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WHAT  IN

1/31/2020

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January 31, 2019                   WHAT  IN  THE  WORLD  ARE  WE  TO  OVERCOME ?
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
1 John 5:41 “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
In Christian circles, we hear a lot about ‘overcoming the world.’ That certainly sounds right-like something we should do. In the scriptures there are a lot of admonitions to overcome the world. However, it may be that we do not have a clear picture just what it is about the world that we are called to overcome. After all, God made the world and the earth belongs to Him. Obviously, we are not called to overcome the natural world, but since it is God’s creation, we should be good stewards of it. So what are we to overcome? To answer this question, we have to understand that there are really only two basic influences (influencers) in the world-God and Satan. (Without going in to detail, God created the angel Lucifer, who rebelled against God and was expelled from heaven and cast down to earth, and brought sin into the earth when Adam and Eve yielded to his temptation. This rebellion of Lucifer as well as Adam and Eve yielding to Satan’s temptation was no surprise to God; God had a purpose in all of this.) Satan represents the kingdom of darkness; Satan is shrewd and cunning and deceptive. Satan is all about turning people from God, and his primary tactic is to get human beings to focus on themselves-to get what they want; Satan promises self-fulfillment. Believers are called to overcome this world ‘system’ that has been established by Satan. As alluded to above, the goal of this system is to get individuals to turn from God and focus on self-thereby falling victim to the deception of Satan. We could never list all of the lures of the world system, but to name a few, it would include: making decisions based on what seems best for me; seeking fame and fortune, reputation; doing whatever makes one feel good; focusing on acquiring material possessions; impressing others; and etc. In contrast, in the Kingdom of God, the focus is on dying to self; serving and blessing others; giving; and etc. It is obvious that the two kingdoms are in stark contrast. So, there is a world system, a way of thinking that we as believers are to overcome. The good news is that it is not dependent on our strength to do the overcoming; we overcome by dying and by yielding our lives to the plans and purposes of God, by knowing that we are not our own but that we belong to Him. It is by yielding to the Spirt within us and by working with God as He works in us that we overcome. It is essential that we know our true identity as sons and daughters of God if we are to overcome the ways of the world. We can enjoy the world that God created and we can be a part of His kingdom coming to this world in the place where we live. Great rewards awaits those who overcome this world system that is contrary to the ways of God.
1 John 5:8 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
Revelation 3:21 “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered and sat down with My Father on His Throne.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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WITHOUT  IT -  WE  PERISH

1/28/2020

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January 28, 2020                              WITHOUT IT – WE  PERISH
Proverbs 29:18, 16:27 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”  “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.”
Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are servig the Lord Christ.”
We are each unique with different personalities and temperaments, with different strengths and weaknesses, but we each have a common need. I would guess that all of us have experienced at some point what it is like, how blah it is to have no direction or no vision for our lives. Even in the non-Christian world, having vision is a popular topic; even if a person does not know the Lord, he can improve his temporal life by having a vision and acting on it. For the believer, knowing God, being joined to Him, and because God has made us partners in His work here on earth, we have every reason to be people of vision. We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, have been made new, and we have the Spirit of God living in us, enabling us and equipping us live super-natural lives! We can now talk to God-we can make out request known to Him-His Spirit directs us and reveals our Father’s heart for us. We have every reason to be confident in Him; He has called us to be a part of what He is doing in the earth and in those around us; we are His ambassadors. When we are conscience of these truths, it only follows that we will have vision. Even in the culture in which we live where strife and major problems are the norm, we have the power to overcome-to bring light to the darkness,  to bring insight, to being hope, to announce that God can rebuild out of the rubble; on every hand, we see opportunity where God can work. So, our vision comes from God with our being a part of what He is doing. I realize that all of this may sound grand and glorious, and super-spiritual-and it is-but because we are people of vision; vision is at the heart of who we are. We also have vision for what you might call the ‘small’ things in life. As the verse above tells us, in whatever we do, we do it heartily as for the Lord. We can have vision for having a clean, neat house or lawn, or whatever, because God is excellent in His ways, and He is a God of order. Now, don’t be condemned if your house or whatever is not in order; however, realize that God has done what is necessary in order for you (and I) to have things in order-it’s just a matter of doing what needs to be done. I’m sure you noticed that when we overcome the temptation not to do what needs to be done, we feel really good when we rise to the occasion, take action and get it done. That ‘good feeling’ we have is something that comes from God because that is how He made us-it’s His nature at work in us! Wow! The world would distract us, tell us to just go with the flow, and that overcoming and making a difference is just not worth the effort. BUT, we are not of the world; we have been joined to God and we are now co-workers with Him and we can now bring His influence and His power to the situations around us. We have every reason to be people of vision; with vison that comes from our relationship with God, we will not perish-but flourish!
Daniel 11:32b “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
Blessings, Buddy
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MARCHING  ORDERS

1/25/2020

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January 25, 2020                                MARCHING  ORDERS
From Romans 12: “Love without hypocrisy-abhor what is evil-cling to what is good-be devoted to one another in brotherly love-give preference to one another in honor-not lagging behind in diligence-fervent in spirit-serve the Lord-rejoice in hope-persevere in tribulation-devoted to prayer-contribute to the needs of saints-practice hospitality-bless those who persecute you-rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep-be of the same mind toward one another-do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly-do not be wise in your own estimation-never pay back evil for evil to anyone-respect what is right in the sight of all men-do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The Christian life is anything but boring or stagnant! The above is not an exhaustive list or description of what the life of a believer is to look like, but it is a good sample, or starting point. Our first thought we may have is that who in the world could keep all of these instructions! If that is our thought, there is good news for us. Even though these are commands, or instructions, given to believers, we should not view these as a list we must keep. The good news is that these ‘instructions’ are actually pictures or descriptions of what the life of a believer looks like when life is lived out of the new creations they are in Christ. Living in or walking out of our new heart, our new mind and our new spirit results in living according to the heart of our Father. When living out of our newness, it becomes our nature to live in agreement with these instructions. It is our old nature that sees these commands as burdensome, and it is our old nature that tells us that we must in our own strength obey God’s word. One major thing that hinders believers from living out these commands-these marching orders-is that we all too often make our decisions and our actions based on how we feel. In Romans 6:11 we read: “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” In the book, Orphans No Longer, Dudley Hall relates that the word ‘reckon’ means that we count it as true and we act on it whether or not our emotions line up with it. The fact that God gives us instruction and commands is all the reason we need to carry out what He says; there is no room for debate-just do it. The words of God should indeed move us, change us, and be what sets the course of our life. Who are we to debate the clear instructions of God? Again, to ‘reckon’ the word of God so, to act on His word regardless of how we feel, is the doorway that leads to life indeed. We discover the ultimate freedom when we come to know that the instructions of the scriptures-the commands of God to His children-are all pictures or pointers of, or descriptions of what our new nature and our new heart is like. Let us reckon, to count as so, to act on what God has said about us; He has said that He has given us a new nature, a new mind, and a new heart. If we walk in our true identity, we will find great joy and fulfillment in carrying out all that God has said. Only as we walk in our newness will we discover life as God designed-overflowing, abundant life. If we are not currently living according to the ways of God, then let us confess that to God, turn from our ways, and then begin to simply do what the scriptures tells us to do. It sounds simple-and it is simple- because God has already made us new creations-our part is to live out what He has done. His words are life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Blessings, Buddy
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THE  INHERITANCE  YET  TO  COME

1/22/2020

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January 22, 2020                                THE  INHERITANCE  YET  TO  COME
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”
1 Peter 1:4-5 “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Romans 8:23 “And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”
If we simply view salvation as a ticket to heaven, we have a very limited and narrow view of salvation. Also, if we think that our redemption is now complete, we are short-sighted. Don’t misunderstand; our salvation is secure and if we trust Jesus as Savoir, we will spend eternity with Him in heaven. The point in this blog is that our salvation is much bigger, greater, and broader than we might realize. We do not yet experience the full impact of our salvation. We have been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge, or you might say, a down payment, for what is yet to come. The problem with a narrow view of salvation is that it robs us of the joy of anticipating and looking forward to our full adoption; if we think that the acceptance of Jesus as Savior is all there is to it, we miss out on the wonder and the anxious awaiting of what is yet to come. If we know that our salvation is not yet complete, we understand why Paul said in Romans 8:23 that “we groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” We cannot fully understand the full impact of what it will be like when He makes our redemption complete-when we see Him, when He welcomes us, when even our bodies are made new. Knowing what is yet to come certainly should motivate us to live today in such a way that honors Him and pleases Him. God has great plans for us-beyond our comprehension. By His grace He has redeemed us and we belong to Him; He is looking forward to the day when at the right time, we will be united with Him for all eternity-our salvation will be complete. Keep this truth on the front burner!
Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
Revelation 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
1 John 2:28 “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
Blessings,
Buddy
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A  HOPE  THAT  DOES  NOT  DISAPPOINT

1/19/2020

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January 19, 2020                          A  HOPE  THAT  DOES  NOT  DISAPPOINT
Romans 5:3-5 “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Really? Exult in tribulations? There is much to learn and much insight to be gained if we understand and believe what these verses tell us. First, let us be realistic-tribulations will come; if we believe that because we are believers, we are exempt from trials and tribulations, we are in denial of the truth. It is well established that suffering and tribulation has been experienced by believers throughout church history. However, the tribulation we surely will face is not without a purpose. It is through tribulation that we gain perseverance, and perseverance develops proven character, and character brings about hope. No doubt we all want to be a person who perseveres, who has proven character, and who has hope. Only as we see the fruits of tribulation can we exult in the tribulation. Sadly, for many, including believers, trials and tribulations lead to defeat, depression, and hopelessness. We must understand that there is a hope that disappoints, and there is a hope that does not disappoint. If our hope is based on the outcome we desire, when it does not happen, we are disappointed. The hope that is based on the faithfulness of God in all circumstances, is a hope that does not disappoint. The test for us is this; does our hope rest solely in God, no matter our circumstances or the tribulation we may be experiencing? The key element in all of this is knowing and experiencing the love that God has poured into our hearts. It may sound far-fetched, but you can say that when we experience His love personally, nothing else matters. I know-things do matter-but the love of God makes all the difference and it is His love that is the bedrock and the power that overcomes whatever we face. In God-there is NO disappointment. All of this is not to belittle or make light of trials and tribulations-they are real and they are painful when going through them. The scriptures tell us to pray for one another, encourage one another, and that when one suffers, we all suffer. When we experience difficulties, we need the encouragement and support of other believers. It is a miracle that in the midst of trials, we can come to know God in ways that we did not know Him before the trial. In the mystery of God and in His all-knowing, He knows that when we are in need, He is able to reveal Himself to us in personal ways and to show Himself strong on our behalf. 2 Chronicles 16:9.  So, we do not need to look for trials, they will come; but when they come, there is much benefit to be derived from the trial-if our hope is steadfast in the God who loves us.
1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you by His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings,
Buddy
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IS  THE  RIVER  FLOWING ?

1/15/2020

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January 16, 2020                                        IS  THE  RIVER  FLOWING ?
John 4:10, 13-14 “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’”              “Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall become to him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 7:37b-38 “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” 
Much time and physical energy as well as emotional energy is spent in an effort of trying to find life that satisfies. This search for life takes many paths and leads down many trails. Many believe that “If I can get this,” or “If I could do that,” or “If I could go there,” –“that would be life, I would be happy.” The truth is that one may get whatever he or she wants, but soon learns that it does not satisfy the longing deep within. We should not be surprised at that being that way it is-that’s the way God has designed it. God, the One who designed us, who created us, who knows every intricate detail there is to know about us, knows just what it is that the soul of man longs for and only He can satisfy that longing. The key element that man must understand is that apart from God, he is incomplete, unable to fill the void that plagues him. In the verses above, we actually find the answer to man’s dilemma-and the answer is surprisingly simple; in fact, so simple that it may be over-looked. If one is to find this life that God offers, there are two essentials-believing and faith-that’s it. To believe and to have faith, is not something to take lightly or superficially; we act on what we truly believe. Faith is believing that all that the Scriptures say is THE truth. With all that being said, what about you and I? We have to ask the sobering question; “Are there rivers of flowing rivers of living water flowing in us? That is a great question because it puts everything in clear focus. If ‘rivers of living water’ are not flowing deep within, then we are stagnant, void of the life that flows from God. The good news is that we do not, nor can we, produce the rivers of living water; when we have active faith and belief that God is who He says He is, and we are walking according to the Spirit, we have a well of water springing up within us. Obviously, Jesus is offering more than physical water; He offers to come and fill us with His presence, and with His presence comes all of the kingdom of God, thus allowing us to live super-naturally with a totally new mind set, a brand new heart, and a new spirit. In this super-natural life, we see life from God’s perspective; we see that He has an eternal purpose that He is moving toward and we are a part of it; we see past the immediate circumstances in life; we discover that God has put His love in our hearts and now we can respond to any situation with His love; and we have an abiding hope and joy. This all comes about not with a casual or superficial faith or belief, but with a heart that is fully turned to God, a heart that is seeking Him above everything else. Only as we are seeking to know Him, will we discover our true identity-that we have been joined to Him and that we have indeed been made new creations. If the river is not flowing, then let us confess to the Lord that we are thirsty, and then begin to drink from the fountain that flows from God to all who come and drink. When we do, we will experience a well of water springing up deep within.
Psalm 36:9 “For with you is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”
Isaiah 41:18 “I will open rivers on the bare heights and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land a fountain of water.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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NO  LONE  RANGERS

1/13/2020

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January 13, 2020                          NO  LONE  RANGERS
Ephesians 4:16 “from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
1 Corinthians 12:7, 12 “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”    “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”
In one sense, being independent is a good thing, and in one sense being dependent is a good thing.  Certainly, if one is physically able, he should be productive, taking initiative, and being motivated to do what needs to be done-not depending on others to do what he can and should do-that is healthy independence. However, in the body of Christ, a spirit or mindset of independence hampers the growth of the individual members who view themselves as independent and it hampers the growth of the body as a whole. God has so designed the church-the body of believers-in such a way that the members need each other. Each believer has been given the Holy Spirit and each believer has been given at least one spiritual gift and this gift is to be employed to edify other believers. We may have difficulty in accepting the fact that we as individuals alone are not complete and that we actually need others. (We even need those who we may not particularly like!) Here’s another mystery: we are complete in Christ, but in Christ we are a part of His body, and in His body we are made complete. In the western world, there is a spirit of independence that runs deep; many resist any form of being told what to do and take pride in living life according to their own dictates and desires and take pride in living as the once popular song said- “I Did It My Way.” However, God calls us to oneness, to unity just as He and the Son and the Holy Spirit are one; He has no plans for His followers to be ‘loose cannons’ going about life however they deem best. It is an inescapable fact that any one believer does not have it all-together; to grow in the Lord and to mature, we need the input and the interaction of other believers. God designed it in such a way that the particular spiritual gift that He gives to one is not just for him or her, but is given for the benefit of others in the body. This brings us to the point that participating in the meetings of the church as well as fellowshipping with believers on other occasions is really non-optional if we are to follow the Lord’s instructions regarding body life.  It seems that for many, it only takes the slightest reason not to attend the meeting of the church. (The biblical definition of ‘church’ is the ‘called out ones’ or assembly.) Even though the church you and I are a part of is far from perfect, let us discern the plans and the design that God has for His church and take our place in the body of Christ, contributing what God has done and is doing in us and let us receive what others have to give.
Hebrews 10:25a “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit,”
Romans 12:4-5 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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DO  WE  NOT  KNOW ?

1/9/2020

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January 9, 2020                                    DO  WE  NOT  KNOW ?
Romans 7:4 “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
The epic battle, the major question in all of life, revolves around who is it that we are living for. There are only two choices; we either live life with self-interest as our motivation, or we live as for God and according to His plans, His desires. Even as believers, we may have difficulty with the fact that we ‘were made to die’ as Romans 7:4 points out. There is no way around it: before we can live for God, we must die to ourselves. This truth is often the missing message in today’s church where there is often an emphasis on self-fulfillment, etc. It is impossible for us to be joined to Him until we die to the Law. The Law was given to show that we cannot in our own strength keep the ways and laws of God-in that sense, the Law is good. We die when we come to a place that we realize, and we confess that in our own strength and with our best effort, we cannot keep the law of God; only when we come to this place can we discover life in Him. When we finally die to ourselves, we are ‘joined to Him.’ Not only ‘were we made to die,’ the scriptures tell us that ‘we are not our own.’ To the natural man, the thought of dying to ourselves and not being our own, is a thought to be rejected. For the one who knows God, dying to self and not being our own is the doorway to abundant life that comes from God; not living for self, and knowing that we have been joined to Him is liberating. Contrary to what the world says, living according to self is living in total bondage!  Once we die to our self and embrace the fact that we have been joined to God and that the Holy Spirit lives in us, we can spend the rest of our days bearing fruit for God and honoring Him with our physical bodies! What a blessing! Being primarily focused on self-interest robs us of life. If you want to have some fun, if you want to be blessed, if you want to fill useful, then go about bearing fruit for God. Note: we do not produce the fruit-God does that in us-we are to bear the fruit that He produces in us. There are endless ways to bear fruit for God, but primarily it is a matter of listening to the voice of the Spirit in us and doing what He prompts us to do. Again, even as believers, we have two choices; we can live our lives focused on ourselves-what we want, what makes us ‘happy’, what makes us successful, etc., or we take the scriptures to heart and die to ourselves and focus on the fact that we are not our own, but have been joined to Him and now called to bear fruit for Him. Dying to ourselves is something that takes place in our hearts, in our spirit. Dying to self does not mean that we must quit our job, stop playing golf, etc.; it does mean that our motives and our focus changes. We have been bought with a price; we belong to God; and our life is not our own. The mystery, and the truth that goes against human nature and ‘common sense’ is that only when WE die to ourselves, we live.
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Romans 8:13 “for if you live according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”      (die to self)
Blessings,
Buddy
​
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KEEPING  IT  SIMPLE  IN  2020

1/6/2020

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January 6, 2020                            KEEPING  IT  SIMPLE IN 2020
Romans 10:12 “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him.”
1 John 4:15-16; 5:2 “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 
Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”
In the world in general, as well as in the world of Christendom, I believe we suffer from information over-load. For all too many, life is overly complex, complicated and burdensome. I often grow weary when I think about the multitude of books written on how to live the Christian life; the endless number of television ‘preachers’ asking for money; the idea that ‘bigger is better’ when it comes to church buildings, and in general, what I call the ‘commercialization of Christianity.’ I’m really not as bitter as I may sound on all of these things; I know that there are many churches and pastors who are doing a great job in their ministries, I know there have been many great books written, and I know that the internet can be a great tool in reaching people, etc. My point is that I believe for many, there is a longing in our hearts for simplicity and what is genuine. However, even though we live in such a time as we do, the word of God-the gospel-offers hope and gives us a healthy perspective by which we can live life as God designed. In the above verses we see the refreshing and simple truth that God ‘abounds in riches for all who call upon Him.’ It does not matter what your past is like, your economic status does not matter, your race or education does not matter, your IQ does not matter, your present circumstances do not matter-what matters is that God abounds in riches for all who call on Him! We also learn in these verses that salvation is not complicated-praise the Lord. When we confess that Jesus is the Son of God and we repent of our sins, God comes to abide in us, and we abide in Him. As God abides in us, we come to know that He IS love and that His love abides in us. Because God is love and He abides in us, and we have come to know His love, it only follows that we will love others. Loving others is one of the evidences that we belong to Him. As we begin a new year and a new decade, let us get back to the basics; let us make the choice to live in the simplicity of the truth of the gospel; let us choose to turn off some of the world chatter; let us put our hope and trust in our Father who loves us and cares for us; let us take time to enjoy the simple blessings; and let us make knowing Him in greater ways our main pursuit in life. Finally, let us continually be calling on Him and abounding in the riches He has for us. 
2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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CONQUERORS  AND  OVERCOMERS

1/3/2020

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January 3, 2020                                  CONQUERORS  AND  OVERCOMERS
Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
1 John 4:4 “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you then he who is the world.”
One thing we can all agree on for sure is that in the culture and in the world in which we live, we have the opportunity to be conquerors and overcomers daily. Not only do we face external pressures and challenges in the world around us, we also face battles within-in our minds and in our spirits. We must remain alert to the fact that it is the desire of our enemy to discourage us and defeat us in any way he can, and we also must be continually aware of the fact that we cannot overcome and conqueror in our own strength and will power. It is true that one may alter his thinking and form new habits that will improve his life, but to overcome the world system and the battles within requires more than human effort. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us can we conqueror whatever it is that we need to conqueror. The basic truth we must know is that the Holy Spirt in us is more powerful than Satan who is at work in the world. Note that it is God who enables us to overcome, but we have to do the overcoming and the conquering. Conquering and overcoming is to be a way of life. Internally, we must conqueror the flesh by putting it to death, not allowing anger, frustration, jealously, depression, selfishness, complaining, slandering, complacency, and such to rule in our lives. Externally, we must overcome by responding as God would have us respond when adverse things beyond our control happen, by responding with love to those who are unkind, by speaking truth, by helping in time of need, by encouraging others, and etc. Even as believers we can find ourselves trying to overcome and conquer in our own strength and willpower-by ‘trying harder,’ being more committed, etc. The key to being one who overcomes is knowing and experiencing the love of God personally. Romans 5:5 tells us that the “love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Because God loves us, He has given us the Holy Spirit who enables us to overcome and live in victory over anything or anyone that comes against us. Knowing God’s love for us goes hand in hand with knowing our true identity in Him-that we have been made new-and now we can go through life responding the way He would respond and how we see Jesus responding as we read the New Testament. It is a privilege and a blessing to be able to respond to any and all situations, to all people, with the super-natural love of God. Even when someone is being difficult to get along with, when they say hurtful things, when they do the wrong things-whatever-let us respond with the love that God has put into our hearts---that is conquering and overcoming in action.
Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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    Buddy Fitzgerald

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