S196P30 – Growth spurts: burden-bearing

Gal. 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. As he was walking by the woods one chilly evening, he came across…

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S196P29 – Growth spurts: self-awareness

Jn. 8:7‭-‬9  So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”  And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by…

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S196P28 – Growth spurts: restraint

Jam. 1:26  If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. If there is one overarching theme in my life before Christ, it is that I was driven by my impulses.  With my priorities out of order and my moral…

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S196P27 – Growth spurts: saltiness

Lk. 14:34‭-‬35  Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear! The beginning of my sanctification was marked by a number of spiritual…

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S196P26 – Growth spurts: joy

Phi. 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice! When I was in high school, I was supposed to attend my first big concert.  It was my favorite band in the whole world, and they would be appearing about an hour or so from my house.  I got together some classmates who…

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S196P25 – Growth spurts: freedom

Gal. 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Jesus was going to be his quick fix or so he thought.  Prior to salvation, the man had led a life which was governed by his addictions to women…

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S196P24 – Growth spurts: meekness

Col. 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. They called him the gentle giant, a trite but fitting nickname. …

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S196P23 – Growth spurts: unity

Eph. 4:11-16 And [the Lord] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the…

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S196P22 – Growth spurts: strength

2 Cor. 12:9-10 And [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in…

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S196P21 – Growth spurts: preparation

Eph. 6:14-15 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace… The palace had been still just a moment earlier.  Then, in the blink of an eye, a battle ensued.  First came the sounds of artillery…

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