Post by Brother Michael (FE) on Jan 18, 2018 22:55:37 GMT -8
AT WHAT COST DO WE ADVANCE THE KINGDOM ~
PREFACE:
Although the title of this message might easily suggest , " what we must give up to advance The Kingdom, and follow Christ Jesus" , which in itself is a pillar of truth,
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I've been led to share this truth today, that we might never find ourselves being a "stumbling block for my Neighbor"; who when I Love him; I Love Christ also, and honor his Great sacrifice for us all.
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The MESSAGE:
At What cost might we try to Advance The Kingdom at the expense of our Brothers & Sisters; to which Christ would be put again to an open shame....
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4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame
Hebrews 6:6
I for one would be Truly Broken all over again if I ever found myself, as revealed by The Holy Spirit, being a vessel of "Dishonour" in our Fathers house, and also to What Christ did on The Cross for me
"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour."
2 Timothy 2:20
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Speaking and exhorting the truth are some of the most important responsibilities in the Body of Christ, its leaders, and of all Brethren; as we are all able Ministers. There are some who propagate error; even unknowengly, still struggling with the flesh; and there are a some who stand for doctrinal purity of Just The Gospel and unwaivering, who always remain teachable, in Spirit & Truth, By The Holy Spirit. Lord let me counted in that last group....
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But, we must contend for the faith by the right method; humility, and with the right attitude; seeking only to be an honorable selfless Kingdom builder, and not planting Strifes.
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To this end, Paul provides some very clear instructions:
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22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
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23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
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24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
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25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
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26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2Timothy 2:23-26
(*note; "Peradventure" Strongs Definition in verse 25: "lest at any time")
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The context (2Timothy 2:23 above) also makes it clear that this instruction applies when we relate to “those who are in opposition with thenselves” and with those who have been entrapped by the devil (verse 26).
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This not only applies to our relationship with those who are likeminded; but especially to those who are of a different belief or understanding.
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Let us also take a look at verse 25 above
"Oppose Themselves".... caught in a snare and don't realize it..... in this point we are "Our Brother's Keepers"
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The depth of the Love we have for our Neighbor, and The Lord, surely will be manifest in what we say and do; Amen.
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The Love of God (His Word; Jesus Christ) is a Lamp unto our Feet, and a Light unto our path, and is "commanded towards us", at all times, never waivering:
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8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
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Therefore ......
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
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22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
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23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jude 1: 21-23
"making a difference".... again I say; making a difference for their sake only, with no expectation of reward.
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We are to "Forebare" one another (Strongs #430 Definition: I endure, bear with, have patience with, suffer, admit, persist.)
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12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
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13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.
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14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:12-14
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The Wisdom to do these things, and do all things, is from above, for the asking, and is granted freely by God our Father;
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5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:5
(*note; "upbraideth not" means without reproach for asking)
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Let's take a closer look in The Book of James, at what true Wisdom is; and from where it comes;
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13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
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14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
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15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
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16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
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17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
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18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
James 3:13-18
( *note: "Easy to be intreated" Strongs Definition: easy to be compliant or to obey.)
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Disputes may appear to be necessary to engage in at times, and most may even be founded in Scripture, but some are Godly and some are of the Religious Spirit, Which is Not of God. May we all always do only as the Holy Spirit Promts by Unction; Amen
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Note:
That Scripture ( verse 15 above ) says "devilish", and we are not to serve two masters.....
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15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
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8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1
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24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
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25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
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26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
Mark 3:24-26
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May we all find this instead; in Spirit & all Truth:
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5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
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6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6
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In CLOSING:
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Please take a few minutes along with me to consider whether the Wisdom & Love we display is true, heavenly wisdom from above; not the learned, and often "engrained" earthly wisdom of the Old Man; or God Forbid The Religious Spirit:
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and whether or not our love is truly "without Disimulation", pure Agape Love with no expectation of rerturn.....
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46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
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47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Matthew 5:46-47
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9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:9
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I ask you in all humility to join me in loving my Neighbor as Christ Loves His Church, who are our Brothers & Sisters; with all longsuffering, Loving Kindness, The Patience of Job, and The Love for Our Father as of David had..... "A Man after God's own Heart".
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May The Love of Jesus Christ for us all be realized in our actions & deeds;
and any Revelation by way of The Holy Spirit in all things; Amen
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Brother Michael (FE) ~
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