Does your faith need strengthening? Are you confused and wondering if Jesus Christ is really "The Way, the Truth, and the Life?" "Fight for Your Faith" is a blog filled with interesting and thought provoking articles to help you find the answers you are seeking. Jesus said, "Seek and ye shall find." In Jeremiah we read, "Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall seek for Me with all your heart." These articles and videos will help you in your search for the Truth.

Monday, March 15, 2021

The Message Bible

I am really enjoying listening to the Message Bible translated by Eugene Peterson. It just gives a new feeling for the text. I am thankful for his determination and faithfulness to his task. Well, done, Eugene. May you rest from your labours in the presence of your Lord and Master.
 

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Why You Shouldn't Take the Vaccine


 Dennis Edwards: 

Facebook and Youtube work together to control the information you receive. as you see the above video is no longer available. Information is power. By controlling the information you are allowed to receive they limit your believeable course of action. They control your thinking. Instead of learning of all the possible good and bad aspects of all sides of the vaccine debate, you are only allowed to discuss what they find acceptable. You can argue between whether Pfizer is better than Moderna, but you cannot question vaccines in general. They are the Holy Grail of medicine. "Vaccines save," we are told.

We are indeed in a Holy War or truth against falsehood. Thomas Jefferson said that truth would come to the fore if power and force did not hinder it. In other words, if true dialogue and discussion were permitted, most likely truth would be found. But if power and force restrict the platform, then falsehood could be accepted as truth. Remember Nazi Germany. Germany, a country with the most gifted scientists of that day, with the highest number of Nobel Prize winners at the time, nevertheless, had millions who followed Hitler. Why? Hitler got control of the media and soon no contrary opinion was permissible. People were afraid of the consequences of voicing an alternative opinion. They were afraid of losing their jobs, their position in the society, or even their lives.

We are seeing the same tactic used today: Censorship and the Bully Platform. Therefore, the possibility of finding truth is diminished. Falsehood has been enthroned, sin sanctified, and error embraced. "The truth shall be cast to the ground," says the Prophet Daniel in the Old Testament. As we sit to relax in front of the television after a hard day at work, even that which we watch for recreation is filled with doctrines, ideologies, behaviors we find repulsive. It is hard to escape the constant attack on our Christian values and faith. How much time we have left, only God knows. But surely we are marching ever so relentlessly to those famous "last days" spoken by the prophets, days of doom and gloom, days of death and destruction. May God help us to seek His face while He can be found. He is nigh to those that call upon Him with a whole heart.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Dez maneiras finais de se aproximar de Deus


1. Controle sua língua. Eclesiastes 5: 2 “Não se precipite com tua boca, nem o teu coração se apresse a pronunciar palavra alguma diante de Deus; porque Deus está nos céus, e tu, na terra; portanto, sejam poucas as tuas palavras.” Efésios 4: 29 e 31 “Não saia da vossa boca nenhuma palavra torpe, e sim unicamente a for boa para edificação, conforme a necessidade, e, assim, transmita graça aos que ouvem... Longe de vós, ...cólera,…e bem assim toda malícia.” Veja também, James 3.

 2. Deixe o perdão governar em seu coração e mente. Efésios 4:32 "Antes, sede uns para com os outros benignos, compassivos, perdoando-vos uns aos outos, como também Deus, em Cristo, vos perdoou.” Mateus 6:12 “Perdoa-nos as nossas ofensas como perdoamos aos que nos ofenderam.”

 3. Acertar as coisas com aqueles que você ofendeu, se possível. Mateus 5:23 “Se, pois, ao trazeres ao altar a tua oferta, ali te lembrares de que teu irmão tem alguma coisa contra ti; deixa perante do altar a tua oferta, vai primeiro reconcilie-te com teu irmão; e, então, voltando, faze a tua oferta."

 4. Cuide do seu corpo por meio de exercícios adequados, alimentação, bebida e hábitos de sono. 1 Coríntios 3:16 “Não sabeis que sois santuário de Deus, e que o Espírito de Deus habita em vós?” 1 Coríntios 9: 27a “Mas esmurra o meu corpo e o reduzo à escravidão.” 1 Coríntios 10:31 “Portanto, quer comais, quer bebais, ou façais outra coisa qualquer, fazei tudo para glória de Deus.”

 5. Trabalhe para ter um casamento e saudáveis e felizes. Colossenses 3: 18-19 “Esposas, sede submissas ao próprio marido, como convém no Senhor. Maridos, amai vossa esposa e não a trateis com amargura.” 1 Pedro 3: 7 MSG “O mesmo vale para vocês, maridos: sejam bons maridos para suas esposas. Honre-os, deleite-se com eles. Como mulheres, elas carecem de algumas de suas vantagens. Mas na nova vida da graça de Deus, vocês são iguais. Trate suas esposas, então, como iguais, para que suas orações não encalhem."

6. Ame e instrua seus filhos. “Os pais não provoquem a ira a vossos filhos, para que não fiquem desanimados.” Colossenses 3:21 “Mas criai-os na disciplina e admoestação do Senhor.” Efésios 6: 4b “Pois eu o conheço (Abraão), que ele o fará ordena a seus filhos e à sua casa depois dele, e eles guardarão o caminho do Senhor, para fazerem justiça e juízo. "Gênesis 18:19" E estas palavras, que hoje te ordeno, estarão no teu coração. ensiná-los-á diligentemente a vossos filhos, e deles falará quando estiveres em casa, e quando andares pelo caminho, e quando te deitares e quando te levantares. ”Deuteronômio 6: 6-7 

7. Evite o oculto. Atenha-se ao que Deus revelou em Sua Palavra. "As coisas encobertas pertencem ao Senhor nosso Deus; mas as reveladas (na Palavra de Deus) pertencem a nós e a nossos filhos para sempre, para que cumpram todas as palavras da lei." Deuteronômio 29:29 "E não se achará entre vós qualquer ... que use adivinhação, ou observador dos tempos, ou encantador, ou feiticeiro, ou encantador, ou consultor de espíritos familiares, ou feiticeiro, ou um necromante. " Deuteronômio 18: 10-11 "Agora o Espírito fala expressamente, que nos últimos tempos alguns se apartarão da fé, dando ouvidos a espíritos enganadores e doutrinas de demônios." 1 Timóteo 4: 1 “Amado, não acrediteis em todos os espíritos, mas provai se os espíritos são de Deus; porque muitos falsos profetas têm saído pelo mundo”. 1 João 4: 18.

 8. Mantenha seu corpo, suas luxúrias e desejos sob sujeição. "Porque a carne luta contra o Espírito, e o Espírito contra a carne; e estes são contrários um ao outro, de modo que não podeis fazer o que quereis." Gálatas 5:17 "Mas eu guardo o meu corpo, e o submeto à sujeição; para que de alguma forma, quando eu tiver pregado a outros, eu mesmo seja rejeitado." 1 Coríntios 9:27 

9. Divirta-se e aproveite a vida. Eclesiastes 5:18 “Eis o que eu vi: bom e agradável é comer e beber, e gozar cada um do bem de todo o seu trabalho, com que se afadigou debaixo do sol, durante os poucos dias da vida, que Deus lhe deu: porque esta é a sua porção. ” Eclesiastes 7: 16ª “Não sejas demasiadamente justo, nem exageradamente sábio; por que te destruirias a ti mesmo?” Filipenses 4: 5 “Seja a vossa moderação conhecida de todos os homens. Perto está o Senhor.” Neemias 8:10b “Não vos entristeçais, porque a alegria do Senhor é a vossa força.”

10. Lembre-se de que em tudo que você faz se aproxima de Deus. Salmo 73: 28a “Mas para mim é bom aproximar-me de Deus.” Tiago 4: 8a “Aproxime-se de Deus e Ele se aproximará de você.” Hebreus 10: 22-24 “Aproximemo-nos com um coração verdadeiro em plena certeza de fé, tendo os nossos corações purificados de má consciência ... Retenhamos firmemente a profissão de nossa fé, sem vacilar; (pois é fiel aquele que prometeu;) e consideremo-nos uns aos outros para provocar o amor e as boas obras. ” 

Tenho certeza de que, ao pensar e orar, você pode encontrar mais maneiras de se aproximar de Deus. Nossa vida espiritual deve permanecer a maior prioridade em nossa vida, a fim de manter as coisas em perspectiva. Não deixe o inimigo enganá-lo e fazê-lo negligenciar sua importância.

A Final Ten Plus Two Ways to Draw Nigh to God!

 

1.  Control your tongue. 

Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” 

Ephesians 4:29&31 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of thy mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers…Let all… evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” See also, James 3.

Proverbs 13:3 "He that keeps his mouth keeps his life: but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction."

Proverbs 29:11 "A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards."

2.  Let forgiveness rule in your heart and mind. 

Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” 

Matthew 6:12 “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Matthew 6:14-15 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

3. Make things right with those you have offended, if possible. 

Matthew 5:23 “Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother has ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

Leviticus 19:18 "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord." 

Colossians 3:12-13 "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

4. Take care of your body through proper exercise, eating, drinking, and sleeping habits. 

1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 

1 Corinthians 9:27a “But I keep my body, and bring it into subjection.” 

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

5. Work on having a healthy and happy marriage. 

Colossians 3:18-19 “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." 

1 Peter 3:7 MSG “The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honour them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.”

Ecclesiastes 9:9 "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou loves all the days of the life..."

Proverbs 18:22 "Whoso finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the Lord."

Proverbs 31:30 "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised."


6. Love and instruct your children. 

Colossians 3:21 "Fathers provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. ”

Ephesians 6:4b  "But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." 

Genesis 18:19  "For I know him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment." 

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in your heart: and you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up." 


7. Avoid the occult. Stick to what God has revealed in His Word. 

Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed (in God's Word) belong unto us and to our children for ever, that they may do all the words of the law."  

Deuteronomy 18:10-11 "And there shall not be found among you any...that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer."

1 Timothy 4:1-5 "Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

1 John 4:1-3 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

Isaiah 8:19-20 "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; And inquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse."

  
8. Keep your body, your lusts, and desires under subjection. 

Galatians 5:17  "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that ye would." 

1 Corinthians 9:27 "But I keep my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 

Colossians 3:5-8 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desires, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."
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      9. Enjoy yourself and enjoy life. 

Ecclesiastes 5:18 “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion.” 

Ecclesiastes 7:16ª “Be not righteous over much.” 

Philippians 4:5 “Let your moderation be known unto men. The Lord is at hand.” 

Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

10. Remember in all that you do draw nigh to God. 

Psalm 73:28a “But it is good for me to draw near to God.” 

James 4:8aDraw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.” 

Hebrews 10:22-24 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience… Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.”

11. Be generous with your time, blessings, and finances. 

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." 

2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Proverbs 11:24-25 "There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself."

12. Consider the poor. 

Psalm 41:1-2 "Blessed is he that considers the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies."  

Isaiah 58:10 "And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day." 

Proverbs 28:27 "He that gives unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse." 

Proverbs 19:17 "He that has pity upon the poor lends unto the Lord; and that which he has given will he pay him again."

I am sure as you think and pray you can come up with more ways to draw closer to God. Our spiritual life must remain the highest priority in our life in order to keep things in perspective. Do not let the enemy deceive you into neglecting its importance.

 Dennis Edwards  Click here to go to another list

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Outras dez maneiras de se aproximar de Deus (3)


1.       Considere os pobres e seja generoso com os outros. Salmo 41:1-2a “Bem-aventurado o que acode ao necessitado; o Senhor o livra no dia do mal. O Senhor o protege, preserva-lhe a vida e o faz feliz na terra.” Lucas 6:38 “Dai, e dar-se-vos-á; boa medida, recalcada, sacudida, transbordante, generosamente vos darão; porque com a medida com que tiverdes medido vos medirão também.”

2.       2. A morte de um ente querido irá aproximá-lo de Deus. Eclesiastes 7:2&4 “Melhor é ir à casa onde há luto do que ir à casa onde há banquete, pois naqueles se vê o fim de todos os homens; e os vivos que tomem em consideração. O coração dos sábios está na casa do luto, mas o dos insensatos, na casa da alegria.” Salmo 27:10 “Porque, se meu pai e minha mãe me desampararem, o Senhor me acolherá.”

3.       3. Tenha um coração quebrantado e humilde. Salmo 51:17 “Sacrifícios agradáveis a Deus são o espírito quebrantado; coração compungido e contrito, não o desprezarás, ó Deus.” Tiago 4:6&10 “Antes, Ele dá maior graça; pelo que diz: deus resiste aos soberbos, mas dá graça aos humildes. Humilhai-vos na presença do Senhor, e Ele vos exaltará.”

4.       4. Invoque o Senhor em verdade. Salmo 145: 18 “Perto está o Senhor de todos os que o invocam, de todos os que o invocam em verdade.” Mateus 5:6 “Bem-aventurados os que têm fome e sede de justiça, porque serão fartos.”

5.       5. O sofrimento e as provações o levarão para perto de Deus. Eclesiastes 7:3 “Melhor é a mágoa do que o riso, porque com a tristeza do rosto se faz melhor o coração. Jonas 2:7 “Quando, dentro de mim, desfalecia a minha alma, eu me lembrei do Senhor; e subiu a Ti a minha oração.” Salmo 18:6 “Na minha angústia, invoquei o Senhor, gritei por socorro ao meu Deus. Ele do seu templo ouviu a minha voz, e o meu clamor lhe penetrou os ouvidos.”

6.       6. Mude e abandone seus maus hábitos. Isaías 55:6-7 “Buscai o Senhor enquanto se pode achar, invocai-o enquanto está perto. Deixe o perverso o seu caminho, o iníquo, os seus pensamentos; converta-se ao Senhor, que se compadecerá dele, e volte-se para o nosso Deus, porque é rico em perdoar. Provérbios 28:13 “O que encobre as suas transgressões jamais prosperará; mas o que as confessa e deixa alcançará misericórdia.”

7.       7. Elimine perdas de tempo e quaisquer outras atividades não edificantes, como a televisão. Salmo 101:3ª “Não porei coisa injusta diante dos meus olhos.” Salmo 119:37 “Desvia os meus olhos, para que não vejam a vaidade, e vivifica-me no teu caminho.” Efésios 5:16 “Remindo o tempo, porque os dias são maus.”

8.       8. Sua interação com outras pessoas irá aproximá-lo de Deus, se você permitir. Eclesiastes 4:9-10 “Melhor é serem dois do que um, porque têm melhor paga do seu trabalho. Porque se caírem, um levanta o companheiro; ai, porém, do que estiver só; pois, caindo, não haverá quem o levante.” Provérbios 27:5-6 “Melhor é a repreensão franca do que o amor encoberto. Leais são as feridas feitas pelo que ama, porém os beijos de quem odeia são enganosos.”

9.       9. Evite amargura. Hebreus 12: 14-15 “Segue a paz com todos e a santificação, sem a qual ninguém verá o Senhor; atentando, diligentemente, por que ninguém seja faltoso, separando-se da graça de Deus; nem haja alguma raiz de amargura que, brotando, vos perturbe, e, por meio dela, muitos sejam contaminados. " Efésios 4:31 “Longa de vós, toda amargura.”

10. Evite a raiva. Efésios 4:31 “Longe de vós, toda ... ira.” Salmo 37: 8 “Deixa a irã, abandona o furor; não te impacientes; certamente, isso acabará mal. Eclesiastes 7: 9 “Não te apresses em irar-te, porque a ira se abriga no íntimo dos insensatos.

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