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Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
This is the purpose of being filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 2 was the first instance of people being filled and they went out and witnessed in the street winning souls. Power with purpose, not necessarily excitement to exercise.
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Fulfilling the requirements of a masters degree is not nearly as needful as fulfilling the Master’s decree.
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Too much of what is claimed to be prophetic is actually pathetic.
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The so-called “drunk in the Spirit” antics are an insult to the Spirit since one of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. We are constantly told in Scripture to be sober so mimicking the drunkenness of alcohol is folly. It has to grieve the HOLY Spirit quenching as well as resisting who He is and His character. It is an abomination and no true Christian should seek it. Resist it and rebuke those who practice it.
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While it it is good to take a biblical stand in social issues, but if we do not stand against the heresies among us we are not doing our job. The evil without and the evil within are both evil. We are to stand against all evil. Pastors, fulfill your whole calling.
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If a service only moves your emotions and not your heart either the service was not in the Spirit or the Spirit was not allowed to work in you.
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Fire and brimstone preaching could be used a bit more since there is an over abundance of feel good all about me preaching. There is a time to weep and a time to rejoice.
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I cannot be anything else but a believer in Christ because I do not have enough faith to be an atheist/agnostic evolutionist.
There is far too much empirical science, fulfilled prophecy, personal testimonies and then there is the existence of Israel. The evidence is far too weighty to deny.
The only reason people do not see the evidence is because the guilt of their sin drives them from God or they just want to be their own god rather than be submissive to Him. Some are mad because He did not bow to their wishes or work out things their way so since they could not force Him to do their will they defy His right to rule them.
Trouble is, He has the right by virtue of being they are His creation living in His universe to make the rules and judge us when we do not comply.
Fortunately, He does have mercy and grace that allows people to return to Him through Christ if they place their faith in Him for the forgiveness of their sin. His work on the Cross makes Him our only door into Heaven. He freely offers salvation to all.
One act of unbelief cost Adam and Eve Paradise bringing death to mankind. One act of faith restores us to eternal life sending death and Hell into the place of eternal torment, but not us.
Stop denying the facts and placing so much faith in fairy tales and receive the truth, love and grace that is in Christ. His arms are open if you open your heart and mind. You will not regret casting off your faith in chance. He is your only chance. Take it! Maranatha!!
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Without Christ I sink, not swim. With Christ I cannot sink but power swim.
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There are many churches that need to close and merge with churches that are growing. We have far too many buildings housing small groups instead of small groups meeting in houses. Growth is not a perfect sign that God is in it, but dying a slow death is proof He is not.
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Too many people come to church saying they are blessed and highly favored while feeling like their life is a mess that’s manure flavored. They won’t share because they feel like no one will care. Reach out and get to know your brother and sister not just pass by with a smile and pithy saying on Sunday.
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God has angels. The devil has angles.
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In forty years most of us will be very old or dead. All that angers or worries us will be moot issues. Pray for peace and live in love each day.
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To my fellow preachers; You can be assured that if your sermon does not convict or move you it will have little effect on those who hear it.
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No one ever died from celibacy, but millions have died from casual sex and millions more have died because they were the result of casual sex.
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When the nation is in danger, the country turns to God and the soldier. When there is peace, they forget both.
How many benefits have been changed or lost after the soldier retired or was wounded? They need more than hot dogs and a handshake. They deserve what they were promised. God wants more than a 911 call.
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While the letter of the law kills, a false concept of grace does not fill it with the Spirit of life but rather only does cosmetology on a corpse.
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True freedom comes when you can say in your heart like Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:..."(Job 13:15 KJV) or as Esther, "if I perish , I perish. (Est 4:16 KJV) In that attitude of life, all other things are mere details.
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On patriotism - Patriotism is not about loving your country right or wrong. It is about loving your country enough to keep it right by protecting it from wrong but always willing to correct it when it is wrong.
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In the war between God and satan, satan has pawns and God has princes.
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A happy worker is a productive worker so make someone smile today including yourself.
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PTSS: Black and blue bodies heal quickly, but minds drowning in the blues because of all the bloody red bodies they have seen slowly rise out of blackness or never do.
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On Memorial Day, we do not thank the living! We grieve the dead with respect and gratitude for our lives that were given to us by their sacrifice.
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It is not the right of man to rewrite the Scripture to suit the man, It is the right of God to rewrite the man to suit the Scripture.
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Jesus did not come for our reformation, but rather for our transformation. Reformation can change the outward appearance and actions, but transformation changes the heart and that only happens through the Holy Spirit being active in a believer.
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Courage is not standing up when in a crowd of like minds but rather standing alone when the issues demand it!
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We do not have to ask the Spirit to activate. We need to ask Him to activate us!
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Dying to be married? Surrender that to God who knows if it is better to grant that desire or let it die. Badly married is worse than singleness
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Division in the Body has possibly done more damage to Western Christianity than heresy. That said, we cannot unite around anything but truth.
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We neglect spending time at His feet and thus we suffer defeat.
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When satan and the world beat you down reach out to Jesus and rebound!
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If your pastor is not reaching out to your community to win souls and nothing has happened in your church in years, your pastor is parked. Pull out and find a church that is doing what God has called the Church to do. If your church is 30 or less and has been that way more than five years, you need to close it, sell it and give the money to missions then find a church where God is at work. They could use your gifts and talents. Don't waste then where God is not moving.
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Let your life affect your feelings not your feelings affect your life.
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Saw a video where a woman went a bit crazy because a Veteran asked if there was a Veteran discount. Another customer offered to pay for his meal and eventually the manager gave it to him free because of the scene being made by the woman.
You know, I do not care if you give me a discount or not, but if it is store policy then you need to follow policy and not vent your opinion to a customer.
Nam Vets are used to this kind of nonsense because they were spat on and called baby killers even if they were Medics. The name called most on the battlefield is God and right after that Medic. Even GIs that were not in country got flack. It was foolishness then and now.
I served and it was my duty and privilege. I will accept your thanks, but I do not ask for it. I wear my Retired Army hat or my AL Chaplain hat because I am proud of that service not to get a discount. I am grateful if I get one, but it is not required. Indeed, I often get a better discount for being an old codger than I do as a Vet.
Many of my brothers and sisters died to give you the right to be rude, crude and clueless so I will not tell you to stop if you are not wise enough to do that on your own. When you elect to be a Communist nation you will find a whole new appreciation for those who gave their lives to prevent what you chose.
God bless America and God bless my comrades-in-arms both living and dead! Hooah!
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Is your face in the Book as much as it is on Face Book?
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Constantly pounding in a nail and pulling it out to pound it back in is ridiculous. Then why crucify Christ continually? To finish the job you pound in the nail once. Christ was crucified once for all!
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I am afraid many Christians are more interested in a fire escape than being conformed to the image of Christ. If you have no desire for that are you sure you are a Christian with your name in His book of life or just your name on the roll of some organization with a good Single's ministry, band or whatever reason you attend?
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Man can reform many things, but only God can transform the man.
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Trying to be balanced in an unbalanced world is not easy.
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If someone is doubting their salvation take them to the Cross. It is better to take them where they have already been for renewal than to assume they have been there.
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Sins are crimes against God and do not have a statute of limitations. Thus you must accept the mercy of the Judge in Christ or His wrath.
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If all our righteous acts are filthy rags that cannot earn salvation how do we ever propose to keep it by works? If we could then salvation went from a gift to a paycheck for which we could boast when received. God does not share His glory with anyone.
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Battle of the sexes? There is a battle but neither the man nor the woman are the enemy. The real enemy is satan and both sexes should unite to battle him in the power of God. That will end the war of the sexes.
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If the Cross does not adorn your heart and soul it is useless for it to adorn you neck, lapel or home.
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Beware of the abundant areas of gray
For that is where the demons play.
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Words and ideologies are the true weapons of war. The rest are just accessories.
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Fighting God is stupid. Sin is stupid. We are all stupid for we all sin thus stupid is as stupid does. We are not ignorant for we know better. Only Christ can fix stupid. Come to Him now!!!
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Jesus came for sinners and Paul said he was the Chief of sinners so that leaves room for any kind of sinner after that even the ones we may despise. To not understand that is not understand the Gospel.
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If your pastor or leader ever says to never read anything that disagrees with him, you need to leave immediately. That is how cult leaders control their people.
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Some people think I am extremely opinionated. It is not an opinion if it is fact. Therefore I am actually extremely factual.
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Christianity is not about who you were or even are but whom God will cause you to be.
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Do you have an overabundance of TOTs in you church? Tired Old Traditions that mean little, but are carried on for the sake of tradition and were dictated by men instead of the Word? If tradition is truth, treasure it. If tradition is just tradition, trash it.
Tossing the TOTs will bring in some light and joy in your church as you seek truth. Shalom! Maranatha!
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The Word validates or invalidates my experiences. My experiences do not validate or invalidate the Word.
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Even though retired, my weekends are as full as my weekdays. One of my former co-workers asked me when I slept. When I can. I have been on the go for many years. There will be a time when my mind will be willing and my body not or my body able and my mind not so until then I raise the banner, draw swords and charge with a yell. Too much to do and so little time so take the hill until you're under the hill.
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Lord, let my words condemn me, but Your words redeem me. My words of promise may fail, but Your word of promise is immutable for You are God.
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