"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.—2 Timothy 4:7"
There
is much satisfaction in finishing something you have begun! The success
of a race is determined not only by how well you begin but also by how
well you end. Many athletes can begin a race impressively, but if they
stumble or are injured or lack the stamina to finish, their good start
is useless. Paul rejoiced that he had not only begun the race but he had
also finished it. His prize was a robust faith in God and a life filled
with God's powerful presence.
The
Christian life is not easy. Some mistakenly assume that once they bec
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PRAYER AND HUMILITY
???If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from
God, one to go down and rule earth???s grandest empire, the other to go
and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of
entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of
ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in
obedience to God???s will, and with equal joy they would lift a Lazarus
in his rags to Abraham???s bosom, or be a chariot of fire to carry an
Elijah home.??????John Newton
TO be humble is to have a low estimate of one???s self. It is to be
modest, lowly, with a disposition to seek obscurity. Humility retires
itself from t
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Dear Friend have you
ever think of a better place to be after we have completed our mission
on earth. Well, I will like to inform you that no matter your
achievments in this world surely an end will come to every thing you
possessed. Life is full of challenges and Ad-Hoc; troubles , confusion,
comotions and the like. Sometimes Christians are panic of some unsual
circumstances that happens around them. Yes, Jesus Christ has alr
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"Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your
hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the
spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second
time!" 1 Samuel 26:8"
You will sometimes be tempted to take
shortcuts to your destinations in life. David faced this temptation
numerous times befo
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In
introducing this subject of the life and walk of faith, I desire, at
the very outset, to clear away one misunderstanding which very commonly
arises in reference to the teaching of it, and which effectually hinders
a clear apprehension of such teaching. This misunderstanding comes from
the fact that the two sides of the subject are rarely kept in view at
the same time. People see distinctly the way in which one side is
presented, and, dwelling exclusively upon this, without even a thought
of any other, it is no wonder that distorted views of the whole matter
are the legitimate consequence.
|ace of God, he declared that the object of that
grace was to teach us "that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world"; and
adds, as the reason of this, that Christ "gave Himself for us that He
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto Himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works."
When Peter was urging upon the Christian, to whom he was writing, a holy
and Christ-like walk, he tells them that "even hereunto were ye called
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye
should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His
mouth"; and adds, "who His own self bare our sins in His own bo
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PRAYERhas to do with the entire man. Prayer takes in man in his whole being,
mind, soul and body. It takes the whole man to pray, and prayer affects
the entire man in its gracious results. As the whole nature of man
enters into prayer, so also all that belongs to man is the beneficiary
of prayer. All of man receives benefits in prayer. The whole man must be
given to God in praying. The largest results in praying come to him who
gives himself, all of himself, all that b
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The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which is to Come
AS I WALKED THROUGH THE WILDERNESS OF THIS
world, I lighted on a certain place where was a Den, and I laid me down
in that place to sleep: and, as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed,
and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place,
with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden
upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein;
and, as he read, he wept, and trembled; and, not being able longer to
contain, he brake out with
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When
Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus,
hurry and come down, because today I must stay at your house.”—Luke 19:5
In our large world it's easy to feel that we are nothing more than an
insignificant speck in the midst of a multitude. Our world tends to
depersonalize us, seeking to make us like everyone else, but God loves
us in specific ways that are particular to us.
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to fulfil
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For those He foreknew
He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He
would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He
also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He
justified, He also glorified.—Romans 8:29–30
Your life is a part of God's grand
design. God has known about you and had a plan for your life since
before time began. He knew everything about you before you were even
born (Jer. 1:5). God predetermined that you would become like His Son.
Your life, therefore, has a destiny. Christ is the model upon
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"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" Acts 16:31
This
gospel for a man with a sword at his throat is the gospel for me. This
would suit me if I were dying, and it is all that I need while I am
living. I look away from self, and sin, and all idea of personal merit,
and I trust the Lord Jesus as the Saviour whom God has given. I believe
in Him, I rest on Him, I accept Him to be my all in all. Lord, I am
saved, and I shall be saved to all eternity,
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Your
Lord is very jealous of your love, O believer. Did He choose you? He
cannot bear that you should choose another. Did He buy you with His own
blood? He cannot endure that you should think that you are your own, or
that you belong to this world. He loved you with such a love that He
would not stop in heaven without you; He would sooner die than you
shoul
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In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.—2 Timothy 3:12
Living
a godly life will not insulate you from hardship. Paul said that the
more blameless your life, the more likely you will be persecuted.
According to Paul, "evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse” (2
Tim. 3:13). As the world increasingly embraces sin, worldly people are
becoming increasingly intolerant of godliness. Darkness cannot tolerate
light; the more your life illuminates the presence of Christ, the more
you should expect opposition from the forces of darknes
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"I had heard rumors about You,
but now my eyes have seen You".—Job 42:5
In his time, Job was the most righteous person on
earth. He was so godly that the Lord took pleasure in pointing him out
to Satan (Job 1:8). Yet, despite his love for God and his diligent
obedience to His commands, even Job had not fully come to know God. The
blessings God had given to Job had not revealed everything about God's
character. There
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He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah!” (which means "Anointed One”). . . —John 1:41
People
become known for many things. Noah is known as a righteous man in an
evil age. David is known as the man after God's own heart. Peter is
known as the outspoken disciple. John is known as the disciple whom
Jesus loved. Judas is known as the betrayer. Paul is kn
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"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12"
In a battle, it is imperative to identify your
enemy. If you are not aware of the point of your attack, you are
vulnerable. Paul had many enemi
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"Go
and consecrate the people. Tell them to consecrate themselves tomorrow,
for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘There are among
you, Israel, things set apart. You will not be able to stand against
your enemies until you remove what is set apart.’”—Joshua 7:13
He
will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons
of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present
offerings to the Lord in righteousness.—Malachi 3:3
The
quality of our worship is not based on our activities but on our
character. Churches can mistakenly assume that the better the music, the
more impressive the building, and the m
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But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw [the man], he had compassion.—Luke 10:33
If anyone could understand the temptation
to let busyness distract Him from the Father's activity, Jesus certainly
could! He told a parable that clearly illustrated this danger: A
certain Jewish man was on his way to Jericho when he was brutally
attacked by th
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"I
have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts,” he replied, "but the
Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and
killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re
looking for me to take my life.”—1 Kings 19:14
Kingdom
work can be challenging! You can give everything you have to God's
service and come away exhausted. This is what happened to Elij
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In
that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise You,
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to infants. Yes,
Father, because this was Your good pleasure.”—Luke 10:21
One hindrance to hearing a word from God
may be our own wisdom. Wisdom, like success, can delude us to think we
should take the role of teacher rather than student. Our knowledge lulls
us into thinking we have
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"He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.—Colossians 2:15"
Christians
are not called to defeat Satan. God has already done that in Christ!
Nor is it our mandate to "bind” Satan. Jesus has already set limits on
the extent and duration of Satan's freedom. Satan, "our ancient foe,”
was decisively and completely defeated by Christ's sacrifice on the
cross and in His r
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"But
he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for
you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a
young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.—Luke 15:29"
God
is concerned with bringing people from death to life. His heart
rejoices over each person who returns to Him from a time of rebelli
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