What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately LXVII (67)…
Greetings My Friends~
As a simple pilgrim
following the Lord Jesus
through the rainforests and deserts of this earthly life,
I would like to humbly share
some of what God has been bubbling up in my mind/heart lately
through the Bible.
I pray that these thoughts are
cushions in your shoes,
balm to your burns,
umbrellas for the rain,
and shade to the scorching heat
as you too follow the Lord Jesus each day.
(please click on the Bible books/chapters/verses below
to read the actual Scripture passages)
(May 1-21st, 2017)
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When God Sighs…
The Lord Jesus sighed deeply at a human’s physical deafness (Mark 7:32-36).
He also sighed deeply at humanity’s spiritual deafness (Mark 8:11-13).
And then He did something about it: the cross & empty tomb!!!
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Right Relationship With God
The LORD delivered His people from Egypt
so He would be their God,
not their buddy/mascot/good luck charm/dream-fulfiller—
Same for Christians…
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Ignoring = Rebelling
Not listening to the LORD is hostility towards Him—Leviticus 26:21,27.
A person with casual indifference to God
is as much a rebel as a militant atheist.
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Responsibility In A Local Church.
A. Our responsibility in a local church is to
humbly help each other become who the LORD made us to be
not proudly/comfortably feel good about the way we’ve always been.
Romans 1:11-13
Acts 15:32
1 Thessalonians 3:2, 5:10-12
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B. Our main responsibility to each other in a local church
is not being nice/polite/cordial
but helping each other spiritually grow in Christ.
Ephesians 4
Titus 1:13-14; 2:13-15
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C. In church we often focus on politeness,
not righteousness/holiness;
we put the “lite in polite”
instead of letting God put the “ow in grow.”
Colossians 1:27-29
Luke 17:3-4
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D. Dont leave your local church over hurt feelings—
we are one Body;
must not amputate because of poison ivy.
A dismembered body isn’t freedom—
It’s a crime scene…
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What We Believe Matters
A. Our specific beliefs should matter us because they matter to God:
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B. Christians saying our specific beliefs don’t really matter
is at best like slowly jogging to 1st base on a ground ball
& at worst like skipping practice.
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Good Deeds/Obedience To God
We cannot & must not work up to salvation in Christ,
but once saved by Him,
we will work out from it—
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Don’t Browse/Window-Shop Sin
No such thing as an innocent look—e.g. going to a pet store to just look at a puppy…
“Death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes”—Proverbs 27:20
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Not Temporary Fireworks But Steady Lamps
The steady light of a pastor’s teaching—
does it accurately reflect God’s Word?—
is more important than the fireworks of gifts/miracles—
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Undeservedly Chosen By God!
Nothing better than this! No bigger jackpot! Amazing grace!
Deuteronomy 14:1-2—“You’re the children of the Lord your God…
[He] has chosen you to be His treasured possession.”
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Emptying Us In Order To Fill Us
A. Sometimes the LORD causes us to have hunger—
relational/financial/spiritual/emotional—
to humble us & teach us to feast on Him—
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B. God may bring famine because of our sin—Leviticus 26:18-20.
Or He may give food that leaves us hungry—
we eat & arent satisfied—verse 26.
Guess what the United States suffers from…
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Falls Can Come After The Climb
Sometimes our biggest danger for pride, idolatry & sin
is AFTER
the LORD has blessed His people abundantly & generously—
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True Humility & Selflessness
Moses was about to die & face a consequence for his sin—
he didnt argue with God
but thought of the Israelites (who had frustrated him for decades!)
& asked God to send them another shepherd to care for them—
