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The Gift that Keeps on Giving! Part V | |
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It is a great thing to be in a relationship with our creator! We were created to be in a relationship with God and to praise Him, so actually doing that gives us meaning and purpose in our life. If we are walking with Him, He can give us guidance, direction, hope for our future, peace in our circumstances, financial blessings, favor in our relationships and workplace, in fact, there is no end to the blessings that can come to us when we are in right standing with Him, because what He has to give will never run out! He loves us and wants to bless us in every area of our lives, but sometimes we get in the way of our own blessings by not walking with Him. The key here is to stay focused with our eyes fixed on Him - especially in these last days. There are so many distractions around us that are designed to get us off track. The enemy (Satan) uses anything he can to get us away from walking with God. It will get more and more difficult to stay on track, if we are not walking with Him daily. God has given us instructions to follow that should keep us on track in these last days. (Hover you mouse curser over the scripture references to read the verses.) Instructions for the Last Days (for the believer): 1. Keep Watch:
2. Remember/Witness:
3. Live Right:
4. Know and Follow the Word:
5. Stand Firm:
6. Trust God:
7. Enjoy Life:
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you."
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent…And remember, the Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him.
Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ-for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
...but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
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