The following scriptures must live in us and be a way of life for us if we are to mature and grow in Christ.
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But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
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I Thessalonians 4:1-8 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
Defraud: swindle, cheat, rob, trick, con, deceive,
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His holy Spirit.
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I Timothy 6:6-12 godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
(Faith is inward belief in God, that HE will provide our needs and take care of us as long as HE chooses to leave us on this present earth.)
I John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
(Those who set their goal to make money and accumulate excesses.)
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
(Faith is inward belief in God, that HE will provide our needs and take care of us as long as HE chooses to leave us on this present earth.)
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We must understand this and believe this to go forward in Christ.
Philippians 4:19 Paul says: But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
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Jesus said: My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36
(Neither do we make our kingdom of this world.)
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.
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Purposing that when we are "blessed" our blessing is from God, not from man.
Genesis 14:22-23 I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
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Matthew 4:8-10 the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
People who go in ways not of God often have power to help you to get ahead in jobs and promotions and money.
When I began in ministry in 1980, for a few months I had an advertising agency who promoted me and arranged addition of radio stations in USA. But the agency began trying to get me to do things which were opposite to what I knew to be right by the Bible. They used "send me your prayer requests" as a way to get more money from people who followed radio broadcast, telling me to put this on my printed materials. I told agency people should pray directly to God. I didn't want them to send their prayer requests to me. Agency said, "Well, you're missing a good bet ... for when they send their prayer requests, they often put money into the envelope along with the prayer request."
I refused to put this on my materials. Instead I tried to teach the people to pray directly to God in the assurance that if their prayer was according to the will of God, then God would give them what they asked.
I John 5:14-15 ... And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
There were other things the ad agency "required". They told me I could not send any written materials to people until they approved the writings. They said I must not offend anyone.
But the entire calling of prophet is an offense to the lawless for prophets correct wrong doers in an attempt to bring them back to the way of God.
In about 4 months, the agency put me out and no longer represented me.
I thought I had failed. But God showed me I had passed a test and I was reminded of how the devil promised fame and wealth to Jesus if HE would obey them.
A minister of God must follow God and obey HIM even when it causes personal loss. We go forward knowing God will repay.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
People who go in ways not of God often have power to help you to get ahead in jobs and promotions and money.
When I began in ministry in 1980, for a few months I had an advertising agency who promoted me and arranged addition of radio stations in USA. But the agency began trying to get me to do things which were opposite to what I knew to be right by the Bible. They used "send me your prayer requests" as a way to get more money from people who followed radio broadcast, telling me to put this on my printed materials. I told agency people should pray directly to God. I didn't want them to send their prayer requests to me. Agency said, "Well, you're missing a good bet ... for when they send their prayer requests, they often put money into the envelope along with the prayer request."
I refused to put this on my materials. Instead I tried to teach the people to pray directly to God in the assurance that if their prayer was according to the will of God, then God would give them what they asked.
I John 5:14-15 ... And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
There were other things the ad agency "required". They told me I could not send any written materials to people until they approved the writings. They said I must not offend anyone.
But the entire calling of prophet is an offense to the lawless for prophets correct wrong doers in an attempt to bring them back to the way of God.
In about 4 months, the agency put me out and no longer represented me.
I thought I had failed. But God showed me I had passed a test and I was reminded of how the devil promised fame and wealth to Jesus if HE would obey them.
A minister of God must follow God and obey HIM even when it causes personal loss. We go forward knowing God will repay.
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Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Never mind the loss: Just set your mind to follow God, obeying HIM.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Never mind the loss: Just set your mind to follow God, obeying HIM.
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And each of us who belong to God must learn to do the following:
I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for HE careth for you.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We turn to God with our concerns and requests. Some church goers turn to pastor and other church members with their troubles, burdening other people needlessly.
Instead we learn to pour out our heart to God, knowing HE will help us with the help we need at the time of the trouble.
We turn to God with our concerns and requests. Some church goers turn to pastor and other church members with their troubles, burdening other people needlessly.
Instead we learn to pour out our heart to God, knowing HE will help us with the help we need at the time of the trouble.
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Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says: Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall HE not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
(Can you grow an inch taller by thinking about it?)
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall HE not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Learn to pray to God over all your concerns when you realize you are concerned. Pray about "tomorrow".
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Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus says: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
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