Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JULY 6 (How To Get Crucified)
By admin On January 29th, 2021.
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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JULY 6
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How To Get Crucified
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When speaking to His brothers, Jesus plainly told them… “The world cannot hate you; but Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” John 7:7
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So here we see what precipitated the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus testified that the world’s works are evil. But people did not want to hear this! And as the time drew near, Jesus only ratcheted up His condemnation of the world.
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And because they could not get Him to be quiet, they finally put Him on the Cross.
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Sign of the Son of Man Constellation – made of the various constellations on this website
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THE WORLD LOVES ITS OWN
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But notice that Jesus said to His unsaved brothers… “The world cannot hate you;” Yes, the 
brothers of Jesus were still unsaved. They were still part of the world….
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Listen again to Jesus… “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19
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This above statement was said to the disciples of Jesus. And indeed, the world hated them too!
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Anger during a protest – by David Shankbone – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License
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WHY DO SOME CHRISTIANS PROSPER?
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So right here, the question needs to be asked, “Why then, do so many Christians seem to be at peace with the world?”
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Well, it’s the same reason that Jesus’ brothers were not hated by the world: because even though they made a pretense of loving and serving God, they were not yet true disciples of Jesus.
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They were still in the world, and still loved this selfish world! And the world loved them!
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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia
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CHRISTIANS ARE “MARKED MEN!”
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No, the Christian doesn’t even need to openly condemn the world, to raise the ire of the world. If that Christian has truly forsaken the world in his or her heart, you can be sure that Satan knows all about it!
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And so, don’t be surprised if you get “special treatment” from the world! As a genuine Christian, you have that proverbial, “target on your back!”
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Archery target – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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“TRIBULATION WORKETH PATIENCE”
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But why does God allow the Devil to persecute the Christian?
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Listen… “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:3-5
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As Paul reveals in this above verse, our many afflictions are merely God’s chosen method of crucifying our selfish human nature.
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And let’s face it! Our fiery trials, both big and little, not only crucify our love for this present evil world, but also cause us to trust less in our own human strength and wisdom and rely more on God’s strength and on His “exceeding great and precious promises” to deliver us from evil! (See 2nd Peter 1:4)
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And so, God lovingly allows His children to go through the fires of tribulation, in hopes of purifying our hearts and transforming our lives into His likeness.
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Paul persecuted by Pharisees & Sadducees – www.thebiblerevival.com – US Public Domain
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THE DEVIL NOT BOTHERED
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Now there are many Christians who are vocal about the wickedness of this world. And 
yet, it seems that they tend to get away with it. Oh yes, they get criticized for being vocal. But certainly, they do not suffer as did the early disciples.
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The reason why Christians in the western nations are not suffering as did the early Christians is because our words are hollow, for the most part. We still love this present world to a great degree. We are mostly like the finger-pointing Pharisees of old. We are still of the world, even though we are critical of it.
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And so, the Devil is still the power working within all “Christian” pretenders.
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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain
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TRUE CHRISTIANS FORSAKE ALL!
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Jesus plainly declared… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33
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Yes, discipleship, true discipleship can only be attained by forsaking this present world and following Jesus. And even though we still must work, and eat, and be warm, and provide for the needs and contentment of our family members, in heart we no longer love this selfish world. The things of the world have lost their luster, so to speak.
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Our sights are now fully set upon Heaven!
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The Pilgrim’s Progress – by Byam Shaw – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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FALSE BRETHREN STILL PROSPER
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And so, we should not be surprised when we see some, or perhaps most professing Christians still prospering in the world…
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Listen to the Psalmist… “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” Psalm 73:12
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Yes, the sad fact is, the Church is full of unconverted pretenders, who make a profession of loving the Lord, yet in heart, yet still love, “the god of this world”, the Devil! (see 2nd Corinthians 4:4)
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And if we have truly forsaken in heart, this present world, we should not be surprised if the world hates us, even though we may not even openly condemn it!
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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain
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THE GOOD NEWS! STILL TIME TO RETURN!
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But the Good News is, that it is still the day of Salvation! And if I still love the things of the world, then I can still turn to the Lord in repentance and beg for grace to become a true child of God!
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Listen… “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God….Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up (in due season).” James 4:4, 8-10 & Galatians 6:9
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Here is the remedy for our world-loving heart! To humble ourselves before God and plead for His mercy and grace! And though this is a sad business, yet it is a joyful place to be! This is one of the great paradoxes of the Christian life… “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing;” 2nd Corinthians 6:10
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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Help me to finally make that decision to forsake all. Graciously allow me the joy of suffering with the people of God, so that I might attain to that better resurrection…
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Woman of Revelation 12, (“The Woman on the Altar”), or you can also read this shorter article… “January 19th (Who Wants To Hang Out With Holiness?)”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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FLEEING WOMAN OF REVELATION 12
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WOMAN ROTATES THROUGH THE SEASONS…
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This Revelation 12 Woman Constellation, as seen in these two star-charts, is made of the Ursa Major Constellation. However, the ancient pagan cultures did not see this constellation as God intended it to be seen. They only saw it as a bear. But it is actually a headless woman in childbirth. This is seen in springtime. It is seen in the northern skies.
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But as the seasons progress, this travailing woman flips upside down, then appearing as a woman with upraised arms like eagle wings who is running (eventually flying, as shown in sketch on right) into the wilderness (westward). The single star representing her birth-child (Christ) now becomes her head (“Christ is the head of the church.” Ephesians 5:23
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The 7 Stars (The Big Dipper) is easy to see with its very bright 7 stars, and comprises her torso and one of her limbs. But the entire Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major ) must be seen on a darker starry night, somewhat away from many city lights.
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SPREADING GOSPEL SEED
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This Revelation 12 Woman appears to be fleeing, as written… “And the woman fled into the wilderness….And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Rev. 12:14. OK, so this woman (who represents God’s people) is fleeing from the serpent (Satan). But upon closer examination, it appears that she is casting Gospel seed from her left foot and from her left hand.
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Woman of Revelation 12, (“The Woman on the Altar”)
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TOMORROW…
JULY 7 (Lucifer’s Music Solo, Part 3, Continued: “It Is Not Near! Let Us Build Houses!”)
Wood-framed_house – Wikipedia
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
THIS IS STUDY #552 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain
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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.
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