ICE Cubed

The next time you encounter ice, whether ice outside, ice in your beverage, or even an ice pop, take a moment to think about the I.C.E. acronym. The I.C.E. Framework acronym reminds us of many aspects pertaining to living out the Christian life.

[You can view the presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/ice-cubed or continue to read.]

Life Guide Posts: The Guide Posts are Integrity, Capability, and Eternity.

(1) Integrity points us to live life with a character seeking after God’s own heart, preferably in a way people respect & recognize.

Titus 2:7-8 (ESV): 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

(2) Capability reminds us to apply abilities in following God and in other areas of our life.

1 Corinthians 10:12-14 (ESV): 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

(3) Eternity focused means we need to ensure we are seeking & living out the faith & righteousness to be admitted into Heaven forever.

John 3:16 (ESV): 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Life Role Modeling: Life Role Modeling includes Imitate, Christ, and Equipped. Our Role Models are Jesus Christ and his followers for eternity. Likewise, Role Models are useful for skills to apply in our world.

(A) Imitate: Just as we are to imitate the Apostle Paul who imitates Christ by learning from his faith, love, and decision-making processes, we are likewise to learn from Jesus’ other followers too.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV): 1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

(B) Christ: Jesus Christ is Our Role Model and Redeemer. Jesus shows us the way to God the Father, and the way we are expected to live our lives with faith.

John 14:6 (ESV): 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

(C) Equipped: Just like the fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, so too faith in Jesus Christ is the beginning of the Christian life. To live this life properly involves continually becoming increasingly more equipped to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and all people through studying & applying scripture lessons.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Life Monitoring & Correction: Our Life Monitoring & Correction includes Introspection, Confession, and Evaluation.

(I) Introspection: To properly look inside yourself introspectively requires looking into the diagnostic mirror that God provides via his words and often those God sends into your life. To look at yourself without these diagnostic tools risks self-deception or self-despair. Even in worldly matters, organizations often bring in outside expertise to facilitate the diagnosis and repair process.

James 1:22-27 (ESV): 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

(II) Confession: As a result of our Introspection, each of us is to confess our sins to God and repent of them, and turn away from doing those kinds of sins again. Additionally, we are to confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our belief in him.

1 John 1:9 (ESV): 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:23 (ESV): 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

(III) Evaluation: Each of us is instructed to evaluate how our lives compare to living according to the Word of God, which can help to guide us in areas to correct. If we are remiss, and yet are true children of God, God monitors us to also help us to correct areas needing improvement.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (ESV): 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Besides applying this I.C.E. Framework to your Christian life directly, you can also apply the I.C.E. Framework to your worldly life domains supportively.

Galatians 3:23-24 (ESV): 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

The I.C.E. Framework (I.C.E Acronym) reminds us of many passages in God’s Word that pertain to our living our Christian life faithfully and fully. To keep the material brief & quickly digestible, only one or two supporting Bible quotes were selected for each area, though many more exist. You can search the Bible further at the Bible Gateway at http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Christ&qs_version=ESV or use a search tool of your preference.

[You can view the presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/ice-cubed and also download a copy if you prefer]

I.C.E. Framework Review:

I. The I.C.E. Framework encompasses several aspects pertaining to living out the __________ life.

II. Life Guide Posts are I________, C_________, and E_________.

III. Life Role Models are I________, C_________, and E_________.

IV. Life Monitor & Correct tools are I________, C________, and E_________.

V. You can also apply the I.C.E. Framework to your _______ life domains supportively.

I.C.E. Life Guide Posts Review:

A. Integrity points us to live life with a __________ seeking after God’s own heart.

B. Capability reminds us to apply our ___________ in following God in all our life areas.

C. Eternity focused reminds us to ensure we are seeking & living out faith & righteousness to be admitted into _________ forever.

I.C.E. Life Role Model Review:

1. Imitate the Apostle Paul & others who imitates Christ by learning from their ______, _____, and ______-______ processes.

2. Jesus Christ is Our Role Model and _________ who shows the way to God the Father and how to live our _______ with faith.

3. ________ in Jesus Christ is the beginning of the Christian life.

4. Christians must continually become increasingly more __________ to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and all ________.

I.C.E. Life Monitor & Correct Review:

i. To properly look inside yourself introspectively requires looking into the diagnostic _______ God provides.

ii. To look at yourself without God’s diagnostic tools risks self-_________ or self-________.

iii. Each of us is to confess our sins to God and _______ of them.

iv. Christians are to confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our _______ in him.

v. Each of us must evaluate how our lives ______ to living according to the Word of God to help guide us in areas to ________.

vi. God monitors true believers to also help us to correct & improve areas needing _________.

Credits:

(1) Chilled Font from Font River at http://www.fontriver.com/font/chilled/

(2) Clip Art from Microsoft Office at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images

Next Steps:

You are welcome to view I.C.E. Cubed presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/ice-cubed and also download a copy if you prefer, like this post, or post a comment to our community.

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What Choice Do You Have?

People have Choices:

You have choices: Pick Wisely.

Proverbs 27:12 (ESV): 12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

You have a choice: A choice to pick good or evil:

Deuteronomy 30:15 (ESV): 15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

You must decide: A choice to pick blessings or curses:

Deuteronomy 11:26 (ESV): 26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

You have a choice to flee sexual immorality:

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV): 8 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

You have a choice to seek God’s righteousness:

Zephaniah 2:3 (ESV): 

3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,
who do his just commands;
seek righteousness; seek humility;
perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of the anger of the Lord.

Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV): 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

You have a choice to pick slavery in sin or freedom in the truth:

John 8:31-38 (ESV): 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

You have a choice to pursue light or darkness:

John 8:12-20 (ESV): 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

You have a choice to fellowship with those who follow God the Father, his Son Jesus the Savior, and the Holy Spirit:

Hebrews 10:24-27 (ESV): 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

You have a choice to tithe, to give 10% of your total income, one or more times annually. Yes, that would add up to more than 10%.

Malachi 3:9-11 (ESV): 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.

You have a choice to pay your owed taxes:

Mark 12:13-17 (ESV): 13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

You have a choice to serve God or money:

Matthew 6:19-24 (ESV): 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

You have a choice to make your calling & election sure:

2 Peter 1:3-11 (ESV): 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You have a choice to sow to the spirit persistently.

Galatians 6:7-9 (ESV): 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Choose Wisely according to the Greater Wisdom!

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (ESV): 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

God’s cheering for you to make the right decision!

2 Kings 17:13-14 (ESV): 13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” 14 But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God.

Matthew 23;37-38 (ESV): 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate

God tells the truth and does not lie. God gives you legitimate choices. God wishes for you to pick blessings, but will let you pick curses. Pick Wisely!

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The Greatest Commandments

The Greatest Commandments:

Mark 12:28-31 (ESV):

28 One of the teachers of the law  came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus,  “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

The Ten Commandments:

Exodus 20:1-18 (ESV): 

1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

Further References:

Andy Stanley has an informative video on God’s Commandments applying on two levels: (1) One level is to love your neighbor, which is the horizontal, and (2)  the other level is to love God, which is the vertical level. The visual above reinforces this message using the imagery of the cross.

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Life’s Top Mission

Challenging Misconceptions:
How are you doing on this life’s top mission and purpose to find, follow, and live in and live out an enduring faith in God?

People were made in God’s image to have the opportunity to become increasingly like God, who is known through Jesus the Son of God, who is God, and reveals God.

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God is knowable, yet unknown by many.
God is truth, but often obscured by so-called facts.
God is love, though misunderstood due to worldly misguided love.
God is wise, despite lofty specks of dust unwisely perceiving foolishness.
God is righteous, even as accused of  unrighteousness by people who do evil.

Have you found God despite the war of ideas to designed to obscure truth?
Have you located love of God, though life fosters hatred and misplaced love?
Have you uncovered the ultimate wisdom, despite lesser wisdom’s appeal?
Have you sought Jesus’ righteousness, even as one’s own ways seem right?
Have you pursued knowing the knowable God, and yet must continue chasing?

Have you allowed your own strongholds against God to be liberated by the only Savior able to liberate one’s soul?

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (ESV):

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience,  when your obedience is complete.

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Heaven’s Reign on Earth

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Acknowledging our incomplete understanding of heaven and its’ ordinances, while looking forward to Jesus’ reign on earth by God’s power, we ask in the Lord’s prayer for God’s will to be done on earth as in heaven, understanding God is holy and heaven far exceeds earth.

Job 38:33 (ESV):

33  Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?

Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV):

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

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Prayer & Preparation Power

Faith in God is proactive. Faith nurtures drawing closer to Jesus in character, thoughts, and actions by pondering scriptures ahead of imminent need. Preparing for emerging adversities encompasses paying attention to yourself to strengthen your faith in God prior to life’s storms. Faith reaches out with prayers to God in advance to have spiritual power to patiently persevere through trials & temptations.

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Luke 21:34-36 (ESV):

³⁴ “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Bible Genesis Creation Account

Courtesy of CreationOpia, the Bible Genesis Creation Account has been studied for thousands of years, as mere mortals desire to understand further the mystery of how God Created Our Universe. Until Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools and technologies were available, our paradigm on how to understand the account recorded in Genesis 1 & 2 was limited. The Bible Genesis Creation Account presentation shown here steps through the Bible verse by verse, and challenges the reader to view Our Universe’s formation through a new lens. Thought provoking questions are asked along the way. The desire is that readers will find this new perspective refreshing and enlightening.

To download, click the Bible Genesis Creation Account link for the Presentation in PDF format. Alternatively, view the Presentation At SlideShare at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account

To download, click the Bible Genesis Creation Account link for the Presentation in PDF format. Alternatively, view the Presentation At SlideShare at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account

To download, click the Bible Genesis Creation Account link for the Presentation in PDF format. Alternatively, view the Presentation At SlideShare at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account

To download, click the Bible Genesis Creation Account link for the Presentation in PDF format. Alternatively, view the Presentation At SlideShare at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account

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• Theory: Genesis Creation Narrative (http://vimeo.com/27783174) by Hidetsugu Murakami

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Manna Nutrition

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In our modern day, a wide variety of vitamins and supplements are available. What nutrients are necessary and beneficial? What if scientists had the original manna God sent the Israelites from heaven for food to analyze to see its’ nutritional value to engineer similar diets & supplements?

When it comes to our health, diet is important. For our soul, diet is insufficient. Even with a God-given diet of manna and meat, God was spiritually disappointed with most of the people, illustrating the lack of spiritual value in observing numerous ‘religious’ dietary restrictions that seem godly merely on the surface. The Lord is much more interested in our following him. The Son of God made this clear, explaining it’s what emanates from the heart that defiles a person rather than what one eats.

What is manna? It is a flaky white bread like honey flavored wafers provided by God. Because this was a key part of the people’s diet, either God fortified this flavored bread with added nutrition or the bread contained nutrition naturally.

The description of the flaky manna bread described in the Bible is reminiscent of Baklava, though it is not Baklava. Baklava is present in Turkish and Greek food, and other cultural food, with the Greek variety having a greater honey emphasis.

Exodus 16:32-35 (ESV):

32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord  has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.'” 33 And Moses said to Aaron,  “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.” 34 As the  Lord  commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept. 35 The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

Matthew 15:16-20 (ESV):

15 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

1 Corinthians 8:8-9 (ESV):

8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

Exodus 16:12-15 (ESV):

12 “I  have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At  twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.'” 13 In the evening  quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing,fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Exodus 16:31-32 (ESV):

31 Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord  has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.'”

Baklava

(1) http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/Baklava.htm
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baklava
(3) http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Baklava
(4) http://www.sarahmelamed.com/2010/04/baklava-arabian-delights/
(5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_cuisine

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Sweetness Miracle

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When analyzing God’s miracles, one wonders if sometimes God uses keen scientific knowledge to accomplish the results. God can change matter, yet God may choose to use simpler natural means. God had Moses place a specific log into bitter water to make it sweet. The 2011 Physics article about the berry that makes bitter food taste sweet challenges us to wonder whether God used a scientific means to transform bitter water into sweet water. Did God leverage specific knowledge of what made the water bitter, to put in biological agent/s to permanently counteract that bitterness?  As scientists continue to learn more over the decades, centuries, and millennia, it’s possible greater scientific insights will emerge to inform speculation as to whether certain miracles showcased in the Bible were achieved by God leveraging science & nature knowledge, or instead due to God simply using his intervention powers to change nature. Faith, trust, and turning to God makes all the difference under either scenario, since God can act using a variety of techniques. After God counteracts the bitter water, God assures his people at that same location, that if they observe his commands & statutes and do what is right in God’s eyes, that none of the diseases that afflicted the Egyptians would afflict them. At first glance, what would bitter and sweet water have to do with diseases? It was not until thousands of years later, that a more advanced understanding of diseases & viruses & bacteria emerged with modern scientific knowledge. God making that statement at this location suggests a possible linkage to biological processes to transform bitter water into sweet water. Let’s move beyond these speculations, since God is mysterious and powerful and did not reveal this to us specifically. At an abstract level, God healed the bitter water by making it sweet, showing his care and protection for his people. God offered an extended level of care and protection from diseases, which could prematurely end a person’s life or increase life’s bitter struggles. God’s timing in making that promise after transforming the bitter water into sweet water, serves to reinforce God’s ability to fulfill his promises. Do you take advantage of the protections God offers through his promises, and also through the tools science provides?

(1) Exodus 15:23-26 (ESV):

23 When they came to Marah,they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he  cried to the  Lord , and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he  tested them, 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”

(2) Researchers uncover secrets of ‘miracle fruit’, September 27, 2011 by Bob Yirka,
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-09-uncover-secrets-miracle-fruit.html

(3) Holman Bible Dictionary on Diseases, http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T1622

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Fragrance of Christ

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Many wear fragrances everyday such as deodorant, scented clothes, perfumes, and colognes, or exude the a-la-natural fragrance. Let’s likewise make a habit of sprinkling on Christ’s fragrance daily, to be encouraging to those who follow the Lord, through our knowledge and living and spreading of the way.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (ESV):

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

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Discipleship’s Cost

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The Parable of the Sower shows some people start in the faith and then fall away. Obstacles to remaining faithful include family, possessions, and one’s own life too. Jesus directs followers to closely examine discipleship’s cost, to be prepared to pay, rather than fall away. Life has challenges. Jesus points out these challenges for us to successfully face them directly head-on rather than have us stumble due to being caught off-guard.

Luke 14:25-33 (ESV):

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke 8:4-8 (ESV):

4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.”  As he said these things, he called out,  “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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What & Who You Know

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What you know matters. Who you know matters. Who you know influences what you know. What you know influences who you know. Know God. A direct line to the top protects, informs, and delivers.

Luke 10:21-24 (ESV):

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

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Virtuous, Victorious, & Valuable

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Through intense trials Satan coordinated as permitted by God, Job clung to God’s ways, correctly perceiving by remaining faithful and virtuous he’d emerge victorious & valuable, reflecting good plans God has for all who follow him through life and its’ adversities.

Job 23:10

10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

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Profitable to God?

God granted Satan permission to afflict Job for a time as a test, leading many later to find encouragement from how Job handled the situation. Job’s friends incorrectly interpreted Job’s affliction as a sign of his guilt, and applied their wisdom and knowledge to make their case against Job. While their views were flawed, we can learn about their views compared to revealed truths elsewhere in scripture to help us correct similarly mistaken perspectives that are often assumed without carefully consulting God’s word. The question ‘Can a man be profitable to God?’ is asked with an implied answer of ‘No’. Should the implied answer be Yes? God’s word is profitable. God’s people play a critical participative role in spreading God’s word. God’s word is good for teaching, reproof, correction, and righteousness. Scriptures show many prophets like Elijah and Elisha, leaders like David and Moses, and disciples & apostles like Peter & Paul who are profitable to God’s mission. People are profitable to God through furthering God’s purposes, spreading God’s word to reach the lost through the gospel, and helping God to bring people from error to righteousness according to God’s plans. When Job’s friend says ‘Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself’, there is an implied ‘only’ at the end of the sentence suggesting an individual’s wisdom only benefits the individual and not God and not others. It is true that if you are wise, it benefits yourself, and the lack of wisdom similarly harms oneself. Wisdom also has the power to benefit others and God’s purposes too. God is willing to give more wisdom to followers who ask in faith without doubting. Why? Reason suggests the increased wisdom enables believers to be more helpful and profitable inline with God’s purposes.

Job 22:2 (ESV):

2 “Can a man be profitable to God?
Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV):

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God  may be competent,  equipped for every good work.

Titus 3:8 (ESV):

8 The saying is  trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Proverbs 8:35-36 (ESV):

35  For  whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, 36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

James 1:5-6 (ESV):

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

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The Three Guides and The Centurion

The centurion exhibited the three guides of (1) faith, (2) love, and (3) wisdom in his request with Jesus. 

*  Wisdom: The centurion exhibited WISDOM by sending people Jesus would most likely listen to in the request to grant the healing.

*  Love: The centurion exhibited LOVE for his highly valued servant by seeking Jesus to heal his servant once he learned about Jesus.

*  Faith: Jesus marveling at the centurion’s great FAITH shows the centurion’s request was deeply rooted in faith.

Luke 7:1-5 (ESV):

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

Luke 7:6-9 (ESV):

6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

Next Steps:

View The Three Guides Presentation on Wisdom, Faith, and Love:

Alternatively, go to the SlideShare site at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/the-three-guides-wisdom-faith-love to view The Three Guides Presentation on Wisdom, Faith, and Love.

Download:

You can also download the presentation at this Three Guides Download link.

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• The Three Guides and The Centurion (bibleopia.wordpress.com) (This article)
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• The Three Guides (bibleopia.wordpress.com)

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Lifetime Pursuit of Speech Refinement

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A lifetime pursuit is to refine our speech. The pursuit is futile, even deceptive, and counter-productive if the inner soul remains a wasteland. So, working with God to repair our inner soul is critical. Even with good heart treasures, speech refinement is a lifelong pursuit for more reasons. Why? To add to speech more clarity, drama, and entertainment, and to customize messages for specific purposes and audiences. How can our speech lead more to know God, and know God more intimately, to gain eternal life through Jesus Christ?

Luke 6:45 (ESV):

45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

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Sins Traps

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Many common responses to sinful human failings keep people trapped. How so? Pride leads people to portray their sins as virtues, a major obstacle to identifying and pursuing a need to change. Worldly wisdom leads people to imagine these sinful human failings as in their best interest, which keeps them from searching and finding righteous ways that are really in their best interest. Blaiming others for short-comings interferes with taking the necessary responsibility to tackle personal short-comings directly. Comparisons to others likewise situated can lead to downplaying sin’s seriousness, as can comparisons to those worse, leading to ignoring comparisons to those better who showcase more productive ways to live and confront sins. Recognizing sin’s trap can lead to despair and hopelessness, which can interfere with the hope needed to find a way out. How to get out of these traps? God provides sound materials and often helpful people too, to help people see and confront sinful human failings. God seeks to help people do what is right when repentant and willing to change. God provides a way out of sin and the faith and hope and guides to pursue it, although the consequences often remain in effect, as a reminder to be more diligent next time to do the right thing.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV):

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous 2 will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

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Remove Malice & Evil

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To meet our responsibility to clean out the old leaven of malice and evil, God provides us Bible tools, Jesus Christ’s words & life, the Holy Spirit, and the community of believers, so we can speak and live in sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ESV):

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

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Kingdom of God Power

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Knowing we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of God, and that the Kingdom of God consists of power rather than talk, what are we to learn about of the power of the Kingdom of God? Is it the power to change our heart’s motives? Or, the power to change our thoughts from focusing on worldly things to the things of God? Or, is it the power to transform us from a life of hatred to care for others, even those commonly held as enemies? Or, is it the power to perform miracles, which are really fulfilled by God? Is it the power of influence on people’s beliefs? Is it the power faith has in helping people to trust God and do the right thing even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles? What do you think is referenced here as the Kingdom of God’s power?

1 Corinthians 4:9

20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

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God Pleased with Us

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Peace in our fast-paced complex interconnected world is welcome at an individual level. What is required for us to have this peace? God must be pleased with us. What is required for God to be pleased with us? With faith, seeking God, without turning back, it is possible to please God. What kind of nourishment is required to do that? The Spiritual nourishment Christ provides. Is partaking of that nourishment sufficient? Yes, sometimes.  When is it insufficient? When  partakers purposely pursue sin like idolatry, grumbling, desiring evil, sexual immorality, and testing God. When is it sufficient? When people remain in their faith, properly following Christ’s guidance as a new creation born again.

Luke 2:11-14 (ESV):

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is  Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14  “Glory to God  in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

1 Corinthians 1:21 (ESV):

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

Hebrews 11:5-6 (ESV):

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (ESV):

1 For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same  spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (ESV):

12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

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Scale Mountains

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Think of the world’s wisdom and God’s wisdom as two mountains. Even the world’s highest peak is like a tiny hill compared to God’s mountain. Be wise. Scale mountains. Know the limits of the heights of mountains you scale. The ultimate mountain to scale is God’s.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (ESV):

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

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The Three Guides

 

There are two sets of Three Guides in the visual on the right.  Life presents us with many challenging circumstances to figure out what to do. Consider “What does God guide?“. God provides an instruction manual called “The Bible” and a conscience too, to guide us through life. The Bible teaches the One God consists of three distinct persons of one character:

• Father
• Son
• Holy Spirit

Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, believers in God extract guidance from his words and life. After ascending to Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to provide further lifelong guidance to believers. God the Father watches over all creation, and ensures there are always right ways to handle any circumstances, including all temptations and tribulations.

What further guidance does God provide, when there is latitude on how we are to act?

God provides three more guides through our life:

• Wisdom
• Love
• Faith

Jesus’ teachings, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and elsewhere in the Bible contain numerous insights on how the Wisdom Guide is to be used. To have insight, understanding, knowledge, and discretion to pick the wise course of action is a benefit and a blessing throughout life. Consider “What does Wisdom Guide?”

God commands us to Love God totally and to Love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus demonstrated that love by willingly laying down his life as the perfect payment for our sins. The Love Guide is a powerful driver of positive change, leading many to support others emotionally, spiritually, and physically throughout life. Consider “What does Love Guide?”

The Bible instructs us that the righteous live by faith, and showed many living out their faith fruitfully. Faith guided King David to defeat the Philistine Goliath, Ester to save the Jews from Haman’s death sentence, Daniel and his companions to triumph over death sentences by lions and fire, and Jesus’ disciplines to spread the Gospel message widely around the world. The Faith Guide enables believers to stand up to seemingly impossible circumstances, and come out victorious, forgiven, and healed, thanks to God’s interventions. Consider “What does Faith Guide?”

The Love Guide, Wisdom Guide, and Faith Guide are meant to all work together to enable us to make proper decisions. Consider Queen Ester’s defeating Haman’s evil genocide plans. She loved her people the Jews, so she wished to save them all. Wisdom lead her to consider the timing and manner in which to appeal to the King. Faith lead her trust in God as she risked her life to intervene and appeal for the life of her people.

Next Steps:

View The Three Guides Presentation on Wisdom, Faith, and Love:

Alternatively, go to the SlideShare site at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/the-three-guides-wisdom-faith-love to view The Three Guides Presentation on Wisdom, Faith, and Love.

Download:

You can also download the presentation at this Three Guides Presentation Download Link.

Related articles

• The Three Guides and The Centurion (bibleopia.wordpress.com)
• The Three Guides: Characteristics for Success & Favor (bibleopia.wordpress.com)
• The Three Guides (bibleopia.wordpress.com) (This article)

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Supposing to Know God

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Jesus, the Great Physician, came speaking truthful messages God the Father provided. God provided the Bible and his Son Jesus, so we would know and speak the truth about God, and use the scriptures properly, guided by the Holy Spirit of God. Even with all this revelation, many understand God incorrectly. How could those with improper understanding know enough to be wise and keep silent? All people supposing to know God must be willing to search the Bible scriptures to test their understanding and to investigate what they hear from those who perhaps know better. Those who know better play a role to inform, challenge, and stretch their listeners to become mature in their knowledge of God, obedience to God, faith in God, and love for God. Without proper understanding, faith is shallow, love is misguided, supposed knowledge is deception, and obedience risks hypocrisy. With proper understanding, faith is deep and enduring, knowledge is nuanced and wisely applied, obedience reflects a new spirit, and love is fruitful and fulfills the law.

Job 13:4-5 (ESV):

4 As for you, you whitewash with lies;
worthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you would keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!

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Account to God

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God already knows what we have thought and done.  We each are to provide an account of ourselves to God. I wonder what the purpose of that is. Is it for us to understand our lives better and how we behaved? Is it to help us pick and choose correctly now, so we’ll want to share our account before God later? Is it for those being saved by believing & obeying & loving Jesus to understand the depth of forgiveness God has granted? For those whose tears God will wipe away, is this part of that restoration process? For members of God’s Church, the Bride of Christ, is this like in a marriage relationship, where the spouses share with each other deeply? Will others be listening to the account?

Romans 14:10-12 (ESV):

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

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Always Ready for ‘Judgement Day’

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Always be ready for your own ‘Judgment Day’ before God. God will come at anytime to conclude your journey on Earth. Be right before God by a living faith to enter into eternal life justified by Jesus.

Mark 13:32-37 (ESV):

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

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Approaching the Kingdom of God

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Jesus generously offers clues as to how to approach the Kingdom of God, the eternal Kingdom where all power and authority reside. The two most important commandments at first glance look like mere rules, yet they are much more, being directions on who to be to approach the Kingdom of God.

Mark 12:32-34 (ESV):

32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Jesus Rules All

The demons Jesus encountered, like those which were sent into the pigs, show powers beyond the familiar, while illustrating yet again that all powers pale in comparison to Jesus, the Son of God.

Mark 5:9-13 (ESV):

9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

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