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KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
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Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
[size=40][size=40]'Lord, Grant Me Divine Communion'[/size][/size]
Ezekiel 33:22 wrote:Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me the evening before . . .
But the hand of the Lord may also be felt in another manner, strengthening the soul and lifting the spirit upward toward eternal things. O that I may in this sense feel the Lord dealing with me! A sense of the divine presence and indwelling bears the soul toward heaven as upon the wings of eagles.
At such times we are full to the brim with spiritual joy, and forget the cares and sorrows of earth; the invisible is near, and the visible loses its power over us. Servant-body waits at the foot of the hill, and the master-spirit worships upon the summit in the presence of the Lord. O that a hallowed season of divine communion may be granted to me this evening! The Lord knows that I need it very greatly.
My graces languish, my corruptions rage, my faith is weak, my devotion is cold; all these are reasons why His healing hand should be laid upon me. His hand can cool the heat of my burning brow and calm the turmoil of my palpitating heart. That glorious right hand that molded the world can renew my mind; the unwearied hand that bears the earth's huge pillars can sustain my spirit; the loving hand that encloses all the saints can cherish me; and the mighty hand that breaks in pieces the enemy can subdue my sins.
Why should I not feel that hand touching me this evening? Come, my soul, address God with the potent plea that Jesus' hands were pierced for your redemption, and you shall surely feel that same hand upon you that once touched Daniel and set him upon his knees that he might see visions of God.
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
[size=16][size=48]My Manna[/size]
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9.
Sometimes, even believers have trouble remembering their purpose in life.
In the busyness of our day-to-day activities-
- it is rather easy to forget how wonderfully and purposefully designed we are in the eyes of our Creator.
Yet 1 Peter 2:9-10 brings our focus back to God, showing us that He made us to be-
1. A chosen race.
You did not have to fight for a place in the house of the Lord.
Instead, He chose you.
The God of the universe actively sought you out because He wanted an unending relationship with you.
You were selected by God Himself!
2. A royal priesthood.
In the days of the Old Testament, a king could not be a priest, and a priest could not be a king.
The two offices were separate and distinct.
However, in Christ, God has called every believer into a new category.
We are now sons and daughters of the King, and we have unrestricted, intimate access to almighty God.
We are royal priests.
3. A holy nation.
The word holy simply means “set apart.”
The Holy Spirit has sealed all believers as children of God. Eph. 4:30.
And nothing can ever dissolve their relationship with the Father.
4. God’s own possession.
Do you realize how valuable you are to the heavenly Father?
You are worth so much to Him that He purchased your eternal salvation at great cost:
the life of His only Son. 1 Cor. 6:20.
Nothing about you takes our omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God by surprise.
He made you to be His representative in the world and therefore knows you completely.
Does your life reflect your God-given position?
[/size]
[size=30][size=30] The Wednesday Word[/size]
Can God Use You?
[/size]
[size]
A great warrior was once painted with his hand resting on his face, as if in contemplation. But the real purpose was to hide an ugly scar on his cheek.
The German emperor, Wilhelm II, was photographed and painted standing in such a position that his withered arm would not appear.
We all try, to some extent, to disguise our imperfections. However, in the Bible, people are presented just as they are. No scar of deformed character, however hideous, seems to ever be covered up.
This tells us, among other things, that Christ is building His kingdom with broken and flawed people. By contrast, in building their kingdoms, men of this world want only the strong, the successful and the slick. But God is not like that. When choosing His workmen, Christ demonstrates that He is the God of the unsuccessful and the imperfect. He is the God of those who have failed.
The truth is, our strength lies neither in ourselves nor our perfections but in our message. Christ is perfect, the gospel is finished, and it is in the proclamation of this message of Christ crucified that we have power in our ministry (Romans 1:16).
He is the God of the flawed, the defective and the damaged.
Take for example;
Moses was a stammerer.
John Mark was a reject who was sent home by Paul.
Timothy had constant stomach problems.
Amos' only training was in how to trim and prune fig trees.
Jacob was a liar.
David had an affair.
Abraham was too old.
David was too young..
Peter was afraid of a servant girl.
Lazarus was dead.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a murderer.
And so was Moses.
Jonah ran from God..
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah took cold feet and ran away.
Martha was always worrying.
Mary may have been lazy.
Noah got drunk.
Moses was hot-tempered.
We are not an impressive lot, but Jesus is an impressive Saviour. He is superb in who He is and in all that He does. Consider this, He does not usually choose the mighty! ”For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1 Corinthians 1:26).
The committed Christian, Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (1707-1791) a mighty English noblewoman said of this scripture, “Blessed be God, it does not say “any mighty,” “any noble”; it says, “many mighty,” “many noble.”
She then concluded, “I owe my salvation to the letter “m.”
But back to the main point, the truth is, we are so flawed that each one of us is unworthy to be called into the service of the Lord Jesus. Get used to it, but also know that there is no bruised reed whom Christ cannot restore and heal. Not one of His people has gone beyond His grace. Not one of us is useless.
Is there anything more useless than a piece of bone from a dead donkey? Listen to this. There was once an old, exhausted donkey which just lay down and died. Along came the vultures, foxes and carnivores and picked off chunks of flesh from the dead beast and left it, a skeleton scorching in the flaming sun. Let me ask you, how can God use that donkey? It’s useless.
Then along came Samson and gives us the answer. He needed a weapon with which to destroy God’s enemies. He looked around and found…the dried-up jawbone of that old animal. And with that seemingly useless and worthless jawbone, he slew a thousand Philistines (see Judges 15:11–17).
Too many people have told you that you are useless, and that God has finished with you.. Oh, and yes, that quiet, accusing, inward voice has continually endorsed that sentiment. But God doesn’t go down to Perfect Street to choose his material. God can and does use the unusable. Have you failed the Lord in the past? Take it to Jesus, confess your sins and then move on with life. You are made righteous by the blood of the lamb! (see Romans 5:9; Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:7; Romans 3:25).
If God can use the dead, dried jawbone of an old donkey, He can use you, and He can use me.
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
[/size]
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9.
Sometimes, even believers have trouble remembering their purpose in life.
In the busyness of our day-to-day activities-
- it is rather easy to forget how wonderfully and purposefully designed we are in the eyes of our Creator.
Yet 1 Peter 2:9-10 brings our focus back to God, showing us that He made us to be-
1. A chosen race.
You did not have to fight for a place in the house of the Lord.
Instead, He chose you.
The God of the universe actively sought you out because He wanted an unending relationship with you.
You were selected by God Himself!
2. A royal priesthood.
In the days of the Old Testament, a king could not be a priest, and a priest could not be a king.
The two offices were separate and distinct.
However, in Christ, God has called every believer into a new category.
We are now sons and daughters of the King, and we have unrestricted, intimate access to almighty God.
We are royal priests.
3. A holy nation.
The word holy simply means “set apart.”
The Holy Spirit has sealed all believers as children of God. Eph. 4:30.
And nothing can ever dissolve their relationship with the Father.
4. God’s own possession.
Do you realize how valuable you are to the heavenly Father?
You are worth so much to Him that He purchased your eternal salvation at great cost:
the life of His only Son. 1 Cor. 6:20.
Nothing about you takes our omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God by surprise.
He made you to be His representative in the world and therefore knows you completely.
Does your life reflect your God-given position?
[/size]
[size=30][size=30] The Wednesday Word[/size]
Can God Use You?
[/size]
D.G. Miles McKee
A great warrior was once painted with his hand resting on his face, as if in contemplation. But the real purpose was to hide an ugly scar on his cheek.
The German emperor, Wilhelm II, was photographed and painted standing in such a position that his withered arm would not appear.
We all try, to some extent, to disguise our imperfections. However, in the Bible, people are presented just as they are. No scar of deformed character, however hideous, seems to ever be covered up.
This tells us, among other things, that Christ is building His kingdom with broken and flawed people. By contrast, in building their kingdoms, men of this world want only the strong, the successful and the slick. But God is not like that. When choosing His workmen, Christ demonstrates that He is the God of the unsuccessful and the imperfect. He is the God of those who have failed.
The truth is, our strength lies neither in ourselves nor our perfections but in our message. Christ is perfect, the gospel is finished, and it is in the proclamation of this message of Christ crucified that we have power in our ministry (Romans 1:16).
He is the God of the flawed, the defective and the damaged.
Take for example;
Moses was a stammerer.
John Mark was a reject who was sent home by Paul.
Timothy had constant stomach problems.
Amos' only training was in how to trim and prune fig trees.
Jacob was a liar.
David had an affair.
Abraham was too old.
David was too young..
Peter was afraid of a servant girl.
Lazarus was dead.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a murderer.
And so was Moses.
Jonah ran from God..
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah took cold feet and ran away.
Martha was always worrying.
Mary may have been lazy.
Noah got drunk.
Moses was hot-tempered.
We are not an impressive lot, but Jesus is an impressive Saviour. He is superb in who He is and in all that He does. Consider this, He does not usually choose the mighty! ”For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1 Corinthians 1:26).
The committed Christian, Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (1707-1791) a mighty English noblewoman said of this scripture, “Blessed be God, it does not say “any mighty,” “any noble”; it says, “many mighty,” “many noble.”
She then concluded, “I owe my salvation to the letter “m.”
But back to the main point, the truth is, we are so flawed that each one of us is unworthy to be called into the service of the Lord Jesus. Get used to it, but also know that there is no bruised reed whom Christ cannot restore and heal. Not one of His people has gone beyond His grace. Not one of us is useless.
Is there anything more useless than a piece of bone from a dead donkey? Listen to this. There was once an old, exhausted donkey which just lay down and died. Along came the vultures, foxes and carnivores and picked off chunks of flesh from the dead beast and left it, a skeleton scorching in the flaming sun. Let me ask you, how can God use that donkey? It’s useless.
Then along came Samson and gives us the answer. He needed a weapon with which to destroy God’s enemies. He looked around and found…the dried-up jawbone of that old animal. And with that seemingly useless and worthless jawbone, he slew a thousand Philistines (see Judges 15:11–17).
Too many people have told you that you are useless, and that God has finished with you.. Oh, and yes, that quiet, accusing, inward voice has continually endorsed that sentiment. But God doesn’t go down to Perfect Street to choose his material. God can and does use the unusable. Have you failed the Lord in the past? Take it to Jesus, confess your sins and then move on with life. You are made righteous by the blood of the lamb! (see Romans 5:9; Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:7; Romans 3:25).
If God can use the dead, dried jawbone of an old donkey, He can use you, and He can use me.
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
[/size]
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
GREAT QUOTES of ENCOURAGEMENT
"This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will
we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are
but a vapor and we have to make it count. We´re on. Direct us,
Lord, and get us on our feet." - Beth Moore
"Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at
things in life that don´t really matter." - Francis Chan
"If God is your partner, make your plans BIG!" - D.L. Moody
"Remember who you are. Don´t compromise for anyone, for any
reason. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live that truth."
- Lysa Terkeurst
"Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it
for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of
every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was
once foolishness to us-a crucified God-must become our
wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world."
- John Piper
"God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His
promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself."
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of
deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in
my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'"
- Billy Graham
"There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God."
- Alistair Begg
"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations." - Chuck Swindoll
"God´s work done in God´s way will never lack God´s supplies."
- Hudson Taylor
First place!
"He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:37.
If Jesus has ever made a scary statement-
- one that causes me to examine my heart to its very core, it has to be Matthew 10:37.
Read the scripture referenced above again.
Now that is a stunning statement, one that challenges me to fully comprehend.
That is because I love my wife.
I love my children.
I love my grandchildren and parents and siblings.
I even love my in-laws.
Because of my deep love for my family, Jesus' statement makes me very uncomfortable.
In fact, it terrifies me.
Similar to God's statement to Abraham-
Jesus is saying that when it comes to our family members,
Christ must be in first place,
- or else He will be in no place at all when it comes to our lives.
As hard as that is to take in-
Christ wants to make it clear that if we want to follow Christ, He must be first.
The fact is that if we love anyone (or anything) more than Jesus, we are not worthy of Him.
And if that's not tough enough-
He goes on and says that we must love Him more than we love our own life itself.
Jesus sets up high expectations for His followers.
Am I willing to meet His expectations?
I am, as tough as it is.
"This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will
we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are
but a vapor and we have to make it count. We´re on. Direct us,
Lord, and get us on our feet." - Beth Moore
"Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at
things in life that don´t really matter." - Francis Chan
"If God is your partner, make your plans BIG!" - D.L. Moody
"Remember who you are. Don´t compromise for anyone, for any
reason. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live that truth."
- Lysa Terkeurst
"Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it
for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of
every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was
once foolishness to us-a crucified God-must become our
wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world."
- John Piper
"God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His
promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself."
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of
deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in
my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'"
- Billy Graham
"There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God."
- Alistair Begg
"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations." - Chuck Swindoll
"God´s work done in God´s way will never lack God´s supplies."
- Hudson Taylor
First place!
"He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:37.
If Jesus has ever made a scary statement-
- one that causes me to examine my heart to its very core, it has to be Matthew 10:37.
Read the scripture referenced above again.
Now that is a stunning statement, one that challenges me to fully comprehend.
That is because I love my wife.
I love my children.
I love my grandchildren and parents and siblings.
I even love my in-laws.
Because of my deep love for my family, Jesus' statement makes me very uncomfortable.
In fact, it terrifies me.
Similar to God's statement to Abraham-
Jesus is saying that when it comes to our family members,
Christ must be in first place,
- or else He will be in no place at all when it comes to our lives.
As hard as that is to take in-
Christ wants to make it clear that if we want to follow Christ, He must be first.
The fact is that if we love anyone (or anything) more than Jesus, we are not worthy of Him.
And if that's not tough enough-
He goes on and says that we must love Him more than we love our own life itself.
Jesus sets up high expectations for His followers.
Am I willing to meet His expectations?
I am, as tough as it is.
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links I remove, but items that are in bold print, usually were linked, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to the devotion online)
Life, like nature, unfolds in seasons. Springtime mirrors childhood, full of new beginnings, and fresh hope, a time of innocence and discovery. Summer, like our teen years, simmers with white-hot passion and the illusion of invincibility. Autumn speaks of maturity, with its rich kaleidoscope of brilliant colors and settled calm. Finally, winter sneaks up and covers the ground with a blanket of white just as age brings a covering of settled rest and quiet contemplation.
As this fall season approaches, I find myself delighting in the autumn of my life - old enough to appreciate my blessings and young enough to engage them wholeheartedly. I find that I’ve come to a place of prominence just as my mother and grandmother did before me. I relish my new place and the responsibility that comes with it to set the tone for my family, celebrate our differences and speak blessing over each beloved family member.
I also appreciate my role in fostering our family bond. Let’s face it, family gatherings can be stressful due to differences of opinion, opposing political views, an unending to-do list, and all the traveling our modern families have to do to see each other. Therefore, I’m happy to prayerfully serve as peacemaker.
So before this busy fall season begins, I ask that you join me as we lift up our families (in all their messiness) to our heavenly Father, who loves us all and is the author of our peace. Won’t you pray with me now?
Dear Father, in Your beautiful book of Psalms, chapter 103 and verse 17, You give us this wonderful promise, “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.” What better promise could we receive from You in the autumn of our lives than to see our children and children’s children blessed with Your love and righteousness? We ask for Your hand of blessing on us as well. Bless us with strength to be there for those we love, and wisdom to know what to say to bring comfort, encouragement, and sometimes difficult truth. We will need Your patience as we wait for Your perfect will and way in each of our loved one’s lives. We are so grateful, Lord God. Amen.
Dear Lord, bless us with the strength and words to be there for those we love.
DAILY PRAYER
Lord we Thank and Praise you for all you do each day to guide, protect, provide, and answer every petition as they make their needs, wants, and the desires of their hearts known to you.
Lord please bless, keep, guide, and provide each person this message reaches. Throughout each day, bless them with perfect health, healing, and the abundant supply to fulfill all they need, want or desire. Keep each of them safe and secure, no matter the weather, temperatures, or other circumstances that should try to cause their body, mind or our spirits to be tried and tested! Guide each of them as they pray, ask, and require. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20 ; Luke 1:1-4; Luke 18:1-8 ; Colossians 1:9-23; Romans 8:26-30)
Dear Lord in sharing the words of prayers and words of wisdom from history, I hope to encourage all my readers of these messages, to show that we are not experiencing anything that others have not, and to show that you always provide. Let the readers also reflect on the time and circumstances of these prayers and words of wisdom, so they may draw strength and insight from them.
God knows us through and through. Not the most secret thought, which we most hide from ourselves, is hidden from him. As then we come to know ourselves through and through, we come to see ourselves more as God sees us, and then we catch some little glimpse of his designs with us, how each ordering of his providence, each check to our desires, each failure of our hopes, is just fitted for us, and for something in our own spiritual state, which others know not of, and which, till then, we knew not. Until we come to this knowledge, we must take all in faith, believing, though we know not, the goodness of God toward us.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
Have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous day in the Lord today!
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links I remove, but items that are in bold print, usually were linked, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to the devotion online)
“You’re so busy!” was a phrase I heard often. Each time someone said it, usually accompanied by a little nervous laughter, my smile would falter for a moment before I replied. I realized that I must have been wearing stress like a badge of honor.
When I walked into a room, I’d be huffing and puffing, rolling my eyes at the circus act that it took to bring three kids anywhere. It’s usually a sweaty mess because there are three bags to carry, three carseats to unbuckle, three jackets to zip kids into, six shoes to Velcro or tie, a double stroller to set up, and one mom juggling it all. But I was no different than any other mom of tiny children, and most of my friends seemed much calmer when arriving.
I’d hustle us from home to preschool to drive-thru to home, and from task to task to task once we were at home. Our days didn’t include more than part-time preschool, kindergarten, and church, but it was more than enough once we added in meals, snacks, laundry, vacuuming up dog hair, getting people dressed, packing lunches, work, and all the other daily items that cropped up.
I realized that if we continued to set a precedent of hustling and hurrying and rushing through our days, it wouldn’t set us up for success; instead, it would destroy us.
My to-do list was owning my heart. I was happy with the amount that I’d accomplish, yet I still felt like I hadn’t quite completed enough because of the tasks remaining. Often left on that list were my own well-being (like many women, I put myself last), cooking good meals (I wasn’t taking the time to make any kind of plan), and feeling like I hadn’t spent enough time truly being with my kids. That list of leftovers was giving me anxiety, overshadowing any peace from the items I’d actually checked off.
I was stretching like Mrs. Incredible — except real people aren’t made from elastic, and when stretched too thin, we snap. It had been months since I’d lived out my calmest scene — a steaming cup of cinnamon tea, my trusty old armchair, and a good book in my hands — because it felt self-indulgent. There was always more to accomplish; refreshing my heart wasn’t high on the to-do list.
I’d begun sacrificing the holiness of ordinary, everyday moments for hustled minutes, and I was not ok with that. I realized that slow is holy, that everything holy and ancient and worthwhile is slow.
Cooking real food.
Cleaning well.
Growing babies.
Planting a garden.
Changes of season.
Changes of heart.
All holy. All ancient. All worthwhile. All slow. Not a single one of them is something that can be hurried through.
This is no accident. God has not called us to rush and hurry and hustle through our days. He’s called us to be still, in so many words, in so many Scriptures:
Psalm 23 promises that He will lead us beside still waters and faithfully restore our souls.
Psalm 46:10 implores us to be still and to know that He alone is God.
Exodus 14:14 declares that if we are still, He will fight for us.
1 Samuel 12:16 bids us to stand still so we can see what He’s going to do.
Psalm 37:7 reminds us to be still and wait patiently for Him, even as others seem to be succeeding and moving ahead of us.
Since having these realizations, I’ve extracted myself from the hurried life I was living (and forcing onto my family). I’ve cleared space on the calendar, making room for friends and family and grace. When feasible, I’m writing fewer to-dos on my task list. I’m reconciling my desire for a badge of honor in busyness with what God says is honorable. That’s what I’m aiming for these days. I’m drinking more water and eating good food, bumping myself a notch higher on the list. We’re taking walks through the neighborhood as a family, reading more books at bedtime, and enjoying our time together. And I’m drinking tea in my armchair again.
This didn’t happen overnight; it’s taken a lot of time and intention. The siren song of a full calendar still sings, but its promises are empty and hollow. And now I know deep in my bones that with an emptier calendar or task list comes a fulfilled heart. At the end of the day, when I close my eyes and let my head hit the pillow, I no longer care about what’s left on my to-do list. All that’s left hanging over my head is love.
May we give God the space to do what He can only accomplish in our stillness. May we heed His call to be still. May we welcome rest and lean into the holiness of slow.
May we give God the space to do what He can only accomplish in our stillness.
Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Jesus
One of these individuals does not belong in this group. Can you guess who it is? If you said, Jesus, then you guessed right. But it is important to note that Jesus is not merely “different” than these men: He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Here are some more reasons why Jesus is more than just a great teacher...
1. Jesus is the Son of God
In Matthew 3, Jesus was baptized by in the Jordan by the prophet John the Baptist. As He came out of the water, the heavens opened and His Father spoke saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16). There is no other person in human history whom God refers to as His Son.
2. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary
Jesus is the only One who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. In Luke 1, the Angel Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary and declares to her that she had been chosen to give birth to the Son of God.
3. Jesus died for ME
2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus is the only One who was willing and able to give His life for you and for me. And it is His blood, and His blood alone that makes atonement for sin and makes us right with the living God.
4. Jesus rose from the dead
Jesus is the only One who rose the dead. Confucius, Mohammed, and Buddha died and they are still dead. In Matthew 28, we have one of several accounts of Christ’ resurrection. Mary goes to the grave of Jesus, expecting to anoint His body to slow the pace of decomposition. However, she is met by an angel who tells her that He is not there, but that He is risen from the dead. She then meets her saviour who is resurrected! Her sorrow over the death of Christ is immediately replaced with the joy of knowing that He has risen. And it is His resurrection that sets Christianity apart from every other religion on earth.
5.. Jesus is the only way to God.
There are some that say there are several ways to get to God. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father, except they come through me.” If you want to know God, you must go through Christ. How do you do that? By asking Him to forgive you of your sins, and inviting Him to come into your heart to be your Lord and Saviour.
How does God save us? He saves us by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 say, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and not the of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast."
What will you receive when God saves you?
You will receive life in abundance, you will have God's Spirit living inside you as you go through life to guide and comfort you. You will have a new Christian family and you will have the assurance of heaven and eternal life. That abundant life starts here on earth as you have fellowship with God as your relationship with Him has been restored. There are millions across China and across the world, who have made this commitment and as someone who made it 40 years ago, it is the best thing I have ever done.
Are you ready to receive Jesus? Say this simple prayer:
Father God, I realise that I am out of fellowship with You, because of my sin and I come before You, to ask that You would forgive my sin, because of the shed blood of your precious Son on the cross. I repent from every evil way and give my life over to You to use in any way You see fit. Thank You for making me a child of God and I will live for You and You alone. In Jesus name, amen
If you prayed that prayer, here is what you should do next:
Reply to my email, and let me know that you have received Jesus
Pray... Talk to God about everything.
Read the Bible. Start in the Gospel of John.
Fellowship... join with your brothers and sisters in the faith on Sunday and during the week.
Share... tell others what has happened to you.
Baptism.... be immersed in water.
God bless you!
Single sermons
The three marks of faith - Zelophehad's remarkable daughters
By Chalan Hetherington Numbers 36 50 minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=5202054374991
How does Jesus reach out to me when my heart is broken By Charles Bonadies Genesis 29 36 minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=129181617224512
Act like Men by John Macarthur 66minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=6232020121704
O lord how majestic is your name by Sam Goodwin Psalm 8 42 minutes
O Lord, how majestic is..
O Lord, how majestic is..
Sam Goodwin | Covenant Fellowship Church
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=6292020630132
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links I remove, but items that are in bold print, usually were linked, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to the devotion online)
Life, like nature, unfolds in seasons. Springtime mirrors childhood, full of new beginnings, and fresh hope, a time of innocence and discovery. Summer, like our teen years, simmers with white-hot passion and the illusion of invincibility. Autumn speaks of maturity, with its rich kaleidoscope of brilliant colors and settled calm. Finally, winter sneaks up and covers the ground with a blanket of white just as age brings a covering of settled rest and quiet contemplation.
As this fall season approaches, I find myself delighting in the autumn of my life - old enough to appreciate my blessings and young enough to engage them wholeheartedly. I find that I’ve come to a place of prominence just as my mother and grandmother did before me. I relish my new place and the responsibility that comes with it to set the tone for my family, celebrate our differences and speak blessing over each beloved family member.
I also appreciate my role in fostering our family bond. Let’s face it, family gatherings can be stressful due to differences of opinion, opposing political views, an unending to-do list, and all the traveling our modern families have to do to see each other. Therefore, I’m happy to prayerfully serve as peacemaker.
So before this busy fall season begins, I ask that you join me as we lift up our families (in all their messiness) to our heavenly Father, who loves us all and is the author of our peace. Won’t you pray with me now?
Dear Father, in Your beautiful book of Psalms, chapter 103 and verse 17, You give us this wonderful promise, “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.” What better promise could we receive from You in the autumn of our lives than to see our children and children’s children blessed with Your love and righteousness? We ask for Your hand of blessing on us as well. Bless us with strength to be there for those we love, and wisdom to know what to say to bring comfort, encouragement, and sometimes difficult truth. We will need Your patience as we wait for Your perfect will and way in each of our loved one’s lives. We are so grateful, Lord God. Amen.
Dear Lord, bless us with the strength and words to be there for those we love.
DAILY PRAYER
Lord we Thank and Praise you for all you do each day to guide, protect, provide, and answer every petition as they make their needs, wants, and the desires of their hearts known to you.
Lord please bless, keep, guide, and provide each person this message reaches. Throughout each day, bless them with perfect health, healing, and the abundant supply to fulfill all they need, want or desire. Keep each of them safe and secure, no matter the weather, temperatures, or other circumstances that should try to cause their body, mind or our spirits to be tried and tested! Guide each of them as they pray, ask, and require. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20 ; Luke 1:1-4; Luke 18:1-8 ; Colossians 1:9-23; Romans 8:26-30)
Dear Lord in sharing the words of prayers and words of wisdom from history, I hope to encourage all my readers of these messages, to show that we are not experiencing anything that others have not, and to show that you always provide. Let the readers also reflect on the time and circumstances of these prayers and words of wisdom, so they may draw strength and insight from them.
God knows us through and through. Not the most secret thought, which we most hide from ourselves, is hidden from him. As then we come to know ourselves through and through, we come to see ourselves more as God sees us, and then we catch some little glimpse of his designs with us, how each ordering of his providence, each check to our desires, each failure of our hopes, is just fitted for us, and for something in our own spiritual state, which others know not of, and which, till then, we knew not. Until we come to this knowledge, we must take all in faith, believing, though we know not, the goodness of God toward us.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
Have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous day in the Lord today!
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links I remove, but items that are in bold print, usually were linked, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to the devotion online)
“You’re so busy!” was a phrase I heard often. Each time someone said it, usually accompanied by a little nervous laughter, my smile would falter for a moment before I replied. I realized that I must have been wearing stress like a badge of honor.
When I walked into a room, I’d be huffing and puffing, rolling my eyes at the circus act that it took to bring three kids anywhere. It’s usually a sweaty mess because there are three bags to carry, three carseats to unbuckle, three jackets to zip kids into, six shoes to Velcro or tie, a double stroller to set up, and one mom juggling it all. But I was no different than any other mom of tiny children, and most of my friends seemed much calmer when arriving.
I’d hustle us from home to preschool to drive-thru to home, and from task to task to task once we were at home. Our days didn’t include more than part-time preschool, kindergarten, and church, but it was more than enough once we added in meals, snacks, laundry, vacuuming up dog hair, getting people dressed, packing lunches, work, and all the other daily items that cropped up.
I realized that if we continued to set a precedent of hustling and hurrying and rushing through our days, it wouldn’t set us up for success; instead, it would destroy us.
My to-do list was owning my heart. I was happy with the amount that I’d accomplish, yet I still felt like I hadn’t quite completed enough because of the tasks remaining. Often left on that list were my own well-being (like many women, I put myself last), cooking good meals (I wasn’t taking the time to make any kind of plan), and feeling like I hadn’t spent enough time truly being with my kids. That list of leftovers was giving me anxiety, overshadowing any peace from the items I’d actually checked off.
I was stretching like Mrs. Incredible — except real people aren’t made from elastic, and when stretched too thin, we snap. It had been months since I’d lived out my calmest scene — a steaming cup of cinnamon tea, my trusty old armchair, and a good book in my hands — because it felt self-indulgent. There was always more to accomplish; refreshing my heart wasn’t high on the to-do list.
I’d begun sacrificing the holiness of ordinary, everyday moments for hustled minutes, and I was not ok with that. I realized that slow is holy, that everything holy and ancient and worthwhile is slow.
Cooking real food.
Cleaning well.
Growing babies.
Planting a garden.
Changes of season.
Changes of heart.
All holy. All ancient. All worthwhile. All slow. Not a single one of them is something that can be hurried through.
This is no accident. God has not called us to rush and hurry and hustle through our days. He’s called us to be still, in so many words, in so many Scriptures:
Psalm 23 promises that He will lead us beside still waters and faithfully restore our souls.
Psalm 46:10 implores us to be still and to know that He alone is God.
Exodus 14:14 declares that if we are still, He will fight for us.
1 Samuel 12:16 bids us to stand still so we can see what He’s going to do.
Psalm 37:7 reminds us to be still and wait patiently for Him, even as others seem to be succeeding and moving ahead of us.
Since having these realizations, I’ve extracted myself from the hurried life I was living (and forcing onto my family). I’ve cleared space on the calendar, making room for friends and family and grace. When feasible, I’m writing fewer to-dos on my task list. I’m reconciling my desire for a badge of honor in busyness with what God says is honorable. That’s what I’m aiming for these days. I’m drinking more water and eating good food, bumping myself a notch higher on the list. We’re taking walks through the neighborhood as a family, reading more books at bedtime, and enjoying our time together. And I’m drinking tea in my armchair again.
This didn’t happen overnight; it’s taken a lot of time and intention. The siren song of a full calendar still sings, but its promises are empty and hollow. And now I know deep in my bones that with an emptier calendar or task list comes a fulfilled heart. At the end of the day, when I close my eyes and let my head hit the pillow, I no longer care about what’s left on my to-do list. All that’s left hanging over my head is love.
May we give God the space to do what He can only accomplish in our stillness. May we heed His call to be still. May we welcome rest and lean into the holiness of slow.
May we give God the space to do what He can only accomplish in our stillness.
Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Jesus
One of these individuals does not belong in this group. Can you guess who it is? If you said, Jesus, then you guessed right. But it is important to note that Jesus is not merely “different” than these men: He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Here are some more reasons why Jesus is more than just a great teacher...
1. Jesus is the Son of God
In Matthew 3, Jesus was baptized by in the Jordan by the prophet John the Baptist. As He came out of the water, the heavens opened and His Father spoke saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16). There is no other person in human history whom God refers to as His Son.
2. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary
Jesus is the only One who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. In Luke 1, the Angel Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary and declares to her that she had been chosen to give birth to the Son of God.
3. Jesus died for ME
2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus is the only One who was willing and able to give His life for you and for me. And it is His blood, and His blood alone that makes atonement for sin and makes us right with the living God.
4. Jesus rose from the dead
Jesus is the only One who rose the dead. Confucius, Mohammed, and Buddha died and they are still dead. In Matthew 28, we have one of several accounts of Christ’ resurrection. Mary goes to the grave of Jesus, expecting to anoint His body to slow the pace of decomposition. However, she is met by an angel who tells her that He is not there, but that He is risen from the dead. She then meets her saviour who is resurrected! Her sorrow over the death of Christ is immediately replaced with the joy of knowing that He has risen. And it is His resurrection that sets Christianity apart from every other religion on earth.
5.. Jesus is the only way to God.
There are some that say there are several ways to get to God. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father, except they come through me.” If you want to know God, you must go through Christ. How do you do that? By asking Him to forgive you of your sins, and inviting Him to come into your heart to be your Lord and Saviour.
How does God save us? He saves us by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 say, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and not the of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast."
What will you receive when God saves you?
You will receive life in abundance, you will have God's Spirit living inside you as you go through life to guide and comfort you. You will have a new Christian family and you will have the assurance of heaven and eternal life. That abundant life starts here on earth as you have fellowship with God as your relationship with Him has been restored. There are millions across China and across the world, who have made this commitment and as someone who made it 40 years ago, it is the best thing I have ever done.
Are you ready to receive Jesus? Say this simple prayer:
Father God, I realise that I am out of fellowship with You, because of my sin and I come before You, to ask that You would forgive my sin, because of the shed blood of your precious Son on the cross. I repent from every evil way and give my life over to You to use in any way You see fit. Thank You for making me a child of God and I will live for You and You alone. In Jesus name, amen
If you prayed that prayer, here is what you should do next:
Reply to my email, and let me know that you have received Jesus
Pray... Talk to God about everything.
Read the Bible. Start in the Gospel of John.
Fellowship... join with your brothers and sisters in the faith on Sunday and during the week.
Share... tell others what has happened to you.
Baptism.... be immersed in water.
God bless you!
Single sermons
The three marks of faith - Zelophehad's remarkable daughters
By Chalan Hetherington Numbers 36 50 minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=5202054374991
How does Jesus reach out to me when my heart is broken By Charles Bonadies Genesis 29 36 minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=129181617224512
Act like Men by John Macarthur 66minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=6232020121704
O lord how majestic is your name by Sam Goodwin Psalm 8 42 minutes
O Lord, how majestic is..
O Lord, how majestic is..
Sam Goodwin | Covenant Fellowship Church
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=6292020630132
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
DAILY PRAYER
Lord we Thank and Praise you for all you do each day to guide, protect, provide, and answer every petition as they make their needs, wants, and the desires of their hearts known to you.
Lord please bless, keep, guide, and provide each person this message reaches. Throughout each day, bless them with perfect health, healing, and the abundant supply to fulfill all they need, want or desire. Keep each of them safe and secure, no matter the weather, temperatures, or other circumstances that should try to cause their body, mind or our spirits to be tried and tested! Guide each of them as they pray, ask, and require. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20;Luke 1:1-4; Luke 18:1-8; Colossians 1:9-23; Romans 8:26-30)
Dear Lord in sharing the words of prayers and words of wisdom from history, I hope to encourage all my readers of these messages, to show that we are not experiencing anything that others have not, and to show that you always provide. Let the readers also reflect on the time and circumstances of these prayers and words of wisdom, so they may draw strength and insight from them. Amen
God knows us through and through. Not the most secret thought, which we must hide from ourselves, is hidden from him. As then we come to know ourselves through and through, we come to see ourselves more as God sees us, and then we catch some little glimpse of his designs with us, how each ordering of his providence, each check to our desires, each failure of our hopes, is just fitted for us, and for something in our own spiritual state, which others know not of, and which, till then, we knew not. Until we come to this knowledge, we must take all in faith, believing, though we know not, the goodness of God toward us.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
Have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous day in the Lord today!
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links are removed, linked items are in bold print, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to view the devotion online)
Stars and Stripes
by Missey Butler
Every year our country celebrates the fourth of July by proudly displaying our beloved banner of red, white, and blue, also known as “Old Glory.”
But there is an even more popular name associated with this patriotic pennant, one that many affectionately know as "the Stars and Stripes."
Americans of all ages look to our flag with a deep sense of pride, while at the same time, oohing and ahhing as she majestically unfurls against the fountains of fireworks and booming explosions of sparkling color … a dazzling sight to behold!
Another set of stars and stripes constitutes our yearly celebration of independence as well. It is found within the pages of Holy Scripture and was spoken of some 2,000 years ago, long before our nation even existed.
We begin with the stars.
Matthew 2:2 says,
"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (NIV)
The birth of Jesus was the promise of a Savior, One who would save His people from their sins. He faithfully walked the Via Delarosa (the path of suffering), so that you and I might know what true liberty really is.
Let us consider now, the stripes. 1 Peter 2:24 says,
"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed." (NKJV)
By the very stripes (wounds and scourging) that Jesus took upon Himself, you and I have been made completely whole. What a glorious truth this present-tense reality holds.
“For by His stripes we are healed," (not [size=16]were healed, not will be healed) … but are healed!
He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we could now, today, (this 4th of July) live in complete liberty from everything that would try to hold us captive and bound. That is, anything that would try to keep us from the glorious liberty that Christ has already purchased for us!
So you see, we not only celebrate our nation’s independence from a monarchy of oppressive rule, but we commemorate our sacred stars and stripes as the divine representations of our future hope as a nation.
As our grand old flag, sown together with the beautiful symbols of the “Stars and Stripes” proudly waves across our shores, she will always, graciously, humble herself and give honor where honor is due.
She will give honor to the one who died, in order that we as a nation might live.
Philippians 2:10 proclaims,
"... every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." (NKJV)
Until we are all set free within this sweet land of liberty, we will rejoice in our salvation, and in the name of our God we will fly our banner, high and lifted up … for all the world to see!
"You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth." (Psalm 60:4, NKJV)
Copyright Missey Butler, used with permission.[/size]
A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . ..
Common sense has been replaced by “political correctness”.
KISSES OF FORGIVENESS
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants,'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" [Luke 15. 17 - 24]
This story comes from the parable that MESSIAH Y’SHUA told about the lost son, more commonly known as the prodigals’ son. The text continues stating that the father not only forgave the young son, but also had his servants quickly "bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." [Luke 15. 22 - 24]
The Robe is a covering of nakedness. The Ring shows ownership (we are a child of GOD). Sandals are symbolically illustrates our readiness for service. Feasting on the fatted Calf indicates complete fellowship. When our sins are forgiven we receive the same for GOD’S robe of righteousness covers our nakedness, our sins.
We, the children of GOD MOST HIGH will be completely clothed in HISrighteousness by "the riches of HIS goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering" [Romans 2:4], which led to provide our eternal salvation. For those who have been saved, Paul writes of "the riches of HIS glory on the vessels of mercy, which HE had prepared beforehand for glory."[Romans 9. 23]
In seeing the great plan of GOD for both Jews and Gentiles, he exclaimed— "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable are HIS judgments and HIS ways past finding out!" [Romans 11. 33] In CHRIST THE ANOINTED ONE are "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." [Colossians 2. 3]
When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesians, he reminded them that MESSIAH had redeemed them through HIS precious blood and forgave their sins "according to the riches of HIS grace" eager for them to understand "the riches of the glory of HIS inheritance in the saints." He told them that "GOD, WHO is rich in mercy" had saved them that sequentially "in the ages to come HE might show the exceeding riches of HIS grace in HIS kindness toward us in CHRIST JESUS."[Ephesians 1. 7, 18; 2. 4, 7]
In summarizing all these true riches which are — mercy, glory, grace, goodness, wisdom, knowledge, boldness, confidence — Paul spoke of "theunsearchable riches of CHRIST, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in GOD WHO created all things through JESUS CHRIST; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of GOD might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places."[Ephesians 3.. 8 - 10]
Truly, "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen any GOD besides YOU, WHO acts for the one who waits for HIM." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 64. 4 Tanakh, Nevi’im] "For behold! I am creating a new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 65. 17Tanakh, Nevi’im] "I am the LORD, your HOLY ONE, the CREATOR of Israel, your KING." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 43. 15 Tanakh, Nevi’im] "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before ME— says the LORD — So shall your descendants and your name remain." [Isaiah(Yeshayah) 66. 22 Tanakh, Nevi’im] Paul reestablished these texts by summarizing, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which GOD has prepared for those who love HIM." [1 Corinthians 2. 9] Thru HIS SPIRIT, GOD reveals HIS wondrous riches to man.
Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
“Blessed be the LORD forevermore! Amen and Amen.” [Psalms 89:52]
O LORD, pardon the sins, transgressions and iniquities which we have committed before YOU. Purify us of all our errors and iniquities so that our life may be worthy of the name we bear and our home become a sanctuary consecrated to YOUR PRESENCE and dedicated to righteousness. Humbled by the sense of our weakness and our guilt, we ask YOU, O GOD of our fathers, to help us to serve YOU in sincerity and in truth; and in serving YOU, may our example help to lead many to YOU.
Remember to celebrate and be grateful for your redemption.
"Shalom!
Lord we Thank and Praise you for all you do each day to guide, protect, provide, and answer every petition as they make their needs, wants, and the desires of their hearts known to you.
Lord please bless, keep, guide, and provide each person this message reaches. Throughout each day, bless them with perfect health, healing, and the abundant supply to fulfill all they need, want or desire. Keep each of them safe and secure, no matter the weather, temperatures, or other circumstances that should try to cause their body, mind or our spirits to be tried and tested! Guide each of them as they pray, ask, and require. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20;Luke 1:1-4; Luke 18:1-8; Colossians 1:9-23; Romans 8:26-30)
Dear Lord in sharing the words of prayers and words of wisdom from history, I hope to encourage all my readers of these messages, to show that we are not experiencing anything that others have not, and to show that you always provide. Let the readers also reflect on the time and circumstances of these prayers and words of wisdom, so they may draw strength and insight from them. Amen
God knows us through and through. Not the most secret thought, which we must hide from ourselves, is hidden from him. As then we come to know ourselves through and through, we come to see ourselves more as God sees us, and then we catch some little glimpse of his designs with us, how each ordering of his providence, each check to our desires, each failure of our hopes, is just fitted for us, and for something in our own spiritual state, which others know not of, and which, till then, we knew not. Until we come to this knowledge, we must take all in faith, believing, though we know not, the goodness of God toward us.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
Have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous day in the Lord today!
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links are removed, linked items are in bold print, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to view the devotion online)
Stars and Stripes
by Missey Butler
Every year our country celebrates the fourth of July by proudly displaying our beloved banner of red, white, and blue, also known as “Old Glory.”
But there is an even more popular name associated with this patriotic pennant, one that many affectionately know as "the Stars and Stripes."
Americans of all ages look to our flag with a deep sense of pride, while at the same time, oohing and ahhing as she majestically unfurls against the fountains of fireworks and booming explosions of sparkling color … a dazzling sight to behold!
Another set of stars and stripes constitutes our yearly celebration of independence as well. It is found within the pages of Holy Scripture and was spoken of some 2,000 years ago, long before our nation even existed.
We begin with the stars.
Matthew 2:2 says,
"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (NIV)
The birth of Jesus was the promise of a Savior, One who would save His people from their sins. He faithfully walked the Via Delarosa (the path of suffering), so that you and I might know what true liberty really is.
Let us consider now, the stripes. 1 Peter 2:24 says,
"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed." (NKJV)
By the very stripes (wounds and scourging) that Jesus took upon Himself, you and I have been made completely whole. What a glorious truth this present-tense reality holds.
“For by His stripes we are healed," (not [size=16]were healed, not will be healed) … but are healed!
He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we could now, today, (this 4th of July) live in complete liberty from everything that would try to hold us captive and bound. That is, anything that would try to keep us from the glorious liberty that Christ has already purchased for us!
So you see, we not only celebrate our nation’s independence from a monarchy of oppressive rule, but we commemorate our sacred stars and stripes as the divine representations of our future hope as a nation.
As our grand old flag, sown together with the beautiful symbols of the “Stars and Stripes” proudly waves across our shores, she will always, graciously, humble herself and give honor where honor is due.
She will give honor to the one who died, in order that we as a nation might live.
Philippians 2:10 proclaims,
"... every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." (NKJV)
Until we are all set free within this sweet land of liberty, we will rejoice in our salvation, and in the name of our God we will fly our banner, high and lifted up … for all the world to see!
"You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth." (Psalm 60:4, NKJV)
Copyright Missey Butler, used with permission.[/size]
A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . ..
Common sense has been replaced by “political correctness”.
KISSES OF FORGIVENESS
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants,'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" [Luke 15. 17 - 24]
This story comes from the parable that MESSIAH Y’SHUA told about the lost son, more commonly known as the prodigals’ son. The text continues stating that the father not only forgave the young son, but also had his servants quickly "bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." [Luke 15. 22 - 24]
The Robe is a covering of nakedness. The Ring shows ownership (we are a child of GOD). Sandals are symbolically illustrates our readiness for service. Feasting on the fatted Calf indicates complete fellowship. When our sins are forgiven we receive the same for GOD’S robe of righteousness covers our nakedness, our sins.
We, the children of GOD MOST HIGH will be completely clothed in HISrighteousness by "the riches of HIS goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering" [Romans 2:4], which led to provide our eternal salvation. For those who have been saved, Paul writes of "the riches of HIS glory on the vessels of mercy, which HE had prepared beforehand for glory."[Romans 9. 23]
In seeing the great plan of GOD for both Jews and Gentiles, he exclaimed— "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable are HIS judgments and HIS ways past finding out!" [Romans 11. 33] In CHRIST THE ANOINTED ONE are "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." [Colossians 2. 3]
When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesians, he reminded them that MESSIAH had redeemed them through HIS precious blood and forgave their sins "according to the riches of HIS grace" eager for them to understand "the riches of the glory of HIS inheritance in the saints." He told them that "GOD, WHO is rich in mercy" had saved them that sequentially "in the ages to come HE might show the exceeding riches of HIS grace in HIS kindness toward us in CHRIST JESUS."[Ephesians 1. 7, 18; 2. 4, 7]
In summarizing all these true riches which are — mercy, glory, grace, goodness, wisdom, knowledge, boldness, confidence — Paul spoke of "theunsearchable riches of CHRIST, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in GOD WHO created all things through JESUS CHRIST; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of GOD might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places."[Ephesians 3.. 8 - 10]
Truly, "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen any GOD besides YOU, WHO acts for the one who waits for HIM." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 64. 4 Tanakh, Nevi’im] "For behold! I am creating a new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 65. 17Tanakh, Nevi’im] "I am the LORD, your HOLY ONE, the CREATOR of Israel, your KING." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 43. 15 Tanakh, Nevi’im] "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before ME— says the LORD — So shall your descendants and your name remain." [Isaiah(Yeshayah) 66. 22 Tanakh, Nevi’im] Paul reestablished these texts by summarizing, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which GOD has prepared for those who love HIM." [1 Corinthians 2. 9] Thru HIS SPIRIT, GOD reveals HIS wondrous riches to man.
Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
“Blessed be the LORD forevermore! Amen and Amen.” [Psalms 89:52]
O LORD, pardon the sins, transgressions and iniquities which we have committed before YOU. Purify us of all our errors and iniquities so that our life may be worthy of the name we bear and our home become a sanctuary consecrated to YOUR PRESENCE and dedicated to righteousness. Humbled by the sense of our weakness and our guilt, we ask YOU, O GOD of our fathers, to help us to serve YOU in sincerity and in truth; and in serving YOU, may our example help to lead many to YOU.
Remember to celebrate and be grateful for your redemption.
"Shalom!
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
Pastoral admonitions
"Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
"A preacher's life should be a commentary of his doctrine;
his practice should be a counterpart of his sermons.
Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life." Thomas Brooks
"We preach to people who must live forever . . .
in Heaven, or Hell;
with God, or devils;
in an eternity of joy, or of torment!"
Thomas Doolittle
"Watch your life and doctrine closely." 1 Timothy 4:16
"An over-attachment to human learning has been the very bane of vital, spiritual, experimental godliness!" John Newton
"The chief means for attaining wisdom and suitable gifts and graces for the Christian ministry, are the Holy Scriptures and prayer." John Newton
"A man cannot be a faithful minister, until he preaches Christ for Christ's sake--until he gives up striving to attract people to himself, and seeks only to attract them to Christ!" Robert Murray M'Cheyne
"There is not a sermon which is heard, but it sets us nearer to Heaven or Hell!" John Preston
"The preaching of the Word is that lattice where Jesus looks forth and shows Himself to His saints." Thomas Watson
"Preaching is that ordinance of God, sanctified for the begetting of faith, for the opening of the understanding, and for the drawing of the will and affections to Christ." Richard Sibbes
"Sound doctrine and holy living are the marks of true pastors." J.C. Ryle
"The lives of ministers oftentimes convince more strongly than their words.
Their tongues may persuade, but their lives command!" Thomas Brooks
"Preaching that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing." J.H. Jowett
A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Many people speak with tremendous authority from the depths of their self-induced ignorance and cannot see they are actually in bondage.
SIGNS- SUN, MOON, STARS
"When the LORD delivered the Amorites before the children of Israel, Joshua spoke to the LORD; he said in the presence of the Israelites: —Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon! — So the sun stood still and the moon halted, while the nation wreaked revenge upon its enemies. Thus the sun halted in mid-heaven, and did not press on to set for a whole day; for the LORD fought for Israel. Neither before nor since has there ever been such a day, when the LORD heeded the words spoken by a man." [Joshua (Yehoshua) 10. 12- 14 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
When Joshua and the children of Israel encountered an alliance of nations under a leader who called himself, "Adoni-Zedek (lord ofrighteousness)." However, the ONLY TRUE GOD WHO alone is righteous, defeated and crushed this pompous, egotistical heathen. The SUPREME ONEfought for Israel by casting down large hailstones from heaven on them and there were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. [Joshua/Yehoshua 10. 11]
As from the beginning, so will the end be, CREATOR GOD will again use the sun, moon and stars as signs of HIS return. The UTMOST HIGH & LOFTY LORDGOD will thus commence HIS judgments on the unbelieving world. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." [Matthew 24.29] "The sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood." [Revelation 6. 12] "A third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night."[Revelation 8. 12]
The five kings who fought alongside Adoni-Zedek fled and hid themselves in a cave. And Joshua and the men of Israel put their feet on the necks of these enemies, then killed them. [Joshua/Yehoshua 10. 16 - 24] Likewise, in Revelation we see that "the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks — Fall on us and hide us from the face of HIM WHO sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the LAMB! For the Great Day of HIS wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" [Revelation 6. 15 - 17]
"Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; Come and tread, for the winepress is full, the vats are overflowing! For great is their wickedness. Multitudes upon multitudes in the Valley of Decision ('EmeqCharuts)! For the Day of the LORD is at hand in the Valley ofDecision. Sun and moon are darkened, and stars will withdraw their brightness. And the LORD will roar from Zion, and shout aloud from Jerusalem, so that heaven and earth tremble; but the LORD will be aSHELTER to HIS people, a REFUGE to the children of Israel. And you shall know that I the LORD GOD dwell in Zion, MY Holy Mount. And Jerusalem shall be holy; nevermore shall strangers pass through it."[Joel (Yoel) 3. 13 – 17 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
In the chaotic world we live in today, we need not be afraid or dismayed. However, we who are in MESSIAH Y’SHUA are to be strong and courageous knowing the KING OF GLORY will do the fighting for us. "Then comes the end, when HE delivers the Kingdom to GOD THE FATHER, when HE puts an end to all [other] rule and all authority and power. For HE must reign till HE has put all enemies under HIS feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death." [1 Corinthians 15. 24 - 26] We are more then conquerors — "for those who fear HIS NAME, the SUN OFRIGHTEOUSNESS shall arise with healing in HIS wings." [Malachi/Malakhi 4.2] It will be worth it all when we see our LORD, KING JESUS!
"Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
"A preacher's life should be a commentary of his doctrine;
his practice should be a counterpart of his sermons.
Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life." Thomas Brooks
"We preach to people who must live forever . . .
in Heaven, or Hell;
with God, or devils;
in an eternity of joy, or of torment!"
Thomas Doolittle
"Watch your life and doctrine closely." 1 Timothy 4:16
"An over-attachment to human learning has been the very bane of vital, spiritual, experimental godliness!" John Newton
"The chief means for attaining wisdom and suitable gifts and graces for the Christian ministry, are the Holy Scriptures and prayer." John Newton
"A man cannot be a faithful minister, until he preaches Christ for Christ's sake--until he gives up striving to attract people to himself, and seeks only to attract them to Christ!" Robert Murray M'Cheyne
"There is not a sermon which is heard, but it sets us nearer to Heaven or Hell!" John Preston
"The preaching of the Word is that lattice where Jesus looks forth and shows Himself to His saints." Thomas Watson
"Preaching is that ordinance of God, sanctified for the begetting of faith, for the opening of the understanding, and for the drawing of the will and affections to Christ." Richard Sibbes
"Sound doctrine and holy living are the marks of true pastors." J.C. Ryle
"The lives of ministers oftentimes convince more strongly than their words.
Their tongues may persuade, but their lives command!" Thomas Brooks
"Preaching that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing." J.H. Jowett
A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Many people speak with tremendous authority from the depths of their self-induced ignorance and cannot see they are actually in bondage.
SIGNS- SUN, MOON, STARS
"When the LORD delivered the Amorites before the children of Israel, Joshua spoke to the LORD; he said in the presence of the Israelites: —Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon! — So the sun stood still and the moon halted, while the nation wreaked revenge upon its enemies. Thus the sun halted in mid-heaven, and did not press on to set for a whole day; for the LORD fought for Israel. Neither before nor since has there ever been such a day, when the LORD heeded the words spoken by a man." [Joshua (Yehoshua) 10. 12- 14 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
When Joshua and the children of Israel encountered an alliance of nations under a leader who called himself, "Adoni-Zedek (lord ofrighteousness)." However, the ONLY TRUE GOD WHO alone is righteous, defeated and crushed this pompous, egotistical heathen. The SUPREME ONEfought for Israel by casting down large hailstones from heaven on them and there were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. [Joshua/Yehoshua 10. 11]
As from the beginning, so will the end be, CREATOR GOD will again use the sun, moon and stars as signs of HIS return. The UTMOST HIGH & LOFTY LORDGOD will thus commence HIS judgments on the unbelieving world. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." [Matthew 24.29] "The sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood." [Revelation 6. 12] "A third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night."[Revelation 8. 12]
The five kings who fought alongside Adoni-Zedek fled and hid themselves in a cave. And Joshua and the men of Israel put their feet on the necks of these enemies, then killed them. [Joshua/Yehoshua 10. 16 - 24] Likewise, in Revelation we see that "the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks — Fall on us and hide us from the face of HIM WHO sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the LAMB! For the Great Day of HIS wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" [Revelation 6. 15 - 17]
"Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; Come and tread, for the winepress is full, the vats are overflowing! For great is their wickedness. Multitudes upon multitudes in the Valley of Decision ('EmeqCharuts)! For the Day of the LORD is at hand in the Valley ofDecision. Sun and moon are darkened, and stars will withdraw their brightness. And the LORD will roar from Zion, and shout aloud from Jerusalem, so that heaven and earth tremble; but the LORD will be aSHELTER to HIS people, a REFUGE to the children of Israel. And you shall know that I the LORD GOD dwell in Zion, MY Holy Mount. And Jerusalem shall be holy; nevermore shall strangers pass through it."[Joel (Yoel) 3. 13 – 17 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
In the chaotic world we live in today, we need not be afraid or dismayed. However, we who are in MESSIAH Y’SHUA are to be strong and courageous knowing the KING OF GLORY will do the fighting for us. "Then comes the end, when HE delivers the Kingdom to GOD THE FATHER, when HE puts an end to all [other] rule and all authority and power. For HE must reign till HE has put all enemies under HIS feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death." [1 Corinthians 15. 24 - 26] We are more then conquerors — "for those who fear HIS NAME, the SUN OFRIGHTEOUSNESS shall arise with healing in HIS wings." [Malachi/Malakhi 4.2] It will be worth it all when we see our LORD, KING JESUS!
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Jesus
They are all basically saying the same thing; and after all they were just men... right... well, no!
Let me give you 8 reasons:
1. All Creation speaks of Him.
Jesus is fully God with His Father and He was before all things and He created all things. He is the sustainer of all things and He made all things. The Bible makes it clear that He was before all things and created all things. If you read John 1 and Colossians 1:15-17, you will clearly see this.
2. Jesus is the grand subject of Scripture.
He is mentioned on the first page of Scripture and He is mentioned on the last. Virtually every page points to Him: either foretelling His first coming, sharing His incredible story while here on earth, or sharing how He will come again.
His birth, death and resurrection were foretold hundreds of years before these events happened. Seven hundred prophecies relate to His first coming, and every one has come true.
3. Jesus had a supernatural conception.
We are all conceived in the same way. One man and one woman. But Jesus was conceived differently, God supernaturally placed His son in the womb of a Jewish virgin, thus He was without sin. Jesus was unblemished from sin.
4. Jesus lived a simple and sinless life.
He was the first-born son of Joseph and Mary, and He had a normal childhood. He did all the things normal children do; He played with his brothers and sisters, went to school, etc. He obeyed His parents in everything, and He became the main breadwinner in the family. He was a skilled carpenter, and everything He made was totally perfect. He knew every temptation we face and He overcame every one of them. He faced every emotion we ever have and defeated all of them. Because He faced everything we face, we can trust Him to help us when we face up to that temptation or bad emotion: Hebrews 4:15!
5. Jesus sacrificed His life.
Why did Jesus come to earth? What was His purpose? Why would He die?
Man cannot reach up to God, because of sin; so God had to reach down to man. Only someone who could pay the perfect sacrifice and could stand in our place and take our punishment could do it. It had to be a lamb without spot or blemish, and that was Jesus.
[size=16]Jesus died in our place and died the death that was meant for you, so that we, the unrighteous, could be made right with God.[/size]
There is a large gap in a gorge. You cannot jump across it. There is an eternal gap between you and God, and the only way it can be bridged is by the cross of Calvary. The perfect sacrifice of Jesus pays for our sin and His blood (death) cleanses us from all sin.
6. Jesus stunned us with His resurrection.
This wasn't a magic trick! Jesus arose bodily from the dead. Was He dead? The Romans, who were expert executioners, made sure of that! Did the disciples steal the body? No... they were a frightened bunch hiding in fear. Did the Jewish authorities take the body? Well, when the disciples started preaching about Jesus, they could have said, "Here's the body of Jesus; what you are saying is total rubbish," and Christianity would have collapsed in a few days.
No one else has ever risen from the dead This is unique to Christianity. The tomb is empty. The tomb of every major religious figure still has their remains in it, but Jesus lives!
7. Jesus will have a sudden return.
Jesus promised His disciples that he would return to earth. We don't know when. He has given us clues all through the New Testament, and He warns that we must be ready. When He does return, there will be no second chances. Many times the Bible states that we have to make up our minds today, before it's too late.
8. Jesus is the only one who can sort out your life.
Because of all the above, Jesus is the only one who can deal with the mess that man created in his/her life. This is because He deals with the root of the problem, which is sin and separation from God. He brings us into right fellowship with God and then He starts the life-long process of changing us.
Jesus is the only One who can mend broken marriages, save drug addicts and make people who are broken new again. When your computer goes wrong, you take it to the shop and it gets wiped clean. All the rubbish gets taken off, all the viruses etc. That is what Jesus does when He saves and transforms a person. He wipes the slate completely clean and gives them new life.
How can this happen?
The Philippian jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:31). The answer from Paul was believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
The crowd in Jerusalem asked "What shall we do?" Peter said, "Repent!" Acts 2:38.
There are two elements: faith - reaching out to grasp God's grace, and repentance - breaking away from your old life. It means turning round and walking in the opposite direction. Are you prepared to take these steps?
What you will give up?
Your whole life: you are His. Jesus is now in the driver's seat. But He has never disappointed anyone who has to come to trust Him fully. Count the cost of turning from your sin and to commit your life to Jesus.
What you will receive?
Complete forgiveness of sin! Life in abundance, you will have God's Spirit living inside you as you go through life to guide and comfort you. You will have a new Christian family and you will have the assurance of heaven and eternal life where you will be with God forever. That starts here on earth; you have fellowship with God as your relationship with Him has been restored.
Your response:
There are millions across China and across the world, who have made this commitment and as someone who made it 40 years ago, it is the best thing I have ever done.
[size=16]If you want to make this commitment as an expression of your sincere desire to be saved from God's judgment and receive life and salvation only in Him, then say this prayer below. But please remember, saying a prayer won't save you. This prayer should be the true desire of your heart. It's not about the words, but your willingness to give your life to Him. [/size]
"Father God, I realise that I am out of fellowship with You, because of my sin: and I come before You, to ask that You would forgive my sin, because of the shed blood of Your precious Son on the cross. I repent from every evil way and give my life over to You to use in any way You see fit. Thank You for making me a child of God and I will live for You and you alone. In Jesus Name.. amen."
What to do now?
Pray... Talk to God about anything.
Read the Bible; start in the Gospel of John.
Fellowship... join with your brothers and sisters in the faith on Sunday and during the week.
Share... tell others what has happened to you.
Baptism... be immersed in water.
They are all basically saying the same thing; and after all they were just men... right... well, no!
Let me give you 8 reasons:
1. All Creation speaks of Him.
Jesus is fully God with His Father and He was before all things and He created all things. He is the sustainer of all things and He made all things. The Bible makes it clear that He was before all things and created all things. If you read John 1 and Colossians 1:15-17, you will clearly see this.
2. Jesus is the grand subject of Scripture.
He is mentioned on the first page of Scripture and He is mentioned on the last. Virtually every page points to Him: either foretelling His first coming, sharing His incredible story while here on earth, or sharing how He will come again.
His birth, death and resurrection were foretold hundreds of years before these events happened. Seven hundred prophecies relate to His first coming, and every one has come true.
3. Jesus had a supernatural conception.
We are all conceived in the same way. One man and one woman. But Jesus was conceived differently, God supernaturally placed His son in the womb of a Jewish virgin, thus He was without sin. Jesus was unblemished from sin.
4. Jesus lived a simple and sinless life.
He was the first-born son of Joseph and Mary, and He had a normal childhood. He did all the things normal children do; He played with his brothers and sisters, went to school, etc. He obeyed His parents in everything, and He became the main breadwinner in the family. He was a skilled carpenter, and everything He made was totally perfect. He knew every temptation we face and He overcame every one of them. He faced every emotion we ever have and defeated all of them. Because He faced everything we face, we can trust Him to help us when we face up to that temptation or bad emotion: Hebrews 4:15!
5. Jesus sacrificed His life.
Why did Jesus come to earth? What was His purpose? Why would He die?
Man cannot reach up to God, because of sin; so God had to reach down to man. Only someone who could pay the perfect sacrifice and could stand in our place and take our punishment could do it. It had to be a lamb without spot or blemish, and that was Jesus.
[size=16]Jesus died in our place and died the death that was meant for you, so that we, the unrighteous, could be made right with God.[/size]
There is a large gap in a gorge. You cannot jump across it. There is an eternal gap between you and God, and the only way it can be bridged is by the cross of Calvary. The perfect sacrifice of Jesus pays for our sin and His blood (death) cleanses us from all sin.
6. Jesus stunned us with His resurrection.
This wasn't a magic trick! Jesus arose bodily from the dead. Was He dead? The Romans, who were expert executioners, made sure of that! Did the disciples steal the body? No... they were a frightened bunch hiding in fear. Did the Jewish authorities take the body? Well, when the disciples started preaching about Jesus, they could have said, "Here's the body of Jesus; what you are saying is total rubbish," and Christianity would have collapsed in a few days.
No one else has ever risen from the dead This is unique to Christianity. The tomb is empty. The tomb of every major religious figure still has their remains in it, but Jesus lives!
7. Jesus will have a sudden return.
Jesus promised His disciples that he would return to earth. We don't know when. He has given us clues all through the New Testament, and He warns that we must be ready. When He does return, there will be no second chances. Many times the Bible states that we have to make up our minds today, before it's too late.
8. Jesus is the only one who can sort out your life.
Because of all the above, Jesus is the only one who can deal with the mess that man created in his/her life. This is because He deals with the root of the problem, which is sin and separation from God. He brings us into right fellowship with God and then He starts the life-long process of changing us.
Jesus is the only One who can mend broken marriages, save drug addicts and make people who are broken new again. When your computer goes wrong, you take it to the shop and it gets wiped clean. All the rubbish gets taken off, all the viruses etc. That is what Jesus does when He saves and transforms a person. He wipes the slate completely clean and gives them new life.
How can this happen?
The Philippian jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:31). The answer from Paul was believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
The crowd in Jerusalem asked "What shall we do?" Peter said, "Repent!" Acts 2:38.
There are two elements: faith - reaching out to grasp God's grace, and repentance - breaking away from your old life. It means turning round and walking in the opposite direction. Are you prepared to take these steps?
What you will give up?
Your whole life: you are His. Jesus is now in the driver's seat. But He has never disappointed anyone who has to come to trust Him fully. Count the cost of turning from your sin and to commit your life to Jesus.
What you will receive?
Complete forgiveness of sin! Life in abundance, you will have God's Spirit living inside you as you go through life to guide and comfort you. You will have a new Christian family and you will have the assurance of heaven and eternal life where you will be with God forever. That starts here on earth; you have fellowship with God as your relationship with Him has been restored.
Your response:
There are millions across China and across the world, who have made this commitment and as someone who made it 40 years ago, it is the best thing I have ever done.
[size=16]If you want to make this commitment as an expression of your sincere desire to be saved from God's judgment and receive life and salvation only in Him, then say this prayer below. But please remember, saying a prayer won't save you. This prayer should be the true desire of your heart. It's not about the words, but your willingness to give your life to Him. [/size]
"Father God, I realise that I am out of fellowship with You, because of my sin: and I come before You, to ask that You would forgive my sin, because of the shed blood of Your precious Son on the cross. I repent from every evil way and give my life over to You to use in any way You see fit. Thank You for making me a child of God and I will live for You and you alone. In Jesus Name.. amen."
What to do now?
Pray... Talk to God about anything.
Read the Bible; start in the Gospel of John.
Fellowship... join with your brothers and sisters in the faith on Sunday and during the week.
Share... tell others what has happened to you.
Baptism... be immersed in water.
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
[size=16]Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Jesus
They are all basically saying the same thing; and after all they were just men... right... well, no!
Let me give you 8 reasons:
1. All Creation speaks of Him.
Jesus is fully God with His Father and He was before all things and He created all things. He is the sustainer of all things and He made all things. The Bible makes it clear that He was before all things and created all things. If you read John 1 and Colossians 1:15-17, you will clearly see this.
2. Jesus is the grand subject of Scripture.
He is mentioned on the first page of Scripture and He is mentioned on the last. Virtually every page points to Him: either foretelling His first coming, sharing His incredible story while here on earth, or sharing how He will come again.
His birth, death and resurrection were foretold hundreds of years before these events happened. Seven hundred prophecies relate to His first coming, and every one has come true.
3. Jesus had a supernatural conception.
We are all conceived in the same way. One man and one woman. But Jesus was conceived differently, God supernaturally placed His son in the womb of a Jewish virgin, thus He was without sin. Jesus was unblemished from sin.
4. Jesus lived a simple and sinless life.
He was the first-born son of Joseph and Mary, and He had a normal childhood. He did all the things normal children do; He played with his brothers and sisters, went to school, etc. He obeyed His parents in everything, and He became the main breadwinner in the family. He was a skilled carpenter, and everything He made was totally perfect. He knew every temptation we face and He overcame every one of them. He faced every emotion we ever have and defeated all of them. Because He faced everything we face, we can trust Him to help us when we face up to that temptation or bad emotion: Hebrews 4:15!
5. Jesus sacrificed His life.
Why did Jesus come to earth? What was His purpose? Why would He die?
Man cannot reach up to God, because of sin; so God had to reach down to man. Only someone who could pay the perfect sacrifice and could stand in our place and take our punishment could do it. It had to be a lamb without spot or blemish, and that was Jesus.
[size=16]Jesus died in our place and died the death that was meant for you, so that we, the unrighteous, could be made right with God.[/size]
There is a large gap in a gorge. You cannot jump across it. There is an eternal gap between you and God, and the only way it can be bridged is by the cross of Calvary. The perfect sacrifice of Jesus pays for our sin and His blood (death) cleanses us from all sin.
6. Jesus stunned us with His resurrection.
This wasn't a magic trick! Jesus arose bodily from the dead. Was He dead? The Romans, who were expert executioners, made sure of that! Did the disciples steal the body? No... they were a frightened bunch hiding in fear. Did the Jewish authorities take the body? Well, when the disciples started preaching about Jesus, they could have said, "Here's the body of Jesus; what you are saying is total rubbish," and Christianity would have collapsed in a few days.
No one else has ever risen from the dead This is unique to Christianity. The tomb is empty. The tomb of every major religious figure still has their remains in it, but Jesus lives!
7. Jesus will have a sudden return.
Jesus promised His disciples that he would return to earth. We don't know when. He has given us clues all through the New Testament, and He warns that we must be ready. When He does return, there will be no second chances. Many times the Bible states that we have to make up our minds today, before it's too late.
8. Jesus is the only one who can sort out your life.
Because of all the above, Jesus is the only one who can deal with the mess that man created in his/her life. This is because He deals with the root of the problem, which is sin and separation from God. He brings us into right fellowship with God and then He starts the life-long process of changing us.
Jesus is the only One who can mend broken marriages, save drug addicts and make people who are broken new again. When your computer goes wrong, you take it to the shop and it gets wiped clean. All the rubbish gets taken off, all the viruses etc. That is what Jesus does when He saves and transforms a person. He wipes the slate completely clean and gives them new life.
How can this happen?
The Philippian jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:31). The answer from Paul was believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
The crowd in Jerusalem asked "What shall we do?" Peter said, "Repent!" Acts 2:38.
There are two elements: faith - reaching out to grasp God's grace, and repentance - breaking away from your old life. It means turning round and walking in the opposite direction. Are you prepared to take these steps?
What you will give up?
Your whole life: you are His. Jesus is now in the driver's seat. But He has never disappointed anyone who has to come to trust Him fully. Count the cost of turning from your sin and to commit your life to Jesus.
What you will receive?
Complete forgiveness of sin! Life in abundance, you will have God's Spirit living inside you as you go through life to guide and comfort you. You will have a new Christian family and you will have the assurance of heaven and eternal life where you will be with God forever. That starts here on earth; you have fellowship with God as your relationship with Him has been restored.
Your response:
There are millions across China and across the world, who have made this commitment and as someone who made it 40 years ago, it is the best thing I have ever done.
[size=16]If you want to make this commitment as an expression of your sincere desire to be saved from God's judgment and receive life and salvation only in Him, then say this prayer below. But please remember, saying a prayer won't save you. This prayer should be the true desire of your heart. It's not about the words, but your willingness to give your life to Him. [/size]
"Father God, I realise that I am out of fellowship with You, because of my sin: and I come before You, to ask that You would forgive my sin, because of the shed blood of Your precious Son on the cross. I repent from every evil way and give my life over to You to use in any way You see fit. Thank You for making me a child of God and I will live for You and you alone. In Jesus Name.. amen."
What to do now?
Pray... Talk to God about anything.
Read the Bible; start in the Gospel of John.
Fellowship... join with your brothers and sisters in the faith on Sunday and during the week.
Share... tell others what has happened to you.
Baptism... be immersed in water.
SERMON SERIES
Paul on Mars hill by Jeff Arthur.. 7 sermons.. click and choose
This is an awesome series, please listen, such an investment of your time
https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?subsetitem=Mars+Hill+Series&subsetcat=series&keyword=elizabethbaptist&SourceOnly=true&includekeywords=&ExactVerse=
Single sermons[/size]
The Most lovely Christian by William Dyer 5 minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=925091938431
Seven secrets of Paul's Joy By Nigel glenndinning Phil 1:12 40 minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=3241910341145
What is a Christian? by Gerard Hemmings Acts 26 32minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=620201632151511
They are all basically saying the same thing; and after all they were just men... right... well, no!
Let me give you 8 reasons:
1. All Creation speaks of Him.
Jesus is fully God with His Father and He was before all things and He created all things. He is the sustainer of all things and He made all things. The Bible makes it clear that He was before all things and created all things. If you read John 1 and Colossians 1:15-17, you will clearly see this.
2. Jesus is the grand subject of Scripture.
He is mentioned on the first page of Scripture and He is mentioned on the last. Virtually every page points to Him: either foretelling His first coming, sharing His incredible story while here on earth, or sharing how He will come again.
His birth, death and resurrection were foretold hundreds of years before these events happened. Seven hundred prophecies relate to His first coming, and every one has come true.
3. Jesus had a supernatural conception.
We are all conceived in the same way. One man and one woman. But Jesus was conceived differently, God supernaturally placed His son in the womb of a Jewish virgin, thus He was without sin. Jesus was unblemished from sin.
4. Jesus lived a simple and sinless life.
He was the first-born son of Joseph and Mary, and He had a normal childhood. He did all the things normal children do; He played with his brothers and sisters, went to school, etc. He obeyed His parents in everything, and He became the main breadwinner in the family. He was a skilled carpenter, and everything He made was totally perfect. He knew every temptation we face and He overcame every one of them. He faced every emotion we ever have and defeated all of them. Because He faced everything we face, we can trust Him to help us when we face up to that temptation or bad emotion: Hebrews 4:15!
5. Jesus sacrificed His life.
Why did Jesus come to earth? What was His purpose? Why would He die?
Man cannot reach up to God, because of sin; so God had to reach down to man. Only someone who could pay the perfect sacrifice and could stand in our place and take our punishment could do it. It had to be a lamb without spot or blemish, and that was Jesus.
[size=16]Jesus died in our place and died the death that was meant for you, so that we, the unrighteous, could be made right with God.[/size]
There is a large gap in a gorge. You cannot jump across it. There is an eternal gap between you and God, and the only way it can be bridged is by the cross of Calvary. The perfect sacrifice of Jesus pays for our sin and His blood (death) cleanses us from all sin.
6. Jesus stunned us with His resurrection.
This wasn't a magic trick! Jesus arose bodily from the dead. Was He dead? The Romans, who were expert executioners, made sure of that! Did the disciples steal the body? No... they were a frightened bunch hiding in fear. Did the Jewish authorities take the body? Well, when the disciples started preaching about Jesus, they could have said, "Here's the body of Jesus; what you are saying is total rubbish," and Christianity would have collapsed in a few days.
No one else has ever risen from the dead This is unique to Christianity. The tomb is empty. The tomb of every major religious figure still has their remains in it, but Jesus lives!
7. Jesus will have a sudden return.
Jesus promised His disciples that he would return to earth. We don't know when. He has given us clues all through the New Testament, and He warns that we must be ready. When He does return, there will be no second chances. Many times the Bible states that we have to make up our minds today, before it's too late.
8. Jesus is the only one who can sort out your life.
Because of all the above, Jesus is the only one who can deal with the mess that man created in his/her life. This is because He deals with the root of the problem, which is sin and separation from God. He brings us into right fellowship with God and then He starts the life-long process of changing us.
Jesus is the only One who can mend broken marriages, save drug addicts and make people who are broken new again. When your computer goes wrong, you take it to the shop and it gets wiped clean. All the rubbish gets taken off, all the viruses etc. That is what Jesus does when He saves and transforms a person. He wipes the slate completely clean and gives them new life.
How can this happen?
The Philippian jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:31). The answer from Paul was believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
The crowd in Jerusalem asked "What shall we do?" Peter said, "Repent!" Acts 2:38.
There are two elements: faith - reaching out to grasp God's grace, and repentance - breaking away from your old life. It means turning round and walking in the opposite direction. Are you prepared to take these steps?
What you will give up?
Your whole life: you are His. Jesus is now in the driver's seat. But He has never disappointed anyone who has to come to trust Him fully. Count the cost of turning from your sin and to commit your life to Jesus.
What you will receive?
Complete forgiveness of sin! Life in abundance, you will have God's Spirit living inside you as you go through life to guide and comfort you. You will have a new Christian family and you will have the assurance of heaven and eternal life where you will be with God forever. That starts here on earth; you have fellowship with God as your relationship with Him has been restored.
Your response:
There are millions across China and across the world, who have made this commitment and as someone who made it 40 years ago, it is the best thing I have ever done.
[size=16]If you want to make this commitment as an expression of your sincere desire to be saved from God's judgment and receive life and salvation only in Him, then say this prayer below. But please remember, saying a prayer won't save you. This prayer should be the true desire of your heart. It's not about the words, but your willingness to give your life to Him. [/size]
"Father God, I realise that I am out of fellowship with You, because of my sin: and I come before You, to ask that You would forgive my sin, because of the shed blood of Your precious Son on the cross. I repent from every evil way and give my life over to You to use in any way You see fit. Thank You for making me a child of God and I will live for You and you alone. In Jesus Name.. amen."
What to do now?
Pray... Talk to God about anything.
Read the Bible; start in the Gospel of John.
Fellowship... join with your brothers and sisters in the faith on Sunday and during the week.
Share... tell others what has happened to you.
Baptism... be immersed in water.
SERMON SERIES
Paul on Mars hill by Jeff Arthur.. 7 sermons.. click and choose
This is an awesome series, please listen, such an investment of your time
https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?subsetitem=Mars+Hill+Series&subsetcat=series&keyword=elizabethbaptist&SourceOnly=true&includekeywords=&ExactVerse=
Single sermons[/size]
The Most lovely Christian by William Dyer 5 minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=925091938431
Seven secrets of Paul's Joy By Nigel glenndinning Phil 1:12 40 minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=3241910341145
What is a Christian? by Gerard Hemmings Acts 26 32minutes
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=620201632151511
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
[size=16]This is a momentous time to live in , this year has been like no year, I have ever lived through.
I am seeking to share first of all with the body of Christ and then with the wider world.
This study/open letter has been written from a biblical viewpoint and has been proofread and checked by a dearly beloved black brother.
I know that what I say may upset people, I am prepared for this. Please share this with all your social media groups, contacts and please print out and share with your church members. If you wish to place in your local newspaper, please feel free to do so.
Let me say I love people of every colour, my wife is Chinese
WHAT TRULY MATTERS TODAY
Our world is facing some very troubling times. Man, in his depravity has chosen to reject the gospel and live on his own terms. The result has created a world filled with chaos and confusion. Racism is not the problem; it is the symptom. The real problem is sin. Man is depraved, and on his best days he falls short of the glory of God.
The only cure for sin, racism, discrimination and hatred is Christ. He is still the answer. As Christians, we must show the world what real love looks like. There should be no sign of racism or bias among those who believe in Christ. Regardless of colour, we are all members of the Body of Christ, and we are all one in Him. A Christian who discriminates against others because of the colour of their skin, brings shame to the gospel which speaks love, forgiveness, but also preaches that there is a day of judgement and justice for all
Christians are not called to transform the world through politics or other natural means. We are called to proclaim the truth of the gospel, and look to God to change the hearts of men/women by His power.
As long as man chooses to live apart from God, our society will only get worse. The timeless truth of the scriptures is just as relevant today as they were hundreds of years ago.
So, what does the Bible have to say in these times:
First of all, let's get this right, all forms of racism are wrong, whether in thought or action. Remember your thoughts are seen by God, your motives are seen by God. (Read I John)
When God saves people, he does not look at the colour of people's skin; remember what God told Samuel when he was looking at Jesse's sons. God looks at the heart of man, and not his outward appearance. We have to look at people how God looks on them, God does not save on a colour basis, his mercy and grace is poured out on us, just because he loves us.
How can we who have received God’s mercy and grace, not show mercy and grace to others?
Will we be judge for the way we treat others? In the judgement, Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. His reason for separating them was based on how they treated those who were different.
We are told to renew our minds by the word of God, that means we must get rid of the world's stinking thinking, every thought that opposes God must be taken into captivity 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
Let me address something. Any Christian of whatever colour supports or holds affiliation with organizations that promote any type of racism, such as the KKK and the ilk, members of these organisations need to be told to leave the church. If you as a pastor know of any members who are doing this, they should be lovingly confronted of their sin and be subject to biblical discipline.
We are told by some that they are seeking justice for years and years of discrimination and I understand that there is deep hurt and pain caused by the actions of certain people, each and every community can point to this and that wrong. There is deep and real hurt, people think there is no justice, people think no one sees these injustices.
But God sees all the injustices, he doesn't miss anything and he will see that justice is done. We are not to take justice into our own hands, to do this is sin. However, we are to stand up for those who are mistreated and who suffer injustices.
To the rest of us, we are told in Romans 12-14 to respect the authorities that are over us. The Apostle Paul was writing to Christians in Rome, an empire that was pagan and anti-Christian. Paul was saying to the Roman Christians, you should be obedient to the authorities, look at what he was saying, be obedient to Nero! Are you joking!? He's a nutter, I'm not obeying him. But he was saying this. Whether we like it or not, we are to be obedient to those over us, firstly in a secular sense and also in a spiritual sense. Pastors have to teach the truth such as Romans 13
So, what are Christians to do:
They are to examine their lives in the light of Scripture; if we are truly a church and an individual like our Saviour, then we won't have one scrap of Racism in us.
Here are some things, you can do
First of all, we are to repent of every thought and action of racism and pride. God hates pride. He detests it, whether in speech or action. Remember, we can hide our thoughts from everyone except God. He sees everything. We need to come into a renewed relationship with God through repentance and faith. Proverbs 6:16-19
Secondly, we have to surrender our hearts to God, and love like Christ has called us to. We have to love deeply, not just to our own communities, but to people of other communities. We are not told just to love black people, white people or Chinese people. Love does not look at colour, it sees above colour.
Thirdly, we have to serve each other, and not just to people of our own colour, but to go outside of our race and serve those both in the body of Christ and outside.
Have you any friends, who are of a different colour? If so, why not?
When was the last time you really served brothers and sisters of another colour?
What would happen if a black person walked into your white only church? Or a white person walked into your black only church?
BTW The church should not be classified by colour, it's time to stop having our white only and black only churches
Another thing we can do is forgive. If we do not forgive, God will not forgive us, that stands for communities, churches and individuals. How many times are we told to forgive?. Look at the millions of sins, God forgives us, but we can't forgive others. Bitterness will destroy your life and the life of your community, let it fester and it will eat away at society until that society is nothing but skin and bones.
Pray, you know this seems like the easiest thing to do, but in reality, it is the hardest thing to do. When Moses prayed in Exodus 17, he had to have his arms lifted up. Prayer is hard work. Prayer comes at a cost. Consider Jesus, Paul, Daniel and others.
Respect authority, Romans 13 states that the government is the minister of God to us (Romans 13:2). If you resist the government and government agencies, then you resist what God has divinely appointed. Every Christian, the only time we should disobey the government is when it requires us to renounce our faith.
Finally, we as Christians, have to share the gospel. The greatest need for every human is to have a new heart. Christ saves and He transforms, people's lives. Jesus is the only One who can turn our hearts from hate to love as the supernatural love of God floods our hearts.
One reason why our society appears to be in shambles is because the church has failed go into all the world and make disciples of all men. We are called to be salt and light, but the salt has lost its purity and many churches are not lighting the world. We need to re-dedicate ourselves to the Great Commission and declare the love of God to a fallen human race.
Read James 2 vs 1-13.
Let me ask you a question, what would happen if a white person and a black person came into your church, would you give the white person the best seat and let the black person take the back seat?
Black Lives Matter (AS DOES EVERYONE'S) to God and they should matter to those of us who are His children. When we start treating every race with love, dignity and respect, we will see transformation in our society, and such issues like abortion, rape, and murder will decline…there is an organization in America runs a program that instils love and confidence in black teenagers. The crime rate, and pregnancy rate among those who participate in the program is zero. 100% of the teenagers attend college, and many of them come back to mentor others who go through the program. Transformation, not legislation is the answer.
As Christians, let us be the light to the world by showing unconditional love to all regardless of their colour.
There is an answer to racism..
It's called the
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
Let's proclaim it and live it.. amen
God bless you
KK
SERMONS[/size]
Please listen to these four sermons
Racism..is there an answer? by Carl Kirby.. this is so wonderful
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=11606143657
Being a good citizen of America (or any country) by Jeff arthur 1 peter 2
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=12708232347
All governments are from God by Comrad mbewe Romans 13
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=78181458284
Gospel sermon by Chalan hetherington
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=52020552555600
I am seeking to share first of all with the body of Christ and then with the wider world.
This study/open letter has been written from a biblical viewpoint and has been proofread and checked by a dearly beloved black brother.
I know that what I say may upset people, I am prepared for this. Please share this with all your social media groups, contacts and please print out and share with your church members. If you wish to place in your local newspaper, please feel free to do so.
Let me say I love people of every colour, my wife is Chinese
WHAT TRULY MATTERS TODAY
Our world is facing some very troubling times. Man, in his depravity has chosen to reject the gospel and live on his own terms. The result has created a world filled with chaos and confusion. Racism is not the problem; it is the symptom. The real problem is sin. Man is depraved, and on his best days he falls short of the glory of God.
The only cure for sin, racism, discrimination and hatred is Christ. He is still the answer. As Christians, we must show the world what real love looks like. There should be no sign of racism or bias among those who believe in Christ. Regardless of colour, we are all members of the Body of Christ, and we are all one in Him. A Christian who discriminates against others because of the colour of their skin, brings shame to the gospel which speaks love, forgiveness, but also preaches that there is a day of judgement and justice for all
Christians are not called to transform the world through politics or other natural means. We are called to proclaim the truth of the gospel, and look to God to change the hearts of men/women by His power.
As long as man chooses to live apart from God, our society will only get worse. The timeless truth of the scriptures is just as relevant today as they were hundreds of years ago.
So, what does the Bible have to say in these times:
First of all, let's get this right, all forms of racism are wrong, whether in thought or action. Remember your thoughts are seen by God, your motives are seen by God. (Read I John)
When God saves people, he does not look at the colour of people's skin; remember what God told Samuel when he was looking at Jesse's sons. God looks at the heart of man, and not his outward appearance. We have to look at people how God looks on them, God does not save on a colour basis, his mercy and grace is poured out on us, just because he loves us.
How can we who have received God’s mercy and grace, not show mercy and grace to others?
Will we be judge for the way we treat others? In the judgement, Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. His reason for separating them was based on how they treated those who were different.
We are told to renew our minds by the word of God, that means we must get rid of the world's stinking thinking, every thought that opposes God must be taken into captivity 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
Let me address something. Any Christian of whatever colour supports or holds affiliation with organizations that promote any type of racism, such as the KKK and the ilk, members of these organisations need to be told to leave the church. If you as a pastor know of any members who are doing this, they should be lovingly confronted of their sin and be subject to biblical discipline.
We are told by some that they are seeking justice for years and years of discrimination and I understand that there is deep hurt and pain caused by the actions of certain people, each and every community can point to this and that wrong. There is deep and real hurt, people think there is no justice, people think no one sees these injustices.
But God sees all the injustices, he doesn't miss anything and he will see that justice is done. We are not to take justice into our own hands, to do this is sin. However, we are to stand up for those who are mistreated and who suffer injustices.
To the rest of us, we are told in Romans 12-14 to respect the authorities that are over us. The Apostle Paul was writing to Christians in Rome, an empire that was pagan and anti-Christian. Paul was saying to the Roman Christians, you should be obedient to the authorities, look at what he was saying, be obedient to Nero! Are you joking!? He's a nutter, I'm not obeying him. But he was saying this. Whether we like it or not, we are to be obedient to those over us, firstly in a secular sense and also in a spiritual sense. Pastors have to teach the truth such as Romans 13
So, what are Christians to do:
They are to examine their lives in the light of Scripture; if we are truly a church and an individual like our Saviour, then we won't have one scrap of Racism in us.
Here are some things, you can do
First of all, we are to repent of every thought and action of racism and pride. God hates pride. He detests it, whether in speech or action. Remember, we can hide our thoughts from everyone except God. He sees everything. We need to come into a renewed relationship with God through repentance and faith. Proverbs 6:16-19
Secondly, we have to surrender our hearts to God, and love like Christ has called us to. We have to love deeply, not just to our own communities, but to people of other communities. We are not told just to love black people, white people or Chinese people. Love does not look at colour, it sees above colour.
Thirdly, we have to serve each other, and not just to people of our own colour, but to go outside of our race and serve those both in the body of Christ and outside.
Have you any friends, who are of a different colour? If so, why not?
When was the last time you really served brothers and sisters of another colour?
What would happen if a black person walked into your white only church? Or a white person walked into your black only church?
BTW The church should not be classified by colour, it's time to stop having our white only and black only churches
Another thing we can do is forgive. If we do not forgive, God will not forgive us, that stands for communities, churches and individuals. How many times are we told to forgive?. Look at the millions of sins, God forgives us, but we can't forgive others. Bitterness will destroy your life and the life of your community, let it fester and it will eat away at society until that society is nothing but skin and bones.
Pray, you know this seems like the easiest thing to do, but in reality, it is the hardest thing to do. When Moses prayed in Exodus 17, he had to have his arms lifted up. Prayer is hard work. Prayer comes at a cost. Consider Jesus, Paul, Daniel and others.
Respect authority, Romans 13 states that the government is the minister of God to us (Romans 13:2). If you resist the government and government agencies, then you resist what God has divinely appointed. Every Christian, the only time we should disobey the government is when it requires us to renounce our faith.
Finally, we as Christians, have to share the gospel. The greatest need for every human is to have a new heart. Christ saves and He transforms, people's lives. Jesus is the only One who can turn our hearts from hate to love as the supernatural love of God floods our hearts.
One reason why our society appears to be in shambles is because the church has failed go into all the world and make disciples of all men. We are called to be salt and light, but the salt has lost its purity and many churches are not lighting the world. We need to re-dedicate ourselves to the Great Commission and declare the love of God to a fallen human race.
Read James 2 vs 1-13.
Let me ask you a question, what would happen if a white person and a black person came into your church, would you give the white person the best seat and let the black person take the back seat?
Black Lives Matter (AS DOES EVERYONE'S) to God and they should matter to those of us who are His children. When we start treating every race with love, dignity and respect, we will see transformation in our society, and such issues like abortion, rape, and murder will decline…there is an organization in America runs a program that instils love and confidence in black teenagers. The crime rate, and pregnancy rate among those who participate in the program is zero. 100% of the teenagers attend college, and many of them come back to mentor others who go through the program. Transformation, not legislation is the answer.
As Christians, let us be the light to the world by showing unconditional love to all regardless of their colour.
There is an answer to racism..
It's called the
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
Let's proclaim it and live it.. amen
God bless you
KK
SERMONS[/size]
Please listen to these four sermons
Racism..is there an answer? by Carl Kirby.. this is so wonderful
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=11606143657
Being a good citizen of America (or any country) by Jeff arthur 1 peter 2
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=12708232347
All governments are from God by Comrad mbewe Romans 13
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=78181458284
Gospel sermon by Chalan hetherington
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=52020552555600
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
Sermons
Please listen to the wonderful series on Joseph by Pastor Chalan Hetherington, I have been so blessed by these, there are 13 sermons, just click on the link and choose which one to listen to
https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceOnly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=chalan1689&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=The+Life+of+Joseph
GENESIS 2
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat[ of it you shall surely die.”
chapter 3:2-5
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
LUKE 10:18
18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."
ISAIAH 14:12-15
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
THE FALL GUY
Why did the serpent or devil hate God so much? Why did he influence them to disobey God?
Satan could have left Adam and Eve to their own devices. What did they ever do to hurt him? To understand Satan’s role in the fall of man, we must go back to pre-creation. God the Trinity was existed before anything was created. He is before all things. He is above all things.
Before creation there was war in heaven. Lucifer, one of the chief angels, rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven; Satan was so influential that a third of the angels of heaven followed him to his new home…hell. Satan hates God, but he can't hurt God, so who does he go after? Man, the pinnacle of God's creation.
Jesus said that the devil is the father of lies; he told lies to the angels he led into the rebellion in heaven. He fell because of his lust for power. And now he uses the desire for power to entice Eve. After Eve told Satan that she was forbidden from eating the fruit from the Tree of Life, Satan responds with the words, "Has God said?" Satan knew exactly what God had said. Remember, he doesn't change his tactics, he seeks to contradict God and his word and tell us that what God has said is not true.
Satan is the fall guy. And through deception he played a role in the fall of man. Another example of Satan being the fall guy, is in the book of Job. God says to Satan, "Where have you been?” How ironic. God knew who Satan was and where he had been. Satan was wandering around the world. The Bible says he roams around like a roaring lion; he is like a bear with a very sore head. After the first two chapters of Job, he is not mentioned. He is defeated through the testimony and faithfulness of Job. Again, he is the fall guy.
At the cross, he suffered a terminal defeat. The power of Satan was completely destroyed, his weapons of death and sin were smashed. Finally, at the end of time, Satan will be the ultimate fall guy, when he is sentenced to eternal punishment, him and his rebellious angels, who will have their own sentence of death.
Satan chose to rebel; he made the wrong choice; he sought power; he was proud. And he will pay…big time!
Remember that we have the weapons to defeat Satan: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Romans 16:19-20 and Ephesians 6:10-18. We cannot be like the sons of Sceva, who sought to fight him in their own strength. As a young Christian, I sought to answer the devil in my own power, but he defeated me, I was often left in tears and my faith in tatters.
How did Jesus defeat him? By speaking and using the word of God (see Matthew 4:1-11). Remember, the tactics of Satan are the same, the truth sadly is that they often are successful. But when he comes to tempt us, we have the Armor of God.
When Satan tempts Jesus, he misuses the Word of God; he misquotes Scripture; he takes verses out of context; How do we answer him? We don’t. We ignore him. Satan can only do what God allows him too. He is on a very short lease. We have the victory over him, by the power of the Holy Spirit and also when we praise God. Worship is a powerful weapon.
JAMES 4:6-8
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
How do we submit to God? We humble ourselves; we denounce our pride; we cannot fight the devil on our own; we have to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If we are submitted to God, we can resist the devil, and he has no option but to flee. Why? Because when he tries to tempt us, he meets not us, but Jesus who lives in us, by the Holy Spirit.
Don’t be the fall guy…trust God and let Him fight your battles.
GOD BLESS YOU
kk
Please listen to the wonderful series on Joseph by Pastor Chalan Hetherington, I have been so blessed by these, there are 13 sermons, just click on the link and choose which one to listen to
https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceOnly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=chalan1689&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=The+Life+of+Joseph
Bennetts End Baptist Church Pastor Chalan Hetherington | Hertfordshire, England www.sermonaudio.com |
GENESIS 2
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat[ of it you shall surely die.”
chapter 3:2-5
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
LUKE 10:18
18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."
ISAIAH 14:12-15
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
THE FALL GUY
Why did the serpent or devil hate God so much? Why did he influence them to disobey God?
Satan could have left Adam and Eve to their own devices. What did they ever do to hurt him? To understand Satan’s role in the fall of man, we must go back to pre-creation. God the Trinity was existed before anything was created. He is before all things. He is above all things.
Before creation there was war in heaven. Lucifer, one of the chief angels, rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven; Satan was so influential that a third of the angels of heaven followed him to his new home…hell. Satan hates God, but he can't hurt God, so who does he go after? Man, the pinnacle of God's creation.
Jesus said that the devil is the father of lies; he told lies to the angels he led into the rebellion in heaven. He fell because of his lust for power. And now he uses the desire for power to entice Eve. After Eve told Satan that she was forbidden from eating the fruit from the Tree of Life, Satan responds with the words, "Has God said?" Satan knew exactly what God had said. Remember, he doesn't change his tactics, he seeks to contradict God and his word and tell us that what God has said is not true.
Satan is the fall guy. And through deception he played a role in the fall of man. Another example of Satan being the fall guy, is in the book of Job. God says to Satan, "Where have you been?” How ironic. God knew who Satan was and where he had been. Satan was wandering around the world. The Bible says he roams around like a roaring lion; he is like a bear with a very sore head. After the first two chapters of Job, he is not mentioned. He is defeated through the testimony and faithfulness of Job. Again, he is the fall guy.
At the cross, he suffered a terminal defeat. The power of Satan was completely destroyed, his weapons of death and sin were smashed. Finally, at the end of time, Satan will be the ultimate fall guy, when he is sentenced to eternal punishment, him and his rebellious angels, who will have their own sentence of death.
Satan chose to rebel; he made the wrong choice; he sought power; he was proud. And he will pay…big time!
Remember that we have the weapons to defeat Satan: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Romans 16:19-20 and Ephesians 6:10-18. We cannot be like the sons of Sceva, who sought to fight him in their own strength. As a young Christian, I sought to answer the devil in my own power, but he defeated me, I was often left in tears and my faith in tatters.
How did Jesus defeat him? By speaking and using the word of God (see Matthew 4:1-11). Remember, the tactics of Satan are the same, the truth sadly is that they often are successful. But when he comes to tempt us, we have the Armor of God.
When Satan tempts Jesus, he misuses the Word of God; he misquotes Scripture; he takes verses out of context; How do we answer him? We don’t. We ignore him. Satan can only do what God allows him too. He is on a very short lease. We have the victory over him, by the power of the Holy Spirit and also when we praise God. Worship is a powerful weapon.
JAMES 4:6-8
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
How do we submit to God? We humble ourselves; we denounce our pride; we cannot fight the devil on our own; we have to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If we are submitted to God, we can resist the devil, and he has no option but to flee. Why? Because when he tries to tempt us, he meets not us, but Jesus who lives in us, by the Holy Spirit.
Don’t be the fall guy…trust God and let Him fight your battles.
GOD BLESS YOU
kk
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
The Salvation Army was founded by a Methodist Preacher by the name of William Booth. Its mission was to share the message of repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Booth sent many people all over England burdened to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He sent two women Kate and Mary Jackson to Leeds to oversee a mission there. They laboured in Leeds for a couple of years and nothing happened. These young ladies toiled every day giving all they had without any return. Then one day they wrote to William Booth, “Would you kindly move us to another station? We’re so tired and disheartened. We’ve tried everything that we’ve been taught to do. Please move us to another location”
Booth sent a telegram back with two words written: “Try tears!”
Those two sisters began to pray and travail for souls and they finally experienced real revival. Kate and Mary did just as General Booth said, and God moved mightily. The Leeds Salvation Army church soon became the largest outside of London.
William Booth was a man like Nehemiah who knew the power of prayer. He also knows the power of tears; he had unlocked the missing link in today's church. We preach, we share, we have events, but something is missing, he knew the truth of Psalm 126:
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
We sow, and we do not reap. I wonder why? All through the Bible, we have people who wept and cried openly, for whatever reason: Jeremiah, David, Paul, Peter, and Jesus Himself.
I want to focus on the man Nehemiah. He was an amazing man! He was a man of power, a man of prayer; I love Nehemiah. If you are building a work for God, this is a "how to book”, but it starts with tears and it starts with power.
Nehemiah was a unique man. Let me say some things about him. It says he was the kings' cupbearer, but he was much more than that; he was one of the kings' inner circle, a trusted friend. Look at chapter 2. He had the ear of the king, and the king notices his manner and wanted to know how long he would be away.
Let’s see Nehemiah's reaction was to the news coming from Jerusalem:
He was interested in the work vs. 2
He could have kept doing his job for the king... after all Jerusalem wasn't his problem. But his heart was still in his homeland. I suppose it's a bit like me. Although I am far away from the UK, my heart and my prayers are still there for my beloved homeland. It's like Paul in Romans 9:1-4. He's the apostle to the gentiles, but his heart still yearns for his own people. How interested are you in God's work? Not just in your own church, but do you know what's going on around the world and how God is working?
He made an immediate response vs. 4
It says as soon as he heard these words; these words obviously struck a chord deep within him. So often when we hear something, we put our response off. Nehemiah didn't just hear these words, but he acted immediately. In a race, the athlete’s reaction time to the starter’s gun is all important. Let me ask you Christian: What’s your reaction time like? When something comes to your attention or needs to get done, how long does it take you to get involved?
He had incredible passion for prayer vs. 4 c/f Ezra 9
Both Ezra and Nehemiah were people who knew their God and were able to exploit. See also Daniel 11:32. We go to prayer meetings and we have private prayer, but do we pray like these guys did? You and me think we pray, but we don't really pray? Do we weep, do we mourn for days on end? No wonder Nehemiah had not only the kings favour, but also more importantly God's... and now you can understand why.
He interceded for Israel vs. 5-6
To stand in the gap means to intercede like Moses did in Exodus 17 when Joshua fought Amalek, the children of Israel at Jerusalem who were either unable or unwilling to pray for themselves, so Nehemiah took on that responsibility. He took it on and prayed passionately and fervently. How is your intercession for your fellow believers? Who are you standing in the gap for?
He implicated himself in Israel's sin vs. 6-7
He didn't absolve himself from the sin of the people of Israel. He didn't say, "Well I've been here, so you can't blame me!” He blames himself for being part of the problem! Judah had rebelled and he had rebelled also. He didn't put himself on a pedestal, but he admitted his sin.
He invoked God's promises vs. 8-9
Remember back to Joshua 24, Deuteronomy 6 and 28, God said to the children of Israel, "You had a choice. You can choose to serve Me or not, but here is what will happen if you don't serve Me.” Nehemiah reminds God of His promise. Look at the promise at the end of verse 9; although the people were outcasts and scattered, God had promised to bring them back. Remember if God promises something, He will always bring it to pass... amen
He had an intimacy in prayer vs. 5-11
Nehemiah was a man of prayer and therefore a man of power. We get a glimpse into his prayer life here in this prayer. It is so intimate, so full of power; you ask how should we pray for God's work? His prayer is the blueprint. Do we pray like this??
He was instant in prayer ch1:4 and ch2:4
Paul says in 1 Thess 5:18 to pray without stopping. That doesn't mean you pray 24/7, but that your first reaction to any given situation is like Nehemiah's. In Chapter 2:4, he was asked by the king, "What is your request?” He could have said what he wanted, but before he spoke, he prayed. If we prayed before we speak, how different the outcome would be.
He had a godly influence on those around him
Nehemiah was a trusted adviser to the king. The king wanted to know in chapter 2 how long Nehemiah would be away for. Why was he concerned about this? Because he knew that Nehemiah gave good advice. He was truly the salt and light in the court of the king. Let me ask you... if you left your place of work or school for a period, how much would you be missed? Look at verse 6 of chapter 2; it pleased the king to send me, what a testimony of Nehemiah's character.
He had integrity
The king gave things into the hand of Nehemiah because he knew that he could be trusted. He knew that he wasn't going to run off and build another city somewhere else, Nehemiah was a man who could be trusted. Can You? The king granted him what he asked, for the good hand of the Lord was upon him, the hand of the Lord doesn't bless those who cant be trusted.
He inspected the damage and dealt with the main issue ch 2:11-16
Nehemiah is now in Jerusalem and one of the first things he does is to go and inspect the walls. Before he can put anything right, he had to see what had to be done. He was a reformer, who did reform Israel, but he saw the main problem and that was that the wall was broken down. Look at his words in Chapter 2:17. Sometimes we need to address the main issue and leave the rest till later.
He inspired others ch 2:18
In vs. 18, he gives a rallying call to the workers. These workers are totally demoralised. They have given up building the wall, but here comes Nehemiah and he just totally inspires them to the point that they say, "Let's build the wall!” What an inspiration he was! Do you inspire others by your actions and your words?
He ignored persecution ch 2:18-20
Sanballat and Tobiah are two of the nastiest characters in the whole Bible. They were persistent through the whole book of Nehemiah. Don't they remind you or anyone? Yes the devil. These tactics they use are the ones he uses; from open ridicule, to discouragement, to seeking to plant corrupt officials within the Jewish people. His reaction is, and look at the end of verse 20, our God is going to prosper and you two and I use these words carefully, YOU CAN GO AWAY, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE HERE.
Maybe next time we suffer ridicule and discouragement, you should tell the devil, to go away; he has no right to be here... amen.
This all happened because one man wept and took prayerful action. He wept and prayed.
We sow in tears and we reap in joy.
The Lord wants you all to know this... you cannot reap without weeping.
Before you can start to do a work for God, you have to weep over the state of man.
William Booth was asked what training he would give his officers. He replied that he would hold them over the flames of hell to smell the torment of the unsaved.
Finally, we have the reason why all this happened.
God intervened!
At this point of history, he raised up a man like Nehemiah to rebuild the walls and to reform the people of Israel. The walls of our Churches are as broken down as in Nehemiah's day. God is looking for men and women who he can use to rebuild and reform.
Are you that man or women?
God bless you
Keith
Sermon Series
The emotional life of our Lord by Sinclair Ferguson, click and choose which one or ones to listen to, eight in all. I have heard the whole series, very good
https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceOnly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=fpccolumbia&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=The+Real+Jesus%3A+Emotional+Life
Booth sent a telegram back with two words written: “Try tears!”
Those two sisters began to pray and travail for souls and they finally experienced real revival. Kate and Mary did just as General Booth said, and God moved mightily. The Leeds Salvation Army church soon became the largest outside of London.
William Booth was a man like Nehemiah who knew the power of prayer. He also knows the power of tears; he had unlocked the missing link in today's church. We preach, we share, we have events, but something is missing, he knew the truth of Psalm 126:
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
We sow, and we do not reap. I wonder why? All through the Bible, we have people who wept and cried openly, for whatever reason: Jeremiah, David, Paul, Peter, and Jesus Himself.
I want to focus on the man Nehemiah. He was an amazing man! He was a man of power, a man of prayer; I love Nehemiah. If you are building a work for God, this is a "how to book”, but it starts with tears and it starts with power.
Nehemiah was a unique man. Let me say some things about him. It says he was the kings' cupbearer, but he was much more than that; he was one of the kings' inner circle, a trusted friend. Look at chapter 2. He had the ear of the king, and the king notices his manner and wanted to know how long he would be away.
Let’s see Nehemiah's reaction was to the news coming from Jerusalem:
He was interested in the work vs. 2
He could have kept doing his job for the king... after all Jerusalem wasn't his problem. But his heart was still in his homeland. I suppose it's a bit like me. Although I am far away from the UK, my heart and my prayers are still there for my beloved homeland. It's like Paul in Romans 9:1-4. He's the apostle to the gentiles, but his heart still yearns for his own people. How interested are you in God's work? Not just in your own church, but do you know what's going on around the world and how God is working?
He made an immediate response vs. 4
It says as soon as he heard these words; these words obviously struck a chord deep within him. So often when we hear something, we put our response off. Nehemiah didn't just hear these words, but he acted immediately. In a race, the athlete’s reaction time to the starter’s gun is all important. Let me ask you Christian: What’s your reaction time like? When something comes to your attention or needs to get done, how long does it take you to get involved?
He had incredible passion for prayer vs. 4 c/f Ezra 9
Both Ezra and Nehemiah were people who knew their God and were able to exploit. See also Daniel 11:32. We go to prayer meetings and we have private prayer, but do we pray like these guys did? You and me think we pray, but we don't really pray? Do we weep, do we mourn for days on end? No wonder Nehemiah had not only the kings favour, but also more importantly God's... and now you can understand why.
He interceded for Israel vs. 5-6
To stand in the gap means to intercede like Moses did in Exodus 17 when Joshua fought Amalek, the children of Israel at Jerusalem who were either unable or unwilling to pray for themselves, so Nehemiah took on that responsibility. He took it on and prayed passionately and fervently. How is your intercession for your fellow believers? Who are you standing in the gap for?
He implicated himself in Israel's sin vs. 6-7
He didn't absolve himself from the sin of the people of Israel. He didn't say, "Well I've been here, so you can't blame me!” He blames himself for being part of the problem! Judah had rebelled and he had rebelled also. He didn't put himself on a pedestal, but he admitted his sin.
He invoked God's promises vs. 8-9
Remember back to Joshua 24, Deuteronomy 6 and 28, God said to the children of Israel, "You had a choice. You can choose to serve Me or not, but here is what will happen if you don't serve Me.” Nehemiah reminds God of His promise. Look at the promise at the end of verse 9; although the people were outcasts and scattered, God had promised to bring them back. Remember if God promises something, He will always bring it to pass... amen
He had an intimacy in prayer vs. 5-11
Nehemiah was a man of prayer and therefore a man of power. We get a glimpse into his prayer life here in this prayer. It is so intimate, so full of power; you ask how should we pray for God's work? His prayer is the blueprint. Do we pray like this??
He was instant in prayer ch1:4 and ch2:4
Paul says in 1 Thess 5:18 to pray without stopping. That doesn't mean you pray 24/7, but that your first reaction to any given situation is like Nehemiah's. In Chapter 2:4, he was asked by the king, "What is your request?” He could have said what he wanted, but before he spoke, he prayed. If we prayed before we speak, how different the outcome would be.
He had a godly influence on those around him
Nehemiah was a trusted adviser to the king. The king wanted to know in chapter 2 how long Nehemiah would be away for. Why was he concerned about this? Because he knew that Nehemiah gave good advice. He was truly the salt and light in the court of the king. Let me ask you... if you left your place of work or school for a period, how much would you be missed? Look at verse 6 of chapter 2; it pleased the king to send me, what a testimony of Nehemiah's character.
He had integrity
The king gave things into the hand of Nehemiah because he knew that he could be trusted. He knew that he wasn't going to run off and build another city somewhere else, Nehemiah was a man who could be trusted. Can You? The king granted him what he asked, for the good hand of the Lord was upon him, the hand of the Lord doesn't bless those who cant be trusted.
He inspected the damage and dealt with the main issue ch 2:11-16
Nehemiah is now in Jerusalem and one of the first things he does is to go and inspect the walls. Before he can put anything right, he had to see what had to be done. He was a reformer, who did reform Israel, but he saw the main problem and that was that the wall was broken down. Look at his words in Chapter 2:17. Sometimes we need to address the main issue and leave the rest till later.
He inspired others ch 2:18
In vs. 18, he gives a rallying call to the workers. These workers are totally demoralised. They have given up building the wall, but here comes Nehemiah and he just totally inspires them to the point that they say, "Let's build the wall!” What an inspiration he was! Do you inspire others by your actions and your words?
He ignored persecution ch 2:18-20
Sanballat and Tobiah are two of the nastiest characters in the whole Bible. They were persistent through the whole book of Nehemiah. Don't they remind you or anyone? Yes the devil. These tactics they use are the ones he uses; from open ridicule, to discouragement, to seeking to plant corrupt officials within the Jewish people. His reaction is, and look at the end of verse 20, our God is going to prosper and you two and I use these words carefully, YOU CAN GO AWAY, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE HERE.
Maybe next time we suffer ridicule and discouragement, you should tell the devil, to go away; he has no right to be here... amen.
This all happened because one man wept and took prayerful action. He wept and prayed.
We sow in tears and we reap in joy.
The Lord wants you all to know this... you cannot reap without weeping.
Before you can start to do a work for God, you have to weep over the state of man.
William Booth was asked what training he would give his officers. He replied that he would hold them over the flames of hell to smell the torment of the unsaved.
Finally, we have the reason why all this happened.
God intervened!
At this point of history, he raised up a man like Nehemiah to rebuild the walls and to reform the people of Israel. The walls of our Churches are as broken down as in Nehemiah's day. God is looking for men and women who he can use to rebuild and reform.
Are you that man or women?
God bless you
Keith
Sermon Series
The emotional life of our Lord by Sinclair Ferguson, click and choose which one or ones to listen to, eight in all. I have heard the whole series, very good
https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceOnly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=fpccolumbia&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=The+Real+Jesus%3A+Emotional+Life
First Presbyterian Church Dr. Derek Thomas | Columbia, South Carolina www.sermonaudio.com |
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
Please pray and share this, with all your friends, social media contacts and groups and churches
The Gospel needs to fully penetrate these people groups to make any impact in China
Sermons are below for your blessing, it is a series of Sermons on Joseph, click on link and decide which one to listen to
HAN CHINESE CANTONESE
POPULATION 70 MILLION
EVANGELICAL 7.9%
Praise God for:
Robert Morrison landed in Guangzhou in 1807 and today there are 1.2 million Cantonese Christians.
That they are the most open people to the gospel.
Pray for:
Although very religious and open to the gospel, most homes are bound in Daoism and Buddhism and Spirit Altars are in many homes. Even some Christians have them. It is very difficult for any Buddhist, even those who have turned to Christ, to get rid of the demonic works. Not only does the Spirit need to work in conversion power but in cleansing the whole spirit of these evil works.
Many Cantonese live in HK and are open to the gospel and many are merchants who have contact with different cultures as they travel overseas. Please pray for God to continue to work in revival power in Guangdong province and HK where many of them live.
There are many communities outside China. Please pray for the raising up of strong evangelical churches.
Please pray that the Cantonese believers gain a mission vision for the whole of China. Many of them have the means and ability to share the gospel.
Please pray that the Church would be a clean and worthy vessel for the Masters use.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12057/CH
HAN CHINESE MANDARIN
POPULATION 890 MILLION
EVANGELICAL 8.30%
Praise God for:
The mighty turning to God over the past forty years; the Han Mandarin are the dominant people in China and God has been pleased to gather multitudes in that harvest.
Please pray for:
Deep and lasting revival to strike every Chinese Church. Some of the godly leaders who were used of God are now in their latter years and have passed the baton to younger men. Please pray that the rain of revival does not stop and that the Church continues to preach the gospel despite persecution.
Persecution is here and relevant; it can take many forms. Please pray God continues to work in great power and that the church's focus is not on the persecution, but that it's focus is on praising God, prayer, reading and obeying the Bible and sharing the gospel.
Most of the Coastal provinces have large communities of Christians but the inland provinces such as Hunan and Shanxi have less Christians. Please pray for a breakthrough in the inland provinces, so that every Chinese person who hear the gospel as over 200 million haven't fully heard of, nor understand the gospel.
Please pray for God to work among the men of China. Churches are made mostly of women. Please pray that God would call and disciple many men. Please pray for the husbands of many sisters who are unsaved to come to faith.
Please pray for the protection and growth of the Church. It is estimated that between 10-25,000 become Christians every day! These new believers need to be taught and instructed well.
Pray for the pastors and church workers that they would preach the true gospel powerfully.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12051/CH
God Bless You,
KK
Sermons
Joseph by Chalan Hetherington, an excellent series, click and choose
https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceOnly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=chalan1689&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=The+Life+of+Joseph
The Gospel needs to fully penetrate these people groups to make any impact in China
Sermons are below for your blessing, it is a series of Sermons on Joseph, click on link and decide which one to listen to
HAN CHINESE CANTONESE
POPULATION 70 MILLION
EVANGELICAL 7.9%
Praise God for:
Robert Morrison landed in Guangzhou in 1807 and today there are 1.2 million Cantonese Christians.
That they are the most open people to the gospel.
Pray for:
Although very religious and open to the gospel, most homes are bound in Daoism and Buddhism and Spirit Altars are in many homes. Even some Christians have them. It is very difficult for any Buddhist, even those who have turned to Christ, to get rid of the demonic works. Not only does the Spirit need to work in conversion power but in cleansing the whole spirit of these evil works.
Many Cantonese live in HK and are open to the gospel and many are merchants who have contact with different cultures as they travel overseas. Please pray for God to continue to work in revival power in Guangdong province and HK where many of them live.
There are many communities outside China. Please pray for the raising up of strong evangelical churches.
Please pray that the Cantonese believers gain a mission vision for the whole of China. Many of them have the means and ability to share the gospel.
Please pray that the Church would be a clean and worthy vessel for the Masters use.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12057/CH
HAN CHINESE MANDARIN
POPULATION 890 MILLION
EVANGELICAL 8.30%
Praise God for:
The mighty turning to God over the past forty years; the Han Mandarin are the dominant people in China and God has been pleased to gather multitudes in that harvest.
Please pray for:
Deep and lasting revival to strike every Chinese Church. Some of the godly leaders who were used of God are now in their latter years and have passed the baton to younger men. Please pray that the rain of revival does not stop and that the Church continues to preach the gospel despite persecution.
Persecution is here and relevant; it can take many forms. Please pray God continues to work in great power and that the church's focus is not on the persecution, but that it's focus is on praising God, prayer, reading and obeying the Bible and sharing the gospel.
Most of the Coastal provinces have large communities of Christians but the inland provinces such as Hunan and Shanxi have less Christians. Please pray for a breakthrough in the inland provinces, so that every Chinese person who hear the gospel as over 200 million haven't fully heard of, nor understand the gospel.
Please pray for God to work among the men of China. Churches are made mostly of women. Please pray that God would call and disciple many men. Please pray for the husbands of many sisters who are unsaved to come to faith.
Please pray for the protection and growth of the Church. It is estimated that between 10-25,000 become Christians every day! These new believers need to be taught and instructed well.
Pray for the pastors and church workers that they would preach the true gospel powerfully.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12051/CH
God Bless You,
KK
Sermons
Joseph by Chalan Hetherington, an excellent series, click and choose
https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceOnly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=chalan1689&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=The+Life+of+Joseph
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
[size=16]Dear Friends
Thanks for being part of this ministry. I hope these devotions and especially the sermons draw you closer to our Saviour.
All I ask is that you read, listen and then share with your friends and church. Please place on Facebook and other social media groups if you can.
I am no bible scholar; these devotions are manna gathered from my own daily quiet times, I have no bible college training, am an ordinary Christian, who sits down with his bible, notebook and pen.
Please see the end of these devotions for important announcement
Thanks to everyone who proofreads these devotions for me, esp. My dear Brother J
PSALM 119
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
POSITIVE SUFFERING
Let’s face it. There is nothing positive about suffering. Trials are never welcomed in our lives. When trouble comes, our natural tendency is to moan and complain. To say things like, "I don't deserve this.” “What did I do wrong?"
The writer of Psalms 119 gives us a godly vision of suffering. If we respond to trials correctly, the result will be a greater understanding of God and His Word. In our second devotion, we will see the attitude Job had towards his suffering.
Why do we experience trials? There are two primary reasons why Christians suffer trial. The first reason is to grow our faith so that we can be more useful in the Kingdom of God. The second, involves fatherly discipline. God may use a trial to purge sin out of our lives. Whatever the reason for our suffering the goal is always the same: To draw us closer to Christ.
Sometimes we wonder why does our trial go on for so long? Maybe it's because we refuse to accept it in the right way. The children of Israel went round the mountain a thousand times, they simply refused to accept the correction of the God who had redeemed them from bondage in Egypt.
So many times, we are told not to harden our hearts, we need to accept trials as a gift from God. And it can be a gift if we allow the trial to create in us a desire to be more like Christ. When we go through trials and suffering, don’t complain. Instead, say these words, “It is good that I am going through this; God is teaching me something through this. He is seeking to teach me to lean on Him and learn from Him.
God bless you
Keith
JOB 42
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
JOB'S CLEAR VISION
Job had gone through a lot and now God has responded to him in the form of a whirlwind. God did not tell Job why he permitted the devil to afflict Job. Please note that this affliction did not come from God; He allowed Satan to afflict Job up to a point. Satan was allowed to take everything from Job except one thing...his life.
It says later in the Bible, that the thoughts of God are far above our thoughts. Our finite minds are unable to fully comprehend the purpose of God. This is especially true when it comes to suffering. God rest on top of Mount Sinai, and we like the Children of Israel or at the base of the mountain.
Job's vision here is beautiful, it is like the one given later to Isaiah. Both of them knew God, they had heard God, they were in fellowship with God, God had spoken to them, but now through divine revelation, God had revealed himself to them.
Note both of Isaiah's and Job's vision had some similarities:
They both knew God, he had spoken to them, but this was something deeper. You know you can go to church for years and you can say like Job, I have heard thee by the hearing of the word, but now I see you. We need to have a vision of the glory of God like both Isaiah and Job had and indeed like Moses did. John had the same thing, he knew Jesus personally, he was the one who leaned on Jesus, but in Revelation 1, he had a vision of the glorified Jesus.
They all had the same response; they all fell on their faces. Moses, John, Isaiah and Job all fell on their faces in light of the awesome majesty of God. Confronted by the majesty and holiness of God, Isaiah and Job became aware of their sinfulness. And in each instance God showed them mercy. And He longs to show us mercy as well.
Too many Christians spend their lives listening to good preaching, and enjoying great worship, and yet they never experience a deep and moving relationship with the Lord.
What about you?
Have you heard the word of God, but have not responded to it? When we meet Job he is very religious. The Bible calls him “ lameless." Was he saved? He certainly had faith in God, and in the end the Lord honored that faith by healing his body and restoring all that was lost. Today, we do not need for God to appear in a whirlwind in order to experience His presence in our lives. We have His Word. Jesus said, “That if any man comes to me, I will in no wise cast out. Here’s a question: Have you experienced the presence of God? Is He real in your soul? The same God who spoke to Job is speaking to you today. Turn away from your sins and make Him Lord of your life today.
God bless you
Keith
Sermons[/size]
Sermons
Due to problems accessing sermons on Sermon Audio, I am unable to place sermons on the devotions, we work in different circumstances here, behind a firewall, I will try and get them back as soon as the Lord allows. All I can do is to give you the following website address
https://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp
Thanks for being part of this ministry. I hope these devotions and especially the sermons draw you closer to our Saviour.
All I ask is that you read, listen and then share with your friends and church. Please place on Facebook and other social media groups if you can.
I am no bible scholar; these devotions are manna gathered from my own daily quiet times, I have no bible college training, am an ordinary Christian, who sits down with his bible, notebook and pen.
Please see the end of these devotions for important announcement
Thanks to everyone who proofreads these devotions for me, esp. My dear Brother J
PSALM 119
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
POSITIVE SUFFERING
Let’s face it. There is nothing positive about suffering. Trials are never welcomed in our lives. When trouble comes, our natural tendency is to moan and complain. To say things like, "I don't deserve this.” “What did I do wrong?"
The writer of Psalms 119 gives us a godly vision of suffering. If we respond to trials correctly, the result will be a greater understanding of God and His Word. In our second devotion, we will see the attitude Job had towards his suffering.
Why do we experience trials? There are two primary reasons why Christians suffer trial. The first reason is to grow our faith so that we can be more useful in the Kingdom of God. The second, involves fatherly discipline. God may use a trial to purge sin out of our lives. Whatever the reason for our suffering the goal is always the same: To draw us closer to Christ.
Sometimes we wonder why does our trial go on for so long? Maybe it's because we refuse to accept it in the right way. The children of Israel went round the mountain a thousand times, they simply refused to accept the correction of the God who had redeemed them from bondage in Egypt.
So many times, we are told not to harden our hearts, we need to accept trials as a gift from God. And it can be a gift if we allow the trial to create in us a desire to be more like Christ. When we go through trials and suffering, don’t complain. Instead, say these words, “It is good that I am going through this; God is teaching me something through this. He is seeking to teach me to lean on Him and learn from Him.
God bless you
Keith
JOB 42
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
JOB'S CLEAR VISION
Job had gone through a lot and now God has responded to him in the form of a whirlwind. God did not tell Job why he permitted the devil to afflict Job. Please note that this affliction did not come from God; He allowed Satan to afflict Job up to a point. Satan was allowed to take everything from Job except one thing...his life.
It says later in the Bible, that the thoughts of God are far above our thoughts. Our finite minds are unable to fully comprehend the purpose of God. This is especially true when it comes to suffering. God rest on top of Mount Sinai, and we like the Children of Israel or at the base of the mountain.
Job's vision here is beautiful, it is like the one given later to Isaiah. Both of them knew God, they had heard God, they were in fellowship with God, God had spoken to them, but now through divine revelation, God had revealed himself to them.
Note both of Isaiah's and Job's vision had some similarities:
They both knew God, he had spoken to them, but this was something deeper. You know you can go to church for years and you can say like Job, I have heard thee by the hearing of the word, but now I see you. We need to have a vision of the glory of God like both Isaiah and Job had and indeed like Moses did. John had the same thing, he knew Jesus personally, he was the one who leaned on Jesus, but in Revelation 1, he had a vision of the glorified Jesus.
They all had the same response; they all fell on their faces. Moses, John, Isaiah and Job all fell on their faces in light of the awesome majesty of God. Confronted by the majesty and holiness of God, Isaiah and Job became aware of their sinfulness. And in each instance God showed them mercy. And He longs to show us mercy as well.
Too many Christians spend their lives listening to good preaching, and enjoying great worship, and yet they never experience a deep and moving relationship with the Lord.
What about you?
Have you heard the word of God, but have not responded to it? When we meet Job he is very religious. The Bible calls him “ lameless." Was he saved? He certainly had faith in God, and in the end the Lord honored that faith by healing his body and restoring all that was lost. Today, we do not need for God to appear in a whirlwind in order to experience His presence in our lives. We have His Word. Jesus said, “That if any man comes to me, I will in no wise cast out. Here’s a question: Have you experienced the presence of God? Is He real in your soul? The same God who spoke to Job is speaking to you today. Turn away from your sins and make Him Lord of your life today.
God bless you
Keith
Sermons[/size]
Sermons
Due to problems accessing sermons on Sermon Audio, I am unable to place sermons on the devotions, we work in different circumstances here, behind a firewall, I will try and get them back as soon as the Lord allows. All I can do is to give you the following website address
https://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
WE ARE UNDER ATTACK
From: Charles Dean
“Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee? ...Psalm 85:6.”
I was in Vietnam and it was 1969. My unit had been out for days; we had come into the company area, where we thought we would be safe, for a few days rest. After our wounds were treated and we rested, we would go out again on another mission. It was good to relax and lay down on a cot instead of having to sleep on the ground, to have a shower and rest. We could relax, not as much chance for danger here, or so I thought.
Then, about 2:00 in the morning, the siren sounded. It was a loud sound, piercing, and woke us all up. It means one thing, we were under attack. Each man pulled himself out of his bed, grabbed his rifle, helmet, ammunition, which was always, just next to your bed, and struggled to the perimeter. The perimeter was a sandbagged area, with trenches, that surrounded the Division. We were defended with barbed wire, machine guns, tanks, etc. The enemy never would attempt an attack here, yet they did.
Half asleep, we sat in the trenches and our Lieutenant came by taking the names of each man. Ensuring we were where we were called to be when we were needed. Each man, filling in as instructed, ready to serve. Soon, the enemy having been run off and suffering losses we were safe and could go back to our cots and rest. How like our calling today. Did you not hear the calling for Revival? Did you not hear the calling to prayer? This nation is under attack. Not just our bodies are under attack; enemies to the Church are attacking. It's time to call for Revival and ask the Lord to heal this nation and bring us back to the path he wants us on.
If we all come, and fill in, praying and seeking God's face, will he not heal and protect this nation? Remember the words in 2nd. Peter 1:10: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give the diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail." Let’s not panic, let's pray and if the Christians in American heed the call we, with the Lord's help, can start a revival that will turn this country around. Remember though, revival starts with you and me.
RISE UP
From: Charles Dean
"The Lord preserveth all them that love him but all the wicked will he destroy…Psalm 145: 20.”
The wicked go about to cause harm, they sneak around like serpents in the grass seeking whom they may kill and destroy. They think they go undetected. They act like their father, the Devil, and the works of their father they do. Smart they are and well-schooled but their acts are known, There's someone who never sleeps that knows their evil deeds and plans to do harm. All their evil deeds are recorded and they will be judged for each evil deed and act.. Truly, the words of Proverbs 28:5 are correct when it says: "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things." The ones that have killed and destroyed understand neither their end on Judgment Day nor the reprisals that can come from God's people in retaliation for their actions.
As Christians, we understand this as it states in Isaiah 31:2: "… (God) will rise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity." The Bible calls for us to stand up against the evildoers: "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? (Psalm 94:16)
It's time for Americans to stand up for God, to stand up for righteousness. It's time we remember our motto, "In God We Trust." Let’s trust in God, and turn to the one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus. Those that have turned away from Christ, it's time to get back to the Lord. Those that have forgotten His Word, it's time to open the Bible, those that have not prayed, it's time to pray.
Let’s ask the Lord to guide us in standing up against evil.. Let’s ask Jesus to get us back on track. This evil deed, this work of evil done in secret places, can be the one thing that helps Americans remember what made us strong, IN GOD WE TRUST.
Have a blessed day. Charles (Charlie) Dean
From: Charles Dean
“Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee? ...Psalm 85:6.”
I was in Vietnam and it was 1969. My unit had been out for days; we had come into the company area, where we thought we would be safe, for a few days rest. After our wounds were treated and we rested, we would go out again on another mission. It was good to relax and lay down on a cot instead of having to sleep on the ground, to have a shower and rest. We could relax, not as much chance for danger here, or so I thought.
Then, about 2:00 in the morning, the siren sounded. It was a loud sound, piercing, and woke us all up. It means one thing, we were under attack. Each man pulled himself out of his bed, grabbed his rifle, helmet, ammunition, which was always, just next to your bed, and struggled to the perimeter. The perimeter was a sandbagged area, with trenches, that surrounded the Division. We were defended with barbed wire, machine guns, tanks, etc. The enemy never would attempt an attack here, yet they did.
Half asleep, we sat in the trenches and our Lieutenant came by taking the names of each man. Ensuring we were where we were called to be when we were needed. Each man, filling in as instructed, ready to serve. Soon, the enemy having been run off and suffering losses we were safe and could go back to our cots and rest. How like our calling today. Did you not hear the calling for Revival? Did you not hear the calling to prayer? This nation is under attack. Not just our bodies are under attack; enemies to the Church are attacking. It's time to call for Revival and ask the Lord to heal this nation and bring us back to the path he wants us on.
If we all come, and fill in, praying and seeking God's face, will he not heal and protect this nation? Remember the words in 2nd. Peter 1:10: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give the diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail." Let’s not panic, let's pray and if the Christians in American heed the call we, with the Lord's help, can start a revival that will turn this country around. Remember though, revival starts with you and me.
RISE UP
From: Charles Dean
"The Lord preserveth all them that love him but all the wicked will he destroy…Psalm 145: 20.”
The wicked go about to cause harm, they sneak around like serpents in the grass seeking whom they may kill and destroy. They think they go undetected. They act like their father, the Devil, and the works of their father they do. Smart they are and well-schooled but their acts are known, There's someone who never sleeps that knows their evil deeds and plans to do harm. All their evil deeds are recorded and they will be judged for each evil deed and act.. Truly, the words of Proverbs 28:5 are correct when it says: "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things." The ones that have killed and destroyed understand neither their end on Judgment Day nor the reprisals that can come from God's people in retaliation for their actions.
As Christians, we understand this as it states in Isaiah 31:2: "… (God) will rise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity." The Bible calls for us to stand up against the evildoers: "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? (Psalm 94:16)
It's time for Americans to stand up for God, to stand up for righteousness. It's time we remember our motto, "In God We Trust." Let’s trust in God, and turn to the one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus. Those that have turned away from Christ, it's time to get back to the Lord. Those that have forgotten His Word, it's time to open the Bible, those that have not prayed, it's time to pray.
Let’s ask the Lord to guide us in standing up against evil.. Let’s ask Jesus to get us back on track. This evil deed, this work of evil done in secret places, can be the one thing that helps Americans remember what made us strong, IN GOD WE TRUST.
Have a blessed day. Charles (Charlie) Dean
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
Hello Dear friends,
Thanks for all your prayers. Please continue to take 5 minutes per day to pray for China. Use the links and requests below for details on people groups in need of the Gospel.
Prayer Requests:
Continue to pray that God would graciously move all over China and that a national revival would encompass each and every church; that despite persecution, the church would explode with Holy Spirit power.
For all of the pastors and church workers who faithfully preach the gospel, to be filled with Holy Spirit in boldness.
That the church would be a clean vessel, fit and ready for the Master's use.
For divine opportunities for believers to reach out and share the gospel in acts of love and powerful witness; There are millions of people who are in great need.
Pray for the minority people of China, including the Lingao and the Tai Lue (see below)
Lingao
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18556/CH
Tai Lue
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18566/CH
Please pray for:
The men of China, that God would do a mighty work among them.
The children and young people who are bombarded with false beliefs, allied to all the normal pressures of growing up. Young adults are expected to be married and to produce grandchildren. Please pray that more would be called to Christian service instead of serving money and success.
CCP and YP members that they would come to know and trust Christ.
Our dear Pastor Z and his family
The salvation for the following men...S, H, F, M and W
Sister S, who is crying out in pain and suffering from devilish oppression; they have deep trust problems in the marriage. Her husband S has said he had a non-sexual relationship/friendship with a woman, but has said he has repented and broken all contact with her. They have smashed all idols in their house; please pray for deep repentance/true conversion and healing in this marriage.
New believers that their conversions are real and that we are able to teach them the truths of the Bible.
Sister F and her husband to come to faith and for her mother and boyfriend to come to faith.
Our weekly meetings, especially our early morning prayer meetings.
My wife's father and mother, for deep healing and salvation.
Our daughter M, who has many decisions to make about her future, also for salvation.
For me as I apply for my 2 year residence permit.
For my wife as she is unable to sleep on many nights.
Sermons
We continue through the Bible with Dennis Lyle, studying the books of Kings and Chronicles, these books are not easy, but these studies are great. Copy and paste links into browser
1 Kings
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=12814154343
2 Kings
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=21114151586
1 Chronicles
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=21814151252
2 Chronicles
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=225141515369
Thanks for all your prayers. Please continue to take 5 minutes per day to pray for China. Use the links and requests below for details on people groups in need of the Gospel.
Prayer Requests:
Continue to pray that God would graciously move all over China and that a national revival would encompass each and every church; that despite persecution, the church would explode with Holy Spirit power.
For all of the pastors and church workers who faithfully preach the gospel, to be filled with Holy Spirit in boldness.
That the church would be a clean vessel, fit and ready for the Master's use.
For divine opportunities for believers to reach out and share the gospel in acts of love and powerful witness; There are millions of people who are in great need.
Pray for the minority people of China, including the Lingao and the Tai Lue (see below)
Lingao
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18556/CH
Tai Lue
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18566/CH
Please pray for:
The men of China, that God would do a mighty work among them.
The children and young people who are bombarded with false beliefs, allied to all the normal pressures of growing up. Young adults are expected to be married and to produce grandchildren. Please pray that more would be called to Christian service instead of serving money and success.
CCP and YP members that they would come to know and trust Christ.
Our dear Pastor Z and his family
The salvation for the following men...S, H, F, M and W
Sister S, who is crying out in pain and suffering from devilish oppression; they have deep trust problems in the marriage. Her husband S has said he had a non-sexual relationship/friendship with a woman, but has said he has repented and broken all contact with her. They have smashed all idols in their house; please pray for deep repentance/true conversion and healing in this marriage.
New believers that their conversions are real and that we are able to teach them the truths of the Bible.
Sister F and her husband to come to faith and for her mother and boyfriend to come to faith.
Our weekly meetings, especially our early morning prayer meetings.
My wife's father and mother, for deep healing and salvation.
Our daughter M, who has many decisions to make about her future, also for salvation.
For me as I apply for my 2 year residence permit.
For my wife as she is unable to sleep on many nights.
Sermons
We continue through the Bible with Dennis Lyle, studying the books of Kings and Chronicles, these books are not easy, but these studies are great. Copy and paste links into browser
1 Kings
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=12814154343
2 Kings
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=21114151586
1 Chronicles
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=21814151252
2 Chronicles
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=225141515369
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to remind everyone that we would meet again for prayer this week. We will start at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time in US, Thursday, 730 a.m. on Friday in China. Each week, it is so moving to meet with the brothers and sisters. Last week we had six different nationalities in our group. Truly feels like every tongue and tribe Before the Throne of God.
We will meet in Zoom.
The room code is 9541167083. Due to changes in Zoom security a password is now required. The password is 050348
Please feel free to invite others
Just wanted to remind everyone that we would meet again for prayer this week. We will start at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time in US, Thursday, 730 a.m. on Friday in China. Each week, it is so moving to meet with the brothers and sisters. Last week we had six different nationalities in our group. Truly feels like every tongue and tribe Before the Throne of God.
We will meet in Zoom.
The room code is 9541167083. Due to changes in Zoom security a password is now required. The password is 050348
Please feel free to invite others
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
JAMES 2
[size=12]14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
THE BEST EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY
This is one of the greatest discourses in the whole of the New Testament. It looks like James is speaking against the rest of the New Testament, but he is confirming the New Testament.
In verse 14, James asks two questions, and the answers to these questions are that if we have faith and we do not illustrate that faith, it is worthless. First, all that is needed for salvation is faith alone in grace alone in Christ alone. But the true evidence of that faith will outflow in what a person does, thinks and says.
James gives a wonderful illustration in verses 15-16. He gave a wonderful one in 2:1-5. The apostle John builds on this in 1 John 3:17-18, when he says:
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
What both John and James are saying is if you hear at church that a brother or sister is in need and you do nothing, though you have the resources to service that need, but don't.. then your faith is worthless. Whats the point if you don't show it!! You talk about "loving your brethren," but God isn't interested in your talk, He's interested in your walk.
The Apostle Paul says many times that our faith will work itself out in acts of love.
Look at the book of Acts; the disciples had faith, but that faith was shown. At the end of Acts 4, the disciples had true faith, but there was evidence of this faith, because works are faith in action.
Jesus is the Saviour, but it says about HIM, that He went about "doing good." Yes He died for us, but He spent three years doing good, healing people, feeding people, and teaching people.
Works in themselves are not enough for salvation. Look at Cornelius: he was a good man, he did many good works, but this was not enough for salvation. He had to put his faith in Jesus! Are you depending on your works for salvation?
Good works are the evidence of Being born again (Ephesians 2:10)... they are NOT THE WAY TO BE BORN AGAIN.
God bless you
Keith
JAMES 2
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
TRUE OR FALSE TREMBLING
James is one of my favourite books. It is so practical and so hard hitting. It speaks on such difficult subjects such as the tongue, etc.
In the latter part of chapter 2, James shows the link between faith and works.
Here in China, we often say that people believe in Jesus, but this verse is a sobering one. "Belief" in Jesus is not enough. Listen closely: indeed the demons believe in Jesus: they believe in His existence, His deity, and more. Remember these demons are fallen angels.
Many times in the gospels, Jesus casts out demons and said to them that they are not to tell anyone who He was. They know who He was. In Acts, these demons say, "Paul I know Jesus I know but who are you." Acts 19:15
Judas was around Jesus for three years, and saw the miracles, heard Jesus speak, but today he is in hell, because he did not truly believe.
The whole thrust of James discourse is that true faith is shown by our actions. Our lives are the best evidence of Christianity, because they are changed 2 Corinthians 5:17. In Christ, we do things differently, we treat people differently, and we are different when compared to every other person on the planet.
So many people play at Christianity. They think it is enough to go to church and have a basic belief (understanding about) in Jesus. It is not!! Hell will be full of people who "believe" in Jesus, but really do not.
Christianity is a relationship with God which flows outward to others. Have you encountered God and have you shared His love with others?
That is what a Christian is and what a Christian does.
God bless you
Keith
Sermons
Second part of series on Song of solomon by Ben Reaoch
Wedding and wedding night ch 3:6-5:1
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33112109188
Conflict and resolution ch 5:2-8:4
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33112102760
Love as strong as death ch 8:5-14
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33112212383
God's indestructible book by Mark Raines Jeremiah 36:1-32
[/size]
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=720131635422
[size=12]14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
THE BEST EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY
This is one of the greatest discourses in the whole of the New Testament. It looks like James is speaking against the rest of the New Testament, but he is confirming the New Testament.
In verse 14, James asks two questions, and the answers to these questions are that if we have faith and we do not illustrate that faith, it is worthless. First, all that is needed for salvation is faith alone in grace alone in Christ alone. But the true evidence of that faith will outflow in what a person does, thinks and says.
James gives a wonderful illustration in verses 15-16. He gave a wonderful one in 2:1-5. The apostle John builds on this in 1 John 3:17-18, when he says:
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
What both John and James are saying is if you hear at church that a brother or sister is in need and you do nothing, though you have the resources to service that need, but don't.. then your faith is worthless. Whats the point if you don't show it!! You talk about "loving your brethren," but God isn't interested in your talk, He's interested in your walk.
The Apostle Paul says many times that our faith will work itself out in acts of love.
Look at the book of Acts; the disciples had faith, but that faith was shown. At the end of Acts 4, the disciples had true faith, but there was evidence of this faith, because works are faith in action.
Jesus is the Saviour, but it says about HIM, that He went about "doing good." Yes He died for us, but He spent three years doing good, healing people, feeding people, and teaching people.
Works in themselves are not enough for salvation. Look at Cornelius: he was a good man, he did many good works, but this was not enough for salvation. He had to put his faith in Jesus! Are you depending on your works for salvation?
Good works are the evidence of Being born again (Ephesians 2:10)... they are NOT THE WAY TO BE BORN AGAIN.
God bless you
Keith
JAMES 2
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
TRUE OR FALSE TREMBLING
James is one of my favourite books. It is so practical and so hard hitting. It speaks on such difficult subjects such as the tongue, etc.
In the latter part of chapter 2, James shows the link between faith and works.
Here in China, we often say that people believe in Jesus, but this verse is a sobering one. "Belief" in Jesus is not enough. Listen closely: indeed the demons believe in Jesus: they believe in His existence, His deity, and more. Remember these demons are fallen angels.
Many times in the gospels, Jesus casts out demons and said to them that they are not to tell anyone who He was. They know who He was. In Acts, these demons say, "Paul I know Jesus I know but who are you." Acts 19:15
Judas was around Jesus for three years, and saw the miracles, heard Jesus speak, but today he is in hell, because he did not truly believe.
The whole thrust of James discourse is that true faith is shown by our actions. Our lives are the best evidence of Christianity, because they are changed 2 Corinthians 5:17. In Christ, we do things differently, we treat people differently, and we are different when compared to every other person on the planet.
So many people play at Christianity. They think it is enough to go to church and have a basic belief (understanding about) in Jesus. It is not!! Hell will be full of people who "believe" in Jesus, but really do not.
Christianity is a relationship with God which flows outward to others. Have you encountered God and have you shared His love with others?
That is what a Christian is and what a Christian does.
God bless you
Keith
Sermons
Second part of series on Song of solomon by Ben Reaoch
Wedding and wedding night ch 3:6-5:1
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33112109188
Conflict and resolution ch 5:2-8:4
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33112102760
Love as strong as death ch 8:5-14
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33112212383
God's indestructible book by Mark Raines Jeremiah 36:1-32
[/size]
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=720131635422
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
DAILY PRAYER
Lord we Thank and Praise you for all you do each day to guide, protect, provide, and answer every petition as they make their needs, wants, and the desires of their hearts known to you.
Lord please bless, keep, guide, and provide each person this message reaches. Throughout each day, bless them with perfect health, healing, and the abundant supply to fulfill all they need, want or desire. Keep each of them safe and secure, no matter the weather, temperatures, or other circumstances that should try to cause their body, mind or our spirits to be tried and tested! Guide each of them as they pray, ask, and require. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20 ; Luke 1:1-4; Luke 18:1-8 ; Colossians 1:9-23; Romans 8:26-30)
Dear Lord in sharing the words of prayers and words of wisdom from history, I hope to encourage all my readers of these messages, to show that we are not experiencing anything that others have not, and to show that you always provide. Let the readers also reflect on the time and circumstances of these prayers and words of wisdom, so they may draw strength and insight from them.
God knows us through and through. Not the most secret thought, which we most hide from ourselves, is hidden from him. As then we come to know ourselves through and through, we come to see ourselves more as God sees us, and then we catch some little glimpse of his designs with us, how each ordering of his providence, each check to our desires, each failure of our hopes, is just fitted for us, and for something in our own spiritual state, which others know not of, and which, till then, we knew not. Until we come to this knowledge, we must take all in faith, believing, though we know not, the goodness of God toward us.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
Have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous day in the Lord today!
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links I remove, but items that are in bold print, usually were linked, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to the devotion online)
It happens so naturally that you might just miss the miracle. God, who made your body, created a system to heal your wounds. You don’t even have to understand how it works. Your body just gets busy patching you back together whenever foreign invaders or injuries happen. But what about soul wounds—those injuries to your heart that leave you feeling torn and reeling in pain? The kind that can haunt you the moment you wake up. Aren’t those too big to heal? Not in God’s care.
The One who created your body to self-heal packs a supernatural power to restore your soul. Just like with your body, it’s a process that takes time. Instead of a bandage you apply the truth of God’s love, protection, and provision for you, choosing belief instead of doubt. As you allow God’s love to wrap around your hurt, a miracle happens. New life begins to grow where old wounds once were. God seals those places with His grace, healing you by His love and freeing you to face whatever may come your way today.
He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:3 NKJV
Lord we Thank and Praise you for all you do each day to guide, protect, provide, and answer every petition as they make their needs, wants, and the desires of their hearts known to you.
Lord please bless, keep, guide, and provide each person this message reaches. Throughout each day, bless them with perfect health, healing, and the abundant supply to fulfill all they need, want or desire. Keep each of them safe and secure, no matter the weather, temperatures, or other circumstances that should try to cause their body, mind or our spirits to be tried and tested! Guide each of them as they pray, ask, and require. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20 ; Luke 1:1-4; Luke 18:1-8 ; Colossians 1:9-23; Romans 8:26-30)
Dear Lord in sharing the words of prayers and words of wisdom from history, I hope to encourage all my readers of these messages, to show that we are not experiencing anything that others have not, and to show that you always provide. Let the readers also reflect on the time and circumstances of these prayers and words of wisdom, so they may draw strength and insight from them.
God knows us through and through. Not the most secret thought, which we most hide from ourselves, is hidden from him. As then we come to know ourselves through and through, we come to see ourselves more as God sees us, and then we catch some little glimpse of his designs with us, how each ordering of his providence, each check to our desires, each failure of our hopes, is just fitted for us, and for something in our own spiritual state, which others know not of, and which, till then, we knew not. Until we come to this knowledge, we must take all in faith, believing, though we know not, the goodness of God toward us.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
Have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous day in the Lord today!
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links I remove, but items that are in bold print, usually were linked, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to the devotion online)
It happens so naturally that you might just miss the miracle. God, who made your body, created a system to heal your wounds. You don’t even have to understand how it works. Your body just gets busy patching you back together whenever foreign invaders or injuries happen. But what about soul wounds—those injuries to your heart that leave you feeling torn and reeling in pain? The kind that can haunt you the moment you wake up. Aren’t those too big to heal? Not in God’s care.
The One who created your body to self-heal packs a supernatural power to restore your soul. Just like with your body, it’s a process that takes time. Instead of a bandage you apply the truth of God’s love, protection, and provision for you, choosing belief instead of doubt. As you allow God’s love to wrap around your hurt, a miracle happens. New life begins to grow where old wounds once were. God seals those places with His grace, healing you by His love and freeing you to face whatever may come your way today.
He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:3 NKJV
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
SERMONS
ENGLISH
THE COMPLETE PERSON BY PETER MASTERS JAMES 1:17
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=54201133206983
A CALL TO WRESTLE BY KEVIN DE YOUNG EPHESIANS 6:12-13
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=324201238224181
ENGLISH/CHINESE
CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY VS TRUE CHRISTIANITY BY PAUL WASHER
[size=14]https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=5231996535829
JESUS HEALING THE LEPER BY JIMMY LI
Jesus Healing the Leper
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2 TIMOTHY 4
ENGLISH
THE COMPLETE PERSON BY PETER MASTERS JAMES 1:17
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=54201133206983
A CALL TO WRESTLE BY KEVIN DE YOUNG EPHESIANS 6:12-13
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=324201238224181
ENGLISH/CHINESE
CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY VS TRUE CHRISTIANITY BY PAUL WASHER
[size=14]https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=5231996535829
JESUS HEALING THE LEPER BY JIMMY LI
Jesus Healing the Leper
[/size]
2 TIMOTHY 4
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 As for you, always be sober-minded,endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
PREACH THE WORD
务要传道
Paul is finishing his instructions to his beloved Timothy as he is nearing the end of life. What does he tell him?
保罗在即将走向人生尽头之时,也将要结束对他所爱的提摩太的教导。保罗会教导提摩太什么呢?
He charges him to do something... he sees as so important: preach of the word of God!
保罗嘱咐提摩太要做些他认为是非常重要的事情:传讲神的道!
God will be our judge at the end of time; even now He is watching His church to see if His word is being faithfully proclaimed. So often it is being watered down, but He is watching and He will judge. All preachers and teachers are under the microscope of God. The preacher is being judged, not by his church members, not by other preachers, but by God himself.
在末世神将审判我们,哪怕是现在,祂也在看着祂的教会是否忠实地传讲祂的话语。很多时候这事被淡化了,但祂依然在观察,祂也会做出审判。所有的传道人和圣经老师都在神的显微镜下。对传道人的审判并非取决于他带领的教会有多少成员,也不取决于其他传道人,而是取决于神祂自己。
The pulpit is a lonely place; there is just you and God, it's just you and the Holy Spirit. That is why the preacher needs to be a man of prayer, E.M. Bounds said, "Light praying make for light preaching."
讲坛是一个孤独的地方,那里只有你和上帝,只有你和圣灵。这就是为什么传道人必须是一个会祷告的人。E.M. Bounds说缺乏的祷告会造成没有质量的传讲。
Preach the word; all of it, and don't leave out the hard parts. It's not what a preacher says sometimes, but it is what he doesn't say. We have to preach the whole counsel of God: to reprove, rebuke, to teach and to exhort. Note reprove and rebuke are first on this list, but sadly, many churches put this last, when it should be first. The preacher who goes with with the current evangelical fad/church growth concept, is not a true preacher. The preacher must preach the wrath of God for sin and the reality of hell, even though it is not popular. He must preach the parts that are popular and unpopular.
务要传道,要传讲神全面的信息,不要遗漏那些难以解释的部分。这里所指的并非是传道人传讲的内容,而是那些他没有传讲的内容。我们要传讲神全部的劝诫:责备、警戒、教导和劝勉。要注意责备和警戒在前,但可惜的是很多教会将这方面置后,而本应该置前。遵循当前福音派成长观念的传道人并不是真正的传道人。传道人务必要宣讲上帝对罪的愤怒以及地狱的现实,尽管这样的信息并不受欢迎。传道人既要传讲受欢迎的信息,也要传讲不受欢迎的信息。
The preaching of the Word is for the stouthearted, because people are seeking something light and easy. People today are not responsive to strong teaching and sound doctrine, they will follow false teachers such as Joel Osteen and Joseph Prince like lemmings jumping off a cliff
神的话语是宣讲给坚强的人听的,因为人们现如今寻求的是轻省的事。现今人们对言辞强烈的教导及好的教义没有反应,他们会随从错误的老师比如Joel Osteen 和 Joseph Prince,就像旅鼠从悬崖上跳下去。
In verse 5, Paul reminds Timothy, that when this happens, he is to be sober minded and to endure suffering. When you preach the gospel, you have to have your wits about you and you will be criticised for the preaching of the truth.
在第5节保罗提醒提摩太,当这些事发生的时候,要凡事谨慎,忍受苦难。当你在传讲福音时,你必须要有智慧,你会因为传讲真理而受到批判。
Paul counsels Timothy to continue to fulfil his ministry; keep sharing the gospel, and all of Scripture. Make this your end goal. He goes on to talk about that he has fulfilled his ministry in verses 6-9 and urges Timothy to do the same.
保罗劝提摩太要尽他的职分,持续不断的分享福音和全部经文。让这点成为你的的最终目标。保罗接着在6-9节讲到他完成了他的使命,也力劝提摩太如此行。
CHRISTIAN PREACHER:
Are you preaching the whole counsel of God?
In your preaching, do you reprove and rebuke?
Do you preach truth, whether your church members like it or not?
Are you fulfilling your ministry?
Are you doing the work of an evangelist or messenger?
Are you preaching the word, the whole word and nothing but the word?
God is watching and he and he and he alone will judge
基督徒传道人:
你有没有传讲上帝全部的旨意?
你传讲的信息中有没有包含责备和劝诫?
无论教会的人喜不喜欢,你是否会传讲真理?
你有没有完成你的使命?
你是做布道者的工作还是传递信息的工作?
你是否传讲神的话语,全部的话语?只有神的话语而无其他?
上帝在看着我们,有而且只有祂最终会审判你我。
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
GO TO JESUS
From: Charlie Dean
"For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin...Hebrews 4:15."
None of us are perfect, we try but we fail. We say no to sin, yet, occasionally, the best of us stumble. That's why 1 John 1:9 is there: "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness."
But consider this, Jesus was without sin as it states in Hebrews. He walked as a man, and never sinned, not once. He was perfect, without sin, and the devil couldn't lay a glove on him. Nope, perfect he walked, not some days but EVERY DAY. Every day, he could look evil in the eye, and evil had to back down. Yet, this perfect soldier of God's, this perfect man, this Son of God, permitted himself to be hung on the cross and ALL THE SIN in the world was dumped on him. He permitted this, having defeated them all, he then hung on the cross and permitted sin to be put on him for us.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
When we have problems and are faced with temptations, let’s go to Jesus. He not only defeated sin but left his words behind and the Holy Spirit to guide us. Let’s do as the word says in Hebrews 4:16: "Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Let’s do that! A strong, brave, and fearless soldier paid the price that we could make that walk and come boldly before God and if anyone says who said you could come before the Throne of Grace, then just say, “Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God”. You'll get your pass to the throne. Have a blessed day.
[size=18]The grand object of the eye of faith!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"We fix our eyes not on what is seen--but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!"
2 Corinthians 4:18
In our Christian pilgrimage it is well for the most part to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown--and onward is the goal. Whether it is for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love--the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith!
Looking into the future--the Christian sees sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, thesoul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of eternal glory. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed. He sees himself . . .
enter within the pearly gates,
hailed as more than conqueror,
crowned by the hand of Christ,
embraced in the arms of Jesus,
glorified with Him, and
made to sit together with Him on His throne!
Contemplation of my glorious future may well relieve,
the darkness of the past, and
the gloom of the present!
The joys of Heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth!
Hush, hush, my fears!
Death is but a narrow stream--and you shall soon have forded it!
Death--how brief!
Immortality--how endless!
Time--how short!
Eternity--how long!
The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there!
"In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me--but to all those who have loved His appearing!" 2 Timothy 4:8
"Our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who . . . will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body!" Philippians 3:20-21
[/size]
From: Charlie Dean
"For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin...Hebrews 4:15."
None of us are perfect, we try but we fail. We say no to sin, yet, occasionally, the best of us stumble. That's why 1 John 1:9 is there: "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness."
But consider this, Jesus was without sin as it states in Hebrews. He walked as a man, and never sinned, not once. He was perfect, without sin, and the devil couldn't lay a glove on him. Nope, perfect he walked, not some days but EVERY DAY. Every day, he could look evil in the eye, and evil had to back down. Yet, this perfect soldier of God's, this perfect man, this Son of God, permitted himself to be hung on the cross and ALL THE SIN in the world was dumped on him. He permitted this, having defeated them all, he then hung on the cross and permitted sin to be put on him for us.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
When we have problems and are faced with temptations, let’s go to Jesus. He not only defeated sin but left his words behind and the Holy Spirit to guide us. Let’s do as the word says in Hebrews 4:16: "Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Let’s do that! A strong, brave, and fearless soldier paid the price that we could make that walk and come boldly before God and if anyone says who said you could come before the Throne of Grace, then just say, “Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God”. You'll get your pass to the throne. Have a blessed day.
[size=18]The grand object of the eye of faith!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"We fix our eyes not on what is seen--but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!"
2 Corinthians 4:18
In our Christian pilgrimage it is well for the most part to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown--and onward is the goal. Whether it is for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love--the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith!
Looking into the future--the Christian sees sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, thesoul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of eternal glory. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed. He sees himself . . .
enter within the pearly gates,
hailed as more than conqueror,
crowned by the hand of Christ,
embraced in the arms of Jesus,
glorified with Him, and
made to sit together with Him on His throne!
Contemplation of my glorious future may well relieve,
the darkness of the past, and
the gloom of the present!
The joys of Heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth!
Hush, hush, my fears!
Death is but a narrow stream--and you shall soon have forded it!
Death--how brief!
Immortality--how endless!
Time--how short!
Eternity--how long!
The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there!
"In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me--but to all those who have loved His appearing!" 2 Timothy 4:8
"Our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who . . . will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body!" Philippians 3:20-21
[/size]
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
[size=17]Hello Dear Friend
These are Noonday devotions, my Name is Keith or as everyone calls me KK and I am British. I live in Nanjing China, where I am an English tutor. My Chinese wife and I have been married seven years
I hope you enjoy the devotions, I am not a pastor, just an ordinary Christian who loves the word of God and to share what God shows me from his word. Hope you enjoy the devotions, They have been proofread, I am a simple guy who God chooses to use
The only thing I ask is that you share them with your friends and social media groups. I do this for free to benefit the Body of Christ, no donations accepted or asked
Please listen to the sermons at the bottom, I have heard every word and they are really good.
If you don't wish to receive these devotions, just let me know. If you have been blessed then please let me know also. If you have been sent these devotions and would like to receive them directly or to make contact with me, then email me at keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com
ACTS 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
THERE SOME THINGS YOU NEED NOT KNOW
In life, there are some things we shouldn't know, or to put it another way, it's better not to know certain things.
I wonder if we know the date and time of the second coming? How wonderful it would be if we knew the day of Christ’ return…right? Maybe it would change the way we live and share the gospel.
Jesus is the One coming back, and even He doesn't know the time he is coming back, so you think….we are going to let you in on a secret.
Look at the cults, nearly every cult proclaims they know the date of Christ's second coming, and they have been made to look very foolish.
But we are given clues, yes in passages such as Matthew 24 and others.
But our primary focus is one of watching and serving God. We will see our jobs in the second devotion.
The ten virgins are a prime example. Only five trimmed their lamps; many people inside the church will be caught unaware when Jesus comes again.
What will happen if he finds the Christian in adultery or doing something he/she shouldn't? Do you think he will be taken and raptured?
We shouldn’t worry when He will return; Our focus should be on living our lives as if He could return at any moment. That means serving God and living lives of holiness that please Him.
GOD BLESS
KK
[/size]
[size=17]ACTS 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
DYNAMIC WITNESSING
We saw in the first devotion, that we aren't to be worried about when Jesus will come. It's interesting that Jesus hasn't even ascended back to heaven and the disciples are trying to find out when He is returning.
What is the key word here? It is BUT!
Jesus recommissions the disciples. Remember in Matthew 28, He said all power is given in heaven and earth to Him, and now that power was to be given to the Apostles and Disciples.
What would of happened if the disciples had gone directly to the temple and started preaching? Nothing would of happened, because the Holy Spirit wasn't given to them yet!
It's great to look into the Greek here. "Power" is the word dunamis, which is where we get the English word, dynamite. Remember, that we don't just have a message that is powerful, but one that is ABSOLUTE DYNAMITE! A message that shatters nations and empires.
The second Greek word is maturos. This is the word for "witnesses." We get our English word, martyr from this; nearly all the twelve disciples became martrys, all except John.
God had a plan: first the Jews, then Samaria and then the Gentiles. God knows what He's doing and we have to follow His leading.
Notice also that the power was personal, "ye shall receive power," that is still the case today. We have the same power, that dunamis living inside of us. Why is it living inside of us? Because we are to be bold witnesses for Christ; we are to do the same things as the disciples did! They said they were there to tell what they had seen and heard Jesus do. It is our purpose to tell what Jesus has done in our lives.
May we be witnesses just like the disciples were to all Jesus said and did…Amen.
Filled with dynamic power.
GOD BLESS YOU
KK
Sermons
First Part of a series of 6 by Ben Reaoch on the Song of Solomon.. these are so wonderful
Sexually Redeemed, Introduction to Song of Solomon
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=25121718506
A love song begins ch 1-2:7[/size]
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=25121725154
My Beloved is Mine and I am his Ch 2:8-3:5
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33112932291
The call to Ministry by Mark Minnick Acts 16:1-3
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33151457532
These are Noonday devotions, my Name is Keith or as everyone calls me KK and I am British. I live in Nanjing China, where I am an English tutor. My Chinese wife and I have been married seven years
I hope you enjoy the devotions, I am not a pastor, just an ordinary Christian who loves the word of God and to share what God shows me from his word. Hope you enjoy the devotions, They have been proofread, I am a simple guy who God chooses to use
The only thing I ask is that you share them with your friends and social media groups. I do this for free to benefit the Body of Christ, no donations accepted or asked
Please listen to the sermons at the bottom, I have heard every word and they are really good.
If you don't wish to receive these devotions, just let me know. If you have been blessed then please let me know also. If you have been sent these devotions and would like to receive them directly or to make contact with me, then email me at keitherichobkirk@hotmail.com
ACTS 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
THERE SOME THINGS YOU NEED NOT KNOW
In life, there are some things we shouldn't know, or to put it another way, it's better not to know certain things.
I wonder if we know the date and time of the second coming? How wonderful it would be if we knew the day of Christ’ return…right? Maybe it would change the way we live and share the gospel.
Jesus is the One coming back, and even He doesn't know the time he is coming back, so you think….we are going to let you in on a secret.
Look at the cults, nearly every cult proclaims they know the date of Christ's second coming, and they have been made to look very foolish.
But we are given clues, yes in passages such as Matthew 24 and others.
But our primary focus is one of watching and serving God. We will see our jobs in the second devotion.
The ten virgins are a prime example. Only five trimmed their lamps; many people inside the church will be caught unaware when Jesus comes again.
What will happen if he finds the Christian in adultery or doing something he/she shouldn't? Do you think he will be taken and raptured?
We shouldn’t worry when He will return; Our focus should be on living our lives as if He could return at any moment. That means serving God and living lives of holiness that please Him.
GOD BLESS
KK
[/size]
[size=17]ACTS 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
DYNAMIC WITNESSING
We saw in the first devotion, that we aren't to be worried about when Jesus will come. It's interesting that Jesus hasn't even ascended back to heaven and the disciples are trying to find out when He is returning.
What is the key word here? It is BUT!
Jesus recommissions the disciples. Remember in Matthew 28, He said all power is given in heaven and earth to Him, and now that power was to be given to the Apostles and Disciples.
What would of happened if the disciples had gone directly to the temple and started preaching? Nothing would of happened, because the Holy Spirit wasn't given to them yet!
It's great to look into the Greek here. "Power" is the word dunamis, which is where we get the English word, dynamite. Remember, that we don't just have a message that is powerful, but one that is ABSOLUTE DYNAMITE! A message that shatters nations and empires.
The second Greek word is maturos. This is the word for "witnesses." We get our English word, martyr from this; nearly all the twelve disciples became martrys, all except John.
God had a plan: first the Jews, then Samaria and then the Gentiles. God knows what He's doing and we have to follow His leading.
Notice also that the power was personal, "ye shall receive power," that is still the case today. We have the same power, that dunamis living inside of us. Why is it living inside of us? Because we are to be bold witnesses for Christ; we are to do the same things as the disciples did! They said they were there to tell what they had seen and heard Jesus do. It is our purpose to tell what Jesus has done in our lives.
May we be witnesses just like the disciples were to all Jesus said and did…Amen.
Filled with dynamic power.
GOD BLESS YOU
KK
Sermons
First Part of a series of 6 by Ben Reaoch on the Song of Solomon.. these are so wonderful
Sexually Redeemed, Introduction to Song of Solomon
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=25121718506
A love song begins ch 1-2:7[/size]
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=25121725154
My Beloved is Mine and I am his Ch 2:8-3:5
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33112932291
The call to Ministry by Mark Minnick Acts 16:1-3
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=33151457532
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
[size=30]The Wednesday Word [/size]
[size=30]
Saved and Safe[/size]
Saved and Safe[/size]
[size=30]
D.G. Miles McKee[/size]
D.G. Miles McKee[/size]
[size=30]“They shall Never Perish” John 10:28.
"Did Jesus once upon thee shine?
Then Jesus is forever thine."
William Hammond
There is no need for believers to fear death or judgment. Our advocate and Judge are one and the same (2 Timothy 4:1). We are, therefore, saved and we are safe (1 John 2:1).
John Newton, the writer of Amazing Grace says of the safety of the believer,
“Rejoice, believer, in the Lord
Who makes your cause His own;
The hope that’s built upon His Word,
Can ne’er be overthrown.
Though many foes beset your road,
And feeble is your arm;
Your life is hidden with Christ in God
Beyond the reach of harm..
Weak as you are, you shall not faint,
Or fainting shall not die;
Jesus, the strength of every saint,
Will aid you from on high..”
We are both saved and safe! Those whom the Saviour has rescued can never be un-rescued.
Concerning people who believe that we can be saved and then lost, Spurgeon said, and I paraphrase, ‘Those who hold this view need to go up to heaven and set the angels straight on this matter. They need to tell them not to rejoice until the sinner dies and goes to heaven, because they may be rejoicing too soon. What if he repents but later falls away and is lost? The angels shouldn’t be so fast with their joy!’ (see Luke 15:10).
We are both saved and safe!
The purchased of the Lord cannot be unpurchased. If a person could lose their salvation, the following would have to happen ...
l. They would have to perish, which Christ said could never happen (John 10:28).
2. Christ would have to cast them out, which He promised never to do (John 6:37).
3. Christ would have to leave them, which He said He would never do (Hebrews 13:5).
4. God would have to break the salvation "chain" of Romans 8:29-30 which clearly declares that every justified person will be glorified (that is, will enjoy final salvation).
5. The Holy Spirit would have to leave them, which is impossible since he is sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
Salvation is the gift of God and God’s gifts are “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
Christ gives His sheep the gift of eternal life (John 10-17-28).
Eternal life, therefore, cannot be temporary.
It is eternal life.
It is not provisional life,
It’s eternal.
We are both saved and safe!
When Christ Jesus hung upon the cross all the sins of His people …past, present and future were put away forever. Satan was dealt a fatal blow (Colossians 2:15). The work of redemption was finished. When Christ died, He died as the substitute for His people. If someone for whom He became a substitute can perish, then Christ is a failure.
But, we are both saved and safe and Christ is a success!
“But what if I mess up?”
Here’s some good news; Jesus is fuller of grace than we are of sins. Faith grasps this! It’s true that at times, we may not feel worthy enough to call God our Father, but the New Testament asks, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is Christ who died yeah rather has risen again who is now at the right hand of God making intercession for us” (Romans 8:33-34).
We are both saved and safe!
And that´s the Gospel Truth![/size]
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
SERMONS
ENGLISH
CORONA: THE CHURCH'S WARNING BY ROBERT MCCURLEY LAMENTATIONS 3
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=3182018036962
YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN BY STEVEN LAWSON
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=26202048467425
ENGLISH/CHINESE
JESUS CHRIST AND HIS GOSPEL BY PAUL WASHER
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=52319929284643
GOD IS LIGHT BY BOB JENNINGS 1 JOHN 1
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=52419553196167
[size=14]1 TIMOTHY 1
提摩太前书1章
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able for this, because He considered me faithful and trustworthy, putting me into service [for this ministry], 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shamefuland outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord [His amazing, unmerited favor and blessing] flowed out in superabundance [for me, together] with the faith and love which are [realized] in Christ Jesus.
12我感谢那给我力量的我们主基督耶稣,因祂以我有忠心,派我服侍祂。13我从前是亵渎神的,逼迫人的,侮慢人的,然而我还蒙了怜悯,因我是不信、不明白的时候而作的。14并且我主的恩是格外丰盛,使我在基督耶稣里有信心和爱心。
ABUNDANT FAVOR
丰富的恩典
Paul says in verse 15, that he is the chief of sinners. In several passages throughout the NT, he tells us why he was, not just here, but also in Philippians 3.
保罗在1章第15节说道,在罪人中他是个罪魁。在新约的几页经文当中,他告诉我们他为什么曾经是罪魁,不光是在第15节,也在腓立比书第3章中。
He previously abused and persecuted believers. He was the John Newton of his day, who could say 1700 years afterwards:
他此前虐待和迫害信徒。他是他那个时代的约翰 牛顿,后者在1700年后说:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
多么奇妙的恩典!多么甜美的声音!
拯救了像我这样不幸的人!
我曾经迷失,但是现在已被主找到;
我曾经眼瞎,但是现在得以看见主。
Like John Newton, Paul does not hide his sin from us; he states that he was a shameful and violent aggressor towards the church, but and here is the key word.. have you got it: YET!
像约翰 牛顿一样,保罗并没有在我们面前掩饰他的罪;他申明他曾是针对教会可耻及暴力的攻击者,但是这里是关键词……你已经知道了吗?尚未!
He was shown mercy. God could and should have sent Paul and the rest of us to hell.. but YET.. we have obtained mercy; mercy is God not giving us what do rightfully deserve, amen. Indeed He gave what we deserved to His Son, we deserved his wrath, but so that we could be redeemed. Jesus paid the price and took the full anger of God upon His Son.
上帝给予他宽恕。上帝本应能将保罗和我们送入地狱,但是祂没有……我们已经获得了宽恕;宽恕不是上帝因我们做了正义的事而给我们所得的,阿们。的确,祂把我们应得的给了祂的儿子,我们应得祂的愤怒,但是我们因而被救赎。耶稣作为祂的儿子,付出了代价及承受了祂所有的愤怒。
Paul's eyes were blinded by unbelief and hatred, as he said; he had a deep zeal for God, but it was completely misplaced.
保罗的眼睛被不信和仇恨蒙蔽,正如他所说,他对上帝有深深的渴望,但是完全放错地方了。
I am in completely in awe of verse 14, grace you remember is receiving what you don't deserve. It is totally unmerited; we did not do anything to earn it, but we receive it and here's the best thing.. not just in abundance but in SUPERABUNDANCE.
我完全敬畏第14节经文,你应记得,你现在所受的恩典是你不配得到的。这完全是不应受的;我们并没有做任何事去赢得恩典,但是我们得到了恩典,这是最好的事,不光是丰富的恩典,而且是极为丰富的恩典。
Remember what Grace is from this little analogy
记住,通过类推获悉恩典Grace这个五个字母代表什么。
G... God's 上帝的
R... Riches 丰富
A... At 以
C... Christ's 基督
E... Expense 为代价
My favourite hymn is Amazing Grace.. probably is Paul's too.
我最喜欢的赞美诗是《奇异恩典》,也许保罗也最喜欢。
Has the superabundant grace of God touched your life?
上帝及其丰富的恩典已经触及到你的生活了吗?
God bless you
上帝祝福你!
Keith
1 TIMOTHY 1
提摩太前书1
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
15“基督耶稣降世,为要拯救罪人。”这话是可信的,是十分可佩服的。在罪人中我是个罪魁。
THE CHIEF OF SINNERS
罪人中的罪魁
Jesus came to seek and to save sinners, people like us, who had no hope. We who once were God's enemies are now his friends. Look at Paul; he was the enemy of the cross of Christ, but God turned him around. Maybe you haven't come from such a background as Paul. Maybe you grew up in church and thought that you aren't an enemy of God.. but you are! You are hopelessly separated from God and alienated from HIM. If you do not know Christ as your personal Saviour, the first step is to realise that you are the chief of sinners.
耶稣来寻找并拯救像我们一样没有希望的罪人。我们曾经是上帝的敌人但是现是祂的朋友。看看保罗,他曾是基督十字架的敌人,但是上帝使其回转。或许你并没有像保罗一样的背景;或许你在教会中长大,也从不是上帝的敌人……但是你是上帝的敌人!你绝望地和祂分离并疏远。如果你不知道基督是你个人的救主,那么你首先就应该意识到你是罪人中的罪魁。
Jesus came and rescued us. He pulled us out of the miry clay and set us upon a rock: Psalm 40:1-4. It took the ultimate sacrifice of the spotless lamb of God to save your soul believer.
耶稣来拯救我们。祂把我们从淤泥里拉出来并将我们放到磐石上:诗篇第40篇1-4节。为了拯救你们信徒的灵魂,上帝的羔羊牺牲了自己的生命。
To Jesus, we are the chief sinner. If you were the only sinner in the world, then Jesus would have come to save you and die a humiliating death on the cross.
对于耶稣来说,我们是罪魁。如果你们是世界上唯一的罪人,那么耶稣将已经来拯救了你们并在十字架上耻辱地死去。
Paul knew that he was the chief of sinners, because on Jesus was laid all his sin. He took it all.. He drank the full cup of God's wrath for us.
保罗知道他是罪魁,因为耶稣把所有的罪都加在了祂身上。祂拿去了所有罪……祂为我们喝光了神忿怒的杯。
Ephesians 2:12, it says that we were without hope and without God in the world. It is because we were without hope that Jesus came into the world. He didn't come into the world to give us a good moral example or say some nice words.
以弗所书第2章12节说我们曾经在地上没有希望,也没有上帝。正是因为我们没有失望,耶稣才会来这个世上。祂来这个世上不是为了给我们提供好的道德榜样或者说漂亮的话。
If you have never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as you Saviour, then you need to do so today.. now is the accepted time.. now is the right time to do this. The first step is to realise that like Paul, that you are:
如果你从未接受耶稣基督作为你的救主,那么你需要今天开始……现在就是接受祂的时间……现在就是这样做的时间。第一步就是像保罗那样意识到你是:
THE CHIEF OF SINNERS
罪人中的罪魁
God bless you
上帝祝福你![/size]
ENGLISH
CORONA: THE CHURCH'S WARNING BY ROBERT MCCURLEY LAMENTATIONS 3
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=3182018036962
YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN BY STEVEN LAWSON
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=26202048467425
ENGLISH/CHINESE
JESUS CHRIST AND HIS GOSPEL BY PAUL WASHER
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=52319929284643
GOD IS LIGHT BY BOB JENNINGS 1 JOHN 1
https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=52419553196167
[size=14]1 TIMOTHY 1
提摩太前书1章
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able for this, because He considered me faithful and trustworthy, putting me into service [for this ministry], 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shamefuland outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord [His amazing, unmerited favor and blessing] flowed out in superabundance [for me, together] with the faith and love which are [realized] in Christ Jesus.
12我感谢那给我力量的我们主基督耶稣,因祂以我有忠心,派我服侍祂。13我从前是亵渎神的,逼迫人的,侮慢人的,然而我还蒙了怜悯,因我是不信、不明白的时候而作的。14并且我主的恩是格外丰盛,使我在基督耶稣里有信心和爱心。
ABUNDANT FAVOR
丰富的恩典
Paul says in verse 15, that he is the chief of sinners. In several passages throughout the NT, he tells us why he was, not just here, but also in Philippians 3.
保罗在1章第15节说道,在罪人中他是个罪魁。在新约的几页经文当中,他告诉我们他为什么曾经是罪魁,不光是在第15节,也在腓立比书第3章中。
He previously abused and persecuted believers. He was the John Newton of his day, who could say 1700 years afterwards:
他此前虐待和迫害信徒。他是他那个时代的约翰 牛顿,后者在1700年后说:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
多么奇妙的恩典!多么甜美的声音!
拯救了像我这样不幸的人!
我曾经迷失,但是现在已被主找到;
我曾经眼瞎,但是现在得以看见主。
Like John Newton, Paul does not hide his sin from us; he states that he was a shameful and violent aggressor towards the church, but and here is the key word.. have you got it: YET!
像约翰 牛顿一样,保罗并没有在我们面前掩饰他的罪;他申明他曾是针对教会可耻及暴力的攻击者,但是这里是关键词……你已经知道了吗?尚未!
He was shown mercy. God could and should have sent Paul and the rest of us to hell.. but YET.. we have obtained mercy; mercy is God not giving us what do rightfully deserve, amen. Indeed He gave what we deserved to His Son, we deserved his wrath, but so that we could be redeemed. Jesus paid the price and took the full anger of God upon His Son.
上帝给予他宽恕。上帝本应能将保罗和我们送入地狱,但是祂没有……我们已经获得了宽恕;宽恕不是上帝因我们做了正义的事而给我们所得的,阿们。的确,祂把我们应得的给了祂的儿子,我们应得祂的愤怒,但是我们因而被救赎。耶稣作为祂的儿子,付出了代价及承受了祂所有的愤怒。
Paul's eyes were blinded by unbelief and hatred, as he said; he had a deep zeal for God, but it was completely misplaced.
保罗的眼睛被不信和仇恨蒙蔽,正如他所说,他对上帝有深深的渴望,但是完全放错地方了。
I am in completely in awe of verse 14, grace you remember is receiving what you don't deserve. It is totally unmerited; we did not do anything to earn it, but we receive it and here's the best thing.. not just in abundance but in SUPERABUNDANCE.
我完全敬畏第14节经文,你应记得,你现在所受的恩典是你不配得到的。这完全是不应受的;我们并没有做任何事去赢得恩典,但是我们得到了恩典,这是最好的事,不光是丰富的恩典,而且是极为丰富的恩典。
Remember what Grace is from this little analogy
记住,通过类推获悉恩典Grace这个五个字母代表什么。
G... God's 上帝的
R... Riches 丰富
A... At 以
C... Christ's 基督
E... Expense 为代价
My favourite hymn is Amazing Grace.. probably is Paul's too.
我最喜欢的赞美诗是《奇异恩典》,也许保罗也最喜欢。
Has the superabundant grace of God touched your life?
上帝及其丰富的恩典已经触及到你的生活了吗?
God bless you
上帝祝福你!
Keith
1 TIMOTHY 1
提摩太前书1
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
15“基督耶稣降世,为要拯救罪人。”这话是可信的,是十分可佩服的。在罪人中我是个罪魁。
THE CHIEF OF SINNERS
罪人中的罪魁
Jesus came to seek and to save sinners, people like us, who had no hope. We who once were God's enemies are now his friends. Look at Paul; he was the enemy of the cross of Christ, but God turned him around. Maybe you haven't come from such a background as Paul. Maybe you grew up in church and thought that you aren't an enemy of God.. but you are! You are hopelessly separated from God and alienated from HIM. If you do not know Christ as your personal Saviour, the first step is to realise that you are the chief of sinners.
耶稣来寻找并拯救像我们一样没有希望的罪人。我们曾经是上帝的敌人但是现是祂的朋友。看看保罗,他曾是基督十字架的敌人,但是上帝使其回转。或许你并没有像保罗一样的背景;或许你在教会中长大,也从不是上帝的敌人……但是你是上帝的敌人!你绝望地和祂分离并疏远。如果你不知道基督是你个人的救主,那么你首先就应该意识到你是罪人中的罪魁。
Jesus came and rescued us. He pulled us out of the miry clay and set us upon a rock: Psalm 40:1-4. It took the ultimate sacrifice of the spotless lamb of God to save your soul believer.
耶稣来拯救我们。祂把我们从淤泥里拉出来并将我们放到磐石上:诗篇第40篇1-4节。为了拯救你们信徒的灵魂,上帝的羔羊牺牲了自己的生命。
To Jesus, we are the chief sinner. If you were the only sinner in the world, then Jesus would have come to save you and die a humiliating death on the cross.
对于耶稣来说,我们是罪魁。如果你们是世界上唯一的罪人,那么耶稣将已经来拯救了你们并在十字架上耻辱地死去。
Paul knew that he was the chief of sinners, because on Jesus was laid all his sin. He took it all.. He drank the full cup of God's wrath for us.
保罗知道他是罪魁,因为耶稣把所有的罪都加在了祂身上。祂拿去了所有罪……祂为我们喝光了神忿怒的杯。
Ephesians 2:12, it says that we were without hope and without God in the world. It is because we were without hope that Jesus came into the world. He didn't come into the world to give us a good moral example or say some nice words.
以弗所书第2章12节说我们曾经在地上没有希望,也没有上帝。正是因为我们没有失望,耶稣才会来这个世上。祂来这个世上不是为了给我们提供好的道德榜样或者说漂亮的话。
If you have never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as you Saviour, then you need to do so today.. now is the accepted time.. now is the right time to do this. The first step is to realise that like Paul, that you are:
如果你从未接受耶稣基督作为你的救主,那么你需要今天开始……现在就是接受祂的时间……现在就是这样做的时间。第一步就是像保罗那样意识到你是:
THE CHIEF OF SINNERS
罪人中的罪魁
God bless you
上帝祝福你![/size]
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
DAILY PRAYER
Lord we Thank and Praise you for all you do each day to guide, protect, provide, and answer every petition as they make their needs, wants, and the desires of their hearts known to you.
Lord please bless, keep, guide, and provide each person this message reaches. Throughout each day, bless them with perfect health, healing, and the abundant supply to fulfill all they need, want or desire. Keep each of them safe and secure, no matter the weather, temperatures, or other circumstances that should try to cause their body, mind or our spirits to be tried and tested! Guide each of them as they pray, ask, and require. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20 ; Luke 1:1-4; Luke 18:1-8 ; Colossians 1:9-23; Romans 8:26-30)
Dear Lord in sharing the words of prayers and words of wisdom from history, I hope to encourage all my readers of these messages, to show that we are not experiencing anything that others have not, and to show that you always provide. Let the readers also reflect on the time and circumstances of these prayers and words of wisdom, so they may draw strength and insight from them.
God knows us through and through. Not the most secret thought, which we most hide from ourselves, is hidden from him.. As then we come to know ourselves through and through, we come to see ourselves more as God sees us, and then we catch some little glimpse of his designs with us, how each ordering of his providence, each check to our desires, each failure of our hopes, is just fitted for us, and for something in our own spiritual state, which others know not of, and which, till then, we knew not. Until we come to this knowledge, we must take all in faith, believing, though we know not, the goodness of God toward us.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
Have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous day in the Lord today!
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links I remove, but items that are in bold print, usually were linked, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to the devotion online)
I remember walking out of the state-of-the-art fertility clinic with my husband. We had come to seek a second opinion from a highly regarded infertility specialist after four years of testing, treatments, and heartache.
Our appointment with the doctor had not gone well. He was arrogant, overlooked our questions, and seemed flippant about our journey as he outlined his proposed course of treatment. We left his office feeling uneasy and confused about what our next steps should be.
As we stepped into the sunshine and walked to our car, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “This is not what I have for you.” My husband felt the exact same pull on his heart.
At the time, we thought perhaps the Lord did not like this particular doctor or his chosen methods for helping us, but as the days went by, we both had a stronger sense that God was actually calling us away from infertility treatments as a whole.
The more I prayed about it, the more I sensed God was asking us to lay our efforts aside. It was time to put away the medication, stop the doctor appointments, cease striving and join Him on the long, hard road of childlessness.
At first, every fiber in my being resisted. I begged God to give us something else to pursue — a different doctor, adoption, natural remedies for healing my body. Over and over, I heard God say, “That is not what I have for you. Come join me on this road through the wilderness.”
To many people, I’m sure it looked like we had just given up and thrown in the towel on our plans to start a family. The truth is, we were (and still are) obediently following God on this hard road that He has called us to. It may not make sense to the world around us, and it occasionally does not make sense to me either, but I know we are doing what He has asked of us and Jesus has sustained us every step of the way.
God often calls us to difficult things. In Matthew 7:14, Jesus said, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Did you notice where the hard way leads? It leads to life.
Our difficult calling has a destination. God does not ask us to wander the wilderness aimlessly. Our roads are going somewhere glorious — into the heart of God Himself.
The Greek word used for life is zōē, and it holds a sense of vitality, fullness, animation, and devotion to God. It is the absolute fullness of life with God. This is the same word that Jesus uses in John 10:10 when He speaks about the abundant life. These hard roads are highly profitable if we are willing to stay on them.
Jesus was no stranger to walking difficult roads — His entire ministry was fraught with hardship, and the final days of His life were especially lonely and painful.
From the Garden of Gethsemane to standing trial, being beaten and tortured, and then dying on a cross, Jesus stayed true to the call God had given Him. Jesus had plenty of opportunities to step off His hard road. He could have summoned legions of angels. He could have taken Himself down off the cross. He could have avoided the whole ordeal altogether, but He chose to remain “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
So how exactly do we stay on our hard roads? What kept Jesus on the course that the Father had called him to? 1 Peter 2:23 gives us the answer to that question, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
Jesus continually entrusted Himself to God. Over and over, He trusted in the love of his Father and in the eternally redemptive outcome of His plan, and we are invited to do the same.
God desires that we might entrust ourselves daily to Him. We do this simply by walking with Him in prayer, reading His Word, and trusting in His good and loving heart. We can stay the course by following Christ’s example.
Friends, I don’t know what hard road God has called you to right now. Maybe it’s singleness or enduring an invisible illness, maybe it’s working in a job you dislike or living with family members who test your patience every day.
Hard roads are hard. The easy way out is tempting, but if God has called you to walk on a difficult path, He will sustain you on it. So fix your eyes on Jesus, entrust yourself to God, and keep putting one foot in front of another as you journey toward the life in God that awaits you.
Lord we Thank and Praise you for all you do each day to guide, protect, provide, and answer every petition as they make their needs, wants, and the desires of their hearts known to you.
Lord please bless, keep, guide, and provide each person this message reaches. Throughout each day, bless them with perfect health, healing, and the abundant supply to fulfill all they need, want or desire. Keep each of them safe and secure, no matter the weather, temperatures, or other circumstances that should try to cause their body, mind or our spirits to be tried and tested! Guide each of them as they pray, ask, and require. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 6:10-20 ; Luke 1:1-4; Luke 18:1-8 ; Colossians 1:9-23; Romans 8:26-30)
Dear Lord in sharing the words of prayers and words of wisdom from history, I hope to encourage all my readers of these messages, to show that we are not experiencing anything that others have not, and to show that you always provide. Let the readers also reflect on the time and circumstances of these prayers and words of wisdom, so they may draw strength and insight from them.
God knows us through and through. Not the most secret thought, which we most hide from ourselves, is hidden from him.. As then we come to know ourselves through and through, we come to see ourselves more as God sees us, and then we catch some little glimpse of his designs with us, how each ordering of his providence, each check to our desires, each failure of our hopes, is just fitted for us, and for something in our own spiritual state, which others know not of, and which, till then, we knew not. Until we come to this knowledge, we must take all in faith, believing, though we know not, the goodness of God toward us.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
Have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous day in the Lord today!
TODAYS DEVOTIONS
(It is not my intent to be a salesperson, just send uplifting and encouraging devotions, so all links I remove, but items that are in bold print, usually were linked, the attached PDF still has hot links or you can follow the link at the bottom to the devotion online)
I remember walking out of the state-of-the-art fertility clinic with my husband. We had come to seek a second opinion from a highly regarded infertility specialist after four years of testing, treatments, and heartache.
Our appointment with the doctor had not gone well. He was arrogant, overlooked our questions, and seemed flippant about our journey as he outlined his proposed course of treatment. We left his office feeling uneasy and confused about what our next steps should be.
As we stepped into the sunshine and walked to our car, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “This is not what I have for you.” My husband felt the exact same pull on his heart.
At the time, we thought perhaps the Lord did not like this particular doctor or his chosen methods for helping us, but as the days went by, we both had a stronger sense that God was actually calling us away from infertility treatments as a whole.
The more I prayed about it, the more I sensed God was asking us to lay our efforts aside. It was time to put away the medication, stop the doctor appointments, cease striving and join Him on the long, hard road of childlessness.
At first, every fiber in my being resisted. I begged God to give us something else to pursue — a different doctor, adoption, natural remedies for healing my body. Over and over, I heard God say, “That is not what I have for you. Come join me on this road through the wilderness.”
To many people, I’m sure it looked like we had just given up and thrown in the towel on our plans to start a family. The truth is, we were (and still are) obediently following God on this hard road that He has called us to. It may not make sense to the world around us, and it occasionally does not make sense to me either, but I know we are doing what He has asked of us and Jesus has sustained us every step of the way.
God often calls us to difficult things. In Matthew 7:14, Jesus said, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Did you notice where the hard way leads? It leads to life.
Our difficult calling has a destination. God does not ask us to wander the wilderness aimlessly. Our roads are going somewhere glorious — into the heart of God Himself.
The Greek word used for life is zōē, and it holds a sense of vitality, fullness, animation, and devotion to God. It is the absolute fullness of life with God. This is the same word that Jesus uses in John 10:10 when He speaks about the abundant life. These hard roads are highly profitable if we are willing to stay on them.
Jesus was no stranger to walking difficult roads — His entire ministry was fraught with hardship, and the final days of His life were especially lonely and painful.
From the Garden of Gethsemane to standing trial, being beaten and tortured, and then dying on a cross, Jesus stayed true to the call God had given Him. Jesus had plenty of opportunities to step off His hard road. He could have summoned legions of angels. He could have taken Himself down off the cross. He could have avoided the whole ordeal altogether, but He chose to remain “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
So how exactly do we stay on our hard roads? What kept Jesus on the course that the Father had called him to? 1 Peter 2:23 gives us the answer to that question, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
Jesus continually entrusted Himself to God. Over and over, He trusted in the love of his Father and in the eternally redemptive outcome of His plan, and we are invited to do the same.
God desires that we might entrust ourselves daily to Him. We do this simply by walking with Him in prayer, reading His Word, and trusting in His good and loving heart. We can stay the course by following Christ’s example.
Friends, I don’t know what hard road God has called you to right now. Maybe it’s singleness or enduring an invisible illness, maybe it’s working in a job you dislike or living with family members who test your patience every day.
Hard roads are hard. The easy way out is tempting, but if God has called you to walk on a difficult path, He will sustain you on it. So fix your eyes on Jesus, entrust yourself to God, and keep putting one foot in front of another as you journey toward the life in God that awaits you.
Re: KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
[size=30]The Wednesday Word[/size]
Law and Gospel Grace.
D.G. Miles McKee
“Moreover, the Law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).
“Many there are who think that the Law is the Gospel and who teach that men by good works of benevolence, honesty, righteousness and sobriety, may be saved. Such men do err. On the other hand, many teach that the Gospel is a Law–that it has certain commands in it by obedience to which men are meritoriously saved. Such men err from the Truth and understand it not.”
C.H. Spurgeon: Law and Grace
“Run, John, run, the law commands
But gives us neither feet nor hands,
Far better news the gospel brings:
It bids us fly and gives us wings.”
John Bunyan (1628-1688)
What a contrast there is between living under the Law and living in Gospel Grace. It can be best illustrated by the final words of the two covenants. The Old Testament ends with this somber and sober warning, “Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” The New Testament, on the other hand, ends with the heartwarming statement, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.”
What a blessing! What a contrast!
The Law tells us what we should do but Gospel Grace tells what God has done.
The Law says, “This do, and you shall live” but Gospel Grace says, “Live, and you shall do.”
The Law says, “Pay me what you owe” but Gospel Grace says, “I freely forgive you every debt.”
The Law says, “The wages of sin is death.” But Gospel Grace replies, “The gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23).
The Law is God's word of demand, but Gospel Grace is God's word of deliverance.
The Law insists that we must love the Lord with all our heart, mind and strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30). Gospel Grace takes us away from the guilt of our inability saying, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and gave his Son as the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).
What a contrast!
Under the Law, when they made the burnt offering, the fire consumed the offering (see Leviticus 2:1-16; 6:14-23).. In the Gospel, however, it is not the fire that consumes the offering, but the offering who consumes the fire. Under the Law, when they made the burnt offering, the fire consumed the sacrifice and the sacrifice was gone never to be seen again. But in the gospel, the sacrifice rose from the dead having endured our judgment.
All claims and charges made against us have been answered in righteousness. They have been settled by Christ on the cross. He destroyed the fire of Judgment!
In addition, when the Law was given, three thousand people mercilessly died because of their rebellion (Exodus 32:28). When the gospel was proclaimed at Pentecost, three thousand people received eternal life (Acts 2:41).
What a difference grace makes!
“The law supposing I have all,
Does ever for perfection call;
The gospel suits my total want,
And all the law can seek does grant.
The law could promise life to me,
If my obedience perfect be;
But grace does promise life upon
My Lord's obedience alone.
The law says, Do, and life you'll win;
But grace says, Live, for all is done;
The former cannot ease my grief,
The latter yields me full relief.
Lo! in the law Jehovah dwells,
But Jesus is concealed;
Whereas the gospel's nothing else
But Jesus Christ revealed.”
Ralph Erskine; 1560-1645
In Summary,
The Law says Do, Gospel Grace says Done.
The Law commands, but Gospel Grace Promises.
The Law kills, but Gospel Grace gives Life.
The Law condemns, but Gospel Grace Justifies.
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
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