Power in the Word--April

We are continuing in our weekly scripture discipline to encourage you to read and study God's Word more and also meditate on the key thoughts of our recent articles.  We pray this will encourage and assist you as you grow in the Kingdom.

April--Week Seventeen

Article:  ​Peace in the Midst of Crisis

  • If you want peace in your life on a consistent basis, you must always stay in God's Word--His Constitution--and be tuned in to the Holy Spirit living in you. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!  Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.  Isaiah 26:3-4  
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  • The day that you learn to trust in the Lord with all your heart you will have peace.  Trust brings peace.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6  NKJV  
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  • The peace you need is the peace that only the Lord God can give.   I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  John 14:27  
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  • Trust says, "If God said it, it will come to pass".  You trust God's timing. His Word is Truth.  If you truly are born by His Spirit and following His instruction, you conduct yourself in a Kingdom lifestyle.  It becomes a natural part of your behavior and you don't have to think about it.  For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 1 John 5:4 

​All NLT scriptures unless noted.

Paul's letters to the church in Corinth:

​As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you.  What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
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​This week, read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 13.  Paul's final words to the church at Corinth.
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​​Keep seeking the Kingdom! ​

April--Week Sixteen

Article:  ​Are We Like Sheep?

  • Sheep need to be guided by a shepherd.  Our King Jesus is the Good Shepherd. “I am the good shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me, just as my Father knows Me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15  
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  • Those who belong to the King will know His voice and will not be led away by a stranger.  After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice...My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me.  John 10:4-5, 27  
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  • Those of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit have a responsibility to always be prepared to feed His sheep God's Word.  Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”

    “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “You know I love You.”

    “Then take care of My sheep,” Jesus said.

    A third time He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”

    Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love you.”

    Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep."  John 21:16-17      ​

All NLT scriptures unless noted.

Paul's letters to the church in Corinth:

​As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you.  What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
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​This week, read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 11-12.  Continuing in Paul's letters to the church.  He writes about his trials, difficulties and his "thorn in the flesh".  Also the people following false apostles.
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​​Keep seeking the Kingdom! ​

April--Week Fifteen

Article:  ​What Defines You?

  • From the very beginning, John the Baptist made it very clear as to who he was and what he was assigned to do while here on this earth. He had clarity of purpose! That defined who he was.  “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."  Matthew 3:11  
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  • He was the one to introduce the King to the world.   The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for He existed long before me.’  I did not recognize Him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that He might be revealed to Israel.”

    Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon Him.  I didn’t know He was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, He told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’  I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that He is the Chosen One of God.”  John 1:29-34      John the Baptist made it quite clear that he was only to introduce the King and nothing more.  He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.  John 3:30  
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  • Whatever is a priority in your everyday life--your lifestyle--will define who you are.  Jesus was and is the King and that is what defined Him.  Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, My followers would fight to keep Me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But My Kingdom is not of this world.”

    Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

    Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth.  All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”  John 18:36-37  

All NLT scriptures unless noted.

Paul's letters to the church in Corinth:

​As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you.  What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
​
​This week, read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 9-10.  Continuing in Paul's letters to the church.  He writes about cheerful giving, the spiritual war and Paul's authority.
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​​Keep seeking the Kingdom! ​

April--Week Fourteen

Article:  ​​Operating in a Fallen World

  • From the very beginning, when they chose not to listen and obey the Lord God's command, ​​​mankind needed a Savior.​  The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.  At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.  Genesis 3:6-7  
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  • In order to operate in victory, you must have the Governor--the Holy Spirit--living within you.  “If you love me, obey My commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you."  John 14:15-17  
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  • Every person must have the Holy Spirit--our Governor--living in them to become a citizen of the Kingdom.  Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.  So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”  John 3:5-8  

All NLT scriptures unless noted.

Paul's letters to the church in Corinth:

​As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you.  What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
​
​This week, read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 7-8.  Continuing in Paul's letters to the church.  He writes about the church's repentance and encourages them to excel in giving.

​​Keep seeking the Kingdom! ​