Those whose hearts are pure... will see God.
Matthew 5:8
If your heart is pure you'll see God where others can't, hear Him when they don't, and communicate with Him in a way they'll long to emulate. This word pure could be translated as "without contamination." It's the difference between a clear stream and a polluted one. It means your carnal thinking must be abandoned, and self-interest crucified daily.
The difference between forgiveness and cleansing is like the difference between cutting off a weed at the ground and pulling it up by the roots.
Forgiveness deals with the result of sin; that's easy to identify.
Cleansing deals with the cause of sin; that's not so easy because it deals with your natural traits and character flaws.
Forgiveness comes by confession, cleansing comes by walking in the light: "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light… the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7 ).
Do you keep asking God to forgive the same sins over and over?
That's because you need to experience true cleansing. The cause has got to be dealt with!
The Bible says that our hearts must be circumcised (Romans 2:29).
Spiritually understood, that means cutting off anything that tends to promote and produce more flesh.
Getting the idea?
Some things may not be wrong in themselves, but if they take God's time and place in your life they've got to go! God told His people, "The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts… so that you may love Him" (Deuteronomy 30:6 ).
Do you want to see God, hear God and communicate with Him more clearly?
Remove the contamination from your life!
http://www.thevine.co.nz
Saturday, December 15, 2007
God will bring you through
A tempestuous head wind arose... Euroclydon.
Acts 27:14
Euroclydon! It's the only storm named in Scripture. It means "typhoon," and Paul had to sail through it to reach his destiny. Observe:
(1) To reach your goal you'll have to go through storms. "When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved" (Acts 27:20 ). There will be days when you'll wonder how you're going to make it. But by God's grace you will!
(2) Storms reveal how well you know God. "Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul,'" (Acts 27:23-24 ). It's the tough times that reveal the strength of your God-connection.
(3) God can make a success out of a shipwreck.
Notice some important things in this story:
(a) Sometimes you'll have to throw stuff overboard (Acts 27:18).
(b) In spite of your best efforts you'll occasionally run aground (Acts 27:26).
(c) You must remember what God told you and stand on it (Acts 27:25).
(4) Often the worst thing that could have happened turns out for the best. God used this shipwreck to reach Malta with the Gospel. And notice what happened to Paul and his travelling companions as they left that island: "They honoured us… and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed" (Acts 28:10 ).
Stop worrying, God will provide what you need in ways that amaze you.
If you're His child you're not the victim of circumstances.
Your future is not in the hands of people, it's in the hands of God.
And what He owns, He takes care of!
http://www.thevine.co.nz
Acts 27:14
Euroclydon! It's the only storm named in Scripture. It means "typhoon," and Paul had to sail through it to reach his destiny. Observe:
(1) To reach your goal you'll have to go through storms. "When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved" (Acts 27:20 ). There will be days when you'll wonder how you're going to make it. But by God's grace you will!
(2) Storms reveal how well you know God. "Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul,'" (Acts 27:23-24 ). It's the tough times that reveal the strength of your God-connection.
(3) God can make a success out of a shipwreck.
Notice some important things in this story:
(a) Sometimes you'll have to throw stuff overboard (Acts 27:18).
(b) In spite of your best efforts you'll occasionally run aground (Acts 27:26).
(c) You must remember what God told you and stand on it (Acts 27:25).
(4) Often the worst thing that could have happened turns out for the best. God used this shipwreck to reach Malta with the Gospel. And notice what happened to Paul and his travelling companions as they left that island: "They honoured us… and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed" (Acts 28:10 ).
Stop worrying, God will provide what you need in ways that amaze you.
If you're His child you're not the victim of circumstances.
Your future is not in the hands of people, it's in the hands of God.
And what He owns, He takes care of!
http://www.thevine.co.nz
When trouble comes
In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion.
Psalm 27:5
When trouble comes, do these three things:
(1) Get alone with God!
The Psalmist writes, "In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion." The secret place in a king's palace was called a "pavilion." There you were protected from the enemy. All hell could break loose around you but it didn't matter; in the secret place there was peace. Are you allowing things to overwhelm you that really don't make a difference? Are you upset over things that should be dismissed as trivialities? Get alone with God!
(2) Refuse to live beyond help because you have an image to uphold. The Bible says those of us who are strong ought to bear the burdens of the weak. There are times when we need to do the lifting; and times when we ourselves need to be lifted. Jesus healed a woman who had been bowed down for 18 years and "Could in no way raise herself up" (Luke 13:11). Sometimes you need help because you can't help yourself. David understood this so he turned to the men of Issachar because they "had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1 Chronicles 12:32). God has provided help, reach for it!
(3) Be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit for He will constantly remind you of God's plan, and show you how to carry it out. Jesus said, "The Holy Spirit… will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26). What has the Lord said to you? Have you done it? Obedience is your doorway out of trouble. (Psalm 143:10 ).
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Saturday, December 01, 2007
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