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STAYING CLEAN I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
During
a business trip to Philadelphia, a man walked down Broad Street toward City Hall
each morning to catch the subway. Each day he passed a long line of people
waiting for something. They were a cross-section of humanity in age, ethnic
origin, and appearance. After wondering about it for 3 days, he asked a man on
the sidewalk why al1 these people
THE HAPPY BELIEVER Proverbs 16:20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
The
Christian should be a happy person, full of spiritual optimism and bubbling over
with the joy of the Lord. We are to "rejoice evermore" and "in everything give
thanks!" Confident of God's perfect watch-care over us, we should constantly
paint rainbows on life's clouds with our smiles of holy satisfaction and
Christian victory!
When People Pray When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. --Acts 4:31
Peter and John were in danger. The religious leaders in Jerusalem opposing the gospel had warned them to stop their missionary efforts (Acts 4:18). When the apostles reported this to the other believers, they immediately held a prayer meeting. What happened next is thrilling. The believers first praised God. Then they asked for boldness that they might continue the work. The results were dramatic. The house shook, and the believers were filled with the Spirit. They boldly witnessed (vv.31,33), and enjoyed spiritual unity (v.32). They gave unselfishly to those in need (vv.32,34-37). I don't know about you but I never felt a building shake at a prayer meeting, but I have seen God's power at work. When trying to help repair a broken life or burdensome situation I've asked those involved to pray. Sometimes they refused. Other times they mumbled carefully worded prayers. The meeting failed. But occasionally someone would pray in earnest. Almost immediately the atmosphere would change. Confession and forgiveness soon replaced charges and countercharges. When we pray sincerely, praising God and presenting Him with petitions that seek His glory, great things happen. But first we must pray from the heart.
The Great Impostor Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. --Ephesians 6:11
The arctic polar bear feeds almost entirely on seals. To enjoy such a meal, he sometimes resorts to a cunning bit of trickery. If the hole in the ice through which the seal gets his food is not too far from the edge of open water, the polar bear will take a deep breath, slip underwater, and swim to the seal's fishing hole. He will then imitate a fish by scratching lightly on the underside of the ice. When the seal hears this sound, he dives in for a quick supper, only to find himself suddenly caught in the huge, hungry embrace of his predator. The devil entices us in a similar way. He baits us with
some seemingly harmless pleasure and disguises the ugliness of sin with
something that looks or sounds appealing. Then, when we've succumbed to the
temptation, he catches us in his trap. As we meditate on the truths of God's Word and rely on the
Holy Spirit, we can know the difference between what is truly satisfying and
what only appears to be. Don't let the great impostor fool you!
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