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Date Posted: 08:52:37 02/10/17 Fri
Author: c
Subject: Sanctification

Sanctification


intouch.org Daily devotion

The Requirements of Faith

AUGUST 01, 2016

Romans 6:22-23

The moment we trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we enter into a life of faith. In other words, we live by the assurance that God is all He claims to be and will do everything He promises. Salvation is instantaneous, but it takes a lifetime to learn and understand what that entails.

As soon as we are saved, God begins what is known as sanctification, teaching us to be like Him. This is a process, as it takes time to learn to walk by faith, trusting what we cannot see.

Even with God’s Holy Spirit living inside of us, we nonetheless battle our flesh. We desire to do what God says and to see as He sees, but because we have behavior patterns left over from our old sinful nature, we will falter and do things in our own strength, according to our own rationale. We must choose daily to follow His way.

To grow in godliness, we must learn to listen to our Father. But since this is not a natural tendency, self-discipline is needed. It is best to set a specific time each day to meditate upon God’s Word. Eagerly expect Jesus to speak to you, and listen to what He is saying. Write notes in your Bible with the date and what the Lord has impressed upon you. Then, apply the truth you learn, and observe the results.

Hearing God’s voice and being in tune with His Spirit are vital parts of walking in faith. But these things don’t just happen; they require determined persistence. As with physical exercise, the more we strengthen our spiritual “muscles,” the more the process becomes part of who we are.


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intouch.org Daily devotion 12/21/15

Walking With Greater Confidence

Hebrews 11:1-31

It’s the Lord’s desire that we walk by faith. Yet if we consider our lives honestly, most of us will find a number of areas where we struggle to trust Him. Some days it’s easy to relinquish control, while at other times we quickly take matters into our own hands.

Thankfully, our Heavenly Father is patient and loving. His Word clearly teaches that sanctification is the process of making us holy, not just the end result. Children are a great illustration of how this works. When toddlers learn to walk, they start by pulling up on something, standing, and then taking a step. Inevitably, they fall, at which point we help them back up so that they can keep progressing. In the same way, God shows us how to live according to our faith in Him, but we’ll make mistakes. Falling and getting up again are part of the learning process.

The Lord teaches us, but we also have a role. Our responsibility is to study Scripture, get to know God’s nature, and learn His promises. As we do these things, our confidence in God grows, enabling us to make choices requiring us to believe in and lean on Him. When we step out in faith and experience Christ’s provision and dependability, our trust grows.

Consider the responses, actions, and decisions that you’ve made in the past few days. How many of those were led by the Spirit? How many were human reactions done from self-reliance? Living on the basis of trust in Christ requires belief and action. As you allow Him to lead, faith will grow.


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intouch.org Daily devotion August 25, 2016

Set Apart for God

Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.


By placing faith in Jesus Christ, a person becomes a new believer and is sanctified — that is, set apart for God’s purposes. Unlike salvation, which takes place in a single moment, sanctification is a lifelong process. We who are followers of the Savior should be letting the Holy Spirit control our lives. If that’s the case, we are currently being sanctified, regardless of what we may feel or how our actions appear to those around us. In other words, we are progressively maturing in our faith.

And if we are progressing, we must be working our way toward something. The apostle Paul explained the Christian’s mission: “For those whom [God] foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). A believer’s character, conduct, and conversation should be reflections of Jesus, who lives within. On our own, we might place too much emphasis on behavior and get caught up in following rules and rituals that look Christian without truly reflecting Christ. But God has given each believer His Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide. The Spirit works to transform our minds and hearts so that we are markedly different from our unsaved peers. When we allow the Spirit to control us, we speak and act in accordance with our true identity: God’s sons and daughters.

Our Father wants His children to be living examples of who He is. He doesn’t expect perfection—He knows we can’t be totally sinless in our human body. But He shows us how to think and act so we may “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).


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Romans 7:14 - 25 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man: But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the Law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.


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Notes on Numbers

by C.H. Mackintosh

(summarized portions except where quotation marks are used)

p 18,19

Romans 7 has a regenerated soul who appreciates the Law of God unlike a lost person but a soul not fully emancipated yet.

p 19

Romans 7 is very controversial to theologians

p 20

Many baby servants of Jesus Christ are in Romans 7 mode and have no awareness of being sealed by the Holy Spirit, not in possession of the victory in Jesus Christ.

"There is an honesty to having what is in Romans 7 there for our edification and for ourselves to admit the same process within instead of being falsely in Romans 8."

"But all this leaves wholly untouched the question as for the proper application of this profoundly interesting passage."


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Rightly dividing the Word of Truth

by Dr. C.I. Scofield

p 45

(summarized portions of a text)


Romans 7:14 - 25 Speaks of how a new convert will go through an ordeal soon after the joy of salvation is attained, slacks off a little, flesh comes back, the servant cries out for help, Jesus Christ then comes to help and deliver.


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Our Daily Bread

1/22/16

(edited message)


Prisoner no more

That’s a common struggle that even the apostle Paul experienced. “I do not understand what I do,” he said, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). But here’s some good news: We don’t have to stay in that trap of discouragement. To paraphrase Paul as he writes in Romans 8, the key is to stop focusing on the law and start focusing on Jesus. We can’t do anything about our sinfulness in our own strength. The answer is not “try harder to be good at keeping the rules.” Instead, we must focus on the One Who shows us mercy and cooperate with the Spirit Who changes us.

When we focus on the law, we are constantly reminded that we’ll never be good enough to deserve God’s grace. But when we focus on Jesus, we become more like Him

Randy Kilgore

Focus on Jesus


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intouch.org radio 9/5/16

How to enter in

7:39


It is His life - not our life. You remember what Paul said about himself before he realized this? He said: "in times past, what I didn't want to do, I found myself doing. What I wanted to do, somehow I seemingly couldn't manage to do it". He said: "so I was pulled in two directions: what I wanted to do, I couldn't do. What I didn't want to do, I found myself doing."

But Paul discovered the truth: that it wasn't any longer Paul's life, it was Christ living within him - get that. It isn't our life - and I'll tell you something else: it isn't Jesus Christ up there trying to help us down here.



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intouch.org radio 12/9/13 (edited, condensed direct quotes)

Salvation is a one-time event. Sanctification is a progressive thing, it goes on and on. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "...old things pass away; all things have become new" is talking about position - not practice. As a result of this new position of being in Christ, my practice and my behavior will change, but that is as I submit to the Holy Spirit, yield to the Holy Spirit, learn to walk in the Holy Spirit.....your humanness is still there, but now you have the Holy Spirit living inside you to enable you to live a victorious life. Doesn't mean you won't ever sin or have difficulties, trials or temptations, but now we have Jesus Christ inside of us...We can expect a change but it will not be a perfect change all of the sudden.


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intouch.org radio 8/27/16 (summary - not direct quotes)

The New you 1

After receiving salvation through Jesus Christ, an individual becomes a new person. Then this new creation in Jesus Christ must ignore false and misleading feelings or notions and rely on the Holy Spirit and the Word of truth to keep this new person walking in the truth about the new birth – in order to be victorious over the influence of the flesh. The renewing process will go on as long as a christian lives because the world keeps confronting saints.


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The Common Made Holy (excerpt from the book) by Neil T. Anderson and Robert L. Saucy


p 315


As Scripture says, we are born again as babies, alive designed to grow (see 1 Peter 2:2). We grow as we appropriate more and more of Christ's life by the power of the Spirit. And as we grow, the reality of what we did totally in principle - namely crucify the flesh and its old self-centered influence - becomes increasingly more real in our experience.


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intouch.org Daily devotion August 22, 2016

God’s Condition for His Full Blessing

Matthew 16:24-27 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.


The Lord wants to give each of us an abundance of blessings. Let’s explore what is required so that we may enjoy all that He has planned.

Today’s passage clarifies the one necessary condition for receiving His best: surrender. Every aspect of our being — body, soul, and spirit — is to be a living sacrifice. This may sound dreary, but contrary to human logic, true freedom is found only when we fully yield to Christ.

In the Old Testament, sacrifice was very common. To atone for sin, a person could bring a lamb to the altar. The animal was set apart for God’s purposes as a holy offering, and through its death, restitution was made.

When we give ourselves as a sacrifice, there is, thankfully, no need for our blood to be shed. Jesus died to atone for all of our sin. So out of love and gratitude, every aspect of our life should be dedicated to Him.

What does a surrendered life entail? Most importantly, it involves complete commitment to Christ, unaltered by the world’s influence. Our desires and old ways of functioning are no longer driving forces. Instead, God’s Spirit guides us, and His will is the goal. Yielding to Him means following His way in attitude, words, thoughts, and deeds — and doing so unapologetically, unwaveringly, and fearlessly.

You have a choice: Either be content with less than God’s best, or give yourself fully to Him. Complete surrender is not an easy road; it means dying to your desires and selfishness. But remember that the Lord is willing and able to do more than we can even imagine (Ephesians. 3:20).


(this subject is explored extensively in intouch.org radio 9/9/16 The yielded life)


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intouch.org Daily devotion Jul 29, 2014

Biblical Fasting

Read | Psalm 42:1-2

(edited message)


Biblical fasting is one way to help us regain focus concerning our relationship with the Lord and what matters to Him. Fasting readies us to concentrate on our Father. It is an opportunity to set aside other things in order to seek His face and hear His voice. It is a time of preparation that leads us to fix our attention on God’s purposes and will for us.

Many of us have not tried fasting because it seems too foreign. We don’t know how to begin or when to find the time. But if we see it for what it is — a faith experience that sharpens our spiritual vision, intensifies our desire for God, and leads us to better understand His direction — then we will want to try it for ourselves.

Have you been crying out to the Father for more of Him? Do you need to know God’s will for a particular area of your life? Biblical fasting is a spiritual discipline that will bring you to the place where your hearing is sharper, your mind is clearer, and your eyes are more firmly fixed on the Lord and His plans. Why not discover this for yourself?


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intouch.org Daily devotion Jul 30, 2014

Preparing Hearts Through Fasting


Read | Matthew 13:1-23


In the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches that it takes good soil to produce a plentiful harvest. He warns against planting seed on the rocky places and also speaks about dangerous thorns that choke the plants. He directly applies the parable to our spiritual lives, explaining that the seed is God’s Truth; it’s only in the soil of a devoted and steadfast heart that the Word is received and spiritual fruitfulness is produced. In fact, He says soil that’s prepared to receive what is planted can produce a crop 30, 60, or 100 times what is sown.

Many people testify that God has used Biblical fasting to position their hearts to receive His truth. It has made them ready for the planting of the Word, and through that, to receive greater insight and direction, and to develop a deeper faith (Romans 10:17). During the hours of fasting, they set themselves apart from earthly concerns and spent their time concentrating on heavenly matters. It was then that God revealed the stumps, rocks, and thick roots that entangled their hearts and prevented spiritual growth. Through His Spirit, He also provided the courage to confess and the strength to obey.

What is the condition of your heart soil? How much “groundwork” needs to be done so that you can receive a major planting of the Word? God desires to clear out the rocks and weeds in our lives and break up any hard soil; Biblical fasting prepares us for such tilling. God is calling His people to consecrate themselves to Him. Won’t you come before Him to be made ready?

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intouch.org Daily devotion September 05, 2016

(edited message)

The Powerful Practice of Fasting

Nehemiah 1:1 - 11


Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us center our attention on the Lord and discover His will so we may act according to it. People fast in different ways: Some abstain from food while others refrain from various activities. The period of time can vary as well. But the focus in each case is to be the same — to seek God and know His will.

When we deny ourselves in this way, several things happen. First, the Holy Spirit will enable us to set aside earthly matters. Relationships, work, and pleasure will take a lesser place in our mind as we concentrate on God and His purposes. Second, our attention will shift from ourselves to the Lord. Thinking will become clearer, and our ability to understand His plans will sharpen because we are not distracted by other things. Third, the Lord is probably going to do some spiritual housecleaning in our life. His Spirit will convict us of sinful attitudes or behaviors. Then, upon confession of our sin, we’ll be forgiven and cleansed (1 John 1:9).

When unexpected news greets us, we — like Nehemiah — may find our emotions in turmoil. He wisely sought God through fasting and prayer. This powerful practice can also help us to hear clearly from our Heavenly Father, who knows the best way through every situation.


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intouch.org Daily devotion 9/6/16

The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

(edited message)

Acts 13:1-3


Fasting has two important components. One is abstention, which eliminates distractions. The other is undivided attention on God, which allows connection with Him on a deeper level.

Fasting does not bring us a quicker answer from God or persuade Him to follow our plan. Instead, it prepares us to see our situation through His eyes and to act on what we learn. At times I have sought the Lord to get His assessment of how I am doing. This discipline has helped me gain His perspective on my life and work.

Fasting involves a strong desire to hear from God, a period of time to connect with Him, and a willingness to abstain from food or some activity. If the idea intimidates you, remember its purpose is preparation so we might draw closer to God and receive His encouragement and direction.


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intouch.org Daily devotion 1/8/17

The Place of Fasting in Prayer

Matthew 6:16-21


Jesus’ words about fasting represent His invitation to a deeper experience with God. As we place our physical desires under the Spirit’s control, we let go of our grip on the material in order to embrace the spiritual. Reasons for fasting include:

Cleansing from sin. When we let our spiritual guard down, we start thinking as the world does—protecting our rights instead of dying to self, or seeking to accumulate rather than sacrificing. Through these lapses, ungodly attitudes and habits can quietly take up residence in us, and we hardly notice. But God sees. They hinder our fellowship with Him, limit the effectiveness of our service, and erode our joy. Prayer combined with fasting will help us give God our undivided attention as He addresses our areas of sin. We, in turn, will find them grievous and be eager to let them go.

Guidance. God is willing to give us clear direction, but for some things, prayer in conjunction with fasting is more effective. That is how we gain the cleansed mind needed to hear what He is saying and a submitted spirit ready to accept His instructions.

Protection. Through fasting, we gain insight into God’s ways and receive help in identifying unhealthy or dangerous situations. As we submit to His authority and confess our need for protection, the Holy Spirit will give us discernment to make wiser decisions and avoid unnecessary pitfalls.

Fasting coupled with prayer can also bring heightened spiritual awareness and more intimate communion with the Lord. Aren’t these the deepest desires of our heart?


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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (excerpt from the book) by Alfred Edersheim
p 306


It is only a sense of sin, and the felt absence of Jesus Christ, which should lead to fasting.


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intouch.org Daily devotion January 29, 2017

The Moments That Sustain Us

Psalm 145:1-5


Does peace come naturally for you, or does it feel like a constant struggle? Sometimes it seems as if so many things are actively working against our peace that our spirit may never know a moment’s rest. How can we quiet distractions long enough to hear God’s voice?

The key is found within a word that may make you uncomfortable: meditation. Perhaps you’re thinking, All that meditation stuff is what other religions call “finding yourself.” I’m not going to waste my time with that. What a horrible misconception. My friend, meditation is not about listening to yourself; on the contrary, it is about quieting your own mind and listening for the gentle whispers of the Lord.

Think about your prayer life. Whose voice is more prominent—yours or the Father’s? For most people, the vast majority of prayer time is spent talking to God, thanking Him for what He’s done, and asking for help. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, but if you never give Him time to answer, how will you know what He wants to communicate to you?

The time we spend listening is a good indication of how much we respect and enjoy the relationship. If we dominate the conversation, then we may be showing God by our actions that His opinions are not as important as our own—we’d never say those words so plainly, but our actions may be proclaiming that very message.

Are you listening to God? Commit to listen quietly for what He wants to share with you.


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intouch.org Daily devotion 1/2/17 Setting Goals for Fruitful Living

2 Samuel 7:18-22

(edited messaged)


In the 70s, I experienced a turning point in my walk with Christ. It started with 2 Samuel 7, which inspired me to follow in King David’s footsteps.

Desiring that kind of solitude, I spent several days alone in a camper at Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park. Most of the time I remained silent, listening intently for God’s voice. I asked Him to speak to me regarding my future, and He answered.

Let’s discuss how to establish aims in this manner. First, come before the throne of almighty God with a repentant heart, praise, and thanksgiving. Then, ask Him for direction in areas such as spiritual life, career, and family. In silence, wait patiently and attentively—as you read and meditate upon God’s Word, He will speak. Most often, His guidance is experienced as a prodding or conviction in the heart. When that happens, be sure to write down what you’re learning so you can review it later.

In order to stay on the path God intends for our life, we should plan times to stop, ask, and listen for guidance. The world throws confusing messages at us all day long, and we need to check our course frequently. These conversations with the Lord are vital for a thriving life of godly impact.


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intouch.org Daily devotion 8/14/16 A Hunger for God


Psalms 63:1-5


The Lord has given us a variety of appetites, which are essential for our physical survival. But He has also created within our hearts a hunger that is spiritual. David was a man who recognized and felt this yearning for the Heavenly Father. Throughout the Psalms, we find him meditating, offering praise, or crying out to God. His greatest joy was to be with his Heavenly Father in intimate communion.

Hungering for the Lord is a desire to know and draw closer to Him. Sadly, this yearning lies dormant in many believers’ lives. They’re saved but have very little desire for more. One of the problems is that our society is filled with all sorts of things that grab and hold our interest and affections. These pleasures and pursuits compete with God for our attention, claiming our time and effort.

The good news is that a longing for God can be awakened if we are willing to change our priorities and pursuits. Although cultivating a desire for the Lord takes time, the joy we’ll experience is lasting—and the rewards are eternal. We’ll always get more out of a relationship with God than we put in. What’s more, as our hunger for Him comes to life, He will open our heart and mind to understand and desire Him even more.

When we yearn for the Lord, He will satisfy us with contentment and a sense of completeness, while awakening an even deeper longing in our souls. Unlike physical hunger, a craving for Him is filled but paradoxically leaves us hungry. The more we are satisfied in Christ, the more we want of Him.


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Beside the Still waters

7/16/13

(edited message)

The servant heart

A servant heart is an integral part of the Christian life.

In order to have it, we first need to submit our will to God. We need to let God work in our lives, change our priorities, and make us more like Himself. Having a servant heart is not something that happens overnight. It takes time, effort, and submission of our will and desires to God. Every day we need to pray for God to renew that heart in us. When we let God use us to work in other people's lives, the blessings that we receive spiritually are beyond what we can comprehend.

Joshua Kooistra

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all - Mark 10:44


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intouch.org radio 9/2/16

The rewards of service

(Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister)

7:23


Not only is the integrity of God involved - that He's going to remember what we're doing - but he says the intention of the believer is involved, that is, the motivation of the believer: what motivates us to serve the Lord? Now, that which should motivate us is love. Now think about this for a moment, the more you understand Who God is and what He's like, the more you're going to love Him. And the more you love Him, the more you're going to want to serve Him. And the more you want to serve Him, the more He's going to honor your service. And this is what He says: that He honors those who serve Him.

And the more He honors you, the more you're going to love Him. And the more you're going to want to serve Him. And the more love - you're going to understand - so that the most beautiful, satisfying, contenting cycle that goes on when you and I, in love with the Lord Jesus Christ, serve Him out of love. And the motivation in which you and I serve the Lord is going to affect the reward which we receive.


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intouch.org radio 1/7/17

Triumphant over trials

13:51


And I want to ask you this evening: how usable have you made yourself to the Savior, Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Son of the living God? How much do you and I love Him? How would we have answered that question? Suppose He'd have said: "Charles, do you love Me?" I'll have to be honest with you, there was a time in my life - even after I was saved and after I'd been a preacher for a long time - that I had to say: "Lord, I'm not really sure that if I understand what true love is that I really and truly love You. I'm not sure I understand how to love You. I think I understand how to follow You, how to obey You, how to trust You, but I'm not sure I fully understand how to love You."

Oh I'd said I did. Until one day on my knees, up in the mountains, fasting and praying about something, and I told the Lord I loved Him, and my throat was like it had mush in it. It didn't sound right. It didn't come out right and I knew that something was wrong. I tried to tell Him again: "Lord, You know I love You." And somehow, it just didn't come out right. Till I finally had to say: "God, maybe I don't, but I sure want to."

And I want to tell you something, if I can tell you, it wasn't but about 3 or 4 months till God put me in one of those situations like a vise, of something I had absolutely no control over whatsoever, and for the first in my life I understood on the inside of me what it meant to really and truly love Jesus Christ with all of my heart.

If somebody had told me I didn't know how to love Him all those years, I would have denied it. But when He told me I didn't know how, I had to tell Him He was right. It's amazing what we think we know about Him until suddenly we learn what it's all about.


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intouch.org radio 3/21/14

The gift of forgiveness - part 2

4:12


An unforgiving spirit will freeze your capacity to love anybody. You can't love anybody with an unforgiving, bitter spirit toward anybody. You can't love anyone when you have bitter spirit toward someone. It just doesn't work that way. That's not the way we're built. That's not the way God made us. You can't isolate just one area here and say: "well, just that one person - everybody else in the world I love - I hate that person. Love everybody else but hate them" - no you don't. Because listen, bitterness and resentment and anger freezes our capacity. And so people are in bondage - they don't even know they are in bondage. They think: "well, this is the way I feel - I've always felt this way. This is the way I grew up" or whatever. And so they have these feelings towards people.

And you know what I've discovered: a lot of people think everybody feels just like they do. They really don't. There are many people who are loving and gentle and kind and tender-hearted and willing to serve, willing to give, willing to do so much and then there are those people, they just, often times a person who is bitter, listen, not only can they not love, you know what else they can't do? They can't even receive it.

You cannot be bitter towards people and receive love. I tell you what it's like: it's like static. It's like putting a square peg in a round hole - it just won't fit. You can't fit bitterness into a life and say: "well you know, I just feel loved by you, and loved by him, and loved by her, and loved by them, but I'm telling you right now this way I feel over here...." - it just doesn't work that way. They're in bondage - frozen.


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Romans 8:28 and we know all things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose


intouch.org TV broadcast 3/11/16 Thanksgiving in the midst of adversity

9:30


He'll turn the worst kind of things for good if I trust Him. And if I'm able to say: "well God, I don't understand it - I don't like it - It's painful - I feel the loss - this doesn't fit what I think about You - I'm going to trust You because You're a loving God and I'm going to thank You in spite of everything I feel."

You say: "aww...that's not real." You know when you'll find out it's real? When you do it. And sometimes we think: "well, because I don't feel it, it's not true." Listen, God is the same when things are good. He's the same when things are bad, He doesn't change. When He makes a promise, He keeps His promise.


11:25


The pain and hurt and suffering you may be going through may be so deep, so penetrating and so exhausting, that when you tell God you're grateful, you don't feel it. Well, how does God think about that? Here's how God thinks about it: "I understand how you feel. I know you're hurt. I know your pain. I know your suffering. I know when you tell Me that it's okay, that it's only words because that's all you're capable of saying right now."

The wonderful thing about a loving God is this: when I can't even express it, He hears it. When I feel so shut out, so rejected, so hurt, so full of pain - and maybe it's physical pain,... God hears me when no one else can... I can thank Him no matter what. I can thank Him with my lips - and that counts - until I can thank Him with my heart, my soul, my spirit, my very being - it all counts with Him, because He understands the depth of our hurt. The reason I know why is because He understood what Jesus was feeling when He was stretched out on a cross and crying out: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

When I think about that, I think about: He understands. Maybe when I don't feel it, and I'm not all that sincere about God helping me, He understands. He understood His Son, He'll understand you and me.


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intouch.org Daily devotion 9/14/16 Accountability Is Scriptural

James 5:13-16

There are plenty of biblical directives about making ourselves accountable to one another. But for many, the idea of revealing personal information seems restrictive or even an invasion of privacy. Such confession may feel like a hindrance to the pursuit of pleasure, prosperity, and prestige. Most people prefer to keep to themselves and not involve others in their business.

The Bible, however, makes it clear that Christians are to be mutually supportive and accountable: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

Accountability in the body of Christ is a biblical principle. Church members take direction from their pastor (Heb. 13:17). Paul tells us to be subject to one another (Eph. 5:21); yet he was answerable to the church (Acts 14:27), just as Timothy was subordinate to him (1 Tim. 4:13-16). The apostles were certainly under the authority of Jesus (Luke 10), even as Jesus was subject to the Father (John 8:28-29). Of course, the Bible tells us that the whole church is obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:24). Regardless of one’s position, everybody is accountable to somebody. And this holds true for the entire family of faith, from the congregation to the ministers to Jesus Himself, who serves God the Father.

People avoid accountability for various reasons, including pride, ignorance, fear, and self-reliance. This is a dangerous approach to life. Our enemy knows our weaknesses and how to exploit them. But we can prevail with the support of friends. There is strength in the body of Christ.


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Beside the Still waters

12/29/12

(edited message)

Holy and righteous


To put on the full armor of God requires complete love for Him…When we are of one mind with our Lord, things repulsive to Him become repulsive to us. We are blessed with righteous judgment. We recognize sin as an abomination against God.

Another way to withstand improper thoughts is to change the subject. Praying for family and friends while we are under attack will cleanse our mind. Thank the Lord for His protection during previous encounters and ask Him to clear your memory of wrong desires or experiences.

satan’s temptations can be thwarted by the grace of God. God promises to provide an avenue of escape so that we may have victory (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must not become confident in our own strength, for satan is persistent and will attack again. But never forget, we will mature as we overcome each battle with our Lord’s protection and advice from the Word.

Carl West

God gives great power to those who believe and practice His Word.


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The Potter’s Touch broadcast “The grace to be grounded”

Grace must be guarded.

Psalms 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

You have to be grounded in your faith, your christian behavior, and the Word of God.

You’re going to get the victory just by being grounded.

“Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13, 2 Chronicles 20:17)

Psalms 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

The armor of God (Ephesians 6:10 – 18) is needed to stand our ground and win our battles.

“Though I’m going through hell, I’m going to stand.”

“The devil can’t have my peace or my life because I’m grounded.”

No longer tossed to and fro (Ephesians 4:14)

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.


The enemy is trying to fight you off of your ground. he’s after your ground. When the Bible says “neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27) it means literally “neither give territory to the devil.” It literally means “stand your ground.”

The Heavenly Father gives saints blessings but they become areas where we have to battle the evil one when the evil one tries to shake our belief that those blessings really belong to us. Saints have the grace to be grounded in this fight with the evil one over the territory that truly belongs to us saints – no matter how intense the warfare of the situation is.

(also explored in The Potter's Touch "Ground Level Zero" broadcast)


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Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.

John 4:13,14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37,38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


When a saint is truly in tune with the well of living water springing up within him or her, then he or she can live abundant life.


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Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.


A saint has value and learning how to be peaceful with others is important for continuing in that state of being valuable.


Less about effort, more about cooperating with the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit


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Our character flaws are the way the Heavenly Father teaches us that we are dependent upon Him

- Character flaws drive us into a deeper more intimate relationship with Jesus

A proclivity for sin can ruin your life or drive you to utter dependence on God

A genuine spirit of obedience is more effectual than the sporadic efforts to obey here and there.

Testimony: examine whether your character, conduct and conversation are accurately reflecting Jesus Christ.

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