Saturday, October 3, 2020

Instruction in Righteousness: John 5

 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

(Even though this man knew he could not get into the water in time to be healed, this is what he kept trying.  Jesus had another way for him.  And it worked.)

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

(The Jews were filled with envy because Jesus did these great miracles and the people flocked to Jesus.  The evil in the Jewish leaders blinded them to the real miracle of God.)

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, a multitude being in that place.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day.

(Yet the real reason was because they were envious of Jesus.  They used the sabbath to justify their hatred.)

***

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.


***

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever HE doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

(The son watches the father and copies the father.  If your father is God, you watch and copy God.  If your father is the devil, you watch and copy the devil.)

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.


***

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.


***

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

(Those of us born again heard HIS voice and were raised from the dead.)

26 For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;

27 And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,  29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.


***
Jesus says...

30 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.


***

31 If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of Me; and I know that the witness which He witnesseth of Me is true.

33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me.

37 And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me

(God also bears witness of us today when HE has us speak or do HIS word.)

Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape.

38 And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not.

39 
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. 40 And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.


***

41 I receive not honour from men.

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

43 I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?


*****

Friday, October 2, 2020

Podcast: The NFL announces a policy to "STOP HATE" as football players are unleashed against one another!

 


*****

* In the end time, church groups leave scriptures and individuals leave scripture.

Comments by Joan Boney, apostle & prophet of Jesus Christ according to Ephesians 4:11:12.


*****

Jesus said:  Concerning the end times

Matthew 24:12-13   And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.



***

II Thessalonians 2

3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (of the Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.


In 1982, I was reading the above scripture and God spoke to me by the Holy Spirit and said:  "The falling away are not people leaving churches ... the falling away are the churches leaving the scripture."


***

Also the falling away are individuals who are Christians falling away from specific scriptures.

Pam Padgett gave scripture to a divorced woman who was planning to remarry.  This scripture showed the divorced woman that if she remarried she would commit adultery.

Romans 7:1-3

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

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

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



Matthew 5:32  Jesus said:

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


If the faithful wife remarries after her husband divorced her, she will commit adultery if she remarries, but her husband who divorced her will be the cause of her adultery, and the man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.


Mark 10:12   Jesus says:

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

In Pam's report, this divorced woman attended the church Pam attended at that time.

This woman replied, "I don't care what the Bible says.  I know what I think."

(They put what they think above what the scriptures say, thus "shewing himself that he is God", as it says antichrist will do in the end times as reported by the apostle Paul in II Thessalonians 2:3-4.)

They think it doesn't matter what the Bible says.

We told the divorce/adultery scriptures also to a Jewish woman who said she believed in Jesus.  She said, "I'm a Messianic Jew and we have our own doctrine." 

(It is impossible to believe in Jesus while discarding the Word of God which is Jesus speaking.)


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


Romans 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;



***

II Timothy 3

16 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, throughly furnished unto all good works.


***


We individuals have Jesus living in us by The Holy Spirit which we are given by God when we believe.

I Corinthians 3:16-17   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

I Corinthians 6:19-20   What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

II Corinthians 13:5   Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

***

We overcome our own flesh, and devils, and this world and its ways, by going in the way of the scriptures and by clinging to the scriptures, The Word of God.

Revelation 3:5  Jesus says:

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

We overcome each time we choose to obey scripture, doing that which is instructed by scripture.

***

There is much evil done today in the churches by people who fall away from the scriptures.  This is antichrist in the churches today.

*****

Hymn: I love to tell the story




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


 1.  I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,

Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,

Because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings

As nothing else can do.

Chorus:

I love to tell the story,
’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story

of Jesus and His love.


 2.  I love to tell the story;
More wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies

Of all my golden dreams,
I love to tell the story,

It did so much for me;
And that is just the reason

I tell it now to thee.

3.  I love to tell the story;
’Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it,

More wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story;

For some have never heard
The message of salvation

From God’s own holy Word.

4.  I love to tell the story;
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting

To hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,

I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story,

That I have loved so long.


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


*****

Scripture pertaining to this hymn:

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.

***

Romans 5:5-9   ... the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

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

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

***

Concerning telling the story of Jesus ... 

Every time I share that which God has shown me, I tell of God and His power to help us and guide us as we live on this present earth.

It seems I'm almost always sharing something with people who come to the house to work.  

And wherever I am, I share as the subject arises.

I never plan anything.  I just pray for God to have me say what HE wants me to say and it seems there is always something HE wants me to say.

I speak as issues and scripture are brought to memory.  This is the way the Holy Spirit leads me.



*****

Instruction in Righteousness: John 4

 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
(Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,)
He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
And He must needs go through Samaria.

Then cometh He to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give Me to drink.
(For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto Him, Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast Thou that living water?
12 Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

15 The woman saith unto Him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband.

Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

19 The woman saith unto Him, Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet.20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am HE.

27 And upon this came His disciples, and marvelled that He talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?


30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.

31 In the mean while His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat.

32 But He said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought Him ought to eat?

34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

(She multiplied the Word she was given by sharing that given to her with other people.)

40 So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days.

41 And many more believed because of His own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

43 Now after two days He departed thence, and went into Galilee.

44 For Jesus Himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in His own country.

45 Then when He was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto Him, and besought Him that He would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

49 The nobleman saith unto Him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth.

And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.


***

51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when He was come out of Judaea into Galilee.


*****

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Podcast: The "beginning of sorrows" spoken of in the Bible. Haven't we already seen that? Next is the great tribulation.

 

 

 

*****

* Paul speaks of the "freedom" we have in Christ.


Paul says:

I Corinthians 6

12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power.



Comments by Joan Boney:

The above scripture written by the apostle Paul is so helpful to us for it presents a balanced truth.

We are free, but not all things are profitable to us.

Some people are put into bondage by the religious doctrines of their churches.  

The Catholics are taught they cannot eat "meat" on Fridays, for example.

But the Bible says the following:

I Timothy 4

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.



***

There are religious bondages in church groups today which are not authored by God in the New Testament Bible.

Devils often try to condemn us in that which we do on this earth.

But when we follow that which God shows us by HIS Word and HIS Spirit we have freedom from those harms that would come to us and to walk in another way.

Certainly the Holy Spirit will not approve that which is against scripture.  

The Holy Spirit will not lead us in the ways of the flesh, in fornication or adultery or any other work of the flesh which is cited in Galatians 5:19-21.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


***

Some church people forbid drinking of alcoholic beverages, even wine.

The Bible forbids drunkenness but not the drinking of wine.

Two scriptures:

Ephesians 5:18   And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

I Timothy 5:23  (Paul told Timothy)   Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

***

Some churches required women to wear hats or scarves on their heads when coming into the church building.

But Paul explains the following:

I Corinthians 11

4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.



***

Many strange doctrines, which put church people in bondages which are not of God, come and go in churches.

My aunt had a doctrine where she would not attend movies.  Yet when television came she would watch movies at home on television. (Once in 1964 she did go to a drive in movie with me.) 

I don't know if her doctrine came through the church she attended, but I have heard of this same doctrine in other churches of her generation:  1910-1950


***

God once said to me:  The world wants freedom to sin but we want freedom from sin.

The rules set forth in the New Testament present to us freedom from sin when we follow the doctrines of the Bible.  We are saved from sins by obeying the instructions of the New Testament.

But there are many doctrines set up by people in churches which are not doctrines set by the Spirit of God by Bible.

For example:  

One woman, who said she was a prophet, said she would not minister with anyone who drank coffee.  

When I questioned her about this, she said coffee could give you a "surge" which might make you think it was the Holy Spirit.  

I think her doctrine to be wrong.  I know we are free to drink coffee and minister.  I think her problem was she misunderstood the Holy Spirit, for often the Holy Spirit is such a gentle voice I almost miss the instruction.  I don't see the voice of the Holy Spirit as being "a surge".

(The Holy Spirit "leads me" to do what I do but I do not recall any time where the Holy Spirit "drove me" to do anything.)

However if she felt God told her not to drink coffee then that is fine.  But you cannot put others in bondage.

There was a time when I was a new Christian that the Holy Spirit told me not to go to secular things such as football, plays, movies, and such.  But I didn't tell anyone else not to do that.  God was training me during those years and HE separated me from many things of this world during that season.

But if the doctrine is clearly in the New Testament then we must honor that doctrine and follow it as the church.


*****

Hymn: I know that my Redeemer lives




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.  I know that my Redeemer lives
And ever prays for me;
A token of His love He gives,

A pledge of liberty. 

2.  I know that my Redeemer lives,
A quick’ning Spirit He;
I know eternal life He gives—

Amazing grace—to me.

3.  I find Him lifting up my head;
He brings salvation near;
His presence makes me free indeed,

And He will soon appear.

4.   He wills that I should holy be:
What can withstand His will? 
The counsel of His grace in me
He surely shall fulfill.

5.  Jesus, I hang upon Thy word:
I steadfastly believe
Thou wilt return and claim me, Lord,

And to Thyself receive.


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


*****


Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:


v. 1   I know that my Redeemer lives
And ever prays for me;

Hebrews 7:25   Wherefore HE is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by HIM, seeing HE ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:24-34    For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?   But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

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. 

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. 

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.

For whom HE did foreknow, HE also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of HIS Son, that HE might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Moreover whom HE did predestinate, them HE also called: and whom HE called, them HE also justified: and whom HE justified, them HE also glorified. 

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

He that spared not HIS own Son, but delivered HIM up for us all, how shall HE not with HIM also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, WHO is even at the right hand of God, WHO also maketh intercession for us.

***

v. 2  I know that my Redeemer lives,
A quick’ning Spirit He;


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, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

***

v. 3  His presence makes me free indeed,
And He will soon appear.

Ephesians 1:12-14 ...  That we should be to the praise of HIS glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of HIS glory.

John 8:31-32   Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on HIM, If ye continue in MY word, then are ye MY disciples indeed;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18   But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

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

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

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

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


Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

***

Job 19:25   For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that HE shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:



*****

Instruction in Righteousness: John 3

 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.

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.

Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

(Galatians 5:22-23    the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.)

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Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He (The Word) that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in Him (in The Word)  should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son (The Word made flesh), that whosoever believeth in Him (The Word) should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not His Son (The Word) into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him (through The Word) might be saved.

18 He that believeth on Him (on The Word) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(The name of the only begotten Son of God is "The Word" ... John 1:14   And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,)

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19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

22 After these things came Jesus (The Word) and His disciples into the land of Judaea; and there HE tarried with them, and baptized.

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him.

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all.

32 And what He hath seen and heard (from God), that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony.

33 He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

34 For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.

35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son (on The Word) hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.


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