Preparation Must Come Before God's Presence

                                                      When The Door Slams

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in  the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God's salvation.'"                                                                 Luke 3:4-6

        If we are to receive the powerful presence of God, we must prepare ourselves. John the Baptist was God's messenger to help people prepare to receive the Savior of the world. John preached unwaveringly: "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!" (Matt. 3:2). Those who heard John's message and prepared their lives recognized Jesus when He came, and they left all to follow Him. This was especially true of the disciples, whose hearts God Himself prepared (matt.16:17). Preparation must come before God's presence! 

        God's instruction for preparation is specific: repentance! This involves a complete change of mind, heart, will, and behavior toward Him. He is Lord, and your life must be prepared to receive Him as your Lord. Anything less is inadequate. Some were obviously unprepared to follow Jesus and missed the opportunity (Luke 9:57-62). The religious leaders of Jesus' day were largely unprepared for His arrival. They know the Messiah was coming. They even knew where He would be born (Matt. 2:4-6). Yet when word came that the Savior had been born, they made no effort to join Him, preferring instead their religious ritual. 

        Think about this: If you are unprepared, you, too, will miss the opportunity to experience Jesus. You may practice religion, but you will miss God. While others encounter the Lord personally in worship, your heart will remain unmoved. As others receive a fresh word from God, you will experience a painful silence. Religious activity can never substitute for a heart that is pure before the Lord. A clean heart and an obedient spirit comes only through repentance. Pray, and ask God to examine your heart and reveal your need to repent of your sin (Ps. 139:23-24). 

Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we face death all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." Yet in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who love me (Romans 8:35-37). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                                        Never Rest Ministries.                          

There Is Shortcuts To Spiritual Maturity

                                                      When The Door Slams

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who build his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."                                                                   Matthew 7:24-27

        The Christian life is hard work. Christianity involves systematically striving to implement the truths of God's Word into your life. Spiritual depth and maturity do not come without consistent effort. Jesus had just concluded the Sermon on the Mount, which sets forth some of the most profound truths ever spoken. The Son of God had clearly explained the kind of life that is pleasing to the Father. Yet Jesus knew, even as He was concluding His sermon, that some of His listeners would leave and never apply a word they had heard.

        Jesus said that a man who takes the words of God and builds them into his life is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. Rocks are hard to build on. It takes great effort to attach a foundation to a rock. A house built on sand provides instant comfort; building on a rock is laborious and tedious. Yet building on sand leaves the builder in a vulnerable position, while the one building on the rock is secure.

        Think about this: How can you tell what kind of foundation your life has been built on? Watch to see what happens when a storm comes. You will stand for truth or fall for lies. A life built upon the Word of God will withstand the very storm that sweeps away the life that did not heed God's Word. There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. Maturity comes only through hard work and obedience to what God says. The next time you hear Jesus speaking, begin immediately to firmly build His truth into your life, so that no storm can unsettle you.    

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits Who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit And crowns you with love and compassion; Who satisfies your desires with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's (Psalm 103:1-5). The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God is my rock; I will take refuge in Him, My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge-My Savior, You save me from violence. I call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, And I am saved from my enemies (2 Samuel 22:2-4). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

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What Is It The Lord Requires Of You

                                                     When The Door Slams

What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sin? Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.                        Micah 6:6-8 

         God never conceals His expectations from us. We never have to guess how we should live. In response to the misguided ways in which people sought to please God, the prophet Micah clearly explained what God does and does not expect. The people asked: Should we come to God with many offering? Should we bring a thousand rams and ten thousand rivers of oil? Would God be pleased if we gave our firstborn child to Him to express our devotion (Mic. 6:6-7)? Micah's response was straightforward: "He has told you what is good."

        Think about this: Micah listed three things God desires. First, He wants us to show justice. The desire to receive justice is not enough. We must also be absolutely just in the way we treat others. If we have given our word, we should keep it with complete integrity. If we have people working for us, we should treat them as fairly as Jesus would. We should act justly in every relationship.

        Second, we are to love mercy. The knowledge that we have received underserved mercy from God should motivate us to show mercy to others. We must resist the temptation to retaliate against those who have wronged us, choosing to show them mercy instead. 

       Third, God requires us to walk humbly with Him. God does not ask us for spectacular acts of service-He asks for humility. At times we try to make the Christian life far more complicated than it is. We may hide behind questions about the Bible or uncertainty about the second coming of Christ. We can allow ourselves to become distracted in order to avoid confronting what God has clearly told us do today. If we strive to be completely obedient in the basics, the more complex assignments will become clear. 

May I put away all of these things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from my mouth (Colossians 3:8). Grant that I may be used to open the eyes of others and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Jesus (Acts 26:18).      

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.  

                                                                Never Rest Ministries 

Your Sin Will Have An Impact On Others

                                                     When The Door Slams

"Go and consecrate the people. Tell them to consecrate themselves for tomorrow, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are things that are set apart among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove what is set apart.             Joshua 7:13  

        Just as the obedience of one Christian can bring blessing to others, the sin of one Christian can bring harm to many others. The children of Israel were rapidly advancing into the Promised Land. They had experienced a miraculous victory over the city of Jericho, and they were continuing toward their next conquest. To their surprise they met decisive defeat as they attempted to capture the small town of Ai. They sought God's explanation for their failure, and God provided it. God revealed that someone among them had disobeyed His clear command not to keep any possession from Jericho.

        The disobedience of one man and his family had paralyzed an entire nation! Achan thought he could conceal his sin and it would not affect anyone else. God chose to demonstrate the destructive power of one sin to His people. One act of disobedience cost Achan and his family their lives. It caused his countrymen to lose the battle; innocent soldiers were killed.

        Think about this: Your sin had serious repercussions for others, denying them the blessing, power, and the victory of God. Your sin will have an impact on others. Choosing to disobey God may cost your family God's blessing. The power of God may be absent from your church because you are living in disobedience. Your friends may suffer because you are not living righteously. You must diligently seek to obey every word from God, for you do not know how your disobedience could affect those around you. Scripture promises that if you will obey the Lord God, your life will be a channel of blessing to others (Ps. 37:25-26). 

May I not enter the path of the wicked Or walk in the way of evil men  (Proverbs 4:14).

The first man is of the dust of the earth; the second Man is from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the Man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have bore the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly Man (Corinthians 15:47-49). May I be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, may I let my requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                                    Never Rest Ministries                                   

You May Not Want To Be Healed

                                                      When The Door Slams 

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"                                             John 5:5-6  

        Jesus asked a man a question that appears to have had an obvious answer! He came upon a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years and who was sitting beside a pool of healing water. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. Why would Jesus ask such an obvious question? Perhaps the answer was not so clear. Bartimaeus was blind, yet when he cried out for Jesus to have mercy on him, Jesus asked "What do  you want Me to do for you?" (Mark 10:51). 

        It would have seemed apparent that the foremost concern of a blind person would be to receive sight. There were times, however, when Jesus considered it important for people to express in words their need and specifically when asking Him for healing them.

        Think about this: Just because we are spiritually sick, or just because we are near a place of healing, does not necessarily mean we want to be made well. We may attend church regularly, but choose to remain in our sinful state of mind. Our generation has taken many of the activities that the Bible identifies as sin and labeled them as addictions or character flaws or the result of an abusive upbringing. We act as if having an addiction or just lying, is sufficient excuse for disobeying God's commands. As true Christians, we are no longer helpless victims of our sin. There is no sinful habit or past hurt that is beyond the healing touch of our Lord. 

        You may have gone for years without receiving spiritual healing. You may have become comfortable in your sin. It maybe hard for you to obey God's Word, because you may not want to be healed. God is capable of freeing you, if you really want to receive spiritual healing, God can give it today, right now. He wants you to ask Him.  

May I trust in the Lord and do good; may I dwell in the land and feed on Your faithfulness. When I delight myself in the Lord, You will give me the desires of my heart. I will commit my way to the Lord and trust in You, and You will bring it to pass. You will bring forth my righteousness like the light, and my justice like the noonday. May I rest in the Lord and wait patiently for You; I will not fret because of him who prospers in his way, with the man who practices evil schemes (Psalm 37:3-7).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord God and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                                            Never Rest Ministries                      

We Can Quench The Holy Spirit Activity In Us

                                                     When The Door Slams

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every from of malice                                                                                                                                                 Ephesians 4:30-31 

        We cannot prevent God from accomplishing His work in the world around us, but we can quench His Spirit in our lives. God has given us the freedom to withstand the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives. When we ignore, disobey, or reject what the Spirit is telling us, we quench His activity in us. Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah who described the result: "You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look; yet never perceive. For this people's heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back--and I would cure them" (Matt. 13:14-15; Isa 6:9). 

        Think about this: When you sin, the Holy Spirit will convict you of your need for repentance. If you habitually ignore Him and do not repent, your heart will grow hardened to God's Word. If the Spirit speaks to you about God's will for you, and if you refuse to take action, a time will come when the Spirit's voice will be muted in your life. If you continually reject the Spirit's activity, a day will come when you no longer hear a word from God. If you repeatedly suppress God's Word to you so that you are no longer sensitive to His voice, He will not give you a fresh word. Be careful of resisting the voice of the Holy Spirit in your life. You may not always be comfortable with what the Spirit is saying to you, but His words will guide you to abundant life. 

We are looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works (Titus 2:13-14).  

The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever (Timothy 4:18). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                

                                                                        Never Rest Ministries 

               

         

Knowledge Can Easily Lead To Pride

                                                     When The Door Slams

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Yes, Father for this is what you were pleased to do.     Luke 10:21

        One hindrance to hearing a word from God may be our own wisdom. Wisdom, like success, can delude us to think we should take the role of teacher rather than student. Our knowledge lulls us into thinking we have sufficient wisdom to meet any challenge. Leaning on our own understanding and  believing we are wise temps us to evaluate the shortcomings of others, and yet we are unaware of how much growth is still required in ourselves.

        The Pharisees were the religious experts of their day. They possessed much information about God, but they had no personal relationship with Him. Their knowledge clouded their view of their condition before God. Jesus thanked His Father that it was not to these "experts" that the Father had revealed spiritual truth, but rather to those who were humble and who recognized their need for God's revelation. 

        When religious leaders experience spiritual failure, their downfall is often met with surprise. It shouldn't be like that. Religious people with the most knowledge are sometimes the ones least responsive to God's Word. Knowledge can easily lead to pride, and pride impedes us from seeking God's wisdom.

        Think about this: How do you know if you are a "Pharisee"? When you do not have a teachable spirit. When you become defensive if a fellow Christian shares a concern about your spiritual condition. When you do not seek to hear from God, believing you already know what He thinks. When you feel that you are capable of helping others in their spiritual lives, but no can teach you anything. Don't allow the limited knowledge you now have blind or deceive you to the great truths God still wants to reveal to you. 

Once I was alienated from God and was an enemy in my mind because of my evil works. But now He has reconciled me by His fleshly body through death to present me holy and blameless in His sight and free from reproach (Colossians 1:21-22).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:13). 

The God of hope will fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in Him, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord Jesus and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                                                 Never Rest Ministries 

                     

God's Will Is Not Hard To Understand

                                                       When The Door Slams

This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach.                                                                                                                                            Deuteronomy 30:11

        The Christian life is not difficult. The same Christ who lived a perfect, obedient, and sinless life stands prepared to live it again through you (Gal. 2:20). God 's will is not hard to discern. He has given us the Scriptures, which reveal His will, and He has placed His Holy Spirit within us to guide us to His perfect will in every situation (John 16:13). Our greatest challenge will be to commit our lives to follow God's will obediently as He reveals it.

        Moses gathered the Israelites around Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim before they were to enter the Promised Land. There, God described what they had to do in order to obey Him. God gave detailed instructions so there was no misunderstanding what was expected of them. Then God asked them to make a choice. If they chose to disobey His commands, they would face His wrath. If they chose to obey, they would receive His blessing.

        Think about this: God's Word comes to you in the same way. It is not too complex to understand. You don't have to struggle to discern God's will about adultery or forgiveness or lying and honesty. God's Word is perfectly clear. The question is, how will you respond? Nowhere in the Scripture did God excuse disobedience because His instructions were too vague or complex. Condemnation came because they knew exactly what God wanted them to do, yet they chose not to do it! God, through His Holy Spirit, will always give you sufficient revelation and strength to take the next step with Him. If you are uncertain about what God is asking of you, make sure that you are obeying to all that you do know; and through your obedience, God's next instruction will become clear.

My struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, I will put on the full armor of God, so that I may be able to resist in the day of evil, and having done all, to stand (Eph. 6:12-13).  

Since I have been raised with Christ, I should seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. May I set my mind on the things above, not on the things on the earth, for I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is my life appears, then I also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:1-4).

Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I can be content in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2Co.12:9-10). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                                        Never Rest Ministries                

                   

         

Confession Is A Command, Given To Every Christian

                                                      When The Door Slams

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.                                                                               James 5:13-16 

 

        Confession is God's provision to clear obstacles that hinder our relationship with God and with others. Confession is not just for those who don't mind admitting their faults. Confession is a command, given to every Christian, James advised that when we sin, it is important for us to confess not only to God but also to our fellow Christians. There is a tremendous freedom that comes as we openly acknowledge the stupidity of our actions to others.

        If confession does not come out of repentance, it is nothing else but admission, and not true confession. It is important to confess your sins specifically and not hide behind generalities. It is one thing to pray "O Lord, forgive my sin." It's quite another to identify your sin specifically in painful honesty. Whenever possible, confession ought to be made directly to those whom your sin has hurt. You are not to confess the sins of others but only your offenses. Confession is not a sign of weakness; it is evidence of your refusal to allow sin to remain in your life.  

        Think about this: James linked confession with prayer. Your prayers will be hindered if you hold on to unconfessed sin. When James promised that "the urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful," he did so in the context of confession. If you wish to have a powerful prayer life, you must regularly confess your sin. Only when there are no obstacles separating you from God and others will your prayers be effective. Pride will discourage you from admitting to others the stupidity of your heart. True Christian will  have a desire to please God, and compel you to confess your sin and rid yourself of its oppressive burden.

In the past God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                                    Never Rest Ministries      

              

           

Our Christian Heritage Helps Us To Understand Our Identity

                                                     When The Door Slams 

The Lord says, "Listen to me, those of you who try to live right and follow the Lord. Look at the rock from which you were cut; look at the stone quarry from which you were dug. Look at Abraham, your ancestors, and Sarah, who gave birth to your ancestors. Abraham had no children when I called him, but I blessed him and gave him many descendants.                           Isaiah 51:1-2

        The corrupt politician brought disrespect and great shame to American history, which we continue to relived generations after generations. As Christians, we ought never to overlook our heritage. An awareness of our American heritage helps us to understand our identity, and gives us a sense of where God is leading us.

        The Israelites had a rich heritage. Their nation began as a result of Abraham and Sarah's faithfulness. The generations that followed included Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph as their faithful leaders. God richly blessed His people and made them prosper. God continued to show favor on the Israelites by leading them out of Egypt into a prosperous land of their own. 

        God established His nation through some of the must awesome miracles in history. God continued to provide strong leaders, such as Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Deborah, Samuel, David, and Solomon. He sent mighty prophets such as Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Unfortunately, in Isaiah's day, God's people had reached a point where they had forgotten their heritage. They lived as spiritual charity cases rather than as heirs to a rich heritage and members of a royal priesthood. 

        Think about this: Your spiritual heritage is even richer than that of Isaiah's generation. Your spiritual ancestors include Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus, John the Baptist, the disciples, the apostle Paul, and a host of saints down through the ages. Even more important, you look to Jesus as the author and finisher of your faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. You may have a family of American heritage that goes back several generations.

        Do you see the full picture of God's redemptive work? God's plan involves you and me, just as it has included each Christian throughout the centuries. God wants you and me to participate in his continuing work to redeem a last word. Our obedience today will provide a legacy of faithfulness to the generations that follow. 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires (Galatians 5:24). I have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, who is being renewed in full knowledge according to the image of its Creator (Colossians 3:9-10). I know that I abide in Christ, and He in me, because He has given me of His Spirit (John 4:13).                       

        

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

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There Are Those Who Continue Living In Their Sin

                                                     When The Door Slams  

    

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor know Him.                                                                                                                                                        1 John 3:6 

        The Bible makes two things very clear about sin. First, living a life-style of sin indicates that you are not walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, regardless of what you say about your spiritual condition. You cannot regularly spend time studying with the Holy Spirit, and persist in sin. 

        Second, if you do not hate sin the way God does, then you do not truly know Him. There are those who continue in their sin, yet insist that they love God and belong to Him. John make it clear: if you have a lifestyle of sin, (lies) you have not seen Him and do not know Him.

        You may have prayed a "sinner's prayer," or made a commitment in your church, or been baptized, but the evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in your life is that you are defeating sin. This does not mean that you will never sin, but it does mean that you refuse to make sin a lifestyle and you immediately seek forgiveness when you sin (1 John 1:10). It means that you are opposed to sin, as God is and you allow the Holy Spirit to eradicate every trace of sin in your life. It means that when you sin, you immediately confess it and repent of it and do whatever is necessary to avoid repeating your sin.

        Think about this: If you find yourself falling into sinful habits or not grieving over your sin as you once did, this indicates that you are not abiding in Christ. Return to Him in repentance; restore your fellowship with Him; and you will once again experience victory over your sin.

The heart is deceitful above all things And incurably sick. Who can understand it? You, The Lord, search the heart And test the mind To reward a man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his deeds (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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True Christians Is A Living Offering To God

                                                      When The Door Slams

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Than you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.                     Romans 12:1-2 

        God takes great pleasure in worthy sacrifices. In the Old Testament God gave detailed instructions for how His people were to give their offerings. He declared that these brought a "soothing aroma" to Him (Lev. 1:13, 17). When the Israelites gave an offering to God, it was no longer their own; it belonged entirely to God. God would accept only the best that people could give. It was an insult to almighty God to offer Him animals that were damaged or imperfect in any way. God Himself met the standard for sacrifices when He offered His own Son as the spotless Lamp. Only the death of His perfect Son was a worthy enough offering to atone for the sins of mankind. 

        Think about this: Now God ask us to lay down our lives on His altar as a living offering. Just as it was in the Old Testament, our sacrifice, once offered, cannot be reclaimed. We belong entirely to God. We cannot make a partial sacrifice of our lives; our offering must be wholehearted. Not as weak and sometimes faithful Christians. 

        Therefore, if you are a true Christian, your life is not your own. Rather than dying, however, God asks you to live for Him as a living offering. Every day you are to offer your life to Him for His service. You can not serve Him in your spare time or with your leftover resources. In other words, after you serve your flesh and it's evil desires of the world, than you pray and worship God on Sunday. The way you live your life for God is your offering to Him. True Christians unyielding pursue holiness so that their offering to God is unblemished and acceptable to Him (Eph. 4:1; Phil. 1:27; 1: Thess. 2:12). 

The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:17-18).    

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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Weak Christians Desire Credit For What God Does

                                                     When The Door Slams

Does an ax exalt itself above the one who chops with it? Does a saw magnify itself above the one who saws with it? It would be like a staff waving the one who lifts it! It would be like a rod lifting a man who isn't wood!                                                           Isaiah 10:15

        One of the dangers in the Christian life is to take credit for what God does. This was the Assyrians' problem. They were a weak nation until God chose to bless them in order to use them as an instrument to punish the Israelites. However, the more God blessed them, the more confident they became in their own strength. 

        When the farmers had good crops, they credited their farming skills on their own understanding rather than give God his glory. When their army won a victory, their generals took the credit. When the nation experienced prosperity, the Assyrians attributed it to their military and political might. Finally, God pointed out the absurdity of their conclusions (Isa. 10:5-19). 

        Think about this: It is sometimes easier to handle poverty or weakness than wealth or strength. Poverty causes us to recognize our need for God. Prosperity persuades us that we no longer require God's help. Scripture holds several examples of fools who assumed they were self-sufficient, only to realize their extreme poverty apart from God.

        Samson was the strongest person alive, but he forgot that his strength came from God. Once God removed His strength, Samson was reduced to a pitiful slave. Saul was the first king of Israel; yet when God removed His Spirit from this proud monarch, he became a paranoid, petty man, seeking counsel from the occult. 

        Be careful how you handle the success God gives you! As you enjoy His blessing in your family, your business, or your ministry, keep in mind that you are an instrument in the hand of the Master.

Whoever is wise and understanding will show it by his good conduct and works done in the humility that comes from wisdom. If I harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in my heart, I should not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and ever evil practice (James 3:13-16). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.   

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We Substitute Light For Darkness

                                                        When The Door Slams 

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!                                                  (Isaiah 5:20-21). 

        It is Satan's practice to convince people that what God calls good is actually evil and what God declares evil is, in fact, good. Remember Satan persuaded Adam and Eve that their disobedience, rather than their obedience to God, would guarantee a full life. They believed him and immediately began to experience sin's consequences! Despite the unreasonableness of Satan's logic, he continues to deceive people today into doubting what God has clearly said. 

        King Saul sought Samuel's affirmation for the sacrifice he had offered, even though he had acted in direct disobedience to God's command (1 Sam. 15:13). Ananias and Sapphira expected praise from the early church for their offering, though they were blatantly lying (Acts 5:1-11). An Amalekite solder sought David's gratitude for killing Saul, God's anointed king (2 Sam. 1:1-16). 

        Think about this: We, too, will face the temptation to call something good that God has declared wicked. We may be persuaded that we can accomplish more good by lying than by telling the truth. We may claim that we are mobilizing Christians to pray for someone in sin when, in fact, we are spreading gossip. We may assert that we are following God's will in our life when, in fact, we are trying hard to pursue our own sinful ambitions. We will also be tempted to call evil that which God declares is good. God says it is good to love our enemies, yet we might decide our task is to hold them responsible for their actions. 

    It is so important to hold ourselves accountable to God's Word. God does not need us to find exceptions for His commands. He requires our obedience.

Who among us fears the Lord and obeys the word of His Servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light Trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God (Isaiah 50:10). May I not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God      (3 John 11). I will seek the Lord while He may be found And call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6).       

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

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Thorn In The Flesh Painful Reminders Of Sin

                                                       When The Door Slams

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.        Acts 14:19

        God has many ways to discourage us from sin. One is to provide reminders for us so that we never take disobedience against Him lightly. Weak Christians try to hide their sins, only to repeat them. Before his conversion, Paul assumed that he was righteous before God. In reality, Paul was so confused to God desire, that he arrested and executed Christians in order to please God! Paul was so blinded to God's will that when he watched Stephen being brutally murdered for his faith, Paul's heart was hardened, and he became even more determined to imprison other Christians. 

        Think about this: It is significant that there are two occurrences of stoning mentioned in the New Testament--Stephen's and Paul's. Was it coincidence that God allowed Paul to be stoned in the same manner as Stephen had been? God had certainly forgiven Paul for his involvement in Stephen's death, but God also left him with a reminder of what his arrogance had led him to do. If pride could blind Paul to God once, pride could do it again. Perhaps Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was a direct result of the stoning. 

       Christians may also ask God, when will You heal me?, Why did You allow my child to die?, Why did You allow the weak minded to lead the church? Why did You allow these painful reminders to stay in my life? Why do You allow the mentally challenged to be guardian over our government? This may have served as a visible reminder to Paul, and others, of the terrible consequences of their sin.

        God is absolutely just. He loves, and He forgives, but He does not compromise His righteousness. God deals with us uniquely. He draws upon our experiences to teach us about Himself. God will forgive us of our sin, but He may provide painful reminders of the ugliness of sin. Let us thank God that He loves us enough to remind us of the destructive consequences of sin in our lives.

I know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him (Psalm 4:3). You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your presence (Psalm 90:8). May I be diligent to present myself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (Timothy 2:15). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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Sanctification Prepares You To See And Hear God

                                                     When The Door Slams 

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."                                   Isaiah 6:8

        It take a pure heart to see God (Matt. 5:8). You can attend church services, read your Bible, and pray; but if sin fills your heart, you will not see God. You will know when you have encountered God because you life will no longer be the same. 

        Isaiah was concerned with the death of King Uzziah, the able king of Judah, but was disoriented to his heavenly King. Then something happened that forever changed Isaiah's life. God, in all His awesome majesty, appeared to him in the temple, surrounded by heavenly creatures. Instantly, God's presence made Isaiah aware of his sinfulness. One of the seraphim came to him with a burning coal and cleansed Isaiah of his sin. Immediately, Isaiah began to hear things he had never heard before. 

        Now he was aware of a conversation in heaven concerning who might be worthy to be God's messenger to the people. This prompted Isaiah's eager response: "Here am I! Send me." Now that God had cleansed Isaiah, he was aware of heavenly concerns and prepared to offer himself in God's service. Where as Isaiah had been preoccupied with earthly matters, now his only concern was the activity of God.

        Think about this: If you have become estranged from God and His activity, you need to experience His cleansing. Sanctification prepares you to see and hear God. It enables you to serve Him. Only God can purify your heart. Allow Him to remove any impurities that hinder your relationship with Him and other love ones, and then your service to Him will have meaning as you offer Him your consecrated Life. 

Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we face death all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." Yet in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me. (Romans 8:35-37). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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Sin Hardens The Heart To Become Stone

                                                      When The Door Slams 

"I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them.                                         Ezekiel 36:26-27

        From our hearts comes our response to God. Apart from the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are extremely deceitful (Prov. 17:9). David prayed that God would cleanse him from the evil of his sin and purify his heart (Ps. 51:10). God's greatest desire is that His people love Him will all their hearts (Deut. 6:5). Jesus said we are blessed if our hearts are pure (Matt. 5:8). 

        Sin hardens the heart (Matt. 13:4,19). The more sin we allow to pass over our hearts and through our lives, the more resistant we become to a Word from God. The sin of unforgiveness and disobedient stiffens our hearts. We cannot continue to resist the activities of the Holy Spirit without becoming hardened against Him. Exposing ourselves to evil and ungodly sexual influences desensitizes us to God and His Word. Over time, our hearts become like stone, unreceptive to a fresh Word from God. We become unconsciousness to sin. 

        Think about this: Has your heart grown hard toward God? Do you feel as though nothing could soften it? God has a solution. He will separate you from the influences that are destroying you      (Ezek. 36:24). He will cleanse you from all filthiness and remove everything that has taken His place in your affections (Ezek. 36:25). He will remove your heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh, tender toward Him and His Word. If your love for God is not what it should be, ask Him to renew your heart and restore your devotion to Him.

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin (Psalm 51:1,2). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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The Light Of Life

                                                     When The Door Slams   

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.                                             John 1:4-5

        When Jesus came to a world that was in bondage to darkness and dead in its sin, He came as light and life. His light dispelled sin's darkness wherever He went, for the forces of evil could not withstand Him. The life He brought was abundant and free, available to all who were dead in their sin (Eph. 2:1; John 10:10). 

        Think about this: If you are a Christian, Jesus lives in you, and His light is within you. Christians are called to dispel darkness (Eph. 5:11). The light of Christ ought to shine so brightly through you that those practicing darkness are uncomfortable when they are around you. But how can you help others when you are living and walking in darkness. The light within you should dispel darkness from the lives of your friends, coworkers, and family members. If your are truly obedient and faithful to the Word of  God. 

        The fullness of life found in Christ dwells within you as a Christian (Col. 1:27). The life that Jesus offers is available to others through you. Don't discount what you have to give to those who are hurting. How can you help others when you are walking in darkness? Christ's life within you is more than sufficient to meet every human need. When people encounter you, they encounter Christ within you. You do not know all the answers, but you have Someone within you who does! You will not carry the burden of the needs of others. Christ will. You must be aware that just as many resisted Jesus, so there will be those who resist the truth that you offer (John 1:11). Be thankful, however, that God chooses to express Himself through me, giving light and life to those around me.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12) 

Those who suffer according to the will of God should commit themselves to their faithful Creator in doing good. (1Peter 4:19). 

I am from God and I am an overcomer, because He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)    

May I put away all of these things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from my mouth. (Colossians 3:8)

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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Sin Brings Death (Romans 6:23)

                                                      When The Door Slams

"The thief does not come except to steal, and kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.                                 John 10:10

        Jesus warn us to be on guard for thieves who will try to rob us of what God has for us. Jesus wants us to enjoy abundant life (John 10:10). Since the time of Adam and Eve, people have had to choose whom to believe. Satan convinced Adam and Eve that forfeiting their obedience to God would gain them everything. Instead, their disobedience robbed them of all they had. For the rest of their lives they experienced only a fraction of the blessings God had intended. Scripture is jam-packed with accounts of those who forfeited their inheritance as children of God in order to gain that which was short-lived and empty. 

        Think about this: The world seeks to convince you that you will find fulfillment if you adopt its standard of morality for your marriage, raising your children, advancing your career, or pursuing pleasure. If you believe this, you will never experience the blessings God intended for you. Sin brings death    (Rom. 6:23). It is tragic to listen to the voices of the world instead of the One who created life and who wants you to experience life to its fullest. 

        Jesus wants you to live your life with security, knowing that you are a beloved child of God. If you are not experiencing love, joy, and peace, you have settled for less than what God intends for you. If you have been making excuses for why you are not experiencing an abundant and and joyful life, determine today to settle for nothing less than God's best for your life. Stop following the way of the world, trying to find satisfaction. Instead, listen and obey the Holy Spirit, and you will  find true fulfillment.   

        May I not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all my heart. May I not turn aside to go after worthless things which do not profit or deliver, because they are useless.                      (1 Samuel 12:20-22).   

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.  

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Righteousness Is Not Only An Absence Of Sin

                                                      When The Door Slams  

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shell be filled.                                                                                                                                                     Matthew 5:6

        Hunger and thirst are the body's way of telling us that we are "empty." Our natural response to physical hunger and thirst is to seek food and water to satisfy our need. Each Christian has an inner longing that only Christ's righteousness can satisfy. But we cannot be filled with righteousness if we are filled with self. 

        Throughout the Scriptures God emphasizes that the one who longs for Him with all their heart will find Him (Jer. 29:13). As we crave righteousness, we will repent of our sin, and God will remove it from us. Our selfishness will be replaced by the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). The Spirit will make us to be like Christ.

        Think about this: Righteousness is not to be taken lightly, nor is it easily attained. Holy God does not give His righteousness to people indiscriminately. He gives it to those who know they cannot live without it. Our desire for personal righteousness must be powerful, all-consuming, dominating everything we do. Pursuing righteousness means that we value the opinion of God far more than we treasure the opinions of people.

        Righteousness is not only an absence of sin. It is allowing God to fill us with His holiness    (Rom. 6:11). It is being like Christ. Jesus is our model of One who sought God's righteousness first, and then the Father glorified Him. We are not only to seek the kingdom of God, but we are also to pursue His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). If we will hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will be satisfied!

        Let me hear Your unfailing love in the morning, For I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should walk, For to You I lift up my soul (Ps.143:8).  

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord God and thank Him for His forgiveness.                      

                                            

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A Fool Makes Unwise Choices With His Time

                                                     When The Door Slams

Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.                                                                                               Ephesians 5:15-20  

        These days we are bombarded with opportunities that entice us to invest our time and energy. Each day the voices of sin cry out for every available moment. So many causes promise that time spent on them will reap great rewards; how can we recognize God's voice among so many competing voices? 

        A fool makes unwise choices with his or her time. With every new opportunity that comes along, the fool chases off in a different direction, not questioning whether that is the best choice. The loudest voice gains your attention. At some point the fool discovers to his disappointment that he has squandered the investment of his time.

        The days in which you live are evil. Marriages are under tremendous pressure; families are falling apart. Multitudes are dying every day without hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Investing your life wisely is critical to you and those around you. Foolishly spending your time in sinful or wasteful pursuits can cost you and others dearly.

        Think about this: Often it is not evil pursuits that rob your time. Rather, the temptation is to sacrifice what is best for what is good. The enemy knows clearly tempting you with evil will be obvious, so he will lure you with distractions, leaving you no time to carry out God's will. He will tempt you to fill your schedule with good things that you have no time for God's best. You may unintentional substitute religious activity for God's will, pursuing your own goals for God's kingdom instead of waiting for God assignment. Your time is precious to the Holy Spirit.

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

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Sin Will Corrupt Every Area Of Your Life

                                                       When The Door Slams

But God Has a way to make people right with him without the Law, and he has now show us that way which the law and the prophets told us about. God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same: All have sinned and are not good enough for God's glory, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ. God gave him as a way to forgive sin through faith in the blood of Jesus' death. This showed that God always does what is right and fair, as in the past when he was patient and did not punish people for their sins. And God gave Jesus to show today that he does what is right. God did this so he could judge rightly and so he could make right any person who has faith in Jesus.                                        Romans 3:21-26

        Because of sin, Adam and Eve fell short of the perfection God intended for them. Because of sin, the Israelites relinquished the glory they could have experienced as God's holy nation. Because of sin, Judas fell short of the opportunity to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. Sin will corrupt every area of your life that it touches. Sin will cause your marriage to fall short of the promise it held in the beginning. Sin will cause you to fall short as parents, a church member, a worshiper, or a friend. Every area in your life is easily touched by sin, and you will receive a deceitful and destructed heart.

        The wonder of salvation is that God completely dealt with sin. Jesus Christ did what we could not do. Through Christ's sacrifice, God, by His grace, offered His salvation and canceled the penalty of our sin. By His grace, He takes a life that has fallen short of God's best and gives it meaning. He provides the opportunity to immediately confess your sin's and to be cleansed from all unrighteousness                (1 John 1:9). He mends a broken heart. His grace erases anger and bitterness. He restores severed relationships. He take a life devastated by sin and make it whole, when you give your life to Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savor through the power of the Holy Spirit.

        Think about this: The Holy Spirit takes our failures and produces something good. Only God can heal sin's devastation. Only God can bridge the gap between His glory and our sin (Rom. 3:23). You must trust Him to be your personal Savor. If you will ask Him, He will free you from the bondage of your sin, you must establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savor, and He will make you whole.

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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Showing Forgiveness Means Tenderhearted

                                                     When The Door Slams

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.                                                                                                    Ephesians 4:31,32. 

        The book of Ephesians describes the behavior that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be filled with kindness. Kindness is love expressed in practical ways; it is putting the needs of others before our own. It is done on purpose, in ways to meet other people's needs.

        Being tenderhearted means that we are sensitive to the feelings of others. When a fellow Christian experiences sorrow, we grieve also (1 Cor. 12:26). When another believer is joyful, we, too, rejoice. Being tenderhearted means showing compassion toward those around us.

        We show forgiveness because we, too, fall short of God's ideal. knowing that God has graciously saved us from destruction, which motivates us to forgive others when they offend us. It is not easy to forgive when betrayed by someone you love. Often we are less patience with our fellow Christian than we are with nonbelievers. We expect more obedient of Christians, and when they fail us we feel betrayed. When this happens, we need to look closely at the cross and remember the forgiveness we received there. We must set aside the self-centered attitude that leads to impatience and criticism of others.

        Think about this: How long will injustice flourish? God's answer is direct: not long. Scripture reveals a serious promise: "He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world" (Acts 17:31).    "Judgment Day" is an unpopular term. We frown upon judgment, but we value justice, yet the second is impossible without the first. One can't have justice without judgment. For that reason "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his or her body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthian 5:10). From His throne Jesus will forever balance the scales of fairness.

        Jesus did not say that the world will know Him by our miracles, by our grand testimonies, or by our vast Bible knowledge. The world will know Him by the love that Christians show to one another (John 13:35). Are you constantly in conflict with others. Ask God to give you kindness, a tender heart, and a forgiving spirit. As you allow the Holy Spirit to build these qualities into you, your life will be a blessing to others around you.   

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord God and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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