LUKE AND JOHN

It's Saturday morning, and I've been reading Luke 17 through John 12.  Here are some highlights: 1) Luke 19:10  "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost".  This is Jesus Christ's declaration of purpose.... He came to save the lost.  That was us and now we too are to be seeking the lost.  Thank God for Christians who will obey God's call upon their lives to share the Gospel. 2) Luke 22:40 says "Pray that ye enter not into temptation."  and verse 46 says: "rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."  The Bible teaches we should avoid temptation, not just sin.  The sin starts when we get around the temptation.  Purity is avoiding temptation not avoiding sin.  We are to be wise concerning good and simple (not knowledgable) concerning evil. If we avoid only the sin, we are made aware of the sin by the temptation.  If we avoid the temptation, we can be simple concerning the evil.  If we never enter a tavern, we don't know what sins lurk within because we have avoided the temptation.  If we keep ourselves pure, it will not because we are strong enough to avoid sin, but wise enough to know we are weak enough, so we avoid the temptation altogether!!  3) John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."  John the Baptist said that and that is good advice from a good Baptist.  Exalt Christ!  That is our mission everyday.... to exalt Christ through our lives, our words, our actions, our very being.  Let self deminish and let Christ be exalted in our lives.  Praise God!! 4) THE TEST OF GOD'S WILL   John 7:17 says: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."  The proof is in the pudding!  That means that the doing of God's will confirms the knowing of God's will!  We sometimes put too much emphasis on the knowing of God's will, but the DOING of God's Will is what is most important.  If we have any doubts as to God's Will the solution is simple enough, just do what you think is God's Will and the DOING of it will either confirm that it is, or confirm that it is not God's Will.  Well, I'm out of time this morning, got a Men's Prayer Breakfast to go to.  May God bless and tomorrow.... is SUNDAY!!!  Praise God.   Pastor Mike Mutchler

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