1 Corinthians 10

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

When you feel that strong temptation, LOOK for the way of escape. In our counsel of others caught in sin, counsel them to find the way of escape: it has been provided if we trouble to look for it.
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Esther 7-9

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.

I am amazed that the King promoted Haman to the top position and yet took it all away again in a moment's wrath. Of course the hand of God was in it, and Haman's fall began the moment his pride caused him to pursue petty vendettas rather than the good for which he was employed.

1 Corinthians 9

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

If you want to catch a Cougar, you must conduct a disciplined search. Plan for it and prepare for it, organise your year around it, and if you are unsuccessful, do not return as if you were, just because you enjoyed the experience. The hunt is not the thing, its catching the prey that matters. With Christianity the race is not the thing: its finishing well that counts. Do I seek in order to find?

Esther 4-6

1 When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.

There is something about Mordecai's public expressions of faith, that boldness that got him in trouble in the first place, which has to impact the city.

1 Corinthians 8

3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

Loved.

Esther 1-3

7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberality. 8 By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.

How much of Holy Spirit do we want?

1 Corinthians 7

29What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32I would like you to be free from concern.

Free to worship.

Nehemiah 13

Remember me, O my God, for good.

Thats an interesting prayer

1 Corinthians 6

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Holiness is the fruit of salvation.

Nehemiah 10-12

43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

Willing sacrifice can lead to overflowing joy.

1 Corinthians 3

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

We dishonour God when we esteem one man's ministry to reject another's.

Nehemiah 1-3

5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” 6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

I wonder if that was Esther or Vashti by the King's side?

Ezra 10

1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.

When we cry out from our hearts the revived crouds will come.

1 Corinthians 2

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony[a] of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

His power matters; my ability does not.

Ezra 7-9

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel...

...8 And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. 9 For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

Prepare your heart for revival.

1 Corinthians 1

27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

I can be weak, because He is strong.

Ezra 4-6

21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the LORD God of Israel.

You cannot seek God without withdrawing from certain other things.

Romans 16

5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

Do we know affectionate familiar friendships with other believers?

Ezra 1-3

3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings.

Feel fear, but act boldly.

Romans 13

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law

Do we know how to love?
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2 Chronicles 28-30

36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.

When revival breaks out in the UK, we will recognise just how God has led us to prepare us for His presence.
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Romans 12

be transformed by the renewing of your mind

I assume my thinking is correct, and make my choices. The Bible says it needs fixing continually.
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2 Chronicles 25-27

2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.

God is in to longstanding committed loyalty.
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Romans 10

13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Generous, and easy to accept.
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2 Chronicles 19-21

3 Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God."

There is a stage before seeking God, where we prepare our hearts to seek God. It is that pause, that waiting, when we search our hearts to see if their lurks any "high place", any image that must be brought low before the Lord of lords.
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Romans 9.16

16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

I rely on God's mercy.
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2 Chronicles 16-18

2 Chronicles 16.9

Loyalty matters to God.
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Romans 8

10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

This is the gospel: we are connected to God, and now have his Spirit because of faith in His Son Jesus and His death for our forgiveness. We are spiritual beings, pure and holy and blameless in His sight! But.. The body is dead because of sin. I f we rely on our natural instincts, we will surely fail thoroughly in the Spiritual life. We will only find victory through relationship with His Spirit, listening to Him, looking for what He is doing, and obeying Him, moment by moment.
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2 Chronicles 13-15

11 And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!"
12 So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

What a story: confess your need and total dependence and God demonstrates his provision and total care!!
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Romans 7

But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Led by the Spirit, not by obligation. There are no rules......

2 Chronicles 10-12

12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.

Humility is God's style

Romans 6

19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

All our decisions lead ultimately to habit of one sort or another. Either good, or bad.
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2 Chronicles 6-9

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Humility. Prayer. Repentance. The keys to revival.
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