One New Humanity

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. - Ephesians 2:14-17(TNIV)

The Perfect Law

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. - James 1:22-25(NIV)

We are his offspring

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." - Acts 29-31(NIV)

49 Characters: Joyfulness Vs Self-pity

29. Joyfulness Vs Self-pity

• Joy is proof to the world that God can fully satisfy the human heart.
• For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
• Joy is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God. William Vander Hoven

Personal Evaluation : How joyful are you?
• Do people see a bright countenance when they look at you?
• Do you cry out to God whenever you are faced with a difficult situation?
• Do you cry out to God and experience His working in response to your crying out?
• Do you joyfully share these experiences with everyone you can?
• Do you use the names of God in your prayers? When crying out?
• Do you enjoy times of rich, wholehearted fellowship with the Lord?
• Do you memorize rehemas from scripture?
• Do you thank god for every trial you experience?
• Are you discipling others in their spiritual growth?
• Do you put your whole heart and mind into the jobs you are given?

I am Free!

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23(NIV)

It is the gift of God - Love, Mercy & Grace

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:1-10(NIV)

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. - James 4-1-10(NIV)

God Disciplines Us for Our Good

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.- Hebrews 12:4-11(NIV)

49 Characters: Initiative Vs Idleness

28. Initiative Vs Idleness

Initiative is acting on the rhemas that God gives to us in His Word.

· Initiative is carrying out the will of God by being in tune with the heart of God.

Personal Evaluation: How much initiative do you have?

· Do you show initiative by rising early in the morning and seeking the Lord?

· Do you take initiative to seek direction for your life in God’s word?

· Do you show initiative by memorizing and meditating on scripture?

· Do you show initiative by asking forgiveness and being reconciled with your enemies?

· Do you display initiative by building and using a prayer list?

· Do you take initiative in setting aside times for fasting?

· Do you take initiative to honor the Lord’s Day?

· Do you participate in other initiatives to do good works?

· Do you take initiative in sharing the gospel with others?

· Do you exemplify initiative by keeping your home and car in good repair?

· Do you take initiative to search out the fatherless and the widows in your church and neighborhood and discover their needs?

· Do you exercise initiative in learning how to write down the truths that God is teaching you?

The Word is Living and Active

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. - Hebrews 4:12-13(NIV)

Today

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold firmly till the end our original conviction. - (Hebrews 3:12-14 TNIV)

Go into All the World

Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. - Mark 16:15(NIV)

Loving Each Other

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. - Hebrews 13:1-3(NIV)

49 Characters:- Humility Vs Pride

27. Humility Vs Pride

Humility is recognizing and acknowledging my total dependence upon the Lord and seeking His will for every decision.

• Our choice: Humble ourselves or be humbled by God.

Personal Evaluation

1. When people disagree with you, do you argue to defend your position?

2. Do you tend to cut off those who ignore you?

3. Are you hurt when those whom you dislike are honored?

4. Do you find it difficult to admit you are wrong?

5. Do you inwardly react when people criticize you?

6. Do you give your opinions before being asked for them?

7. Do you enjoy sharing about your accomplishments?

8. Do you talk more than you listen?

9. Are you more concerned about your reputation or God’s?

10. Do you give the impression that you have no problems?

11. Do you seek ways to humble yourself?

12. Do you do things for praise and compliments?

13. Do you accept praise rather than deflecting it?

14. Are you quick to correct others when they make mistakes?

15. Do you react when you do not receive credit you are due?

16. Do you feel important?

Which is More Important?

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:29-31(NIV)