• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

I feel so angry often about most of the Insecurity preaching that I have received all my life.

On the other thing ...

I am fully secure in my salvation, but I won't deny that there are verses that seem to imply that one can lose their salvation.

I'm of the opinion from what i know of scripture that those of us that have truly come to salvation, by grace through faith, will be saved as He is committed to seeing us through, not because of our faithfulness, but because of his for He cannot deny Himself, or who He is.

There are also other scriptures that warn of certain behaviors and such, but then He says He's committed to seeing us through.

So I don't deny those scriptures, but i see them in light of what i intimately know of Him.

And fear just points back to us and makes us self-conscious. The law, fear, guilt and condemnation, self-consciousness are all intwined. We can't grow in Him that way. Only by looking to Him and getting that vision of Him by his Spirit through the finished work of Christ can we grow and move forward.
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Did Jesus love the Pharisees?

Mt 12:

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
This particular group of Pharisees accused Jesus of being the prince of demons.

34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Jesus had some harsh words with this group of Pharisees.

Did Jesus love the Pharisees?

Yes, in general. Matthew 5:

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee (Jn 3:1). He defended Jesus (Jn 7:50). He anointed Jesus' dead body (Jn 19:39).

Jesus dined with Pharisees (Luke 7:36)

Paul was a Pharisee. Jesus converted him and used him mightily.

Did Jesus love the Pharisees?

Yes, Jesus loved them enough to tell them the hard truth that they did not have the love of God in their hearts (Jn 5:42).

"Jesus is a Jew" vs "Jews killed Jesus" vs "God is (not) dead"

By Italians I don't mean people living in Italy. I mean people having the same genetics as people living in Italy. So I am trying to map the people in Biblical times to ethnic groups today. And ethnic group today corresponding to Romans is Italians.

In Soviet passports they put down "nationality" which means ethnicity rather than what it would mean in English. So they can put down Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Armenian, etc but they can also put Jewish. They regarded Jewish as nationality, not religion. Now, if they put Ukrainian or Belorussian or Armenian, it doesn't mean that person was born or ever lived in those republics. It just means the person carries that genetics. Similarly, Romans never lived in Italy since Italy didn't exist. But Roman genetic was Italian. And in fact Rome is a capital of modern day Italy.
LOL, so what?!?! what on earth is your point LOL!?!? In Jerusalem at that time, Romans present killed Yeshua. Those Romans were the gentiles He was handed over to and was crucified by them. Pilate was a Roman.
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'We Cannot Let This Go': House Republicans Rail Against The UN And World Health Organization

When there is another global pandemic, I believe that it will be with a virus that has not yet been identified to the public.
Agreed. And I'm worried it's going to be more lethal but too many folks will take too individualistic a mindset...
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Isaiah 28 Overflowing Scourge(denominationalism destroyed)

Christ rewards the scourging he took before the Cross by the religious system. Scourge begins at Isa 28:15-18
This Goes with the Isa 28 scourge

Daniel 9:24-27


Dan 9:24 KJV "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks (490 years) are determined upon your (Daniel) people (Jews) and upon your (Daniel) holy city (Jerusalem), (1) to finish the transgression, (2) and to make an end of sins, (3) and to make reconciliation for iniquity, (4) and to bring in everlasting righteousness, (5) and to seal up the vision (6) and prophecy, (7) and to anoint the most Holy (God).


Dan 9:25 KJV "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."

Dan 9:25a Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (Gen 4:15 seven fold mark on Cain parallel the Covenant with Judas Matt 26:15), and threescore and two weeks (69 weeks-483years):


Dan 9:25b the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times (from 1948 until the current date Age of Ignorance between 68th and 69th week).


Dan 9:26 KJV "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined."

Dan 9:26a And after threescore and two weeks (62 weeks=434 years) shall Messiah be cut off (John 19:30), but not for himself (Gentiles True Church Matt 16:13-20 Acts 20:28 Col 1:13-18 Heb 12:23 Deut 32:31,32):


Dan 9:26b and the people (Roman soldiers) of the prince (Roman General) that shall come shall destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (2nd Jewish Temple); Parallels Dan 11:40-45 the last 30 days of the 6th Trumpet


Dan 9:26c (68th week) and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war (Seal War) desolations are determined (Trumps and vials).


Dan 9:27 KJV "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

Dan 9:27 And he (man of sin) shall confirm the covenant (Rev 8:1-5) with many (10 kings Rev 13:2) for one week (seven years): and in the midst (three and a half years) of the week he (man of sin) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (Matt 24:15 Mark 13:14 2Thess 2:3,4 Rev 13:6,7), and for the overspreading of abominations (trumps and vials) he (man of sin) shall make it (3rd Jewish Temple Rev 11:1,2) desolate, even until the consummation (finish 7th Vial), and that determined shall be poured (vials) upon the desolate (Rev 13:14-18 those receiving the mark).

The Different Times

  1. Dan 9:24 70 weeks=490 years
  2. Dan 9:25 – 69 week=483 years
  3. Dan 9:26 62 weeks=434 years from the 70 weeks leaving 8 weeks=56 years
  • Dan 9:26 6 weeks or 42 years (from murder of Jesus to the destruction of the 2nd Jewish Temple) leaving 1 week or 7 years for the scourge period
  • Dan 9:27 1week=7 years that is the tribulation leaving 7 weeks=49 years remaining
  1. Dan 9:27 01 week=7 years that is the Seven Year Tribulation.
  • Deduct 01 week or 7 years from the 70 weeks or 490 years this leaves 483 years
    • Dan 9:27 in the midst of the week=3 ½ years

AD 70 is the destruction of 2nd Jewish Temple

  1. Jesus Born AD 5 (guess) Jesus murdered AD 28 (guess) = 33 years
  2. AD70 - AD28 = 42 years + 7 year scourge =49 years, from his death AD28 to destruction of the temple 42 years putting the time at 70AD.
  3. The 62 weeks or 434 years ends with the murder of Jesus. The 63rd week starts with Jesus yielding up the Holy Ghost and continues until the 68th week ends with the destruction of the 2nd Jewish Temple in AD70, this time period equals 42 years or 6 weeks.
  4. This leaves 2 weeks the 69th and 70th weeks or fourteen years. Which are the 69th week or 7 years identifying 1 week or 7 years for the Scourge and 1 week or 7 years for the 7-year tribulation.

From AD 28 we entered the Age of Ignorance and remain in it to this present day, 9-16-2024 we are between the 68th week and the 69th week, we are not between the 69th and 70th week!
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White House urged to 'cease and desist' social media 'suppression campaigns' after Zuckerberg letter

Why is the ridiculous whining of billionaire tech bros like Zuckerberg et al. listened to by anyone, of any rank or political persuasion? I'm so tired of these robotic, barely human, utterly amoral nerds having the ear of anyone in government or society more generally. Zuckerberg, Musk, Thiel, etc. Go away, and take your Cambridge-Analytica scandals and tweets in favor of the "great replacement" conspiracy theory with you. "Social media" should have never progressed to this point. It's just pseudo-informational fentanyl for the dullest and/or least mentally fit members of your family and community to get dangerously high on, as they impulsively share LATEST BAD THING! without even bothering to check its veracity first (something which most people don't even know how to do, it seems; if they did, things like "the Haitians are eating our cats" wouldn't be a national political talking point; alas, we are apparently fated to live in the stupidest possible timeline).

And yes, I am aware of the silliness of voicing this particular opinion on a social media website. I don't know what to say to that other than that if you think that description fits this place as well, congratulations: you are me. I thought I was already me, but apparently not.
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To Be Seen, Or To See?

“For he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:17). If you compare this with an expression Genesis 16, the force of both is made much more distinct. “And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after Him that seeth me” (v 13). In the one case Moses saw God; in the other, although Hagar looks after Him, it was God that saw her. We are apt in everything to look at the lower end of the truth, to content ourselves with the scantiest portion that can sustain us.

Now Hagar did not really go beyond this. She was the bondwoman: she knew nothing whatever of the liberty of grace. She might look after God, but what she reached was this, “Thou God seest me.” The simple consciousness that God sees us never goes beyond the knowledge either that He is a Judge noticing our ways to deal with them, or at most, that He is a guardian to protect in the hour of difficulty and danger. But love, liberty, rest and joy in God are hardly known through the bare truth that God sees us.

No one denies it to be a truth; but what must be maintained is that, as believers, we are entitled to the further and more precious privilege of seeing our Father, of “seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:27). This was, in the principle of it, what sustained the heart of Moses. Hagar did not endure—she ran away. It was the bondage of the law that was set forth by her (Gal 4:24). Now the law does bring this out—this is to say, God seeing men, God occupying Himself with man, God dealing with man, God judging men, yet God, it may be, showing mercy to man, as we see in Exodus 34. But communion and fellowship with the Father there never is nor can be, until there is the consciousness that grace reigns.

Not that the law is weakened, dissolved or destroyed; not that its authority is even touched (the Law was never destroyed, but fulfilled by Christ, then “taken away” - Heb 10:9. The Old Covenant was the Law, esp. the Pentateuch—NC). It is not so that our Father brings us into the position of liberty, that would be to set the way of God against His sovereign grace. But the recreated believer is brought out of the region where law applies—out of the scene of death, darkness and bondage, into the place of light (though the law was death to unbelievers in God, the believers were saved—NC): he is brought to his Father. There is no law in His presence (Gal 5:23). Law dealt with the flesh of the world (in providing the knowledge of God’s will to man concerning the sin nature or “old man, i.e. “flesh”—NC). If I am in the place the flesh and of the world, I must be under law or I shall be lawless (lawless, i.e. without God’s guidance of the Law - 1Ti 1:9—NC).

The believer is neither that one nor the other; but he is brought into peace, by the grace of God, unto God. He endures, not because God sees him, but because he sees the Father. He endures, he knows his Father in the Lord Jesus, he has His presence, for he knows Him whom He has sent, and ‘herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1Jo 4:10). This is what He has done and what the law could not do, for it has not propitiation to give. It may demand, but it has nothing to give: it waits to receive the deeds, alas of darkness, of fear and feebleness; it can only receive whatever a poor man’s conscience may offer, trying to make its peace with God (Heb 7:19).

But grace makes the peace by a gift of His own love, gives the eternal peace that it has made through the Blood of Christ’s Cross, and brings into the consciousness the love of Him who has suffered all for us (all rise but not all ascend—NC). Therefore, instead of our being afraid of Him and avoiding Him, endurance is the word for us. This is the portion of the believer, this is what characterizes him. The law dealt with a man as long as he lived. We begin with the confession that we have died, and now we live in eternal life. There is no uncertainty here: whatever may be the practical testimony we bear to Him, there is no weakness nor failure in Him “who is our Life” (Col 3:4). There is endurance, because for us it is “as seeing Him who is invisible.”


—William Kelly (1821-1906)






MJS daily devotional excerpt for September 20

"Sufferings are for chastening (child-training). And chastening is from love, a token of our Father’s care. We live in a world full of trial and suffering. Many of the Lord’s people have complained that their circumstances were too unfavorable for a life of full devotion, of close fellowship with Him, or pressing on to maturity. The duties and difficulties, the cares and troubles of life, render it practically impossible, they say, to live a fully consecrated life.

"Would God that they might learn the lesson of His Word! Every trial comes from the Father as a call to come away from the world to Him, to trust Him, to believe in His love. In every trial He will give strength and blessing. Let but this truth be accepted, in each trial, small or great; first of all and at once, recognize the Father’s hand in it. Say at once, I welcome it from Him; my first care is to glorify my Father—He will use it all for my good.”—James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)

Buying a corvette is wrong?

I go back to my belief that humility is being able to buy the best but denying ourselves of it and going with something in the middle. Buying brand new high dollar vehicles when the average person buys 45k+ mile vehicles goes against what humility and meekness is.
The equipment, no they are his personal use equipment. I am not able to afford to rent the equipment.

You're right here.

An alternative scenario. If you bought a brand new vehicle and intend to use it for at least 20 years, putting over 100k miles on it would that be humility too?

It isn't like you're buying a brand new vehicle every 5 years but only every 20 years or even more.
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Prayers for a Spiritual Seeker

Greetings to all! My church has begun a program called Alpha, which is designed for all Christians, and even non-Christians who are just exploring spirituality. Yesterday, we had one such non-Christian come, who said she wasn't a believer, but wanted more spiritual friends, and was very engaged in our discussions about Jesus.

Alpha is based on learning a little about Christianity, and small group discussions. I was pleased by how welcoming my small group was when I joined, and now even more welcoming of this seeker who came yesterday. This is an exciting time, to see someone opening herself up to Christ, and being accepted by Christians without passing judgement on her. I just want to pray for her soul, for all her friends (said most of her friends are hard-line atheist or agnostic), and for my small group, that we continue to be a welcoming presence for all who seek Christ & community. :)
Alpha is a great program for new believers and seekers. We had it running through our local churches a few years ago and it's still active tody.
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reach and teach devotions

ACTS 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.


DYNAMIC WITNESSING


We saw in the first devotion, that we aren't to be worried about when Jesus will come. It's interesting that Jesus hasn't even ascended back to heaven and the disciples are trying to find out when He is returning.


What is the key word here? It is BUT!


Jesus recommissions the disciples. Remember in Matthew 28, He said all power is given in heaven and earth to Him, and now that power was to be given to the Apostles and Disciples.


What would of happened if the disciples had gone directly to the temple and started preaching? Nothing would of happened, because the Holy Spirit wasn't given to them yet!

It's great to look into the Greek here. "Power" is the word dunamis, which is where we get the English word, dynamite. Remember, that we don't just have a message that is powerful, but one that is ABSOLUTE DYNAMITE! A message that shatters nations and empires.


The second Greek word is maturos. This is the word for "witnesses." We get our English word, martyr from this; nearly all the twelve disciples became martrys, all except John.


God had a plan: first the Jews, then Samaria and then the Gentiles. God knows what He's doing and we have to follow His leading.


Notice also that the power was personal, "ye shall receive power," that is still the case today. We have the same power, that dunamis living inside of us. Why is it living inside of us? Because we are to be bold witnesses for Christ; we are to do the same things as the disciples did! They said they were there to tell what they had seen and heard Jesus do. It is our purpose to tell what Jesus has done in our lives.


May we be witnesses just like the disciples were to all Jesus said and did…Amen.


Filled with dynamic power.


GOD BLESS YOU

Chapter 1 verse 8


8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


IT IS FOR US


This is surely one of the most amazing promises in the whole bible, but so often we think that it was a special anointing that was just for the disciples, it applied for them, but it doesn't apply to us.. now.


But it is truly for us, it for us., right here and now in the 21st century.


The promise still rings true, the same dynamic power that was given to the disciples back in first century Palestine is still available to us, right here and right now.


The promise of power is the same and the commission to reach the world is still the same, some of you will witness in your own backyard, some further afield and some go to the uttermost ends of the earth, wherever you share the gospel, the urgency still stands.


The call to be his witnesses is still the same, you have the Living holy spirit inside of you.


Are you being a witness for him, wherever you are?


God bless you


Keith




THE BOTTOM LINE


TBL China – The Bottom Line, Ministries



LISTEN TO


Evangelism Part 1
1:05:57Emeal (E.Z.) Zwayne18/10/13200+
BIBLE CHURCH OF OWASSO - Men's Ministry

Evangelism Part 1


Evangelism Part 2
1:05:37Emeal (E.Z.) Zwayne18/10/13200+
BIBLE CHURCH OF OWASSO - Men's Ministry


Evangelism Part 2


Genesis: The Key to Reclaiming the Culture1

Ken Ham


Answers in Genesis Ministries

Genesis: The Key to Reclaiming the Culture
Genesis: The Key to Reclaiming the Culture
Ken Ham | Answers in Genesis Ministries
www.sermonaudio.com

Ezekiel 37(CJB) "Make them Y'hudah&Efrayim a Single Stick", How to Realize?

Ezekiel 37(CJB)​


15 The word of ADONAI came to me:
16 "You, human being, take one stick and write on it, 'For Y'hudah and those joined with him [among] the people of Isra'el.' Next, take another stick and write on it, 'For Yosef, the stick of Efrayim, and all the house of Isra'el who are joined with him.'
17 Finally, bring them together into a single stick, so that they become one in your hand.
18 When your people ask you what all this means,
19 tell them that Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'I will take the stick of Yosef, which is in the hand of Efrayim, together with the tribes of Isra'el who are joined with him, and put them together with the stick of Y'hudah and make them a single stick, so that they become one in my hand.'
20 The sticks on which you write are to be in your hand as they watch.
21 Then say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says: 'I will take the people of Isra'el from among the nations where they have gone and gather them from every side and bring them back to their own land.
22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Isra'el; and one king will be king for all of them. They will no longer be two nations, and they will never again be divided into two kingdoms.
23 "'They will never again defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, or any of their transgressions; but I will save them from all the places where they have been living and sinning; and I will cleanse them, so that they will be my people, and I will be their God.
24 My servant David will be king over them, and all of them will have one shepherd; they will live by my rulings and keep and observe my regulations.
25 They will live in the land I gave to Ya'akov my servant, where your ancestors lived; they will live there - they, their children, and their grandchildren, forever; and David my servant will be their leader forever.
26 I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give to them, increase their numbers, and set my sanctuary among them forever.
27 My home will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
28 The nations will know that I am ADONAI, who sets Isra'el apart as holy, when my sanctuary is with them forever.'"

Ezekiel 37(CJB) "Make them Y'hudah&Efrayim a Single Stick", How to Realize?

What is the difference beween perspective of Jewish, Messianic and Christian?

ABC (AUS) Caught Doctoring Video to Smear Aussie Veteran as War Criminal


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Can you imagine yourself being maligned by your national broadcaster as an evil war criminal? Shooting at unarmed civilians. Having your whole nation perceive you as nothing more than a monster. Well, the ABC "investigative journalists" (pronounce as "liars") did just that to a commando called Heston Russell in 2022. Using doctored video and unreliable testimony from an American soldier to label Mr. Russell as war criminal. The video was found to have added in extra gunshots sound to make it look like an unhinged shooting of civilians. Even worse the American soldier said to not use his story as he admit that he can't recall correctly. On top of that Mr. Russell wasn't even in Afghanistan when the video was supposedly taken.

ABC was sued by Mr. Russell and the courts sided with Mr. Russell. Even after being caught ABC stood by their "journalists" and refuse to apologize to Mr. Russell.

To me the producers, investigative journalists and the ABC higher ups must be sentenced with the same punishment as an actual war criminal. Because if Mr. Russell would have failed to fend off this horrid hit piece by the "media", he could have been punished as a war criminal thus destroying his life forever. Today's western "journalists" have gotten too comfortable with running hit pieces without consequences.
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An ‘update’ in doing the right thing

I think god did somewhat touch upon my situation. I’m still delaying doing the right thing because I’m still fearful of confrontation but I’ve realized the possibility that god may not exactly be against me.



I feel he does want me to repent and not just for my own good but for the good of those who I’ve offended. The only issue now is if I idle and continue to delay, my chance to reconcile with god may be less, if that makes sense.



What I’ve done and the damage I’ve caused is deserving of a lot of punishment and Im still unsure how god will heal the damage and pain I’ve caused but I know he will somehow do it.



I just feel in my heart that I’ve committed a sin that leads to death and I might die or God may yet surprise me in his mercy and keep me alive.



But I think that if that’s really my case then it’s likely I will still go to heaven because after I confess I’ll have already ‘repented’.



Like I said in a recent post, I regret the way I’ve lived and I want to live because there’s so much I want to do with my life but I know I’ve utterly destroyed my life with sin.



In truth, another selfish reason - In why in my heart I don’t want to confess is because I obviously don’t want to die and I want to live a good life. I’m scared of what I will lose. in real time I’ve seen my blessings turn to curses and my life come to a small destruction.



I suppose it could partly be my flesh but I don’t want to complain or be ungrateful of gods mercy in letting me into heaven at least . I’m still scared and I know I don’t want to die. it’s not something I’d like to admit but I won’t lie about it either.







I want to overcome my fears and truly repent though. I’ve already prayed for a heart of obedience, so I can face those who I’ve offended and confess, but I’m still fearful. I know now at least I don’t have to confess to everyone I’ve wronged, I just know there are specific people I absolutely need to confess to.



I just dont know how to fully trust god in this and I can’t tell if god even answers my prayers. I can’t realistically imagine myself confessing anytime soon because of this fear and stubbornness.
Sounds like you want an out other than repentance to me, friend. God is more stubborn than you are, though. He can outlast you till you come to the end of yourself, trust me!

That's stubborn LOVE, Alessa, for your own good, since you are choosing to continue in what He knows is hurting you.

Want mercy? Gotta receive it. How? Give up the circular reasoning and excuses and OBEY Him.

The devil plays games with you - Jesus does not.

John 14:21 NIV

"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

God bless!

biblegateway.com
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Man and Wife

I now pronounce you man and wife,
Now go and live together life,
And love each other, say a prayer,
Your love not get in disrepair.

For life, it has its ups and downs,
And romance may not hang around,
And prettiness not always be,
Especially when two become three.

Love depends not on emotions,
Love enhanced by our devotion,
Loyalty to vows now taken,
Faithfulness not now forsaken.

Giving of ourselves to other,
And not living undercover,
Honesty in all we offer,
Love each other that much stronger.

An Original Work / May 8, 2023

We Also Out to Love One Another

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:7-12 ESV)

So, what does that look like if we truly love one another with this love that is from God? Well, it isn’t lust, and it isn’t just feelings (emotions). How did God show his love for us? Jesus Christ (God the Son) gave himself up for us in death on a cross, putting our sins to death with him so that we can now, by God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in him, be delivered out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we can worship, serve, and obey our Lord with our lives in doing what he commands and what he has called us to do and be.

So, lying to people to make them feel good about themselves is not love. Telling lies is not kind, no matter how you dress it up. And ignoring deliberate and habitual sin in the lives of our fellow professers of faith in Jesus Christ, and/or giving approval to them and to their lifestyles, is not love, either. Diluting and altering the gospel message to make it more acceptable and less offensive to the flesh and to the ungodly is also not love. For love tells the truth that people need to hear so that they can be saved.

And salvation from sin is not forgiveness of sins so that we can go to heaven when we die, but regardless of how we live. Jesus died to deliver us out of our bondage (addiction) to sin so that we will now walk with him in purity of devotion to him, living holy lives, pleasing to him. He died to transform us and to make us more like him in character and in thinking and actions. But if we reject his salvation by continuing in deliberate and habitual sin, we will not have salvation from sin and eternal life with God (Romans 6:1-23).

So, is love doing good to each other? YES! But the good that God has planned for our lives, not what we who are flesh might call good and that gratifies our fleshly cravings. So doing good to others is not pacifying them nor joining in with them in their sinful practices. For love prefers what God prefers, which is all that is holy, righteous, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord. So in loving others we will not sin against them but we will love them as God loves us, in the same ways.

But we will do for them what is for their good. And so we will be sharing with them the true message of the gospel as taught by Jesus and by his NT apostles. And Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, then we have eternal life with him (Luke 9:23-26).

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

People Need the Lord

By Greg Nelson / Phill Mchugh

Everyday they pass me by
I can see it in their eyes
Empty people filled with care
Headed who knows where

On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear
Laughter hides their silent cries
Only Jesus hears

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize that we must give our lives?
For people need the Lord, people need the Lord

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