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Study God's Promises to Grow in Christ (Insights in NT)

5/26/2013

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Study and remind yourself of God's promises in His word to avoid false teaching and being entangled in the world's corruption after escaping it. Repent and understand His word to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

Study God's Promises and Add Character to Your Faith
God's divine power gave everything needed for life and godliness through knowing Him. He called them to His glory and goodness through His precious promises to participate in the divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by evil desires. They made every effort to add to their faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Having these qualities in increasing measure kept them effective and productive in their knowledge of Christ, proved their cleansing from past sins and made their calling and election sure without falling. They received a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:1-11). Study God's promises and add character to your faith for participating in the divine nature.

Allow a Mentor to Remind You of God's Love and His Word
Peter refreshed their memory to never forget these things after being firmly established in the truth. He was an eyewitness of Christ's majesty when he heard God say, "This is my Son, whom I love: with Him I am well pleased." They must pay attention to the prophets until the morning star arose in their hearts. No prophecy of Scripture came from the prophet's will or interpretation, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Pet. 1:12-21). Allow a mentor to remind you of God's love and His word.

Avoid False Teaching to Remind Yourself of God's Judgment
False prophets and teachers secretly introduced destructive heresies denying the Lord who brought swift destruction upon them. False teachers disregarded truth and exploited believers with made-up stories. God sent sinning angels to hell for judgment, brought the flood upon the ungodly and burned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to make them an example. He protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with his family; and rescued Lot, a righteous man, distressed by the lawless deeds he saw and heard. God knew how to rescue godly men from trials and punish the unrighteous in the day of judgment (2 Pet. 2:1-9).  Avoid false teaching to remind yourself of God's judgment of sin in Scripture.

Reject Entanglement in World's Corruption After Escaping It
Those with corrupt sinful natures who despised authority and slandered heavenly beings were paid back with harm. As experts in greed, they caroused in daylight filled with adultery, sinned continually and seduced the unstable. They followed the way of Balaam who loved the wages of wickedness being rebuked by a donkey that restrained the prophet's madness. These slaves of depravity mouthed empty and boastful words, appealed to the lust of sinful human nature and enticed those who just escaped from people living in error by promising freedom. They were worse off if they became entangled again and defeated after escaping the world's corruption by knowing Christ. It was better not to know the way of righteousness than to know and turn their backs on the sacred commandment like a dog returning to its vomit (2 Pet. 2:10-22). Reject entanglement in the world's corruption after escaping it by knowing Christ.

Repent Before Christ Comes Back Like a Thief
Peter stimulated them to wholesome thinking through the prophets and apostles. In the last days, scoffers followed their evil desires doubting Christ's second coming. They forgot that God's word created the heavens and earth and He destroyed the world with water. In the future, He would destroy the heavens and earth and judged ungodly men. The Lord was patient in keeping His promise not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone come to repentance. The day of the Lord would come like a thief when the heavens disappeared with a roar, elements destroyed by fire and the earth laid bare (2 Pet. 3:1-10). Repent before Christ comes back like a thief when the earth will be destroyed.

Understand Bible Accurately to Grow in Grace and Knowledge of Christ
They should live holy and godly lives since the world would be laid bare while looking forward to a new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness. They should be spotless, blameless and at peace with God. The Lord's patience meant salvation as Paul wrote. His letters contained some things hard to understand that ignorant and unstable people distorted like other Scriptures to their own destruction. Therefore, being on guard and not carried away by the error of lawless men to fall from their secure position, they were to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ for His glory (2 Pet. 3:11-18).  Understand the Bible accurately so you can grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

Study God's promises daily to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. 

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How to Seek God and Exercise Faith for Eternal Reward (Insights in NT)

5/8/2013

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How does a person seek God and exercise faith for eternal reward? Hebrews 11-13 answer that question. Obey God in impossible situations requiring supernatural intervention. Bless others by choosing mistreatment and disgrace. Fight spiritual battles without knowing the results. Fix your eyes on Jesus submitting to His discipline. Worship God by living in peace and grace. Ask God to equip you in loving others. 

Earnestly Seek God and Exercise Faith
Faith was assurance of what people hoped for and certainty of they did not see. By faith they understood that God created the universe at His command so what was seen was not made out of what was visible. Abel as a righteous man offered God a better sacrifice than Cain. God spoke well of his offering and by faith he still spoke even though dead. By faith Enoch pleased God who took him away so he did not experience death. Without faith it was impossible to please God, because anyone who came to Him but believe He existed and rewarded those who earnestly sought Him (Heb. 11:1-6). Earnestly seek God and exercise faith to please Him for eternal reward. 


Obey God in Impossible Situations
By faith Noah built an ark to save his family, condemned the world and became an heir of righteousness. Abraham traveled to an unknown place and made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country as heirs of promise. He looked forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder was God. Though Abraham and Sarah were too old, they had a child and considered Him faithful who made the promise resulting in countless descendants like sand on the seashore. Not receiving things promised as aliens and strangers on earth, they longed for a heavenly country that God prepared for them. Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God tested him believing He would raise his son from the death (Heb. 11:7-19). Obey God in impossible situations requiring supernatural intervention to receive His promise. 

Bless Others By Choosing Mistreatment and Disgrace
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau regarding their future. Jacob blessed Joseph's sons when he was dying and worshiped God. Joseph gave instructions to transport his bones to Israel. Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born not afraid of the king's edict. Moses chose to be mistreated with the people of God rather than enjoy sin's momentary pleasures. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ of greater value than the treasures of Egypt because he looked ahead to his reward. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood so the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel's firstborn. The people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians drowned when they tried (Heb. 11:20-29). Bless others by choosing mistreatment and disgrace to receive eternal reward. 

Fight Spiritual Battles Without Knowing Results
Jericho's walls fell when the people marched around them for seven days. The prostitute Rahab welcomed the spies and was not killed with the disobedient. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut lions' mouths, escaped the edge of the sword and routed armies. Some were tortured and refused to be released so they might gain a better resurrection. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death by the sword, persecuted and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them and none received what had been promised (Heb. 11:30-40). Fight spiritual battles without knowing the results.

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus Submitting to His Discipline
Since we have a great cloud of witnesses, throw off every hindrance and entanglement of sin to run the race with perseverance. By fixing their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith who endured the cross with joy, scorned its shame and sat down at God's right hand, they would not grow weary and lose heart. In struggling against sin, they did not resist to the point of shedding blood, but took God's loving discipline seriously as a son. Without discipline, they would be illegitimate children. By submitting to discipline, they shared in His holiness and lived. Discipline seemed painful at first, but produced a harvest of righteousness and peace for those trained by it. By strengthening their feeble arms and weak knees and making level paths, they were healed (Heb. 12:1-13). Fix your eyes on Jesus submitting to His discipline so you can share His holiness.

Worship God by Living in Peace and Grace
They made every effort to live in peace because no one would see God without holiness. See that no one missed the grace of God, no bitter root grew up to defile many, no one was sexually immoral or godless like Esau who sold his inheritance for a single meal. They came to the city of the living God with thousands of angels, to the church of the firstborn whose names were written in heaven, to God and judge of all men, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant and to sprinkled blood better than Abel's. By receiving a kingdom that could not be shaken, they were thankful and worshiped God with reverence and awe since He was a consuming fire (Heb. 12:14-29). Worship God by living in peace and grace without bitterness, sexual immorality and temporal values.

Ask God to Equip You in Loving Others
By loving each other, they entertained strangers, remembered prisoners and those mistreated, and maintained purity in their marriage. God judged the adulterer and sexually immoral. He helped them be content, free from the love of money, and not fearing man. By considering the outcome of their leaders' way of life and God's word they spoke, they should imitate their faith. Jesus Christ was the same yesterday, today and forever. By strengthening their hearts with grace and not carried away by strange teachings, they should bear Christ's suffering and disgrace while looking for the eternal city. By continually offering sacrifices of praise to God, they should not forget doing good and sharing with others. Obeying and submitting to their leaders made their work a joy. Pray the God of peace through the blood of the eternal covenant who raised Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, from the dead, equip them with everything good to do His will in pleasing Him (Heb. 13:1-25). Ask God to equip you in loving others, being content, walking in grace, doing good and submitting to leaders. 


To seek God and exercise faith for eternal reward, do the following: 
1. Obey God in impossible situations requiring supernatural intervention
2. Bless others by choosing mistreatment and disgrace
3. Fight spiritual battles without knowing the results
4. Fix your eyes on Jesus submitting to His discipline 
5. Worship God by living in peace and grace
6. Ask God to equip you in loving others, being content, walking in grace, doing good and submitting to leaders 

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How to Make Creation Subject to You (Insights in NT)

4/7/2013

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Because Jesus is heir of all things, Creator, radiance of God's glory, sustainer, purifier of sin, sits on God's righteous throne and defeated Satan's power of death, all of creation can be subject to you (Heb. 1-3). 

You make creation subject to you by responding in faith to the gospel message, allowing God's word judge your thoughts, praying with confidence to received mercy and grace, offering prayers with tears to learn obedience,
studying God's word to learn good from evil, being diligent to help His people and waiting patiently to receive His promise. 


Respond in Faith to Gospel Message
Be careful not to fall short of the promise in entering God's rest. The gospel message was of no value to Israel because they did not respond in faith. They did not enter into rest (Psalm 95:5,11). God finished His work since creating the world and resting on the seventh day. Disobedience to the gospel prevented Israel from entering His rest. David said to not harden one's heart when hearing His voice. A person who entered God's Sabbath rested from his work (Heb. 4:1-11). Respond in faith to the gospel message so you enter God's rest. 

Allow God's Word Judge Your Thoughts
The word of God was living, active and sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrated to the dividing of soul and spirit to judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Everything was uncovered and laid bare before God's eyes (Heb. 4:12-13). Allow the living and active word of God judge your thoughts. 

Pray in Confidence to Receive Grace
Hold firmly to faith because of Jesus, the Son of God. As the high priest, He sympathized with weaknesses since He was tempted in every way like humankind, except without sin. Approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:14-16). Pray with confidence to receive grace in time of need since He was tempted like you without sin.

Offer Prayers with Tears to Learn Obedience
High priests offered sacrifices for sins and dealt gently with the ignorant and those who went astray. Jesus was a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. On earth, Jesus offered up prayers with tears to God who could save Him from death and was heard because of His reverent submission. Jesus learned obedience from what He suffered and once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obeyed Him (Heb. 5:1-10). Offer prayers with tears to learn obedience from suffering and receive eternal salvation.

Study God's Word to Learn Good from Evil
They needed someone to teach them milk or the elementary truths of God's word, not solid food, because they were slow to learn. Those who lived on milk as an infant were not acquainted with righteousness. Solid food was for the mature who trained themselves constantly to distinguish good from evil. They were to leave the elementary teachings about Christ and pursue maturity, not laying the foundation of repentance from acts that led to death, faith in God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment (Heb. 5:11-6:3). Study God's word to learn good from evil.

Be Diligent to Help God's People
It was impossible for those who once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift, Holy Spirit, goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance because they subject Him to public disgrace. Land that produced thorns and thistles was worthless, in danger of being cursed and burned. The author was confident of things that accompanied salvation. God was not unjust and did not forget their work and love shown Him as they continued to help His people. The author wanted them to always be diligent, make their hope sure and imitate those who through faith and patience inherited what had been promised (Heb. 6:4-12). Be diligent to help God's people in demonstrating faith. 

Wait Patiently to Receive God's Promise
After God promised Abraham descendants and blessings, he waited patiently to receive it. God confirmed His promise with an oath to make it unchangeable. This hope was the anchor of their souls, firm and secure. Jesus went behind the curtain and entered the inner sanctuary to go before them. He became the high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 6:13-20). Wait patiently to receive God's promise as the firm anchor of your soul.

Which of the following will you apply to make creation subject to you:
1. Respond in faith to the gospel message
2. Allow God's word judge your thoughts
3. Pray with confidence to received mercy and grace
4. Offer prayers with tears to learn obedience
5. Study God's word to learn good from evil

6. Be diligent to help His people 
7. Wait patiently to receive His promise 

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Equip Older Men and Women To Disciple Young People (Insights in NT)

3/27/2013

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Elders should lay a foundation of sound doctrine and focus on teaching older men and women so they can disciple young people in godly living to attract others to Christ. 

Appoint Godly Elders To Oversee God's Work
Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ for the knowledge of truth that led to godliness. It rested on the hope of eternal life that God promised. He  brought His word to light through the preaching entrusted to him by God's  command. Paul left Titus in Crete to straighten out unfinished business and appoint elders in every town.  An elder must be blameless, husband of one wife. His children must believe without being wild and disobedient. An elder who oversees God's work must not be overbearing, quick-tempered, given to much wine, violent, and pursuing dishonest gain. Instead he must be hospitable, love what was good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined (Tit. 1:1-8). Appoint godly elders to oversee God's work who model purity in their personal and family lives.

Lay Proper Foundation by Encouraging Sound Doctrine and Refuting False Teaching
An elder must hold firmly to the trustworthy message, encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. He must silence rebellious people who deceived and ruined households for dishonest gain. One of their own prophets said Cretans were "always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." Elders must rebuke them sharply so they would be sound in the faith. They must avoid Jewish myths or commands among those who reject the truth. To the pure all things were pure but to the corrupted and unbelievers, nothing was pure. Claiming to know God, their actions showed they denied Him being unfit for anything good (Tit. 1:9-16). Lay proper foundation by encouraging sound doctrine and refuting false teaching to prevent ruined lives. 

Teach Sound Doctrine to Older Men and Women
Teach sound doctrine to older men so they would be temperate, respectful, self-controlled, sound in faith and loving with endurance. Teach older women to be reverent and not slanderous or addicted to much wine so they could teach what was good. They should train the younger women to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, busy at home, kind and subject to their husbands so no one would malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled as an example by doing what was good. Timothy's teaching should show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech so opponents could not condemn them (Tit. 2:1-8). Teach sound doctrine to older men and women so they can disciple younger people in godly living. 

Disciple People in God's Grace to Attract Others to Christ
Teach employees to be subject their bosses so they could be fully trusted by not talking back or stealing to make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. His grace that brought salvation appeared to all men. It taught them to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, but to live self-controlled and godly lives in this present age. They waited for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ who redeemed them from all wickedness and purified for Himself a people eager to do what was good. They were to teach, encourage and rebuke these things with all authority without being despised (Tit. 2:9-15). Disciple people in God's grace to live godly in all spheres to attract others to Christ. 

Allow Grace Motivate You to Obey Authority and Do Good Works
Remind people to be subject and obedient to all authorities. They were to slander no one, but be peaceable, considerate and show humility toward all men. They had been foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by passions and pleasures with envy and hate. But when the kindness and love of Jesus appeared, He saved them not because of their righteous deeds, but because of His mercy through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit poured out generously through Christ. Being justified by His grace, they became heirs with the hope of eternal life so they could be careful to devote themselves to good works (Tit. 3:1-8). Allow God's grace motivate you to humbly obey every authority and do good works.  

Live Productive Lives by Avoiding Useless Quarrels and Confronting Divisiveness 
Avoid foolish and useless controversies, arguments and quarrels about the law. Warn a divisive person up to two times and then have nothing to do with him since he was warped, sinful and self-condemned. Paul asked Timothy to come see him and help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with everything they need. Everyone must learn to devote themselves to doing what was good to provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives (Tit. 3:9-15). Live productive lives by avoiding useless quarrels and confronting divisiveness. 

Let me ask these questions: 
1. Are godly elders in your city overseeing God's work?
2. Are they laying a proper foundation by encouraging sound doctrine and refuting false teaching?
3. Are elders teaching sound doctrine to older men and women?
4. Are older people discipling younger people?

5. Are others being attracted to Christ?
6. Are discipled believers obeying every authority and doing good works?
7. Are church members living productively and avoiding useless quarrels and divisions? 

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Developing a Larger Vision for the Church (Insights in NT)

1/3/2013

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“The basic problem of the Christians in this country in the last eighty years or so, in regard to society and in regard to government, is that they have seen things in bits and pieces instead of totals” (Francis Schaeffer). 

Most of us envision the church as a building with programs to meet the needs of families. God had a much larger vision. He created the church as His tool so Christ could rule in every human domain and authority. 

God Provides Every Spiritual Blessing
Apostle Paul wrote to faithful believers in Ephesus. God blessed them with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Before creating the world, He chose them in Him to be holy and blameless. He predestined and adopted them as His sons through Christ according to His will and glorious grace. In Christ, they had redemption and forgiveness of sin through His blood according to God's grace lavished on them with all wisdom and understanding. He made known the mystery of His will to bring everything in heaven and earth under Christ. They obtained an inheritance being predestined according to God's plan. They believed the gospel and were sealed with the Holy Spirit as a pledge of their inheritance until God redeemed His own possession to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:1-14). God provides every spiritual blessing in Christ so people can believe and be redeemed by the gospel for His glory.   

Ask for Wisdom to Know God So Christ Rules Every Sphere
Paul prayed for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so they could know God better. He prayed that believers have enlightened hearts to know His hope, His glorious inheritance and His great power that God used to raise Christ from the dead. He sat at God's right hand far above every rule, authority, power, dominion and title in the present and future age. God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church. Christ filled His body, the church, with His fullness in everything and every way (Eph. 1:15-23). Ask for wisdom to know God and work in the power of the Holy Spirit so Christ rules every sphere and authority. 

Demonstrate God’s Love Through Good Works
Being dead in sin, they followed the world, devil and flesh as objects of wrath. Because of God's great love and mercy, He made them alive, raised up and seated with Christ in heaven. In the future, He showed the incomparable riches of His grace through Christ. He saved them by grace  through faith as God's gift without works or boasting. As God's workmanship, they were created to do good works, which Christ prepared in advance for them to do (Eph. 2:1-10). Demonstrate God’s love through good works so people believe in the gospel of grace, 

Trust in Christ’s Blood to Create Unity
The Gentiles were separated from Christ and Israel's covenants without hope and without God. But Christ's blood brought peace, destroyed the dividing wall of hostility and abolished the law with its commandments and regulations. In God's purpose, He created one new man out of the two and made peace. He reconciled Jews and Gentiles in one body through the cross by putting to death their hostility. They both came to the Father by one Spirit as fellow members of God's household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the chief cornerstone. He joined the whole building as a holy temple in the Lord. He built each member as a dwelling of God by His Spirit (Eph. 2:11-22). Believers trust in Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit in abolishing the law of commandments and regulations to create unity.

Pray, Serve and Preach the Gospel
God revealed to Paul the administration of God's grace (church) though His Spirit to His apostles and prophets. The mystery of Christ through the gospel enabled Gentiles and Jews to be heirs, members of one body and sharers in His promise. As a servant and recipient of grace through the gospel, Paul preached the unsearchable riches of Christ to Gentiles. He also revealed God's manifold wisdom through the church to be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm according to His eternal purpose in Christ. Make this practical by approaching God in faith with freedom and confidence through suffering (Eph. 3:1-13).  Pray, serve and preach the gospel to transform the world. 

Trust God for the Impossible
Paul prayed for God's strength through His Spirit so Christ would live in their hearts through faith. He prayed they be rooted in love and have power together with all believers to grasp the full dimensions of Christ's love that surpassed knowledge being filled to the fullness of God. Paul  reminded them that He did immeasurably more than one could ask or imagine according to His power within them to glorify Christ in the church throughout all generations (Eph. 3:14-21).  Trust God for the impossible as you pray that Christ lives in your heart by faith, love and power.  

Bob Moffitt in his book, If Jesus Were Mayor: How Your Local Church Can Transform Your Community, wrote about five implications for local churches concerning kingdom mathematics:
1.  Local churches, even those with few members or few material resources, are not powerless
2.  It is dangerous for local churches to keep what they have for their own use
3.  When people outside the Kingdom receive help that was given sacrificially, the impact is far greater than if it comes from someone's surplus
4.  Churches need to teach their people to give so they are not robbed of the blessings God wants to give them
5.  Local churches should mirror the sacrificial giving of its people, not using resources only within the church but gladly and sacrificially investing them in service outside the church
6.  Churches must not be afraid, but have confidence in God, the multiplier

Where is God wanting you to risk by exercising faith in God to overcome the fear of losing the little you have?   


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Experiencing the Mighty Power of God in Your Life (Insights in NT)

12/22/2012

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"The deeper we are willing to enter into the death of self, the more shall we know of the mighty power of God, and the perfect blessedness of a perfect trust" (Andrew Murray). 

Believe God's grace and preach Christ's resurrection being accountable to mature believers as you confront the false law gospel, let the law reveal sin, receive the Holy Spirit, experience godly character and do good to all men.

Believe in God's Grace and Preach Christ's Resurrection
God who raised Jesus from the dead for the forgiveness of sins to rescue people from the present evil age sent Paul to preach grace and peace according to God's will and glory. Paul was astonished the Galatians quickly deserted God and Christ's grace by turning to a different gospel. Those who preached a perverted gospel should be eternally condemned. Paul would not be Christ's servant if he tried to please and win people's approval. Christ revealed the gospel to Paul. It did not originate or was taught by men. Paul persecuted and tried zealously to destroy the church of God while advancing in Judaism. God set him apart from birth and revealed His Son through grace so He could preach Christ among the Gentiles. Instead of consulting the apostles in Jerusalem, he went immediately to Arabia and later returned to Damascus. After three years, he stayed fifteen days with Peter and saw James, the Lord's brother. The churches of Judea did not know Paul even though they heard he preached the faith he once tried to destroy (Gal. 1:1-24). Believe in God's grace and preach Christ's resurrection to forgive sins and rescue people from the world.

Be Accountable to Mature Believers
Fourteen years later, Paul took Barnabas and Titus to meet with the Jerusalem leaders in verifying that he preached a correct gospel. They ignored false brothers who wanted Titus to be circumcised as a Greek. In this way, the Galatians would understand the freedom and truth of the gospel. James, Peter and John added nothing to Paul's message to the Gentiles, but gave him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized God's grace among them. They agreed that Paul and his team should preach to the Gentiles and they to the Jews without forgetting the poor (Gal. 2:1-10). Be accountable to mature believers as confirmation that your ministry is on the right track. 

Confront the False Law Gospel 
Peter separated himself from eating with Gentiles after the circumcision group arrived. Other Jews and Barnabas were led astray by this hypocrisy. When Paul saw they did not act according to the truth of the gospel, he confronted Peter in front of everyone. Why would a Jew who lived liked a Gentile force them to follow Jewish customs. A man was proved a sinner because he could not be justified by observing the law but only by faith in Christ. Paul died to the law so he might live for God. Being crucified with Christ, he no longer lived, but Christ lived in him. He lived his life by faith in Christ who loved and gave Himself for him. Paul did not set aside God's grace because Christ died for sinners who never could be righteous through the law (Gal. 2:11-21). Confront the law gospel in example and words as you live by faith through Christ's grace.

Let the Law Reveal Sin 
Paul asked the Galatians who deceived them in thinking they could receive the Spirit by observing the law through human effort instead of believing in Christ. God gave the Spirit and worked miracles in response to believing in Christ, not following the law. For example, Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Those who believe as Gentiles were children of Abraham.  They were justified by their faith like Abraham in blessing all nations through him. Because no one could keep the law perfectly, Christ redeemed people from the curse of the Law by taking it upon Himself when was crucified. The blessing given to Abraham came to the Gentiles by faith in Christ through the promise of the Spirit. The Law came 430 years after Abraham even though it could not impart life because of man's sin. Scripture declared that the world was held as a prisoner of sin by the law until faith was revealed.  The law led people to Christ so they could be justified by faith and not under the law's supervision. People became sons of God through faith in Christ. Every race, occupation or gender became one and belonged to Christ as Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise (Gal. 3:1-29). Let the Law reveal sin and have faith in Christ to be made righteous.

Receive the Holy Spirit to Walk in Freedom 
Children and even slaves who owned the whole estate were still subject to guardians until the time set by their father. Believers were slaves to the basic principles of the world. However, God sent His Son, born of a woman under the law, to redeem those under law so they could receive their full rights of sons by the Holy Spirit in calling out "Abba, Father." The Galatians denied the joy of their inheritance as sons by becoming slaves in observing special days and months. Paul who felt the pains of childbirth until Christ was formed in them feared he wasted time in telling the truth. False teachers wanted to alienate the Galatians from him. Abraham had two sons, one born naturally (Ismael) by a slave woman, Hagar, and the other born as a result of promise (Isaac) by a free woman, Sarah. Hagar represented the Law and slavery. Sarah represented the covenant of promise and freedom. Ismael born in the ordinary way persecuted Isaac who was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture said to reject the slave woman's son since he would never share in the inheritance of the free woman's son. Therefore, be children of the free woman instead of the slave woman (Gal. 4:1-31). Receive the Holy Spirit to walk in freedom as God's son instead of slavery to the Law.

Experience Godly Character 
Standing firm in Christ's freedom prevented slavery's yoke. Those who became circumcised must obey the whole Law. Trying to be justified by Law alienated them from Christ and His grace. Faith through the Holy Spirit produced righteousness. In Christ, neither the act of circumcision nor uncircumcision had value, but faith expressing itself through love. Those who preached circumcision caused confusion like yeast spreading itself through the whole batch of dough. Freedom gave no license for indulging the flesh, but serving one another in love. Loving your neighbor as yourself summarized the Law to prevent people from biting, devouring and destroying one another. Those who lived by the Spirit inherited the kingdom of God and prevented fleshly desires like sexual immorality, impurity, party spirit, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and orgies. The fruit of the Spirit was love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control without Law. Those who belonged to Christ crucified the flesh with its passions while keeping in step with the Spirit without conceit or provoking and envying each other (Gal. 5:1-26). Experience godly character through the power of the Holy Spirit as you serve others in love. 

Do Good and Bless All Men
Spiritual people watch themselves to stop temptation so  they can gently restore people caught in sin. Carry each other burdens to fulfill the law of Christ. Deception occurred when anyone thought he was something when he was nothing. Each should carry his own load and not compare himself to others. Those who received instruction in the word must share financially with the teacher. God cannot be mocked since men reap what they sow. He who sowed to please his flesh reaped destruction and the one who sowed to please the Spirit reaped eternal life. Doing good to everybody, especially believers, at every opportunity, reaped a harvest at the proper time. Those who boasted about their flesh by compelling  circumcision desired a good outward impression and avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.  In contrast, Paul boasted in the cross through which the world was crucified to him and he to the world. Works like circumcision or uncircumcision meant nothing compared to the new creation that produced peace and mercy (Gal. 6:1-18). Do good and bless all men spiritually, emotionally, financially and physically as you have opportunity.

Do you believe in God's grace?
Do you preach Christ's resurrection?
Are you accountable to mature believers?
Do you confront the false law gospel?
Do you let the law reveal sin in your life?
Do you receive the Holy Spirit moment by moment?
Do you experience godly character as you trust the Holy Spirit? 
Do you bless all men making the most of the opportunity? 




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Pray in God's Name for Others and Then Watch (Insights in Psalms)

11/14/2012

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"Notice carefully every word here. It is not our prayer which draws Jesus into our hearts. Nor is it our prayer which moves Jesus to come in to us. All He needs is access. He enters in of His own accord, because He desires to come in. To pray is nothing more involved than to let Jesus into our needs, and permitting Him to exercise His own power in dealing with them. And that requires no strength. It is only a question of our wills. Will we give Jesus access to our needs?" (Ole Kristian O. Hallesby)

When Job prayed in God's name (power, wisdom, justice, rulership and grace) for his three friends, he experienced blessings in all areas of his life.  

God's Power

The Lord asked Job where he was when He laid the earth's foundations, marked off its dimensions and stopped its waves. God gave orders to the morning by showing light. Had Job walked in the recesses of the deep, seen the gates of the shadow of death and comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Had he seen the storehouses of snow and hail, the place where lightning was dispersed and the places where  the east winds were scattered over the earth? Could Job bring forth the constellations in their seasons and set up God's dominion over the earth? Did he endow the heart with wisdom and give understanding to the mind? Did he provide food for the raven when its young cried out to God? (Job 38:1-41). God's power created everything without peoples' involvement. 

God's Wisdom
Did Job know when the mountain goats gave birth? God gave the wild donkey the wasteland as his home. The wild ox did not serve Job. God did not give wisdom to the ostrich that treated her young harshly. God gave strength to a horse and clothed his neck with a flowing mane. Did the hawk take flight by Job's wisdom? Did the eagle soar at his command and build his next on high? (Job 39:1-30). God's wisdom directed his creation at His command.

God's Justice
Job admitted his unworthiness when God said he was incapable of correcting Him. The Lord spoke to Job out of the storm asking if he would discredit His justice and condemn God to justify himself. If Job had power like God, he should clothe himself with honor and majesty. If Job could humble every proud man and crush the wicked, then he could save himself. The elephant ranked first among God's works and provided protection and  everything that it needed (Job 40:1-24). God's justice in crushing wickedness proves that people cannot save themselves.

God's Ruleship
Can Job catch a crocodile with a fishhook? Any hope of subduing the animal was false. No one could stand against God since everything belonged to Him. He made the crocodile with strength, graceful form and a chest hard as rock. The mighty were terrified when he rose up and retreated before his thrashing. The sword and club were like straw and had no effect. This creature was king over all that were proud (Job 41:1-34). God's ruleship involved animals that displayed kingship over the prideful. 

God's Grace
Job realized that God could do all things since no plan of His could be thwarted. Job spoke of things he did not understand but later repented in dust and ashes. After speaking to Job, God told Eliphaz that he was angry with him and his two friends because they did speak correctly concerning Him like Job. They took seven bulls and seven rams to sacrifice a burnt offering before Job. God accepted Job's prayer  and did not deal with them according to their folly (Job 42:1-9). God's grace allows Him to forgive sinners while accomplishing His plans. 

God's Blessings
After Job prayed for his friends, the Lord gave him twice as much as he had before. His family and friends ate in his house while comforting and consoling Job. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first with may sheep, camels, oxen and donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters. No women were as beautiful as Job's daughters and he granted his children an inheritance. He saw his descendants to the fourth generation (Job 42:10-17). Respond to God's attributes by praying for those who wrong you to experience His blessings in all areas of life. 

Pray in God's name (power, wisdom, justice, rulership and grace) for the needs of others and then watch what He will do to impart His blessings to you. 


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How to Become a Peacemaker (Insights in Law)

11/4/2012

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"Empower me to be a bold participant, rather than a timid saint in waiting; to exercise authority of honesty, rather than to defer to power or deceive to get it; to influence someone for justice, rather than impress anyone for gain; and by grace, to find treasures of joy, of friendship, of peace hidden in the fields you give me daily to plow" (Ted Loder). 

In Deut. 19-22, you discover how men and women walk closely with God so they can be a peacemaker in settling disputes and controversies between people. They protect the innocent, discipline evildoers, discover truth through the testimony of two or three witnesses, penalize false witnesses, pursue simplicity in their relationship with Christ, communicate grace and truth, value others and choose sexual purity.

Matt. 5:9 says, "Blesses are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." It is one of the Beatitudes in the Sermon On The Mount. 

Protect Innocent 
When the Lord destroyed nations, drove them out and settled in the land He gave, they set aside three cities centrally located. Anyone who killed a man unintentionally went there for protection from revenge so innocent blood would not be shed to prevent bloodguiltiness. If a man hated and killed his neighbor, the elders would hand him over to the avengers of blood to die. They purged the guilt of shedding innocent blood so it would go well with them (Deut. 19:1-13). Protect innocent parties and discipline evildoers to purge the guilt of shedding innocent blood.

Discover Truth
Do not move a neighbor’s boundary stone that ancestors set. A single witness was not enough to convict a man accused of any crime. The matter was established by two or three witnesses. They penalized a false witness by doing what the judge intended to do to his brother. This would purge evil so other people would hear and be afraid. They showed no pity but life for a life, eye for a eye, tooth for a tooth (Deut. 19:14-21). Discover truth through testimony of two or three witnesses and penalize false witnesses to deter future crimes.

Pursue Simplicity

God commanded Israel to not fear when they fought  enemies and saw horses, chariots and an army greater than them. The Lord was with them when He brought them out Egypt to fight against their enemies and give them victory. If a man built a new house, planted a vineyard without enjoying it, pledged to marry a woman, they should go home to prevent dying in battle. If any men was afraid or fainthearted, they were sent home so their brothers would not be disheartened. If people accepted terms of peace after being attacked, they subjected everyone to forced labor. If they refused to make peace, they killed the men and took the women, children and livestock as plunder. They destroyed idolatrous people to stop teaching in worshiping their gods causing sin. When they laid siege to a city for a long time, they saved the trees for food. Non-fruit trees were cut down to build siege works until it fell (Deut. 20:1-20).  Reject fear, avoid distractions, destroy idolatry and use assets when praying against evil forces that have greater resources.

Communicate Grace and Truth

When the killer was unknown, the elders in the nearest town broke an unworked heifer's neck and washed their hands over the animal saying they had not shed blood or saw it done. They forgave Israel whom God redeemed without holding His people guilty of the innocent man's blood to purge the guilt of shedding innocent blood. A woman from the spoils of victory could be taken as a wife after she mourned her father and mother for a month. If a husband was displeased with her, she could leave and not be  treated as a slave. An unloved wife's firstborn son received a double share. All the men of a city stoned a rebellious son to death to remove evil so Israel would hear and be afraid. Anyone who hung on a tree for capital offense was under God’s curse. His body was buried the same day to not desecrate the land God gave as an inheritance (Deut. 21:10-23). Communicate grace and truth to remove evil and guilt so God's people fear and obey Him.

Value Others
A brother’s animal was taken back to its owner if it strayed. Women and men did not wear the opposite gender’s clothes since it was an abomination to God. A mother was not taken from a bird’s nest but the young could be taken so it would go well for them in prolonging their days. They made a parapet for the roof of a house to stop the guilt of bloodshed if someone fell from it. They did not plant two kinds of seed in a vineyard since it would defile its fruit. They did not  plow with an ox and donkey yoked together and wear clothes of wool and linen woven together (Deut. 22:1-12). Value others by protecting their property, maintaining gender distinctions, initiating safety and promoting productivity. 

Choose Sexual Purity

The elders fined a husband 100 shekels of silver and gave it to the wife’s father for falsely accusing his wife of not being a virgin. If the charge was true and the girl was not a virgin, then men of the city stoned her to death since she was promiscuous in order to purge evil from among them. If a man slept with a married woman, then both died to purge evil from Israel. If an engaged woman did not cry out when a man slept with her, then both were stoned to death to purge evil from among  them. A man died if he raped a girl pledged to be married. He paid the girl's father 50 shekels if he raped a virgin not pledged to be married (Deut. 22:13-30). Choose sexual purity in relationships and punish false charges that harm reputations to purge evil from your midst. 

Ask God to develop the following characteristics in your life to equip you in becoming a peacemaker:
1. Protect innocent parties and discipline evildoers to purge the guilt of shedding innocent blood
2. Discover truth through testimony of two or three witnesses and penalize false witnesses to deter future crimes

3. Reject fear, avoid distractions, destroy idolatry and use assets when praying against evil forces that have greater resources
4. Communicate grace and truth to remove evil and guilt so God's people fear and obey Him
5. Value others by protecting their property, maintaining gender distinctions, initiating safety and promoting productivity
6. Choose sexual purity in relationships and punish false charges that harm reputations to purge evil from your midst 




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God's Operation of Grace in Salvation and Evangelism (Insights in NT)

8/30/2012

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 "If the church would only awaken to her responsibility of intercession, we could well evangelize the world in a short time. It is not God's plan that the world be merely evangelized ultimately. It should be evangelized in every generation. There should be a constant gospel witness in every corner of the world so that no sinner need close his eyes in death without hearing the gospel, the good news of salvation through Christ" (T. S. Hegre).


Apostle Paul had this kind of heart for Israel and explained God's operation of grace in salvation and evangelism. 

God Chooses His Children Based on Grace, Not Works
Paul had great sorrow in his heart for Israel who were cut off from Christ  even though they received divine glory, covenants, law, temple worship, the promises and patriarchs that traced Christ's lineage. Natural children were not descended from Israel or regarded as Abraham's children, but children of the promise became God's children. The word of promise states a specific time for Sarah to have a son and Rebekah conceiving twins through Isaac. Before the twins had done anything good or bad so God's purpose and choice might stand, not because of works but because of His calling, Scripture said, "The older will serve the younger." It was written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (Rom. 9:1-13). God chooses who becomes His children based on grace according to His purpose, not based upon works.

God Shows Mercy to Display His Power and Proclaim His Name in the World
God is not unjust and said to Moses that He would have mercy and compassion on whom He desired, not dependent on man's desire or effort. Moses as revealed in Scripture said to Pharaoh that God raised him up to display His power so His name would be proclaimed in all the earth. God shows mercy and hardens whom He desires (Rom. 9:14-18). God shows mercy and hardens whom He desires to display His power and proclaim His name in the world.  

God Prepares Objects of Mercy As Sons to Experience His Rich Glory
Why does God still cast blame since no one can resist His will? The reason is that no one can talk back to God. He made us like a potter with one vessel for noble purposes and others for common use. God demonstrated His wrath and made His power known by enduring patiently with objects of wrath prepared for destruction. Then the riches of His glory could be made known to objects of His mercy prepared in advance for glory like us whom He called from among the Jews and Gentiles. In Hosea He called those "who were not My people, My people, and her who was not beloved, 'beloved."' Those not His people would be called the sons of the living God. Isaiah said only the remnant would be saved among the vast number of Israelites. The Lord would execute His word thoroughly and quickly upon the earth so we would not be like Sodom and Gomorrah (Rom. 9:19-29). God prepares objects of mercy as sons to experience rich glory and objects of wrath to experience destruction.

People Attain Righteousness without Shame by Believing in Christ
Gentiles attained righteousness through faith even though they did not pursue it. Israel pursued a law of righteousness by works but did not attain it. They stumbled over Christ, the stumbling stone, which causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. He who believes in Him will be unashamed (Rom. 9:30-33). People attain righteousness without shame by believing in Christ.

People Experience Lordship of Christ and Freedom from Law by Calling upon the Lord
Paul prayed earnestly for Israel's salvation realizing their zeal for God without knowledge. They tried to establish their own righteousness without submitting to God's righteousness. Christ ends the law so everyone who believes may have righteousness. He who practices righteousness by the law lives by that righteousness. Obtaining righteousness by faith means the word is in your mouth and heart, namely the word of faith we proclaimed. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. You are justified by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth so you can be saved. Anyone who believes in Him will be unashamed. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. To call upon the Lord, you must first believe. To believe, you must hear. To hear, you must have someone preaching the word to you. Someone must send the preacher as Isaiah says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Rom. 10:1-15). People experience the Lordship of Christ and freedom from the law by believing and calling upon the name of the Lord.

God Sends His Word to the Whole World so People Hear and Believe Christ
Not all the Israelites believed the good news. Faith comes from hearing the message of God's word. The word went out to the whole world so no one could say they had not heard. Moses said Israel would be made jealous by a nation without understanding. Isaiah said those who did not seek Christ found Him and God revealed Himself to those who did not ask for Him. He told Israel that He was available to a disobedient and obstinate people (Rom. 10:16-21). God sends His word to the whole world so people can hear and believe in Christ. 

Review the following truths on God's operation of grace in salvation and evangelism from Rom. 9-10:

1.   God chooses you to be His child, not based upon works 

2.   God shows mercy to display His power and proclamation  

3.   God prepares objects of mercy as sons to experience the riches of His glory  

4. People attain righteousness without shame by believing in Christ

5.   People experience the Lordship of Christ and freedom from the law by believing and calling upon the name of the Lord

6. God sends His word to the whole world so people can hear and believe in Christ  

How do these truths encourage you? What difference do they make in understanding grace versus works? How do they affect your attitude about evangelism?



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Focus By Grace on Your Identity in Christ (Insights in NT)

8/14/2012

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"Suppose someone should offer me a plateful of crumbs after I had eaten a T-bone steak. I would say, "No, thank you. I am already satisfied." Christian, that is the secret - you can be so filled with the things of Christ, so enamoured with the things of God that you do not have time for the sinful pleasures of the world " (Billy Graham).

Focusing by grace on your identity in Christ through His death, burial and resurrection is the key to living the Christian life.

Should you keep on sinning so grace increases? Absolutely not! How can you live in sin by already dying to it? Those who were baptized (identified) into Christ were also identified into His death. You were buried with Him through baptism into death so when Christ was raised from the dead, you also may live a new life. You were united with Him in both His death and resurrection. Your old self was crucified with Him so your body of sin might be rendered powerless. As a result, you should no longer be a slave to sin. Because a dead person is freed from sin, believe that you live with Him. Christ's resurrection proves that death is no longer master over Him. In the same way, consider yourself dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:1-11). Consider yourself dead to sin but alive to God by identifying with Christ's death and resurrection.


Therefore do not let sin reign in your body so you obey its lusts. Do not offer the various parts of your body as instruments of unrighteousness, but offer the parts of your body to God as alive from the dead and as instruments of righteousness. Sin will not master you because you are under grace, not law (Rom. 6:12-14). Deny lusts and offer up the members of your body as alive to be instruments of righteousness under grace.  

Do not excuse sinning because you are under grace instead of law. You are slaves to the one you obey--either slaves of sin leading to death or slaves of obedience leading to righteousness. You became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching you were committed. Being freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness by presenting the parts of your body to righteousness resulting in holiness. You reaped no benefit being a slave to sin and death. Being freed from sin and enslaved to God, you reap holiness and eternal life. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:15-23). Become a slave of obedience to God leading to righteousness, holiness and eternal life. 

The law has authority over a man while he is alive. A woman is not an adulteress if she marries another man after her first husband dies. You died to the Law through the body of Christ so you could belong to Him who was raised from the dead to bear fruit to God. Sinful passions aroused by the Law bore fruit for death. Being released from the Law and the written code, you serve in the newness of the Spirit (Rom. 7:1-6). Die to the Law through Christ's body in order to serve in the Spirit. 

The Law is not sin! You could not know sin except through the Law. If the Law had not said, "You shall not covet," you would not know about coveting. Sin became alive by taking opportunity through the commandment to produce coveting of every kind resulting in death. For apart from the law, sin is dead. The Law and commandment is holy, righteous and good, but sin taking opportunity through the Law deceived you (Rom. 7:7-13). Understand sin through the Law and how it comes alive to deceive you into death. 

The Law is spiritual but I am of flesh sold as a slave to sin. I don't understand what I do. I do not do want I want. I do the evil I hate. I agree the Law is good but nothing good lives in me or my flesh. I cannot carry out my desire to do good. I do the evil I do not want to do because of sin living in me. My inner being delights in God's law, but the law of sin wages war against my mind and the members of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will set me free from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. My mind serves the law of God, but my flesh the law of sin (Rom. 7:14-25).  Set your flesh and mind free from being a slave of sin through Jesus Christ.

Review these truths concerning your identity in Christ:
1. Consider yourself dead to sin but alive to God by identifying with Christ's death and resurrection.
2. Deny lusts and offer up the members of your body as alive to be instruments of righteousness under grace.    
3. Become a slave of obedience to God leading to righteousness, holiness and eternal life.  
4. Die to the Law through Christ's body in order to serve in the Spirit. 
5. 
Understand sin through the Law and how it comes alive to deceive you into death.  
6. 
Set your flesh and mind free from being a slave of sin through Jesus Christ.

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    Mark Pomeroy

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    My goal is to ignite the hearts of people by explaining God's word in the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament consecutively, much like the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32,44). I have been a missionary in Lincoln, NE, for 13 years with Christ For the City Int. and Sync with God.
     

    Sync with God is a highly versatile web app that hosts on-demand, virtual small groups. Sync is designed to connect young seekers in the faith and scripturally-trained mentors, even globally. It offers a safe, engaging interface for Millennials/Gen. Z and is readily adaptable to technical advances well into the future.

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    Influence
    Infrastructure
    Initiative
    Injustice
    Insight
    Inspire
    Instruction
    Insubordination
    Insults
    Integrity
    Integrity Tests
    Intellectual Faith
    Intercession
    Internal
    Interpersonal
    Intimacy
    Intimidation
    Invest
    Isaiah
    Isolation
    James
    Jealousy
    Jeremiah
    Jesus
    Job
    Joel
    John
    Jonah
    Joshua
    Joy
    Jude
    Judges
    Judgment
    Judgment Seat Of Christ
    Judicial System
    Justice
    Kindness
    King
    Kingdom
    Kingdom Dominion
    Kingdom Impact
    Kingdom Ministry
    Kingdom Mission
    Kingdom Of God
    Kingdom Opportunities
    Kingdom Strategies
    Kingdom Work
    Kingship
    Knowledge
    Know Your Heart
    Lack Of Love
    Lamentations
    Law
    Leadership
    Leadership Crisis
    Least Of These
    Legacy
    Legalism
    Leviticus
    Lies
    Life
    Lifestyle
    Listen
    Living Faith
    Living Water
    Longterm Impact
    Longterm Success
    Lord's Table
    Lose Life
    Loss
    Lost
    Love
    Loved
    Love Of Money
    Lovingkindness
    Luke
    Lukewarm
    Lust
    Majestic
    Make Disciples
    Making Decisions
    Malachi
    Margin
    Mark
    Marketplace
    Marriage
    Martyr
    Mask
    Materialism
    Matthew
    Meaninglessness
    Meditate
    Men Of Peace
    Mental Capacity
    Mentoring
    Mentors
    Mercy
    Micah
    Micromanage
    Mighty Deeds
    Mindset
    Ministry
    Ministry Plan
    Miracles
    Mission
    Mistreatment
    Mocking
    Model Cities
    Money
    Moral Purity
    Moral Relativism
    Motives
    Mourning
    Multiply Disciples
    Music
    Nahum
    Name
    Narrow Way
    Need
    Neediness
    Nehemiah
    Neighbor
    Neighborhood Ministry
    Network
    New Covenant
    New Hands
    New Heart
    New Heaven And New Earth
    New Mind
    New Testament
    New Wine
    Nt
    Numbers
    Nurture
    Obadiah
    Obedience
    Obey
    Object Lesson
    Obstacles
    Offend
    Offense
    Ogd
    Older Men And Women
    Opportunities
    Oppressed
    Organize
    Othercenteredness
    Outcomes
    Overcomer
    Over-confidence
    Pain
    Parenting
    Parents
    Participate
    Partner
    Partnership
    Passion
    Pathway
    Patience
    Peace
    Peacemaker
    Perceptiveness
    Performance
    Persecution
    Perseverance
    Persevere
    Persistent
    Personal Identity
    Perspective
    Persuasiveness
    Petition
    Phiippians
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Physical Needs
    Plagues
    Plans
    Pleasure
    Political Tyranny
    Poor
    Pornography
    Possessions
    Possess Territory
    Post
    Power
    Powerlessness
    Practice
    Pragmatism
    Praise
    Prayer
    Prayer Partners
    Prayer Walking
    Preach Gospel
    Preparation
    Presence
    Presence Of God
    Pressure
    Pride
    Priest
    Priorities
    Proclaim
    Prodigal
    Productivity
    Professionalism
    Profit
    Profiteering
    Promise
    Promise Land
    Promotion
    Prophecy
    Prophesy
    Prophets
    Prosperity
    Protection
    Proverbs
    Provision
    Psalm
    Psalms
    Purity
    Purpose
    Quarrel
    Questions
    Rationalism
    Rationalization
    Reality
    Real Living
    Rebellion
    Rebuild
    Reconcile
    Reconciliation
    Redemption
    Refresh Others
    Refuge
    Reign
    Rejection
    Rejoice
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Relief
    Religious System
    Repent
    Repentance
    Rescue
    Research
    Resources
    Responsibility
    Responsible
    Rest
    Restitution
    Restoration
    Restore
    Restoring Relationships
    Resurrection
    Revelation
    Revenge
    Revenue Stream
    Revival
    Revive
    Reward
    Riches
    Right
    Righteous
    Righteousness
    Right Living
    Ritual
    Romans
    Rule
    Ruth
    Sabbath
    Sacred Assembly
    Sacrificial
    Sacrificial Death
    Safety
    Salvation
    Sanctify
    Satan
    Satisfaction
    Satisfied
    Scroll Of Remembrance
    Second Coming
    Secular
    Security
    Self Confidence
    Selfishness
    Self-made Religion
    Self-righteousness
    Self Sufficient
    Self-sufficient
    Sent
    Servant Attitude
    Serve
    Service
    Sex
    Sexual Sin
    Shame
    Share Gospel
    Shepherd
    Significance
    Signs
    Simplicity
    Sin
    Sinfulness
    Single Minded
    Single-minded
    Skillful
    Skillful Workman
    Small Groups
    Social Justice
    Song Of Solomon
    Sound Doctrine
    Sovereignty
    Sow
    Sowing
    Sowing The Word
    Speak Tenderly
    Speak Truth
    Speech
    Sphere Of Influence
    Spiritual
    Spiritual Battle
    Spiritual Defenses
    Spiritual Discipline
    Spiritual Dryness
    Spiritual Enemies
    Spiritual Fruit
    Spiritual Gifts
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Harvest
    Spiritual Influence
    Spiritual Intimacy
    Spiritual Leadership
    Spiritual Leadership
    Spiritual Nourishment
    Spiritual Warfare
    Spiritual Warriors
    Spiritual Weapons
    Stability
    Stand In The Gap
    Status Quo
    Steal
    Stewardship
    Straightjacket
    Strategic Partnerships
    Strength
    Stress
    Strong
    Strongholds
    Structural Connections
    Struggles
    Study
    Submission
    Submit
    Success
    Suffering
    Supernatural
    Supernatural Transformation
    Supervision
    Surrender
    Sweet Spot
    Sync With God
    Take Up Cross
    Talents
    Teach
    Teachable
    Teaching
    Team
    Teamwork
    Technology
    Temptation
    Temptations
    Testimony
    Test Spirits
    Thanksgiving
    Theology
    Thinking
    Thirst
    Thirsty
    Throne
    Timing
    Titus
    Tongue
    Training
    Transform
    Transition
    Transparency
    Tree Of Life
    Trial
    Trials
    Tribulation
    True Justice
    True Self
    Trust
    Truth
    Unashamed
    Unbelief
    Unconditional Relationship
    Underdog
    Unforgiveness
    United Prayer
    Unity
    Vanity
    Victory
    Vindicator
    Vocation
    Volunteer Recruitment
    Volunteers
    Vows
    Wait
    Wait Patiently
    Walk
    Warfare
    Warning
    Wasted Life
    Water Of Life
    Weakness
    Wealth
    Well Being
    Well-being
    Wife
    Wisdom
    Witness
    Wonderful Counselor
    Word Of God
    Word Of Testimony
    Work
    Workaholic
    Work Environment
    Work Life Balance
    Workmen Of The Word
    Works
    World-changing Ministry
    Worldliness
    Worldly Advice
    Worldly Thinking
    World's Scorn
    Worship
    Worthless
    Wounds
    Wrath
    Young People
    Zeal
    Zechariah
    Zephaniah

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