church October 21, 2017

MOTIVATE ME

THE WORDS OF THE WISE ARE LIKE GOADS, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails–given by one shepherd.” (Ecclesiastes 12:11)

A goad is a spiked stick used for driving cattle, but it also means to provoke so as TO STIMULATE action or reaction, to stir, stimulate or motivate. Firmly embedded nails will HOLD TOGETHER a structure against all kinds of adversities, just as the word of God does in our lives!

“The Teacher searched to find JUST THE RIGHT WORDS, and what he wrote was upright and true.” (Ecclesiastes 12:10) [Thank God for His truthfully called ministers whose desire is to be used of God to help direct our paths!] “BE WARNED, MY SON, OF ANYTHING IN ADDITION TO THEM. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12) [There are so many deceptive and misleading books being written, that is why we must LOVE the word of God and hide it in our hearts! It is our protection!] “And this is love: that WE WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. I say this because MANY DECEIVERS, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 1:6-7) [The Holy Spirit will help us by revealing the meanings of the word to us! We must seek God to be FILLED BY HIS SPIRIT!] “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE FROM GOD, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3) [The Holy Spirit will help us – IF WE ASK HIM – to test the spirits!] “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. THIS IS HOW WE KNOW that we live in him and he in us: HE HAS GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT.” (1 John 4:12-13)

Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that THIS IS HOW WE KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN HIM AND HE IN US: HE HAS GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT!
Bill Stockham

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