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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
253-517-9195 - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">January 27, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br></p>
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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>APR
20 - ACTS 19:21-21:14 - CHURCH GROWTH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT</b></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>1.
19:26 (19:21-41) PAUL'S DECISION IN SPIRIT: EXPLOSION IN EPHESUS.
“And you see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost
throughout all :Asia, this :Paul has persuaded <i>and</i><span style="font-style:normal">
turned away a large crowd, saying that they are no gods, that are
made with hands” (NNT). </span></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style>These
who have turned the world upside down are come here also (17:6)! This
was spoken in Thessalonica, but the same turmoil is in Ephesus. Your
Kingdom Father, first brings a sword of division, even as Jesus said!
</span></span><b><i>Hallowed be your :name!</i></b></p>
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<b>2. 20:1 (20:1-6) PAUL: INTERLUDE IN GREECE. “And after the
uproar ceased, :Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted <i>them,</i>
took leave, <i>and</i> departed to go into Macedonia.” </b><span style>When
they persecute you in one town, flee to another. These were the words
of Your Son Jesus, Father. Sometimes wisdom is the better part of
valor! May we always be sensitive to Your Spirit, to apply correct
guidance from Your Word! </span><b><i>Your :kingdom come!</i></b></p>
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<b>3. 20:7 (20:7-12) PAUL IN TROAS: RAISING OF EUTYCHUS. “And
upon the first <i>day</i> of the week, when we were gathered to break
bread, :Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow;
and prolonged his :speech until midnight.” </b><span style>What
hunger existed for Your Word in those early days, Father! O may we
too hunger after Jesus, the true manna; and thirst after Your Spirit,
true drink! </span><b>Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</b></p>
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<b>4. 20:16 (20:13-16) PAUL: BY FOOT TO MILETUS. “For :Paul had
determined to sail past :Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend
time in :Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to
be at Jerusalem the day of :Pentecost.” </b><span style>Paul
was Yours in a unique way, Father; he walked in ways well-pleasing to
You, and was able to say, </span><u><span style>Follow
me</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>,
</span></span><u><span style>as I follow
Christ</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>!
O forgive us that we settle for lesser goals. Lord plant our feet on
higher ground! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread, Give us this day!</span></i></b></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><span style="text-decoration:none">5. 20:32 (20:17-38) PAUL'S
FAREWELL MESSAGE TO THE EPHESIANS. “And :now I commend you to the
Lord, and to the word of his :grace, which is able to build up, and
to give the inheritance among all the sanctified.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>The
Word of Your Grace at this time Father, was the Old Covenant of
prophecy, types and shadows which you had revealed to Paul
especially. The New Testament was not yet written. The New is in the
Old contained; the Old is by the New explained! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></p>
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<b><span style="text-decoration:none">6. 21:4 (21:1-6) PAUL: A
WARNING THROUGH THE SPIRIT. “And having found the disciples, we
tarried there seven days: </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">and</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
these told :Paul through the Spirit, not to set foot in Jerusalem.”
</span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Paul
had a clearer word from the Lord directly, and could not be
distracted by this true word of warning. The Gospel of the Kingdom is
furthered when we obey You directly, Father! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation!</span></i></b></p>
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<b><span style="text-decoration:none">7. 21:11 (21:7-14) PAUL:
WARNED THROUGH AGABUS BY THE SPIRIT. “And coming unto us, and
taking the girdle of Paul, he bound his own :feet and :hands, </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">and</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
said, These </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
says the Holy :Spirit, Thus shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man
whose this :girdle is, and shall deliver </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">him</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
into </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
hands of </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
nations.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>This
was a traumatic situation. Christians still are divided as to whether
Paul was right or wrong. But the future release of Your Kingdom
Father, justified Paul! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></b></p>
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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><u>NOTE</u><span style="text-decoration:none">: 20:35 (20:17-38)
PAUL'S EXAMPLE. “In all </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that Himself said, It is
more blessed to give than to receive.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Paul
walked in this word of Jesus, and would have all of us do also!</span></span><b>
</b>
</p>
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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
Please go to our Website <b><<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a>>
</b>and click on “Interlinear.” Then scroll down to Acts 21:1-14,
and check on the NOTE at the bottom. There the principle introduced
by Agabus and other prophets in this reading - is expanded upon. This
insight has an importance, that if acted upon - will free many
believers from rushing around on lower plains of confusion.</p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
To listen to Joel Osteen from Houston Texas - will teach one how to
<u>major</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> on the </span><u>Bible</u><span style="text-decoration:none">,
especially </span><u>the NT</u><span style="text-decoration:none">.
</span><u>Don't</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> major on what
the enemy is doing! Let him do his thing! That's his business! Don't
talk about it. Talk about what </span><u>God</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
is doing, and what </span><u>His Word</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
says. Be a Joshua. Let 1:8 be your touch-stone. Let not </span><u>God's
word</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> depart from your mouth.
</span><u>Meditate</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> upon </span><u>it</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
day and night - </span><u>not</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
what Satan is doing - or your doubts and fears. Then </span><u>do</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
what you meditate upon from God's Word - and </span><u>then</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
reap the reward of making your </span><u>way prosperous</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
and having good success. </span><u>This</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
is the Word of God. See also Psalm 19:14 and Psalm one.</span></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<u>And</u><span style="text-decoration:none">, make the New
Covenant, the NT, the focal point of your </span><u>meditation</u><span style="text-decoration:none">!
Remember what Dr. David Stern says about Hebrews 8:6 (8:1-13) - “But
</span><u>now</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> has he [Jesus]
obtained a ministry the </span><u>more superior</u><span style="text-decoration:none">,
by </span><u>so much</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> as he is
also mediator of a </span><u>better covenant</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
(than the OT) which has been enacted (or constituted as Torah, the
law) upon better promises.</span></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<span style="text-decoration:none">Here we learn that God has made
the New Covenant the same as the Old Covenant - to </span><u>meditate</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
upon! As a matter of fact, George Muller contends we should meditate
and do the NT </span><u>more</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
than the OT!</span></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<span style="text-decoration:none">In 1 Timothy 4:15 (4:11-16) Paul
tells Timothy to be </span><u>diligent in meditating</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
upon the things he is writing to him there! </span><u>Don't</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
meditate on negatives and Satan's doings. Settle it that you will
</span><u>think</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> on the things
of God! See Philippians 4:8 (4:4-16). These </span><u>8 things</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
here to </span><u>think on</u><span style="text-decoration:none">,
</span><u>speak on</u><span style="text-decoration:none">, </span><u>do</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
and </span><u>live</u><span style="text-decoration:none">!
Meditating on such things will </span><u>free</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
you from Satan's deceptions, your own negativity, and lead you into
God's spiritual prosperity and success. Joel Osteen's messages lead
his people into </span><u>this</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
syndrome.</span></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<span style="text-decoration:none">And now our Psalm for the day:
</span><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>110:1 (1-7) SIT AT MY
RIGHT HAND. “The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool'” (ESV). </b></span><span style="text-decoration:none">This
is a remarkable Psalm, with unusual New Covenant significance. 6
times it is quoted in the NT, </span><u>more</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
than any other portion of the OT! Father, You speak here of Your Son,
after the order of Melchizedek. You speak of His ultimate victory
over </span><u>all</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> His
enemies. And </span><u>You</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
have placed </span><u>us</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> in
</span><u>Him</u><span style="text-decoration:none">! Hallelujah!
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Hallowed be your
:name!</b></span></i></p>
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<br>
</p>
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<br>
</p>
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