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Today’s Devotional – March 17th

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Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work?

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Part 2:

“Finances”

This is a continuation of the February 4th devotional… Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 1

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Are you asking yourself the question, “Why doesn’t my Christianity work? Why can’t I study my Bible more? Why is my prayer-life so anemic?”

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Do you sit in church each week and smile, pay tithes, and bless, and sing, and pray, all the while knowing that your Christianity just isn’t working?

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Does your pastor constantly reassure his flock that you are all on the road to Heaven, and you try to hang on to that reassurance, only to be overwhelmed with doubts?

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Well, you are not alone! Probably most other church-goers, these days, are wondering the very same thing!

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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STILL EARTH-HUGGING

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Part 1 (click here) dealt with those in the Church who have not yet forsaken all.

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The signature Bible passage was from the Gospel of Luke…“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33.

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And so, this verse really clarifies the major reason why so many church-goers do not have a relationship with Jesus.

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Very simply put, they still tenaciously cling to this selfish world in one way or another! 

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SOWING SPARINGLY

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This second part, however, will deal with a somewhat similar problem that many church-goers have.

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And this second part will deal with the question of the giving of finances.

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Yes, the Bible has much to say about money. And there are many Christians who can trace their lack of spirituality right back to their lack of giving!

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Listen to Paul’s proclamation to the Corinthian church… “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2nd Corinthians 9:6.

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Yes, as many have found out, the more we cheerfully give, the greater will be our spiritual harvest!

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ANANIAS & SAPPHIRA

(see Acts 5:1-11)

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The story of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, is the story of a husband/wife team who thought they could “pull the wool over the eyes” of God, so to speak.

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They made a profession of giving all, and yet held back money for their own personal selfishness.

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And, as this story from the Book of Acts continues, they were confronted and lied, and were struck down dead.

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death of Ananias & Sapphira – www.wikigallery.com 

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MANY ANANIAS’ & SAPPHIRAS TODAY!

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Now there are many today, who make a profession of having “forsaken all” this selfish world, for the love of Jesus!

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But make no mistake! When a person pretends to be a follower of Jesus, and yet still lives for the love of this world, he or she is doing exactly what Ananias and Sapphira did! They are withholding back for the sake of selfishness! And they are lying to the Holy Spirit!

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But God isn’t going to kill them, as He did Ananias & Sapphira.

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No, but He merely gave those two for an example of what spiritually happens to all who pretend to have forsaken this selfish world, to follow Jesus.

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death of Ananias & Sapphira – www.wikigallery.com 

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THE CHURCH AT MACEDONIA

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Paul, in trying to convince the Corinthians to loosen their purse-strings, encouraged them by giving the churches at Macedonia, as an example of the right spirit in unselfish giving.

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Listen… “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;” 2nd Corinthians 8:1-3.

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Yes, Paul used the deeply impoverished, yet extremely over-generous churches in Macedonia as a contrast to the rather well-to-do church in Corinth, who were somewhat fearful of parting with their abundant wealth.

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Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s – Wikipedia – public domain

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MANY COULD BE GIVING FAR MORE!

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In this very affluent society, Christians could probably give far more than we now do!

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If only we were as generous as those in the Macedonian churches! We might then see God begin to pour out His abundant spiritual riches on us and on our spouse and on our children!

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On the other hand, there are a few Christians in this society who are giving over 50% of their income to various faithful Christian ministries!

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And like the above proverb, they have made themselves poor in the eyes of the world.

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And yet, they are truly rich men in the eyes of Heaven!

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

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PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY

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Of course, those with families may be unable to give as much as single Christians can, especially if their spouse is not in agreement over such matters.

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Yes, the Christian must supply the needs, and even many of the wants for his or her unsaved household, striving to make their lives pleasant.

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But even in those cases, one could probably give far more, simply by personally living a more self-denying lifestyle, while still supplying for the needs and contentment of his or her family.

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Family eating meal – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE BANK OF HEAVEN!

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There are so many Christians who place more confidence in earthly banks and worldly financial counselors, than they do in Christ!

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Yes, they store their gold and silver in institutions that use their money for earthly purposes.

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But there is a heavenly bank, and a heavenly financial Counsellor, who is far more trustworthy and reliable than mere mortal men!

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And by storing up our treasure in Heaven, God’s heavenly bank uses that money for eternal purposes!

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Poughkeepsie Savings Bank building – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike Lic.

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PRECIOUS PROMISE!

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Here’s a great promise about giving and receiving.

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Listen… “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” Ephesians 6:8.

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Do you see the wonderful promise here? Whatever good thing that any man does, “the same shall he receive from the Lord”.

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So, we don’t need to worry about parting with our wherewithal. God will give back in some way or another. And just when we really need it!

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And the Bible promises that “you shall find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1). And the wonderful thing is, the more you give, the more God returns the blessing, in the form of heavenly spiritual riches, when it’s most needed. 

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Heavenly riches! Now that’s true riches!

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TO READ PART 3, GO HERE…

March 9 (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 3: “Television”

TV – The Image of the Beast – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to be generous with my finances. Give me faith in your ability to provide for all my needs. Give me wisdom to know how much to give, without putting an undo stress upon my family…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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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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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”. )

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

“March 18th (Atheism Exposed, Part 3: God’s Numbers In Nature!)”

numbers Wikimedia – Public Domain

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