💥 Kept by God from entering into strife

 

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ 

 

Galatians 5:16-25  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

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.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

 

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

 

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Several years ago when reading this passage of scripture my attention was drawn to "strife" being a work of the flesh.  As I considered this in my life I saw that one way I have entered into strife was in struggling with others to get what I wanted or felt "should" be done.  I prayed about this, asking God to help me keep my flesh from rising up in strife, and also thought on this quite a bit. 

About this time I was having the master bathroom remodeled at my house.  One day electricians were here to run a new circuit needed for the work.  At the time, I thought I might put a small sound system in the master bedroom area and asked the lead electrician if he could run an additional new circuit in case I did this.  He seemed irritated and said he couldn't do this and went on to give reasons he couldn't do it.  As he told these reasons it became obvious to me that he planned to run a metal pipe around the outside of the house to enclose the new circuit.  I asked if there was some other way to run the new circuit, thinking the metal pipe would look ugly.  He verbally struck out at me. 

My flesh was ready to rise up and argue with him, struggling to get what I wanted.  After all, I was the customer, and he "should" try to do as I requested, I thought.  But before I said anything a thought came from the Holy Spirit reminding me to not enter into strife.   

 

Being reminded of this and not wanting to enter into strife, I was able to turn and walk away without arguing. 

The electricians went on with their work, and I turned to God and prayed, committing the situation to HIM to work out however HE wanted, and thanked HIM for keeping me from entering into strife in this matter.  I was so grateful to have been helped to not enter into strife ... this was far more important to me than how the electrical work was done.

A short time later one of the men came and told me that they had encountered a nest of wasps in the area where they needed to work and asked if I had bug spray they could use to kill the wasps.  I was genuinely sorry they had come across this danger and immediately looked, but had no bug spray.  I told them I would get some bug spray at the store right away.  (By being kept from entering into strife earlier, I think my heart was in good condition where the electricians were concerned, and I really cared about their welfare and wanted to help them not be stung by wasps.)

When I returned home from the store 10-15 minutes later, the lead electrician was smiling and seemed very happy.  He said that while they were waiting on me, they had looked in the attic area and saw a small opening that allowed them to run the new circuit through the attic.  This was much easier for them than running the metal pipe around the house.  And he said now it was no more work to run the second circuit, so he did that as well.  

This was a complete change from when I spoke with this electrician earlier, and I thanked God for this.

 

But most importantly, I was grateful to God for being kept from entering into strife.  

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Who is right and who is wrong. Appoint God to judge the situation.

 

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 8, 2021)

 

Where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work.  (James 3:16) 

 

Recently I turned to God to ask HIM to judge a situation.  God knows the exact truth.  I don't know though I might think I know. 

 

There can be so much confusion if we get involved and try to straighten things out. 

 

I find it better to let the money go and protect my soul. 

 

A few years ago, God showed me this:  "You will never make this world righteous or fair no matter what you do.  It is the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." 

 

II Peter 3:13   Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

 

God provides for me and God always sees that I have an abundance on this present earth. 

 

God takes me in a way whereby I will be cared for and protected.

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.

So when there is strife, turn to God and let God judge.  Just appoint God as judge and end the matter doing that which brings the worldly situation to an end.

(Sometimes God will choose to give us a word or a dream to show us HIS view of the issue, but unless God gives us a word on the matter at hand, we just turn it over to God and rest in the assurance that God will sort it out and judge justly.)

Don't we know that it is only a matter of time before we are removed from this present world and this world is destroyed by God?

*****

God sets a situation up whereby HE can judge the wrong doers:

I Kings 21

1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?

6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.

7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.

9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

10 And set two men, sons of Belial (the devil), before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.

12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.

13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

17 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.

19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? 

And he (Elijah) answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,

22 And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked ME to anger, and made Israel to sin.

23 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.

24 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.

25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.

26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

27  And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before ME? because he humbleth himself before ME, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.

All the words God spoke against Ahab and evil Jezebel came to pass.

I Kings 22

19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

(God determined the death of Ahab.)

20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? 

And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.

And HE (The Lord) said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.

So the prophets of Ahab told him to go forth to battle.  Ahab was killed in the battle.  God brought about that which God wanted to do concerning Ahab.

Concerning evil Jezebel:

II Kings 1

(Time passes after the death of Ahab.)

Then God sends a prophet to anoint Jehu so HE can use Jehu for the destruction of all the house of Ahab and fulfill the prophecy which HE spoke over Jezebel.

6 And he (the prophet of God) arose, and went into the house (of Jehu); and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him (to Jehu), Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.

7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:

9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:

10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.

***

The death of Jezebel:

II Kings 9

30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?

32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.

33 And he said (concerning Jezebel), Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.

34 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.

35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.

36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which HE spake by HIS servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:

37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

II Kings 10

10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.

11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

17 And when he (Jehu) came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which HE spake to Elijah.

***

God always judges justly and God always accomplishes HIS purpose concerning individuals.

 

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💥 Scriptures:

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

 

 ***

 

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

 

 ***

 

James 5:12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

 

 ***

 

John 14:15-17 (Jesus said) If ye love Me, keep My commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; (Jesus spoke this before HE died and was resurrected. Today, we receive the Holy Spirit when we are born again)

17 Even the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit); whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  

 

*** 

 

Luke 3:2-6 ... the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make HIS paths straight.

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

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 

 

 

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💥 Matthew 7 (Reading through the Bible) Jesus lays the beginning of the doctrines for the NT Church... Today we are at the end and soon Jesus will take HIS elect into heaven..

 

1-5    Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

(And the Holy Spirit says:  "If you judge someone is judging, aren't you judging?")

*****

6    Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

*****

7-12    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

*****

13-14    Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

*****

I Corinthians 6:9-10    Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexuals), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

*****

Galatians 5:19-21    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.

*****

Matthew 7:15-20    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. 

Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

*****

Matthew 7:21-23    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.

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?

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

***** 

24-27    Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

(We must build our house on a sure foundation... on that which God has said.)

*****

28-29    And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at HIS doctrine:   For HE taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

(The season of the New Testament Church begins after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus is laying the foundation for the NT chuch with these words in this chapteer.  Jesus is showing the people a new way of life is coming.  It comes after Jesus is crucified and taken into heaven.  Then the NT church begins.  We are living at the end of the period of the NT church and soon Jesus returns and we receive new spiritual bodies and are taken to the new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth only righteousness.)

 

Seasons:

* God creates the heaven and earth and man.

* God makes a way to God through the Old Testament.

* Jesus comes in the form of a man and begins to show doctrines that the New Testament church will live by, but that NT Church does not exist until after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

* As Jesus teaches, we are shown the doctrines of the NT Church.

* From heaven Paul is called as an apostle to the early NT Church which now exists.

* For the next 2000 years the NT Church works on this earth. We follow the doctrines Christ taught when HE lived on this earth.

* The end of all things begins with the destruction of Jerusalem.  LK. 21:20-22

 

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💥 Podcast: The antichrist people will not repent

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 3, 2021)

 

I was looking for a church to attend and at a service I visited pastor was speaking of the woman in John 8 who was brought before Jesus after she had been taken in adultery.  

 

Pastor said, "She was naked from the waist up." 

 

I was so shocked!  I have read John 8 many times and had never seen that before.  I grabbed my Bible even as pastor continued speaking and read John 8.  What pastor said was not in John 8.

 

The next morning, I called this pastor.  I told him I had been in his congregation the previous day when he spoke about the woman who was taken in adultery being naked from her waist up when they brought her to Jesus.  

 

I told pastor I couldn't find that in the Bible and I asked pastor where that is in Bible.

 

Pastor said,  "I can't recall where that is in the Bible." 

 

I said, "It is very important for me to know where this is in the Bible, so would you please look it up and tell your secretary where it is in Bible and have her call me and tell me where it is?" 

 

Pastor grew very silent for a few moments. 

 

Then with great anger, pastor shouted at me over the phone, saying, "Alright.  It's not in the Bible.  Where do you go to church?" 

 

Though pastor admitted what he said was not in the Bible, pastor showed no shame at all.  Pastor did not repent.   

 

How could this be?  I wondered.

 

Later I realized, "Antichrist people do not repent."  Even in the great tribulation, they did not repent.

 

The plagues came upon them and they cursed God, but they did not repent of their own works.

 

Revelation 9

6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

20-21  And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:  Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. 

Those people in churches who fall away from scripture and go by another doctrine are antichrist, opposite to Christ.

II Thessalonians 2:3-4

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, God said to me:  "The "falling away" are not people leaving the churches.  The "falling away" are the churches leaving the scriptures."

The apostle Paul explains to us in II Thessalonians 2, that Jesus could not return until this happens.

We have seen this happen and are seeing this happen in today's churches where scripture is abandoned in part and other doctrines are set up in the church groups.

I've never seen any of these pastors or individuals in churches repent after they have accepted the doctrine of antichrist.

Further concerning these people who will not repent:

II Thessalonians 2

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

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

*** 

 

Psalms 19:7-11  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: 

the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: 

the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: 

the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 

 

*** 

 

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.

 

 ***

 

John 17:14-16 (Jesus praying to the Father) I have given them THY word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that THOU shouldest take them out of the world, but that THOU shouldest keep them from the evil.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

 

*** 

 

Romans 5:1-2  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

 

2 By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

 

 

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💥 Matthew 6 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1-4    Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly.

*****

5-13    And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.

After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

*****

14-18    For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

*****

19-21    Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

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

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

(I believe we lay up treasure in heaven each time we hear word of God and do word of God.)

*****

22-23  The light of the body is the eye:  if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.  

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

*****

24-34    No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

(Can you get an inch taller by thinking about it?)


And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

*****

33    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

*****

34    Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

(Thoughts about tomorrow will come to us.  Instead of thinking on those thoughts, pray, settling the matter through prayer and by waiting until God brings the answer to you and then act upon that which you hear from God.)

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💥 God appoints our time and locations on this earth

 

Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

Acts 17:26  And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

It is God Who determines our time on this earth, when we will be born and how long we will live on this earth and where exactly we will live during the entirety of our lives.

Since I have been born again, I can look back and see how God determined where I would live and for how long. Each move has been the right move for my family and has brought blessings and happiness.

Before I was born again, I was unhappy wherever I was. I always found things to complain about and desired to be somewhere else, not realizing that the unhappiness was within me, and would be carried by me wherever I went.

But once we are born again, we have His Holy Spirit living within us and that makes all the difference. 

 

I have thought about this often and rejoice in what God has done for me. 

 

 

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💥 Podcast: There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God ... when did all these denominations and divisions begin in the church?

 

(This podcast was previously published on December 20, 2020)

The apostle Paul called the elders of the church at Ephesus to come meet with him because Paul knew they would never see him again and Paul had a "charge" to give them concerning the church.

Acts 20:25-30   And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 

 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

 

The early church was already to feel division by those persons who were "antichrist".

The apostle John explains:  I John 2:18-19  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

And the apostle Paul explains the way some were trying to worship the preachers, which divides the body of Christ.

I Corinthians 3:1-4  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

(One says, "I'm Baptist." and another says, "I'm Methodist.")

Ephesians 4:4-6   There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

(To try to keep from dividing the church, we can just say, "I'm a Christian," if we feel we must identify ourselves.)

But often the person who hears this will ask, "What church?" for that person is carnal, failing to know there is only one church and that church has nothing to do with all these denominations set up by man to divide the body of Christ.

The division in the church comes because some people put themselves into the church without having the spirit of God.

Jude  17-19   But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;   How that they told you there should be mockers (copiers/imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Such in the church groups are just waiting to have opportunity to say what they think.  And without the Spirit, they speak their ideas to the church, what they think, and these are "perverse" things as Paul knew they would speak after his departure from the church at Ephesus.

And Paul knew they were just waiting for an opportunity to draw away disciples after themselves.

And by these the various denominations began where the church was divided one from another through their churches.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

John 10:1-4   Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

 

== 

 

John 10:27-30  Jesus says ...  MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of MY hand.

29 MY Father, which gave them ME, is greater than all; and no man (none) is able to pluck them out of MY Father's hand.

30 I and MY Father are one.

 

 ***

 

Romans 8:30-31  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?

 

 ***

 

Galatians 1:3-5  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5 To Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 118:6  The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

 

 ***

 

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

 

 

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💥 Matthew 5 (Reading through the Bible) Jesus begins showing what the NT church will be.

 

1-16    And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him:  And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

(When we speak godly words, showing the way of God, if they turn from the way of the world and turn to God, they glorify God instead of glorifying the world.  By our godly words which we speak, we bring light and give opportunity for them to turn into the way of God.)

*****

17-20    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

(The law is fulfilled through Jesus, the Word.  We do not remove "the law" but rather by Jesus, by following HIM and resisting our own flesh, we end up fulfilling the law.)

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

*****

21-24    Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

*****

25-26  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

*****

27-30    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

*****

31-32    It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

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.

*****

33-37    Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

*****

38-48    Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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💥 Podcast: Jesus says: For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. (Matthew 23:4)

 

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on December 30, 2020)

 

In Matthew 23, Jesus spoke concerning the scribes and Pharisees, the ministers of the time when HE walked on this earth in the flesh.

Many of these men who were heads of the synagogues and heads of the children of Israel, were very evil.

By the Words Jesus spoke to us in Matthew 23, I see so many of today's preachers.

Since we went on Internet with the ministry blog in March, 2012, we have received many e-mails from men who say they are "pastors".  

First they say how much they are helped by the word we publish.  Then the truth comes out:  send us a computer, send us Bibles, send us a projector, send us a camera, send us money to help pay for a school we have just built, send us money to help with our old folks home.

They place heavy burdens on us and on other people but they won't lift a finger to help even in their own works.

And Jesus said more things about these "ministers".

Matthew 23

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Jesus said, concerning the end times:

Matthew 24:4-5  Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

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.

 

*** 

 

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

*** 

 

John 4:13-14  Jesus said to the woman of Samaria at the well ...  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. 

 

*** 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17  Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

 

 ***

 

John 6:33  For the bread of God is HE (the Word) which cometh down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 4 (Reading through the Bible) Time of the Old Testament but with the death and ressurection of Jesus we enter the era of the New Testament . God is setting the foundation for that which is to come: The New Testament Church.

  

1-4    Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But HE answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

(Jesus was not going to take his direction from devil.  Jesus took his direction from God.  Jesus did not want his "reward" to be from himself or others but from God only.)

*****

5-7    Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

*****

8-10    Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

(The mark of the beast ... serving man for the reward he can give to you ... Jesus exhorts us to desire the riches that come from God and serve and follow God.)

*****

11    Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him.

*****

12-16   Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee;

And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

***** 

17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

 

***** 

18-20    And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And He saith unto them, Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. 

(As soon as they heard The Word, they obeyed immediately and did what The Word said.)

*****

21-22    And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.

*****

23-25  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them. 

And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

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💥 Podcast: We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8)

 

 

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

 

When we are born of God, the Spirit of Truth lives in us.

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.  (I Corinthians 3:16 & I Corinthians 6:19) 

Hebrews 8:10   For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put MY laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to ME a people:

We know the truth.

After I was born again, I went to a non-denominational church.  I would shudder at some of the things the pastor and members of the congregation said.  I knew the truth.  But I didn't know then that I knew the truth.  What they were speaking was not the truth and I was grieved, though I didn't even understand that I was grieved.  

Later God would show me truth about a scripture and often God reminded me of the bad feeling I had when these pastors taught opposite to that which God was showing me.

We learn to recognize and to trust the Spirit of Truth when HE speaks to us.

Many of those things taught today in our churches are not truth.

And we know this because we are of truth.

Jesus even says the voice of strangers we will not follow.  (John 10)

That is the reason we are troubled by many things spoken today at our churches by both pastors and by people in the congregations.

In this Podcast I share some of those things.

*****

I John 2

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of HIM abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in HIM.

28 And now, little children, abide in HIM; that, when HE shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before HIM at HIS coming.

29 If ye know that HE is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of HIM.

 

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