Today’s Devotional – January 19th (Who Wants To Hang Out With Holiness?)

By admin On January 18th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – January 19th

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Who Wants To Hang Out With Holiness?

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE SIGNS OF HEAVEN ARTICLE… “THE REVELATION 12 WOMAN – THE NARROW GATE STARS (ORION’S GATE)”

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“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ,

in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

To the one we are the savour of death unto death;

and to the other the savour of life unto life.”

2nd Corinthians 2:15-16

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Just think about it!

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If we are living the Christ-like life, who in the world would want to “buddy around” with us anyway!?!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaulT.jpg

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Only another Believer would dare hang around us, if we are truly Christ-like.

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Do we suppose that Jesus had secular friendships?

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Or Paul, perhaps?

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Or even the Apostle John?

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Certainly the Bible makes no mention of these three having secular friendships. Only those who were contemplating becoming followers of Jesus were interested in His companionship.

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Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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JOHN’S ONENESS WITH CHRIST

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And as far as John’s holiness, just read John’s three Epistles and listen to his language.

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John had so merged with Jesus, that it seems that Jesus was speaking in John’s Epistles, and no longer John!

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No, the only persons who wanted to “hang out” with Jesus, Paul, or John were those who were already disciples, or those who were contemplating becoming disciples.

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The above verse from 2nd Corinthians says it all… “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.”

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This passage really reveals just how Christians are regarded by the world: “the savour of death unto death”.

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John The Apostle by Alonzo Cano 1635-1637 – Wikipedia – public domain

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PAUL, JOHN, AND JESUS: NO SECULAR FRIENDSHIPS

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Never, never do we ever read anything about secular relationships with those three Christian role-models (Jesus, Paul & John).http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/The%20Early%20Church%20Artwork/target8.html

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And yet they evangelized more successfully than any other humans on this planet. They felt no need to begin doing secular fellowship in order to win over unbelievers. As a matter of fact, those three role-models were so busy with their spiritual life, they had no time for secular entertainment, even had they wanted to.

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Listen to Paul… “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.

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Does this type of total devotion to Christ by Paul, sound like something that would attract worldly friendships?

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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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“COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM”

2nd Corinthians 6:17

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“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. ” Colossians 4:5, 6

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We are to be kind to all, and to have Christ-like love for all.

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And while we are to beckon them to come and follow Jesus, we are nevertheless to separate from their comphttp://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/jeastty/3/1303829593/mall-witnessing.jpg/tpod.htmlany when it comes to our fellowship and companionship. Oh yes, there will be situations in the family and in the workplace that we need to mingle and be friendly and join in.

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But in all we do, we are to be Christ-like in our dealings with Mankind.

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What this means is that we are to deal with the people of the world just as Christ did. And yet because of our past sins, we must also have the humility of Paul…who realized he was a very fallible human.

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Sin is very contagious. We are very weak. Those who think they can “warm themselves around the fire with unbelievers” (as did Peter, on the night of Jesus trial), just do not understand how powerful is sin.

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Listen… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33

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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

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“THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS”

Isaiah 35:8

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“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1st Peter 1:15, 16

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But the fact is, it is because we are yet worldly-minded to a certain degree, that unbelievers still desire our companionship.

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On the other hand, we don’t need to speak about Christ in the workplace, or even at home. Silence about Jesus is usually the safest course to maintain in most daily situations. Let your quiet honesty, humility, sincerity, warmth, and human compassion do the speaking for you.

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But many would like to imagine that through companionship with unbelievers, we can be an encouragement to them, to become like us. But the fact is, it is usually just the opposite that occurs: we become more like them… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

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If we will only follow in the pathway of those three role-models, Jesus, Paul, and John, we will find that God will bless our evangelism far more than we now experience.

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And that pathway is what the Narrow Way of Matthew 7:13 is all about! The Narrow Way is all about becoming a follower and Disciple of Jesus. The Narrow Way is all about following in the path of holiness.

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Listen… “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called ‘The Way of Holiness’.” Isaiah 35:8.

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ABOVE PICTURE: The True Upward Pathway www.signsofheaven.org

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-100506-M-2360J-038.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Please give me an exalted vision of what it means to be a Christian. Lead me into holiness, so that Christ may shine brightly from my soul…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.Soldiers of the Cross - Armor-Up!

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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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LOCATION

foursome late winter 8/29/11

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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.

Revelation 12 Woman & Orion's Gate & Wide Gate.

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 Reaper”. )

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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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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Finger_pointing.jpg

TOMORROW:

January 20th (3 Fingered Judgment-Day) 

Finger pointing – 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 IS STUDY #19 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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