"DEUS NÃO HABITA EM TEMPLOS FEITOS POR MÃOS DE HOMENS"

Poderíamos citar muitos versículos sobre esse assunto, mas há um que é muito conhecido, mas pouco entendido, quando Deus faz a seguinte pergunta: “Que casa me edificareis vós?” Você já pensou em respondê-la? Senão, faça agora. Ninguém, ninguém mesmo pode edificar uma casa física para Deus morar. Já houve quem pensasse que isso fosse possível. Observe que no Antigo Testamento, muitos, no intuito de agradar a Deus, tiveram esse intento. Salomão, apesar de toda a sua sabedoria, imaginava como Davi, seu pai, poder edificar uma casa para Deus. (II Cr 6) Isso ocorreu porque, certamente, eles não tinham consciência e a visão que temos hoje do verdadeiro significado da casa de Deus. “Entretanto foi Salomão quem lhe edificou uma casa; mas o Altíssimo não habita em templos feitos por mãos de homens, como diz o profeta: O céu é meu trono, e a terra o escabelo dos meus pés. Que casa me edificareis, diz o Senhor, ou qual o lugar do meu repouso? Não fez, porventura, a minha mão todas estas coisas?”(At 7:47-50) Apenas com o Novo Testamento, ou seja, a partir da vinda de Cristo, é revelado ao homem que casa seria esta. Mas Deus, que é longânimo, misericordioso, levava em conta o desejo, a intenção daqueles irmãos, tanto é que se fazia presente, mesmo no lugar onde ainda não era a Sua casa, embora tivesse sido edificada para esse fim. Era apenas a sombra do que havia de vir. (Hb 10:1) Portanto, o esforço e a dedicação deles e a dificuldade que tiveram para fazer o que fizeram, corresponde, em parte, à cruz que carregamos hoje. Agora, não podemos mais alegar ignorância. Não resolve mais construir um templo após o outro, enquanto o povo permanece sob o governo do diabo. Entenda de uma vez por todas que isto não pode ser do agrado de Deus. Não estamos com isso dizendo que não se deve construir um templo. Podemos até fazer, para proporcionar um maior conforto para a igreja que se reúne naquele lugar, não significando, de maneira alguma, que ali seja a igreja. Deus não habita em casa construída por mãos humanas. Se Ele tiver de ser encontrado, podem estar certos disso, será em alguém, numa pessoa ou em um povo. Deus quer habitar em nós! Para esse fim, então, quem deve ser edificado somos nós. É impressionante como perdemos a maior parte do nosso tempo envolvidos com coisas que em nada contribuem para a nossa edificação. Para que a casa de Deus exista, necessário se faz que cada um de nós seja edificado com essa finalidade. Se Cristo estiver em mim, posso garantir que sou participante de Sua casa e se Ele permanecer em mim é evidente que se agradou de fazer em mim morada. Paulo tinha essa convicção e nos aconselhou a sentir o mesmo. “Examinai-vos a vós mesmos se permaneceis na fé; provai-vos a vós mesmos. Ou não sabeis quanto a vós mesmos, que Jesus Cristo está em vós? Se não é que já estais reprovados. Mas espero que entendereis que nós não somos reprovados.”(II Co 13:5-6) Vamos também proceder assim. Se chegarmos à conclusão de que o Senhor não está em nós, talvez ainda haja tempo para O buscarmos. O esforço é individual! A nossa vontade, nesse caso, tem fundamental importância. Se já não temos, neste mundo, uma vida muito agradável, com tanta luta, dificuldade, tribulação, doença, morte, angústia, tristeza, dor, já imaginou, ao deixarmos este corpo, descobrirmos que não edificamos para nós uma morada no céu? Quem vai nos receber quando sairmos dessa vida? Não é possível voltar – como quis fazer o rico que morreu juntamente com Lázaro – e recomeçar. Os dias que nos são disponíveis são os da nossa carne, nenhum a mais. É interessante observarmos que, permitindo ser habitados pelo Espírito de Cristo, aqui na terra, Ele se dispõe a preparar para nós um lugar junto Dele, em Sua casa, no céu. Estamos sempre na expectativa de deixar para amanhã o que deveríamos fazer diariamente. Envolvidos pelo governo maligno deste mundo, deixamos de nos edificar, como igreja, como casa de Deus. Às vezes, passam-se dias e não acrescentamos absolutamente nada que possa contribuir com a nossa edificação. Não foi o que aconteceu com Jesus Cristo e com os apóstolos. Um dia, Deus pôde, com toda a liberdade, manifestar-se através desses homens. Então, naquele momento, onde quer que estivessem, aonde quer que fossem, ali também estava Deus. As Escrituras afirmam que Deus estava em Cristo, reconciliando consigo o mundo. É bom saber que já há bastante tempo, temos pregado o evangelho e chegado sempre à mesma conclusão. Não podemos pensar hoje de uma forma e amanhã de outra. Não importa o que falamos, desde que a direção seja sempre a mesma e tudo se resume na edificação do homem, para que possa servir de habitação para o Espírito de Deus. Em outras palavras, na tentativa de ser ainda mais claro, o propósito de Deus é nos tirar do poder de Satanás. A princípio, todo homem se encontra sob a sua influência. É com o propósito de libertar o homem que a Palavra de Deus deve ser pregada e, ao ouvi-la, de imediato, iniciamos um combate com as trevas, e nos declaramos inimigos do diabo. Quando a semente (Palavra) cai em boa terra (pessoa), a tendência é que produza fruto. Quem recebeu a Palavra, nem sempre se lembra de quando foi que aconteceu, mas é a partir desse momento que surge a possibilidade de sair do governo de Satanás. Não se iluda pensando que o homem nasce livre e, portanto, todos são filhos de Deus. Essa é uma doutrina diabólica, do deus deste século. “Vós tendes por pai o Diabo, e quereis satisfazer os desejos de vosso pai; ele é homicida desde o princípio, e nunca se firmou na verdade, porque nele não há verdade; quando ele profere mentira, fala do que lhe é próprio; porque é mentiroso, e pai da mentira”. (Jo 8:44) Então, edificar uma pessoa não é tarefa nada fácil. Não devemos imaginar que Deus, Santo, Justo e Perfeito como é, habite em qualquer um. Quanto mais santos nos tornarmos, mais certeza teremos de que Deus não nos deixará, de que a habitação que fizemos para Ele não ficará deserta. Se inabitada por Ele, tornar-se-á morada de demônios, como aconteceu com a Grande Babilônia, que também é um povo, uma igreja, composta por aqueles que não tiveram a preocupação de, ao mesmo tempo em que guardavam a pureza, santificavam-se ainda mais. “E ele clamou com voz forte, dizendo: Caiu, caiu a grande Babilônia, e se tornou morada de demônios, e guarida de todo espírito imundo, e guarida de toda ave imunda e detestável”.(Ap 18:2) Deus edifica pedra por pedra, casa por casa, pessoa por pessoa. Em vão será o nosso trabalho se o Senhor não habitar em nós. A conclusão a que chegamos é que a obra se realiza mesmo é no caráter do homem. É necessário, verdadeiramente, nascer de novo. Esse processo varia de pessoa por pessoa. Quem resistir menos, certamente alcançará mais rapidamente o padrão desejado por Deus. No dia em que estivermos prontos ou acabarem-se os nossos dias nesta carne, concluída está a construção e é chegado o fim da obra que se realiza em nós. Quando atingirmos esse grau de espiritualidade, o Senhor terá plena liberdade em nos dirigir e governar. Isto quer dizer também que chegará um momento em que o diabo não terá mais nenhuma influência sobre nós. Eu sonho com esse dia! Aleluia! Chegará também um instante em que a mulher (igreja) terá a lua (Satanás) debaixo dos seus pés. (Ap 12:1) Nesse momento, podemos afirmar, sem dúvida, que a obra foi concluída. A igreja estará purificada de qualquer influência maligna. Que maravilha! Já imaginaram quando alcançarmos isto, meus irmãos? Foi exatamente o que aconteceu com Jesus. Ele foi o primeiro filho de Deus, irrepreensível, perfeito, totalmente santo. Os demais filhos de Deus procuram também ser como Ele. As Escrituras afirmam que Jesus Cristo não se envergonha de chamá-los de irmãos.(Hb 2:11) Virá o tempo em que o nome do Senhor não será mais motivo de vergonha, de chacota, de blasfêmia, porque não haverá mau testemunho por parte dos filhos de Deus. Todos serão santos, perfeitos, justos, irrepreensíveis, tal como o Pai. Edificar alguém, então, é algo muito importante, requer pessoas habilitadas, especialmente preparadas com essa finalidade. Estamos sempre na expectativa de que, em algum momento, a obra seja concluída. Quando Deus encaixar a última pedra na construção, acabou. Mas agora, por um pouco de tempo, ainda é necessário trabalhar. Ao mesmo tempo em que trabalhamos na edificação da igreja, somos edificados por Deus. A que ponto esta obra chegou, em que fase ela está, não sabemos. Uma coisa é certa: a sua conclusão está bem próxima. Realmente, pensando bem, não faria sentido Deus habitar em outro lugar, senão em nós, porque Deus é Espírito, e espírito faz morada em pessoas, não em templos. Que benção! Esteja certo de que Ele é Poderoso para concluir a edificação da obra que um dia iniciou em nossas vidas. “... tendo por certo isto mesmo, que aquele que em vós começou a boa obra a aperfeiçoará até o dia de Cristo Jesus, como tenho por justo sentir isto a respeito de vós todos, porque vos retenho em meu coração, pois todos vós sois participantes comigo da graça, tanto nas minhas prisões como na defesa e confirmação do evangelho”. (Fp 1:6-7) Fonte:http://www.povodedeus.org/

"Slavery in Brazil the elite do not like to tell this story".Inhumane treatment.

" What Jesus meant when he said : " Take up your cross and follow me

Question : " ( Matthew 16:24 , Mark 08:34 , Luke 09:23 ) " " What Jesus meant when he said : " Take up your cross and follow me

Answer: Let's start with what Jesus did not mean . Many people interpret " cross " as some burden they must carry on their lives : a strained relationship , a thankless job , a physical illness . With pride of self -pity , they say , " That's my cross I have to bear. " Such an interpretation is not what Jesus meant when he said : " Take up your cross and follow me . "

When Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha ​​to be crucified , no one was thinking of the cross as a symbol of a burden to carry . For a person in the first century , the cross meant one thing and one thing only : death by the most painful and humiliating human beings could develop .

Two thousand years later , Christians view the cross as a beloved symbol of atonement , forgiveness , grace and love . But in Jesus' day , the cross represented nothing but torturous death . Because the Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion , carrying a cross means bring your own device running while facing ridicule along the way to death .

Therefore , " Take up your cross and follow me " means to be willing to die in order to follow Jesus . This is called " dying to self . " It is a call to absolute surrender . After each time Jesus commanded to carry the cross , He said : " For whoever would save his life will lose it , but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it . Which is good for a man to gain the whole world , and lose or forfeit himself? " ( Luke 9:24-25 ) . Although the call is tough, the reward is incomparable .

Wherever Jesus went, he attracted crowds . Although these multitudes often followed as Messiah , their view that the Messiah really was and what He would do , was distorted . They thought the Christ would usher in the kingdom restored . They believed He would free them from the oppressive rule of their Roman occupiers . Even own inner circle of Christ's disciples thought the kingdom was brief ( Luke 19:11 ) . When Jesus began to teach that He was going to die at the hands of the Jewish leaders and their masters Gentiles ( Luke 9:22 ) , his popularity fell . Many of the shocked followers rejected . In fact, they were not able to put to death their own ideas , plans and desires , and exchange them for His .

Following Jesus is easy when life runs smoothly , our true commitment to Him is revealed during trials . Jesus assured us that trials will come to His followers ( John 16:33 ) . Discipleship demands sacrifice , and Jesus never hid that cost.

In Luke 9:57-62 , three people seemed willing to follow Jesus. When Jesus asked them further , their commitment was timid at best . They failed to count the cost of following Him . None was willing to take up his cross and crucify her their own interests .

Therefore , Jesus appeared to dissuade them . How is it different from the typical Gospel presentation ! How many people would respond to an altar call that was , " Come , follow Jesus , and you may face the loss of friends , family , reputation , career , and possibly even your life " ? The number of false converts would likely decrease ! This call is what Jesus meant when he said : " Take up your cross and follow me . "

http://www.gotquestions.org

What Does "bodily exercise profiteth little" Mean?

By David J. Stewart

1st Timothy 4:8, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

       Most Bible students misinterpret this Scripture, thinking it is speaking of physical exercise. That has nothing to do with this passage of Scripture. To understand this Bible verse you need to compare it to the context of the surrounding Verses...

1st Timothy 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

The word “exercise” is the Greek word gumnasia and means “training.” It's the word from which we get our English word “gymnasium.” The word “bodily” is the Greek word somatikos and means “corporeal or physical.” The word “corporeal” is defined as “having material or physical form or substance.” Thus, the Bible is speaking here about the training which involves things which have material or physical form or substance. Instead of exercising by lifting weights at a the gym, the Bible rather sspeaking about the religious your exercising religious training with cups and pots. 
The Bible is speaking about doctrines in this Chapter of 1st Timothy. This is the subject... DOCTRINES. Doctrines are critically important to the Christian. Satan has infiltrated most churches with false teachings, which 1st Timothy 4:1 calls “doctrines of devils.” Literally, these are the “teachings of demons.” Notice what Colossians 2:20-22 says...

Colossians 2:20-22, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?”

The “bodily exercise” which profiteth little are religious rituals, manmade traditions, ceremonies and formalism (the touch not, taste not, handle not doctrines of men). 1st Timothy 4:7 commands...

1st Timothy 4:7, “But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

The word “profane” means “heathenism, wicked.” The word “fables” means “a tale, fiction, myth.” The word “refuse” means to “deprecate (to express strong disapproval of, deplore), decline, shun.” The Bible tells Christians to strongly express their disapproval of lies and false teachings. We are to refuse any myth, fiction or tale that goes against the holy Scriptures.
In particular, 1st Timothy 4:1-3 exposes the demonic teachings of celibacy and abstaining from meats. The Bible practically gives us the address of the Vatican in Rome. Roman Catholicism's unbiblical tradition which forbids eating meat on Fridays is a doctrine of demons.
Here is a direct quote from Catholic cannon law, which is quoted on dozens of Catholic websites...

Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

SOURCE: Outside of Lent, do we have to do anything special on Fridays? | Catholic Answers

Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays! This is a fable, fiction, a doctrine of demons.
Another teaching of demons is celibacy for Catholic priests. The Vatican also prohibits Catholic priests from getting married (which is why homosexuality is such a big problem amongst priests). The Bible clearly calls these false teachings “doctrines of devils” in 1st Timothy 4:1. Even the Catholic Douay version of the Bible contains the same Scriptures. No wonder Catholics are discouraged by their priests from reading the Bible.

Canon 277

Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and therefore are bound to celibacy which is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and are able to dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and humanity.

SOURCE: Code of Canon Law - Intra Text

Whereas most churchgoers are relaxed and indifferent concerning differences in denominational doctrines, God is intensely against manmade traditions that contradict the Scriptures... even calling them doctrine OF DEMONS. Literally, you are sitting in Satan's Sunday school class, learning the doctrines of devils (which is idolatry).
In 1st Timothy 4:7, “bodily exercise” clearly does not refer to physical exercise, because the context of the entire passage is about doctrinal integrity. We are talking about doctrines inspired by demonic spirits verses Biblical teachings. Demons are spirits which can influence the spirit of a man. This is the danger of worldly music, books, magazines, plays, movies, et cetera. Anything that conveys ideas, teachings, opinions or principles has a spiritual nature to it. The Bible tells us to try (test) the spirits in 1st John 4:1. We test the spirit of something by shining the Light of God's Word upon it. The best way to expose darkness is to shine the Light of the Bible.
God is warning us about false prophets in the Last Days. They are departed from the faith. They've never been saved to begin with. They've heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, but have rejected it, pursuing religion instead, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. 1st Timothy 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
There are many demonic teachings being taught in our churches today. I recently learned that 84,262 International Churches of Christ teach the devilish doctrine ofBaptismal Regeneration (that is, the teaching that water baptism washes sins away and is required in order to get to Heaven). The Bible strongly condemns Baptismal Regeneration.
Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Science, Lutherans, Catholics, and Church of Christ are just a few of the hundreds of mainstream religious denominations which REQUIRE (add) water baptism to be saved in Jesus Christ. Thankfully, we can KNOW from the Bible that water baptism is NOT necessary to get to Heaven. No one in the Old Testament was water baptized. There's only ONE gospel (Acts 10:43; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Apostle John (as God's pen) wrote the Epistles of 1st John I, II and III. In 1st John 5:13 John says he wrote his Epistle so that believers could KNOW that they're saved.1st John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Amen! John doesn't mention water baptism even once in all three Epistles. Surely, if water baptism were mandatory for salvation, then John would have said to make sure you've been baptized; BUT HE DID NOT!
Also, please take note that John did NOT mention the demonic doctrine of Speaking In Tongues either. The damnable Charismatic (Pentecostal) religion has been teaching for the past two centuries that Speaking-in-Tongues is proof (a sign) of salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Again, if Speaking in some unknown jibber-jabber were required for salvation, then John would have mentioned it.
The “bodily exercise” which profiteth little are the physical rituals, manmade traditions, ceremonies and formalism (the touch not, taste not, handle not doctrines of men). Jesus warned the religious Jews that they had made the Word of God useless by their manmade traditions (the washing of pots and cups). These are the “bodily exercises” that are not profitable; but godliness is profitable unto ALL THINGS (1st Timothy 4:8). Jesus made clear that obedience to the Word of God is what profits a man...

Mark 7:7-9 and 13, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. ... Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

1st Chronicles 16:31, "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth."

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"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." —2nd Thessalonians 1:8

The Story Behind… “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”

The president of a certain Young People’s Society once chanced to meet a girl of fourteen, poorly dressed and a drunkard’s daughter, whom he invited to join the Society and to attend Sunday School. She did this, and attended for a time, but one evening at a dedication meeting, when the Society’s roll of members was called, and each member responded with a text, there was no response from this girl.

Remarking on her absence, the president, Mr. J. M. Black, spoke of the sadness of anyone being absent when the names were called of those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and then added the prayer, “O God, when my own name is called up yonder, may I be there to respond!”

Wanting something suitable to sing on this occasion, Mr. Black searched the hymn book, but could find nothing, and after the meeting was ended, on his way home he still kept wishing for such a hymn.

On reaching home the words of the first stanza of a new hymn came to his mind in full.

Within fifteen minutes the two following verses were also written down, and then Mr. Black turned to the piano. “I played the music,” he said, “just as it is found today in the hymn books, note for note, and I have never dared to change a single word or note of the song.”

The three stanzas of this well-known and frequently sung hymn are:

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder. I’ll be there.

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

REFRAIN

When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
I’ll be there.

Author Unknown

The Acceptable Year of the Lord – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  While many people know about The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., far fewer are familiar with any of his sermons beyond “I Have a Dream.”  I invite you to take a few minutes to read two excerpts from Dr. King’s sermon entitled “Guidelines for a Constructive Church,” which he preached at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on June 5, 1966.

This morning I would like to submit to you that we who are followers of Jesus Christ, and we who must keep his church going and keep it alive, also have certain basic guidelines to follow. Somewhere behind the dim mist of eternity, God set forth his guidelines. And through his prophets, and above all through his son Jesus Christ, he said that, “There are some things that my church must do. There are some guidelines that my church must follow.” And if we in the church don’t want the funds of grace cut off from the divine treasury, we’ve got to follow the guidelines. (That’s right) The guidelines are clearly set forth for us in some words uttered by our Lord and Master as he went in the temple one day, and he went back to Isaiah and quoted from him. And he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me (Yes, sir) to preach the gospel to the poor, (Yes, sir) he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, (Yes) to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

. . . And then the church, if it is true to its guidelines, must preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Yes, sir, Make it plain) You know the acceptable year of the Lord is the year that is acceptable to God because it fulfills the demands of his kingdom. Some people reading this passage feel that it’s talking about some period beyond history, (Make it plain) but I say to you this morning that the acceptable year of the Lord can be this year. (Yes) And the church is called to preach it.

The acceptable year of the Lord is any year (Amen) when men decide to do right.

The acceptable year of the Lord is any year when men will stop lying and cheating. (Amen, Make it plain)

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year when women will start using the telephone for constructive purposes (Yes) and not to spread malicious gossip and false rumors on their neighbors. (Right)

The acceptable year of the Lord is any year (Any year) when men will stop throwing away the precious lives that God has given them in riotous living. (Make it plain)

The acceptable year of the Lord (Yes) is that year when people in Alabama (Make it plain) will stop killing civil rights workers and people who are simply engaged in the process of seeking their constitutional rights. (Make it plain)

The acceptable year of the Lord (Yes) is that year when men will learn to live together as brothers. (Yes, sir)

The acceptable year of the Lord (Yes) is that year when men will keep their theology abreast with their technology.

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year when men will keep the ends for which they live abreast with the means by which they live. (Yes)

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year (That year) when men will keep their morality abreast with their mentality.

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year (Yes) when all of the leaders of the world will sit down at the conference table (Make it plain) and realize that unless mankind puts an end to war, war will put an end to mankind. (Yes)

The acceptable year of the Lord [clap] is that year when men will beat their swords into plowshares, (Yes) and their spears into pruning hooks: and nations will not rise up against nations, neither will they study war anymore. (Yes)

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year (That year) when men will allow justice to roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. (Yes)

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year when we will send to Congress and to state houses of our nation (Yes, sir) men who will do justly, (Yes) who will love mercy, (Yes) and who will walk humbly with their God. (Yes)

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year (Yes, sir) when every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain will be made low; the rough places would be made plain, and the crooked places straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year when men will do unto others as they will have others do unto themselves. (Yes)

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year when men will love their enemies, (Yes) bless them that curse them, pray for them that despitefully use them.

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year when men discover that out of one blood God made all men to dwell upon the face of the earth. (Yes)

The acceptable year of the Lord is that year when every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess the name of Jesus. And everywhere men will cry out, “Hallelujah, hallelujah! The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah, hallelujah!”

The acceptable year of the Lord is God’s year. (Yes)

These are our guidelines, and if we will only follow the guidelines, we will be ready for God’s kingdom, (Yes) we will be doing what God’s church is called to do. We won’t be a little social club. (Make it plain) We won’t be a little entertainment center. But we’ll be about the serious business (Yes) of bringing God’s kingdom to this earth.

So What?

Dr. King’s words are as challenging and relevant today as they were in 1966.  The acceptable year of the Lord should guide the life and ministry of every believer and every congregation.  We are called to enact the reign/kingdom/realm of God.

• How are you doing in this mission? What are your greatest strengths? What are some of your growing edges and how might you address each in 2013?
• How is your congregation doing in this mission?  What are your congregation’s greatest strengths? What are some of your congregation’s growing edges and how might you address each in 2013?
• http://sowhatfaith.com/2011/01/17/the-acceptable-year-of-the-lord-rev-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/

TREASURE IN CLAY JARS

2 Corinthians 4
New International Version (NIV)
Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b] Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.