Today’s Devotional – March 1st (A Designer Jesus!)

By admin On February 28th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – March 1st

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A Designer Jesus!

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In a day when “designer clothing” is very fashionable, “designer jesus’s” seem, also, very much in-vogue!

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**In other words, it seems as if within the Christian culture, there is, “another jesus”, who is tailor-made to suit just about anybody’s whimsy!**

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Skinny jeans street style à Strasbourg – Octobre 2013 – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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“ANOTHER JESUS?”

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Oh yes, the Bible speaks about, “another jesus”

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Listen… “But I fear, lest…your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” see 2nd Corinthians 11:3, 4.

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So here in this above passage, it becomes evident that there are counterfeit Jesus’s, and counterfeit Holy Spirits, and counterfeit Gospels!

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WHAT JESUS DO I WANT?

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Yes, just look around and you’ll find a gospel to suit one’s particular needs.

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So, just what is it that I am actually looking for?

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Question Marks-At a loss svg – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license

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AN OPULENT JESUS?

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Do I want a jesus which is some sort of “get-rich-genie-in-a-bottle”?

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Well, there are plenty of gospels out there that serve up such a jesus!

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Just pay the man some money and “Voila, golden eggs will soon drop from Heaven!”

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Legoland Windsor Aladdin and genie. – WIKIMEDIA – CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE

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EVERYDAY gODS, JESUS?

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Or perhaps I’m looking for a jesus who will allow me to serve my other weekday gods?

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The gods of “career”, or “travel”, or “TV”, or “lust”, or “sports”, or “money”, or whatever else happens to be the weekday gods that I worship?

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There are plenty of churches which will accommodate such a jesus.

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Just go there each week and pay the man some tithes or offerings…and “I’m good-to-go!”

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Super Bowl XLIII Thunderbirds Flyover – Feb 1 2009 – Wikipedia – public domain

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A HIP, SURFER JESUS?

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Or maybe I’m looking for a hip, surfer jesus?

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A youthful jesus? Easy talk, designer-jeans, earthly ambitions, and even some family values and social causes thrown into the mix, just to make me feel good about my selfish religion!

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Yeah, the “hip jesus” is very much riding the current wave of fashion and prosperity!

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Jesus in Jeans by Peter Royle – CROPPED IMAGE – WIKIMEDIA – SHARE-ALIKE LICENSE

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A PHARISEE JESUS?

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Or maybe I’m in the market for some strict, “Pharisee jesus”?

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He’s out there too!

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He comes with strict rules, and lots of finger-pointing!

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Tissot – The Pharisee and Publican – Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia – US public domain

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WHITE RABBIT JESUS?

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Yes, and then there’s the “White Rabbit jesus”.

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This jesus will take me down all sorts of rabbit trails!

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Endless genealogies, endless historical and science books, endless committees, endless volunteering, endless Creation/Evolution debates, etc., etc…

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Yes, this jesus will take me down every conceivable rabbit trail, anything to keep me from studying my Bible with the purpose to get to know the true Jesus, and how I can become changed into His likeness!

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Juvenile – Alice-in-Wonderland – White rabbit – believed to be public domain

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ILLUMINATI JESUS?

**Or how about an “Illuminati-jesus”? Conspiracy-theories, food-supplies, bomb-shelters, some weapons-arsenal, and a stash of gold coins!**

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Yes, that jesus is right now hiding in his bunker, just waiting for the impending revolution!

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Salpa_line_bunker_360_antitank_gun_outside – Wikimedia – Share Alike 3.0 license.

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A RESPECTABLE JESUS?

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And I can easily find a jesus who loves respectability!

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This jesus thrives on moralistic behavior, business suits and college degrees, respectable careers, beautiful church buildings, arched ceilings, fashionable church membership, country club memberships and every other badge of honor that gets applause and respect from the world.

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Yes, with this jesus, I can have the best of both worlds: I can have my praise from jesus, and retain my praise from men too!

Young business people – Cropped Photo – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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JESUS ACCORDING TO POLLYANNA?

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Yes, this jesus preaches the Gospel According To Pollyanna.

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In other words, just as Pollyanna found the 800 totally non-offensive Bible verses, so too, this jesus will bring me into a gospel, which is like getting a lobotomy!

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Such a gospel is like that Walmart smiley-face! “Happy, happy, happy!”

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(To read more, just click here… “Today’s Devotional – December 2 (The gospel according to Pollyanna)”)

Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

Happy face svg – wikimedia – public domain.

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ETHNIC JESUS?

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Or maybe I’m in the market for an “ethnic-jesus”?

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Some ethnic jargon, some colorful clothing, some traditional ceremonies, maybe some chants, and some tambourines, and some cultural music, and maybe even some dancing, too!

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Yes, that jesus is waiting for me: waiting to divide the body of Christ into tiny little individual cultures!

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many Jesus’s – Wikimedia – public domain

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BEAUTIFUL JESUS?

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Or how about a “beautified jesus”?

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Some candles, some swelling music, some high-arched ceilings, some incense, and a holy-looking prelate?

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Yes, that jesus has been around a long time!

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Christmas Divination – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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THE ‘GENERAL CONSENSUS’ JESUS?

Here’s a jesus which has a broad appeal!

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This jesus has the numbers on his side! He has the biggest and loudest microphones! And the biggest numbers of followers!

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And if anyone disagrees with his “orthodox theology”, they get shouted down!

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Or called a heretic! And mocked!

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As a matter of fact, even the prophet Elijah once went toe-to-toe against 450 prophets of this jesus, up there on Mount Carmel!

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Yes, here’s a jesus who revels in the fact that his teachings are correct, and beyond re-examination! And only a fool (or Elijah) would ever dare challenge this jesus!

He’s got the numbers on his side, you know!?

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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ANOTHER JESUS, ANOTHER GOSPEL, ANOTHER SPIRIT

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Well, the list goes on and on!

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Yes, there’s the hippy jesus, and the sensual jesus, and the music-only jesus, and the doctrine-debating jesus. Well, there is just about any type of jesus a person could possibly want, in today’s designer-world!

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Yes, the Bible speaks about, “another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted,” 2nd Corinthians 11:4.

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And such Jesus’s are in no short supply in today’s world!

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But the curious thing is, they all have one thing in common.

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Yes, they all have a jesus which offers both Christianity and the World, too!

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LEAVE MY STUFF AT THE DOOR!

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“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14

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But if perchance there happens to be someone who wishes to serve the Jesus of the Bible, He is also very available!

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But the door that I must walk through is very narrow.

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And there is no room for anything else to fit through that Narrow Gate! Gold and silver and earthly riches will not fit!

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Cultural/hip/sensual music, and ethnic traditions will not fit! Hip talk, comedians, fashionable or sensual music, candles, beads, earthly Mammon, amusements, upward-mobility, banqueting, high-arched ceilings, writings of men, various lusts, out-of-control affections, self-will, anger, social-gospels, politics, high-society, low-society, curious books and sciences, health & wealth schemes, romance stories, earthly patriotism, etc., etc., just will not fit through that Narrow Gate!

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Only Jesus will fit through that Narrow Gate! And anyone trying to bring anything else, but Jesus only, just need not try!

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All those interested in bringing such stuff, simply need to go to the Wide Gate. That gate-keeper to that Wide Gate will be glad to accommodate all such!

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And his gate is wide enough for just about any ol’ thing that anyone wants to bring!

The Narrow Gate & Wide Gates- www.signsofheaven.org

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THE GOOD NEWS!

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“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

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But the Good News is, the Narrow Gate will accommodate poor, repentant, wretched, miserable, sinners (us), who are very willing to leave behind all our worldly gods at the door!

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Just look at the Pilgrim here, standing at the Cross! Yes, that heavy bag there on the ground, was all the heavy burden of sin, which fell off, when the Pilgrim met Jesus at the Cross! And all my heavy baggage can fall off my back too!

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And the true Jesus is very willing to begin the process of purification, to cleanse my wicked heart of my love for all those many gods I once served, when in the world!

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Pilgrims Progress – His Burden Fell Off His Back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

NOVEMBER 29 (A Designer Jesus! Part 2: “Keep Thyself Pure” (1st Timothy 5:22))

Virtuous Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to find the true Jesus. Your Word says, “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. And so, give the grace which will cause me to forsake the things of this world, and cause me to seek for Thee, and Thee alone…

Prayer at Day’s End – Angelus by Jean-François Millet – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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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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HOW THE GATES RELATE TO ORION & DRAGON

This sketch below is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter (However, this constellation group can even be seen as early as July, in the pre-dawn hours). In the eastern sky, it’s not so easily seen which gate the Revelation 12 Woman will enter. The Wide Gate is made of the two brightest stars of this Wave of Water Constellation. Satan spews out the deadly water of his false worldly ideologies; which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness, but in some way are not in harmony; or perhaps these worldly ideologies add to the Bible, which is strictly forbidden (see Deuteronomy 4:2).

On the other hand, the Strait Gate (narrow gate) is composed of the two brightest stars of the Orion The Reaper’s sickle. The true Strait Gate represents Jesus, the Word of God. Listen… “I [Jesus] am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

THE TWO PATHWAYS

two doors- narrow gate & wide gate

“And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.” Jeremiah 21:8.

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As this above verse declares, God has set these two pathways before each human.

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And each human must decide which door he or she will enter. Nobody who has come into this has been overlooked. Listen… “[Jesus] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9. Now if this verse is correct, then Christ is the light that enlightens “every man that comes into the world”. Christ is not just the light that enlightens SOME. But He is the light that enlightens EVERY man, woman and child who comes into the world; even those who have lived in remote places, throughout history. Every person has a conscience. And every man must choose who he or she will serve. This is what the Bible calls, “the way of life, and the way of death.” Jer.21:8.

The Narrow Gate & Wide Gate- www.signsofheaven.org-

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TOMORROW:

” (Atheism-Exposed – Nature’s Beauty)”

A Queen butterfly and a Monarch butterfly – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #60 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – February 28th (Psychology & Vain Deceit!)

By admin On February 27th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 28th

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Psychology & Vain Deceit!

THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONAL IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE SIGNS OF HEAVEN ARTICLE… “Floodwaters of the False Prophet: “Atheism & Psychology””

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“Beware lest any man spoil you

through philosophy and vain deceit,

after the tradition of men,

after the rudiments of the world,

and not after Christ.

For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in Him,

which is the head of all principality and power:”

Colossians 2:8-10

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Sigmund Freud LIFE – Wikipedia – US public domain

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**This above verse concerning “philosophy and vain deceit” speaks of any ideology which compromises the true Gospel.**

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And psychology is one of the many ideologies which offer a humanistic approach to life, designed to compromise the purity of God’s infallible Word of Truth.

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And because psychology mingles truth with error, it becomes a very powerful deception, especially for those who are not thoroughly familiar with the Bible, nor are spiritually connected with Christ.

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PSYCHOLOGY & ATHEISM

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And psychology has become a close companion of atheism.

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After all, it is the desire to solve Man’s problems, without the acknowledgment of the spiritual warfare literally going on all around us!

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And so, from its very conception, psychology was in trouble.

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Yes, being mostly, an atheistic science, psychology attempted to explain the workings of the human mind, not realizing that unseen spiritual influences, both good and evil, are constantly at work in the lives of human beings.

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Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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WE LIVE IN PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL REALM

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So, when an individual was experiencing various troubles, he or she might have been in the midst of harassment by unseen evil angels.

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Or when that same individual was experiencing joy, or peace of mind, it might have been because angels of God had chased away those demonic spirits for a time to give that person a much-needed rest.

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Or it might have even been that God’s merciful, gentle Spirit was showering that person with joy and peace… “Nevertheless, He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Acts 14:17

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And so, for psychologists to attempt to explain the human mind, without acknowledgment of an intensely active and all-encompassing spirit realm, was an impossible task, to say the least. “The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” Psalm 14:1

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US public domain

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TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO CURE SADNESS

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Psychology doesn’t normally take into account, that God may have been trying to bring an individual back into a right relationship with Him.

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Take for example, a person who was sad. Psychology attempted to diagnose either a physical or mental or social cause and solution for that sadness. In other words, there was no attempt to look to the Bible; no attempt to look to prayer and humbling of that sad person by the loving decree of the Heavenly Father. No attempt to find the true spiritual cause & solution for that sadness.

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Thus, the sad person is counseled that, perhaps, the sadness was due to a lack of exercise, or maybe from a need to become more sociable, etc….

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Woman praying – Heinrich Seufferheld – 1893 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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GOD AFFLICTS TO REPENTANCE

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Yes, that sad person will probably be counseled that, perhaps, the sadness was due to a lack of exercise, or some social needs, etc….

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But what was really needed was a heart-humbling consecration, prayer and Bible study!

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God can take away sadness even from people who cannot exercise, nor have any degree of social life! A bed-confined person can be the world’s happiest person, by the power of God!

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It’s not that exercise is a bad thing. By all means, exercise, if you’re able! And fellowship with Believers may be a good thing!

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Munch Det Syke Barn 1896 wikipedia US public domain

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“LET US SEARCH & TRY OUR WAYS”

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But psychology usually completely missed the big point about sorrow.

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And the big point was this: God may have been allowing that “storm cloud” of sadness to hang over a Christian’s head, in order to cause that Christian to seek a closer relationship with the Lord.

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Psychology’s goal was to get the person happy, and back to “normal” life in the world!

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**But God’s goal may have been to allow Satan to bring a season of sadness, in order that the person might have fallen to their knees in prayer and repentance.**

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A Prayer for those at Sea by Frederick Daniel Hardy – Wikipedia – US public domain

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“IT IS OF THE LORD’S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED”

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The Bible is filled with accounts of all sorts of troubles which God brought upon His people in attempt to get them to look up!

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Listen…“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness…But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies…Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.” Lamentations 3:22, 23, 32, 40.

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By this passage, it begins to be understood that God allows sorrow to bring us to repentance from our selfish ways!

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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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UNBIBLICAL ADVICE

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But psychology may divert that Christian, by encouraging some daily jogging program, for instance.

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The Christian may even be encouraged to join some secular jogging club for an enhanced social life, too. And as a result, the Christian may begin to spend more and more time in this pursuit and less and less time with Jesus!

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So now in his new endeavors, the Christian may grow further and further away from the Lord to an even greater extent, by diverting precious time to running races with unbelievers or worldly-minded Christians.

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Marathon-New_York_Verrazano_bridge Martineric from Lille, France – Wikipedia – share-alike lic.

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JOY A GIFT FROM GOD

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And anyway, true joy is something that can only come from God. (Oh yes, Satan can and does give mankind many fleeting pleasures of the flesh and of the mind! See Ephesians 2:1-3)

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**Yes, true, ever-flowing joy is something that only God can give, maybe even to unbelievers at times. Yes, God’s rain “falls on the just and the unjust”, says Scripture in *Matthew 5:45.***

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**In His mercy, God gives joy to all His creatures. “God is no respecter of persons” Acts 10:34. So, for Mankind to attempt to find TRUE happiness apart from God is futile!**

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We are complete in Christ, and we are to bring nothing into Christianity from the world.

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**We are to keep Christ’s religion pure and undefiled… “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit” Colossians 2:8.**

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Woman with Bible? – Brooklyn Museum – La Roche Guyon by Theodore Robinson – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“BODILY EXERCISE PROFITS LITTLE”

And one more word on this subject…

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**If God wishes for the Christian to get more exercise, God may inspire His trusting child with such things as taking daily walks (or even a bike-ride) while praying or just contemplating Scripture.**

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So, if that Christian had gone to the Lord in prayer, instead of seeking the advice of worldly-minded voices, the Lord may have put that Believer on such things as a walk/prayer exercise program instead of going off in a completely different direction, such as joining a time-consuming, secular running club.

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Or maybe raising a garden, or other things which have so much more meaning!

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Man-walking-into-sun – cropped/altered image – Wikipedia – share-alike-lic_

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BIBLE ANSWERS ALL MATTERS OF HEART

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No, the Christian doesn’t need to pay money to a psychologist, to solve his or her problems.

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What’s needed is for that Christian to prayerfully begin reading God’s Word, and then contemplate that Word throughout the day! (God will keep him in PERFECT PEACE whose mind is stayed upon God’s Word: because he trusts in Him! Isaiah 26:3)

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**Of course, this requires a full surrender, and a total forsaking of all, in order to become a true disciple and genuine follower of Jesus. (see Luke 14:33)**

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But as that Christian begins to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God’s Word, the questions of life will begin to be answered, one-by-one, day-by-day, and eventually, one-and-all!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a confidence in the Bible, and a knowledge of that Word, which will give me the answers to all my questions…

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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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WHAT DOES THE WATER REPRESENT?

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***“When the waves of death compassed me…THE FLOODS OF UNGODLY MEN* made me afraid. *The sorrows of Hell compassed me about;” 2nd Samuel 22:5.***

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Winter Bible Constellations (darker)www.signsofheaven.org share-alike license

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So this passage (and many others too) equates flood waters with the sorrows of Hell, with ungodly men, and with waves of death. And so then, by comparing Scriptures dealing with flood waters, we begin to see just what this Woman of Revelation 12 is fleeing from. Listen to Revelation, Chapter 12… “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:15. As you can see in this sketch to the left, this woman is fleeing from the water which the Dragon is spewing, exactly as it says in Revelation 12. And so, by looking at various related Scriptures, we begin to understand just what this wave of water represents. This Woman of Revelation 12 is fleeing from ‘waves of death’, from ‘sorrows of Hell’, and from ‘floods of ungodly men’, as stated in Psalm 18:4.

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DRAGON CONSTELLATION’S WAVE OF WATER

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Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation

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In Revelation, the Dragon of Revelation 12 is described as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. However, the Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation up in the night sky does not. But God has faithfully created this wave of water, in such a way, as to illustrate this same concept of the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. Because this wave of water is basically comprised of ten stars. The main body of the wave has seven stars (#’s 1 thru 7, in the sketch), and the tip of the crest of the wave has the other three stars, (#’s 8, 9, 10). So in this wave, we see the same 7/10 numbering found in the Revelation description of the heads/horns/crowns of the Dragon. And this gives us a great clue, as to where in the Bible we should look, to find out the riddle as to just what or who do these 7 heads, 10 crowns, and 7 horns represent. Because, the Bible speaks very much about floods and waters as being associated with Satan (the Dragon). Listen again… “When the waves of death compassed me…THE FLOODS OF UNGODLY MEN made me afraid. The sorrows of Hell compassed me about;” 2nd Samuel 22:5.

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TOMORROW:

February 29 (By Beholding Jesus…Changed!)

Skateboarder Jesus in Jeans – Church in the U.K – by Peter Royle – cropped image – WIKIMEDIA – SHARE-ALIKE LICENSE

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #59 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – February 27th (Love Is Not A Pick-N-Choose Buffet)

By admin On February 27th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 27th

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*Love is Not a Pick-n-Choose Buffet***

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Just imagine if Christianity was a pick-n-choose buffet! And maybe it was called, say, “The King’s Table Grand Buffet” And you could just go down the line and choose whatever you wanted to have in your religion…

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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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1st CUSTOMER: “I think I’ll have some of that Manna Bible Bread!”

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2nd CUSTOMER: “Oh I don’t want that! It’s too hard to digest! I’m going to have some of this soft Jello with bits of “fruit of the Spirit”. That’s all my stomach can handle!”

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3rd CUSTOMER: “WOW! How bout that “meat of the Word” down there! Doesn’t that look great!?”

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2nd CUSTOMER: “There again, it’s much too much for me! I’ll just have some nice soft beginning-doctrines-vegetables and a glass of milk-of-the-Word!”

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1st CUSTOMER: “Oh boy, I’m just gonna bypass all that bread and meat of the Word, and merely have some nice angel-food-cake-of-good-works”

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4th CUSTOMER: “Well, I’m gonna have some of that rich-looking Prosperity-Gospel Devil’s-Food-cake covered by a thin coating of form-of-godliness-frosting!”

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Forain – the buffet – Wikimedia – US public domain

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OK, so you get the point, don’t you?

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But fortunately, Christianity is not just some pick-n-choose buffet!

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Banquet Table Nobel-Hansbaer – Wikipedia – share-alike lic.

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MANY ONLY WANT PART OF THE GOSPEL

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Someone may argue at this point, saying, “Well I don’t want to be part of the ‘frozen chosen’. I just want to do humanitarian good works! You know, clothing the naked, and feeding the hungry!”

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Well, it’s fine to do these good works. By all means, send money or food or clothing!

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But don’t be like Mr. Obstinate here, refusing to escape from the City of Destruction, and refusing to walk that upward Pilgrim’s Pathway to the Celestial City!

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Pilgrim’s Progress 09 p29 “Obstinate” – Wikimedia – public domain

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SALVATION: THE GREATEST GIFT!

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**Yes, what these kinds of pick-n-choose arguments don’t take into account is, that the highest form of love is the Salvation of lost souls.**

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You can give food baskets and send used clothing to the needy, but these will not save their soul.

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On the other hand, there is no greater love, than to lead starving and thirsty souls to the bread from Heaven, and to the water of life!

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Free Food Distribution – Gangasagar Fair Transit Camp – Kolkataw – Wikimedia – Free-Documentation-License.jpg

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GARMENTS OF SALVATION

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And there is no better way to clothe the spiritually naked, than to cover them with the garments of Salvation.

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These garments are made of the Holy Spirit, as He covers each new Believer with the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

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Baptism in the Jordan – Wikimedia – GNU Free-Documentation License

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THE PRISON-HOUSE OF SIN

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And there is no better way to visit prisoners, than to pray for, and witness to those who are in Satan’s prison-house of sin.

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**And let’s face it! The whole world is held in bondage, locked behind the iron bars of Satan’s prison-house of sin! (See Timothy 2:24-26)**

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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EARLY CHURCH: OUR ROLE-MODEL

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As we read of the manner in which the early Apostles went into the world, we behold the example set for us of how we are to likewise win the world for Christ.

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And the more we know about Jesus, through His Word, the more intelligently we can be led by God’s Spirit.

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It’s like that saying, “Give a man a fish, and he will live another day! Teach a man to fish, and he will live a lifetime!”

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But to these words we would add… “But teach a man to be a fisher-for-the-souls-of-men, and he will live for all eternity!”

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St Paul Preaching in Athens – Raphael – 1515 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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BIBLE NOT A PICK-N-CHOOSE BOOK!

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Christianity is certainly not a pick-n-choose buffet restaurant in which we choose to perform some good works, and yet NOT choose the other qualities of Christ’s love.

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Listen… “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity!” Matthew 7:21-23.

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This above passage speaks of people who thought that humanitarian good works were sufficient to gain Christ’s approval.

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Little did they know what condemnation they would receive from Jesus, on that Great Day of Reckoning!

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Vegie_buffet – cropped image – Wikimedia – GNU-Free-Documentation-License.jpg

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THE JOY OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST

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Our goal is to become changed into His glorious image!

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If we want the blessing of God, we must follow Paul’s exhortation… “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ…” Romans 13:14.

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To die-to-self is a total transformation of the heart.

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And to finally be filled with all His fullness will be a joy unspeakable!

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ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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“MY YOKE IS EASY!”

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Christ speaks of the glorious Rest which is offered to all who come unto Him, and put on His yoke of service…“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

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But let’s not become disheartened by the steep mountain we must climb! Jesus will help us, step-by-step.

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Our job is to merely sit at His feet and hear His Word.

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And finally, our great work is to cling to His precious promises, and sing His glorious praises, as He carries us up that golden pathway that leads to the Celestial City of the Heavenly King!

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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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To read Part 2, click here…

JUNE 21 (Love Is Not A Pick-n-Choose Buffet, Part 2: Our Royal Priesthood)

Vegie_buffet – cropped image – Wikimedia – GNU-Free-Documentation-License.jpg

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a love for all of Thy Word. And give me a love for all of Jesus. And help me to walk in all Thy ways…

Prayer – Mother and Daughter – Wikipedia – (cropped image) the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic 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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REVELATION 12 WRITTEN IN HEAVEN

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“And there appeared a great wonder (or sign) in heaven; a woman…And there appeared another wonder (sign) in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads…And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God…And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Rev. 12:1, 3, 6, 15

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Here is a sketch of this Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12. This is the Winter Constellations of Signs Of Heaven. Besides Orion and his Horse, we also see pictured in this sketch, the Dragon of Revelation 12.

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Winter Bible Constellations (darker)www.signsofheaven.org share-alike license

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This Revelation 12 Woman Constellation is fleeing. As you can see, the Dragon Constellation is spewing a flood of water in her direction, as is written… “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Rev. 12:15. This wave of water represents Satan’s lies, and his false teachers who tell those lies.

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GOD’S MESSAGE: FLEE!!

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Beholding the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation in winter, it seems that God is trying to get a very important message across to His people: that His Church is to flee! But what are they to flee from? Well, you can go to the article titled “The Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation”

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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS-SEEN IN FALL: This sketch to the right is how this constellation group appears in the eastern sky in fall. This is the four primary constellations of the Winter Constellations. They can be seen in this position, in the late fall above the eastern horizon. The Woman of Revelation 12 is commonly called Ursa Major or The Big Dipper and appears in the north. Orion the Soldier is the at the bottom is to the south of the Woman. The The Dragon of Revelation Constellation’s mouth is The Hyades Cluster, and the tip of his tail is Pleiades, and his Wave of Water is primarily the Auriga constellation. The Glorious Horse Constellation head is of Perseus Constellation and his rear end is Cassiopeia Constellation.

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TOMORROW:

” February 28th (Psychology & Vain Deceit!)”

Sigmund Freud – LIFE – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #58 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – February 25th – (No Rest Unto The Wicked)

By admin On February 25th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 25th

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“NO REST UNTO THE WICKED”

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE SIGNS OF HEAVEN ARTICLE… “Orion, The Good Shepherd”

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“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

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The above passage, spoken by Jesus, is a call to all Humanity.

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Jesus says to us, “Aren’t you tired of this selfish and unhappy world? Aren’t you weary of struggling so hard to try to manage your own life? Won’t you come unto Me, and let Me be the Shepherd of your life and the Giver of Everlasting Life to your soul?”

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PICTURE: “Orion, The Good Shepherd” Constellation

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NO REST FOR THE SOUL

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The people of the world quite often appear to be having such a good time!

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**And to a certain extent, there is a selfish pleasure which results from serving this world and serving the “god of this world” 2nd Corinthians 4:4.**

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Café de Flore coffee house – Wikipedia – public domain

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“NO PEACE UNTO THE WICKED!”

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But deep within the heart, there can be no lasting peace in a person who continues to live for self.

494px-De_Windstoot_-_A_ship_in_need_in_a_raging_storm_(Willem_van_de_Velde_II,_1707)

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Just listen to Isaiah…“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20, 21.

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This is the condition of the people of this world. Outwardly they might appear as if, “life is just a breeze!” But it won’t be long until they swell up just like a troubled wave of the sea, when it cannot rest.

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Just look at all the suicides, all the divorces, the angry outbursts, the sorrow, the addictions, the obsessions, the murders, the jealousies, the divorces, the robberies, the all-consuming strivings for success, the sickness, the suffering, and all the hopelessness all over the world!

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A ship in need in a raging storm (Willem van de Velde II – 1707) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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A REST UNTO OUR SOULS

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To become a Follower of Jesus, not only makes us a Disciple, but…

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…But we also become the sheep of the Good Shepherd’s pasture. No longer must we strive. No longer need we manage our own little world.

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Now we can just be content to nibble on God’s Word, throughout our day, just as sheep continually nibble the grass, throughout their day.

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“So we Thy people and sheep of Thy pasture will give Thee thanks for ever: we will show forth Thy praise to all generations.” Psalm 79:13

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Sheep & Shepherd – Christian Friedrich Mali – Public Domain.

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GOD’S WORD BRINGS REST

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“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29

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The more a Christian comes into harmony with God’s Word, the more he or she sees that God and His angels are now orchestrating their lives.

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And instead of trying to manipulate circumstances, they merely go through their day, performing each duty before them, letting the Lord lead them along the upward pathway, just as He led His Disciples through the highways and byways of the Holy Land.

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The Christian is more and more content to simply graze in the peaceful green pastures of God’s Word, under the watchful eye of the Good Shepherd.

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ABOVE PICTURE – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd – www.signsofheaven.org

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***INTO THE HIGHWAYS* *OF ETERNITY***

Day by day, you will find yourself walking, like the Disciples, spreading the precious Gospel seed wherever the Good Shepherd leads you!

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Your great desire will be to honor the lovely name of Jesus, with every word spoken! You will find yourself walking through this sin-darkened world, witnessing to those who take notice, that of a truth, Jesus the Good Shepherd is leading you! Even like faithful Enoch, walking through the highways and byways of life in this world, spreading the Gospel-seed of unpretentious love, wherever you may go.

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Day by day, you will become more and more closed-in with God. Your heart will become intertwined with God’s heart, eventually the two hearts beating as one heart!

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And just like Enoch, when the appointed sojourn on earth is finally done…you will walk onward…and upward…and into the highways and byways of eternity! (“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24).

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Study for The Cross and the World…… Brooklyn Museum – Thomas Cole – US public domain.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me enter into your everlasting rest. Let me become one of the sheep of your pasture. Help me to cease from trying to run my own life, and simply let you lead…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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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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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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01.17.20133

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This star-chart from Wikipedia, has Orion sketched in by the editor of this website.

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And with the addition of a single star, Theta Geminorum (the left hand of the Castor twin of Gemini), the sickle in Orion, the Reaper’s hand (sketch to left), now extends the blade, thus transforming that sickle into the hook of a shepherd’s rod and staff.

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And so now this little Gemini star becomes the tip of Orion’s Shepherd’s rod & staff. Thus with this additional star, Orion the Reaper Constellation now becomes the 5th personality of Orion: The Good Shepherd (sketch below right). Theta Geminorum is a class A3, 4th magnitude star, which means it is much fainter than either of the stars, Castor or Pollux.

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But faint as This little star may be, it nevertheless presents a giant concept, turning Orion’s sickle into a shepherd’s rod.

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**And this is a very wonderful and beautiful Bible truth: namely, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, as is written…**

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“As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Ezekiel 34:12

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And so God has placed this Starry Shepherd in the winter-night heavens to remind us of His great love for a planet which has wandered away: just like sheep that wandered to where the grass looked greener.

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ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART: Orion the reaper – Wikipedia star-chart (with the Reaper drawn over by this website)

ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd (Orion Constellation and rod made of Gemini stars – with the Shepherd drawn over by this website) – www.signsofheaven.org

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TOMORROW:

February 26th (The Thought Police Have Finally Arrived!)

From George Orwells Futuristic book 1984 – Wikimedia – Free-Art License

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #56 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – February 26th (The Thought Police Have Finally Arrived)…Also read, (“Here Come The Totalitarians”)

By admin On February 25th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 26th

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“The Thought Police Have Finally Arrived!”

(Also read, “Here Come The Totalitarians” at page bottom)

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In George Orwell’s little book, 1984, he presented a world in which the rulers had succeeded in complete totalitarian control over the masses. There were even “Thought Police” to control the people’s thoughts.

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1984 – By George Orwell – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE THOUGHT POLICE HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED!

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Well, about the only thing that Orwell had miscalculated in this predictive novel was the date for this super-society to come into reality. He was about 35 years off!

But that day has finally arrived in which society can (and will) be brought under the control of dictatorial rulers! Orwell’s book should have been titled “2018”!

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Yes, by means of the modern media, “Big Brother” (aka Satan) can now completely control the masses.

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And now, these high-tech devices are beginning to blacklist all those who do not hold to the maxims which our society now approves of.

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ABOVE PHOTO: Adelaide internet censorship protest – Wikimedia

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THE NEW LAWS JUST LIKE THE OLD LAWS

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Just like in every totalitarian society, past and present, the new thought police are beginning their war against the Bible.

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Nazi Stabs Bible – Wikimedia commons – US Public Domain (2)

Book Burning – Santo Domingo y Los Albigenses – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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FREE SPEECH ENDS WHERE IT BEGAN?

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It is more than just a little ironically strange and weird that in the very place which became the centerpiece for the modern-day protection of “freedom of speech”, has now become the centerpiece to stamp out “freedom of speech”!

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And perhaps even stranger, it is the very same political party who have long prided themselves as being the arbiters and protectors of that freedom, who are now the very same political party applauding any media outlet or violent mob which squelches the free speech of their political foes!

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Mario Savio Berkeley Protest – cropped image – WIKIPEDIA – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

Berkeley protests – cropped image – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

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THE BIBLE FORETOLD OF THIS DAY!

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It’s truly frightening to see all this totalitarianism being ratcheted up so swiftly.

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But the Bible foretold that this day would finally arrive…“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:17

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Now this verse by itself may not give us enough understanding into the current-day phenomenon of censoring.

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Duct Tape Mouth – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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“Buy the truth, and sell it not!”

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But this next verse complements the previous verse found in Revelation 13:17.

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This complementary verse is found in Proverbs 23:23…“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

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Now from this and other similar verses, it is revealed that “buying and selling” actually has to do with preaching the Gospel of Jesus.

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And so, the Bible prophesied that the day would come when the true and unvarnished Word of God would be cut off…“And that no man might buy or sell (the truth)” (parenthetical comment by website editor)

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Duct Tape Mouth – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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THE “GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY”

Proverbs 25:25

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But the Good News in all this coming totalitarianism, is that God’s Word is still available to read!

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And most everyone is familiar with this next verse…“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

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Yes, the continuing search for knowledge of the Bible and the Bible’s Jesus will make us free indeed!

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However pressing his duties STM2-c James Lee Frazer always finds time to read a few chapters from his Bible each day. I – NARA – 520675 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me grace to hide Thy Word in my heart…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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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 REVELATION 12 DRAGON & THE PLEIADES (THE HARLOT & CAPTIVE ANGEL CONSTELLATION)***

Revelation 12 Dragon

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (Babylon), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

The story of the Levite and his Concubine is a concept which God has written in the Stars. You see, the Revelation 12 Dragon is a picture of Satan and his armies. But if you look closely at the tip of his tail, you will notice that it is made of a cluster of Stars known as The Pleiades.

pleiades_gendler-e1358291561622

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This cluster is in the shape of the tip of a lion’s tail. But if you look closer (looking with telescope or looking just at photos) you see that The Pleiades looks like a woman (photo to right). On one hand it appears as a harlot, riding a beast with a wine-cup in her hand. But then, if you step back you will see this same constellation. God has a people in Babylon. Yes, Mystery Babylon is the Mother of Harlots. The sketch to the below left, shows her riding this beast with 7 heads and 10 horns.

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GOD YET HAS A PEOPLE IN BABYLON

The Pleiades: Mystery Babylon: Mother of Harlots

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But in that spiritual city, Babylon, there are those who love God. And before the final plagues are poured out upon her, God will call His people out of this spiritual city, Babylon, represented by this harlot… “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (Babylon), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

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And so in addition to The Pleiades appearing as the Mother of Harlots, we also see this second depiction of The Pleiades as an angel, which symbolizes God’s people (see picture below, right). They must be called out of spiritual harlot city, Babylon (picture to left).

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THE CAPTIVE ANGEL IN PLEIADES

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And so the story of this concubine from Judges 19, who played the whore, but at the end she came back, only to die, clinging to the threshold of the door; this is the same portrait which The Pleiades presents. That is, this Pleiades Constellation presents a picture of the Church, portrayed as a harlot, but also as an angel taken captive.

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THE DAWNING OF THE DAY

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But the story of this concubine has a climactic moment of truth, as this concubine returns to the door, following the night of her being abused. And this dramatic moment happens at the dawning of the Day. Listen… “Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light. And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, AND HER HANDS WERE UPON THE THRESHOLD.” Judges 19:26, 27.

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TOMORROW:

February 27th (Love Is Not A Pick-N-Choose Buffet).

Vegie buffet – Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #57 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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ARTICLE #2

“Here Come The Totalitarians”

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**Many of those who have bought into this unbiblical church-doctrine, “The Pre-Tribulation Rapture”, must be getting very nervous at this point in time!**

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Anti-Christian rally in Chicago – Wikimedia

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THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE: DARBY & SCOFIELD’S FOLLY!

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Yes, the master-deceiver, Satan, has successfully lulled the bulk of mainstream Christians into a false sense of security, saying, “Don’t worry, be happy! You’ll be long gone when all Hell breaks loose in the world!”

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But the Bible prophesied about such false teachers…“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1st Thessalonians 5:3

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Yes, Satan is working though many false shepherds “to deceive if possible, even the very elect!” Mark 13:22

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John Nelson Darby – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

Cyrus Scofield – 1920 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“O My people, they which lead thee cause thee to err”

Isaiah 3:12

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And so, when we see all the crazy stuff going on, and all the frightening paradigm shifts taking place right now in society, this must make a lot of sincere churchgoers sit up and nervously ask the question…“Am I really going to get raptured out of here, before ‘all Hell’ breaks loose? Or have I been deceived by my teachers, because it sure looks like ‘all Hell’ is already beginning to break out!?”

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God has warned us that the deceptions would be so close to truth, that Satan would, “if possible, deceive even the very Elect!” (See Matthew 24:24 & Mark 13:22)

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The Late, Great Planet Earth cover – Wikipedia – Non-Free Media Rationale

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“They shall come all for violence”

Habakkuk 1:9

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Yes, it appears as if Satan and his vast armies are now on the march! And it seems as if he is rapidly morphing society into a brand-new totalitarian world-system!

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Multitudes are gnashing on their teeth against anyone else who opposes their totalitarian ideals about what they want this society to morph into. And their angry rhetoric is getting louder. And even a few of them are beginning to physically assault those who stand in their way and assault those who protest against their fascist-like ideals.

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Protesters – Wikimedia – Share-alike License 3.0

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“And judgment is turned away backward”

Isaiah 59:14

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And even in our court system, some activist judges are turning a blind eye to truth and justice, handing down wrong decisions, according to their own personal social/political biases.

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And the following verse literally foretold of this very day of unjust laws…“And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter…” Isaiah 59:14

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Yes, less and less are Christians able to depend on today’s court system to render them justice: society is becoming more and more bigoted and biased against all those who oppose the current-day so-called political/social correctness!

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Lady Justice – Not-so-blindfolded – Wikimedia & www.openclipart.org – Public Domain

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“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark…”

Revelation 13:17

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And even the private business giants are beginning to capitulate to this growing totalitarianism, realizing that they must “get on board” or suffer the consequences!

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And so, in order to appease the loud totalitarian voices, many banks and corporations are now beginning to cut off the ability for certain dissenters to buy or sell.

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Thumbs down – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0 License

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“…that bitter…nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land”

Habakkuk 1:6

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It’s frightening and unbelievable to behold the growing movement in which a great portion of the secular society and their leadership are calling for the silencing of all those who hold to different beliefs and values! And it’s even more remarkable that such a large percentage of the general populace are so willing and eager to vote for those who will stamp out freedom of speech!

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Just listen to their drumbeats as they get louder and more hateful and increasingly militant against their supposed political and religious enemies!

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It makes us very nervous when we hear protesters chant their anti-Christian mantra…“BRING BACK THE LIONS! BRING BACK THE LIONS!”

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

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666?

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Revelation, Chapter 13, long foretold that this end-time totalitarian takeover would eventually happen…“And he (the false Prophet) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16, 17

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This above passage speaks of a totalitarian society in which “no man might buy or sell, unless he has the mark, or the name of the Beast, or the number of his name”.

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Well, it looks as if that day is just over the horizon, or perhaps has already begun!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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“Buy the truth, and sell it not”

Proverbs 23:23

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**Now. let it be stated that many Bible teachers and students have held to the belief that “buying and selling” has to do with the cutting off of all preaching of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.**

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But many more believe that this passage refers to the actual inability to purchase or sell food, clothing, housing, etc…

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The fact is, both schools of thought are probably correct. In other words, the true Gospel will probably be censored in the near future. But also, those Christians who stand firm against the wiles of the Devil, will find it all but impossible to buy or sell in the marketplace.

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Duct Tape Mouth – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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“Blow ye the trumpet…for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;”

Joel 2:1

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Well, the Good News is, there is still time to prepare for this coming tempest. And there is still time to preach the true Gospel, warning the public to “flee from the wrath to come!” Matthew 3:7 & Luke 3:7

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**Yes, those who still have “an ear to hear”, should pray for Divine Wisdom to know how best to sound “the trumpet, the alarm of war”. Jeremiah 4:19**

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Global Warning – Judgment – Christ Coming by Julian Osley – Wikimedia – Share Alike License

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TOMORROW:

February 27th (Love Is Not A Pick-N-Choose Buffet).

Vegie buffet – Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – February 24th (The Valley of Dry Bones!)

By admin On February 23rd, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 24th

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***The Valley* *of Dry Bones!***

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There has been a general consensus among the Twentieth Century Bible teachers, that Ez ekiel, Chapter 37, which speaks of the Valley of Dry Bones, concerns the nation of Israel, over there in Palestine.

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Yes, since the reforming of Israel in 1948, Bible teachers have increasingly bent the prophecies concerning Israel into the direction of National Israel in modern-day Palestine.

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The problem with this notion is, that what Ezekiel saw could not be speaking of today’s National Israel.

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Because there are a number of inconsistencies which prevents National Israel from being the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision.

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Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones – Gustave Dore – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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THE WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

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First, Ezekiel says… “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel:” Ezekiel 37:11

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**The reason this cannot be speaking of literal National Israel, is that it is certainly not the “whole house of Israel”.**

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Because National Israel is the home of about 10,000,000 people of Jewish descent. And even if it were twice that number, it only represents a tiny percentage of humans with Jewish blood! And so, when God says this Valley of Dry Bones is the “whole house of Israel”, literal National Israel is merely a tiny portion of “Israel, after the flesh”. 1st Corinthians 10:18

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The number of people around the world who have Jewish blood, may be upwards in the neighborhood of nearly half the earth’s inhabitants, though most are not aware of their Jewish blood!

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Crowd of people – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST NOT ACCEPTED

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Second, God says… “O My people…(I) shall put My Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” Ezekiel 37:13, 14

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**And so, here is another prophecy which cannot be speaking of literal Israel in Palestine, even though it speaks here of, “your land”.**

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Because, those Jewish inhabitants of today’s National Israel, while many may be outwardly nice people, (and our heart yearns for their Salvation), are definitely not Christians, and show absolutely no interest in becoming Christians, for the most part!

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**God has not put “My Spirit” in them, for the most part.**

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They are mostly as spiritually dead as are the Palestinian people living in that same area!

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Phylacteries – Israel – Religious Jew on a Daily-Market – Wikipedia – Share-alike Lic.

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THE FIG TREE ETERNALLY CURSED!

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Third, remember when Jesus cursed the fig tree?

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Listen… “And when He (Jesus) saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” Matthew 21:19.

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The general consensus among theologians is that this fig tree here in Matthew represents National Israel over by the Mediterranean Sea. And so, this curse, “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever”, actually was a curse upon the nation of Israel.

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No, it was not a curse upon the Jewish people as individuals.

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But was a curse upon the national governmental organization of Israel itself!

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Declaration of State of Israel 1948 – Wikimedia – public domain

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JEW & GENTILE BELIEVERS ARE GOD’S HOUSE

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And so, just who does this Valley of Dry Bones represent?

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Listen…” That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us…For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” Ephesians 2:12-14, 16, 18, 19

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So now we see that we Gentile Believers have become members of the commonwealth of Israel, and fellow-citizens of the household of God!

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So, we see that both Jews and Gentiles “For through Him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18.

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And so, when God speaks of the whole household of God, He is speaking of both Jew and Gentile alike!

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Brooklyn Museum – What Our Lord Saw from the Cross – James Tissot

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HARVEST PAST & WE’RE NOT SAVED!

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But why does God see us as a Valley of Dry Bones? Are not we, the New Testament Church, zealous for God?

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Perhaps this passage might help… “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20.

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So, just who is Jeremiah speaking of in this above passage?

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**Well, it is speaking of a time after the harvest. It is a time after “the summer is ended”. And God’s people are not saved!**

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Burning a field of sugar cane – Public-Domain – Wikipedia

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WE’VE BROUGHT FORTH WIND!

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And here is another passage which further clarifies things…. “Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in Thy sight, O LORD. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” Isaiah 26:17, 18

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Now, this seems to be speaking of the Church. And this above passage is speaking of bringing forth Christ.

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Listen… “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19

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So here is a complementary verse which further clarifies this concept of bringing forth Christ. The churches of Galatia were teetering on the brink of apostasy! As the body of Christ, they were just about fallen from grace!

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And so, Paul himself felt the pains of labor (spiritually speaking), hoping and waiting for the Galatian churches to bring forth Christ!

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer constellation – Woman of Revelation 12 In Travail (aka: Ursa Major which includes The Big Dipper) – www.signsofheaven.org

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WE NO LONGER ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE

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And here is a confirmation that we are on the right track… “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2nd Timothy 4:3, 4

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And so, this passage is a prophecy of a time when the churches will no longer tolerate sound doctrine!

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A time of total apostasy!

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Church Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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HEAPS OF BIBLE TEACHERS TODAY!

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So the big question is, “Has the Church reached this condition? Will the Church no longer endure sound doctrine? or have they heaped to themselves teachers, having itching ears?”

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Well, one thing is for sure! There is a heap of teachers today, isn’t there?

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We now live in a day in which, at the click of a mouse, we can choose from any one of a thousand of Bible teachers to listen to!

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Evangelist Preaching – Church – Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS NO LONGER ACCEPTED

And as we explore this website, we begin to realize that we are yet in a very fleshly condition.

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And then it begins to dawn on our consciousness, that the Valley of Dry Bones is actually a message for today’s apostate Church.

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But it is a hopeful message! Because it tells us that though we have fallen asleep, spiritually speaking, yet God can give us new life in Christ!

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And though we have failed to give birth to Christ within, yet there is still time to bring forth Christ!

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ABOVE PHOTO: church evangelist – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“Wherefore He saith,

Awake thou that sleepest,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ shall give thee light.”

Ephesians 5:14

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I have been drinking at the broken cisterns of the world. Bring me back to the fountain of the water of life, that I may freely drink of Thy Spirit…

Praying Hands – Otto Greiner – Wikimedia – .bassenge.com – Cropped image – Public Domain

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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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GUIDE US TO HEAVEN’S GATE…

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And Arcturus is that brilliant star (3rd brightest in our heavens) which leads these Gospel constellations, Summer, Fall, and Winter Constellations, to present a picture story, a heavenly allegory of sorts; these constellations, which together, tell of the incredible love of God.

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And Arcturus, our Host Star, will lead to an understanding of God’s Word, which will, in turn, guide God’s people up a narrow pathway; onward and upward through Heaven’s Gate itself, and ultimately into the very heavenly City of God!

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Oh don’t doubt for a moment that God cannot or will not do this! For with God, all things are possible! Listen… “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23

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And Signs Of Heaven Website will direct the Reader to God’s Word in such a way as to bring out certain Bible truths not currently recognized or emphasized in most of the current Christian theological circles.

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LOCATING ARCTURUS…

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An easy way to find Arcturus is to follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper, in the spring through fall (these are the months in which Arcturus is visible).

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SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: (Sketch to right: constellations span the heavens (Ark in south, 7 Stars in north), and travel from east to west through the night.

This sketch is of the Summer Constellations as they appear when in the western half of the night sky. The box-like constellation is the The Ark of the Covenant (AKA Sagittarius) is in the south. To the right is both the Flower of the Field Constellation (AKA Scorpius) and the The Cross/Scepter Constellations. Further to the north is the Crown of Revelation Twelve (AKA Corona Borealis Constellation) and the star, Arcturus. Farthest to the north is the 7 Stars Constellation (AKA The Big Dipper )

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TOMORROW:

February 25th – (No Rest Unto The Wicked

Ship in Storm – Backhuysen – Wikipedia – Public-Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #55 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – February 23rd (Jesus: A Walking Symphony!)

By admin On February 22nd, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 23rd

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Jesus: A Walking Symphony.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE SIGNS OF HEAVEN ARTICLE… “‘7 Stars’ Imitate ‘The Cross of Orion'”

The Old Testament portion of the Church did not see the beauty of the Law, as do we in the New Testament Church.

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After all, we now see Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the Law. Jesus hadn’t yet come in Old Testament times.

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So they only saw the Law with all its rules which had to be obeyed.

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Dore – Moses breaks stones – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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LIKE A BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY!

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Think of it this way. The earthly life & ministry of Jesus was like a beautiful symphony!

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And like the laws of the Bible, music also has many, many laws which must be followed for that music to make harmonious strains and beautiful sounds.

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But also, like the Bible, music too, needs to be composed and performed with love… else it will sound rigid and cold.

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And so, like the laws of music, the laws of the Bible must also be fulfilled in love.

Above photo mid Ancasta LaViottiChamberOrchestraMozart – Wikipedia – public domain.

“LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW”

God’s chosen people failed, to a large degree, to keep the commandments from a heart actuated by love.

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Their life-style was rigid and cold as far as their attempt to keep the commandments. It became a mountain of heavy rules to follow.

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Consequently, they made, for the most part, a mockery of commandment keeping.

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They did not live by the following verse… “Love works no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10.

Sign of the Son of Man Constellation – made of the various constellations on this website

“WE DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS YOU LORD”…

From song “Sweet Little Jesus Boy”

Then along came Jesus!

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His loving and faithful parents raised the child, Jesus, in poverty and in lowly home-schooling.

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The training and protection from wickedness He no doubt received from them, prepared Him for the incredible ministry which awaited Him in the future.

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Jesus the Carpenters Son by – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org US public-domain.jpg

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LIKE A BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY!

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But when that ministry began, the people, for the most part, didn’t recognize His obedience.

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This was because His obedience was so vastly different from their way of following the Bible. His life was motivated from a heart of self-sacrificing love and charity towards a fallen world. Their hearts were mostly still imprisoned in pride, selfishness, and worldly desires

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Jesus was graceful and pure in His obedience.

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He was like that beautiful symphony!

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The Cross of Orion Constellation – www.theheavensdeclare.net

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MUSICAL LAWS MUST BE OBEYED!

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The laws of music are obeyed, but also blended perfectly by the music-master’s touch.

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So too, Jesus knew how to walk in obedience and yet blend the various laws together in such a way, that could only be accomplished by the indwelling power and leading of the Holy Spirit.

Amazing Grace – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“YEA, THY LAW IS IN MY HEART”…

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When a composer creates a new song, he doesn’t need to think about every single musical law as he places each note and passage in order.

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No, the master-composer so well knows the musical laws that he instinctively incorporates those laws into his new composition.

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Beethoven – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“O WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS!”

Psalm 96:9

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And much like the master-composer, Christ also had hidden the law within His heart from the days of childhood.

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**And guided by the Spirit of Holiness, He walked in the beauty of holiness (see Psalms 29:2), as He led His disciples through the highways and byways of Israel.**

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The life of Christ was as a beautiful symphony.

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The law flowed out naturally and harmoniously; and this was something the Jews (and the world) had never before seen!

ABOVE PICTURE – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd – www.signsofheaven.org

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LET US WORSHIP…”IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS”

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When a person begins the process of purifying the heart and soul, thus begins the pilgrimage to the destination of true holiness.

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**More and more, that true worshipper hides God’s “great and precious promises” in his or her heart. More and more, that Believer separates from all unnecessary filth and ungodliness.**

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And in the process of time, that child of God is so filled with God’s Word, and the wisdom which comes from a multitude of past personal experiences, that he or she becomes also like a walking symphony.

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And this is God’s desire for you and for me!

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And we each need to begin to hide God’s Word in our hearts and plead with God to purify us, even as gold is purified…

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However pressing his duties STM2-c James Lee Frazer always finds time to read a few chapters from his Bible each day. I – NARA – 520675 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Teach me to walk in love, and not in a rigid manner. Help me to imitate Christ in all that I think say and do…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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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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LOCATING THESE TWO CONSTELLATIONS

This phenomenon begins in October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night.

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This Wikipedia star-chart to the left, has this Orion Constellation sketched in. You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west. You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south. Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill. The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill. The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.

Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation. This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward. It stands upright a little later in the night. Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross! Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.

**When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend. This can be a great witnessing tool!**

ABOVE CHART: The Cross of Orion Constellation star-chart – wikipedia star-chart with orion drawn in by this website – not for commercial use

ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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TOMORROW:

February 24th (The Valley of Dry Bones!)”

Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones – Gustave Dore – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #54 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – February 22nd (Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 3)

By admin On February 21st, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 22nd

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Picture of a Very Grave Man,

Part 3

You may also read Part 1, “Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 1”

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**Some of the devotionals on this website, as of late, have showcased the various aspects of John Bunyan’s earthshaking allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress.**

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**And yesterday, the “picture of a very grave man” (click here) was discussed.**

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Pilgrims Progress title page third edition 1679 – Wikimedia Commons – public-domain

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100% DEDICATION

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Now just what did this picture represent?

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Again, hear the “Interpreter” as he talks with Christian, the pilgrim, regarding this picture…

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INTERPRETER: “The Man whose Picture this is, is one of a thousand…And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lift up to Heaven, the best of Books in his hand, and the Law of Truth written on his lips, it is to shew thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men; and whereas thou seest the World as cast behind him, and that a Crown hangs over his head, that is to shew thee that slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master’s service, he is sure in the world that comes next, to have Glory for his reward.”

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Well, the Old English in this above quote is a bit difficult to understand. But basically, this picture described by Interpreter is a symbolic picture of “total Christian dedication”!

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Yes, this man in this picture is a symbol of a true Christian.

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A watchful Christian.

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A serious-minded man of God.

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PICTURE: Man with world behind his back – public domain

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WHO IS THAT MAN?

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Now the true identity of this man in the picture is not given, although the Interpreter hinted that he was very Christ-like.

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But the Interpreter warned the pilgrim that this man was the only one trustworthy to advise pilgrims, who wind up in difficult circumstances as they journey to the heavenly city.

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And furthermore, he warned the pilgrim that those who DO NOT measure up to this picture are NOT to be trusted as advisers.

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And this is the point of today’s devotional.

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PICTURE: Man with world behind his back – public domain

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PAUL WAS LIKE THIS MAN!

Now the apostle, Paul, was such a man as the man in this picture.

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Yes, Paul had all the qualities that this “very grave man” had in the picture.

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Paul, like this very grave man, was constantly pleading with others to forsake this present world for the glory of the world to come.

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**And Paul, like this man, had the best of books, i.e., the Bible in his hand.**

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And the truth was on his lips.

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And like this man, Paul too, was focused upward on Christ and upward toward Heaven.

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And like this man in the picture, Paul too, had renounced this present world, for the glory of the world to come.

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Yes, Paul was the very essence of all these qualities that were present in that very symbolic picture shown by the Interpreter to Christian, the pilgrim (as well as all the other Bible writers too!)

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Paul Converted – www.thebiblerevival.com

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PAUL FORSOOK ALL!

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Listen to Paul… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8.

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Paul definitely had the world cast behind him, as evidenced by this statement!

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As a matter of fact, Paul proclaimed… “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14.

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And this statement clarifies that Paul was crucified from this present world! Yes, Paul had no interest in the pleasures and pursuits and hobbies and intrigues of this world. His entire mind was focused on Christ!

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And if there be any doubt left that Paul had cast the world behind him, just one more statement is offered… “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.

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Now does this statement sound like it comes from a man who is worldly-minded?

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Do any of these three statements give even a hint of worldly-mindedness?

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Hardly!

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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org–public domain

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SO, WHAT’S ALL THIS GOT TO DO WITH ME!?

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Now there are many who will say to all these things, “Well, so what has that got to do with me? Paul was a specially ordained man of God!”

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To such comes the answer, straight from the lips of Paul… “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am (a follower) of Christ…Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” 1st Corinthians 11:1 & Philippians 4:9

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So, if we are to be followers of Paul, even as Paul was a follower of Jesus, then it can be confidently said, that the picture of a very grave person should likewise be a portrait of you, and of me, and of any and every person who dares take the name of Jesus on his, or her lips!

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Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s – Wikipedia – public domain

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LOVE, JOY, PEACE, CONTENTMENT

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” Galatians 5:22

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Now it should be repeated that the Devil loves to whisper in the ears of naïve Christians, “Oh that dour & sour Christian life is such a joyless, bleak, and miserable existence, filled with sorrow and strife!”

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But nothing could be further from the truth!

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This above verse from Galatians reveals that the very first qualities of the Christian life are, “love, joy, peace…”

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Yes, these three qualities can only be truly experienced by the child of God.

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Oh yes, the world has its counterfeits of these Heavenly virtues!

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But all the giddiness, frivolity and vain laughter of the world, can never begin to come close to the true, “love, joy, peace…”! But the vain frivolity and laughter of the world are rather like “the crackling of thorns in a fire!” (see Ecclesiastes 7:6)

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Contrarywise, Christians, true Christians should always have a, “peace which surpasses all human understanding”! Philippians 4:7

Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

However pressing his duties STM2-c James Lee Frazer always finds time to read a few chapters from his Bible each day. I – NARA – 520675 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Open Thou mine eyes to see if I am cherishing any earthly idol. Help me to cast away any secret idol…

Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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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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WOMAN FLEEING TO NARROW GATE

foursome late winter 8/29/11

This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

Revelation 12 Woman chooses Narrow Way

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The R eaper”. )

Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

ABOVE PICTURE late winter – Revelation 12 Woman & Orion’s Narrow Gate (Castor and Pollux of Gemini Constellation) & Wide Gate (two stars of the Auriga Constellation)

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TOMORROW:

February 23rd (Jesus: A Walking Symphony!)

LaViotti Chamber Orchestra Mozart – Wikimedia pub. domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #53 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – February 20th (Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 1)

By admin On February 19th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 20th

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Picture of a Very Grave Man

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Part 1

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“For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,

so is the laughter of the fool:

this also is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 7:6

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In John Bunyan’s incredible allegorical tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, was being shown various parabolic truths.

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He was shown “the man in the iron cage”.

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And he was shown “the two boys, Patience and Passion”, as well as “the man with the terrifying dream”, and “the man with the dirt brush”, etc…

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Pilgrims Progress title page third edition 1679 – Wikimedia Commons – public-domain

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THE PICTURE ON THE WALL

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But there was a very curious picture hanging on the wall, which Interpreter showed the Pilgrim. And this was a symbolic picture.

man with world behind his back public domain

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But let’s listen to Bunyan, as he describes this picture…

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“So he (the Interpreter) commanded his man to light the Candle, and bid Christian follow him, so he led him into a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, Christian saw the Picture of a very grave Person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it. It had eyes lifted up to Heaven, the best of Books in his hand, the Law of Truth was written upon his lips, the World was behind his back. It stood as if it pleaded with men, and a Crown of Gold did hang over his head.”

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So here was a picture of a man who was totally dedicated to declaring God’s Word.

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And he obviously had left this sinful world behind him.

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His eyes were now fixed on Heaven.

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And he sought for that glorious, promised crown.

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Pilgrim’s Progress – Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WHAT DID THIS PICTURE REPRESENT?

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Now just what did this picture represent?

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Again, hear what the Interpreter says to Christian…

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INTERPRETER: “The Man whose Picture this is, is one of a thousand…And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lift up to Heaven, the best of Books in his hand, and the Law of Truth written on his lips, it is to shew thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men; and whereas thou seest the World as cast behind him, and that a Crown hangs over his head, that is to shew thee that slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master’s service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have Glory for his reward.”

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So here is a symbolic picture of total dedication! Yes, this man in this picture is a symbol of a true Christian.

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A watchful Christian.

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A serious-minded person of God.

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Pilgrim’s Progress – Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WHAT POINT WAS INTERPRETER MAKING?

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Now just what was Interpreter getting at? Why was he showing the Pilgrim this strange picture?

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Well, once more, let’s listen to Bunyan explain just what significance did this curious picture have?

“Now,” said the Interpreter, “I have shewed thee this Picture first, because the Man whose Picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going, hath authorized to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way; wherefore take good heed to what I have shewed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen, lest in thy Journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.”

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So, the Interpreter was giving Christian a warning to beware of those who give advice to pilgrims who are in difficult circumstances.

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To beware to only receive advice from those like the man in the picture.

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Pilgrim’s Progress – Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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GIDDINESS AND SILLINESS TODAY

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**Now in this modern-day world, if you told someone that the Christian must be grave, they wouldn’t know what you were talking about!**

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**They would laugh-you-to-scorn! After all, few see Gravity as being a virtue!**

No, we live in a very giddy, light, and frivolous culture today. Everyone’s a joker, it almost seems! And this is okay. After all, they are of the world!

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So, what else can you expect from the world?

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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen 1888 WIKPEDIA – US PUBLIC DOMAIN

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LOVE, JOY, PEACE, CONTENTMENT

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” Galatians 5:22

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Now the Devil loves to whisper in the ears of naive Christians, that the Christian life is a joyless and bleak existence!

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But nothing could be further from the truth!

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This above verse from Galatians reveals that the very first qualities of the Christian life are, “love, joy, peace…”

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And these three qualities can only be truly experienced by the child of God. Oh yes, the world has its own counterfeits of these Heavenly virtues. But all the giddiness, frivolity and vain laughter can never begin to come close to the true, “love, joy, peace…” which Christians experience!

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Christians have a “peace which surpasses all human understanding”! Philippians 4:7

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Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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THIS ARTICLE CONTINUED TOMORROW

Pilgrim’s Progress – Picture of Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law. (Psalm 119:18).

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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THE NARROW WAY: THE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

That world-shaking allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, picked up the theme of the Narrow Gate. The hero of the story was Christian, a man who was warned to flee from the City of Destruction (the world), and to embark on a journey to the Heavenly City. And along the way, Christian encountered many adventures and dangers. This first of its kind allegorical book absolutely rocked the western world, and became perhaps the first million seller book (along with the Bible).

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But God has also given this same Narrow Way parable in the night heavens! Incredible? Yes, incredible…and amazing too! And though these two stars can hardly be considered a constellation, but when sitting next to the two stars which comprise the Broad Gate, well, it makes a powerful statement, for the people of God.

So please come along on this journey and find out just why this pathway graces the night heavens, and perhaps you might find yourself embarking on your own pilgrimage up that very same Narrow pathway.

John Bunyan – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Pilgrim’s Progress Enters The Wicket Gate – Wikipedia – public domain

LOCATION

foursome late winter 8/29/11

This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

Revelation 12 Woman chooses Narrow Way

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The R eaper”. )

Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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TOMORROW:

Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 2

Pilgrim’s Progress – Picture of Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #51 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – February 21st (Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 2)

By admin On February 19th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 21st

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Picture of a Very Grave Man,

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Part 2

You may also read Part 1, “Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 1″

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**In John Bunyan’s incredible allegorical tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, was being shown various parabolic truths.**

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He was shown “the man in the iron cage”.

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And he was also shown “the two boys, Patience and Passion”, as well as “the man with the terrifying dream”, and “the man with the dirt brush”, etc…

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Pilgrims Progress title page third edition 1679 – Wikimedia Commons – public-domain

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THE PICTURE ON THE WALL

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But there was a very curious picture hanging on the wall, which Interpreter showed the Pilgrim.

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And this was a symbolic picture.

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But let’s listen to Bunyan, as he describes this picture…

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“So he (the Interpreter)….led him (Christian) into a private room, and…Christian saw the Picture of a very grave Person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it. It had eyes lifted up to Heaven, the best of Books in his hand, the Law of Truth was written upon his lips, the World was behind his back. It stood as if it pleaded with men, and a Crown of Gold did hang over his head.”

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So, here was a picture of a man who was totally dedicated to declaring God’s Word. And he obviously had left this sinful world behind him.

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His eyes were now fixed on Heaven.

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And he sought for that glorious and promised crown!

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Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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GRAVITY SCORNED

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Listen to what behavior the Lord approves of in His people…“That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” Titus 2:2

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Now in this above verse, the aged men are exhorted, among other things, to be sober and grave.

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But such behavior is not just for aged men. Listen…

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“Likewise must the deacons be grave,” 1st Timothy 3:8

Okay, so now we see that deacons must also be grave (serious-minded).

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But deacons and the aged are not the only ones. Listen again…

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“Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” 1st Timothy 3:11

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So also must the wives of deacons be grave and sober.

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But the aged, and deacons and their wives are not the only ones to be sober and grave. Listen once more…

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“Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity…” Titus 2:6-8

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So, Titus was exhorted here by Paul, to show himself an example, even to the young men: an example of gravity and sober-mindedness, as well as other similar behavior.

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Paul – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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CHRIST-LIKE BEHAVIOR REJECTED

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But unfortunately, all this giddiness and fun and frolic of the world has rubbed off on today’s Christian community, as well!

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And so, we have a Christian culture which, by-and-large, cannot fully understand this picture described in Pilgrim’s Progress.

But what we don’t understand is, that Bunyan was also describing Christ, our divine role-model, in that picture!

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Oh yes, Jesus was warm and sympathetic and merciful. But Christ was not a joker! Christ was not a clown, nor was He some furry and lovable little puppy dog!

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No, Christ and His angels were totally majestic and reverent and yes, even grave! And it is no accident that there is no joking around ever found in the Bible!

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Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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FOOLISH TALK & JESTING

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Listen to Paul… “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor FOOLISH TALKING, NOR JESTING, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks…Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 5:3, 4, 6.

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But also, among the other ungodly behavior mentioned in this passage is also condemned, “foolish talk, nor jesting”.

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And all we need to do is just examine the ministry of Jesus, and we will see that His life and words were totally consistent with this passage from Ephesians, Ch. 5.

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Henry Ossawa Tanner – Jesus and Nicodemus – Wikimedia – US-public-domain

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THE ONLY ONE TO LISTEN TO

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Now getting back to this picture of the wall.

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The Interpreter warned Christian… “Now,” said the Interpreter, “I have shewed thee this Picture first, because the Man whose Picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going, hath authorized to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way…”

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So the Interpreter was telling the Pilgrim that such men as these must be the only kind of person I should listen to during difficult times.

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Yes, if I choose to listen to any of today’s evangelists, then this picture on the wall in Pilgrim’s Progress needs to be the criterion for those whom I allow to be my teacher or advice-giver.

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Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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QUALITIES OF FALSE TEACHERS:

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Listen to Thomas Brooks, well-known Reformation author, speak on the issue of

foolish talk and jesting…

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“They (false teachers) preach more to please the ear than to profit the heart…False teachers handle holy things rather with wit and trifling, rather than with fear and reverence. False teachers are soul-murderers. They are like evil surgeons, that skin over the wound—but never heal it…False teachers are Hell’s greatest enrichers.”

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Yes, even back in Brook’s day, the pulpit-jesters were plentiful!

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Brooks on Seven Characteristics of False Teachers

Comedyicon.svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“A TIME TO LAUGH…”

Ecclesiastes 3:4

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Now just because we are to be grave doesn’t mean we are to be stern.

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**No, Christ had constant joy in His heart. And this joy radiated from Him, in spite of the fact that He was, “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief”. Isaiah 53:3**

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And His gentleness, kindness, warmth, and joy made children love to gather around Him… “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 19:14

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And as parents, we need to manifest the same gentleness, kindness, warmth, and joy with every family member, even engaging with the very little ones in their childish games and imaginations at times.

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Family – Children’s Playground, – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS

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**Those Christians who attend family get-togethers, may use these as opportunities to “let your light shine”.**

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Oh no, not by preaching, nor by making ourselves the center of attention. But in sincere love, to quietly join in as far as possible.

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Maybe to help with dishes or some other task to help out the host.

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Or maybe there’s a person who feels left out for one reason or another. Maybe we might go over and engage them in, “small talk” about some topic they seem to be interested in.

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In other words, try to be as light and accommodating as possible without being phony or ostentatious. But politely try to blend in and be an asset to the party.

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Barbecue – Dutch family – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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THE GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED!

Someone said, “The greatest sermon ever preached is a warm, friendly smile!”

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There doesn’t need to be hilarity, nor silliness, nor sarcasm, nor worldliness, nor comedy, nor any other unchristlike behavior.

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But rather, love, joy, peace, patience, understanding, sympathy, kindness, gentleness, and a warm, loving smile are perhaps the greatest weapons against the false charges like this all-too-common accusation: “that Christians must live an austere and bleak life should they decide to give up this present selfish world, in trade for the heavenly kingdom!”

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Woman why weepest thou – Jesus – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE

Pilgrim’s Progress – Picture of Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to get my eyes on Jesus, so that all these things begin to make sense…

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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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REVELATION 12 CROWN…

This page is concerned with the Glorious Crown (a.k.a. Corona Borealis Constellation), as is written… “And there appeared a great wonder (sign) in heaven; a woman…and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” Revelation 12:1.

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This rather dim constellation follows behind that bright and beautiful star, Arcturus , as Arcturus leads a heavenly ambassage through the heavens each night in summer. Every glorious crown should be studded with precious jewels, and this one is no exception. Though these “jewels” are stars, they represent the precious jewels spoken of throughout Scripture, when speaking about God’s people. But this constellation is not nearly as high-profile as, say, the 7 Stars Constellation (a.k.a., The Big Dipper). It is relatively dim, compared to those two bright constellations.

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LOCATING THIS CROWN…

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This constellation begins to appear in late December (just before dawn), but is best seen, mid-sky when this group of constellations can be seen when facing west. In March-April, very late in the pre-dawn hours, this Summer Constellation group begins to be seen when facing west, and continues to be seen in the west until fall. The Crown follows almost directly behind that great star, Arcturus, as you can see in the sketch. Repeat: it is somewhat easier to study the 12 stars of this constellation when it is in western half of night-sky (when you have to see it as you face westward). So when these Summer Constellations are in the western half of the sky, simply follow the handle of the Big Dipper till you locate Arcturus. Then the Crown is following Arcturus. You will only see the wreath-like 7 stars plus 1 star (in middle) until you get away from all city lights. Then you can make out the other 5 stars, which makes it appear like a full crown.

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TOMORROW:

February 22nd (Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 3)

Pilgrim’s Progress – Picture of Man with world behind his back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 STUDY #52 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

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Today’s Devotional – March 1st (A Designer Jesus!)

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Today’s Devotional – March 1st

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A Designer Jesus!

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In a day when “designer clothing” is very fashionable, “designer jesus’s” seem, also, very much in-vogue!

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In other words, it seems as if within the Christian culture, there is, “another jesus”, who is tailor-made to suit just about anybody’s whimsy!

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“ANOTHER JESUS?”

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Oh yes, the Bible speaks about, “another jesus”

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So here in this above passage, it becomes evident that there are counterfeit Jesus’s, and counterfeit Holy Spirits, and counterfeit Gospels!

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WHAT JESUS DO I WANT?

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Yes, just look around and you’ll find a gospel to suit one’s particular needs.

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So, just what is it that I am actually looking for?

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AN OPULENT JESUS?

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Do I want a jesus which is some sort of “get-rich-genie-in-a-bottle”?

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Well, there are plenty of gospels out there that serve up such a jesus!

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Just pay the man some money and “Voila, golden eggs will soon drop from Heaven!”

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EVERYDAY gODS, JESUS?

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Or perhaps I’m looking for a jesus who will allow me to serve my other weekday gods?

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The gods of “career”, or “travel”, or “TV”, or “lust”, or “sports”, or “money”, or whatever else happens to be the weekday gods that I worship?

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There are plenty of churches which will accommodate such a jesus.

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Just go there each week and pay the man some tithes or offerings…and “I’m good-to-go!”

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A HIP, SURFER JESUS?

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Or maybe I’m looking for a hip, surfer jesus?

**In other words, it seems as if within the Christian culture, there is, “another jesus”, who is tailor-made to suit just about anybody’s whimsy!**

**Or how about an “Illuminati-jesus”? Conspiracy-theories, food-supplies, bomb-shelters, some weapons-arsenal, and a stash of gold coins!**