Daily Devotional, Year 2 – MARCH 13 (Come Out of Her, My People, Part 3: “Heart Renewal”)

By admin On January 2nd, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – MARCH 13

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Come Out of Her, My People,

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Part 3:

“Heart Renewal”

To read Part 1, click here…“May 12th (Come Out of Her, My People?)”

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“And he (an angel) cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen… And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:2, 4

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by G. Dore’ – The Confusion Of Tongues in Babylon – from www.creationism.org-public domain

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Many Bible students read this above passage, and wonder what in the world it could possibly be talking about!

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Perhaps it could be speaking of some city in Iraq, or maybe the city which has recently sprung up called Dubai!

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But for those who have discovered that the Bible is a totally spiritual revelation of the Gospel, the City of Babylon represents the entire world, as well as the worldly portion of the Church: the Mystery Harlot of Revelation 17.

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This is the very essence of what Babylon is!

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Dubai Marina 2013 – Wikipedia – Creative Commons License

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HOW TO COME OUT OF BABYLON?

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Now for sake of time, this little devotional will not try to go over old ground. The reader can read such articles, as… “Fleeing to the Mountains: The Abomination in the Church, Part 1” to explore the reasons why these things are so.

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But the question to be touched on today, is this: “How can I come out of Babylon? Where do I flee to? How can I escape the plagues which God is about to pour out on her?”

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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REVELATION: AN UNFOLDING BOOK

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Well, in the first place, the Book of Revelation has been a book for all generations!

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It is not (as some suppose), merely for the last few years of time. It has been written for the Church (“I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” Revelation 22:16)

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Yes, the Book of Revelation has brought comfort and deliverance to those who were persecuted and murdered by the Anti-Christ church/civil powers of Europe, during the Dark Ages!

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And so, the admonitions found in ALL 22 chapters of Revelation are not just given for a select few, but have been a great source of spiritual help for all generations of Christians, since it was first penned by John (“The Revelation of Jesus Christ…to show unto His servants things which must SHORTLY come to pass” Revelation 1:1)

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Burning at the Stake – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN”

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Now, the command to “Come out of her My people”, can be looked upon as an admonition to literally come out of the apostate religious organizations, which constitute the “Mystery Harlot”!

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**Or even to literally come out of the world, since this world is likewise considered Babylon (“Babylon is fallen, is fallen” Revelation 18:2).**

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In other words, Babylon is twice fallen: The fallen world, and the fallen churches.

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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BABYLON IN THE HEART!

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The problem is, merely removing ourselves physically from the apostate churches, or moving out to some country or wilderness location, does not completely solve the problem!

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There is an old saying which goes something like this: “In order to take the man out of the slum, you must first take the slum out of the man!”

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Well, this little proverb can very well apply to our coming out of Babylon! Yes, to come out of Babylon, we must remove our love of Babylon. And this is a work of the heart! We must purge Babylon from out of the midst of our heart!

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This is a work of transformation (Romans 12:2). This is our commission from God to, “Purify your hearts, ye double-minded!” (James 4:8)

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

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HOW TO REMOVE BABYLON?

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Now just where does one begin, in attempt to get Babylon out of the heart?

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Perhaps I can go on a food-fast, until Babylon is removed! Or maybe I can just go into my prayer-closet, and not come out till God has removed Babylon out of my heart!

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Well, fasting is good! And unceasing prayer is also recommended in Scripture (see 1st Thessalonians 5:17)

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But to come out of Babylon, one must begin to un-learn the ways of this faithless world, and begin to learn the ways of Heaven!

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A Prayer for those at Sea – by Frederick Daniel Hardy – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“FOLLOW ME!”

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When Jesus first began His earthly, public ministry He called His disciples, by saying… “And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

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Here in the above verse, Jesus is calling, not only those few disciples, but all of Mankind to come, “Follow Me!

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But how do we follow Him, when we can’t even see Him?

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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage – 1869 – courtesy Wikigallery.com – Public Domain

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MANY MORAL PERSONS

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And at this point, someone might stand up and object, saying, “But I live a pretty good life! I’m kind to people, and obey the laws, and try to do the right thing!”

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But the answer comes back to us… “For therein (in the Gospel) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

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Yes, it is true, that there are many who attempt to live correct lives in this world! But to live the life of faith, exceeds the standards of morality as, “light excels darkness!” Ecclesiastes 2:13

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Man walking – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike lic.

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FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES FAITH

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Jesus came to this world to show us how to live by faith. And He also laid down many teachings about living by faith.

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For example, Jesus said… “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:43, 44

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Now, this one little passage is presenting such a giant concept, that just implementing this one passage alone into the life, will radically change how a person lives! But it takes faith to live this way! It requires trust in God’s promises!

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And without trust in God’s promises, it would not be very long until that person reverts back to his or her old Babylonian ways!

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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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A REST UNTO YOUR SOUL!

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And so, just how can I get faith? Where is faith found?

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Well, faith is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Faith is the gift of God. And it can only be given by God’s grace.

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But in spite of that, the call goes out to the whole human race, to, “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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Yes, this above passage is a call which goes out to all those who are weary and heavy laden with the back-breaking burdens of this Babylonish world! It is a call to finally renounce this messed-up world, and to begin to learn about Jesus! And as we learn of His ways, we will begin to live like Him! This is the essence of what it means to follow Him!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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A NEW HEART! A NEW LIFE!

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And there are many concepts in Scripture which are directly opposed to the ways of the world!

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Yes, the life of faith is an entirely new life!

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It affects every area of life!

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It is an entire change in our tastes, in our affections, in our thinking!

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And as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus, our lives will more and more become transformed into His glorious image!

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

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“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” 2nd Corinthians 3:18

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

To read Part 4, click here…

MARCH 14 (Come Out of Her, My People, Part 4: Churches)

Church Burning – Burning Man – 2013 – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Cleanse my Babylonish heart! Fill me instead, with Thy precious life-giving words! Change me into Thy glorious image…

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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DOUBLE ENTENDRE OF REVELATION 12 WOMAN

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“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and He is the Savior of the body.” Ephesians 5:23

This page concerns the constellation which is commonly known as “The Big Dipper” and the “Great Bear”. It actually appears in the summer months as a woman travailing in child-birth. God has purposely given her no head. But God did this to present a very important concept.

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star-chart ursa major summerr

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Yes, this woman represents the Church, the, “Jerusalem above, which is free, and is the mother of us all” (see Galatians 4:26).

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You see, the single star she is giving birth to typifies the Christ child. Reading in Ephesians that Christ is the “head” of the Church, this single star is logically going to become her head. But how will that be accomplished?

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Ursa Major – IAU.svg – Star-Chart – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

Top Star-chart (with woman drawn in by this website) – Ursa Major – warmer months – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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WOMAN FLIPS AROUND IN WINTER

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star-chart ursa major

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Now, if this Woman-in-Travail were all that the Lord created in the heavens, it would be nothing short of amazing! But God, in His infinite power and majesty, has made this a great sign in Heaven, just as Revelation 12 proclaims. Because as the summer passes, this constellation begins to slowly flip around, until the stars representing her arms now become her legs. And the stars that once represented her legs now become her arms. And finally, it appears as the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12. And at that point, this single little star in her womb-area, representing the Christ-child, now becomes her head! And of course, this reminds us of the passage… “And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the Church…” Colossians 1:18.

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Star-chart (with woman drawn in by this website) – Ursa Major – colder months – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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TOMORROW…

“MARCH 14 (Come Out of Her, My People, Part 4: Churches)”