Welcome!
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Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
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Today: Speaking truth, in love
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Passage: Matthew 18:15 NIV
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15″If your brother sins against you,[a] go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
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1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Gal 6:1 NIV
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Speaking truth in love, serving truth with grace, are not easy jobs
A good number of us do not have the guts to show our brother/sister the fault that they make, in love
It is not easy, but needed
Do not forget that we also sin and that they can correct us too
Jesus corrected his disciples whenever they went wrong
When they stopped the children, Jesus told them not to do so
When they hesitated to go to the house of Lazarus, Jesus went ahead
When we came to US as immigrants, there were many things we used to do in the Indian way
But somebody pointed out, “This is not how you do it here”
We learned from others-thanks to those who taught us those things
In the Christian world, things which are not matching to the kingdom of God, should be pointed out to those who do not know the right and wrong
The very purpose of God’s word includes “correction”
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16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16
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1″I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. John 15: 1-3 NIV
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Every time we meditate the word, allow the word to purge us
These days we have churches without walls, without any discipline
Grace overflows and the walls of truth have fallen?
But the garden of the lord is different. It is enclosed with firm walls
12 You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;
you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain. Song of songs 4:15 NIV
This garden-the church of our Lord, has its walls, its enclosure
This also speaks about the discipline in marriage
These days, there are too many teachings out there, where Christ is not even part of the preaching
People like to hear messages that do not lead them to a commitment
Pastors will prepare their messages accordingly
But after a few weeks, spiritual sickness will spread and people start to die spiritually, in the church
Let us continue to make disciples, not just Christians (Mt 28:19, 20)
Let the word of God work in us, before it works through us
God bless
BG
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15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Eph 4:15- NIV
When grace and truth come together, the glory of God will be revealed
The truth of God must be served in the platter of grace
The truth must be spoken, and must be spoken in love
Correctly handling the word of truth is very important
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