We Should Make Spiritual Progress

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….. let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).

  The writer (Paul) makes an allusion to the Olympic games.  As those who ran in the Olympic races would throw aside everything that might hinder them in their course, in a similar manner Christians, desiring to go to heaven, must throw aside everything that might hinder them in their Christian race.

  Let us start, run on, and continue running (press on) until we get to the goal.  Some claim one only has to start the race and then it has already been won.  Scripture clearly indicates otherwise; one must constantly continue to exert the effort to become more and more like the Christ in all our ways, thoughts, words, and deeds.

I.   We Think

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).

A. Many dwell on the negative side. Their pessimism brings disappointment to themselves, discouragement to others, and displeasure to God.

Bad tempered people never seem to learn, and as a result bring troubles upon themselves repeatedly.

Moral uprightness is more important than wealth, and wise action is more important than hasty action.  People are foolish, very foolish, when they blame God for the trouble they brought upon themselves through their own mistakes.

B. We must think positively, crowding out negativism with thoughts of faith, hope, and love (Phil. 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. 

The object of the apostle is to recommend holiness and righteousness to them in every point of view; and to show that the Gospel of Christ requires all its professors to have the mind that was in Christ, and to walk as he himself also walked. That they were not to attend to one branch of righteousness or virtue only, but to everything by which they might bring honor to God, good to their fellow creatures, and credit to themselves.

John 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

John 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

II.  We See

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”

(Heb. 12:2).

  1. Our world is filled with sin, suffering, and sorrow. Many become bitter because they see only the faults and failures in others.
  2. If we are not making progress then we are regressing.

Hebrews 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

 

Bad examples and false teachings have corrupted thousands, and are still making desolation in the world and in the Church.

Be a good example; you can do it!

Charlie Kirk and Freedom

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https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GKa1pAoC1/

Very important for us to remember

Hakeem?

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Hmmm?

Alex Pretti

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Pretti brought a Sig p320 to a protest.
A firearm with a demonstrated history of discharging accidentally even with the safety set.
He brought it to threaten officers.
The previous week he was recorded in a display of violence that causes damage to an ICE vehicle.
He isn’t a victim of anything but the consequences of his own behavior.

SAVE Act

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Wait, did hell freeze over or did John just realize you need an ID to buy a pack of gum but apparently ‘suppressing’ people to ask for one to pick the Leader of the Free World was too much? 🤨
Welcome to the party, Fetterman. We’ve been waiting for you to catch up since 2012. Now do us a favor and tell the rest of your caucus that common sense isn’t a ‘threat to democracy’—it’s just a driver’s license. Can’t wait for the hoodie with ‘I ❤️ Voter ID’ on the front. 🐘🇺🇸

Jesus the Christ

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Let’s settle something history already settled. You can debate theology. You can debate doctrine. But denying that Jesus of Nazareth walked this earth is not really a faith debate. It is a historical one. And historically speaking, Jesus is one of the most documented figures of the ancient world. Not just in the Bible. Outside of it.

Non Christian historians wrote about Jesus without trying to promote Christianity.

Tacitus was a Roman historian who wrote about Christus being executed under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Tacitus was not a believer. He actually viewed Christians negatively. Yet he still documented that Jesus was a real historical figure who was crucified.

Josephus was a Jewish historian who referenced James as the brother of Jesus who is called Christ. That is powerful because it is coming from a Jewish historical perspective, not Christian preaching.

Pliny the Younger wrote about early Christians worshipping Jesus as God. This shows that very early followers were not treating Jesus like just a teacher. They were treating Him as divine.

None of these men were trying to build Christianity. They were recording what they observed in their world.

Archaeology also lines up with the Gospel record. Evidence confirming Pontius Pilate as a real Roman governor was discovered. Evidence connected to Caiaphas the high priest was discovered. Even Nazareth, which critics once claimed was made up, has been confirmed as a real first century town.

The manuscript evidence for the New Testament is stronger than most ancient historical writings. The time gap between when events happened and when they were written down is much smaller than most ancient documents historians trust every day. Yet people rarely question those documents. They only question Scripture because of what it claims.

The Gospels were written close enough to the events that eyewitnesses were still alive. If Jesus was not real, the movement would have been crushed quickly. Instead, Christianity spread under intense persecution. People were beaten, imprisoned, and killed and still refused to deny what they said they saw. People might die for something they believe is true. They rarely die for something they know is a lie.

Then you have the prophetic layer. The Old Testament described details about the Messiah long before Jesus was born. Details about where He would be born. How He would suffer. How He would be rejected. How He would be pierced. These were written centuries before the crucifixion.

Serious historians are not really debating whether Jesus existed. The real debate is who He was. Because Jesus did not present Himself as just a good teacher. He claimed authority to forgive sins. He claimed unity with God. He predicted His death and resurrection.

You can reject church culture.
You can reject organized religion.
You can reject Christian doctrine.

But rejecting that Jesus lived requires ignoring Roman records, Jewish historians, archaeology, manuscript history, and early eyewitness testimony.

That is not blind faith. That is historical reality.

The real question was never whether Jesus existed.

The real question has always been what will you do with the fact that He did.

Yes, They Really Are That Clueless

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Amazing how dumb the leftists are.

Mark Kelley

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Benedict Arnold was a good officer before he was a traitor.

History doth repeat itself.. Mark Kelly is a seditious traitor to the People of the United States.

History will write him in the same venue as Benedict.

FACE Act Violation

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Remarkable, but not surprising. Democrats never take personal responsibility. They cherry pick the laws they like, ignore the ones they don’t, then cry foul when consequences arrive as they try to shift the blame. Don Lemon didn’t stumble into this situation. He marched straight into it; he’s made it clear enough over time that he hates Christian values and morals. He clearly violated the First Amendment he now is attempting to claim as a shield and ran headfirst into the FACE Act. Calling yourself a journalist isn’t a hall pass. It doesn’t exempt you from the law, and it doesn’t turn participation into reporting.  There were 40 people involved in storming that Church and terrorizing the children, the very people whom Democrats falsely claim to care about.

There are no kings in this country. No special classes. No sacred cows, except for the Democrat’s unholy sacrament of abortion. There is the Constitution and the laws Congress passed. You don’t get to follow the ones that serve you and disregard the ones that don’t. If the laws are wrong, elect people to change them. Until then, everyone plays by the same rules. Lemon isn’t a victim. He’s complicit. And pretending otherwise is exactly how Democrats keep breaking the system while blaming everyone else for the damage they’ve caused.

Jesus Heals

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1:21  And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

1:22  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

    This verse does not start with Mark’s favored word of action because nearly a year in the ministry of Jesus was skipped.  Matthew and Luke deal with that year.  Perhaps Peter skipped it because he felt it could have bogged down the pace of his narrative by having to take time to explain to his readers that the rejection reflects our ability to choose to accept or reject Christ at this point in his account.

    Part of what was happening with the teaching from Jesus was that He was teaching Scripture, not tradition of men; He was teaching them what God said, not what some famous Rabbi of bygone days had said.  The Wesleyan quadrilateral is important but it must never be forgotten that the Scripture part of that is the preeminent portion, yet too many times tradition gets elevated above its proper place.

 

1:23  And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

1:24  Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

1:25  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

1:26  And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

1:27  And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

1:28  And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

 

    The whole subject of demonology is a difficult one, but no more so than the problem of the devil.  The devil is an unclean spirit, because he has lost all the purity of his former nature, therefore he acts in direct opposition to the Holy Spirit of God, and by his suggestions defiles the spirits of men.  There are many in our assemblies who quietly attend under merely formal teachers; but if the Lord comes with faithful ministers and holy doctrine then by his convincing spirit, they are ready to say, like this man, What have we to do with thee!   There is potentially a hint of dishonesty in what that demon said in that it probably was well aware of the fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and therefore it likely was attempting to cast doubt or deflect Jesus from what it feared Jesus might be about to command to happen.

    No “disorder” could enable a man to know Jesus to be the Holy One of God. He desires to have nothing to do with Jesus, for he despairs of being saved by him, and dreads being destroyed by him.  Consider whose language they speak, who say to the Almighty, “Depart from us”.  This unclean spirit hated and dreaded Christ, because he knew him to be a Holy One; for the carnal mind is enmity against God, especially against his holiness.  People who cannot stand to attend a Bible-believing/Bible-teaching Church here on earth should not expect to be able to tolerate Heaven.

    When Christ by his grace delivers souls out of the hands of Satan, it is not without tumult in the soul; for that spiteful enemy will disquiet those whom he cannot destroy. This put all who saw it to considering, “What is this new doctrine?”  A work as great often is accomplished now, yet men treat it with contempt and neglect.  If this were not so, the conversion of a notorious wicked man to a sober, righteous, and godly life, by the preaching of a crucified Savior, should cause many to ask, “What doctrine is this?”