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They went and dwelt among the people

12/30/2015

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Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. (Jdg 1:27-30)
       As Joshua departs and we move into the book of the Judges, we see that all is not as it should be. The people of GOD have not utterly cast out the people of the land, but subjugated them and made them servants and slaves. They have not removed their idolatrous practices and wickedness from the land, and will soon fall into a pattern of being drawn away from GOD by their sin and following the idolatry of their subjects and neighbours instead of the Commandments of GOD.

       The pattern over and over in Israel's history demonstrates that too often when things are easy, and life is going according to our plan, we try to live as though we don't need GOD to provide and to lead us and we slip and backslide into sin and practical atheism. GOD will chastise us and do what it takes to bring us back to Him just as He did with the Israelites through the judges and deliverers He sent to Israel.

       We ought not to try to live without Him, for without the Lord Jesus Christ we can do nothing, and without Him we are nothing, just as before we came to Christ we were dead in our trespasses and sins. It is not that we had to make room for Him in our life, but that He has given us a brand new life in Him and He in us, and we must live our lives in the flesh by the faith of the Son of GOD who loved us and gave Himself for us. We continue to reckon ourselves dead: to sin, to ourselves, and to this world, that we might live in Christ, under the direction of His Spirit and His Word, giving GOD all the glory for His work and will in us.

      That's not to say that we are puppets, or slaves, but servants of the Most High GOD, not doing our will but His and His alone, completely surrendered to Him on His terms in all things because of our love for Him and our faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in our place and for our sin. We serve Him as His ambassadors to this world, bringing the Word of reconciliation to those around us who are hurting and in need. We serve Him and one another as members one of another in the body of Christ in love and in discipleship in His Word until all have grown into the full measure of Him who is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We serve Him as His witnesses and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to take His Word and the Good News of forgiveness through repentance of sin and faith in Him and Him alone for eternal life in His Name.

      For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet


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We will serve the LORD

12/29/2015

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Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, GOD forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; (Jos 24:14-16)
       Joshua's last reminder and call to the people of Israel to serve GOD and Him alone. The people of GOD were to obey GOD and believe His Word, that they might be faithful witnesses to His Glory and testify of Him to the whole world, that He alone is GOD, and that all else is false and not to be worshiped or served as gods. Whatever is put before the Lord is an idol, and should repented of and forsaken. Being sinners, as we all are, Israel would struggle with this both individually and nationally for most of its existence leading right up to its judgment by GOD and into captivity and dispersal at the hands of the pagan nations they were supposed to be a light unto.

      We today, are called to the same obedience. We are to love and serve GOD alone, not to earn our way into Heaven, or even keep the gift of GOD's Salvation, but because of our love for Him who first loved us. Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and the repentance of our sIns which has reconciled us to GOD through Him, we want to do the work and will of GOD in obedience and faith. Because of His Spirit within that comes when we are born again, not of our own will or flesh, but by the Power of GOD which makes us a new creature in Christ, we want to love others, reach people for Christ, and minister as His ambassadors.

      His Church, the body of Christ, the people of GOD in this age of the gentiles, are to be the salt and light He has called us to be. We are to minister with the Word of reconciliation to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they might see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. The children of the Most High GOD, indwelt by His Spirit are to equip all believers, encourage one another in love and grace, and enable people to enjoy Jesus Christ as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour through His Word. The saints of GOD, saved to be servants of Him who gave Himself for us and for sIn, are to take the Gospel to this lost and dying world, that those who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ might repent and believe in order to receive by faith life in His Name.

      For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Ye have seen all that the LORD your GOD hath done

12/28/2015

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Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the Law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the LORD your GOD, as ye have done unto this day. For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your GOD, He it is that fighteth for you, as He hath promised you. Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your GOD. (Jos 23:6-11)
       Joshua warned the people to stay faithful to GOD and His Word. GOD told them of the blessings that come with faith and obedience, and the consequences of disbelief and disobedience to His Word. The generations to come would experience both the blessing and the curse because of their choices and behaviour in the land which the LORD had given them. When they believed and obeyed, GOD was with them and their enemies were driven out before them; when they turned away from GOD and disobeyed, He allowed the people of Israel to suffer defeat. GOD wanted His people to understand their complete need of Him in all things.

      We too, must understand that our walk with GOD is not as equals, neither can we go through this life alone. Without Him we are nothing, and can do nothing, for He alone is our life, our power, our righteousness, and our victory. We must recognize our need of Him in all things, His great Salvation from our sIn through His Son Jesus Christ, His providence to meet our needs, His watch care over us as His dear children, and His Word to correct, guide, and instruct us in all matters of faith and practice while we live this life we now live in Him and through Him by faith in Him and Him alone.

      We who have come to GOD by repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are to live surrendered lives, totally trusting in Jesus Christ that He might work through us and for us. As His ministers, we take the Word of reconciliation to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they might see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. As disciples of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we love one another as He loved us, and equip, encourage, and enable one another as we grow in the Word of GOD into the full measure of Him. As His witnesses, we take the Word of GOD and the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Spirit of GOD to this lost and dying world, that those who hear and believe the Good News of forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father might have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Glory to GOD in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men

12/24/2015

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Picture
During this 'most wonderful time of the year' let us put aside any controversy about the time or the date or the traditions.

Let us remember JESUS.

Let us not be like Zacharias and have doubts.
Let us not be like the inn too busy and too full for HIM.
Let us not be like Herod and Jerusalem intolerant and troubled by HIS Kingship.
Let us not be like the Priests and Scribes knowing the scriptures but indifferent to the Messiah.

Instead, let us join with Gabriel and announce HIS Coming.
Let us join with Mary and surrender to HIS will, pondering all things.
Let us join HIS cousin John and leap for joy.
Let us join the Angel host and proclaim HIS praises.
Let us join the shepherds and find HIM, telling all who will hear of WHOM we have found.
Let us join the wise men and worship CHRIST, presenting ourselves and our gifts to HIM.


AMEN

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Jefferson, Glenda, Abigail, and David

The Sweets
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It shall be a witness between us that the LORD is GOD

12/23/2015

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But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your GOD, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His Commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you. GOD forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our GOD that is before his tabernacle. (Jos 22:5, 26-29)
     The Lord wants, and has every right to require, complete obedience to Him, for He alone is GOD. He alone is worthy of all our praise, worship, offerings, and service. He created all things by the Word of His power, and cares for all His creation. He provides and watches over His creation and His people and wants what is best for them. He has given us His Word that we might know Him and learn to walk in Him and through Him alone by faith in GOD the Father who is over all, GOD the Son who is the only begotten Son of GOD, and GOD the Holy Spirit who dwells within us and works to bring sinners to GOD.

     We ought to remember all that GOD has done, not setting up idols to ourselves, or to worship the event, but to worship the Lord our GOD. The Lord who sees our need for Salvation and provides Himself. The Lord our Banner, who watches over us and cares for us. The Lord our Shepherd who leads us in His righteousness. The Lord our Healer who became our sin that we might be healed of all our iniquities. The Righteous Lord who makes us a new creature in Christ. He is the great I Am and He alone is worthy of all our praise, as Creator, Redeemer, and King. He gave Himself for us, that we who have repented of our sins and placed our trust in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary could receive forgiveness and reconciliation by being born again and translated into His Kingdom and serve Him until He comes again.

     As long as we are here, as strangers and pilgrims in this land, remembering the works of our Lord and worshiping Him, we are to do His work and accomplish His will in obedience to His commands and His Word in this world. We are to minister, as His ambassadors of His Kingdom, with the Word of reconciliation to this lost and dying world, in it but not of it, that others may know our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to serve those around us who are hurting and in need that they my see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. We are to love one another, even as Christ also loved us, that all may know we are His disciples. We are to take His Gospel to all we meet, and as we go, share the Good News to those who will hear, that they may repent, believe, and have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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That ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you

12/22/2015

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All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs. These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities. And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Jos 21:41-45)
       In addition to the cities of refuge, for the slayer of blood, GOD gave cities in every region to the Levites, who worked in the temple and had no land for themselves. He had promised that they would be maintained through the offerings of the people, and now He gave them cities to live in throughout the nation of Israel, that they might minister to the people, even as the people were to minister to those subdued peoples that remained within, and their neighbours without. GOD gave them peace, that they might witness of His power and glory.

       We are called to be a Kingdom of priests, an Holy nation, a peculiar people. GOD has work for His people to do, to be about His business, and to glorify and testify of Him, not only through our lives, but also with our words. Our words and deeds ought to be holy and to honour our Lord, who gave Himself for us. We ought to also, appreciate and honour those who minister in the Word and in positions of service and authority within the body under the headship of Jesus Christ.

      No matter where GOD has called us to serve, or how, we ought to honour Him, hold fast to our profession as His people, and through His Word, in the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us, direct others to Christ and His great Salvation through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. He has called all His people to the ministry of reconciliation, that we might meet the needs of those around us who are hurting and in need. He has commanded His body to love one another, even as He also loved us, and to disciple one another in His Word until we all come into the full measure of Him. He has commissioned His servants and friends to be witnesses unto Him, that as we go, we may take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world, that all who hear the Good News and believe might have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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GOD is our refuge and strength

12/21/2015

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Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled. (Jos 20:2-6)
      GOD commanded Joshua to set aside several cities of refuge, not for willful criminals to escape justice and judgment, but for those who unintentionally caused the death of others to avoid vengeance by the victims family. They would not escape justice and would be judged, but it would allow for the civil process to review the case and protect those who were not guilty of blood-guilt. GOD had recognized the nature of vengeance and allowed for it, but also protected those who were not guilty of premeditated murder and assault from the families of those they hurt or killed.

      It is also a picture of Jesus Christ, who is our refuge. We, by our very nature, are guilty of sIn, and yes some of that premeditated. But GOD in His mercy and out of His love for His creation, sent His only begotten Son, to put on flesh, and live a perfect human life as a man, and to pay for our sins, that we might receive mercy and grace through Him, and not the vengeance, judgement, and justice we deserve. GOD's grace is a free gift extended to those who have repented of their sins and put their faith and trust in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for our Salvation. GOD's mercy means we are free from sin, not to sin more, or to live as we please, but true liberty to live in Christ, through His Word and indwelling Spirit, living His life in us and for His glory.

    Living the life of liberty and service that He has fore-ordained that all who come to Christ should live means living for Him and by Him. We live His life as we minister to others in His power and by His direction, that those around us who are hurting and in need might know Him.  We live His life as we disciple one another, the members of His body, in His Word and with love one to another, as He also loved us. We live His life as we go in His authority to this lost and dying world with His Gospel and share the Good News of reconciliation with GOD through Jesus Christ to all who will hear, that those who repent and believe might have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The land was subdued before them

12/18/2015

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And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD GOD of your fathers hath given you? Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me. And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north. Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our GOD. But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them. (Jos 18:3-7)
      Having conquered most of the land, and removed or subjugated the peoples which were in the promised land, at the direction of GOD, Joshua now turns to the division of the land by tribes. He had completed the division which Moses started on the other side of Jordan, and now had to establish the area for each tribe. Joshua knew and trusted that GOD would guide the lot and division so that each tribe of Israel would be given the parcel that GOD had determined for them exactly as He wanted it to be. He sent out men to survey the land for division into the parts for each tribe, other than the Levites, for they worked in the Temple and received from the people and their offerings, rather than from the land and so had no inheritance or possession other than the Lord.

      GOD's people are to trust Him and following the Word and the Spirit to remove that which sin in their lives, we are to take possession and wholly live the Christian life in, through, and for Christ, who lives within us. We are to be holy for He is holy, we are to lay aside every weight and the sIn which doth so easily beset us. We are to grow in Him, putting every idle thought, vain imagination, and stronghold of the mind under His victory, surrendered to Him on His terms, and transformed by the renewing of our minds through the engrafted Word of GOD. We are to hold fast to our profession, walking worthy of the vocation where He has called us, and glorifying our GOD in all things, for He alone is worthy.

      He has called us to minister to others, taking the Word of reconciliation as His ambassadors to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they might know Him and see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. He has commanded us to love one another as we grow in His Word and disciple one another, conformed to the image of His Son. He has commissioned us to witness, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, and as we go, sharing the Gospel to all who will hear that they might repent of their sins and believe in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and receive eternal life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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They shall be snares and traps unto you

12/17/2015

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As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out. (Jos 15:63, 16:10, 17:12-13)
      Joshua and the Israelites failed to remove some of the enemies of GOD that abided in Canaan, either because of sIn which caused them to falter before their foes, or a lack of faith, which led to them being overcome or not even attempting to drive them out, or because they were deceived and made a league with them and allowed them to stay in the land. These inhabitants, which GOD had already judged, but Israel couldn't or wouldn't remove, would make both political and spiritual trouble for the Israelites the rest of their days, and some of their descendants still oppose GOD and the Jews today.

      Those that oppose GOD, many not even realizing the war they are in, are not to be left thinking there is a neutral position. Every person is born a sinner, and therefore the enemy of GOD, but GOD gave Himself for our sins, that we might be reconciled to GOD, and no more strangers and enemies, but adopted into the family of faith, and restored to a right relationship to GOD through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. GOD loves all, even His enemies, because He is our Creator, and is not willing that any should depart this world without Him and be destined to a devil's Hell. We are not to compromise with those who are enemies of GOD or with their doctrine, but proclaim the Truth in love and stand strong in the Lord, with the victory that He has already won.

       He wants His people to share Him with all we meet, in missions, ministry, and discipleship with the Good News of Salvation and the Word of reconciliation. We are His ambassadors, called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they may come to know Him through us. We are His disciples, commanded to disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we may all grow into the full measure of Him, conformed to the image of His Son. We are His witnesses, commissioned to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of GOD to this lost and dying world, and as we go, telling all who will hear of forgiveness of sin through repentance, and reconciliation with GOD through faith in Him and Him alone that those who believe might have life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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He wholly followed the LORD GOD of Israel

12/16/2015

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Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of GOD concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my GOD. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my GOD.
And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD GOD of Israel. (Jos 14:6-9, 13-14)
      GOD had promised Caleb, one of the twelve surveyors of the promised land, and one of two (Joshua was the other) that was faithful and believed GOD, because of his faithfulness his own area of Israel for an inheritance. Caleb remained with the people of Israel and prospered throughout all the campaigns because GOD was with him, and at this point settled on Hebron as his homestead. GOD blessed his choice with victory and fulfilled His promise and delivered the land unto Caleb and conquered His enemies out of Hebron that Caleb might have rest at the end of his journey and that GOD might be glorified.

      We might not all have the blessings of Caleb, or the leadership of Joshua or Moses, or the struggles and war of the people, but GOD has a plan for all His people, and a greater purpose which glorifies Him and works for good in the light of eternity. He wants His people to become more like Him, conformed to the image of His Son. He wants us to do the works, in and through Him, that He has for us to do, that we might glorify Him and lift Him up before this lost and dying world, that they might see Him and know of their need of Him for Salvation. He wants us to live through His Word and walk in Him who is our life that we might bless Him and love one another as His children.

      In Him and in obedience to His will, we can do His work in this broken and sinful world, and receive the blessings He wants to give to His children, not just on special days, or when we are good for goodness sake, but in Him and through His Spirit we live lives which are Holy because He is Holy and we do His works, not to earn or keep His gifts or His blessings, but because of His great love, mercy, and grace for and to us, both now and for all eternity.

     Because of His love for us and for all of His creation, we minister to others who are hurting and in need,that all may know and experience the grace of GOD and the Word of reconciliation. Because of His love for us, the people who are His Church, we love one another and disciple one another in His Word that all may know we are His disciples. Because of His love for sinners and His desire that none leave this world without Him, we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will hear, and as we go, take the Good News of forgiveness of sin through repentance and eternal life by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to all, that those who believe in Him alone might receive life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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