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Exodus 2:23 …And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. (NAS unless indicated)

John 8:33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. … 36 "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

Rom 7:14 … but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

Rom 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Rom 7:5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

Rom 7:14 … but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

Rom 7:17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

Rom 7:21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

Rom 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! …

John 1:29 …"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

1John 1:7 …and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Rom 8:3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

The Bible in Worldwide English (BWE) puts it this way: Rom 8:4 He did this so that we might be good people as the law said we should be. We are good people if we live the way the Spirit wants us to live, not the way our bodies want to live.

Rom 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

1John 3:4 … sin is lawlessness.

1John 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil…

1John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin…

Jas 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Jas 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Gal 5:17 …the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:27 and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

Rev 21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

What is keeping us from experiencing the joy of the fruit of the Spirit?

Gal 5:22 …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Gal 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Eph 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace …

Rom 8:12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

We are continually facing a fork in the road of life. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. One is the way of blessings and the other is the way of curses - Choose life.

Isa 42:23 Who among you will give ear to this? Who will give heed and listen hereafter? 24 Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they were not willing to walk, And whose law they did not obey? 25 So He poured out on him the heat of His anger And the fierceness of battle; And it set him aflame all around, Yet he did not recognize it; And it burned him, but he paid no attention.

(* editing is done to shorten length - you are encouraged to read the full commentary where applicable)

Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin. 23 He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life, 24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Proverbs 6:26 For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for the precious life. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?

Proverbs 6:32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.

Proverbs 6:19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

Proverbs 6:20 My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; 21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life…

Master Yeshua may we rejoice in the power of Your Word.

"For every failure, there is an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a road block, take a detour."

When we end up in bondage it is necessary to recognize it first. Sometimes it is a bold sign indicating a road closure; other times we end up mired in the mud before we wake up to the reality of our situation. Be wise - learn to recognize the signs of a bad situation before we bind ourselves to a life threatening situation.

Father in heaven grant us the skill to wisely use Your shield of faith and the sword of Your Word.

1. Where was Yeshua (Jesus) crucified?
2. What was the king of Egypt called?
3. Where did Jeroboam place the two golden calves?
4. Whom does God oppose and to whom does He give grace?
5. On his second trip up Mount Sinai, what did Moses take with him?
6. Which judge was very strong?
7. Who said, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you"?

(Lessons from humility and faith.)

"…Jesus reveals to us that it is indeed pride that makes faith impossible: John 5:44 ‘How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?’ As we see how in their very nature pride and faith are irreconcilable at odds, we learn that faith and humility are at their root one, and that we can never have more of true faith than we have of true humility. It is possible to have strong intellectual convictions and assurance of the truth while pride is still in the heart, but it makes living faith, which has power with God, impossible." Andrew Murray

Almighty One You alone can release us from the bondage of pride, of self and of sin.

Ever hear of the Hagrites? They were the enemies of Israel. How do we handle our enemies that want to enslave us? Consider how these two and a half tribes of Israel did:

1Chr 5:18 The sons of Reuben and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, consisting of valiant men, men who bore shield and sword and shot with bow, and were skillful in battle, were 44,760, who went to war. 19 And they made war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He was entreated for them, because they trusted in Him. 21 And they took away their cattle: their 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men. 22 For many fell slain, because the war was of God. And they settled in their place until the exile.

Eternal One grant us the wisdom to seek you in the time of all our needs.

Matt 5:38-48  You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away. You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love them who love you, what reward have you? do not even the tax collectors the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the tax collectors so? Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Material in this section is based on various prayer diaries.

YHVH may we never stop learning Your ways.

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Eternal One we await your Jubilee.

This may be the definition of a true friend:

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Have a good day!

by Greg Gordon - (founder of SermonIndex.net)

74. Little is made of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in churches or in evangelism. (1Cor 15:14-15; Acts 4:10, 33)

"If you preach the truth, if you preach the unadulterated Word of God, wherever you happen to be, you are bound to hear those famous words that seem to be on everyone’s lips: ‘That’s not the god I serve!’ Or ‘I don’t like your god, your god is mean, that’s not the god I serve.’

A good parent remembers what it was like to be a child

People who wait for their ship to come in usually find it a hardship

The smile you give a stranger may be the only sunshine he or she sees all day

The best way to keep good deeds in memory is to keep them refreshed with new ones

Opportunity is often missed because we are broadcasting when we should be tuned in

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless

We take on the strength of that which we overcome

Forgiveness is one of the most profound, but painful, human experiences. There are all sorts of easy versions of it, since most of the wrongs done to us are minor. But when a wrong costs us dearly, it's another matter. Maybe you have never thought of wrongs costing something, but that is actually the best way to understand what forgiveness is all about.

When we are wronged, it is as if someone stole something from us. If I step on someone's toe and cause them pain, I rob them of the physical comfort they were enjoying up to that point. If you cause a car accident, you may not only steal someone's physical well-being and create significant financial problems for them, you may also take from them the once in a lifetime opportunity they expected at their destination.

Some things can be paid for by the offending party such as car repairs and medical bills, but only forgiveness covers those things that can't be paid for. That means that the offended party assumes the cost of the wrong. When we forgive, we give up our right to exact payment from the offending party, whether it is monetary or not. Non-monetary payments are often in the form of emotional and relational aggression such as blame and bitterness, which produce nothing constructive, but only serve to imprison the offending party in some way. The irony is that it is often the person withholding forgiveness who finds themselves imprisoned by their own bitterness.

Some may think that it is inappropriate to forgive someone who hasn't asked for forgiveness. While lack of regret for a wrong is an issue when courts deal with crimes against society, we are well advised to forgive any and all who have wronged us personally, including those who have passed away. Forgiveness doesn't always mean that the wrongdoer will not face any consequences for their actions. It simply removes the relational debt that would be otherwise owed to the offended party. In fact genuine forgiveness often allows the most appropriate consequences to result without the complication of personal hurt getting in the way.

While the depths of the richness of forgiveness are only discovered through what the Messiah has done for us by dying for our sins, what he has done for us can only be properly understood in the context of the God of Israel's covenant love as revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures. God's relationship with his people was never based on human performance, but on his love and grace. …besides seeking forgiveness from those we have wronged, let us also forgive from our hearts all those who have wronged us, whether they seek us out or not.

*(This document was edited for length)

Psalm Ps 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Ps 34:5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces shall never be ashamed.

Ps 34:6 This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Ps 34:9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him, there is no want.

Ps 34:10 … But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)

John 1:29 (NAS)

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (That is sins’ bondage; He sets us free - hallelujah!)

"A Testimony of Forgiving", a new article written by a sister who shares her heart and testimony about her walk. Does Yahweh have instructions for us? Is the Sabbath and Feast Days important? Click here to check it out.

1. The place called the Skull - Luke 23:33

2 Pharaoh - Genesis 41:6

3. In Bethel and Dan - 1 Kings 12:28-30

4. God opposes the proud but gives strength to the humble - James 4:6

5. Two stone tablets - Exodus 34:4

6. Samson - Judges 14:5-6

7. Abraham - Genesis 22:4-5