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Where is your hope?

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Many Christians today live a life like a roller coaster—up one minute, down the next. Instead of growing spiritually, we find ourselves at a stalemate, living a stagnated life. Until we realize this hope is through intimacy with Christ, we will continue to live a stagnated life. The true is the world is full of uncertainty, doubt, pain and sorrow. Some Christians believe that living the Christian life requires only attending church, reading the Bible, praying, and serving. While this is good, we must remember that we have the holy, sovereign God within us. The power we need to live the Christian life isn’t given from on high, but rather, from within you, as a result of Christ's indwelling presence. Our helper is the holy spirit, whom Jesus promised will always be with us. The Lord understands our human frailties and limited power and that we are unqualified to live the Christian life on our own. So, it is his goal to accomplish this through us, by the power of the holy spirit

Understanding the parable of the vine and its branches

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John 15: 1-3 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the words that I have spoken to you.    Many people take verses about the fruitless branches being cut off and burned as indication that salvation might be lost. The misinterpretation of scriptures is that a person who was once in Christ may later cease to "abide in Christ" and become useless; that person is then severed and burned up. If the parable of the vine and the branches were the only chapter that addressed the subject of eternal security, we might have reason to be concerned that salvation could be lost. However, this is not the only chapter in Scripture that concerns security and confidence, nor is it the only verse in John that tackles these issues.  There are various passages in John that clearly guarantee the believer'

The Significance of Christ Ascension

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The ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven is one of the most significant events recorded in the New Testament. Despite its importance in the Bible, many believers focus little attention on it We usually concentrate more on the crucifixion and the resurrection. However, the ascension is crucial, particularly in the Gospels of Luke Luke wrote a two-part chronicle of Christianity's beginnings. The first volume is the gospel that bears his name. The second volume contains the book of Acts. And the ascension was so essential to Luke that he finished volume one with it (Luke 24:50-51), began volume two with it (Acts 1:9-11), and then reference it multiple times throughout the book of Acts. For one thing, the ascension explains why Jesus' appearances throughout the forty days following his resurrection halted. The ascension also foretold the culminating event in the history of salvation: Jesus' personal, corporeal, and magnificent return. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking

What is the purpose of living a Christian life?

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As children of God, our goal in life is to glorify and exalt God, and to enjoy God forever. We are to honor him wholeheartedly as we communicate our true emotions to him, we adore him above all things as we walk in obedience. Ephesians 1:11-12  - In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. Another way to describe our life’s goal is to become more like Christ and this only happen as we submit ourselves to God. It is God’s plan for each of us to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus and by cooperating with the Holy Spirit we are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory. Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we

Christ In You, The Hope Of Glory

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He is the image of the invisible God Hebrews 1:3 – He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  This implies that Jesus represents the divine nature of God. Jesus is not merely like God; rather, He is God. All of what God is, is reflected in Jesus. He is unchangeable, omniscient, omnipresent, almighty, just, loving, merciful, holy, etc. Jesus the Son possesses all the attributes and powers that God the Father possesses. The Father was visible to those who saw Jesus. He is God with us, Immanuel. John 14:9 Since we can’t actually see the Father, that results in the question, then who exactly is he? What is God like? Jesus being the image of God answers those questions. He showed us God’s character, holiness, love and wisdom and even sovereignty. Jesus is divine. He is not just a good man or a good teacher or nor a reflection or piece of God, but God almighty, God Himself in the flesh. He Is The firstbor

Experiencing Hope in Troubling Times

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The times we live in today are certainly troubling. You have Critical Race Theory and Cultural Marxism Gender confusion and homosexuality, Right to Life vs Abortion, Apostasy in the Church, anti-Christian politics and even Media manipulation and discrimination. With all the trials and tribulations of our world, our country, our society, and our culture, we may ask ourselves, what are we to do so we do not lose heart and become weary? The answers to that question are found throughout the Bible. You will find it in the lives, faith, and works of many Godly men of the bible. King David said he encouraged himself in the Lord, his God. 1 Sam 30:6 - And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.   David’s faith supplied him with inward resources of comfort and gave him the strength he needed. How do we encourage ourselves

How Deep and Wide is God’s Love?

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  W hy does the Great Commandment instruct us to love God first, others second? Because this is the order in which God himself loves. Genesis 1:1 is not where God's love first began. His love is eternal, and always existed before creation, and it has always existed in the Trinity. God ’ s love didn't call for anything outside of the Godhead. Because Christ first loved us, we love. He loves us because he first and always loved himself. In humans, Self-love is not always admirable. Even if accurately loving oneself is excellent and even required for loving one's neighbor, the Bible also addresses the negative of people who are lovers of self. 2 Timothy 2:3 - For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy I ’ m sure we all have met individuals we would categorize as egotists, those who look at themselves more highly than they are. But, with God, it is impossible to be egotistical. God alone