Today’s Devotional – June 11th (Power of Positive Thinking Gospels Part 3 Being Crucified)

By admin On January 27th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – June 11th

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Power of Positive Thinking Gospels

& Being Crucified

To read part 1, click here…June 9th (The Power of Positive-Thinking Gospels! Part 1)

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Several nights ago, a very popular Christian speaker held a large convocation with a vast throng of thousands of listeners.

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And this evangelist gave a very high-energy presentation, with a very positive message.

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Well, the gist of what he said is, “we need to think positive, speak positive, and believe positively, that God has good things in store for us here on earth!”

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Yes, this popular speaker continued to present a message about achieving our earthly dreams: earthly dreams for ourselves and for our families.

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***“But”,* he added, *“we need to take time out from our worldly-achievement-oriented lives to spend lots of time with our spouse and children!***

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church service (not connected with this story) by Matt Malone for Wikimedia – copyrighted

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A NATION OF PRIEST & KINGS

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One very big problem with the presentation is that, while such world-friendly messages always have a great appeal to unconverted multitudes…

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…yet they present a gospel void of the true purpose for which Christ came…

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…to raise up a spiritual nation of priests and kings, conformed to the image of Christ!

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Listen…“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…” 1st Peter 2:9

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So here we see just what our high calling of God is to be: to become a nation of royal priests!

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the holy of holies-www.thebiblerevival.com-public domain

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CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

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One of those difficult truths of the Bible, is found in the words of Paul…

…”I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me…”

Galatians 2:20 (Condensed)

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This above verse presents a concept which transcends far beyond being merely a nice moral person: as far as Heaven is above the earth!

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Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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PAUL LOST ALL

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Listen to Paul’s further testimony…

…”Yea doubtless, and I count all things

but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:

for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,

and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Philippians 3:8.

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Does this sound like Paul was merely a good upstanding citizen?

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Paul lost all earthly considerations, so that he might win Christ!

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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org–public domain

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FAMILY VALUES, A SIDE-BENEFIT

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Now, as far as family values, as the Believer becomes more and more in harmony with Christ, there will be an increasing servant-mentality!

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And of course, his or her family would naturally be the first to benefit as that Believer will increasingly lavish Christ’s love upon the various members of the family!

Jesus the Carpenters Son-by-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org US public-domain.jpg

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PAUL WORKED DAY AND NIGHT

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But the Believer will no longer desire the attainment of earthly riches.

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And yet that Believer will desire to work hard at his job, so as to be a good witness and provider…

…”And that ye study to be quiet,

and to do your own business,

and to work with your own hands,

as we commanded you…”

1st Thessalonians 4:11, 12 (Condensed)

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This above passage presents the concept of living a no-nonsense life of industry and quietness.

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Paul Tentmaking – cropped – La Vista Church of Christ – Creative Commons License

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“EAT FOR STRENGTH”

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And of course, that Believer will want to live as healthfully as possible, knowing that Jesus lived a life of health and strength…

…Blessed art thou, O land…

when thy princes eat in due season,

for strength, and not for drunkenness!”

Ecclesiastes 10:16, 17.

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Yes, temperance is a vital part of Christianity, and is an outgrowth of one’s spirituality!

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Fruit Stall in Barcelona Market by Daderot – cropped – Wikipedia share-alike license

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HALF-TRUTHS PREACHED

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And so, this popular speaker was telling his audience much truth, up to a certain point.

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But this popular speaker’s world-focused gospel will find its greatest appeal among those who desire to have Jesus, but still retain their earthly desires.

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Listen… “They (Antichrists) are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1st John 4:5.

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And such a double-minded gospel appeals to the world, who bring their world-loving ways into the Church.

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Speaker & audience hands – Church – Audience hands – cropped/altered – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY!”

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But there is some very good news!

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Yes, we still have opportunity to repent of our world-loving ways and turn to Him who is knocking at the door!

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**Listen…*“A new heart also will I give you,***

and a new spirit will I put within you:

and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,

and I will give you an heart of flesh…

and cause you to walk in my statutes…“

Ezekiel 36:26.27 (Condensed)

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This passage from Ezekiel shows that true Christianity is much greater than mere morality…but becoming “a new creature”. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 & Galatians 6:15

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Prayer – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 4, CLICK HERE…

June 13th (Power of Positive-Thinking Gospel, Part 4: This Wicked World)

Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to fully understand what it means to be crucified with Christ. Let me not be drawn into a false gospel which is void of the “born again” experience…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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THE HEEL OF JESUS FOOT

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Now, as step back about several light-years, we can view the great “Son of Man Constellation”.

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And if we look at his right foot, it is revealed that this serpent is winding its way over the top of the heel of Jesus’ foot.

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Of course this reminds one of the very words of God, as He spoke to the serpent in the Garden…

…”And the LORD God said unto the serpent,

Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed…

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,

and between thy seed and her seed;

it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”

Genesis 3:14, 15.

Of course, this was a prophecy about Jesus, and how Satan would bruise His Heel.

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And so, it is no coincidence that God has arraigned the stars in such a way as to portray this concept, concerning the serpent bruising Christ’s heel.

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WHERE IS THIS SERPENT GOING?

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Now it appears as this snake/serpent and its passengers are on a mission. But where are they headed?

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Well, the snake is travelling away from Christ’s heel, that is for sure.

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But if you go out at night and find this serpent Constellation, you will notice that the four stars which make its jaws are pointing in two directions.

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In other words, if you were to draw a line from the two stars which compose its upper jaw, and a straight line from the two stars which compose its lower jaw, and extend those lines across the sky…

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…one line would go to the Valley of Decision Constellation…

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…while the other would go to the Broad Way to Hell Constellation (AKA Pisces).

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TOMORROW:

“June 12th (Jig-Saw Puzzle Jesus!)”

Jigsaw puzzle – Wikimedia Commons – public domain

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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.

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THIS STUDY #160 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Signs Of Heaven