WISDOM FROM THE PSALMS

Psalm 107: 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

Mabel made sure that children in her neighborhood got a better start than she had. Each day she would invite children into her home, and she would help them with their reading. She would labor long and hard with some, but she was determined that they would never have to face a life lived in darkness and ignorance. Illiteracy was a terrible kind of slavery that no one should suffer under. Mabel’s special ministry of love helped children in her area break free from the bonds of ignorance and led them into a bright and exciting light.

God has given us minds to use and wonderful technologies. There is no excuse for living in fear and darkness in our world today. He has liberated us from ignorance and has granted us knowledge and wisdom beyond measure. Take hold of the great gift of the mind, and thank God daily for it.

Prayer: Shed Your light upon my heart and mind, fath er, that I might know all that I can about You, Your creation, and Your will. Be the source of my understanding and my liberation. Amen

http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/wisdom-from-the-psalms/

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PERFECT IN HIS SIGHT

“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” – Romans 4:8

God has imputed His righteousness to every believer. That means that instead of your sin being on your account, it is His righteousness instead. Not only has He forgiven us. Not only has He covered our sins. But He gives us His righteousness.

I fail, but God will not impute that to me. If God were to impute sin to me, then when I fail I would be lost again. How much sin would it take to make me lost? Just one-half of one sin.

You see, I’m not going to heaven because I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. You’re not perfect. No one is perfect. But we have received Christ as our righteousness. And in His eyes, we are perfect.

Stop now and thank God for imputing to you His own righteousness.

 Pastor Adrian Rogers

www.lwf.org

http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/love-worth-finding-adrian-rogers/11676143/

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

JESUS’ BURIAL

When Pilate learned that Jesus was dead, he asked the soldiers if they  were certain. They were. Had they seen the Nazarene twitch, had they heard even  one moan, they would have broken his legs to speed his end. But there was no  need. The thrust of a spear removed all doubt. The Romans knew their job. And  their job was finished. They pried loose the nails, lowered his body, and gave  it to Joseph and Nicodemus.

Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus the Pharisee. They sat in seats of power  and bore positions of influence. Men of means and men of clout. But they  would’ve traded it all for one breath out of the body of Jesus. He had answered  the prayer of their hearts, the prayer for the Messiah. As much as the soldiers  wanted him dead, even more these men wanted him alive.

As they sponged the blood from his beard, don’t you know they listened  for his breath? As they wrapped the cloth around his hands, don’t you know they  hoped for a pulse? Don’t you know they searched for life?

But they didn’t find it. So they do with him what they were expected to  do with a dead man. They wrap his body in clean linen and place it in a tomb.  Joseph’s tomb. Roman guards are stationed to guard the corpse. And a Roman seal  is set on the rock of the tomb.

For three days, no one gets close to the grave. But then, Sunday arrives.  And with Sunday comes light—a light within the tomb. A bright light? A soft  light? Flashing? Hovering? We don’t know. But there was a light. For He is the  light. And with the light came life. Just as the darkness was banished, now the  decay is reversed. Heaven blows and Jesus breathes. His chest expands. Waxy lips  open. Wooden fingers lift. Heart valves swish and hinged joints  bend.

And, as we envision the moment, we stand in awe. We stand in awe not just  because of what we see, but because of what we know… We know that when Jesus was  raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again  will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but  alive he brings God down to us” (Rom. 6:5–9 MSG).

…..from When Christ Comes: The Beginning of the  Very Best Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1999) Max Lucado by way of Cup O’Cheer (cheer316@sc.rr.com) (Cupocheer316@yahoo.com) and“Christian  Voices”(www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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ROMANS 12:4-5 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY

Romans 12:4-5

Just as each of us has a one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Thoughts on today’s verse

One of the key realities of Christianity is belonging. I belong! I belong to God. I belong to Jesus. I belong to Jesus’ body the Church. I have a place and a purpose in that body. I belong!

Prayer:

Help me, Father, to find the place where I’m suppose to fit in your body. Until then, I pledge to try all sorts of ministries so that your Spirit, and not just my own preference, will guide me into your place for me to serve. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.’

heartlight.org

PHIL WARE

http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/heartlight-daily-verse-phil-ware/

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COEXIST

We have all seen the bumper sticker or logo that features all the religions of the world, and spells out the word, coexist.  This sounds like a wonderful, utopian idea. If only all the religions of the world could emphasize their similarities, and stop focusing on their differences, perhaps we could have peace and security right here on earth.  I believe the Holy Bible does give a picture of this happening, but the outcome is not what people will expect.  Many people see the year 2012 as the beginning of a New Age, a time when the world, perhaps through calamity at first,  will come to its senses and learn to get along. The world is at a precipice, the stage is set, and a perfect storm seems to be brewing.  If  the shaky peace in the middle east breaks down, and goes nuclear, and the house of cards that is the world financial system collapses, along with other major natural disasters, the world may be clamoring  to finally put its differences behind it, and try to  coexist.  A charismatic leader who emphasizes peace and coexistence, is ready to emerge. The Beatles wrote, Love is all you need, and many people would agree.   What might bring us all together? A doctrine of Love, and of working together to finally produce peace and happiness, right here on earth?

Is man truly capable of such a world?  A world of peace and coexistence?  And what would this New Age, one world religion look like? Will it be harsh and authoritarian, certainly not at first. I believe it will be as gentile as a dove, and appear to be full of goodness and truth.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

How can we possibly avoid such deception?  It will not be easy.

Mathew 24: 24-25 ²⁴ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.²⁵ Behold, I have told you before.

Here we have the Lord Jesus describing these false Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders, and Paul describes them as appearing as ministers of righteousness.  Jesus also added if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Paul tells us their end will be according to their work. I believe this is a major key in recognizing them. They will be preaching a false gospel of  salvation, for the planet now, and for individuals throughout eternity, of works.  This is why a Christian who holds to the truth that salvation comes only as a gift, through faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus on the cross, will be persecuted.  We will be pictured as part of the Old Age, that brought about such pain and suffering on the earth.  An age when religious differences brought about war and suffering. The world will be at peace  under this new religion, but it will not be a  genuine peace nor a lasting utopia.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 ² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.³ For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

The world will be at apparent peace and safety, and how could anyone not want to be on board, with such miraculous results?   Again those that are unable to see the light,  Satan himself  is transformed into an angel of light, must be dealt with.

John 16:1-3   1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.² They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.³ And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Revelations 6:9-11  ⁹ And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?¹¹ And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Before they would go so far as to put a backward Christian to death, this benevolent religious and political world power will give all a chance to show it allegiance to its wonderful rule of peace and prosperity.

Revelations 13: 11- 18   ¹¹ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.¹² And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.¹³ And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,¹⁴ And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.¹⁵ And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:¹⁷ And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.¹⁸ Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Verse 13-14 States again that this religious power will deceive them that dwell on the Earth through the miracles it performs. Verse 15 says all that would not worship the beast, true Christians,  should be killed. And finally the mark of the beast, would have to do with the number 666.

Exodus 31: ¹⁵ Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

We are in the sabbath day, Jesus has provided a rest for his people, those who believe  he has provided salvation through his finished work on the cross.  The world will be working out their own salvation, 666, work, work ,work.

Hebrews 4:10-11 ¹⁰ For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

God stated way back in Exodus that whosoever doeth any work on his sabbath , shall surely be put to death.  This will be the challenge we face.  This death is the second death, the death that those that fail to receive the greatest gift ever given will experience.  We may have to endure for a moment, the first death at the hands of the beast. But fear not little children.

Luke 21:16-19   ¹⁶ And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.¹⁷ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.¹⁸ But there shall not an hair of your head perish.¹⁹ In your patience possess ye your souls.

LEON MAIOLO

BIBLE INSIGHTS

http://savedbyfaithinchrist.wordpress.com/

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FAITH’S CHECKBOOK

Love and Seek True Wisdom “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).

Wisdom loves her lovers and seeks her seekers. He is already wise who seeks to be wise, and he has almost found wisdom who diligently seeks her. What is true of wisdom in general is specially true of wisdom embodied in our LORD Jesus. Him we are to love and to seek, and in return we shall enjoy His love and find Himself. Our business is to seek Jesus early in life. Happy are the young whose morning is spent with Jesus! It is never too soon to seek the LORD Jesus. Early seekers make certain finders. We should seek Him early by diligence. Thriving tradesmen are early risers, and thriving saints seek Jesus eagerly. Those who find Jesus to their enrichment give their hearts to seeking Him. We must seek Him first, and thus earliest. Above all things Jesus. Jesus first and nothing else even as a bad second. The blessing is that He will be found. He reveals Himself more and more clearly to our search…. Happy men who seek One who, when He is found, remains with them forever, a treasure growingly precious to their hearts and understandings. LORD Jesus, l have found Thee; be found of me to an unutterable degree of joyous satisfaction.

C . H. SPURGEON

http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/faiths-checkbook-ch-spurgeon/11551931/

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GOD’S MORNING MELODY

Exodus 22:6

If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

But what restitution can he make who casts abroad the fire-brands of error, or the coals of lasciviousness, and sets men’s souls on a blaze with the fire of hell? The guilt is beyond estimate, and the result is irretrievable. If such an offender be forgiven, what grief it will cause him in the retrospect, since he cannot undo the mischief which he has done! An ill example may kindle a flame which years of amended character cannot quench. To burn the food of man is bad enough, but how much worse to destroy the soul! It may be useful to us to reflect how far we may have been guilty in the past, and to enquire whether, even in the present, there may not be evil in us which has a tendency to bring damage to the souls of our relatives, friends, or neighbours. The fire of strife is a terrible evil when it breaks out in a Christian church. Where converts were multiplied, and God was glorified, jealousy and envy do the devil’s work most effectually. Where the golden grain was being housed, to reward the toil of the great Boaz, the fire of enmity comes in and leaves little else but smoke and a heap of blackness. Woe unto those by whom offences come. May they never come through us, for although we cannot make restitution, we shall certainly be the chief sufferers if we are the chief offenders. Those who feed the fire deserve just censure, but he who first kindles it is most to blame. Discord usually takes first hold upon the thorns; it is nurtured among the hypocrites and base professors in the church, and away it goes among the righteous, blown by the winds of hell, and no one knows where it may end. O Thou Lord and giver of peace, make us peacemakers, and never let us aid and abet the men of strife, or even unintentionally cause the least division among Thy people.

C. H. SPURGEON

http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/morning-and-evening-charles-spurgeon/

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

Divine Dissatisfaction

Something gnawing at you? Something that says, “There has got to be  more.” Something that says, “This cannot be all there is.” Something saying,  “Move out of your comfort zone.” It just might be what I call Divine  Dissatisfaction.
Divine Dissatisfaction is part of that “eternity in the  heart” that God has placed there to keep us growing, moving and changing. It is  a good thing. No, it is a great thing! If you have it, you keep hungering,  thirsting for more of God in your life. If you don’t have it, watch out, you  have stopped growing. You have stopped moving on to the next level with God. You  have stopped changing and transforming into all God has for you.
If we  are going to be men who lead, we must lead by continuing to embrace Divine  Dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction with the status quo, with the ho hum, with being religious and just getting by. We must stretch ourselves, take the next  challenge, reach out to a needy brother around us, open up our lives to do  whatever it is that God is saying to us to go deeper with Him.
I know,  for me, I am seeing a vision of God’s fullness, His abundance, His treasure  house stored up for me. I know He wants to bless me so that I might be a  blessing to others. I have Divine Dissatisfaction that says, “I want more of  Him.”
Men, we cannot stop where we are now. We cannot allow ourselves to  be satisfied with what we have attained. We must be men who press on for more of  God’s presence, more of His fullness in our lives. Psalm 18:33 says, “He makes  my feet like hinds feet, and sets me upon high places.” Divine Dissatisfaction  keeps us moving toward the higher places, never satisfied with where we are.  Divine Dissatisfaction keeps me hungering and thirsting for more. It was this  feeling that had me crying out for over two years, praying for a real friend to  share my life and help me walk out of the maze. It was this dissatisfaction that  had a man call me, also needing a true friend to see a fresh move of God in his  life.
Are you answering the call of this Divine Dissatisfaction? Do not  turn a deaf ear and dull this internal voice that calls you on to more of God.  Listen and answer the call, make the move, make the change, get out of your  comfort zone. This is where the adventure is. It is where the life of Christ is.  Call a brother today and tell him you are answering the  call.

…..Jim Lewis -  Men who Win (www.menwhowin.com) by way of  Keith Todd (ktodd@vci.net) and “Christian  Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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PROVERBS 16:2 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

– Proverbs 16:2 (NIV)

Today’s commentary

by Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

One of the metaphors for the Scripture is that of a mirror; when we look at God’s word, we are able to see our reflection more clearly. This proverb reminds us of what happens when we stop looking at that mirror, we forget what we really look like and can even deceive ourselves toward our actions! Pride, lust, and apathy can feel normal and unless we allow the Scripture to expose our ways, we will justify our behavior. We need more than a Bible study, we need our hearts to be transformed by the power of God’s word.

http://www.thedailybibleverse.org/bible-verse-all-a-persons-ways-seem-pure-to-them

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FUTILITY, VANITY OR BOTH?

Romans 1:21c

…but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

The King James Version translates the first part of our passage today, “Became vain in their imaginations…” So what is it, vanity or futility? I would venture Paul meant both. Futility means it’s a waste of time — pointless; while vanity deals with the reason — our own egotism, self importance, and arrogance.
The father of a friend of mine was a self-described agnostic. I once asked him what it meant exactly. He answered, “I haven’t made up my mind about God — I have no opinion.” But that didn’t stop him from engaging me in endless debates regarding the latest scientific discoveries which he considered further proof of his belief in evolution versus creation. You see he was a very open-minded individual on just about every subject except two — the existence of the Lord God Almighty and the authority of the Bible.
I don’t want to sound too harsh, but I have always felt our passage today described my friend’s father perfectly, “his thinking became futile and his foolish heart was darkened.” Or as the King James Version would say, “He became vain in his imagination.” He worshipped science and intellect — the imagination (KJV) or thinking (NIV) of man rather than the Creator. His self-professed wisdom became foolishness in God’s sight. 1 Corinthians 3:18-19, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a ‘fool’ so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”

My friend’s father died last year, so the debates we once enjoyed (yes, I found them stimulating and challenging) have ended. I guess he knows the truth now. Does my friend’s father sound like anyone you know? Don’t give up. I know it is hard and sometimes we are unsuccessful. However, we are fighting for lives. We would not be surprised to see a fireman enter a burning building to save a life — why should we not be willing to engage in conversations with friends and loved ones which can have eternal consequences?

THE POCKET TESTAMENT LEAGUE

The Pocket Testament League membercare@ptl.org

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