Independence In Christ! July, 2013

I have been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I have been bought with a price; I am not my own; I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Never Stop Loving! By Gene McGuire November, 2013

“(Love) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, it is not provoked. . .bears all things. . . .endures all things. ” (1Cor. 13:5-6)

COMMENT: Are you gellin? If you look at television, you know where I’m coming from. This is part of an 0ld commercial for Doctor Scholl’s Messaging Gel Shoe Insoles. They are alleging that if an individual is wearing this product, they can withstand difficult situations with great peace, grace and forgiveness. My favorite episode it when a gentleman flags down a cab and someone else beats him to the car door and “steals” his ride. Because of those Gel Insoles, he doesn’t get upset but takes it all in his stride. Some time ago I reported to you an incident a member of my Church had in Florida. As Marguerite was doing her morning jog she passed a middle-aged Caucasian woman who yelled out the N word at her. Well, as far as I know, my sister in the Lord wasn’t wearing those Dr. Scholl’s Gel Shoe Insoles but she had the love of God firmly implanted in her heart and she ignored the insult. Even though this incident didn’t occur on April 1st, the joke is certainly on that obnoxious, insensitive middle-aged woman because Marguerite is not an African America, she is actually an East Indian!

SCRIPTURE STUDY:John 14:27, Phil. 4:6,7

WISE SAYING: MOST PEOPLE CAN LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE THEM, BUT IT TAKES A MATURE CHRISTIAN TO LOVE THEIR ENEMIES.

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• The Hardest Test You Will Ever Take by Gene McGuire October, 2013 (wisdom4u.wordpress.com)
• The God Who Loves To Hang Out ! by Gene McGuire November, 2013 (wisdom4u.wordpress.com)
• Let God Lead! by Gene McGuire August, 2013 (prayerwarriors.wordpress.com)
• Scared To Go To Heaven? by Gene McGuire September 30, 2013 (healmenow.wordpress.com)

Praying Salvation October, 2013

^{Ephesians 1: 16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every  way.

Part 2

^{Ephesians 3: 14} For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

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• Prayer Without Thanksgiving ! by E. Davenport October, 2013 (ephesians.wordpress.com)

Scared To Go To Heaven? by Gene McGuire September 30, 2013

“I [Jesus} am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:1,2 & 6)

COMMENT: As I see it, there are three categories of people who approach Jesus. Firstly, we have those who diligently seek the Lord to follow Him and the evidence of their conversion is a changed life; they bear much fruit. The second group are those who are sincere about their salvation, but they are “half-stepping” with one foot in the world and the other appendage in God’s Kingdom. The Bible calls them carnal Christians. (1 Cor. 3:3) They will be saved, but as if through fire (1 Cor 3:15) and they also will not avail themselves of the abundant life right here on earth that is available to those who follow closely after the Lord. (John 10:10) Finally, we have people who confess the Lordship of Jesus with their mouths but their hearts are not in it. They’re only interested in some “fire insurance” just in case this “Hell thing” is real. You may see them at church every Sunday looking pious and spiritual but in their everyday lifestyle, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I believe that this latter group will be the ones who will be taken away and thrown into the fire. Periodically, we all might want to reexamine ourselves to make sure of our standing.

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Matthew 7:21,22,23 and 25:31-41

Salvation Cannot Be Comproimised! August, 2013

 

“In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'” (John 3:3, NIV)

I laugh when I hear born again believers say they are out of work.  You seem God has plenty of work for us to do.  In fact, He gave us a job of telling people about Christ and many think it’s something that we aren’t supposed tp do.  In fact, if your family or friends are anything like mine you will get the strongest reaction from them when you let them know that you are born again.  And that reaction most likely won’t be that great!   People who really like you realize that they don’t so much.  They just thought they did.  You are quietly ostracized mainly by Christians who feel you are a tad too serious.  It happens so much…that you get used to it.  You have two choices at this point…(cause its a test) because you can either scale it back (your zest and enthusiasm) or you can keep praying, keep staying before God…ignoring all of the people and their views…keep being you!   I do not have time to evaluate what others are doing…because the devil tries his best to get me off course…but Hod daily loads me with benefits!   And I’m so glad.  Stsy on course…remember why you’re here and complete your mission!

 

 

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Independence In Christ! July, 2013

 

 

I have been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I have been bought with a price; I am not my own; I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

 

The Times Of Salvation! June, 2013

We are surrounded on every side by good people who are headed to hell.  What are you going to do about it?  Are you going to keep smiling?   I will not do it.  I had a vision many years ago.  Jesus had come back and everyone was walking to where he was…except those that had been deceived into not accepting  Christ as Messiah.

Galatians 1

⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested^[a] on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹² And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter‘s Sermon at Pentecost

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.^{[b] 16} But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
¹⁸ even on my male servants^[c] and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
¹⁹ And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
²⁰ the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
²¹ And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus,^[d] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ²⁴ God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
²⁶ therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
²⁷ For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³ Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
³⁵     until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

³⁷ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe^[e] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Want To Know More About Jesus? April , 2013

I was one of the fortunate ones, though my parents did not regularly attend church…they sent me regularly!   It was there that I found Jesus.  I am so thankful because it changed my life.

If you sincerely want to know more about Jesus…He is awaiting your visit with him.  Go to claybe.com for starters.

 

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and to save what was lost.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:16, KJV 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.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

John 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:9 I [Jesus] am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

John 10:27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 4:10,12 …It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth… [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Acts 15:11 …We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved…

Acts 16:30-31 …“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”

Romans 6:23, KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13, KJV For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 1:18, KJV For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 15:2-4 By this gospel you are saved … [specifically] that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation…

Luke 13:3 …unless you repent, you too will all perish.

 

Acts 3:19, KJV Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Ephesians 1:7 In [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…

He Died For Us! March, 2013

Matthew 27:50-53
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.