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"Curse Not The Curseless" Part 1

As I sat in the congregation and listened to the man of God as he taught the word, I picked up some important points he made on the issue of curses; he said and I quote” you cannot stop the birds from flying over your head, but can stop them from nesting on it”; as a Christian, you cannot be cursed by anybody since you are blessed of GOD.
Recently, I had a minor issue with a fellow Christians, and all they did was to lay curses without justification;all I did was to concern every negative pronouncement in the name of Jesus.
First of all, the believer needs to realize that we live in a cursed world. There are people who are cursed all around us. Many of these people curse others. But God's provision for his people is great! We should be focusing on our God who is our source of strength, provisions and protection and not fear the enemy's might as Israel did in the wilderness.Fearing Satan, his hosts or curses only gives the enemy more power in your life. Fear is not trusting God. It is yielding to the lies and intimidation of the enemy. If the truth will set people free (Jn. 8:32), then believing the enemy's lies keeps people in bondage. God's children must live by the truth.
Secondly, God is able to protect his people from curses.
When Balak, the king of Moab called upon Balaam to curse the Israelites, God stopped Balaam from doing it. "But God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.' " (Numbers 22:12)
"However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you." (Deuteronomy 23:5)
Thirdly, God has promised protection to the righteous from curses resting on them.
"Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest." (Proverbs 26:2)
Learn to stand on the truth and the armor of God will be firmly in place upon your life. (Eph. 6:10-18)...

"Let That Marriage Work"

I would imagine that the vast majority enter marriage without serious thought. They certainly do not think in terms of "making a marriage successful." The continuing high divorce rate and many now simply " living together" suggests lack of serious thought.
Recognize God’s authority. God is the creator of man and woman (Gen. 2). He is also the author of marriage (Gen. 2 ; 3). Since God knows man and woman and is the author of marriage, He certainly has the right to tell us how to have a successful marriage. From the Genesis account learn that Eve was to be a "help meet," Adam was to leave mother and father and "cleave unto his wife," Adam was also to provide, and Eve was to be subjection to Adam (Gen. 2:18, 24, 3:17-19, 16). Other scriptures tell us more about marriage (Eph. 5: 22-6:4). Marriage, as ordained by God, is monogamous and permanent. (Matt. 19:4-10).
There must be denial of selfishness. One of the paramount cases for failure in marriages is selfishness. The "love" of Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33 is an unselfish love. This love actually has as its action the seeking of what is best for another. I Corinthians 7: 3-5 contains teaching which is illustrative of selfishness.
Recognize a spiritual partnership. Beloved, the ideal marriage is a marriage which is based on strong spiritual conviction and a spiritual foundation (1pet. 3:7; Matt. 7: 24-28). Both should be Christians – having the same beliefs, goals, and values.
Marriage is a beautiful institution. It is in this union that man and woman find their ultimate social, emotional, and biological fulfillment. Marriage, as established and ordered by God, is desirable and successful.

"Let that marriage work".

Opportunity!

Life consists of a number of elements and variables. In the case of the Christian, there is the matter of providence (I Pet. 3: 12). Chance and simple eventuality play a major role in our lives. "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong…but time and chance happeneth to them all," wrote the wise man (Eccl. 9: 11). Sometimes circumstances are such that they are conducive to success, this is what we call opportunity.
There can be opportunity sought for evil. Paul wrote of the wicked, "Their feet are swift to shed blood" (Rom. 3: 15). Such people seek occasion to perform their mischief. Perhaps the best known man of infamy is the betrayal of the sinless Son of God, Judas Iscariot. Regarding Judas we read, "And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him" (Matt. 26: 16).
Opportunity for doing good. The Greek words translated "opportunity" basically suggest a "fit season." Circumstances can often be such that one can be afforded a chance for doing a good deed. Hear Paul: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6: 10). Paul realized that the prevailing circumstances might be such as to not be conducive. On the other hand, he is saying, the condition could be favorable.
As acknowledged, there are several factors in determining the shaping of life's situations. Desire and values, though, usually determine our decisions to act or not act relative to opportunity. For instance, the writer of Hebrews mentioned concerning certain faithful ones of old that, "If they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned" (Heb. 11: 15). Let us be ready to every good work (Tit. 3: 1).

Don't Procrastinate

Procrastination is a major cause of waste and failure. Procrastination is defined as, "to defer action, delay, to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost" (R. H. C. D., pg. 1056).
Examples of procrastination in the Bible. The Bible is replete with examples of people who failed to act when they should have. Luke 14: 15-24 contains the parable of God's invitation to man to partake of His blessings. However, the parable shows that many will not partake of God's feast. Some will defer because they have "bought a piece of ground" (Lk. 15: 18). Another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them" (vs. 19). A third said, "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come" (vs. 20). They each deferred action and missed out on a wonderful opportunity, they procrastinated.
How to avoid procrastination. One way to avoid wasteful procrastination is by having the right value system. As seen in the parable of the Great Supper, each had their own priorities that kept them from accepting the invitation from God. "I do not have time to serve God" simply means people have priorities ahead of God. We must first seek matters pertaining to God (Matt. 6: 33). Successful people in the Bible were always people of immediacy, they did not defer (Acts 10: 33, 16: 33). It has been said that "tomorrow" is the busiest day of people's lives. This is because many people defer until tomorrow what they should do today. Hence, they never really address and perform these tasks.
The emphasis of the scriptures is on "today," not tomorrow (Heb. 3: 15). "For he saith," Paul wrote, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6: 2). Beloved, opportunities are missed, lives are ruined, and souls are lost because of procrastination.

"A failures will always say tomorrow".

Fate Of The Faithless Part One

All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for. A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity.

Can you comment on church growth?

The question is very thought provoking. There are two ways to effect church "growth" - God’s way and man’s way. Those who track such matters tell us that much of the numerical growth experienced by religions today is "growth" which appeals to selfishness and materialism.
God’s way of creating church growth. God’s word teaches us that the church (Jesus’ church, Matt. 16: 18) is essential, viewed both from the local and universal perspective (cf. Acts 2: 47; Eph, 1: 3-7). Christians are to be members of a local church. In such a relationship they assemble (Heb. 10: 25; Acts 2: 42), edify one another (Eph. 4: 12-16), sing praise to God and one another (Eph. 5: 19), have the pure word preached to them (Acts 20: 7, 27, 28), are overseen by scriptural bishops (I Tim. 3: 1-7; Heb. 13: 7), give of their means into the local treasury (I Cor. 16: 1, 2), and observe the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11: 23-28). God’s growth occurs in principally two ways: (1) the saints are built up by the gospel, and (2) the lost become Christians by obeying the gospel (Jas. 1: 21; I Tim. 3: 15; 2 Thes. 1: 7-9). The pure truth is the essence of such growth (I Pet. 2: 1, 2: Acts 20: 32).
Man’s way of creating church growth. Man’s way is to have just enough of the truth to be deceiving to the undiscerning (cf. Gal. 1: 6-9). Appeals are made to make people happy by dining and providing social fulfillment. Special effort is made to socially satisfy the divorced, the young, the singles, etc. Appeals are made to people’s children, in providing secular schools and day care. The goal is to please the people, not God. Larger numbers and bigger, nicer buildings with less of God and His word is the order! Much emphasis is placed on bands and modern music with fun and frolic for all.
We must decide whom we desire to please with our growth - God or ourselves.

What Is Prejudice?

Answer: Prejudice is basically pre-judgment. According to the Random House College Dictionary prejudice is: "An unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought or reason" (pg. 1046). Prejudice is not forming an unfavorable position after having considered all the pertinent facts (common use today). Every time the action or presence of prejudice is mentioned in the Bible it is condemned (cf. Prov. 18: 13; Matt. 13: 14; Acts 22: 22; 7: 57).

Biblical facts concerning prejudice. Prejudice (forming a conclusion without having the facts) often produces unjustified alarm (Ex. 1: 9, 10). Prejudice results in spiritual blindness and ignorance (2 Cor. 3: 14). Prejudice can produce religious fanaticism (Lk. 7: 36-39).

What produces prejudice? The causes of prejudice are many. Apathy or laziness to obtain the facts causes prejudice (cf. 17: 32). Fear can cause people to close their minds (Jn. 9: 18-23). Pride is a common producer of prejudice, some would rather not know than have to admit error (Acts 7: 57). Willful ignorance is also a common cause of prejudice (2 Pet. 3: 5).

Remedy for prejudice. Christ-likeness is a cure for prejudice because Christ never exhibited prejudice (cf. Phili. 2: 5). repentance will end prejudice (2 Cor 7: 10, 11). If one has a love for the truth, they will not possess prejudice (2 Thess. 2: 10-12). Paul’s exhortation to "prove all things" will eliminate prejudice (I Thess. 5: 21).

We must be open minded and willing to investigate (Acts 17: 11). However, we must use the right standard to determine right and wrong (Ibid.). Always study God’s word for the purpose of making application. We will hold some things to be true, some to be false - but our position will be based on fact not prejudice!

Successful Businessman John Beckett

...I went for years, searching and struggling. For me, the way home was neither clear nor compelling. I understand others who are confused. For the longest time, I thought it was enough to “be good,” to “do kind deeds,” to “be moral” or to serve others. I now realize these are important, but they are not transformational. They’re not the same as coming home spiritually. That only happens when we enter a personal, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.At this critical transition in my own life, I understood very little about the profound change that was taking place. Now, through insights gained from the Bible, from sound teaching and the “classroom of life,” I have a much better grasp of how a person enters and walks out that vital relationship. As I explain how one becomes properly related to God, I’m sure I won’t address every question. But I believe I’ve found a reliable roadmap. I know it would have helped me on my journey. I trust it will help you...