THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Four pastors were playing golf on Monday. One of them said, "God really blessed me with a great sermon yesterday. He opened the gate to green pastures, still waters and restored souls."
Another pastor asked, "How did the congregation respond?"
The first pastor said, "Well, most of 'em just swung on the gate!"
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John 11:43-44
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
(KJV)
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When Jesus called Lazarus from the grave, he was still "bound" by the grave clothes. He was ALIVE, but he was not FREE! Jesus commanded others to FREE Lazarus from his bindings.
When Jesus calls us out of the deadness of sins to salvation, we are ALIVE but not FREE! The church is commanded to FREE saved sinners from the bindings!
Now, listen, 'cause this is important. When God created heaven and earth with His spoken Word, the Bible says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:1-3)
You see, God created the universe NEW for continued creation! Although the universe was MADE, it was made for continued work! God's Spirit had to move, and God's Word had to speak in order for more and better things to happen.
Though we become new creations (2Corinthians 5:17) when we are saved, we are created new for continued creation! It is a CONTINUING work of God. And He does that work through His people.
Just as Jesus spoke to others and told them to loose Lazarus, Jesus speaks to the church and shows the church how to help new Christians grow and mature. It takes a combination of His Spirit, His Word and His PEOPLE!
So, if you're a NEW Christian, be involved in church and LEARN.
And, if you're an OLD Christan, be involved in church and HELP!
Love ya,
Bruce
mcge3582@bellsouth.net
http://www.linktojesus.org
We are created for creating; made for making; formed for forming - all by the Master's hand.