OUT OF THE BOX

"...The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."    Nehemiah 1: 3                                                                                                                         "...Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?"      Nehemiah 4: 2                                                                                                   ...

1 Peter 3: 15; 1 Peter 2: 19 Sanctifying the Lord means that, in all life's circumstances, in all situations, and at all times, you set the Lord apart from and above all else, so that He is always before your eyes and exalted, so that He affects your attitudes, actions, and disposition. No matter what other people do or do to you, no matter what you're tempted to do, no matter how much others are blessed when you think they shouldn't be, no matter what happens, you are aware of His presence, of His being there, of His eyes upon you, and of His ears listening. You conduct yourself with this awareness of Him. You do what He says rather than what the situation tempts you to do. You act with a conscience toward God. Your actions are directed by what pleases Him, rather than by the rationalizations of the flesh. CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD Live your life "as unto the Lord," as if your actions were being done unto Him. You will be judged by that measure. You will be judged as...

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  1 Corinthians 13: 2 Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.  1 Corinthians 8:1 His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.  2 Peter 1:3 Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name”? And I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”  Matthew 7: 22-23 Truth must be accompanied by compassion, godly character, and integrity. This principle applies to any aspect of our relationship to the Lord and His word, whether it be Bible study, preaching, personal counsel, exhortation, or prophecy.  Complications arise when carnal man (rather than the spi...

  God will Deal With Those Who Persecute and Slay Us. Mercy and forgiveness are necessary in dealing with those who oppress and persecute us, but we must remember that that God is the Righteous Judge. He will reward those who suffer for His sake.   He will also avenge our deaths.   And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, O Lord, the one who is and who was and who is to be, because you have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”  Revelation 16: 5-7 God is the Righteous Judge. Christians often have difficulty with the fact that God seems to delay in punishing those who hurt and offend us. We are glad for Him to be patient and merciful with us but want Him to be severe and quick in rebuking others. We often refuse to forgi...