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Acts 13: ³⁸ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

⁴¹ “‘Look, you scoffers,
    wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
    that you would never believe,
    even if someone told you.

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At one point, “cleaning the basement” meant shoving everything into a bench that had storage space. One day I decided to look inside and to my surprise, I found a missing toy. I was delighted. I tried to turn it on, only to find corroded batteries prevented my fun. The toy no longer worked because the corrosion messed up the wiring.

• There were times when I tried to make something work with temporary power.
• There were times when I used temporary power to make something work for a short period.
• There were times when I depended on temporary power instead of using permanent power.

Paul explains that JESUS is the One true source of forgiveness. Everyone who believes is set free from “every” sin. He then explains that the law of Moses was not able to bring the justification that JESUS did. The law, while binding, was temporary.

• JESUS wants me to follow HIS ways.
• JESUS wants me to know the law but look to HIM for my forgiveness when I break the law.
• JESUS wants me to be guided by the law but use it with HIS love.

Following GOD with my power causes temporary failure. I mean when things go right I am fully charged, but when things go wrong, I may blame GOD and be tempted not to believe in HIM. GOD’s power is permanent. Belief in JESUS is an everlasting endeavor.

HE is the One who fulfilled the law and all prophecies. My belief in JESUS being GOD, dying for me and being raised from the dead for me, gives me everlasting life. I am able to surrender my power and use GOD’s permanent power.

• Are you trying to do things under your own power?
• Do you try to be good and compare yourself to other people?
• Will you stop looking at everyone else and look to JESUS for your forgiveness?

Temporarily Clean

Luke 11: ²⁴ “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ ²⁵ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. ²⁶ Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

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Seeing the results of attending church, I decided to attend more often. Things were going well in my life and I started attributing this to my relationship with GOD. I was up for a promotion and really wanted the position. I took an inventory of the sins I was doing at the time. “Maybe I will stop this particular sin for a while. At least until I get the position.”

• There were times when I thought I could temporarily clean myself up.
• There were times when I thought I could control the outcome of my life by temporarily stopping sin.
• There were times when I thought I could accomplish more by temporarily “not” sinning.

JESUS continues HIS explanation of the spirit realm. HE had just chased an evil spirit out of a man, enabling him to speak once again. JESUS says spirits have a tendency to return after a person has been temporarily cleansed.

• GOD wants me to ask for HIS cleansing on a daily basis.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face daily.
• GOD wants me to ask for HIS eternal protection so I will not need to worry about HIS love.

JESUS is the answer to protection from the evil one. No one can snatch me from HIS mighty hand, not even myself. I am not in control of how GOD reacts to my sins and I am thankful. HE sees through my temporary “goodness” and counts it as dung. HE reacts with patience and grace, wanting me to grow up and bring many to HIM. HE is my salvation.

• Are you temporarily trying to act temporarily good so you can get your way?
• Do you think your temporary goodness is fooling GOD into allowing you to have what you want?
• Will you turn your life over to HIM and allow HIM to thoroughly cleanse you of all unrighteousness?

GOD won’t mind… Will HE?

1 Samuel 15:² This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. ³ Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

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⁹ But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

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Bonus time was a great time of the year.  I thought of all the great things I was going to purchase. As I sat in church I heard the preacher say give a tenth of my “earnings.” So that meant my “salary” not my “bonus” I quickly convinced myself.  I quickly went and bought whatever I was looking at.

• Sometimes I twist the Bible in my favor.
• Sometimes I hear the words of GOD and ignore the parts where HE would discipline me.
• Sometimes I think that since I’m saved, I am spared from consequences.

Some of the “rules” and regulations listed in the Bible seem weird, limiting and just plain old crazy to me sometimes. So I pick and choose the ones I can follow easily and throw out the rest saying “those rules are too hard to follow.” BUT GOD wants something different.

• GOD wants me to view HIS word as protection rather than frustration.
• GOD wants me to listen to HIM for guidance rather than nagging.
• GOD wants me to hear HIS words of love rather than HIM being a party pooper.

I do remember hearing one preacher say “read the Bible with the view that GOD loves HIS humans and you will see a different GOD.” He was right. I mean in the Bible and in my life we turn away from GOD every chance we can. GOD simply wants me to recognize the need for HIS salvation because HE cursed the earth and the things I chase after.

HE says “seek ME and you will have treasure in heaven.”

• Are you constantly fretting over cash?
• Are your decisions driven by cash and fear and doubt and worry?
• Can you let go of your fears and allow GOD to lead you?
• Won’t you stand still and watch HIS deliverance?

I am reminded to follow GOD

Numbers 15: ⁴⁰ “‘You will remember to obey all of my commands. And you will be set apart for your God. ⁴¹ I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’”

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“How many houses do you have?” was the topic of the conversation that let me know I was in the wrong place. It was one of those discussions about cars that cost well into the 6 figures and cruises in extravagant places. I felt quite inadequate and it seemed like a crossroad appeared in front of me.

Do I work extra hard changing my personality and hang out with those who could care less about GOD or do I pursue GOD outside of comforts of opulence?

• When I will do anything for money, I have lost my way.
• When I desire money over a relationship with GOD then I have lost my way.
• When I wish to be around money more than serving I have lost my way.

Please don’t get me wrong, money is not the problem, it’s when I desire security in money that causes a riff between me and GOD.  It’s not just money, it’s anything that I put over my relationship with GOD will cause problems.

• GOD said “remember to obey HIS commands.”
• GOD said “I will be set apart for my GOD.”
• GOD said “HE is the LORD my GOD.”
• GOD said “HE brought me out of Egypt.”

GOD is thoroughly in control of all my situations. HE gently guides me to the correct path and ensures that I have what I need. All HE asks is that I “remember” HIM.

• Do you set aside time to remember all of the things GOD has done for you?
• Can you reflect a moment to understand what HE is doing for you now?
• Can you help someone else understand what GOD is doing in their life?

Batteries that go forever

2 Peter 2: ²⁰ If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

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Refreshed was the feeling I woke up to at the leadership retreat. Three days of being away from the grind had actually charged my batteries. We spoke about concepts that I was going to try and now I had a new way of thinking.

During my first day back we faced a crisis. It was all hands on deck and people were getting a little short tempered. I was cool and calm and we got through the storm. But the next day happened and the next week happened. Finally I was back to my fast paced, high stressed old self again.  What was that retreat about again? Hmm, I can’t seem to remember the concept I was going to implement.

• Knowing about JESUS isn’t a short term solution to an immediate problem.
• Knowing about JESUS isn’t a way for me to keep my sin and fool myself into thinking heaven is my home.
• Knowing about JESUS isn’t something I can just try to stop my trial and return to my old way when the situation clears up.

JESUS wants more than “knowledge” of HIM, HE wants belief. HIS death was a permanent act and so was HIS resurrection. HE will never die again and HE will remain raised forever. I can’t simply believe HE exists rather I should believe in HIS position as the only sinless human to ever walk the earth.

Now that HE has been raised, the FATHER has placed HIM back over everything. My belief needs to be directed on my need for a savior. My birth alone is reason to be sentenced to eternal separation from HIM.

• JESUS died for me to save me from eternal separation.
• JESUS was raised to build a special place for me to spend eternity with HIM.
• JESUS lives for me to eradicate every sin I have and will commit.

Will I still sin? Unfortunately yes. BUT GOD is slowly changing me to love others and to love myself, to show mercy the way HE shows mercy. I have not arrived, but I’m not the same.

• Are you living a lifestyle that is against GOD?
• Are you secretly or overtly sinning because you have given up on GOD?
• Can you allow GOD to give you “purpose” that will keep you from falling away from HIM?