Daily Devotional, Year 3 – November 3 (The City of Morality, Part 9: “Living The Dream!” CONTINUED)

By admin On February 17th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – November 3

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The City of Morality,

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Part 9:

“Living The Dream!” CONTINUED 

To read Part 1, click here… “January 5th (The City of Morality)”

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“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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In John Bunyan’s earth-shaking tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, was on his way to the Celestial City, to get that great Burden off his back (the burden of sin).

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But on that way, he met up with a fellow named Worldly Wiseman, who informed Christian that such an arduous journey was not necessary.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/John_Bunyan's_Pilgrim's_Progress

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He told Christian that all he needed was to go to the Village of Morality in which all the citizens there merely lived a moral life, while still pursuing the selfish pleasures and ambitious attainments this world has to offer!

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Christian in Pilgrim’s_Progress wiki pub dom.

Worldly Wiseman – Pilgrim’s Progress, p34 – Mr Worldly Wiseman – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE VILLAGE IS NOW A HUGE CITY!

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And thus, it is today, as well!

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Only this Village called Morality is now a full-grown city!

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Yes, a great portion of today’s Christendom has become just that! The City of Morality!

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And there are many Christians who, like Bunyan’s pilgrim, have been duped by that old deceiver, Worldly Wiseman!

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Oh yes, wouldn’t you know it! Worldly Wiseman is still around!

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And still, he’s busily misdirecting simple-minded Christians into going to the City of Morality instead of continuing onward and upward to Zion, the City of God!

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New york times square – by terabass – cropped image – wikipedia – share-alike license

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TODAY’S PROSPERITY-DRIVEN GOSPEL

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Constable_The_Hay_Wain.jpgIn the November 1st devotional (click here), this notion that many faithful churchgoers maintain, that they can begin to live a moral life while still seeking after the selfish pleasures and ambitious pursuits of the world, was the topic two days ago.

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But this continuation of that devotional is to further lay down the reasons why such a supposed “dream life” is just not possible in this fallen world.

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Yes, those who attempt to carve out such a comfortable religion which allows them to continue living greatly for worldly success and happiness are fooling themselves.

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John Constable – The Hay Wain Cottage – Wikipedia – US public domain

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“And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

2nd Timothy 2:26 

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And it was pointed out in the November 1st devotional, that Satan, “the god of this world”, will never allow these deceived ones to escape his world-wide snare! No, just the opposite! This great and treacherous spider will continue to wrap his silken cords of selfishness and deceit around his victims, finally injecting his liquefying poison into their veins until they melt into a spiritual jelly-like substance, ready for his Satanic Majesty to gobble them up!

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And yet, these spiritually bankrupt ones, in their self-deceived duplicity, can perhaps at times get a glimpse of themselves for what they really are.

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Yes, in His love, pity, and tender mercy, God may open my eyes to give me a candid look at myself as He sees me!

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“AND THE PHARISEES, WHO WERE COVETOUS…”

Luke 16:14

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For instance, many who attempt to live out their “Christianity” while remaining in the City of Morality, will sometimes be ashamed at their own phariseeism, as they legalistically tithe their 10% to their church, while withholding much for their own personal selfish pleasures.

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And as we perceive the needy multitudes around the world, starving for the bread of life, our conscience convicts us of our own undoneness…“Oh how selfish I’ve been with my money, when I could instead be financially supporting some faithful outreach ministry!”

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Gula_II_Gluttony_II.jpg

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these…”

James 5:19

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And besides the question of finances, these moralistic churchgoers are likewise often grieved because of their less-than-holy behavior which frequently manifests itself in fits of proud anger, impatience, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cheers!_(3162940696).jpgrudeness, fleshly lusts, gluttony, cursing, greed, and other similar fleshly characteristics!

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Oh yes, we would love to be Christlike. But we cannot!

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But soon, the Old Deceiver, the Father of Lies comes along and assures us that we are still, “a work in progress”. And we fall for this lie!

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Gluttony – cropped and colored image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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“O HOW LOVE I THY LAW! IT IS MY MEDITATION ALL THE DAY!”

Psalm 119:97

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And so, we moralists may continue in some 15-30 minute daily Bible study. But as soon as we close our Bible our thoughts return to our daily earthly pursuits. And even though the Bible commands all Christians to meditate day and night on the Word, we just cannot get our minds to do so. We are caught in the Devil’s web of selfishness.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

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“And take heed…lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with…cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.!”

Luke 21:34 

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Super_Bowl_XLIII_-_Thunderbirds_Flyover_-_Feb_1_2009.jpg

Well, there are many other tell-tale signs of apostasy, which the inhabitants of the City of Morality may see in ourselves.

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The hours wasted by television, radio, clubs, parties, working overtime to make more money for selfish pursuits, amusements, sports, houses/gardens/pleasure vehicles/etc., can all be witnesses, used by God to convict our nearly dead consciences that we are lacking a true relationship with Jesus.

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Super Bowl XLIII Thunderbirds Flyover Feb 1 2009 – cropped image – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, OF WHO I AM CHIEF!”

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Now having said all this, it must also be said that it is a very dangerous undertaking to criticize others.

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All this must be done with much fear and trembling!

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After all, the Bible reveals just who is the chief of sinners: “ME!”

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None of us can hold our head up high!

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We are all just a band of rotten sinners in desperate need of God’s mercy and grace!

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“GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY”

Proverbs 25:25https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Angel_prayers.jpg

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Well, the very Good News is, that today is still the day of Salvation! And all who desire to run the Christian race and win the heavenly crown can even now begin to beg and plead for deliverance from our Christless counterfeit religion!

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-081218-M-4507D-001.jpgListen to James 4:4, 8-10 & Galatians 6:9…“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…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.” 

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Here is the prescription for our terminal illness of selfishness. Nothing less than a complete forsaking of this world of selfishness, followed by a 100% devotion to God is required for any hope for victorious Christian living!

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Like Bunyan’s pilgrim, we must leave this City of Destruction, get out of the Village of Morality, and get on the upward pathway which leads out of this doomed world and onward to the Celestial City of God, the heavenly Zion!

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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

Upward Pathway – by böhringer friedrich for – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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TO READ PART 10, CLICK HERE…

December 29 (The City of Morality, Part 10: “What’s My Badge of Honor?”)

Peacock – cropped image – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heinrich_Seufferheld_Betendes_Maedchen_opus_16,1_1893.png

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Drive out all my foolish earthly desires! Purify my heart. Give me the mind of Christ, so that I too can become a 100% seeker of Christ…

Woman praying – Heinrich Seufferheld – 1893 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…March 1st (A Designer Jesus!) or you can also read… May 25 (The Natural Man’s Prosperity Gospel, Part 2: “Peace, Prosperity, Health & Family Values”)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

 

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

 

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THE SEEKER (THE SADDUCEE)

 

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LOCATING THIS 3RD FACE

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Full_Moon_(39978027392).jpgThe 3rd face of the Moon is a bit more difficult to locate, because it is mostly upside down. But this photo and this sketch (below right) are how this face would appear if it was turned right side up. (In the southern hemisphere, however, this is how the full Moon actually appears.)

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The 3rd face is the most difficult to see in the northern hemisphere, but once you do, it then becomes easy. This face is like a furry creature of the field. Maybe a rabbit. Maybe a squirrel. Perhaps a chipmunk. Probably a mouse. All “seekers”; all foragers and scavengers.

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And while this picture shows this little “beast of the field” right side up, this 3rd face is always pretty much in an upside-down position.

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The other two faces appear right-side-up, and are easier to locate. This photo and this sketch are both turned around to help you see this 3rd face easily. This enhanced sketch to the above right is merely to help you to see this face more easily. (As already stated, this 3rd face appears right side up in the southern hemisphere.)

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Moon – by James Bowe – 3rd Face – cropped & highlighted photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

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LOCATING 3rd FACE AT BEGINNING OF NIGHT

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But this sketch here to the right is how this 3rd face actually appears when the Full Moon is in the east, at the beginning of night, in the northern hemisphere. But all you can readily see is this 1st face. 

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What you must do to see the 3rd face is to tilt your head to the right, 90 degrees.

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Do you see it? (You may find it easier if you just turn your screen on its left side, if you are using a laptop. But please don’t do anything to put your computer in jeopardy!)

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The easiest time of the month to actually see this face is when the Full Moon is in the east, just after dark. It then can be seen by tilting your head 90 degrees to the right.  But as night progresses, the Moon rotates clockwise, until this face is completely upside down, as the Moon works its way to the west.

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Moon into Blood Trilogy: 3rd Face: The Sadducee Seeker

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https://www.pri.org/stories/2011-08-10/revelations-book-revelationTOMORROW:

November 4 (Noble Bereans, Part 28: “The Messages of the 3 Angels” CONTINUED)

3 Angels Message – Wikipedia via www.pri.org – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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. 

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THIS IS STUDY #305 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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