tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64825609090472491572024-03-06T00:39:46.804-08:00Bible Study Discussion with Susan & SusieUsing our Bible Study Ping Pong style, we will discuss various Scriptures to coincide with a study at our home church, holidays, seasons, or other topics the Holy Spirit leads us to explore. We will post this blog on Wednesdays only.KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-60521513732167332112020-04-07T17:48:00.000-07:002020-04-07T17:48:15.249-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: purple;">NEW BIBLE STUDY!!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are beginning a Bible study in Philippians on our website - <a href="http://www.preciousjewelsministries.com/">www.preciousjewelsministries.com</a> - </span><span style="font-size: large;">Click on "Mining God's Word" and follow the instructions to register. This is a FREE study lasting about 8 weeks with 2 posts a week on Monday and Wednesday. The introduction is already on the site, and the first post from chapter one will be Monday, April 13th. We hope you will join us and will contribute by commenting!</span></div>
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KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-31508453437005411032019-09-06T13:15:00.001-07:002019-09-06T13:15:26.226-07:00IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">In anticipation of several changes in the near future, we are suspending this blog indefinitely. We are working on publishing our first year-long devotional book and are also planning to redesign our website to include our blog posts. In the meantime, please join us on our other two blogs </span><a href="https://biblestudy-pjm.blogspot.com/">https://biblestudy-pjm.blogspot.com/</a> <span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;">where we study the Bible verse by verse in our ping-pong discussion style and </span></span><a href="https://biblestudy-pjm.blogspot.com/">https://biblestudy-pjm.blogspot.com/</a> <span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">for Scripture memes and devotional posts. We will post Bible studies on Mondays and Fridays and devotionals on Wednesdays. Hope to see you there!!!!</span>KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-90383635282243381142019-09-04T13:42:00.001-07:002019-09-04T13:42:56.787-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: MANY HEALED! DEMONS BANISHED! KINGDOM OF GOD DECLARED!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MANY HEALED!</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DEMONS BANISHED!</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">KINGDOM OF GOD
DECLARED!</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:38-44</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:38-39 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into
Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they
besought him for her.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever;
and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 1:29-31 And
forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the
house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay
sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the
hand and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered
unto them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After preaching mightily in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus
went to Simon Peter’s house (note that his brother Andrew lives there as well)
for a meal and may have been staying there while in town.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan:</span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> In
the days of Jesus, extended family living in the same house was common. Andrew
was not a loafer. In other words, this was not a case of “failure to launch.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew was in business with his brother Peter.
Simon’s “mother-in-covenant-love” was extremely sick with a high fever,
according to doctor Luke. The family entreated Jesus to heal her. He stood over
her, placing her in His shadow as it were (Psalm 36:7), and rebuked the fever.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not only did the fever leave her, but she felt well enough to
immediately get up and begin waiting on her guests!</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any
sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every
one of them, and healed them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 1:32-34 And at
even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and
them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at
the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out
many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the Jewish people, sunset was the beginning of a new day.
The people arrived after sunset as that signaled the end of the Sabbath; and
they were no longer limited by the restrictions on traveling certain distances
on the Sabbath.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many people came to Jesus bringing all their sick relatives and
friends; and they had a good old-fashioned healing party hosted by Jesus
Himself in Simon Peter’s house.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That sounds a great deal more fun than a housewares, jewelry, or
makeup party!</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus healed them by the laying on of hands.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and
saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not
to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Among the sick, there were some who harbored evil spirits,
demons, which Jesus cast out. They were screaming that He was the Christ
(Messiah), the Son of God.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus silenced the demons because He had the authority to do so,
and it was not the appointed time for His divine identity to be completely
revealed.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ways we can apply this to our
lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Note
that there were no “red-letter” words in this passage. However, Jesus spoke to
Peter’s mother-in-law, rebuked illness, and rebuked demons. We do not know His
exact words, but we know they were spoken with authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus
still has authority over sickness and demons. We can trust Him with whatever is
going on with our lives. He cares and has the authority to work on our behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-8762677448614310602019-08-28T08:29:00.001-07:002019-08-28T08:29:26.767-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: AMAZING AUTHORITY DISPLAYED<br />
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AMAZING AUTHORITY
DISPLAYED</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:32-37</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word
was with power.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark’s gospel (below) tells us </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus was teaching back in Capernaum, the
hometown of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. The people were surprised by His
teaching because of its power. Most rabbis quoted other, more prominent rabbis
to validate their teaching. Jesus had no need to do that because His authority
came directly from God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 1:21-22 And they
went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the
synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught
them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.</span></i><i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:33 And in the synagogue, there was a man, which had a
spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 1:23-24 And there
was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A demon-possessed man entered the synagogue where Jesus was
teaching.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The demons inside the man not only recognized Jesus as the
acclaimed teacher from Nazareth, but as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,
the One who has all authority and power.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since the demons knew who Jesus was, it was logical for them to
think Jesus might have come to destroy them completely.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hold thy peace, and come out of him.</span></i><i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And when the devil had thrown him in the
midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 1:25-26 And Jesus
rebuked him, saying, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hold
thy peace, and come out of him.</span></i><i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud
voice, he came out of him.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus silenced the demon because the appointed time for Jesus’s
complete identity to be revealed had not yet come.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man. The demon
threw the man into the crowd but did not physically harm him.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves,
saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the
unclean spirits, and they come out.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:36 (CJB) They
were all astounded and said to one another, “What kind of teaching is this?
Why, he gives orders with power and authority to the unclean spirits, and they
come out!”</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The people were not only awestricken by Jesus’s teaching, but
they were amazed the demons had to be obedient to what He commanded.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They had never seen anyone like Him because there had never been
anyone like Him before! Jesus is the one and only begotten Son of God.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the
country round about.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 1:28 And
immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about
Galilee.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus’s reputation of eloquence and miraculous power was spread
excitedly throughout the region of Galilee.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The name Jesus became
a household word without benefit of radio, TV, or social media! We have access
to all of those things. How effectively are we spreading the gospel with the
resources God has given us? </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We can still use the
old-fashioned word-of-mouth method as well. Have you shared the Good News with
a friend or acquaintance lately?</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-77526838116352936382019-08-21T04:36:00.000-07:002019-08-21T04:36:20.885-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: CONGREGATION'S REACTION TO JESUS'S DECLARATION<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LUKE 4:22-31</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CONGREGATION’S REACTION</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TO JESUS’S DECLARATION</span></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious
words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's
son?</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How did the congregation react after Jesus read a messianic
passage from Isaiah 61:1-2 and declared that it had been fulfilled while they
were listening?</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At first, they marveled at the eloquence of Jesus’ speech.
However, then they asked themselves, “Isn’t this the village carpenter’s son?
Isn’t Joseph His father?”</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:23 And he said unto them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ye will surely say unto me this proverb,
Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also
here in thy country.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus realized their hesitation to accept that what He had just
claimed could be true of a humble carpenter’s son. He prophesied that they
would eventually say, as the mockers did at the cross:</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 27:42 He saved
others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come
down from the cross, and we will believe him.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus knew they would soon demand that He authenticate Himself
by performing miracles in Nazareth like the ones He did in Capernaum.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:24 And he said, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many of the Old Testament prophets were persecuted by their own
people. Jeremiah, for example, was beaten, imprisoned, and thrown into a well. As
we will see, Jesus was treated badly in His home-town of Nazareth. </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:25-27 </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of
Elias (Elijah), when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when
great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent,
save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The point Jesus was making here was that Elijah was not accepted
by the Jewish people who were in a time of rebellion against God and were
worshipping Baal. Therefore, God sent him to minister to a Gentile widow (1
Kings 17:8-16).</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:27 </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus (Elisha) the
prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Naaman’s Jewish servant girl told him there was a prophet in
Israel who could heal him. Again, God had Elisha heal a Gentile of leprosy
rather than a Jewish leper (2 Kings 5) because of the unbelief of the Jews as a
nation in his day.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these
things, were filled with wrath,</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
MacArthur Study Bible </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">note:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%204:28"><b><span style="background: #F5F3F1; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4:28</span></b></a></span><b><span style="background: #F5F3F1; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> filled
with wrath.</span></b><span style="background: #F5F3F1; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This is Luke’s first mention of hostile opposition to
Christ’s ministry. What seems to have sparked the Nazarenes’ fury was Christ’s suggestion
that divine grace might be withheld from them yet extended to Gentiles.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because of their lack of belief in Jesus as Messiah, He would
not do many miracles in His hometown. The implication that He would be more apt
to perform healing for Gentiles than for the Jewish people He spoke to in the
synagogue really got under their skin.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the minds of these Jewish people of Nazareth, all Gentiles
were infidels, pagans, worshipping other gods instead of the one true God. How
dare the carpenter’s son think they were less worthy than the people of
Capernaum, and certainly than Gentiles.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led
him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might
cast him down headlong.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The people who previously had “wondered at His gracious words,”
now tried to hurl Jesus off a cliff to kill Him. But check it out, He became
the invisible man!</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was not the only time Jesus was able to simply walk away
from a murderous group seemingly unnoticed. As Susan and I saw when studying
the Gospel of John, the Lord protected Jesus until the moment the Father had
predetermined for Him to be the final Passover Lamb sacrificed on the cross.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 7:28-30 Then
cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know
whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye
know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. Then they
sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet
come.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 8:59 Then took
they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the
temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 10:39 Therefore
they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and
taught them on the sabbath days.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After Jesus walked right through the crowd undetected, He left
the town He grew up in and resumed His teaching ministry on sabbath days in
Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. I think the people of Nazareth were left
scratching their heads when He disappeared!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">W</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ays we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note that Jesus did
not do many miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief. When we pray about
something, we must pray in faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">See also James 1:5-7
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-69252522770776017042019-08-14T09:54:00.001-07:002019-08-14T09:54:10.997-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: FULFILLED THIS DAY<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FULFILLED THIS DAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up:
and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and
stood up for to read.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie:</span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Jesus
entered His home-town synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up to read from
the scroll of the scriptures. Don’t miss the fact that it was His “custom” to
be in a place of worship on the sabbath.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This should be a reminder to us of the need to gather together
with other believers to worship and learn about God. We must not let Pastor
Pillow and Sister Sheets win on Sunday mornings. LOL</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hebrews 10:25 Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the
prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And when he had opened the book, he found the place
where it was written,</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was wondering whether Jesus had specifically asked for this
scroll or if was just the reading for that week. Therefore, we looked at the
notes in one of our favorite resources when dealing with the Jewish background
of the Bible:</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Complete Jewish
Study Bible:</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note on Luke 4:16-17 –
The custom in the synagogue now is to read through the Torah in a year. Another
regular reading on Shabbat is called the haftarah (conclusion) consisting of
portions from the Prophets or Writings related to the Torah portion of the
week. It seems clear that if Yeshua (Jesus) was given the scroll of the prophet
Isaiah, then He was being offered the haftarah reading, which is an honor given
to a special guest.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The portion Jesus was given to read was Isaiah 61:1-2. He only
read the first half of verse 2 because the second half relates to His future
second coming to earth and was not applicable at the time.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:18-19 </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to
set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the
Lord.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some viewed this portion of Isaiah as applying to the prophet
himself, but others see it as something that could only be accomplished by God,
i.e. the Messiah.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Spirit—the anointing, power, the impassioned purpose—of the
Lord was upon Him. The passage lists six pillars of this prophesied purpose:</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To preach the gospel to the poor—perhaps
related to the “poor in spirit” of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3)</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heal the broken hearted—“them that mourn”
(Matthew 5:4)</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deliverance to the captives—those “oppressed”
by Satan (Acts 10:38)</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Restore sight to the blind (John 9), and,
also, those in dimly lit dungeons would now see the light of day</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To free the bruised or crushed—those suffering
oppression—physically, mentally, and spiritually</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To preach the acceptable year of the Lord—the
day of salvation (Isaiah 49:8) which was the primary reason the Son of God was
incarnated as the God-Man.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the
minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue
were fastened on him.</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As Jesus sat down to teach, the people were hanging on His every
word because of the authority with which He preached everywhere He went.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, Jesus’s home-town peeps were not prepared for what was
about to come out of His mouth!</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff3399; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was clearly a declaration that He was the long-awaited
Messiah of the Jews.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m pretty sure this was not the sermon they thought they were going
to hear that morning!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:</span></b><b><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus was in the habit
or custom of going to synagogue on the Sabbath. Do you believe we should see
this as an example for us to follow regarding church attendance?</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rather than teach on
the passage He had read, Jesus made a seemingly simple statement. What was it,
and why would it create a stir? Have you trusted in the truth that Jesus was
the Son of God and is able to do the six things stated in the Isaiah passage that
He read?</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-30097752113584412312019-08-07T18:38:00.001-07:002019-08-07T18:38:18.907-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: YOUR BOY'S ALIVE!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LISTEN
TO JESUS</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">YOUR
BOY’S ALIVE!</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
4:43-45 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. For Jesus
himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.</span></i><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then
when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the
things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the
feast.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #833c0b; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reformation Study
Bible</span></i><span style="color: #833c0b; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #833c0b; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4:44 no honor in his
own hometown. “His own hometown” is probably Galilee rather than Judea (cf. v.
3). Galilee is considered to be the place of Jesus’ origin in this Gospel
(1:46; 2:1; 7:42, 52). Though the Galileans “welcomed him” (v. 45), the text
indicates that Jesus was displeased with their need to “see signs and wonders” in
order to believe</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus had said that a prophet is of no consequential
worth or value among his own people and family.</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 6:4 Jesus said to
them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his
relatives and in his own home.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The little kid that ran around Joseph’s carpenter
shop surely could not be an important prophet!</span><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And certainly not the Messiah due their honor,
respect, and worship.</span><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Belief in Him as prophet or Christ did not bring the crowds
out to see Him. What they wanted to see miraculous signs. </span><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All they wanted from Him was a “magic show”. . .</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . and the physical healing He might
give. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their motives for coming out to hear him were not
those of sincere worshippers but adrenaline junkies. </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They did not come out of belief to sit at His feet to
seek truth but as skeptics who needed to see signs . . . </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan:</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . or to find
reasons to refute His authenticity.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
4:46-47 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine.
And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he
heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and
besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point
of death.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Jesus returned to Cana where He manifested His
first miraculous sign of turning water into wine at a wedding. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">An official in the service of King Herod Antipas
traveled the sixteen miles from Capernaum to Cana to beg Jesus to heal his son
who was near death at home.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not
believe.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Rather than praising the man’s faith, Jesus
accuses the man of unbelief.</span><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">He is exceedingly put out that people needed to
see a “dog and pony show” in order to believe. It is almost as if Jesus is a
puppet and they are wanting to pull the strings and see Him perform before they
will believe. It shows the arrogance of the people coming and makes me wonder
why they came in the first place. I suspect only out of curiosity.</span><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Jesus’ response to the desperate father may seem
harsh, but as we have seen before, Jesus knows the inmost thoughts of men. Also,
the “you” in this case is plural so He was addressing not only the father</span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">. . . </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">. . . but the group of Galileans as a whole.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The man does not argue or deny what Jesus has said
about the lack of belief and demanding a sign but just pleads again for Jesus
to come with him to Capernaum to heal his son. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Jesus knows the hearts of men and sees the
desperation and helplessness of the concerned father.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
4:50 Jesus saith unto him, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Go thy way; thy son liveth.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken
unto him, and he went his way.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Jesus was not merely prophesying that the child
would live. </span><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">He was pronouncing life and healing over the child
in that exact moment. In His compassionate mercy, He healed the
man’s son. In stark contrast to the
arrogant, narcissistic crowd, the Lord Jesus displayed lovingkindness
toward the father’s situation concerning his son. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The man believed what Jesus said even though he
had no proof that his son was healed. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">He accepted Jesus’ authoritative declaration as
fact. </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">He headed back home to Capernaum confident of his
son’s recovery.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
4:51-53 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him,
saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to
amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left
him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said
unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">On his way back home to Capernaum, the father was
met by some of his servants. </span><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">This good news patrol tells the father his son is healed.</span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">He asked the servants when his son began to get
well. When they answer him, he realizes</span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">. . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">. . . </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">that at the precise moment Jesus had pronounced him whole, he began
to get better. </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">If the man had harbored any doubt about Jesus
before, this has removed it totally from his mind. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">This miracle changes the dynamic of the entire
household from unbelief to complete trust. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">I am sure the father explained to his wife, other
family members, and his servants what had transpired in Cana.</span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">They all witnessed the rest of the story.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:54 This is again the
second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John writes of eight “signs” Jesus performed
demonstrating that He was the Son of God. Changing the water into wine was the
first and healing the official’s son without even being present was the second.
Keep watching for six more.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">We have the benefit of
reading the gospels and knowing all the miraculous things Jesus did when He
walked among men. However, many times we still crave a “sign.” Note that Jesus
rebuked this attitude. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Are you seeking the
signs, miracles, and wonders and Jesus as a cosmic Santa Claus or are you
seeking the Almighty, Holy Son of God? </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Is your belief in the
Lord dependent upon His meeting some demand? Or have you placed your complete
trust in God’s plan rather than your own?</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-64200245885809460712019-07-31T09:49:00.000-07:002019-07-31T09:49:07.691-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: FOLLOW ME TO FISH<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LISTEN TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FOLLOW ME TO FISH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this passage, we see Jesus officially calling Peter,
Andrew, James, and John. This is not His first encounter with Peter, Andrew,
and John. If you go back to John chapter 1 beginning at verse 37, you will see
that Andrew and probably John followed Jesus to where He was staying after
hearing their mentor, John the Baptist, clearly proclaim Him to be the Son of
God. (See the previous lesson titles “John the Baptist’s Disciples Follow Jesus
Home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called
Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were
fishers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his
brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan:</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was not “coincidence” that Jesus
chose to walk on the seashore that morning. Since He is fully human but still
fully God, He knew where He would find the fishermen He wished to call as His
disciples. Jesus did not relinquish His omniscience when He came to earth as
the God-man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter and Andrew who were brothers were in the fishing
business together. In the passage in John’s gospel, after meeting Jesus, Andrew
felt compelled to go tell his brother Peter about his marvelous encounter with
the long-awaited Messiah. I remember when the Billy Graham crusade was coming
to the area in California where I was raised, we had an “Andrew” night before
the crusade began. The purpose of this night was to go out to our friends and
invite them all to come to the crusade in the hope that we might have the
opportunity to introduce them to our Savior, Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
4:19 And he saith unto them, <span style="color: red;">Follow me, and I will make
you fishers of men.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
1:17 And Jesus said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Come ye after me, and I
will make you to become fishers of men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although Peter and Andrew had spent some time with Jesus
earlier, they are now back to fishing. However, it is now time for Jesus to
begin His public ministry. He is ready to call disciples to follow Him
permanently and learn from Him daily. He issues the call, “Follow me,” to these
men who had already formed the opinion that He could be the Messiah the nation
of Israel was longing for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus tells them specifically that He will teach them to
fish for “men” which is more correctly translated “people” to include women as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I cannot resist including a link to the song “I Catch ‘em,
God Cleans ‘em” sung by the Gaither Vocal Band:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrDQyk0Gz9dzg4AWhU0nIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBncGdyMzQ0BHNlYwNzZWFyY2gEdnRpZAM-;_ylc=X1MDMTM1MTE5NTcwMARfcgMyBGFjdG4DY2xrBGNzcmNwdmlkA0tPOXZJakV3TGpIMVppdmlYUUx0c1FCUk1qWXdOUUFBQUFBczM4TnIEZnIDeWhzLWF0dC1hdHRfMDAxBGZyMgNzYS1ncARncHJpZANnUlZxSll1a1FaR1dQM0R5dGlfOHdBBG5fcnNsdAM2MARuX3N1Z2cDMARvcmlnaW4DdmlkZW8uc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAwRxc3RybAM2MwRxdWVyeQNJJTIwY2F0Y2glMjAnZW0lMkMlMjBHb2QlMjBjbGVhbnMlMjAnZW0lMjB2aWRlbyUyMHdpdGglMjBseXJpY3MEdF9zdG1wAzE1NjQ0MTY4NDE-?p=I+catch+%27em%2C+God+cleans+%27em+video+with+lyrics&ei=UTF-8&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av%2Cm%3Asa&fr=yhs-att-att_001&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att#id=4&vid=c9cd5cb05d42cd38972248518252331f&action=view"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrDQyk0Gz9dzg4AWhU0nIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBncGdyMzQ0BHNlYwNzZWFyY2gEdnRpZAM-;_ylc=X1MDMTM1MTE5NTcwMARfcgMyBGFjdG4DY2xrBGNzcmNwdmlkA0tPOXZJakV3TGpIMVppdmlYUUx0c1FCUk1qWXdOUUFBQUFBczM4TnIEZnIDeWhzLWF0dC1hdHRfMDAxBGZyMgNzYS1ncARncHJpZANnUlZxSll1a1FaR1dQM0R5dGlfOHdBBG5fcnNsdAM2MARuX3N1Z2cDMARvcmlnaW4DdmlkZW8uc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAwRxc3RybAM2MwRxdWVyeQNJJTIwY2F0Y2glMjAnZW0lMkMlMjBHb2QlMjBjbGVhbnMlMjAnZW0lMjB2aWRlbyUyMHdpdGglMjBseXJpY3MEdF9zdG1wAzE1NjQ0MTY4NDE-?p=I+catch+%27em%2C+God+cleans+%27em+video+with+lyrics&ei=UTF-8&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av%2Cm%3Asa&fr=yhs-att-att_001&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att#id=4&vid=c9cd5cb05d42cd38972248518252331f&action=view</span></i></a><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter and Andrew immediately left their livelihood as gifted
fishermen. At Jesus’s command, they followed Him. They made the decision to
accompany Him as devoted students, to learn all they could from Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They abandoned the life they had always lived to embark on
the adventure of discipleship. Much later, Peter would “remind” Jesus of this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
19:27 (The Berean Study Bible) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold,
we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending
their nets; and he called them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
1:19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus, now followed by Peter and Andrew, continued walking
along the shore until He came to the boat where James, John, and their father,
Zebedee were mending nets. I have read commentary that Peter, Andrew, and
Zebedee’s family may have been in the fishing business together. They were
working in close proximity this day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus issued the same charge to James and John to become His
mentees. This was not the first time they had seen Jesus, either, since John
and probably James were among the disciples of John the Baptist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the
ship with the hired servants, and went after him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John and James immediately, without hesitation, left the
boat and their daddy behind to fix the nets with the hired servants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The fact that Zebedee was able to hire crewmen says that
John and James left a thriving business to walk alongside Jesus. Do you think,
at this point, they already believe Jesus to be the Son of God? Was it His
magnetic personality that attracted them to Him in so few words?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think there may have been a question mark in their minds
about Jesus’s deity, but I believe the Holy Spirit compelled them to follow
Jesus and investigate further and learn from Him as their Rabbi, their Teacher.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways
we can apply this to our lives:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter, Andrew, James, and John did
not hesitate to answer the call of Jesus. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to
follow a specific path, we need to obey immediately and completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The four fishermen gave up
everything to totally trust in Jesus. Are we willing to let go of everything (hold
possessions, reputation, even people lightly) and place ourselves totally in
God’s care?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-68246944828558768932019-07-24T12:49:00.001-07:002019-07-24T12:49:13.458-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: REPENT<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LISTEN TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">REPENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MATTHEW 4:12-17<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 4:12-14 Now when Jesus had
heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving
Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the
borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by Esaias the prophet, saying,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus
stayed on mission, focused. He did not make a special trip to see John the
Baptist (his blood relative through Mary) in prison. I would have thought that
His compassion might have taken Him off course long enough to comfort John.
However, I do remember that when John’s disciples came to ask Jesus if He was
the Messiah (Luke 7:19-23), Jesus sent them back with a message that would
reassure John that Jesus was, indeed, the Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
is setting the background for the beginning of Jesus’s public preaching
ministry. Jesus has moved from His hometown of Nazareth and is dwelling in
Capernaum and using it as His base of operations. This was not a random choice
on His behalf. It was an integral part of the Father’s plan for His Son’s life
as the God-Man on earth. Matthew (who writes mostly for the benefit of fellow
Jews) points out that this location was prophesied by Isaiah and quotes from
Isaiah 9:1-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 4:15-16 The land of Zabulon,
and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of
the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them
which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
regions of Zebulon and Naphtali had been the first taken captive by the
Assyrians (see 2 Kings 15:29). Now they would be the first to hear the message
of the Messiah preached publicly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
ancesters of the people in this region of Galilee had endured the darkness of
captivity in Assyria. And now these offspring groped in darkness awaiting the
light of their Redeemer, the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
and John both identify Jesus as this long-awaited Light of the world. John the Baptist
bore witness to the fact that Jesus was the Son of God, the One who would shine
God’s light into a dark world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 1:8-9 He was not that Light,
but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus
would echo the message of John the Baptist that people needed to prepare for
God’s kingdom by repenting of their sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus
began to preach, and to say, <span style="color: red;">Repent: for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Repent”
is a word we throw around in religious circles, but do we have a clear
understanding of its meaning? Can you expound on this word, Susan?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Simply
put, to repent is to turn away from sin and run toward God. After you escape
from a path following sin, you cling to God and as if dancing the waltz, you
stay in hold. Let’s look at our favorite dictionary and the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> for specific definitions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The American Dictionary of the
English Language, </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noah Webster, 1828.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as
a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and
the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of
the Bible <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">repent <sup>3340</sup> μετανοέω metanoéō,
met-an-o-eh'-o; from G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e.
reconsider (morally, feel compunction): — repent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes
looking up a definition leads us to investigate another word. “Compunction”
isn’t a word we use every day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The American Dictionary of the
English Language, </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noah Webster, 1828.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">COMPUNCTION, noun [Latin To prick or sting.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. A pricking; stimulation; irritation; seldom used
in a literal sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-right: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A pricking of heart; poignant grief or remorse proceeding
from a consciousness of guilt; the pain of sorrow or regret for having offended
God, and incurred his wrath; the sting of conscience proceeding from a
conviction of having violated a moral duty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Therefore,
we might conclude that to “repent” is to respond to the pricking of our hearts
by the Holy Spirit often the result of someone wielding the Sword of the Spirit
which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). What reason did Jesus give to spur
the people to repentance? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The
kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We looked up the Greek word translated “at hand”
and found that it could mean “to approach” or in this case “approaches.” Jesus
was making the kingdom of Heaven accessible to us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of
the Bible: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ἤγγικεν (ēngiken)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Verb – Perfect Indicative Active – 3<sup>rd</sup>
Person Singular<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strong’s Greek 1448: Trans: I bring near; intrans:
I come near, approach. From eggus; to make near, i.e. approach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I really
appreciate The Passion Translation here because I deal with physical
accessibility issues all the time. I appreciate the efforts my co-minister and
roommate has made to ensure that our home is accessible for my wheelchair.
Jesus bridges the gap between God’s standard (The Old Testament Law) and His
Kingdom. I could never access Heaven by my own strength to obey God, but I can
repent of my sin, run to God and trust Jesus to be my ramp into the Kingdom!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 4:17 (TPT) From that time on
Jesus began to proclaim his message with these words: “Keep turning away from
your sins and come back to God, for heaven’s kingdom realm is now accessible.
Praise the Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ponder this and Apply it: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We cannot
truly repent until the Holy Spirit pricks our consciences making us aware that
our sin separates us from a Holy God. Repentance is not an effort on our part:
it is an acceptance of the truth that we cannot approach God on our own merit.
We then turn from our sinful way of life and embrace the fact that Jesus paid
the price for our sin on the cross. Jesus lived on earth as a man to bring the
message that He is the way to Heaven, to peace with Father God. He stated, “I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John
14:6b). Jesus is the only access ramp to the eternal Kingdom of God. There is
no stairway of works to Heaven. We must trust in, rely on Jesus alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-31077253681028763992019-07-17T08:40:00.001-07:002019-07-17T08:40:54.974-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: FEEDING ON GOD'S WORK<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FEEDING
ON GOD’S WORK<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:34 Jesus saith unto
them, <span style="color: red;">My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,
and to finish his work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus explains that His food is to do God’s
will. </span><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus’s main purpose in becoming flesh was to show us
the way to the Father in a tangible form to which we could relate. The final
fulfillment of this purpose was to die in our place on the cross. </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was the ultimate demonstration of the Father’s
love for all who would believe and become His children. Even for us, there is
nothing more fulfilling than knowing God’s will and obeying it. We can have
completely full bellies yet feel a hunger deep within if we are not living out
our God-given purposes. As Christians, we all have the primary purpose of
“knowing God and making Him known” as Dawson Trotman of the Navigators so aptly
put it. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The specific ways that we fulfill making God known
falls to every believer individually as they submit the gifts that God has
bestowed upon them back to Him for His service. </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the secret of being spiritually filled. As
Paul stated in Philippians, we can be content even if hungry or in need:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Philippians 4:12 (NIV) I know what it is
to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret
of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The secret of contentment is to be completely
surrendered to Jesus Christ and filled with the power of His Holy Spirit.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When our primary pursuit is an intimate, obedient
relationship with our Lord, our spiritual hunger will be satiated. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If we neglect to use the gifts the Lord has given us,
we starve spiritually. If we are not being filled, we have nothing to pour into
others. This is the reason discipleship (mentorship) is vital, to nourish
others. The mentors/ministers need someone to pour into them as well. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And all of us need to be plugged into the main source
– the Bible, the living Word of God.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hebrews 4:12 (NASB) For the word of God is living and active and
sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul
and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and
intentions of the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:35-38 <span style="color: red;">Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh
harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for
they are white already to harvest.</span> <span style="color: red;">And he that
reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he
that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.</span> <span style="color: red;">And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another
reapeth.</span> <span style="color: red;">I sent you to reap that whereon ye
bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Four months before
harvest, the grain would still be green. A note in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John MacArthur Study Bible </i>indicated that the crowd of people
coming out from the town of Sychar, wearing the whitish robes of the day, may
have looked like ripe heads of grain against the field of green. The harvest
was coming to them, and all they had to do was reap.</span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Because Jesus knows the
hearts of men, has an eye better than superman’s, He knows they are ripe for
harvest. </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">He knows they are being
drawn by the Holy Spirit to salvation. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Jesus says to the
disciples, “Get busy, boys, here they come!” </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">As we serve Jesus, we are
given the privilege of sowing seed (the Word of God) and reaping the harvest,
seeing others surrender their lives to the Lord. Sometimes we sow, and
sometimes we reap what others have sown. </span><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The disciples were late
arriving to the harvest party, but Jesus still included them in the most
important festivities. They probably had the privilege of baptizing the new
believers. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Both sowers and reapers
receive wages or rewards. </span><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The wages or profit
which Jesus offers here is the joy of seeing new believers come into the
Kingdom of God. These rewards are accredited to our eternal account.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:39 And many of the
Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which
testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come
unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there
two days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Because of the testimony
of one irreputable woman, an awakening began in Sychar. </span><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The woman’s encounter
with Jesus made her fearlessly bold. She dared to approach men with the message
that she believed Jesus to be the Messiah and zealously presented them an
impassioned plea to come and see for themselves. </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">After they had met Jesus
face to face, the people asked Him to stay with them because they wanted to
hear more of what He preached. </span><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">They were mesmerized by
the truths that He was sharing and asked Him to stay on and teach them
more. </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Therefore, Jesus and the
disciples stayed there for two days. He not only traveled <i>through </i>Samaria
but <i>lodged </i>there!</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:41-42 And many more
believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not
because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is
indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After hearing Jesus teach, many more believed. Some
told the woman they now believed because of hearing it with their own
ears. </span><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What the woman had told them got them to travel to
where Jesus was, but what Jesus taught after they arrived caused them to
believe. </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They proclaimed that Jesus was “indeed
the Savior of the world.” </span><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus was indeed the long-awaited Messiah.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ways
we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are tempted to
believe that our one voice cannot make a difference in our world. The witness
of this one rather unlikely woman sparked an interest that changed an entire
town. Will you venture to be that one voice that shares with others the truth
that Jesus has changed your life and is able to change theirs? </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-18707283107749146472019-07-09T08:21:00.001-07:002019-07-09T08:21:12.518-07:00Week Off!<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">We need to take this week off to handle some family and household matters. Take this time to check out our archived posts that you may have missed! We will be back next week, so stay tuned! We appreciate all of our viewers and pray for you. Remember, you can submit specific prayer requests on our website: www.PreciousJewelsMinistries.org</span></span>KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-28415491167513640432019-06-26T09:23:00.001-07:002019-06-26T09:23:50.146-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: MYSTERIOUS MEAL<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">MYSTERIOUS
MEAL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:27 And upon this came
his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said,
What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If the
disciples had come back too soon, they would have interrupted the important
exchange between Jesus and the woman. Had they been much later, they would not
have been privy to His meeting with her at all. I do not believe in
coincidences. God’s timing is always perfect.<span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus probably wanted them to catch the end of the
conversation because He wanted them to understand that He did not have the
“Hatfields and McCoys” prejudice that was expected of a Jewish man when in the
presence of a woman, especially one from Samaria.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> </span><span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The disciples were surprised that Jesus was talking with a woman
but none of them were bold enough to ask him about it, not even Peter who had a
habit of putting his foot in his mouth.<span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Perhaps they did not want to open a can of worms or risk a
lecture about why the prejudice that had existed for a long time needed to be
set aside. Jesus offered salvation EVEN to the Samaritans.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:28-30 The woman then
left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come,
see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Then they went out of the city and came unto him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The woman abandoned her water jar in her excitement to tell
the very people who had probably scorned her in the past that she believed the
Messiah was right there in their town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In her exuberance, the very reason she went to the well flew
right out of her head and she left her water behind. All she could think about
was sharing the joy of the freedom she had found in the Messiah.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because of her testimony that Jesus knew everything about her
without being told, the people headed out to see Him for themselves. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The passion in her voice and the zeal with which she was
sharing her encounter caused the townspeople to become inquisitive about
whether she had truly met the Messiah. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Perhaps their entire perspective could be changed as hers
was. She obviously had found something they each lacked. The living water . . . <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">. . . the meaning of which flew right past her at first<span style="color: #002060;"> </span>. . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">. . . was now flowing through her to others. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After her encounter with Jesus, the Samaritan woman became
insightful. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Holy Spirit had enabled her to understand at last.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:31 In the mean while
his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Meanwhile, back at the well, the disciples are trying to get
Jesus to eat the food they purchased for Him. They have no idea what just
transpired and are only thinking of taking care of His human, physical
needs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus had sent them to get food, but now He is not eating it.
What’s the deal?</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:32 But he said unto
them, <span style="color: red;">I have meat to eat that ye know not of. </span>Therefore,
said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When Jesus tells the disciples He has food they are unaware
of, they (like Nicodemus and the woman) are understanding this in terms of the
physical. They wonder where this mysterious meat came from. They do not realize
He is speaking of spiritual nourishment.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ways
we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
woman immediately dropped everything and ran to tell her neighbors the Messiah
had arrived. Are you spreading the Good News that Jesus offers forgiveness and
freedom with everyone you know?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you
boldly proclaim Jesus even to people who have shunned you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-73603180563197652512019-06-18T21:01:00.001-07:002019-06-18T21:01:52.116-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: I AM HE<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I
AM HE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:25-26 The woman saith
unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come,
he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, <span style="color: red;">I
that speak unto thee am he.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the one
occasion before Jesus was brought to trial that He point blank declares Himself
to be the Messiah in no uncertain terms. In the case of the Samaritan woman, He
makes sure she can make no mistake about Who He is. He is God in the flesh, the
Messiah. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the original
language this could be translated, “I who speak to you am.” This is reminiscent
of the way God chose to introduce Himself to Moses when He said, “I am that I
am.” His statement should clear up the mud in the woman’s thinking about
“living water.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The woman at the well knew the
promised Messiah would hold the answers to all of life’s questions, and Jesus
declared “I am He.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are you thirsty for things only God
can provide – forgiveness, cleansing, and power to live victoriously for Him?
Have you come to the One who can give you living water? If so, Praise Him! If
not, we pray you will understand His invitation to you and surrender your life
right now. If you need further information about how to do this, contact us by
using the “Contact Us” tab on the website www.PreciousJewelsMinistries.org.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have questions? Turn to the
Lord in the pages of the Bible and pray to find the answers. God will show you what
you need to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-9560423415966066372019-06-12T08:54:00.002-07:002019-06-12T08:54:16.145-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">WORSHIP
IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:21-22 Jesus saith unto
her, <span style="color: red;">Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall
neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship
ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus makes the point that it is not worth debating whether
to worship in Jerusalem or Mt. Gerazim because He knows that temple worship
will soon be ended. There would be no further need of daily sacrifices once His
work was completed on the cross. He states that salvation is through the Jews.
The promise was made that salvation would come through Abraham’s seed<span style="color: #ff0066;"> </span>. . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">. . . and David’s throne . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">. . . but would bless all nations. The Jews knew Who they
worshipped, but ultimately only those who recognize Jesus as the Messiah will
be the true worshippers.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:23 <span style="color: red;">But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to
worship him.</span> <span style="color: red;">God is a Spirit: and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus could tell
the woman that the hour is now here because He had arrived on the scene. His
ministry on earth as the God-Man ushered in the time when people must worship
“in spirit and in truth.” God’s Holy Spirit within us enables us to
commune with and worship God who is spirit. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Knowing where our
life comes from, the Spirit of God, we are constantly intertwined and empowered
as we worship Him with complete honesty, transparency, and vulnerability.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We need not hold
anything back because as previously stated, God already knows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Romans 8:16 (NIV) The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We know we are
His as we are led by the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He affirms we are
His chosen, adopted children by the way He moves in our
lives and enables us to exalt Jesus, blazing an adventurous trail as
we serve Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This life we live
in Christ is not dull. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is exciting,
exhilarating, and fulfilling! Come live in mine and Susie’s home for a while
and you will see. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It might get a
bit cramped since there are already two of us in a small two-bedroom apartment
(an upgrade from our original home in a one-bedroom apartment). Perhaps you
might stick with visiting us on this blog until the Lord provides a guest room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ways
we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our
place of worship is not nearly as important as who we worship—the Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, crucified to redeem us and risen from the dead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Where
we worship does not matter as much as how we worship—indwelt by the Spirit,
transparent before our Lord, and with wholehearted devotion to our Savior,
Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-47760616279380400082019-06-05T07:56:00.003-07:002019-06-05T07:56:26.880-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: GO GET YOUR HUSBAND<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">GO
GET YOUR HUSBAND<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:16 Jesus saith unto
her, <span style="color: red;">Go, call thy husband, and come hither.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s where it
gets sticky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus seems to be
changing the subject, but He is really transitioning to help her see her need
of the kind of water He has to offer. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His request draws
her out and causes her to reveal what He already knows.<span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once again, we
see that Jesus has the power to see deep within us.<span style="color: #080011;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hebrews 4:13 (ESV) And
no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes
of him to whom we must give account.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We might as well
be completely honest with God because He alone knows the complete truth about
us. We cannot hide!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm
139:1-3 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my
downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou
compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus is better
than Paul Harvey…He truly knows the rest of the story because, after all, He
wrote it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:17-18 The woman
answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, <span style="color: red;">Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had
five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst
thou truly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She tells the truth that she is not married, but Jesus
responds with the entire truth of her past. She was not only astonished that He
knew the entire truth but that He was willing to listen to her which was
probably something she had not experienced ever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now Jesus is not only talking to a despised Samaritan woman
but an <i>adulterous</i> Samaritan woman.<span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This woman had probably never been treated as if she had any
substantive worth. Jesus did not detest her like most people she encountered.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, He made clear that she could hide nothing from Him.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:19-20 The woman saith
unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.</span><span style="font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our
fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place
where men ought to worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The woman acknowledges that Jesus must be a prophet since He knew
about her marital situations without being told but then brings up another
controversy that existed between the Jews and the Samaritans. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Samaritans only accepted the Pentateuch which is the
first five books of the Old Testament, but the Jews recognized the remainder of
the Old Testament as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Both groups could cite references to support which mountain
the temple should occupy. Why she brought that up is a mystery to me. Perhaps
she is trying to lure Jesus into being judgmental? Or maybe she was trying
to take herself and her sinful lifestyle out of the spotlight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She may have been truly trying to understand the reason why the
Jews and the Samaritans had a different view of the matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Or maybe she just wanted to leave the squirmy feeling of
talking about her adulterous behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ways
we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus
knows everything about us, so we might as well be completely honest with Him
and with ourselves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus
sees and knows all about us but loves us anyway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-52346435594115140792019-05-29T18:43:00.001-07:002019-05-29T18:43:23.822-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: NEVER THIRST AGAIN<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">NEVER
THIRST AGAIN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:11-12 The woman saith
unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from
whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father
Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and
his cattle?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes when I read the Bible, I am tempted to think, “How
dense were these people?!” I forget that since I grew up mostly in church, I
know the rest of the story. This woman was talking to a total stranger who
seems to be talking in code . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">. . . that she is currently unable to crack. She does not yet
have the 6<sup>th</sup> sense of the Holy Spirit interpreting things for
her.<span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Therefore, she wonders how He can offer her water when He has
no bucket to lower into the well. After all, He originally asked <i>her
</i>to give Him a drink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She wonders if He thinks He is greater than the patriarch
Jacob who established the well in the first place. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Both Jews and Samaritans revered Jacob as an important
forefather of their people. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were the pillars of their
culture and their belief system.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:13-14 Jesus answered
and said unto her, <span style="color: red;">Whosoever drinketh of this water
shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him
shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well
of water springing up into everlasting life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Obviously, Jesus
is not talking about actual, liquid water. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus is using a
spring of water to represent the presence of the Spirit of God evident in the
life of the believer. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His Holy Spirit
flows in, thru, and from us when we commit our lives to His saving care.
He speaks of eternal life, the thing we should really thirst after. Once we
belong to Jesus, we need never thirst for God again because He is with us
always in the form of the Holy Spirit, the Living Water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 7:38 Whoever
believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from
within them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:15 The woman saith unto
him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay, once He spoke of eternal life, I really think she
should have had a clue that He was not talking about quenching her physical
thirst. I’ve heard preached that she may have jumped at the idea of not needing
to come to the well because her reputation would have drawn scorn from the
other women there.<span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead of gossip at the water cooler, it was gossip at the
water well.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Never being thirsty would be an excellent benefit, but Jesus
was offering her so much more!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ways
we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We
often seek the temporal things we need—food, clothing, shelter—and God
graciously supplies these. However, our deepest need is to be freed from sin
and death by the grace of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Living
Water, having an intimate relationship with God because of the indwelling of
the Holy Spirit, is available to all who trust in Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Living
Water is an internal reality for those who believe in and trust Jesus as the
Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We
need to “tap into” the Spirit in order to have abundant life in Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-10924674979647702142019-05-23T10:45:00.001-07:002019-05-23T10:45:09.517-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: LIVING WATER<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LIVING
WATER<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:4 And he must needs go
through Samaria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Jews did not
like the Samaritans and would sometimes take the long way around rather than
travel through that region. When the Northern Kingdom was taken captive by the
Assyrians, a small group was left behind. The Assyrians brought in other groups
to live there, and the Jews who remained intermarried with them. Therefore, the
Samaritans were despised as “half-breeds” and idol worshippers. They had also
built a temple on Mt. Gerizim and worshipped there rather than traveling to
Jerusalem.<span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An extreme mutual
prejudice persisted between the Jews and the Samaritans. The Jews did not
consider the Samaritans to be genuine worshippers of the one true God. The
Samaritans were loathsome to the Jews and vice versa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were other
routes to Galilee that Jesus could have taken as many other Jews did, but he
“needed” to go through Samaria. This could have been because it was the
shortest route, or more likely it was that He knew of the divine appointment
waiting for Him at Jacob’s well. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus knew He was
about to embark on a life changing encounter, not just for one woman but for an
entire community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:5-6 Then cometh he to a
city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that
Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore,
being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the
sixth hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus exhibited the frailty of His humanity as He was
exhausted from traveling. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He experienced hunger and thirst just as we do, so He sent
the disciples to buy food. As we learned in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh.”
He was completely human, willingly limiting His powers as God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Philippians 2:6 (Phillips) For he, who had always been God by
nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped himself
of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal
man.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:7-9 There cometh a
woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, <span style="color: red;">Give
me to drink.</span> (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy
meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a
Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no
dealings with the Samaritans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reformation
Study Bible:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4:9 Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This phrase could also be translated, “Jews use nothing in
common with Samaritans,” referring to the legislation that forbade a Jew to eat
or drink with Samaritans, who were more lax in their understanding of ritual
cleanness. The surprise was not so much that Jesus would speak with a
Samaritan, but that He would drink from a Samaritan vessel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is
reminiscent of the separate drinking fountains for “White” and “Colored” . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . which I
even remember seeing as a child in the late 1950’s and early sixties. <span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How sad that
these kinds of behaviors were still present and tolerated in our lifetimes.<span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, the
separation between the Jews and the Samaritans was due more to religious views
than the race issue. The Samaritan woman was shocked that Jesus, a Jew, would
talk to a woman, let alone a Samaritan woman. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At that time
women were not seen as equal to men and were treated like property. Women
had very few rights, and their husbands were in control of all property.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was even more
astounding that He would be willing to drink out of her water jug since it
might not be “ceremonially clean” according to Jewish standards! He was
definitely stepping outside the social norms of the day.<span style="color: #080011;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4:10 Jesus answered and
said unto her, <span style="color: red;">If thou knewest the gift of God, and who
it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him,
and he would have given thee living water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus, who would
later die on the cross to give us the gift of forgiveness of sin and eternity
with God, says, “If you only knew who you were talking to!” <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He basically
says, “You don’t know this yet, but you should be the one asking Me for
drink.” <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus IS the gift
of God and has the power to give the gift of the indwelling Spirit to those who
believe on His name. He speaks of “living water” which goes whoosh over her
head because, like Nicodemus, she is thinking literally rather than
figuratively. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan:</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
is only processing His words in terms of her five senses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reformation
Study Bible:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4:10 the gift of God.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This
expression emphasizes that salvation is not earned but given (Eph. 2:8). Jesus
Himself is the gift of God (3:16; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:25). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">living water.</b> In the Old Testament, living or running water was
employed figuratively as a reference to divine activity (Jer. 2:13; Zech.
14:8). See also v. 14 and 7:37–39.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ways
we can apply this to our lives: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Although there is no direct
application in these verses, we can draw some conclusions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus does not harbor prejudice against any
people. Nor should we. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Then Peter
opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of
persons. But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is
accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus gives us far more than He asks of us. He
asked for water but offered the woman eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-3393575442292182602019-05-15T09:28:00.001-07:002019-05-15T09:28:52.727-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: COME TO THE LIGHT<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">COME
TO THE LIGHT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:19-21 <span style="color: red;">And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh
to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh
to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
God.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The English
Standard Version translates the word “condemnation” as “verdict.” According to
Webster, one definition of verdict is “Decision; judgment; opinion pronounced;
as, to be condemned by the verdict of the public.” <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We love to think
of Jesus as the One who saves the world, but He is also the only one qualified
to pronounce a verdict on its sin since He Himself was sinless. Jesus is the
One who shines a light on the true motives of people. He did not come to
actively condemn people because they had already condemned themselves due to
their unbelief and actions. He puts a spotlight on our hearts which will enable
those who believe to see their true condition and their need of Jesus to rescue
them from it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those who do not
believe and trust in the saving grace of Jesus’ death on the cross in their
place fear exposure of their true selves and especially exposure by the Light
of Christ. In contrast, those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus, have
no reason to fear . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . because
Jesus has paid the price in full for their wrongdoing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Substitutionary
atonement is a fancy phrase meaning Jesus died in their place to pay their
debt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When God
looks at those of us who believe, He does not see our thick file of bad stuff,
but instead sees the righteousness of His Son.<span style="color: #080011;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Philippians 3:9 (NIV) …and be found in him, not having a
righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through
faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies
us from all sin.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What can wash
away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” This old hymn says it well. Jesus
is the only One who can enable us to stand in the light without fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk3498245"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply
this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk3498245;"></span>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does the Light of Jesus make you
feel naked and exposed? Jesus died literally naked on the cross to save you
from the wrath of God and remove that guilt and shame from you.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you accepted His free gift of salvation?
If so, you are covered in His righteousness and enabled by Him to turn from sin
to an intimate relationship with the God who created everything!</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you have not yet experienced
the saving grace of God, pray asking Him to open your eyes to the truth of His
word. You may contact us for more details via our website: </span><a href="http://www.preciousjewelsministries.org/"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.preciousjewelsministries.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-51941324008355522322019-05-08T08:27:00.001-07:002019-05-08T08:27:47.943-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: BORN AGAIN INTO GOD'S FOREVER FAMILY<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">BORN
AGAIN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">INTO
GOD’S FOREVER FAMILY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now
for the verse you memorized in Sunday School when you were a wee lass or lad.
That is, if you lived in Scotland. My heritage is coming out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:16 <span style="color: red;">For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s look at
this extremely familiar verse (probably the one most likely to be committed to
memory) in the Amplified version:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 3:16 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) For God so greatly
loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten
(unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him
shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting)
life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The world in this
instance means all kinds of people in the world, Jews and Gentiles, from all
over the world, living under the fallen “world system.” In other words, sinners
of all kinds. God gave His “only begotten Son.” We as Christians are adopted into
God’s family, but Jesus was actually God’s Son born of the virgin Mary,
conceived in her by the Holy Spirit. Believing in Jesus is much more than
intellectually acknowledging His existence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Trusting Jesus
means <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>understanding that we must
completely lean into and depend upon Jesus for all that we are, all that we
have, and all that we ever will be. We must make a total surrender of our
will to His. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It<span style="color: #002060;"> </span>is a total surrender of our lives to His care by
faith that He is the only way to the Father as Jesus Himself clarifies later in
the Gospel of John:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
14:6 Jesus saith unto him, <span style="color: red;">I am the way, the truth, and
the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.</span><span style="color: #080011;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 15:5 (ESV)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever
abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me
you can do nothing.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus is the
source and sustainer of our lives both now and forever when we trust in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:17-18 <span style="color: red;">For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reformation
Study Bible:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus comes into a world that is
already condemned because of its rejection of God’s self-revelation (Rom.
1:18–32).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even
his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus did not
come to condemn the world because it was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">already</i>
condemned due to rejecting God’s revelation in nature and perpetually giving in
to the sin nature within them. The point is that He came to bring them the only
offer of salvation they would receive from God.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus’s purpose
was not to condemn but to redeem. To redeem is to buy back as from
slavery. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were slaves to
sin. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The price of our
redemption was His death on the cross. God was willing to give His pride and
joy to redeem those unworthy of His love in order to adopt them into
His forever family to enjoy His presence eternally. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Believing and
trusting in the saving power of Jesus transforms us from hopeless sinners into
precious saints, something impossible for people to do on their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eternal life with God is offered only by His grace in giving Jesus to
redeem us – He is the only way to peace with God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No matter how hard we try to be perfect, we cannot reach God by
perfection – we must place our trust in Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Surrendering our lives to Jesus’s control brings about the total
transformation from being dead in our sin to being alive in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ephesians 2:1 (AMP)</span></i>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and
separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 5:24 </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word,
and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment,
but has passed out of death into life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-33613684552372701532019-05-01T09:44:00.001-07:002019-05-01T09:44:08.752-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: OUR LORD LIFTED UP<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">OUR
LORD LIFTED UP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:11-12 <span style="color: red;">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that
we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I
have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I
tell you of heavenly things?</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
MacArthur Bible Commentary:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 3:11-12 “Jesus focused on the
idea that unbelief is the cause of ignorance. At heart, Nicodemus’ failure to
understand Jesus’ words centered not so much in his intellect, but in his
failure to believe Jesus’ witness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we have stated
before, Nicodemus is trying to analyze everything intellectually rather than
just believing Jesus at face value. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was missing
the faith factor. For example: I am fully convinced that Jesus is our healer in
every sense of the word, but healing of my cerebral palsy has not been
physically manifested in my body. However, I know that I have been healed in
the most important manner, the healing of my heart. I have faith that I will be
completely, physically healed when I am with the Lord if not before. What an
exciting day that will be! However, I am blessed and privileged beyond measure
that every day that I wake up I have the honor and pleasure of being the Lord’s
mouthpiece to share His word and truth around the world. <span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus was
explaining that “birth from above” was transacted by God’s grace through faith
and was not something to be achieved by man’s own power. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Self-effort will
not and cannot get you to Heaven, where you will be in God’s presence eternally.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No matter how
hard I might try, I cannot in my own strength, in my own abilities, be good
enough to merit a relationship with the perfect, almighty God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:13 <span style="color: red;">And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that
came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus is the One sent from God to provide the way for us to
enter Heaven. He is the only one who was in Heaven and came down to earth to
reveal truth to us. Paul stated that man was not permitted to speak of such
things when recording his vision of being caught up into Heaven (2 Corinthians
12:1-4). After Jesus ascended back to Heaven, the Apostle John was instructed
to write the Revelation given to him of Heaven, but this was after the time
that Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus. Of course, one must be listening with
ears of faith to understand that Jesus is the Son of God and equally the Son of
Man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:14-15 <span style="color: red;">And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth
in him should not perish but have eternal life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reformation
Study Bible<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3:14 Moses</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
Num. 21:4–9 records the story of the rebellious Israelites, who murmured and
complained. God sent fiery serpents into their midst to punish them. Then God
told Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole, with the promise that whoever
looked at it would live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">must . . . be lifted up.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Here is a key term in this Gospel (8:28; 12:32, 34) which carries the double
meaning of crucifixion and exaltation. Christ’s death on the cross, His
resurrection, and His glorification together reveal the glory of God. The word
“must” points to God’s sovereign purpose. The crucifixion was the keystone of
God’s eternal plan to save His people (Acts 4:27, 28).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus’
crucifixion was <u>not</u> some cosmic tragedy but was God’s plan for salvation
all along. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Jesus says
He must be “lifted up,” the phrase has a layered meaning. It refers to Jesus’s
suffering and being displayed naked on the cross for all to see. . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . .</span></i></b><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
worst humiliation for a Jew since Deuteronomy 21:23 says that one who is hanged
on a tree is “accursed of God.” <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second layer
of the term “lifted up” is that Jesus must be exalted. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He must be
recognized as fully equal with God and given all the glory due Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The American Dictionary of the
English Language, </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noah
Webster, 1828</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">EXALT'ED, pp. Raised to a lofty
height; elevated; honored with office or rank; extolled; magnified; refined;
dignified; sublime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Philippians 2:8-11 (ESV) And being found in human form, he
humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that
is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We must believe that Jesus is fully divine (God) as well as fully human
– He is the God-Man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In order to be saved, we must look to the cross by believing that Jesus
died in our place and was raised from the dead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We should exalt Jesus, bring glory to His name (reputation) in all we
do and say<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-3440751707007797142019-04-24T10:45:00.002-07:002019-04-24T10:45:44.533-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: OUTWARD COMMITMENT RESULTS IN INWARD CHANGE<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">OUTWARD
COMMITMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">RESULTS
IN INWARD CHANGE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Old Nicodemus
still doesn’t get it. Even though he now knows it is not a second physical
birth, he still cannot figure out how this new birth transpires. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where he goes
wrong is trying to reason everything out. It is all an intellectual process for
him.<span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie:</span></i></b><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He is not using eyes of faith. Of course, I guess we should
cut Nick some slack since Jesus had not yet died and been resurrected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also, his
wheelhouse is dissecting the Law for proper interpretation, . . .<span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . but he
misses the core of the Law which is love for God and people. The Pharisees sat
in judgment upon the people but did nothing to lift them up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 11:46 (NIV) Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe
to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and
you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:10 <span style="color: red;">Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a
master of Israel, and knowest not these things?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nicodemus was a
teacher of teachers. He was like a tenured seminary professor, a master teacher.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie:</span></i></b><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was a respected authority among the Jews. The Pharisees
were so focused on the external obedience they could not see the need for
inward transformation.<span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you do not know
the reason for the ritual, it is of no effect. The rituals of the Jews should
have been an act of obedience based on their relationship to God, not an
occasion to say, “I’m holier than you.” <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am reminded of
a song that was instrumental in my realizing I was a “good girl” but did not
know Jesus at all. The lyric was “Empty eyes stare from empty sockets; frozen
lips form frozen words. Masks that hide faceless people, acting roles with
lines unheard. Row on row we march in order, mouthing hymns and reading
prayers.” Pharisees demonstrated all the outward appearance of serving the Lord
but needed an operation of the heart that only the Holy Spirit could perform.
The Apostle Paul explained this quite well:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Romans 2:29 No, a
person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the
heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not
from other people, but from God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Has God revealed a need for inward
change in your own life? </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have you been checking off all the
expected boxes for “Christian” behavior rather than submitting to having the
Holy Spirit change your heart? </span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember what Jesus said were the
two greatest commandments and the fact that one can only truly keep them when one
is “born again”:</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus
said unto him, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This
is the first and great commandment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-30415231875704720162019-04-18T13:49:00.001-07:002019-04-18T13:49:37.270-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS - BORN FROM ABOVE<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LISTEN TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BORN FROM ABOVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he
is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Nicodemus
pictures a grown man somehow going back into the womb to be “born again.” As we
will see, this is not what Jesus meant at all. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">The
phrase “born again” can literally be translated “born from above.” <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie:</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Jesus
endeavors to explain this distinction in the next few verses.</span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and
of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="color: red;">That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.</span> <span style="color: red;">Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.</span>
<span style="color: red;">The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is
every one that is born of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Since Nicodemus is obviously thinking of natural, physical
birth, Jesus contrasts this with spiritual rebirth. He compares the Spirit with
the wind. We do not see the wind, but we feel and see its effects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Therefore, Jesus is declaring to Nicodemus that he must
receive transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We do not see
the actual transaction of the Holy Spirit entering a life, but like the wind,
we see the effect this has on the person’s attitudes and behaviors. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We see the fruit of the Spirit in a consecrated life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus is explaining that our own self-righteousness can never
be good enough. We must be transformed by the power of the Lord through faith
in order to approach a Holy God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are all born into this
world after months in our mother’s womb. We did not choose to be born.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When we are born of the
Spirit, God has chosen us to be His adopted children (Galatians 4:4-5). Our
only effort is to accept this free gift of grace and submit to Him as our
Father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Have you been born again?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you have been born again,
you will increasingly exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians
5:22-23).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-74595130128655889892019-04-11T09:04:00.001-07:002019-04-11T09:04:40.700-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: BORN AGAIN?<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LISTEN
TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">BORN
AGAIN?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Except a man be born again, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">he cannot see the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 3:3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John chapter 3 is both
apologetic and evangelistic. In it, John proclaims and defends the deity of
Christ, that He is the Son of God. He also clearly presents the way of
salvation through God’s gift of His only begotten Son. The story of the
conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus continues the theme at the end of
chapter two that Jesus can see into the hearts of men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Pharisees
were Jewish “Puritans” . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . who
meticulously observed the letter of the Mosaic law along with a host of
traditions they had added to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, they
often missed the heart, the spiritual intention, of the Law. Jesus called them
out on this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 23:23 (NIV) “Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and
cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice,
mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without
neglecting the former.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to
the <i>MacArthur Bible Commentary</i> the Pharisees were comprised of
mostly middle-class businessmen rather than priests and Levites. I had always
pictured them as rich men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan:</span></i></b><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The common people revered them because their outward
appearance seemed to indicate they were devout. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, Jesus at
one point described them as “whitewashed tombs.” OUCH!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the
outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything
unclean.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nicodemus was not
only a Pharisee but a “ruler of the Jews” which means he was a member of the
Sanhedrin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Sanhedrin was
comprised of the High Priest, the chief priests, the elders, and some scribes
for a total of seventy-one people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nicodemus must
have been an elder—head of a family—since he was neither a priest nor a Scribe.
The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of the Jews in Palestine . . <span style="color: #002060;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . but the
Sanhedrin had to defer to the Roman authority in matters of capital punishment
which we will see later as Jesus is brought before Pilate, the
Procurator. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nicodemus was a
member of this prestigious group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that
thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou
doest, except God be with him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nicodemus approached Jesus under the umbrella of darkness
because he did not want any of the other Pharisees to know of his inquiry of
Jesus. Nicodemus must have been talking about Jesus to other Pharisees whether
they were willing to admit it or not because he says, “<i>We</i> know that
you are a teacher who has come from God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He acknowledges that the power to perform the miracles Jesus
had done must have come from God. Yet, at this time, he still could not
bring himself to admit that Jesus could be God’s Son. Most of the
Pharisees did not even give Jesus a chance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But Nicodemus wanted to look into His eyes, talk with Him
face to face, and see exactly what He was about. You know the honesty or deceit
of a man by looking into His eyes, the window of the soul. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, <span style="color: red;">Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus’s statement about being born again was shocking.
Nicodemus would have been confident he would see the kingdom of God because of
his righteousness in adhering to the Law and his Jewish lineage. Jesus was
saying this heritage and personal righteousness was not enough. The other
reason it is hard for Nicodemus to digest is that he is taking it
literally! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because Nicodemus did take it literally rather than
understanding it as a metaphor, it made his brain go tilt, tilt, tilt!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susie:
</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus repeated “verily” or “truly” two times for emphasis. He
was stressing the point that one must be born again to gain eternal life and
enter Heaven. Since man cannot literally be born a second time, what did He
mean? Stay tuned for next week’s post to find out!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nicodemus was an elder, a Pharisee, and a teacher; but he sought Jesus
for answers. We must humble ourselves before Jesus, the only One who has all of
life’s answers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nicodemus, even before he became a follower of Jesus as the Messiah,
acknowledged that Jesus must have power from God to do miracles. A person can
believe Jesus had miraculous power without trusting Him for salvation and
bowing before Him as King. Do you just know about Jesus, or do you KNOW Him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we continue in this study, ask yourself if you have been born again.
If not, speak to your pastor, Sunday school teacher, good Christian friend, or contact
us via our website for more information. We would love to introduce you to our
Savior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-63859350894834561562019-04-03T09:28:00.001-07:002019-04-03T09:28:07.089-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: I WILL RAISE IT UP!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
WILL RAISE IT UP!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Destroy this temple, and in three days <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will raise it up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
2:19<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 2:18 Then
answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing
that thou doest these things?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Jews
questioned Jesus’s authority to cleanse the temple of them. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They wanted Him
to perform a miracle, sign, or wonder to authenticate Himself. I’m sure that
some thought Jesus to be mentally unstable.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In present day
vernacular, they thought He had “gone postal.” <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today they might
call the people in the little white coats to pick up Jesus and take Him to a
place where nice people would care for Him. <span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once again we
have non-believers wanting to see a “sign” before they will accept Jesus’s authority.<span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan:</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
wanted a sign, but they could not decipher the living billboard of Jesus before
them. What makes them think a sign would make it any easier to believe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 2:19-22
Jesus answered and said unto them, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk2192158"><span style="color: red;">Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.</span></a>
Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt
thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When
therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said
this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had
said.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus tells them
to destroy the temple, and He will raise it back up in three days. Now they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> thought He was crazy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Jews
pompously, arrogantly explained that it had taken forty-six years to build the
temple. They were incredulous and incensed that He would claim to be able to
restore it in only three days! They were sure His elevator went nowhere near
the top floor.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were blinded
to the fact that He was prophesying about the destruction of His body and His
resurrection on the third day which was an even more amazing miracle than
rebuilding the temple, if you think about it.<span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those sitting in judgment
of Jesus had no clue He was referring to His own physical body as the temple
rather than the stone and mortar edifice before them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This statement
was filed away in the disciples’ memory banks, and the Holy Spirit brought it
to their minds after the Lord’s resurrection and used it to make their faith
stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 14:26 (NIV) But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of
everything I have said to you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were many
things the disciples did not understand at the moment they were happening . . .<span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">but after the gift of the Holy Spirit, these things became focused. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before I
surrendered my life to the Lord, the Bible often seemed murky to me. After my
conversion and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I began to understand more
clearly. The Holy Spirit illuminates—shines a light on—the word of God to make
it easier to grasp.<span style="color: #ff0066;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Spirit makes
it crystal clear because that is one of the Holy Spirit’s jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People think witnessing a miracle would help them to believe. However,
if that did not help them to believe when Jesus walked the earth, how can we
think it would make a difference today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The miracle of the resurrection was far greater than restoring a
physical building. There is much evidence in the Bible proving the
resurrection. Do we rejoice in its reality?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the Bible is difficult to understand, we should pray asking the
Holy Spirit to help us and continue to study. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6482560909047249157.post-59607195485943467492019-03-27T08:37:00.001-07:002019-03-27T08:37:32.695-07:00LISTEN TO JESUS: A HOUSE OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LISTEN TO JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A HOUSE OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take these things hence; make not my Father's
house an house of merchandise.</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JOHN
2:16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand,
and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the
English Language</span></i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> defines Passover as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P'ASSOVER, noun [pass and over.] A
feast of the Jews, instituted to commemorate the providential escape of the
Hebrews, in Egypt, when God smiting the first-born of the Egyptians, passed
over the houses of the Israelites, which were marked with the blood of the
paschal lamb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">At the specified time each
year, the Jews would take an unblemished lamb to the temple to be sacrificed.
If they did not own a lamb, one could be purchased with temple coins. Jesus. .
. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">. . . </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">who
would ultimately be the final, perfect Passover Lamb . . .<span style="color: #1f3864;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">. . . traveled to Jerusalem to
participate in this ceremony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Jesus’s death on the cross as
the final and complete sacrifice would end the need for the sacrificial system.</span><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 2:14 And found in the temple those that
sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Jesus found merchants in the
temple instead of true worshippers. Jesus could see the signs in their eyes
because He sees into people’s hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susie:</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Not
only were they profiting from the sale of animals to be sacrificed, but the
exchange rate offered to replace Roman coins with temple coins was exorbitantly
high, lining their pockets with a tidy profit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">They were building their own
affluence by robbing the people who desired to worship sacrificially. This
egregious behavior troubled and angered Jesus to His very core. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John 2:15-17 And when he had made a scourge of
small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen;
and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto
them that sold doves, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take
these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.</span></i><i><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And his disciples remembered that it was
written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We do not often
think of Jesus as angry . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . but He was
so upset that He actually made a whip and used it to drive out the animals,
threw tables over spilling the money, and rebuked the merchants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It seems that the
fact that He was making a whip in the temple would have given the merchants a
clue as to what He was about to do. He was not only angry, but He was
hurt. The outlandish, outrageous behavior offended Him. In His humanness it may
have made Him physically ill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As God, Jesus was
insulted by their blatant disregard for what should have been a holy
atmosphere . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . and an affront
to the purpose for which His house was built. <span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other three
gospels record a time near the end of His ministry that Jesus cleansed the
temple and reminded the merchants His Father’s house was designed to be a house
of prayer. Apparently, this was a constant problem. It was an indicator
that the hearts of many Jews were far from worshipping the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a Holy God,
Jesus must have been irate that the Temple continued to be desecrated in this
way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #080011; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm 69:9…for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults
of those who insult you fall on me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The temple was
designed to focus all attention on God, a place of prayer and communion with
Him. These merchants and money changers were using it for their own personal
gain. Rather than serving the worshipers by providing healthy animals, they
were robbing their fellow Jews by unfairly raising the prices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susan: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were
disobeying God by committing usury. They were more devoted to creating creature
comforts for themselves than their obedience to God. Communion with the Lord
should be our focus in worship, and really for every believer, every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Susie</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nothing should be done that detracts from devoting ourselves
to prayer, worship, and fellowship in the house of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ways we can apply this to our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sanctuary (worship center) should be a place of prayer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We should focus our hearts and minds on the Lord and worship
Him there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our interactions with other believers should be fair and
honoring to our Father<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We should prepare our hearts for worship even before we
arrive at church for corporate worship for our own benefit and the
encouragement of others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />KSHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056150835149498583noreply@blogger.com0