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Smelling of the Fire?
Image © 2011, Timothy Lee. Used with permission 1 Peter 1:16 …be ye holy… The doctrine of separation is seldom heard of or taught today; it is, simply put, God setting us apart from sin and apart unto Himself to serve and love Him and to do His will in this life at the point of our salvation. There is no higher call for the Christian except to live for Christ – the Creator of the Universe. One would think that the Head of State would be the highest call for a citizen of a land, but to be called by the Head of State to serve him would be…
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Serving Only One Master
Image courtesy Derek Bruff (CC BY-NC 2.0 license) on Flickr. Matthew 6:24 …ye cannot serve God and mammon. There were, in the days of Christ, some that yearned after the Lord, but desired or loved money and the things of this world secretly (as in the case of Judas Iscariot) or openly (as in the rich young ruler who walked away from Christ because of his riches.) This involved covetousness and greed. Satan wanted the worship of man more than ever before and therefore was willing to give the things of this world and its riches to anyone who would follow him. The Lord Jesus made it clear: ye cannot…
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Conformity: The Christianʼs Duty to Christ
Image © 2011, Timothy Lee; used with permission. Romans 12:2 …be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The world has many attractions and allurements. She seeks to bring the Christian to her knees by offering the kingdoms of this world, saying, in essence, “if you will worship me, I will give you these kingdoms.” Many have fallen for the things of this world, many have been trapped by the snares of riches, pleasure and fame. However, did not the Lord Jesus tell us that we are…
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Preach the Word
Image © 2011, Timothy Lee; used with permission. 2 Timothy 4:2-3 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine… Donʼt preach to me” in modern day terms usually means “donʼt dogmatically tell me what I can or cannot do; donʼt correct me or command me to do something in line with a certain system of truth.” Yet, the Bible tells us that the word “preach” means “to cry publicly, a herald of divine truth.” We are to herald and cry out the truth. Timothy was exhorted to publicly…
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The Person of Godʼs Choice
Image © 2011, Timothy Lee; used with permission. Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. The Lord asks this question, “Are you going to make a place for me? All the things of earth are made by me: I am not looking for a place, I am looking for a person.” The world boasts of many so-called great and influential men. They are able to sway many by their words. There are many so-called megachurches…
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The Bible Stands
Image © 2011, Timothy Lee; used with permission John 10:35 …the scripture cannot be broken… The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:14 that whatever GOD does lasts forever. When the Word of God was given and completed, it could never be broken. The word broken refers to being loose, melted, destroyed or put off. Godʼs Word retained its integrity throughout time and throughout the years. Yet, there stands a far more personal and important application: no matter the opinions and actions of men, the scripture cannot be broken. It stands fast, and it stands unhindered, unchanged and unpolluted because it is upheld by the Almighty God of the Universe. Its…
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The Exaltation of the Word of God
Image © 2011, Timothy Lee – used with permission Psalms 138:2 for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. God – and His opinions on the affairs and workings of this world – has been largely avoided and rejected by man. This is easily evidenced by manʼs constant and daily disobedience to His revealed Word. As Bible believers, we are not to ignore this important object of our faith. The Psalmist reveals how God views His word: He has magnified (made excellent, lifted up) His word (His commandments, His speech) above His own name (a position, a mark of authority). It appears that God esteems His Word on a…
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The Church is Distinct…
1 Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: There have been much dispute as to the nature of the church, and how Israel relates to the church. Many of the Reformation camp has insisted that the church is the Israel of old. That infant baptism have replaced circumcision, and the covenants of Israel are still applicable to the church. This has given rise to spurious and erroneous ideas that still permeate the church today. Paul in his cursory note to the Corinthian church, highlights that the Jews, the Gentiles and the church of GOD are three separate and…
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The Temple of GOD – the Body of Christ
1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter was encouraging the Jews who have been excommunicated by the Pharisees as they trust the Lord Jesus to save them, and take a stand with Christ. They used to present physical sacrifices to GOD in the magnificent temple of King Herod; they used to go to the splendid temple to worship and admire the wonderful edifice of the building of man’s hands. Peter now tells them that they are the lively stones that make up the spiritual temple of…
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Saved to Serve
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. God in His grace, has accepted us in the beloved, He has led us to the point of salvation, and the conviction upon our hearts that we are sinners needing a saviour. We have made the decision to trust Him as the Saviour of our Souls and the redeemer from our sins. What is next? Many christians stop here: they have trusted the Lord, but they go no further. Yet the Lord is clear: we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works!…