Family of God: Re: [FamilyofGod] A New Beginning with the Lord

Amen

On Sun Jan 2nd, 2011 7:48 AM EST Michael J. Knight wrote:

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>A New Beginning with the Lord
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>In John's gospel, Jesus used the symbol of water to describe three
>levels of spiritual development possible through the Holy Spirit:
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>• Level 1: In John 3:5, He spoke of being "born of water and the
>Spirit". This is "the cup of salvation" (Psa 116:13), with which we
>begin our Christian lives. With this cup of water, we are cleansed and
>brought into God's kingdom as His children.
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>• Level 2: In John 4:14, Jesus went further and spoke of that cup
>becoming "a well (spring) of water". This is a deeper experience of the
>Holy Spirit, where all our inner longings are met by Him, so that we
>live in perpetual victory and joy, lacking nothing. A man who has a well
>in his own compound is not dependent on the city corporation's water
>supply. No outsider can turn off his water supply, for he has the source
>of water within his own compound. This is how it is with the Christian
>who has found the secret of perpetual abundance in Christ. No-one
>outside of him can cut off his supply of joy or peace or victory (John
>16:22).
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>• Level 3: In John 7:38, Jesus went still further and said that the
>well would now become a river, and many rivers, flowing out of the
>believer. This is a picture of overflowing abundance. Such a believer is
>able to quench the thirst of many needy people around him. Whereas a
>well satisfies only our own longings, rivers of living water make us a
>blessing to many people, wherever we go.
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>The blessing with which God blessed Abraham was, "I will bless
>you....and in you ALL THE FAMILIES of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen
>12: 2-3). This is the blessing that can now be ours through the Holy
>Spirit (Gal 3:14). When God blesses us to the point of rivers flowing
>out of us, many families in many parts of the country and even in the
>whole world can be blessed through us.
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>The good news of the gospel is that we can be saved from sin and be a
>blessing to others. We can now have rivers of living water flowing out
>through us constantly, and be a blessing to every family that we meet.
>We can be merciful to others just as God has been merciful to us. We can
>release others just as God has released us. We can bless others just as
>God has blessed us. We can give freely to others just as God has freely
>given to us. We can be large-hearted to others just as God has been to
>us.
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>A.W. Tozer in his article Five Decisions For Spiritual Power says: "If
>you are really serious about your spiritual development - the gaining of
>new joy, new power and new life - then you should make certain decisions
>in your heart concerning your life, and proceed to keep them.
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>"One decision is: Never pass on anything about anybody else that will
>hurt him.
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>"`Love covers a multitude of sins' (1Pet 4:8). The talebearer has no
>place in God's favour. If you know something that would hinder or hurt
>the reputation of one of God's children, bury it forever. Let God take
>care of it. `With what judgment you judge, you will be judged' (Matt
>7:2).
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>If you want God to be good to you, you must be good to His children. The
>rules of our Father's table demand that you don't tell stories about
>others who are sitting around that same table with you, no matter what
>their denomination, their nationality or their background." (From the
>book THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS).
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>It will be a good thing if all of us make that decision today - never to
>pass on anything about another that will hurt him or his reputation -
>and keep that decision, not just for the rest of this year but for the
>rest of our lives. Those who have lived by that decision in past years
>have found that when they discarded the worthless from their daily
>conversation, and spoke only what was edifying and profitable, God in
>turn, fulfilled His promise, and made them His spokesmen - His mouth
>(Jer 15:19).
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>This year - and every year - can be a happy year for all of us if we
>release everyone who owes us anything, or who has hurt or harmed us in
>any way. Bury those grudges permanently and be merciful to all men and
>thus make a new beginning with the Lord today.
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>Remember
>Only one life, will soon be past,
>Only what is done, for Christ will last.
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>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
>communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians
>13:14)
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>Love & Prayers,
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>Michael J. Knight.
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>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/>
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>What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
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