Saturday, July 25, 2026

πŸ’₯ Podcast: The children of Israel delight when God tells them HE will deliver them from Egypt, but when affliction comes "for the word's sake", the children of Israel are offended and begin to complain

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on September 3, 2021)  
 
In the New Testament, Jesus shows us the Word will divide us from those who have not been given God's Word on the matter at hand.

Matthew 10   Jesus says:

34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

(Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)

Think of the Word of God as a sword which cuts through the flesh of man and separates.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than ME (the Word) is not worthy of ME: and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME (the Word), is not worthy of ME.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake (for the sake of the Word)  shall find it.

The Word of God divides us from those people who have not heard from God.  

But the Word of God also joins us with those people who have heard from God.

We know the Word from God is good and it is sometimes shocking that others, especially when in our church group, fight against that Word we bring from God.

Pam Padgett encountered this when she told a divorced woman from her church group that if she remarried she would commit adultery.

This woman said, "I don't care what the Bible says.  I know what I believe."

Pam was so shocked to hear that a Christian didn't care what the Bible says.  

But many who attend churches are not born again and God has not revealed HIMSELF to such who live this way.

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Moses and Aaron bring the Word of God to Pharaoh:

Exodus 5

1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let MY people go, that they may hold a feast unto ME in the wilderness.

2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey HIS voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

3 And they (Moses & Arron) said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest HE fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

Those who are not of God see the Word exactly opposite from those persons who are of God.  The Word is a sword dividing us from the unbelievers.

John 3:3   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.

I Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But sometimes when we carry the Word of God to them and speak that Word, God will open their eyes and they will be saved by that Word.

In the case of Pharaoh, God had already told Moses Pharaoh would not let them go.  But after God showed HIS miracles Pharaoh would let them go.  So Moses knew the end from the beginning by that Word which God had revealed to him.

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Exodus 5

6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

(So Pharaoh greatly increases the daily work load of the children of Israel because of that which Moses and Aaron have carried to him.  This is persecution "for the word's sake.")

8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

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10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

17 But he (Pharaoh) said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

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20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

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22 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast THOU so evil entreated this people? why is it that THOU hast sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in THY name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast THOU delivered THY people at all.

God answers Moses:

Exodus 6

1 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:

3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by MY name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

4 And I have also established MY covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered MY covenant.

6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

7 And I will take you to ME for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

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Focus on that which God says:


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πŸ’₯ Scriptures:

 
Psalm 117:1-2   O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise HIM, all ye people.
 
2 For HIS merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.
 
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2 Timothy 4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto HIS heavenly kingdom: to WHOM be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
 
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Philippians 3:13-14  Paul said:  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
 
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
 
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Proverbs 19:20  Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
 
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1 Corinthians 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
 
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1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.
 
 
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πŸ’₯ Revelation 15-16 (Reading through the Bible)

 
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are THY works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are THY ways, THOU King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear THEE, O Lord, and glorify THY name? for THOU only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before THEE; for THY judgments are made manifest.

And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.


Revelation 16

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome (bad smelling) and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

And I heard the angel of the waters say, THOU art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because THOU hast judged thus.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and THOU hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are THY judgments.

And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give Him glory.

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.  13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

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Friday, July 24, 2026

πŸ’₯ Stay prepared for the return of Jesus

 
Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ
 
In the past 6 weeks I have been repeatedly impressed with ..... "look up" for your redemption draweth nigh.  I have also been impressed with, "It is later than you think".  
 
Luke 21:27-28  Jesus speaking of the end times ... And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
 
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(Comments from Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ
 
It is easy to get involved in things of this world and lose sight that Jesus could return at any time. The words Beth has been impressed with are sobering.
 
Let us be diligent to do as Peter exhorted us:
 
2 Peter 3:13-14  Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

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

 
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πŸ’₯ Podcast: God speaks to Moses

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on September 2, 2021)  
 
Exodus 1

7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land (of Egypt) was filled with them.

8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

9 And he said unto his people (to the Egyptians), Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they (the Egyptians) were grieved because of the children of Israel.

13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

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Exodus 1:15-17  And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

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During this period of time, Moses was born.

When Moses could no longer be hidden, he, as a baby, was placed into  "an ark of bulrushes, and daubed with slime and with pitch, and she put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink."  (Exodus 2:3)

Pharaoh's daughter came upon the ark and took Moses into her house to raise Moses as her own son.

Exodus 2

10 And the child grew, and she (the woman who had been nursing the baby Moses who was Moses' real mother) brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he (Moses) said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

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The purpose of our review of the Old Testament is to focus on that which God said to HIS elect.

Now God is going to reveal HIMSELF to that man that HE has chosen, the elect of God, the man Moses.

Exodus 2  (Moses lives in the land of Midian for 40 years and is given a wife and has two sons.  Then the king of Egypt dies.)

23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered HIS covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

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Exodus 3

1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And HE (God) said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

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God identifies HIMSELF to Moses:

6 Moreover HE (God) said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of MY people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto ME: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth MY people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12 And HE (God) said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

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13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is HIS name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and HE said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

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15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is MY name for ever, and this is MY memorial unto all generations.

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

20 And I will stretch out MY hand, and smite Egypt with all MY wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:

22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

Exodus 4

1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

2  And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

3 And HE (God) said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

7 And HE (God) said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and HE said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

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God speaks today to us, to HIS elect, to HIS children.

Jesus says:

John 10:27-30  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 pluck them out of MY hand.

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


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πŸ’₯ Scriptures:


Psalm 34:17  The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
 
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1 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. For all things are yours;
 
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I John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE heareth us: 
 
15 And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM.
 
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Proverbs 14:7  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

 
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πŸ’₯ Revelation 14 (Reading through the Bible)


And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with HIM an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever HE goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to HIM; for the hour of HIS judgment is come: and worship HIM that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of HIS indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

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Thursday, July 23, 2026

πŸ’₯ Healed by God

Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ
 
About two or three months ago I began experiencing pain in the right side of my jaw. It felt like a toothache and, if this was what it was, I knew I needed to see a dentist to have it taken care of or it would just get worse.

But when I went to the dentist in June he took an X-ray and said he saw nothing that should be causing this pain. He told me that everything looked normal.

But the pain kept coming, sometimes hurting more than other times, but never completely going away.
 
One morning I was awakened at about 5am because of the pain. I stopped chewing on the right side of my mouth and used a straw for a while when I would drink something cold because of the pain I felt when anything cold touched that area.

During this period of time I had prayed, asking God if HE would please heal whatever was causing this.
 
But the pain continued and, at some point, I felt I was going to have to go to an Urgent Care clinic and see if they could help me. If it wasn't a dental problem, then what was it?

I called my daughter, who has lived in this area for a long time, and asked her if she had ever been to one of these clinics or if she knew anything about any of them.

She didn't but, as we were talking, I realized that the pain in my jaw had suddenly disappeared, my jaw felt completely normal, and it felt like I had been healed!

And that is exactly what had happened.  God healed me at that moment!  
 
How merciful our God is to us and how marvelously blessed we are, in every way, to belong to HIM.

Nothing else can compare to it. NOTHING!
 
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Comments from Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ
 
Amazing .... I am reminded of:
 
John 14:14  Jesus says:  If ye shall ask any thing in MY name, I will do it. 
 
 
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πŸ’₯ Podcast: The great difference between Jacob, the chosen of God, and Esau, his elder brother, as they grow up in the house of Isaac

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on August 31, 2021)  
 
Genesis 27  (After the death of Sarah)

1-2 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.  And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

3-4 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah (Abraham's wife after Sarah's death.)

5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

(Isaac was the child of the promise.)

6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

Genesis 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

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Isaac had two sons. Jacob was the child of God.  Jacob had a twin brother, Esau,  who was the elder. Even before the children were born, God chose Jacob, the younger son and later spoke to Jacob directly, identifying HIMSELF to Jacob.  

(Romans 9:10-13   And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;  11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of HIM that calleth;)  12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.)

Genesis 25:20-23   And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Rebekah knew God had chosen her younger son, Jacob over Esau.

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Genesis 26

34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Genesis 27:46   And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

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Genesis 28

1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

Esau is going to try to please his mother and father by copying what Jacob, the elect of God, has done.

So Esau, thinking by his fleshly mind, goes to the granddaughter of Abraham to marry her, a granddaughter of Abraham, whose father was a son of Abraham, Ishmael!
(The natural man who tries to copy the elect of God is always off in his thinking, like a radio station which is a little off the center of the sound dial.)

6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;

7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;

8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;

9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

For Esau reasons this woman, the grandaughter of Abraham, will please his father Isaac and his mother Rebekah.  But Ishmael was not even allowed to continue in Abraham's household, so his daughter would not please Isaac and Rebekah.

Concerning Isaac and Ishmael ...

Genesis 21:8-12  And the child (Isaac) grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

So Ishmael, the son of Hagar, was cast out of Abraham house.  But Esau seems to miss this fact and he marries a daughter of Ishmael thinking this will please Isaac and Rebekah.

I Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Esau was "the natural man" and he could not please God.  Neither can we please God unless we are born again by God and given the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us and teach us, for the Spirit of God searches the heart of God to reveal the will of God to us.  (I Corinthians 2)  So when we hear from the Spirit of God and follow HIM, we please God.

John 3:3  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.

We cannot understand the things of God until we have been born again by God and created as a new creature who is led by the Holy Spirit of God who is given us by God.

II Corinthians 5:17   Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When we are born again it is by the will of God and God speaks to us and reveals HIMSELF to us, changing us into new creatures who now have the Holy Spirit of God living in them to guide them in ways of God.


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πŸ’₯ Scriptures:

 
1 Peter 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to HIM in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
 
 ***
 
Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

***
 
I John 3:2-3  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when HE shall appear, we shall be like HIM; for we shall see HIM as HE is.
 
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as HE is pure.
 
***
 
Deuteronomy 30:14  But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
 
***
 
Psalm 56:3-4  What time I am afraid, I will trust in THEE.
 
4 In God I will praise HIS word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
 
 
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πŸ’₯ Revelation 13 (Reading through the Bible)

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom.  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast:  for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore six.  


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Wednesday, July 22, 2026

πŸ’₯ Answers to prayer

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

Monday morning of this week while cleaning my eye glasses, the frame broke.  I don't have a backup pair of glasses with the current prescription. Although I found a copy of the written prescription, it had expired 4 days ago!  So I would need to get an eye exam, new prescription, and then order glasses. I have been going to a doctor about 30 minutes away, and it usually takes at least a few weeks to get an appointment with this doctor.

I found a pair of older eye glasses which allowed me to see fairly well but not quite as clearly as needed, and I soon began getting a severe headache.

It didn't seem I'd be able to wait weeks to get an exam and new glasses, and I began crying out to God asking what I should do.

I was reminded of an eye doctor very near my home with a complete optical department. I had forgotten about this eye doctor although I had gone there a couple times about 5 years ago. Things the doctor and people in the optical department said troubled me so I stopped going there.

But on Monday as I prayed, this nearby eye doctor's office kept being drawn to my attention, so I went there hoping they might have some frames that would fit my lenses.

At the door was a sign saying the office was under new ownership. The new doctor happened to be walking through the reception area when I got there and was very friendly as was everyone else I saw, much different than before.

Also, as I was driving to that office, the idea was given me to see if there was any way to fix my broken glasses.  Although it didn't seem to me this could be done, I asked about it, and they went right to work on my glasses. Surprisingly, they were able to fix the frame. I can see just fine again! 
(I also made an appointment to get an exam for a new prescription so I can get a pair of backup glasses.)

Within an hour, what had been a serious problem to me was completely resolved, and in an very unexpected way.

I am so grateful for being led by God to such a quick solution and wanted to share this. 
 
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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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Comments from Cathy Varner, member of the body of Christ
 
That’s great Pam! I rejoice with you.

It reminds me of a time my frames were coming apart and needed some little part. I think I went to the place where I’d bought them. I remembered that in the past when I’d gone there for a repair they had a hard time and it took very long.

I was praying they’d be able to fix them and that it wouldn’t take too long.


The woman who was helping me said she might be able to fix them if they happened to have the right part. She started looking through a bin, and very quickly found a part.  She was so amazed and said that this part just “fell out” to her and was a perfect fit.
 
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Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord God! behold, THOU hast made the heaven and the earth by THY great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for THEE:
  
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Comments from Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ
 
I never stop being amazed at how God provides everything we will need no matter what we are dealing with. Always providing HIS best for us and watching over us so closely.
 
 
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