tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48407699768581929202024-03-13T01:07:58.569-04:00All Grace BlogMoments of GracePastor Robert L. Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11852166118428531810noreply@blogger.comBlogger294125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-71810340163041597032022-07-24T13:32:00.004-04:002022-07-24T13:32:42.453-04:00<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What Does the Bible Say About Justification By Faith Alone?</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 28.8px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vaGJKfaBK52W53i-YmHHXl2jL04Dz2oIHbiYcGsiDPyDZ5mZXiiGWXy57dt3UoM8DwpBMUwikAAt8FmIBP4ehC8IA4vyNEHpTylmMFw9Ma6wAXT9Ie1dP0f0qvP-m8_uARWcJuho4OjARQnA55Bfb0MnElCcWbcYhNorsowPpiUQa8nUPiiXRQLf/s3839/Dresden_Martin_Luther_statue_in_front_of_Frauenkirche_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3839" data-original-width="2688" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vaGJKfaBK52W53i-YmHHXl2jL04Dz2oIHbiYcGsiDPyDZ5mZXiiGWXy57dt3UoM8DwpBMUwikAAt8FmIBP4ehC8IA4vyNEHpTylmMFw9Ma6wAXT9Ie1dP0f0qvP-m8_uARWcJuho4OjARQnA55Bfb0MnElCcWbcYhNorsowPpiUQa8nUPiiXRQLf/w183-h292/Dresden_Martin_Luther_statue_in_front_of_Frauenkirche_02.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Martin Luther </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> <span> </span></span>Read Romans chapters 3 and 5. The Bible teaches us that the way a person is made right with God is through the doctrine of justification by faith. Justification is one of the most important doctrines in the Bible. This doctrine is the very heart of the gospel. If a church does not teach and preach justification it is a church that has departed from the historic Christian faith.</span><p></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. All those who have felt the convicting influence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and who have seen themselves as guilty sinners before God long in their souls to have peace with God. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is a fearful thing for a sinner to face the wrath of a holy God. So how do we find peace with God? The Apostle Paul answers that question with this verse. “Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What is justification by faith? The verb “justify” means to declare not guilty. It is a term often associated with the courtroom. When a judge hears the evidence of a case and finds the defendant not guilty he makes a declaration and declares the defendant not guilty. Justification is the act of God declaring the sinner who repents and believes on Christ not guilty in the courtroom of heaven. How can God do this? How can God remain just and punish sin and yet at the same time deal with sin and pardon those who are sinners? The answer is found in the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. God has condemned sin by laying the sins of all that He has chosen to salvation on His Son and then punishing His Son in their place. In this way God is both just and justifier of the ungodly. God deals with our sins and He transfers the perfect obedience of His Son to those He has chosen to salvation. We should think of it this way, God has transferred our sins to Christ and transferred Christ’s holiness to us. This double transfer is called justification by faith alone.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Why is it important that we believe in the doctrine of justification by faith alone? The doctrine of justification is unique to Christianity. All the other religions of the world practice a works based salvation. Only in the Christian faith can a person be declared not guilty before God and have peace with God based on the work of another. It is the finished work of God’s Son that justifies the believing sinner.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In Romans chapter five the Apostle Paul lists a number of things that happen as a result of justification by faith alone. Here is what Paul says:</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Justification gives us peace with God.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Justification gives us access to God’s presence with boldness.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Justification enables us to stand in the presence of God.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Justification enables us to rejoice in the hope of our great salvation.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Justification is the reason that God pours His love into our hearts.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Justification means that we are no longer condemned in God’s courtroom.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Justification means that we are totally forgiven of all of our sins past, present and</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: -14.2px;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> future. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Questions:</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-indent: 28.8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What is the meaning of justification?</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How is justification related to a courtroom?</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What is the result of justification?</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How can God be both just and justifier of the ungodly?</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px 43px; text-indent: -14.2px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why does the doctrine of justification give a believing sinner peace with God</span></p><div><br /></div>Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-54612301250990792242022-01-02T20:02:00.000-05:002022-01-02T20:02:34.312-05:00<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Who Is Going To Heaven?</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Text: Matthew 7:13-14</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Introduction:</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Bible is the Word of God. In the Bible it tells us several things that are of great importance to us. First of all it tells us there is a God. The very first verse in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 The Bible also tells us that this God who created the earth also was the creator of mankind. In the early chapters of the book of Genesis we are told that man was made in God’s image. Man was put in the Garden of Eden. Man was given a requirement. He could man could eat of all the fruits of the garden but the fruit of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil man was not to eat. If he ate of that tree God told him that “He would surely die.” Our first parents Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord brought death upon the whole human race. The result of that fall of Adam and Eve is that every human being born into the world today has a fallen nature with a tendency or propensity towards sin. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Bible also makes it very clear that when people die there's two places they might possibly go. The first place is heaven. What is heaven like there are two verses that give us clues Revelation chapter 21:4,</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i>”And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." </i></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> And the book of John 14:1-6. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i>"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. </i><b><i>2</i></b><i> In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. </i><b><i>3</i></b><i> And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. </i><b><i>4</i></b><i> And where I go you know, and the way you know." </i><b><i>5</i></b><i> Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" </i><b><i>6</i></b><i> Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” </i></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The second place that man might go when he dies is a place called hell. What a Hell like? The Bible tells us in the book of Revelation chapter 20:10.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i> “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">This verse is very descriptive of this horrible place called hell. It is important for all people to realize that when they die there are only two places they might end up, either in heaven or hell. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What I would like to do in this message is to share with you who is going to heaven.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our Theme: Who Is Going To Heaven?</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our Outline:</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><ol style="list-style-type: upper-roman;">
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Characteristics Of Those Who Are Not Going To Heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Characteristics Of Those Who Are Going To Heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Biblical Teaching On The Way To Get To Heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Characteristics Of Those Who Are Not Going To Heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Scriptures make bit clear:</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">I Corinthians 6:9-11, <i>“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, </i><b><i>10</i></b><i> nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. </i><b><i>11</i></b><i> And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” </i></li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Galatians 5:19-21, <i>“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, </i><b><i>20</i></b><i> idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, </i><b><i>21</i></b><i> envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.</i>”</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Revelation 21:8, <i>“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."</i> </li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">These verses should cause every one of us to sit up and take notice.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Characteristics of those not going to heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No liar is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No drunkard is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No thief is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No person who is filled with a spirit of coveting is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No immoral person is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No person who cannot control his anger is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No whore monger is going to heaven. </li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A womanizer</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A person who chases immoral women.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A person who has “eyes full of adultery.” II Peter 2:14.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A person who is hooked on pornography<br />
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No homosexual or lesbian is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No murderer is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No idolater is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No unbeliever is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No Atheist is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No one practicing witchcraft is going to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No one who is following a false religion is going to heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Bible and the words of Jesus are very clear on these points.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Many people think they can sin and still go to heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">They think if they have a belief in God that’s all they need. James 2:19, “<i>You believe in God you do well, even the demons believe and tremble.”</i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Just because you said a prayer or that you believe in God does not mean that you are going to heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Those who practice these things will not inherit eternal life.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">I John 3:4-9, “ <i>Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. </i><b><i>5</i></b><i> And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. </i><b><i>6</i></b><i> Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. </i><b><i>7</i></b><i> Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. </i><b><i>8</i></b><i> He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. </i><b><i>9</i></b><i> Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” </i></li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Notice in these verses the emphasis on sin.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Verse 4, “commits sin…”</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Verse 6, “…does not sin…”</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Verse 8, “…he who sins is of the devil…”</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Verse 9, “…does not sin…”</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Scripture is not saying that those who are saved are sinless. It does not mean that they never sin. So what do these verses mean?</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">They do not practice sin.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">They do not continue in sin.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">They do not habitual pursue sin.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">They may fall occasionally but sin is something that they hate and are trying to overcome by the power of God.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Characteristics Of Those Who Are Going To Heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There are many Scriptures that teach us how true believers behave and what we find to be true of them in their character.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our character is a good indicator of what we are really like.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How do you describe your thought life? The Bible says, “As a man thinks so is he.” Proverbs 23:7</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The real you is not the person that people see at church. The real you is what you do when you are in the dark or all alone. </li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here is a list of characteristics of those who are going to heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Those who are lovers of God</b>.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who have repented of their sins.</b> Acts 3:19, <i>“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”</i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who believe and are baptized,</b> Acts 2:38. “<i>Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” </i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who are born again</b>, John 3:3,”J<i>esus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." </i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who are pure in heart,</b> Matthew 3:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” </li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who walk in the light,</b> I John 1:7,”<i>But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”</i> </li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who keep His commandments,</b> I John 2:3, “<i>Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.</i>” </li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who love the brethren, </b>I John 2:11 <i>“But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.</i>” </li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who love Christ more than the world,</b> I John 2:15, <i>“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” </i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who practice righteousness,</b> I John 2:29, “<i>If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”</i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who abide in Christ, </b>I John 3:6, “<i>Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” </i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those whose hearts do not condemn them, </b>I John 3:24, “<i>Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”</i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who overcome the world,</b> I John 5:5, “<i>Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”</i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who have the Son,</b> I John 5:12, <i>“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”</i> </li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Those who don’t sin,</b> I John 5:18, <i>“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.</i>”</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">They don’t live under to dominion and power of sin.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">They don’t practice sin habitually.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Biblical Teaching On The Way To Get To Heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is a way to heaven that the Scriptures tell us about.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Proverbs 14:12, “<i>There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way fo death.”</i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus said<i>, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man can come to the Father but by Me.”</i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus also said,<i> “…narrow is the way which leaders unto life, and few there be that find it.,”</i></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>In the New Testament these are the features that speak of the way to heaven:</i></li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is a door way to enter, Jesus is that door. “<i>I am the door; by Me is any man enter in, the shall be saved.</i>” John 10:9.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is a fountain of washing (There is a fountain filled withy blood.)</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is a garment to put on. (The righteousness of Christ.)</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is a narrow road to walk. (The Christian life.)</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is a highway of holiness. (The quality of life that we live before the Lord in holiness and obedience.)</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is much like Pilgrim’s Progress written by John Bunyan.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">John Bunyan was born in Bedfordhire England in 1628.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He was a puritan preacher who was a Non-conformist.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">John Bunyan spent 12 years in prison for his beliefs.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He wrote his autobiography, Grace Abounding To The Chief Of Sinners.” He also wrote Pilgrim’s Progress and The Holy War. </li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here is a summary of the allegory of Pilgrim’s Progress.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim had a terrible burden on his back. (Sin).</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim was pointed to the wicket gate by the evangelist.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim’s burden fell off when he came to the cross and the sepulcher.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim had to climb up the hill of difficulty.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim had to travel the strait and narrow path.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim had to pass through the valley of humiliation.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim had to battle the monster Apollyon.”</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim had to choose to leave Vanity Fair. (The world).</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim had to deal with “Doubting Castle and Giant Despair.”</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pilgrim had to cross a river to get to the Celestial City.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Philippian Jailor asked Paul “<i>…Sirs, what must I do to be saved</i>?” Peter told him to:</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is a great question and one that we must all face.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here is what we are commanded to do in order to get into heaven.</li>
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<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Repent</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Believe the gospel.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Be a follower of God, John 10:27.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Become a disciple, Luke 9:23.</li>
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</ol><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Conclusion:</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span>We have been considering the characteristics of those who are going to heaven and the characteristics of those who are going to hell. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our theme was: Who Is Going To Heaven?</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our Outline was:</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><ol style="list-style-type: upper-roman;">
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Characteristics Of Those Who Are Not Going To Heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Characteristics Of Those Who Are Going To Heaven.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Biblical Teaching On The Way To Get To Heaven.</li>
</ol><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Bible is very clear on these two subjects and does not leave us guessing or wondering. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus also gave some of the most powerful warnings to His disciples that we must consider. In His famous Sermon On The Mount Jesus said:</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><ul>
<li style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.8px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">"<i>Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. </i><b><i>14</i></b><i> Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”</i> Matthew 7:13-14.</span></li>
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<li style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.8px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">“<i>Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. </i><b><i>20</i></b><i> Therefore by their fruits you will know them. </i><b><i>21</i></b><i> "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. </i><b><i>22</i></b><i> Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' </i><b><i>23</i></b><i> And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" </i>Matthew 7:19-23.</span></li>
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<li style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.8px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">In Matthew 22:1-10 Jesus gave us the parable of the wedding garment. “</span></li>
</ul><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i>And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: </i><b><i>2</i></b><i> "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, </i><b><i>3</i></b><i> and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. </i><b><i>4</i></b><i> Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' </i><b><i>5</i></b><i> But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. </i><b><i>6</i></b><i> And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. </i><b><i>7</i></b><i> But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. </i><b><i>8</i></b><i> Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. </i><b><i>9</i></b><i> Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' </i><b><i>10</i></b><i> So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.” </i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><ul>
<li style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.8px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">In Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus gave us the parable of the ten virgins. </span></li>
</ul><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">“<i>Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. </i><b><i>2</i></b><i> Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. </i><b><i>3</i></b><i> Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, </i><b><i>4</i></b><i> but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. </i><b><i>5</i></b><i> But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. </i><b><i>6</i></b><i> And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' </i><b><i>7</i></b><i> Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. </i><b><i>8</i></b><i> And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' </i><b><i>9</i></b><i> But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' </i><b><i>10</i></b><i> And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. </i><b><i>11</i></b><i> Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' </i><b><i>12</i></b><i> But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' </i><b><i>13</i></b><i> Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. </i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><i></i><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i>These parables remind us that on the day of Judgment there will be those who are not prepared, I.e. they are not covered by the garment of Christ’s righteousness, and they are not filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit.”</i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Do these warnings not stir your soul? Now is the time to make sure you have the wedding garment. Now it the time to make sure you have the oil of the Holy Spirit in your life.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">“<i>…Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.”</i> II Corinthians 6:2</p>Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-54948592279807574522019-05-01T14:29:00.000-04:002019-05-01T14:29:00.924-04:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Christian Perspective On </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Race Relations</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Because the political left, in this current war on Christianity, is quick to label any comments that view Western civilization and white European culture positive in any way as bigoted and racist it is necessary to state the Christian perspective on race relations. The Bible teaches that God made all men in His image. As the image bearers of God, all men of every ethnic background are born with a sacred dignity as the apex of God’s creation. This demands that all human beings be treated with respect, dignity, and justice before God. Prejudice based on skin color or ethnic background is a sin and forbidden in the Scriptures. While all men must be treated with biblical justice, righteousness and Christian kindness the behavior of all men is to be evaluated by the laws and commandments of God’s holy word. Therefore, while every person of every ethnic background is to be treated with Christian love and respect, the particular beliefs and behaviors of the various cultures, religions, and world-views are to be accepted or rejected based on their adherence to or departure from God’s word. The result of this may include censure, rebuke, or condemnation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Not all cultures, religions, lifestyles, beliefs, or practices are endorsed by the Holy Scriptures. When any belief or practice departs from God’s Word it will and must be rejected by the Christian church. To do otherwise is to be unfaithful to the Christians high calling in Christ Jesus. In every era of every century since the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the founding of His church Christians have faced the culture, kings, kingdoms, parliaments, and people of the world and have declared, “Thus saith the Lord.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Because of their courageous stand through the centuries, many of God’s choicest servants have been imprisoned, tortured, killed and martyred. The religious freedoms that our forefathers bequeathed us are being slowly taken away. Christians are under increasing pressure to either compromise their faith or to remain silent on issues where the Bible speaks. Personal rejection, persecution, stiff penalties, and imprisonment is rapidly increasing in the Western world towards those who take a stand on biblical issues.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Christians are now being called bigots and racists for being faithful to the historic Christian faith. But God’s people must fearlessly repeat what German reformer Martin Luther said before the Diet of Worms, “<i>My conscience is captive to the Word of God…Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.</i>”</span></span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-43327965487712583232019-02-28T02:03:00.002-05:002019-02-28T02:05:15.175-05:00<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Danger Of Not Applying What You Read, Hear, And Study</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"...<i>For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required</i>." Jesus, spoken in Luke 12:48</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> To all my brothers and sisters in Christ! As you read good books, listen to great sermons, study deep theology, and read the Bible, beware that you apply and practice what you are taking in. "<i>Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.</i>" Hebrews 12:14. The following warning from Thomas Brooks should give us reason to search our hearts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<i>If it is not strong upon your heart to practice what you read, to what end do you read? To increase your own condemnation? If your light and knowledge be not turned into practice, the more knowing a man you are, the more miserable a man you will be in the day of recompense; your light and knowledge will more torment you than all the devils in hell. Your knowledge will be that rod that will eternally lash you, and that scorpion that will forever bite you, and that worm that will everlastingly gnaw you; therefore read, and labor to know that you may do--or else you are undone forever.</i>” Puritan Thomas Brooks</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Holiness in this life prepares us for happiness in the life to come. God bless you all! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pastor Robert L. Dickie</span></span></div>
Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-56213504171655540082019-01-15T13:26:00.001-05:002019-01-15T13:32:07.105-05:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Bible?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Someone once said, “<i>God’s Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from God’s Word.</i>”<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I've spent my entire life telling people about Jesus Christ. I was converted as a young man at the age of 16. Now, I get up in the morning, I look in the mirror, and I'm almost 70 years old. The years have come and the years have gone. I have enjoyed many unbelievable blessings from the Lord. My life has been rich and spiritually fulfilling. But I also have regrets. I regret I have not done more, loved more, forgiven more, lived better, obeyed more consistently, lived for Christ more passionately. I regret I do not have more lives to give my Savior. I identify with the hymn writer who cried, "<i>O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise.</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If an angel stood before me and said, "<i>The Father at the throne is asking for volunteers to go to the front lines and there resist the powers of darkness and die for Jesus will you go?</i>" I would shout like Isaiah of old, as loud as I could, "<i>Here am I send me.</i>" Isaiah chapter 6 verse eight. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Indeed, the hymn writer has stated it right, "</span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Love so amazing, so divine demands my life my soul my all</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Let me plead with you to take up your Bibles and to read them as if your eternal destiny depends upon it—it does. Let me plead with you to confess all past sins of negligence and to read your Bibles with a holy desperation. Time is passing by so quickly. Eternity is coming at a terrifying speed. Too many people live like the fool that Jesus spoke about in the parable in Luke 12,</span></div>
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<span class="verse-16" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span class="verse-16" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";">"</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial";"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.</span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="verse-16" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i> <span class="verse-17" style="box-sizing: border-box;">And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="verse-18" style="box-sizing: border-box;">So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. </span></div>
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<span class="verse-19" style="box-sizing: border-box;">And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." ' </span></div>
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<span class="verse-20" style="box-sizing: border-box;">But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'</span></div>
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<span class="verse-21" style="box-sizing: border-box;">So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Let me plead with you to read your Bibles with this prayer to God, "<i>Dear Lord, open the eyes of my soul, that in this book, I might see my need of Jesus."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The great tragedy of life is that so many people spend their entire lives without having read the greatest piece of literature the world has ever known, the Bible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They'll be ignorant of the greatest love letter ever written to man. This is God's love letter to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They will have spent a lifetime and countless hours on TV, degrading movies, cheap entertainment that is more detrimental than elevating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>These individuals will never know the rich treasures that the Bible unfolds to us. They will never appreciate a book whose thrilling stories, unmatched poetry, fascinating histories, and compelling teaching is far more profound than any philosopher, more mysterious and enchanting than "Star Wars," "Game of Thrones," J.R.R. Tolkien's “Lord of the rings, or even C.S. Lewis’ "Chronicles of Narnia."</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Bible opens up worlds for us that we never knew existed. It gives us a challenge to face, a mountain to climb, a reason to live, and a purpose for life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Millions of people go through life like zombies, more dead than alive. Filled with emptiness, loneliness, having no purpose, no joy, and no hope for the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can anything be more challenging in life than to walk with the true and living God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can anything be more fulfilling than to serve and your fellow man by serving the high King of heaven Jesus Christ?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can anything be more rewarding than to live for the glory of God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can there be anything more important than seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can there be any comfort more profound than to know your sins are forgiven?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can there be any joy greater than to know that you are destined for heaven?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can there be any peace greater than the peace of God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">The Bible opens up for us all these precious joys and blessings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If we were really wise, we would consider the Bible the greatest treasure and most priceless possession we owned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Solomon challenged his son in Proverbs 2:1-5 to read the Scriptures. His words are really the words of our Father in heaven. Here is what our heavenly Father says to us about reading His Holy Word, the Bible:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">"<i>My son if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you. So that you incline your ear to wisdom, apply your heart to understanding, yes if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding. If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.</i>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Our Father in heaven is telling us that when we read the Bible we find things more valuable to us for our lives than silver and hidden treasures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Jesus said to His disciples, “<i>Search the Scriptures…these are they which testify of Me.</i>” The greatest treasure you will find in the reading of the Word of God is the hidden treasure of a personal relationship with God’s Son Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">Isaiah 40:8, "<i>The grass withers the flowers fade, but the word of our God shall stand forever</i>.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My friend, read the book that does not wither and never fades but stands forever. Read the book that will give you the pragmatic solutions to every problem of life, that will give you the secret of your existence, that will teach you how to live and prepare you for death. Read the Book that will nourish your soul and lead you to heaven. Read the book that will lead you to Christ. Read the Word of the Living God.</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-82479902349953452222018-10-16T09:29:00.000-04:002018-10-16T09:46:40.890-04:00Encouragement For Those Who Think They Are Too Bad To Be Saved<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"…So Great Salvation"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hebrews 2:3</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">(Encouragement for those who think they are too sinful to be saved)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I'm writing to the one who is doubting his salvation. You have great sins in your past. You feel that because of these sins and failures you cannot enter heaven. You believe these sins will prevent you from entering the Kingdom God. You wish you could erase them all. You grieve that you committed such acts of rebellion and treason against the Lord. Because of these sins you have concluded that God would never save someone like you. Therefore you have lost all hope of going to heaven and being with Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> But dear friend, did Christ die for only the perfect? Did Christ die only those with little sins or few sins? Did Christ die only for "good" sinners but "bad" sinners He cannot save? If you could erase all of the sins you recall in your past would that make you any more lovable to God? What did the Apostle Paul say? "<i>But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.</i>" Romans 5:8. Jesus died for sinners not for those who were righteous and good. No man is worthy of salvation. Again Paul says, “<i>For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”</i> Romans 3:23.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My friend, how can you refuse to believe what the Savior has said to us all? "<i>Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."</i> Matthew 11:28. Is this not a gracious invitation for someone precisely like you? You are burdened over your sin. You mourn that you committed those sins. You would die a thousand deaths to rid yourself of these sins if you could. Just as Jesus said, because of these sins in your past, you are laboring under an enormous weight of guilt, conviction, shame and sorrow. You stagger daily at the weight of your spiritual burden. How is it that you cannot see that the Savior's words were intended for someone just like you? “<i>Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.</i>” Why do you refuse to see this?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Again I ask you, "Did Jesus die only for sinners who weren't too bad? Or did He die for great sinners, for big sinners, for sinners like you who feel there is no hope for them? The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, atones for all our sins. Jesus is the sinners hope. Jesus is the sinners refuge. Jesus is the sinner's hiding place. My friend have you forgotten this? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is Jesus not big enough, gracious enough, loving enough, kind enough, that He cannot save a sinner like you? Do not lose sight of what a great Savior He is! As the Apostle Paul said, "<i>How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?</i>" Hebrews 2:3. Jesus has provided not just any salvation, the apostle tells us it is a great salvation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus is the friend of sinners. Jesus is the only hope for sinners. Jesus is the rest for sinners. Jesus is the peace for sinners. Jesus is the hiding place for sinners. As the Bible says, Jesus is the rock cleft for you! The hymn writer said it so well:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Rock of ages cleft for me,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Let me hide myself in thee,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Be of sin the double cure,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Save from wrath and make me pure."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My dear friend, you think your sins are too great and that God would never pardon you. You think you cannot be forgiven. But your Savior has provided for you a hiding place in the "<i>clefts of the rock.</i>" As it says in the Song of Solomon 2:14. Jesus is that cleft Rock. Jesus is that hiding place. When Satan condemns you, chastens you, rebukes you and accuses you then run to Jesus by faith. Run to Him! Trust in His blood. Rejoice in His righteousness. And hear Jesus say to your weary heartbroken soul, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"O My dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.</i>" Song of Solomon 2:14</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My friend, your Savior has provided you a hiding place. A dove is a helpless bird when hunted by the eagle or the hawk. The only hope he dove has is to fly to the rocky cliffs and hide in one of the many crevices or clefts and there find safety from the clutches of the eagle. The sinner is the dove. The cleft of the rock is Jesus our hiding place. Just as the dove finds shelter from the birds of prey in the clefts of the rock, so too, the sinner finds safety from the judgement in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself is the secret stairway to Heaven. His love for you is so great that He invites you to approach Him. He desires to hear your voice in prayer and worship. He tells you that the very sight of you is precious to His eyes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Lord is your hiding place. He is you refuge where you can run and find safety, forgiveness, acceptance, peace, pardon, adoption, fellowship, friendship, sonship, and a host of other blessings too wonderful to fully comprehend. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So my dear friend, how can you despair and feel as if there is no hope for you? Has He not invited you, a great sinner, to come to Him? And did He not say, "<i>…and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out</i>?" John 6:37. Why can’t you trust Jesus to do what He says He will do if you come to Him? Come to Him and He will not cast you out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Friend, it is Satan who whispers in your ears that Jesus will not forgive you. It is Satan who seeks to rob you of joy, peace, rest and happiness. Jesus said in John 10:10, "<i>The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…</i>" Satan is that thief who comes to do these things. But Jesus came, "…<i>that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly</i>." Remember my dear friend the words of the Apostle Paul, <i>"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.</i>" Ephesians 1:7. Redemption is the act of being purchased out of the slave market of sin. The price of your redemption (purchase) was the precious blood of Christ. Peter tells us, “<i>Knowing the you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.</i>” I Peter 1:18-19. When you were a slave, trapped in the spiritual world of darkness, dead in trespasses and sins, Jesus came and paid to set you free The purchase price was His life and death. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When you allow the Devil to fill your heart and mind with doubts you are falling into the same trap God's people fell into during the days of the Babylonian Captivity. The Babylonian captives doubted God's love and forgot His kindness and grace. To a despondent people in captivity God commanded them to sing and to worship Him. But they refused because of their lack of faith. God said to them: "<i>Sing O heaven's and be joyful O earth…" "But Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." </i>O, but notice God's response to their despair! God uses the analogy of a nursing mother with a new born infant to make His point that He will never forsake those who trust in Him.<i>”Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee on the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."</i> Isaiah 49:13-16. It is highly unlikely that a mother would forget or neglect her new born infant that she nurses on her breast. But even if some mother would be so hard and unloving to do that God says He will never forsake His people who have put their trust in Him. The hymn writer put it this way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"My name from the Palms of His hands </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Eternity cannot erase,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Impressed on His heart it remains,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">With marks of indelible grace."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> My dear weary, depressed, and despondent friend. I beg of you to look to Christ! He is our only hope. "<i>Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."</i> Hebrews 12:1. Do not look to your past. Do not look to your sins. Do not look to your feelings, or your failures. If you look there you will be filled with despair. Just look to Jesus by faith. Lift up your eyes and look to Him. Jesus is our hiding place. Jesus is our fountain filled with blood. Jesus is our mercy seat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus is our hiding place:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Hail Sovereign Love</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">By</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Jehoiada Brewer</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Hail sovereign love that first began,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The scheme to rescue fallen man.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Hail matchless, free, eternal grace,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">That gave my soul a hiding place.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Against the God who rules the sky,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I fought with hand uplifted high;</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Despised the mention of His grace,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Too proud to seek a hiding place.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Enwrapped in thick Egyptian night,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And fond of darkness more than light;</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Madly I ran the sinful race,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Secure without a hiding place.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">But thus the eternal counsel ran,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Almighty love, arrest that man!"</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I felt the arrows of disgrace,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And found I had no hiding place.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Indignant Justice stood in view,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">To Sinai's fiery mount I flew.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">But Justice cried with frowning face,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">This mountain is no hiding place.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Ere long an angel's voice I heard,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And Mercy's angel face appeared.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">She led me on with placid pace,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">To Jesus as my hiding place.</span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Should storms of sevenfold thunders roll,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And shake the globe from pole to pole.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">No flaming bolt shall daunt my face,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">For Jesus is my hiding place,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">On Him, eternal judgment fell,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">That must have sunk a world to Hell,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">He bore it for the chosen race,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And thus became their hiding place.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">A few more rolling suns at most,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Shall land my soul on Canaan's coast.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Where I shall sing the songs of grace,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And gaze upon my hiding place!</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus is our fountain filled with blood:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">There is a Fountain Filled With Blood</span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">There is a fountain filled with blood, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Drawn from Emmanuel's veins;</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And sinners plunged beneath that flood </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Lose all their guilty stains.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The dying thief rejoiced to see</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> that fountain in his day;</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And there have I, though vile as he, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">washed all my sins away.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood</span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> shall never lose its power</span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Till all the ransomed church of God </span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">be saved, to sin no more.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream </span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Thy flowing wounds supply,</span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Redeeming love has been my theme,</span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> and shall be till I die.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Then in a nobler, sweeter song,</span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> I'll sing Thy power to save,</span></i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">When this poor lisping, stammering tongue </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">lies silent in the grave.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus is our mercy seat:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Approach My Soul The Mercy Seat</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Approach my soul, the mercy seat,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Where Jesus answers prayer;</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">There humbly fall before His feet,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">For none can perish there.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Thy promise is my only plea;</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">With this I venture nigh:</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Thou callest burdened souls to Thee,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And such, O Lord, Am I.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Bowed down beneath a load of sin,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">By Satan sorely pressed,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">By wars without, and fears within,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I come to Thee for rest.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Be Thou my shield and hiding place,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">That sheltered near thy side,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I may my fierce accuser face,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And tell him, Thou hast died.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">O, wondrous love! To bleed and die,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">To bear the cross and shame,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">That guilty sinners, such as I,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Might plead Thy gracious Name! Amen.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">John Newton, 1779</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">CM</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Dear struggling, doubting friend. Let us be clear about sin. All sin is a violation of the holy laws of God. Sin is willful treason and rebellion against the High King of Heaven. Sin is an insult to our Creator. All sin must be confessed and repented of. Why? Because "<i>For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.</i>" Romans 6:23.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> So you feel you cannot be <i>forgiven. </i>Did Jesus not come to save sinners? An angel, in a dream, appeared and told Joseph, the husband of Mary <i>"And He (Jesus) shall save His people from their sins.</i>" Matthew 1:21. Yes, Jesus will save His people from their sins. If you are broken hearted over your sins. If you have turned from them and have forsaken them why would the Savior not do what He has promised and forgive you? John tells us, "<i>If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." </i>I John 1:9. Paul told the Philippian Jailor in Acts 16:31, "…<i>believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved</i>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> My dear friend, the very fact that you mourn over your sins and failures, that you confess them and repent of them is an indication that the Lord has worked in your heart. Be encouraged by these signs. If you had no desire to be forgiven or free from the lusts of your flesh you would have reasons to be alarmed at the condition of your soul.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>God Himself has invited sinners like us to come and reason with Him. In Isaiah 1:18 the Lord says, "<i>Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.</i>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> I invite you to come to Jesus with all your sins, with all your guilt, with all your sorrows and shame. And by one act of faith roll this entire burden upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died for sinners and to sinners, He says, "<i>I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me." </i>John 14:6.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Jesus is the doorway to heaven. Jesus is the path that leads to the Father. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. My dear friend throw yourself by faith into the arms of Jesus. If you perish, perish there. But I remind you that no one who has ever come to Jesus in faith with repentance was turned away. So lay your sins on Jesus. Confess them and bring them to Him. The hymn writer makes this point crystal clear:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"I lay my sins on Jesus,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The spotless Lamb of God,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">He bears them all and frees us</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">From the accursed load.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I bring my guilt to Jesus,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">To wash my crimson stains,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">White in His blood most precious,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Till not a spot remains."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus died and paid the price for all our sins. Jesus has promised a great salvation. It is great in its design. God designed His salvation to save sinners, even great sinners. It is great in its accomplishment. When Christ said on the cross, “<i>It is finished.</i>” He accomplished your salvation. It is complete. It is finished. It’s done and paid for. The salvation that Jesus provided is great enough and big enough to save every sinner, big or small, from all their sins. Jesus lived the life you could not live and He died the death you should have died. Therefore, my friend, come to Jesus. Come and find that His love and His grace is big enough and great enough for a sinner like you. O the life Christ lived! So pure, so holy, so perfect! And O the death Christ died! Dying for every sin we ever committed. Dying for our every word, thought or deed that violated the law of His Father. Trust that life and that death. It is the finished work of Christ in His living and dying that saves us from all of our sins, even our big sins. Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-12699092372194133152018-10-11T14:22:00.001-04:002018-10-11T21:41:06.070-04:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Root Of Holiness </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Text: I Thessalonians 4:7,</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i> “For God has not called us to uncleanness but to holiness.”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Over the last 36 years, as I pastored Berean Baptist Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, I emphasized over and over again a number of principles that are characteristics of holiness in the life of the believer. For those who sat under my ministry during these years you will have heard me emphasize these principles many times. I have personally tried to practice these principles in my daily walk as a Christian. In my last message to Berean during the Bible study hour before our morning worship service on September 30th, 2018 I shared these principles for the final time making one last plea that those, who were hearing my message, would commit themselves to being Christ-like Christians who exemplified these principles in their private and public life. Whenever these principles have been missing in the life of the New Testament Church the cause of Christ has suffered immeasurably. An unholy church is a scandal and a disgrace before the watching world. Only eternity will reveal the damage that has been done to the cause of Christ, not by outward enemies who openly hate the gospel, but by those professing believers who, lurking in the church, bring shame and reproach on the gospel by their personal failures and hypocrisies that are evident in their walk and profession of faith.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I want to examine this subject of the Root Of Holiness. I trust that we can discover what holiness really is and also discover the root of holiness and then be exhorted to strive for personal holiness in our daily lives.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">What Is Holiness?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">The word for holiness in Hebrew, qadhosh, “holy. In Greek it is hagios, “holy”. The concept of holiness contains a number of things.</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Holiness is being set apart from that which is common or mundane.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Holiness is obeying the laws and will of God.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Holiness is being conformed into the image of Christ. Theologian <b>R.C. Sproul</b> made this observation regarding being conformed into the image of Christ:</span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“To be conformed to Jesus, we must first begin to think as Jesus did. We need the "mind of Christ." We need to value the things He values and despise the things He despises. We need to have the same priorities He has. We need to consider weighty the things He considers weighty.</i>” </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>J. C. Ryle </b>said holiness is: “<i>Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word</i>.” </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">What Is The Root Of Holiness?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span>Anything that lives in the dirt of the earth that has been planted has roots. Trees, Plants of any kind, The crops that grow in our fields, etc. Roots draw forth from the ground the water, nutrients and minerals that are necessary for the life of any living thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus is our root. From our spiritual union and connection to Jesus we draw from Him the spiritual power to live the Christian life. John 15:5, “<i>I am the vine ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me the same bringeth forth much fruit for without Me ye can do nothing.</i>” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> By our mystical union with Christ we have the secret of our holiness and the secret of our power. <b>Thomas Watson</b> speaking of holiness said: “<i>There is a great deal of difference between a stake in the hedge and a tree in the garden. A stake rots and moulders, but a tree, having life in it, abides and flourishes. When godliness has taken root in the soul, it abides to eternity; ‘His seed remaineth in him’ (I John 3:9). Godliness being engraved in the heart by the Holy Spirit, as with the point of a diamond, can never be erased.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Godly Man's Picture, pg. 14.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">The question we must all ask of ourselves is this, “Do we have a root of holiness in our lives? Do we live what we profess? Do we have any spiritual connection to Jesus that gives us the life giving power of His presence that enables us to produce spiritual fruit in our lives? Do we have an inner longing for holiness and conformity Christ? </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">If we have a root of hotness, ie. A connection to the Vine, a mystical union with Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we will produce the fruits of holiness. Here are the fruits of holiness:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 13:34-35</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“<i>A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. </i><b><i>35</i></b><i> By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.</i>”</span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Matthew 6:12, “<i>And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.</i>” </span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Christians are to forgive others just as God has forgiven them.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Refusal to forgive is an indication of an unregenerate heart.</span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Matthew 5:7, “<i>Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.</i>”</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">God’s children are to be mercy showers just as they have received mercy from the Lord.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Being merciful is to be like God.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">No one can claim to be a Christian if mercy is misisng in their life.</span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” </span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">God’s children are peacemakers.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Far too. often those in the church want to fight, argue, dispute and stir up trouble. </span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Matthew 5:38-42, "<i>You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' </i><b><i>39</i></b><i> But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. </i><b><i>40</i></b><i> If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><b><i>41</i></b><i> And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. </i></span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">This is the principal of the Extra-Mile.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">It was not uncommon in biblical times for Roman soldiers to compel citizens to carry a pack or a load for a Roman soldier.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">Jesus says we are to go the extra mile, or to give the shirt off our back so to speak. The world cannot understand this aspect of Christian character. The Christian life is a life of miracles as we are changed into the image of Jesus.</span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Matthew 5:44, “<i>But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…</i>”</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Enemies are those who usually are non-Christians. They have a tendency to hate Christians and to desire to do them ill.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">We are told to love our enemies.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">How much more should we love and be gracious, kind, and patient to those who are in the household of faith? </li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">How terribly contradictory is the life of one who claims to be the reciprient of God's love who himself shows little of that same love to others.</li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ephesians 4:31-32, <i>“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. </i><b><i>32</i></b><i> And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ephesians 5:2, “<i>And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.</i>” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">John 8:7, “<i>So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first</i>." </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Romans 14:20, “<i>Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.</i>” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">James 4:11, <i>“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.</i>” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Luke 9:23, “<i>Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.</i>” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, <i>“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. </i><b><i>14</i></b><i> For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Galatians 5:22-23, “<i>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance</i>…”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">How easy it is to:</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Take offense at something / or take up the offense of someone else.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Criticize and complain</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Sow discord</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Judge others</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Be unforgiving</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Be unkind</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Throw the first stone</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Demand our rights</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Justify our ungodly attitudes and actions</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Lash our in anger</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Be a trouble maker rather than a peace maker</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Walk in the flesh</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Gossip</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Find joy in hurting others rather than serving others</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Destroy the work of God over petty and insignificant things</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Speak evil of another brother or sister</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">To be carnal rather than Christlike</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">To be like ourselves rather than being like Christ</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">To forget we were saved to be holy</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">To love self rather than Christ</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">To refuse to take op our cross</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">To follow the world rather than Christ</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">To disobey rather than to obey</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Be filled with self pity</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Be jealous and envious</span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">How Do We Maintain Holiness?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span>We maintains holiness by abiding in Christ, abiding in the Word of God, being filled with the Spirit, mortifying our flesh, maintaining fellowship with other believers, attending the means of grace, and spending time in prayer. C.H. Spurgeon hits the mark when he explains what makes holiness:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“Be dogmatically true, obstinately holy, immovably honest, desperately kind, fixed upright.</i> <i>I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him.A faith which works not for purification will work for putrefaction. Unless our faith makes us pine after holiness, it is no better than the faith of devils, and perhaps it is not even so good as that. </i><b><i>A holy man is the workmanship of the Holy Spirit</i></b><i>.I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him.</i> <i>In proportion as a church is holy, in that proportion will its testimony for Christ be powerful.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Holiness must be the great longing of our hearts. All true Christians long to be holy. Far too many professing Christians spend too much time judging others without giving proper attention to the holiness in their own lives. <b>A. W. Tozer </b>wisely remarked:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“A Pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Are you producing the fruits of the Holy Spirit in your life? I have given you 13 practical principles of godly living. Do these show up in your life? Puritan minister <b>Thomas Watson</b> described the difference between the godly man and the wicked man. Here are his comments:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> “<i>…the difference between the godly and the wicked. The heart of the godly is a temple; the heart of the wicked is a dunghill, “a cage of unclean birds,” Revelation 18:2. His mind is the devil’s mint; he is continually minting unchaste, impure thoughts; his heart is the anvil where he is daily hammering of sin. He is far from being a temple; he is a Sodom wherein are the heavings and boilings of lust. Proverbs 10:20, “The heart of the wicked is little worth.” A sinner’s heart is a common inn where all who will, may lodge; it is not a temple—but a pest house. He has the plague of the heart. But a godly man’s heart is a sacred temple which God highly values, and which He has promised to dwell in and revive,”</i> Isaiah 57:15. ~ Sermon, The Mystical Temple.</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-90003256931735566422018-09-09T20:20:00.004-04:002018-09-09T20:20:42.584-04:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Danger Of The Root Of Bitterness</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> Hebrews 12:15 </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How Do We Define Bitterness?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bitterness is a feeling of resentfulness that creates hostility toward others. This attitude is like a cancer that eats away at us until we are consumed with anger, resentment or jealousy. Bitterness can be caused by a number of things such as misunderstandings, taking offense to some alleged wrong, judging another person unfairly, impugning the motives of some one’s actions or behavior. Bitterness can be caused by jealousy or resentment over the success and achievements of others. Bitterness can also be caused by pride where we set ourselves up as judge and jury over some one else. At the heart of bitterness is the feeling that I have been hurt or wronged. This feeling of being hurt fuels the fire of anger and resentment. This feeling grows and grows and gnaws away at our soul until we are we are blinded to reality and we can only see something evil, sinister, or negative about that which has stung our heart. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A person over taken by bitterness is in a very dangerous place spiritually. Bitterness has no place in the life of a true believer. A bitter person does not practice the practical and gracious teachings of Jesus. There is no desire to understand. There is no gentle spirit of kindness and grace. There is no effort to give the offending person the benefit of the doubt. There is no attempt to be a peace maker. There is no desire to find a middle road. Bitterness is quick to take up an offense. It is quick to judge and condemn. Bitterness refuses to be reconciled, and bitterness will not allow us to even consider the possibility that we may be wrong. For the ones who are stung by bitterness there is only the desire to prove themselves right and others wrong. There is only the desire to condemn and criticize. There is no desire to listen to anyone who may have more information that would defuse or heal the situation. Rarely will a bitter person come to the offending brother or sister first with a spirit of grace and kindness seeking to understand. Rather, the lines are quickly drawn, judgments are made, attitudes are formed, opinions are planted in cement, and words, letters, calls, emails fly like bullits zinging the one who is the alleged culprit who has caused us such bitterness. When ever you see a bitter person just ask yourself, “What is in their behavior that is in any way like Christ?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The bitter person is a person who is characterized by resentment and jealousy, The bitter person is cynical, cold, cruel, harsh, mean spirited, and unpleasant to be around. As the bitter person wages their private war against another brother or sister, some leader, pastor, friend, or relative, they delude themselves into thinking that they are spiritual for having these ungodly attitudes. They have been duped into thinking that they are the ones who are truly spiritual. How sad it is that they cannot see that their attitudes are of the flesh and not of the Spirit. As they continue in their bitterness they walk around in a proud show of false piety and fail to see that true spirituality is the fruit of the Spirit that manifests itself by love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience, graciousness and mercy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some one described the way bitterness works in the soul:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Bitterness starts out small. An offense burrows its way into our hearts. We replay it in our minds, creating deep ruts that will be hard to build back up. We retell our hurts to any available listener, including each sordid detail. We enlist support, pushing us further into our resentment. We hear the offending person's name and cringe.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">We decipher the offense as intentional and our offender as full of spite. We look for other reasons, both real or imagined, to dislike our villain. With each new piece of information, we form another layer of bitterness.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">We fool ourselves into thinking no one will know, but anger and resentment have a way of seeping into everything. Resentment is like a beach ball we try to submerge in the water. No matter how valiant our efforts, it pops up with all its vitality,” </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As bitterness does its deadly work, it poisons the soul, hardens the heart, blinds our spiritual eyes, puffs us up with pride and makes us more like Satan than the Savior. When professing Christians succumb to bitterness it is a very, very, serious sin. Bitterness is a mark of the unregenerate. Bitterness is not a good indication of spiritual life in the soul. Those who profess to be the Lord’s should flee bitterness like the plague. To persist in a bitter spirit is to be in danger of hell fire. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Negative Impact Of Bitterness</span></span></div>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness poisons the soul.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness destroys our ability to reason correctly.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness can ruin our marriage.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness can hurt our children.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness can influence and harm others around us.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness fills our heart with pride.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness closes our heart to the wise counsel of godly leaders.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness turns us into rebels.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness can end life long friendships.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness turns us into a walking, talking hypocrites.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness fills the heart with self-righteousness.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness grieves and quenches the Holy Spirit.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness robs us of true joy in life.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness blinds us so we don’t realize how nasty, ugly, and disgusting we have become. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness is a product of the flesh and not a fruit of the Spirit.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness is deadly as it deceives the heart and causes it to be filled with pride. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness is the pathway to hell.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bitterness is the attribute of Satan not an attribute of God. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Signs And Evidences Of A Bitter Heart</span></span></div>
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<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have others mentioned to you that you are bitter? Bitterness leaves behind its ugly footprints and slimy finger prints. We don’t see it but those around us do.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you allowed resentment to destroy a life long friendship?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you allowed a disagreement, a misunderstanding, or a disappointment to effect the way you look at someone you once loved and respected?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you withdrawn from or broken fellowship with someone you were once close to?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you discarded your mentors, pastors, counselors or friends who once had an influence over your life because you disagree with them on some issue?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you made mountains out of mole hills?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you pass by friends and look the other way and try to sneak by without speaking?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you find yourself justifying why you are so upset or angry with people you once loved, respected, or trusted?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you allow hurt feelings, misunderstandings or even disagreements to cause you to break your promises, quit your obligations, or forsake your commitments?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you stew over the things that upset you and come up with a millions reasons to justify your behavior?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you find yourself obsessing over some event, situation, or offense till it fills you with anger, resentment and bitterness?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you walked away from any family members, friends, or people you once fellowshipped with?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you hold a grudge and won’t let it go finding reasons to keep the flames of anger burning in your heart?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you resentful or jealous of others?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you find yourself living in a state of negativity with a critical spirit?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you feel that you are right and never consider that maybe you don’t have all the information or that there is a possibility that you are wrong?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you allow one hurt, one disagreement, one misunderstanding to destroy a friendship of many years?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you keep a record of past alleged wrongs or offenses and keep bringing them up and share them with others?</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you look for situations, signs, or circumstances to justify your feelings or give you confirmation that you are right?</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those Who Have These Tell-Tale Signs of Bitterness </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Should Consider How A spiritual Person Acts</span></span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> A spiritual person may get angry but does not let his anger overwhelm him or last very long. Paul the apostle said, <i>“Be angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.</i>” Ephesians 4:26.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person is filled with the Holy Spirit and practices agape love as Paul describes it in I Corinthians 13. “<i>Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; </i><b><i>5</i></b><i> does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; </i><b><i>6</i></b><i> does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; </i><b><i>7</i></b><i> bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. </i><b><i>8</i></b><i> Love never fails.”</i></span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person remembers what Jesus taught when He said, <i>“He who is without sin let him throw the first stone…</i>” John 8:7</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person follows Ephesians 4:32, “<i>Be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”</i></span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person knows that among the seven things that God hates and are an abomination to Him is “…<i>he that sows discord among the brethren.”</i></span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person does not let one moment, one disagreement, one conflict destroy a life time of blessings, memories, and relationships.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person can agree to disagree without destroying a life long friendship.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person does not assume he or she is always right.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person seeks to understand, and responds with love, patience, kindness, and grace. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person has learned to turn the other cheek to those who may have offended or wounded them.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person does not take up an offense.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person does not keep a grudge.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person is slow to anger and slow to speak.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person follows Philippians 2:1-4. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, <b>2</b> fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. <b>3</b> Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. <b>4</b> Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> A spiritual person will respond to biblical authority and repent and make things right and if necessary humbly ask for forgiveness.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person, when they realize that their attitude is unbiblical, ungodly, and unChristlike will make adjustments to correct it.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person realizes that bitterness is not compatible with those who are really born again. Have you ever heard of a godly-bitter Christian? A spiritual-bitter Christian? A Christlike-bitter Christian? A holy-bitter Christian? A saintly-bitter Christian? The two concepts are mutually exclusive. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person remembers that the Lord does not reject us or cast us away because of one sin, failure or some disagreement.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spiritual Christian remembers the example of our Father in Heaven of whom it was said in Psalm 103, “</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual Christian does not forget that the very essence of a Christ- like life is patience, pity, kindness, love, forbearance and grace. Far too many Christians talk about grace but fail to display grace.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual Christian takes counsel from wise biblical authorities and listens to the exhortations of others.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual Christian pursues peace with all men! Hebrews 12:14</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual Christian fears lest a root of bitterness in his or her heart defiles many in the flock. Hebrews 12:15.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual Christian knows that bitterness can poison the heart and chain our soul to evil. Acts 8:23.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person remembers what Jesus said, “<i>If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” </i>Matthew 6:15.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person knows that bitterness is an evidence of an unregenerate heart, “<i>Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” </i>Romans 3:14</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person does not forget that the Father loved them when they were unlovely. <i>“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.</i>” Romans 5:8. How unlike Christ we sometimes act! We hold grudges, show contempt, act disgusted, break off fellowship, nurse our hurts, and treat others with unkindness just because we have been offended, insulted, disappointed, or had a disagreement with someone.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person knows that the way of the cross is the way of humility, love, forgiveness, patience and kindness. </span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person will obey Romans 12:17-21 no matter how hard it may be. “<i>Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. </i><b><i>18</i></b><i> If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. </i><b><i>19</i></b><i> Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. </i><b><i>20</i></b><i> Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." </i><b><i>21</i></b><i> Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”</i></span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person does not stir up wrath and cause divisions among the brethren, “<i>A wrathful man stirs up strife…</i>” Proverbs 15:18.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person will slay the dragon of bitterness. A bitter person will not admit he or she is bitter. Suggest to them that they are bitter and they will pour out a torrent of reasons why the other person is wrong and why they are right. The opinions of a bitter person are elevated to the status of the laws of the Medes and Persians. “It’s my opinion and it’s quite true” is the sad attitude of the bitter heart.</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A spiritual person, even if they are right about someone, they will seek to understand, be a peacemaker, and will find a way to remove the issue without conflict. I have learned over the years that unreasonable men are unspiritual men. Proud men are the children of hell not the children of heaven. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“If” by Amy Carmichael</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Amy Carmichael wrote a marvelous book entitled, “If”. This Book Teaches Us How To Die To Self. Here are a few quotes from that book that every Christian should read.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word, think an unkind thought without grief and shame, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I can hurt another by speaking faithfully without much preparation of spirit, and without hurting myself far more than I hurt that other, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I put my own happiness before the well-being of the work entrusted to me; if, though I have this ministry and have received much mercy, I faint, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I cannot be at rest under the Unexplained, forgetting the word, “And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me”; or if I can allow the least shadow of a misunderstanding, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“If I take offense easily, if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I say, “Yes, I forgive, but I cannot forget,” as though the God, who twice a day washes all the sands on all the shores of all the world, could not wash such memories from my mind, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I wonder why something trying is allowed, and press for prayer that it may be removed; if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment, and cannot go on in peace under any mystery, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I refuse to be a corn of wheat that falls into the ground and dies (“is separated from all in which it lived before”), then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I forget that the way of the cross leads to the cross and not to a bank of flowers; if I regulate my life on these lines, or even unconsciously my thinking, so that I am surprised when the way is rough and think it strange, though the word is, “Think it not strange,” “Count it all joy,” then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“if I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">My dear Berean brothers and sisters, do we know anything about Calvary Love? The poet wrote:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“O the love that drew salvations plan,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">O the grace that brought it down to man, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">O the mighty gulf it spanned, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Calvary!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">My love and prayers are with you all, </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pastor Robert L. Dickie</span></span></div>
Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-79031576965656134282018-08-27T16:25:00.000-04:002018-08-27T16:25:36.181-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Berean Baptist Church</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Thank God For A Godly Pastor!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I want to give praise to the Lord for the provision of the new pastor at Berean Baptist Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. After spending nearly 36 years at Berean Baptist Church it was not an easy decision for Mary and me to pull up our roots and move south. Mary and I have poured the best years of our lives into our dear Berean family. I have made sacrifices, tried to serve faithfully, and sought to walk with the Lord in the spirit of grace, kindness, and holiness. As I have reflected on these precious years spent here in the service of our Lord I have been concerned that those who follow me will do a good job of loving the people, feeding their souls, and caring for the flock. Many times when a pastor leaves the church often suffers through a long process of trying to find the right man to replace the previous minister. It is often a time of confusion and division. I was well aware of this and at least tried to prepare our church and its leaders for a transition. However, the Lord had other plans. Once a search committee was formed I made it a matter of prayer and fasting to encourage them to find the right person to come in after me. It became apparent to me that the Lord had His man chosen in Eric Maynard. After the church had come to a decision to pursue Eric I had a wonderful spirit of peace that came over me. Mary and I took a couple of days and went up north to rest and spend some time on the great lakes. I commented several times as I drove up there that I was so very pleased with the choice of Eric Maynard and his wife Julie. The joy was full and I knew if the church chose him he would be a gentle, gracious, kind, and Christ-like pastor. When people desire to be in the office of the pastor they must be godly, spiritual and gracious men. The church needs bold leadership in these days in which we live. But that also means that those who lead the church in these days need to have the spirit of Christ about them. To me, Eric has that quality. Those who serve in the office of the New Testament Pastor must be patient, reasonable, kind and gracious men. It is with a deep sense of joy and satisfaction that I can depart and have confidence that the church is going to be in very good hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> When I came to Berean back in 1982 I was taking the torch from a brother in Christ and was going to be serving in the pulpit that he labored in for the past 13 years. It is an awesome thing to follow another godly shepherd and to try serve in the pulpit he so faithfully labored in for those many years before. A pastor must seek to build upon the foundation that others have laid who have gone before him. Let me encourage all of our Berean family to get behind your new pastor. Pray for him daily. Seek for opportunities to be an encouragement to him. We are entering a period of history in the West and in our country that will surely be one of the most trying times in the history of our church and in our own personal lives. Now more than ever the church must be vigilant, Spirit-filled, and gospel-centered. The Lord has given you a shepherd. He is a shepherd. He is called to lead you and to feed you. Don't follow the hirelings, the voices of false prophets, or the wolves in sheep's clothing. In the years to come, they will arrive on the scene as Paul the apostle predicted in Acts chapter 20. You have your shepherd. Follow pastor Eric as he is following Christ. Your new pastor is not a novice. He is a seasoned minister who has been faithful for many years already. Praise God for him, encourage him, pray for him, and protect him. Don't let anyone harm your pastor. A pastor is a gift from the Lord. Cherish this precious gift. I have no doubts that Eric will faithfully feed and lead you. Be of good courage dear Bereans. The best is yet to come. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God bless and care for you all,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yours in Christ,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pastor Dickie</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-31661505055253793852018-04-11T22:55:00.002-04:002018-04-11T22:56:39.375-04:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #383838; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How do I know if I am really saved?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">When a person becomes a Christian by putting their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior there may arise from time to time doubts about whether or not if you are really saved. So how does a person know if they are the Lord’s or not? The Bible tells us that the true Christian will have certain marks or characteristics that distinguish him from those who don’t know the Lord. Read I John 1:7, 2:3, 3:9, 5:2. These verse will give you the clue as to the kinds of things we should see in the life a true child of God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Bible teaches us that those who have been born again will bear the testimony of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. There are many who profess to be Christians but are living lives that discredits everything they profess. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. These words were written by the apostle in the book of Hebrews in 12:14. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No one should assume that they are going to heaven if they have not been radically changed by the power of the Holy Spirit when they were born again. The goal of salvation is to call a people into fellowship with the triune God. These people will become worshippers of God and will reflect the characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ in their daily lives. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The marks of a true Christian are many. Here are a few of the most important ones that we should expect to see in the lives of those who really know the Lord. If these are absent there should be serious concern whether or not the person has been born again. The marks are:</span></span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Worship</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Love for Christ</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Love for the Word of God</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Love for the brethren</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Prayer</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Overcoming sin</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Living a consistent life</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Bearing the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, Gal. 5:22-23</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Conviction of sin</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If these marks are missing in your life I would encourage you to seek the Lord, ask for forgiveness and repentance and study the doctrine of justification by faith. Only as we trust in Christ and His shed blood, and find ourselves covered by His righteousness can we have the hope of eternal life. Don’t settle for a nominal faith. Make your calling and election sure!</span></span></div>
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Pastor Robert L. Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11852166118428531810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-74373196482428417762017-11-29T11:12:00.002-05:002017-11-29T11:12:16.457-05:00Living For Jesus<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a Blueprint for Christian Living</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> “Look and Live”</span></b></span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> <b>Look to the Lord for your purpose in life</b>, Micah 6:8, “<i>He hath shown you O man what is good and what the Lord requires of you, but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God</i>.”</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Look to the Lord for your wisdom, </b>Proverbs 3:4-5<i>, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”</i></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Look to the Lord for your salvation,</b> Isaiah 45:22, “<i>Look to Me and be and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God and there is none other</i>.”</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Look to Christ for a righteousness greater than your own.</b> Mathew 6:33, “<i>But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you</i>.”</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Look to Christ to give you an abundant life</b>, John 10:10, “I<i> have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly</i>.”</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Live for the glory of God. </b>I Cor. 10:31, “<i>Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatever ye do, do all for the glory of God.”</i></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Live in the spirit of praise,</b> I Thess. 5:18, “<i>In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”</i></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Live on the Word of God, </b>Matthew 4:4, “<i>Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds form the mouth of God.</i>”</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Live with your eyes on the judgment seat of Christ</b>, II Cor. 5:10, <i>“For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ to receive the things done in the body whether good or bad." </i></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Live before God with a broken and repentant heart</b>. Psalm 51;17, “<i>The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-These, O God, You will not despise.”</i></span></li>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-10306715605930561042017-11-16T17:28:00.003-05:002017-11-25T14:36:39.015-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a very informative video from Prager University with Dinesh D'Souza on evaluating differnet cultrues. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What makes the culture of America unique is that it was built on the principles and the foundation of a Christian worldview. Here are the following building blocks of a Christian worldview:</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span>The list that follows are the main presuppositions that make up a Christian worldview:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1. There is a God, Isaiah 43:10,11; 44:6,8; 45:5. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. This God is a Trinity, Gen. 1:26; Zech. <br />12:10; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 1:1. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 3. God has revealed Himself in three ways: In creation, which is general revelation,</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">in the Bible, which is special revelation, and in Jesus Christ His Son, Rom. 1:18-20' I Cor. 15:3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4. God is the creator of the universe and all that is in it with order <br />and design -- the universe is not an accident, Gen. 1; <br />Isaiah 44:24; 45:18; Jer. 27:5; Neh. 9:6. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5. God created all of life with a design and a <br />purpose -- life did not evolve, Gen. 1:11,12,21,24,25; 1 Cor. 15:38,39. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6. The unseen supernatural world is just as real as the physical world, Eph. 6:12; Job 1:6; Mark 5:2; Matt. 12:22 </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>7. God made man in His own image, Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; 1 Cor. 11:7. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>8. Man possesses dignity due to being made in God's image Job 31:15; Ps. 22:10; 139:13; Hosea 12:3; Luke 1:41-44. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>9. The first humans were Adam and Eve, and lived in the Garden of Eden, Gen. 2; Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:22,45; 1 Tim. 2:13. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 10. Adam and Eve were the first family (male and female) homosexuality </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> therefore, is unnatural Gen. 1:28; 2:21-25. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 11. Man is morally accountable to God Ex. 15:26; 1 Kings 11:38; Rom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 2:16; Ps. 50:6; 82:8; James 1:21. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 12. God gave Man dominion of the earth, Gen. 1:28; Titus 1:7 </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 13. Man is to subdue the world in a manner consistent with biblical</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> revelation Gen. 1-2; 2 Tim. 3:16-17. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 14.Sin entered the world through the sin and fall of Adam and Eve, Gen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 3:1-6; Rom. 5:12-14 </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 15. All people have sinned in Adam and are therefore in need of</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> salvation Rom. 3:23. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 16. Jesus is the only way to escape the judgment of God Acts. 4:12; </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> John 14:6. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 17. The civil government is ordained by God and is God's provision for</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> order and safety in society Rom. 13:1-7; John 19:11. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 18. Christians are obligated to follow the laws of the land except where </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> they contradict the Bible Acts 5:29; 4:19. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> 19. Christians are commanded to preach the gospel to all the people in</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> the World Matt. 28:18-19; Ps. 22:17. </span></div>
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If we lose these foundatinal principles we will lose what has made this nation and its culture so special in the modern world. A Christian culture can only be maintained by the preaching of the gosple of Jesus Christ.<br />
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May the Lord enable us at Berean to continue to proclaim the unsearchable riches of that great gospel!!!<br />
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-31340006668332668322017-09-02T20:31:00.000-04:002017-09-02T20:31:24.191-04:00Wonderful Time In Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A Precious Brother in Christ</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a very enjoyable time in Zambia, Africa with Ronald Kalifungwa. The Lord is truly blessing these men and their churches with a moving of God's Spirit. The singing was amazing and the fellowship was sweet in Christ. Ronald and Conrad have planted 45 churches and they are spreading the doctrines of Grace and Reformed theology all over the continent for the glory of God. I came home from ministering there very refreshed and challenged. May the Lord of the harvest send forth His servants to labor for Him in these days of spreading confusion and doctrinal declension.</span></div>
Pastor Robert L. Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11852166118428531810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-21503550952591940422017-08-12T14:20:00.002-04:002017-08-12T14:20:22.515-04:00All Things Work Together For Good--Romans 8:28<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin-left: 38.2px; text-align: center; text-indent: -17.9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seven Ways That Demonstrate How God Brings Good Out Of All Our Sufferings</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">1. <b>God will use these “<i>things</i>” to get our attention.</b> “<i>All </i><b><i>things</i></b><i> work together for good…” </i>The “<i>All things</i>” in Romans 8:28 refer to the trials, sufferings and tragedies that often hit us in our lives and surprise us when we least expect it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">a. Let me explain, all of us occasionally pass through times of spiritual dryness and aridity of soul where we see our love for Christ cooled. We may become spiritually tired and exhausted and the word of God seems to lose its effect on our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">b. What shall we do at times like this? Superficial and shallow people simply inject another program into the church or create another busy activity that exhausts people who are already worn out and spiritually fatigued.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">c. God’s method is to get our attention through these “<i>things</i>” that Paul is mentioning. A true child of God knows when God is calling for his attention. These “<i>things</i>” bring us back to our senses, and help us to refocus and cause us to listen to the voice of God once more. David said in Psalms 119:67, “<i>Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word</i>.” David was drifting spiritually but then some affliction hit him and it brought him to his senses and he returned to the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">2. <b>God will use these “<i>things</i>” to develop patience,</b> godly character in our lives, and to mold us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. James tells us in James 1:2-3, “<i>My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience</i>.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">3. <b>God will use these “<i>things”</i> to teach us how to pray, to trust,</b> to walk with Him more faithfully. Dr. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “Christian people are generally at their best when in the furnace of affliction.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">4. <b>God may use these “<i>things</i>” to teach us humility.</b> Struggling, suffering people are not usually over confident and arrogant. They aren’t proud and self-sufficient thinking they can live without God or without His word and Spirit working in their lives. Humility dwells with those who are suffering and sorrowing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">5. <b>God will use these “<i>things</i>” to make us more tender, sympathetic</b>, and understanding of the hurts, bruises, and needs of others. “<i>Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God</i>” (II Corinthians 1:4). When we suffer we are able, from our own experiences, to comfort others. When we have gone through the fire we know how to help those who are passing through the flames of trial and tribulation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">6. <b>God will use these “<i>things” </i>to teach us deeper lessons </b>about His own person. We learn about His,</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">a.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Forgiveness</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">b.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Faithfulness (He doesn’t forsake us)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">c.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Omnipotence (as He keeps his promise)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">d.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Omnipresence (as He draws near to comfort)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">e.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tenderness</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">f.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Patience (bearing long with us in our failures)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">g.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Provision, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>God uses these “<i>things”</i> to prepare us for Heaven.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">a. So often we are earth bound, we do not have that joyful anticipation of the coming glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">b. But pain, suffering, sorrow and tragedy, etc. will develop a godly longing to be with Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">c. Perhaps your heartaches are preparing you to look up for your redemption is drawing nigh.</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-5542344346970139422017-06-01T22:27:00.003-04:002017-06-01T22:27:58.447-04:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Timothy Library</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span>If you were stranded on an Island or had to seclude yourself somewhere for an extensive period of time what books would you take with you? Here is a suggestion of some of the great books that have been a blessing to me over the years. There are several suggestions from my dear friend Dewi Higham. How many of these great books have you read? It would be a wise person who would note these books, purchase them, and then read them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Bible calls us to grow in grace. These books and others like them will be a great help to that end.</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">The Bible</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A hymn book</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matthew Poole's Commentary (2 vol.)</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pilgrim's Progress</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Calvin's Institutes (2 vol.)</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Romans Chapter 5 by Martyn Lloyd-Jones</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Precious Things Of God by Octavious Winslow</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spurgeon's New Park Street Pulpit Sermons, (4 vol.)</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Presence of God by Matthew Henry</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Biography of Elijah by A. W. Pink</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson</span></span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Great Preachers of Wales</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The man who will not read is not much better than the man who cannot read. Read and grow in grace!</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-87067229205890337632017-05-14T01:14:00.000-04:002017-05-14T01:14:20.813-04:00<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I came across this satire I wrote years ago when I was deeply concerned with the strange developments that were taking place in the Christian community regarding worship, evangelism and the </span>promotion<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> the Christian faith. I believe that what I wrote about back in the early </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">nineties still has a great deal of relevance for us today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">I am concerned that our culture has forgotten how to worship God and that many churches around the country and around the world are not taking serious their approach to the throne of God on the Lord's Day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">When we come to church on Sunday's let's not forget what we are doing when we gather for worship. Let us not forget in whose presence we gather. Let us not forget that the God we worship is a holy God who told Moses to take off his sandals before His presence for the place where he stood was holy ground. So let us come into the presence of God joyfully, with singing and praise, with our hearts on fire, longing to hear the Word of God and with the hope that times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">God bless you all and fill your hearts with His praise!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Yours in Christ,</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Satire On </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Contemporary Methods Of Church Growth</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">It was a dark and stormy night. Unable to sleep because of the turbulent weather outside, I slipped out of bed and quietly went to my study. With the flash of lightning casting eerie shadows on my library walls, I noticed on the shelves a curious-looking volume of Ancient Church History. Pulling the dusty book from off the shelf and opening it amid a creak of the binding, I came across a rare record of an early church meeting that was amazingly preserved in history. An archeologist visiting a monastery found some old scrolls that contained a dialogue of first century Christian pastors who lived in and near the city, Laodicea. Yes, the same city that Jesus warned about in the Apocalypse that it had become lukewarm, that it had become seduced by its' own wealth, numbers, and success. Jesus warned them, “<i>thou art wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked</i>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">This old book gave in detail the strategies devised by these pastors of the early churches (that were censured by Jesus as apostatizing) to evangelize their cities and to make the gospel more relevant to the unconverted around them. As I read their dialogues, this is what I discovered about first-century church growth by these backslidden churches.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator</b>: "Gentlemen, we have gathered here to discuss and to devise plans to facilitate greater evangelistic outreach to the teeming multitudes who seem uninterested in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have asked each of you to be present because of the unique gifts that you would bring to this discussion.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lucius<b> </b>- the Pastor of Laodicea. You are so well-liked by the community. As a matter of fact, we are pleased to hear that you have no enemies at all! Your popularity certainly will aid us in this discussion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Silas - the Pastor of Sardis. Your church is really alive with emotionalism, revivalism, and new contemporary innovations. Your keen insight into church growth will certainly shed light on how to have a healthy and living church.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Philip - the Pastor of Philadelphia. Philip, your church is relatively small. We thought you might wish to join us to learn how we've become successful in growing a big church.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">And finally, Epaphras - Pastor of Ephesus. Your involvement in so many committees, projects, and social causes, indicates your deep, deep love for Jesus. A man with such zeal and devotion to so many things will be a great asset to our discussion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gentlemen, here's our great concern. How can we make the gospel more appealing to the present culture that we minister to? "</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Silas -</b> "I have found that entertainment really helps draw a crowd. Offering free camel rides might attract families with little children. And if we can get the little ones to come, before you know it, you can catch the parents!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Epaphras</b> -“Ah yes, an excellent idea. It is much better than the idea used a few years back when many of our churches offered free chicken dinners and bagel burgers to attract crowds. The mess the chicken bones made on the Apian Way as people went home after church had the Romans all upset at us. And the wagons we sent into the cities to bring people to church didn't have much of an appeal to the wealthy and more affluent people around us."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Silas </b>- "Another idea I have had is to start a Greek drama group. You all know how Greeks love drama. Wouldn't this be appealing to greater numbers of people and make, our worship more relevant? We could dramatize the life of Jesus, and even use a dash of Greek comedy to spice it up a bit. "</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip</b> -"But did Paul or Jesus ever use this kind of approach?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator</b> - "It's not important to follow what Jesus and Paul did. Alter all, they faced a different situation. We must contextualize our message to meet the needs of today's young consumers. If Paul and Jesus were alive today, they certainly would agree with us that whatever works is right."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Epaphras,</b> "I've heard that a group in Rome has begun a ministry to gladiators. They are known as GLADIATORS FOR JESUS." Their motto is `We bash heads for the Master!"'</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Silas</b> - "Perhaps we could also start a group of contemporary worship dancers. Maybe we could call them `Diana's Dancers'. This would certainly appeal to all those who visit the temples. If we make our churches just like the world, people will feel non-threatened and will be more willing to visit with us. And once they learn how much fun it is to be a Christian, they may even believe in Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator </b>- "Yes, yes, excellent ideas. But we must also be `market sensitive' and `user friendly'. I've found that certain elements of old-fashioned preaching is just out of touch with modern Romans and Greeks. Don't preach, but just rap with people; have nice little chats and discussions. These things are much more appealing to the world and don't offend anyone. The talk host, Julius Leno in Rome, is an excellent example of how to communicate with modern Romans.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“And by the way, get rid of the coat and tie. The best way to identify with the young people today is to dress down and be casual. This makes you just like the average guy.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip</b>, “But didn't Jesus say that the gospel would offend people'? Didn't Paul say that the unconverted needed a work of grace in order to understand the mystery of the gospel?" Paul's exact words were, (I Corinthians 2:14) "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“And if we dress just like the young people who come to church are we not catering to their flesh and not setting a proper and biblical example?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lucius</b> - "I'm not sure what Paul meant by that statement. It was so long ago that Paul said that, way back in the 30's. And Paul was known for being theologically dry and irrelevant. We need a new strategy with new methods to `grow' successful churches here in the 90’s. And what’s wrong with dressing down? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip,</b> “I believe that if we dress respectfully we show our deep appreciation and reverence for holy things. I don’t see how dressing like we are going to the amphitheater is the same as coming into the presence of the Holy and living God of the universe. Does not the sacred Scripture remind us that the Old Testament Priests had special clothing that set them apart as the ministers of God? And even tradition teaches us that it has always been the custom of Gods servants to dress in a way that shows the dignity and the seriousness of the office of a man of God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator-</b> “Well let me add a few thoughts on this discussion. Remember we are trying to find ways to make our message more appealing to the world. Here are some dead-end topics that we ought to avoid in our preaching. In a recent survey here's what un-churched Herodius won't listen to:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 1. The fear of God</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. The need for repentance</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. The doctrine of man's total depravity</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. The absolute sovereignty of God in salvation </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">5. The inability of men to understand the gospel </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">6. The need for an imputed righteousness </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">7. The wrath of God</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">8. The Lordship of Christ, and so forth...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Silas</b> - "I'm not sure if I understand all of those theological topics anyway. The people coming to my church want to be told how to be happy, successful, and want to have fun in church.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator</b> -"Ah precisely. That's my point. Silas, you've built a fine, large and successful church without all that heavy, boring, theological stuff. If you don't understand all of this, how can you expect un-churched Herodius to understand it?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip</b>, “Gentleman, what you are saying is just not right. This is not the emphasis found in the Bible. Is not the Word of God our final authority for faith and practice? Yet you are making designs without consulting the Scriptures. Just because something works does not mean it is right.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lucius</b>, “Philip you are so out of touch. Keep that frame of mind and your little church will not only be irrelevant it will soon cease to exist.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip.</b> “Well, I would rather be faithful to God and to His Word than to have the kind of success you are talking about. I am living with my eyes on the throne of judgement. I want to hear the Lord say to me, ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator </b>- “Ok Philip, you made your point. Quit interrupting with your little quibbles. Gentlemen, what about worship? What new and relevant ideas can we devise?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Epaphras </b>- "I've discovered that Sunday meetings are not good times for worship. Greeks love their amusements. If they worship on Sunday, they feel they've wasted half the day. Saturday night sessions are much more acceptable to today's busy Roman-Boomer."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lucius </b>-"I've seen young people come from the Roman Academy to visit with us. These young people were bored with our teaching and found our music unappealing. But when we livened things up a little, when we used the same music they hear at the amphitheaters, they really got excited!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip </b>- "Maybe I'm just not getting it. What it sounds like you men are doing is accommodating your message to fit your crowd. It sounds like you're watering the gospel down to make it more appealing to those who are non-Christians. I don't think this is wise or biblical. Isn't this really what worldliness is all about?” The church is primarily about the worship of God. If we design our services to make people comfortable we have missed the main reason for coming into the presence of God in the first place.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Epaphras </b>- "Well maybe. But I've found that it helps the Holy Spirit, even makes His work easier, when I find out what people really want to hear and then I give it to them. This way the church grows much faster, and it's even more fun!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip </b>- "But isn't it the work of the Holy Spirit to open the eyes and hearts of people to see the truth, and to make men see their sinfulness and then to draw them to Christ?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator </b>- "Philip, don't be so pious. When your little church is flourishing like ours, then you can correct us, if you wish."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip </b>-"But Mr. Moderator, the size of my church does not necessarily reveal the blessing of God or the lack of it. Many cults have large followings. Does that mean they have the truth or have God's blessings? Even the Apostle Paul warned us that it is possible, as professing Christians, to accomplish much in the flesh. Shouldn't we test our results to see if what we're doing is truly pleasing to God? I happen to know many pastors preaching to large numbers of believers who haven't tried these methods or new ideas that you're suggesting. These men are being faithful in preaching the word, spending time in prayer, and are working hard at building a biblically based ministry. Shouldn't they be our model along with Jesus and Paul? I know that what I'm suggesting may take longer, but I believe it will be more lasting."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Epaphras</b> - "Philip, I know this all seems new and strange to you, but you've got to get with today's program. The traditional approach is not where the action is. Philip, the audience is sovereign. You’ve got to give `em what they want; you've got to study the demographics of Philadelphia and find out where the wealth is, where the itch is, and then you gotta scratch it!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip </b>- "But Epaphras, isn't it important to base our practices and procedures on the Word of God? If we make the audience sovereign, haven't we dethroned God? And I have always been of the conviction that we must seek to please God first, and that we Shouldn't worry about what the world thinks. If we are faithful, if we preach the truth Jesus promised, He will draw men to the gospel. So I'm not bothered if young Greeks or Romans find the message I preach irrelevant. Until God regenerates them and opens their eyes and hearts, they will always find the gospel irrelevant."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator </b>- "Oh Philip, that is so out of fashion. Your ideas will kill the Church. So many churches are dying for change. Philip, you've got to market your message. You've got to find out the hurts, the needs, the burdens of people, and then use humor, drama, stories, and clever techniques to draw people to your church to minister to them. You might even have to relocate your church, maybe more to the area where all the Roman-boomers are moving."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip</b>- "1'm not against change if the changes don't compromise the message or violate scriptural teachings and precedents. I'm just not convinced that what you all are saying really has "biblical" warrant to do the things you are suggesting. For example, shouldn't we be concerned about spiritual needs first before we try to address other needs? If all we do is run around meeting needs, maybe the greatest need of all will be neglected. And what about the geographical location of your new churches. You tell me "Go where the Roman-boomers are." What about the poor, the racial minorities in our towns, those who are not so attractive, educated and wealthy - what about them? Is the gospel just for this little segment of elitists called ‘Roman Boomers?’"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator </b>- "Well, I think we should adjourn this meeting. Philip, it's clear you don't appreciate what we're trying to do. Maybe we should meet next time without you being here."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philip </b>- "I'm sorry you all feel that way. But I'm determined to be a workman approved unto God. Your acceptance or rejection of me means very little. I'm living so that when I appear before God I'll hear him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Moderator</b> - "Gentlemen, this meeting is adjourned.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">This satire was designed to get us to think. To think about worship, about evangelism, about church growth. What did the early church do to reach people with the gospel? Here's a multiple choice test.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A. Dial 1-800-Campus-Roman Crusade.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">B. Ask a Jewish Marketing Consultant to advise them on how </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to sell Jesus to Jews.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">C. Develop user friendly synagogues.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">D. Just pray, trust God, live holy lives and preach the gospel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe that many of the current methods of church growth are tragically defective and misguided. I believe they are doctrinally unsound and are producing shallow converts that won't stand the test of time. Although the proponents of these new methods say they are aiming to reach the unchurched, they are, in fact, just drawing the disgruntled, dissatisfied members of other evangelical churches.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">In these churches that are using these modern techniques we must ask, “How many non-Christians (truly pagan) you have brought to Christ?” I think it will be seen that very few unchurched people will be found among them. The vast majority of their constituents will be professing believers that were drawn away from other evangelical churches.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe this whole movement is just another misguided fad that will eventually burn out, but not before it does great harm to the body of Christ by spreading confusion and division among Christians and filling churches with unsaved believers. As Daniel Rowlands, a great Welsh preacher once said, "<i>Wherever God builds a church, Satan is sure to build a chapel by its' side.</i>" The great lesson we should learn is this: whenever wrong methods based on incorrect theology are used to build the church, the true work of God is confused and hindered.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">May God grant a true revival and out-pouring of His Spirit that will bring His glory back to the church. When the presence and glory of God returns, so too will Spirit-filled preaching, reverent serious worship, and music that is worshipful instead of the shallow and emotional music of these contemporary churches. It will produce a generation of holy, dedicated believers who are lovers of God and lovers and worshippers of His Son, Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">It will be a revival based on the Scripture and the great doctrines that are expounded and taught by Jesus and His Apostles. Doctrine will no longer be viewed with suspicion and contempt. And the pure gospel of God's sovereign and justifying grace will be exalted and held in high esteem.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh that such a day would soon come. Amen!</span></span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-80858860198621268172017-03-09T10:24:00.000-05:002017-03-09T10:27:39.299-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">How To Behave In The </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">House Of God</span></div>
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Dear Berean Family, </div>
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I wrote a booklet recently while visiting in Arizona. I was contacted by a friend about a church that had recently gone very casual by the Pastor and leaders. I was so disturbed by what I heard that I began to study very hard and pray to see what the Word of God has to say about how those who preach in the pulpit should dress when in the Lord's house on Sunday. I am sharing the opening pages of this study. My prayer is that our church family would realize that the worship of God is the most important thing they can do. How we worship God reflects our heart attitude and our view of God Himself. I will make this entire booklet available soon. Please understand I am not advocating a dress code that will be policed by church officers!! I am just suggesting that those who serve in the church consider how they dress when they approach the throne of God in throne room worship. If the pastor and the leaders of a church set a high example the rest of the church will follow. God bless you all.</div>
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Pastor</div>
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Preface</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I am not expressing my conviction on casual dress out of jealousy of the successes and blessings of other pastors. I have always taught that true success in the ministry is being faithful to God and in proclaiming the whole counsel of His Word. Through the years I have seen fads, false doctrines, and movements come and go. What alarms me now is the adoption of casual worship that seems to have swept across all of Christendom in the West. I pray that what I have to say in these pages, will not come across as judgmental or condescending to those with whom I differ. I do not wish to cause any division or confusion for any church leaders or pastors. I am passionate about what I believe concerning biblical worship. I am convinced that what I hold to is biblically correct. Nor do I not desire to enter into endless debates with those who wish to argue a different opinion. If you read these pages and do not agree with me, you do not need to worry about what I think. We need to be concerned with what the God of the universe thinks about our beliefs and actions. At the end of the day, we each answer to the Lord. I do, however, ask you to pray about what I am saying here. I would ask you to avoid making a quick emotional response. I am asking that you read this carefully, slowly, and prayerfully and see if the Lord does not speak to your heart. Hear what I have to say on this subject of casual worship in the house of the Lord. Weigh all the evidence that I am going to share with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I am writing on behalf of many ministers, who like me, are dismayed at what they see in the churches across our land. I have seen young ministers, who preach at enormously large churches, dress down, appear casual and cool while at the same time bringing excellent messages. Does this justify how they dress? The answer is no. I believe the impact of their ministry would be deeper and richer if they gave serious thought as to what they are wearing in the pulpit is saying about them, about their God, and about what the world thinks of them. In the Old Testament God not only required His priests to dress appropriately He also made sure their priestly garments were designed in such a way to ensure their dignity and respect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To teach that ministers and the Lord’s people should dress appropriately for worship is not a popular thing to do. One person’s casual clothes may be another person’s dress up clothes. I am suggesting that pastors give this subject of how they dress in the pulpit and in church prayerful reflection. We all want our churches to be filled with the glory of God. We desire that our services will be characterized by the reverent spirit of God’s presence. Let us pray that the Lord will guide His people and give each pastor wisdom in leading his church in corporate worship in such a way that will not distract from the glory of God or hinder the message of the gospel. If all I accomplish here is to cause the Lord’s people to rethink this subject I trust it will be of some benefit to the glory of God in His church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Introduction</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the Christian church God’s people have always understood that how we worship God is of profound importance. There are, among the various segments of Christendom, great debates, discussions, and differences of opinions on how we should worship God. While other religions also have debates on how to worship, it seems that nothing has been comparable to the worship wars and confusion that is found within the Christian church. The question that I’m asking in this study is this, “<i>Does casual dress in our worship services by both the ministry and the laity, enhance or distract from biblical worship</i>? I believe the answer is “yes, casual dress hinders the worship of God.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To support my answer I want to appeal to four different sources of evidence that speak either directly or indirectly to this subject. The four areas of discussion will include, Scripture, Tradition, Common Sense and Cultural Compromise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I admit that I have personal preferences on this subject. Our answer to the question “<i>Does casual dress in our worship services by both the ministry and the laity, enhance or distract from biblical worship?</i>” must not be based on our prejudices and personal preferences. First, and foremost, we must be convinced and guided by the Word of God. Only after we have sought counsel from the Scriptures can we make appeals to church traditions, common sense and cultural compromise. But none of these other areas of argument can in any way conflict with the Word of God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The subject of casual dress in worship must not be confused with the trivializing of Christian worship by unbiblical innovations. While casual dress is a part of the problem of trivializing Christian worship it also stands alone as its own concern. A church might maintain proper forms for worship while allowing for casual dress in the worship service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To make people feel more comfortable in church many pastors are now wearing jeans, sport shirts, T-shirts, shorts, and other types of casual clothing when they preach. Many young pastors, and even some older ones as well, will be heard to say, “<i>You can come to our church dressed any way you like. We have no dress standards here.”</i> Is this really a biblical thing to say? Does this kind of thing help reach the unchurched? One Christian leader spoke directly to this subject and made a good case for rejecting casual dress for worship:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“I’ve always heard it explained that the purpose of casual dress in the church is to reach people and relate to them on their level. That sounds noble enough on the surface (and I’m all for reaching the lost), but follow that logic just a little deeper and there are big spiritual problems that are hard to reconcile. To start with, casual dress gives the impression that the things of God are neither serious nor holy. Those of us who are aware that people’s eternal destinies are at stake should consider the ministry of Christ too important to treat casually. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Many might argue that the reason they do dress down is because they are so concerned about the lost. I don’t doubt their sincerity, but again, the logic just doesn’t make sense. If I need a medical specialist, I am not turned off if he or she is dressed more formally than I. If I need a policeman, I don’t mind that he’s dressed up in a uniform. When receiving help from these professionals, it is actually a comfort to see them dressed in a way that shows they understand the importance of their place. I don’t need a person wearing what I am wearing just so he or she can relate to me. Why should the preacher or saint in a worship setting have to look like the sinner in order to reach them? I know Christians are trying to send the message, “Hey, we are all just like you,” but that is not our message, nor is it true. The sinner is not one of us, and the Holy Spirit is working throughout the service to show him that, so that when the opportunity is presented, he will become one of us. When we gear our worship exclusively toward the comfort of sinners (the popular but less scriptural phrase in our day is the un-churched), we are actually working against the convicting ministry of the Spirit. Let’s work on making God comfortable in our services, and we will have maximum effectiveness in preaching and demonstrating the good news of the love of Christ to the sinner.” </i><b>1</b><i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is it possible that we are compromising biblical standards to accommodate the world in which we live? If numbers matter most and Scripture matters least then the trend to dress down in worship and the promotion of a casual and relaxed worship service is certainly the right way to go. I’m not even addressing the content of our worship, the style of music, the place where we gather or the liturgy or lack of one. I’m just focusing on how we as pastors dress when we minister at church and what we expect when we open the doors for the Lord’s people to come and worship as well. I have been a pastor for well over 40 years. I have seen many trends come and go. I have also seen the collapse of western civilization and the departure of the glory of God from most of the West including the United States. In our desperate attempts to address the free fall of the church, the departure of God’s blessing, and the encroachment of many false religions in our land I have seen many ministers resort to new measures and ideas to try reverse the church’s descent into insignificance. So far, with all these new ideas, new theologies, and new philosophies on how to do church, I have not seen anything that has really worked. The crisis of a fading Christianity in the West has not been halted. One observer of the current trends in worship commented on what he saw as people came to church:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“They saunter into church in baggy shorts, flip-flop sandals, tennis shoes and grubby T-shirts. Some even slide into the pews carrying coffee in plastic foam containers as if they’re going to Starbucks. “It’s like some people decided to stop mowing the lawn and then decided to come to church,” “No one dresses up for church anymore.” </i><b>2</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span>One major exception to this quote is the black church in America. The black Christian community still regards Sunday worship as an important event and generally speaking they dress up for the occasion. </div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Those who promote and defend casual dress in worship will often cite that those who believe in dressing appropriately for worship are legalistic and judgmental to those who come to church casually. I have not found this to be true. I don’t know anyone who would be unkind to someone who came to church dressed in casual clothing. I have never heard of any pastor or church turning people away from the service because they were not dressed according to the expectations of the church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I believe that ministers who have adopted casual dress for worship have not helped the overall health or spirituality of the church. In fact, It is my contention that this trend, although well intentioned, has hurt the Christian cause more than it has helped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The church of the late 20th century and the first part of the 21st century will be widely known as a church that was casual, careless, compromised, comfortable, content, and carnal. When future generations look back on this period of church history they may well list among their main critiques of the church of this era, that it lacked a godly leadership that had the spiritual ability to discern between the holy and the profane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pastor’s who dress down on the Lord’s Day and parishioners who follow suit may seem like an insignificant issue in the light of so many other pressing concerns. However, this trend of casual dress in worship is a symptom of much deeper concerns. At the root of this popular trend are the following concerns:</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> Lack of discernment</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Compromise with worldliness</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Failure to recognize the real need of the sinner—regeneration—not a watered down version of Christianity and worship to entice him to come to church.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Failure to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Failure of the ministry to teach people how to behave in the house of God.</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Absence of the fear of God in our spiritual lives and churches</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">And finally, a defective understanding of ecclesiology. (This means that those who dress down for worship have a view of the church that sees worship as being casual. They fail to see that worship is ritualistic, liturgical, and highly formal. They also assume that because we are under the New Covenant we can do just about anything we want in worship.)</span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The real problem is not that dressing casual is sinful (It’s not), the real problem is to be able to discern that there is a time and a place to be casual. The worship service is not one of them. R.C. Sproul Jr. commented on casual dress for worship:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“It is the habit of my family to dress for church. I have, on more than one occasion, argued in print that we casually worship a casual god because we enter into his presence casually. I have suggested that on the Lord’s Day we should dress as if we were going to meet the King, because we are going to meet the King. I know, from experience, that it won’t take long for someone to point out the obvious, that God looks not at the outward, but at the heart.”</i><b>3</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I am not advocating for any specific dress codes for pastors and people. In the various Christian denominations there have always been standards of dress that were considered appropriate for ministers and laity alike. The orthodox priests have worn various types of religious garments that set them apart for their work and ministry. In many reformed churches the clergy have worn clerical robes. In most evangelical and independent churches a coat and tie or shirt and tie were considered respectful dress for the worship service. I am not suggesting a strict dress code that should be enforced by church officers. I believe that every pastor and church should determine what they consider to be appropriate and respectful dress for the worship service and then encourage that by example. By doing this they will reverse the terrible slide into a sloppy, careless, and casual approach to God that is becoming disgraceful and distracting to the true worship of God. As a reformed baptist minister I have always maintained a standard of wearing a suit and tie or a sport coat and tie for the official services of our church. I have required all those who preach in our pulpit to do the same. My personal reasons for this include the desire to be respectful to the office of a minister, to show to those who attend our services that we take worship seriously, and to demonstrate that we believe that how we approach God in worship truly matters. I have always believed that ministers who dress sloppy, casual or who walk around in public unkempt, dirty or smelly are a poor testimony to the world of our great Lord and His gospel. If God’s servants do not dress professionally while discharging their duties they will never garner the respect from the community in which they serve. If we do not take our ministries seriously why should anyone else take them seriously? I am challenging all pastors and churches to reconsider how they approach God in the worship service. It is my conviction that casual dress by pastors and ministers, along with the sloppy dress in the church service, is not helping us in our worship of the living God. Casual dress by pastors and people in the worship service is sadly a sign of the times. The church has been influenced by a casual and careless culture rather than influencing the culture itself.</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-20061517792943569482017-02-25T20:00:00.000-05:002017-02-25T20:00:26.074-05:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What Has Become Of Us?<br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">When I think back nostalgically on the halcyon days of my youth, I am deeply troubled and filled with a profound sadness at our current state of affairs. What has become of us as a nation, a culture, a country, and as a people?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I look around today and see the confusion, divisions, the hatred, the lawlessness, the anti-Christian bigotry, and the hypocrisy that has Western civilization in its death grip, I just stare at all of this in shock and ask, “What has become of us?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> People can't reason any more. Who would have thought that someone like Bernie Sanders </span>could<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> have gotten so many votes on the Democratic side? Who would have thought that Malcolm X would be extolled as a great leader and freedom fighter? Who would have thought that moral perversions would be considered main stream and to oppose these things make you the nut case? Who would have thought that if you were patriotic you would be viewed as a potential danger to society? Who would have thought that you could cry, "Islam is a religion of peace" and so many </span>would<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> believe it. One world order, one world currency, one world government, one world with no borders...This was at the root of </span>the<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Tower of Babel. </span>What<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> I really cannot understand is </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;">how so many Christians don't get this and still support causes that should make them ashamed. Problems are numerous on both sides of the political spectrum. But how can you not see that so many perverted and unbiblical positions are being championed by the left? If some Christians cannot support the right then fine, just don't support the left either. What ever happened to discernment? What ever happened to us?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I grew up on Sylvan Lake, a beautiful little village in southern Michigan. I lived the life of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. What a great place to grow up as a little boy; what an amazing time that was in our history. The guys I grew up with had two different beaches to swim at. We could go to any number of other docks on the lake to swim off, as well. I could kiss my mom goodbye after breakfast, fly out the door as a six or seven year old, hop on my bike and be gone most of the day… home for lunch and away I’d go again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We had no fear or even any thought of gang violence, drug pushers, or child predators in those days. We spent our time swimming, boating, water skiing, ice skating, and playing baseball, basketball, football and ice hockey. We had a community center on a little island connected by a bridge where we could play shuffle board, and table tennis.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My friends were your typical American kids. We were from all sorts of backgrounds— Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Chaldean— a true melting pot in America culture. We never locked our doors in those days; things weren’t stolen out of your yard. Respect for authority was fairly normal. It would not have occurred to us in the 1950’s to call the police any names, throw rocks at those we disagreed, with or yell down those with a different point of view.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I remember the first election that I got personally caught up with. It was the famous Kennedy—Nixon election. I remember people had strong views on these candidates, but there was a civility that accompanied our debates and discussions. What happened to those days?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I never thought I’d live to see the day that patriotism would be viewed as something to be ashamed of. Or that if you believed the Bible you were considered a relic from the dark ages. It never occurred to us in those special days of my youth to worry about what bathroom we should enter. Same-sex marriage was not a hot topic, and the music that made our parents a little nervous was the Four Seasons, The Beach Boys, Mo Town or those four guys with floppy hair singing, “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” What ever happened to us?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I see my friends posting pictures on Face Book of their past, pictures of their childhood, pictures of their fathers who served in the Korean war or World War II. If my Dad could be here now, he would not recognize our country. We have lost our innocence, moral foundation, and our spiritual connection with the generation that built this country. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">In those idyllic days of my youth, we were not brought up on fear. We were not taught to hate those with different opinions. Christian virtues and character ruled the day, even if you were not a practicing Christian. Now there is a bitter intolerance with anyone who dares disagree with you. The Progressives on the left act and speak as if their opinion is the only one that matters. If you dare differ with these folks, you are demonized as a racist, fascist, extremist, demagogue, or bigot. And boy do they love to paint those on the right as extremists and kooks. Look who's </span>calling<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> the kettle black! They leave little or no room for disagreement. What ever happened to us?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our nation was built on the foundation of Judeo—Christian values. When I was in sixth grade at Whitefield Elementary School on Orchard Lake Road in Pontiac, Michigan, we sang Christmas carols at our Christmas programs. It wasn’t considered politically incorrect to talk about Jesus. The Gideons came to our school each year and offered us a New Testament to those who wished to receive it. At Thanksgiving we learned how the Pilgrims worshipped, thanked God for their blessings, and celebrated with the Indians. Today such studies would land teachers out of a job. The Pilgrims are vilified as racists, who stole the land from the Indians. Christopher Columbus is viewed as a genocidal maniac, and on and on it goes. Revisionist history has made love of our country and our past something to be ashamed of. Our roots have been plucked up and our culture is being smothered by false guilt and is suffocating through self loathing. What has become of us?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If I wrote an auto-biography of my life, I would call it “Once Upon A Time On A Lake.” We enjoyed those peaceful, innocent days on Sylvan Lake. We could run over to our friends who lived on Hammond Lake, or Square Lake, or Pine Lake, or Upper and Lower Long Lake, Cass Lake or Huntington Lake. Just about everyone I knew either lived on a lake or knew someone who did.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As I grew up we had friends who were Black, Hispanic, Jewish, Arab, Chaldean—you name it and it was all a part of the melting pot called America. When we hit the 60’s, things began to change. How could a young teenager understand the early beginnings of a real culture war? I became a Christian in 1966. That event changed my life forever. It didn’t take me long to figure out that there were dark forces that were undermining everything in our culture that was Christian, modest, peaceable, pure and decent. The Weathermen, the Students-For-A-Democratic-Society, the Black Panthers, Jane Fonda, the anti-war movement, Tom Hayden and all other sorts of kooks and nuts hit the country like an atom bomb.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fast forward three or four decades and we see the full fruits and result of this culture war that has divided us, scared us, and threatens to unravel the very fabric of this amazing country that our forefathers gave us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I never dreamed I would see the day that so many ideas that are so contrary to the teachings of Jesus and His apostles would have such influence over the people and the nation that I love. This country is more divided than I have ever seen it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The O.J. Simpson trial revealed to me just how great the racial divide is in our country. I remember the day the verdict in his murder trial came in. I was at a drive-through at McDonalds, and the black girl who handed me my order made racial and condescending remarks about the trial. What shocked me about that trial was how quickly it became about black vs. white, about us vs. them. Somewhere along the line, we lost our sense of true justice and right and wrong. I heard black people say, “Even if O. J. is guilty, I’m glad he got off because it evens the score.” Evens the score? No nation can survive when such thinking has rotted out its core values. For me, this was not about race but about justice, truth, and doing what was right. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Today everything is about race. We had the first black president who recently left office, and he left our country more racially polarized than ever before. When a president honors, pampers, and encourages “Black Lives Matter,” we cannot hope for true biblical justice, unity, or racial harmony any time soon. And if you don’t support, “Black Lives Matter,” and “open borders,” and if you get nervous about swarms of Muslims entering your country, you are branded a racist, a bigot, and an Islamaphobe. Seriously?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have a deep love and respect for all races and all people. I believe all men were created in the image of God. Every person has value and life is to be respected and protected. That was the worldview I grew up in. Even if you were not a Christian, our culture reflected those Christian values that we cherished back then. But that is not the case any longer. Our parents and grandparents would overwhelmingly agree with me. My grandparents would be beyond shocked to think that we practice abortion and call it “women’s rights.” They would be shocked at the public discourse today. They would see the protests, vile speech, vulgar rap music, the hate- filled rhetoric directed at those who disagree with one’s political views as being disgraceful, disgusting and shameful. But then again, my grandparents weren’t brought up on political correctness, multiculturalism, anti-nationalism, or taught that their Christian heritage was bigoted and racist. What ever happened to us?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Does anyone who grew up in the 50’s and early 60’s really believe we are better off today? How can anyone seriously think that to have open borders is a good thing? Those of us who are concerned about the spread of Islam are not Islamophobic. To have a phobia is to be scared and frightened about something that does not exist. Just look at the history of this religion, and everywhere it goes it brings bloodshed, violence and chaos. The people who shout the loudest and stomp their feet the most vociferously about the so-called injustice that is being accorded to Muslims by our new president’s temporary ban on seven Muslim nations usually don’t have a clue about what they are talking about. What is wrong with temporarily stopping immigration from danger areas until we can come up with a just and safe plan to protect our nation from those coming in who may do us harm? Do these protesters really understand what the Quran, Sharia law, Islamic honor killings, female genital mutilation, Dhimmi laws and the sordid history of violence and terrorism of this religion is all about? We cannot afford to make any mistakes on this. If this temporary ban prevents just one person from coming and doing us harm, it would be worth it. Would our founding fathers or grandparents have thought it wise to open our border to millions of people who have an alien worldview, whose religion is also a political system of Sharia law, and whose ultimate goal is to bring the whole world into submission to Allah? Certainly not! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I certainly welcome anyone into our country who is fleeing persecution or is threatened because of their Christian faith. But to open our border to any and all regardless of their intentions makes no sense at all. If we have nothing in our culture worth keeping, if we have no history that is honorable and worth remembering, if we have no spiritual heritage worth preserving— then have at it. Open up the borders to all the third-world countries and lets become a third-world country ourselves and celebrate the values, life styles, and faith of all those who desire to eradicate our faith and culture. If I wanted to live in Beruit, Tehran, Istanbul, or Cairo, I’d move there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I saw the huge anti-Trump protests in Washington, D.C. after the election of President Trump, I said to myself, “What has become of us?” People were so filled with hate. They spoke of murder, violence, bombings and insurrection. They used the most filthy and vile speech unfit for any decent viewer, let alone our youth. (All of this to protest the things Donald Trump did in his past and some of his coarse statements made during his campaign run for president.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As a Christian, I don’t support any wicked thing Donald Trump has done. I call him to repentance for any speech or behavior that has broken the laws of God. But I do point out the blatant hypocrisy of these protesters. Where were they when President Clinton was impeached for his sexual predatory practices and the many women he groped, raped, and took advantage of? Where were they when Hillary Clinton and President Obama blamed the deaths of our ambassador in Libya on a video instead of on Islamic terrorism? Madonna cried out at the protest in Washington D.C., “I’m outraged.” Get serious! As a father of five children and thirteen grandchildren, I’ve been outraged at her filth and vulgar lifestyle for a long time. Any woman who attended that rally and protest, if she has even the tiniest amount of decency, should be absolutely ashamed. What has become of us?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I received an article written by a pastor entitled “How to Live Under an Unqualified President.” I agreed with most of what he said. The problem, however, is that based on that article nearly every president we have ever had would be unqualified to lead this nation. What has become of us?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I look back at my boyhood with nostalgic sadness. The great divide between those days and these days of my old age seems like an unfathomable gulf. The only bridge that can reconnect us with the values, convictions, faith and the hope we had in those days long ago is the bridge of God’s Word. Not until we are not ashamed to call ourselves Christians again, not until we are willing to walk with the Son of God and allow His gospel, His teachings, His laws and ethics to be our guide and our foundation will we be able to recover what we have lost. Not until people finally say to people like Madonna, “Just shut up! We’ve had enough of your vile and lewd behavior. We’ve had enough of your non-sense.” Not until we have people who are willing to embrace the absolutes of God’s holy law and repudiate the relativism of this Post-Modern generation will we see the recovery of all that we have lost.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I see the hatred, the division, the prejudice, the policies based on false guilt and name calling, I look back wistfully at the days of my youth and I ask myself, “What has become of us?”</span></span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-7751040503306580842016-09-30T11:53:00.002-04:002016-09-30T11:53:58.997-04:00The Doctrines of Grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUlfJVvdwNfNuXFR2eT7bqUOv0d6PCT6xwpIw9Nitnh1wQVimi_yzSxYAsMAkHE258l51eTsWUSX3i0HWpYzD3fpGZNGEhR91FGr5v5egBkUSBjHrJmTvo6l_eTwNrBf717dcVWDzlQ8/s1600/The+Doctrines+of+Grace+in+John-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUlfJVvdwNfNuXFR2eT7bqUOv0d6PCT6xwpIw9Nitnh1wQVimi_yzSxYAsMAkHE258l51eTsWUSX3i0HWpYzD3fpGZNGEhR91FGr5v5egBkUSBjHrJmTvo6l_eTwNrBf717dcVWDzlQ8/s320/The+Doctrines+of+Grace+in+John-2.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This book is from the larger book on the doctrines of grace. This is just one chapter from that book. I cannot even begin to say how precious these truths are to my soul. I did not find the Lord He found me. God's electing love is the reason any of us have a home in heaven. Praise be to God for the great things He has done.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">In John Chapter three we have the thrilling story of a Pharisee named Nicodemus who came at night to see Jesus. The text says,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. </i><b><i>2</i></b><i> This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." </i><b><i>3</i></b><i> Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." </i><b><i>4</i></b><i> Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" </i><b><i>5</i></b><i> Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. </i><b><i>6</i></b><i> That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. </i><b><i>7</i></b><i> Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' </i><b><i>8</i></b><i> The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit</i>."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why this man came at night is not told us, but we have a pretty good idea what might have influenced him to do so. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and and the Pharisees were highly respected religious leaders in Israel. Perhaps because of his position, he did not want to b e seen conversing with Jesus. In any case, It is very apparent that something disturbed this man and prompted his curiosity about Jesus. No doubt he saw some of the miracles that Jesus performed or heard about them from the many witnesses who saw them. Perhaps Nicodemus was struggling with the question, “Could this be the promised Messiah?” I think it is safe to conclude that Nicodemus was deeply stirred in his soul by the ministry of Christ. He may have been thinking, “If this man is the Messiah, how can we be right with God? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the text we see that Nicodemus makes a statement, <i>"Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” </i>He does not raise any questions. But Jesus, knowing the heart of all men read his mind and cut right to the chase with His response. Jesus answered the unasked question which He knew was disturbing the heart of this religious leader of Israel. Three times in this passage Jesus tells this man that he must be born again. This is puzzling to Nicodemus and he asks for clarification. “<i>Can a man who is grown go back into the womb of his mother to be born again?</i>” It is clear by his question that he is clueless as to what Jesus means by the spiritual work of God in the soul that we call the new birth. Jesus even rebukes him by asking, “<i>Are you a spiritual leader in Israel and do not know these things?</i>” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus then proceeds to explain the spiritual work of being born again by comparing it to natural birth. Just as a man is born physically, he must also be born spiritually. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. With solemn and serious words, Jesus warns Nicodemus that he must be born again. We know from reading the Scriptures that no one can go to heaven if they have not been born again. Just as John tells us in Chapter one that those who receive Christ have been born of God, so too in this text, John recounts the words of the Master to Nicodemus that we must be born again. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But in verse eight, John gives us a statement that Jesus made about the new birth that is matchless in its clarity. Jesus said, <i>“The wind blows where it wishes,and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”</i> What could be more clear than this verse? Jesus is telling Nicodemus that just as we cannot control the movements of the wind, or tell it to blow this way or that way, so it is with the new birth. The new birth is under the control of the Holy Spirit. There can and should be no ambiguity on this point. Jesus could not have said this in any other way to make it clearer. The new birth is not something we do; it is something God does through the Holy Spirit for us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Again, I repeat that if this were the only verse in the Bible that spoke of the nature of our salvation, it would be sufficient to convince us of the Doctrines of Grace. This verse tells us that the new birth, just like the wind, is under the total control of a sovereign God. There can be no debate about what Jesus told Nicodemus in this passage. Jesus told Nicodemus, “<i>You must be born again.</i>” And He clearly tells Nicodemus that the new birth is something God does for man, not something man does for God.</span></span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-61384956009587116502016-09-30T05:05:00.003-04:002017-05-14T01:18:07.008-04:00Here is an excellent article on how to plead with God for your soul. May the Lord bless you all as you seek His face.<br />
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead his promise,</b> Ezek 36:26,27. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." It is a free, gracious promise: cry to him to make good that word to you, seeing he has said, "Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them." ver. 37. Tell him, that now you are come to inquire, and request him to do it.</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead your own feebleness and inability to help yourselves;</b> this was the impotent man's plea at the pool of Bethesda, John 5:6,7 "When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?' 'Sir,' the invalid replied, 'I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.'" So say you, Lord, I have lain many years with this dead plagued heart, beside the open fountain of your blood; I am unable to move to it of myself; I have none to put me in: ordinances cannot do it; ministers cannot do it; you must put to your helping hand, or else the work will remain unperformed.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead his power, in a sense of your own weakness.</b> Do you feel the power and multitude of your corruptions within you? Say with Jehoshaphat, "Lord I have no might against this great company; neither know I what to do: but mine eyes are upon you." With you all things are possible. Though I may despair of help in myself and others; yet, you have forbid me to despair of help in you. You said, Let there be light, and there was light; therefore say, let there be faith, and it will immediately take place; for faith is your work and your gift: it is "the work of God that we believe: by grace we are saved, through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.”</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead your necessity, your extreme need of Christ and of faith in him</b>. O man, there is not a starving man that needs food so much as you need Christ: there is not a wounded man that needs a physician; a shipwrecked man that needs a plank; a dying man, with the death rattle in his throat, that needs breath so much, as you need Christ. O then, cry, "Give me Christ, or else I die." I may live without friends, without wealth, and honour, and pleasure; but I cannot live without Christ, and without faith. Plead his power; how easy it is for him to help, saying, as Psalm 80:1 "you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth!" It will cost you no more pain to work faith in me, than it does the sun to shine forth. Yea, he can more easily put forth his power and grace, than the sun can dart out its beams. It is no trouble nor loss to the sun to shine forth, so neither will it be to him, to show his power and mercy: a look, or a touch, will do it; since he can so easily do it. You may cry with hope; he will never miss an alms bestowed on a beggar, out of the ocean of his bounty. Nay, as the sun, the more it shines displays its glory the more; so will he gain glory by putting forth his power to help you.</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead his mercy, </b>and the freedom and extension of it. Plead the freedom of his mercy, that needs no motive, and expects no worth: it runs freely, so that the mountains cannot stop the current of it, no more than the rocks can stop the ebbing and flowing of the sea. Plead the extension of his mercy to others: he had compassion on men's bodies, that came to him for healing, and will he not have compassion upon souls, that come to him for life? Is not mercy the work that he delights in? The perfection of his nature, he takes pleasure to display.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead Christ's commission,</b> Isa. 61:1, that he came "to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Cry, Lord, here is a poor prisoner, a locked and bound up heart; here is employment for you. O loose and knock off my fetters, and bring my soul out of prison. O here is a naked sinner for you to cover, a wounded soul for you to cure, a lost sheep for you to seek and save; and was not this your errand? You came to seek and save that which was lost. And will you not find a lost sinner, that desires to seek you through your grace? Plead his commission under the broad seal of heaven; for, "Him has God the Father sealed." And plead the value of his blood, and merit of his righteousness: and upon that ground whereby all grace is purchased: plead for faith and grace to receive Jesus Christ the Lord.</span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thus I have laid before you some directions, in order to the receiving of Christ. O cry for grace to follow them, and put them in practice, so you may indeed close the bargain with him. O shall all these directions be lost, and Christ be still slighted and rejected! O friends, you cannot please God better, than by coming to Christ and embracing the offer of him; and you cannot please the devil better than by refusing the offer of Christ; and putting him off with delays, till you perish in your unbelief.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And now, after all that has been said, what are you resolved upon? Will you receive Christ or not? Our glorious Lord and Master has sent us to pose you man, woman, and demand whether you will receive him or not? O! what answer shall we return with? Must we go and say, that all this people, upon no terms, will receive him; none of them are for precious Christ? Oh! God forbid! shall he not see the travail of his soul, who travailed through all the armies of God's wrath for you, and gave his soul an offering for your sin? O give your soul to him, saying, Lord, in spite of the devil and of unbelief, through grace I will open my heart and arms to receive Christ! The Lord himself help you to receive him, and walk in him.</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-76145892572469823002016-09-30T05:05:00.002-04:002016-09-30T05:06:29.406-04:00Here is an excellent article on how to plead with God for your soul. May the Lord bless you all as you seek His face.<br />
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<div style="color: #04320d; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>What Sinners Should Plead with God</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">by Ralph Erskine</span></div>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead his promise,</b> Ezek 36:26,27. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." It is a free, gracious promise: cry to him to make good that word to you, seeing he has said, "Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them." ver. 37. Tell him, that now you are come to inquire, and request him to do it.</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead your own feebleness and inability to help yourselves;</b> this was the impotent man's plea at the pool of Bethesda, John 5:6,7 "When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?' 'Sir,' the invalid replied, 'I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.'" So say you, Lord, I have lain many years with this dead plagued heart, beside the open fountain of your blood; I am unable to move to it of myself; I have none to put me in: ordinances cannot do it; ministers cannot do it; you must put to your helping hand, or else the work will remain unperformed.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead his power, in a sense of your own weakness.</b> Do you feel the power and multitude of your corruptions within you? Say with Jehoshaphat, "Lord I have no might against this great company; neither know I what to do: but mine eyes are upon you." With you all things are possible. Though I may despair of help in myself and others; yet, you have forbid me to despair of help in you. You said, Let there be light, and there was light; therefore say, let there be faith, and it will immediately take place; for faith is your work and your gift: it is "the work of God that we believe: by grace we are saved, through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.”</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead your necessity, your extreme need of Christ and of faith in him</b>. O man, there is not a starving man that needs food so much as you need Christ: there is not a wounded man that needs a physician; a shipwrecked man that needs a plank; a dying man, with the death rattle in his throat, that needs breath so much, as you need Christ. O then, cry, "Give me Christ, or else I die." I may live without friends, without wealth, and honour, and pleasure; but I cannot live without Christ, and without faith. Plead his power; how easy it is for him to help, saying, as Psalm 80:1 "you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth!" It will cost you no more pain to work faith in me, than it does the sun to shine forth. Yea, he can more easily put forth his power and grace, than the sun can dart out its beams. It is no trouble nor loss to the sun to shine forth, so neither will it be to him, to show his power and mercy: a look, or a touch, will do it; since he can so easily do it. You may cry with hope; he will never miss an alms bestowed on a beggar, out of the ocean of his bounty. Nay, as the sun, the more it shines displays its glory the more; so will he gain glory by putting forth his power to help you.</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead his mercy, </b>and the freedom and extension of it. Plead the freedom of his mercy, that needs no motive, and expects no worth: it runs freely, so that the mountains cannot stop the current of it, no more than the rocks can stop the ebbing and flowing of the sea. Plead the extension of his mercy to others: he had compassion on men's bodies, that came to him for healing, and will he not have compassion upon souls, that come to him for life? Is not mercy the work that he delights in? The perfection of his nature, he takes pleasure to display.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Plead Christ's commission,</b> Isa. 61:1, that he came "to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Cry, Lord, here is a poor prisoner, a locked and bound up heart; here is employment for you. O loose and knock off my fetters, and bring my soul out of prison. O here is a naked sinner for you to cover, a wounded soul for you to cure, a lost sheep for you to seek and save; and was not this your errand? You came to seek and save that which was lost. And will you not find a lost sinner, that desires to seek you through your grace? Plead his commission under the broad seal of heaven; for, "Him has God the Father sealed." And plead the value of his blood, and merit of his righteousness: and upon that ground whereby all grace is purchased: plead for faith and grace to receive Jesus Christ the Lord.</span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thus I have laid before you some directions, in order to the receiving of Christ. O cry for grace to follow them, and put them in practice, so you may indeed close the bargain with him. O shall all these directions be lost, and Christ be still slighted and rejected! O friends, you cannot please God better, than by coming to Christ and embracing the offer of him; and you cannot please the devil better than by refusing the offer of Christ; and putting him off with delays, till you perish in your unbelief.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And now, after all that has been said, what are you resolved upon? Will you receive Christ or not? Our glorious Lord and Master has sent us to pose you man, woman, and demand whether you will receive him or not? O! what answer shall we return with? Must we go and say, that all this people, upon no terms, will receive him; none of them are for precious Christ? Oh! God forbid! shall he not see the travail of his soul, who travailed through all the armies of God's wrath for you, and gave his soul an offering for your sin? O give your soul to him, saying, Lord, in spite of the devil and of unbelief, through grace I will open my heart and arms to receive Christ! The Lord himself help you to receive him, and walk in him.</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-59768101724329668702016-09-05T19:58:00.000-04:002016-09-05T19:58:04.200-04:00The Holy Spirit's Work In Our Lives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasQQ5D5D_EeqNsbLnXqb9VqIYfD8pMA3pJn4M6ri-VdJnq8GUaDH8bbh-WFJ4jaqHNghfPdzJIjMF89PeyCQRzrS2f1tbzMJlVLqOM5x2OAfFGFqUygLot6CGhYaoezNNKp92RYv2k-k/s1600/front+cover+-+The+Foundations+of+Godly+Living+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasQQ5D5D_EeqNsbLnXqb9VqIYfD8pMA3pJn4M6ri-VdJnq8GUaDH8bbh-WFJ4jaqHNghfPdzJIjMF89PeyCQRzrS2f1tbzMJlVLqOM5x2OAfFGFqUygLot6CGhYaoezNNKp92RYv2k-k/s320/front+cover+-+The+Foundations+of+Godly+Living+2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This material on the Holy Spirit is from my book "The Foundations Of Godly Living."</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The Practical Implications of Being Filled </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">with the Holy Spirit</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will be conformed to the image of Christ, and we will develop personal godliness. I have been privileged to have known some of the most godly servants of the Lord over the years. Some of these men and women have been such outstanding Christians and have lived lives that are truly astonishing in their zeal and devotion to Christ. Some of these believers have had to overcome great hardships and handicaps, yet they lived in such a way as to be an amazing testimony and credit to the Lord they loved and adored. What was the secret behind their great devotion to Christ? I can say that without a doubt it has been their deep spirituality that came from the filling and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual people are like Christ. When the Holy Spirit is working in our lives, He goes to great lengths to conform us into the image and likeness of Christ. British scholar and author C. S. Lewis, in his book <i>Screw Tape Letters,</i> allows the Devil to make the point of how God is making His children replicas of Jesus Christ His Son. The Devil sarcastically says:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>“One must face the fact…an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself—creatures, whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own.”7</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One of the joys of my own life over the years has been at those times that I have been approached by people outside of the faith who asked me what was it that made me different? What was the secret or the reason for the joy in my life? How thrilling to tell them that the life they see in me is a result of my being born again and having been indwelled by God’s Holy Spirit. Every true Christian should be able to share similar stories of how their life touched the lives of others by their example of love and joy in Christ. If this has never happened to you-ask yourself, “why?”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The reason Paul commands his readers to be filled with the Spirit on a daily and continual basis is that we need God’s strength in order to live spiritual lives. No one is filled with joy, peace, love, kindness, etc. all the time. When we fail to obey this command, we can quickly slip back into the flesh and begin to live lives that are unspiritual. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">A life dominated by the flesh is a life that is doomed to destruction. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You remember what Paul said concerning those who practice the works of the flesh, “… <i>those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God</i>.” Galatians 5:21. Listen carefully, those who live in the flesh will die.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Two verses that speak to the need of living a spiritual life are Romans 15:13, and Psalm 42:1-2. Romans 15:13 says, “<i>Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.</i>” The Apostle Paul makes it clear to the church at Rome that joy, hope and peace come from the filling of the Holy Spirit. The Psalmist also gives us his testimony in Psalms 42:1-2, “<i>As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God When shall I come and appear before God</i>?” This spiritual longing for God comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Do you have such a longing for God? Would you describe your spiritual life as one of intense and passionate longing for the reality of God in your life? May you search you heart and see if these things are a reality in your life. If you have no passion for Christ in your life, you should consider whether or not you have really been born again.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Let me summarize the implications of the filling of the Holy Spirit. If we are filled with the Spirit and are under His control, we should be the best husbands, wives, friends, workers, citizens, and people that others ever meet. The Christian testimony of those who truly know the Lord is that they are characterized by these spiritual fruits that Paul mentions in Galatians 5:22-23. If our lives were characterized by love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control would not the world be amazed by the difference they would see in each of us? The fact that there is so little difference between the professing Christian and the person of the world who is not professing the Christian faith should alarm us. Pastors must realize that perhaps many of the people in their churches may be unsaved believers or they may be living very sub-par lives even though they profess to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ. In every generation the world needs to see a genuine and consistent Christian testimony from those who are followers of Jesus Christ. When Christian profession and Christian living do not measure up, the result will be a lack of credibility before the watching world. Each professing believer should grieve if they are a part of this problem. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Steps to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>F<b>irst,</b> what we need to do is realize that being filled with the Holy Spirit is a command. This is not just a suggestion. We are commanded to be filled by the Holy Spirit every day of our lives. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Second,</b> we must have a desire to live a holy and godly life. Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes, “<i>Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Third</b>, we need to humbly ask the Holy Spirit Who indwells us to fill us and take control of our lives. This means yielding to Him and allowing His presence to empower us. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you, to take control of your life, and to enable you to live a godly life. Romans 12:1-2 tells us, “<i>I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.</i>” C. H. Spurgeon had this to say about asking God to fill us with His Holy Spirit:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>“I want to remind you of those blessed words of the Master, "Every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" You see, there is a distinct promise to the children of God, that their heavenly Father will give them the Holy Spirit if they ask for His power; and that promise is made to be exceedingly strong by the instances joined to it. But he says, "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" He makes it a stronger case than that of an ordinary parent.”8</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Fourth</b>, yield your life moment by moment to the Lord and walk in the Spirit. Obedience to the commandments of God and a desire to live in holiness is essential to a Spirit-filled life.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Fifth</b>, you must confess any known sin in your life and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the desire and the power to live the Christian life. When you sin, immediately confess it to the Lord and yield to the Holy Spirit to enable you to walk with God. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Sixth</b>, and finally, you must receive the Spirit by faith. Jesus told His disciples that if we ask anything according to His will, He will grant it to us. We know it is the will of God that we are filled, controlled, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a godly life. Therefore, we can have full assurance that the Lord is delighted to grant us this filling with His Spirit, for this is His will for our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One Christian leader pleaded with his people to be filled with the Holy Spirit. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>“…be filled with the Spirit. Seek to be more and more under His blessed influence. Strive to have every thought, and word, and action, and habit, brought under obedience to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Grieve Him not by inconsistencies and conformity to the world. Quench Him not by trifling with little infirmities and small besetting sins. Seek rather to have Him ruling and reigning more completely over you every week that you live. Pray that you may yearly grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ. This is the way to do good to the world. An eminent Christian is a light-house—seen far and wide by others, and doing good to myriads, whom he never knows. This is the way to enjoy much inward comfort in this world, to have bright assurance in death, to leave broad evidences behind us, and at last to receive a great crown.”</i><b>9</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Let us all strive to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day of our lives. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is one of the foundational truths of godly living. Without the filling of the Holy Spirit, we cannot live a godly life.</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-14321520159742850622016-08-17T17:26:00.000-04:002016-08-17T17:28:12.433-04:00Robert Murray M'Cheyne of Dundee, Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">The life of Robert Murray M'Cheyne of Scotland is one of the most precious stories of a godly pastor who lived for the glory of God and who pursued holiness and likeness to Christ with a passion. Here are a number of his quotes that will give you a good sense of the heart of this man of God. You can get a free e-book on his life if you go to Amazon. The biography of M'Cheyne by Anrew Bonar is a superb read. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the more recent history of the Christian church there has not been a man so noted for personal holiness quite like the saintly Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne of Dundee, Scotland. When he died the secular papers said of this man that “Jesus has walked among us.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I want to share with you tonight some thoughts on this special man of God that I trust will be a blessing to all of you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Pray for me, that I may be made holier and wiser--less like myself, and more like my heavenly Master; that I may not regard my life, if so be I may finish my course with joy. This day eleven years ago, I lost my loved and loving brother, and began to seek a Brother who cannot die."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Read part of the life of Jonathan Edwards. How feeble does my spark of Christianity appear beside such a sun! But even his was a borrowed light, and the same source is still open to enlighten me."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"If nothing else will do to sever me from my sins, Lord, send me such sore and trying calamities as shall awake me from earthly slumbers. It must always be best to be alive to thee, whatever be the quickening instrument."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Life itself is vanishing fast. Make haste for eternity."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do everything in earnest--if it is worth doing, then do it with all your might. Above all, keep much in the presence of God. Never see the face of man till you have seen his face who is our Life, our All."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Take heed to thyself. Your own soul is your first and greatest care."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Keep up close communion with God. Study likeness to him in all things..."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I know well that when Christ is nearest, Satan also is busiest."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I feel there are two things it is impossible to desire with sufficient ardour--personal holiness, and the honour of Christ in the salvation of souls."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God."</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Live near to God, and so all things will appear to you little in comparison with eternal realities."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Even those that are most deeply concerned about their souls do not see the millionth part of the blackness of their hearts and lives."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Every wave of trouble has been wafting you to the sunny shores of a sinless eternity."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"..<b>.do not think any sin trivial; remember it will have everlasting consequences."</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Go on, dear brother; but an inch of time remains, and then eternal ages roll on for ever--but an inch on which we can stand and preach the way of salvation to a perishing world."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"One smile from Jesus sustains my soul amid all the storms and frowns of this passing world. Pray to know Jesus better."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do not fear the face of man. Remember how small their anger will appear in eternity."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">~Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-1843),</span></span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-49309659805757768642016-08-12T13:27:00.005-04:002016-08-12T13:42:18.819-04:00<div style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #424347; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4840769976858192920.post-65076788473269581022016-08-12T13:27:00.004-04:002016-08-12T20:08:19.048-04:00<div style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #424347; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKT4CLWs4vTK7CFJWY71SbbVRUnfKK_-cK85Klax8ZVCFu1gfgmGdc1aDnX7h2LBPolvgxiYja5r8m22Va1nYW3_qhTl1oB35VeUNllldt-nv7F_6o0I1Uswq9qeI2fNGv0HmQkfVnLw/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKT4CLWs4vTK7CFJWY71SbbVRUnfKK_-cK85Klax8ZVCFu1gfgmGdc1aDnX7h2LBPolvgxiYja5r8m22Va1nYW3_qhTl1oB35VeUNllldt-nv7F_6o0I1Uswq9qeI2fNGv0HmQkfVnLw/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #424347; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"<i>Rivers of Water run </i></span><i><span style="font-size: 20px;">down</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> from my eyes, because men do not keep </span></i><span style="font-size: 20px;"><i>Your law.</i>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #424347; font-family: "verdana";">Psalm 119:136</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmwV5noE1sr_9WUfnVu3eh6XGlV9bgOVmZj3_RPiuLtOz0JoWxe0OofWJtU3HXM-v3wQ8JUCgErPGUn2UnmarAKVTQX-4fDzDsKcT12_I1zgt9IcSBy7G8z75BB2G_-igSYQV4_mIjso/s1600/ten_commandments.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmwV5noE1sr_9WUfnVu3eh6XGlV9bgOVmZj3_RPiuLtOz0JoWxe0OofWJtU3HXM-v3wQ8JUCgErPGUn2UnmarAKVTQX-4fDzDsKcT12_I1zgt9IcSBy7G8z75BB2G_-igSYQV4_mIjso/s320/ten_commandments.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #424347; font-family: "verdana";"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you know the Ten Commandments? The </span>problem<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> with modern day America is that most people do not know these commandments. Because of this, there is no fear of God before the eyes of millions of our fellow citizens. Before the gospel will be loved, cherished, and </span>received,<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> there must be a </span>knowledge of sin.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #424347; font-family: "verdana";">Today, God's laws have been replaced with the laws of secular man. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The Ten Commandments Of Humanism</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And Secularism</span></div>
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<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt have no other god but the government.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt not take the name of the government in vain.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt believe everything the news tells you.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt not be negative.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt not offend anyone.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt not be critical of other religions.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt not impose thy views on others.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt keep thy faith out of the public square.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt fear man.</span></li>
<li style="color: #424347; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thou shalt not count the cost of serving Jesus.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #424347; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: medium;">"<i>And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them saying, 'Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!; But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather them men.'</i>" Acts 5:27-28.</span></div>
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Robert Dickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755152563970035400noreply@blogger.com0