💥 Podcast: Born again: What this means. How you can tell if you are born again.

 

 

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

 

Being born again means, we are changed instantly by God.  

A young man told me he walked out on his back porch and "something happened."

A woman, who was a long time drunk, said one day "something happened" and she had a great desire to read the Bible after that happened.  She told her husband she was going to quit drinking.  He didn't believe her because he'd heard her say that before.  But this time the power of God was in her to enable her to do those things she could not do before.

In my case, the Holy Spirit spoke these words to me:  "Joan ... you know those mistakes you've been making all these years?  Those weren't mistakes. Those were sins." 

After I heard the word of God, by the Spirit of God, I believed and was instantly changed by God.

I read a portion of Bible (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) to my mother one day and she thought about that which I read to her and she said, "Well ... I guess we'd better not do that anymore."  And instantly she was changed by God.

My uncle wrote to me and said:  "Your mother is changed.  She is really changed."

My dad was born again instantly by God when he was in his 70's.  All of a sudden he wanted to go to church.

Jesus said to Peter: Matthew16:17  

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

It is not that we learn things and change.  

We are instantly changed by God and are given the Holy Spirit to live in us.

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.

No man can do this for himself.  He can go forward at church and be baptized and do what they tell him to do to be a member of their church group, but he cannot change inwardly as those who are born of the Spirit of God change.

 

Being born again is an act of God, not an act of the will of man.

Countless numbers are members of a church group, but few are born of the Spirit of God and changed instantly into completely new creatures by God HIMSELF.

Being born again is instant change caused by God and not by mental learning of man. And it is having the Spirit of God living inside of you now to lead you and guide you.

These statements will make no sense to the vast number of church goers who have not been born again by the Spirit of God.

They think we learn everything by acts of our own will, by reading the Bible.

But we cannot understand things of God by reading the Bible until we have been born again by God.

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.

Jesus said:  Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  John 3:3

Paul says they are:  "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."  (II Timothy 3:7)

But we cannot understand things of God by reading the Bible until we have been born again by God and have the Spirit of God in us to guide us and teach us.  It is HIS Spirit causing us to change and to be recreated in the image of God.  

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

We cannot obtain these "gifts" by copying others who have these gifts.  These gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by God and are not a learned thing but, rather, a part of the new creation which God causes us to be when HE lives in us.

I Corinthians 6:19  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?

When we were born as babies from our natural parents, we did nothing to cause ourselves to be born.  Neither can we cause ourselves to be born again.  We are children of God by the will of God, and born of HIS Spirit, and recreated by God in HIS image.  

As Jesus was born of the Holy Ghost, we also are now born of the Holy Ghost when we are born again.  

And as Jesus could hear from God the Father, now we also can hear from God the Father by HIS Spirit who now lives in us.

As we inherit traits from our natural parents, now we inherit God's characteristics by being born of HIS Spirit.

We are changed by God and we are no longer like that person we once were.

Have you experienced that instant change from God?  If you have, you know it.  And others see that change in you also.

That is what being born again is.  We now have living in us God's Spirit.

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

It is not that we try to be godly.  We are godly, for God lives in us now, for we are born of God our Father and have HIS Spirit in us.

*****

Comments by Pam Padgett 

 

My great-aunt, Aunt Eunice, had gone to the Baptist church, I think all of her life.  As an adult she was very active in the Baptist church, even cleaning the church each week.  I'm sure everyone in our family had no doubt that Aunt Eunice was a Christian.

When she was in her 80's, there was a large family reunion.  At one point during the gathering, Aunt Eunice got up and announced with great joy and excitement that she was now born again!  She said she had always thought she was born again, but she now knew that she hadn't been born again until recently.  

I was sitting next to Aunt Eunice's oldest daughter.  She leaned over to me and said "I don't know why Mother is saying this.  She just recently started talking like this.  But she has always been a Christian.  Everyone knows how she has worked at the church and done whatever needed to be done for years."  

This daughter obviously didn't understand being born again, but it caused me to rejoice to hear what Aunt Eunice said. 

Matthew 7:21-23  Jesus said:  Not every one that saith unto ME, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to ME in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, ye that work iniquity.

***

Comments by Joan Boney:

My aunt was Church of Christ all her adult life.  She was different from all the other relatives.  We got along great.  They were afraid of her but I was never afraid of Aunt Ardath.  They would say, "What would Ardath say?"  She was their gold standard concerning what was right and wrong.  But she wasn't that way with me.

After I was born again, I was at her house and the Holy Spirit said to me, "Tell her about being taken into heaven."  I didn't want to do that!  She was Church of Christ!  You don't tell supernatural religious things to Church of Christ.  

But I knew it was the Holy Spirit telling me to do this, so I yielded myself to that which the Holy Spirit said for me to do.

I began telling my aunt this story:  After I was born again, I was transported into heaven in the night while I was sleeping.  I was with God and Christ and the Holy Spirit.  (I saw no physical images.  It was in the spirit.)  At that time I was merged into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.

As I told her this story, I noticed that a type of dreamy look came upon her face.

After I finished speaking, she said to me:  "Something like that happened to me once and it was all golden."

Then I knew why we always got along so well.

She once said to me, "I always knew you would never do anything wrong."

I did everything wrong!  But she must have seen me by faith.  For after I was born again I was completely changed instantly.

***

When we are born again, we know we didn't do anything to cause us to be born again or to justify our being born again, it was all by the will of God.

I think this causes us to be more merciful toward those who are not born again.

Romans 9  

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall Thy seed be called.

8 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.

9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.

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.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For HE saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew MY power in thee, and that MY name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.

(If you have never experienced these changes from God, I suggest you fall down before God and beg God to have mercy on you.)

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

 

1 John 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

 ***

 

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

 

***

Psalm 40:1,2  I waited patiently for the Lord; and HE inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 HE brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

 

***

 

Psalm 47:8  God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of HIS holiness.

 

*** 

 

Psalm 34:4  I sought the LORD, and HE heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

***

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

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Acts 11 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

² And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,³ Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

⁴ But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
⁵ I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
⁶ Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

⁷ And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

⁸ But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

¹⁰ And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

¹¹ And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

¹² And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

¹³ And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;   Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

¹⁵ And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

¹⁶ Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

¹⁷ Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as He did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

***

¹⁸ When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

***

¹⁹ Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
²⁰ And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

***

²² Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

²³ Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

²⁴ For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

***

²⁵ Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

²⁷ And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

²⁸ And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

²⁹ Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

³⁰ Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you

 

 

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

 

When we are born again, changed by God, we are very different from the way we had been before.  Often we no longer enjoy the people or things we once enjoyed.  Usually we want to read the Bible and go to church to hear about God.

Now we seek God and His righteousness, what is right in the sight of God.

And this is our interest as long as God chooses to leave us on this present earth.

Here is a promise from God: 

Psalm 84:11   For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will HE withhold from them that walk uprightly.

We go forward renewing our mind to the Bible, seeing the way God chooses for us to live, and we do those scriptures, growing in the image of Christ the Word.

God is our "sun" by HIS Spirit who brings to our mind the way to go.  God is also a shield, keeping us from things that would harm us.

And we find, in time, God has placed around us those good things which we can enjoy.

All we do is keep following various scriptures as they are given to us by the Holy Spirit, thus staying on God's highway.

*****

One of the things I enjoy most in this life is my sound system.  I love the sound effects of hearing a door open on the right of the TV.  Or hearing the clang of the old time elevator doors when they are closed.  I seem to hear all the sound effects in movies.  I like the sound of musical instruments to duplicate the clarity of the real instrument.

Along the way, some very good quality sound equipment came into my life.  God just enabled me to meet people who could help me develop a system.

I very much wanted to marry.  But to marry would not fit in with that which God planned for me to do on this earth.  Eventually I saw "that" and agreed with God.

Recently I saw an old 1948 movie, "The egg and I".  I thought it was a terrible movie but I was also helped immensely by seeing that movie.  I saw how terrible it would have been if I had actually married Buddy.  He is a farm and ranch person.

God is a shield for us.  Sometimes God keeps us from getting that which we want, and like a little child we have temper tantrums because God, The Father, did not let us have that. Later we rejoice that we didn't get what we wanted.  And we thank God for keeping us from getting that.

But when it is good for us to have that thing, God will see that it comes to us.

We just continue in HIS Word.

It is not that we are trying to get things by doing God's commandments.  We do God's word because we have a respect for God and know HIS way is right and best for us.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalms 103:17  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear HIM, and HIS righteousness unto children's children;

 

 ***

 

2 Samuel 22:31  As for God, HIS way is perfect; The word of The Lord is tried: HE is a buckler to all them that trust in HIM.

 

***

Ecclesiastes 5:8  If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for HE that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

 

***

 

Matthew 6:19-21 (Jesus says) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

*** 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, WHO will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

***

 

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Acts 10 (Reading through the Bible)

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, ² A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

³ He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

⁴ And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord?

And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.  ⁵ And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  ⁶ He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

⁷ And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;  ⁸ And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:  ¹⁰ And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  ¹¹ And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  ¹² Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

¹³ And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

¹⁴ But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

¹⁵ And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

¹⁶ This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

¹⁷ Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,  ¹⁸ And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

¹⁹ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  ²⁰ Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

²² And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

²³ Then called he them in, and lodged them.

And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

²⁴ And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

²⁵ And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

²⁶ But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

²⁸ And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

²⁹ Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

³⁰ And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, ³¹ And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

³³ Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come.

Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
³⁵ But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.

³⁶ The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all:)

³⁷ That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

³⁸ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.

³⁹ And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

⁴⁰ Him God raised up the third day, and shewed Him openly;  ⁴¹ Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.

⁴² And  HE commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
⁴³ To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.

⁴⁴ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

Then answered Peter,
⁴⁷ Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Podcast: God makes changes in us and prepares us for that which is to come

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on April 16, 2021) 

 

After we are born again by the Spirit of God, God seals us with HIS Spirit, and HIS Holy Spirit lives in us to show us the will of God as we continue in this present life.

Ephesians 1:13 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,

Jesus says:

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.

He brings to our mind scriptures and concepts to show us the way of God as we deal with our present decisions in this life.

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.

The Holy Spirit lives inside each believer and HE is always with us to help us in the ways 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?

The Holy Spirit of truth is a great help to us and a great comforter and assurance, especially in times of change.

Often even before the change, God prepares us for the change by giving us information from the Holy Spirit to show us things to come.

This Podcast tells of such a change and the ways God prepared me by HIS Spirit.

*****

I lived many years alone, by myself, in a house in Texas.

In 2018, I could still drive my car and go to grocery store and prepare my meals.  But I began feeling that I no longer wanted to live alone.  

I had a large house in Texas, but I began to desire having a smaller living space with fewer responsibilities.

On December 6, 2018, I fell at my house in Texas.  As the ambulance workers rolled me past the front door of my house, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the following information.  "You'll never see this house again."

I knew immediately this was information from God.  It did not trouble me at all.  I knew God had another plan for me and I was happy to go the way of God for I had experience with God and knew this would be a better way to live.

I put my house in Texas up for sale even while I was in the hospital.  

At that time, I didn't know where I would be going but I believed I would never see the Texas house again.  I had no concern at all.

A few times in the months before I fell, I thought of moving to Colorado Springs.  One of our church women lives there and we work together on the church blog and ministry books, and I thought it would be good to live where she lives, in the same city.  (I suspect it was God planting this in my mind to cause me to go in peace when the plan unfolded in the next few months.)

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

(God was guiding me step by step into all truth and God was showing me things to come.)

During the 2 1/2 months in the rehabilitation hospital in Texas, the plan unfolded for me to move to Colorado Springs and to live in the home of Pam Padgett, a member of the body of Christ.

Because of all those things put into my heart by God, I had no doubt at all about this plan.

God prepared me for a very big change, and it was really good, and worked out great!

I don't think it would have been as easy without the work of the Holy Spirit in showing me step by step the way of God for me.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and the comforter to the people of God.  And HE shows us the will of God and that is all that really matters.  If we know this is the will of God for us, we go forth with great assurance.

Isaiah 55

8 For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and MY thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall MY word be that goeth forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

 

Hebrews 4:12  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.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 91:14  Because he hath set his love upon ME, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known MY name.

 

***

 

Psalm 92:4  For THOU, Lord, hast made me glad through THY work: I will triumph in the works of THY hands.
 

***

 

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please HIM: for he that cometh to God must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of them that diligently seek HIM.

 

*** 

 

Philemon 1:5-6  Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

***

 

I Corinthians 1:4-6  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

5 That in every thing ye are enriched by HIM (the Word), in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Acts 9 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, ² And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

³ And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

⁴ And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁵ And he said, Who art thou, Lord?

And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

⁶ And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

(Paul speaks more of this encounter in Acts 26)

Acts 26:9-22       I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. 12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME. 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

***

Back to Acts 9:
⁷ And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

⁸ And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

¹⁰ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias.

And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, ¹² And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

¹³ Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:  ¹⁴ And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

¹⁵ But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  ¹⁶ For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake.

¹⁷ And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

¹⁹ And when he had received meat, he was strengthened.

Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

²⁰ And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

²¹ But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

²² But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

²³ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

²⁴ But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

²⁵ Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.


***

²⁶ And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

²⁷ But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that HE had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

²⁸ And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

²⁹ And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

³⁰ Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

³¹ Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.


***

³² And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. ³³ And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

³⁴ And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed.

And he arose immediately.

³⁵ And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.


***

³⁶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

³⁷ And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

³⁸ And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

³⁹ Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

⁴⁰ But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.

And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

⁴¹ And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

⁴² And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

⁴³ And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

💥💥💥💥💥