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Today’s Devotional – October 23rd

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When A Good Thing Becomes A Bad Thing!

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A teenage boy, whose family lived on about the 5th or 6th floor of an apartment building began to get obsessed about throwing things off his balcony. As a matter of fact, he became so obsessed, that he eventually threw his baby brother off. Fortunately and miraculously, the baby totally recovered!

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But as we all know, even seemingly good things can become an obsession! We can become addicted to anything, can’t we? 

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Firenze apartment building – cropped image – wikimedia – share-alike license

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FAMOUS ADDICTS

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Now there have been many persons who became world-class celebrities, all because they became so addicted to a certain thing, that they eventually became masters at it!

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For instance, one famous musician admitted in a magazine interview, that he was a hopeless addict to his particular musical instrument. This magazine article showed him laying, passed-out on his bed, hands and legs sprawled-out and holding his musical instrument in his hand as if it were a bottle of alcohol. And in the article he explained the photo, saying that he was an addict to his music.

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That photo was taken to tell the whole story! He was addicted and obsessed with his music!

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Miles Davis Strasbourg – cropped image – wikimedia – creative commons license

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Listen to the following passage… “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36, 37

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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

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THIN LINE BETWEEN OBSESSION & GREATNESS

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There have been many, who have become so addicted to being successful in their career, that eventually they neglected even their own family members, for the pursuit of success in business, or agriculture, or even in pastoring.

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And for the most part, such people attain to some degree of adulation and honor and even riches from the world, all because they became obsessed with their pursuit, whatever that pursuit happened to be.

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Oh yes, they became incredible talents! But what price did they have to pay? A few self-indulgent years of fame and fortune in this fickle world? Trading eternal life  for a brief moment of selfish glory?

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Howard Hughes piloting Spruce Goose – cropped image – wikimedia – creative commons license

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CHRISTIANS TO COME OUT OF ADDICTIONS

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Well, just what is the point to all this?

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The point trying to be made here is this. There are many different things in this world, to become addicted to. There are certain TV and radio shows, various sports, careers, hobbies, video games, restauranting, exotic places, political parties, science and history books, and a vast array of other such pursuits, that one can become addicted to. Even coffee!

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And there are also many other intangible addictions, such as pride, anger, jealousy, self-pity (which is a form of self-worship), gluttony, etc….

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Now for the lost people of the world, many of these obsessions may be just fine! “Go for the gusto”, they often say! But as Christians, we are not to allow any earthly thing to become our master!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

 

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ALL SIN ADDICTIVE

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Yes, the Christian has been called to come out of this dark Babylonish world, with all its lusts and self-indulgent pursuits.

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Listen to the very first Commandment… “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3.

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Whatever thing or pursuit, no matter how wholesome and good it may appear to be, which becomes an inordinate affection in a person’s life, in reality becomes a god, or idol to that soul.

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And let’s face it! All sin is addictive! We have all been obsessed with sin, in one form or another! Listen to Jesus… “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34

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Ten Commandments – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License 4.0

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IN SATAN’S PRISON-HOUSE OF SIN

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The Bible says… “if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2nd Tim. 2:24-26

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As this above passage reveals, the people of this world are not free. Quite the contrary! They are in prison, Satan’s prison! 

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Internet addiction – cropped and lightened image – wikipedia – creative commons lic.

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“THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKS IN US”

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Please take careful note that the Bible reveals that Satan is the, “prince of the power of the air, that spirit that now works IN the children of disobedience”. And so, with this knowledge, it is no great wonder why we are so easily led into addictions and obsessions! He is the “prince of the power of the air”. Ephesians 2:2

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Now exactly all that this means, none of us can fully understand. But whatever is “the power of the air”, well, Satan is the prince of that power! And he is the spirit which now works IN the children of disobedience. It doesn’t say he works WITH them. It is his spirit that works IN them! This is the “spirit of error”, which 1st John also speaks of.

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council- Wikpedia – US Public Domain

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LET’S NOT BE PRESUMPTUOUS

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And let us not be so presumptuous to think that just because I call myself a Christian, that somehow I’m untouchable! Listen… “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.” 1st Corinthians 10:12.

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No, God is no respecter of persons. We are all capable of falling! We all must be diligently watching and praying!

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Jesus said… “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 6:41.

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Each and every Christian must overcome the world. Listen to Paul… “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24.

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Yes dear friend, if I am claiming to be Christ’s, and yet am still under the servitude of any one sin, then I am under the bondage of sin, not knowing nor understanding that sin, whatever that sin may be, is still my god and yet, still is my master!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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GOD PROMISES FREEDOM

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Now in spite of this not-so-great news, there is also some very Good News!

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For those who desire to mortify such inordinate affections and divers lusts, God has a wonderful promise!

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Just listen… “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6.

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Yes, God will continue with us day-by-day, no matter how weak we might be. And He will not give up on even one of His true followers!

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La Bible, Notre-Dame – cropped image – wikimedia – share-alike license

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HIS WORD WILL MAKE US FREE

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Jesus also gave this promise… “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32.

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Yes, here is the very place where we continue with Jesus: in His Word! That’s right! His Word, the Bible, shows us all about how to follow Him. And it is His Word that will make us free…if we will continue in the daily study/contemplation of His Word. 

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Jesus Teaching His Disciples – Luke 4:31-32 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org

 

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me follow You as Your disciple. And let me continue in Your Word, that I may know the truth: the truth that will make me free indeed!”

ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet” or you can also read… “Martha, the “Doer” & Mary, the “Hearer””

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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THE FLOWER OF HEAVEN CONSTELLATION

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REVELATION 12 WOMAN ON ALTAR AND FLOWER OF HEAVEN

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This constellation almost appears as a vine, as it projects out from the Altar/Ark Constellation . This constellation appears in mid-winter through late-spring. As you can see in this sketch, the Altar/Ark Constellation is also known as Leo Major , and the stem or vine of the flower is made of stars of the Virgo Constellation, and the flower itself is made of the Corvus Constellation.

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THE ZODIAC CONSTELLATION NAMES

It is not the purpose of www.theheavensdeclare.net to give any validity to the Zodiac or any pagan deities. But the common names of many constellations must be given, solely for the purpose of locating them on star-charts.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Flower of Heaven Constellation” or you can also read… “Flower of the Field Constellation”

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TOMORROW:

“October 24th (And The Nations Were Angry!)”

Antifa @ Protest Trump in Phoenix – 8-22-17 – Wikipedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #294 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.