The cross of Christ destroyed all selfishness. The love that seeks no life but giving itself for others has been made available to us. Close fellowship with each other is a sacred and vital as our fellowship with God. (Google image, The fellowship of believers/ Great read)
Our spiritual life depends on it. And the only way of showing men our love for God and the reality of God's love for us is through our love for one another.
Our Lord Jesus prayer, " 'That they all may be one . . . that the world may know that thou . . . hast loved them, as thou hast loved me' " (John 17:21,23).
Jesus taught us that a divided church is powerless before the enemy. Only love for the brethren like God's and Christ's will give us the victory. The world will be compelled to acknowledge that Christ's love is present and working in us.
When the New Testament standard of spiritual life is lifted up and our love of the brethren proves the reality of our love for God, our life will conform to the image of Jesus. Our prayers will be delivered from the selfishness that often hinders them.
Our heart will feel a new confidence that God will hear our prayers for the growth of a holy temple in the Lord. God's presence with us and our devotion to Him can be the mark of our daily life.
(Chapter 8, pp. 42, 43)
by Andrew Murray
Copyright © 1984
Copyright © 1984
by Whitaker House
Used by permission
Let's pray-
Father, our fellowship with You, Christ, and with other believers, constitutes the blessedness of being built as Your habitation in Your Spirit.
Because Christ destroyed all selfishness that seeks no life but His own by giving Himself for others, and which has been made available to us, we can now have close fellowship with each other in a sacred and vital way; as our fellowship with You.
Actually, our spiritual life depends on it, as it's the only way to show others our love for You, and the reality of Your love for us through our love for one another.
As Jesus taught that a divided church is powerless before the enemy, only love for the brethren will give us the victory. Others will be compelled to acknowledge that Christ's love is present and working in us. May we have a standard of spiritual life, lifting up Christ's love among us, and thus proving the reality of our love for You. May our prayers be delivered from the selfishness that would hinder us.
We ask this in Christ's name, and to His glory. Amen
Marriage challenge:
Thankful for the Challenges
By Jill and Mark Savage
Today's Bible verses-
you, he who receives whomsoever I send receives
Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who
sent Me."
John 3:14 (NKJV) "We know that we have passed
from death to life, because we love the brethren. He
who does not love his brother abides in death."
1 Peter 1:22 (NIV) "Now that you have purified
yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have
sincere love for each other, love one another deeply
from the heart."
Today's quote-
~ Nancy Demary- Freedom from Bitterness:
1. Recognize that someone has caused you pain and the your response to their sin, or your perception of an offense, will either free you or bind you.
2. Repent if you have allowed the sin of another to cause your relationship with God to falter. You may have been a victim of sin initially, but at some point you become a perpetrator if you feel you must take vengeance rather than allow God to deal with the individual. Victims can turn into violators if unforgiveness festers.
3. Read God's Word daily, often so when temptation comes to react to situations, especially those that involve past pain, you can be freshly reminded of God's promises to help you overcome wrong feelings.
4. Rejoice in the reality that God is faithful to you no matter what you have experienced. He knows the depth of pain you have gone through. Jesus put Himself through the dregs of sins and every imaginable offense so that we would have opportunity to forgive and be free.
5. Remind yourself daily that because Christ has forgiven you, you must also forgive others (Co. 3:13). Praying for the person who has wronged you will develop love in your heart toward them. It's not because they asked for or deserve forgiveness, but it's your extending grace to them, as Christ has done to us.
REMEMBER: Do not let feelings lead you, but God's Word instead.
Words of wisdom-
~ The blood of Christ is the only eternal defeat to Satan. Our faith for victory is in that Blood!
~ We have divine energy given to us; God's energy. Our job is to submit to His Holy Spirit Who lives within us.
Today's guest post-
|
". . . As Thanksgiving draws near, I’d like to share a few other blessings I am grateful for in my life.
- My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I cannot imagine my life without God.
- My husband’s love and commitment to the Lord, our family, and me. I am a blessed woman . . . "
List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam NY church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!
Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
Helpful ways the Lord helped me in my marriage
Upcoming posts:
#18 Proclaiming the Way of Life
26th- Tuesday's post by Andrew MurrayAnother Chance
30th- Saturday's post by Patricia Raybon
#19 Answering Our Call
Dec. 3rd- Tuesday's post by Andrew Murray
#20 Opening the Door to Power
5th- Thursday's post by Andrew Murray
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