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February-March, 2009: The ‘Undivided’ Life

• The Undivided Family Life - Part 1: Husband and Wife

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: To live an ‘undivided’ life in your marriage is to treat your spouse… the way you treat others; and the way you would want to be treated.
• The Undivided Family Life - Part 2: Children and Parents

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: Only if the peace of Christ is the authority in your heart, will you have true authority in your home.
• The Undivided Work Life

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: To live an ‘undivided’ life with regard to our earthly work is to treat that work as holy and noble — no different than if we were doing some ‘Christian ministry’.
• The Undivided Life - An A-B-C Summary

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: Let every detail in your lives — attitude, behavior, conversation — be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

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January 18, 2009: Baptism in Water
Sermon Notes
Quote: Baptism in water is the testimony of a life of finding favor in God’s eyes; believing God; and obeying God.

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August, 2008: The Power of the Cross:

• Part 1: Justification

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: Most Christians are content with merely the partial power of the Cross in their lives.
• Part 2: Authority

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: The cross of Christ is made void to you, if you’re not on it!
• Part 3: Transformation

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  Quote: The cross is our journey, Christ our destination!

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April-May, 2008: The Kingdom of Heaven:

• Part 1: Citizenship

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: Do you look like a citizen of the Kingdom?
• Part 2: The Citizen's Code

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: Do you abide by the Kingdom code of conduct?
• Part 3: Ambassadorship

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  Sermon Notes
  Quote: ‘Wake up! I have spoken to you for this purpose: to appoint you as an ambassador.’

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January 20, 2008: Unless You Become Like a Little Child
Sermon Notes
Quote: So, you want to enter God’s kingdom?

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October 4, 2007: The Good is the Enemy of the Best
Sermon Notes
Quote: The most miserable people in the world are half-hearted ‘Christians’!

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October 2-3, 2007: The Spiritual Tug-of-War

• Part 1
  Sermon Notes
  Quote: You’re either moving forward in constant revival, or being pulled downward in constant death.
• Part 2
  Sermon Notes
  Quote: Will the story of your life be: ‘God was with him’, ‘God was with her’?

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October 1, 2007: The 7 Godly Habits of Highly Effective Young People
Sermon Notes
Quote: Knock out the ‘T’ from ‘IT CAN’T BE DONE’!

Proverbs Topical Study

June 29, 2011: Chapter 1 - Part 1
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July 6, 2011: Chapter 1 - Part 2
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July 20, 2011: Chapter 3
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August 3, 2011: Chapter 4
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August 24, 2011: Chapter 5
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August 31, 2011: Chapter 6 and 7
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September 7, 2011: Chapter 9
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October 19, 2011: Chapter 16
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November 9, 2011: Chapter 19
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December 11, 2011: Chapter 20 – Part 1
November 30, 2011: Chapter 20 - Part 2
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December 7, 2011: Chapter 20 - Part 3
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January 11, 2012: Chapter 21
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January 18, 2012: Chapter 22 - Part 1
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January 25, 2012: Chapter 22 - Part 2
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February 1, 2012: Chapter 22 - Part 3
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Study Notes – Chapters 1-6
Study Notes – Chapter 21

The Fear of God – video snippets on the fear of God by (in order of appearance): Carter Conlon, Zac Poonen, Paul Washer, Art Katz, Leonard Ravenhhill, David Wilkerson, Jim Cymbala, Keith Daniel, and John Piper

Treasures Old and New – New Covenant Truths Depicted in the Old Testament

September 9, 2009: The Coming of the Son of Man
Study Notes
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September 23, 2009: Cain and Abel
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Study Questions
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September 30, 2009: The Tower of Babel
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October 7, 2009: Abraham and Lot
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Study Questions
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October 14, 2009: The Life and Times of Noah
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November 4, 2009: Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls
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Study Questions
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November 11, 2009: The Lessons of Nehemiah
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Study Questions
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November 18, 2009: (Nehemiah) - How the Enemy Attacks the Work of God
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Study Notes
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December 2, 2009: The Contrast Between Esau and Jacob
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Study Questions
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December 9, 2009: (Esau) - Our Birthright
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Study Questions
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December 16, 2009: The Life of Joseph
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Study Questions
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January 6, 2010: (Ishmael) - The Slave and the Free
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Study Notes
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January 13, 2010: (The Israelites) - Take Heed Lest Ye Fall
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Study Questions
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January 20, 2010: The Tabernacle of God
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Study Notes
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January 27, 2010: The Mercy Seat
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February 3, 2010: Sacrifices and Offerings
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Study Notes
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February 10, 2010: The Day of Atonement
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Study Questions
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March 3, 2010: (Moses) - The Spiritual Response to Accusation
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Study Questions
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March 10, 2010: How Jesus Fulfilled the Law
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March 24, 2010: (The Israelites) - The Sting of Death
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Study Notes
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March 31, 2010: Preparing for the Coming of Christ
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Study Questions
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April 14, 2010: The Sin of Balaam
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Study Notes
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April 21, 2010: Lessons from the Life of Gideon
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Study Questions
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April 28, 2010: Faith: Rahab and the Walls of Jericho
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Study Questions
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August 4, 2010: The Story of Jephthah
Study Questions
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August 18, 2010: Lessons from the Life of Samson
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Study Questions
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August 25, 2010: David
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September 1, 2010: The Priesthood of Eli and the Priesthood of Zadok
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Study Notes
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September 15, 2010: (David) - The Sinner and The Man After God's Own Heart
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Study Notes
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September 22, 2010: (David) - God's View of Sacrifice
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Study Questions
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September 29, 2010: (David) - Rebuilding the Temple of Praise
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Study Notes
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October 13, 2010: The Wisdom of Solomon
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October 20, 2010: (Solomon) - Knowing God and Knowing About God
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Study Notes
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November 3, 2010: (Asa) - The Endurance Test
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Study Questions
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November 10, 2010: The Faith of Jehoshaphat
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November 17, 2010: Israel and the High Places
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December 1, 2010: The Sin of Uzziah
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December 8, 2010: (Elisha) - Characteristics that God Seeks in the People He Uses
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Study Notes
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December 22, 2010: The Fall of the Kingdom of Israel
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January 12, 2011: Isaiah's Messianic Prophecies - Part 1
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January 19, 2011: Isaiah's Messianic Prophecies - Part 2
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Study Questions

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January 26, 2011: Israel's Complacency
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February 9, 2011: Israel's Harlotry
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February 16, 2011: (Jeremiah) - A Heart of Flesh
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February 23, 2011: (Jeremiah) - The Law Written on Our Hearts
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March 2, 2011: The Lamentations of a Prophet of God
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March 9, 2011: (Daniel) - An Uncompromising Prophet in the Workplace
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Study Questions
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April 6, 2011: The Spiritual Types in the Story of Esther
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April 13, 2011: The Integrity of Job
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April 20, 2011: (Job) - Speaking from Knowledge and Speaking from Revelation
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Study Notes
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April 27, 2011: The Prosperity Gospel of Haggai
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Study Notes
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(Zechariah) - May 4, 2011: God's Jealousy Over His House
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May 11, 2011: Zechariah's Visions and Prophecy Regarding the Church
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Study Questions
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May 18, 2011: (Malachi) - The Final Message of the Old Covenant
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May 25, 2011: He Who has Ears to Hear
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Historical Chronology of Judah and Israel

June 8, 2011: The Church’s Love Story
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June 15, 2011: Wisdom
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June 22, 2011: Wisdom and Knowledge
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The Parables of Jesus

A List of the Parables of Jesus
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September 24, 2008: The Parable of the Soils
Study Questions
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October 1, 2008: The Parable of Ten Virgins
Study Questions
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October 15, 2008: The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Study Questions
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November 5, 2008: The Parable of the Friend at Midnight
Study Questions
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November 19, 2008: The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Study Questions
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December 10, 2008: Two Parables of the Old and the New
Study Questions
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January 21, 2009: The Lost Parables
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Study Questions
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February 4, 2009: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Gatherer
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Study Questions
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February 18, 2009: The Parable of the Faithful and Wise Slave
Study Questions
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March 11, 2009: The Parable of the Good Samaritan
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Study Questions
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April 15, 2009: Two Parables about Counting the Cost
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Study Questions
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April 29, 2009: The Parable of the Wise Man and the Foolish Man
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Study Questions
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May 27, 2009: The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
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Study Questions
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June 10, 2009: The Parables of Earthly and Heavenly Treasures
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Study Questions
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June 24, 2009: The Parable of the Talents
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Study Questions
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July 8, 2009: Two Parables On Humility
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Study Questions
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July 29, 2009: The Parable of the Vinedressers
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Study Questions

The Lord’s Supper

April 7, 2010: Part 1
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May 5, 2010: Part 2
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May 12, 2010: Part 3
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May 19, 2010: Part 4
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May 26, 2010: Part 5
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June 2, 2010: Part 6 - Bearing Fruit
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June 16, 2010: Part 7: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
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June 23, 2010: Part 8: Jesus' Final Requests
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Study Notes

Other Studies

July 2, 2008: The Law and Legalism
Study Notes
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July 9, 2008: The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Study Notes
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September 10, 2008: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Study Notes
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April 1, 2009: The Lords Prayer and The ”Glory” of God
Study Questions and Study Notes
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May 13, 2009: The Biblical Teaching on the Covering of the Head
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Study Notes
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May 17, 2009: Love, and its Opposite
Study Questions
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July 22, 2009: The Biblical Teaching on Baptism in Water
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Study Notes and The Example of Noah
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July 26, 2009: The End Times and the Two Groups
Study Questions
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November 25, 2009: Love: The Unity of the Spirit
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Study Questions

Special Presentations

Appreciating our Elders:
• July 13, 2011: Zac Poonen

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• March 30, 2011: Santosh Poonen

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• October 27, 2010: Phil Lapp

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• April 4, 2010: Santosh Poonen
• November 1, 2009: Phil Lapp


Mothers’ Day:

• May 8, 2011: Her Children Rise Up and Bless Her
• May 9, 2010: A Song of Majesty to God for Our Mothers
  Slide Show (watch in full-screen mode)
  PDF Document


Children’s Programs:

• December 6, 2009: The Walls of Jericho


Fellowship:

• August 14, 2011: Words of Encouragement (John Esh, Christian Gauthier, Gabriel Williams)
• December 22, 2010: Testimonies of God's Faithfulness in 2010

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The wedding of Gabriel & Alicia Williams:

• June 4, 2011: The Ceremony

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• A Marriage Prayer
• The J-O-Y of Marriage
• June 1, 2011: Christ's Example in Marriage

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July 2011

• July 29-31, 2011: Our Position in Christ (RLCF Family Conference 2011)
• July 27, 2011: How to Partake of the Tree of Life
• July 17, 2011: Satan Can Have No Power Over You
• July 13, 2011:
  Giving Honor to Others in the Body of Christ

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  Have you ever seen a church where more honor is given to the one who lacks gift? That’s a mark of the true Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:24)!

March 2011:

• March 18-20, 2011: “Act Like Men” and “Satan’s Tactics” (RLCF Men’s Leadership Conference 2011)
• March 27, 2011: Dare to be a Daniel
• March 23, 2011:
  Humility and the Fear of God

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• March 16, 2011:
  The Daniel Ministry

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August (including RLCF Summer Conference) 2010 : Understanding God’s Heart for Us

We speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. We have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:7-16).

• Quotes from the messages
• 1: Doing God's Will as Jesus Did

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• 2: Giving God a Pure Offering

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• 3: What to Avoid in Prayer

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• 4: Knowing the Father by Revelation

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  Video
• 5: Thinking the Way God Thinks

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  Video
• 6: Conditions for Answered Prayer

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  Video
• 7: God's Sovereign Power

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  Video
• 8: The Few Who Find the Way

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  Video
• 9: Reverence for God

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  Video
• 10: Seeking God's Interests

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  Video
• Q&A: Questions and Answers - 1

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  acPoonen/20100814-08-TheFewWhoFindTheWay.html” target=”_blank”>Video
• 9: Reverence for God

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• 10: Seeking God's Interests

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  Video
• Q&A: Questions and Answers - 1

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• Q&A: Questions and Answers - 2

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  Video
• Other Messages:
  • August 11, 2010: The Evil Heart of Unbelief

March (including RLCF Men’s Discipleship Conference) 2010 : Jesus Our Forerunner

God, desiring… to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us (Hebrews 6:17-20).

• 1: How Satan Blinds Believers

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• 2: Jesus is Our Example

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• 3: The Secret of Godliness

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  Video
• 4: Satan Was Defeated at the Cross

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• 5: Worshiping God

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• 6: Listening to God

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  Video
• 7: Building the Body

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  Video
• 8: The Danger of Hypocrisy

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  Video
• 9: The Law Fulfilled Within Us

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  Video
• 10: God Works Everything For His Glory

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  Video
• Questions and Answers - 1

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• Questions and Answers - 2

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• Other Messages:
  • January 31, 2010: Three Truths that Jesus Revealed

August (including RLCF Summer Conference) 2009 : An Indestructible Life

It is evident that our Lord… [arose] according to the likeness of Melchizedek, [and] has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:14-16).

• Part 1: The Lineage of Jesus

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• Part 2: The Spirit of Reality

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• Part 3: Accepted By God

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• Part 4: The Life Jesus Lived

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  Video
• Part 5: Freedom From Self-Centeredness

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  Video
• Part 6: Serving in Newness of Spirit

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• Part 7: Leadership in the Home and Church

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• Questions and Answers

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• Other Messages:
  • August 12, 2009: A Prophesying Church

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  • August 19, 2009: Building the Church God’s Way

February – March (including RLCF Spring Conference) 2009 : A Heavenly Church

• Part 1: Secure in God our Father

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• Part 2: The Works that Jesus Did

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• Part 3: Freedom From Being Orphans

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• Part 4: The Faith of Jesus

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• Part 5: Faith When We Have Failed

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• Part 6: Contentment

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• Part 7: A Helpmeet for Christ

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• Other Messages:
  • February 25, 2009: Discerning the Excellent

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  • March 4, 2009: The Exchange Christ Offers

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August (including RLCF Summer Conference) 2008 : The Spirit-Filled Life

• Part 1: A New Covenant Privilege

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• Part 2: The Way to Know God

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• Part 3: A Baptism of Power

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• Part 4: Lay All on the Altar

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• Part 5: Poverty of Spirit

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• Part 6: Concerned for Others

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• Part 7: Humility and a Good Conscience

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March (including RLCF Spring Conference) 2008 : Building a New Covenant Church

This is true Christianity: where we choose the way of the cross. And, as that happens, God does an amazing work — He binds us together in one Body. And more and more — because it’s crushing this person, and crushing this person — it brings us together.
God wants you to be part of a Body; there’s security in a Body. There can be pressures and difficulties, but it’s the safest place on earth to be, I’ll tell you that.
I often think of Noah building the ark as a picture of building the Church. I say, “Get inside, brothers, sisters! This is the thing that’s going to remain when the rest of the world is destroyed. Be a part of it. Build it.”
I am absolutely convinced that God’s ultimate plan is that there should be little expressions of the Body of Christ in different parts of the world. And if you have the privilege of even meeting together with two or three or four or five people somewhere to be a living expression of the Body of Christ, brother, sister, that’s the greatest honor God can give you. Work on it!
And may the Body of Christ be built in many parts of the world.

• Part 1: The Hidden Life

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• Part 2: The Dependent Life

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• Part 3: A Pure Offering

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• Part 4: Forgiven And Justified

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• Part 5: Fathers In The Church

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• Part 6: Centered In Christ

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• Part 7: The Cross In Relationships

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• Part 8: Offering God The Best

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by Zac Poonen

In John’s gospel, Jesus used the symbol of water to describe three levels of spiritual development possible through the Holy Spirit:

• Level 1: In John 3:5, He spoke of being “born of water and the Spirit”. This is “the cup of salvation” (Psa.116:13), with which we begin our Christian lives. With this cup of water, we are cleansed and brought into God’s kingdom as His children.

• Level 2: In John 4:14, Jesus went further and spoke of that cup becoming “a well (spring) of water”. This is a deeper experience of the Holy Spirit, where all our inner longings are met by Him, so that we live in perpetual victory and joy, lacking nothing. A man who has a well in his own compound is not dependent on the city corporation’s water supply. No outsider can turn off his water supply, for he has the source of water within his own compound. This is how it is with the Christian who has found the secret of perpetual abundance in Christ. No-one outside of him can cut off his supply of joy or peace or victory (Jn.16:22).

• Level 3: In John 7:38, Jesus went still further and said that the well would now become a river, and many rivers, flowing out of the believer. This is a picture of overflowing abundance. Such a believer is able to quench the thirst of many needy people around him. Whereas a well satisfies only our own longings, rivers of living water make us a blessing to many people, wherever we go.

The blessing with which God blessed Abraham was, “I will bless you….and in you ALL THE FAMILIES of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen.12:2-3). This is the blessing that can now be ours through the Holy Spirit (Gal.3:14). When God blesses us to the point of rivers flowing out of us, many families in many parts of the country and even in the whole world can be blessed through us.

The good news of the gospel is that we can be saved from sin and be a blessing to others. We can now have rivers of living water flowing out through us constantly, and be a blessing to every family that we meet. We can be merciful to others just as God has been merciful to us. We can release others just as God has released us. We can bless others just as God has blessed us. We can give freely to others just as God has freely given to us. We can be large-hearted to others just as God has been to us.

A.W. Tozer in his article Five Decisions For Spiritual Power says:

“If you are really serious about your spiritual development – the gaining of new joy, new power and new life – then you should make certain decisions in your heart concerning your life, and proceed to keep them.

“One decision is: Never pass on anything about anybody else that will hurt him.

“‘Love covers a multitude of sins’ (1 Pet.4:8). The talebearer has no place in God’s favour. If you know something that would hinder or hurt the reputation of one of God’s children, bury it forever. Let God take care of it. `With what judgment you judge, you will be judged’ (Matt.7:2).”

If you want God to be good to you, you must be good to His children. The rules of our Father’s table demand that you don’t tell stories about others who are sitting around that same table with you, no matter what their denomination, their nationality or their background.” (From the book THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS).

It will be a good thing if all of us make that decision today – never to pass on anything about another that will hurt him or his reputation – and keep that decision, not just for the rest of this year but for the rest of our lives. Those who have lived by that decision in past years have found that when they discarded the worthless from their daily conversation, and spoke only what was edifying and profitable, God in turn, fulfilled His promise, and made them His spokesmen – His mouth (Jer.15:19).

This year – and every year – can be a happy year for all of us if we release everyone who owes us anything, or who has hurt or harmed us in any way. Bury those grudges permanently and be merciful to all men and thus make a new beginning with the Lord today.

Wish you a Happy New Year!

© Copyright – This article has been copyrighted to prevent misuse. It should not be reprinted or translated without written permission from the author. Permission is however given for this article to be downloaded and printed , provided it is for FREE distribution, provided NO ALTERATIONS are made, provided the AUTHOR’S NAME AND ADDRESS are mentioned and provided this COPYRIGHT notice ["Copyright by Zac Poonen"] is included in each printout.

For further details, please contact: CFC

by Oswald Chambers

Text: 1 Cor. 9:11-27

The first thing a worker has to learn is how to be God’s noble man or woman amid a crowd of paltry things. A Christian worker must never make this plea – “If only I were somewhere else!”

The only test that a worker is Christ’s witness is that he never becomes mean from contact with mean people, anymore than he becomes sinful from contact with sinful people.

We are not workers for God by our own choice (see John 15:16 ) Many deliberately choose to be workers for God, but they have no matter of God’s mighty grace in them, nor matter from God’s mighty Word.

The pattern for God’s worker is that he is entrusted with a mission. For example, Moses, and the Apostle Paul. We have to be in God’s hand so that He can plant men on the Rock as He has planted us, not by our testimony only, but because we are being made co-workers with God.

by Phil Lapp

James 1: 2-8
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; (3) knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.(6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.( 7) For let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ; I stir up your pure minds, by reminding you that God wants to give us wisdom. Do you need wisdom today? Have you asked the Lord Jesus to give you wisdom?

The natural man thinks of wisdom as in making the right financial decision, so as to make a good profit. Or to move to the Church where everything is seemingly going well, and his family enjoys it. Or by avoiding a calamity or natural disaster. This is what the natural man thinks is wisdom, and when he or she comes to God to ask for wisdom, this is what they want and believe they need, hence this is what they ask God to give to them.

However, I point out to you what God calls wisdom, ie: Heavenly Wisdom. This wisdom comes from above and is the wisdom that we all really need much more so, than the earthly wisdom.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (18) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them which make peace.

Have you prayed for this wisdom in your life, recently?

I believe this is the “Heavenly Wisdom” that God will give to all who ask him and gives it liberally! The earthly wisdom may change your earthly circumstances, However the “Heavenly Wisdom” changes our inner man for all eternity. Not only does it impact our inner man, but notice how it impacts others, who live and interact with us. Our wives, Husbands, brothers and sisters, children, co-workers, etc.

This is my daily cry, to my Heavenly Father; “Lord, please give me Heavenly Wisdom today!”

And I urge you, my brothers and sisters in Christ to cry out with me for this “Heavenly Wisdom” each day of our lives.

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
(9) She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Your brother;
Phil Lapp

by Zac Poonen

There is a lot of deception in Christendom these days through false signs and wonders – just as Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:24, and as Paul did in 2 Thessalonians 2:9.

Paul also warned us in 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 about the nature of this deception: It is being deceived by another Jesus, another spirit and another gospel.

• “Another Jesus” – who does not ask anyone to take up his cross and to die to his self-life daily.

• “Another spirit” – who gives people thrills and exciting feelings but does not give them power to be holy.

• “Another gospel” – that requires no repentance and that caters to people’s earthly needs but does not deliver them from sin (which is the root-cause of ALL their problems).

Thus people are being made “twofold the children of hell” (Matt.23:15).

To escape deception, we must look at Jesus and see how today’s preachers compare with Him.

1. Do they have the same primary objective?

The very FIRST promise in the New Testament is “Jesus – He will save His people from their sins” (Matt.1:21). This is the main purpose with which Jesus came to earth. So a truly Spirit- led ministry will seek to free people from sinning. Everything else – including healing and miracles and prophecy will be secondary.

2. Do they have the same attitude?

We are commanded in Scripture: “Let this attitude be in you which was in Christ Jesus” (Phil.2:5). We should therefore compare the attitude of every preacher with that of Jesus. We should ask ourselves these questions about every preacher we hear:

(i) Is he a humble man – as Jesus was?
(ii) Does he lead people to freedom from sin and genuine holiness – as Jesus did?
(iii) Does he ask people to give money to him or to his ministry? Jesus never did.
(iv) Can ordinary, poor people contact him easily – as they could contact Jesus?

For further confirmation, we could ask these questions as well:

(a) Does he lead people to Christ – and not to himself?
(b) Are his children God-fearing?
(c) Has he built at least one godly church?
(d) Are his main co-workers godly men?

3. Do they have the same approach to healing?

In the Gospels, we do not read of Jesus preaching even one sermon on how to receive miracles or healing. But He actually healed thousands of people.

In Acts of the Apostles, we do not read of the apostles preaching even one sermon on how to receive miracles or healing. But they actually healed many people. (The 21 epistles in the New Testament also make no mention of physical healing at all – except for one passage in James 5:14,15, where it is the elder who is urged to have faith and not the sick person!)

But what we find today (especially over Christian TV) is the exact opposite of this: We hear hundreds of sermons on miracles and healings – but we hardly ever see any genuine, miraculous healings. Most of the so-called “healings” shown over TV have proven to be fakes or unsubstantiated by independent sources.

Jesus and the apostles did however speak a lot about being free from sin. But we hardly ever hear a sermon today (over TV or from church pulpits) on how to be free from sins like anger, lusting after women and the love of money (as Jesus preached in Matthew chapters 5 and 6).

In Scripture, there is a name for anything that is the opposite of what Christ did: “anti-Christ”. Today, this spirit of antichrist has spread widely in evangelical Christendom. This is one proof that Satan has penetrated Christendom deeply with deception.

Why does God allow deceivers among His people?

In Deuteronomy 13:1-3, we are told why God allows such deceivers to move freely among His people:

“If a prophet arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, `Let us go after other gods and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul”.

God allows false prophets to do real signs and wonders and to prophesy things that come true, in order to test His children – to see whether they love Him or the gods that the false prophets invite them to follow. Two of the main gods that false prophets invite Christians to follow these days are the gods of “money” and “entertainment”.

• Money. People are urged to seek for wealth and health by giving money to the preacher’s ministry. Peter however rebuked the magician Simon when he tried to give Peter money in order to purchase God’s gifts (Acts 8:18-23).

• Entertainment. Churches have become places of entertainment where worldly music styles and other worldly programs are promoted to attract people. Thus Satan (the ruler of this world system) has succeeded in making Christians worldly-minded and ineffective for God.

Millions of Christians follow the teachings of these false prophets today because such teachings satisfy their fleshly lusts. Thus these false gods have become the idols that Christians worship in most churches today.

He who has ears to hear let him hear.

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by Phil Lapp

Matthew 5:14     “ Ye are the Light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ;
How are we the light of the world? How are we a city that is set on an hill?

16 “ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

In our world today there is a common mode that is shaped. Satan wants desperately to make all people everywhere fit into this mode. Most people’s lives fit into this mode and are amazingly much the same.
Stop for a minute and think about this mode.
Most people are sleeping in this morning. Its Sunday morning and many don’t need to go to work. After sleeping much longer than usual, they finally get up and go to church or those who don’t go to church go out for some breakfast and find some entertaining thing to do to occupy their day. This is what the average American is doing today.
Tomorrow morning is Monday. What a hectic morning. We had a great weekend but it is always to short, everyone will tell you this, if you ask them how their weekend was. Monday blues: I think they call it…………..
After staying up late on Sunday night everyone rushes to work on Monday morning and begins to accept the fact that they need to work so they can eat and live. And so goes the rest of the week. After about Wednesday people have fitted into the mode of the week and begin to look forward to the weekend again.
This is the mode of the average American. Even the average American Christian.
If we as Christians are the light of the World by letting them see our good works, which cause them to glorify our Father in Heaven, How will our lives be different from theirs?
If you are in a rut and enslaved to a habit, and someone comes along who encourages you to break the habit and begin to live differently and then shares their testimony of Victory with you, this will greatly influence you and give you hope that you can change your life style. Right?
So as I was interceding in prayer for you this morning, the Lord told me to encourage you to let your light shine before men with your good works, that cause you to live a different lifestyle than the rest of the world.
Are you living in the same rut of life that most Americans are? Does your Sunday morning look just like theirs? Is your Monday morning experience much the same as everyone else’s? Or is your life different? If it is different, how is it different?
It’s the difference that makes the light shine. Most of the candles are not shining, but if yours is shining its very different than the rest.
I encourage you to study Matthew 5,6,7 and their you will see how different our lives are to be from the rest of the world.

Lets not get used to the darkness in which we live. Lets not put on night vision goggles so we can see, but rather lets let our lights shine so not only we can see but we give light to all that are in the house.
Are you willing to ask God how he wants you to change your lifestyle so your life becomes a bright light to this community?
If we all come before God with earnest and sincere hearts, He will truly show us and then give us the grace to live differently than the rest of the world around us.
Perhaps rather than sleeping in , We will get up early to intercede for others in prayer. Perhaps we will ask God how we can bless someone and serve them today rather than taking an afternoon nap or filling up today with entertainment.
Perhaps God will tell you to write someone or call someone and encourage them with a Word from God that you received this morning as you communicated with the Lord.
Again I ask you this challenging question. How is your life different than the rest of the World? How is your life shining to others?
“ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.”
-Phil

by Zac Poonen

Jesus and the apostles repeatedly warned that the last days would be characterized by widespread deception and a multitude of false prophets (Matt.24:3-5,11,24; 1 Tim.4:1) – and we have seen plenty of them in the last few decades.

Why are millions of Christians deceived by these false prophets and these counterfeit “revivals”? And why are so many preachers falling prey to immorality and greed?

Here are what I see to be some of the main causes:

1. Most Christians today are not aware of what the New Testament teaches, because they have not studied it carefully; and so they follow the teachings of their leaders and not the teachings of the New Testament.
2. Miracles (supernatural gifts) have become more important to them than their character (a supernatural life).
3. Material wealth has become more important to them than spiritual wealth.
4. They are unable to distinguish between soulish frenzy or psychological manipulation, and the genuine moving of the Holy Spirit; the cause again is ignorance of the New Testament.
5. They are unable to distinguish between psychosomatic healing (healing that comes by right attitudes of the mind), and supernatural healing in Jesus’ Name.
6. Emotional excitement and strange physical manifestations have become more important to them than the inward joy of the Lord.
7. For the leaders, their ministry to people has become more important than their inner walk with God.
8. The approval of men has become more important to these leaders than the approval of God.
9. The number of people attending the meetings has become more important to these leaders than whether those people are totally committed to Christ.
10. Building their personal kingdoms and their financial empires has become more important to these leaders than building a local church and making themselves servants in that local church (Jeremiah 6:13).

All this is the VERY OPPOSITE of what Jesus taught. The opposite of Christ is called the “anti-Christ” in the New Testament. If Christians do not see this clearly, then when the Antichrist turns up on the world’s stage, with his false signs and wonders (2 Thess.2:3-10), they too will blindly accept him.  To be led by the Spirit of Christ is to have the very opposite spirit to that mentioned in the points above.

Here is a paraphrase of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-27 (read in the context of Matthew Chapters 5 to 7:

“Both the gate and the way to ETERNAL LIFE are very narrow – as I have just described (Matt. 5 to 7). But false prophets will come along and tell you that the gate and way are not narrow but easy and broad. Beware of them. You will be able to identify them easily by observing the fruit of their character: Do they live a life free from anger, free from lusting after women, free from the love of money and free from anxiously seeking after material wealth (as worldly people seek)? Do they preach against these things as I have done here? (Matt.5:21-32 and 6:24-34). These false prophets may exercise many supernatural gifts and do miracles and actually heal people in My Name, but I will still send them all to hell in the final day, because they did not know Me (as THE HOLY ONE) and they did not give up sin in their private lives (Matt.7:21-23).  So if you want to build a church on a rock that will never shake or fall in time or eternity, be careful to do all that I have just spoken to you (Matt. 5 to 7) and teach your people to do all that I have commanded you too. Then I will be with you always and My authority will always back you (Matt.28:20, 18). But if you only hear what I say and don’t do it, then what you build may look like a large and impressive church to men, but it will surely crumble and fall one day (Matt.7:25).”

How then shall we build an unshakeable church in these last days?

1. We must live the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5 to 7) and preach it constantly.
2. We must live in the new-covenant and not in the old-covenant. For this, we must know the difference between the two covenants clearly (2 Cor.3:6). We must also preach the new covenant.

When preachers fall into serious sin today, they justify themselves by (and find their comfort in) the examples of Old Testament saints who also fell into sin. And then they re-commence their ministry after a period of silence. They quote the examples of David who committed adultery, and Elijah who got depressed, and they say “But God still used them”! But they won’t quote the example of Paul who lived in victory and purity until the end of his life.

What these preachers (and most Christians) have not seen is that the Old Testament saints are NOT our examples today. We have been given much more in this age of grace – and “to whom more is given, more is required” (Luke 12:48). Jesus is the Mediator of a NEW covenant and HE is our Example and the Author of our faith today – not David or Elijah.  The distinction between the Old Testament saints (listed in Hebrews 11) and Jesus, is made very clear in Hebrews 12:1-4. But very few live in the reality of this. Very few have seen that “God has provided something BETTER for us” in the new covenant (Heb.11:40).

Any of us can fall in the way that many preachers have fallen, if we are not watchful and alert – for Satan is a cunning enemy. Our safety lies in obeying New Testament teaching exactly and in submitting to godly leadership. (And by “godly” leadership, I mean those who do not have even one of the wrong values listed in the ten points I mentioned earlier). If we learn from the mistakes of others, we can avoid making the same mistakes ourselves.

So let us keep our faces in the dust before the Lord at all times – for it is there that we will receive Divine revelation, as John did (Rev.1:17).  If we humble ourselves, we will receive grace to be overcomers (1 Pet.5:5). And when the Holy Spirit shows us the truth in God’s Word and the truth about ourselves, let us be totally honest and “love the truth, so as to be saved” from all sin. That way we will be protected by God Himself from all deception (2 Thess. 2:10,11). Amen.