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Today’s Devotional – June 13th

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Power of Positive Thinking Gospels,

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Part 4:

“This World!”

To read part 1, click here…June 9th (The Power of Positive-Thinking Gospels! Part 1)

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Several nights ago, a very popular Christian speaker held a large convocation with a vast throng of tens of thousands of listeners.

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And this evangelist gave a very high-energy presentation, with a very positive message. 

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Well, the gist of what he said is, that we need to think positive, speak positive, and believe positively, that God has good things in store for us here on earth! Yes, this popular speaker continued to present a message about achieving our earthly dreams: earthly dreams for ourselves and for our families.

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“But”, he added, “we need to take time out from our worldly-achievement-oriented lives to spend lots of time with our spouse and children!

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Above picture not connected with this story – church service by Matt Malone for Wikimedia copyrighted

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“SMOOTHER THAN BUTTER!”

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“The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” Psalm 55:21

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This extravaganza was filled with short, but uplifting testimonies, a high-energy, upbeat rock band, attractive women, well-timed jokes, and smoother-than-butter preaching!

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Well, needless to say, this presentation was received with no lack of enthusiasm!

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The vast audience, thousands strong, seemed mesmerized, yet ecstatic about this uplifting and upbeat message! The night was a huge success!

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

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PRAISING LOST SOULS

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But, as nice and uplifting as this message was, it nevertheless stood in stark disagreement with the Bible in a number of areas!

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And one of these areas was how this evangelist looks at the world. This became evident when, at one point, he began to praise all the “good” people in the world: all the public servants, such as policemen, firemen, soldiers, school teachers, doctors, etc.. 

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Now he didn’t mention lawyers and politicians in his praises. But he did lavish praise upon the teachers, firemen, etc.. And he definitely gave the impression that these were good people!

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Good people!?! You mean to say that this world is filled with many good people!?!

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Does the Bible support that idea?

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Hardly!

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

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WHOLE WORLD LIES IN WICKEDNESS

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Listen to the Bible’s summation of the world… “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19.

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So this above passage from John’s Epistle reveals that “the WHOLE world lies in wickedness”. So does that include these categories of civil-servants which this evangelist put his seal of approval on? Oh yes! Only those who are “born of the Spirit”, can be excluded from the 1st John 5:19’s condemnation!

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Paul persecuted by Pharisees & Sadducees – www.thebiblerevival.com – US Public Domain

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NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE!

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Listen again…

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“…There is none righteous, no, not one: 

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable;

there is none that doeth good, no, not one.“

Romans 3:9-18

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So this above passage really takes all the guesswork out of this question, as to just who is good and who is evil. “There is none that doeth good, no, not one!”

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Well then, how about all those public servants which this evangelist pronounced his blessing upon? Don’t they do good?

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THE HEART IS DESPERATELY WICKED!

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Now there are other similar passages in the Bible, which only confirm this same truth! Jeremiah also addresses this same concept…

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Listen… “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9, 10

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Now Jeremiah here, is telling us just what is the condition of our heart: “desperately wicked and deceitful above all things!”

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Jeremiah at the Potters House – Wikigallery – US-Public-Domain

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NOTHING GOOD IN PAUL

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Even the Apostle, Paul, made the following statement regarding himself… “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:” Romans 7:18

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Paul well understood that he too was desperately wicked! It was only the Spirit of God, dwelling in him, that gave him any goodness.

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Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s

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HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS

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And so, knowing all these things, then the question must be asked… “Just why then, do the people of the world have a certain amount of goodness? Why are people so often, very friendly? Why do they volunteer for humanitarian causes?”

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Well, we can surmise and speculate all day long regarding this question. But the only place one can find truth is the Bible. So let’s simply let the Bible speak….

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La Bible, Notre-Dame – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

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SATAN, AN ANGEL OF LIGHT!

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Listen… “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;” 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15

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So this above passage reveals that Satan can easily take on the form of a “good angel”. Yes, and even his ministers are transformed into “ministers of righteousness”. And so, it shouldn’t be any surprise, that this kingdom of evil in which we live has a “form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”. (2nd Timothy 3:5)

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MINISTERS OF GOD

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Now having said all this, it must be noted that God is ultimately in control of the world. And so, God’s abiding Holy Spirit keeps this world from becoming totally chaotic. Therefore, God places governments over Mankind, to keep a certain amount of peace and order…

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Listen… “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Romans 13:3, 4

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So while we don’t want to begin praising lost souls, neither do we want to go to the other extreme and begin condemning them, because they are public servants! We are to give them the due honor that their position requires and often deserves.

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Minneapolis Police 1959 traffic control – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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GOOD NEWS!

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The Good News in all this is that God is willing to save all those who call on Him out of a sincere heart! And even very misguided evangelists have the opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord.

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None of us have anything to boast about! We are all very wicked and evil beings; prisoners of Satan and captives of our very own selfish desires. Even those of us who claim to abide in Jesus! If we still are servants of sin and the flesh, we need Salvation just as badly as that mistaken evangelist!

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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 5, CLICK HERE…

July 6th (Power of Positive Thinking Gospels, Part 5: Conservative Gospels)

People praying – by Sergei Frolov – Wikipedia – Share-alike license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Keep me from being deceived into thinking that there is goodness apart from God. Help me to understand that this world is the Devil’s kingdom. And help me to separate from all ungodly and deceitful influences…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet” or you can also read… “Floodwaters of the False Prophet: “Atheism & Psychology”, or  you might also wish to read…February 24 (And The Nations Were Angry! Part 4: “Planet Earth, An Experiment In Selfishness” CONTINUED)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS

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Now as learned in the article, The Five Wise Virgins Stars, The Five Wise are in a semi-circle, as if gathered around the Glorious Crown of 12 Stars. This symbolizes, the importance of the Christian Race, and the Glorious Crown of Victory, which will be given to each and every one who finally overcomes the world.

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Now just as the Five Wise are gathered around this Crown of Victory, the Five Foolish are turned away from the Crown, as if to say, “I’m not interested!” And isn’t so often that the vast majority of so-called Christians, have little interest in this crown! Quite often, they can be heard saying… “Oh, I got my crown when I got baptized. Jesus won the race for me!”

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This kind of lie is easily believed, since it a lie, made partly of truth! Yes, Jesus did get the victory for us. But nevertheless, the evidence that I am a true-worshipper of God, is that I will ultimately gain the victory over my sinful flesh, with all its affections and lusts.

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Listen… “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24

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AND THE THINGS OF THE WORLD

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WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM

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Yes, the Five Wise represent all those who “go on to perfection”. They are not satisfied to remain in the world. Oh yes, they realize that they cannot come out of this world altogether, as of yet. But though they cannot come completely out of the world, they can come a good way out! These have tasted of the good things to come, and for them, all the glittering tinsel-like treasures of this world have lost their meaning!

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But the foolish have no desire to “die to self”. Their pastor tells them that they were “buried in baptism”, and they need not go any further! “Just live a nice moral life, and all will be well with your soul”, say these serpents in the pulpits of so many of today’s congregations.

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And so, the foolish virgins simply raise their hands and praise the Lord, while still pursuing all the pleasures and dreams and ambitions that this opulent society encourages.

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Francken, Hieronymus the Younger  – Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins – c 1616

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Five Foolish Virgins Stars” or you can also read… “The Five Wise Virgins Stars”

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TOMORROW:

“June 14th (The Straw-Man, Part 3: Satan’s Straw-Man Ploy!)”

Straw man (or lady) – Wikipedia – Share-alike or 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 #162 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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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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