💥 Strengthened with might in the inner man

 

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ: 

   

Yesterday morning I was thinking of some recent spiritual battles I have faced and the changes God made within me as I focused on the Words (scriptures, concepts) HE gave me by HIS Spirit. I wrote down the Words as they were brought to my mind by the Holy Spirit so I would not let them slip and could think on them during the day, and I also recorded the scriptures so I could listen to them at night.

It was amazing to see how my faith was strengthened and I was able to overcome, no longer troubled nor paralyzed by fear, as these Words became "part of me" by meditating in them.

Thinking of these things yesterday, I was reminded that HE strengthens us with might in the inner man, and found this in Ephesians 3.

 

Ephesians 3:16  That HE (God) would grant you, according to the riches of HIS glory, to be strengthened with might by HIS Spirit in the inner man; 

 

 

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💥 Helped by God

Joseph Meriweather, member of the body of Christ

 

I would like to share what God have done for me. 

 

Twenty days ago I prayed that God would pick out a dog at Detroit animal care shelter. I picked out a Boxer named Max's. He was very friendly dog and house broken . 

 

We go walking about 7am every morning. 

 

God have brought joy to me after losing (my dog) Queen who died last year. I bless God holy name. 

 

 

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💥 Podcast: God brings about the death of Absalom. David mourns Absalom.

(This podcast was previously published on, November 29, 2021) 

 

II Samuel 18

5 And the king (David) commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab (the captain of David's army), and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

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Because of the sin committed by David concerning Uriah the Hittite and his wife Bathsheba, God has told David the following:

II Samuel 12  (God says to David)

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in HIS sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised ME, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house,

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David greatly loved his son Absalom who battled against David for many years.  

Absalom was the prophecy against David who God would raise up against David from his own house because of the sin David committed against Uriah and his wife Bathsheba.

Now Absalom is dead ... and they report Absalom's death to David, and David greatly mourns over Absalom.

II Samuel 18

31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? 

And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Psalms 31:24  Be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD (the Word) .

 

***

 

John 5:30 (Jesus said)  I can of MINE own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and MY judgment is just; because I seek not MINE own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent ME.
 

***

 

Genesis 2:7  And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 

 

***

 

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

***

 

1 Peter 2:20  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  

 

 

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💥 John 11 (Reading through the Bible)

 

(Jesus shows us through Lazarus what death is like.)

 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

² (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

³ Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

⁴ When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

⁶ When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was.

⁷ Then after that saith He to His disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

⁸ His disciples say unto Him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

⁹ Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

¹¹ These things said He: and after that He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

¹² Then said His disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

¹³ Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

¹⁴ Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

(By this Jesus shows us "to die" is to "fall asleep."   Death is a form of sleep.)

¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

¹⁶ Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

¹⁷ Then when Jesus came, He found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

¹⁸ Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: ¹⁹ And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

²⁰ Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him: but Mary sat still in the house.

²¹ Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. ²² But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

²³ Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

²⁴ Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I (The Word) am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  ²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.

Believest thou this?

²⁷ She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

²⁸ And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

²⁹ As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto Him.

³⁰ Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met Him.

³¹ The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

³² Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

³³ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

³⁴ And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto Him, Lord, come and see.

³⁵ Jesus wept.

³⁶ Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him!

³⁷ And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

³⁸ Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

³⁹ Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.

Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto Him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

(The flesh corrupts.)

⁴⁰ Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me. ⁴² And I knew that Thou hearest Me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

⁴³ And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

(Lazarus was raised from the dead by The Word.  We also are raised from the dead by The Word when the Spirit of God speaks to us.)

⁴⁴ And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin.

Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

⁴⁵ Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him.

⁴⁶ But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

⁴⁷ Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. ⁴⁸ If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

⁴⁹ And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, ⁵⁰ Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. ⁵¹ And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; ⁵² And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

⁵³ Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death.

⁵⁴ Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with His disciples.

⁵⁵ And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

⁵⁶ Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that He will not come to the feast?

⁵⁷ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where He were, he should shew it, that they might take Him.

(Jesus raised Lazarus in both flesh and spirit.  In the resurrection, we will be raised in spirit and will be given a new form of body which is not subject to the flesh and the corruption of the flesh.  I Corinthians 15)

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💥 Podcast: Shimei curses David as David flees from his son Absalom. Ahithophel gives counsel to Absalom.

  

(This podcast was previously published on, November 28, 2021)

 

David has fled from Absalom, his son, who purposes evil against David.  And David and his followers are hiding out in places near the wilderness.

II Samuel 16

5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

(David will not allow his men to kill the man who is cursing David.)

10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

(David is saying:  My own son is cursing me, what more can this one man do to curse me?)

David says:

12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

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II Samuel 16

13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

The end comes to Shimei:

I Kings 2   (Before he dies, David says to Solomon)

8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

10  So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

(Solomon is king and deals with the wisdom God gives him concerning Shimei.)

36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.

37 For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.

38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. 

And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. 

And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.

40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.

43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

44 The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.

46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

Shimei became an example to others who might disobey the word of king Solomon.  Therefore the kingdom was established that the children of Israel obeyed that which king Solomon said.

Solomon acted by wisdom of God in dealing with Shimei, and thus was Solomon's kingdom established.

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II Samuel 16

15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

(Ahithophel had been David's counsellor.  Now he counsels against David to benefit Absalom.)

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

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Ahithophel gives counsel to Absalom:

II Samuel 17

1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.

7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

(Remember Hushai is David's friend whom David sent to spy on Absalom.)

14  And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

(Ahithophel killed himself after they turned down his counsel.)

David's spies come to David to tell him what has happened and they counsel David.

16  Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

God is allowing Absalom to pursue David, up to a point, but God will not allow Absalom to kill David.

22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

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God makes provision for David and his men as they are in the wilderness:

II Samuel 16

27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

God once said to me:  "If need be, I could cause Manna to come up into your back yard."

Hebrews 13:5   Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Matthew 10:28-31  Jesus tells us...And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear HIM which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

 

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

 

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

  

***

 

Psalms 31:24  Be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

 

***

 

James 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love HIM. 

 

***

 

Psalm 140:12-13  I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

 

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto THY name: the upright shall dwell in THY presence.

 

***

 

Psalm 146:5  Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

  

 

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💥 John 10 (Reading through the Bible)

 

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.

⁵ And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

⁶ This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them.

⁷ Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

⁸ All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

⁹ I am the door: by Me (The Word) if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

(Jesus, The WORD, is the door.  The Word we hear from The Spirit of God is the way to go and is the life for us.)


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

¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

¹² But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
¹³ The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.

¹⁵ As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.

¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

¹⁷ Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.

¹⁸ No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.


***

¹⁹ There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

²⁰ And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye Him?

²¹ Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?


***

²² And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

²³ And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

²⁴ Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

²⁵ Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.

²⁶ But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.

***

²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:

²⁸ And I (The Word) give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.  

(The gates of hell will not prevail against the revealed Word of God, Matthew 16 ... and those who are of God hear that revealed word of God and they will never fall for they follow that Word.)

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 (The Word) and My Father are one.

*****

³¹ Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

³² Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?

³³ The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

³⁴ Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

³⁵ If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
³⁶ Say ye of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I (The Word) am the Son of God?

(Those of us to whom God has revealed Himself are also sanctified by God through HIS Word and HE sends us into the world.)

³⁷ If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not.

³⁸ But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.


***

³⁹ Therefore they sought again to take Him: but He escaped out of their hand,⁴⁰ And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there He abode.

⁴¹ And many resorted unto Him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

⁴² And many believed on Him there.

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💥 Podcast: Absalom tries to take the kingdom from his father David

 

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 27, 2021) 

 

Absalom instigates a plan to build a power base among the children of Israel.

II Samuel 15 

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

(Absalom did this for 40 years.)

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. 

(Absalom even took David's own counsellor to give advice against David.)

And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

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God had raised up evil against David because of that which David did concerning Uriah the Hittite and Uriah's wife, Bathsheba.

God sends a prophet to pronounce God's judgments upon David for his sins:

II Samuel 12   (God sets a penalty upon king David)

7 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in HIS sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

(Penalty:)

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised ME, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. 

And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

(But the penalty against David will continue upon David as long as David lives.  And God said his enemies would be they of David's own household.  Absalom, David's son, later tries to take the kingdom from David.  And Absalom goes into David's concubines and all Israel knows what he has done, thus fulfilling part of the penalty God set upon David.)

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Then the prophet pronounces another judgment from God upon David.

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

15 And Nathan departed unto his house.

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Absalom, David's son, is the instrument of evil raised up by God against David and as long as Absalom lives he will be a problem to David.

II Samuel 15

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.  

(Later Absalom will have sex with David's concubines to shame David, and also this fulfills the prophecy against David where God said: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.  For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.   II Samuel 12:11-12)

II Samuel 15

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

David prayed to God, making his requests to God, as he feared his own son Absalom.

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New Testament church:

Philippians 4  

6 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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David sent spies to Absalom's "court" and they worked behind the scenes on behalf of David.

II Samuel 15

34 (David says) But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house (from Absalom's house), thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.  

36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.  (They will come and tell David that which Absalom is doing.)

37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

(Hushai will be used to turn the counsel to be ineffective against David.)

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Galations 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

 

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Mark 14:38  Jesus said...Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

 

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John 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for HIM hath God the Father sealed.

 

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Psalm 97:11-12  LIGHT is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

 

12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of HIS holiness.  

 

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John 18:36  Jesus answered, MY kingdom is not of this world: if MY kingdom were of this world, then would MY servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is MY kingdom not from hence.

 

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Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

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Psalm 23:1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

 

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💥 John 9 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth.

² And his disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

³ Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

⁴ I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

⁵ As long as I am in the world, I (The Word) am the light of the world.

⁶ When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

⁷ And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

⁸ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

⁹ Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

¹⁰ Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

¹¹ He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

¹² Then said they unto him, Where is He?

He said, I know not.

¹³ They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

¹⁴ And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

¹⁵ Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

¹⁶ Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

¹⁷ They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of Him, that He hath opened thine eyes?

He said, He is a prophet.

¹⁸ But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.¹⁹ And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

²⁰ His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
²¹ But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

²² These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

²³ Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

²⁴ Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

²⁵ He answered and said, Whether He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

(We, who are born again, are also like that.  We were blind.  Now we can see.)

²⁶ Then said they to him again, What did He to thee? how opened He thine eyes?

²⁷ He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be His disciples?

²⁸ Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art His disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.²⁹ We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is.

³⁰ The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes.³¹ Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. ³² Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.³³ If this man were not of God, He could do nothing.

³⁴ They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

³⁶ He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?

³⁷ And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.

³⁸ And he said, Lord, I believe.  And he worshipped Him.

³⁹ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

⁴⁰ And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also?

⁴¹ Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

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