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Free from Captivity
We become holy or set apart by the process of sanctification. YHVH wants us to be set apart people for Him. Sanctification is the process of removing everything that causes separation between us and YHVH. The process of sanctification started for us with obedience to His Word. As we learned how YHVH wanted us to live, we left behind the ways of the world and followed His way. We repented of our lawlessness and became more sanctified. this is an ongoing process, it is a journey. There is, however, more to the process of sanctification. I know this since I have experienced this, I felt that something was holding me back spiritually and I didn’t know what it was. I found the answer in getting free from the captivity caused by the iniquity of my forefathers. This is also a part of this sanctification process and many people don’t realize they they are being held captive.
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Cleaning out the chimney, the past and the leaven
YHVH is very practical. He uses things that happen in our lives to teach us and to help us grow in Him. This week has been one of those weeks. A week of growing in many respects. We are busy with renovation work and had the chimney cleaned. We also had a blockage in our sewage line which had to be cleaned out. YHVH used these two occasions to teach us. I think He used two incidents, because He may have wanted to make sure we get it. Let me share with you how, it may help you as well.
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Petitioning YHVH
Hannah was childless and it caused her great sorrow. She petitioned YHVH for a son, and He gave her children. Adonijah petitioned Bathsheba for Abishag, she was beautiful and he wanted her to be his wife. However, he had ulterior motives…Esther risked her life to petition king Ahasuerus for the life of her people. Job, after suffering so much hardship that he could not bear it any more petitioned YHVH to take his life. Instead YHVH healed him and restored back to him what he lost. The Israelites petitioned YHVH for meat with devastating consequences. Zacharias petitioned YHVH for a child, and this child was a great prophet who prepared the way for the Messiah. We can learn much from all these narratives. A petition is a form of prayer, but whereas prayer encompasses all communication with YHVH, petition is to make a specific request of YHVH. It can be compared to a formal request made to a sovereign. The purpose of this study is to understand what it means to petition YHVH. We shall look at each of these narratives to see what we can learn.
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Secrets, Rebellion, Bitterness and Poison
This week we are going to look at secret sins and rebellion and the consequences thereof. You may be surprised at what we find here. Rebellion is one of those sins, we think other people commit and the same goes for secret sins. We look down on people who do this and disregard any teaching on the subject because we believe it doesn’t concern us. Please read this, as I said, you may be surprised by these findings.
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The Potter and the clay
Every day we get up and face life with all its challenges. Life can be difficult and often is. We all suffer in some way and some, like Job, suffer in many ways at the same time. It seems to me, from personal experience, but also from speaking to other people, that life’s challenges have increased. Have you noticed it too? Not only are we facing increasing natural disasters, threats to our freedom, personal issues, but spiritually things have heated up as well. We live under immense pressure and it is increasing. Why is this? Could it be that YHVH is trying to show us or teach us something?