💥 Podcast: You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes to you

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 21, 2021) 

 

The Holy Spirit of God, given to the children of God today, searches the heart of God to reveal to us the will of God in the specific areas of our life, so we can know what God wants us to do in situations of this present life.  (I Corinthians 2:9-14)

Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as being the Spirit of Truth and The Comforter.

John 14:26  Jesus says ...  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13  Jesus says ...  Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

The Holy Spirit lives in the believer.  (I Corinthians 3:16; I Corinthians 6:19; II Corinthians 13:5)

The Holy Spirit never makes us do anything, such as roll on the floor as the "Holy Roller" churches did in the early 1900's.  This was another spirit, not the Spirit of God.  

The Holy Spirit brings ideas and scriptures to our mind to show us truth in the situation and also to show us the will of God as we deal with issues of this life.

The Holy Spirit is a great benefit to us and a great gift to us from God.

But some in the churches today do not understand these things about the Holy Spirit so they miss many of the blessings of God available to us, the believer in Christ, The Word.

And some believers pray but then fail to understand how they can know which idea that comes to them after prayer is from God.  

James 3:17 tells us how to recognize that idea which is sent from God.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

The power of God is given to us through the Holy Spirit of God who dwells in us today.

*****

Jesus said:

John 5:30  Jesus says ...  I can of MINE own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and MY judgment is just; because I seek not MINE own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent ME.

Jesus always heard from God the Father so HE knew that which God wanted HIM to do as HE walked on this earth.

***

The Holy Spirit lives in each person who believes in Jesus.  

I Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

***

The Holy Spirit of God searches the heart of God to show us the will of God by bringing ideas and scriptures to our mind.

I Corinthians 2:9-13

9 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.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

***

A human cannot understand the things of God by his own natural mind.

I Corinthians 2:14   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

***

The Holy Spirit does 4 things for the believer:  He teaches us all things; He reminds us of scripture and godly concepts; He guides us into all truth; He shows us things to come.

John 14:26  Jesus says ...  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13  Jesus says ...   Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

***

We can recognize the ideas that are from God by the following:

James 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

 

Zechariah 2:8  For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of HIS eye.

 

*** 

 

Romans 2:28-29   For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 121

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 HE will not suffer thy foot to be moved: HE that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, HE that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: HE shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

 

 ***

 

Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in THY sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

 

 ***

 

Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

 

*** 

 

Psalm 103:11  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is HIS mercy toward them that fear HIM.

 

 

 💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Matthew 19 (Reading through the Bible)

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, He departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

² And great multitudes followed Him; and He healed them there.

³ The Pharisees also came unto Him, tempting Him, and saying unto Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

⁴ And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
⁵ And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
⁶ Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

(At the time of sexual intercourse, you become one flesh.  Therefore fornication is a very serious matter.  We know this by I Corinthians 6:15-16.  Paul explains that even if you have sex with an harlot you become one flesh.  Paul says:  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith He, shall be one flesh.)

 

*****

Matthew 19:7   They say unto Him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

⁸ He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

⁹ And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

(The only scriptural reason for a man to divorce his wife is fornication.  If a man divorces a faithful wife and she remarries, she commits adultery and the husband who divorced her is the cause of her adultery when she was faithful to him.  And the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.)

¹⁰ His disciples say unto Him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

¹¹ But He said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

¹² For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

*****

¹³ Then were there brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

¹⁴ But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

¹⁵ And He laid His hands on them, and departed thence.

*****

¹⁶ And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

¹⁷ And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

¹⁸ He saith unto Him, Which?

Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

²⁰ The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.

²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

²³ Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.²⁴ And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁵ When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

²⁶ But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

*****

27 Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore?

²⁸ And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

²⁹ And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

³⁰ But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: Who are the "saints" of God according to the Bible?

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on November 13, 2020)

 

In the Holy Bible, all the church, the elect of God, those who are born again, are called "the saints."

A few of the many scriptures in Bible showing this are as follows:

Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:27 And HE that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because HE maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 15:25  But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints (the church).

I Corinthians 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

II Corinthians 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward HIS name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Jude v. 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (the church).

The "saints" are the entire church of Jesus Christ.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Scriptures:

Zechariah 7:8-10  And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,
 

9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 

 

 ***

Psalm 46:10-11  Be still, and know that I am GOD: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the GOD of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 

 

*** 

 

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on THEE: because he trusteth in THEE.

 

*** 

 

John 15:10-11  Jesus says: If ye keep MY commandments, ye shall abide in MY love; even as I have kept MY Father's commandments, and abide in HIS love. 

 

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that MY joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

 

*** 

 

 Proverbs 3:5-8  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

 

*** 

 

I John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

 

 

 💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Matthew 18 (Reading through the Bible)

  

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

² And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,
³ And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

(A little child depends on his father and copies his father.)

⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me.

⁶ But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

⁷ Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

⁸ Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

⁹ And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

¹⁰ Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.

¹¹ For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

¹² How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
¹³ And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

¹⁸ Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.
²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

²¹ Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

²³ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
²⁴ And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
²⁵ But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
²⁶ The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
²⁷ Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
²⁹ And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
³⁰ And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
³¹ So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
³² Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
³³ Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
³⁴ And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

³⁵ So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: When an angel speaks a message other than God's

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on February 25, 2021) 

 

The apostle Paul said:

Galatians 1:8   But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

There is only one gospel, and that is the Word that is from God, the Holy Scriptures.

Angels carry messages from God.

What if a message comes to you which is opposite from the Bible?

Many years ago, a woman told me that when she met her 2nd husband, she heard this, "He's going to be your husband."

She, a divorced woman, did marry this man.

I wondered about that for several years.  How could this message have been from God when it went against that which we see in the Bible.

If a divorced woman remarries, according to Bible, she commits adultery.

Romans 7:1-3 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Recently the scripture in Galatian 1, spoken by the apostle Paul, was called to my mind and I recalled this story where my divorced friend had heard Hal was going to be her husband.  

And I realized this could have been an evil angel speaking to her a "gospel" which was opposite to the Bible.

There are evil angels.  (Psalm 78:49)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, so the Holy Spirit will always be compatible with scripture when HE speaks a word to us by bringing a concept to our mind.

But an angel might bring a message to us also, and that message is usually from God, but if it conflicts with scripture we must not go that way.  It could be an "evil angel" speaking.

Galatians 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

*****

Looking back on this story of my friend and what happened to her, there were signs for her not to marry the first husband.  And then after divorce, she practiced deception and hypocrisy at the next church which she attended and this could have opened the door for the evil angel to bring her a message.

She was raised Baptist.  She wanted to marry a Catholic man.  She went to Catholic school to convert to being Catholic so she could marry this Catholic boy. Catholic doctrine has many teachings opposite to Bible.  Her stepfather, a Baptist, refused to allow her to come back into his house if she married this man and became Catholic.  They married. Then her husband left her.  They divorced.  

She left Catholic church and went to a non-denominational church.

Later when she wanted to remarry, she didn't tell anyone at that church that she was a divorced woman.  (deception & hypocrisy)

(When Donna practiced deception by not allowing anyone at that church to know she was divorced, this might have opened the door for the deception to come by what appears to have been an "evil angel" telling her Hal was going to be her husband.)

Hal's wife died of cancer.  He wanted to remarry.  He began to consider the single women at the church he attended.  He selected 2 women to date, looking for a wife.  One of these women was Donna but he did not know she had been divorced.

Hal fell in love with Donna.  Then she told him she had been married and divorced.

Jesus says ... whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

They married.

(This happened before I met them.)

Later I asked Hal if he had known Donna was divorced would he had dated her.  He thought for a minute and then he said, "I don't think so."

Hal committed adultery when he married the divorced woman.  (Matthew 5:32)

Donna as a divorced woman committed adultery when she married Hal.  (I Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:1-3)

***

One of the things we will do in heaven is to judge angels, whether they are good or bad.

A good angel carries messages from God and does the work of God.

An evil angel speaks opposite from the Bible.

Psalm 78:49  He (God) cast upon them the fierceness of HIS anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

I Corinthians 1:3   Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

II Peter 2:4   For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

And Paul warns the church:

Galatians 1

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from HIM that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

***

Beware:  A message could be carried to our minds which seems to be from God but actually is from an evil angel and is opposite from scripture.  

Line up all messages with Bible.  If that message is opposite from Bible, we should judge that is not a real message from God but is from a destructive source.

For there will be much deception in the end times.

***

One time, a woman wanted to come talk to me about her mother's 2nd marriage.

God said to me:  "Just focus on that which the scriptures say.  You don't need to focus on the circumstances of the divorce/remarriage."

***

What the Bible says concerning a divorced woman remarrying:

Matthew 5:32  Jesus says:  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.

- If a man divorces a faithful wife, and that faithful wife remarries after divorce, she will commit adultery, but her husband who divorced her will be the cause of her adultery.

- And the man who marries her that is divorced commits adultery.

***

I Corinthians 7:10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

***

I Corinthians 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

***

Mark 10

2 And the Pharisees came to Him (to Jesus), and asked Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting HIM.

3 And HE answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

10 And in the house HIS disciples asked HIM again of the same matter.

11 And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

***

At the time of sexual intercourse, you become one flesh with that other person.

I Corinthians 6

15  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

***

James 1

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

***

So if any speak opposite to scripture, let him be accursed, even if it is an angel from heaven or a pastor or a member of the congregation.

Cling to the scripture to free yourself from sin.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Scriptures:

 

Jude vv.24-25  Now unto HIM that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of HIS glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

 ***

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: THY mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of THINE own hands.

 

*** 

 

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on HIM, If ye continue in MY word, then are ye MY disciples indeed; 

 

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

 ***

Zechariah 4:6  Then he (an angel) answered and spake unto me (Zechariah), saying, This is the WORD of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by MY spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

*** 

 

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.

 

*** 

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Matthew 17 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

² And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.

³ And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.

⁴ Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

⁵ While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.

(Hear Jesus.  Hear The Word.)

⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

⁷ And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

⁸ And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

⁹ And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

¹⁰ And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

¹¹ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

¹² But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

¹³ Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.


***

¹⁴ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying,  ¹⁵ Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.  ¹⁶ And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

¹⁷ Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to Me.

¹⁸ And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

¹⁹ Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁰ And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

²¹ Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.


***

²² And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
²³ And they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.


***

²⁴ And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

²⁵ He saith, Yes.

And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

²⁶ Peter saith unto him, Of strangers.

Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

²⁷ Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Grateful for provision from God, not man

 

Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ

Years ago my father desired to sell the family farm which was the property adjoining ours. My father had deeded us 2 acres as my inheritance. We built our home on the property. My father came to my husband David about his desire to sell. The two of them agreed on a price and shook hands on the intended purchase. (David desired to have more property as he liked to hunt deer.) After the agreement, I said to David, "You shook hands with my father but my mother has the power in the family." David said that the agreement with my father was the "right way" to handle the sale. 

 

A few weeks later my brother informed me that my mother had approached him and asked him to buy the farm. My brother was at the time in financial trouble but this loan was approved. She did this behind the back of my father and us. My father did apologize to us but my brother purchased the farm. There was several issues resulting from the sale including debt for my brother as well as additional repairs requested by my brother and paid by my parents. 

 

After that God provided property for us that we loved in the area without the entanglement of family ties. 

 

Years later, God showed me that He planted the thought in my mother's heart to approach my brother about purchasing the family farm. He freed us from taking something from my parents. I am so grateful that He saved us from ourselves in this way. What we have now was provided by Him and only Him.

 

There are times that God shows us how He saved us even years later!

Genesis 14:21-24
21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. 

 

 💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: Following The Lord. Following Jesus. Following "THE WORD".

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 19, 2021) 

 

Each time I see a scripture which speaks of following "The Lord" or "Jesus", my mind automatically translates that into "THE WORD", following the instruction given by THE WORD. 

When we do that, it makes the Bible so clear!

For example:

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, 

I (The WORD) am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME (The WORD).

So this verse is saying two things to me:  

* "THE WORD is the way to go."   So I ask myself, "What has God said about this?"  

And I think on the most recent word brought to my mind by God concerning the subject at hand. I think on the scriptures, THE WORD.  

And I follow that word, making my plans accordingly.

* "No man comes to the Father except by THE WORD."  

A man cannot go to THE FATHER by Buddha or by Mohammed. Only by THE WORD (Jesus) can a man go to God.  So they cannot deceive me when they worship by another god.    

And people who come to me saying they are Christians cannot deceive me, for unless they are living THE WORD, those persons cannot be of God, for THE WORD is the way to God, The Father.

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

They come saying they are Christians and because they say Jesus is Lord, they deceive many, for they have not the Spirit but are religious by their own thinking.

Scripture becomes clear when you think of "The Lord" as "The Word."

Psalm 23

The LORD (The Word) is my shepherd; I shall not want.

(As I follow "The Word", I shall not want.  If I follow other men, I might come into want even when I read the Bible.  But as I hear The Word who is my Lord and do The Word, I shall not want.)

2 HE (The Word) maketh me to lie down in green pastures: HE (The Word) leadeth me beside the still waters.

So if it is hard or turbulent, I'm likely not following the plan of God, The Word.  

There is plenty of food, both spiritual food and physical food when I am in the place God would lead me, "green pastures".

3 HE (The Word) restoreth my soul: HE (The Word) leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake.

*****

John 6   Jesus says:

33  For the bread of God is HE (The Word) which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

35  ...  I (The Word) am the bread of life: he that cometh to ME (The Word) shall never hunger; and he that believeth on ME (The Word) shall never thirst.

44  No man can come to ME, except the Father which hath sent ME draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

48  I am that bread of life.

(The Word is that bread of life.)

50  This (The Word) is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51  I (The Word) am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

(We eat the flesh of Jesus and drink HIS blood each time we conform our lives to the Word of God as we walk on this earth.)

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth MY flesh, and drinketh MY blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For MY flesh is meat indeed, and MY blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth MY flesh, and drinketh MY blood, dwelleth in ME, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent ME, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth ME (The Word), even he shall live by ME.

***

(The Word raises us up at the last day, for the Lord, The Word, comes with a shout, and the dead in Christ are awakened and rise to meet Jesus in the air.)

I Thessalonians 4

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

***

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made.

4 In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

10 HE was in the world, and the world was made by HIM, and the world knew HIM not.

11 HE came unto HIS own, and HIS own received HIM not.

12 But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on HIS name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld HIS glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Scriptures:

 

2 Corinthians 8:4-5  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 

*** 

 

I Thessalonians 5:8-11  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with HIM.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

 

 ***

 

Zechariah 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. 

 

 ***

 

Colossians 1:16  For by Him (Jesus, the Word) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:

 

*** 

Isaiah 33:5-6  The Lord is exalted; for He dwelleth on high: He hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

 

6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is His treasure.

 

 ***

 

Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Matthew 16 (Reading through the Bible)

  

1-4    The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would shew them a sign from heaven.

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.  And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed.

*****

5-12    And when His disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?  Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

*****

13-20    When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto Him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(The "rock" upon which the church is built is that Word revealed by God.  Peter was blessed because it was God who revealed the truth to him.)

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ.

*****

21- 23    From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

*****

24-28    Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: HE hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 15, 2021) 

 

Remember when you were born again? 

All of a sudden, God by HIS Spirit opened our eyes to see our sin and we believed and were saved by faith in HIM.

We didn't do works to earn salvation.  It was a gift to us.

After that, we read the Bible and believed the Word and were changed into the image of Jesus, The Word, as we believed.

II Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Being born again is all about change.  The old man is passed away.  All things become new.  We are different now!  And the remainder of our life on this earth we are conformed to the image of Christ the Word as we encounter issues of this life and settle those issues by learning what God wants us to do about each thing that comes to us.

The apostle Paul says:

Galatians 1:10   For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Now we, too, are servants of God as is the apostle Paul.  And we seek to please God in our decisions by prayer, asking God what HE wants us to do, and by following that brought to our minds by God's Spirit, The Holy Spirit.

Our life becomes hidden to this world but we become alive to God and our lives are hidden in Christ as we follow the Word of God, conforming ourselves to HIS Word.

And we know this is all that matters.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

Proverbs 16:7  When a man's ways please the Lord, HE maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

 

*** 

Colossians 3:23-24  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

 

 ***

 

Galatians 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

 ***

 

Psalms 23 (A Psalm of David) 

1 The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

2 HE maketh me to lie down in green pastures: HE leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 HE restoreth my soul: HE leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for THOU art with me; THY rod and THY staff they comfort me.

5 THOU preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: THOU anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

 

 ***

1 Corinthians 2:11-12 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

 

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

 

*** 

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.

 

 

 💥💥💥💥💥