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Sermon:
Culmination …a
wrap up of
the Salvation series
by Chris Cumming
printer-friendly
MP3
On the 18th of January of this year (2020),
I presented to you the sermon, “Double-down”
which shared with you a hands-on perspective to repentance. I began
that sermon with this statement:
“Back in July and August of 2014, I gave four sermons as part of a Holiness
series. You can see all these sermons at the Las
Vegas site. This sermon is the fourteenth in this series.
Each is a stand-alone sermon on the same overall subject: Holiness.”
So “Double-down” is part of the Holiness
series of four
(4) sermons. From this one sermon, I have put together fourteen (14)
sermons in what I call the, “Salvation
series.” You
can see these sermon titles and subjects on the Sermons
page of the Las
Vegas site.
Each sermon has a key verse or two you heard in “Double-down.”
Today is the fourteenth and last sermon in this series.
Let us begin.
This is the culmination (climactic
point) of the
Salvation Series. This is where we bring together the elements of the 13
sermons of the series. You can use this fourteenth as a tool to access
each of the principles and concepts of those sermons. Let us begin with
an obvious tool; a list of the sermon titles and subjects just as you
see in the Sermons section of the Las Vegas site:
Now a table showing title and SPS or “specific
purpose statement” which is the stated purpose of the sermon, the
primary subject of the sermon.
Question: How would one summarize these thirteen sermons in one
short dialogue.
Firstfruits of God are called to the salvation process. We are living a
life of repentance which is a program of constant spiritual renewal.
With every instance of temptation, we depart from evil by mortifying the
sin. We hate sin with a white-hot hatred and rebuke evil
thoughts/temptations in the name of Jesus Christ. We constantly purify
our souls, being and remaining clean in the presence of God. Doing so
puts separation between us and temptation/sin. We are unshackled from
those sins. Continually doing this betters our state before God. The
better our spiritual state, the closer we are to God and the more we
know Him. This results in our knowing the will of God and living by
it. This is how we perfect holiness. All this is possible by the Holy
Spirit of God in us. Therefore, we allow Christ to work in and through
us by the power of God in us, the Holy Spirit.
Let me restate this using the phraseology of the SPS statements:
*Maintain your presence in the salvation process.
*Be repentant
*Mortify sin
*Depart from evil
*Unshackle yourself from sin
*Seek good
*Do good
*Purify yourself
*Be clean in the presence of God
*Stay close to God
*Get to really know God
*Determine His will and live by it.
*Perfect Holiness
*Walk in the Spirit of God
*Get to a better spiritual state.
Now three tools regarding the scriptures from the Double Down sermon:
Scriptures in Sermon, “Double Down”
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1 Peter 1:22 |
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1 Peter 1:22-23 |
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1 Peter 2:1-2 |
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1 Peter 4:2-4 |
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2 Corinthians 7:1 |
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3 John 1:11 |
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Colossians 3:5-9 |
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Ephesians 4:22-23 |
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Ezekiel 18:30-32 |
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Galatians 5:16 |
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Galatians 5:24-26 |
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Hebrews 10:22-24 |
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Isaiah 1:16-17 |
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James 1:8 |
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James 1:21 |
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James 4:8 |
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Job 22:21-23 |
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Psalm 18:20-24 |
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Psalm 34:14 |
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Romans 8:1 |
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Romans 8:13 |
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Titus 2:14 |
Scriptures in Sermon, “Double Down” and Salvation Series sermon in
which they appear.
The next table gives the title, the subject and these Double Down
scriptures used in it.
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# |
Title |
A sermon about… |
Scriptures |
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1 |
Gentrify |
renewal |
Colossians 3:5-9
Ephesians 4:22-23
Ezekiel 18:30-32
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|
2 |
Abdicate & Submerse |
departure and seeking |
3 John 1:11
Isaiah 1:16-17
Psalm 34:14
Titus 2:14
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|
3 |
Lave |
spiritual washing |
1 Peter 2:1-2
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ephesians 4:22-23
Ezekiel 18:30-32
Isaiah 1:16-17
James 4:8
Psalm 34:14
Titus 2:14
|
|
4 |
Edulcorate |
purification |
1 Peter 1:22-23
James 1:21
James 4:8
|
|
5 |
Mortification |
spiritual mortification |
Galatians 5:24-26
Romans 8:13
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|
6 |
Asseverate |
a better state |
2 Corinthians 7:1
Colossians 3:5-9
Ephesians 4:22-23
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7 |
Unshackled |
manifesting yourself from evil and things negative |
1 Peter 1:22-23
James 1:21
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8 |
Volition. |
living the will of God |
1 Peter 4:2-4
|
|
9 |
Proximity |
drawing nigh to God |
1 Peter 1:22
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ezekiel 18:30-32
Hebrews 10:22-24
Isaiah 1:16-17
James 1:8
James 4:8
Psalm 18:20-24
|
|
10 |
Convene |
acquaintance |
Job 22:21-23
|
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11 |
Chase |
goodness and pursuit |
3 John 1:11
Isaiah 1:16-17
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12 |
Ameliorate |
how to perfect holiness |
1 Peter 1:22-23
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ezekiel 18:30-32
Isaiah 1:16-17
James 4:8
Titus 2:14
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|
13 |
Advance |
spiritual walking |
Galatians 5:16
Galatians 5:24-26
Romans 8:1
Titus 2:14
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Next we will take each of the thirteen sermon in
turn with a quick synopsis for each.
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#1
Gentrify |
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Spiritual
renewal. Be repentant. Stay in salvation process.
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Manifest spiritual renewal.
Repentance is what spiritual renewal is all about. Spiritual
renewal is what the salvation process is all about.
--Turn yourself from all your
transgressions.
--Cast away the transgressions.
--Make a new heart and new
spirit.
Ephesians 4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of
your mind.
Put off the old man. The “old
man” is what you were before conversion.
Let us put these eleven (11)
transgressions into a list you can readily use. Manifest
spiritual renewal by casting off:
1] Neglect
2] Complaining
3] Self-doubt
4] Blaming
5] Lack of Self-Control
6] Criticizing Others
7] Bossiness
8] Rejection
9] Manipulation
10] Deception
11] Selfishness
"Spiritual
renewal and the transformation of your life, your family, the
church, the Work and the very Kingdom of God cannot take place
unless there is first renewal and transformation in you."
Manifest spiritual renewal.
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#2
Abdicate & Submerse |
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A sermon
about departure and seeking. The departure is from evil and
sin. The Seeking is to do good, seeking peace and pursuing
peace. These things we seek are what we submerse ourselves
into.
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Psalm 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
The key points of this sermon are:
Depart from
evil.
Do good.
Seek peace.
Pursue peace.
Depart from evil
Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from
evil.
Psalm 37:27
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Do Good:
Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Seek Peace
Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another.
Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein
we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Pursue Peace
Pursue (Psalm 34:14) is word H7291 and means to run after.
If we put
evil to flight and persecute it as trash in our mind, we will be
freed from it and the result will be peace.
“Peace is a
daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions,
slowly eroding old barriers, and quietly building new
structures.” ~John F. Kennedy
Abdicate the
negative & Submerse yourself into the good.
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#3
Lave |
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Spiritual
washing. Purify yourself. Be clean in the presence of God
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Isaiah 1:16-17
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings
from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge
the fatherless, plead for the widow.
---Cleanse:
to remove by or as if by cleaning.
---Put away: put distance between you and the sin or negative
element.
---Wash: remove stains. Word H7364: To lave [wash
by pouring water].
We are to be
continually spiritually clean in the presence of God.
Wash you:
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Put away the
evil:
Isaiah 55:6-7
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while
he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have
mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Cease to do
evil:
Romans 12:9
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil;
cleave to that which is good.
Learn to do
well:
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of
light.
"Cleaning and organizing is a practice not a project."
Continue to
be clean in the presence of God
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#4
Edulcorate
[ih-duhl-kuh-reyt] |
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Purification. Chasten, clean, decontaminate, disinfect, purge,
sanctify, wash.
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The key
verses are:
James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your
hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1 Peter 1:22-23
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that
ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
ever.
--Purified
your souls.
--Obeying the truth.
--Love one another.
--Manifest fervency.
Definitions:
---Purify: free from foreign, extraneous or objectionable
elements, such as the sin or negative element. Purge.
---Obey: comply to commands and instructions.
---Fervency: intensity; enthusiasm; zeal; gusto.
James 1:18
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we
should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1] What made
the salvation process possible?
2] What is a primary mission of Jesus Christ regarding humans?
3] What does Jesus Christ want to do with humans?
4] What does Jesus Christ and God want to instill in the humans
they work with?
Turn to the
second chapter of Titus.
Titus 2:14
[see
Lesson]
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works.
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#5
Mortification |
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Spiritual
mortification. Mortify bad deeds and habits. Mortify
temptations and sin.
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Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and
the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
God hates
evil and He wants us to hate sin and evil. Notice the
commentary for this verse:
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil
- All evil in general, evil thoughts, evil words, evil actions,
evil company, evil worship, and evil doctrines; and by "the fear
of the Lord", which shows itself in an hatred of evil, because
of the loathsome nature of it, and being contrary to God and his
will. ~John Gill
Notice
another commentary:
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil
- As it is impossible to hate evil without loving good; and as
hatred to evil will lead a man to abandon the evil way; and love
to goodness will lead him to do what is right in the sight of
God, under the influence of that Spirit which has given the
hatred to evil, and inspired the love of goodness: hence this
implies the sum and substance of true religion, which is here
termed the fear of the Lord.
~Adam Clarke
This is one
fantastic commentary as it catches the essence of the verse.
Let us break it down for your meditations:
1] It is
impossible to hate evil without loving good.
2] Hating evil will lead us to abandon the evil way.
3] Love of goodness [holiness] will lead us to Godly action.
4] All this is done by the power of God in us; the Holy Spirit.
5] The Holy Spirit manifests in us hatred of evil and love of
goodness.
6] All this is the sum and substance of true religion (our
piety).
7] All this is termed, "the fear of the Lord"
Learn to hate
sin. Manifest white-hot hatred for sin and all things
negative. Use this hatred to kill or mortify the sin from your
heart, mind, soul and action.
What will be
the result of doing this? You will be led to a powerful love of
goodness and holiness and this will lead you to Godly actions
and all good works.
You cannot do
this of yourself. Both the white-hot hatred and the powerful
Godly love are manifestations of the Holy Spirit in you or, as
we say, Jesus Christ living in and through you by the power of
the Holy Spirit.
Mortify sin
and all evil and negative things.
Mortify sin.
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#6
Asseverate |
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Getting to a
better state. Continual improvement.
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Asseverate
[uh-sev-uh-reyt]:
--to declare
earnestly or solemnly; affirm positively;
This is a
sermon about changing to a better state. In the previous
sermon, the subject was mortification. Its purpose was to
encourage us to mortify sin. This sermon is a logical follow-up
to that one. If we are in a process of mortifying sin, our
resulting character is better, we are better and more mature.
So, seek a
better state for yourself.
Better your
state.
How many of
you have noticed that the word, “Asseverate” is not specifically
speaking to you bettering your spiritual state but rather speaks
to a promise being made. In this case, we are speaking of
firstfruits making a promise before God to grow in maturity and
to stay in the salvation process to the end.
Hebrews 6:1a
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,
let us go on unto perfection;
~emphasis mine
Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth
more and more unto the perfect day.
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven
is perfect.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
We declare
earnestly to God, in the most powerful personal and spiritual
terms that:
--we are
committed to God.
--we affirm our faith to Him.
--we are resolute in going on to perfection.
--we continue in absolute obedience to God.
--we express to God and ourselves that we will maintain the
process to the end.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they
become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch
your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it
becomes your destiny.
~ Unknown
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#7
Unshackled |
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Unshackle yourself (from sin). Manifesting yourself from evil and things negative
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James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity [soo-per-floo-i-tee]
[excessive amounts] of
naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which
is able to save your souls.
To unshackle
ourselves from evil and all things negative and bad is to
immerse ourselves into the Word of God. We must continue to
involve ourselves deeply in that Word. We must absorb it.
God’s Word must be embedded in our hearts, minds and souls.
Unshackle
yourself.
If you have
the text of this sermon, you notice that in the commentary on,
“the ingrafted word” I mark some text in bold and blue letters:
that have meekly and humbly received it. Just wanted to point
out that a forward-moving firstfruit realizes that all the
goodness in his/her life, to include daily blessings, knowledge,
wisdom, understanding, healing and many miracles and
interventions are all accomplished and experienced by the power
of God or Christ working in and through us. Our seeing this on a
minute-by-minute and day-by-day basis results in us being meek
and humble. We stand in awe to what God is doing in our lives
and we realize that the meekness and humbleness in our mind and
heart is, itself, fruit of the Spirit of God.
Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your
brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake,
said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your
joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Now listen to
this from the fly leaf of the Bible published by the D. L. Moody
Institute:
The
Bible…This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the
way of life, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers.
Read it to be wise. Believe it to be safe. Practice it to be
holy.
It gives
light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer
you.
It is the
traveler’s map, the soldier’s sword, the Christian’s chart.
It should
fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it
slowly, frequently, prayerfully.
It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest
labor, and condemns all who trifle with it.
All of these
verses and all of these statements together show the fullness
and totality that the Word of God is.
Isn’t this
true regarding everything about God?
He owns
everything.
He wants to
give us everything
He demands
100% obedience
He demands
your life….TOTAL COMMITMENT
He wants
total commitment to Him and His Word.
“There is little hope for us
until we become tough-minded enough to break loose from the
shackles of prejudice, half-truths, and down-right ignorance.”
“There is nothing evil save that which perverts the mind and
shackles the conscience.”
So go now and
Unshackle yourself.
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#8
Volition |
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Live the will
of God
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Volition
1]
the act of willing, choosing or resolving.
2] a choice or decision made by the will.
3] the power of willing – the power of the will.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.
The purpose
of this sermon is to encourage all of us to live the will of
God.
Live the will
of God.
Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling.
All through
this sermon, my encouragement to you has been, “Live the will of
God.” To some, this might be stating that the firstfruit uses
his or her own power to do this. However, all these verses show
that God is establishing His will in you. In other words, I
live the will of God by totally surrendering to Him so he can
manifest His will in my heart, mind and soul. Once established
and maintained, I naturally do things by His will. God says
this later in Philippians.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
So let the
work of God be wrought in you and do the will of Almighty God.
Live the will
of God
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#9
Proximity |
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Be in proximity to God.
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James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your
hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Double-down
Phrases:
--Draw nigh to God
--Cleanse your hands.
--Purify your hearts.
--Do not allow yourself to be double minded.
Draw nigh to
God:
Hebrews 10:22-24
22 Let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to
good works:
Psalm 73:28
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust
in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Commentary:
Declare all thy works - of
providence and grace, by proclaiming the wisdom, power,
goodness, and faithfulness of God in them; by giving him the
glory of them, and by expressing thankfulness for them, both by
words and deeds. ~John Gill
You declare
the Work of God in your words, deeds, and actions. You become
the living metaphor of God. The idea is that deep in their
minds they do not see you but the God in you.
I will leave
you with the words of Abraham Lincoln:
My concern is
not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on
God’s side, for God is always right.
'I have been
driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction
that I had nowhere else to go.
Be in
proximity to God.
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#10
Convene |
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Acquaint
yourself with God
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Job 22:21-23
21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good
shall come unto thee.
22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his
words in thine heart.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou
shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
Double-down
Phrases:
--Acquaint yourself with God.
--Be at peace.
--Receive the Law and words of God.
--Return or repent.
1] Acquaint
yourself with God.
2] Be at peace.
3] Receive the Law and words of God.
4] Return or repent.
Item 1
begins when God calls us.
Item 2
is a fruit of the Spirit and denotes that God does not want any
negative elements between you and Him.
Item 3
is the key element of the process. This begins with full
immersion in the Word of God and then making every word a part
of your heart, mind and soul.
Item 4
is the element that keeps this procedure going. God knows we
are human and subject to sin, so we have repentance to keep our
spiritual garment clean. Repentance is abundantly linked to the
second item: Peace. When we repent, we remove guilt, sorrow and
other negative elements that would harm the relationship.
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#11
Chase |
|
Goodness and pursuit. Follow that which is good.
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|
3 John 1:11
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.
He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not
seen God.
Follow:
conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey.
Imitate or copy. Move forward. To go after.
God is truth
Exodus 34:6
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed,
The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth,
The Word of
God is truth
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Follow that
which is good.
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#12
Ameliorate |
|
How to
perfect Holiness. Perfect Holiness
|
|
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Double-down
Phrases:
--Cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
--Perfect Holiness.
--Have fear of God.
2 Corinthians
7:1
phrases:
1] Let us cleanse ourselves.
2] From all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
3] Perfecting holiness.
4] In the fear of God.
1] Let us
cleanse ourselves.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2] From all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God
your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3] Perfecting holiness.
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven
is perfect.
4] In the fear of God.
Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the
LORD men depart from evil.
"God
sometimes takes us into troubled waters...Not to drown us, but
to cleanse us.”
"I am
learning to love the sound of my feet walking away from things
not meant for me."
Perfect
Holiness
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#13
Advance |
|
Spiritual
walking. Walk in the Spirit.
|
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit.
Galatians
5:24-26
24 And they
that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another,
envying one another.
Double-down Phrases:
--Crucify the flesh
--Live in the Spirit
--Walk in the Spirit
--Control desire and eliminate any desire for anything negative
and/or against the Word of God.
Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk
in the Spirit,
and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
“You will know if you are on the right path when God directs
your choices.”
“Those who walk with God always
reach their destination.”
Maybe the best quote is the words of Paul in our last key verse
(Galatians 5:16):
“This I say then, walk in the Spirit.” |
This ends our recap of the Salvation Series.
So go now and continue your journey in the salvation process all the way
to eternal life.
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