Podcast: Superstitions of men. Do we really live by these?

 

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* When we try to make a day "special".

Comments by Joan Boney:

Often people try to "celebrate" certain days and make those days special, a day to be remembered.

As I have walked in various scriptures, doing those scriptures, I have seen it is unwise to try to do these things the world does.

And yet I saw this year there was a hidden carry over concerning Christmas.

I know Christmas is not in the Bible and it is not a religious holiday prescribed by God.  It is a day set up by man and as men set up their own good ideas, much harm and even evil comes.

This year, I deceived myself.  I thought of how there might not be much traffic on Christmas Day and perhaps we could make a short trip, in our new car, driving into the nearby Rocky Mountains. 

It seemed to me this would be pleasant.

But our new car had a problem with the electronic mirrors and the dealer set a time for us to bring the car in to leave the car to be fixed.  They gave us a loaner car to use.

We have a custom sound system in our new car.  Also we put high grade tires on the new car to make it ride more comfortably.

I have several bones in my body which have been broken in various falls and it can be difficult for me to ride in cars unless they ride smoothly, as our new "modified" car now does.

When they took the car, it seemed they would have plenty of time to have the car fixed by Christmas Day.  

 

That didn't happen and the part they ordered to fix the car wouldn't be in until approximately December 29.

I asked Pam if we could pick up the car on December 24 and return it on the 28th.

But when she inquired, the dealer said they had already removed the front door and therefore it would be better if we did not do this.  (I had even had the thought this might be the case, Holy Spirit showing me what would happen.)

It wasn't until after Christmas Day that I realized I had slipped back into the worldly way of doing something "special" for Christmas.

A Christian friend once said to me that he had come to realize how much trouble it can be to have fun.

I recall how on previous years, I had tried to do something "special" on New Year's Day.  (My plans always fell short!)

Why are we doing these things, making it hard on ourselves?

We have yoked ourselves to the thinking of man and not the way of God when this happens.

There are no "special" days to celebrate that I know of in the New Testament Bible.

God's yoke is "easy" and HIS burden is light!  (Matthew 11:30)

This year of 2020, many people will really celebrate the New Year, thinking Coronavirus to be over finally and life to be much better for themselves in the new year.

(But God has not told me this.  In fact, the thing God keeps showing me is the coming of that great tribulation told us in the Bible.  Rev. 8, 9, 16)

I'm not saying the great tribulation is coming in 2021.  (Some of the early plagues may have already happened in the past years.)  

But I do know the day of the Lord will come sometime in the days ahead.

It is not a matter of entertaining myself and making the New Year special.  But rather it is a matter of being sure I am living in peace, without spot, and blameless as I wait for the return of Jesus as the apostle Peter told us to do.  (II Peter 3:14)

We follow God daily, connecting with God each day through prayer when we are troubled about anything.  (Phil. 4:6-7)

Romans 12:2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

And regardless of what happens ahead, knowing the following:

Romans 8:28   And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.

God watches over us, HIS people, and cares for us, and gives us all good things, and makes everything work together for good in our lives according to HIS plan to conform us into the image of HIS Son.

So we learn to trust God, saying, "THY will be done," and really knowing that we can trust God to make a way for us in the days ahead.

Our plans might fail to live up to our expectation, but God's plans for us will not fail.

Trust God for today and for tomorrow!

PS:  I'm glad we didn't get the new car back before Christmas Day.  I just stayed at home and wrote exhortations for the church and recorded Podcasts, and later in the afternoon we took the dogs to the dog park as we often do, weather permitting.

Every day turns out to be "special" when we are following God's plan for our lives and when we are keeping our own flesh crucified with Christ, the Word, by following the Spirit of God!

We who belong to God have all good things for this life and for that life which is to come!

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Instruction In Righteousness: Galatians 2

 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

² And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

³ But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: ⁴ And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
⁵ To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

⁶ But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
⁷ But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
⁸ (For HE that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
⁹ And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

¹⁰ Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

¹¹ But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

¹² For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
¹³ And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

¹⁴ But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

¹⁵ We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

¹⁶ Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

¹⁷ But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

¹⁸ For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

¹⁹ For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

²¹ I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

(You wouldn't need Christ or even God if you could save yourself by your own works.)

*****

Hymn: Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our blessed redeemer

(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.  Praise Him! praise Him! 
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Sing, ye saints! His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him! hail Him! mightiest angels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will feed His people,
In His WORD He carries them all day long;

O ye saints that live in the light of His presence,
Praise Him! praise Him! 
ever in joyful song!

2.  Praise Him! praise Him! 
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,

For our sins He suffered and bled and died;

He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! hail Him! 
Jesus, the Crucified;

Loving Savior, meekly enduring sorrow,
Crowned with thorns that cruelly pierced His brow;
Once for us rejected, despised, and forsaken,
Prince of Glory, ever triumphant now.

3.   Praise Him! praise Him! 
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,

Heavenly portals, loud with hosannahs ring!
(portal:  doorway, way in, way out)

Jesus, Savior, reigneth for ever and ever;
Crown Him! crown Him! 
Prophet and Priest and King!

Death is vanquished! 
Tell it with joy, ye faithful,
Where is now thy victory, boasting grave?

Jesus lives! 
No longer thy portals are cheerless;
Jesus lives, the mighty and strong to save.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

*****

Scripture pertaining to this hymn:

Romans 5:5-9     the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

(We didn't shed our blood for our sins, but Jesus shed His blood to pay for our sins ... without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins  Hebrews 9:22 ... we cannot hope to pay for our sins and our wrong actions by our good works ... only by shed blood are we redeemed from sin and cleansed)

***


Revelation 5:1-14   And I saw in the right hand of HIM that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

And HE came and took the book out of the right hand of HIM that sat upon the throne.

And when HE had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, THOU art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for THOU wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by THY blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto HIM that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped HIM that liveth for ever and ever.


***

Luke 24:1-8   Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

(The dead human body decays and stinks. They brought spices to cover the odor of death. But God was not going to suffer the body of Jesus to see corruption as other flesh sees corruption.)


And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.


And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

HE is not here, but is risen: remember how HE spake unto you when HE was yet in Galilee,

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered HIS words,

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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. (Mt. 23:4)

 

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* When Jesus returns to raise the dead in Christ and take both living and dead of the elect of God to the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

(Comments by Joan Boney, apostle and prophet of Jesus Christ according to Ephesians 4:11-12)

 The following scriptures wonderfully tell us what will happen when Jesus returns for the church:

I Thessalonians 4:13-17 ... The dead in Christ rise first. 

 

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 (dead).

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.

("In the air" is very important for it shows us Jesus' kingdom will not be on the present earth.  After we are removed from this earth, God will destroy this heaven and earth by fire.  We will be in our new spiritual bodies and will be taken to the New Heaven and the New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.)

***

 

I Corinthians 15:48-52  ... We are changed into new spiritual bodies.

48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

(On this earth we have the physical form resembling our parents.  In heaven we will have the form of God and Jesus which is a spiritual form.)

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

An artist depicted the rising of the church but this artist showed individuals rising out of their autos in their present physical bodies.  This will not happen.  First those on the earth at the time Jesus returns will be changed into the spiritual bodies.  This physical body does not rise for it is corruptible, subject to physical disease and pain and emotions which are hurtful.  In heaven, there will be no pain, nor sorrow, nor death ... thus no physical type body as we know the body today.

***

Revelation 21:1-5  ...  We are taken to the new heaven and the new earth.

1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

***

II Peter 3:10-14  ... This earth is destroyed by God.

10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.

*****

* Remember: God's yoke is easy and HIS burden is light.

Matthew 11   Jesus says:

28 Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light.

***

Comments by Joan Boney:

If we are involved in something that is complex, difficult, demanding, expensive to do, we have yoked ourselves to a plan or a work not of God.

As a new Christian in 1975, God showed me this scripture in Matthew 11:30.  I saw that HIS way is very different from this world.

I learned this:  If the plan is complex and difficult to do, it is not God's yoke.  I know to stop and pray and wait until God shows me His plan which will be pure, simple, easy to be administered.

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.

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Instruction In Righteousness: Galatians 1

 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;)

² And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

³ 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.

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 man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

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.

¹¹ But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

¹² For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³ For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: ¹⁴ And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

¹⁵ But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace,
¹⁶ To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

¹⁷ Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

¹⁹ But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

²⁰ Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
²¹ Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
²² And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
²³ But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

²⁴ And they glorified God in me.

*****

Hymn: On Christ the solid Rock I stand

(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


  1.  My hope is built on nothing less 
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand. 

2.  When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

3.   His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

4.  When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

***** 

Scripture pertaining to this hymn:

v. 1   But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Jesus' name:  the  Word of God ... I wholly lean on that Word given me by God ... That Word which comes down to me from heaven pertaining to the issue with which I am currently dealing.

***

v.2   I rest on His unchanging grace;

Every morning there is light from the sun.  This is unchanging until the end of this present world.

Genesis 8:22   While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

***

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand, 

Christ, the solid Rock, is the WORD that is revealed by God to us in the issue at hand.

Jesus says:

Matthew 7:24-27  whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Jesus says:

John 14:6   I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.

The WORD given us by the Holy Spirit is the way to go.  The WORD is truth and life.  The WORD is Jesus.

John 1:1-4   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him (The Word); and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him (The Word) was life; and the life (The Word) was the light  of men. 


***

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

³⁵  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to ME shall never hunger; and he that believeth on ME shall never thirst.

⁴⁸  I am that bread of life.

51 I 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.

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.

We eat the flesh of Jesus and drink HIS blood as we live in the Word of God given to us by the Holy Spirit and as we do those things instructed in the Bible.  The Word is the Lord's supper.

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, even he shall live by ME.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

***

John 1:14   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.

*****

A few of many things THE WORD says to us, the children of God:

* I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  (Joshua 1:5 & Hebrews 13:5)

The Word spoken to our minds by Jesus' Holy Spirit will always come to pass.

* 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.  (Isaiah 54:17)

* Jesus, The Word says ... lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  (Matthew 28:20)

* my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (THE WORD). (Philippians 4:19)

* If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  (James 1:5)

* Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  (James 1:17)

*****

Matthew 16:13-18  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.

Peter was blessed because God revealed The Word to him. The Word revealed by God by HIS Spirit to us is the rock. The gates of hell will not prevail against that Word revealed to us by God.


***

v. 4  When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18    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.

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

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.

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:

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.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

***

The apostle Peter tells us how to live and how to be found  "in HIM" when HE comes.

II Peter 3:10-14    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

The only way we can live continually "in peace, without spot, and blameless", is to pray over every issue that touches our lives this day and every day, one problem at a time.  And to be cleansed by God that day by hearing what God would bring to us in the trouble.

***

Our trust must be at all times in the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sins.

Hebrews 9:22  without shedding of blood is no remission.

God showed it to me this way:

I have shed no blood to pay for my sins. Jesus shed HIS blood to pay for my sins. Therefore my sins are paid for by Jesus' blood.

When thoughts of sins I did in past come to my mind, I must refuse to dwell on them. Instead I must reflect on the truth that all those past sins have been paid for by the blood of Jesus. There is nothing I can do of myself to make up for past acts which I now regret. I must trust my salvation in all things to have been bought by the blood of Jesus. I must keep myself in this truth at all times. 

*****

Podcast: Hearing the Word from God and going forward doing what HE says

 

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* Superstitions of men? Do we live by these?

When we are born of God and HIS Spirit lives in us we are very different from the way we were before God revealed Himself to us.  We no longer follow pagan ideas.  Now we have in us through God the Spirit of Truth.  We cannot live in lies.

* Does the eating of black eyed peas on New Year's Day bring you "luck"?

* If you break a mirror do you really expect 7 years bad luck?

* If you get in the crowd of single women at a wedding to try to catch the bride's bouquet, do you really believe that will cause you to become the next bride?

* If you wear bananas on your head will your baseball team win?  (This is really one of my personal favorites.  I saw the Arkansas baseball fans do this at the College World's Series a few years ago.  But they lost the game.  At least they could eat the bananas, unless the bananas were plastic as some wore.)

We as Christians cannot live by worldly superstitions.

Our "luck" (blessing) is from God, creator of heaven and earth who really has power.

1 Timothy 4:7  But refuse profane (secular sayings) and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

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Instruction In Righteousness: II Corinthians 13

 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

(The 3 witnesses given to them were by Paul ... You do not need 3 different people witnessing the truth on a matter.  But if the Holy Spirit rises up with the truth 3 times, Paul is saying  every word shall be established.)

² I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

³ Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

⁴ For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God.

For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

⁵ Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

⁶ But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

⁷ Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

⁹ For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

¹⁰ Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

(Paul would correct them unless they corrected themselves.)

¹¹ Finally, brethren, farewell.

Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

(We are "perfect" when we obey scripture and the Word of God correctly by the Spirit of God.)

¹² Greet one another with an holy kiss.

¹³ All the saints salute you.

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

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Hymn: I'm pressing on the upward way

(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.  I’m pressing on the upward way, 
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Chorus:

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand

By faith on Heaven's tableland;

A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.


2.  My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. 

3.  I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

4.   I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

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Scripture pertaining to this hymn:

v. 3.  I want to live above the world,

Matthew 7:24-27    Jesus says    whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

We live above the world by doing that Word given us by God by HIS Spirit.  We press on to higher ground each time we hear the Word of God and do the Word of God.  We build our house on the Word of God by doing the Word of God and when we live that way, our house will never fall!

And we are recreated in the image of Christ each time we do the Word of God.

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v. 4   But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground. 

James 4:7   Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Pray:  Pour your heart out to God if anything concerns you.

Then use that scripture or concept to build yourself in the faith, thereby resisting the thoughts sent by the devil with that which God has brought to your attention by His Spirit.

Keep focused on that which God has given you in the matter at hand and every time a memory comes that would pull  you  down, make your mind return to thinking about that which God has given you in the issue. 

II Corinthians 10:3-5    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

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Podcast: God will destroy this present heaven and earth with fire

 

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