Jacob The Heel Catcher - Spiritual Adultery

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Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Grace is Greater” September 24

The only entity greater than sin is the grace of God! One aspect of the grace of God is the operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart and life of the believer. The Holy Spirit has the ability to overwhelm, overcome, and remove the very roots of sin, whose tentacles have invaded and laid claim to the human heart. These “clinging vines” are so deeply rooted within the framework and nature of man that it is impossible... for man to extradite them from their present location. Religious works or other effort of man is useless against the presence of indwelling sin. If we could labor or earn God’s goodness in our lives, then in essence God would owe us freedom from sin due to our efforts. But God never gives us what we deserve. For this we should be eternally grateful! He freely gives us Grace to overcome sin when we depend wholly upon His redemption plan. His one and only redemption plan requires that our faith be consistently placed in Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished for us on Calvary. Therefore, the only Biblical way to overcome sin is to learn how to freely receive grace through faith which alone can overpower sin.

Romans 5:20b " ... But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
Sep 3, 2016
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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 5:15
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
...
Unfortunately, this is the norm for most of Christianity today because of the lack of the knowledge of the Cross of Jesus Christ and how it pertains to our DAILY LIVES. Most preachers are not preaching this message to their congregations, and most Christians are not wanting to hear it. Why? Because our fleshly lives don’t like a Cross, the devil doesn’t like what happened to him at the Cross, and the world doesn’t like the direction the Lord is bringing all things toward His Righteousness because of the Cross, plus we have been led to believe that once we were saved, the Cross was of no further focus or use.

If we will come back to faith in and the preaching of the Cross of Jesus Christ, we will NO LONGER judge each other wrongly as we have for centuries (Romans 14). The devil himself accuses and devours us enough without our help in the matter. The Cross is what has made it possible for us to be the Family of God, and to love each other so that the world will know we are the Disciples of Jesus (John 13:35). Using our liberty as Christians for anything other than OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD, and being a part of the BUILDING UP of God’s people is us making our own Way of destruction, and the whole time using God’s Word to do it. Come back to the Cross!

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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9/24/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Suddenly” September 25

Just because God is silent today doesn't mean He's not moving. Just because God seems quiet today doesn't mean He has forgotten. Just because there is no inward response to your outward cry, doesn't indicate that God has not heard. It is hard to believe God for a miracle when darkness overwhelms our lives and hopelessness dominates our hearts. From the blackness of our midnight we lift our voices to God as tears course down our cheeks. We plead with Him to intervene on our behalf. At times it seems as though God is just not listening. It is easy to grow confused and doubtful when the difficulty continues to exist. We wonder why God doesn't remove the opposition that is bringing such misery to our lives. We have all found ourselves in this position at one time or another. Let me encourage you! Be assured that God is moving on your behalf, quietly, silently, arranging the pieces of the puzzle exactly to His specifications. And someday soon, in a "suddenly" of God, all that you've asked Him to attend to will be resolved in a manner that amazes you. He is able to do more for us than we are even able to ask or think. For His children, He does the impossible!

Acts 16:26 - And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
Sep 3, 2016
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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Ask a Christian today what it means to walk “In the Spirit” and you will find many answers but one thing in common, and it will be “What you do.” This is the manifestation of how crippled and paralyzed the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been for CENTURIES. Paul has already told the Galatians that they BEGAN IN THE SPIRIT when they trusted in Christ and His Atoning work at Calvary (Galatians 3:1-3), and pointed out the foolishness of their thinking that they could now walk it out by the flesh. The flesh is referred to our trusting anything WE DO, and not WHAT CHRIST DID AT THE CROSS for us.

What a promise we have from the Lord, that if we WALK IN THE SPIRIT, we WILL NOT FULFILL the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:15). We are not told that we will not have any lust of the flesh, but rather that they will not be fulfilled. Sin will not dominate us (Romans 6:14). When we learn that the answer for both the Sin Nature and the Flesh is faith in Christ and His work at Calvary (Galatians 5:24), we are THEN learning, and though there be lust in every Child of God, it will not be fulfilled, but rather the Righteousness of the Law will be being fulfilled in us (Romans 8:4) who are trusting in the Cross of Christ! The devil hates this because he wants us to devour each other instead of having love one to another so everyone will know we are the Disciples of Christ (John 13:35).

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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9/25/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Think on the Good Things” September 26

There will be days in our Christian experience where everything seems to be falling apart, to go wrong, to be impossible, completely frustrating, or is simply devastated. We are creatures of emotion and it is impossible for anyone to entirely escape a sense of being dismayed when a series of events work together to discourage us. It’s at times like these and in days like these that this present advice should be heeded. That is, to think upon the good things. Think upon the victories that God has already brought into your life. Think about the deliverances that have already been experienced. Think about the tremendous interruptions that God has brought to pass upon other debilitating circumstances. Encourage yourself with the knowledge of experiences past where God has delivered you or set you free. As these historical events come to your mind, the heart and soul will receive encouragement and an ability to believe will begin to rise within the depths of your heart. If today just happens to be one of those formidable days of opposition, think on the good things! Shout praises for victories past! Let the knowledge of what God has done before be an encouragement to you. And believe that God is about to do the same in your present circumstance.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
Sep 3, 2016
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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 5:17
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Until we see Jesus and become like He is (1 John 3:2), this is today’s never ending battle, but thank God it belongs to Him (1 Samuel 14:17), and He took care of it at the Cross (verse 24). If we are not trusting in the Cross of Jesus Christ, we are walking after the flesh (Trusting in what we are doing), even though we are saying the Spirit is leading us to do it. It is not the Spirit of God, if it is not faith in the Cross (Psalm 33:4, Romans 8:2). The things we know we should be doing, we will not be able to do, and the things we know we should not be doing, there will be no escape from them if we are not learning God’s Word in the Gospel context.

Jesus died for us, NOT only to get us to heaven, but so that we could EXPERIENCE AND EXPRESS Him in this life everyday (Luke 1:74-75). We blame the devil far too much when it is only our choice of the wrong object of faith which allows him to team up with our flesh (James 3:15) and bring destruction, or to say the least eliminate us from the daily Grace that we need. The Galatians didn’t know what Paul was giving them, and neither does the Church almost 2000 years later. Don’t believe me? Just turn on the television or read a so called Christian book and see if they are pointing you to faith in the Cross for anything God is offering! Come back to the Cross!

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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9/26/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Before the Bible says, “And God Said” (Genesis 1:3), God had already finished everything (Hebrews 4:3)

Jesus showed up and declared it from the Cross (John 19:30)

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Access to God” September 27

When Jesus Christ died on Calvary, He made available everything that the human race would ever require to experience life and life more abundant. His sacrifice became the means by which God would be able to bestow unending benefits and privileges to man. As well, the event of Calvary opened the door through which man could access God for every benefit of his inheritance. We have the eternal assurance of having every prayer heard. Therefore, the cross became the means to the source. When we have a need, a prayer request, a supplication, or a desperate plea that we desire God to answer, we can be confident that God has heard and that the answers we need are on the way. If we rely upon anything other than the event of Calvary, the work of Christ on the cross, to give us access to the Almighty, then we are attempting to bypass the prescribed order of God. We are like a thief attempting to climb over a wall, when an open door has already been established. This door allows those who have needs to access God. Therefore, maintain proper faith in Christ and Him crucified and have confidence that your answer is on the way.

Ephesians 2:18 - For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
Sep 3, 2016
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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 5:18
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

This one verse of Scripture alone reveals to us that without any doubt that The Holy Spirit will only speak about Jesus and point us to His finished work at the Cross using God’s Word to do it. He only guides us into Truth (John 16:13), and that Truth is the Truth of the Cross, for only when our faith is there and there alone are we not living as though we are under Law. This is so powerful because it allows us to see that The Holy Spirit will never lead us as God’s people to have a works mentality, but rather a Jesus paid it all mentality!

Only under Grace will The Holy Spirit lead anyone, therefore it is not the Holy Spirit who gives messages to preachers that tell anyone they just need to be trying harder, but quite the opposite, that they need to be believing in an already finished work at the Cross. All the fads that come into the Church yearly that tell us if we do this or if we do that, God will save us or deliver us, or pour out of His Spirit upon us, are not of the Lord. The Holy Spirit only points us to the Truth, and when accepted, He guides us in that Truth, and we will have the fruit thereof. Remember, The Holy Spirit only works by a Law and that Law is the Law of the Spirit of Life IN CHRIST JESUS, who alone can deliver from the Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8:2). Faith in the Cross allows the Holy Spirit to do the work He began at Salvation, but faith in ANYTHING other frustrates (Denies) Him (The Spirit of Grace - Galatians 2:21, Hebrews 10:29).

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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9/27/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Giving to God” September 28

Giving to God on a consistent basis ought not to be a difficult concept for any truly born-again believer to comprehend. Giving to the work of God is the responsibility of every Christian. Giving is an act of worship. We should be grateful for what God has already accomplished in our own lives. We are debtors to bring the knowledge of Christ to those who have not experienced the joys of abundant and eternal life. God does not “need” our financial support. Yet He asks us to show the sincerity of our love by giving up a portion of our income so that there might be provision for the gospel message to go forward. The concept of giving consistently is a principle of scripture that exists to bring blessings to the giver. Why would any believer fail to desire to give consistently to the true work of God? It is declared in scripture that God intends to open up the windows of heaven and pour out abundant blessings upon those who will worship Him with consistent gifts for His work. If you have failed to comprehend and adhere to this truth, repent of your scriptural disobedience and begin to honor God with gifts that aid in spreading the gospel message.

Malachi 3:10 - Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
Sep 3, 2016
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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Paul here immediately begins to talk about the works of the flesh because he has just said that if we are led of the Spirit, we are not under Law, but now begins to show the fruit of being under Law. Being under Law or living as though we are back under Law isn’t because we committed a sin, but because we are now trusting in something other than the work which Christ accomplished for us at Calvary. For there to be fruits of Righteousness, one’s faith must be in Christ’s Righteous work at the Cross (Isaiah 32:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

There is a long list of the works of the flesh, and there are plenty more, but as we learn EACH DAY to trust in the Cross of Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23, 14:27), we will then be growing and seeing more fruit of His Spirit. This letter to the Galatians is God’s Letter to us today as well, and there is a remnant coming back to true biblical Faith and Grace. How wonderful it is daily to awake knowing that Christ has paid for everything I will ever need, and has given me the measure of Faith (Romans 12:3) to simply trust in Him and His finished work to be able to receive from Him each day! Oh what love is this my Savior has for me!

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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9/28/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “God’s Overriding Influence” September 29

Have you ever found yourself planning to do one thing, but when the time came in which you were to announce your decision, you surprised even yourself by answering contrary to your original plan? It soon becomes apparent that the unexpected answer given to the decision in question was the best answer or decision that could have been made regarding the circumstances. The choice opened us up to blessings that we could not have foreseen. There were many things we did not see, and we soon began to experience benefits that we never knew were even a potential. While God does not override the will of any man, there are times when God will influence the heart of a person and that influence turns them in a way that brings blessings to all involved. Again, it is important to understand that man, in the obstinacy of his heart, can silence or quench this influence. But for the believer, this gentle leading of the Holy Spirit can so often protect us from moving in a direction that is contrary to God's purpose and contrary to God's will. We must ever remain pliable in His hands for only then can the clay be adequately shaped by the divine potter. There is an unseen hand guiding my vessel. Hallelujah!

Proverbs 16:1 - The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
Sep 3, 2016
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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 5:20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

More of the works of the flesh are here listed and will be experienced while one is walking after the flesh instead of after the Spirit. We all know what these fleshly things are because we have all experienced some of, or probably all of them. If the Child of God doesn’t know how the Cross of Jesus Christ relates to their everyday living according to Romans Chapter’s 6, 7, & 8, these are taking place even if we are calling them something else and hiding them from the people in our lives. There will be occasional outbursts and the typical apologies made, but deliverance will never take place without learning HOW TO DENY SELF AND TAKE UP ONE’S CROSS, which is walking after the Spirit.

The goal for the Child of God is to have the Fruit of The Spirit, instead of the Fruit of The Flesh. This ONLY COMES ABOUT BY WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT, which is referring to being LED OF the Spirit, and remember that He ONLY guides us into Truth (John 16:13). This must be taking place if we are to be on the Path of Righteousness, for it is the ONLY path in which He will lead us (Psalm 23:3), and the Gospel Truth is the ONLY thing which reveals His Righteousness and His Righteous Path (Proverbs 12:17, Romans 1:16-17).

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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9/29/2020

Pastor Curtis