HOME.... A call to Parents...

Parents, grand-parents, and care givers: teach your beloved little ones what HOME is... in Truth+.

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Do not allow your children to grow up with an illusionary picture about HOME. It will hurt them.

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HOME is not a house or belongings, a garden, a farm , nor land. HOME is not a town, a state , nor a country. HOME is not a community of familiar friends, shops, schools, or schedules, either.

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HOME is where your heart is welcomed. HOME consists of hearts that are open to you and where you are not afraid to have your heart open to others.

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Why is this important?

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Living in comfort is NOT PROMISED by GOD'S Word. At any moment our comfortable level of living can change drastically. Has GOD failed us when that happens? NO. What is promised is that our souls will be kept and our hearts will be secure in JESUS (if we stay with HIM+, that is. ).

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Recently, we witnessed 4 families leave their homes... built by the labor of their own hands... and their farms and small businesses. They left machinery and harness shops, stocked full of leather goods. They left a shoe-making business and a book-binding business, as well as newly-planted orchard trees, grapevines, and a fruit cellar with shelves and shelves of canned goods for the winter.

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They left family and friends. They took their grown children and tiny ones alike along on a hundreds-of-miles bus trip to Central America to start anew. They took tents for preliminary shelters.

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They were following JESUS in this move outside of their native country in order to reach out in an evangelistic effort to give to the unsaved what JESUS had given to them.

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Yes, they will be able to do an outreach; early reports which filtered back said it had already begun, with good success.

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But they have done something else: they are teaching their young ones by word AND EXAMPLE that HOME is being with the family, within the Will of GOD.

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HOME, you see, is not a location. It is a state of the heart. Security comes from doing the will of The LORD.... not from walls and roofs and having a steady income.

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The little ones along are happy just being with Mother and Father and all the familiar faces of brothers and sisters. Walls mean nothing to them.

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The older ones not yet married are excited about being allowed to do something for GOD besides attend church meetings. Walls and floors and roofs constitute shackles for them, if that is all they have to look forward to.

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Mother and Father are happy because the joy of The LORD is resting upon them as they EMBRACE THE SACRIFICE to do the Will of The LORD. HE+ will not forsake them and they know it. They also know they must keep walking in HIS+ Will and not say "NO"... I don't want to give up my comforts, job, security, country, etc., etc., etc.

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And, they do not practice walking in FEAR. They simply build new walls, floors, and roofs as necessities for their families, but they do not call that HOME.

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They call HIM+ "HOME"

... because their hearts

are with HIM+.

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. . . .

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Where ,

dear Christian friend,

is your HOME?

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In The Name of The FATHER, Who created thee; and HIS Beloved SON, JESUS CHRIST, Who saves thee; and the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, Who sanctifies thee. Amen

CHRISTIANS, Get Ready to Walk...

...ALONE.

The season for

ease and personal comfort

in the CHRISTIAN walk is over.

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Finding companionship in the Fellowship is done.

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The only Brotherhood is the one anointed by

The HOLY SPIRIT.

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You will know you are in the right place because...

...you'll be walking alone.

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Yes, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST

will be there with you,

but if you are in HIS+ Will,

no-one else will be by your side.

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It is simply what is happening

amongst serious-minded CHRISTIANS now.

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. . . . . . .

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Make up your mind to follow ME+.

Do not follow the church crowd,

the group,

or the current "movement."

Yes, continue to reach out

to lost souls,

but beware of the deadness of "organization."

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The Body of CHRIST is what you belong to

and to Whom+ you will answer

... not the body of man.

The organization of man is not acceptable.

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Belong to ME+, not to "them."

Follow MY+ Voice, not theirs.

Heed MY+ Words and Mine+ alone.

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I+ died for you; they did not.

Follow ME+.

Follow ME+.

Follow ME+.

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. . . . . . .

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In the Name of The FATHER

WHO created thee;

And HIS+ Beloved SON+ JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ delivered thee;

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who+ sanctifies thee.

Amen.

Whoever Breaks the KING'S + SEAL....

... dies !

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Whosoever breaks the seal of the authority

of the KING

dies,

regardless of who it is

that breaks it.

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Why else would King Darius fast and pray

ALL NIGHT LONG

when he was tricked into throwing Daniel into the lion's den?

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If King Darius of the Medes and Persians

could have broken through HIS OWN SEAL

to free Daniel

he would have.

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Several Scriptures speak of seals --- sphragizO, in the Greek forms --- and sometimes it means "certified as TRUE or VALID." This is seen in John 3:33 when John the Baptist bears witness unto CHRIST The LORD. Listen to the simple Greek verse when John said , " The one receiving HIS+ testimony has sealed that GOD true is."

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But other Scriptures indicate that "seal" means SEALED UP with the KING'S + stamp of authority: In WHOM+ ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in WHOM+ also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that HOLY SPIRIT of promise," ... Ephesians 1:13

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And grieve not the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of liberation [KJV: redemption]. Ephesians 4:30

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In Revelation, we see the Angel of GOD setting "a seal upon the slaves of GOD on their foreheads" in order to keep them safe from harm during the judgments of GOD. Rev. 7th and 9th chapters.

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Then we see in Revelation 20 that there is a seal set upon satan, that he should deceive the nations no more UNTIL the seal is allowed to be broken after 1000 years and satan is set free for a short season.

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SO.

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Are you sealed unto GOD,

through the HOLY SPIRIT of Promise,

marked by the Blood of the LAMB+

in the True Covenant of GOD ?

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Woe, woe , woe

My+ children,

if you break that seal I+ have put upon you

and walk away from ME+.

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There is nothing more I+ can do

once My+ Seal is broken.

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Woe, woe, woe

to him who breaks

the seal of protection

and stamp of authenticity

that I+ have placed upon him.

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Death comes to everyone

who breaks My+ Seal...

even if it is broken

by the believer's own hand.

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CHOOSE LIFE+.

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+ + +

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In the Name of The FATHER,

HIS BELOVED SON+ JESUS CHRIST,

and the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT.

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ONE GOD, forever and ever,

world without end.

Amen

Denying CHRIST: By DISOBEYING HIS+ Word

~ ~ ~

Becoming DISAPPROVED

By CHRIST+

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No... we don't "earn" our salvation;

But we CAN earn HIS+ disapproval !
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But I keep under my body,

and bring it into subjection:

lest that by any means,

when I have preached to others,

I myself should be a castaway*.

I Cor. 9:27

*The word castaway is in the Greek actually UN-APPROVED.

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To continue (Chapter 10:1-4) the thought stated by The Apostle Paul:

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and were ALL BAPTIZED unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did ALL EAT the SAME SPIRITUAL FOOD; and did ALL DRINK the SAME SPIRITUAL DRINK; for they drank of that spiritual ROCK+ that followed them: and that ROCK+ was CHRIST.

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So, here we see that baptism by water ( the Red sea) and The HOLY SPIRIT (the supernatural "cloud") was effected for all. We also see here that CHRIST was the spiritual "drink" (His+ Blood), supplied to all. CHRIST JESUS was also the spiritual food, the Bread+ of Heaven, the TRUE MANNA+, referred to in the verses above because JESUS Himself+ explained that to us in John 6:31-35.

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But with many of them

GOD was not well pleased:

for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

(verse 5)

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Yes, GOD disapproved of them even though they were baptized and ate of CHRIST'S Body and drank of CHRIST'S Blood... as the Scripture states in those 4 verses. And yes, being "disapproved" means being cast away, or as Our LORD JESUS said, being "cut off from the True Vine+ ." ( John 15)

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If the toiling, laboring, self-denying Apostle Paul was concerned about becoming un-approved and thus, cast away from CHRIST JESUS... shouldn't we be concerned also ?

+ + +

Why do you look for love

in all the wrong places?

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Why do you turn to others for love

and shy away from ME+ ?

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Have I + ever hurt you?

Have I+ disappointed you

or caused you grief?

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Nay, but rather,

your going your own way

has caused your grief

and disappointment.

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Do not mistake approval for love.

I+ love you despite

the grief and disappointment

you have caused ME+ .

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If you will walk in

ALL of MY+ Ways

-- forsaking your own --

I+ will fill up your heart.

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You have MY+ Love;

Now strive for MY+ Approval*.

+ + +

*Philippians 3:12-14

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Glory be to The FATHER,

Who created thee;

And to His Beloved SON+,

Who saves thee;

And to The Blessed HOLY SPIRIT;

Who sanctifies thee.

+ + +

Anger is NOT an OPTION...

... but HIDING is .

THOU+ art my hiding place;

THOU+ shalt preserve me from trouble;

THOU+ shalt compass me about

with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

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We all know how to love our enemies...

if they are outside the home.

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But , what do we do when the hurt comes towards our heart

from within the intimate family circle?

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And, where do we go when that hurt

occurs over and over again ?

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THOU+ shalt hide them

in the secret of Thy Presence+

from the pride of man;

THOU+ shalt keep them

secretly in a pavilion

from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 31:20

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Spouses hurt one another's heart. Siblings hurt one another's heart. Parents hurt the hearts of their children and off-spring hurt the hearts of their parents.

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HURT,

because of the Adamic curse,

is HERE TO STAY

while we are in this body,

on planet earth.

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Some counsel to "up-front" and "honest" with our feelings: i.e., "...when you do (or say) that, it hurts my feelings because...." However, in my own tumultuous life, I have seldom seen honesty like that do anything but cause MORE problems, no matter how calmly it is shared.

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A better way is to follow The LORD'S COMMANDS: turn the other cheek, go the second mile, return a soft answer.

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THOU+ art my hiding place

and my shield:

I hope in Thy Word+.

Psalm 119: 114

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However, in the midst TAKING the hurt... when our heart is bleeding or breaking... it is good to HIDE IN CHRIST+. No immediate verbal response is necessary when we HIDE IN CHRIST+.

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For in the time of trouble HE+

shall hide me in His+ pavilion:

in the secret of His+ tabernacle

shall HE+ hide me;

HE+ shall set me up upon a rock.

Psalm 27:5

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We learn to scurry under the shelter of His+ Wings and take refuge there until the storm is overpast. When we HIDE in CHRIST+, we learn to let HIM+ do the battling; we are silent. We leave the battle in His+ Hands.

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Keep me as the apple of the eye,

hide me under the shadow of Thy+ Wings,

Psalm 17:8

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We cry out to HIM+ in our anguish, for protection. We start forgiving as soon as we collect our wits, even in the midst of the verbal attack. We learn to do spiritual warfare in the midst of the hurtful attack and silently BIND the evil spirits at work, in the name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST+.

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By doing all of this, our hands and our hearts will be too full for us to indulge in our own anger, which only aids and abets the enemy who is attacking us.

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If we slip into an angry reaction,

we are NOT HIDING IN CHRIST+;

we are on our own in the battle.

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So, we must repent if we think anger is an "option" when we get hurt.

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We must learn to

HIDE IN CHRIST+.

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+ + +

JOINING WITH CHRIST...

...against the accuser.

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[ Otherwise entitled:

Practicing Purity of Mind]

Blessed

are the pure in heart;

for they shall see GOD.

Words of Our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,

as recorded by Matthew in chapter 5, verse 8.

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Did HE+ mean what HE+ said, literally ?

YES !

So... how do we become "pure" in our hearts?

It is OBVIOUS that HIS+ Word here in Matthew 5:8 is given to us... albeit gently... as an INSTRUCTION: that is, it is something concrete for us TO PUT INTO ACTION, it is an activity for us TO DO, a directive from Our LORD JESUS CHRIST for us TO PRACTICE. The Apostles learned from HIM+ and were diligent to teach the Early Church so. Here are their words:

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The Apostle John said, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as HE+ is pure." I John 3:3

The Apostle Peter admonishes, " Seeing that ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the SPIRIT unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart fervently: " I Peter 1:22

The Apostle James said, " Draw night to GOD, and HE will draw night to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8

This purity and pure heart spoken of here and in many other Scriptures, both Old and New, is not something "given" to us; it is something we must diligently work to attain in order to be pleasing unto HIM+.

So... how do we go about making ourselves "pure?"

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WE DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS

WHICH PLEASE HIM+.

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We know to flee from sin and youthful lusts. We know to abstain from EVERY appearance of evil. We know how be chaste and modest in our dress. We give NO reason for ANYONE to stumble by eyeing our flesh nor to stumble by coveting, on account of how we visibly present ourselves.

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But, what about the whisperer, the accuser of the brethren?

Are we zealous to purify our thoughts

coming from the accuser against others?

Or, do we contemplate those accusing thoughts

and then AGREE with them ?

Many, many a Christian marriage

and untold numbers of churches

are floundering

because of the work

of the accuser going unchecked , un-stopped,

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This "work of the accuser" gets a foothold when we get our feelings hurt. If we are ignored or snapped at, if we are blamed or held in disrepute, if our motives or our words are misunderstood... the accuser steps in to help us "discern" the truth.

How can the father of lies

help us discern ANY "truth" ?

Here, then, is where the Holy Scriptures step in to combat those lies, fortify our emotions, and help us INTERVENE against the wicked spirits , the spiritual "bullies" who are afflicting us and our loved ones [ by getting us to accuse each other ].

Thy Word is very pure:

therefore Thy servant loveth it.

Psalm 119:140

In essence, we turn our back on the accusing lies trying to get us to AGREE with them, and we proclaim His+ Word. (Use the Psalms or other Scriptures. One Christian struggling deeply with hurt had to forcefully read 17 Psalms before the accuser quit her presence ).

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We REFUSE TO AGREE with the accuser, no matter how badly we have been hurt.

Why do Christians refuse to agree with the accuser?

We KNOW it is the evil one who uses unsuspecting flesh to hurt us. The evil one will then lay his evil working to the account of the "unsuspecting flesh". That person who was used to hurt us then has sin laid to his account.

Thus, we learn to "join with CHRIST" to fight the liars from laying siege to the person who brought us hurt or injury. We join with CHRIST to free that person from control of the wicked spirits lying to him/her. Yes, that very person who has done us wrong and is now being accused by our OWN hearts, we fight FOR, not against.

Once the Scriptures are " in the air", in our hearts, in our minds, and IN OUR MOUTHS, the distress and "need" to accuse the person who hurt us, will leave. We will be free and healed from the hurt and the love of CHRIST JESUS will be shed abroad.

With our mouths, we proclaim GOD'S HOLY WORD until His+ Word takes over our emotions.

With our mouths, we list all the RIGHT and GOOD things about the one who hurt us, making ourselves be fair.

With our mouths, we pray for GOD'S richest blessings to come to that person... all those things temporal and spiritual which will lead him to CHRIST or to a deeper walk.

Christians, let's do it!

Let's practice developing

a pure heart,

one that is pleasing unto

The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

+ + +

In the name of The FATHER, Who created us;

HIS Holy SON+ JESUS CHRIST, Who+ saves us'

And their Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, Who+ sanctifies us.

Amen.

GOD is GOOD!

GOD is GOOD...

... all the time.

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ALL THE TIME...

GOD IS GOOD !

A responsive cheer from the Gospel Express Ministries, a prison ministry.

CHOOSE this day WHOM ye will serve....

because...

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No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

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or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

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Ye cannot serve

GOD and mammon.

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Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST

to His Disciples in Matthew 6:24

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Now, let's look at the Greek :

No one has the power two lords to slave to;

for either the one he will hate

and the other different one

he will AGAPE (love enough to lay down his life for);

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or

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one he will cleave to

and the other different one he will despise.

You do not have the power

to be a slave to GOD and Mammona.

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The GREEK is important because it brings out the essence of the difference between the kingdoms of THIS world and THE Kingdom of GOD.

• We see that the two kingdoms are entirely different.
• We see that the difference is because of whom is being served:

GOD or Mammona, a wicked spirit.

• We see in the GREEK that Our LORD JESUS CHRIST said that man does NOT have the power ... is totally UNable... to serve both GOD and Mammona at the same time.
• We see that this servitude is not picked up and laid down; but rather, it is a life-encompassing slavery.

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Having the rule over wealth --- mammon--- is the sole most important feature of the kingdoms of this world. Control over things that contribute to wealth is what war is fought over, be it diamonds, iron ore, oil, or shipping lanes. James chapter 4 confirms this truth.

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Wikipedia lays the Christian doctrine of "Just War" [ i.e., righteous war ] at the feet of Augustine of Hippo ( 354-430 AD ) and Thomas Aquinas. This was a total break away from the teachings of CHRIST and His+ Apostles which was uniformly held by the Early Church of the first two centuries.

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The Reformers, in an effort to correct the corrupted teaching of the Roman Catholic church, unfortunately kept the heretical doctrine of "Just War" even as they broke away from the established church. Indeed, some of the Reformers were not content simply to teach this heresy; at least one (Zwingli) was killed in battle while fighting other Christians !

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THE LORD JESUS said,

"My+ Kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD..."

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Did HE+ mean that literally ?

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Do not think that I+ do not know where your true loyalties lie. I see your tears and your zeal to promote and protect the red, white, and blue ... no matter what the cost. Do not let it cost you your soul. Separate yourself from the unclean thing and become single of eye ...before the Kingdom of GOD+ is torn from your hands and given to a people more worthy.

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I+ have not called you to defend any secular nation... not its wealth, not its life-style, not its pride. I+ have called you to defend one Kingdom+ alone... the Kingdom of GOD+... with mighty weapons which are not carnal nor tactile nor visible. Remember: If you take the sword, you shall die by the sword... even if you "only" take it in your heart.

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Beware of pulpits or "Christian" voices wrapped in red, white, and blue. Their hearts are divided and their true loyalties are given over to Mammona and wealth. They have chosen this. They will have no part in My+ inheritance.

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Behold, I+ have set before you an open door.

I+ AM the WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE.

No man comes to The FATHER, but by ME+.

+ + +

In The Name of The FATHER,

His beloved SON+, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

and the blessed HOLY SPIRIT.

Amen.

To the Struggling Monastics...

Remember this: Our GOD is a JEALOUS GOD.

HE+ did not call you to be monastic

in order to be with a group.

Rather,

HE+ called you to be monastic

in order to

be with HIM+.

HE+ has placed this call upon your life; you will not be happy until you embrace it. There is simply no way around it. And yes, you WILL feel alone in it... but you won't be because you have HIM+. Plus, many, many others have been called to a semi-hermetic, monastic life-style ... hidden from the eyes of the world... but you can't see them or find them. If you could, it wouldn't be monastic, would it ?

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Yes, you may attend a group from time to time or on Sundays for fellowship... but don't give them your heart. Meet them through JESUS. Keep in mind you are not going for you, but for them.

So, do what you can as a semi-hermetic Monastic.

If HE+ calls you to prayer stations throughout the day, DO THEM.

If HE+ calls you to get up in the middle of the night for time with HIM+, DO IT.

If HE+ calls you to read through the entire book of Psalms every week,

then DO IT.

How little these acts of obedience are

compared to what HE+ has done for us!

Furthermore, you don't need a group to do these

(or some such similar things.)

These are simply

individual acts of discipleship,

individual acts of worship,

individual acts of devotion

which HE+ has called you to do.

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And dear ones, reflect on the outside what HE+ is doing on the inside.

Search HIS+ will and don some kind of a habit.

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Sisters, cover your body in some kind of modest apparel: no cleavage, no thighs. Do what you can do to NOT APPEAR LIKE THE FASHIONABLE WORLD. No, you don't have to look frumpy; be dignified, as befitting an Ambassador of the KING+. Give NO WITNESS to the world and its capricious fashions. It won't kill you.

One way to do this is to dress in solids instead of prints or plaids or stripes. Solid colors give a more dignified, more somber appearance. In the hot summer, solid whites or solid beiges are fine, with tops and bottoms being the same or close to the same colors because that looks more monastic, more separated. Avoid colors which draw attention to your Self. It won't kill you.

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Sisters, seek HIS+ face and don a head-covering of some sort , coming into line with the Word in I Cor. ll. Be brave enough to wear it in public, also, so as to not deny HIM+ in public. It won't kill you. What it will do, though, is set you apart so that hungry, hurting hearts will make a bee-line for you when the coast is clear [i.e., when no-one is looking ] !

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Brothers should also dress in a separate way, covering their bodies with clothing that reflects modesty instead of today's fashions. Solid colors are simply more dignified. Vests are always good. Suspenders help. Shirts with collars (versus Tee's) lend more sobriety.

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The LORD does not want us to learn to cling to each other; that is something we must UN-learn. HE+ does not want us to cling branch to branch, but rather simply to the VINE+ HIMSELF+. Groups distract us; HE+ wants our UN-divided attention... at all times.

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Take heart, little flock. Be of good cheer.

Ye are of much more value than the little sparrows.

Do the Work I + have called you to do, without distress.

You will lack nothing meaningful.

+ + +

FEARING The LORD... With All Due Respect . . .

But I will forewarn you

Whom ye shall fear:

Fear HIM,

which after HE hath killed

hath power to cast into hell;

yea, I say unto you,

Fear HIM.

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The Word of The LORD JESUS CHRIST to His+ Disciples,

Recorded in Luke 12:5

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Bless GOD, we attend a Christian assembly which does not hallow war among men. The members of this assembly LIVE differently.

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Any visitor can quietly discern that because there is no national icon waving behind this pulpit, neither do they make a distinction in prayer about which nationality of soldiers to pray for: they pray that ALL may be saved and ALL the swords of every nation will be beaten into plowshares and pruning hooks.

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They know that ALL men are dead men... unless they know The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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Furthermore, political statements are NEVER heard from this pulpit because they know something: they know that Christians are living in The Kingdom of GOD and thus, serve another KING, an Infallible ONE+ Who+ doesn't need votes or guns or lies to stay in power.

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Thus, on this day set up to honor the slain of an earthly warring kingdom and to crow about its military prowess, let us keep in mind The ONE Whom we should truly fear for HIS might and power.

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...For, HE+ cometh...

for HE+ cometh

to judge* the earth;

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HE+ shall judge* the world

with righteousness,

and the people with HIS Truth.

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Psalm 96:13

*This verb "to judge" means

to pronounce an unescapable sentence of execution

upon someone... or some "thing."

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+ + +