💥 Podcast: The devil tries to get us but God draws us back!

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on February 18, 2021) 

 

Some days I find I'm not interested in reading anything spiritual.  

But I decide to read some of our blog or the writing on the Podcast.  And I start to be interested and by the time I finish reading those scriptures that are presented, I am restored again.

I Corinthians 1:21 ... it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Recently the thought came to me that I'm not really called by Jesus to be HIS minister, that I got it all wrong, and then I was reminded of the times after I was born again when I was taken into heaven.  It was in the night while I was sleeping.  I was "transported" into heaven.  I was with God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  (I saw no images it was spiritual.)  At that time I was merged into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God, God and Holy Spirit witnessing. A few nights later, the exact same thing happened again.

As I thought on those experiences, I was restored and knew it had been a devil trying to cause me to doubt, for I believe I was ordained into the ministry offices when I was merged into the body of Jesus in heaven those two times.

The devil will try to convince us the way we are going is not the right way.  But then God will restore us by the Holy Spirit who reminds us of the way of God.

Often we are restored by an exhortation.

Hebrews 3:13-14 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Hebrews 10:25-26  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

I present to you daily exhortations because these two verses tell me to do this.  And notice Hebrews 10:25 tells us to exhort one another even more as we see the day of the Lord approaching.

For God uses these exhortations to keep us in HIS way in the midst of the wickedness that surrounds us in this present world.

*****

Renew your minds to the Word of God:

* Matthew 5:32  Jesus says:  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.

- The divorced woman who remarries will commit adultery but her husband who divorced "the faithful wife" will be the cause of her adultery when she remarries.

- The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

***

* 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.

***

* I Corinthians 7:39   The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

***

* Mark 10

2 And the Pharisees came to Him (to Jesus), and asked Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting Him.

3 And HE answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

10 And in the house His disciples asked Him again of the same matter.

11 And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 

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

**** 

 

* I Corinthians 6

15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

***

* Galatians 5

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.

***

* Romans 1

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

***

* 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.

***

Scriptures such as the above are exactly opposite to that which the world teaches so as we read these scriptures we renew our mind to God's thinking and we pull back from thoughts brought by devils which are opposite to the Word of God.

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalm 37:4  Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

 

 ***

 

Psalms 21:13  Be THOU exalted, LORD, in THINE own strength: so will we sing and praise THY power.

 

 ***

 

Philippians 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

*** 

 

John 6:37-39  (Jesus says)  All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.

39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 

 

*** 

 

Isaiah 26:7 The way of the just is uprightness: Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

 

*** 

 

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.

 

*** 

 

Psalm 86:7  In the day of my trouble I will call upon THEE: for THOU wilt answer me.

 

*** 

 

Proverbs 21:30  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

 

 

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💥 Mark 11 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, He sendeth forth two of His disciples,

² And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

³ And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

⁴ And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

⁵ And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

⁶ And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon him.
⁸ And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

⁹ And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying,

Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord:
¹⁰ Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

¹¹ And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

¹² And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry:
¹³ And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
¹⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.

And His disciples heard it.

¹⁵ And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
¹⁶ And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
¹⁷ And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

¹⁸ And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine.

¹⁹ And when even was come, He went out of the city.

²⁰ And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
²¹ And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away.

²² And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

²³ For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

²⁵ And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
²⁶ But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

²⁷ And they come again to Jerusalem: and as He was walking in the temple, there come to Him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
²⁸ And say unto Him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

²⁹ And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
³⁰ The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer Me.

³¹ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
³² But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
³³ And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

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💥 Podcast: From heaven Jesus sets up the New Testament Church

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 30, 2021)

 

We had no New Testament church until after Jesus was crucified.  

Then the blood of Jesus became the sacrifice for our sins.  

And after Jesus arose from the dead and was taken into heaven, then Jesus set up HIS church from heaven, calling and naming HIS ministers from heaven.

The apostle Paul was an example of this calling of a minister by Jesus from heaven.

Acts 26, Paul says to king Agrippa: 

I heard a voice (from heaven) speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue.  15 I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 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;

Jesus, from heaven, sets HIS ministers into the New Testament church today just as HE did from heaven in the case of the apostle Paul.

After Jesus arose into heaven, HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  (Ephesians 4:10-11)

And the New Testament Bible was given to the church from heaven as apostles were inspired by God to speak and write the books of the New Testament.

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:

The early church had no New Testament Bible.  The apostles wrote on "parchments" and sent these letters to the churches in various cities and countries.  These letters became the "epistles" in the New Testament Bible as the instructions from God came to them.  They sent these epistles to be circulated among the various churches in their areas.

Colossians 4:16  And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

So they passed these epistles, which we know today in the New Testament Bible, from church to church.

These writings were inspired by God just as God inspires us today to write the blog and to record the words presented on Podcasts.

Man does not appoint himself as a minister to the church.  

All ministers (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) are called by Jesus from heaven and are lead by the Spirit of God in that which they speak to the church.

*****

In my life, the call of God came to me as God chose to transport me into heaven in the night as I was sleeping. 

(This happened twice on two different nights as I slept)

I was "transported" into heaven in approximately 1975.  

I was with God and Christ and the Holy Spirit.  (I saw no physical images.  It was a spiritual experience)  At that time I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God as God and the Holy Spirit witnessed.

The second time this happened was about two days after the first.

I didn't know what this meant.  I thought it happened to all persons who were born again.  Later I came to realize it did not happen to every member of the body of Christ.

I believe it was at this time, I was set into the ministry in the two offices appointed by Jesus:  apostle & prophet

For the next 4 years God taught me spiritual things from the Bible by HIS Spirit.

I was born again in 1975.  God put me on radio to exhort the church starting in January, 1980.  

In between these years of 1975 and January, 1980, God was teaching me from the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, by HIS Spirit.

On the night of January 10, 1980, I was asleep in the night.  A very loud trumpet like voice spoke 3 words in my ear:  "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS"

KWJS was a radio station.  

God told me to call the station manager.  I sent audition tape and was broadcasting exhortation to the church within 5 days.  

By the end of the next year, I was on radio from "Hartford" to "Seattle".

Ministers are called by Jesus from heaven and set in the church today to do the work of the ministry.

Jesus communicates with me directly by the following:  thoughts brought by HIS Spirit, dreams, scriptures, 

I Corinthians 12:4-6  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.   And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

God calls HIS ministers and teaches them in various ways, but there is always a "call of God" on the life of that minister who is appointed by Jesus for the NT church.

But some ministers put themselves into the ministry by going to Bible college without having the call of God and these are "false teachers."

II Peter 2

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

***

Jude

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

They deny Jesus Christ by denying certain scriptures and by setting up another Jesus, another doctrine in the churches.

12-13  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

16  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators/copiers) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

***

Jesus says:

Matthew 24

4 Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalm 27:14  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

 

 ***

 

Psalms 45:7  Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

 

*** 

 

Isaiah 9:6-7   For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be NO END, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even FOR EVER. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

 

 ***

 

John 5:24  (Jesus says) Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth MY Word, and believeth on HIM that sent ME, he hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

*** 

 

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;

 

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

*** 

 

Psalm 1:1-3  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

 

 

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💥 Mark 10 (Reading through the Bible)

 

 1 And He arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto Him again; and, as He was wont, He taught them again.

² And the Pharisees came to Him, and asked Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting Him.

³ And He answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

⁴ And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

⁵ And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

⁶ But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

⁷ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
⁸ And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

(At the time of sexual intercourse the two become "one flesh" ... we see this as Paul explains that even if you have sex with an harlot ... a prostitute ... you become one flesh.  I Corinthians 6:15-20)

⁹ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

¹⁰ And in the house His disciples asked Him again of the same matter.

¹¹ And He saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
¹² And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

***

¹³ And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them.

¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

¹⁵ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

¹⁶ And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.

***

¹⁷ And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

¹⁸ And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

¹⁹ Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

²⁰ And he answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

²¹ Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

²² And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

²⁴ And the disciples were astonished at His words.

But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁶ And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

²⁷ And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

***

²⁸ Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee.

²⁹ And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

³¹ But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

(The hundred-fold-return has to do with giving up people and things, as needed, to follow the WORD, Jesus.)

***


³² And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.

And He took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto Him,
³³ Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles:
³⁴ And they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall rise again.

***

³⁵ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto Him, saying, Master, we would that Thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

³⁶ And He said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

³⁷ They said unto Him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left hand, in Thy glory.

³⁸ But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

³⁹ And they said unto Him, We can.

And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
⁴⁰ But to sit on My right hand and on My left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

⁴² But Jesus called them to Him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
⁴³ But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
⁴⁴ And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
⁴⁵ For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

***

⁴⁶ And they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

⁴⁸ And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

⁴⁹ And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.

And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee.

⁵⁰ And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

(Casting away his prideful covering that hides himself ...)

⁵¹ And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

⁵² And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

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💥 Podcast: Keeping ourselves ready for the return of Jesus

 

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on February 2, 2021)

 

No one knows the exact day or hour that Jesus will return.  But Peter tells us we must be ready continually for Jesus' return.

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

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

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

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

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

Throughout each day of our lives on this present earth we must live in peace, without spot and blameless.

How we can do that?  

(Discussed on this Podcast.)

*****

The first thing we should do is meditate on 2 Peter 3:14 until it becomes real in our daily lives that it causes us to conform our actions on this earth to living this scripture and allowing it to rule over that which we do throughout each day.

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

***

We must come to understand that this world and the things of this world are "temporary".  And we must learn that our kingdom is not of this world.  

Everything that we can see with our natural eye will be destroyed by God at the end of this world.

The only way we can live continually, daily in peace is by doing the following scripture:

Philippians 4:6-7   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (The Word).

This means when trouble comes, call on God for help.

When there is any concern at all, turn to God in prayer and let your request be made unto God.

If we have any dread about tomorrow, stop and pray to God.

***

Jesus says:

Luke 21

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but MY words shall not pass away.

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (over indulgence), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Watch:

Be careful about how you are living each day.  If you become angry with someone, turn to God immediately.  Ask God to help you.  Let God settle you quickly.  Let not the sun go down on your wrath.

Do not follow thoughts of devils.  For he comes to steal, to kill, to destroy.  Be sure the ideas you follow are from God.

James 3:17   But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

***

Recently I stumbled into someone's sins.  It wasn't until I finished talking by phone with this person that I realized what I had done.  I also opened the door myself for trouble by sending him a "friendly" email.  He called me and began discussing his adult aged children with me.  

After I finished the phone call, I felt a little strange.  All through the phone call I kept holding back from wishing the son and daughter well.  It was like the Spirit of God was stopping me.  Then after the phone call I realized this man's son has been committing fornication for at least 3 years with a girlfriend.  These people identify themselves as Catholic.  I did not warn them about fornication.  The Holy Spirit did not bring the subject of fornication into my mind so I think the door on that subject must be closed by God.  

(About 20 years ago, I spoke to this man concerning the sin of fornication which he was committing with his girlfriend when his two children were approximately 9 and 13 years old.  His life is a tragedy.  His wife was a lesbian and it is my understanding that she left with her "lover" and he raised his two children.)

I did repent and ask God to forgive me two days later when I realized what had happened.  I was very sorry for opening the door by sending that friendly email.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

***

We can lose reward in heaven by being friendly or by wishing evil doers well.

II John

8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

***

One good thing that did come forth as I spoke to this man:

He inquired about Pam Padgett and he said how glad he was I was living with Pam.  

I replied:  "It's wonderful because Pam is a very godly person and she doesn't trouble me.  When there is a problem Pam prays, and when she hears from God, she does what God says and that problem is taken care of through what God tells her to do.  Then after God has shown her what to do, she might tell me so I can also delight in what God has said to her."

It is possible that this information pricked this man's heart for he had just been telling me his problems,

We must be diligent to "watch ourselves", what we are doing.  The people are often doing things that are unthinkable to godly people, even when they are attending a church.

***

A few months ago, God gave me a dream.  Some very dirty cats kept getting in my house.  I would get them out of my house only to find they were back in my house.  God showed me I was opening the door to them by being friendly.  

We "invite" people into our lives by our friendly emails or phone calls.  Then we wish evil doers well in their fornication with their "girl friends" and in their denial of God as they cast aside scripture.  (Often they attend some church while doing these sins.)

Then we wish them well as we make "friendly" inquiries about their godless children who are doing godless things.  And as we make inquiries, we open doors for the stories of their filthy way of life and the filthy way of life of their children.  Then we are troubled.  Often we have brought their trouble on ourselves.

We must stop doing this if we desire to serve God and hope for a full reward from God.

We can repent and be forgiven and be careful in future concerning opening doors for evil doers in churches to tell us their sins and to tell us of the sins of their own children, making us a part of the sin. 

I Timothy 5:22  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 

Thus Jesus says "Watch yourselves, what you do."  (Luke 21:36)

And if we do choose to hear of their evil, usually the Holy Spirit will have us correct them, speaking to them the way of life.

In this case, the Holy Spirit did not have me bring correction to this man but after the phone call, the Holy Spirit showed me that I had opened the door for evil to come into my own life and I repented and asked for God to forgive me.

Hopefully I will be more alert as to what I am doing as I go forward.  (I usually am alert and avoid the evil that can come from people through my questions about their lives.  But this time I slipped.)

Proverbs 10:19   In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

***

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

Let God be our Lord by turning to HIM rather than to other people.

***

James 3

14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

***

Matthew 11  Jesus says:

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

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

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

Pray:

Be connected throughout the day with God through prayer.

Prayer is the only way we connect with God, for as we take each concern to God in prayer and hear from God and do what God says, making ourselves worthy to escape that which is coming upon this present world.

Jesus says the following to the church:

Revelation 3:5   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" as we seek the will of God in the midst of the problem and hear from God and follow what God says to do.  By this, we connect ourselves to God.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalm 22:22-23   I will declare THY name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise THEE.

23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise HIM; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify HIM; and fear HIM, all ye the seed of Israel.

 

*** 

 

Psalm 90:12   So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 128:1-2   Blessed is every one that feareth The Lord (the Word); that walketh in HIS ways. 

 

2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

*** 

Proverbs 28:23  He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

rebuke: correct; express sharp disapproval because of behavior or actions:

 

 ***

 

Job 5:17-18  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

18 For HE maketh sore, and bindeth up: HE woundeth, and HIS hands make whole.

 

*** 

 

2 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.

 

 

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💥 Mark 9 (Reading through the Bible)

1 And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

(The kingdom of God came when God resurrected Jesus from the dead after the crucifixion ... from then on it was the NT church with Jesus seated on right hand of God interceding for us.)


² And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and HE was transfigured before them. ³ And HIS raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. ⁴ And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

⁵ And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

⁶ For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

⁷ And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is MY beloved Son: hear HIM. (The Word)

⁸ And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

⁹ And as they came down from the mountain, HE charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

¹⁰ And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

¹¹ And they asked HIM, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

¹² And HE answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that HE must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

¹³ But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

¹⁴ And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

¹⁵ And straightway all the people, when they beheld HIM, were greatly amazed, and running to HIM saluted HIM.

¹⁶ And HE asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

¹⁷ And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; ¹⁸ And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to THY disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

¹⁹ He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

²⁰ And they brought him unto Him: and when He saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

²¹ And HE asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?

And he said, Of a child.

²² And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if THOU canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

(The goal of devils is to destroy us.  They bring thoughts to our minds and if we follow thoughts of devils, we will go in evil ways or in destructive ways for devils want to destroy.)


²³ Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

²⁴ And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

(Devils might depart for a season only to return with greater vengeance and greater destruction.)

²⁶ And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

²⁸ And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁹ And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

³⁰ And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and HE would not that any man should know it. 

³¹ For HE taught HIS disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill HIM; and after that HE is killed, HE shall rise the third day.

³² But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask HIM.

³³ And HE came to Capernaum: and being in the house HE asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

³⁴ But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

³⁵ And HE sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

³⁶ And HE took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when HE had taken him in HIS arms, HE said unto them,
³⁷ Whosoever shall receive one of such children in MY name, receiveth ME: and whosoever shall receive ME, receiveth not ME, but HIM that sent ME.

³⁸ And John answered HIM, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in THY name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

³⁹ But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in MY name, that can lightly speak evil of ME.
⁴⁰ For he that is not against us is on our part.

⁴¹ For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in MY name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

⁴² And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in ME, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

⁴³ And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
⁴⁴ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
⁴⁵ And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
⁴⁶ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
⁴⁷ And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
⁴⁸ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

⁴⁹ For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
⁵⁰ Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it?

Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

(Salt brings out the flavor of the food.  Words in ourselves from the Holy Spirit can bring out the flavor of the situation. I cannot have peace with those in the church when they are disobedient to the wisdom from God.  I put them away from me and no longer try to "eat" with them.  I can have great peace with those in the church who follow God continually.)

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💥 Podcast: Be not overcome by the cares of this world

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on February 4, 2021)

 

Jesus says, concerning the end times:

Luke 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (over indulgence), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

On January 6, 2021, we watched a crowd of people storm the USA Capitol building in an attempt to overthrow the 2020 USA presidential elections.

I'm sure none of us in USA have ever experienced anything like this before in our lifetimes.

After the event, 10 USA republican congress members voted to impeach President Trump for inciting the riot which we all watched on television.

This really caught my attention for everyone heard the words spoken by President Trump before the riot and we heard him send the crowd to the capitol and Mr. Trump even told the crowd to go, and "he would be there with them,"  but he wasn't.

A few days later, CNN reported that the republicans were trying to cause those 10 who voted against Trump to suffer loss for the way they voted.

I was sad and grieved over their suffering.

I took on a care of this world.

Jesus warned us not to be "overcharged" with cares of this life.  (Luke 21:34)

When I read this scripture, I repented for allowing myself to become so involved in this world, and I prayed, asking God to please help those 10 men and women who were being hurt by their own political party for doing that which they believed to be right and reasonable.

I even began to feel democracy itself was in danger.

But then I realized this entire heaven and earth will be destroyed, and governments of men along with the heavens and earth.  And I began to get a grip on myself and on Biblical reality.

II Peter 3

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

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

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

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

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

***

I've always considered myself to be non-political, I am not registered in either political party in USA, and I do not vote for governments of men.

But for one very brief time, I knew what it was to care.  And it could have destroyed me except I turned to God for HIM to restore me.

This is what the truly godly people were like in the Bible:

Hebrews 11

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

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

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

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

(mindful:  having a mind filled with that)

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

The apostle Peter in the Bible tells us to be diligent to be found by Jesus when HE returns, living in peace, without spot and without blame.  (II Peter 3:14)

Keeping ourselves in a state of peace even in the midst of that which is being done around us is the way we are to live and we can do that only through prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

***

I Timothy 2:1-2   I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

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