S: Galatians 3:11-12: 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."

O: We are to live by faith. Law is not faith. The law was given so we would see we needed to have faith in God's Word because we could not live by the law. In the flesh, only Jesus is righteous, yet we are to be righteous. Jesus is the Word of God who became flesh. We are to live by faith and by faith in Jesus Christ, the Word, we are counted righteous.

A: I will live by faith, faith in Jesus Christ.

P: Lord, be my faith; give me faith; strengthen my faith; and lead me to share my faith by your Holy Spirit so that others may know you and have faith, too.

-TODD HORNE

Sometimes we refer to Christians as believers or disciples. Some Christians may even use the terms interchangeably. In this post, I want to address the question, what is a disciple? In doing so, it should become abundantly clear that these two terms--believer and disciple--are not the same.

You might say that to become a believer is the means but to become a disciple is the end. It is good when a person repents of his sins and places His trust in what Christ did on the cross. All of heaven rejoices when that occurs. But God's ultimate will is for each man and each woman to become a disciple of the teachings of His Son Jesus Christ. Hence, in the Great Commission, we are commanded, "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19, NIV).

Frank King is a former church pastor. He is currently an evangelist and an author. Frank holds a Master of Theology degree. Through the grace of God, Frank has been blessed to cross cultural lines in his preaching. Website: http://www.efrankking.com
Blog: http://wwwefrankking.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITER - MAKE YOUR OWN WEBSITE

1. THE GIFT OF LISTENING...
But you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming,
no planning your response.
Just listening.

2. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...
Be generous with appropriate hugs,
kisses, pats on the back, and handholds.
Let these small actions demonstrate the
love you have for family and friends.

3. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...
Clip cartoons.
Share articles and funny stories.
Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

4. THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...
It can be a simple
"Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet.
A brief, handwritten note may be remembered
for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

5. THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...
A simple and sincere,
You look great in red," "You did a super job,"
or "That was a wonderful meal"
can make someone's day.

6. THE GIFT OF A FAVOR...
Every day, go out of your way
to do something kind.

7. THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...
There are times when we want nothing better
than to be left alone.
Be sensitive to those times and give
the gift of solitude to others.

8. THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...
The easiest way to feel good is
to extend a kind word to someone.
Really, it's not that hard to say,
Hello or Thank You.

As Christians, we must have a willingness to serve God. That's because even though He is God and is omnipotent, He does not make us serve Him. He wants us to serve Him because we want to. In other words, what God wants from useven more than our ability is our availability to Him.

That was the point Gideon was missing. Yes, he was from a poor family, and he was the least in his father's house, but God was not looking for a man steeped in ability. Rather, He was looking for availability. God can supply us whatever additional resources we need to get the mission accomplished. What He can't supply is our willingness to serve God. That has to come from us. So what is your availability?

Copyright 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

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Tim Tebow, quarterback for the NFL football team Denver Broncos, has done much to bring faith into the media spotlight. "Tebowing" has become a catch phrase which brings to mind the image of a kneeling football player.

Much discussion has been taking place concerning whether or not God really cares about football. The Bible tells us that God loves us, but He does not promise us that everything will work out the way we want, but rather as He wants. Living life trusting in a holy, all-knowing, all-powerful God is how the Bible tells us we should live.

Mr. Tebow is simply living, and publically exhibiting, the faith he has known all his life. Detractors just can't stand the fact that he is able to do this in the public forum with which he is associatednamely NFL football. Anytime there is a public display of faith, religion, or spirituality there will be those who vocally complain that it is being 'forced' on them. They say that "religion should be kept private". The Word of God disagrees with these critics.

The Bible makes it clear that God loves people and is concerned with the day to day activities in which they engage. God wants people to know Him, love Him, and worship Him. Believers in Jesus Christ are called to be examples to the world of God's love: "Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world..."(Philippians 2:14-15 ESV)

Jesus never promised that we would be rich, successful, or healthy if we followed Him. What the Bible tells us is that mankind is in rebellion to a holy God. Because of our sin, we are separated from the love of God and the life He wants us to live. We cannot fix ourselves nor do enough good to cover our own sin. Jesus Christ came to earth and died on a cross to make full payment for the debt we cannot pay ourselves. Only by trusting in Jesus, and giving our lives to Him, can we be forgiven and enjoy a right relationship with the Creator of the universe.

Tim Tebow knows this, he personally experiences this relationship with God, he loves Jesus, and he wants everyone to know it. This is why he gives God the glory by praying to Him in every aspect of his life, even during football games. Whether the Broncos win or lose, God is still God. Tim Tebow trusts that the outcome of the games in which he participates will serve to glorify God.

God deserves our worship, love, gratitude, and obedience. Tim Tebow knows this. That is why he kneels and prays to God. That is why everyone should do likewise.

Seeking to introduce people to Jesus Christ and to help them become "transformed by the renewing of their mind."

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However, God does know. And, He has gone before us.

For me, my experience yesterday was awkward, unsettling, disconcerting and rife with uncertainty. I felt my situation was unfair in a number of ways. This much I knew: I was in control of nothing, plans I had made adrift and work I had done appearing to evaporate before my very eyes. I lunged into God seeking refuge. I prayed from my wrenched heart, crying out.

In Genesis 41, Pharaoh needed someone to interpret a troubling dream. His wise men and magicians were clueless. When Pharaoh called upon Joseph, he gave the king the true meaning to his dream, but made it clear that the answer came from God.

Likewise, we should seek the Lord for answers--not make up ones that are self-serving or otherwise politically correct. Such responses are often doomed to failure because they are not based on God’s plan, nor do they rely on faith. Whether it’s a troubling dream, a financial concern, or an unsolvable family problem, we must always ask God for the answer.

Dear Savior, during times of uncertainty, I will wait in prayer until I receive Your reply. Your answer is the only one I truly need. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

The origin of the human spirit is found in the "breath of life" given to us by God, (Genesis 2:7). The human spirit is gifted to us and may be specifically identified as the "life" found in the breath of God, (Job 33:4). This is true of all human beings fore, this is how God brings humans into being.

There are three notable attributes of God inherent all humans as we share this breath of life, or what we refer to as our spirit. These three God given characteristics are Agape, which is love, Zoe, which is life or light, and Virtue, which is power. It is important to stress that God gave us these attributes not for us to master them by utilizing them, or that we should master the receiving of them. God does require however, that He be the Master for us as to orchestrate and realize these attributes truthfully and effectively in our lives.

Satan aims to tap and control the human spirit by deceitfully influencing the soul, specifically the heart. Satan targets those who begin and continue a journey of misguided interpretation of identifying and expressing these attributes.

God, on the other hand, has for us to be led into deeper truths and development regarding these attributes. This is made possible through the acceptance of Jesus, and then having the gift and guiding of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, Satan's intent is to produce death, while God intends for us to produce life.

The following verse is specific to an explanation of Satan's influence of deception regarding Agape, Zoë and Virtue as God has revealed it in His word.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Satan is known as the "prince of this world",( John 14:30). So Satan is aligned with the world and the world with him. The pride of life, lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh are words explaining Satan's influence of deception regarding our interpretation of what is embodied within our spirit.

Pride of Life is a misguided interputation of what we understand about Zoe. Zoe is a word defined more correctly as, the life of God. This gift of life we receive is perceived by humans as something we own, leading us to imagine we are "self generating". Pride of life describes an attitude of ownership, which is untrue and works within us to not recognize our creator. Rather, we are led to believe we are our own god, having control of life. This creates a focus on self and a decision making process that feels no necessity of relational aid from God. This all spells destruction to the life we've been gifted.

Lust of the eyes is a misguided interputation of what we understand about Virtue. Virtue is a word defined more correctly as power. God provides us the awareness and the desire for this attribute for the purpose of living a life according to His will. The awareness and the presence of a God given power, meant to be achieved through Him, is falsely perceived by humans as a power attainable through the gateway of the eyes. Our eyes are symbolic of what we see inwardly, or reason, and may achieve through the knowledge of human wisdom (Genesis 3:5). In our world and society "knowledge is power". The lust of the eyes describes this misguided attitude man has in believing he may acquire power by achieving success through the resource of his own wisdom.

Lust of the flesh is a misguided interputation of what we understand about Agape. Agape is a word defined more correctly as love. This ability in agape is meant to be expressed in an emotional motivation to give, or to sacrifice. God means for this to be our greatest gift as He has designed all of His creation to operate within the give and receive principle. Having therefore, an emotional and mental tendency to love, in a giving way, plays well for us to receive that for which He has us to receive. Greatest of all, more agape. Man unfortunately, attempts to utilize the emotional and mental abilities of agape by receiving as much emotional stimulation as the world can offer. Consequently, the violation of the truth concerning agape, leads to attempts of acquiring emotional and mental stimulation through houses, cars, money, other human beings, status, etc. The gateway for which the things of the world, or the ground, stimulate us is through our flesh. The explanation behind this appealing influence is that our bodies are made of the same material that tends to inspire us. For this reason, the lust of the flesh describes a misguided attitude and ability to love things which are of no true value nor profit to man.

I have a desire to see the body of Christ edified. Within the broad spectrum of edification I feel there exists a great need and opportunity for spiritual education at foundational levels. Please contact me about speaking at your church. Dale Linton 410-378-5035 or dale@agapesolutions.org

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The English word for mutter means to ponder. But the book Joshua was not originally originally written in English, it was written in Hebrew. In Hebrew the actual word used is the word hagah, which means to utter or mutter under your breath. In other words, when you meditate on God's Word, you speak forth or confess His Word instead of just lifting it up in your mind and thinking about it - giving it mental assent, as my Latin professor in college used to say.

Don't just think about it. Meditate on it. Walk around muttering the Word of God. Who cares if people you think you're crazy?

- TODD HORNE