💥 Podcast: Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2:12

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on April 12, 2021) 

 

Philippians 2:12-14 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life;

James 1:22   But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Many church people do deceive themselves.  They think they are doing well when they are actually causing disruption in the church and troubling people needlessly.  

We must be led by God in that which we say and in that which we do, otherwise we can hurt other people rather than help them.

Many church goers are "dull of hearing."

Hebrews 5

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

If a person cannot hear from the Spirit of God that person can be deadly to the church, trying to follow God by the letter of the law rather than the Spirit of the law.

First, we must have the Holy Spirit to witness to the word of God.  And we learn to hear what the Spirit tells us and that is what we speak and do.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

 

1 Corinthians 4:19-20  (Paul said)  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
 

20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

 

 ***

 

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

 

***

Lamentations 3:24-26 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in HIM.

25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for HIM, to the soul that seeketh HIM.

26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

 

***

 

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

*** 

Psalm 85:8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for HE will speak peace unto HIS people, and to HIS saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

***

 

1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

*** 

 

Luke 3:5,6  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Acts 7 (Reading through the Bible)

 

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

² And he (Stephen) said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
³ And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

(Faith is hearing God when HE speaks and doing what God tells you because you believe it was God who told you.)

⁴ Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

⁵ And HE gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He (God) promised that HE would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

(And he, Abraham, was 99-years-old and had no child of the promise.)

⁶ And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

⁷ And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place.

(This is so much like us today.  We dwell in a strange land.  God will judge this world.  And God will deliver us from this world and we will "come forth" from this world to the new Jerusalem wherein dwelleth righteousness and serve God in total righteousness forever.)


⁸ And He gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

⁹ And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
¹⁰ And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

¹¹ Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

¹² But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

¹³ And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

¹⁴ Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

¹⁵ So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, ¹⁶ And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

¹⁷ But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, ¹⁸ Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
¹⁹ The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

²⁰ In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: ²¹ And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

(God has a plan which HE will execute.  God raises up people to do HIS plan.  God had a plan whereby HIS people would go into bondage 400-years and Egypt would rule over them.  At the time appointed by God for deliverance, God raised up Moses to execute HIS plan.  God has a plan and HE will do it.)

²² And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

²³ And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

²⁴ And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

²⁵ For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

²⁶ And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

²⁷ But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

(In fact God had done that very thing.  Making Moses a ruler and a judge over them.  In God's time that is exactly what would happen.  God has HIS plan and God will do all that HE wills in HIS time.)

²⁸ Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

²⁹ Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

³⁰ And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

³¹ When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, ³² Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 

Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

³³ Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

³⁴ I have seen, I have seen the affliction of My people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

³⁵ This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

³⁶ HE brought them out, after that HE had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

(God brought HIS plagues upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians and with each plague until the last plague, God hardened Pharaoh heart so the next "wonder", plague could be sent upon Egypt.  These plagues were part of the glory of God and showed the might of God.)

³⁷ This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear.

³⁸ This is HE, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

³⁹ To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

⁴⁰ Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

⁴¹ And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

⁴² Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
⁴³ Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

⁴⁴ Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as HE had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

⁴⁵ Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; ⁴⁶ Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
⁴⁷ But Solomon built Him an house.

⁴⁸ Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
⁴⁹ Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build ME? saith the Lord: or what is the place of MY rest?
⁵⁰ Hath not MY hand made all these things?

⁵¹ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

⁵² Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
⁵³ Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
⁵⁶ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

(When you see Jesus, even your own death doesn't mean a lot.  Jesus, The Word, is all in all.)

⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
⁵⁸ And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

⁶⁰ And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.  And when he had said this, he fell asleep (died).

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: Causing the Word of God to be fruitful in us

 

 

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

 

God brings the Word to us by HIS Spirit, but sometimes that Word is stolen by the devil.  We can stop that from happening.

Jesus teaches:

Mark 4

And HE (Jesus) began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto HIM a great multitude, so that HE entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

2 And HE taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in HIS doctrine,

3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

9 And HE said unto them, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We can make the word become fruitful by doing a few simple things, explained in this Podcast.

*****

Mark 4

The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

***

We must continually keep ourselves in peace through prayer over all concerns, settling with God everything that troubles us.

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

For that which allows the Word to become unfruitful is the following:

Mark 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 

So we take all cares to God in prayer when the trouble surfaces.

By doing this diligently, we keep ourselves in a state of peace through prayer.

***

The devil brings thoughts to us to trouble us.  But we pray over that concern and God brings the antidote to the poisonous thoughts of the devil.

Recently I became concerned.  I prayed. And immediately the following scripture came to my mind.

Philippians 4:19   But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus (The Word).

I believed that word brought by the Holy Spirit, and instantly my mind was at peace again, resting in that word which God brought to me by HIS Spirit.

When a need surfaces in my life, God will supply that need.

God is totally faithful and totally adequate and will never fall short!

***

We deepen the root system of the Word through thinking on the word and then acting in an appropriate way concerning that Word which we have heard from God.

Joshua 1:8 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.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

***

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.

Given the opportunity, we share that good thing that God has done for us, with other people.

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Scriptures:

 

2 Corinthians 9:6,7 But this I (Paul) say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

 ***

 

Psalms 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for HE shall receive me.

 

***

Isaiah 65:17-18 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 

 

18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

 

***

 

Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because HIS compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is THY faithfulness.

 

*** 

 

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Acts 6 (Reading through the Bible)

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring (complaining) of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. ³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: ⁶ Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

*** 

⁸ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

⁹ Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

¹¹ Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

Suborned:  to bribe or otherwise induce someone to commit perjury against another person

¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

¹³ And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
¹⁴ For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

¹⁵ And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: Jesus was born of the Holy Ghost, and when we are born again we are born of the Spirit of God and are children of God, like Jesus

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on April 13, 2021)

 

Matthew 1:18   Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

After we are born again by the Word of God from the Holy Spirit of God, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit lives in us and teaches and guides us, showing us the will of God. 

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

Like Jesus, God is our Father after we are born of HIS Spirit, and God lives in us by HIS Spirit.

Matthew l:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

God is also "with us" for by HIS Spirit, Jesus dwells in us after we are born again by the Holy Spirit.

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

The Holy Spirit will bring to our minds a scripture or a concept to show us the will of God for us as we live on this earth, and we believe that Word and know it shows us God's will and we take action appropriate to that word which is given us by God.

I find this to be very comforting to know it is God's will for me to do such and such.

For example:  In 2020, I was considering putting new upholstery on my 25-year-old car.  As I thought about this, the following from the Spirit of God came to my mind:  "Or you could just buy a new car."

I began thinking on that word and I reasoned:  "I could buy a new car.  I had just sold my house in Texas and the money was in my bank account and I had plenty of money to buy a new car."

That same night, God gave me a dream:  I bought a new car.

That is what I did the following day.  I knew it was authored by God to do that and it was approved by God.

God knows the future.  

I was sure God was showing me the best way for me to go in this matter.

Joshua 1:9  Have not I commanded thee? (says God)   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.

God leads us by thoughts brought to our mind by HIS Spirit and also by dreams which HE gives 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; but whatsoever HE shall hear (from God), that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

***

I Corinthians 2

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

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

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

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

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

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

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.

When I was born again in 1975, God showed me the above scriptures and taught me to follow HIM by HIS Spirit.

Romans 8:14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

But many church goers are unbelievers and do not have faith in the Word of God and they do not have God's Spirit and cannot enter into HIS rest because of their unbelief.

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Scriptures:

 

Revelation 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for HE is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with HIM are called, and chosen, and faithful.

 ***

 

Psalm 18:32  It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

 

***

 

Romans 8:26-27  Likewise The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

 

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

 

***

 

Isaiah 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; HE also is become my salvation.

 

*** 

 

Proverbs 3:11-12  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of HIS correction:

12 For whom the LORD loveth HE correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Acts 5 (Reading through the Bible)

 

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 

² And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 

³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 

⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 

⁵ And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 

⁶ And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 

*** 

⁷ And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 

⁸ And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 

⁹ Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 

¹⁰ Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 

¹¹ And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 

*** 

¹² And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 

¹³ And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 

¹⁴ And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 

¹⁵ Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 

¹⁶ There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 

*** 

¹⁷ Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 

¹⁸ And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 

¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

²⁰ Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 

*** 

²¹ And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.   

But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 

²² But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,

²³ Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 

²⁴ Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 

²⁵ Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 

²⁶ Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,²⁸ Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 

²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.³¹ Him hath God exalted with HIS right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 

³² And we are HIS witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey HIM. 

³³ When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 

*** 

³⁴ Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 

³⁵ And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 

³⁶ For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 

³⁷ After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 

³⁸ And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: ³⁹ But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 

⁴⁰ And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 

⁴¹ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for HIS name. 

⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: Stir up the gift of God which is in you

 

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

 

II Timothy 1:6  (Paul says to Timothy)

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 WHO hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to HIS own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, WHO hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know WHOM  I have believed, and am persuaded that HE is able to keep that which I have committed unto HIM against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

We keep ourselves by the Holy Spirit as we hear what HE says and follow HIM, doing those things appropriate to HIS Word.

***

The apostle Peter says:

II Peter 3

1  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

***

So how do we stir up our pure minds?

We remember the way God caused us to be born again.  We remember the scriptures God has called to our minds during the past years.  We remember the dreams God has given to us.  We remember some of those previous things God has had us to do.

As we think on these things, we stir up the gifts of God that are in us.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Scriptures:

 

Deuteronomy 14:2  For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto HIMSELF, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

 

 ***

 

Psalms 118:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for HE is good: because HIS mercy endureth for ever.

 

***

 

2 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: 

 

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

 

***

 

1 Peter 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

 

*** 

 

Proverbs 3:11-12  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of HIS correction:

12 For whom the LORD loveth HE correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

 

***

Proverbs 4:13  Take fast hold of instruction (from God); let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

 

*** 

 

Isaiah 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; HE also is become my salvation.

 

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Acts 4 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, ² Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

(The Sadducees preached there was no resurrection from the dead.)

³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold (in prison) unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

⁴ Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

***

⁵ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,⁶ And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?


***

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ⁹ If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; ¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.

¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus, The Word) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.


***

¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

¹⁴ And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,¹⁶ Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

¹⁷ But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

¹⁸ And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.


***

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.


***

²¹ So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.²² For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.


***

²³ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

²⁴ And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: ²⁵ Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

²⁷ For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸ For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

²⁹ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word,

³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.


***

³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.


***

³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

³³ And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

(What great faith it would take to sell all you have and lay all your money at the apostle's feet.  It would be so much easier just to give what you think a person needs.  But to give all to the apostles to use as needed would put you without money and cause you to be dependent.  This was incredible faith and love.  There is no indication the apostles told anyone to do this.  God put it into their hearts to do this. And they acted by faith in God and by love toward God and toward the people of God.)

³⁶ And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

💥💥💥💥💥