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Deceit Hardens Hearts

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Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Calloused hearts have hidden sin. Romans 5:12 says that through Adam sin entered the world. Adam and Eve bore Cain and Abel.

Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted, though Abel’s was. Genesis 4:5 says, “…Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” In verse 7 God asked Cain a question. It says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?…”

Cain’s sin remained hidden. His anger smoldered until in rage he killed his brother. He did not do what God had said. Verse 7 continued, “…sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Hidden sin is the trap-stick in satan’s trap. Hidden lust, bitterness, resentment, critical spirit, unforgiveness, etc. Numbers 32:23 says, “…you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”

God’s Love: Unconditional

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This is my online devotional

GOD’S LOVE: UNCONDITIONALFEBRUARY 7 2024, WRITTEN BY MARILYN ADAMS
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.ROMANS 5:8
The word unconditional means that it is absolute and not subject to change in any way. Not one sinner is exempt from God’s love. God’s unconditional love made a way for every one without exception.

Why did Jesus die on a cross? God cannot just overlook our sins, our wrong attitudes, words and deeds and still be perfectly holy and just. All sin deserves punishment. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sins, because he was incapable of sinning. Therefore all your sins and mine were laid on Jesus. He took our place. He died to set us free from the bondage to sin.

I like to look back to the account of Saul of Tarsus in Acts chapter 9. He was a murderer. He did everything he could to imprison those who believed in Jesus. He wanted to make sure that they were put to death.

He was on his way to Damascus to capture more followers of Jesus, when God stopped him in his tracks. He was saved and so radically changed, that folks did not believe he was the same man. He who once persecuted believers, wrote many of the New Testaments books.He fully understood God’s unconditional love. It cannot be earned or worked for in any way. It is a gift that cost Jesus his life. Have you received it for yourself?

Oh Father, your love cannot be fathomed with our finite minds. There is nothing to compare it to. It is unconditional, unchangeable, steadfast, and abundant. Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for us, and for redeeming us with your shed blood. Oh that we might be instruments of righteousness to effectively share your love with others. Amen

Throughout this day: Take time today to reflect on the words of the hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” You can listen to it here.Share on FacebookSubscribe to Daily Devotionals, receive prayer or share your thoughts with us!
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Patient Endurance~Part Two

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Our flesh and the Holy Spirit are antagonistic.  Galatians 5:17 says, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another…”

That is a perfect description for why we struggle. We don’t want to let go of our flesh.

Psalm 34:9-10 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

The fear of the Lord, seeking Him, and patiently enduring our trials are three areas that supply anything we lack. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold for those who walk uprightly.”

Endurance means to bear up under difficult circumstances with hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat.

Grace Words~Part Three

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Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Grace words come from a humble heart. Fights, quarrels, harsh words, heated arguments, etc. come from a heart lifted up in pride.

Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Our pride will land us in the devil’s trap. It is bated with the exact temptation that will ensnare us unwittingly.

Chapter five in my book, Victorious Heart, is entitled Honey-Laced Words. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and heath to the bones.” Blood vessels and bone marrow run through parts of the bones. The holes in the honeycomb-like mesh make the bones stronger. Do you want strong bones? Then add grace words to your vocabulary. Impart grace to your hearers that will build them up.

Training Our Ear To Hear~Part Two

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God called Isaiah to be a prophet. Isaiah 6:8 says, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then I said, Here am I! Send me.”

Jesus taught through parables. Mark 4:12 was a quote from Isaiah 6. It says, “So that Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand…” To His disciples He gave the interpretation. 

We have the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9 was a quote from Isaiah 64:4. It says, “…Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 

Verse 10 in the Amplified says, “Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the (Holy) Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny).”

Quench Versus Embrace~Part Two

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When I think of the Holy Spirit opposing my flesh, I  picture two magnets repelling each other. 

The Holy Spirit stands by ready to help us as soon as we ask Him. However we quench Him when we do something in our own strength. Also if we run ahead of Him when He says to wait. Another way that we can quench Him is to ignore His still small voice. 

James 4:4-5 says, “…Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit who dwells in you yearns jealousy?” Yearn in the Greek means to intensely crave possession.

Unless we embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, He will not be able to display the fruit of the Spirit which glorifies the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Producer, and we are the bearers when yielded to Him.

Spiritual Warfare 101 ~ Part Two

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1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith…” Ephesians 6:13 says to withstand. Strong’s definition: vigorously opposing, bravely resisting, standing face-to-face against an adversary, standing your ground.

Salvation is eternal. Philippians 1:28 says, “And not in anyway terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.”

Spiritual warfare is part of our progressive sanctification. It is God’s effective tool to strengthen our faith. It takes warfare to reveal the hidden chinks in our armor. Unresolved issues are chinks that the enemy targets. 

Within every believer is the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead. We stand against a defeated foe. His power is deceptive temptations that entice us. We must bring truth into our hearts to stand and keep on standing.

God Watches Our Hearts~Part Three

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Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

God’s goal is that we represent Him in every aspect of our lives. David wrote Psalm 86. Verses 11-12 say, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart…” David was asking the Lord to make him wholehearted and single minded. What an example for us.

James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” It is good to sit before the Lord and be real. He sees right through any act. He is looking for those whose heart is loyal to Him.

God Watches Our Hearts~Part Two

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Harboring an offense in our hearts makes us a stumbling block for others. How? I think Ecclesiastes 10:1 is a perfect answer. It says, “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.”

We hurt and offend others when we attack them through our reactionary flesh. We say things that ought not to be said. We act in a way that does not exemplify the Lord. If you want to know what is hidden in your heart ~ ask the Lord to reveal it. He loves that prayer and is faithful to fulfill it.

Caution. The hidden offense will emerge in a very unexpected time. Proverbs 4:23. We won’t even know it happened until it displays itself. It is that quick. Not premeditated, but triggered in a moment because of something that was said, we were slighted, or our goal was blocked.

Praying With Joy ~ Part Two

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Philippians was written in AD 61. My heart  was captured as I thought about how much Paul loved the folks in Philippi. In verse 3 he said that he thanked the Lord every time he thought about them.

He joyfully prayed for them. Verse 5 clues us into the reason for that joy. It says, “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” At the least, we are talking about a nine year relationship, though apart physically.

Verse 7 says, “…I have you in my heart…” Verse 8 says, “For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.” Paul loved the Lord. He loved the folks in Philippi with the same love, because of their fellowship with him in the furtherance of the gospel. Verse 4 awakened a desire to explore praying for others with joy ~ fellowship through the gospel.