“Before the Holy Spirit fixes the heart of a sinner upon Christ He first quickens him into newness of life (Ephesians 2:1-6)

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There must be life before there can be sight, believing, or good works performed. One who is physically dead is incapable of doing anything; so he who is spiritually dead is incapable of any spiritual exercises. First the giving of life unto dead Lazarus, then the removing of the grave-clothes which bound him hand and foot. God must regenerate before there can be a “new creature in Christ Jesus.” The washing of a child follows birth.” ~ Arthur Pink, “Practical Christianity”

“Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened.” Isaiah 48:8

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It is painful to remember that, in a certain degree, this accusation may be laid at the door of believers, who too often are in a measure spiritually insensible. We may well bewail ourselves that we do not hear the voice of God as we ought, “Yea, thou heardest not.” There are gentle motions of the Holy Spirit in the soul which are unheeded by us: there are whisperings of divine command and of heavenly love which are alike unobserved by our leaden intellects. Alas! we have been carelessly ignorant–“Yea, thou knewest not.” There are matters within which we ought …

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“Come unto me.” Matthew 11:28

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The cry of the Christian religion is the gentle word, “Come.” The Jewish law harshly said, “Go, take heed unto thy steps as to the path in which thou shalt walk. Break the commandments, and thou shalt perish; keep them, and thou shalt live.” The law was a dispensation of terror, which drove men before it as with a scourge; the gospel draws with bands of love. Jesus is the good Shepherd going before his sheep, bidding them follow him, and ever leading them onwards with the sweet word, “Come.” The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the …

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An Introduction to The Bible and Theology

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This Winter starting on January 19th We will again be offering a robust course titled “An Introduction to The Bible and Theology.” It is designed as an introduction to the Bible for Seminary students. It will benefit Church elders, Sunday school teachers and serious lay people. This 15 week course will touch on all the key aspects of the Bible. On-Line lectures will be once a week for 2-3 hours on a webinar format and be taught by an outstanding faculty with many years of experience.

OUR SAVIOR

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When Jesus came, He was so much more than people expected. And the same salvation He offered then, He offers now. Isaiah 53(KJV) 53 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid …

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Wise Men Still Seek Him

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Shepherds gathered their flowing robes to hurry to Him; the Magi braved deserts and mountains to find Him; in the blazing noonday sun a defeated Samaritan woman came to Him; a skeptic exclaimed, “my Lord and my God” when he found Him. And today millions on every continent acknowledge with the Apostle Paul that He is “the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Wise men still seek Him; and those who seek find more than they ever imagined. For in Jesus Christ, and Him alone, are to be found forgiveness, inward peace, joys …

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SCROOGES AND CHRISTIANS

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“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). To the old identity, we say, “Bah, Humbug!” To the new, we say, “God has blessed us, everyone in Christ.” Other than Jesus Christ’s conception and birth as found in the Holy Bible, there is one other classic story associated with Christmastime. British author Charles Dickens’ 1843 book, A Christmas Carol, focuses on the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge (the novella has some Christian influence). From the onset, Scrooge is a wealthy, miserable, mean, …

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Joseph The Dreamer

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Joseph’s Place in the Family – The Dreamer Genesis 37: 2-4 2These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought the evil report of them unto their father. 3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors. 4And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren; …

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How is salvation a gift from God?

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When the Bible speaks of salvation as a gift from God, it emphasizes the fact that salvation is something given freely by Him rather than something we earn. Ephesians 2:8-9 contrasts salvation as a gift from God with human efforts when it teaches, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Other places in Scripture mention salvation as a gift as well. Romans 5:15 shares, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence …

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Netanyahu scores diplomatic home run in Iran’s backyard

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12/15/2016 Israel’s prime minister has completed a landmark visit to two of the world’s wealthiest Muslim nations. You wouldn’t know it from the front pages of newspapers in Israel, but its prime minister has completed a landmark visit to two of the world’s wealthiest Muslim nations. Largely eclipsed in the Israeli media by sexual harassment scandals, the Knesset dress code and the impending evacuation of Amona, Binyamin Netanyahu’s state visit this week to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan nonetheless represents a diplomatic coup against Iran. It also underlines Israel’s ability in recent years to punch holes in the former taboo in the …

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Will Netanyahu’s visits to Muslim countries bring Israel’s secret ties out of the closet?

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Azerbaijan, located in the Caucasus region, and Kazakhstan, in Central Asia, are Muslim republics. Friendly relations with both of them, and especially the strategic alliance with Azerbaijan, should not be taken for granted.  The short but productive visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan had two purposes. One was to improve the bilateral relations between Israel and the two nations. This is a goal that was achieved by emphasizing the strong military, oil and general trade ties and reaching understandings to enhance them in the future in the fields of agriculture, hi-tech and medicine. Azerbaijan has been …

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AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST By Fred Trokie

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Psalm 103:12 tells us: As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. SO JUST HOW FAR IS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST? Envision a globe of the world if you would, and place your index finger on the North Pole. Now move your finger vertically downward. Which direction are you going in? Your moving your finger in a southward direction. Now if you keep going south eventually you meet up with the South Pole, and if you keep going in the same direction, you’ll soon notice that you are …

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