Human Race

When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number in his heavenly court.

For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons. So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage.”

Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live.

And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

God looks down from heaven on the entire human race he looks to see if anyone is truly wise if anyone seeks God.

King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth: Peace to you! Abundant peace! I decree that Daniel's God shall be worshiped and feared in all parts of my kingdom. He is the living God, world without end. His kingdom never falls. His rule continues eternally. He is a savior and rescuer. He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth.

Deuteronomy 32:8 Ezra 9:2 Esther 3:8 Job 28:28 Psalm 53:2 Daniel 6:25

Leaders don’t attain greatness by giving orders; but by serving others.

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Members

And we are members of his body.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Ephesians 5:30 Romans 12:4 1 Corinthians 12:18 1 Corinthians 12:12 1 Corinthians 12:24-26 2 John 1:4 Colossians 3:15

There are no unimportant members in the body of Christ.

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Kingdom

John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here."

"I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.

Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. (GK note: ALL are poor who do not have Christ/Kingdom living within.)

"Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

Matthew 3:1 Matthew 3:11 Matthew 4:23 Matthew 5:3 Matthew 5:19 Matthew 5:48

Nations rise and fall, but Christ’s Kingdom stands forever.

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Voice

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!

The enemy runs at the sound of your voice. When you stand up, the nations flee!

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Isaiah 40:3 Isaiah 33:3 Mark 9:7 John 5:25 John 7:37 John 10:4

To hear God’s voice, turn down the world’s volume.

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Change

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

I call to God; God will help me. At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs—he hears, he rescues. My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger even while thousands are lined up against me. God hears it all, and from his judge's bench puts them in their place. But, set in their ways, they won't change; they pay him no mind.

In his wisdom, the Lord will send great disaster; he will not change his mind. He will rise against the wicked and against their helpers.

God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.

Flowers and grass fade away, but what our God has said will never change.

Psalm 46:2 Psalm 55:16 Isaiah 31:2 Psalm 55:19 Psalm 102:26 Isaiah 40:8

In a world of constant change, you can trust God’s unchanging Word.

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