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honoring God

Cleansing Your Heart

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As our praise focuses on God’s works and character, we see ourselves in stark contrast, filled with human failures. Praise and confession become intertwined. The more we praise God for how great He is and see our own sin, we are led into confession of our sins, which in turn leads us back to praising and thanking God for His mercy and grace and forgiveness.

What sins do you need to confess to God? How about some of these based on Bible passages. . .

  • Ephesians 5:16 making the most of every opportunity (NIV) How am I wasting my time?  How am I robbing God by withholding my time, money or talent?  How am I spending my time?  When do I make time to spend with God?
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple 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 body.(NIV) How am I being careless with my body?  Do I overeat? Do I exercise?  Am I remaining pure sexually?
  • Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (NIV) Do I sell myself short?  Do I believe that God can use me for His work? Do I doubt the power of God in my life? Do I fail to attempt things because I doubt God’s power?
  • Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.  1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. (NIV) Do I always want more money?  Am I ever satisfied with where I am financially?  What would I sacrifice for more money? How would I view my life if all my money was gone today?
  • Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat– for he grants sleep to those he loves. (NIV) Am I working too many hours?  How often have I seen my kids this week? When have I spent quality time with each child?  Do my thoughts focus more on work or my family?
  • Luke 12:15  “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (NIV) Do I desire what someone else has? a home? a boat? a wardrobe? a Christian husband or wife? an estate?
  • 2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (NIV) How am I increasing my knowledge of God?  When do I lose self-control? Do I get agitated easily?Am I persevering or getting by with the curve balls in life? How is my behavior ungodly? What would I not do if Jesus was physically with me? When have I not shown kindness and love to others?
  • James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (NIV) What worldly pursuit is there in my life?  Are my pursuits more heavenly or temporal? How am I being conformed to the world’s image? Does the world see that I am different? more like Christ?
  • Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(NIV) Are most of my statements mostly about “me”?  Am I self-conscious rather than Christ conscious? Are my feelings easily hurt?
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV) How do I fail to give thanks to God?  Do I thank Him for the bad as well as the good?  Do I thank God for daily provisions?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

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The Race Is On!

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (NIV) Hebrews 12:1

Who are these witnesses? They are our encouragers, those who have gone before us who have had an experiential knowledge of the faith. Their type of faith honors God. They are the great men and women of faith that are written about in Hebrews 11. These are the great heroes of the past that say to us today, “I made it, you can too.”

Men like . . .

  • Noah, who warned the people that God’s judgment was coming. In holy fear he built an ark to save his family. Noah would say, “Be bold, speak the Truth in love.”
  • Abraham, who was called to go to a place that he would later receive as his inheritance. He obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going! Abraham would say, “Trust God even when you can not see the way.” Or he would tell us “Believe God will do the impossible.” Abraham should know. God enabled him to become a father at 100 years old.
  • Joseph, who when circumstances did not look like they would ever get better, would tell us, “Believe God will work all things out for His purposes.”
  • Moses would tell us when we are tired and weary, “Persevere. Look to God. Look ahead to His promises.”
  • Joshua was confronted with leading a people in a way that defied all logic. Joshua would say, “God is true to His Word. Trust Him and watch Him work in incredible ways.”

Hebrews 11 tells us about men and women who were all commended for their faith. Now they have been “ushered” off the track and into the stands, figuratively cheering you and me on. Their stories encourage us. In this case, they have already received their “trophy.” They have finished the race. These great men and women of the faith are the spectators so to speak.

Now it is our turn to carry on the tradition of enduring faith. Christianity is not a spectator sport. It is the active participants who receive the trophy, not the spectators. How are you running the race?

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In Times of Trouble

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When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. (NIV) Acts 18:5

Paul invested God’s Word in the lives of those in Corinth and God changed lives. “Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8). But, Paul had opposition. The Jews became abusive to him. Once again Paul faces oppostion. But, God is good. He knows what we need at all times and He encouraged Paul.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (Acts 18:9-11)

Although God told Paul to “not be afraid” it did not mean that Paul’s ministry in Corinth would go smoothly. “. . .the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court” (Acts 18:12). They charged him with trying to persuade the people to worship God in ways that were contrary to the law. Paul was persecuted for sharing God’s Word.

How are you facing opposition as you follow God? Are you discouraged in your ministry? How are you being persecuted when you share God’s Word with others? How are you suffering for living a life that honors God? Do not get discouraged. Do not give up hope. Turn to the One who sees all. . .who hears all. . .who knows all. . .and has purposes for His Kingdom.

And the God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you
and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (NIV) 1 Peter 5:10

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