Lionbait

Paul was referining to himself in the initial stages but as he continues the reference point changes to include us. The closer our walk with the Lord the clearer and more repugnant our sins become to us.

Total depravity, is something sinful man understands. Full of sin,murder and strife. So very distant from God, gathering with like minded people who support the depravity and its habits. One can look through history and the events of modern day and clearly see not only depravity at work but also its evil results. How deep is its pit, how horrible are its demands, man in his sinful state has so removed himself from God and sunk into a deep pit. Corrie Ten Boom stated ' that no matter how deep the pit, Jesus Christ our Saviour is deeper still'. I find it so fantastic that our loving God did not give up on us, He did not leave us in the pit, rather, through His love and grace, provided for us our means of escape. Calvary, oh! the mighty gulf that God did span. Thank you Lord for saving me.

The law is a powerful tool and guide, it highlights our sin and capability to sin. It affords to us a means of correction, the law albeit powerful as a tool, it remains useless as a remedy for our sin. It is helpless and hopeless when it comes to forgiveness or supplying an eternal answer, thankfully thats where our Saviour takes over, throught His finished work at Calvary we have the eternal answer, by faith we are saved. Thankyou Lord for saving me.

Sin could never be hidden or excused, the law put a spotlight on sin. We could no longer hide behind ignorance of sin, but now that sin has been made manifest, we have been held accountable. But for a Man called Jesus, who has shown us a pathway from darkness into His wonderful light eternal. Fairest of all the earth beside, Chiefest of all unto Thy bride, Fullness divine in Thee I see, Beautiful Man of Calvary! Refrain That Man of Calvary Has won my heart from me, And died to set me free, Blest Man of Calvary! Granting the sinner life and peace, Granting the captive sweet release, Shedding His blood to make us free, Merciful Man of Calvary! Refrain Giving the gifts obtained for men, Pouring out love beyond our ken, Giving us spotless purity, Bountiful Man of Calvary! Refrain Comfort of all my earthly way, Jesus I

My 'old man' my sinful man the one before salvation,thankyou Lord for your wonderful saving grace. Thankyou Lord for saving me.

God uses lifes experiance to our benefit, God gives ua a great perspective and wisdom on how to navigate a hard time. Consider it a sheer gift,friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours, So dont try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed,not deficent in any way. If you dont know what you are doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help.You will get His help, and wont be condescended to when you ask for it Thank you Lord for saving me.

What a name , what a God, Hagars name was so right for our loving God, is it not the most comforting thing to know that our God sees all that happens in our lives , He is with us in our times of trouble and despair and our happiness. Today I had to visit a brother who lost his wife to a sudden and destructive illness, our God seen it all, the rush to hospital, the doctors care, the severe pain from the illness, the heart attack, the fear,the loss, the feeling of helplessness, God seen it all, He understood and praise Him He undertakes. I will never leave you or forsake you Thank you Lord for saving me.

The angel askes Hagar the question so that she could look at where she was at that time and what she had left. We sometimes look at where we are in life and can be unhappy with our lot, maybe we expected more, Hagar maybe thought that by this time after bearing Abrahams son that she may have had more, more respect, better position within the group. She was given the opportunity to search herself and the angel sent her back because she could not improve on what she already had. Maybe we are looking for greater things in our life at this time and maybe we think that moving on will bring the answers we need, I have tried those things and the Lord open my eyes to the fact that what He had already provided was all I ever needed. Thank you Lord for saving me.

Sarah displays the anger and fystration that we all share when we have made a mistake, we try to place the blame on others and try to justify the enormity of our mistakes by anger and pointing our finger. Sarah had to live with her mistake daily and view the product of her mistake Hagars son. Abrahams problem was that he wanted the problem to just even itself out The Lord had shown us that it is better to confess our sins and seek forgivbess from not only the Lord but also from those we have sinned against. May the Lord give us the grace to resist sin and all its ways. Thank you Lord for saving me.

When I thought I was free, the Jesus was able to show me that I was a slave to sin and my wages where to be death. I have no more any interest in living outside the guidance and grace of my Saviour. I

God had made promises to Abraham and the Abraham was taken by the enormity of the promise, he found it difficult to see how such promises could work out. The sacrifices God showed to Abraham where a shadow of the true sacrifice of Jesus. We in times past also doubted Gods plan of salvation for us. But thankfully He let me see His glorious sacrifice, Jesus Christ on Calvary. We have a great God who keeps His promises to us.

Bad doctrine and its effects can been seen throughtout church history. As a blood bought church we should honor and acknowledge sound doctrine. Sound scripture based doctrine gives confidence and security to Gods people. As a redeemed people we should not listen or entertain any form of doctrine that we know is false or against that we have been shown through Gods holy word. We should avoid any doctrine or teaching that is not based on Gods love and His wonderful grace and redemption throught the life giving blood of Jesus Christ. 1Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us,you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. Thank you Lord for saving me.

Yes, I have been frustrated, many times, it was before I discovered that everything happens in Gods time. I found that in searching for my answers that Jesus was doing what was best for me. I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how He could love me, A sinner, condemned, unclean. Thankyou Lord for saving me.

Before my salvation I was a slave to sin and my actions reflected that my master was the devil. But by the grace of God in the giving of His son Jesus I became under new ownership. My new master is Jesus Christ my directions are given by the Holy Spirit and through Gods word. My life has been transformed, my horizons have moved, I am now a servant of the King of Kings, I love my new master. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

We all in the past have seen what offering our ' bodies' to the world brought into our lives, no happiness or contenment will ever be found in the world. But when we give to our Lord all that we have, each talent, each gift all that we have. He never fails to use what we bring, He never fails to let us see His wonderful graceful hand at work. Nothing in my hand I bring simply to thy cross I cling.

And he believed in the Lord and he counted it to him for righteousness. I had to write the verse out, it is so amazing, that God seen Abrahams faith and counted it to him for righteousness. My righteousness where as filthy rags, my unbelief seperated me from God, but now I stand in Christ, with my hope and faith built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. Now God has counted my faith to me as righteousness. What a great God we have. Thank you Lord for saving Me.

What security, what assurance,what a privilege to know God as my Shield. Where would I be without Jesus, outside Gods promises outside the knowledge of sins forgiven. What a joy,what a hope that we have. A Sovereign God,my King, Abba,My Father. Abba, Father! we adore Thee, Humbly now our homage pay; 'Tis Thy children's bliss to know Thee, None but children "Abba" say. This high honor we inherit, Thy free gift through Jesus' blood; God the Spirit, with our spirit, Witnesseth we're sons of God. Thank you Lord for saving me.

Paul is using a powerful word 'reign' to show to us the power sin had over us we obeyed its every command. But thankfully we have a new song, new desires, a new Master, one who give His life that we could walk a new walk, live a new life, serve the King of Kings.

It means as Paul has said we can be definate, on solid ground of truth, Jesus Christ died and rose again to the satisfaction of the Father, He paid the demanding price for our sins. We walk in victory, we walk as a blood bought redeemed people, confindent that sin has no longer dominion over us. Alas, and did my Savior bleed? And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I? Refrain At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day! Was it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree! Thank you Lord

Before calvary and our salavation we where slaves to sin and where powerless to overcome it, but thankfully when the spotless sinless Lamb of God died in our room and in our stead sin lost its dominion over us. Whilst sin still exsists its power over us has been removed, we no longer under the burden of sin and death but like John Bunyan relates to us in Pilgrims Progress, my shakles are gone my burden is set free. Thankyou Lord for saving me. I will sing of my Redeemer And His wonderous love for me On the cruel Cross He suffered From the curse to set me free

Paul is making reference to or old man being dead, that we have died with Christ when we accepted Him as Our Saviour and through baptisim we walk in the newess of the new man. But we try so hard not to sin to walk in the new man but thankfully when we do slip He is there for us.

What a difference it makes to a man when he walks with God. Abraham did not want anyone to misunderstand that his wealth and welfare came only from the hand of God. But look at the great humility he also displays when he asked for the wealth to be given to those in need. Grace and humility when we walk close to the Master.

Tithing is showing our way of showing our thanks to God for what He continues to bless us with. It also helps maintain the level of independance each church requires.

In baptismI am letting my old man die, leaving behind my old self and my habits, looking to my Saviour and Lord for all. By rising Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Rising from the water I rise in a new creature, in Christ Jesus my Lord. 2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Thankyou Lord for saving me