A Crucified Life - - Has A Willing Mind

 

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4288

Willing Mind:  inclination, readiness

From the Greek word 'prothumia' (pronounced proth-oo-mee'-ah): before-passion, pre-inclined; predisposed.

    Matthew 22:37

Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’"

    When our minds are willing to love the Lord, then the rest of the body will follow suit. For in our physical anatomies it is the brain that determines how the rest of the body functions. So, too, when our mind is willing to love God before we meet Christ, then naturally we will want to honor God even more so afterwards.

    A crucified life is willing to be obedient to the cause of the cross, the instrument of death by which God has given us life eternal. While it may seem paradoxical, we must remember that God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). 

    In a world where right is wrong and wrong is right, living a crucified life stands out. The lighthouse shines its piercing beams into the darkness of the harbor, highlighting the angry waves crashing against the reefs and the boulders. The born again believer is such, shining the Light of God's Love into that same darkness, that same wave of anger currently smashing itself up against the immovable force.

    A crucified life is willing to be the lighthouse. We have chosen to take a stand and stand up for Jesus, raising high the banner of Grace & Mercy through the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. Our stronghold is our God. Our fortifications are Trust and Obedience, Faith and Hope. 

    We stand on the Word of our God as our standard of living, for Christ is our Way of Life. The light of Christ in us attracts other believers to us, as well as those seeking to become a believer. When the discernment of the Holy Spirit is active within a believer, recognition is instant and joyful. "I know you! You're a Christian! I can see Him in your face." 

    But the hateful heart can also see the difference in our lifestyles without wanting anything to do with us except to try and destroy us. Persecution is on every side; no longer does it hide itself away and depend on secrecy and the darkness to hide its agenda. 

    Blatant hate spews forth in abundance and falls on God's church, Christ's bride. She, however, is both resilient and steadfast, waving her Banner of Love to encourage other believers to keep following Jesus Christ. Her faith in one hand, her Bible in the other, the church moves forward and ahead with a steadfast, sober mind.

    1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

    Galatians 6:9

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

    1 Peter 3:14

Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace--spotless and blameless in His sight.

    Colossians 2:6-8

Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

PERSEVERING

Rise Up - Cain

We Will Not Be Shaken - Brian Johnson

Firm Foundation (He Won't) - Cody Carnes

I Will Trust - Red Rocks Worship

I Surrender All 

There Is A Name - Sean Feucht

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me - CityAlight

Spirit and the Bride - Joshua Aaron

    

A Crucified Life - - Is A Sacrificial Life

 

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might be made rich. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1223

For Your Sakes: on account of, because of, by reason of

From the Greek word 'dia' (pronounced dee-ah'): for the benefit of.

    It is for our benefit that the Son of God left His heavenly home and the wealth it contained: to become like us that we might become like Him. For without Christ we are nothing, we would be the poorest of the poor who have no hope. But with Christ Who is our Hope of Salvation, we have Him living in us through the power of the Holy Spirit of God. What a benefit!

    Know you not that if Christ had not obeyed God and died on the cross for us, more of us would be in hell; myself included. For though I was raised in a Christian home, I did not know Christ personally for myself. Too many times my soul would have known the darkness of hell.

    But thanks be to God! Jesus died for me and I believe in Him for my salvation and my resurrection. Jesus is my Salvation. Jesus is my Resurrection. For my benefit and yours, Jesus "He Shall Save His People" Christ left His glory in heaven and took on the form of mankind that He might taste death for all people. 

    Tasting death but not lingering in it. Becoming like us briefly, but not straying like us. For Jesus Christ had been given the authority to both lay down His life for us and the authority to take life back up! Shout His praise even now! All you His saints!

    A crucified life also turns its back on fame (glory) and fortune (wealth). Living a crucified life requires Biblical discipline: 

~Surrendering our hearts to God (trusting Him completely at all times)

~Submitting to His ways instead of demanding to do it our way

~Conforming our ways to His ways (obeying His will for us)

    This crucified life the born again believer enjoys living brings unspeakable joy, the peace of Christ, and a love like no other~a divine love that covers all sins which are committed against us. To live without the world's pleasures is to live for God's pleasure. Have you made your decision to live for God in Christ? The riches of heaven are mine both now and forever. 

    

    INDIE FOLK WORSHIP 2

I Found God

Beatitude

Defender

Unfailing

Psalm 34:1-9

Red Carpet

You're The Best

Rest In You

Simple

Simple Truth

Filled With the Light

Altar

He Makes Me Well

Home

Seek & Find

Holding Us All Together

Made For Jesus

Lion|Lamb

A Crucified Life - - Is A Productive Life

 

2 Corinthians 7:11

Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2716

Produced: effect by labor, work out, bring to decisive finality, accomplish

From the Greek word 'katergazomai' (pronounced kat-er-gad'-zom-ahee).

    1 Corinthians 12:25

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 

    A heart that was not right with God, was not aligned according to the Word of God, is now made clean before God. That's what repentance does. Godly sorrow changes a person's heart, which changes the way we think, the way we behave. Especially the way we behave towards each other. 

    When Isaiah spoke with God in Isaiah 1:18, he heard this phrase, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

  When we answer God call us to Himself, as Isaiah heard that call, only then can He begin to transform a heart of self-involvement into a heart like His. Isaiah 43:25 "I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more." 

    Ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart."

    Permanent change can only be accomplished in us when we repent of our sins against God to God and God changes us from the inside out. 

    Laundry does not get cleaned once and then never again. So it is with the heart of God's people. Every time it gets a little dirty, it needs to be washed again. Unlike laundry, one of these days our souls will be permanently cleansed; it is then we will be made perfect. Perfect in Christ. 

    So, when the Spirit within us convicts our hearts over sin(s) we go to the altar immediately and repent of that sin. We ask God to remove the root of that sin that it may no longer get in our way of growing in Him. This makes it possible for us to function quite well as a body, as the body of Christ. 

     For when one part of the body is broken, other parts are affected, just like in our own bodies. I have Fibromyalgia (Fm). It is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. For me, all my senses are in overdrive when I am going through a flare-up. 

    For instance, with the sense of touch, I can neither be hugged nor held. Taste and smell are so connected that if something I like to eat smells off, I can't eat it. There are times I feel like a canary in a mine: I can smell things no one else can smell. Sight, hearing and balance seem to affect each other, too.

    I tell you this because one thing wrong in the body causes things to go wrong elsewhere in the body. When the foot stumbles, the body falls. The same holds true for the body of Christ. It is why we need to remain whole and complete in Him as He is in us. 

    Therefore, let us draw near to God, repent of our sins, gain renewed strength in His Word and be refreshed with His Spirit, that our witness may be proved faithful, true and all-encompassing. Let us repent of any division we may have caused in our churches, our homes, our worksites, both deliberately and unintentionally. 

    Lord, 

Help us lead a more productive life in You to the glory of God. Give me a fleshy heart, a heart that is moldable and beats for You. Help me to interact with my brothers and sisters in Christ in love, compassion, with mercy, with hope, with peace, with joy, with comfort. Heal Your church, Lord. Make us more fruitful in Your kingdom. 

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

    A crucified life is a fruitful life. It produces positive actions and negates harmful ones. When the body is whole, it is able to accomplish great things. For the Spirit that flows through it produces eternal fruit which enlarges the kingdom of God in every way. 

    Galatians 5:22-24 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.

 

MORE LIKE JESUS   

More About Jesus - Classic Hymn

Just As I Am

Alive In You - Jesus Culture

Broken Vessels - Hillsong Worship

Love Each Other - Graham Kendrick

Salvation Song - Stuart Townend

River of Love & Everything - Joel Case & Melissa Helser

Unfailing - Andrew Word

A Crucified Life - - Is A Repentant Life

 

2 Corinthians 7:10

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There is no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No.

Worldly (in this context): ungodly, alienated from God and hostile to the cause of Christ

From the Greek word 'kosmos' (pronounced kos'-mos)

Sorrow: pain, distress, grief, emotional pain that weighs on a person

From the Greek word 'lupé' (pronounced loo'-pay)

    Being sorry and apologizing for that offense which we say we are sorry for is not godly sorrow. 

    We can regret the words we have said but we cannot take them back. The damage has been done and cannot be undone. Remorse is not godly sorrow. 

    Though a person may change on the outside, and believe themselves to be fine, better or good enough, but have not repented of the sin they have committed, there is no forgiveness, no salvation, no real change in the heart. 

    Repentance activates God's forgiveness and makes it possible for God to change the repenter's heart. It is impossible to change ourselves by ourselves. We need God to change our hearts by the blood of His Lamb, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, Who became sin for us and died on the cross so we wouldn't have to die and pay the penalty for our sins.

    Hebrews 9:22

In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].

     1 John 2:2

And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle]; and not for ours alone, but also for [the sins of all believers throughout] the whole world.

    Romans 3:25

God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

 INTO GRACE   

The Secret Place - Phil Wickham

The More I Seek You - Kari Jobe

Jesus Have It All - Jeremy Riddle

I Need You - Jessie Harris

Run To The Father - Cody Carnes

Jesus Messiah - Chris Tomlin

Washed By The Blood - CityAlight

At The Cross - Chris Tomlin

Thank You Jesus For The Blood - Charity Gayle

A Crucified Life - - Incurs Godly Repentance

 

2 Corinthians 7:8,9

Even if I cause you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time.

And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2596

Sorrow that God intends: according to, by way of, daily, day-by-day.

From the Greek word 'kata' (pronounced kat-ah')): that which pleases; according to the will of.

    That which Paul had written to the Corinth church concerning their lack of love and support to him and his companions as they spread the gospel had a marked effect on them. They recognized they had wronged them, repented of their faithlessness and changed the direction of their loyalties.  

    The Word tells us in Proverbs 4:27 to not turn to the right or to the left. In fact throughout Scripture we are informed to maintain our ways before the Lord and walk where He tells us to walk. He is the One, after all, Who directs our steps on the Way of Holiness He has mapped out for us. 

Jeremiah 7:23

Isaiah 35:8

Galatians 5:16

2 Corinthians 5:7

    Every time it feels like we are slipping away from faithfulness, we need to pay attention to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit. We, too, need to repent of our both our inaction (lack of support) and our action (leaving the path of righteousness) on a day-by-day basis. 

    Having received salvation when we first believed on Jesus' Name, and having received the Holy Spirit when we earnestly sought and waited for Him, we need to remain in close contact with our Savior and Advocate. We need to remember that a relationship of any kind, especially our born again relationship in Christ, requires constancy and consistency. 

    Constancy in that we need to remain in His vicinity. When we become aware of any sin we have committed, we need to immediately repent of it. Whether it is unkind words or seeds of doubt or failure to obey when the Spirit gives us God's Word to share with someone. It is as if we have stepped away, even if only slightly, from the side of our Savior.

    I lost another friend this month. He was younger than me. He got sick and died of respiratory failure and cardiac complications. I never failed to share God's love and my friendship with him. Though he never said anything, I hope that both made a difference in his heart and his life. 

    Consistency is remaining faithful to God's Word regardless of what or who comes against me when I am living it, breathing it, speaking it, sharing it, praying it, singing it. We need to walk the walk and talk the talk. That's consistency. To do otherwise is to fail to be the examples of righteousness we are supposed to be; it is being a two-faced double-minded irresponsible hypocrite. And I can't do that.

    Let us come to God now and repent of all our unrighteous acts and thoughts and words. There we will find forgiveness from God. And we need, if possible, to go to the person we have sinned against and apologize. It is there at the throne of grace that we receive wisdom and strength to go on in our walk with Christ. 

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE by Phil Wickham

    

A Crucified Life - - Receives Comfort From God

 

2 Corinthians 7:6,8

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3870

Comfort: console, encourage and strengthen, advocate

From the Greek word 'parakaleó' (pronounced par-ak-al-eh'-o).

    God is 'up close and personal' with His people. He is not a faraway God, but the near God, the 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' God. 

• Hebrews 13:5
• Deuteronomy 31:6,8
• Joshua 1:9.17
• Isaiah 41:10-14

    God comforts His people when we are downcast (low in spirit, humble, meek). We are comforted by His presence, His nearness. And we are grateful that this is our God.

    Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth who had supported him on his journeys; thanking them for their loyalty and their mission support to him. We need to remain faithful to our missionaries, too. They need us to express our love for them not only in our prayers, but in our giving. 

    Missionaries who are faithful in sharing the gospel receive comfort from God through us who impart love and mercy to them, as Titus did when God sent him to Paul. Titus had good things to say, words which encouraged Paul and compelled him to reach out to the little church. 

    Let us continue to work together, as the believers did in the beginning of the age of the church, to advance the kingdom of God with our witness and our testimony. 

Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship

This Is Our God by Phil Wickham

Shepherd of My Soul by Rivers & Robots

Draw Me Close To You by Michael W. Smith

The Lord Is Near 

God With Us by MercyMe

 

A Crucified Life - - Is Hard Pressed

 

2 Corinthians 7:5

For from the time that we came to Macedonia, we had no relief for our body, but we were tormented in all things: combat from without, and fear from within.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3600/2852 & 2346

Tormented: to suffer pain; to be mistreated violently

Pressed: afflicted, hard pressed, constricted, compressed 

     

     I used the Aramaic translation for today's verse because it explained best to me this verse. But finding the correct definition of 'tormented' in this instance took some time, as there are many types of torment.

     Paul is writing from their personal experience of being violently coming against for bringing the gospel to Macedonia. At the same time in which he and his companion(s) are being come against personally, their thoughts began to bring fear into the equation. So, from both the outside and the inside they felt tormented, compressed.

     Ever seen an apple squeeze? That's pressing hard from two sides to produce something that doesn't even resemble an apple, yet is sweet to the taste and quenches a body's thirst. That's what was happening here. Being hard pressed on every side, these men were becoming something more, being changed and conformed to a sweeter taste in the Lord. 

    It is the same for every born again believer who is willing to share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. We must be willing to stand up for Jesus in the Love of God. We are not violent. We do not take  up arms against the unbeliever. If we need defending, Christ is our Defense. We must pursue righteousness every step of the way.

    We overcome fear that rises up within us by the Word which is in us. The Holy Spirit upon us, and working through us and in us, girds us up and builds a fire within us to keep going, to keep speaking the Name of Jesus and God's message of salvation and deliverance. 

    He reminds us that we are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Our strength is in the Lord, not in ourselves. The only power that is wielded is the power of God bursting forth from our obedience to Him. 

    In this day and age in which we currently live, born again believers are not welcome. Our differences set us apart boldly. We have one voice: we speak the Love of God. We have one heart: we pursue godly agendas. We have one name: born again believer. 

    And we have one Savior: the only begotten Son of God Jesus Christ, the Messiah who was promised in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. 

    Lord, use us for Your glory as we bring Your Word to a lost and dying world who desperately need You. Help us to bring You to each and every one who hungers for Truth and Love and Friendship that is faithful and sure. 

In Your Wonderful Name,

Amen.

PRESSED FOR THE BETTER  (A Jesus Culture playlist)

Alive In You

Where You Go, I Go

My Soul Longs For You

Break Every Chain

One Thing Remains

Fill Me Up

Rooftops

Set A Fire

Your Love Never Fails

A Crucified Life - - Speaks With Confidence

 

2 Corinthians 7:4

Great is my confidence in you, great is my pride in you: I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3954

Confidence: freedom of speech, openness, boldness

From the Greek word 'parrésia' (pronounced par-rhay-see'-ah).

    The KJV reads like this:

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

    It is speaking plainly and honestly and factually all at the same time. To make known publicly, as the disciples began to do in Acts 2 after the Holy Spirit came upon them and endued them with power to speak in other tongues, languages, that they might make known the mystery of the gospel of salvation to all nations.

    There are currently 7,168 known spoken languages in the world today ( ethnologue). That does not include the languages no longer in existence. But when the Spirit fell on the waiting disciples, each one received a language that made it possible for them to witness Jesus to everyone to whom they were sent. 

    In that Spirit of speaking plainly, let me now say:

    God is Love and He speaks the language of Love. In His Love created He the whole world, including men and women. Time and again we have let Him down but those who love Him in return get picked back up by Him in His Love. 

    In His Love He sent us a Savior to atone for all of our sins, Someone Who could pay the price for sin once and for all. Someone Who could conquer death, hell and the grave. Someone Who could represent God's Infinite Love to the people He loves. Someone Who could save God's people from death, hell and the grave. Someone God called His Beloved Son.

    Know this: it is not the denomination which saves. It is not the good works, good deeds, acts of kindness which saves. Nor does growing up in a Christian family save us. Only the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only believing on His Name for our salvation saves us. 

    Only the blood which Christ shed on the cross washes away our sins. Only the stripes He received on His back heal us in every way; not just physically, but spiritually as well. 

    No one is good enough to go to heaven. No one is good enough to enter Christ's kingdom and live under His kingship (Romans 3:23). We must all go through Him to enter the kingly city in which He will reign. He is, after all, the Door and the Gate.

     But it's a narrow Door and a narrow Gate which require a small key. That key is faith. Jesus tells us if our faith were the size of a mustard seed, which is 1-2 millimetres in diameter, we could move mountains. Our faith starts out smaller than that when we first begin to believe in Him. 

    Putting that into perspective: mustard seed size faith is smaller than a postage stamp, tinier than the widow's mite. But that's all it takes to enter the Door and the Gate. 

    If you have the key, you can enter the Door and the Gate. The key:

    Romans 10:9, 10

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

SOAKING WORSHIP (listened to this while I studied)

    

A Crucified Life - - Is A Partner In Grace

 

    2 Corinthians 7:3

I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.

    Philippians 1:7

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.

    *Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4880

Die Together: die with 

From the Greek word 'sunapothnéskó' (pronounced soon-ap-oth-nace'-ko).

    It is the same meaning as given in 2 Timothy 2:11 "This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him." (meeting death as Christ did for the sake of God). And what happened when Christ met death? He overcame it! Therefore, we who believe on the Name of Jesus Christ for our salvation shall also overcome death! 

    We are partners in grace with Christ and with each other. For we are one in Christ Who is One in God, as He prayed in John 17:20-23. This whole prayer in John 17 is just beautiful.

    As believers, we are united with each other via the Holy Spirit of God. We live in harmony with one another. 

-Romans 12:16

-Romans 15:5

    We work together in the kingdom of God. Ephesians 4:4-14

   We grow together in love. Ephesians 4:15,16

  We pray together in faith. James 5:16

 We pray together in the Spirit. Jude 1:20

    We are the body of Christ. Where His body went when He had a physical body is where His body will go in the power of the Holy Spirit. As He lived and died, so, too, will the body of Christ live and die. And live again. 

PARTNERS IN GRACE 

Jesus Paid It All - Kim Walker-Smith

Overcomer - Eddie James

We Will Stand - Russ Taff

By Our Love - 4 King & Country

Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave

If We Are The Body - Casting Crowns

Love Each Other - Graham Kendrick

Love Your Enemies - Kyle Sigmon

Nothing Without You - United Pursuit

Where You Go I Go - Jesus Culture

    

A Crucified Life - - Corrupts No One

 

2 Corinthians 7:2

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5351

Corrupt: destroy, spoil, ruin

From the Greek word 'phtheiró' (pronounced fthi'-ro): waste away (deteriorate, degenerate); to cause or experience moral breakdown.

    2 Corinthians 4:2

But we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor falsifying the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God. 

*Manifestation (5321): disclosure, bringing to light

    A crucified life does not bring another person or group of people to moral ruin. A crucified life preaches the gospel in both word and action. We walk the walk and talk the talk. 

    Having been delivered by the grace of God from a wicked rebellious lifestyle, we have no desire to return to it. Nor do we want anyone to continue to live the way we used to. So we speak Jesus to everyone, hoping to reach at least one with the gospel. 

    Staying close to the heart of God prevents the crucified life from becoming corrupted itself. The more knowledgeable we are of the Word of God the less likely we are to stray from it. For the Spirit of God has revealed the Truth to us. 

    We have crucified worldly desires and are filled with the desire to glorify God. No longer do we live to please ourselves or each other. Our desire is to please God, to do what makes our God and Savior happy with the words we speak, how we speak them; doing what He wants done, when He says to do it. That's Trusting and Obeying God. 

    We encourage each other in the Word, helping to build each other's faith. We pray for and with each other. We hear the Word of The Lord through the shepherds which God has placed in our churches; through Holy Spirit-filled evangelists and sometimes through other media sources (Youtube, Facebook, Webpages, etc). 

    We encourage you to join us, to become a part of this family of God. We encourage you to be faith-filled and Holy Spirit-filled. We long for you to live the crucified life which we now live. 

    Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.

    

    

    

    

A Crucified Life - - Is Undeflied

 

2 Corinthians 7:1

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3435 & 3436

Defilement: soil, stain, besmear, pollute

From the Greek words 'molunó' (pronounced mol-oo'-no) and 'molusmos' (pronounced mol-oos-mos').

    1 Peter 1:15,16

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

We see, therefore, that to be undefiled is to be holy. But what defiles us? Those things that are in our hearts that are not of God. Matthew 15:18 "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man."

>Matthew 15:19

>Genesis 6:5

>Proverbs 24:9

>Matthew 5:28

>Mark 7:21-23

>Isaiah 59:7,13

>Titus 1:15

    What is the cure for removing such defilement? Repentance. A confessing to God of our sins and turning away from them and what causes these transgressions. A turning to God and His godly ways which are laid out for us in His Word. 

    Repentance comes when we believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we really believe (and God knows who believes and who's lying), God places a measure of faith in our hearts which needs to be exercised so it will grow. 

    Sin's defilement is washed away by the blood of God's Holy Lamb Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. God cleanses our hearts and our minds. 

    We must constantly be on the alert, watching out for Satan's sneaky ways and praying in the Spirit to remain strong in the Lord and His ways. We are the watchmen in these temples of God which the born again believer is. 

    The best way to guard against the devil's tactics is to stay in the Word of God and have the Word of God stay in us. That is done by reading and studying a bit of His Word each day. It is our Daily Bread, our Living Water, our Wine, our Milk and our Honey/Honeycomb. 

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL HIGHWAY

    

A Crucified Life - - Is The Father's Child

 

2 Corinthians 6:17

And "I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3962

Father: heavenly Father, Ancestor, Elder

From the Greek word 'patér' (pronounced pat-ayr'). 

    God creates all life including people. God also creates new life, a second life, an eternal born again life in a person when that person believes on the Name of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for their salvation. 

>James 1:18

>John 3:3-18

    Every time our faith is activated -- received and obeyed -- we become a little more like our heavenly Father. It is how people recognize us: they see Jesus in us before we even speak. 

    I was in a parking lot a few years ago, after shopping, and a lady called out to me from the other side, and said, "You're a Christian! I can see you." I was amazed that she could see Jesus in me! Are you recognized as God's sons or daughters? 

    John 1:12,13

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

   Romans 8:16

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 

    As our heavenly Father, God knows our needs before we even ask for anything. He knows what is good for us and what is not edifying for us. Our heavenly Father gives us good gifts (James 1:17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11). Gifts which benefit us as His sons and daughters. Gifts which help us to grow in Him and in each other. 

    Our heavenly Father is a good Father - 

Luke 18:19

    Our heavenly Father disciplines His children with love - 

2 Samuel 7:14,15

    Our heavenly Father works in us - 

Philippians 2:13

    Our heavenly Father gives us faith - 

Romans 12:13

    Our heavenly Father is glorified in us - 

2 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Peter 4:11

    Our heavenly Father makes Himself known to us - 

Romans 9:23

    And so much, much more is our heavenly Father to us. Our Grace. Our Mercy. Our Peace. Our Salvation. Our Hope. 

SONS & DAUGHTERS 

Shepherd of My Soul - Rivers & Robots

Since Your Love - United Pursuit

You Say - Lauren Daigle

Build My Life - Pat Barrett

Sons & Daughters - Jason Upton

Belong To You - Here Be Lions