Worship: For Heaven’s Sake The Holy Spirit leads us to acknowledge, regret and forsake our sins and then receive forgiveness so that it as if we never sinned. That’s justification. But the power to live a holy life of obedience and victory over sin: that’s sanctification. This is the mystery of godliness: God living in us. Pastor Flemons walked us through the sanctuary in light of justification and sanctification. (Read more below.)
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Pastor Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness, asks us to look back over our health habits of 2016. It is important to evaluate ourselves and see where we have fallen short in order to improve. As we go through TOR’s REFRESHING way lifestyle, ask yourself these questions. (Read more below.)
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TOMORROW
Worship: January 1 – WHY WAS SIN PERMITTED?
Wellness: January 1 – THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: THE MOUTH
NEXT RETREAT: February 20-March 9, 2017.
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Words of Encouragement
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Jonah 2:1-2 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, and said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, And he heard me; Out of the belly of hell cried I, And thou heardst my voice.
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For Heaven’s Sake…
Justification and sanctification work together. In the beginning of walking with Christ, there is always the up and down, unsteady walk of a child in Christ. In those moments where sin is committed again, there again is justification. There again is the Holy Spirit at work in the new life in Christ. As you mature in Christ, the walk becomes more steady–and then sure. That is what sanctification accomplishes in the life.
Sanctification is not only the power to abstain from the unholy (including unholy thoughts) but power to remain holy. “It’s a process,” says Pastor Flemons. “Where justification is righteousness imputed, sanctification is righteousness imparted… Righteousness becomes a part of who I am. … It’s just letting Christ dwell.” Sanctification is abiding in Christ. Enoch did it. Noah did it. Abraham did it. Moses did it. Rahab did it. Everyone named in the Hall of Faith did it. (Read Hebrews 11.) Rather, God did it in them. And He will do it in us, if we are willing. God is no respecter of persons.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.
“If you are abstaining, you are remaining with God. You have to step away from God in order to sin. You can’t sin when you are in the presence of God,” says Pastor Flemons.
It is a process of growth. We all once sinned, not knowing. We just did what we were taught. We did what we observed. It was all done in ignorance.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.
God wants us to hate sin. He wants us to hate what He hates and love what He loves. It is a growth process. Everyday that we wake up, we are to grow in Christ by dying daily to self and selfishness. “I die daily,” said Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:31.
Dying daily to self; abiding in Christ through prayer, Bible study and seizing opportunities to witness for Him through service to humanity; we can endure to the end and be saved.
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Jude 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.
For Health’s Sake…
Are you letting anything hinder you from spending that sacred daily personal time with Christ in prayer and Bible study?
R – Rely on God.
Are you eating a diet of white rice, white flour, rather than brown rice or whole grains? Are you still eating the flesh of dead animals and their byproducts? Remember it keeps your blood acidic, creating a perfect environment that feeds disease, including cancer.
E – Eat healthy.
Are you getting out every day in the fresh air? Are you cracking those windows so that you can breathe in fresh air to allow you a more sound and healthy sleep during those hours that your body is repairing itself?
F – Fresh air.
Are you getting to bed on time? Do you stay up til midnight or 1 a.m.? Do you keep the Sabbath holy and get that sacred rest? Are you watching TV until bedtime, which does not allow your mind to rest? Rather read the Bible before bedtime for a more peaceful rest.
R – Rest.
Are you getting enough exercise, whether through physical work like gardening or simply walking 30 minutes a day? Or are you being a couch potato?
E – Exercise.
Are you practicing temperance, using self-control, where you are abstaining from harmful things, like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, chemical-laden foods? Are you doing in moderation those things that are good? Or are you overworking, overeating, overdoing it?
S – Self-Control.
Are you drinking enough water every day? Are you drinking half your body’s weight in ounces?
H – H20 – Water.
Are you getting at least 20 minutes of sunlight every day to get that vitamin D?
I – In the sun.
Are you giving up too easily? Are you not giving enough time to get well?
N – Never give up.
Are you selfish with the gifts that God has given you?
G – Give to others.