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TZID:Asia/Kolkata
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TZOFFSETFROM:+0530
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DTSTART:20250101T000000
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260717T080000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20260717T200000
DTSTAMP:20260907T013836
CREATED:20260717T030222Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260829T050606Z
UID:1303-1784275200-1784318400@savedbyfaith.info
SUMMARY:Baptism and Counsel of God
DESCRIPTION:Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves\, being not baptized of him. \nIn today’s scripture\, we see the Pharisees and lawyers (interpreters and teachers of the Mosaic law) did not accept the counsel of God because they were not baptised (John’s baptism in water)\, while in the previous scripture not just the people but even the publicans (tax collectors – considered most evil/corrupt like in today’ politicians) abided in counsel of God showing a link between baptism and abiding in the counsel of God. \nFirstly\, we need to understand that water baptism was not founded by John the Baptist (2nd cousin of Jesus) but by John of Maccabees\, who was the founder of the Pharisees movement. To be enrolled as a Pharisee\, they had to be baptised in water or sand. Baptism in water did not mean just being dipped like we do today\, but the person was held under water for a period and on coming up\, could experience a life-and-death experience. Even in sand\, they were buried and left for a period before being dug up. \nJohn the Baptist was telling them their baptism was a ritual\, and they needed a baptism of repentance\, even though they were repeating the same thing. Our knowledge of God is not what counts\, but our obedience to Him counts. \nWe as Christians need to think when we take baptism\, are we doing what the Pharisees did as a ritual or is our baptism that of John the Baptist\, where we surrender unto the Lord\, to His counsel. \n[Prayer Starter]\nLord\, You are Almighty God. You are Spirit and Truth and desire that we worship You in spirit and truth. Lord\, we pray that we do not become Christians by rituals or just by relation but by mission abiding in Your counsel… \nThis prayer we make in Jesus’ Name\, Amen. \n[Reference Scriptures]\nLuke 7:29 And all the people that heard [him]\, and the publicans\, justified God\, being baptized with the baptism of John. \nMatthew 3:1-2\n1 In those days came John the Baptist\, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea\,\n2 And saying\, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. \nMatthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach\, and to say\, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. \n 
URL:https://savedbyfaith.info/event/1303/
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