tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52953193526491970812024-02-21T10:32:05.219-05:00Old and New Testament: Teachings for the Followers of ChristThe heart, faith, suffering, joy and happiness, trials, sins and spiritual warfare. No matter what happens in life, Christ is the ultimate God of the universe and so all of the articles herein reflect the Christian way of thought-- sin, hard lessons, and some great stories of rebellion and redemption. It is with great care and effort that I try to illustrate the ultimate Truth of the Universe, Christ Jesus, and his ultimate, limitless nature.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-74247364333914912782014-02-12T14:51:00.001-05:002014-04-20T15:46:09.586-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;"></span></span></strong></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">“Any man can rise to be a hero during the extraordinary, but it takes true strength and endurance to live with joy during the ordinary parts of our lives while doing the ordinary things we don’t want to do. Being a hero has clear-cut purpose, glory, and there’s the power in all of us to rise to the occasion no matter how demanding it may be, yet so few of us have the strength in Christ to praise Him with a joyous heart during our everyday lives,</span></span></strong></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">”</span></span></strong></span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Courier New;">Judy Ann Allison Echols, my Mother 10/25/12</span></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a><br />
</div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>My Christianity Site Outline with Links</u></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>SECTION 1: Truly Following, Living, and Dying </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>For Jesus Christ As We Are Called To</strong></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2014/02/wonder-and-perish-poem-about-christs.html">Wonder and Perish: A Poem About Christ's Grace</a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2014/02/faith-for-those-who-worry.html">Faith for Those Who Worry</a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2014/02/christ-is-everlasting-god-jack-van-impe.html">Christ is the Everlasting GOD: Jack Van Impe Defending Christ Against Islam</a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2014/02/basics-of-christianity-bread-and-water.html">BASICS OF CHRISTIANITY: The Bread and Water of the Disciples of Christ</a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2014/01/being-christian-what-does-that-even.html">Being a Christian: What Does That Even Entail?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-minister-to-others-no-phd.html">How to Minister to Others: No PhD Required! </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/humility-gods-grace-revealed-in-your_15.html">Humility: God's Grace Revealed in Your Heart</a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/christ-is-god-why-allah-is-liar.html">Christ is GOD: Why Allah Is A Liar</a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/christ-died-for-you-but-will-you-die.html">Christ Died For You, But Will You Die For Him? </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/giving-up-your-life-for-christ-is.html">Giving Up Your Life for Christ Is Mandatory </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/waiting-for-lord-gods-grace-and-virtue.html">Waiting For the Lord: God's Grace and the Virtue of Patience</a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/are-you-going-to-heaven-when-you-die.html">Are You Going to Heaven When You Die? </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/wanting-heaven-and-wanting-christ-is.html">Wanting Heaven and Wanting Christ: Is There a Difference? </a></li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">SECTION 2: Living a Christ Centered Life</span></strong><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-brief-lesson-in-humility-humans-are.html">A Brief Lesson In Humility: Humans Are Sheep </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/12/how-to-pray-and-what-to-pray-for-prayer.html">How to Pray and What to Pray For: A Prayer List for Every Day </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/faith-improve-your-relationship-with.html">Faith: Improve Your Relationship with God in 10 Minutes Flat! </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-casual-walk-through-1-john.html">A Casual Walk Through 1 John </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/spending-time-with-christ-where-is.html">Spending Time with Christ: Where Is Christ in Your Schedule? </a></li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">SECTION 3: Realizing Christ's Love For Us</span></strong><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-christian-heart-center-of-all.html">The Christian Heart: The Center of All Goodness and House of the Spirit </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/christs-love-what-people-are-missing.html">Christ's Love: What People Are Missing </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/truth-or-dare-realizing-love-of-christ.html">Truth or Dare: Realizing the Love of Christ </a></li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">SECTION 4: Strength, Courage, and Loving Others</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">In Christ's Name</span></strong><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-new-perspective-on-fear-faithlessness.html">A New Perspective on Fear: Faithlessness Revealed </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/to-wield-lie-sword-of-satan-vs-morning.html">To Wield a Lie: the Sword of Satan vs the Morning Star </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-other-blogs-are-httpastronomy-by-kyle.html">Christian's Loving Unconditionally: Reaching Out to the World </a></li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">SECTION 5: The Purpose of Sin and Evil</span></strong><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-evil-is-allowed-reason-sin-death.html">Why Evil Is Allowed: The Reason Sin, Death, and Suffering Remained After Adam and Eve </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/suffering-for-christ-humans-learning-to.html">Suffering for Christ: Humans Learning to Be Lambs </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/satan-corrupted-dawn-star-endtimes-and.html">Satan: The Corrupted Dawn Star, The Endtimes and Purpose of Sin </a></li>
</ul>
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">SECTION 6: Sex, Homosexuality, Drugs, </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Pornography, and Addictions</span></strong><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/homosexuality-is-it-sin.html">Homosexuality: Is It Sin? </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/faith-and-abandonment-in-christ.html">Faith and Abandonment in Christ: Defeating Addiction and Sin </a></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>SECTION 7: Endtimes</strong></span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/christianity-and-islam-why-they-cannot.html">Christianity and Islam: Why They Cannot Mix </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-great-tribulation-and-millennial.html">The Great Tribulation and Millennial Kingdom </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/creation-vs-evolution-from-creationcom.html">CREATION vs EVOLUTION from Creation.com </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/mark-of-beast-and-utah-supercomputer.html">MARK OF THE BEAST and UTAH SUPERCOMPUTER </a></li>
<li><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-chrislam-apostacy-chrislam-attacks.html">THE CHRISLAM APOSTACY: ISLAM ATTACKS AMERICA THROUGH CHRIST </a></li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-41275718087938880652014-02-12T14:50:00.005-05:002014-02-12T14:50:11.327-05:00Section 1: Truly Following, Living, and Dying for Jesus Christ As We Are Called To<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;">Section 1:</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;">Truly Following, Living, and Dying for Jesus Christ As We Are Called To</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;"></span></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: orange;">(If you hot-linked to this article, just click <a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #ff9900;">here</span></a>)</span></strong></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-45817573552095488692014-02-12T14:50:00.003-05:002014-02-12T14:50:07.062-05:00Wonder and Perish: A Poem About Christ's Grace<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: lime; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span></em></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Cambria;">Wonder and Perish!</span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Cambria;">Christ’s Grace Is a Gift</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Cambria;">Acts 13:41</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Kyle Echols ©</span> 12/11/2013</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">What if Christ came not as child,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Nor in love with temper mild,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">But came as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GOD</b> in fright’ning pow’r,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">To cleanse our sins by righteous scour…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Would Grace be more appealing then?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Forever praised is Christ, amen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">And if the Son came not as Man,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">To preach the Word in two-year span,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">But came instead in Father’s awe,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">And with Him too His perfect Law…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Would your heart adore Him then?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Forever praised is Christ, amen!<o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Or if He measured gain to loss,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">And found us wanting of His cross,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Then baptized us not in His Blood,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">But sent to earth another flood…<o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Would you pick your cross up then?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Forever praised is Christ, amen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Alas, the gift of Grace is love,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Like Noah who with mourning dove,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Was granted then another chance,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">To follow God in great romance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">So like the dove is Christ to those,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Who follow Him without repose,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">That Cross of Grace so like the coos,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Of Noah’s dove, our ebbing dues.<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Forever praised is Christ, amen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-71099956261919566752014-02-12T14:50:00.001-05:002014-02-12T14:50:00.847-05:00Faith for Those Who Worry<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9lax7DAae68mhnAYLrQu7o224xy_VOWlzZTS5IjCUNzlGWQSGj_VJmMYlje2fEbvhrsspLFI5ZbJI-8xSUAzZqWZtdeGkS_vGjY6yrPmBBpEaShTM8iKZlgIMLFRdG5t7eOtjdYIXHk/s1600/16e673560445263712d395f519672287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9lax7DAae68mhnAYLrQu7o224xy_VOWlzZTS5IjCUNzlGWQSGj_VJmMYlje2fEbvhrsspLFI5ZbJI-8xSUAzZqWZtdeGkS_vGjY6yrPmBBpEaShTM8iKZlgIMLFRdG5t7eOtjdYIXHk/s1600/16e673560445263712d395f519672287.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Faith for Those Who Worry</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong><u><em>First, read these verses:</em></u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 6:25-34</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hebrews 11:8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Corinthians 11:30</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Revelation 2:24-29</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deuteronomy 23:14</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">James 2:23</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mark 16:15-16</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Philippians 4:6-7</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Isaiah 40:25-31</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do not worry about your home situation, food, or any thing at all. Abraham was led by the Lord without knowing where he would go, but simply went and was provided for. Do this, I admonish you, for if you abandon yourself to God you will see his miracles. Abraham’s faith was his cushion in the Lord which earned him the title “friend of God,” and he was so blessed, and became the father of all nations! Just so, the same will come to you with God’s blessings. DO NOT THINK about your fears or worries when they come, reject them by faith, for by faith you can know in your heart that your mind cannot make straight paths for you, nor can you stop the path the Lord sets before you when He intends you to walk it. So walk! for the Lord knows your fears and worries already, and He will not test you beyond your faith, but will test in a manner that will bring glory to Him and great changes to you. I say, revel! revel! revel! in the uncertainty for the faith you walk on will be septupled by peace when your faith holds, for to hold faith in Christ is to await heaven itself no matter what is happening to you or around you on earth. Be bold in your walk just as you are bold in your prayers which place you in front of God’s throne, for if you ask, then surely you can give. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And throw all caution to the wind because it serves only to hinder, for the Lord knows all and walks before you even when you do not realize it. Know in your heart, the Lord PROMISED my needs, how can I possibly have doubt? Faith! my friend. Be proud of God therefore that you can boast of His promise before its fulfillment, and walk upright with your eyes heavenward moments before tribulation comes for you already believe in God’s promise and choose not to entertain the worries. Knowing well that all is taken care of will smooth out what could be a horrible experience, no doubt which you will regret for doubting when God still fulfills His promise despite your lack of faith! So take faith now, and walk headstrong in your weakness, for in weakness and dependence you are perfected in Christ Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And if you should worry, do so only about Christ’s kingdom, about your heart for Him, and how to be a pleasure and how to be of help to Him and those He loves, for it is the only thing in life you are truly tasked with unendingly. The trials never end, so turn the trial into peace, for God promised all your needs…and the fears stem from control, wanton wants, and faith issues. Those who fear and worry are not right in the Lord. Stamp it out like the flame it is before it burns out of control, and your faith turns to cinders. God loves you, and He is in perfect control and cannot break His promise to you. Know that all things which happen, happen according to His will, and the proper attitude will bring the light of understanding for all circumstances.</span></div>
AMEN AND AMEN!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-33670241704045220592014-02-12T14:49:00.004-05:002014-02-12T15:38:56.363-05:00Christ is the Everlasting GOD: Jack Van Impe Defending Christ Against Islam<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Christ is the Everlasting GOD</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A Special Jack Van Impe Episode </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Defending Christ Against Islam</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzVdx0KEkveDTAauN7rxroOIui0IJTOZfyhbrkcNsxlN9pgZ3hPgAk1oopN2rZU7CAAjwBnA4PGDTnjiZHOlg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was going to type this up, but Jack says it all so perfectly</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">that I'd feel as though I were plagiarizing his</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">perfect defense on Christ as the Son of God,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">who is the eternal God in the Trinity,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">born into flesh by the Holy Spirit,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">sinless and died on the cross</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">for our sins.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">AMEN!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-88062927805047527862014-02-12T14:49:00.003-05:002014-02-12T14:55:51.678-05:00BASICS OF CHRISTIANITY: The Bread and Water of the Disciples of Christ<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcfuElGUyRcHmv_2tsKnoqbrtCEyufhqL-Va2WSuNfD9Nu2VcaqP86-8TTXsdKYPjR_Hf7dC30NaLtWLTErW_IPl1tRP_MvfCL9kTCuz7a5Ew_gr8oLwdBts7QpdydOXuz2KpmBiXSXI/s1600/Passover-Luke-22-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcfuElGUyRcHmv_2tsKnoqbrtCEyufhqL-Va2WSuNfD9Nu2VcaqP86-8TTXsdKYPjR_Hf7dC30NaLtWLTErW_IPl1tRP_MvfCL9kTCuz7a5Ew_gr8oLwdBts7QpdydOXuz2KpmBiXSXI/s1600/Passover-Luke-22-19.jpg" height="418" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">BASICS OF CHRISTIANITY</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Bread and Water of the Disciples of Christ</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">BASICS (a Pre-list List):</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Accept
you are a sinner, saved by Christ’s shed blood. Confess audibly Christ as your
savior, and ask Him to come into your heart and forgive all sins to be saved.
He will become your savior!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">You
cannot earn grace, forgiveness, or even enter heaven without verbal confession
of Christ as the Son of God and savior. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Isaiah 64:6 “All of us have become like one who is
unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up
like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Belief
in Christ “bestows” grace, which begins the journey to knowing Christ</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Faith
IS the journey of knowing Christ (strong belief that comes with action on those
beliefs)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Obedience
to and fear of God is the beginning of learning to love Him</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Wanting
heaven is wanting Christ: They are the same thing, for as earth was once
heaven, now it is hell without Christ. What is heaven without Jesus? So heaven and
Jesus are one in the same. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">THE LIST EXPLAINED IN-DEPTH:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Remember
that GRACE atones for sin due to Christ’s death and resurrection (proof of
deity, and shows sovereignty over death) and grace is a free gift bestowed and
NOT EARNED. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">If you try to earn grace (like by doing good things to
get into heaven, etc) then you will grieve God and impede the relationship. Think
of it this way: Grace is literally the shed blood of Jesus to those who hated
Him because He loved us…how can we earn it when we hate Him naturally? Those with
faith in Christ are given in freely. All men hate God, but we learn to love
Him. Do not be deceived, we hated God first. The love we return to Him is His
own. We all learn to return love to God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">God’s ultimate power is love and Satan’s ultimate power
is death. Though death and misery has swept through the world (violence, sin,
disease, death, etc), Jesus changed the entire world in less than 100 years
just by loving us for 2 years while He was alive on the world. Do not be
deceived, love is POWER. It is the power to have peace in God, to endure
affliction (Satan) with joy, it heals and unites and more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Faith
develops from belief because is greater than belief. Belief alone is simply a
basic trust in something, but faith is the next step and involves strong belief
and has a noticable “will” in its movements inside of your heart. Faith in
something can stir powerful action, but belief lacks that. Faith is more like a
strong belief tied to an indestructible hope in something. Belief alone is insufficient
to produce the heart changes necessary to being a regenerated Christian (one who
has submitted to God and is being healed and guided by Him. “regenerated” a spiritually
loaded word). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">After
faith comes obedience as a form of love</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">1 John 5:3-5 “<sup>3</sup> In fact, this is love for God:
to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, <sup>4</sup> for
everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome
the world, even our faith. <sup>5</sup> Who is it that overcomes the world?
Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">DAILY FOOD FOR THOUGHT:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">----GRACE
(Christ’s shed blood and resurrection) covers up sins, which is the only things
that allows us to go to heaven at all<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">----Being
a Christian isn’t so much about “not sinning,” but more so about learning to
despise and hate sin. This happens quickly to those who pursue Christ with
vigor because those who earnest seek God out in their hearts have “godly sorrow
which leads to repentence” 2 Corinthians 7:10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">----<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>“The road to hell is paved in good
intentions.”</u></b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> For the </span>Catholics who read this, I must point this out: It is common Catholics belief that “doing
good things” or “giving a lot” is a form of righteousness and even proves salvation
of the person, but it’s actually more evil than good. Why? REASON: Goodness and
doing good becomes a stumbling block to honest salvation *<b>through Christ
alone</b>* since it works through yourself and not Jesus, but for those who
practice “righteousness,” they follow God and do not do anything outside of His
will, even good things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">For
example, I am inherently selfish and rightly so, since I tend to lose
everything I have from moving so much, yet I give charitably of all I have…Why?
Because when I give I know it is not me giving but Christ who is "giving to my
heart" enough to allow me to let go of things, and all I have was first given to me by
Jesus anyway, and so none of what I have belongs to me. Jesus often blesses us
hoping we will give it back in our heart to Him, since He always want us to want Him more than
anything in the whole wide world. When I give it is because I feel in my heart that
I must obey God. Do all things in Christ because you love God, but never because
you feel you need to do it for righteousness sake. Christ is righteous, so do
it for Christ only and it will be for the sake of righteousness anyway. God will reveal this distinction
to you better than I can if you are confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Now ask yourself these questions:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">What
is belief in contrast to faith? Dictionary forms of the two words can help</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">When
you have faith, what will happen? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Look at the story of Abraham for faith and the story of
Solomon (King David’s son) for a sadder tale of those who lose faith. Both are
stark examples of perfect dependence on God and total independence (pride and the
inevitable ruin by sin)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">So if
Abraham was utterly dependent on God and was the only man in the whole world who
was called the friend of God, how does this relate to you? (Since you said at
Towson that you feel pride in your heart. Pride is basically a stubborn
independence of self-will/autonomy from God’s will and reliance on self).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Belief
> Faith > Love God = Obey > Dependence on His will no matter how
confusing (like Abraham in Genesis 22 with his son)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">MORE TO PONDER:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">1) 1
John 4:10 “This is [Christ’s] love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">2) Fearing
God produces repentance and love for God. We are broken, and sometimes we can
only act in fear: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">Philippians
2:12 “12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my
presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation
with fear and trembling”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">3) God
acknowledges fear as a positive force to love God: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">Genesis
22:12 (Abraham and son Isaac) “Now I know that you fear God, because you have
not withheld from me your son, your only son.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">4) If
God expects Abraham to give up his only son to God, which was the only thing
Abraham ever wanted, how much more so does God expect us to give up to God our
own lives, wants, and needs after Jesus walked the earth to die for us? Abraham
didn’t have Jesus yet was expected to give up his greatest want! We owe God
everything, and likewise Jesus expects this: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Galatians 5:24 “And those who belong to Christ have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Luke 14:27 “And whoever does not bear his cross and come
after Me cannot be My disciple.”</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">When you come to love the Lord, you will feel in your
heart a strong inability to continue your old lifestyle. And remember, pursuing
your life is a lifestyle. You have gone to college and now you want a career to
provide your needs, but be sure that you do not build a house of cards the Lord
will be forced to tumble in order to save you from pride and self-fulfillment. But
Matthew 6:24-35 Jesus promises all your needs, just trust Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">And remember, for those
really hard questions regarding sin, salvation, repentance and giving up
your life for God read this article on my blog <a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2014/01/being-christian-what-does-that-even.html">http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2014/01/being-christian-what-does-that-even.html</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">GOD BLESS! GOD BLESS!</span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-53077872455278325082014-01-07T12:25:00.004-05:002014-01-07T12:25:30.996-05:00Being a Christian: What Does That Even Entail?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGYEjaWyulf5NnCDYQ6UFW30nNfBOGNGSvCvrOH-CzRBrmoa5KqOI2LPc_YRDgYbIxac5koCEgCbsyXzTEKrfVuCRM3oOTplVUBI1UzBJYgrIWN3CCPqxYxqUnu9bNdqRdMqA-m-j8Yw/s1600/shutterstock_54771055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGYEjaWyulf5NnCDYQ6UFW30nNfBOGNGSvCvrOH-CzRBrmoa5KqOI2LPc_YRDgYbIxac5koCEgCbsyXzTEKrfVuCRM3oOTplVUBI1UzBJYgrIWN3CCPqxYxqUnu9bNdqRdMqA-m-j8Yw/s640/shutterstock_54771055.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">BEING A CHRISTIAN</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">What Does that Even Entail?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri;"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri;">Hey everyone, I have begun writing yet again! Here is what I wrote for all who wish to learn from Christ, and this is a great list to print out to share with other people who might want to know how to be a Christian!</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does God love me?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heavens yes He does! In fact, God not only lived for you here on earth, but He even died for you just so you could have a relationship with Him at all. Can you even imagine loving someone so much that you would die for them when they don’t even know you did that for them? And simply to have friendship with them! Many people on earth would not die even for family members or spouses that they’ve spent their whole lives with, but God died for you just to be your friend before you were even born.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And remember, this is G O D. If you were God, would you be so generous to people who resent you and disobey you? Boy does He love us all for sure!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is sin? <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sin is any disobedience to God’s will. There are deadly sins people must avoid and there are also the 10 commandments to obey as well. Furthermore, when a person becomes a Christian (that is, a follower of Jesus Christ), he learns to obey God. 1 John 5 says that when we walk with Christ we walk in the light, and we love everyone as ourselves. And we show love for God by obeying His commands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How did sin come about?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Genesis 3, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit against God’s wishes. They were deceived by Satan, who tempted them with the power of godhood with playing on words to make them think they would become mighty like God. When they ate the fruit, they then knew what good and evil was, and they saw that they were naked. Nakedness is symbolic of sin. The story shows how pride caused Adam and Eve to want more than their positions allowed. They wanted more than the earth. They “chose” to be autonomous from God. That is the basic meaning of this passage. They did not want to be under God’s authority. But since they were deceived, they did not become gods (powerful), but instead they became “like God” in that they suddenly understood what good and evil is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why does sin still exist?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sin still exists because God is a perfect judge. He cannot tolerate any sin in His presence, but neither was God willing to kill Adam and Eve and restart His creation. Not only that, He could not rightly spare Adam and Eve but then punish Satan since God is a perfect judge. So God chose to relent punishment altogether. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SICKNESS AND DEATH: Instead of eradicating sin (which would have killed Adam and Eve), God allowed them to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>face the natural consequences of disobedience. God withdrew His presence from the earth, and without God’s protection Satan became capable of causing all sorts of awful things to us and to God’s creation. Death is Satan’s ultimate power, just as sickness, murder and all other sins stem from Satan so too does death. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">It is because God separated Himself from Adam and Eve due to sin that Satan was able to afflict all mankind with aging, sickness, death, and all the horrible things we endure today. God does not and has not punished us for sin, but sin itself has its own natural consequences that God allows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then what is the point of being alive? <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So God chose to spare us all in spite of sin because He values our free will, but that free will also made it possible for mankind to disobey (sin). God now uses our limited time on the earth to TEACH us how to obey with our free will in tact. God’s mission is gather to Himself all humans who love Him freely, just as we ourselves want to find love too, so does God. We love because God loves, but we also hate because Satan hates. We are in an endless battle because both God and Satan speak to us. God leads us to salvation, but we have the free will to follow Satan. In God’s eyes, anyone who does not worship Him actually worships Satan. And we ought not to do that! So we must choose to follow God to overcome sin (disobedience) and in return, we gain God’s love. Following God is very difficult, since He tests the limits of our love and causes us to grow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If God is good, why does He let us suffer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, God does not usually intervene in our lives to stop suffering because suffering is the natural consequence of our sin. Suffering has many good side effects as well. For example, it builds character and causes us to keep our relationship with God strong through prayer and faith. God protects us and guides us THROUGH trials, and without God we can easily fall prey to death. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second is that love endures all hardships. For example, In the book of Job of the Old Testament, Job was tested if he loved God only because he had many blessing from God, however Job’s love for God remained even when he became sick, lost his family, his home and other material possessions. Job’s love did not waiver. And just like Job, God wants us to love Him genuinely and not because we are blessed. Many people think it is God’s duty to make our lives easier, but that is actually the opposite of what happens. God tends to make our lives a good bit harder so we can grow in Him. True love ENDURES all trials and hardships.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what do I get from God and what do I give to Him? <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When a man marries a woman, in the same way Job endured hardship in his relationship with God, so too is it expected that a man and wife endure similar hardships that life tends to send our way. Marriage vows say “in sickness or health, til death do we part.” This is because we believe in our hearts that love conquers all, and indeed it does but many of us do not know genuine love. So many people want love but do not know how to love back. Job is a great example of how to love others and how to love God. Love God and love all people without expecting anything back and God will love you for it more than you can ever imagine. This is how you give to God, and this is what you can get from God as well. God gives you His Holy Spirit through His son Jesus Christ, whom He sent to die for your sins. Confessing that Christ is the son of God is the first step to a relationship with God. This was a gift from God to enable you to talk to God and walk through life and trials with the Holy Spirit. It is possible to have the Holy Spirit in your heart because Jesus died to cleanse you of sins, making this relationship possible. From the beginning of time til 2000 years ago, the Jews and all people who followed God did not have this Spirit in them, so you should be honored! God took the first step toward a relationship with you before you were even born, so will you take your first step toward Him now too?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And when we fall in love, we like to give and to receive, and God’s relationship with us is the same. God the Father gave His son Jesus Christ to die for us to forgive our sins, so what will you give to God? Well, the only thing we have to give are our hearts! That is all you will ever need in your relationship with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is repentance? How can I repent if nobody can stop sinning?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since sin is merely any kind of “disobedience,” that means that repentance means “obedience” by “turning” to God. The word repent simply means “to turn away from.” So if God says wash your hands every day at 10pm and you don’t, that is sin and in order to repent, you will try, try, try to always wash your hands at 10pm. In essence, repentance does not have so much to do with becoming “sinless” as so many think and fail to accomplish, but rather repentance is really more of an “earnest desire” in your heart not to sin anymore that is always followed by strong action to stop sinning. 1 John 5 says that anyone who loves the LORD can only show it to Him by obedience to *****all His commands***** so try to stop sinning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You cannot obtain forgiveness from Christ if you knowingly sin or disobey God continually on purpose, and the Bible is GOD’s Word to guide you. You must obey every single word. Sure, we all fall, in fact, the bible says a man falls 7 times 70 times, which is a figurative way of saying we sin almost constantly. The issue is not so much sinning as it is your desire to continue sin. This is explained below. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why does anyone even try to stop sinning when they are destined to fail?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Continuing with the explanation of repentance above, repentance has to do with fighting against sin. We can do this through prayer and God’s revelations to us (that is, revealing answers). When we pray, we should submit ourselves to God’s will. By adopting an attitude of a servant, we are then able to see God as our master and protector who guides us away from sin. The first step is learning to hate sin. Recognizing that it is because of sin that we are blessed less is a great motivator to learn to hate sin. Here are some other ideas…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wanting sin is the same thing as a person saying they want to be a slave. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Think of it this way: The less you need to be happy then the less reasons you have to be unhappy! It’s a play on words but it makes sense. If a person needs NOTHING to maintain happiness then that person will always be happy. Plain and simple. SO what do you base your happiness on? Sin actually prevents joy and happiness because it is always there with us making demands that we have to fulfill in order to keep feeling ok. Sin makes us want, crave, lust… so thins means sin is our enemy. Without sin we can be very happy if we only try, try, try to fight it, but if we give up in our fight against sin then we are forced to serve it like a slave is forced to labor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, continuing with the above: Let’s pretend there is a man whose sin is GREED. That is one of the 7 deadly sins, so you can rest assured it is a powerful sin. This man will always need more “things” or “more money” in order to maintain his happiness. Because money and “things” become boring over time, the man is forced to maintain his happiness by continuing to buy more things or by hording more money. This is sad because if he chose to resist that sin with God’s power, then he would not need those worthless things which break over time and become boring and he’d be able to give away his money to help people. But he is enslaved to his wealth and things. He feels that he needs them in order to maintain his happiness, but is he happy? No, you already know this answer. He is not happy. He is actually blinded and he is afraid. He bases his life on greed, so his life has become so shallow and empty that he cannot live without his greed. That is why sin is so dangerous. Sex is the same way. Most sins act like this. So what is the answer to this man’s life problem of sin? FIGHT! Christ can destroy his greed and set him free because the more he tries not to sin and to give his sin of greed to God, the happier he will realize he can be without his things or his money. Instead he will learn that being closer to God is better by far, and one great way to get closer to God is to fight against sin. Thus, his greed will slowly and naturally decrease over time because instead he is learning to want God more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The more you realize that you want God, the less sin will be enjoyable. SO learn to want God, and many sins will simply disappear from your life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iv.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as sin has natural consequences of misery, affliction, death, and so on, so too does obeying God have consequences…GOOD ONES. God blesses those who obey with a rich life of meaning, purpose, strength, and even can bless them with a longer life on earth. God gives to you, so learn to give to God. You can do this through learning to enjoy obedience, and keeping up your fight against sin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">What are the differences between belief and faith?</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belief in Christ is to admit that He is the Son of God. So is belief sufficient to enter heaven? The Bible says no. In fact, James 2:19 says that “even the demons of hell believe- and tremble!” So if demons believe in Christ, what is belief really for? Actually, belief is the prerequisite to faith. By recognizing that Christ is God’s son, we can then begin to develop faith<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what is faith? Let’s look at Webster’s dictionary to see what FAITH is:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cccccc;">1<i>a</i>. allegiance to duty or a person <b>:</b> </span><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loyalty"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant: small-caps; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">loyalty</span></a><span style="color: #cccccc;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1b.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (1) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fidelity"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">fidelity</span></a> to one's promises <i>(2)</i> <b>:</b> sincerity of intentions </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cccccc;">2<i>a. (1) </i>belief and trust in and loyalty to God <i>(2)</i> <b>:</b> belief in the traditional </span><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doctrine"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">doctrines</span></a><span style="color: #cccccc;"> of a religion <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2b. (1) </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">firm belief in something for which there is no proof <i>(2)</i> <b>:</b> complete trust </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cccccc;">3. something that is believed especially with strong conviction; <i>especially</i> <b>:</b> a system of religious beliefs <the Protestant <i>faith</i>> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it seems that faith is actually stemming from belief, and that “belief” causes faith to grow. Faith is a type of belief!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, faith is a powerful “trust in” and “loyalty to” God based on the bible and our belief that God is truthful, that He is our friend, and that it is safe to believe in His words. Therefore, because of those beliefs we can have “faith” that He is dependable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notice how I use the words belief in, then faith in? That is because our beliefs form our faith. If we do not believe that God is truthful, for example, then we will never have faith in Him! So in that context, a belief that God is evil will prevent faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iv.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Faith grows from our beliefs<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">v.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Therefore, when the Christ said to “believe and do not doubt” he is really <span style="color: #cccccc;">saying that we should believe and HOLD FAITH.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So then, since belief is not enough to go to heaven, is faith enough?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">James 2:14-26 says that faith is not always enough in Christ's eyes since works for God are also required too at some point. Early Christians may struggle with this, but many feel strongly that since Christ calls us to pick up our crosses every day that the "standard" of living for Christ incrementally increases as we pass through trials with Jesus. To be specific, many people can be saved but actually stagnate in their walk with Christ because they do nothing more than live their day-to-day with no works for God's kingdom. As James points out, what good is their faith then to God except that they are saved? God wants so much more! While the Bible makes it clear that both belief and faith are enough to get to heaven, Christ demands our whole hearts without reservation. We must love and worship Him more than anything in the whole universe, and love Him more than our own children, spouse, or families. Is faith enough then to be Christ's true friend/disciple? No, because there need to be works out of that faith and here marks the divide between being saved and being a friend of God. Salvation happens at first with belief and faith but later on works are eventually necessary to keep walking with Christ (called picking up your cross daily). As Christians, though we may be saved, we are called not just to believe and to have faith but to ACT on those beliefs and our faith is SHOWN to everyone around us. James writes to us, telling us that we are not merely Christians but we are servants…and what does a servant do best? SERVE. We serve Christ’s kingdom by following God’s commands just as I wrote about far above regarding sin and repentance.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">Here is a quote from Billy Graham from My Hope For America:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> <em>"Times haven’t changed that much. There are still many parts of this world where proclaiming the Gospel carries a great risk. <u>Yet it is still our responsibility</u> as individual Christians, <u>wherever we are, to speak up like Paul and Timothy</u>–to do the work of an evangelist <u>and tell as many as we can the Good News of Christ’s atonement for our sins</u>," </em></span></span><a href="http://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/october-2009/the-work-of-an-evangelist/"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/october-2009/the-work-of-an-evangelist/</em></span></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, so what are works and how do I do them so I can be a good Christian?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">James gives us an example on the many, many ways we can be ready to serve God’s kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Jesus says in Mark 9:41 that if anyone “gives” so much as a cup of cold water to another person simply because they want to please Christ then that person will not</span> lose their reward. This is figurative and very powerful about Christ's view on generosity. Jesus is illustrating to us that when we give, God gives to us in return. Jesus did not want giving to be random or sporadic, neither did He want us to give only when it seemed safe to give or easy to give. Christ's promises us all of our needs in Matthew 6:25-34 and here He is now saying to give abundantly. Do not worry, what you give will be replenished. In <strong>Mark 12:41-44</strong>, Jesus talks about giving out of love for God and not out of your abundance, because it takes faith to give up what you need and expect God to provide that which you lack. A widow in the verses below gave only two pennies, but those two pennies were all she had left to give at all. In the same way we are called to be generous as well.</span><br /><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="text Mark-12-41"><sup class="versenum">41 </sup>Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24715AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)"></sup> and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.</span> <span class="text Mark-12-42" id="en-NIV-24716"><sup class="versenum">42 </sup>But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="text Mark-12-43" id="en-NIV-24717"><sup class="versenum">43 </sup>Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, <span class="woj">“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.</span></span> <span class="text Mark-12-44" id="en-NIV-24718"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">44 </sup>They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”</span></span></span><br /><span class="text Mark-12-44"><span class="woj"><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24718AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)"></sup></span></span> </span></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">c.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Jesus says to give to the poor whatever they need, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Matthew 19:21</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">d.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Jesus says to give up your wants and desires for His sake, further emphasizing that our bodies are not ours but God’s, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Mark 15:16 & 19, Matthew 16:24-27, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Matthew 19:16-30, Galatians 5:24, Luke 14:27-33, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Matthew 10:37-39 and the list goes on and on and on!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">e.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Jesus says to spread the Gospel of God’s Grace, that is, to teach other people about Jesus and to help them to develop belief and faith in Christ just as I am to you, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Mark 16:15-20</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But what in the world can I do to be an effective minister?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am spreading God’s grace by writing to you. What are your talents? What are you good at? Is there anyway to mix your skills with teaching God’s grace? What can you learn also? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I write poetry about God and grace, I blog about Christian apologetics, I email my friends about Christ all the time and I minister to virtually everyone I meet, even strangers and homeless people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">c.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other people paint wonderful works of art of God, heaven, the Cruscifixion, and so on. The list is almost endless. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">d.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">People also travel to other countries just to talk to those who don’t have the benefit of being raised in a country founded on Christ. Pray about it, perhaps the Lord will open a door for a missions trip! Join a missions-minded church and offer yourself to the pastor for any trips they may be planning. It may take months or a year or so, but if you’re patient you’ll get to go and help. People do this because many countries do not allow Christianity at all! People can be thrown in jail or murdered for belief in Christ, so many Christians go over to them anyway and die just to save other people. When you and I die, we simply go to heaven so it’s not bad. But when a person without Christ dies, that person goes to hell because no one can enter heaven without knowing Christ. Your life belongs to God, you are safe, but God left us all with the duty to spread His gospel, and you must.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">2 Peter 1:3-11</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">says that you must “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; <sup>6 </sup>and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; <sup>7 </sup>and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” By doing this every day, you are making a habit to be what God wants you to be, and in effect, you are allowing God to forge you into a capable minister. By knowing God’s Word in the bible, you can do as I’m doing and defend the Truth when people say God doesn’t exist or that God hates mankind (etc). Furthermore, when you make a daily habit of good qualities, people see you are different. You make Christ and belief in Christ look appealing just by being a nice person! People without Christ do not inherit the qualities above! So practice makes perfect!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How can salvation even save a person?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Salvation is the verbal confession (belief) of Christ as God by yourself and to others that we are sinners saved by Christ's grace by His death and resurrection on the cross to atone for our sins by His blood, and it is faith in Christ’s promise that He is God’s son and that we are in fact saved that allows us to go to heaven and know Christ personally here on the earth. Asking for salvation is your way of telling God you will follow Him in obedience to His commands and repent of sins (turn away constantly, no matter how hard it is). </span><span style="color: orange;">Therefore, salvation in a nutshell is serving God since both obeying His commands and repenting are "acts" of faith and the beginnings of a relationship with Christ. NO MAN CAN EARN SALVATION. Works cannot cover your sins, nor will being good or acting nice or being charitable cover sins or get you into heaven...only believing and having faith in Christ, repenting and loving Christ will save a man and allow him to enter heaven, and we are saved because we believe in God's promises to us that we will be rewarded with His love and friendship in heaven, which we can experience on this earth as well.</span> </span><span style="color: #cccccc;">Salvation then, is when a person dies but he/she does not actually die because Christ is there at the grave to raise you from the dead because while you were on earth you loved God. It’s as simple as that. Love God and when you die you go to heaven. What bite does death have then? NONE</span>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the purpose of prayer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prayer is God’s method of letting us talk to God. When we pray, we talk to God about what is bothering us, we ask for help, we ask Him what He wants us to do with the life we have, we give our sins and desires to God in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So then, prayer is a dedicated time we set aside for God. We are told in the Bible that it is good to pray on our knees, to clasp our hands together and to confess our sins every day, to ask for Christ’s forgiveness by His shed blood on the cross, and we can even ask for healing from ailments, difficult sins, trials that we may be going through, and the list goes on. There are no bounds to what we can pray for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">c.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always end your prayers with “…Your will be done Lord, in Christ’s name I pray, amen.” This is because we are servants, and regardless of what we want and how good it may be to want it or need it, God is GOD, He should always be allowed to do as He wishes. He promises to care for us and to do right by us, so by saying “your will be done” to God is an act of faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">d.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Furthermore, we should always, always, always acknowledge Christ at the end of our prayers because He died for us just so we could talk to God at all. When you pray, say “in Christ’s name I pray, amen!” This is because when we pray to God, we are actually talking to both Christ the Son and God the Father. God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity, which is God. All three are one person, but you can probably think of them as one person divided into “tasks.” God the Father is the Almight, and Christ is the Son who died for us so we could have a relationship with God at all. It may seem confusing, but you can read more and you’ll understand as you learn about God more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">That is all! I hope this helps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">GOD BLESS!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-26935004366836309162014-01-07T12:25:00.002-05:002014-01-07T12:25:24.282-05:00How to Minister to Others: No PhD Required!<div align="center">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: inherit;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamHjtF9v0U9jldVMvl5hz7THNKy595Lz1zjQHd8XGyFk6vaxmPTqo-Rs_2wBlff3_8TreuXp7h4ZKrugPnE2UcZlx3zaWaW6SD_Gq_JGAL291C6_hMw7iJxkED6s1EDmfkHnfWIuGr-Y/s1600/jesus-preaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamHjtF9v0U9jldVMvl5hz7THNKy595Lz1zjQHd8XGyFk6vaxmPTqo-Rs_2wBlff3_8TreuXp7h4ZKrugPnE2UcZlx3zaWaW6SD_Gq_JGAL291C6_hMw7iJxkED6s1EDmfkHnfWIuGr-Y/s640/jesus-preaching.jpg" height="361" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">How to Minister to Others</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No PhD Required!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a> </span></span> </div>
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Preach from the heart.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->God has prepared my heart already for speaking with conviction. Today it is harder to preach to people since they want facts, but at the same time knowing Bible verses helps in that area only so much. In the end, only my heart and what the Lord has taught me can truly convey the “Good News” of Christ. So what is my heart telling me to tell each person I meet?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Forget other peoples’ opinions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Everyone has their own opinion, but all that matters is what the Bible says and how the message is conveyed. Promoting positive change (repentance) and growth in Christ matters first and foremost, but each person needs to hear a different message. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Recognize the person you're speaking to. For example, two of my friends have trouble letting go of their wants, meanwhile others have trouble with worry, struggles with motivation to pursue Christ at all, and struggles with giving up emotional burdens to Christ. I am working on faith without doubt! Understanding who you speak to is imperative!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Recognize your strengths<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Right now, my strength is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>passion</u></b> about Christ being the only thing worth having in life, so knowing how to convey that message will be best until the Lord prepares me to deliver a new message<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>i.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Christ is the only thing people have in life that cannot be taken away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ii.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We are all born with Christ, but people can choose to die without Him, which is a tragedy that leads only to damnation, and for what? Things? A lifestyle that doesn’t even satisfy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>iii.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I’ve learned that people are constantly searching for meaning and happiness in life, but all are raised by societies and families and friends to search anywhere BUT in God. Pointing a person to God is a great first step to discovering meaning and inspiring positive motivation for Truth. For a living example, my friend was someone who was searching for purpose, hope, and lasting happiness yet she never thought God was a realistic thing to look at. I pointed her to Him for 3 months, and just suddenly it clicked in her heart. The change was so sudden I almost didn't believe it had happened or that she was tickling my ear. She stopped looking for boyfriends on Craig’s list, she stopped worrying about money problems, she stopped feeling so depressed, and she started being more productive, sleeping more normally, and the list goes on. The issue is that this is a heart discovery. People must see this for themselves in their hearts, and realizing that GOD is real is a very difficult affair for some people these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>iv.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->All those things that people want do not matter, because once they have them they will want more things or newer versions of those things. A computer is only top of the line for 4 months, a cell phone is obsolete in less than 6 months, a TV is replaced every 3-5 years, a video game becomes boring in as little as a few hours few to a few days yet so many people constantly wish they had all this junk! Why? Because people want enjoyment to cover up their lack of purpose. In they end, they have large accumulations of nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the end, the pursuit of "things" can leave the person dried out and passionless or even trapped because they feel they need them to be okay. Other people either spend too much time trying to get those things but cannot (the grass is greener paradox) and spend their days bitter for not having them while others do, or some people do get those things yet are never satisfied anyway (keeping up with the Benjamin's paradox).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Convincing people with these lifestyles to pursue Christ is a specialty of mine and should be of yours too since materialism promotes a deepened heart-emptiness that plagues the world. Helping them to realize that Christ is real is an imperative first step because they always seek tangible things to fill their life with since their old habits covered up their pains and emptiness. Even nothing is something, this is something that drug addicts understand because filling the urge creates newer, stronger urges, and sadly materialism has become so much like a drug that there is no real difference anymore. The pursuit of sex is a real issue today as well. Pleasure can cover up pain with moments of extreme distraction, but it also creates a pit in a person's heart since they need more and more to stay distracted from what is really causing them pain. These people need to know that Christ is tangible and can fill up their hearts! The irony is that Christ Jesus will never need to be renewed or repaired or rushed after or bought and no one can be denied Christ! But instead He will renew and repair everyone who loves Him, He will never turn anyone away, rich or poor, sinner or saint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Make a list yourself just as I have to cater to your specialties, talents, and passions for Christ when it comes to preaching. If your list is smaller than mine that is okay because God will fill it up if you are patient.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-48073994938510945442013-12-15T16:24:00.004-05:002013-12-15T21:19:04.651-05:00Humility: God's Grace Revealed in Your Heart<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Humility </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God's Grace Revealed in Your Heart</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">When a man is completely humbled by the Lord’s sacrifice, he comes to understand the gravity of a God being born in flesh to die for people who hate Him just so we can all have a relationship with Him!</span> </span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><span style="color: lime;">There is freedom in not wanting anything but Christ.</span> <span style="color: #999999;">Christ not only forgives us, and neither are we merely forgiven sinners as the Old Testament sacrifices made people, but instead we are cleansed utterly and regenerated. We are not sinners forgiven, but our sins are so utterly wiped clean that we are justified by Christ's blood as God's people. Animals were sacrificed by those who had faith in God's promise that the blood of animals would allow God the Father to forgive them of their sins, yet how much more awesome is the blood fo Christ who not only forgives but washes away those sins as if they never occurred. This is the relationship Jesus died for. We are not sinners anymore but we are disciples of Christ who live righteously because of the Holy Spirit and God's Spirit that lives through us through the cleansing of blood of the Lamb. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;">And when we are humbled by God's love that He would go to such extremes as to kill Himself to not merely cover our sins but wash them away, then we begin to live for Him, to love Him, and to adore Him here and now and forever. This recognition of God's love changes us, and b</span><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">eing at peace is the most obvious thing that comes to mind.</span> </span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><span style="color: lime;">A man who needs nothing to be happy never has any logical reason to be unhappy</span></span><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">, as I always say!, and having Christ is all we need. When our hearts are emptied by the humility we feel with the knowledge of God's grace on the Cross so we can love Him and be loved by Him fully here on earth, we allow Christ to work through us completely without resistance.</span> </span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><span style="color: lime;">Flesh resists Christ always so part of the Christian life is recognition of God's grace and a giving of our own life (hearts) to Him, as we are called in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:24%20&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Galatians 5:24</a> to put to death all flesh, wants, lusts and desires. In effect, we treat Christ like a spouse and place Him first in our hearts just as He did for us while we were hating, killing, stealing, and doing awful sexual things. How much more so we should give our hearts since He even loved us as wretches yet we love Him as a perfect God.</span></span><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"> <span style="color: #999999;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">To summarize what I'm leading up to, it is obvious that the focus of people's hearts in their lives is all wrong. People focus completely on things and life and bills and marriage (etc) when they should concentrate on what God wants because He calls us His bride to be. Christ looks at us like a spouse as a whole, and we should look at Him like a King, worthy of admiration, loyalty, and devoted love. A King merits all of these by right, but how much more so for Christ who lived like one of us; A God who set down His crown to be among the common folk, and at Calvary He laid down His life for His kingdom as all kings ought to (but don't!). But Christ did. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">Grace! Such amazing grace to have from God, where we are not merely forgiven but cleansed. The memory of our sin in God's mind is blotted out utterly by Christ's blood and our life of repentance and service to Him. But imagine this, and I want you to think of it this way: Paul the Apostle, a great man of God whose love for God was intense like fire, God said to Him, <span style="color: lime;">“My grace is sufficient for you.” This should be a highlight of your life</span> in Christ because we should all know exactly how undeserving we are of Christ's grace which cost Him the life He had through His shed blood for us. Imagine it like this, if you want to marry someone would you die? No, we cannot even accomplish the two. But if you loved someone, would you then die for that person? Yes! There is something we can do, and that is the humility we ought to feel in the glow of God's grace, for He not only died for us but He lived for us and then died just to have us at all. Therefore be adorned in God's grace and know you are weak and evil without Him. Become dependent on His grace in your own weakness and inability to be righteous without Him. After all, that was why He came! So no shame falls upon your weakness but only righteousness comes from it since you are cleansed and humbled as God wants you to be! In fact, a great man is a weak man made strong in his dependence on God's strength, joy, and mercy! And so we must all become like little children as Christ says. To become weak-kneed in the humility of God's grace, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">And knowing well that we cannot earn grace or be righteous or save ourselves without Christ, grace offers us the ability to become righteous through following Christ, so the gift goes far beyond forgiveness as it actually enables us to live hand-in-hand with God while we learn to obey Him and allows us to put the entire world to death in our hearts. This is the Freedom of the Spirit God grants us through Christ's salvation. Indeed,</span> </span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><span style="color: lime;">God’s grace is all we need in life because in the end it is only because of God’s grace that we can go to heaven at all. In fact, God is heaven, for what is heaven without God? And since we are so spoiled by God's grace, how could we ever be content again with mere forgiveness? No, grace is what we need now in these dark days, for we would not have life with Christ at all without it, </span></span><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">and we’d all being living awaiting hell without forgiveness. WHAT A GIFT! We are free to live with Christ and when we die we await heaven. So be thankful for God’s sacrifice of His Son, and nothing else but God will matter in your life. Without Christ we’d all be doomed, so be thankful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: #e69138;">But Christ's grace is not a free pass to sin</span> as many false preachers would lead us all to believe. Neither can we get to heaven without Christ because Christ is heaven! How ridiculous to think of heaven as a place instead of it as being God! Without God, heaven would be as hellish as the earth. Where ever God is that is where heaven is. <span style="color: #999999;">Heaven is a who, not a where.</span> <span style="color: #e69138;">Yet the true issue right now for all Christians is the continual recognition of God’s **love** for us in a way that promotes positive change through Christ known as repentance (turning away from sin). It's not so much about not sinning as it is not wanting to sin anymore because of the love you have for God, which actually causes sin to stop anyway. Furthermore, this repentance is enhanced when we see that our own love for Him is so small that we should be humbled to be loved by God at all.</span> Recognition of this fact in its purest form in your heart should evoke a desire in your heart to return your love for God by emptying your heart of your life to make room for His wants. Here is a funny analogy that surprisingly makes sense: Think of God as a super-model... Oh man, you’d do anything for her and to have her is bliss! Well, loving Christ is sort of like that. It's desperate and passionate. We know we are unworthy, so we will do anything to keep Him like a humble man tries to keep a beautiful woman. Not many Christians feel this way toward God. Instead they are selfish and want their lives to be bettered or blessed in ways they want. Christians give so little consideration for God and His grace...and that ultimately we are fortunate to have awful lives that at least someday end in heaven instead of hell. God is righteous, and He could easily hold us up to His perfect standard. There is nothing wrong with that! But we'd all die, so God's grace is more awesome than most of us realize!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%205:1-5&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 John 5:1-5</a>, John says that <span style="color: #e69138;">loving God is expressed by obeying all of His commands</span> and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%201:1-10%20&version=NKJV" target="_blank">2 Peter 1:1-10</a> states that we should all be content with the knowledge of Christ and His grace and pursue righteousness in growing abundance.</span> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><span style="color: lime;">Learn not to want your life or anything in it</span> </span></b><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">and empty your heart for Him so you can help His kingdom form on earth and save everyone who can be saved.</span> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><span style="color: lime;">Not wanting anything in our lives gives God full control of our lives and allows God to leads us</span></span></b><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"> </span><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">to pure purpose, selflessness, generosity, and righteousness. God can do as He wishes for us and with us and by us. We are messengers of Christ’s grace to all those who are around us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">Here is something I want you to consider: If one day you can say in your prayers “Lord, your will be done no matter what is costs me in life” and feel joy and eager expectation when you say that to God, I promise things will change in your life. This is surrender of your life and the acceptance of Christ in full. That one sentence summarizes how I feel in a nutshell every day. My eagerness to serve God is surpassed only by my desire to be united with Him in the clouds! Imagine the adventures that await you when you can say this! The people you will meet, the joy you will spread, the lives you will help change! You offer people heaven through Christ! What a gift! How could you not give up your life for such a gift to share with others? There is a strange joy in suffering and sacrifice for Christ. You must learn it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">#10 below is the most important. You should minister to all your friends and everyone you meet, especially the atheist and gays of the world because no one in the world is more trapped in the flesh than they are.</span> </span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><span style="color: lime;">They need your help through Christ! In fact, Christ says that preaching the gospel to a person who becomes saved on account of your testimony about Christ will cover up a multitude of sins for you and stores up treasure in heaven for you as well. And it doesn’t matter if they reject Christ.</span></span><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"> <span style="color: #999999;">Ministering is as much about helping people to choose Christ as it is holding them accountable when they deny Christ (as it says at the very end of the article).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p><span style="color: #999999;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">So…read Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, 1 and 2 John, Romans, 1 and 2 Peter to get started. Commit them to memory so you can minister to others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p><span style="color: #999999;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">1. <b>Treat others as you would have them treat you</b><br /> Treat other people in the way that you want them to treat you. This is a hallmark of Christianity. Be kind to people, even when they are unkind to you. That way, you set an example for them, and you become a representative of the Christian faith.<br /><br /><i>"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you"</i><br /> - Jesus, as quoted in Matthew 7:12a, NIV translation.<br /><br /> 2. <b>Help people </b><br /> In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus tells us that we are to give food to those who are hungry, give clothes to people who need them, provide shelter for people who have none, visit people who are sick, and give comfort to people who are in prison.<br /><br /> 3. <b>Don't worry</b><br /> Do your best to deal with life's problems but leave your life in God’s hands with openness of heart. Allow Him to work with your life so you can be of use to Him. Do not worry about anything ever. Instead, do what needs to be done and have faith in Jesus that all things will work out in the way they need to work out. </span></span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent1;"><span style="color: lime;">Now this is hard for most other people because they have treasure on earth. Learn to love Christ with all your heart and not to value anything you own.</span> </span><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">Give everything to Christ and nothing will matter but Christ’s will. Either way, Christ is going to do with your life as He sees fit, so worrying and trying to hold on will not do a thing for a Christian. Put all wants to death in your heart, and when the time comes to abandon them to be of use to God you will not even think about those things, but rejoice that God has chosen you to serve!<br /><br /><i>"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"</i><br /> - Jesus, as quoted in Matthew 6:27, NIV translation.<br /><br /> 4. <b>Read the Bible</b><br /> If you read the Bible for about 20 minutes a day, you can finish the four Gospels - the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - in one month. The four Gospels describe the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.<br /><br /> 5. <b>Give thanks and be joyful</b><br /><i>"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."</i><br /> - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV translation.<br /><br /> 6. <b>Pray</b></span><span style="color: #999999;"><i>"This, then, is how you should pray:<br /><br /> " 'Our Father in heaven,<br /> hallowed be your name,<br /> your kingdom come,<br /> your will be done<br /> on earth as it is in heaven.<br /> Give us today our daily bread.<br /> Forgive us our debts,<br /> as we also have forgiven our debtors.<br /> And lead us not into temptation,<br /> but deliver us from the evil one.' "</i><br /><br /> - Jesus, explaining how people should pray, as quoted in Matthew 6:9-13 NIV.<br /><br /> 7. <b>Forgive your enemies</b><br /><i>"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."</i><br /> - Jesus, as quoted in Matthew 6:14-15, NIV translation.</span></span><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /><span style="color: #999999;"> 8. <b>Be careful with what you say</b><br /><i>"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."</i><br /> - Jesus, as quoted in Matthew 12:36-37, NIV translation.</span></span><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /><span style="color: #999999;"> 9. <b>Learn the Word of God</b><br /> If you read the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you will see many examples of how Christians should act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /><span style="color: #999999;"><i>"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."</i><br /> - Jesus, as quoted in Matthew 7:24, NIV.</span> </span><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>10. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tell others about Jesus</span><br /> Tell others about Jesus, that he died for our sins, and that all who believe in him are saved and are given the gift of eternal life in heaven. Talk to people, write a letter, or create a Web site. Encourage family members, friends, and others to attend church with you.</strong></span></span><span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /><br /><span style="color: #999999;"><i>"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."</i><br /> - Jesus, as quoted in Matthew 28:19-20, NIV.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">Kyle</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;">Mark 15-16 & 19</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="color: #984806; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">15</span></sup><span style="color: #984806; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">[Jesus] said to them, </span></span><span style="color: #c00000; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #999999;">“</span>Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. <sup>16</sup>Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">…<span style="color: #999999;"> </span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="color: #984806; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">19</span></sup><span style="color: #984806; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.”</span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-89572808376919381432013-12-15T16:24:00.002-05:002013-12-15T21:19:26.968-05:00Christ is GOD: Why Allah Is A Liar<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yXQ_H6ITgxTQBgJzX2nFOBHwTd5aTQtSfzAWtzhMBHS-cTFQ_ljP6YvbAUvRdy98Ii0jI1kO4ng7pFAiSPaM7AQFyx-a85ScKIxV5GQ28beauaGKFZgxg5cXbj0JhrJOkYF4UQByyRY/s1600/jesus-love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yXQ_H6ITgxTQBgJzX2nFOBHwTd5aTQtSfzAWtzhMBHS-cTFQ_ljP6YvbAUvRdy98Ii0jI1kO4ng7pFAiSPaM7AQFyx-a85ScKIxV5GQ28beauaGKFZgxg5cXbj0JhrJOkYF4UQByyRY/s640/jesus-love.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Christ is GOD</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Why Allah Is A Liar</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">It just occurred to me that some Muslims may be feeling spiritually dry or isolated since being a Christian calls us to die for Jesus and the reward may seem underwhelming at first glance. It never came to my thoughts that some people become Muslims simply to “get” their life at all. Think of it this way, when a man follows Allah, he does so because he is promised some earthly things that are considered good which are to be earned in Allah's heaven in great abundance when they kill infidels. These rewards are sex, food and nice houses. But there is no genuine love because Allah is a murderer. This Allah is not much on forgiveness, and we all see it plain as day. So Allah uses these "things" to tempt those who are wanting because they are lacking in this life. But Allah cannot give anything substantial as Christ has for us in the next life because Allah cannot love. Allah is a demon and Islam is Satanically founded, and as we all know demons do not love but they lead us astray to sin by promises of freedom which cause us slavery in actuality. Demons are slaves to their sins because they had forsaken Christ, so they can only promise sin and death to all of us here on earth. They offer nothing substantial. Who here on earth lives for sex, houses, or things? And who would say that a "good" heaven is one filled with such things? NO! Think about it...heaven is supposed to be heavenly, not earthly, but demons who tempt us with the flesh cause us to crave things which are earthly to keep us from the heavenly Christ. It all makes sense when you think about it outside of the box...so what is Allah really offering? Slavery.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">But remember, on earth a man who tries to keep his life because of these things lives in vanity and futility, for all men die eventually. Therefore, what good is it to live for these things now? And in this context it makes even less sense to live for them after you die! They offer nothing substantial or life changing or joyous to us now, so how in the world can they bring a person complete joy and happiness forever and ever and ever in heaven? Obviously, they cannot. Not only that, but a man cannot die for the love of sex because when he is dead the reward dies with his body and his soul is lost. A man cannot die for "things" like his career or his possessions because when he dies for the love of those "things" he simply dies and his love dies with them, and all he had in life is gone as well. His every possession is left to those who are still living to divide up or sell because they were useless to begin with. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure, but in this instance it is all trash.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">This is why Christ says these two things below:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:24&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><b><i><u><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Galatians 5:24</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">And those <i>who are</i> Christ’s have <span style="color: lime;"><u>crucified the flesh with its passions and desires</u>.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2016:24-27&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew16:24-27</a></span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. <sup>25 </sup><u><span style="color: lime;">For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.</span></u> <sup>26 </sup>For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? <sup>27 </sup>For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">For whoever desires to save his life will lose it. This is what I said above in the first two paragraphs in a less direct way. A man who lives for things lives in futility, for when he dies he is simply dead and his every wanton desire, his every comfort, his<span style="color: #cccccc;"> every possession does not go with him but stays on earth and the man dies alone. A man who lives for Christ lives for His love and to love others and to be loved by Christ and others in return and the reward is both as <span style="color: #cccccc;">immediate as it is substantial. Love gives peace and sets people free from all sorts of harmful emotions, destructive desires, and slavery. But even more importantly is that the man who dies for Christ gains Christ. Christ is love and He Himself <em>is heaven</em>. Those of us who adore Christ know that heaven is nothing without Christ because He is what makes heaven worth going to. To want heaven is to want Jesus Christ, but</span> to want the flesh is to want earth, slavery and ultimately leads only to hell because it is the tool used by demons to lead us all astray.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Indeed, what would it profit a man to save his life when he is fated to die regardless? Protecting your own life is futile for all are appointed to die at some point in life. So why is there any importance placed on these things which we all lust for, work for, and crave for? Because when a man is lost he cannot live for Christ, so he must instead live for those things. Therefore, if a man is saved by Christ then he is emptied of those desires and instead is filled with Christ’s love and the pursuit of Christ. His whole life is transformed, and his reward when he dies is Christ, so long as he simply loves Jesus Christ. Loving Christ means giving over your life to Him. Learning to love Christ for some people is a process that takes some practice because it involves learning not to think about yourself and your life and your desires, but rather to think about Christ, His kingdom on earth and the well being of other people. Though this life may be uncomfortable, you can walk through it with joy in the Lord and ultimate purpose, and die knowing that the shackles of death cannot hold you nor intimidate you anymore. No wants, needs, or fears will ever hold you again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Allah and Muhammad are murderers. Muhammad spent his life destroying his own kin, enslaving women for sex, stealing and pillaging, murdering homosexuals in unique and inventive ways, and slaughtering entire cities simply because they would not believe in Allah. And no wonder, who in their right minds can believe in something with a sword at their throat? It wasn't about genuine love, for love cannot be forced. Islam is a lie founded on the temptation of demons to weak humans, and in the end Muhammad died of a fever!! Such a great man he must have been to have died not gloriously in battle, but of a simple fever. Yet Christ loved the world so much, that even when we hated him, he died so we could be saved and have a relationship with Him. This is because Christianity is founded on genuine love, friendship, and freedom! So do not seek freedom from your fear of death by hoping for sex, food and things in the afterlife: Hope for Christ!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2011:28&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew11:28</a></span></u></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> “</span></i><i><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">28 </span></sup></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">All who go to Christ live for Christ because their flesh, their desires, their so called hopes and dreams come to a sudden end in the triumphant freedom of Christ’s death and resurrection. This is Christ's promise: Heaven on earth because Christ IS heaven, and when He enters your heart you will know why life exists at all. Life exists for His divine love, friendship, and fellowship! Glory to the Living Christ! There is no sex in heaven, no burdens, no sleeplessness, no tears, no sadness, no loneliness, no hard work, no college careers etc…there is Christ in heaven! So place your hopes and your dreams and your heart on Christ in the pursuit of true and lasting earthly freedom that does not cause you torment or tiredness, but doing so will restore your body and spirit for Christ’s joy will be your strength!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">And if you want to take that step today with Jesus Christ, pray with me below:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Heavenly Father,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Lord, I am a sinner. I am here praying because I believe in your Holy Son Jesus Christ, whom you sent to die for my many sins on that cross so I could have a relationship with you. Without Christ's shed blood for my sins you could not enter into a relationship with me in the way that I need, and I see that. Oh Lord, I am so thankful for your Son. Now I ask you Jesus, please forgive me for my sins. Bathe me in the blood of your cross and wash me clean in your blessed forgiveness. I give you power to empty my heart of all flesh and earthly desires, and I ask that you fill all of my heart with your Holy Spirit to set me free from my life, from the fear of death, from wants of all kinds. Let me live for your love! In Christ's name I pray, AMEN!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">And if you did pray that, you can start watching some ministry on Christ, Christ's love and His second coming through Jack Van Impe Ministries </span><a href="http://www.thegospel.com/clients/jvim-jack-van-impe-ministries/media.asp" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cccccc;">here</span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">, but if that link is a little frustrating, you can watch him on YouTube also </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz0fVB_bEPxlPzeySwIgHOQ" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cccccc;">here</span></a><span style="color: #cccccc;">. I prefer the YouTube link, it has virtually every episode this decade. Jack Van Impe has been ministering on TV for 66 years.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">CHRIST BLESS YOU!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-88434052677718508212013-12-15T16:20:00.003-05:002013-12-15T21:19:43.159-05:00Christ Died For You, But Will You Die For Him?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Christ Died For You</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">But Will You Die For Him?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friend,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I fear that time is running out for us all. People who have a heart for Christ usually show it immediately. Grab your heart by its reigns and pray for your heart to find a stronghold in Christ completely. Christ demands that we surrender all our wants, needs, desires, and lusts to Him completely. There is no half-baking this my dear friend. You either give your life and all your wants to Christ or you may be risking facing death without His salvation. Regardless of the potential degrees there may be in salvation for people, Christ does say one thing perfectly that should make you fear God and tremble.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010:37-39&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 10:37-39</a></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">37</span></sup> He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">38</span></sup> And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">39</span></sup> He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christ is demanding all of your love. He demands you love him more than your own parents, wives, children, or friends, and He demands your whole body and spirit and heart to surrender to Him. And again, it is written below:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209:23-26&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Luke 9:23-26</a></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">23</span></sup> Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,[a] and follow Me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">24</span></sup> For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">25 </span></sup>For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">26</span></sup> For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And again in the very beginning of:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>"<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></sup> The Lord is my Shepherd,</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>I shall not want..."<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Find your heart for Christ my friend; Find it in His will and realize in your heart that nothing matters but Jesus, and thus end the battle of good and evil in your heart forever. The rest of the battle will be in your mind, where demons tempt you with your desires, but through prayer, study, and abandonment of all desires to Christ you will find refuge from sorrow and dangers of all kinds. More importantly, you will be able to gain the joy of the Lord which will be your strength! Amen! You can renew your strength in Christ's endless joy for those who love Him! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One way you can let go of your wants is by realizing how short this life is, that, and how Christ's second coming may only be months or a few years away. Everyone seems to be saying it now that the Apostasy has just started to really begin its march toward Tribulation. So many of the preachers and ministers in America are echoing a similar chorus of worry and joy: Christ is coming very soon! No matter how you think about it, you need to realize that your hopes and dreams are not possible anymore since you will not have the time to pursue them. Let them go if not for Christ but for logic's sake. If there is not enough time to enjoy the evils people (and you) pursue, then why would you bother and lose out on the preciousness of the relationship in Christ Jesus? Christ is best to pursue whether you live a year or ten thousand years of life left to live. Christ will always be your answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:43-49&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Luke 6:43-49</a></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">43</span></sup> “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">44</span></sup> For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">45</span></sup> A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart[a] brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. </span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">46</span></sup> “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">47</span></sup> Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">48</span></sup> He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.[b]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">49</span></sup> But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.[c] And the ruin of that house was great.”</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyone who love Christ truly will bear good fruit, which is simply an analogy for when their words and actions walk in step with each other. For example, Christ says He loves even all people of the earth which includes all sinners (especially the sinners!), so the Christian who does not love one another cannot be filled with Christ. Again, a man who has faith in Christ will actively love others, which falls in line with <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=NKJV" target="_blank">James 2:14-26</a>. You know you are saved by Christ because of below your faith will reflect positive action and you will emulate Christ, in essence, Christ will become your sole focus in life, no longer your wants and needs but Christ!:</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201:6-7&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 John 1:6-7</a></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">6</span></sup> If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not **practice** the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">7</span></sup> But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This also lines up perfectly with the verses from Luke 6:43-49 above about being a good fruit and actually following Christ’s ways. Even Christ gave up His life to the Father, so how can anyone say that this is not what Jesus was intending? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My words are reflected in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:21-25&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 Peter 2:21-25</a> as well (my words are merely an echo!)</span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-2-21"><em><strong><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NKJV-30421a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:21-25&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30421a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> leaving us<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NKJV-30421b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:21-25&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30421b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> an example, that you should follow His steps..."</strong></em></span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-2-21"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The amount of references to following Christ without anything else in your heart are staggering so much so that it is amazing people can delude themselves into thinking they are Christians at all. There is only one way to interpret what Christ says, and it is reflected by Christ's own actions, for just as Jesus died for us according to the Father's will so must we surrender all our lives and wants to Christ's will! So if you are in Christ and are actually SAVED, then you will walk in the light and your actions will reflect your salvation through Christ Jesus being your sole objective in life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My friend, I pray that you will get a grip on your heart and let Christ lead you. Forsake your desires. Let them go. They will destroy you. They will lead you away from Jesus. If you want anything in life that is not Christ Himself then you are not following Christ in the way He wants you to. None of your desires are worth pursuing, only Christ is. Read your Bible and know that I speak the truth. I hope the verses below will inspire you, my friend. I always cry when I read this below!!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Psalm 23</a></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></sup> The Lord is my shepherd;</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I shall not want.</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></sup> He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span></sup> He restores my soul;</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">4</span></sup> Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">5</span></sup> You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">6</span></sup> Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell[a] in the house of the Lord Forever.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Warmest regards,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Kyle</span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mark 15:16 & 19</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">15</span></sup><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">[Jesus] said to them, </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. <sup>16</sup>Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”</span><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">… </span><sup><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">19</span></sup><span style="color: #984806; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.”</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-24717022329700609542013-12-15T16:20:00.002-05:002013-12-31T17:46:16.088-05:00Giving Up Your Life for Christ Is Mandatory<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Giving Up Your Life for Christ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Is Mandatory</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;">It was laid upon my heart to write copy/paste these verses for everyone who may be reading my walk with Christ, because the Bible is clear that no man can be saved if he holds to his life. Christ came to free us from death, from fear, from slavery to sin and disobedience to God by sending His own Son to die for us on the Cross and enable us to have a one-on-one relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. This article follows the one above it called </span><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/christ-died-for-you-but-will-you-die_29.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">Christ Died For You, But Will You Die For Him?</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;">Christ gave His life for us all in the Father's name-- He did not merely believe the Father, but Christ <em>acted in faith </em>and set the example for us all to follow. In the same way where Christ's faith would have been insufficient to save us all from sin if He chose not to <em>act on it </em>by dying on the Cross according to the Father's will, so also our own faith is insufficient unless we also set aside our own lives for Christ's will for us. There must be <i><u>action</u> </i>that goes with your faith. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;">When you want something, you act on it. When you need something, you go get it. You must do what is necessary to survive, yet so many people are starving spiritually and do nothing about it. They pursue things that matter nothing in the end. What is life without Christ? What is marriage even when the bonds of matrimony are dissolved when we die and either go to heaven or hell? But Christ persists in us now and after we die. And when you pursue comforts and fun and that nice house and a life of ease, later in life you will still die and when you look back on your life, what did all those days of ease and comfort and fun mean now that you are dead without Christ? And if you had Christ but pursued Him without vigor, what then do those comforts and that life of fun and ease add up to? In the end it is a stumbling block. This is why Christ demands that we empty our hearts of all earthly wants and flesh, because the life of a man and his wants will always be at odds with Christ's wants for you life. Nothing matters but Christ in the end, which means nothing can compare to Him now or at the beginning of your life, and this is the attitude that you must wield! This is the fear of God and the love of God at work in you now. To pursue Christ is to pursue freedom from desires This is Christ in your heart. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;">And the same principles apply with following Christ, for the man whose life has been saved by Christ will respond to the Shepherd's voice and not stand there idly thinking, "Yes, I believe that is my Shepherd's voice..." No, a true lamb in Christ <span style="color: lime;">will both hear Him and then follow.</span> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010:37-39&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><em><strong>Matthew 10:37-39</strong></em></a><strong><em>, </em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209:23-26&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><em>Luke 9:23-26</em></a><em>, </em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><em>Psalm 23:1</em></a><em>, </em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:43-49&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><em>Luke 6:43-49</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:21-25&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;"><em>1 Peter 2:21-25</em></span></a></span></span></span></strong></span></span><br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2016:15-19&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Mark 15:16 & 19</a></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">15</span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[Jesus] said to them, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. <sup>16</sup>Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">… <sup>19</sup>After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:24&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Galatians 5:24</a></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And those <i>who are</i> Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:24-27&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 16:24-27</a></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. <sup>25 </sup>For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. <sup>26 </sup>For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? <sup>27 </sup>For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"> <b><i><u><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:21-25&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 Peter 2:21-25</a></u></i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">21 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Pet%202:21-26&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30421a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> leaving us<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Pet%202:21-26&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30421b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> an example, that you should follow His steps:</span></span></span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;">22 </span></span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;">“Who committed no sin,<br /> Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; <sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Pet%202:21-26&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30422c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">23 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed <i>Himself</i> to Him who judges righteously; <sup>24 </sup>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. <sup>25 </sup>For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Pet%202:21-26&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30425d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup> of your souls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"> <strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013:4-15&version=NKJV" target="_blank">John 13:4-15</a></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span class="text John-13-4" id="en-NKJV-26635"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>[Jesus] rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. </span> <span class="text John-13-5" id="en-NKJV-26636"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe <i>them</i> with the towel with which He was girded. </span> <span class="text John-13-6" id="en-NKJV-26637"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>Then He came to Simon Peter. And <i>Peter</i> said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”</span>...</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span class="text John-13-12" id="en-NKJV-26643"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, <span class="woj">“Do you know what I have done to you?</span> </span> <span class="text John-13-13" id="en-NKJV-26644"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup><span class="woj">You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for <i>so</i> I am.</span> </span> </span><span class="text John-13-14" id="en-NKJV-26645"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup><span class="woj">If I then, <i>your</i> Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.</span> </span><span class="text John-13-15" id="en-NKJV-26646"><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup><span class="woj"><strong><u>For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.</u></strong></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014:27-33&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Luke 14:27-33</a></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">27 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. <sup>28 </sup>For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has <i>enough</i> to finish <i>it</i>— <sup>29 </sup>lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see <i>it</i> begin to mock him, <sup>30 </sup>saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? <sup>31 </sup>Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? <sup>32 </sup>Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. <sup>33 </sup>So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"> <b><i><u><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206:19-20&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:19-20</a></u></i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit <i>who is</i> in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? <sup>20 </sup>For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206:19-20&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-28488a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> and in your spirit, which are God’s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"> <b><i><u><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209:23-26&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Luke 9:23-26</a></u></i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">23 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then He said to <i>them</i> all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-25325a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> and follow Me. <sup>24 </sup>For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. <sup>25 </sup>For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? <sup>26 </sup>For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His <i>own</i> glory, and <i>in His</i> Father’s, and of the holy angels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%20%202:14-26&version=NKJV" target="_blank">James 2:14-26</a></span></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What <i>does it</i> profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? <sup>15 </sup>If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, <sup>16 </sup>and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what <i>does it</i> profit? <sup>17 </sup>Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">18 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30312a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> works, and I will show you my faith by my<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30312b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> works. <sup>19 </sup>You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! <sup>20 </sup>But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30314c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> <sup>21 </sup>Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? <sup>22 </sup>Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? <sup>23 </sup>And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30317d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup> And he was called the friend of God. <sup>24 </sup>You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">25 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent <i>them</i> out another way?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"> <b><i><u><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010:27-32&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 10:27-32</a></u></i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;">Jesus Teaches the Fear of God</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">27 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. <sup>28 </sup>And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. <sup>29 </sup>Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. <sup>30 </sup>But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. <sup>31 </sup>Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.</span></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;">Confess Christ Before Men</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">32 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. <sup>33 </sup>But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those who think and think about following Christ often get no where fast because the battle of the mind cannot be won without the heart belonging to Christ. Our minds are a battlefield for Satan, but our hearts belong to God, so live by your heart and you will be saved. For if you do this by your heart then your every doubt will add up to nothing and fail to make you stumble when you stop to consider Christ's love and sacrifice for you just to live. Then when the time of testing comes your heart will be strong enough to guide you when you feel the whisper of the Holy Spirit pushing you in the directions of righteousness, and your worries and doubts will not hinder you to achieving communion with Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.acts17-11.com/death.html"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.acts17-11.com/death.html</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri;">This link is very helpful to explain many things about abandonment for Christ. I liked it. I also LOVE Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" and John Eldredge's "Waking the Dead."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #999999;">Peace and God bless!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-34696142528206854862013-12-15T16:20:00.001-05:002013-12-15T21:20:12.117-05:00Waiting For the Lord: God's Grace and the Virtue of Patience<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My other blogs are:</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_qogcSLPL0HmnDhxnZOaRGnMVSSWLX_yr1lVa6CKsV-pQxW866KL5XkvdU6mqhxyfJqqSb3Rej2_-qsv6eYbbCxgWqdyTbIOGD61ZmLblIt6dMzYVbBDk_ESzcU6ZgohFfWyKjybLXM/s1600/wait-upon-the-lord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_qogcSLPL0HmnDhxnZOaRGnMVSSWLX_yr1lVa6CKsV-pQxW866KL5XkvdU6mqhxyfJqqSb3Rej2_-qsv6eYbbCxgWqdyTbIOGD61ZmLblIt6dMzYVbBDk_ESzcU6ZgohFfWyKjybLXM/s640/wait-upon-the-lord.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Waiting For the Lord</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God's Grace and the Virtue of Patience</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I fear God in many ways and for various reasons described below, but then I realized that I often have a tendency to try to scramble to get all my “ducks” in order. Under the impression of an absolute rule I felt was wholly and always applicable—that is, the guiding rule that we must all pursue God ourselves right now lest we lose out on the relationship—perhaps does not have as much credence as I thought ‘til tonight (05/15/13). It is wholly appicable, but also if a person is prone to impulsivity, then they may end up stepping in front of the Lord. Some of us (I, included) want to go very fast, but the Lord is slow moving and patient, so it's important to pace ourselves with God. In my own fear, I had been vigorously praying to God. I felt I had to do more for him to propel our relationship as fast as it could forward. The idea obviously came from the rule above; and to think that the relationship we shared would be hindered by my slowness to react and to understand his will was not as spot-on as I had thought. For God shook my heart when I desperately prayed for his will to be revealed, <span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>“You want to do it all yourself!” </em></span><span style="color: #999999;">was the feeling that popped into my heart.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-16-23"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A23&version=NIV" target="_blank"><em>Matthew 16:23</em></a><em> <span class="text Matt-16-23" id="en-NIV-23696"><sup class="versenum">23</sup></span>"Jesus turned and said to Peter, <span class="woj">“Get behind me, Satan!<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23696A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”</span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ring a sinful bell for anyone? Get BEHIND Jesus, Kyle, geez golly oh man! What is my deal lately! Perhaps it was the Sin of autonomy? The fall of my sins here was more a lack of understanding than an inherent will to dictate to God. Innocent enough, for we all learn our lessons. However, while this might not seem inherently bad to those of you who also have a powerful need to pursue God's lessons of faith as if they were short strokes of a paintbrush, the reality is that this kind of 'stepping in front of the Lord' is utterly <strong><u>DISASTROUS</u></strong> for a Christian. In essence, I was accidentally taking the lead in the relationship, thinking I knew better in an unconscious way. My vigor had turned against me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The good I wanted in my life "for me" had deceived me, just as Peter's good will for Christ would have actually condemned all humanity if he had his way. Another harmless misunderstanding? Perhaps it was since God is always in control regardless, but for both Peter and I the rebuke was painful and hard learned. Deceived by my own desire to correct my flawed character, I became more self-interested in being white as snow which was filled with vanity and false self-actualization in Christ. It became about being more like a Pharisee than it was being righteous for the sake of Christ. It actually caused me to sin the worst sin—heaven became more important than Christ and inherent pride caused me to make demands of God. Winning spiritual treasures became an object to win with hard work and not by Christ’s Grace. My ducks were far from in order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did not face disaster, thankfully, but I lost some serious sleep over it for nearly a week thinking God hated me. The truth was I grieved God by accident. Therefore, do not be concerned so much with your character as you are now, but instead concentrate on protecting Christ's heart by emulating Him calmly and patiently. It may sound incorrect to some of you, but try it. Focus only on the Lord and His will in deep patience and sincerity. Your character is not truly in question because we are washed in cleansing blood of Christ, and it would be quite fruitless to try to rectify those past sins without Christ, for the inherent sins of man and his wicked thoughts are simply cleansed by Christ. Our ways are not God's ways, but through Christ we slowly form that steady learning relationship through abandonment of ourselves to Him. Instead, be concerned for what you can do for God according to His will, and not about looking bad in God's eyes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wait and be patient for His answers. Be ready to serve in ways that you are not ready for or wanting to. Be instant in-season and out-of-season. Ministry for God means doing things you don't want to and being ready to minister to others in need when you are rushed, tired, lazy, or even sick (etc) and often you may be put into situations that are scary, deadly, uncomfortable (etc). Serving Christ like a pastor is so generic and not terribly useful to Christ for us all since there is a great need for regular people to simply reach out to everyday regular people at any given notice. I have found that my own homelessness had placed me in a position to minister to other homeless people! I found once when I was very sick and near death that I ministered to two other sick people and they began attending church with me! So you see, "doing" things for God is not about not sinning but the change in heart. Your attitudes begin to change. The old things you used to value and want slip away and before you know it you talk about Christ all the time. People listen to you and you suffer for Christ and feel the love of Christ in ways you never thought possible. I had to suffer homelessness and sickness to minister to those three people, so be prepared, being a servant of God is more than not sinning, it's about Christ and being concerned for Him. It's a heart change, not so much about not sinning but grace!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Psalm 27:13-14</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">13 </span></sup>I remain confident of this:<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-27-13">I will see the goodness of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14299AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-27-13">in the land of the living.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14299AG" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-27-14" id="en-NIV-14300"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>Wait<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14300AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)"></sup> for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-27-14">be strong<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14300AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)"></sup> and take heart</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-27-14">and wait for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Follow God, for although it may seem a better virtue <em>not to be</em> patient when pursuing him with all your vigor, patience is still a virtue even then. In these times of limbo, tidy yourself up and try to stay productive while waiting for the voice of the Lord to give his answers to your heart. Remember when Christ spoke to the rich young man? </span><br />
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<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2019:21-30&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 19:21-30</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: cyan;"><sup><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999;">Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, </span><strong><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: #999999;">go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.</span> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: lime;"><i><u>Then</u></i> come, follow me.”</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus says, if you want to be perfect, then that is how you go about achieving that perfection! Even Christ makes it clear what we must do for perfect emulation of Him. Well, what are you waiting for?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">GOD BLESS!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-20183829320160161862013-12-15T16:20:00.000-05:002013-12-15T21:20:24.128-05:00Are You Going to Heaven When You Die?<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #f1c232;">My other blogs are:</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnSFMIogVRFMl-T8YmkN6nI9-6Der_zR5jslazjPqT3VSqXKIsr-AR9ct4l4jfhPVPhKPWJNeJkUnXCYi-zZ9rHqPrthfKjTZylh2rl-Q9Wv22zyZ8M4wOAuPF-UoFSAEf386S0j0hAc/s1600/aaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnSFMIogVRFMl-T8YmkN6nI9-6Der_zR5jslazjPqT3VSqXKIsr-AR9ct4l4jfhPVPhKPWJNeJkUnXCYi-zZ9rHqPrthfKjTZylh2rl-Q9Wv22zyZ8M4wOAuPF-UoFSAEf386S0j0hAc/s640/aaa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Are You Going to Heaven When You Die?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Are You "Truly" A Christian?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013:22-27&version=NIV" target="_blank">Luke 13:24-27</a></div>
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<span class="text Luke-13-24" id="en-NIV-25543"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25543C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> because <span style="color: lime;">many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.</span></span></span> <span class="text Luke-13-25" id="en-NIV-25544"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, <span style="color: lime;">you will stand outside knocking and pleading</span>, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-13-25"><span class="woj">“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-13-26" id="en-NIV-25545"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-13-27" id="en-NIV-25546"><span class="woj"><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><u>Away from me, all you evildoers!’</u></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">-</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> -</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Am I a Christian?</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2010:21&version=NIV" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Mark 10:21</strong></span></a></span></span><br /><span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span class="text Mark-10-21" id="en-NIV-24610"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>Jesus looked at him and loved him. <span class="woj">“One thing you lack,”</span> he said.</span> </span><span class="woj"><span style="color: lime;">“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24610A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"><span style="color: #999999;"></span></sup></span><span style="color: #999999;"> and you will have treasure in heaven.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24610B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup><strong> </strong></span><span style="color: lime;">Then come, follow me.”</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span class="text Mark-10-21"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: small;"><span class="woj"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:29-40&version=NIV" target="_blank">Luke 12:32-34</a></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span class="text Mark-10-21"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="woj"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span class="text Luke-12-32" id="en-NIV-25492"><span class="woj"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>“Do not be afraid,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25492E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25492F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup></span></span></span> <span class="text Luke-12-33" id="en-NIV-25493"><span class="woj"><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>Sell your possessions and give to the poor.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25493G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup></span> <span style="color: #999999;">Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25493H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup> that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25493I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span class="text Luke-12-34" id="en-NIV-25494"><span class="woj"><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qH7CxHMo09stdXgzL8I6sYgRF71GadpC5dD3oV748YyEETTh8AjHYQFtFvD-ZObZttL-jNCkoZx1K77jj6yj2Vt4wIhmApskTlOw4lV98jcgT93lVyPzcU5E0vV8C6W2MgzzLsDrGiY/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qH7CxHMo09stdXgzL8I6sYgRF71GadpC5dD3oV748YyEETTh8AjHYQFtFvD-ZObZttL-jNCkoZx1K77jj6yj2Vt4wIhmApskTlOw4lV98jcgT93lVyPzcU5E0vV8C6W2MgzzLsDrGiY/s320/a.jpg" width="195" /></strong></span></a></span></span></span><span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: xx-small;"><strong>-</strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: cyan;"><strong><span style="font-size: xx-small;">-</span></strong></span><span style="color: #999999;"><strong>Notice he says to give up everything for him and <u>then </u>to follow him? </strong>The ordering of the sentence indicates that in order to follow Christ in the way he wants, a person must **first**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> give up everything simply to be able to follow him at all. This is a little scary since </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the vast majority of people think they are Christians and yet have not even met one of the first requirements of following Christ written above,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Everyone is called to give up all their earthly treasures and to lay down their lives, however not everyone are expected to actually do it. So while the Lord wants us all to be ready to do this in our hearts, not all of us are told to. A good rule of thumb is that if you read what I'm trying to help explain but hope God doesn't call you to surrender everything then your heart might not be in the right place. It's better to give up all for Christ because you want to, rather than by command. Just remember that Lazarus and Matthew had nice houses and all of their things still even after surrendering it all to Christ, but were never told to sell it all to the poor as the rich man was told (this is because the rich man idolized his possessions).</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2019:16-30&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 19:21-30 (full chapter on this link)</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, <strong>go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. <i><u>Then</u></i> come, follow me.”</strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: #999999;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: cyan;"><sup><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="color: #999999;">Then Jesus said to his disciples, </span></span><span style="color: #999999;">“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. <sup>24 </sup>Again I tell you,</span> </span><strong><span style="color: lime;">it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”</span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, <strong>“Who then can be saved?”</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus looked at them and said, <strong>“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter answered him,</span> <strong>“We have left everything to follow you!</strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> What then will there be for us?”</span></span></div>
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<sup><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">28 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="color: lime;">Jesus said to them, </span>“Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, </span></span><span style="color: lime;">you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. <strong><sup>29 </sup>And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife<sup>[</sup></strong></span></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2019:16-30&version=NIV#fen-NIV-23792c" title="See footnote c"><sup><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>c</strong></span></sup></a><span style="color: lime;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>]</strong></span></sup><strong> or children or fields for my sake</strong> <u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.</strong></span></u></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: lime;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;"><sup>30 </sup>But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People may be in danger of hearing the dreaded words Christ will speak to so many when they enter heaven..."I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, you evildoers!" In Luke 12:32-34 (listed toward the top), Christ reiterates that all followers must give up everything they have and helping the poor (poor in money and poor in Spirit). What is special about these verses in Luke is that </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ points out how where a person's treasure is, there his heart will be also.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> So is your heart set on that new TV. or that sport's car? Do you love sex or money? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A true follower of Christ thinks non-stop about Christ, because their hearts are dead set on him, for Christ is their treasure.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Peoples' hearts reside where their loves reside, and if you cannot say that Christ is your sole treasure in life, then you are in great danger!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%208:21&version=NIV"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 8:21</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">21 </span></sup></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="color: #999999;">He replied, </span></span></span><span style="color: lime;">“My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGvLhjY2U5XbCPW4EaDXo4ogY3PassTHn3iJfhMUuZ74vDybeWsHQQ3AyWC4ilo-PyG5v-TUx3JcRY4XhaLYY4zd6qiZsmOK6eL0LSsd30k8z63jsXj_CmtZQTW2LhHBjSr5v97yR2VQ/s1600/aa.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGvLhjY2U5XbCPW4EaDXo4ogY3PassTHn3iJfhMUuZ74vDybeWsHQQ3AyWC4ilo-PyG5v-TUx3JcRY4XhaLYY4zd6qiZsmOK6eL0LSsd30k8z63jsXj_CmtZQTW2LhHBjSr5v97yR2VQ/s320/aa.gif" width="256" /></a><span class="text Luke-13-27"><span class="woj"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: xx-small;"></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, the questions you need to ask yourself are:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Are you making EVERY EFFORT to enter heaven by <b>serving</b> Christ here on earth?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Do you pursue the knowledge of the Lord Christ with fervor and daily try to satiate your unending desire to be made perfect in Him?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Is it your joy to give to others in any way you can?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Does reading your Bible (assuming you do) revitalize your heart and strengthen your desire to follow Christ's exact will?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-When you read your Bible, do you feel great passion, sadness, and joy as you read? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Do you spend much of your time each day wondering how God might want to use you? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-As the days go by, do you feel restless that you wish you could do more for Christ?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-When life gets hard and terrible events assail you (like homelessness, poverty, sickness or death), do you feel scared or do you remain confident that the Lord is good and will provide for you?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Are you afraid of dying or do you look forward to it with great zeal?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-If the Lord whispered to you, would you obey a command that seemed crazy?</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And the most important question of all:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have I given up everything I have for Christ like my house, family, friends, possessions, even my life?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The thing is, for this last question, if you did not immediately think "Heck yeah!" without hesitation, then you may not be as strong of a Christian as you thought you were, or even a Christian at all. Reason being, is that Christians are called to give up everything they have and lay down their very lives without doubt, and to live a life of faith in Christ. There are no last minute or half-hearted Christians, for it says:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:29-40&version=NIV"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 12:29-40</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">29 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. <sup>30 </sup>For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. <sup>31 </sup>But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">....(Luke 12:32-34 above)</span></div>
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<sup><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">35 </span></sup><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Be dressed ready for service</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999;"> and keep your lamps burning,</span> <sup><span style="color: lime;">36 </span></sup><span style="color: lime;">like servants waiting for their master</span> <span style="color: #999999;">to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. </span><sup><span style="color: lime;">37 </span></sup><span style="color: lime;">It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.</span> <span style="color: #999999;">Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. <sup>38 </sup>It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready,</span> <span style="color: lime;">even if he comes in the middle of the night</span> <span style="color: #999999;">or toward daybreak. <sup>39 </sup>But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.</span> <sup><span style="color: lime;">40 </span></sup><span style="color: lime;">You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this long paragraph Christ states that we should be dressed and ready to serve Him.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He's depicting a story-like scenario of how servants are hired by wealthy people to cater to them, and this means being great hosts, which includes things like preparing food, opening doors, cleaning, and so on. The illustration focuses on how a worthy servant is "ready" to immediately serve his master's needs, and will not be caught dilly-dallying when he arrives unexpectedly. <b><u>Christ uses this depiction to illustrate a real Christian from a fake one, where a real Christian is like this dedicated servant</u></b>, who is prepared at a moment’s notice to serve his master. This takes great effort and care since the master is not always on time, he may call on his servant at random times, or even inconvenient times, and the servant must still be ready!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ calls us in this same way, but are you a dedicated servant? When he, the master, calls you his servant, will you tarry or be caught by surprise?</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:21&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 7:21</span></a></div>
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<sup><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999;">“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,</span> <span style="color: lime;">but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkQUGDz3QZ_VViP20bFQ0FcYxTkK0-7EuMFbJ0Px0vEeEK77iHjJKwT8cdOWJ9YiIAdeCmxcxoVp3fLBVlehg2gGVvCO0lok96A0iZjICdieTLvJgex9-SxTdtR-Ay6puLKdgdE99em8/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkQUGDz3QZ_VViP20bFQ0FcYxTkK0-7EuMFbJ0Px0vEeEK77iHjJKwT8cdOWJ9YiIAdeCmxcxoVp3fLBVlehg2gGVvCO0lok96A0iZjICdieTLvJgex9-SxTdtR-Ay6puLKdgdE99em8/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take His hand!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999;">This is the most fact-like statement Jesus makes to separate the true disciples of Christ with those who are not true Christians. He says it quite matter-of-factly that</span> <span style="color: cyan;">only the followers who obey Christ in full obedience will enter heaven.</span> <span style="color: #999999;">This is difficult to accept, and after reading this you may feel very frustrated and scared, or even attempt to try to find areas of the Bible that conflict with this statement, but it has been said and you have read it. You will be held accountable when you die and stand before Christ bearing the responsibility of true discipleship, for better or worse. When Christ asks you, "Who are you?" and you cannot respond as a disciple, he will say "Away from me! He will not embrace you, but instead cast you out of heaven to the place of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (hell), and there are no second chances in hell. Hell is forever, regardless of what Catholics try to say (I go into this in other articles with Biblical support). Just remember this to help you figure out if your heart is in proper place: Do you wish only for heaven and to serve Christ, or do you worry about jobs, money, food, bills, and desire more earthly things? Is your heart set on Christ, or your life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999;">Do not be afraid to answer these questions, "No," because it's what you do after gaining this knowledge that makes a Christian a real disciple or not.</span> <b><span style="color: #e06666;">Now that you have read this, Satan will attempt to cloud your head with doubts, fears and eventually drain you until you give up and put this knowledge out of your head. Retain this knowledge and pursue it right now! Do not let it fade away and be lost! This short life is not worth spending away from Christ even for a moment, for at any moment you can die and all will be lost.</span></b> <span style="color: #999999;">Let all of this nag at you and bother you because your original thoughts about Christianity have been challenged. It's good that you're bothered or scared or confused by this article. Now that you know these things, you need to keep finding more answers to your questions found in your Bible. It is important to find these answers yourself because Christ demands so much more of us than what the common Christian wants to admit. Who would want to give up their lives, after all? But you must! It's up to you now to learn and to investigate your faith. Or you can put this out of your head and try to forget it...I mean, how else can you love your life when you know that it's a hollow pursuit?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF3MyhYjI0uqN70EUePPm-lTsS6rUwzYp6toUqzmk30QjUVqXDWaKWUKvgajRiqyPxAFx_R8KA_ESKjImLR3hWyhVQRnI-UOefqpLyybvjv2eYDrMO_6zTTAI9ddCWMPwvRQXq3DRw0k/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF3MyhYjI0uqN70EUePPm-lTsS6rUwzYp6toUqzmk30QjUVqXDWaKWUKvgajRiqyPxAFx_R8KA_ESKjImLR3hWyhVQRnI-UOefqpLyybvjv2eYDrMO_6zTTAI9ddCWMPwvRQXq3DRw0k/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Therefore:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Give up your life for Christ! Pursue knowledge in the Lord with fervor and passion. It's up to you whether you enter heaven or not, and this life is far too short to worry about wants and needs, especially when Christ promises them to you if you just believe! It is Christ's greatest desire to love us and share a deep friendship!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Serving Christ is the same as serving your spouse, you don't look at caring for your spouse when s/he's sick as a chore, you love to help because you are filled with love for that person...the same goes for Christ! Give it time and hold strong! It's not hard or sad or boring or scary to serve Christ...it's a passionate, heart-warming pursuit that will grant you treasures in heaven and peace, security, and joy on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999;">Be strong in the Lord and continually read that Bible!!! Pray each day for more faith and a heart that loves Christ! You must ask for these things to become stronger in Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-80408501963407859172013-12-15T16:19:00.005-05:002013-12-15T21:20:50.078-05:00Wanting Heaven and Wanting Christ: Is There a Difference?<span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My other blogs are:</em></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhawrJLjUaDR6MKXQjpzo4YHl3TvTubSxYHqiiu3ezOxI3um5XDdBryZrJb9kIS5H-t4NT8Nq0gOZbUQEJiXYqWE8ZXqfe9xdun_ou9B5k2QXfKhvEf1Wn5DUCpVSsXReCxUZgVT19dyA/s1600/angelsheaven3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhawrJLjUaDR6MKXQjpzo4YHl3TvTubSxYHqiiu3ezOxI3um5XDdBryZrJb9kIS5H-t4NT8Nq0gOZbUQEJiXYqWE8ZXqfe9xdun_ou9B5k2QXfKhvEf1Wn5DUCpVSsXReCxUZgVT19dyA/s640/angelsheaven3.jpg" width="512" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Wanting Heaven and Wanting Christ: </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Is There a Difference?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Perhaps the most important thing I can say to you today is that heaven is not a place to go to when you die, but rather it’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Who</i>. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2017:3&version=NKJV" target="_blank">John 17:3</a> <span class="text John-17-3" id="en-NKJV-26763"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup><span class="woj">And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Where ever Christ is, that’s heaven. So whether Christ is on earth or in heaven or in hell… that’s where heaven will be as well. Right now, heaven is on earth in our hearts through our relationship with Christ, even though it is always up in the clouds. This makes it seem awful silly why people would put off an obedient relationship with Jesus, because it is literally the same thing as a person saying that he/she does not want to go to heaven (yet). If you don’t admire Jesus’ rules and his way of life “now,” then you cannot expect heaven to be great when you die! Right? It makes more sense than most people care to admit, and it's the sole reason why we are here. Earth right now is a proving grounds for how we want our lives to be: To be our own lives or to give our lives to Christ. Even the angels in heaven had this choice and not all of them were so happy with heaven either. One-third of all of heaven's angels chose to rebel against God, so earth is no different. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">So now that you know that heaven is not entirely what you think it is, let's think some more. To be “in heaven” is to be committed to God in total submission, but that is possible (and expected) now through the washing of yourself through Christ. If you don’t submit your flesh 100% to God on earth then you are not worthy of heaven, as Christ says many times that <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010:37-39&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><em><strong>Matthew 10:37-39</strong></em></a><strong><em>, </em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209:23-26&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><em>Luke 9:23-26</em></a><em>, </em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><em>Psalm 23:1</em></a><em>, </em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:43-49&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><em>Luke 6:43-49</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:21-25&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;"><em>1 Peter 2:21-25</em></span></a></span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span> and more that those who want Christ must deny themselves, follow Him and the example that He set for us by living and dying for us when we did not deserve it or even want it at the time. Jesus and the Apostles all say this over and over and over again, and I have several articles on this issue alone with watered down Christians today in <u>1. </u><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/christ-died-for-you-but-will-you-die_29.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime; font-family: inherit;">Christ Died For You</span></a><span style="color: lime; font-family: inherit;">, <span style="color: #999999;"><u>2. </u></span></span><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/giving-up-your-life-for-christ-is_29.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime; font-family: inherit;">Giving Up Your Life</span></a><span style="color: lime; font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: #999999;">and </span></span><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/10/are-you-going-to-heaven-when-you-die.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #999999;">3.</span> Going to Heaven?</span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: lime;">.</span> This is why Christ says in the verses below from Matthew that if any man does not give up his life now then he is not worthy to be his disciple nor will he enter heaven. That IS heaven. Heaven IS submission to God willingly and lovingly. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Giving in to God’s will and forsaking all sin in earnest is heaven as well. So if you hear anything I say to you in this email then hear this: If you want heaven then you will need to seek Christ in earnest now. Do not let yourself be so easily deceived any more by the lies and false promises of the world for happiness and security in the treasures here on earth. When you think of heaven from now on, you must think of it as a "choice" to follow God to obtain it. Heaven will not magically make you perfect when you die, and neither will it make you what God wants you to be suddenly because the earth is meant to be a testing grounds for your true love for God, and so many fail it because the world is a very powerful lie…only you can choose God and heaven here and now brother, which demands immediate action here on earth. Do not be like Pharaoh in Moses' day, who waited so long that his heart hardened and lost everything in the end. In the end, everything will be lost anyway, for all men are born naked and all men will die naked as well. The only clothing we have is Jesus Christ! So die with Jesus, and be covered from your sins. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">The thing is, heaven also has become some watered down fantasy of some weird paradise for "good" people or "moral" people. But that's not heaven either. Heaven IS Jesus Christ, and like the Pharaoh who had a hardened heart from waiting so long to obey God when he kept the Jews as slaves in Egypt, so you too will have a hardness of heart the longer you continue you life without Christ knowing full well you should be pursuing Him now. T</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">he longer you take to decide if you want God, the harder it will be to turn to him in the end. And y</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">our intelligence will be a stumbling block to you because understanding God is done by your heart alone:</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><em><span class="text">1 Corinthians 1:19 <span style="font-size: small;"><sup>19 </sup>”For it is written:</span></span> ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;</em></span><em> <span class="text">the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate’”<sup><span style="font-size: small;">[</span></sup></span></em></span></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201:19&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28383a" title="See footnote a"><em><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><sup>a</sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"></span></em></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><sup><em>]</em></sup></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">… you must learn to live through your heart, brother. And anyone who asks forgiveness for sins s/he regularly commits without trying to fight that sin cannot be forgiven. Do not be lukewarm.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%203:15-20&version=NIV" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><em>Revelation 3:15-20</em></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span class="text Rev-3-15" id="en-NIV-30762"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>I know your deeds,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30762Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup> that you are neither cold nor hot.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30762R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup> I wish you were either one or the other!</span></span> <span class="text Rev-3-16" id="en-NIV-30763"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.</span></span> <span class="text Rev-3-17" id="en-NIV-30764"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30764S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup> But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30764T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup></span></span> <span class="text Rev-3-18" id="en-NIV-30765"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30765U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup> so you can become rich; and white clothes<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30765V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup> to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30765W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup> and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.</span></span></em></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span class="text Rev-3-19" id="en-NIV-30766"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30766X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup> So be earnest and repent.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30766Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup></span></span> <span class="text Rev-3-20" id="en-NIV-30767"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>Here I am! I stand at the door<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30767Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup> and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30767AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup> I will come in<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30767AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></sup> and eat with that person, and they with me.</span></span></em></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">That person is called by Christ one who is “dead to sins.” If any man is shackled to sin, he does not have the Light of God in him which is talked about in all of </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1&version=NKJV" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">1 John</span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">. You (and others) have mixed up forgiveness and mercy with the idea that we are destined to fail in a fight against sin and therefore it is ok not to progress in our fight against sin. Some even feel acceptable of their sins, as if forgiveness were meant to be used over and over like some towel that cannot get dirty. Well, Jesus isn't some towel to wipe yourself with!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Unfortunately, most Christians today think of forgiveness as some kind of BBQ sauce that they can just ask get more of from their waitress over and over again without a charge, but then they get their tab and they see that the sauces they ordered were never completely free to begin with…</span><em><span class="text">1 Corinthians 6:20 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>20</sup> “You were bought at a <strong><u>price</u></strong>. Therefore honor God with your bodies.</span></span>” </em></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p>Honoring God with your body is not an option. I see no "if" statements in that command above. It does not say to honor God a little bit or honor God when it is convenient nor to honor God only when you truly need him. There is nothing optional in that verse.</o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are my sources (among many more if you want more)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text">1 Corinthians 6:18-20 <span style="font-size: small;"><sup>18 </sup>”Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-28487">19 </span></sup>Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;</span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-28488">20 </span></sup>you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"></span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text">1John 3:9-10<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>9 </sup>No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-30590">10 </span></sup>This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text">1 John 2:3-6 and 15-18<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>3</sup>We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.</span></span> <span class="text"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span id="en-NIV-30555">4 </span></sup>Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.</span></span></span> <span class="text"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span id="en-NIV-30556">5 </span></sup>But if anyone obeys his word, love for God<sup value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-30556a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[</sup></span></span></span></span></em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30556a" title="See footnote a"><em><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><sup>a</sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"></span></em></a><em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:</span></span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-30557">6 </span></sup>Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did…<sup>15 </sup>Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father<sup value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-30566d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[</sup></span></span></span></span></em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30566d" title="See footnote d"><em><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><sup>d</sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"></span></em></a><em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> is not in them.</span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-30567">16 </span></sup>For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.</span></span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-NIV-30568">17 </span></sup>The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. <sup>18 </sup>Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text">Matthew 10:38-39<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>38 </sup>Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="woj"><sup><span id="en-NIV-23457">39 </span></sup>Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.</span><span class="text"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text">Matthew 16:24-27 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>24 </sup>Then Jesus said to his disciples, </span></span><span class="woj">“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.</span></span> <span class="woj"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span id="en-NIV-23698">25 </span></sup>For whoever wants to save their life<sup value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-23698a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[</sup></span></span></span></span></em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:20-30&version=NIV#fen-NIV-23698a" title="See footnote a"><em><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><sup>a</sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"></span></em></a><em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="woj"><sup>]</sup> will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.</span></span> <span class="woj"><sup><span id="en-NIV-23699">26 </span></sup>What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?</span> <span class="woj"><sup><span id="en-NIV-23700">27 </span></sup>For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.</span></span></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">What are people like when they disobey and continue sin, then?</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span class="text"><em>Matthew 7:16-27</em> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><em> </em></span></span></span><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><sup><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16 </span></sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? <sup>17 </sup>Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. <sup>18 </sup>A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. <sup>19 </sup>Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. <sup>20 </sup>Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. <sup>21 </sup>“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. <sup>22 </sup>Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ <sup>23 </sup>Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ <sup>24 </sup>“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. <sup>25 </sup>The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. <sup>26 </sup>But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. <sup>27 </sup>The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These two verses explain what will happen to the devil and all who follow him (along with hundreds of other verses).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Revelation 20:10-11</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>10 “</sup>And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.</span></span></span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 25:41</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>41 </sup>“Then [God] will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.</span></span></span></em><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">The people on the “left” in that verse are all of the people on earth who did not love Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Easily one of the worst sins is knowing that God is Christ yet a person does not humble himself before Him every day. If God appeared to you now in person, you’d fall to your knees. This is the reaction people should have before Christ even when he is not here visibly. A hardening of your heart will occur to those who acknowledge Christ as God yet do not obey his ways, and when the time comes for action you will be paralyzed with indecision and doubt. Rejecting the ways of Christ now will cause you to completely reject Christ later when the time suddenly comes to change your ways.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Your brother in Christ,</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Kyle</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><sup><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">3 </span></sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><sup><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">4 </span></sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><sup><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">5 </span></sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailAutoSig;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-21908701925429975212013-12-15T16:19:00.004-05:002013-12-15T16:19:52.501-05:00Section 2: Living a Christ Centered Life<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;">Section 2:</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;">Living a Christ Centered Life</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;"></span></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: orange;">(If you hot-linked to this article, just click <a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #ff9900;">here</span></a>)</span></strong></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-9771829662885883772013-12-15T16:19:00.003-05:002013-12-15T21:21:08.685-05:00A Brief Lesson In Humility: Humans Are Sheep<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My other blogs are:</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFBd641UCv6audwV4LEWFNP2sDnDNm5vTe_ZjJvUKf0rd4Lt17AYwnT6F_QTd3Qe-Akjz5MzrBzVduo5kqa0w-q2mYJcLw_oR4r0NOgbEUUF0w3e6DZ1fWhAL7HuB07RRLS6EL6x2rnE/s1600/sheep-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFBd641UCv6audwV4LEWFNP2sDnDNm5vTe_ZjJvUKf0rd4Lt17AYwnT6F_QTd3Qe-Akjz5MzrBzVduo5kqa0w-q2mYJcLw_oR4r0NOgbEUUF0w3e6DZ1fWhAL7HuB07RRLS6EL6x2rnE/s640/sheep-600.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Brief Lesson In Humility</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Humans Are Sheep</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">return to table of contents for all my articles</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyDIFt9O-k1WI40mqWRqVIrX6BRH_jBMpuK5jab_sXzT6LMwIIStkUHCAoGg1SamtiCqzMJ1rS8EBCwQkfaMZa3BnizCgm4_JqMioM2O544N4FXsg3YjxaVbFuj4tqz-LEsRx7RRMk2A/s1600/Sheep-Young-Babydoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyDIFt9O-k1WI40mqWRqVIrX6BRH_jBMpuK5jab_sXzT6LMwIIStkUHCAoGg1SamtiCqzMJ1rS8EBCwQkfaMZa3BnizCgm4_JqMioM2O544N4FXsg3YjxaVbFuj4tqz-LEsRx7RRMk2A/s400/Sheep-Young-Babydoll.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sheepies are so cute!!!!!!!!!!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">One thing I like to keep in mind these days is that the Bible calls us Christians, sheep. This is a real insult because sheep are the dumbest animals on earth. Dumber than chickens, and chickens are so dumb that they can actually live without a brain for a very short period of time after getting their heads chopped off. They will run around spurting blood and die 15 or 20 seconds later. (Gross I know). This clearly demonstrates their lack of need for a brain, yet sheep are still dumber than chickens! It's sorry to see that so many Christians are arrogant enough to believe they are doing "alright in Christ," so to speak, as so much grace is offered by Christ yet those who are complacent in Christ reap little benefit from forgiveness. These people need a real working understanding of grace and humility! As a young man who makes constant mistakes and spends virtually every step of my alleged "following Christ" walking the wrong direction, I take solace in the fact that God loves me and everyone else even though we are so stupid compared to Him. In the past I have found people with substantially less intellect irritating to my nerves, but the Lord has taught me good ol' humility since then. This is a wonderful lesson to comprehend because not many people realize how stupid they are. For example as a quick reality check, God calls us sheep, where Christ is our Shepherd. I find it amazing that so few articles mention just how insulting it is to be called a sheep because sheep are so stupid that if they walk on a creek bed and see grass under the water, they will eat the grass underneath the water yet they are too stupid to come up for air, and will die from water inhalation when they suddenly gasp for air involuntarily. Mass sheep death would occur worldwide if not for human shepherds governing their every move. These shepherds keep very careful watch over them because they die from some really ridiculous things. </span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">-</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">To further elaborate this reality check to all Christians, sheep are so stupid that when they will hear water at the bottom of a gigantic cliff, they will get thirsty and literally walk off the cliff to a long falling death if the shepherd does not notice their peril and stop them before they walk off the edge. In fact, they are so stupid that shepherds often have to break their legs to forcibly prevent them from accidentally killing themselves! It sounds cruel, but it's either that or they accidentally commit suicide. With this in mind, a person would have to admit that in all likelihood all sheep would have died from natural selection at the beginning of creation if it weren’t for human intervention as shepherds. Similarly, it is in the same way all humans would have killed themselves and each other without Christ, who is our Shepherd. We are stupid like sheep, and if a man or woman in Christ realizes this then they will also know that this means God's grace and forgiveness is not generous solely due to love, but also because we are so stupid that if Christ was not absolutely generous with His grace we would all die still from ourselves. Hopefully no one will go walking off a cliff now that they have read this...</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">- </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Anyone who has ever felt that they are doing well with Christ should understand that it is only by absolute grace that we are even prevented from all killing ourselves in our mounting sins as we near the end times. Just as sheep often kill themselves in their own stupidity, we too are stupid and fall into sin just as sheep fall off cliffs, even when it means that sin is our certain death. This sin-condition will worsen as we near the end times, so remember this verse below to help solidify this lesson in humility and the coming of the end of the age...</span><br />
<span style="color: #996633; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2024:20-30&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 24:22</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #996633; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="text Matt-24-22" id="en-NIV-23980"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>“If those [end times] had not been cut short [by Christ's intervention], no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23980B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> those days will be shortened."</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #996633; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="text Matt-24-22"><span class="woj"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!A Brief Lesson In Humility: Humans Are Sheep</span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-41172268839662361032013-12-15T16:19:00.002-05:002013-12-15T21:21:31.831-05:00How to Pray and What to Pray For: A Prayer List for Every Day<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My other blogs are:</span></em></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">How to Pray </span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">and What to Pray For </span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A Prayer List for Every Day</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: Times;"></span></em><br />
<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a><br />
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<span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">"When you are confronted with a matter that requires immediate prayer, pray until you believe God-- until with wholehearted sincerity you can thank Him for the answer. If you do not see the external answer immediately, <span style="color: orange;">do not pray for it in such a way that it is evident you are not definitely believing in God for it. This type of prayer will be a hindrance instead of a help. And when you are finished praying [such a prayer], you will find that your faith has been weakened or has entirely gone. The urgency you felt to offer this kind of prayer is clearly from self and Satan...</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Streams In the Desert- Updated Language Version. Edited by Cowman, L.B. p. 17).</span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What this means is that if you pray and do not believe with your whole heart, then the Lord will work in you at some near-future point your ability to believe, which usually takes the form of trials and tribulations. Blessings are easily taken for granted and forgotten, but a trial by fire and salvation from that suffering will be remembered forever, and builds character in the process. Remember, God is a Great God of unbridled power and strength-- when you remember this, it is not entirely unreasonable to believe that He is attempting to instill those same qualities. For who in a life of ease and comfort could possibly learn what it means to be strong? By allowing pain and suffering, Christ can work His magic and offer blessings for those who look to Him, even if that faith wanders and waivers. However, faith in Christ is akin to trust. A man would not ask his friend for help if he didn't trust him, so how then can you apply your needs or wants (or both) to an omnipotent God and expect fulfillment when your relationship has no foundation? Surely friendship with God is similar to the ones we experience here on earth. Blind faith is admirable but can rarely withstand the flames of trials. True Faith is only the beginning, and as I've learned the hard way, it is quite possible to have faith yet not believe. The heart can trust completely while the mind doubts; both at the same time. Such struggles are neither contradictory nor uncommon, for the human struggle for faith in God is far from simple and rarely aligns itself to human logic. For how can we ever truly understand God when He is a God who values strength in the weak and wisdom in the unwise? Obviously, a God like this demands far more than we can ever realize, yet He reveals His awesome power and glory to us in small ways in our small lives...lives which matter to Him, no matter how small we are (and we are so, so small!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Instead, when you read your Bible and come across lines that say, "God loves you," or "God is love," acknowledge in your heart to God that you have trouble with this, and do not focus instead on what is missing in your life or what may be demanding your attention, for what is more important in life than the Love of God and to love Him with all your heart? (Nothing, of course). So I have written a prayer list of all the things I pray each day, and I encourage you to pray this also each day and to modify it in the ways the Lord stipulates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(I greatly encourage you all to copy and paste this entire list to pray it every day, and add to it all the things the Lord places upon your hearts to pray for!)</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Prayer List:</span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Heavenly Father, I (pray that/for the)…</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Forgiveness of my sins and transgressions (name them). Lord, build me up to be a strong person in Your greatness, that I may be better in Your eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>You would send your Holy Spirit to come into my heart, mind, body, soul and spirit to shatter all evil strongholds, raise holy ones in your heavenly power, and cast out all demons who would possess me or even speak to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Angels will come down to fight away the demons that would cause doubts and fears, etc…, unrest in my heart and spirit, and discouragement and pessimism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Submit all my soul, spirit, body, mind and heart to Your authority, my Christ. I give you all of my doubts, fears, anxiety, hopelessness, apathy, bitterness, anger, resentment, sloth, and depression. Take them from me, that I may obey and love You without hesitation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Opening of my heart to Your whisper, so I may hear and obey completely without doubt and experience Your full blessings reserved for those with true faith. Do not let my trials be dragged out or wasted. Let me walk and learn the narrow path with faith and success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Deuteronomy 5:32— “Blessed Spirit, I give You the entire responsibility of closing every road and stopping every step that is not of God. Let me hear Your voice behind me whenever I ‘turn aside to the right or to the left.’”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>“Lord I remind you of Your exclusive responsibility to take care of me. There is no one else like you, and I greatly need you to send the Holy Spirit to…”:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">a.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I ask for counseling in the Spirit to teach me faith, to give me faith, to lead me on the narrow path, to teach me joy in suffering, to keep my eyes You, Christ, to heal and remove these negative emotions in my conscious and subconscious that pick away at me like crows to dead flesh. I pray that You would heal my tortured past and struggling present, that I may walk steadfast in Your love now and in the future. And I ask that You would heal my problems with friends and family, jobs, and responsibilities.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">b. That You would weave together in my heart all Your miracles and blessings to help me to believe without doubt, in Your love and grace. I ask that You would shatter the disconnection between my heart and mind, since my heart believes yet my mind somehow doubts (or vice versa for some of you). Sometimes it seems more miraculous that I am able to doubt than to believe!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">c.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> ......</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">d. Start your list of needs here…Don’t be afraid to make a huge list...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The Lord will work in you to create a list specifically for you…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">f.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>……</span></div>
<span style="color: lime; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">ALWAYS IN CHRIST'S NAME I PRAY,</span><br />
<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">AMEN! <span style="font-size: small;">(additional prayer lessons below)</span></span></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strong><u>------------------------------------------------</u></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Lessons learned for Kyle that may parallel your own:</span></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I failed in my previous activities and even at maintaining holy friendships because I moved along through my life without Christ leading the way. Without ever realizing it, I was walking in darkness. It was not that I was a failure, a bad person or impersonal, but that the Lord was demanding my attention and I refused to heed, which can be as dangerous as it is embittering. I was stubborn and willful, believing ever always that I knew best and expected God to <em>heed me if He loved me.</em> How wrong I was! In fact, it was my discovery that the very opposite turned out to be true that saved me from even more spiritual and heart hardening. There are no if's in loving God. No one can say, "I will love/obey God if....!", and neither is God responsible for the wrongdoings of people and for poor circumstances, yet He will use sin and despair for His divine strengthening of our hearts and faith. If your girlfriend suddenly said to you, "I will continue to love you if..." would you not be appalled? Instead, I encourage you to submit, and you will love and be loved more than ever. Now each day I can't wait to submit to God in thought and action to see His glory in me revealed! I assure you, as one man of despair, poverty and bad circumstances to you, my suffering comrade of Christ...He is as eager to teach as He is to bless...but He values strength and power! Behold! With a mere sliver of faith He will lift you with strong arms and a gentle hand! And remember, after a prayer as great as this....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>THE LORD IS IN FRONT OF YOU NOW! DO NOT FEAR OR DOUBT! LET IT ALL GO!</em></strong></span></span><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"></span></em></strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Prayer serves certain distinct purposes:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Taking time to pray is like taking time with friends—it’s mandatory to a healthy relationship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Prayer is a form of submission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>By praying in faith and not begging, a person can interact with God in faith and courage, patiently waiting on the Lord while holding steadfast. Few ever get this far in their faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>God seems to like to work through people. By praying for others, a person can lift up another in need to God and be heard. This builds relationships with people and in God simultaneously, even if the people in prayer are not nearby (although group prayer is best for this sort of thing).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Prayer enacts belief and faith. When I had neither belief nor faith in God, I simply could not bring myself to pray until He commanded me to. Even then, it took me one full day to grudgingly pray, and almost 2 years to discover its importance. The ability to pray shows a heart unhardened. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-8990568684786332272013-10-29T13:18:00.001-04:002013-12-15T21:22:07.148-05:00Faith: Improve Your Relationship with God in 10 Minutes Flat!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<em><span style="color: #f1c232;">My other blogs are:</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sYLflt46JGDL5wFF-kP8PW5BtDu0RbxvP4qYEC5gJ64VdD-K8-RtrlA3gSDAUbGg0fE6eIHOc7E5zvD-5Hius8V9HYDgQru2mOYUdhMJrpjKrvtIrtbCRsSLodhdN0tnPic9rlNAl1Q/s1600/jesus-with-crown-of-thorns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sYLflt46JGDL5wFF-kP8PW5BtDu0RbxvP4qYEC5gJ64VdD-K8-RtrlA3gSDAUbGg0fE6eIHOc7E5zvD-5Hius8V9HYDgQru2mOYUdhMJrpjKrvtIrtbCRsSLodhdN0tnPic9rlNAl1Q/s640/jesus-with-crown-of-thorns.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus replaced the Jewish law of animal sacrifice by sacrificing </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Himself for all of our sins. Now the Jewish law serves only as </span><span style="font-size: small;">reminder of how </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">impossible it is to stop sinning, and how </span><span style="font-size: small;">desperately we humans need Jesus </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">to save us from our sins by His forgiveness, death, and resurrection!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First off, simply take 5 or 10 minutes to simply read this short article. <b><span style="color: lime;">I promise that if you read this article and attempt to apply what I say (which is simply from the Bible), God WILL show his love and blessings to you in real life. I promise that you will literally SEE what God wants in your life.</span></b> This is a heavy promise, but I promise it easily and without fear since a simple understanding about God will cause an active Christian to understand the real meaning of life. This article cuts right to the chase about how you can quickly improve your relationship with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is faith? Is it obedience? Or is it love? Is it as simple as trusting another person? Well, faith in God actually demands all of these ideals. Simply put, having faith is to believe in something with little or no <i>substantial</i> evidence, such as having solid facts or proof. Remember that God is spiritual, so he will manifest his blessings and his desires in you spiritually more often than physically. <b><span style="color: lime;">The entire purpose of life is to have faith in Christ through thick and thin...all you need is faith. There is nothing beyond this in life.</span></b> Your entire life, then, should be spent developing your faith. Do not do anything else ever. All needs of life will fulfill themselves in Christ. Do what you must to survive and all extra time in your day is best spent working on your relationship with God. This means reading your entire Bible over and over and over till the day you die and praying. Period.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XV6rdQCzLJei_lOwQbqOnaqb_YdangHq8kH34LrtyT5TU-tSRaA2C-SkS4ODQ5iwjeHsSRgkP2E3z7EiRJTB0WBvWm_o_2OQuq-L4ljwW0EvNt44kmubPDr3QgaaN_FzTcZIwu30Dj0/s1600/daniel_in_the_lions_den_zoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XV6rdQCzLJei_lOwQbqOnaqb_YdangHq8kH34LrtyT5TU-tSRaA2C-SkS4ODQ5iwjeHsSRgkP2E3z7EiRJTB0WBvWm_o_2OQuq-L4ljwW0EvNt44kmubPDr3QgaaN_FzTcZIwu30Dj0/s320/daniel_in_the_lions_den_zoom.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Daniel in the lion's den. Even when</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">lions were about to rip him to</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">shreds, he simply prayed and</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">held faith. Is your life this bad?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you face lions about to tear you </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to pieces? Obviously not. So why </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">does your faith waiver? Surely your</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">life is not this bad, yet Daniel </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">held absolute faith and love </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">in God and was saved!</span></span></span><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To live is to die due to sin, but to live in Christ is to live eternally, and all that you need is faith. A lot of people see bad life circumstances as a sign of a negligent or uncaring God. On the contrary, God wants you to be happy, but who can have dependence on God when all they ever want or need is continually given to them? <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">A life of comfort and blessedness will not improve your faith!</span></b><span style="color: #f1c232;"> God uses your suffering to bring you to him in pure dependence.</span> Remember, Adam and Eve's sin was choosing to disobey God and to become autonomous from God, which simply means that they wanted to choose their own life path like gods do. <b><span style="color: #e06666;">Adam and Eve chose to live for themselves and not for God.</span></b> This was terrible in the eyes of our God because he made Adam and Eve for the opposite reason! <b><span style="color: #e06666;">This means that your entire life will be spent experiencing God trying to get you to obey and have faith in him through thick and thin.</span></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can make your walk with God a lot smoother if you choose right here and now to trust him. Not only that, but whenever something goes wrong that you cannot control, you must turn to God. God wants you to be completely dependent on him, so stop trying to make your life better or easier or more enjoyable or happier. Stop worrying about food and shelter. Stop worrying about college and friends and family and jobs and car troubles...stop everything and turn to God. Period. No words or excuses or life circumstances will ever change this fact. If you are a Christian, then your life belongs to him regardless of what you choose. By becoming a Christian, you give Christ the power to affect your life in unique ways, and some of those unique ways that Christ will get your attention is by forcing you to endure hardship and turn to him. When the day comes that you face hardship and you praise God, on that day you will realize the true meaning of life. No problem will ever make you sad, No sorrow or anguish or issue in life will ever grab your attention. Nothing will ever hold you down. You will be so joyous and confident in the Lord that even when facing death itself you will rejoice. Doesn't that sound so peaceful? Well, it's not a fantasy. This is real life. There's no magic formula. You don't have to be the greatest preacher in the world to feel this kind of joy and peace. All you need is basic, bare-bones faith and be ready for some action on that faith!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Now you know that this means your entire purpose in life is simply to have faith in Christ even when your life falls apart. Faith will be tested, and your actions will reflect your level of faith. James says that faith without works is dead! This is because nothing in life matters except believing God as Abraham did, and that faith and belief will propel you to Christ-likeness, where you will be empowered to being like Christ in your life by faith and action. <b><span style="color: #e06666;">Suffering brings faith in God because it makes you turn to him for support.</span></b> So when you suffer in any way, praise God! Thank him that you can turn to God for support and that you are not alone. Remember always that suffering is supposed to bring us closer to God, not further away. Do not become bitter or angry. If you feel bitter or angry or resent your life for its hardships then you are missing the lesson to be learned and the chances are very high that the problem will repeat itself. Be humble, and consult God. When hardship hits you, immediately accept it and pray to God. Beg him for strength and never ever let the lessons fade away. You are not a child anymore. To suffer is to love God more, so when you suffer, immediately turn to God and do not waste your opportunity for glory. Those who have faith in Christ are glorified on Earth and they store up treasures in heaven. <span style="color: lime;">Suffering is not an indication that God is not present in your life, but rather it is God's way of telling you to come to him! So suffering is a sign that God is still trying to fix your life, not ruin it.</span> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUjDDlIlnP9qQnjqES6ieacHh_wnYnTsUCjrH2duv0mvMCZVdHl_5KgCeHPHQVk9wu61sGFH4O2JouifwlyTixezLwk2ejL5uwLmcxBx-xyvNnUHnUP6_qBc8KUJM5h8KlIwSVLYz0zU/s1600/JACOB-ANGEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUjDDlIlnP9qQnjqES6ieacHh_wnYnTsUCjrH2duv0mvMCZVdHl_5KgCeHPHQVk9wu61sGFH4O2JouifwlyTixezLwk2ejL5uwLmcxBx-xyvNnUHnUP6_qBc8KUJM5h8KlIwSVLYz0zU/s400/JACOB-ANGEL.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jacob wrestles with the angel. Jacob was</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">so stubborn! Don't be stubborn like him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">He learned some hard lessons and had a</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">life that was much more difficult than it</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">needed to be. If he simply had faith, his life</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">would never have turned so sour (read</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">about Jacob and Esau)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But remember God does not want you to suffer, he just wants your complete attention, and our sin and suffering interferes with our relationship with him. Most of the hardships we endure are our own fault. So when you give him your complete love and faith, the suffering will completely end, even when life still goes badly. <span style="color: #f1c232;">The point is that life isn't about joy or happiness- it's strictly about your friendship with God. You must also have faith in God and love God with all your heart, even when life goes poorly.</span> Homelessness, death of friends and family members, persecution, sorrow and depression, hunger, joblessness... none of these must ever make your faith in God waiver. There is no excuse to stop believing in God, for Christ works best in our suffering and our weakness...Christ said to Paul:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20corinthians%2012:9-10&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 Corinthians 12:9-10</span></a></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But [Christ] said to me, <b><span style="color: #e06666;">“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. </span></b>” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. <b><sup><span style="color: lime;">10 </span></sup><span style="color: lime;">That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life is not about you. It's not about anything but God. You must accept that you are a created being whose sole purpose is to love God with all your heart and body and mind and soul. God created you for this reason alone, and any deviation from this mindset is sinful, and the result of sin is suffering. You can end your suffering by concentrating on God in life. Your life was never meant to be lived as it is which is why there is so much suffering. You can never be happy until you choose to love God fully. No spouse, family member, friend, job, thing or money will ever fill your heart, for you were created to love God only, and it is only when you choose to do what you were created for that you can finally be at peace, for our God is a God of peace and love. Love and faith in him gives you pleasure once you realize that it is what you need. Sadly, you probably have the mindset that you don't see yourself being happy without all your things and friends and family and so on. Yet, when you buy that new television, it is only a couple years until you need another television in order to keep being satisfied with it. And with sex, it only lasts a short while before you desire to have sex again. Anything apart from God will not last. Only God will fill your heart and stay there forever. No thing, no job, and no person are permanent. A life in Christ revolves around loving him in spite of having an awful life. In fact, Jesus says:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%209:24&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 9:24</span></a></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24 "</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it."</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAydCZCLBRZmRwwv_trxnTDLALD1oyh4lzpFp4FZ6bOdEzM8mydQJ3hA0lvuIKAq2-BJWftzMPJoakLNp7Nh0OWM4aqF79y8djk6TLFWPoOsX5tytZ-hdsr4Y36SgU9KBd-YVxy62Mhk/s1600/abraham-and-isaac1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAydCZCLBRZmRwwv_trxnTDLALD1oyh4lzpFp4FZ6bOdEzM8mydQJ3hA0lvuIKAq2-BJWftzMPJoakLNp7Nh0OWM4aqF79y8djk6TLFWPoOsX5tytZ-hdsr4Y36SgU9KBd-YVxy62Mhk/s400/abraham-and-isaac1.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abraham was about to sacrifice </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">his only son as a test of faith</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">from God. He believed in God</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">so perfectly that he did not</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">waiver even in the face of</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">great loss. He waited so long for</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">his son to be born, yet he was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">confident that the Lord was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">good and just. This is faith and this</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">is how you should be with God.</span></span><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When you work on your faith, you then begin to understand that God wants love, and through faith in God you are then capable of loving him, which builds your relationship. After this, you can then act on God's desires. Don't jump too far ahead though, remember that doing God's will demands strong faith in his love. If a bump in the road causes you to hate or resent God then your faith is not where it needs to be. For example, remember how Jesus suffered? In short, Jesus was beaten, flogged (whipped with metal razors to shred skin), his head was pierced with thorns from a crown of thorns and he was hammered through his hands to a large wooden cross where he bled for 6 hours until death. Remember how Paul suffered? Paul was beaten with iron rods, stoned nearly to death, whipped a total of 39 times on multiple occasions (where 40 lashes causes death), and finally he was imprisoned and executed for his belief in Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember, to be a true Christian you must live a life of faith in God. Keep looking to God. Don't worry about jobs, homes, school, future or money. Life is about living and dying for God. Faith is difficult to understand for most people, so let's expand upon this idea of faith. Let's begin with Abraham, since he was a true man of faith. He was perhaps one of the first people in the Bible to believe in God in a way that was not law-bound or duty-bound, but rather he had a faith-driven love for God that went past those rules and laws. In the New Testament, Paul gives a unique account of Abraham's faith, stating </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%204:3&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Romans 4:3</span></a></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What does Scripture say? “<b><span style="color: lime;">Abraham believed God</span></b>, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”</span><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[</span></sup><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%204:3&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28026a" title="See footnote a"><sup><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a</span></sup></a><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">]</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness, but nowhere does it say good deeds or mighty battles paved Abraham's way to sharing God's eternal glory; no, only faith was credited to him as righteousness, and we all know that the kingdom of God belongs to the righteous alone, and where our faith is considered holy in God's eyes. In fact, Christ himself says, </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%20%2017:20&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 17:20</span></a></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sin itself all began with plain old disobedience (Satan disobeyed God in his pride),<b><span style="color: lime;"> and the chief desire of God is to reel us in, and to show us that we can trust him even when we don't know what's going on or what to do exactly or even why. The point is nothing more than believing in God. Period.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Abraham believed in God and God praised him for it. To conclude, I will finalize with this statement: The first step toward any healthy human relationship is simply building trust, and the only way to build trust in God is to choose to believe in him. Faith=trust, but with God, trust is a choice, nothing more. You do not need years of talking to God or getting to know him or anything to be able to trust him. If you simply believe that God loves you, then the trust is there. The rest of your life will be spent making choices to believe him during life's hardships, which is fairly difficult for some people. No knowledge or revelation or divine intervention or source of luck or wisdom is ever involved. No magic, no money-- just your heart and your decision to believe. Trust that Christ died for you and rose again for you, and choose to obey. And the less you know, the better, for in your own ignorance you will have to go to God even more to make it through life, and Christ's power is made perfect is complete weakness. Be weak. Stop relying on yourself. Stop relying on your own intelligence and intuition and luck and hope. Just pray to God, read the Bible every day for at least an hour, and TRUST CHRIST.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-22625378174690932242013-10-29T13:18:00.000-04:002013-12-15T21:23:56.002-05:00A Casual Walk Through 1 John<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My other blogs are:</span></em></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><em>http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Casual Walk Through 1 John<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: small;"><a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: small;">My words are written in brown color</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 John</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Incarnation of the Word of Life</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="chapternum"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">1 </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>2 </sup>The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.</span> <span class="text"><sup>3 </sup>We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.</span> <span class="text"><sup>4 </sup>We write this to make our<sup>[</sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30545a" title="See footnote a"><sup><span style="color: blue;">a</span></sup></a><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> joy complete.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-The “life” mentioned in verse 2 is Christ. So they are proclaiming the message Christ preached when He lived as a human. He set the example for us all on earth, for as it says in the Lord’s prayer—Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Christ fulfilled this perfectly by being powerless as a human, yet like God anyway since He had perfect faith in the Father. By this perfect faith He was able to accomplish miracles anyway, and the Bible says we can too if we believe without doubting. Peter walked on water after all, but when he looked down and saw the crashing washes he became afraid and began to sink into the water. That is an excellent example of how we should strive to be. If the greatest man of faith on earth today cannot perform a single miracle in Christ’s name, how diluted our faith must be for this generation of believers! After Christ died, hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of new believers were performing miracles, yet we cannot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-Christ and the Father are one. The Father sent a part of Himself to die so that He could satisfy His need to judge us for our sins but without ever harming us. So instead He harmed Himself. Such love! This is one of the most monumental messages in the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">5 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>6 </sup>If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.</span> <span class="text"><sup>7 </sup>But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all<sup>[</sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30548b" title="See footnote b"><sup><span style="color: blue;">b</span></sup></a><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> sin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-In verse 5, it mentions walking in darkness. Sadly, many people are like walk in darkness and think they are in the light. They claim to be good people but are clearly not. Their words and actions do not align. These people who walk in the light often have something they do that is sinful but won’t give it over to God. Obviously a person like this is self-deceived. For example, those who condemn homosexuals for perversion yet they have premarital sex. God does not see a difference even though we might be offended by one sin but not another. This falls in line with those people who believe they are repentant yet continue the same sins without regret or change or betterment. Some of us have thorns in our sides like Paul did, yet it is the struggle against sin which defines our walk with Christ. Hating sin is important, even if we cannot conquer it until we die in Christ’s name.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">8 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>9 </sup>If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.</span> <span class="text"><sup>10 </sup>If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">-To re-emphasize this in other words from the Bible, <em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203:22-23&version=NIV" target="_blank">Romans 3:22-23</a> says, “<sup>22 </sup>This righteousness is given through faith in<sup>[</sup></em></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203:22-23&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28014a" title="See footnote a"><sup><em>a</em></sup></a><em><sup>]</sup> Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, <sup>23 </sup>for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-This means that all are sinners and are in need of Salvation through Jesus Christ. No other gods or good deeds can save a person. If a person were to sin only once in their whole life yet never believe in Christ, that person would still fall short of God’s glory and be condemned for their one sin. Obviously, this simply means that we must seek salvation only through Christ. We’ve all sinned way more than once!</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="chapternum"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">2 </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>2 </sup>He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-The above simply means that when we become saved we repent naturally and our sins often stop or at least slow down. For some this is immediate, and others it is a constant, gradual struggle, and then there’s a mix of immediate repentance and struggle. The genuine Christian loves God and it shows through their *actions.*</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">3 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>4 </sup>Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.</span> <span class="text"><sup>5 </sup>But if anyone obeys his word, love for God<sup>[</sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30556c" title="See footnote c"><sup><span style="color: blue;">c</span></sup></a><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:</span> <span class="text"><sup>6 </sup>Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-This again re-emphasizes all those people who claim to love Christ and claim to be a follower of God yet do not follow the paths of change. This is also reflected in <em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:45&version=NIV" target="_blank">Luke 6:45</a> “<sup>45 </sup>A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-This is also reflected in <em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:46-49&version=NIV" target="_blank">Luke 6:46-49</a> <sup>46 </sup>“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? <sup>47 </sup>As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. <sup>48 </sup>They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. <sup>49 </sup>But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”</em></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">7 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>8 </sup>Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-In verse 7, John is simply saying that nothing has really changed with the Old and New Covenants from the Jews to the Christians. The rules, the laws, the love and the obedience are all the same. The big difference is how Christ became our sole sacrifice for our sins and entered human history without power to die for us after His ministry was complete. The Jews had to make animal sacrifices because Christ had not yet come to cleanse them all of their sins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-People were confused about what they should do as Christians as well. Keep in mind, this was written nearly 2000 years ago, so all these Christians were actually converted Jews and Gentiles (mostly Greeks and Romans at first). The Greeks had previously lived very immoral lifestyles, and the Jews had always abided by the Jewish laws but often had hearts that did not reflect their actions like the Pharisees because they lacked that intimate relationship with God, so each of them had quite a bit of confusion when they started to know Christ and wanted to more outwardly express their newfound relationship to Him. They were confused with what they should do to please God, since their previous rituals involved rules, sacrifices, and many strict practices. When Christ came a lot of that suddenly ended for many of them. This is why John says not much has really changed except some details.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">9 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister<sup>[</sup></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30560d" title="See footnote d"><sup><span style="color: blue;">d</span></sup></a><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> is still in the darkness.</span> <span class="text"><sup>10 </sup>Anyone who loves their brother and sister<sup>[</sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30561e" title="See footnote e"><sup><span style="color: blue;">e</span></sup></a><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.</span> <span class="text"><sup>11 </sup>But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-Verse 9 simply means that those people who say they love Christ have tender hearts full of God’s love. A man who is capable of sustained hate and wrath is clearly sinning and may even be unsaved because it is such a hypocritical emotion. If we were allowed to feel justified for our hate then we’d all hate each other justly. This is because we all constantly sin against God and each other, so naturally hate would have a natural place in our lives if it were justifiable. Instead, John ends this tradition of hate begetting hate by simply saying that a Christian does not hate but rather loves as Christ loved all of us when we should have been destroyed! Any man who loves Christ recognizes how he should be humbled to be saved by Christ at all…so there is no room for such pettiness.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reasons for Writing</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">12 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">I am writing to you, dear children,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. </span><span style="color: orange;">–(Jesus)</span><br /><span class="text"><sup>13 </sup>I am writing to you, fathers,</span><br /><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">because you know him who is from the beginning. </span><span style="color: orange;">–(Jesus created the earth)</span><br /><span class="text">I am writing to you, young men,</span><br /><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">because you have overcome the evil one. </span><span style="color: orange;">–(Satan)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">14 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">I write to you, dear children,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">because you know the Father. </span><span style="color: orange;">–(Yahweh, this is Jesus’ father and is who the Jews worship solely because they think Christ has not yet come)</span><br /><span class="text">I write to you, fathers,</span><br /><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">because you know him who is from the beginning.</span><br /><span class="text">I write to you, young men,</span><br /><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">because you are strong,</span><br /><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and the word of God lives in you,</span><br /><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and you have overcome the evil one.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Not Loving the World</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">15 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father<sup>[</sup></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30566f" title="See footnote f"><sup><span style="color: blue;">f</span></sup></a><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> is not in them.</span> <span class="text"><sup>16 </sup>For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.</span> <span class="text"><sup>17 </sup>The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-In verse 15, this is what I was talking to you about over the phone about pursuing empty materialism and empty lives of things and comforts that add up to nothing when we die. John emphasizes this very strongly. He says that any man who wants to live cannot be a Christian because as a follower of Christ we concern ourselves only with Christ’s kingdom and saving others from condemnation by spreading the gospel of God’s grace which is Jesus. In fact, this is exactly what I am doing right now.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Warnings Against Denying the Son</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">18 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>19 </sup>They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-In verses 18-19 John is describing those men and women who came to know salvation but decided to turn back to their sins, effectively rejecting Christ even after discovering that they would be doomed without Him. John then brings up the antichrist (Satan) who will come very soon as a false god to deceive the entire world and lead people away from Christ just before Christ comes back to the earth in the Second Coming to establish His reign upon the earth as God.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">20 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30571g" title="See footnote g"><span style="color: blue;">g</span></a>]</sup></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>21 </sup>I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.</span> <span class="text"><sup>22 </sup>Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.</span> <span class="text"><sup>23 </sup>No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-In verse 20, the Holy One is the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity (Father, Son and Spirit).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">- John makes it clear that anyone who denies Christ is actually a servant of the devil. These are powerful words which show how the world is currently ruled by Satan because of our sin. It is because of demonic spirits that obey Satan that so many people are led astray from God like your boyfriend has been. In the Bible, there are two forces: Good and Evil. If a man is not good, then he is obviously evil. This is how God sees the world, as hot and cold, good and evil, right and wrong—there is no middle ground. A man either loves God or he loves himself. Any man who loves himself cannot love God, and without the love of God in their hearts they are doomed to sin forever never knowing God and never knowing salvation.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">24 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>25 </sup>And this is what he promised us—eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is saved and is ready to lead a righteous life. It’s not about rules either. It’s only about love. When a person learns that he can actually love God this person’s world is forever changed. A realization takes place that nothing matters but God. Never again will that man be alone or lonely for he has God in his heart.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">26 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>27 </sup>As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">-In verse 26, there were preachers going around re-writing the gospels to their liking, thereby confusing people and leading them astray. So John wrote this epistle to defend the integrity of the Word of God, and bring those people back.</span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God’s Children and Sin</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">28 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">29 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-This is another point of (re)emphasis for how people who say they love God actually show it. Words mean little without action.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="chapternum"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">3 </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>2 </sup>Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30582h" title="See footnote h"><span style="color: blue;">h</span></a>]</sup> we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.</span> <span class="text"><sup>3 </sup>All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-As Christians we are taken out of the world even though we still live in it. For instance, the world does not know God so it looks at Christians like they are weird or mentally ill or even wrong. Yet the way Christians live testify that Jesus is the Son of God. When a man becomes a lover of God he also becomes righteous, and it shows in his actions. This does not happen in other religions because without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit a man can never be freed from sin to become righteous. This is also reflected in <em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:43-45&version=NIV" target="_blank">Luke 6:43-45</a> <sup>43 </sup>“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. <sup>44 </sup>Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. <sup>45 </sup>A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of</em>.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">4 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>5 </sup>But you know that he </span><span class="text">appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.</span> <span class="text"><sup>6 </sup>No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">7 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">righteous.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>8 </sup>The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.</span> <span class="text"><sup>9 </sup>No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.</span> <span class="text"><sup>10 </sup>This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-Satan was the one who tempted Adam and Eve at the beginning of Creation to eat the forbidden fruit off the Tree of Knowledge. The two of them learned of good and evil as a result, and thus became separated from God due to their sin. Remember that sin is simply any form of disobedience to God. One sin is not actually worse than another so to speak. As an example, if an angel in heaven said “shit” and another angel murdered someone, both angels would be guilty of sin and would need to be put to death since the heavenly Father cannot tolerate any sin. On earth, things are different because we are mortal and some things seem worse than others due to our limited understanding.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More on Love and Hatred</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">11 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>12 </sup>Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.</span> <span class="text"><sup>13 </sup>Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30593i" title="See footnote i"><span style="color: blue;">i</span></a>]</sup> if the world hates you.</span> <span class="text"><sup>14 </sup>We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.</span> <span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-In Genesis of the Old Testament, Cain murdered Abel because his brother obeyed God and was blessed but Cain disobeyed God and was punished. In his jealously of Abel’s blessing, he murdered Abel, his own brother.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-This is another reason why hate is so evil: It can so easily get out of control and lead to horrible actions. If hate can bring brothers to murder another, imagine how destructive it can be if a person let hate fester in their hearts. Just as God forgave us our sins we must also forgive others unconditionally and without limit.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">16 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>17 </sup>If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?</span> <span class="text"><sup>18 </sup>Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-The core of Jesus’ ministry was about putting into action all those fluffy words people like to say. All the time people say they want to help or be useful or be giving and generous, yet how many actually are? What good are those words when they never act on them!! Jesus was God yet He took on human form to come to earth to show us how we should act and how we should feel. He led by example, unlike the pagan gods and Muhammad from the Islamic religion. Allah and Muhammad are hypocrites. The Greek gods are merely powerful humans. The Norse gods are as violent and disturbing as people are. In the end, all religions fall short of our worship, but Christ’s words live on as a testament to Truth. His actions and His words fully satisfy any heart seeking real Truth and not a lie to ease our conscious.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">19 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>20 </sup>If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.</span> <span class="text"><sup>21 </sup>Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God</span> <span class="text"><sup>22 </sup>and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.</span> <span class="text"><sup>23 </sup>And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.</span> <span class="text"><sup>24 </sup>The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-Your heart reached out to this article because you seek truth and purpose. This is one way a person can know they are honestly seeking Christ, and it’s my dearest hope you will put into practice the Love of God. Seeking God requires practice as well.</span></span></span><br />
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<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Denying the Incarnation</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="chapternum"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">4 </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>2 </sup>This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,</span> <span class="text"><sup>3 </sup>but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">-If a man says he has the truth of God or that his religion is correct, yet denies Jesus, then he is a liar. No demon will admit that Christ is God.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">4 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>5 </sup>They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.</span> <span class="text"><sup>6 </sup>We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit<sup>[</sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30610j" title="See footnote j"><sup><span style="color: blue;">j</span></sup></a><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> of truth and the spirit of falsehood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-The world simply means all the people who are unsaved and do not know Christ. From their viewpoint we are stupid.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God’s Love and Ours</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">7 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>8 </sup>Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.</span> <span class="text"><sup>9 </sup>This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.</span> <span class="text"><sup>10 </sup>This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.</span> <span class="text"><sup>11 </sup>Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.</span> <span class="text"><sup>12 </sup>No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-Love, love, love! You will never see this in pure form in the Qur’an or anywhere else. You cannot mix messages of love and violence or hate. Other religions mix hate and destruction with false notions of love and compassion. Christianity is the only one on earth where love is pure. You may think to yourself about hell, but nowhere does it ever say that God sends people to hell. When humans *choose* to live without Christ they choose hell, and God simply tells them to leave heaven, yet there is only heaven and hell. If a man is not in heaven, then he is in hell. And whenever love is mentioned in the Qur’an it is almost always followed by murder or condemnation of other people who do not believe, yet Christ came loving sinners and by example, He showed us exactly how to live our lives and wanted to give the whole world purpose. There was no force, to violence. Christ changed the entire world with love. He did not kill or conquer or reign as king or impose a single rule. There is pure freedom, but all choices have consequences. There is no lukewarm, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%203:15-16%20&version=NIV" target="_blank"><em>Revelation 3:15-16</em></a><em> “<sup>15 </sup>I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! <sup>16 </sup>So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”</em> So you either serve Christ or Satan! So from now on think of Satan as your tendency to be selfish instead of as a demon since Satan causes us to live against Christ’s chosen path for us, and so you can also think of Christ as a holy lifestyle too. So just as Christ denied Himself for us, whenever you worship Christ you too will deny yourself and thereby oppose Satan and selfishness just by loving Christ. But whenever you are selfish and sinful you are worshipping Satan. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:24%20&version=NIV" target="_blank"><em>Matthew 16:24</em></a><em> “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”</em> This is what it also means—In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:24%20&version=NIV" target="_blank"><em>Matthew 6:24</em></a><em> "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other…”</em></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">13 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>14 </sup>And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.</span> <span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.</span> <span class="text"><sup>16 </sup>And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-Believing in Christ sets the stage for learning to love and follow God in a fruitful relationship where God will lead you to your purpose in life.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>17 </sup>This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.</span> <span class="text"><sup>18 </sup>There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-Fear is when we try to hide something from god. Anyone who fears God is probably instinctively afraid of something being discovered.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">19 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">We love because he first loved us.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>20 </sup>Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.</span> <span class="text"><sup>21 </sup>And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Faith in the Incarnate Son of God</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="chapternum"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">5 </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>2 </sup>This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.</span> <u><span class="text"><b><i><sup>3 </sup>In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,</i></b></span><b><i> <span class="text"><sup>4 </sup>for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.</span> <span class="text"><sup>5 </sup>Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">6 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>7 </sup>For there are three that testify:</span> <span class="text"><sup>8 </sup>the<sup>[</sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30633k" title="See footnote k"><sup><span style="color: blue;">k</span></sup></a><span class="text"><sup>]</sup> Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.</span> <span class="text"><sup>9 </sup>We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.</span> <span class="text"><sup>10 </sup>Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.</span> <span class="text"><sup>11 </sup>And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.</span> <span class="text"><sup>12 </sup>Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">-“Life” here is both a life of fulfillment on earth as well as life in heaven. A man without Christ cannot have either.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Concluding Affirmations</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">13 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>14 </sup>This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.</span> <span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">16 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>17 </sup>All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">18 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"> <span class="text"><sup>19 </sup>We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.</span> <span class="text"><sup>20 </sup>We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">21 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";">Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-61516557478267788552013-10-29T13:17:00.003-04:002013-12-15T21:24:16.369-05:00Spending Time with Christ: Where Is Christ in Your Schedule?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Spending Time With Christ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Where is Christ in Your Schedule?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl3OhMLCbZi75LioAL8YLfLfL34iot1uBM7PXvRBpImOrSLBXp6p5Q61vjChtgyeSZ2LMZBXaYihcu0ZaLFWH1XtDn48cuqE2zwo3TE_3xjqHkjS_wwmwdG4p6C_KiNu36tuaUMfHDGY/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl3OhMLCbZi75LioAL8YLfLfL34iot1uBM7PXvRBpImOrSLBXp6p5Q61vjChtgyeSZ2LMZBXaYihcu0ZaLFWH1XtDn48cuqE2zwo3TE_3xjqHkjS_wwmwdG4p6C_KiNu36tuaUMfHDGY/s320/a.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyone can tell you that humans are busy these days. Everyone is miserable, sick, busy, frustrated, and although technology has improved people's lives to an extent, it is largely one of the causes for our complicated lives today. I'm not going to bash technology; Lord knows I love my computer and internet. But in your busy life, where is Christ?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God is just a word. The real person is an experience-- a relationship, yet so few people ever take time for him</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;">in their busy schedules and deadlines and all the fun things they want to do. Think of it this way, most people think about their families, jobs friends, pets, and the things they want to do in their free time often throughout the day. In fact, most people think about such things for several minutes or more every hour they spend awake. Yet I say to myself at the end of the day, "But what about Christ?" When you say you "love" your family, it is obvious you think about them a great deal. Each day your mind drifts to those you love and how you miss them, wish you were with them, about their coming birthdays and so on.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">-</span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But where is Christ? See, my point is that people all-too-often say that they love Christ and are Christians, but being a Christian means setting him higher than anything on earth, including all your friends and families, even above your own happiness. Living is not about living happily; It's about living for Christ. As a Christian, you gave your life to Him, meaning He chooses your fate and the things that may or may not happen in life. If this is so, and you've "given" your life to Jesus, why then do you spend so little time thinking about Him?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AMERICANS IN 2011:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The average college student spent about 2 hours per day//10-13 hours per week studying</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The average teenager spent approximately 31 hours per week internet surfing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999;">On an average day, <b>95%</b> of people age 15+ spent 5-6 hours per day in leisure activities like TV, socializing, or exercising. Of that time, TV comprised <b>~50%</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Employed persons spent an average of 7.6 hours working each business day</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The </span><a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Organizations/Non-profits,+Activist+Groups/Henry+J.+Kaiser+Family+Foundation"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kaiser Family Foundation</span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> survey of 2,002 people showed that people ages 8 to 18 spend 7.5+ hours using media like iPods, cell phones, videogames and computers in a typical day, totaling <b>53 hours per week</b> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AND YET CHRISTIANS:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Less than <b>10%</b> of professed Christians have ever read the entire Bible at least once</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a recent Library of Congress survey, only <b>34%</b> of American Christians read the Bible weekly, and of that group only <b>13%</b> claim to read it daily</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Gallop Poll in 2006 showed that <b>72%</b> do not believe the Bible was God-Breathed and <b>49%</b> said it was inspired but not to be read literally</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where is Christ again? For alleged Christians who "gave" their spirits and existences solely to Christ, I'm not seeing much giving. Where is Christ in your life? Is he lucky enough to be crammed between the hours you spend playing videogames or listening to music? Are you one of those people who say you love Christ, but spend 7.5+ hours a day on your cell phone and Facebook, and no time reading your Bible each day? When was the last time you thought about the poor of the world, the sick, the hungry, or about what Christ may want you to do with your career or life? When you get to heaven, will Christ testify to your love for Him, or will be say He "never knew you?"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:21-23&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 7:21-23</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><sup><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21 </span></sup><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">but only the one who does the will of my Father</span><span style="color: orange; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> who is in heaven.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <sup>22 </sup>Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ <sup>23 </sup>Then <span style="color: lime;">I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ gave His life for you, and you must do the same. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love Christ more than your videogames and cell phone. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your "fun time" will not get you into heaven</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-26036310530639985562013-10-29T13:09:00.006-04:002013-10-29T13:09:50.755-04:00Section 3: Realizing Christ's Love for Us<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;">Section 3:</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;">Realizing Christ's Love for Us</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: 48pt;"></span></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: orange;">(If you hot-linked to this article, just click <a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #ff9900;">here</span></a>)</span></strong></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-35521924255944456862013-10-29T13:09:00.005-04:002013-12-15T21:24:33.381-05:00The Christian Heart: The Center of All Goodness and House of the Spirit<div style="text-align: center;">
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<em><span style="color: #f1c232;">My other blogs are:</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi69WnEHNgYX3F71R8Kv5NgxWumsEU6wouAN0H8mWLPRc52dt6UXzYq7UbWra7YffvVSXZQJOQaWEQ0_z0JTpDXENldQQoOE3lkwKQ0crN1t7o6wc6NzdwPMut8CTT6uAk5fGvPwufhxk/s1600/sadd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi69WnEHNgYX3F71R8Kv5NgxWumsEU6wouAN0H8mWLPRc52dt6UXzYq7UbWra7YffvVSXZQJOQaWEQ0_z0JTpDXENldQQoOE3lkwKQ0crN1t7o6wc6NzdwPMut8CTT6uAk5fGvPwufhxk/s640/sadd.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Christian Heart</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Center of All Goodness</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and House of the Spirit</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a></div>
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Christ did not save humanity from its sins to condemn us for our continual struggles against sin. He saved us because we could not save ourselves. So he would either step in to <strong><u>save</u></strong> us, or we would all perish. Thank the Father for His son then, because He chose to save us!</span> <span style="color: orange;">Christ took on the human body and physically entered human history, where he literally became a man and lived the life of a wandering rabbi to call humanity to follow him, then to be brutally murdered at our own hands because he loved us.</span> <span style="color: lime;">Did he go through all of this effort simply to condemn us all whenever we fall short and sin? The answer is an obvious, No!</span> <span style="color: #999999;">Christians today slog around with their head slinking low carrying with them this sullen<em> "I'm a dirty sinner"</em> mentality. It is very good that they understand they are saved by grace, it is indeed, as that is the first part of the walk with Christ that Christians have to learn: Forgiveness by grace.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999;">Yet I am faced with the inevitable conclusion that they still feel like they need to live with a guilt complex, and this is purely antichrist, a tool of the devil to break our spirits by breaking our hearts, the center of all that is good, for how can a Christian have faith in a God for forgiveness when they face an onslaught of guilt and shame the rest of their lives? This is not what Christ wanted, but instead, the spiritual warfare we endure from the Evil One tinkers in our mind and deposits subtle philosophies, all of which include this absurd notion that Christians should feel like dirty sinners even after they are reborn into Christ. <em>"How can God love me when I sin so much?" "How can I love God when I fail him so?” "I'll never make it to heaven like this, I must try harder!" </em>The list of things people think in their minds goes on, and I believe that all of them are evil thoughts.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3H4laK8JX6bQcf3K1adaTclK_T5G3dzSBbP19VdNRzgCVD5QUyCXV9wgnVZUFHrXOATNSm7eruhIVap3UpZj0IE0mzRhENDDVvIy_LgxROTrVzVqQUuBLPr47azaawyXCzQENVV7xPA/s1600/sad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #999999;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3H4laK8JX6bQcf3K1adaTclK_T5G3dzSBbP19VdNRzgCVD5QUyCXV9wgnVZUFHrXOATNSm7eruhIVap3UpZj0IE0mzRhENDDVvIy_LgxROTrVzVqQUuBLPr47azaawyXCzQENVV7xPA/s400/sad.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: small;">This does not look like a God who wants to judge you. </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">It looks like a God who died to save you. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Stop this </span><span style="font-size: small;">foolish</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">thinking that you are a dirty sinner, </span><span style="font-size: small;">because you were</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">made holy with his blood. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Literally. <strong>Feeling as you do </strong></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;">now does not </span><span style="font-size: small;">honor his sacrifice for you.</span></span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999;">You cannot stop sinning, for if you could then you would not need a savior. This is a wicked thought, as it encourages <em>you </em>to try harder, when it was never about you stopping, it was about loving the Christ who saved you. God loves you in your sin, he cares only that you are with him and nothing else. The love he showers over you will help you in your journey with him, and when you say to yourself that God can't love you when you sin or that you cannot love God and sin, those are evil thoughts to break your connection with the Christ who lived and died for you <strong>BECAUSE</strong> you are a sinner, and because he knew before you were born that you would die without him there to save you. Christ did not <strong><u>live and die for you to save you </u></strong>only to bear your shoulders down with unbearable guilt and shame whenever you sin. This does not sound like forgiveness, does it? It sounds like punishment. And since the gift of life is free, you must fight those evil thoughts, because Christ does not sit on his throne judging us all harshly with punishments dealt out in the form of guilt and shame. Think of it, he came to die on the Earth to save us, and offer us the free gift of life and forgiveness, in what line of thought does it make sense to hunker us down with shame and guilt? The Evil One put this in your mind, and you must fight those thoughts away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">The heart you have is good and holy and the heart is the center of all that is good, and in fact, as <strong>John Eldredge</strong> is also emphatic about the heart being good in his book Waking the Dead, I too, am convinced.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Sin is in our hearts, and we know that God does not dwell in sinful places, yet it says the Holy Spirit dwells within our hearts:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXMK0d7gRbmt85wrx2QzVaDkD6-M0P2Dx4OosFXbb93apoaGOBzq9z6WyHreAQOtvC3KnmCuZYH2QoXtY4BzKTgwmjtEx4IoQj9SXNhQ5ANuKcLYoDe230sspqn_E29hrg0SIkfVJtkE/s1600/aaaaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXMK0d7gRbmt85wrx2QzVaDkD6-M0P2Dx4OosFXbb93apoaGOBzq9z6WyHreAQOtvC3KnmCuZYH2QoXtY4BzKTgwmjtEx4IoQj9SXNhQ5ANuKcLYoDe230sspqn_E29hrg0SIkfVJtkE/s320/aaaaa.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: small;">Christ is definitely in control. He spoke</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: small;">the entire universe into existence,</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: small;">why would he create us lesser beings</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: small;">to hate us all our lives? The answer is</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: small;">obvious...he didn't! He created us to</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: small;">learn faith and love through our trials.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%203:16&version=NIV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:16</a><br />
<span class="text 1Cor-3-16" id="en-NIV-28427"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>Don’t you know that <strong><u><span style="color: lime;">you yourselves are God’s temple</span></u></strong> <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28427A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?"</span><br />
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<span class="text 1Cor-3-16"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2036:26-27&version=NIV" target="_blank">Ezekiel 36:26-27</a> </span><br />
<span class="text 1Cor-3-16"><span class="text Ezek-36-26" id="en-NIV-21386"><strong><u><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>I will give you a new heart <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-21386A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> and put a new spirit in you</span></u></strong>; I will remove from you your heart of stone <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-21386B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> and give you a heart of flesh. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-21386C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> </span> <span class="text Ezek-36-27" id="en-NIV-21387"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>And I will put my Spirit <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-21387D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> in you and move you to follow my decrees <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-21387E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> and be careful to keep my laws."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999;">When we accept Christ, we are also accepting a new heart and a new, pure spirit, both capable of housing this Holy Spirit, our great Counselor. So how can Christians believe that the heart is evil? Christ bought all the sins of humanity on that cross, and when he was resurrected, death and punishment of sins were destroyed. Our hearts are not evil because the sin that resides in them was atoned for, and this is how Christ saved humanity, for the good in our hearts is made in the image of the heart of the One True God.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2010:46-53&version=NIV" target="_blank">Mark 10:46-53</a><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span class="text Mark-10-46"><sup class="versenum">46 </sup>Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging.</span> <span class="text Mark-10-47" id="en-NIV-24636"><sup class="versenum">47 </sup>When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24636B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24636C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> have mercy on me!”</span></span><br />
<span class="text Mark-10-48" id="en-NIV-24637"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup class="versenum">48 </sup>Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”</span></span><br />
<span class="text Mark-10-49" id="en-NIV-24638"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup class="versenum">49 </sup>Jesus stopped and said, <span class="woj">“Call him.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span class="text Mark-10-49">So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”</span> </span><span class="text Mark-10-50" id="en-NIV-24639"><span style="color: #999999;"><sup class="versenum">50 </sup>Throwing his cloak aside,</span> <span style="color: #76a5af;">he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Mark-10-51" id="en-NIV-24640"><span style="color: lime;"><strong><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">51 </sup>“What do you want me<u> to do for you?”</u></span> Jesus asked</strong> him.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Mark-10-51" style="color: #76a5af;">The blind man said, “Rabbi, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24640D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> I want to see.”</span><br />
<span class="text Mark-10-52" id="en-NIV-24641"><span style="color: lime;"><strong><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">52 </sup>“Go,”</span> said Jesus, <span class="woj">“your faith has healed you.” <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24641E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> </span> Immediately he received his sight <em><u>and followed <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24641F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> Jesus</u></em></strong></span> along the road.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999;">Remember always that <em>although</em> you are a sinner, that you might even commit the same sins over and over, but each time you come to Christ feeling sorry for your sins, it is up to you to let go of those awful emotions and have <strong><em><u>faith </u></em></strong>that Christ died for you as a sinner. This was never supposed to be an easy ride, when in fact it's actually a ride you will never win. You will never stop sinning, and you will most likely sin over and over the same silly sins until you die, and each time you feel sorry and ask Christ to forgive you, then your own faith has healed you. And remember...your heart is not only good, but it is made holy every time you come to Christ for forgiveness. Praise God, and be healed, and for heaven's sake let go of all the guilt. You'll never learn to love Christ with all that shame knocking you down.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2016:7&version=NIV" target="_blank">1 Samuel 16:7</a></h3>
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<span class="text 1Sam-16-7" id="en-NIV-7603"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>But the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> does not look at the things people look at. <strong><span style="color: lime;">People look at the outward appearance, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7603A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> but the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> looks at the heart.”</span></strong> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203:5&version=NIV" target="_blank">Proverbs 3:5</a></h3>
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<span class="text Prov-3-5" id="en-NIV-16461"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>Trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16461A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> with all your heart</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span><span class="text Prov-3-5">and <span style="color: orange;">lean not on your own </span><span style="color: orange;">understanding; <em><u>[This is what faith is all about!] </u></em></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2016:9&version=NIV" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 16:9</a></h3>
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<span class="text 2Chr-16-9" id="en-NIV-11519"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>For the eyes <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-11519A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> range throughout the earth<span style="color: lime;"> <strong><span style="color: orange;"><u>to strengthen</u></span></strong> those whose hearts are fully committed to him.</span> You have done a foolish <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-11519B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> thing, and from now on you will be at war. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-11519C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BE <em>FREE</em> IN SALVATION AND GRACE!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">AMEN!!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-45252330738792334642013-10-29T13:09:00.001-04:002013-12-15T21:25:17.942-05:00Christ's Love: What People Are Missing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #f1c232;">My other blogs are:</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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<a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><em>http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</em></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue;">John 3:16 </span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;">(NIV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6;">that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a> </span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: #999999;">These are not the words of a god who has forgotten us nor are they the words of a god who has little to do with humanity. Furthermore, nor can an uncaring god inspire the lovely images and art found in paintings and commonly on the web. Christ is not an apathetic god-- He is God. He is not a blob in the sky who cares little for how you live and die or whether you live happily or in misery. No, these are the words of a mighty God, King of all Angels of Heaven! They are the words of a God who not only dove headlong into human history as an actual human for the winning of our very souls, but He was fully human had to lay down his own life for the people who condemned him, who did not believe, who were dead in sins, stiff-necked and hard hearted. We did not earn Christ, nor did we do anything other than push God away by our sins and selfishness. Christ was a gift for us! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #999999;">This is where sin is actually shown to have its purposes for good, where even pervasive sin that stands directly contrary to the will of God is turned for good; Where the fact that Jesus died for the men who killed Him speaks so loudly that no one can ever say Christ was an uncaring or selfish god, but that he was GOD in the flesh for us because of our evil. In fact, Jesus could have been justified in killing those who slew him, but they were saved as well. It is because of sin that we are allowed to live as we wish and reap the consequences of those sins; but the good that came from sin stems from our continual disobedience, which demanded a God to wipe away our sins. Without Christ we are doomed to sin and die, for without Christ we cannot be justified for our sins, since a blood offering is needed to wipe away sin from the Father. This paved the way to Christ the Son dying for humanity, where his blood was the one and final sacrifice and ..."<em>that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."</em> The love and patience of God is painfully obvious for those who simply open their eyes a little bit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Why not just force us? He is God, right? I hear this all of the time, but I usually counter with something along the lines of "Who'd want forced love? If I hold a gun to your head and demand love, will I get it?" Nope. It is with these sentiments that I suppose the idea behind God allowing human free will (sin=autonomy from God=free will) is simply the idea that who would want to be loved by an entity that is forced into love like a hostage, or better, who would wish for the love of a robot that is incapable of free will love? Therefore, we have the choice to choose Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Humans without the choice to sin would give rise to artificial love, which would never be good enough for our God, but with our freedom we chose to sin and continually do so. What started as an innocent desire for wisdom and to be like God in </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%203&version=NIV"><span style="color: #999999;">Genesis 3</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, that is, knowing and doing as God. That sin, called pride (for Eve saw that the fruit looked good to eat and would give her wisdom to be like God; i.e. - autonomy from God) would pave the way to murder, theft, adultery, and other horrible acts. Yet God actually knew this would all happen and his plans to save us were already underway through the Old Testament miracles and Christ Jesus. I can assure you that any human with Godly power would rule the Earth like a terrible dictator. It's the prideful sin inside of us that would make us horrible dictators because that is who Satan is, and Satan's sin is our sin due to our actions. Satan wants to rule us as a dictator, and even tried to dethrone God while in heaven. But if you say to yourself, <em>"Would I rule in love, or tyranny...?"</em> which is the answer for you? A silly question like this might help you understand where you are in your walk with God, for God has absolute power over the universe and rules in pure love and compassion and understanding, and Satan rules with violence and oppression. Even after thousands of years of humanity's disobedience and complete defiance to his will, he still sent Jesus to redeem us and will end the reign of evil on Earth sooner than we think.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Now every person who accepts Christ defeats Satan, literally. So kick his butt some more by praying with me:</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><em>Heavenly Father,</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: orange;">I know I'm a sinner. I know I cannot fully be what you want me to be, because I know I'll always stumble and fall. It's so frustrating Lord, to be so powerless! Even a feather in the wind knocks me down. But I want to know you and I want to understand you. I believe in you Jesus! I believe that you were sent to forgive me and to offer me salvation even though I stumble so often, because I really don't know how to repent. I always fail you, but in hope and faith I believe you'll forgive me. So teach me Lord! Teach me to be a better person, somehow. Bless me with the faith I require to become what you want me to be. Lord, we have a long journey ahead of us, and I may not be fully up to this challenge. I need you to open my eyes and heart to your love or I'll simply fail even more. Somehow Lord... save me... because I cannot save myself.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: orange;">In Jesus Christ's name I pray...</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: orange;">Amen!</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Who am I? Well, I wrote this article...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">In fact, only two years ago I didn't know any hope, and my prayers reflected that hopelessness. I wanted God to yell back at me and be done with the whole notion of hope, but in my angry prayers I actually reflected my hopes and my desire that I wanted my life to change, for if I truly believed hope was lost why would I pray? I can say very easily that I certainly did not pray in faith, for my heart was so battered, but I prayed merely in hope and challenged God to love me as I was- a filthy sinner, and I made no efforts to stop sinning either. I was so discouraged, and aside from some angry prayers I pretty much gave up on everything, adopting a "quit before you try" mentality. Christ saw my broken heart for what it was. He saw my angry prayers as a desire for change, and my heart softened slowly over time. After years of anger slowly simmering down, here I am, writing to you! To this day I struggle deeply with my anger, bitterness, and hopelessness. I still have a surprising amount of anger, and yet here I am writing a tale of sin and repentance without ever fully trying or ever actually winning. As Paul had a thorn in his side (a habitual sin, most likely), so do I, and so do we all.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">So I am saying out of experience, you cannot repent until you learn solid faith in God, which demands honesty! Concentrate on faith then, and the repentance will come later if you truly love God and struggle with him against your sin and disobedience. For if you don't love God then how can you ever fight sin with your whole heart? Loving God is a learned ability that is not always easy, and it all starts with faith. Just tell Christ the truth and be patient with yourself! Your desire to love God will push you to fight your sinful way of life, and eventually you'll win your battles, but keep in mind Christ saved you and died for you, so the war itself is already won. Emulate Christ and live with courage.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Walk straight with God now that you are armed with the truth,</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">God bless.</span></strong> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5295319352649197081.post-80610419786090878862013-10-29T13:08:00.002-04:002013-12-15T21:25:45.923-05:00Truth or Dare: Realizing the Love of Christ<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka2ZEbrQSnHlgiG9JQif7GobxnJyPpvZqxopEvUeTCiROepDw9GWQoD7JNPYRM2IaVoikZbfaJBRfPRtob471o9eIUdX1zovXvSd0XIwS3GsNDVtuGC2yuEKg6dQPRk832XsSYvcxcZQ/s1600/satan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka2ZEbrQSnHlgiG9JQif7GobxnJyPpvZqxopEvUeTCiROepDw9GWQoD7JNPYRM2IaVoikZbfaJBRfPRtob471o9eIUdX1zovXvSd0XIwS3GsNDVtuGC2yuEKg6dQPRk832XsSYvcxcZQ/s1600/satan.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Satan sinned against God, and his </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">payment was death. Now he's paying you the </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">same wages for your sins, so don't work for</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Satan! But Christ offers no wages,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">he offers you the <b><u>free Gift of Life</u></b>. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: small;">My other blogs are: </span></em><br />
<a href="http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://astronomy-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<em><a href="http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: small;">http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/</span></a></em></div>
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<a href="http://religion-by-kyle.blogspot.com/">return to table of contents for all my articles</a><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The wages of sin is death, everyone knows this to a degree... but how many know that the wages of Christianity is eternal life? If we pretend for a moment that Christianity is wrong and Christ never existed as a God, then if you believe in Christ no harm can come to you since it's hypothetically "fake," however if Christianity is true and Christ did come to Earth then you wager your immortal soul for your sinful life. So to believe in Christ is free of charge, but to follow sin is eternal damnation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%206:23&version=NIV" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: small;">Romans 6:23</span></span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in<sup>[</sup></span></span></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A23&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28092a" title="See footnote a"><sup><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a</span></sup></a><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">]</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wages... wages are payments for work. A life of <i>sin</i> (=work) <i>pays</i> people in flesh (=wages) since sins demand satiation of earthly desires, but Christ's wages (payments) are eternal love and freedom of sin in heaven, where believing in him simply gets you heavenly rewards and earthly blessings (and these blessings don't poison your body or heart!) For example, for all men who are reading...when you see a gorgeous woman on the beach walk by, do you not often get that "man, I wish she wanted me" type of thought run through your head? That's called lust, but you knew that already. But did you know that lust is a sin of the flesh which pays according to its nature-- sex? However, as you probably know on a less conscious level, when it comes to sex you can never be happy with having it once. What I mean is, even if you got your wish and the beautiful lady suddenly wanted to sleep with you, it'd never be enough. For most men it'd only take a few hours until more sex cravings would kick in, and the cravings would only be stronger later on. This is an example of a sin-wage scenario: you satiated your body (sin-work), and so your body pays you back by demanding more sex (sin-wages). More wages naturally demand more work and more wages means more sexual desire. This comes from the idea of a high paying job, for all high paying jobs have a very high amount of work that needs to be done, why else would they pay you so much otherwise? Sin works in this fashion. It is a consuming, demanding phenomenon. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The article below speaks loud and clear on this. I enjoyed its relaxed speaking voice. None of the fire and brimstone preaching. Just straight truth told from a normal person.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/for-the-wages-of-sin-is-death?fb_comment=31569286"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">http://www.examiner.com/article/for-the-wages-of-sin-is-death?fb_comment=31569286</span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The wages of sin is death, but there are no penalties </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">for believing in Christ. Believing in Christ is a </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">free gift that Christ gives to all for his death on</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the cross. A true gift. But to follow sin</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is to work for Satan, for his pays you back with</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">death. Which do you want? A gift of life or death?</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #999999;">Is life worth all this trouble? Fighting sin is hard! It's a never-ending struggle that cannot be won until you die. Fighting sin is akin to a series of battles being fought for short periods of time every day. The battles are often lost, but the victory is assured for you are in Christ. He's your ace of spades. You will lose almost all of your battles against sin, but Christ assures your victory! But again, life is so long and these battles just wear Christians out. It's so hard to keep trudging on. Sometimes life just seems too long to keep fighting battles like these for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">James talks about how short our lives are though, and while 80 years or so seems like a very long time to humans, it's not very long at all. The more time you have to live on simply means the more time you have to store up heavenly treasures. All of those battles are paid back to you! Every time you fight on in Christ's name you are given heavenly rewards, and there are plenty of earthly rewards too. But life is not nearly as long as it may seem...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%204:14&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">James 4:14</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. <b><i>What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Human life is so short, but not in Christ. Our lives continue beyond our physical forms when we die in Christ, for we live on with him in heaven. As an example of our lives being so brief, take a moment to remember the conversations you had with your parents and grandparents-- truly hear them, for they might say how their lives just seem like a flash. When they speak to old friends or about old memories, you'll probably notice how at one moment they remember being in high school pulling pranks with friends or they might remember just getting married or their first date, and then they might jump ahead to something similar decades later as if it were yesterday! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When older people speak there usually seems to be a sense of loss or nostalgia for "the good ol' days," a feeling as if their whole time on Earth was a blur. Where did time go? This is life for the sinner, for we were never created as finite beings who live and die, but rather we were created as infinite beings that live with God on Earth forever. Sin changed all of that, though. Time was never supposed to have a grip on us, but due to Adam and Eve's sin, time now stands to conquer us (old age, enfeeblement). So what will you say in 20 or 30 years when you look back at your life and see only a blur of faded memories? Will it be a life to fill you and others with pride and joy? Will the Lord smile at you? Are you storing up heavenly treasures for when you die, or do you pursue sin as if it's the only thing that makes you happy? The world has no use for people beyond a certain age nor for people who stand against sin, for the world is in a world of sin, so to speak. To be a Christian is to fight the good fight of good over evil, both in your heart and on our earthly battlefield (with the Gospel). And Christ will value you always, not only when you are bright and vibrant and can be helpful at your job or to your kids or to earn more money or to become successful-- he will love you and guide you and cherish you all the days of your life, but you must fight sin. You cannot store up sin wages and Christ's love, since they stand opposed.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:20-23&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Philippians 1:20-23</span></a></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. <sup>21</sup> <b><span style="color: lime;">For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. </span></b><sup>22</sup> If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! <sup>23</sup> I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Living is not about living... yes that is an odd way to put things, but it's very true. To live is to die, but to live in Christ is to be immortal. Do not fear for your body when it grows near to death, for your spirit is all that matters, for the spirit is eternal. Sadly, I hear many people talking as though Christianity were some cult or a large group of funny people from the funny farm. But they simply don't understand... their hearts were never open to the possibility of the gospel. If only a person would choose to try all things in life with an open mind, but people are not like that. People know what they know and leave it at that, but their wisdom betrays them, for it says:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201:26-30&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Corinthians 1:26-30</span></a></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. <sup>27</sup> <b><span style="color: lime;">But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. <sup>28</sup> God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, <sup>29</sup> so that no one may boast before him.</span></b> <sup>30</sup> It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So if human wisdom and human plans and human desires are what lead us to these negative feelings when life does not pan out as we want or expect it to, how then can anyone ever live a life that is always fulfilling? Well, to answer that, I will first say that humans need God. We have a deep need to know we're not alone and to know that our Creator really does pay attention to our lives, for how many people realize just how involved God is in human affairs? First off, I can state the obvious by saying that God himself chose to be borne by a human woman to become a man on Earth. He lived a humble life-- a life without any real home to lay his head and he worked as a carpenter, one of the hardest jobs in the world. And to top it off, he never had any money. And finally, when he was about 32 years old or so he went out into the world to proclaim his divinity and become the prophesied Jewish Messiah, called Christ. He spread words of heavenly wisdom, gained believers, and was rejected by most people. His life of hard work, being moneyless and even homeless was topped only by being flogged, whipped, beaten, and then nailed to a cross by hateful people of the world (as in, worldly people who reject religion). After being flogged 39 times and savagely beaten, he was nailed to the cross, where large nails much like railroad nails were hammered into his hands, where he hung on a cross for 6 hours until he died. What a horrible death! And yet, some of his last words were </span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">34</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jesus said, <b><span style="color: lime;">“Father, forgive them</span></b>, for they do not know what they are doing.”<sup>[</sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2023:34&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25970a" title="See footnote a"><sup><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a</span></sup></a><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">]</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To demonstrate God's timeless care and attention to all of us, read below, for it says God records our every tear, and in God we should never fear anything, for what can any human or worldly problem ever do to us? Neither losing your job nor dying nor anything else can harm you in the afterlife. This is what the term "worldly" means in actuality, for to be of the world is to be concerned with death, jobs, fears of other humans, plans that fall through and so on. If a single problem exists in your mind that cannot exist in heaven, then it's a worldly problem and you should simply pray about it and then let it go. God will take care of it. We are here only to choose God. There's no other purpose to existence, for no job or money or wife or anything is able to follow us into heaven-- only love and faith in God comes with us to heaven! So anything that bothers you...anything at all that you realize would not exist in heaven, as a Christian you can let it go. It matters so little in the long run. We are here to love and be loved, but most people don't realize the overwhelming love God has for us. Overwhelming is a light way to describe the all-encompassing love he has for us, for it says:</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBGmP7ODhFD6dkZUYV9bvM3IX5J6h0iJox1KrXcX4dMtcwbJkgHUf_73mECvBhLOydFh4dp08eNkERb7VHTW34QTUDo7wY-BZNNahEGjP6iMeWwenLHS0Q_ySUViqY8NBQriQAuOkKIg/s1600/s3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBGmP7ODhFD6dkZUYV9bvM3IX5J6h0iJox1KrXcX4dMtcwbJkgHUf_73mECvBhLOydFh4dp08eNkERb7VHTW34QTUDo7wY-BZNNahEGjP6iMeWwenLHS0Q_ySUViqY8NBQriQAuOkKIg/s320/s3.jpg" width="262" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">-</span><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2056:3-11&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 56:3-11</a><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span></sup> When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14760">4</sup> In God, whose word I praise— </span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;">in God I trust and am not afraid.</span> <br />
<span style="color: lime;">What can mere mortals do to </span><span style="color: lime;">me?</span> <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14761">5</sup> All day long they twist my words; <br />
all their schemes are for my ruin. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14762">6</sup> They conspire, they lurk, <br />
they watch my steps, <br />
hoping to take my life. <br />
<span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14763">7</sup> Because of their wickedness do not<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14763c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2056&version=NIV#fen-NIV-14763c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> let them escape; <br /> in your anger, God, <strong><em>bring the nations down.</em></strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14764">8</sup> Record my misery; <br /> list my tears on your scroll<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14764d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2056&version=NIV#fen-NIV-14764d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup>— <br />are they not in your record?</span> </span></strong><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14765">9</sup> Then my enemies will turn back <br />
when I call for help. <br />
By this I will know that God is for me. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14766">10</sup> In God, whose word I praise, <br />
in the LORD, whose word I praise— <br />
<span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14767">11</sup> in God I trust and am not afraid. <br /> What can man do to me?</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you read these few verses and did not fully realize what was being said, I'm happy to tell you some about it. God literally records our every sorrow, our every tear, our every word and so on. God is far beyond attentive-- he is with us always, and in fact he is omnipresent (in all places at all times!). He hears you cry at night, he sees your every struggle in life, and he hears your every thought. In fact, he knows how many hairs are in your head!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:6-7&version=NIV" target="_blank">Luke 12:6-7</a><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">6</span></sup> Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. <span class="woj"><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25467">7</sup> </span><span style="color: lime;">Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.</span> Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most people these days see all the sin and sadness in the world and believe that no god could exist or create such a world. But remember, humans are all given free will, even the ability to do evil. For a short time, all humans are allowed to be as Christ-loving or evil as they choose to be, but this is for a short time, for the end times are near. The world has reached a climax with its evil, where all people seem to all dwell on evil and selfish gain all of the time. Even Christians are often not at all Christian, for they are only Christian in name but never worship Christ (that is, read the Bible, pray to Christ and try to live a half-decent life). Christians these days gamble, fornicate, swear, practice homosexuality, lie, covet, get drunk, and steal as non-Christians do. They abuse Christ's forgiveness (we all do to a degree, but there's a sense of regret that true Christians have that fake Christians do not have, where the regret forces a real Christian to try to become less sinful and have more faith in God). Being a Christian these days has no meaning.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">But non-Christians and fake Christians are missing out on so much love, fearlessness, and eternal life in Christ in heaven that real Christians are guaranteed simply by having faith in Christ. That's about it-- have faith in Christ (accept him and try to trust his words in the Bible) and the rest takes care of itself. It's that easy, and the rewards are life in heaven with God, but the wages of sin is death. Fake Christians will die with the non-Christians, for they reject Christ's love and so Christ rejects them. Hell is forever, just as life with God is forever, and Earth is nothing more than a stage in which we are allowed to choose God or choose sin. There is no other purpose to life except to make a choice: God or sin. That's it. And no one can be happy or feel fulfilled unless they choose Christ, for though we may enjoy our sin, it never fills us... we need it constantly. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPQdQRgJycGLEnglhIpcoyMm82QBZa97PnBjObxp_lTbp7qdWc3QtJHrAudEM1Bdpy73G29AT3DD3HfaqhNUBzDg91ZsD1I79MJ2WoFiZI_l6X82-_Wpmi7s4bvdG0OiSoqGsjRMLRtk/s1600/aaaaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #999999;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPQdQRgJycGLEnglhIpcoyMm82QBZa97PnBjObxp_lTbp7qdWc3QtJHrAudEM1Bdpy73G29AT3DD3HfaqhNUBzDg91ZsD1I79MJ2WoFiZI_l6X82-_Wpmi7s4bvdG0OiSoqGsjRMLRtk/s320/aaaaa.jpg" width="288" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus loves all the little children, </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">but in his eyes all humans are children... </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We are all his children</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We can't just have sex once; we need to do it all of the time. We can't be happy with partying one weekend; we have to party every weekend. We can't be happy with our new TV. After a couple years, for the new TV's make your older TV. seem like junk and you can no longer appreciate it. We can't just be happy with what we have, for even our cars lose their luster and we'll want a new one eventually, or a new hair style or hair color or a new wardrobe or to redecorate our home again or getting all blu-rays instead of DVD’s or the latest Call of Duty game or whatever else you can think of. Sin-- wanting what you don't have, vanity, lust, partying, gossiping, or any "thing" that stands against Christ demands full loyalty. All desires consume people, all sins consume people, anything outside of Christ enslaves a person's heart to whatever its nature is (lust, thrill-seeking, anything), and those sins only get larger as we try to fill them. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Humans are never satisfied with what they have, for as the expression goes, the grass is always greener on the other side, for even after you cross over to the other side and see that the grass is the same color, the side from which you just came from now seems greener. If you thought that great job after college was going to make you happy, you were wrong, for in a couple years it will become dry and repetitive as you go through the same routine each day. Nothing on Earth is ever enough, except for Christ. He stops those desires from grabbing us as they do, for without Christ we were slaves to our ever-growing desires, Christians become slaves to Christ. And where we had once placed our desires Christ now occupies that area of our heart and subdues all worldly concerns. For it says:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:8&version=NIV" target="_blank">Philippians 3:8</a><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">8</span></sup> What is more, I consider [my possessions] a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus loves all the sinners in the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">world. </span><span style="font-size: small;">He even died for them. The </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">price of </span><span style="font-size: small;">freeing us from sin came </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">at the </span><span style="font-size: small;">cost of </span><span style="font-size: small;">his life. Because of </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">him, </span><span style="font-size: small;">that gift is </span><span style="font-size: small;">freely </span><span style="font-size: small;">given to all </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">that </span><span style="font-size: small;">we may never </span><span style="font-size: small;">die but </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">have </span><span style="font-size: small;">eternal life in him.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will end with my favorite Bible verses, for the following Psalm gives me great peace and comfort, for it shows that God is a mighty God, capable of stomping nations under his heal but also caring and loving to those who love him. God wants our love. Just as we seek love and affection from other humans...I assure you God wants to be loved by you more than any human on Earth. It must truly be lonely being God, for having all power in the universe and being all alone as the only God with no equals. So God needs us, and he rewards us greatly with love, affection, careful attention, and protection, and lastly a place in heaven next to him forever, but God will never force you to choose him. He does not want robotic love or fake love- he's given us the ability to choose him.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I dare you to test the Lord. Try to see if the Lord is listening to you. Pray to him. Read your Bible and pray. Give it time and you will see that the Lord is alive and real. Very real. I dare you to heed Christ, the Light of Truth. Discover for yourself the majesty of the Lord. Revel in his blessings and wisdom. Become courageous and fearless with the knowledge that no matter how awful life is, your every tear is recorded by a caring God. Do not be afraid. You have nothing to lose, for if Christ is not real then you will lose nothing, but the wages of sin is death if Christ is real, so you have everything to lose if you take a chance and he turns out to be real. Christ is worth the chance. You will see.</span></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 27</a></strong><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: lime;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></sup> <strong>The LORD is my light and my salvation</strong>— </span><strong><span style="color: lime;">whom shall I fear?</span> </strong></span>The LORD is the stronghold of my life— <br />
of whom shall I be afraid? <br />
<span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14288">2</sup> When the wicked advance against me <br /> to devour<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14288a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2027&version=NIV#fen-NIV-14288a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> me, <br />it is my enemies and my foes <br /> who will stumble and fall.</span> <br />
<span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14289">3</sup> Though an army besiege me, <br /> my heart will not fear; </span>though war break out against me, <br />
even then I will be confident. <br />
<span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14290">4</sup> One thing I ask from the LORD, <br /> this only do I seek: <br />that I may dwell in the house of the LORD <br /> all the days of my life, <br />to gaze on the beauty of the LORD</span> <br />
and to seek him in his temple. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14291">5</sup> For in the day of trouble <br />
<span style="color: lime;">he will keep me safe in his dwelling; </span>he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent <br />
and set me high upon a rock. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14292">6</sup> Then <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: lime;">my head will be exalted <br /> above the enemies who surround me;</span> </span>at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; <br />
I will sing and make music to the LORD. <br />
<span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14293">7</sup> Hear my voice when I call, LORD; <br /> be merciful to me and answer me. </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14294">8</sup> My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” <br />
Your face, LORD, I will seek. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MG_Ed-ZYOuQRahNmx95EY7CuNQ2KSy0Xuzh1xzlDfXuJPeaWF3GRlT8NJT8oV9gqpkpLCdPmN86rc5c_-GFb1TC7V4vH9wC00D56eqVDJWynEFzP8BZHEYxWOw-EZBL0Lh_wqG8IOCI/s1600/a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MG_Ed-ZYOuQRahNmx95EY7CuNQ2KSy0Xuzh1xzlDfXuJPeaWF3GRlT8NJT8oV9gqpkpLCdPmN86rc5c_-GFb1TC7V4vH9wC00D56eqVDJWynEFzP8BZHEYxWOw-EZBL0Lh_wqG8IOCI/s400/a3.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14295">9</sup> Do not hide your face from me, <br /> do not turn your servant away in anger;</span> <br />
you have been my helper. <br />
Do not reject me or forsake me, <br />
God my Savior. <br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14296">10</sup> Though my father and mother forsake me, <br /> the LORD will receive me.</span> </span></strong><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14297">11</sup> Teach me your way, LORD; <br />
lead me in a straight path <br />
because of my oppressors. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14298">12</sup> Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, <br />
for false witnesses rise up against me, <br />
spouting malicious accusations. <br />
<span style="color: lime;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14299">13</sup> I remain confident of this: <br /> I will see the goodness of the LORD <br /> in the land of the living. <br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-14300">14</sup> Wait for the LORD; <br /> be strong and take heart <br /> and wait for the LORD.</span><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Amen!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com