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15 November Lord of All
| "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
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| — Matthew 7:18–20 |
There are people today who say, "I am a Christian," but they are out getting drunk. They say, "I am a Christian," but they are having premarital sex or being unfaithful to their husband or wife. They say, "I am a Christian," but in their business, they lie to people every single day. They distort things. They take money that is not really theirs. There are a lot of people today who think they are Christians but are not, because they have not really changed. They are not living according to what the Bible teaches.
I am not saying that a Christian cannot sin. I am not saying that a Christian won't slip up. But I am saying that there is a big difference between a person who slips up, sins, is sorry for it, and wants to change and a person who lives in continual, willful, habitual sin.
The Bible says that if you live that way, you don't know God. Maybe the reason that some people have never really known the joy of the Lord is that they have never met the basic requirements of salvation. They think being a Christian is just having Jesus along for the ride. They don't realize that He wants to be their Lord and wants to lead and guide them. They don't realize that He has a distinct and unique plan and purpose for their lives.
Jesus Christ wants to be the Lord of every aspect of your life. He wants to be the Lord of your business, your free time, your relationships—the Lord of all. And if He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all.
11 November ![GW4U220M[1]](http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pvGqsmNrCc8T6OsOhQ77rCOqVlGzj104-EmIVJD3q-1WVUvNW8ZYXfVl1iehc6j-IKbbT9iuJui4) BE FREEEE!!
Forgive Others As God Has Forgiven You
COLOSSIANS 3:13 NKJ
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave
you, so you also must do.
Forgiving others for deep hurts seems to be one of the hardest
things a human being can do. In fact -- very few are successful
in forgiving.
Yet, in the Bible God commands us to forgive. Is God overly
demanding, or...?
God is smart. That is why He commands us to forgive. (Also
because He loves us and desires the best for us.) God knows how
terribly destructive it is for us to harbor unforgiveness. Not
forgiving someone can literally kill you.
Unforgiveness is a poison that eats away at your spiritual,
mental, and physical health and life.
Knowing that, God strictly tells us to forgive. But how can we?
We are just human, and we don't feel like forgiving when
someone has wronged us severely.
(You may think it is impossible to forgive someone who hurt
you. With God it is possible. He never asks us to do something
we cannot do.)
The answer is in receiving God's help, enabling you to forgive.
First, you must be "born again" spiritually by receiving Jesus
Christ as Lord. That means you receive new life in your inner
being, giving you a new nature -- a nature of love instead of
selfishness.
Next, when you are wronged, you need to ask the Lord to help
you forgive the person who hurt you. Having done that, you must
make a firm decision to quit holding anything against that
person.
Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision to quit holding
something against someone. When you forgive you must release
them and forget it.
You must forgive by faith, after asking God to help you.
Feelings always follow faith -- not the other way around.
How can we humans forgive others just as God has forgiven us?
Having God's help is necessary. Only His love in our hearts can
enable us.
You must forgive others -- no matter what they have done. To
not forgive hurts you. You must forgive.
SAY THIS: With God's help, I will forgive others as God has
forgiven me.
09 November
Vir my sister
Aren’t you glad that God is a healer! It doesn’t matter what is “broken” in your life today, God’s nature is to bring you complete healing. Do you need healing in your body? Your mind? Heart? Finances? Relationships? God is your healer. Notice what the Psalmist says in this verse: He binds up their wounds. In the natural, if you have a broken arm, it doesn’t just heal over night. The doctor makes a cast to hold it in place and protect it. He binds up your wound. In the spiritual realm, God does the same thing. He wraps Himself around your brokenness and protects the wounded area until it is strong enough to function properly again. The Bible also says that He is a restorer. That means that when He does a work of healing in our lives, He makes us better than we were before. If you’re going through the healing process today, know this: it may take longer than you planned, but God is binding up your wound. He is protecting you and healing you. He will bring you out better and stronger than you were before. He will take you to a place of complete healing so that you can live the life of victory He has in store for you.
Van jou boeta 04 November
Hoe kan ek seker wees dat ek gered is?
God wil graag hê ons moet seker wees dat ons sondes vergewe is. Hy wil hê dat ons in die regte verhouding met Hom sal wees. Dit kan net gebeur omdat Jesus vir ons aan die kruis gesterf het (Efesiërs 1:7; Jesaja 53:5-6). In die Bybel lees ons: ``Hierdie brief skrywe ek vir julle dat julle kan weet dat julle die ewige lewe het'' (1 Johannes 5:13).
As jy Jesus nog nie heeltemal vertrou het nie, kan jy dit nou doen. Aan die einde van hierdie brief vind jy 'n gebed wat jy kan bid. Kom na Jesus toe net soos jy is.
Die Here belowe in Johannes 6:37: ``Ek sal hom wat na my toe kom, nooit verwerp nie.'' As jy na Hom toe kom, sal Hy al jou sondes vergewe. Maar jy moet op Hom alleen vertrou (Handelinge 10:43).
As jy nog twyfel, selfs al het jy jouself aan Hom gegee, doen dan die volgende:
- Vertrou op die beloftes van die Here, moenie op jou gevoel vertrou nie. God belowe "as ons ons sondes bely - Hy is getrou en regverdig, Hy vergewe ons ons sondes en reinig ons van alle ongeregtigheid" (1 Johannes 1:9). Jy moet Hom glo en hierdie belofte aanneem. Dit is maar een van die baie ander beloftes soos Johannes 1:12, 3:16 en ander. Ons moenie probeer om te voel dat ons gered is nie, ons word gered omdat Jesus so sê. Dink na oor hierdie beloftes en glo dit. As jy jou hart aan die Here gegee het, moenie Satan glo as hy sê die Here het jou nie aangeneem nie. Lees Johannes 8:44.
- Getuig teenoor ander mense oor jou nuwe lewe. Vertel hulle dat die Here jou gered het en dat jy nou op 'n nuwe pad is. Lees Romeine 10:9 met baie aandag. 'n Geheime dissipel van Jesus is 'n swak dissipel.
- Onthou dat dit die werk van die Heilige Gees is om te getuig dat ons waarlik God se kinders is. (Onderstreep die volgende verse in jou Bybel: Romeine 8:15-16; 2 Korintiërs 1:21-22). Sê saam met Paulus die woorde van 2 Timoteus 1:12. (Lees dit hardop in die Bybel).
03 November
Here, leer my hoe om te bid?
Ek wil so graag naby U wees.
Ek wil U ken deur gees.
Ek vra kom woon in my hart
Leer my hoe om te bid?
Ek smag na U!
Kom vervul my hart.
Op U sal ek wag.
Meer by U wil ek wees,
tyd saam U is kosbaar.
U liefde is Groot en Volmaak.
Vou my toe in liefde soos ‘n moeder
haar baba toevou in ‘n kombers,
en paai my met woorde
soet soos heuning.
Hiers ek, Here.
Gebruik my om te verkondig.
‘n Instrument is ek in U hande.
Speel U melodie van liefde deur my.
By U wil ek wees!
Vat en vorm my.
‘n Sondige mens met baie foute,
maar lief vir sy God.
Leer my die liefde vir sondaars.
Leer my Jesus se lewe aan.
Leer my hoe om te bid?
Meer met U wil ek praat.
Ek is leeg sonder U.
Kom leef binne my.
Daar is oopstaande deur vir U na my hart.
Om my te leer hoe om te bid. 
D.Labuschagné 02 November How God's Word Will Make You Free John 8:31-32 NRSV 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Notice carefully what Jesus actually said. It is not those who "start in the word" or "try the word for awhile" who will be made free. You must continue in Jesus' message -- His Word. It must be His accurate message -- not just someone's idea of it, or tradition. Some translations use the word "abide" instead of "continue." Abide means to stay somewhere continually. Either way, the meaning involves staying with it. Note that Jesus said in verse 32, "and you will KNOW the truth . . ." Just hearing the truth does not necessarily make you free. You must KNOW that it is the truth. When you KNOW something, you will act on it. If you are not acting on something, you do not yet truly KNOW it. You act on what you know. Hearing the truth is not enough. Loving the truth is not enough. Even speaking the truth is not enough. You must continue until you know that you know that you know that you know. Only then are you at the point where truth will make you free. The reason is that only then will you be able to act with faith and boldness on God's Word. The devil is against you and is intent on keeping you in bondage. Only when you KNOW where you stand will you act in faith and overcome the strategies of the devil. You may ask, "How can I KNOW the truth? I just have weak faith." Jesus gave the answer: continue in His Word. As you continue in the Word of God you will become convinced -- you will know -- you will have faith. When you reach the point of knowing something -- you will act on that knowledge. In this way the truth will make you free. This works in every area of life: your relationships, your health, your finances -- everything. Continue in the Word of God in any subject -- and you will eventually see the fruit of freedom in that area of your life. God gave you His Word for your benefit -- not for His benefit. He already knows the truth, and always acts on it. You are the one who needs help. Because God loves you, He gave you His Word. SAY THIS: I will continue in the message of Jesus Christ. As I do I will know the truth. As I act on that truth it will make me free. ![messiah_lars_justinen_l[1]](http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pvGqsmNrCc8RvWCxYht1KXSvszrlcbbaXcYnvbaKNia2asaICKeNLSntvMYgdFjofxPv_9TOy0yU) 30 October
God Is Not Guilty  http:// list@ChurchForAll.org JOB 40:8 LB 8 Are you going to discredit my justice and condemn me so that you can say you are right? Many are quick to blame God for all the bad things in their life and in the world. "After all, God is ultimately responsible, isn't He?" Is a parent responsible for the choices their grown children make? Certainly, they had influence in raising their children. But ultimately, each human makes their own choices and we are each responsible for our own actions. We cannot blame our parents -- our spouse -- or anyone else. If we choose to do wrong, it is our choice. People are guilty. The devil is guilty. Not God. "But what about storms, earthquakes, and such?" Jesus rebuked the storm in Luke 8:24. Are we to believe that Jesus was rebuking something that God was responsible for? Although it is not clear now to most people, one day it will be clear to all: God is not guilty of anything. The devil and people shoulder the blame for all the heartache, misery, and pain on earth. JEREMIAH 9:24 NIV 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. SAY THIS: I repent of ever blaming God for any wrongdoing. God is not guilty  29 October Monday, October 29, 2007
Just Our Nature
| But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
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| — James 1:14 | We all know what it is like to be tempted. But where does temptation come from? It does not come from God. James 1:13–14 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." We play a key role in our own temptation.
It is like the scorpion who wanted to cross a pond. Scorpions can't swim, of course, so he needed a ride. He walked up to a rather unsuspecting turtle and said, "I was wondering if you might give me a lift across this little pond?"
The turtle said, "Are you joking? You will sting me, and we will both drown."
The scorpion said, "My dear turtle, if I were to sting you, I would go down with you. Where would the logic be in that?"
As they made their way across the little pond, the scorpion pulled out his stinger and gave the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle turned to the scorpion and said, "There was no logic in stinging me. Why did you do it?"
The scorpion replied, "It has nothing to do with logic. It's just my nature."
This is a good point. When we give in to temptation, it has nothing to do with logic. It is just our nature. We like to say, "The devil made me do it" or "Circumstances overwhelmed me" or "I couldn't control myself." But in reality, it's just our nature.
Let's not give in to the enticement of our own desires.
25 October Words Will Judge You  http:// list@ChurchForAll.org MATTHEW 12:36-37 NKJ 36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." ROMANS 10:9-10 NKJ 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. The reason we are taking time to look at the importance of words is because most believers have neglected this area of studying what the Bible teaches. So we need to spend extra time on this subject. Looking at Matthew 12:36-37 we see that according to Jesus our words will play a big part in judging us. You may wonder why that is the case, instead of just being judged by our actions. Because words precede actions. What you say indicates what you are thinking -- what is in your heart -- and all action is dictated by what is inside us. Also, notice in Romans 10:9 the important part given to confessing the Lord Jesus in salvation. It is not enough to just believe in our heart -- we must also confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. (Confess means to speak in agreement with. In this case we are agreeing with what God has said, that Jesus is Lord.) This is the way faith works in every area. You must combine believing in your heart and speaking with your mouth. This is not restricted to some future time of judgment. It is working right now. Today "with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (which means deliverance)." If you are in bondage today, you can change it by the words you speak. I did not say, "Just speak a word and you will be free." This involves a change in what you believe in your heart. It involves changing what is coming out of your mouth all day -- not just for a few minutes when you decide to "speak the Word." But you have to start and now is the best time to get started. SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to get started, and keep on, speaking in agreement with Your Word 24 October
Hold Fast Your Confession http://list@ChurchForAll.org
HEBREWS 3:1; 4:14 NKJ
1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ
Jesus,
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession.
HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Your confession is what you say. You should persistently
continue speaking in faith, agreeing with what God has said,
regardless of circumstances. If it never seemed like it was not
working, there would be no need to hold fast, or hang on, to a
confession of faith.
Some people are surprised when they act on God's Word and it
does not immediately come to pass. But there is abundant
evidence in Scripture showing that is normal. God never
promised that everything would happen instantly. The time
period involved gives us opportunity to walk in faith and
please God.
Remember that authority is released through words. When we
speak in DIS-agreement with what God says, we are giving
authority in that area of our lives to our enemy. This is why
Scripture tells us to struggle (if necessary) to keep speaking
in agreement with God's Word.
Why does the Bible tell us to "hold fast" -- or you might say
"hang on tight" or "hang on for dear life." Obviously,
something or someone is trying hard to get us to turn loose.
Who or what do you think that is?
SAY THIS: With God's help, I will keep speaking in agreement
with the Word of God, no matter what the circumstances may say.
![power_of_prayer_hahlbohm[1]](http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pvGqsmNrCc8Q0OLNLBCTdchGyNv1qT0KTZ0EPbSW4zFqKH-szW9lYhcruoFzkOWodmVM-PxRlDkM)
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