The Power to Live a Holy Life

The Power to Live a Holy Life

by Ed ArctonNo Comments
It is a wonderful thing to realize that all Christians have the Holy Spirit. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9, NIV). Therefore if you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit. How do you know you have the Holy Spirit? You could not have trusted Christ for your salvation in your strength alone. The Holy Spirit enabled you to become a Christian. Nobody can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit. If we really have the Holy Spirit, why is it such a struggle to live a holy life? Conversion to Christ does not perfect us. We are still sinners. “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:17, NIV). Some people think that new Christians proceed to holy living automatically, with no help from other believers. After all, the Ethiopian eunuch was left...
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Living a Holy Life

Living a Holy Life

by Ed ArctonNo Comments
by Charles R. Swindoll  Scriptures: Leviticus 11:44 As Christians we live a life that is different—morally excellent, ethically beautiful. It's called a holy life. And God honors that. Because it's like He is . . . . All of our Christian lives we have sung the old hymn "Take Time to Be Holy." Those words are true. It does take time to be holy. It certainly takes time to be mature. It takes time to cultivate a walk with the Lord that begins to flow naturally because the enemy is so much more assertive and powerful than we . . . and so creative, so full of new ideas on how to derail us and demoralize us. We need to lock onto the power that comes from God's presence and invite Him to cleanse our thoughts, to correct our foul speech, to forgive us completely, and make us holy vessels, who, like the winged seraphim, spend our days bringing glory to His holy name. Time helps you...
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Reasons Why Prayer Should be a manner of life

Reasons Why Prayer Should be a manner of life

by Ed ArctonNo Comments
Christian philosopher and scientist Blaise Pascal (1623-62) wrote, "The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing … " This article proposes that prayer has its reasons. Why we pray is important, as is prayer itself. What follows are twelve reasons to pray. 1. God's Word Calls Us to Pray One key reason to pray is because God has commanded us to pray. If we are to be obedient to His will, then prayer must be part of our life in Him. Where does the Bible call us to prayer? Several passages are relevant: "Pray for those who persecute you" –Matthew 5:44 (NIV) "And when you pray …" –Matthew 6:5 "This, then, is how you should pray …" –Matthew 6:9 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." –Romans 12:12 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." –Ephesians 6:18 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and...
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TEACHING CHILDREN TO PRAY

TEACHING CHILDREN TO PRAY

by Ed ArctonNo Comments
Teaching a child to pray is one of the most valuable gifts you can give them. It helps them develop their relationship with the Lord and helps them grow as a Christian. Prayer is a very personal thing and should be taken very seriously. Teaching a child to do it should done with gentleness and grace. Consider the Age of the Child Children need to show a desire as well as a willing heart.   A child asking to learn to pray should be one of the first prerequisites to teaching a child to pray. Forcing an intimate relationship with God is a mistake, as it will only push them further away.  When our little one entered our home and began seeing us pray together as a family, he became very interested and wanted to participate.  So even at a young age, he contributes, learns and shares in the joy of praying together. Let Them Talk Remember there is no one “one right way”...
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THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

by Ed ArctonNo Comments
My spirit is crushed. I feel defeated and neglected. Our family is journeying through some really rocky territory and, honestly, I just don’t like it at all. Who likes going through the storm? No one. But I also know that it can either drive me away from God or draw me near. I choose to draw near and hold on with prayer. How is your prayer life? Are you meeting Him and sharing your heart? Here are a few reasons why you should make sure it is on your to-do list everyday, all the time. Importance of Prayer Prayer is one of the most important things a Christian can do. It is a time they are communicating with God and it should be taken very seriously. While there is deep theological meaning in prayer, it doesn’t have to be something that is complicated and difficult. It’s something anyone can do anywhere at any time. Drawing Near to God It’s impossible to know someone if you don’t...
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Do Leaders Really Need To Pray?: The Role of Prayer in Leadership

Do Leaders Really Need To Pray?: The Role of Prayer in Leadership

by Ed ArctonNo Comments
How important is a leader’s prayer life? Consider the following two examples (both composite characters). Sue is a highly successful CEO who quickly advanced through the ranks of her company because of her talents, abilities and willingness to outwork most of her co-workers. She has led her institution to remarkable growth and impressive financial success. When Sue experiences a crisis in the company, she responds with creative problem solving, fierce determination and hard work. While prayer is not part of her leadership, she has amassed impressive personal possessions, wide-ranging influence and significant power. Meanwhile Tom is equally accomplished. His company is doing well financially and has a growth curve similar to Sue’s organization. Tom is very concerned about serving the Lord through his work and consistently gives God credit for his success and the growth of his company. He tithes the profits faithfully. Recently, when tensions among employees were on the rise and product orders were dropping off, he called...
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