💥 God appoints our time and locations on this earth

 

Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

Acts 17:26  And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

It is God Who determines our time on this earth, when we will be born and how long we will live on this earth and where exactly we will live during the entirety of our lives.

Since I have been born again, I can look back and see how God determined where I would live and for how long. Each move has been the right move for my family and has brought blessings and happiness.

Before I was born again, I was unhappy wherever I was. I always found things to complain about and desired to be somewhere else, not realizing that the unhappiness was within me, and would be carried by me wherever I went.

But once we are born again, we have His Holy Spirit living within us and that makes all the difference. 

 

I have thought about this often and rejoice in what God has done for me. 

 

 

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💥 Podcast: There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God ... when did all these denominations and divisions begin in the church?

 

(This podcast was previously published on December 20, 2020)

The apostle Paul called the elders of the church at Ephesus to come meet with him because Paul knew they would never see him again and Paul had a "charge" to give them concerning the church.

Acts 20:25-30   And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 

 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

 

The early church was already to feel division by those persons who were "antichrist".

The apostle John explains:  I John 2:18-19  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

And the apostle Paul explains the way some were trying to worship the preachers, which divides the body of Christ.

I Corinthians 3:1-4  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

(One says, "I'm Baptist." and another says, "I'm Methodist.")

Ephesians 4:4-6   There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

(To try to keep from dividing the church, we can just say, "I'm a Christian," if we feel we must identify ourselves.)

But often the person who hears this will ask, "What church?" for that person is carnal, failing to know there is only one church and that church has nothing to do with all these denominations set up by man to divide the body of Christ.

The division in the church comes because some people put themselves into the church without having the spirit of God.

Jude  17-19   But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;   How that they told you there should be mockers (copiers/imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Such in the church groups are just waiting to have opportunity to say what they think.  And without the Spirit, they speak their ideas to the church, what they think, and these are "perverse" things as Paul knew they would speak after his departure from the church at Ephesus.

And Paul knew they were just waiting for an opportunity to draw away disciples after themselves.

And by these the various denominations began where the church was divided one from another through their churches.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

John 10:1-4   Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

 

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John 10:27-30  Jesus says ...  MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of MY hand.

29 MY Father, which gave them ME, is greater than all; and no man (none) is able to pluck them out of MY Father's hand.

30 I and MY Father are one.

 

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Romans 8:30-31  Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

 

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Galatians 1:3-5  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5 To Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

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Psalm 118:6  The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

 

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Psalm 50:23  Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 5 (Reading through the Bible) Jesus begins showing what the NT church will be.

 

1-16    And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him:  And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

(When we speak godly words, showing the way of God, if they turn from the way of the world and turn to God, they glorify God instead of glorifying the world.  By our godly words which we speak, we bring light and give opportunity for them to turn into the way of God.)

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17-20    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

(The law is fulfilled through Jesus, the Word.  We do not remove "the law" but rather by Jesus, by following HIM and resisting our own flesh, we end up fulfilling the law.)

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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21-24    Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

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25-26  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

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27-30    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

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31-32    It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

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33-37    Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

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38-48    Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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💥 Podcast: Jesus says: For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. (Matthew 23:4)

 

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on December 30, 2020)

 

In Matthew 23, Jesus spoke concerning the scribes and Pharisees, the ministers of the time when HE walked on this earth in the flesh.

Many of these men who were heads of the synagogues and heads of the children of Israel, were very evil.

By the Words Jesus spoke to us in Matthew 23, I see so many of today's preachers.

Since we went on Internet with the ministry blog in March, 2012, we have received many e-mails from men who say they are "pastors".  

First they say how much they are helped by the word we publish.  Then the truth comes out:  send us a computer, send us Bibles, send us a projector, send us a camera, send us money to help pay for a school we have just built, send us money to help with our old folks home.

They place heavy burdens on us and on other people but they won't lift a finger to help even in their own works.

And Jesus said more things about these "ministers".

Matthew 23

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Jesus said, concerning the end times:

Matthew 24:4-5  Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Isaiah 9:6-7  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

 

*** 

 

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

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John 4:13-14  Jesus said to the woman of Samaria at the well ...  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 

 

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2 Thessalonians 2:16-17  Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

 

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John 6:33  For the bread of God is HE (the Word) which cometh down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 4 (Reading through the Bible) Time of the Old Testament but with the death and ressurection of Jesus we enter the era of the New Testament . God is setting the foundation for that which is to come: The New Testament Church.

  

1-4    Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But HE answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

(Jesus was not going to take his direction from devil.  Jesus took his direction from God.  Jesus did not want his "reward" to be from himself or others but from God only.)

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5-7    Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

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8-10    Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

(The mark of the beast ... serving man for the reward he can give to you ... Jesus exhorts us to desire the riches that come from God and serve and follow God.)

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11    Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him.

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12-16   Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee;

And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

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17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

 

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18-20    And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And He saith unto them, Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. 

(As soon as they heard The Word, they obeyed immediately and did what The Word said.)

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21-22    And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.

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23-25  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them. 

And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

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💥 Podcast: We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8)

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 10, 2021)

 

When we are born of God, the Spirit of Truth lives in us.

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.  (I Corinthians 3:16 & I Corinthians 6:19) 

Hebrews 8:10   For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put MY laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to ME a people:

We know the truth.

After I was born again, I went to a non-denominational church.  I would shudder at some of the things the pastor and members of the congregation said.  I knew the truth.  But I didn't know then that I knew the truth.  What they were speaking was not the truth and I was grieved, though I didn't even understand that I was grieved.  

Later God would show me truth about a scripture and often God reminded me of the bad feeling I had when these pastors taught opposite to that which God was showing me.

We learn to recognize and to trust the Spirit of Truth when HE speaks to us.

Many of those things taught today in our churches are not truth.

And we know this because we are of truth.

Jesus even says the voice of strangers we will not follow.  (John 10)

That is the reason we are troubled by many things spoken today at our churches by both pastors and by people in the congregations.

In this Podcast I share some of those things.

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I John 2

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of HIM abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in HIM.

28 And now, little children, abide in HIM; that, when HE shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before HIM at HIS coming.

29 If ye know that HE is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of HIM.

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

James 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love HIM.

 

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Psalm 56:9-11  When I cry unto THEE, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. 

 

10 In God will I praise HIS Word: In the Lord will I praise HIS Word. 

 

11 In God I have put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

 

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Isaiah 26:20-21  Come, MY people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of HIS place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

 

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Hebrews 10:35-36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 

 

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Psalm 33:20-22  Our soul waiteth for the Lord: HE is our help and our shield. 

 

21 For our heart shall rejoice in HIM, because we have trusted in HIS holy name. 

 

22 Let THY mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in THEE.

  

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Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 3 (Reading through the Bible) This was the season of the beginning. Now we are at the season of the end of this world.

 
1-7    In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

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7-12    But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

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13-15  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.

Then he suffered Him.

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16-17    And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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💥 Podcast: How can we live the way of this world, and not go down with this world when troubles come upon this world?

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 7, 2021)

 

During Coronavirus, I watched TV reports for several months.  People drove up to the food banks in their new cars to get the free food.  Never once, did I see anyone in the line in an old, beat up car or pickup. What does this show us about the way people live today?  (A life where they drive a new car, which is likely not paid for, to pick up free food?)

If we, as the church, live by the way of the world, we will greatly suffer with the world when the world is affected.

This world sets up all sorts of "special" days whereby they celebrate one thing or another.  None of these days are prescribed by God in the Bible.  They are all ideas of men, and other men thought it would be a good thing to celebrate these days, so they do.

What happens when that "special" day fails to live up to our expectations?  (sadness, depression, disappointment)

We bring the failures of the plans of this world upon ourselves when we yoke ourselves to these plans which are not set forth by God.  (such as:  Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day)

I've heard women brag about what they received from their husband on various holidays.  Later the same women are depressed, for their husband is no longer living to give them these things they lusted after, and the women remember the past with longing, pulling themselves down by their own lusts.

God's way is as follows:

Colossians 3

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

If we live the way of this world, we will go down with this world.

 

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Isaiah 61:1-3  The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. 

 

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1 Corinthians 2:9-10  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love HIM.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

 

Comments from Beth Martin: 

How God loves us! How He cares for us! Recently we have seen how God puts desires into our hearts to perform His will here on earth. In performing this, we help ourselves and honor Him. His mercies are never ending. We love Him because He first loved us. We glory in Him and how He helps us! Our praise is for Him alone and our hearts are full with joy and gratitude!

Jeremiah 9:23-24   Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth ME, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

 

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Psalm 25:9  The meek will HE guide in judgment: and the meek will HE teach HIS way.

 

10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

 

***  

 

Psalm 61:1-3  Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 

 

***

 

Amos 5:8   Seek HIM that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is HIS name:

 

 

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💥 Matthew 2 (Reading through the Bible) Just before the time of the NT church.

 

1-12    Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,   Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped HIM: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

(They worshipped the child, Jesus ... not the mother, Mary.)

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

*****

13-15    And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

(Notice how fast Joseph did the instruction given by the angel of God ... The angel said "Flee", and Joseph didn't hesitate, even going by night.)

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

*****

16-18    Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

*****

19-23    But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,  Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

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💥 Pay attention to what we're doing that we not loose reward

 

Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ

2 John 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

I have been reminded of this scripture at least once per week recently. 

 

This is a period of time where vigilance is of the utmost importance. 

 

We need to watch and be alert to all around us ..... keeping on the path ordained by God in this period ... the end times. 

 

We cannot waver. We must be ready. We must examine ourselves.

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Prayer requests? YOU should pray.

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on November 29, 2020)

 

No one knows the circumstances of your problems like you know them.

James 5:16  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

To be "effectual" that prayer must be according to the will of God "for you."

You are the one who must go to God to find out the will of God for you before you pray.

To be "fervent" that prayer must be "red hot".

Most of us cannot be "red hot" concerning a stranger.  We usually just do not experience the torment a stranger is going through.  In your need you are "red hot" over your suffering.  And your faith must be in God, and not in us.

You should pray!

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

(You pray directly to God.)

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE heareth us:  And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM.

You pray directly to God!

*****

 

When a minister prints on his written materials, "Send me your prayer requests"  usually, that minister is hoping you will put some money in the envelope with the prayer request.  In such cases, requests for your prayer requests are fund raising gimmicks.

 

ABC Primetime Live investigated Robert Tilton at Word of Faith Family Church in Farmers Branch, Texas on November 21, 1991.  (see Robert Tilton, ABC PRIMETIME LIVE, Wikipedia)

 

Tilton printed, "Send me your prayer requests," on his published materials and told people to send him their prayer requests on his radio and TV shows.  80-million dollars per year was received according to the ABC News report.  After the expose aired on ABC, offerings fell to 2-million dollars per year, still a lot of money.  Some in his church began trying to sue Tilton for his hundredfold return doctrine. He divorced and ended up marrying 3 times.  His church property was sold to the city of Farmers Branch and was torn down.

 

I had the same advertising agent as Tilton.  When I refused to ask people to send prayer request, the representative from the Michael Ellison Advertising Agency told me, "Well, you're missing a good bet by not doing this, for when they send prayer requests, they will usually put money into the envelope along with the prayer request."  This was a fund raising scheme.

 

When the envelopes arrived at Tilton's church, they were forwarded "unopened" to a bank in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where bank employees opened the prayer requests envelopes and removed the money, depositing that money into Tilton's bank account, and they threw the prayer requests into the garbage where ABC investigators found them in dumpsters.

 

In my opinion, it would be impossible for ministers to adequately pray over individual problems when they received hundreds of prayer requests this way.

 

This is all very evil.

 

You, who send prayer requests, are somehow thinking that minister has more power with God than you have.  So your faith is in the prayer of the minister rather than being in faith in God.  And a minister who uses prayer this way does an evil deceptive work.

 

I do not want you to send prayer requests to me.  I tell you in writing on our blog that you should pray. I have never solicited prayer requests during the past 40+ years that I have done ministry work as an apostle/prophet of Jesus Christ according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

 

You should pray directly to God.

 

***

 

A woman in our church group once asked me to help her pick out a lighting fixture for her dinning room.  I agreed to meet her at the lighting store.  Enroute to the store, I prayed:  "God, please help us to find a light fixture immediately so we will not have to go all over town looking for one."

 

(Philippians 4:6   "Let your requests be made known unto God.")

 

When we entered the store, I saw a fixture that would work, but I wanted this woman to find her own fixture so I just sat at the desk area and waited as she looked at the fixtures.

 

When she returned to the area where I was sitting, I asked, "Well ... did you find a fixture?"

 

She replied, "No."

 

I pointed to the fixture I had noticed as we entered the store and I said, "That would work."

 

She examined the fixture and bought it.

 

When we left the store, I asked, "Did you pray before we went to that store to look for a light fixture?"

 

In a very coy way she said, "No ... because I knew you would."

 

Her faith was in me instead of being in God.

 

Depending on others to pray could end up costing you your faith in God and destroy you spiritually. 

 

 

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