Dear Brothers and Sister in Christ,
Thanks Pete, for forwarding this very timely Cu message.
This devotional below is at the heart of the spiritual Christian unity in
love and holiness we've always talked about here, a unity in love with all
who believe to repentance in Jesus of the Bible. But this devotional speaks
amazingly direct to the very points that we are most concerned with in the
new worldwide Christian unity prayer website some of us are working on right
now with Bro. Mario Attard.
It's very possible that the writer, Kenneth Copeland has never heard of our
email list and specifially what we are doing. Yet the Spirit moves through
various members of the body of Christ, in ways we can't possibly understand,
and don't need to understand, but in ways always, step by step with Him,
leading us *all* to the same, ultimate, "all truth" of our eternal unity
together in love and holiness in Jesus, who Himself, is all truth. The Holy
Spirit speaks to us all through the word of God in this one.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is
every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you
into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted
in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which
are on earth; even in him:
Have ears to hear, Brothers and Sisters. More is on the way, and soon!
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good
heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or
putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which
enter in may see the light.
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any
thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be
given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he
seemeth to have.
Do we know the unity in Himself which our Lord doeth in our hearts? Do we
hear the word of it with ears to hear, keep it in an honest and good heart,
and bring forth fruit with patience?
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not
what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I
have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Do we share those fruits of love that the Spirit bares in us, to be given as
proper meat grown in due season for *all* God's children, to be given to
*all* our fellowservants in God's household, in every Christian deomination
and group, while awaiting our Lord's return?
Galations 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one
another
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the
Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward,
whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their
portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so
doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he
hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink,
and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him,
and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will
appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself,
neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be
beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be
much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the
more.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already
kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till
it be accomplished!
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every
branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more
fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Interesting isn't it? Any branches outside of Him, not together with all
the other branches in Him, can do nothing. But together in the one,.true
vine, we bring forth fruit that lasts into eternity together in Him, and
now, here, have whatsoever we ask.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you,
that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:
that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
"Oh, Sure," some Christians say, "Christian unity in the Father's love for
*all* His children is God's purpose for the universe, but is that our
problem? I mean, don't we have other alternatives?"
Luke 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be
already kindled?
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is
withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are
burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will,
and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my
disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have
kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,
and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Coming soon, and not just to a theater, near you!
Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of
God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not
with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom
of God is within you.
Love in Jesus,
Tim
*********************************
----- Original Message -----
From: <peter.robillard@...>
To: <GiaquiVi@...>; <joanne.petrozzijones@...>;
<ivesdo@...>; <judi.steiger@...>;
<Francis.Karwowski@...>; <louise.dickinson@...>;
<twarlick@...>
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 9:57 AM
Subject: FW: [Faith to Faith] November 22- Become Sensitive Again
Interesting... And timely, as usual...
*****************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Faith to Faith [mailto:newseditor@...]
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 3:30 AM
To: Robillard, Peter J (PS, Quality)
Subject: [Faith to Faith] November 22- Become Sensitive Again
November 22
Become Sensitive Again
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil
speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you."
-- (Ephesians 4:31-32)
A few years ago I was in Detroit, and I met a woman who was raised in a
communist-bloc country. While I was visiting with her, a news broadcast
came on. And as we sat there listening to it, suddenly tears came to her
eyes.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
Although I hadn't noticed it, the news commentator had said something
derogatory about the president. "I don't like to hear anybody talk about
this country like that," she said. "I don't care whether it's true or
not. I don't want to hear it."
The newscaster's comment had slipped right by me. But it had brought
tears to her eyes. Why? Because she had a sensitive heart where this
country is concerned.
We need to be more like that dear lady when it comes to our pastors, our
teachers, our evangelists and even our fellow believers.
We need to realize that our own insensitivity has driven the anointing
of the Holy Spirit from many of our lives and our churches. We need to
realize that the license we've given ourselves to criticize other
members of the Body of Christ has weakened us all.
What will strengthen us again?
The power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit that falls on every
sensitive and seeking heart.
I urge you to regain the tender heart you once had. Remove the callouses
within you by repentance, by a commitment to live the law of love, by a
renewed devotion to the Word, and by fellowship with your Father.
Don't allow the condition of your heart to hold back the Spirit of God.
Become sensitive again!
-- Kenneth Copeland
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 4:1-13
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of
the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one
another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you
all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the
gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into
the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all
heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ:
Visit us online at http://www.kcm.org
Copyright (c) 2002 Kenneth Copeland Ministries
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