represented economic freedom.  Under William Bradshaw, the colonies learned the hard way that Socialism does not work.  Before the War for Independence ever happened, back in 1620, the settlers of the Plymouth colony had entered into a merchant-sponsor contract with London that called for all the goods and resources gathered to be collected into a common store, with each member being owed a common share.

What resulted was a disaster.  Half of the pilgrims died, including Bradford's wife.  There was no motivation.  Bradford wrote, "For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense...that was thought injustice."

The next year he tried something different.  He tried implementing the principles of freedom and personal responsibility.  He gave every man a plot of ground to work, and individuals were responsible for what happened to them and their families.

The colony thrived.  According to Bradford, "This had very good success, for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been." Free trade with the Indians blossomed, there was more than enough food for everyone. This was just one principle that was instilled early in the hearts of our nation's founders.  Freedom and individual responsibility.

Under the antichrist's rule during the Tribulation, there will be no such thing.  All the world will be enslaved to a one world system that will destroy the idea of individuality, personal freedom and responsibility, and most importantly the fear of God.  Satan wants the people of the world to view their "god" as the State.  If the State is the supreme authority above all else, then all Satan has to do is rule the State and then he'll rule the hearts and consciences of the masses.

Consuming Fire...

“For our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:29

How many people would actually compare God to a consuming fire? It says in the Bible that God is a consuming fire, but how many of think of Him that way? According to the dictionary, consuming means, “to devour, to absorb or engross, and to be completely engulfed.” If God is a consuming fire, what does this mean for us today?

I’d like to take a couple of minutes and show some attributes of fire.

Attributes of fire:

1. Fire is contagious…
If God is a consuming fire, and we abide in Him, and He abides in us, then it stands to reason we should be on fire as well. If we have been born again, and we are saved, we have something to get excited about! If we aren’t on fire for Jesus Christ, then we must examine ourselves and figure out what is wrong. Just as fire spreads, so does excitement. When others see the excitement that we have for Christ, that excitement will spread and they will get excited too!

2. Fire gets people moving…
We can sit around for so long doing nothing, but when a fire starts, you would HAVE to get up and move! Fire makes us get up on our feet, and move! No more sitting on the sidelines. When the fire is there, we must be moving! There is a lost and dying world out there, desperately needing this fire that we have. We must be moving and telling others about the joy that we have!

3. A consuming fire cannot be quenched…
When a fire is “all consuming”, it cannot be put out. Just look at Jeremiah 20:7-9. Jeremiah is upset here that everyone makes fun and mocks him, so he says that he will never mention God anymore. He tries not to mention God, but he can’t because he says the Word was in his heart “as a burning fire shut up in his bones”! Jeremiah couldn’t stop talking about God if he wanted to. Are we this way? If we are on fire for Jesus Christ, then we can’t quench that fire!

4. Fire burns in a “V” formation…
Have you ever watched fire as it moves? It moves in a “V” formation, and it spreads out as it moves. When we get on fire for God, we can spread that fire into our community and cities, and it will spread out! Don’t underestimate what your one flame can do for God. We may be the only Bible some people read. If we committed to trying to lead even one person a year to Salvation, it would only take one generation before the entire world was reached! If every follower of Christ had one flame, we could light up the World.

5. Fire leaves it mark…
When a fire is done moving through, you can tell that a fire has been there. It leaves what are called, “alligator marks” in wood. You can see the burnt, and you can tell that a fire has been there! When we are on fire for God, people should be able to tell! We should be leaving behind marks from our actions! Can people tell that you are a follower of Christ? Let me ask it this way: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

6. Fire starts with a small spark…

“As a large fire is started with kindling of small twigs and branches, even so a large revival is started by the prayers and obedience of a few people!

A fire gets started small. A forest fire can be started with one match. Don’t underestimate what one flame can cause! If everyone reading this blog had just ONE spark, we would have a HUGE fire. If we want to start a fire for God, we MUST become the fuel for God!

For HIM,
Dan

"MOMMY - WHY IS CINDERELLA SHOWING HER CHEST?" Why even Christians are so immodest, and how we have fed into the pornography industry.

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(My four year old daughter asked me, with no previous prompting and much to my discomfort, that question. Do you see a difference? It's so subtle I didn't even notice, but it wasn't subtle to the innocent unconditioned mind of a little child. Out of the mouths of babes.)

In the first few years of my marriage, I became aware of three marriages that were affected by pornography within my circle of friends. In two of the cases, the men refused to change their ways and the marriages ended and children were left without an intact home. In the third case, the man repented and through God’s grace, forgiveness, some boundaries and accountability the marriage was restored.

Around the same time as this, someone lent me the book, “Created to be His Helpmeet” by Debi Pearl and somehow we got the book “Every Man’s Battle.” Both dealt openly with the struggles of men with pornography. In the book “Every Man’s Battle” I read that there was a survey done among Christian men and 60% of the Christian men said that they had viewed pornography in the past six months. I was bombarded with the topic from all sides. I shook while sobbing as I watched "Fireproof." I was overwhelmed, disgusted, discouraged and distrustful of all men, even my own husband.

I didn’t want to have anything to do with the internet, shopping catalogs, commercials, women joggers, cleavage baring women, the grocery store aisle, short skirts or skin tight clothing. I wanted to cry at the thought that my husband would even have to struggle to not look at other women. “WHY, Lord, WHY?”

My husband was super yielding to my paranoia. I talked to him a lot about the temptations of men, and he acknowledged that it was everywhere. He said that regarding the internet, it is a difficult thing for men because in Proverbs it speaks about avoiding a woman in the attire of a harlot. He mentioned these verses specifically:

Proverbs 7:6 – 8, “For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

He said that it is increasingly difficult for men to stay pure because they no longer have to “pass through the street near her corner.” Her corner is right in the house.

___ Reasons Why I Love The Lord

A member of IFBKJV.com's Blog Directory recently posted 50 Reasons Why I Love The Lord to mark their fiftieth year of salvation on their blog. What a great idea.

How many years have you been saved? Can you think of that many reasons why you love your Lord? I am going to make this an interactive post with Mr. Linky using the "Monday Memories" meme.

If you participate in this blog topic meme on the reasons you love the Lord (relating to the number of years you have been saved), please post the url below so others can read your reasons.

UPward Thinking

Col 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Col 3:5 ¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Col 3:8 ¶ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

How to Kill A Church, Part 1 of 3

By Davis W. Huckabee

New Testament churches do not naturally die; they are so constituted that they cannot die a natural death. They may, however, be killed, but even in this, they can hardly be killed by outsiders except by the annihilation of the entire membership. Churches are most often killed form the inside; their own members kill them. A church is not just an organization; it is also an organism; a living thing, and as such, it has the potential of either growing and thriving, or of languishing and dying. The Lord promised that His church, considered as an institution, would not die, Matt. 16:18, but this only means that there will be a continuity of churches like the Jerusalem church until his return; it does not guarantee the continued existence of any individual church. How then may a church be killed?

I. BY STAYING AWAY FROM IT

The Scriptures liken church members to the members of a physical body, I Cor. 12:12ff, and just as certain organs of the human body cannot be removed without death coming to the body, so it is with the church, the body of Christ. When the members of the church start staying away from it, this soon leads to its death.

This is generally a gradual thing, starting first with the neglect of the business meetings because "it doesn't matter whether I am there or not. The others are going to run things to please themselves. "

The night services are really the acid test of a church member's love for the Lord, for many people come to church for the morning services simply because there is nothing else to do except stay home. Of Course, there are many professed Christians who will even forsake the House of God Sunday morning in order to sleep in; these are the very most unfaithful kind. But of those who attend the Sunday morning services regularly, many could not be gotten out for evening services for anything. But the same excuses that are thought valid for staying away from church services, will not do when one is invited to a party, or when money is to be made by being in a certain place, etc. But the Lord will one day settle up the accounts. "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits, " Prov. 16:2.

Some church members permanently forsake the church, never more to return; but if we consider the connections between the two verses in Heb. 10:25-26, we find that this is an indication that the individual was only a false Christian. The same is true in I Jn. 2:19, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. "

II. BY STARVING IT

A church lives and grows only by conversions and the additions of those converts to its number, and therefore if it is not nourished by conversions as a result of preaching and praying, it will soon die off from lack of additions. Souls being saved are a blood transfusion to any church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" Acts 2:47. God does the adding to the church, yet He does it through the prayers and the preaching and the witnessing of His people.

A church may be killed by starving it of spirituality; we must remember that the degenerate Church of Rome was once a New Testament church until it lost its spirituality. Heresy in doctrine is first preceded by heresy in practice; i.e., by a carnal life. How may this be prevented? By its members living a sanctified (dedicated) life from day to day (not week by week, nor month by month). But dedication requires self-denial, and all too many professed Christians are unwilling to do this.

Then it is possible to starve a church to death by not supporting it with one's prayers and fiances. A church is a business - the grandest, most worthwhile business in the world, and therefore it must have money to operate. Because it is a heavenly business, it needs, in addition to money, the prayers of the Lord's people. Some professed believers are much more diligent in running down the church, the pastor, and those who are faithfully working in the church, than they are in praying for these and helping them. The same thing is true of Christians as it is of mules: They can't pull while they are kicking, and they can't kick while they are pulling. As to the failure of God's people to support the church financially, Mal. 3:8-10 is still in the Bible, and it calls the withholder of the tithes and offerings just what he is - a thief Nor will it do to say "But that's in the Old Testament. " The division of the Bible into the Old and the New Testament is strictly a man-made division; the Scriptures themselves know nothing of this. But in any case, I Cor. 9:1-14 obligates believers to support the church in precisely the same way that the Tabernacle was supported - by tithes and offerings. See especially v. 14. http://independent-baptists.org/

That which becometh a women....

Certainly a Christian woman should dress modestly by command of the Lord through Paul in both Timothy and Romans

1 Timothy 2:9-10 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

and

Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Tight fitting pants, low cut tops, and short skirts cause many of our brothers to stumble in their thought life!

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

I don’t want to be the cause of a brother stumbling! We'll look more at what Scripture says about this way of dressing momentarily. In addition to this though, Scripture gives the command for ladies to look like ladies. Ladies wearing modest dresses and not pants is not legalistic. Paul carries the Old Testament application for men to look like men and women to look like women.

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

1 Corinthians 11:14-15 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

One of many applications in 1 Corinthians is that women should look like women and men like men. Men should have their hair short as did the priests (believers are priests unto the Lord – 1 Peter 2:5) to represent their head Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3). Women should wear their hair long to show submission to their head – their husband. As we see, Scripture still upholds that there should be a marked difference between the way men and women look. To wear dresses is to appear distinctly feminine. Compare a girl wearing pants to a girl wearing a dress! Who looks more feminine? Clearly it’s the girl in a dress!

Pants came out of the feminist movement. Not that long ago, pants on a western woman was unheard of. And though there are ladies pants, most look like them mens but with a closer fitting cut. They have a zipper and button in the front. Ladies – why in the world do we need a zipper in the front?? This is man’s apparel.

The word “apparel” in 1 Timothy is from the Greek “katastole” which is a long flowing garment. Not breeches. Ladies, we should dress in such a way that is professing godliness. We are supposed to dress in such a way that "becometh women professing godliness." (1 Timothy 2:10)

Contrast this picture in 1 Timothy of the dress (modest) and the heart (godly) a Christian woman with the dress (harlot) and heart (subtil) of the whorish woman in Proverbs 7:10 “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.”

If a women isn't dresses only, then she is sinning? I don’t think so, but I do think it can be a matter of the heart. Obviously it's not a main doctrine of the Bible, or it would be mentioned more often. But at the least, it is one way to show our love for the Lord, be a testimony and to create more opportunities to spread the Gospel of Christ. At the most, it is "erring" on the side of literally applying Scripture and trying to honor the Lord Jesus Christ.

Give It to God

 ...lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 

-Hebrews 12:15b-17

If you've ever heard a sermon on this passage, you're probably familiar with the phrase, "Give it to God."  It's hard to grasp this when you've been hurt.  It's easy to let mean thoughts enter your mind, which eventually turn into bitterness.  Anyone who has dealt with bitterness will tell you that it will destroy you.  Habitually thinking evil of someone who did you harm is natural, but destructive.  The right thing to do is to give it to God, but how do you do that when you've been so hurt?

When I had to deal with bitterness in my own life, I got sick of people telling me, "Just let it go!"  I wanted to grab their necks and scream, "I can't let it go!  It's not that simple!"  If you have experienced the same frustration, it's absolutely true that it's not that simple.  Deep-rooted bitterness won't go away by sheer will-power; there must be an outside agent working to remove it.  This knowledge is the first step to uprooting hard feelings against someone.  You must be willing to allow God to do a work in your heart.  You must first want to change, or it's not going to happen.

In my own battle against bitterness, I had to come to the realization that in trying to take revenge on the offender, I was hurting only myself.  Thinking bad thoughts about the one to blame wasn't accomplishing anything!  What was I going to do, use the force to play mind tricks on them that would make them feel terrible?  When this hit me, I was more than happy to let God handle the situation.  You must face the reality that God can handle the situation a lot better than you.  All of those vengeful thoughts about wishing the wrongdoer would (you fill in the blank) -- God can do that, you can't!

After I truly gave my bitter situation over to God, I found a place of repentance for harboring wrong thoughts and trying to take control of a circumstance only God could fix.  In the passage at the top of the post, Esau shed many tears over losing his birthright, but bitterness was still alive and well in his heart.  How sad it would be if the story of your painful condition ended like Esau's: She found no place of repentance, though she sought it carefully with tears.  You CAN have victory over bitterness, but first you must take the responsibility of revenge off of yourself and give it to God.  He is always fair and will handle it way better than you ever could.

"Who I Am In Christ"

I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power
Colossians 2:10.

I am alive with Christ
Ephesians 2:5.

I am free from the law of sin and death
Romans 8:2.

I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me
I John 5:18.

I am holy and without blame before Him in love
I Peter 1:16; Ephesians 1:4

I have the mind of Christ
Philippians 2:5; I Corinthians 2:16

I have the peace of God that passes all understanding available to me
Philippians 4:7

I have the Greater One living in me;
greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world
I John 4:4

I have received the gift of righteousness by Jesus Christ
Romans 5:17

I have received the spirit of wisdom and the eyes of my understanding are enlightened Ephesians 1:17,18

I have put off the old man and put on the new man
Colossians 3:9-10

I lack nothing I need for my God supplies all of my need
according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:19

I can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one with my shield of faith
Ephesians 6:16

I can do all things through Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:13

I was redeemed to show forth the praises of God Who
has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light
I Peter 2:9

I am God’s child for I am born again of the
incorruptible seed of the Word of God
I Peter 1:23

I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ
unto good works
Ephesians 2:10

I am a new creature in Christ
II Corinthians 5:17

I am spiritually alive to God
I Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 6:11

I am a believer, and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind
II Corinthians 4:4

I am a joint-heir with Christ
Romans 8:17

I am more than a conqueror through Him
Who loves me
Romans 8:37.

I am able to overcome the enemy by the
blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony
Rev12:11

I am a partaker of His divine nature
II Peter 1:3-4

I am an ambassador for Christ
II Corinthians 5:20

I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a purchased people
I Peter 2:9

I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ
II Corinthians 5:21.

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit;
I am not my own
I Corinthians 6:19.

I am a light to the world
Matthew 5:14.

I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness,
humility, and longsuffering
Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12.

I am forgiven of all my sins and
washed in the Blood
Ephesians 1:7

I am delivered from the power of darkness and
translated into God’s kingdom
Colossians 1:13

I am redeemed from the curse of sin
Galatians 3:13

I am called of God to be the voice of His praise
II Timothy 1:9; Psalm 66:8

I am raised up with Christ and seated
in heavenly places
Colossians 2:12; Ephesians 2:6

I am greatly loved by God (Colossians 3:12; Romans 1:7;
I Thessalonians 1:4; Ephesians 2:4

I am strengthened with all might according
to His glorious power
Colossians 1:11

I am running a race toward the goal
to win the prize
Philippians 3:14

For God has not given us a spirit of fear;
but of power, love, and a sound mind
II Timothy 1:7

I live yet not I but Christ
Galatians 2:20


(List compiled by Sam Ludvicek)

Blessings!

Morning Cuppas With Glenys