Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Podcast: The great difference between Jacob, the chosen of God, and Esau, his elder brother, as they grow up in the house of Isaac

 

 
Genesis 27  (After the death of Sarah)

1-2 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.  And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

3-4 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah (Abraham's wife after Sarah's death.)

5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

(Isaac was the child of the promise.)

6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

Genesis 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

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Isaac had two sons. Jacob was the child of God.  Jacob had a twin brother, Esau,  who was the elder. Even before the children were born, God chose Jacob, the younger son and later spoke to Jacob directly, identifying HIMSELF to Jacob.  

(Romans 9:10-13   And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;  11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of HIM that calleth;)  12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.)

Genesis 25:20-23   And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Rebekah knew God had chosen her younger son, Jacob over Esau.

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Genesis 26

34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Genesis 27:46   And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

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Genesis 28

1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

Esau is going to try to please his mother and father by copying what Jacob, the elect of God, has done.

So Esau, thinking by his fleshly mind, goes to the granddaughter of Abraham to marry her, a granddaughter of Abraham, whose father was a son of Abraham, Ishmael.

(The natural man who tries to copy the elect of God is always off in his thinking, like a radio station which is a little off the center of the sound dial.)

6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;

7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;

8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;

9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

For Esau reasons this woman, the grandaughter of Abraham, will please his father Isaac and his mother Rebekah.  But Ishmael was not even allowed to continue in Abraham's household, so his daughter would not please Isaac and Rebekah.

Concerning Isaac and Ishmael ...

Genesis 21:8-12  And the child (Isaac) grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

So Ishmael, the son of Hagar, was cast out of Abraham house.  But Esau seems to miss this fact and he marries a daughter of Ishmael thinking this will please Isaac and Rebekah.

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.

Esau was "the natural man" and he could not please God.  Neither can we please God unless we are born again by God and given the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us and teach us for the Spirit of God searches the heart of God to reveal the will of God to us.  (I Cor. 2)  So when we hear from the Spirit of God and follow HIM, we please God.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

We cannot understand the things of God until we have been born again by God and created as a new creature who is led by the Holy Spirit of God who is given us by God.

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.

When we are born again it is by the will of God and God speaks to us and reveals HIMSELF to us, changing us into new creatures who now have the Holy Spirit of God living in them to guide them in ways of God.

 
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* The subject of fasting:


Comments by Joan Boney:

When I was a new Christian in 1975, I felt God was leading me to "fast" certain things:  television, plays, secular books, sporting events, and newscasts.

I did as I thought God was leading me to do at that time.  I just read the Bible and went to church and went to our weekly prayer group.

I must have done this for a year or more because one day my dad mentioned Jimmy Carter to me,  I said, "Who's Jimmy Carter?"  Everyone was shocked.  He had just been elected president of the United States.

(I felt what God had me do was a type of "fast" but not in food.)

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I did look at the following in the Old Testament concerning fasting:

Isaiah 58

1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew MY people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet they seek ME daily, and delight to know MY ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of ME the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and THOU seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and THOU takest no knowledge? 

Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and HE shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on MY holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour HIM, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

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In the New Testament church we have a different set of rules than they did in the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament sabbath, the laws were very strict.  They couldn't gather food on the sabbath.  They couldn't cook their food on the sabbath.  They had to prepare all food the day before the sabbath.

They couldn't find their own pleasure on the sabbath.

The Old Testament Sabbath was a holy day whereby they were to rest from their works and focus on the Lord and the things of God.

So if anyone today wants to do the Old Testament sabbath, he could not go "out of his tent".  He certainly couldn't entertain himself with television or secular books!  

We are not bound today to the Old Testament sabbath laws.

Rather we live a continual rest in "the Lord", living in HIS rest, by committing all our works to God and letting HIM lead us.

Hebrews 4

1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into HIS rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as HE said, As I have sworn in MY wrath, if they shall enter into MY rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For HE spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all HIS works.

5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into MY rest.

6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7 Again, HE limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear HIS voice, harden not your hearts.

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would HE not afterward have spoken of another day.

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into HIS rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from HIS.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in HIS sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of HIM with whom we have to do.



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Helped by God

 
Comments by Cathy Varner:  Member of the body of Christ
 
Glad to hear how God helped you with this, Pam.  (account printed on August 30, 2021)

It reminds me of something that happened a while back. Joe (husband) was putting in a brand new window in the living room. But he was having trouble because of the two metal tabs at the sides wouldn’t fit right. I was praying about it. He tried calling different places and got no help. Finally he remembered that before he’d put the old window out for the trash, he had saved some of the hardware, including these metal tabs. He tried using those and was able then to get the window in and working right.

Also I am amazed at how God can get our attention on something specific, as He did with that cabinet door for you. Recently I was walking the dog at a park where I’ve gone to many times. This time my attention was drawn to a corner of a wooded area and I had the thought to go there and see if there was a path there into the woods. I had never thought much about this area, didn’t think there were any paths there. But when I went there, I was surprised to see there was a path and it led to the river. And this particular area was so beautiful, the river wider and unlike other places you can more easily access the river. I was so glad to have discovered this place and believed it was God that drew my attention to it.
 
 
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Hymn: Beneath the cross of Jesus




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)

1.  Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock

Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,

A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,

And the burden of the day.

2.  Oh, safe and happy shelter!
Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love

And heaven’s justice meet *.
As to the holy patriarch

That wondrous dream was given,
So is my Savior by the cross

A ladder up to heaven.

3.  There lies beneath its shadow,
But on the farther side,
The darkness of an awful grave

That gapes both deep and wide;
And there between us stands the cross,

Two arms outstretched to save,
Like a watchman set to guard the way

From that eternal grave.

4.   Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One,

Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,

Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love,

And my own worthlessness.

5.  I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than

The sunshine of His WORD;
Content to let the world go by,

To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,

My glory all the cross.


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

***

* where heaven’s love And heaven’s justice meet: heaven's love is shown by God's sacrifice of His Son, and Jesus' willingness to die for us.  Heaven's justice requires payment for our sins for it to be just.  The only payment sufficient to justify our sins is the blood of Jesus. 


***

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

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

*** 

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

The way of life and truth is The Word of God.

When we go that way, we live in HIM, doing that which HE says.

***

Psalm 119:105    Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:130   The entrance of THY words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

***

II Timothy 3:16-17    All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.


***

I Timothy 4:13    Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

 
*****

Monday, August 30, 2021

Podcast: God blesses Joseph wherever Joseph is, first in slavery and then in the prison

 

 
 
Genesis 39

1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

4 And Joseph found grace in his sight (in the sight of the Egyptian), and he served him: and he (the Egyptian) made him (Joseph) overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his (Joseph's) hand.

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

6 And he (the Egyptian) left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. 

And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.


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7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

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21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

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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.

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.

 
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* By sharing what God has helped us with, our faith is increased and others who hear what God had done are edified in the faith in God.

 
Comments by Pam Padgett:  Member of the body of Christ

One morning a couple days ago I was doing my regular work and went to throw something in the trash can which is kept in the cabinet under the kitchen sink.

When I opened the cabinet door, one of the hinges broke. The door was hanging by one hinge and wouldn't stay in place.

In that cabinet are household cleaning supplies and other things that I wouldn't want any of the animals to get into, so being able to securely close this cabinet door was important to me.

As I stood staring at the problem, I was reminded
(by God) that when this house was built all the cabinets were the same with the same hardware. When I had one of the bathrooms remodeled many years ago, I had wanted to save one small cabinet door although I didn't have a need for it at the time.

The last I could remember that little cabinet door was in the garage ... somewhere ... unless I had thrown it away at some point.

I went to the garage and started to go to the only place I thought that little door might be. But as I walked to that place, my attention was drawn to the door sticking out just an inch or two from behind a cabinet!

It could barely be seen. There was even a wagon with stuff in it in front of where the cabinet door was. But God had drawn my attention to it.

The hinges were still on the little door. I simply removed one of the hinges and used it to replace the broken hinge on the kitchen cabinet door.  The hinge fit perfectly. 

It took less than 30 minutes for everything to be done, and I was able to go back to my work.

Often when I use the kitchen cabinet door now, I smile and find myself thanking God for helping me get that broken hinge taken care of so quickly.

And I marvel each time I think of how God was able to show me exactly where that little door was in the garage.

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Philemon 

6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.


Comments by Joan Boney:

Through the years, God has taught me to share things God has done and is doing in my life.

By sharing with the body of Christ, we increase our own faith in God and we also edify (build) the faith of those who hear us.

John 15:15  Jesus said:  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

It is a very godly thing when we share what God has done for us with others in the body of Christ.


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Hymn: Up from the grave HE arose




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.   Low in the grave He lay —
Jesus my Savior!
Waiting the coming day —

Jesus my Lord!

Chorus:

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes.
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever in His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!


2.   Vainly they watch His tomb
Jesus, my Savior!
Vainly they seal the dead—

Jesus my Lord!

3.  Death cannot keep his prey—
Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away—

Jesus my Lord!


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

 
*****

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

Matthew 27:59  And when Joseph had taken the body (of Jesus), he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Matthew 27:62-66  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.


***

Matthew 28:1-4  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

(These women also prepared and brought to the tomb fine smelling spices, for when the body decays there is a stink and they wanted to cover up that odor.  They didn't know there would be no decaying body where Jesus was concerned for God would not "suffer" Jesus' body to see corruption as other flesh saw corruption.  Jesus' body and soul were removed by God from the tomb.) 

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His (the angel's) countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.


***

Luke 24:1-7  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.
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.


***

Acts 13:35-37   Wherefore he (David) saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
But HE, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

When they entered the tomb of Jesus, His body was gone as well as His Spirit.  God did not allow Jesus' body to decay the way of normal flesh.


*****

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Podcast: God shows HIMSELF to Joseph and identifies the calling of Joseph through dreams

 


God speaks to HIS Children showing HIS election to HIMSELF.

We see that God spoke to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob.

Next in line is Joseph.  Of the 12 children of Israel, it was Joseph who was chosen by God.  And to Joseph, the elect of God, God spoke through dreams to show Joseph HIS calling.

Genesis 37

Dreams:

5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

(This is the Word of God that Joseph speaks to his brothers and father.)

7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.



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God speaks to us by thoughts brought by the Holy Spirit, by dreams, by words carried by angels,

God speaks and when the word comes to us often that Word of God divides us from those persons who are not of God.

Jesus explains:

Matthew 10

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME: and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME, is not worthy of ME.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for MY sake shall find it.


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God speaks to Joseph by 2 dreams.

And Joseph's brothers hated Joseph and envied him.

Jacob (Israel), Joseph's father, sent Joseph to see how his brother's were doing in caring for the herd.

The brothers were going to kill Joseph.

But this happened:

Genesis 37

18  And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

The brothers killed an animal and dipped the coat of many colors into the blood of the animal and took the coat to Joseph's father to make his father think an animal had killed Joseph.

His father had given Joseph a coat of many colors because Joseph was his favorite son among the 12 sons.

24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.


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No matter how terrible things look, God uses these things to accomplish HIS purpose by HIS elect.

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.

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As we share those dreams God has given us and as we share the words God has spoken to us we help the body of Christ and often even cause others in the body of Christ to remember things God has done for them, thus causing them to have their faith in God increased.

We see the working of God in the testimonies which we and others give to the people of God.

Philemon v. 6   That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

 
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* We must not follow thoughts brought by devils. If we follow devils, we will destroy ourselves.

 
Comments by Joan Boney:

Spirits bring thoughts to our minds.

God speaks to us by HIS Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus.

The devil also brings thoughts to our mind, often to make us fearful and to torment us and to pull us away from the assignment given us by God and to cause us to doubt God.

The apostle John said:  

I John 4:1   Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:

We can try the spirit by prayer, by asking God if that thought was from HIM.

Or if we have faith do to so, we can just say, after the thought comes, "Do you confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?"  and we will likely hear, "Yes" or "No".

I John 4

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

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If fear comes to us through a thought, that is likely a devil behind that thought.

John 10:10  Jesus says:  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

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Galatians 5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:


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Hymn: Trust & Obey




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.  When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;

While we do His good will,
He abides in us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.


Chorus:

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.


2.  Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His WORD quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.


3.  Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.


4.  But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.


5.  Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.


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


*****

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

Psalm 111:10    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do HIS commandments: HIS praise endureth for ever.

The fear of the Lord is a deep respect for God and The Word.

When we "fear" God, we are basically afraid to go in a way opposite to God's Word for we have an inner understanding that God knows what is best and to violate what HE says is to go in a way of self destruction.

Therefore our trust is based on the awe we have for God.

And we obey God, doing what HE says to us by HIS Spirit.

***

In December, 2018, at the age of 81, I fell at my house.

As the ambulance people were removing me and we reached the front door, I heard the following word in the form of a thought that came to my mind:  "You'll never see this house again."

 I believed that thought was from God.

Therefore I believed there would be another way for me to go if I survived the accident.

I put my house up for sale even as I was awaiting surgery.

A church person said to me, "I don't see how you can do that."  (I don't think she understood faith in God.)

I explained to her that when you believe you have heard from God and there is a way to go, you simply obey ... no hesitation.

I never looked back and I never saw that house again.

I did not know where I would go when I put the house up for sale but I knew God would work it out for me and reveal it to me and God did within a few weeks.  A woman in our little church group took me (and my cat) into her house to live in Colorado.  She is a very godly woman and prays over everything!  It is a great joy for me to live in a house with such a person.

My life was made better after my accident, not worse.

God had a plan for me and I knew HIS plan was all that mattered.


Ecclesiastes 3:1   To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:


*****

Acts 17 ... NIV Original Translation ... God chooses the exact places we will live and the times we will live there.

KJV  Acts 17:26And 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;

(God determines the times we live and the places we live.)

27-28 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though HE be not far from every one of us:  28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.


*****

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Podcast: The child of the promise and the elect of God

 

 
The linage from Abraham to Moses is very interesting to those who are interested in the elect of God.

For there is an elect of God which will be taken by Jesus into heaven when Jesus returns to gather the elect of God from off this earth.

Matthew 24:31    And HE (Jesus) shall send HIS angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.


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Abraham was chosen by God to be the father of many nations.  

When the apostles of the early church saw God give the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, they could trace the promise of the Gentiles back to Abraham, for God said Abraham would be the father of "many nations."

Acts 13:48  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Acts 26:20   and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Galatians 3:14   That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

I Corinthians 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Isaiah 62:2  And the Gentiles shall see THY righteousness,

Isaiah 49:6  And HE said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be MY servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be MY salvation unto the end of the earth.

Abraham:  "A father of many nations"  (including the Gentiles)


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Genesis 12

1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;


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Genesis 15

1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

3 And Abram said, Behold, to me THOU hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.  (Eliezer at this point in time)

4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

5 And HE (God) brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and HE (God) said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6 And he (Abram) believed in the LORD; and HE (God) counted it to him for righteousness.


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Genesis 17

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before ME, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make MY covenant between ME and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for ME, behold, MY covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

7 And I will establish MY covenant between ME and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep MY covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.


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Genesis 17

15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish MY covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

The child of the promise of God is named by God as Isaac.

So the linage of the elect of God, the children of God, will go through the promised son, Isaac.


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Isaac had 2 sons by Rebecca:  Jacob (the younger) and Esau (the elder).

Romans 9

10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of HIM that calleth;)

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

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Genesis 26  God speaks to Isaac

1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

2 And the LORD appeared unto him (to Isaac), and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5 Because that Abraham obeyed MY voice, and kept MY charge, MY commandments, MY statutes, and MY laws.

(If we want to be blessed by God, then we obey God's voice and keep the commandments, the statutes, and the laws of God as set forth in the New Testament Bible.)

6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:

Genesis 26

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

(Sow in the land that is given to you by God.  God gave me the land of radio, blog, books, Podcast, and Twitter.  I sow in that landWhat is the land given to you by God?)

13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

Genesis 26

23 And he (Isaac) went up from thence to Beersheba.

24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for MY servant Abraham's sake.

25 And he (Isaac) builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.


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Isaac had 2 sons:  Jacob (the younger) and Esau.

Jacob, the son of Isaac, is the elect of God, chosen by God.  

God named Jacob, Israel.  And through Jacob will come the 12 sons of Israel, the 12 tribes of Israel.   (Jacob will be renamed "Israel" by God.)

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Esau, Jacob's brother, marries a daughter of Canaan and this woman greatly grieves Isaac and Rebecca.

Genesis 27:46   And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

So Isaac and Rebecca send their son Jacob (the elect of God)  to their own people so he can choose a wife of the daughters of their people rather than from the daughters of Canaan who grieve them.

Genesis 28  (God speaks to Jacob as he travels to get his wife.  We see God showing that Jacob is HIS elect because HE speaks to Jacob.)

10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

12 And he dreamedand behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and saidI am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

It is one thing for your father on earth to say, "God spoke this to me."  But when God speaks directly to you by either word or by dreams, it is another thing, for now God has chosen you and you know God because HE spoke to you.

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Now we have 3 generations of the elect of God:

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

God renames Jacob as "Israel" ... and by Jacob's 12 sons come the children of Israel, and one of those 12 sons is going to be that elect of God.

Genesis 35  (God renames Jacob)

9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and HE called his name Israel.

11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

13 And God went up from him in the place where HE talked with him.

God promised Abraham the land.  God promises Isaac the land.  God promises Jacob the land.

And they wait having faith in God not seeing the promise but later it comes.

Hebrews 11

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for HE hath prepared for them a city.



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Genesis 37

1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

(Notice in verse 2 we read these are the generations of Jacob ... but only Joseph is named though there are 11 other sons, the 12 tribes of Israel.)

Now we have 4 generations of the elect of God:  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel) , Joseph

Genesis 46

1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

3 And HE said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

5 And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:


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The children of Israel  (The 12 sons of Jacob who is now Israel)

Genesis 46

And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: 

Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Gad
Asher
Dan
Naphtali


19 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; 

Joseph, and Benjamin.

(Joseph is the elect of God.)

Romans 9:6-9   Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

 
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Hymn: Standing on the promises




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.  Standing on the promises of Christ my King, 
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of
Christ my Savior;
Standing, standing,

I’m standing on the promises of God.


2.   Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

3.  Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,

Standing on the promises of God.

4.  Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

5.  Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,

Standing on the promises of God.


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


*****

The following scripture pertains to this hymn:

Joshua 1:5   I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Matthew 28:20   lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.


***

v. 2   By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

The living word is that word that comes down to us from heaven.  It is put into our mind by God by HIS Spirit, by the Spirit of Jesus.  By this "living word" we know what to do.

John 6   Jesus says:

32-33   My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is HE which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

48-51   I (The Word) am that bread of life.  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven:

Jesus, The Word, is the Word that comes down from heaven.  The living word of God is the word spoken to us by the Spirit of God.  By His Spirit, God will bring to our mind ideas that show us what to do, or scriptures which show us what to do.  And when it is that Word of God, it will never fail.  We can put our trust in what we have heard from God by His Spirit.   

The living word of God is just exactly that, living, because it pertains to the exact subject we are dealing with at that moment in time. 

We
can hunt for a scripture and fail. Or we can try to figure out what to do and fail. 

But we will not fail when it is the Holy Spirit bringing the concept or a scripture to our mind to guide us in the matter at hand. 

***

Here are promises from Jesus concerning the work the Holy Spirit will do for us.

John 14:26    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    Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself (of His own thinking); but whatsoever He shall hear (from God), that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.


4 things the Holy Spirit does for the believer:

- HE teaches us all things. (secular and spiritual)
- HE reminds us of all Jesus has said to us through scripture, dreams, concepts
- HE guides us into all truth.  (often one thing at a time ... you do the first thing ... then a second idea comes and you do that ... on until the matter is resolved)
- HE shows us things to come.  (often by dreams ... sometimes by just knowing)


***

v. 3   Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,  

We are freed every time we have a word from God brought to our mind by His Spirit, and when we believe and act on that word in the midst of the trial or temptation.     


***

v. 4   Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,

God speaks to each of His children by His Spirit which lives inside each child.  The Holy Spirit brings thoughts from God to our minds to show us the way of God and the will of God as we live on this earth.

We overcome the trials and temptations of this present earth as we hear from the Holy Spirit daily, and take appropriate action to the instruction given by the Spirit.

You do have to be careful.  For the devil will try to imitate God and bring thoughts to your mind which are opposite to the way God wants you to go.  And often our own fleshly preferences will bring thoughts to us which seem good to us, but are opposite to the way God wants us to go. 

James 3:14-16   ... But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

So if that is the case, you must repent and pray for God to correct your own heart.  For you will not likely to be able to hear correctly until you are corrected.

Otherwise:  Prove all things by prayer and Bible.  If you will ask God to confirm the way to go and to make it clear to you which thought is HIS, and if you will take time before you act, it will be made clear to you which thought is from God.  Also in the Bible we have a scripture which tells us how to recognize the wisdom that is from God.

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.


***

v. 5   List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,

Once we have established that a thought is from God, we must focus on that thought and rest in that word that we have heard from God concerning the matter at hand after doing that instruction in an appropriate way.  Often, we have to keep that word before us day and night to be strong enough to continue in that direction.  

Joshua 1:8-9   This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 

Have not I commanded thee? 

(When God brings a word to our mind by HIS Spirit or when a scripture is made to stand out to us, that is God "commanding" us and we think on that word, taking action when needed, according to that word.)

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.


*****