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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 790 April 24, 2003 Tangled and Twisted Last week my son and I cleaned the garage. When we moved about 18 months ago, the garage became the catchall storage place for things that didn't have any place else to go. Since then, things have just accumulated until the garage became the abyss of unwanted things and was northing short of a dreadful mess. The worse it got, the less likely things were to get put away. Things were jut tossed into the abyss because no one wanted to have to deal with the mess. I purchased a few storage bins (lack of a place to put things was a big problem) and we started cleaning and organizing. The job only took the two of us a couple of hours and the garage is now actually quite neat and clean. There still isn't enough room to park the car in the garage, but I'm convinced that that kind of a garage is only a myth. One of the things that amazed me, while we were cleaning, was the state of the various electrical cords. Here in this part of Canada, automobiles have an engine block heater. If you don't plug that heater in during the cold of winter, your vehicle simply freezes solid and you car doesn't start. Because of that, there are always a number of long extension cords at most people's houses. The cords got put into the garage when winter was over and it seemed that they had managed to tangle and snarl themselves into huge knots. They were all twisted and tangled, and it took my son some time to get each of them sorted out and put away properly. I'm sure the same gremlins that twist extension cords tangle hangers in a closet, but that's a topic for another day. Extension cords and hangers aren't the only things that get twisted out of shape. Often the word of God gets so twisted that the truth is lost. Let me give you a few examples. Satan knows how to use half-truths and twisted truths. He throws just enough Scripture and truth into the equation to lead us away from the whole truth and picture. Let me give you a few examples of twisted truths. God's patience with us is often twisted by people into a belief that they can get away with anything and God won’t care. Sometimes His patience with people is taken as a sign that He doesn't exist. The very opposite is true. He's patient so that we might have a chance for redemption Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17 NIV The need for Christians to do good works is often twisted to mean that we must earn our salvation. Nothing could be farther from the truth; we are saved partly so we can do the works. The works NEVER provide salvation. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV The fact that God is love is often twisted to avoid the truth that God is also holy and righteous and there is such a thing as the wrath of God. Yes God is love And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 1 John 4:16a but, we also need to remember that It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 NIV God's grace and forgiveness is often twisted and perverted into a licence to sin. Paul warns us about that very error. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 5:20-6:2 NIV The fact that God paid the price for our sin is often perverted and twisted to declare that there is no cost to his salvation. Salvation is free for the asking, but it isn't cheap. Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me Luke 9:23 NIV The best way to avoid these common twistings of God and his character is to learn the whole council of God. Read the Word, all of it not just the bits you like or the parts that are easy to understand. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32 NIV Until next time, if you've been living under twisted truth (and twisted truth is really a lie) may Holy Spirit reveal the truth to you. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are no longer a slave to sin For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- Romans 6:6 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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