Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness

I just came accross this and I loved it so I decided to share it...

Although there is not a quote in the Bible that states "cleanliness is next to godliness", the Bible is very expressive in several scriptures that He want his people to be clean. He is more concerned about our inward man being clean then the outward. But here's the thing, when your inward man is clean then it produces outward cleanliness. It becomes irritating to live in a filthy state when you

have become cleansed on the inside. There is a scripture in Matthew 23:26 that says, "Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also." Jesus was saying what point is it for the cup and platter to be cleaned on the outside while the inside remains dirty. So He said to clean the inside so that the outside may be clean as well. This is proof that He would like for us to be clean internally as well as externally, which means that cleanliness is next to Godliness.

Alexis, O (2011). Cleanliness is Next to Godliness in the Bible | Reference.com Answers. Retrieved April 2, 2014, from http://www.reference.com/motif/society/cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness-in-the-bible.

Stronger, Higher, Smarter

I believe there are very few if any careers in which someone can eventually get to the point that they truly "know it all".  I would even go as far as to say that the most successful professionals are usually those who have a deep passion for what they do which leads them to push the limits.  They are always searching deeper, reaching higher and striving to go farther than they have already gone.  

The expense of learning can be high at times but we do what we must to pursue our goals.  Only don't let it be just a delayed gratification.  One of the most valuable lessons I've learned yet, is to enjoy learning.

Antoine

Praise Jehovah

IRREPLACEABLE

One thing about ice cubes... you can always get another.  People however are like snowflakes. Some things can be imitated but never duplicated and true friends are irreplaceable.

I SHALL NOT BE MOVED

Even though we are born again of the Spirit of God's power we still dwell in earthly vessels. There is no trial or temptation that you could ever face that isn't common to man. (1 Cor 10:13) In other words, we all go through times of hardship, confusion, depression, you name it. What we must never fail to realize is that these are just E-Motions.

The E is for External. It's the forces exerted by the pressures of life. If you are not strong these external forces will move you to act outside of or contrary to the character and will of God. Being a Born Again Christian doesn't make us exempt. We are still human so we are constantly exposed to these forces.

The Word however tells us how to overcome these forces. Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom 12:2)

Conformity is what happens when an object is molded by it's environment or some external force; like water in a container. On the other hand, Transformation is what happens when an object changes due to a force from within; like a Caterpillar in a cocoon.

As Christians, our actions should not be guided by Emotion but rather Inspiration of God. Inspiration... In-Spir-Ation, is being influenced by an internal spiritual force. In our case the Holy Spirit is that spiritual force.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God. (Rom 8:14)
We are in the world so we will feel the pressures of life but we are not of the world so we don't have to succumb to the pressure. ...because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. (1 Joh 4:4)

Nobody likes death....

...it is a prerequisit however for RESURRECTION.

Lord the saints are going through!
Yes my child... if they continue to follow me they will not be overcome and drowned in the storms of life but they will continue to go though untill they make it out to the other side.

 During times of loss and hardship, the weak turn away from God but they that would be strong turn toward God and draw closer to Him.

I pray that we would all be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might... Eph 6:10

SINLESS

As a Born Again Beleiver I am SINLESS

1. By Practice:
Helping someone feel better doesn't make me a physician.
Putting out a fire doesn't make me a fireman.
Playing a sport doesn't make me an athlete.
Stopping a crime doesn't make me a police officer.
Doing something wrong doesn't make me a sinner.
(1John 3:8-10)

2. By Position:
I was once under the law of sin and death. I was bound and obligated to fulfill my debt to the law, for the wages of sin is death... But Jesus came and paid my debt to the law and when he (God in the flesh) died he fulfilled my obligation to the law of God.
NOW I AM FREE TO SERVE HIM WITHOUT FEAR OF CONDEMNATION.
(Romans 7:2; 8:1,2)
"All things are lawful unto me..."
(1Corinthians 6:12; 10:23)

3. By Pardon:
I am what God says I am. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away; all things are become new.
(2Corinthians 5:17)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people that you should show forth the praise of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
(1Peter 2:9)

"Faith That Works"

That which we hope for may be yet invisible… but “real faith”, the kind that produces results, bringing our hopes and dreams into reality, that kind of faith can definitely be seen. In fact, in most cases, it is not easily overlooked. Like a pebble tossed into still water, an act of pure faith can brake up the circumstantial status quo which would dictate your failure. One act of faith has enough power to send a shock wave throughout the universe that causes all natural and super natural forces to change course directly toward the intent of your expectation.

"Morning Prayer"

Morning Prayer

As I Rise, for now I wake
I pray the Lord my hand to take.
And if I stray along the way,
I pray the Lord forgive this day
every fault, offence and sin.
Holy Spirit dwell within.
I submit my life to thee.
Glorify thyself in me.

Antoine St. Lawrence

Who Moved The Mark?

"Who Moved The Mark?"

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.” (Php 3:14) If we must press for it then by definition the prize is not free. Most Christians today seem to be pressing toward the starting blocks rather than the finish line. They strive to get in the race. Then once they qualify… they proceed to rest. The scripture says, “…whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”(Joh 3:16).” Whosoever means anybody can qualify! That’s more like a draft than a high calling. Repentance and Faith toward God is all that is necessary to enter the race. Salvation is free! “Whosoever will,let him come…”(Rev 22:17) Simply put,our objective once we have come to Christ should not just be salvation but faithful service; to be not only called but chosen. Today is the day of salvation (2 Co 6:2),but the day is yet coming when the Lord of the harvest shall separate the wheat from the tares (Mat 13:30), the sheep from the goats (Mat 25:32),the good servants from the wicked (Mat 13:49). In that day,many will cry Lord,Lord but he will reply “depart from me! (Luk 13:25)” There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth because many who thought they would receive good rewards will instead be rejected. (Mat 25:30) How can this be you ask? “For by grace we are saved through faith… it is the gift of God,not of works lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8) but every man shall be rewarded for the works done in the flesh. (Mat 16:27) Contrary to salvation which we can never earn, our status in heaven is merit based,determined by our performance in service to our lord. When it comes to heaven,we have a free ticket. Jesus purchased our redemption. This is true. But what a shame it would be to have free admission to the Kings Dominion and then not be permitted to enjoy any of the rides.

WORD-UP!
www.evangelresourcenetwork.com

Holiness, Are You Serious?

It is becoming evident that sinful behavior, while acknowledging it as sinful, is yet viewed as being somehow permissible or excusable.  A spirit of sin tolerance and moral negligence has pervaded the Church.  Complacency has set in and contaminated its core.  The answer and correct response is neither religion nor legalism but can only be repentance and the love of God.  Who has propagated the mentality that real Godliness and true holiness is some lofty concept that we should point to but could never attain?  …that as long as we believe in Jesus while we admit to our fallacy and confess our failure to live up to the standard he set for us by his own example, that he would overlook our sin. When the scripture says, “Be ye holy for the Lord your God is Holy.” is God just taunting us or does he expect us to obey him.

1 Peter 1:16; Lev 20:26; Rom 6:1; Rom 12:1; Gal 6:8

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But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psa 37:39

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psa 37:39

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psa 42:5

The life we live tomorrow is determined by the choices we make today.

FAITH?

What's up Saints? I hope you all had a wonderful time yesterday celebrating the resurrection.  Many of us have been going through various struggles. Sickness, financial strain, domestic relations and of all things, Church conflicts all seem to be at the top of the list. There is a song on the home page of our church website www.evangelresourcenetwork.com called "What Love Does". You should take the time to listen to the lyrics... "We hear allot about what love is.  We don't hear too much about what it does though... "  The writer should follow that up with another song called "What Faith Does" because we always hear about what FAITH is but we don't hear to much about what it does though.
As a result, our concept of faith is becoming more and more superficial. I'm reminded of another song, "Jesus On The Main Line - Tell Him What You Want".  Not that there is anything wrong with telling Jesus what we want but isn't Faith more than that? And isn't our Lord more than some omnipotent concierge or personal Santa. I mean this to encourage you not to dis-courage you. I heard one of the saints the other day make the comment, "I'm sick because I don't have enough faith. When the Lord increases my faith I will have enough to believe for my healing."
First of all, knowing God and the Word of God enough to know that he has provided healing and that we receive from him according to our Faith; if you still don't believe, then what else is left that could convince you?  Either you believe or you don't.  It really is that simple.  Big Faith is cool but it only takes mustard seed Faith to get the job done.
That brings me to the second point. This saint was very depressed because his prayers had not been answered yet. So I had to remind him, not about what Faith is but what Faith does.  Faith continues to trust God even when circumstances say there is no hope. Hope in God. We should also remember that Faith is not just so we can get what we want. "Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your own lust." (James 4:3).  Real Faith enables us to be who God called us to be and do what God called us to do. "It's Not About Us - It's About Jesus!" We prove our Faith not just by what we can obtain but by what we can offer, produce, endure, suffer, sustain, overcome, undertake, outlast or let go.
Need I say more? See Hebrews chapter eleven. It talks all about what faith does. Not to mention chapter twelve. Wow, talk about tough love.
Look, just because you don't have what you asked for as yet doesn't mean your faith is weak. In fact, if you've been praying the same prayer for a long time and you are still waiting for it, your faith is probably stronger that you think. ;->

Word-Up!

Word-Up!

Why did I pick the phrase "Word-Up"? It's a play on words. However, it's definitely not a playing matter. Oh Kay, I know haven't posted in a hot minute and now I'm back like It was just yesterday... but if you haven't noticed, time isn't waiting for any of us so I'm not going to waste time talking about what took so long. Lets just get into it. I have found that in spite of all that Saints go through, when I consider the ones who survive their struggles and the ones that have fallen by the wayside, It's the ones who reverence the WORD that make it through the storms of life. If when you are confronted with the Word of God concerning your situation and you blatantly decide to ignore or disobey, it's only a matter of time before the enemy huffs and puffs and blows you away. Jesus said that he who hears his word and does it is like a wise man that built his house on a rock. When the storm and floods came and the winds blew it stood strong.

Mat 7:21-29
The bible is not just some religious book. It's God's word and instructions for life.

I could say allot more but I'll just say... Word-Up!

EVANGEL RESOURCE NETWORK - WORD-UP!

EVANGEL RESOURCE NETWORK - WORD-UP!

03/25/10 10:45 AM

"Going Home"

It seems that more frequently now days the saints are going home.

One by one they pass away as friends and family moan.

It's hard to think the ones we love will go away in time.

But every one of us some day must leave this world behind.

They brought us joy and gave us love that only they could give.

Finding strength to face each day in knowing Jesus lives.

They're gone, but we have hope in God's word just as they did.

Mark 12:27 says he is God of the living not the dead.

So they're not dead, they are still alive. In fact they're doing just fine.

No more hurt, no more pain and no more troubles in mind.

Yes they're all right and in good company too with the saints who've gone before.

Willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

So don't be discouraged. Fill the hole in your heart with this hope only God can

provide...

That we see them again if we live as they live so we are not left behind.

Written 06/09/05 in remembrance of Elder Wilbert Miller and all our loved ones going home.

EVANGEL RESOURCE NETWORK - WORD-UP!

EVANGEL RESOURCE NETWORK - WORD-UP!

03/23/10 7:40 AM

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Heb 10:38,39

This is another verse which speaks in context to the second coming of our Lord. However, it declares the principle of faith, without which it is impossible to please God or even ourselves for that matter. But hey! We don't draw back, we don't back down and we don't give up. We find out what God's word says about our situation, then we speak it and stand on it!

Come on saints... for we are more than conquerors through Christ!