Facing Death Unprepared

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Since salvation has nothing to do with our works, faith is the way to prepare for death Luke 23:32-43 32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them …

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Ephesians 2 says, “By grace, through faith….unto good works

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Ephesians 2:1-10 (KJV) 2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great …

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The Other Side of Travail

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Reflections A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow…but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. (John 16:21) When we are suffering, our attention is upon the suffering. But Jesus is reminding us that something is being birthed that will, in that day of birth, change our perspective. He is talking about a new revelation of Himself through suffering. “You cannot see the Truth now. But you will. Hold fast by faith until that day.” In one sense of the word, …

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Rafah crossing opens as Hamas, Egypt improve ties

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Ismail Haniyeh makes first trip to Cairo in three years, says ties will witness a ‘paradigm shift’ 01/28/2017 The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Hamas-run Gaza Strip reopened Saturday as Cairo and the Islamist organization hailed an improvement in long-tense ties. Israel radio said the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Saturday for three days, the first time it has been open this year. Hamas called the a rare visit by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to Cairo, the first visit by the group’s top leader in over three years, “successful,” according to Egypt’s state-run news agency. …

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Genesis Message 56 Abrahamic Covenant Reconfirmed But To Isaac

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Published on Jan 25, 2017

This chapter, twenty-six is fully devoted to Isaac. As explained even though Abraham had eight sons with three different women only one would carry the line down to the Messiah in Jesus of Nazareth. This chapter emphasizes that point. Much like the famine in Canaan during the life of Abraham it happened again during Isaac’s life. Isaac, on the way to Egypt he stays in Gerar in the Gaza strip. There he tells the locals that Rebecca is his sister not his wife. In Abraham’s deception he at least could partially defend his lie by saying that Sarah was his half-sister. Isaac could not do that. Isaac’s faith had obviously not matured to the point where he would not be fearful to the point of lying. Faith will drive out fear. The more we know of God and the Bible the less fearful we become of the events of this earth. Christ made this clear in Matthew 10: 28. So because of Rebecca’s beauty Isaac feared for his life.

“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

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There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory–she kept all these things; her affections–she kept them in her heart; her intellect–she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about the things which she had heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what he has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which …

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Life After Death

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Believers have no reason to fear death, as life on earth is just the beginning of their eternal existence. Life After Death Luke 12:16-20 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, …

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The Eternal Word

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Reflections From the Psalms The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Ps. 12:6-7) It does not matter how the Truth of God is challenged, discredited, and attacked – in the end, the Truth of God will be shown to BE TRUE. This is not only true out here in the world, but it is true within the believer. That which is of Jesus Christ can endure any fire. That which is NOT of …

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Adjusted to the Truth

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Reflections No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Pet 1:20) This verse has been made to mean by Roman Catholics that the church has the right of interpretation for the individual. But that is not the meaning. Peter is simply saying that I cannot adjust the Truth to fit myself personally. Rather, I must be adjusted to fit the Truth. And the fact is, we are ultimately going to do one or the other. All of us have fallen into the trap of accepting whatever feeds us – if something feeds me, then this must be …

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Contrasts

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Contrasts   Religion: Promise God you will be good enough. Truth: Confess to God you can never be good enough.   Religion: If we love God, He will love us. Truth: Because God loves us, we can love Him.   Religion: Give in order to get. Truth: Freely you have received, so freely give.   Religion: Go to church to meet God. Truth: Meet God in Jesus Christ and carry Him into church.   Religion: Peace at any cost. Truth: Truth at any cost.   Religion: Make people feel good about themselves. Truth: Set people free from themselves to Christ. …

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Select Departures From Biblical Orthodoxy in Christianity

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Deception in Christianity Matthew 24: 4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many (KJV).    II John 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.   2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to …

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Your heavenly Father.” Matthew 6:26

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Your heavenly Father.” Matthew 6:26 God’s people are doubly his children, they are his offspring by creation, and they are his sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are privileged to call him, “Our Father which art in heaven.” Father! Oh, what precious word is that. Here is authority: “If I be a Father, where is mine honour?” If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here is affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered–which would not be withheld even if it might. The obedience which God’s children …

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What Is Intercession?

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Intercession is not a matter of begging God to do something we think is needed. Neither is it a matter of basing our faith on our ability to reach God through prayer. Rather, to intercede, I must put myself aside. Intercession is a matter of being apprehended by God to stand with HIM for HIS will and HIS purpose — regarding the one for whom you intercede, or regarding the situation in question. Intercession is for God’s will, His way, in His time — regardless of cost.In the NT Greek, the word for “intercession” carries the meaning, “to fall in …

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The Proving of the Truth

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Reflections From the Psalms   The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Ps. 12:6)   Peter writes, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 1:7) We often think of the trial of faith as a trying of US. There is some Truth in that. We do have to choose. But in the end, the trial of faith …

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