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Are You a New Creature?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Tells us: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Notice how the words be and he is are italicized to note their importance. If any man is truly IN Christ or saved by the blood of Christ, and Christ is his master, then he is a new creature! Old habits and bad choices are passed away and we are become new IN CHRIST. I know that when we are first born again, we are babes in Christ and we need time to grow in Him and to become more like Him with each passing day. We grow by staying close to Him just as a newborn baby stays close to its Momma and its family.

I am referring to those who claim to be bought by the blood of Jesus, but we see no fruits or evidence of that. It appears that some choose to stay in their old sinful ways even though they may have accepted God’s free Gift of Salvation from Hell. They have their “ticket” to Heaven, but they do not want to know or remember that Jesus said, “Go and sin no more,” and “feed my sheep.” The Great Commission that Jesus gave when he went back to Heaven was for all of us, not just our Pastors and Spiritual Leaders. What was the Samaritan woman’s first instinct after Jesus told her “all that ever she did?” She went and told everyone she knew about Jesus and brought them to Him. If you do a study on how the apostles were chosen by Jesus, you will find the same reaction to their knowing Him. They brought others to Him.

I know that, for the most part, we all have our times of backsliding. I know I had mine when the world dealt me what I thought were “raw deals.” The biggest reason that happens is that we become centered on our selfish flesh, choose to go away from our fellowship with other believers and “the assembling of ourselves together.” Then we just cannot find the time to fellowship with God, nor to spend time in His Great Guidebook, the Holy Bible. Before we know it, we become comfortable in a sinful lifestyle and numb to the prompting of the Holy Spirit’s sweet voice who is constantly, softly calling us back to a relationship with our Saviour. When we choose to ignore that prompting for very long, God will let us wallow in our sin and face dire consequences of it. While Jehovah God is truly a loving God (I mean, He continually forgives us and welcomes us back into His arms over and over again), some forget that He is also a Just and Holy God and His very presence commands justice and righteousness. This world, of which satan is the ruler, offers many temporary delights to get us hooked to it. Then, when the evil one knows he does not need to be threatened by us and our witness, he tosses us out like garbage. He wins!

The thought that God has laid on my heart over the past couple of years is that even though we may have our “Ticket to Heaven,” we will still stand before Jesus and give account to Him, face to face, of all our actions after we said yes to His Saving Grace. Others who reject Him will be thrown into Hell, kicking and screaming, and most definitely some will look each of us in the eye and ask, “why didn’t you tell me this would happen?” It is so very important that we all remember that when we claim the Salvation of Jesus Christ, the lost world watches every move we make. Our actions could bring some to Jesus, or we could pacify satan and let our sinful lifestyles help them to eternal torment in Hell. And there is a Heaven and there is a Hell and they are for ETERNITY! We are going to one place or the other, FOREVER!

So, if we truly be in Christ, we are NEW CREATURES! Old things have passed away, let’s leave them there and let God make all things new in our lives. “They will know us by our fruits!” Are we living as new creatures so as to lead others to Christ, or are we backsliding or, God forbid, not truly bought by the precious blood of Jesus.

MAKE YOUR CALLING SURE!! And if it is sure, stay under the protective wings of your Creator, Jehovah God! Enjoy the strength that is found in gathering with other strong and mature believers who are truly letting their lights shine for Jesus. Stay in His Word daily. We have no protection of our own from that evil destroyer who prowls to and fro in this world seeking whom he may destroy and devour! But oh, the power in the name of Jesus and the reminders of God’s truths from His Word! When Jesus was tempted by the destroyer, what did He do? He reminded that evil being of truths from God’s Word by quoting Scripture. Do you know God’s Word well enough to do that?

One last thought – Christmas is all about Jesus. We call it His birthday. Have you thought about giving Him a birthday gift? I wonder how you would feel if someone gave you a birthday party and everyone but you got a gift. Hmmmm.

Perhaps Christ would really love the gift of our commitment to truly being the NEW CREATURES in Him that His Word says we are when we are truly Saved by His Sacrifice.

 
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Posted by on December 17, 2014 in God's Truth

 

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Wise and Foolish

Originally posted on Study God's Word:

Matthew 25:2-4. “And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

We had a picnic once, some years ago. We had the hot dogs, the long forks for roasting the dogs over a fire, the newspaper to use as kindling.  We even had the wood.The only thing we didn’t have, because each thought the other had packed it, was the box of matches.  We were only partially prepared. Fortunately for us, there were kind people at the park who gave us some matches so we could light our fire.

One aspect of this parable is its comparison to the beginning of this Christian age, in which people stood separated from the world, and in great anticipation of the soon return of the Lord Jesus. If…

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Posted by on December 10, 2014 in Uncategorized

 
Video

The Good News Is Christmas!

Very well done!

 
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Posted by on December 8, 2014 in God's Love

 

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A Closer Walk with God

As we consider ways to grow closer in our walk with God, two words come to mind - purity and glory.

Purity in being free from duplicity or double-mindedness.. Our human nature, or what I like to call our ‘self’ can never be perfectly pure until we are with our Lord in Heaven, but it is possible to work at living a pure life for the Lord, to attract others to Him and to have the close relationship with God that He so desires, and that we should desire as well. The Greek word for purity is hagneia (hag-ni’-ah) which denotes chastity which excludes all impurity of spirit, manner, or act. 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.”

Being “pure in heart,” involves inner cleansing: “Create in me a clean heart, O God” – Psalm 51:10. While the classical Greek word for “pure” (katharos) means being free from debt and guilt, the Biblical usage includes more than forgiveness. To be pure means to be single minded–free from the civil war of a divided self –being free from falsehood, hypocrisy, or pretense. The person who is rightly related to Jesus Christ will be pure in heart and life – 2 Timothy 2:19-22 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

If we are truly God’s children, we will desire to please Him. When Jesus blessed the “pure in heart” – Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God,” He affirmed that true happiness is loving God with our whole hearts, desiring that our whole lives please Him. In other words, purity demands that we remove anything and everything that would separate us from the holy presence of God – Habakkuk 1:13 “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…”

Anyone who has the hope of seeing God “purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). Such a person begins and maintains a love relationship with God based on integrity and singularity of purpose. A pure life cannot exist without a pure heart set upon the Lord.

Glory – Greek word doxa (dox’-ah) – dignity, honour, praise, woship

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” God has laid this verse on my heart today as never before. Knowing it is not enough, I must take action to implement it in my walk. This is a huge challenge for all believers. We all face those temptations from the world that bring pleasure. Remember, worldly pleasures are temporary! The world is at enmity with God – James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” I believe the biggest help to be had in overcoming all temptation boils down to asking ourselves this one question: “Is it glorifying to God? Will this bring glory and honour to my heavenly Father?” I know, I know, it goes totally against our very nature to ask ourselves that question when there is something before us that we think we just have to do or have to have.

I can envision a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other when I am tempted by the evils of this world.

But, if I speak out loud or even whisper to myself “do all to the glory of God.” And then ask myself, “Is this going to glorify God? Is this going to help further the Kingdom of God?” I have the power of His Word and His Holy Spirit to the “renewing of my mind” to help me overcome temptation. Remember also, evil and its minions must flee at the very name of Jesus. “No, you go away in Jesus’ name!” I cannot begin to count the very many times I have spoken those words over the years. We must realize that as human beings, we have absolutely no power over the plans the destroyer has to create havoc in our lives, but God has given us His Word, the name of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to call on for His power! I am nothing without Him!

Remember! “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”

The next time you are tempted by ‘the evils of this world’ why not ask yourself, “Will it glorify God or help to further His Kingdom?” Stop playing games – giving in to sin and begging forgiveness and feeling unworthy, over and over and over again. The devil seeks to destroy and kill everything and everyone that belongs to God. Do not give him the glory!

Lastly, “I hate to think that I would be involved in some sin when the last trump sounds and Jesus says, ‘Anna, come up hither!'” What shame and remorse I would feel, I cannot even imagine. Why should we continue to choose more sin to feel ashamed of when we meet our loving Master? And we will ultimately stand before Jesus and give account for what we did on this earth after we received Him as our Saviour, Lord, and Master. It is up to us what we do and how we grow in Him. Will we always be successful? No, we will stumble, but at least we can know that we have the tools that He has given us at to do our best to be pure and glorify our Holy God. 1 Peter 1:16

 
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Posted by on November 21, 2014 in Godly Women

 

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Prayer – important for growing in God

When we pray, we are talking with God. Prayer is a God-given priority in growing in our walk with Him. If we are not talking with God every day, we do not have a relationship with Him. Talking with God does not mean asking for things, although He does want to hear our petitions. God wants to be our best friend and He wants to know our hearts desires, but He also wants to help us and guide us to an abundant life with Him now. What a great honor and privilege that too many take for granted or overlook completely. They then wonder why they face horrible consequences for trying to live this human life on their own. How are we to determine His will in our lives if we are not spending time with Him? How are we to live a life that is glorifying to Him if we are not spending time with Him?

While many believers sincerely desire to spend time with God in prayer, a few actually do. Spiritual discipline is necessary for us to be able to make prayer a priority in our lives. God, however, has made prayer a priority–directing His children to pray first, often, and always. Therefore, prayer should become a priority for us!

Scripture speaks repeatedly of the importance of prayer. Paul says to pray about everything – Philippians 4: 6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Believers should make all requests known to God. In addition, believers are warned to pray regularly and frequently. David promised the Lord, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” (Psalms 55:17) Jesus prayed for extended periods of time, especially when making important decisions – Luke 6:12 “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” When was the last time we prayed and communed with our loving God all night? Certainly when facing challenges or trials, we should pray – James 5:13 “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” Please do not let sin and pride keep you from talking with, and sharing with, and listening to God.

Paul inspired the Christians in Thessalonica to pray without ceasing – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Prayer becomes not only an attitude of the heart, but it is also a continual dialogue with the Lord. The more time we spend in God’s Word and in communing with Him, the more prayer becomes a habit, and one of the best habits we can ever have.

When we pray, we must take time to be still and hear a word from God – Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: …” (I have taken much comfort from that verse.) The Bible does not dictate any specific time or place for prayer. But,  believers may find it easier to maintain the priority of prayer when we establish a definite time and place to pray as part of our daily schedule – Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Our prayer time should consume a place in our hearts, in our very souls; it also needs a place in our homes. I believe that as Christ-like children of God, we all need our own private prayer closet – Matthew 6:6 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” We all must have a place of solitude that is free from all worldly distractions so that we may pray in private.

To help make prayer a priority in our lives, we may want to use a prayer journal or devotional book or write out a prayer list and revise it often. I cannot begin to list all the many times that God has spoken to me or answered some prayer request in my daily devotionals. It also helps for us to share our commitment to prayer with others, both to encourage them and to hold ourselves accountable for praying regularly.

The example of Daniel 2:23 “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.” Daniel modeled a personal devotional life with God. He “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” with the riches and delicacies offered to him by the king. (Daniel 1:8-17) He openly refrained from these luxuries that were offered to him, living out the strength of his convictions. As a result, God gave Daniel and his friends–Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego–“knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom” (Daniel 1:17). He also gave Daniel understanding in visions and dreams. One of Daniel’s lifestyle choices was a decision to pray and give thanks to God first and foremost, before anything else–which he had done three times a day since he did “aforetime” (Daniel 6:10). Daniel kept this personal devotional commitment, even in the face of a royal decree that sought to prohibit the worship of Yahweh (Daniel 6:3-5). He was also quick to ask for God’s wisdom, to seek the counsel of Godly advisers, and to praise God for the revelations of his wisdom. Daniel’s life exhibited a commitment to hearing and knowing God’s Word, then living it out in practical ways. Jesus taught this same pattern: hearing and doing in Matthew 7:24 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”

When we are devoted to knowing and doing the work of God–refraining from being pulled into the sinfulness of the world–we are enabled to inherit the grace, love, and wisdom that God offers those who give themselves totally to Him. (Romans 10)

We who are truly saved by the blood of Jesus, are to spend eternity in God’s presence, communing with Him constantly. Why not get into that habit now? What blessings He bestows on us if we only would.

 
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Posted by on November 18, 2014 in Godly Women

 

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Itching Ears

Anna:

Beware of these “feel good” mega churches. They are mega because they only say what people want to hear.

Originally posted on Study God's Word:

Matthew 24:11-12. “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

One of the ways these false prophets and deceivers will fool many will be through the use of what my dad referred to as “entertainment preaching.” II Timothy 4:3-4:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

We have a lot of this kind of preaching going on today, preaching that makes us feel good, that tells us what we want to hear, that promises health, wealth and happiness if we just follow a particular path. Sometimes the preaching is just the vehicle for the personality.  Hundreds seem to be charmed, even…

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Posted by on October 31, 2014 in Uncategorized

 

Living for God

In the last post we shared about living each day for the Lord and some perfectly great reasons for doing so. But, how do we do that? Just saying we know God is not living for Him. Even the demons “know” God, but they do not live for Him. It is not enough to say, “I am Saved or I know God.” We must live our Salvation out and grow in Him more every day. Many who know me are familiar with a saying I have grown accustomed to, “I will never know everything about God and His Word, I learn more each day. The day I think I know it all, it is time for me to Go Home!” Even as I am led to share these posts, I ask His Holy Spirit to teach me what I need to learn from them.

Once we have trusted in Jesus’ deliverance from our sins, we must continue to grow closer to Him each and every day. Of course, we must enter into our prayer closets and share and listen to His sweet voice, but perhaps the most vital thing we can do is get into His teaching manual, His Word.

In my quiet time this morning as I was in His Word (my Women’s Study Bible-KJV), I read an insert by Stormie Omartian from “The Power of Praying” that I believe is helpful for us all as we grow closer to our Saviour. I trust this into God’s capable hands to get it where He needs it to go, and to do what He needs it to do in me. Words in () are mine.

“Ten Good Reasons to Read God’s Word”

1. To know where you are going.You can’t foresee the future or exactly where you are heading, but God’s Word will guide you – Psalm 119:133 “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”

2. To have wisdom. Knowledge of God’s Word is where wisdom begins to grow in you – Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

3. To find success. When you live according to the teachings of the Bible, life works – Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Wow, need I say more? God does not and cannot lie!)

4. To live in purity. You must live a life of holiness and purity in order to enjoy more of the Lord’s presence, but you can’t be made pure without being cleansed through God’s Word – Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

5. To obey God. If you don’t understand what God’s laws are, how can you obey them? – Psalm 119:33-35 “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” (I so love the delight I feel in my soul when God is showing me something in His Word. Those who do not experience this are really missing out on a marvelous blessing.)

6. To have joy. You cannot be free of anxiety and unrest without the Word of God in your heart – Psalm 19:8 “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

7. To grow in faith. You can’t grow in faith without reading and hearing the Word of God – Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (It really is beyond my comprehension how so many today muddle through this life that is wrought with trials, without the guidance and strength that God has for us in His Word. I find my faith tested every day. I simply do not believe I could go through those tests without God’s help. He has taught and is still teaching me that my faith grows stronger with each trial I make it through. Unfortunately, I have had to learn some things the hard way. Mainly, that I really would have saved myself a lot of heartache if I had made it a habit to stay in God’s Word searching His Will and proving all things through it, earlier in my life.)

8. To find deliverance. You won’t know what you need to be free of unless you study God’s Word to find out – John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

9. To have peace. God will give you a peace that the world can’t give, but you must find it first in His Word – Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (God’s peace far surpasses anything of this world. I have found that when I stay close to God and His Word, what others might mean as offense to me are not taken as such. Things just do not bother me when I stay in fellowship with Him, I am under His wing.)

10. To distinguish good from evil. Everything has become so relative today, how can you know for sure what is right and wrong without God’s Word? – Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

(There have been times in my life that I was more in the world than in God’s Word. When we choose to do that, sin becomes easier. We become numb to what our Holy Spirit is telling us about the sin in our lives. Wrong becomes right and right becomes wrong. One thing I can say is that I never felt peace while in those times. I would much rather live in as much of God’s peace which comes from His direction, than the upheaval I felt in my soul during my times of low self-worth and turning from Him. There is no high on earth that can compare to the peace and Joy from our Heavenly Father. He wants that for all!)

GOD HAS PRESERVED HIS SUPERNATURAL WORD FOR HIS CHILDREN. THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN THE LOVE OF YAHWEH!

 
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Posted by on October 25, 2014 in God's Love

 

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