Various Articles
The Minnesota Church of God General Conference has campgrounds located on a peninsula. It’s the setting for various church events throughout the year including baptisms and conferences. One of those has been a summer camp. I have fond memories of that camp, and since it’s on a lake there’s always some swimming involved. If you end up touching the bottom of the lake while swimming, you’ll find it’s very muddy. Once it grabs on it doesn’t want to let go.
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"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal" John 6:27.
For most people, the majority of adult years are spent employed in the workforce. It may see like an absurd question but, what are you working for? …
"On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month" Leviticus 23:39-41.
It was to be an annual, seven-day party. Everyone ceased normal activities, camped in tents, and feasted sumptuously. It was a celebration to end all celebrations, and for good reason. It was a type of Thanksgiving celebration…
"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware'" Psalm 2:7-9.
These verses contain a very simple and important summary of our Father’s great plan. Its importance is qualified in that it contains the “decree of the LORD.” Kings issue decrees, so we immediately sense that what follows carries great authority.
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"There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken" Luke 21:25-26.
Jesus’ words have an increasing sense of realism as modern-day events unfold. One crisis and disaster seems to blend with the next; so much so that we lose sight of what previously was a disaster that would take months and even years to recover from. All too often we hear the word, “unprecedented,” to describe a current disaster.
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"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" Luke 10:2.
Picture this scene in your mind: there is a large field of wheat, perfectly ripe and ready for harvest. The wheat crop would be beneficial to so many people in so many ways; it is literally ripe with possibilities.
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"Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught" Luke 1:1-4.
Purpose gives perspective. The 'what' makes sense when we know the 'why.' The purpose of Luke's Gospel is clearly stated at the beginning. It is a detailed, consecutive account of the life of Christ as reported by eyewitnesses, "servants of the word."
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"They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God" Exodus 29:46.
He is the God who relentlessly pursues. Unwavering in His conventional commitment to His people, all that He does is designed for the purpose that “they shall know that I am Yahweh.”
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"But Peter said to Him, ‘Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.’ But Peter kept saying insistently, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And they all were saying the same thing also" Mark 14:29-31.
You have likely heard that promises are made to be broken. Often promises are hastily made in the moment, without any thought as to the challenge of keeping that promise.
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"Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘Pharaoh's dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. ‘The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one and the same. ‘The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. ‘It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do’" Genesis 41:25-28.
Pharaoh, the great ruler of ancient Egypt, in the time of Joseph, was given a dream by God, which revealed the future, and the needed preparations. Joseph was divinely inspired to interpret this important dream.
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"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it’” Matthew 16:13-18.
The way others perceive Jesus may be interesting, but what truly matters is the conclusion you personally reach about Him. Just as Jesus posed searching questions to those around Him, He also confronts each of us with the vital question: "Who do you say that I am?"
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"But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” Matthew 20:25-28.
The way of Jesus and the kingdom of God is the way of the upside down pyramid. In the system of the world, the power is at the top, for which many people devote their best time and energy to try and climb to. But notice that Jesus sternly warned His disciples, “It must not be like that among you.”
"Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless’" Genesis 17:1.
The capitalization is easily ignored, but quite important. Bible translators, out of respect for His personal name, substitute “LORD” for the name, “Yahweh.” That name is closely associated with “I Am,” the self-existing One who has no beginning or end. Notice too that He calls Himself, “God Almighty” - El Shaddai in the Hebrew language. By this title He indicates that He, Yahweh, is the God above all gods; the mightiest of all so-called gods.
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Majestic mountains, vast oceans, large sea creatures, the sun, moon, and stars were all created through a word of command, but humans alone were created through the personal touch of our Father. He literally took the elements of the earth into hand, and formed us. He then pressed His mouth to His creation, and breathed His life-giving breath into lungs to give and sustain life.
We uniquely have the fingerprints of God upon us. We are His prized creation and possession, designed uniquely to declare His praise and reflect His glory.
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"Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him" Matthew 20:34.
Perhaps you know the difference between passion and compassion. Having a passion for something involves how we will benefit from it. Compassion, on the other hand, involves caring about something or someone regardless of any personal benefit. For that reason, compassion is the appropriate word to describe Jesus’ motivation. Deep compassion moved Him to help those suffering from diseases, injuries, and defects.
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"if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst" Matthew 18:19-20.
Several men in a church were born again through a women’s prayer group. These women determined to collectively pray for these unsaved men, and these prayers were wonderfully answered.
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"And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth’” Revelation 5:9-10.
Many church attenders can attest to the awkwardness of new music. While new expressions of worship through song are beneficial, learning a new song can be frustrating.
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The incomparable Christ is the ultimate truth teller. Standing before Pontius Pilate He declared, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). None has more faithfully served as witness to the truth than Jesus.
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