💥 Podcast: Dealing with fear, dread, concern and anything else that can trouble you...through turning to God

 

 

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

 

When trouble comes to us, all we have to do is to learn to put our faith in God each time we have a problem or potential problem.  

We put our faith in God by turning to God in prayer, asking for help or asking God for wisdom in dealing with the problem.  

Each time we call on God asking HIM for help, we put our faith in God.  

And we learn to call on God over each concern, each time we are concerned.

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I'm 84 years old.  In 2021, one day fearful thoughts began to come to my mind:  "If I get to where I can't walk, what will happen to me?  What will I do?  I won't be able to stay here.  I'll have to move somewhere else."

I cried out:  "GOD ... HELP ME!"

Instantly the following came into my mind:  "God will supply all your need."

"That's right ... God will supply all my need!" (I cried out!)   

I completely relaxed and the fearful thoughts vanished.

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We submit ourselves to God by calling on God for help!

God brings us HIS Word and by faith in that Word we will not heed the thoughts sent by the devil and the devil will flees from us when he sees we believe that Word sent to us by God.

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We put our trust in God each time we cry out to God.

My 97 year old cousin told me this one day.  She said, "I do fine all day but I get so lonely at night."

(Her husband died 10 years ago.)

When she told me this problem, I was so excited for I knew all she had to do was ask God for help and God would help her!

So I said, "Oh this is no problem.  When you begin to feel that loneliness, all you have to do is to turn to God immediately, as soon as you begin to feel that loneliness, and ask God to help you. God will help you!"

My cousin had been taken to church as a baby and attended church all her life.

Many church goers do not understand calling on God for help.

And it is a matter of trusting in God.

About two weeks later, this cousin said to me, "I do all right during the day but at night I get so lonely."

She didn't put her trust in God.  

I just didn't try to help her after that, knowing there was nothing I could do for her.

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

Titus 3:9-11  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

10-11 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

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In 2018, I fell and broke a hip and wrist and after surgery could not put any weight on my leg where the hip had been broken.  So they put me into a rehabilitation hospital for 2-1/2 months.  The first month I was in "bed rest" for I couldn't try to walk or do anything, according to the doctor. 

And I was alone most of the time, having no relatives and only a few visitors.

Often I would awake in the morning and think, "How can I get through this day?"

And then I would remember God and ask God to help me to get through that day.

(The time sort of flew by and before I knew it, evening had come.  I thanked God as I realized this.)

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The man who was helping me with my sound system was leaving my house one day and he turned to me and said, "I don't know why I am telling you this but they think I have ALS and I am going into hospital next week for tests."

(At that time, David was 44 years old and had a wife and 2 children, ages 8 and 12.)

I told David every time he was afraid, just ask God to help him.

At one point, he had to go to hospital for an operation.  He said he remembered what I had said and he did do this and he was helped so much when he did this.

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When we turn to God and ask God for help, often God will bring us an idea showing us something to do and when we do that, everything falls into place.

By HIS Spirit, the Holy Spirit, God brings ideas to our mind.  God communicates with us by giving us thoughts to help us in situations.

When my mother was still living, I would go to a cafe daily to get our lunch.  It cost $5.30.  I would take a five-dollar-bill from my purse and a quarter and a nickle.  And I would leave my purse with my mother while I went for our food.

One day I looked in my coin purse and couldn't find a quarter and nickel.

As I dug through the change looking for these coins, I heard, "Three dimes will work!"

(That was the Holy Spirit helping me for I had several dimes in my coin purse but I was in habit of using a quarter and a nickel!  The Holy Spirit is a helper to us!)

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We recognize the thoughts sent to us by God, for when we have such a thought, it is "easy to be intreated."  

(When thoughts are very complex or overly expensive, I always know those thoughts are not from God.)

Matthew 11:28-30  Jesus says:  Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  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.  For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light.

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.

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.

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.

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God will not fail us nor forsake us when we turn to HIM and call on HIM for wisdom or help in our problems.

Psalm 62:8   Trust in HIM at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before HIM: God is a refuge for us.

Remember:  God knows the future! He will lead us in plans that are right for us in our situation.

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Proverbs 29:25  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

 

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1 John 2:5  But whoso keepeth HIS word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in HIM.

 

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John 17:2-3  (Jesus speaking to the Father) As THOU hast given HIM power over all flesh, that HE should give eternal life to as many as THOU hast given HIM.

 

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know THEE the only true God, and Jesus Christ, WHOM THOU hast sent.

 

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

 

 

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💥 John 3 (Reading through the Bible)

 

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 

² The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.

³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

⁴ Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

⁸ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

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

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⁹ Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be?
¹⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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💥 Podcast: David reigns as king

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 22, 2021)

 

II Samuel 5 

1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed MY people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

10  And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

12  And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that HE had exalted his kingdom for HIS people Israel's sake.

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David inquires of the Lord:

II Samuel 5

17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19 And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt THOU deliver them into mine hand? 

And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

21 And there they (the Philistines) left their images (the symbols of the gods they worshipped), and David and his men burned them.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David enquired of the LORD, HE said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

This is such an important example for us.  The first time when the Philistines came and David inquired of the Lord, God said to David, "Go up."

The second time the Philistines came against Israel, David inquired again of the Lord and God gave David another plan.

David didn't presume to know what to do just because God told him the first time.  But David inquired of God the second time also!

And David overcame each time by doing that which God showed him to do when he asked God what to do.

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.

 

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

1 John 1: 8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

 

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Romans 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 

 

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Proverbs 23:17-18  Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

 

18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

 

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I Corinthians 3:19-21  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, HE taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 

 

20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 

 

21 Therefore let no man glory in men. ...

 

 

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💥 John 2 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 

² And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage.

³ And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine.

⁴ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

⁵ His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever HE saith unto you, do it.

⁶ And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

⁷ Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

⁸ And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

⁹ When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
¹⁰ And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

¹¹ This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.


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¹² After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples: and they continued there not many days.

¹³ And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

¹⁵ And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

¹⁶ And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father's house an house of merchandise.

¹⁷ And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up.


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¹⁸ Then answered the Jews and said unto Him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

¹⁹ Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

²⁰ Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

²¹ But He spake of the temple of His body.

²² When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.


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²³ Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did.

²⁴ But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because He knew all men,

²⁵ And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man.

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💥 Podcast: Judah recognizes David as king. But the other tribes of Israel try to make one of Saul's sons their king

 

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

 

II Samuel 2

1 And it came to pass after this (after the death of king Saul), that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?

And the LORD said unto him, Go up. 

And David said, Whither shall I go up? 

And HE said, Unto Hebron.

2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

An outstanding characteristic of David is this:  David inquired of the Lord.

David was said to be:  A man after God's own heart.

David sought the will of God.  David wanted to do the will of God.

Proverbs 3

1 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

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II Samuel 2

8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

10 Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. 

But the house of Judah followed David.

11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

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II Samuel 3:1  Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

Ishbosheth criticized Abner at one point in time and this caused Abner to turn to David and make David the following offer.

II Samuel 3

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

13 And he (David) said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

(Michal was David's wife who was given to another man by her father Saul. So Michal was brought to David.)

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I Samuel 3

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. 

And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

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But there is a problem.  During the time when Saul's men fought against the men of David, Joab, the captain of David's army had a brother which Abner (Saul's captain) killed in battle.

II Samuel 3

23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

 Psalm 36:9  For with THEE is the fountain of life; in THY light we shall see light.  

 

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Ephesians 5:22-24  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

 

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and HE is the saviour of the body.

 

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

 

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Psalm 13:5-6  But I have trusted in THY mercy; my heart shall rejoice in THY salvation.

 

6 I will sing unto the Lord, because HE hath dealt bountifully with me.

 

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James 1:22-25  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

 

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

 

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

 

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

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Psalm 33:6-9  By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of HIS mouth.

 

7 HE gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: HE layeth up the depth in storehouses.

 

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of HIM.

 

9 For HE spake, and it was done; HE commanded, and it stood fast. 

 

 

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💥 John 1 (Reading through the Bible)

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

² The same was in the beginning with God.

³ All things were made by Him (THE WORD); and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

(Genesis 1 ... All things were made by The Word, but it was God who told The Word what to do.  Jesus always heard from God and did what God said.  This is our pattern and that which we should also do.)

⁴ In Him  (in THE WORD) was life; and the life was the light of men.

⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. ⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

¹⁰ HE was in the world, and the world was made by Him (by THE WORD), and the world knew Him not.

¹¹ HE came unto His own, and His own received Him not.

¹² But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name (The Word):

¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

¹⁵ John bare witness of Him (The Word), and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He (The Word) was before me.

¹⁶ And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.

¹⁹ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? ²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

²² Then said they unto him (to John), Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

²³ He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

²⁴ And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. ²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

²⁶ John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth ONE among you, whom ye know not; ²⁷ HE it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

³⁰ This is HE of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for HE was before me. ³¹ And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

³² And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon HIM. ³³ And I knew Him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is HE which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

³⁴ And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

³⁵ Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; ³⁶ And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

³⁷ And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

³⁹ He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

⁴⁰ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

⁴¹ He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

⁴³ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me.

⁴⁴ Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

⁴⁵ Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found HIM, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

⁴⁶ And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?

Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest thou me?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

⁵¹ And  HE saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

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💥 Podcast: The death of Saul

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 20, 2021)

 

I Samuel 28:1  And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel.

5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

(Samuel the prophet had already died so Saul could not consult Samuel.)

7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. 

And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? 

And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? 

And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst HIS fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: (Samuel shows Saul that he and his sons will be dead the next day.)  the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel:

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I Samuel 31

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.

3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

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David laments the death of Saul:

II Samuel 1  (David says)

19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

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I Chronicles 10

13-14   So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore HE (God) slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse

All these things should teach us to "fear the Lord", "fear the Word of God".

When God tells us something, we must "wholly" follow that Word which God speaks.

Whether the Word comes by scripture or by the Holy Spirit or by an angel of the Lord, we must follow that Word fully, doing all parts of that instruction.

This is The fear of the Lord, for we know to follow the whole instruction from God brings blessings, and to leave out part of the instruction curses our own lives!

We see these examples in all these Old Testament scriptures.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do HIS commandments: HIS praise endureth for ever.

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