#Galatians 5:16-18

[drshermaines-wisdomnuggets]

"PASS THE PLATE PLEASE!"

2 Kings 7:9, “Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news AND WE ARE KEEPING IT TO OURSELVES…” (NIV) So, Thanksgiving is almost here and it immediately makes me think about sitting at the family table. You see, somewhere in the ‘Fathers Handbook’, I’m convinced it says that the father automatically gets to carve the turkey, or the ham, or the roast.…

[trueconservativepundit]

Are You Walking in God’s Spirit?

By Adrian Rogers “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  Galatians 5:16-18 To “walk in the Spirit” means the Spirit is to be the…

[aressida]

Feminists, I want to express how I feel when I see all of you (as someone who once held feminist views and disliked men a decade ago, but now that I have gained understanding): Enough with the sabotage!

Be the duty of a woman. -> Genesis 2:18

-> Galatians 3:28 -> 1 Timothy 2:9-15 -> 1 Corinthians 11:3 -> Titus 2:3-5 -> 1 Timothy 2:11-12 -> Ephesians 5:22-24 -> Proverbs 31:11–12 -> Genesis 3:16

[holyspiritgirl]

What is Spiritual Warfare and how to overcome it with the help of God?

• Spiritual warfare is the idea that there's a battle going on between good and evil forces. In Christianity, this means a fight between God and His angels against the devil and his demons. It mainly happens in our minds, hearts, and spirits. It’s about resisting bad thoughts, temptations, and influences that go against what God wants for us. Though we believe that Jesus has indeed already defeated Satan by dying on the cross and coming back to life, the enemy still tries to lead us to sin in order to push us away from God, thus spiritual warfare.

• “Symptoms” vary since the devil attacks you where it hurts the most, to make you as vulnerable as possible; but here are some of the most common ones:

- believing that your not worthy of having a relationship with God or talking to God therefore feeling the need to distance yourself from him

-self destructive / sabotage / harm temptations

-paranoia / overthinking

-strong headaches / body aches

-temptations towards sin such as lust, gluttony, laziness, anger.. etc, depends on your weaknesses

-self hatred & self doubt / doubt in faithfulness

-hopelessness, fear, anxiety

-random depressive moods & replaying bad memories … the list goes on!

• Living a life more aligned with God’s will is seen as a threat to Satan and his purposes, leading to increased attempts to discourage or derail one’s faith journey. With a deeper relationship with God often comes a greater sense of purpose and mission, attracting more challenges and obstacles from evil forces trying to prevent one from fulfilling God’s plans. Our Father allows these intensified battles to refine and strengthen our faith, helping us rely more on Him and grow spiritually.

• Here are some bible verses that may help you during those tough times battling spiritual warfare :

-Corinthians 10:13

- Psalm 91

-Ephesians 6:11-18

-Isaiah 54:17

-Galatians 5:17-26

- Peter 5:8-9

-Romans 8:37-39

-Luke 10:19

-James 4:7

-John 16:33

-Deuteronomy 3:22

-Matthew 4:10-11

• Let me know if you’d be interested in me posting those verses and talking about some of them with you guys, sort of like a bible study kind of thing. It’d be a pleasure ;)

Have a blessed day 💞💓👼🏻

[dmckinney79]

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18

[girlbloggercher]

how to read the Bible

this is in order!

1. John

2. Mark

3. Matthew

4. Luke

5. Genesis

6. Exodus

7. Leviticus

8. Numbers

9. Dueteronomy

10. Romans

11. Galatians

12. Colossians

13. Proverbs

14. Ecclesiastes

15. Job

16. 1 Peter

17. 1 Corinthians

18. 2 Corinthians

19. Ephesians

20. Philippians

21. 1 Thessalonians

22. 2 Thessalonians

23. 1 Timothy

24. 2 Timothy

25. James

26. 2 Peter

27. 1 John

28. 2 John

29. 3 John

30. Jude

31. Psalms

32. Joshua

33. Judges

34. 1 Samuel

35. 2 Samuel

36. 1 Kings

37. 2 Kings

38. 1 Chronicles

39. 2 Chronicles

40. Ezra

41. Nehemiah

42. Jeremiah

43. Lamentations

44. Ezekiel

45. Joel

46. Amos

47. Obadiah

48. Nahum

49. Habakkuk

50. Zephaniah

51. Haggai

52. Zechariah

53. Malachi

54. Micah

55. Hosea

56. Luke

57. Esther

58. Jonah

59. Song of Solomon

60. Acts

61. Titus

62. Philemon

63. Hebrew

64. Isaiah

65. Daniel

66. Revelation

[bibleversegarden]

God's Word Sown on the Soil of Fertile Hearts, Brings Forth Much Fruit

Jesus explains the parable of the sower and his seed:

Luke 8:11-18 "The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they shall believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."

Related Bible Readings: Luke 8:4-10; John 15:1-16; Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 3:17-21; Philippians 1:9-11; Psalm 119:11

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

[study-with-aura]

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

I didn't have time to work on my reflective essay today, but that's okay. I can work on it Sunday if I need to. A lot is going on Sunday, but I will have a bit of time here and there to take a look at it.

Maybe I have too much in a day that I need to get done along with my extracurriculars. Then again, if my day wasn't packed, I would be lost. That happened some this summer, which is why outside of camp weeks, I kept adding things to do and creating schedules. Yes, I am a schedule and list person. I do allow room for flexibility, but I really love my lists and color coded schedules!

The next three days are my busiest, so if I do not post, that is why. I will do my best as I enjoy writing about the day!

Tasks Completed:

Algebra 2 - Completed worksheet on applications of systems of linear equations

American Literature - Copied vocabulary terms + read about Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" + read an excerpt from "Civil Disobedience" + typed up a response to literature (30/30)

Spanish 3 - Practiced reading my dialogue from yesterday + read the dialogue out loud to my dad (25/25)

Bible 2 - Read 1 Kings 7

Early American History - Read about Maryland, Carolina, and Georgia + read more about the original 13 colonies + read excerpt from The Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 + answered question + explored a world major historical event timeline for this period of history

Earth Science with Lab - Answered questions from yesterday's reading

Music Appreciation - Watched the listening guide on Lutosławski's Concerto for Orchestra + listened to the concerto + wrote out a music description using music vocabulary

Khan Academy - Completed US History Unit 2: Lesson 2.7-2.8

Duolingo - Studied for approximately 30 minutes (Spanish + French + Chinese) + completed daily quests

Piano - 60-minute piano lesson + practiced for two hours

Reading - Read pages 154-180 of The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Chores -  Laundry + took trash and recycling out

Activities of the Day:

September Study (John 14:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Matthew 28: 18-19, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Peter 1:4-7, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Jude 1:24)

Personal Bible Study (Luke 1)

Ballet

Pointe

Journal/Mindfulness

[drshermaines-wisdomnuggets]

"CONFRONTING THE ENEMY'S TACTICS!"

Psalm 144:1, “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight” (AMPC) The main tactic of the enemy is deception. “Deception” is defined as, “the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid; to trick; to cheat; to defraud; to be dishonest.” And that’s exactly who the enemy is, a deceiver, liar and the…

[christianotome]

When to be happy?

We often think ‘I will finally be happy when I get married/get a job/have children’, however solving a problem only brings a new set of problems. Jesus warned us about the problems we would face in the world, but He assured us there is no need to be afraid. (John 16:33).

In the midst of several prosecutions and tribulations Apostle Paul said “[…] I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11), while Habakkuk stated that everything might be going wrong in his life “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18).

Peace and joy are part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and that comes from the knowledge of God’s goodness and sovereignty. For a Christian the time to be happy is always as Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”.

[orthodoxadventure]

The άνάλαβος (analavos) is the distinctive garment of a monk or a nun tonsured into the highest grade of Orthodox monasticism, the Great Schema, and is adorned with the instruments of the Passion of Christ. It takes its name from the Greek αναλαμβάνω (“to take up”), serving as a constant reminder to the one who wears it that he or she must “take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23). The ornately-plaited Crosses that cover the analavos, the polystavrion (πολυσταύριον, from πολύς, “many,” and σταυρός, “Cross”) — a name often, though less accurately, also applied to the analavos — reminds the monastic that he or she is “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).

With regard to each image on the analavos, the rooster represents “the cock [that] crowed” (Matthew 26:74; Mark 14:68 Luke 22:60; John 18:27) after Saint Peter had “denied thrice” His Master and Lord (John 13:38).

The pillar represents the column to which Pilate bound Christ “when he scourged Him” (Mark 15:15) “by Whose stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 2:24).

The wreath garlanding the Cross represents the “crown of thorns” (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2) that “the soldiers platted” (John 19:2) and “put upon the head” (Matthew 27:29) of “God our King of old” (Psalm 73:13), Who freed man from having to contend against “thorns and thistles in the sweat of his brow” (Genesis 3:18-19).

The upright post and the traverse beam represent the stipes and the patibulum that formed “the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14), upon which “all day long He stretched forth His hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Isaiah 65:2; Romans 10:21).

The four spikes at the center of the Cross and the hammer beneath its base represent the “nails” (John 20:25) and hammer with which “they pierced” (Psalm 21:16; John 19:37) “His hands and His feet” (Luke 24:40). when they “lifted up from the earth” (John 12:32) Him Who “blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us by nailing it to His Cross” (Colossians 2:14).

The base upon which the Cross stands represents “the place, which is called 'Calvary' (Luke 23:33), or 'Golgotha', that is to say, the Place of the Skull” (Matthew 27:33), “where they crucified Him” (John 19:18) Who “wrought salvation in the midst of the earth” (Psalm 73:13).

The skull and crossbones represent “the first man Adam” (I Corinthians 15:45), who by tradition “returned unto the ground” (Genesis 3:19) at this very spot, the reason that this place of execution, “full of dead men’s bones” (Matthew 23:27) became the place where “the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (I Corinthians 15:45).

The plaque on top of the Cross represents the titulus, the “title” (John 19:19-20), with “the superscription of His accusation” (Mark 15:26), which “Pilate wrote” (John 19:19) “and set up over His head” (Matthew 27:37); however, instead of “Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews” (John 19:19), which “was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew” (Luke 23:38), the three languages being an allusion to the Three Hypostases “of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), this titulus reads, “The King of Glory” (Psalm 23:7-10), “for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (I Corinthians 2:8).

The reed represents the “hyssop” (John 19:29) upon which was put “a sponge full of vinegar” (Mark 15:36), which was then “put to His mouth” (John 19:29) when in His “thirst they gave Him vinegar to drink” (Psalm 68:21), Him of Whom it was said that “all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22).

The lance represents the “spear [that] pierced His side”; “and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34) from Him Who “took one of Adam's ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof" (Genesis 2:21) and Who “washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5).

The plaque at the bottom of the Cross represents the suppedaneum of Christ, “His footstool” (Psalm 98:5), “the place where His feet have stood” (Psalm 131:7). It is slanted because, according to one tradition, at the moment when “Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit” (Mark 15:37), He allowed a violent death spasm to convulse His legs, dislodging His footrest in such a manner that one end pointed upwards, indicating that the soul of the penitent thief, Saint Dismas, “the one on His right hand” (Mark 15:27) would be “carried up into Heaven” (Luke 24:51), while the other end, pointed downwards, indicated that the soul of the impenitent thief, Gestas, “the other on His left” (Mark 15:27), would “be thrust down to Hell” (Luke 10:15), showing that all of us, “the evil and the good, the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45), “are weighed in the balance” (Ecclesiasticus 21:25) of the Cross of Christ.

The ladder and the pincers beneath the base of the Cross represent the means of deposition by which Saint Joseph of Arimathea, “a rich man” (Matthew 27:57) who “begged for the body of Jesus” (Matthew 27:58; Luke 23:52), “took it down” (Luke 23:53), so that as in body He descended from the Cross, so in soul “He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:9), “by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison” (I Peter 3:19).

Through these instruments, “the Cross of Christ” (I Corinthians 1:17: Galatians 6:12; Philippians 3:18) became the “Tree of Life” (Genesis 2:9; 3:22, 24; Proverbs 3:18, 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Revelation 2:7; 22:2,14), by which the Lord Jesus reified His words that, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

[source]

[coolksaposts]

we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— (6:1b–2) 2Corinthians

2 Corinthians 6

Code: QA0297

The following is an excerpt from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6.

we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— (6:1b–2)

Paul’s use of the verb parakaloumen (urge; “plead”; “beg”) in the present tense reflects his constant, passionate concern for the Corinthians (cf. 2:8; 10:1; 1 Cor. 16:15–16). God’s ambassadors are privileged pleaders, begging their hearers to respond to the truth.

Specifically, Paul was urging the Corinthians not to receive the grace of God in vain; not to turn away from the gracious opportunity to hear the gospel of forgiveness he had so faithfully preached to them. He had poured his life into the Corinthians during his long stay in their city (Acts 18:11), pleading with them for the gospel and teaching the new converts how to grow in grace. But events in Corinth caused the apostle to fear that his intense labor had been for nothing. The church was riddled with sin, as Paul’s first inspired epistle to them reveals. False teachers, those wolves in sheep’s clothing both Jesus (Matt. 7:15) and Paul warned of (Acts 20:29), were luring many in the assembly away from the truth. This passionate concern for the Corinthians was behind what he wrote later:

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. (2 Cor. 11:3–4)

Paul could not stand idly by and allow his diligent efforts to be undone. He could not permit his spiritual children (1 Cor. 4:15) to be deceived by a false gospel or led astray from the true path of sanctification. His duty before God, like that of all faithful ministers, was to exhort people not to receive the grace of God in vain. The apostle had given them the grace of God, as embodied in the truth of the gospel of grace, for their eternal benefit.

Paul was concerned first that the Corinthians not receive God’s grace in regard to salvation in vain. As in any church, not everyone in the Corinthian assembly was redeemed. Some had intellectual knowledge of the gospel but did not have saving faith. That is why Paul challenged them, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). Those in the congregation who were not regenerate were in grave danger of being deceived by the false teachers. To follow those preaching another Jesus, another Spirit, and another gospel would lead to a waste of their privilege and to spiritual ruin. Paul was similarly concerned about the Galatians.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (Gal. 1:6–9)

The Corinthians were also in danger of receiving God’s grace in vain with regard to sanctification. The legalists sought to turn them away from living in the power of the Spirit to living in the strength of the flesh. Paul chided the Galatians, also under assault by legalism, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3). Sanctification, like justification, is a work of God. It does not come from legalistically conforming to an external set of rules but from a Spirit-generated, heartfelt love for and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some of the unsaved Corinthians were being led astray by a false gospel of salvation by works. Others were saved, but legalistic false teaching was stunting their spiritual growth. In either case, the grace of God to them that sent Paul with the gospel was in danger of being nullified.

The corrupting influence of the false teachers hindered evangelism. That made the Corinthians’ defection all the more galling to Paul, for it was (and still is) the time for the ministry of reconciliation. To stress the urgency of this time, Paul quoted from Isaiah 49:8, where God declared, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.”

There is a time in God’s grace when He may be sought by sinners. The Lord warned the pre-Flood world, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years” (Gen. 6:3). Isaiah 55:6 commands, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” Hosea warned that apostate Israel “will go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them” (Hos. 5:6).

Repeating behold and now to emphasize his point, Paul declared that now is “the acceptable time,” “the day of salvation”   when God will listen to repentant sinners. Now, when the fields are ripe for the harvest (John 4:35), is not the time to waste gospel opportunity, or to be feeble, vacillating, or deceived by false teachers. It is the time to hold fast to the truth and faithfully proclaim it. “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day,” Jesus admonished. “Night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).

Knowing the urgency of the times Paul, true to the urgency of his calling, passionately pleaded with the Corinthians not to let God’s grace in their lives be in vain.

[livingbeyondaddiction]

John 10:10 (ESV): The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 1. What does the devil seek to steal? He seeks to steal our identity and give us a false sense of self which we then place on the throne. We idolize and worship ourselves and others, the creature, rather than the creator. In a sense brainwashed and then being barricaded inside that identity with walls all around. How do we escape our captivity and imprisonment? The only way out is to be broken. Those walls torn down and replaced with our true identity in Christ as a child of God. What does it mean to be a child of God? It means we were selected from the beginning. It means we receive an eternal inheritance and that we are adopted. Literally, grafted into son-ship as a brother or sister of Jesus. Nothing can take that away, not even the devil. We are eternally secure. Now I ask you, is that a free pass to do whatever we want because we've been set free? Absolutely not. Once we receive salvation we seek only to do His will and when we go against that we feel convicted and we strive to do as He would want. When we slip we promptly admit it and repent. I beg you to examine your hearts. Do you feel convicted when you go against the grain? Do you seek His will? Or are you just going through the motions? Have you accepted Christ or are you waiting for a different opportunity? I urge you to accept Him into your hearts while you can because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Ephesians 1:3–10 (ESV): Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

John 1:11–13 (ESV): He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 2. What does the devil seek to kill? He seeks to kill our purpose. What is our purpose? Our purpose is to do the will of God. The devil kills our purpose by blinding us to our purpose. The world and the prince of this world (Satan) lays a veil over our heads (eyes to see, ears to hear, and the mouth to confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior). He lays traps to ensnare us but he doesn't force us to sin, but rather tempts us with subtle suggestion. However when we stop seeking the worlds "sense of completion" and seek after the things of God Christ pulls the veil from our eyes so that we can see these traps. What are some examples of worldly things? Drugs, alcohol, sex, money, power, fame, etc. What are the things of God? Love, peace, joy, peace, righteousness, etc. Are we chasing the desires of the flesh or are we hungry and thirsty for the things of God?

Galatians 5:16–24 (ESV): But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

2 Timothy 2:22–26 (ESV): So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 3. How does the devil seek to destroy us? He seeks to destroy our relationships with God, ourselves, and others. The devil is the accuser and he gets that title naturally. He accuses us by leading us to sin against God and once we sin he causes us to feel shame, guilt, fear, regret, anger, doubt, secrecy, and all manner of spiritual and emotional turmoil that isolates us and sends us further into sin. What is sin? Sin by definition is a separation from God. What does separation from God look like? It means that we are void of His presence. God is light and in Him is no darkness. To be separated from Him means to be in total darkness. God is the living water. To be apart from Him means we thirst. He is the bread of life. This means without Him we starve. God is the Word made flesh. To be separated from Him means we're separated from His knowledge and wisdom. God is the healer of the sick and injured. To not have this means eternity of weeping and gnashing of teeth. We take for granted the things in life that can only be explained as the presence of God. But to ignore these things we forsake what God has given us and will suffer complete absence from Him eternally.

James 1:13–15 (ESV): Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

1 Peter 5:6–11 (ESV): Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 4. What does it mean to have life? Furthermore, to have it abundantly? Abundant life comes from our life in Christ and of the abundance of eternal blessings supplied by Him. Satan doesn't want us to have an abundant life. He seeks to kill, steal, and destroy all our eternal blessings by leading us to a life of complacency. What does it mean to be complacent? To be complacent is to procrastinate. It also means that we consider ourselves to far gone to be saved or to think that there will be time in the future to seek salvation. There are many ways to be complacent and it's in non-action that the devil takes action. Are we taking action or are we being complacent? So how do we get an abundant life? We accept the sacrifice of God's only begotten son Jesus Christ and rest assuredly in His eternal salvation. We flee from the devil. How do we draw closer to God? We first seek His kingdom and all things will be added to it.

James 4:4–8 (ESV): You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

So in conclusion I prompt you to Seek God, seek His kingdom, and accept His sacrifice and His salvation. Flee from the devil, being firm in your faith, shun the world and it's wicked ways because friendship with the world is enmity with God. I pray that this blog reaches you where you're at and touches your heart. May God bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and please feel free to reach out to me with questions or prayer requests.

[albertfinch]

PEACE IS SPIRIT POWER

Philippians 1:28  -  "Don't be afraid of your enemies;  always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose, and that you will win because it is God who gives you the victory."

Peace is Spirit power.

Your peace, your immovable stand upon the Word of God is a sign that you are positioned correctly in perfect submission to the will of God.

The very fact that you are not frightened by your adversary is a sign that you have authority over him.

Isaiah 26:3 - "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee."

Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the absence of inner conflict.

Romans 8:6 - "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

Galatians 5:22 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith"

UNDERSTANDING OUR SPECIFIC CALLING

Ephesians 1:4  -  "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.  In love."

        Man is called to rest in God, but we must also labor with God.  In this labor, we must find what He created us to do.

God who is so particular and specific knew what He was creating us for before the world was even created.  We each have a very specific job to do -- a very specific CALLING.  We will never know a true peace and fulfillment in our hearts until we are doing our CALLING in Christ.

THE PEACE OF CHRIST IN OUR SPIRIT IS OUR GUIDE

Colossians 3:15 -  "And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from the Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts to which as members of Christs one body you were also called to live.  And be thankful, giving praise to God always."

If we are irritated and upset about things in our life it is very hard to receive quiet guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes a certain action is in question; so, we let the peace of Christ be our guide.  Through the subtle inward witness of the Holy Spirit He guides us to the action we need to take.

Revelation 4:6  -  "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal."

The source of God's Peace is God Himself.  The glass sea is a symbol:  there are no ripples, no waves, no anxieties troubling God.  The Lord is never worried never in a hurry nor without an answer.  The sea around Him is perfectly still and totally calm.  All our victories flow out from being seated here with Him.

2 Peter 3:14  -  "With this to look forward to, do your utmost to be found at peace with Him, unblemished and above reproach in his sight."

CHALLENGED AND CHANGED

We want a peace that temporarily comforts and coddles because we do not like to be challenged or changed.  The peace that flows into us from the Lord satisfies the soul with full assurance that He is still for us, even as we are being taken through fire -- in which we can be changed into His likeness.

2 Corinthians 3:18  -  "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Galatians 5:16  - "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh."

                Affirmations:

I AM DEVELOPING MY OWN HUMAN SPIRIT WITH GOD’S WORD, AND I AM WALKING IN THE SPIRIT THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

I HAVE ACCEPTED MY CHRIST CALLING AND LEAVING THE LOW LIFE BEHIND, AND I AM FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO A HIGHER REALM, WHERE I WILL LIVE IN CONTINUAL PEACE, JOY, AND VICTORY.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[steveezekiel]

GIVING: A MOTIVATIONAL GIFT OF GOD THE FATHER 3

5 SO WE, BEING MANY, ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST, AND INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if PROPHECY, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or MINISTRY, let us use it in our ministering; he who TEACHES, in teaching; 8 he who EXHORTS, in exhortation; he who GIVES, with liberality; he who LEADS, with diligence; he who SHOWS MERCY, with cheerfulness. 9 LET LOVE BE WITHOUT HYPOCRISY. ABHOR WHAT IS EVIL. CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD." Romans 12:5-9 (NKJV)

Major areas of Giving: (i) Tithing (Deuteronomy 26:10).

When you tithe, you lay the foundation for financial success.

Tithe is a tenth, ten percent, of your income that you give in the church you attend. You do it with love for God in your heart; in righteousness, faith, and cheerfulness (2 Corinthians 9:7). (ii) Offerings (Proverbs 3:9,10). a. Giving of offerings to the Missions. If you are not inclined or felt compelled to go, then send or support those who are sent with your money. The work of the Kingdom is the most productive, the solid business, that you can and should invest IN. THERE is no business investment as solid and certain as the work of the Kingdom, to be invested in (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 8:1-3). b. Giving to the ministers of God (1 Corinthians 9:9-14; Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:14-19). WHEN you give to your pastor, prophet, or whoever minister had been used to bless you, you had allowed God to release His blessings on you through this act. YOU provoked the anointing of God on a minister; your prophet or pastor, for blessings, through Giving. c. Giving to the Needy or the Poor: "IF YOU HELP THE POOR, YOU ARE LENDING TO THE LORD—AND HE WILL REPAY YOU!" (Proverbs 19:17 NLT). WHEN you give to the Needy or Poor, you have given God an opportunity to work with you on your finances—given Him the opportunity to bless you and also to help that person or people in need. BELIEVERS who are blessed with abundance are meant to serve as a hope for the Needy, Poor, or the Hopeless or Helpless: 12 BECAUSE I [Job] DELIVERED THE POOR who cried out, The FATHERLESS and the ONE who had no helper. 13 The BLESSING of a PERISHING MAN came upon me, And I caused the WINDOW'S heart to SING for JOY. 15 I WAS EYES TO THE BLIND, AND I WAS FEET TO THE LAME. 16 I WAS A FATHER TO THE POOR, And I searched out the case that I did not know" (Job 29:12,13,15,16 (NKJV). d. Giving as Praises to God.

Give as a praise to God for whatever you expected Him to do in your life. Do not be need consciously, but be seed consciously.

If you had a need, think of what to Give for the need in your life to be met. Not to be thinking or to devise in your own way, how the need would be met.

This is a spiritual principle, It could only be understood by those who are spiritual. If you asked an unbeliever or a natural person, or a carnal Christian or body-ruled believer, to give to have his or her need met, such could say you asking them to bribe God before they could receive from Him: 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 THESE THINGS WE ALSO SPEAK, NOT IN WORDS WHICH MAN'S WISDOM TEACHES BUT WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES, COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL. 14 BUT THE NATURAL MAN DOES NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS TO HIM; NOR CAN HE KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED" (1 Corinthians 2:12-14 NKJV).

But the principle of sowing and reaping, sowing in order to receive does mean you are bribing God to receive from Him: "GIVE, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE. YOUR GIFT WILL RETURN TO YOU IN FULL—PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER TO MAKE ROOM FOR MORE, RUNNING OVER, AND POURED INTO YOUR LAP. THE AMOUNT YOU GIVE WILL DETERMINE THE AMOUNT YOU GET BACK"" (Luke 6:38 NLT).

No one can bribe God! (Acts 8:18-22). Giving is a biblical principle, like other principles that govern the world. There are natural principles, laws of nature, which If you decided to go against, you might have a dirge to sing.

The principle of Giving, sowing and reaping, is meant to give what you have as a seed and expect it to germinate, and produce the fruits to be harvested (Genesis 8:22).

The Kingdom principle to get your needs met is, God what would You want me to Give or Sow that I may have my needs met? (Luke 6:38).

You have a function in the body of Christ. Truly, some have the Gift of Giving as a motivational gift. However, every believer must be a Giver.

The major key to material or financial prosperity in the Kingdom is Giving.

The thought of prospering financially or materially without a genuine commitment to Giving could be a mirage or an illusion—hope or wish that cannot be realistic.

If you see someone who claims to be a believer in Christ Jesus, thriving and prospering in what he or she does, and such is not committed to Kingdom investments, Givings; the source of such a person's wealth or prosperity could not have been of God.

Because the pattern through which the person is being blessed, as a believer in Christ Jesus, does not agree with the Bible—is not consistent with the Word of God. And no experience can negate the Word of God!

Note: there are Teachings against the biblical principle of Giving, financial success, and this subject is being criticized now across the social media platforms. SINCE this piece is not taught that we might collect money from you, I want you to meditate or ponder on it before you discard it. WHATEVER you are giving, I want to encourage you to do it in your local church or to the ministry you had been blessed through.

You will not fail in Jesus' name.

Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.

An end comes to that sickness in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. And the affliction will never rise again in Jesus' name. Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION

Take notice of this: IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15). a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20). b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10). c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Abraham to Father Many Nations

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

God also said to Abraham, “You must keep My covenant—you and your descendants in the generations after you. This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.

But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”

Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!”

But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”

When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him.

So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen; Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day. And all the men of Abraham’s household—both servants born in his household and those purchased from foreigners—were circumcised with him. — Genesis 17 | The Reader’s Bible (BRB) The Reader’s Bible © 2020 by Bible Hub and Berean Bible. All rights Reserved. Cross References: Genesis 5:22; Genesis 9:16; Genesis 11:29; Genesis 14:14; Genesis 16:10; Genesis 16:16; Genesis 18:2; Genesis 18:10; Genesis 18:19; Genesis 21:11; Genesis 26:22; Genesis 34:14; Genesis 35:13; Luke 1:18; Luke 1:55; Luke 1:59; John 7:22; Acts 7:5; Acts 7:8; Romans 4:11; Romans 4:13; Romans 4:17; Romans 9:4; Galatians 4:23; Hebrews 11:11

Genesis 17: An Age-Old Question—Too Old to Have Children?