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LESSONS FROM THE TENTS OF THE RECHABITES PART 5B “PLANT NO VINEYARD” — WHEN PLEASURE COMPETES WITH PURPOSE

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LESSONS FROM THE TENTS OF THE RECHABITES PART 5B “PLANT NO VINEYARD” — WHEN PLEASURE COMPETES WITH PURPOSE Jeremiah 35:7 (KJV) “Neither shall ye… plant vineyard… but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.” Scriptural Focus “ Plant no vineyard ” was not a rejection of enjoyment or reward. It was a discipline of restraint. A vineyard represents long-term pleasure, reward, and personal enjoyment. God was not denying them fruit — He was preventing distraction. The Rechabites were taught not to organize their lives around pleasure. Meaning in Our Time and Dispensation Spiritual Dimension — When Pleasure Weakens Discipline Vineyards take time, care, and attention. Spiritually, they represent pursuits that slowly compete with devotion. Pleasure is not sinful — but unchecked pleasure can silence conviction. Lesson : Anything that weakens your hunger for God must be examined. Physical Dimension — Discipline Over Indulgence Vineyards ...
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THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 4: THE HOLY OF HOLIES — FULLY PRESERVED IN HIS PRESENCE

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THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 4: THE HOLY OF HOLIES — FULLY PRESERVED IN HIS PRESENCE Hebrews 10:19-22 "  And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,  let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water" . In Part 3, we entered the Holy Place and discovered a life of: Light (illumination by the Word) Bread (daily nourishment) Incense (consistent prayer) Yet we learned a sobering truth: Maturity is not immunity. 📖 “ Take heed lest you fall .” (1 Cor. 10:12) The veil still stood — meaning there was more. Beyond the Veil Behind the veil was the Holy of Holi...
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THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 3: THE HOLY PLACE — ILLUMINATED, NOURISHED, BUT STILL GUARDING

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THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 3: THE HOLY PLACE — ILLUMINATED, NOURISHED, BUT STILL GUARDING Exodus 26:33, Hebrews 9:6-8, And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy . In Part 2, we stepped into the Outer Court and learned that: Activity is not intimacy. Visibility is not preservation. Being busy for God is not the same as being close to God. The Outer Court introduced us to God — but it was never meant to keep us there. 📖 “ Press toward the goal .” (Phil. 3:14) God always invites us deeper. Entering the Holy Place (Inner Court) Beyond the Outer Court was the Holy Place — accessible only to the priests. Inside were three sacred items: The Lampstand (light) The Table of Showbread (nourishment) The Altar of Incense (prayer) This was a place of illumination, sustenance, and communion. 📖 “ Your word is a lamp. ” (Ps. 119:105 – key phr...
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THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 2: THE OUTER COURT — BUSY, BUT NOT PRESERVED

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THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 2: THE OUTER COURT — BUSY, BUT NOT PRESERVED Revelation 3:2 “Be watchful, strengthen what remains.”  In Part 1, we saw that not all preservation is protection. The freezer stops decay, but the fridge only slows it. We saw how: Things can look fine while quietly spoiling. Decay often goes unnoticed by the one who placed the food there. God uses discerning voices to alert us before breakdown becomes destruction. Part 1 warned us against settling for delayed decay instead of full preservation.  Entering the Outer Court When God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle, He designed it in levels: The Outer Court The Inner or Holy Place The Holy of Holies The journey inward was a journey deeper into God’s presence. The Outer Court was the first place everyone encountered — busy, active, visible. 📖 “ This is the way; walk in it.” ( Isa. 30:21 – key phrase) But here’s the danger: Many people enter the Outer Court and never move be...
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THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 1: THE FREEZER & THE FRIDGE — THE WARNING

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THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 1: THE FREEZER & THE FRIDGE — THE WARNING Proverbs 22:3 “The prudent see danger and take refuge.”   Opening Devotional Thought One day, I took some food out of the freezer, removed a portion, and placed the rest in the fridge. At first, nothing seemed wrong. It didn’t spoil immediately. For days, it still looked fine. Then one late afternoon, my wife returned from school, opened the fridge, and noticed what I had missed—the food had begun to spoil. She pointed it out to me, and in that moment, this message was born. Because decay doesn’t always announce itself to the person who placed the food there. Sometimes, it takes someone discerning to notice that what looks fine is already going bad. I had assumed the fridge would play the same role as the freezer simply because the food was still inside the fridge. But I was wrong. The environment had changed, and slowly, silently, the food was being ruined. That moment taught me a l...
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JUSTICE MEETS MERCY. PART 7: THE FINAL VERDICT: SEALED BY GRACE

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THE COURTROOM OF HEAVEN: WHERE JUSTICE MEETS MERCY. PART 7: THE FINAL VERDICT: SEALED BY GRACE 📖 Romans 8:33 “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” In the last session, we saw how the believer — as the plaintiff—presents their petition before the Judge of all the earth. We discovered that prayer is more than pleading; it’s a structured legal presentation rooted in the promises of God. You don’t beg in the courtroom of Heaven — you petition with evidence: the Word, the blood, and your covenant rights. The Court Falls Silent The courtroom grows still. The Judge, radiant in majesty, rises from His seat. The Advocate stands beside you, His robe glistening with the marks of your redemption. The accuser, once confident, now trembles — his evidence has been invalidated, his accusations overruled. Heaven awaits the final verdict. This is the moment of divine closure. Not the end of your story — but the end of condemnation’s voice over it. 👑 1. The Judge Spe...
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THE COURTROOM OF HEAVEN: WHERE JUSTICE MEETS MERCY. PART 6: THE PLAINTIFF’S PETITION

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THE COURTROOM OF HEAVEN: WHERE JUSTICE MEETS MERCY. PART 6: THE PLAINTIFF’S PETITION 📖 Luke 18:7–8   “And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry out to Him day and night, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” In Part 5, we discovered the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the divine Clerk of Heaven. He records the Judge’s verdict, seals the decree, and reminds us of what Jesus has already accomplished. We saw how He enforces Heaven’s rulings in our hearts and empowers us to live as those truly justified and free. Now, the gavel has fallen, the verdict is sealed, and Heaven’s record is clear — but the story isn’t over. Someone must now petition the court to see Heaven’s verdict manifested on earth — and that person is you. In every courtroom, a plaintiff is the one who brings a case before the judge. They file petitions, present grievances, and request justice. They don’t act in authority — they appeal to it. In Heaven’s courtroom, we are...
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THE COURTROOM OF HEAVEN: WHERE JUSTICE MEETS MERCY. PART 5: THE CLERK RECORDS THE VERDICT

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THE COURTROOM OF HEAVEN: WHERE JUSTICE MEETS MERCY. PART 5: THE CLERK RECORDS THE VERDICT 📖 John 14:26   “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” In Part 4, we witnessed the Judge of Heaven — God the Father — deliver His final verdict. Justice demanded payment, but mercy paid the price. We saw how righteousness and peace kissed at the cross, and how God’s wisdom satisfied the law through love. The gavel of grace came down with power: “ Case dismissed — redeemed and justified !” But once the Judge rules, someone must record and execute that verdict. That’s where the Clerk of Heaven steps in — the Holy Spirit. In every courtroom, the clerk has a vital role. While others may debate or argue, the clerk’s duty is to record the judgment, seal the documents, and enforce the decision. Whatever the judge declares, the clerk ensures it is carried out — legally and accur...
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JUMPSTARTING YOUR LIFE—THE POWER OF DIVINE CONNECTIONS PART 8:WHEN IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE—LETTING GO OF THE OLD TO EMBRACE THE NEW

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THE STORY: A FRIEND FACED WITH A HARD DECISION Romans 1:11-12 (NIV) "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Welcome to Part 8 of our Series, Jumpstarting Your Life: The Power of Divine Connection.  In Part 7 , we saw how my landlady’s son, who had once been stranded, later became a helper to another driver stuck in the mud . We learned that helping others after receiving help is a key principle of life , and sometimes, we must recognize when we need assistance instead of struggling alone. But what if the real issue isn’t about getting help but knowing when to move on? PART 8: WHEN IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE—LETTING GO OF THE OLD TO EMBRACE THE NEW THE STORY: A FRIEND FACED WITH A HARD DECISION I have a friend named Kwame who had been driving an old car for years . It wasn’t just any car—it had been his first car, filled with memories. One day, after heavy rain, he...
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JUMPSTARTING YOUR LIFE—THE POWER OF DIVINE CONNECTIONS PART 1: WHEN LIFE REFUSES TO START

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THE STORY: A CAR THAT WOULDN’T START Romans 1:11-12 (NIV ) "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith." One early morning, I was in my room when I noticed my landlady’s son struggling with his car. No matter how many times he turned the key, it refused to start. Minutes later, a co-tenant arrived with a car battery, connected it to his, and in seconds— boom ! The engine roared to life. It hit me: Sometimes, we need external help to restart what isn’t working in our lives. HAVE YOU EVER FELT STUCK? Just like that dead battery , life can sometimes feel like it just won’t start: Spiritually – Your passion for prayer and the Word feels drained. (“ Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” – John 15:5) Physically – You’re constantly exhausted, no matter how much you rest. (“Even youths grow weary, but those who wait on the Lord renew their strength.” – Isaiah 40:30-31...
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DEALING WITH DIABETIC WOUNDS – A BALANCED DEVOTIONAL SERIES PART 1: RECOGNIZING THE WOUND – THE FIRST STEP To HEALING

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DEALING WITH DIABETIC WOUNDS – A BALANCED DEVOTIONAL SERIES PART 1: RECOGNIZING THE WOUND – THE FIRST STEP To HEALING Revelation 2:4-5 "You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first."  Not every wound bleeds. Some deteriorate quietly beneath the surface—unseen, unfelt, and unspoken—until it's too late . Just like a diabetic wound that looks minor at first but spreads when ignored , many of life's deepest issues— spiritual, emotional, physical, and even national—start small . But delay is dangerous . Healing begins when we are humble and honest enough to recognize the wound. Key Scripture: " You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." – Revelation 2:4-5 LIFE APPLICATION: Two years ago, a friend called me, asking for blood donation for his father-in-law, who was scheduled for a leg amputation at the 3...
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