Elder Devotional

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The latest at Cornerstone Alliance Church

Welcome to the Elders Devotional section. In here you will find what I refer to as snippets. Short dedication pieces that take about 5-10 minutes to read. It's a great way to start or end your day.

We are into 2025 a New Year; I am sensing that the Holy Spirit is leading me to write about the renewal of your mind and what and how that applies to our lives and where it leads us. You will notice a shift in my presentations and the reason for this is that the Spirit is saying to me that the "how to" is often inadvertently overlooked. I hope you will find this enlightening and informative. May God the Father bless you as you endeavor to learn and live out His living word.

Turn and Live

by: Rod VanWart

02/22/2025

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How easy it is for fallen people to claim that God is not being fair in the way that He deals with us! Our natural eyes are so blind, and our natural minds are so darkened that we always imagine we are the aggrieved party, even when our own sin has landed us in trouble. God will judge each of us on the basis of our individual, spiritual connection to Christ and on our personal behavior.

Ezekiel 18:31 speaks to Israel collectively and to each of us individually about renewal

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The Power of Positive Thought

by: Rod VanWart

02/21/2025

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If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed with negative thoughts or struggling to find peace in your daily life, you may be curious about how the Bible can offer guidance and support. One verse that stands out in this regard is Philippians 4:8.

But what does it really mean, and how can it transform the way you think and live? Today, we will explore the depths of Philippians 4:8, providing insights on how to apply its teachings to your life.

Philippians 4:8 reads: “Finally, b

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The Journey

by: Rod VanWart

02/20/2025

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Grace is one of God’s expressions of love for us. It is the gift unsought, unmerited, unlimited that overrules whatever a person has done, no matter the depth of the transgression or the darkness of heart. We have a heavenly Father that has an overabundance of grace, and we are the recipients of that grace. He has provided us the means to join Him in eternity through the journey of Justification, Sanctification, and ultimately Glorification.

The scriptural process of Justif

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Living Sacrifices?

by: Rod VanWart

02/19/2025

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Paul uses God’s mercies as the basis for his appeal to the believers in Rome. The core of Christian commitment to Christ-the believer’s motivation for giving him-or herself wholly to God -is the mercy He has demonstrated toward His people. What God has already done for the Christian is the basis of everything the Christian does for God.

Applying renewal in Romans 12 involves embracing the principles outlined in the chapter, particularly verse 2, which talks about the transf

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The Unveiling

by: Rod VanWart

02/18/2025

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In 2 Corinthians 3:18, the Apostle Paul provides a profound insight into the Christian journey of renewal and transformation. The verse states:

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit".

This verse emphasizes the process of spiritual renewal and transformation that believers undergo. The "unveiled faces" symbolize the removal of barriers be

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Renewal in The Spirit

by: Rod VanWart

02/17/2025

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Galatians 5:22-24 is where Paul speaks about the fruit of the Spirit and the transformation that comes from living a life led by the Holy Spirit. Here's the passage:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Paul lists nine-character traits that the Holy Spirit produc

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The New Person

by: Rod VanWart

02/16/2025

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In Ephesians 4:17-24, the concept of renewal is found in verses 22-24, which state: "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness".

In this part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians there is a sense of urgency noted in this chapter, and it marks this part of the letter.

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The Greatest Gift

by: Rod VanWart

02/15/2025

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What does it mean in 1 Corinthians 13:5 when it says “thinks no evil”? The Greek word that translates the phrase “thinks no evil”  actually means “to think or take into account.” It is a bookkeeping term that means to calculate, as if one is figuring an entry into a journal or ledger. The purpose of entering numbers into a journal or ledger is to make a permanent record so that the person can go back later and consult the record. In business, the practice of accounting is

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An Exuberant Declaration

by: Rod VanWart

02/14/2025

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David is often considered a mighty warrior king. His reputation as a warrior began even before he became king. When David prayed in his time of trouble, he realized how dependent he was on God’s provision. In humble submission, he sought the Lord’s face (His presence, His counsel, His fellowship) and then resolved to wait for and do whatever God directed him to do (Psalm 69:17; 86:11).

Here are some key points about God's appointed King and David's military achievements:

Def

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Are You Ignorant?

by: Rod VanWart

02/13/2025

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In this life, it is impossible for God’s children to be sinless. Still, we can become more and more separated from sin, and increasingly, like our heavenly Father, who is holy. (Rom. 12:2; 1 Thess. 4:7; 2 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 3:1) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."   (1 Peter 1:14)

Peter's audience is a gr

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Born Again?

by: Rod VanWart

02/12/2025

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The Pharisees took a solemn vow before three witnesses that they would give their lives to obeying the Ten Commandments as a means of pleasing God. Their lives were spent defining specific ways to apply the commandments.

Rabbis in Jesus’ day often had long discussions with their disciples after dark, once the busy day had ended. Nicodemus may also have come by night (John 19:39) because, as a member of the Sanhedrin, he did not want anyone to know he was meeting with Jesus.

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I Can Do

by: Rod VanWart

02/11/2025

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In Paul's letter to the Philippians, we see him addressing renewal in several ways, emphasizing spiritual growth, transformation, and living a life that honors Christ. Here are some key passages and themes that highlight renewal:

Spiritual Growth and Maturity

In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul prays for the believers' growth in love, knowledge, and discernment:  "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve

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Heartburn

by: Rod VanWart

02/10/2025

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Did you know that what you say and how you say it reveals a lot about yourself? and your talk your talk also reveals what you think of God? Your communication exposes your heart.

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)

Proverbs 23:7 is a verse that speaks about the power of our thoughts from the heart and their influence on our lives. Here's the verse for cont

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If I were a Rich Man

by: Rod VanWart

02/09/2025

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In the production of Fiddler on the Roof I can recall the song that was sung by the main character Tevye in which his aspirations of wanting to be rich are reflected. “If I Were a Rich Man.”   I have also heard stories of people who have won a lottery of sizable proportions only to be bankrupt a few short years later.

In Timothy 6:6-10 we are provided with valuable insights into contentment, the dangers of materialism, and the spiritual focus necessary for renewal. Here's t

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Resilience in Christ

by: Rod VanWart

02/08/2025

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Becoming a Christian does not mean that your troubles end; in fact, trouble can and will intensify (Rom. 8:17; 2 Tim. 3:12). But God faithfully preserves His own from ultimate defeat, securing us in eternal salvation through Christ. The mature and stable Christian is characterized by an intimate knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and a life that lives this out day by day. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 describes the trials and resilience of believers. Here's the passage for context:

"W

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