Jacob The Heel Catcher - Spiritual Adultery

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Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Caring About Credit” April 30

As believers we should be proud of our efforts to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the world around us. There is nothing wrong with being exuberant about the work of a fellowship, ministry, or church. We should believe that our work is a very important one. We should see our labor as unique, invaluable, of great necessity, and of great importance to the work of God. But we must also recognize that there are man...y others who labor outside of the scope and sight of our efforts. Many who have given their hearts and lives, their time and their money, their dedication and effort to see to it that others come to know Jesus. When we think that we are the only ones doing something for God, we can become a great hindrance to the proclamation of God's redemption plan. We must recognize that we are a part of the whole. So be joyful about what God has called you to do. And acknowledge that there are many others doing a work for God in the world today. I believe that much more could be done for the cause of “world evangelism” if believers would just stop worrying about who gets the credit! Let us all work together to proclaim the good news of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 1:21 - For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

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

Philippians 3:17
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Never forget that it is our Faithful Lord Jesus Christ who is speaking through the Apostle Paul to the Church, that they TOGETHER BE FOLLOWERS OF HIM. We know that he is speaking of continuing in THE FAITH (Romans 12:3, Galatians 2:20), of Christ, which is maintaining faith in the cross of Christ. We know this because in the very next line he writes that he is warning of those who are enemies of the cross. Enemies of the cross do not always have the initial appearance of being so, for Jude says that they creep in among us (Jude 4) unawares.


The closer we get to the return of Christ for His Bride, The Church, deception is going to be greater than ever before. Never forget that deception is, “I don’t know that I don’t know, while I think I do.” There is a way which seems right to man, but the end of that way is death (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25). Death ALWAYS speaks of separation, and we need earnestly to remember and cling to the Truth that removed, and maintains the removal of our separation from God which is faith in what He did to reconcile us, which was the giving of His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ. Many have come in by Way of the Cross, but have gone out through the many other ways offered by Satan, the world and the lust of their flesh (2 Peter 2:21).
Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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4/30/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Your Word for Today

“but when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the Temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the Altar of Incense. And Azariah the Priest went in after him . . . and they withstood Uzziah the King, and said unto him, It appertains not unto you, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD. . . . Then Uzziah was wroth . . . and while he was wroth with the Priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the Priests in the House of the LORD, from beside the Incense Altar (II Chron. 26:16-19).

Uzziah was “marvelously helped,” that is, God prospered him so greatly that people marveled. But when he was strong, he entered the zone of real danger. “When we are weak, then are we strong,” Paul said (II Cor. 12:10). Strong Christians, it seems, are in very great danger.

Uzziah went into the Holy Place of the Temple in order to burn incense on the Golden Altar, which was the duty of the Priests alone. In other words, no other person could enter this place, not even the king.

The Priests were types of Christ, and, thereby, offered up incense on the Golden Altar twice a day, which was a type of the Intercession afforded us by Christ. Uzziah was saying, in effect, that he really didn’t need an Intercessor; he could be his own intercessor.

In the midst of his efforts to burn incense, while the Priests were pleading with him to stop, the Lord struck him with leprosy, and it began in his forehead.

Why his forehead?

On the forehead of the High Priest was the golden plate with the words inscribed upon it, “Holiness to the LORD.” As it regarded Uzziah, the Lord was, in essence, saying that instead of Holiness, there was sinfulness.

Not only is our Redemption based strictly on the Cross of Calvary, but all Intercession by Christ is also based strictly on what He has done for us at the Cross. God accepts His Intercession only on that basis, i.e., “the complete Sacrifice.” This simply means that when any Believer places his faith in something other than the Cross of Christ, he is, in effect, doing the same thing that Uzziah did, which, if continued, ultimately will incur the same result.

The greatest sin of all is rebellion against God’s Prescribed Order, which is what Uzziah did, and what millions presently are doing! (Phil. 3:18-19)”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Praise Him Always” May 1

Praise is what occurs when we thank God for what He has done in our past, what He is doing right now in our present, and what He is about to do in our future. Praise is always comely and right. God is always deserving of our praise. We are to enter into His courts with praise! We come into His presence with thankfulness. However, true worship occurs when we acknowledge God for who He is. When we state, “God, you are God, creator of the universe, the sea and sky and all that in them is.” We are to give Him glory for who He is just because He is the one true living God. God is not on an ego trip. He does not need to hear from His highest creation in order to make His day. Nevertheless, there should never be a day where we fail to acknowledge Him as the God who controls all, holds all, and maintains all. And there should never be a day where we fail to praise Him for His marvelous acts of kindness, mercy, and grace which He bestows upon all those who call on His name. Truly, He is worthy of our praise!

Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
Sep 3, 2016
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The Miracle of God’s Word
Philippians 3:18
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

If you look at what the Apostle Paul wrote to all the churches under the leading of God, The Holy Spirit compared to what is ministered today, you will see a HUGE difference. Warnings are on every single page of our Bibles, but for the most part they are overlooked. It is only those who are fighting the good fight of faith daily, to maintain their faith and trust in Christ and His work at the cross that will notice the warnings on every page. Something else we need to see is the reason The Lord warns His people so much. It surely is not exclusively so they can be sure to lay up treasures for themselves in heaven, but rather so they can continue in the Way of Righteousness, being the Way of the Cross of Christ.

The Lord shows us here that He had Paul telling the Philippians OFTEN that those who seek God and His Righteousness in any other avenue than that of faith in Christ and His work at the cross, are enemies of the cross. This not only speaks of those who have always rejected Christ and His work of Righteousness at the cross (Isaiah 32:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21), but also those who have known/received it, but have turned from it (2 Peter 2:21). Even the Child of God can be at enmity with God if they befriend the world (James 4:4). Even Satan uses warning so that God’s people will think the Minister cares for the flock, but the warning of the Holy Spirit is not limited to that which is obvious such as the cults that reject Christ, but also that which claims to receive and have Christ, but rejects His Way of the Cross for their daily lives.

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

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5/1/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Your Word for Today

“then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the Priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and built the Altar of the God of Israel, to offer Burnt Offerings thereon, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God (Ezra 3:2).

The Bible and the Atonement are the two great facts of this Third Chapter in Ezra — the one recognized as authoritative, the other confessed as necessary, and absolutely so.

Even though Israel had many enemies surrounding them, nations which were not at all in sympathy with Israel’s restoration, dread of these surrounding nations did not impel Israel to seek safety in walls and battlements, but rather in Burnt Offerings and Sin Sacrifices. They, in effect, and in spirit, sought refuge in a Crucified Saviour. This means that they placed themselves under the wings of the God of Israel. This was a beautiful testimony.

Therefore, before they built the Temple, even before they built the walls, they first of all built at Altar. Instructed by the Scriptures, they offered up the Burnt Offerings, and the Sin Offerings, thus publicly confessed themselves to be guilty sinners, and that only by the shedding of atoning blood could they be forgiven and brought back to God. It hasn’t changed from then until now.

The safety, protection, strength, and power of the individual Christian is found entirely in the Cross, and only in the Cross, of which all of this was a type. When Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, proceeded to give instructions how the Believer is to live a perpetually holy life, he took us straight to the Cross. We find it in the Sixth Chapter of Romans.

First of all, it must be remembered that Paul is dealing with Believers, and not the unredeemed. So he tells Believers in the first two Verses of the Sixth Chapter of Romans that sin is the problem. Whatever the difficulty, sin is the problem. And then he tells us the cure for sin, and the only cure for sin, which is the Cross. That is found in Romans 6:3-5.

Actually, if one doesn’t properly understand the Sixth Chapter of Romans, then one simply doesn’t know how to live for God. To be sure, a person can be saved and not understand this Chapter, but they cannot walk in victory.

As Israel after the dispersion proclaimed this fact, and actually as it is proclaimed throughout the entirety of the Bible, the Believer must ever understand that the entirety of the Message of the Word of God is “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” (Gen. 3:15; Isa., Chpt. 53; Rom. 6:1-14; I Cor. 1:17-18, 21, 23; 2:2).”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Help My Unbelief” April 29

No matter what you are facing today, no matter what you have encountered, no matter how out of control your present circumstances seem, you must let faith arise. Faith acts as a beacon of hope and shines strength into your soul. Suppose you are in the heat of a terrifying moment or in the panic felt by a situation that offers no way out. Even as fear drapes itself around you as a cloak, there is truth that you can grasp and depend upon. That truth is the fact that God is always greater than our need! Again, your God is greater than your need! There is nothing He cannot do! There is no bill He cannot pay! There is no heart He cannot mend! There is no relationship He cannot restore! Despite our weaknesses, despite our faults, He never fails to show up. It may not be in the way we thought He would or in the time frame we had requested. But this we must believe, our God is working for our betterment, for our good, and on our behalf! If you will believe it, He can do it! And if struggling with faith, ask Him for help to overcome the doubt and unbelief that is dominating your heart and mind!

2 Samuel 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

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

Philippians 3:19
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

The end of those who trust in and teach faith in anything other than Christ and His work of Righteousness at the cross alone for salvation, all grace and the pleasing of God, will be destruction. This does not mean horrible things happening to them in this life, but rather the destruction and horror of being separated from the God who offered them everything through His Son. These are they who rejected God while pretending they knew Him, but all the while were following another Jesus that only appeased their flesh.

When we aren’t glorying in Christ through faith in His work at the cross, we are not glorying in the Christ of the Bible, but rather our own shame as we constantly tend to fleshly things. Always remember that Israel, crucified the Lord, in the name of the Lord. Many today sit among the wheat as tares trusting in many other Jesus’, while following their own Jesus which Satan has painted them a picture of. The Jesus of the Bible, The Son of God that came to save the world, has done so only through His work at the cross. One’s faith placed there alone begins to deliver from glorying in SELF. Daily, we are either glorying in Christ or SELF, but remember the cross is where SELF was put to death In Christ (Romans 6:3,6), and with SELF out of the way, Christ can be glorified in and through us!

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

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5/2/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Your Word for Today

“there was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1).

Job is the oldest Book in the Bible, and thereby the oldest Book in the world. It was written by Moses (Lk. 24:27, 44). It explains the problem of why good men are afflicted. It is in order to bring about their Sanctification. It is interesting that this difficult question should be the first taken up and answered in the Bible.

In the Book of Job, the discovery of the worthlessness of self is the first step in Christian experience. Then we discover the worthfulness of Christ, which is the second step. However, the worthfulness of Christ can never be reached until we fully understand the worthlessness of self.

The Book of Job does not symbolize an unconverted man, but rather a Believer. It was necessary that one of God’s Children should be chosen for this trial; for the subject of this Book is not the conversion of the sinner, but the consecration of the Saint. It is evident that an unconverted man needs to be brought to the end of himself; but that a man who feared God, who was perfect in his efforts to serve the Lord, and who hated evil, should also need this, such presents itself as a mystery to most Christians. God chose the most consecrated man on the face of the Earth at that time to portray the fact that “self” is a problem, and that it must be dealt with, and that dealing with it is never easy, but always extremely difficult.

The effect of all that happened to Job was that he ultimately came to “abhor himself” (Job 42:5-6). This language shows that previously, i.e. before his great trial, he had thought well of himself. His creed was orthodox, for he approached God through Sacrifice, and his conduct was faultless, for he was a just man and hated evil. But these sharp trials, and especially the anger which the unjust accusations of his friends stirred up in his heart, revealed to himself unknown depths of moral ugliness; and, finally, his being challenged to measure himself with God made him conscious that in him, that is, in his “flesh,” there dwelt no good thing. This is a deep and painful experience which all Christian people have not reached, but yet must be reached, if we are to be what we ought to be in Christ (Williams).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Holy Spirit Power” May 3

The power of the Holy Spirit is the veritable “life blood” of the believer. There is no greater companion, no greater power source, no greater source of comfort than the person of the Holy Spirit. He is not just a secondary substitute for the absence of a physical Jesus. He is our promised comforter, our continual guide, and an unwavering sanctifying agent. While He is associated with wind, oil, or water, He is none of these. He is in fact the third person of the triune Godhead, living on the inside of every truly born-again believer. At salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the person of Christ. But there is also an opportunity for every believer to have Jesus immerse them into the person of the Holy Spirit. This is a second subsequent work of God’s grace available after the salvation experience and brings power for service, supernatural gifts, and helps us in the never ending challenge of dying to self. Jesus had the Spirit without measure. We can have His presence in our lives to whatever degree we desire. Are you hungry for the Lord? Then ask Him for the outpouring of His Spirit upon your person. He will fill you today to overflowing!

Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

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

Philippians 3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Our conversation refers to our citizenship, our administration of civil affairs and our government being in heaven. This is what the Apostle Paul is speaking of in this chapter, as his context is the coming resurrection of the Saints. We have not yet attained, but we reach forth for. “Not yet but reaching for.” What is coming for the Church comes from heaven, and we would do good to remember that.

Everything we have obtained, fought for, and achieved in this life will soon be removed, as we receive from the Lord that which we have truly been longing for. Because our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, and In Him is everything we will ever need, even our completeness. We are told to set our affections on things above (Colossians 3:2), which are the things He is attempting to do in our lives so that we can express Him more and more every day!

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

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5/3/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “Learning to Lean” May 4

Learning to rely on God is a most difficult proposition. Just about the time you think that you are, God brings a circumstance into your life that requires a deeper trust, a mightier resolve to believe, and a stronger sense of dependence upon Him. If given half a chance, most of us will rely on our selves, what we know, what we can do, our methods of manipulation, or even our ability to argue our way through to the supposed mastery of a situation. But true victory can only come when we willingly lay down the weapons we have forged and learn to rest quietly upon the mighty hand of God to move miraculously on our behalf. When will we realize that our only true help comes from above and not from the tawdry elements we attempt to muster through human talents, will-power, or human mechanics. I am ever learning how to reign by resting. I am still learning how to cast all my cares upon Him. I am even now learning how to wait on His provision. I am still being educated to an escalation of patient endurance. Help me Lord as I learn to release all faith in self and embrace from the heart the process of learning to solely lean upon you!

1 Peter 4:12 - Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

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

Philippians 3:21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

When Jesus comes for His Bride, and that could be any moment now, our bodies will be changed from being vile, which is depressed and humiliated because of sin, to being like His glorious body. When this takes place, it is related to the working of His power whereby He is able to subdue ALL things unto Himself. All things were created by Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3), have been Redeemed by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19), and will be Judged by Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10, John 5:22).

We need never forget that ALL things are of Christ, through Christ, and will be subdued by Him and return to Him (Romans 11:36). All things belong to Him because of His Holy Obedience (Philippians 2:8) to the Holy Commandment (2 Peter 2:21) to carry out God’s plan of Righteousness toward all humanity (John 10:18). All who believe in Jesus Christ and His Righteous work for their sins at the cross will be saved, and can serve Him in Righteousness and Holiness without fear everyday of their lives (Luke 1:74-75). Praise the Lamb forever!

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

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5/4/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
Sep 3, 2016
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Bread Crumbs “A Strategy of Silence” May 5

The strategy of silence is a tactic in life that we all must learn to apply. It is nearly impossible to put into practice. Especially when we are so sure that we have the answer to every question, the solution to the current argument, or the cure-all for every conflict. The idea of retreating into the corner and practicing one's “shut ups” is not the direction of the mind for most of us. Sadly, we are usually the last one to realize just how insufficient or lacking some of our counsel can be. Pride has a way of making fools of all of us. As in all things, the Scriptures help guide us if we will but read and implement what lies therein. If not, we are doomed to continually improve upon the art of being pedi-dexterous; that is the astounding ability of putting both feet in the same mouth at the same time, specifically our own. As quickly as possible we must learn to live out our lives experiencing the benefits that can come our way through the implementation of silence and humility. The other option is to express all that we think we know and come away looking like a fool.

Proverbs 29:11 - A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries