💥 Podcast: Rules of war set forth by God for the children of Israel in the Old Testament

 

 

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

 

God made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning the land which HE would give to the children of Israel for their inheritance.

God also set forth for HIS people "rules of war".

Deuteronomy 20  God says

1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

In the New Testament:

II Corinthians 10

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

In the New Testament church our war is a battle of our mind where we have a goal of living in peace but thoughts come to trouble us and we have to make those thoughts conform to that which God has spoken to us by HIS Word.

Troublesome thoughts come by our own flesh and through devils who bring ideas to our mind to cause harm.

But in the case of the wars of the Old Testament compared with the wars we go though today as the New Testament church, one thing is the same:  God is always with us to lead us and guide us and we overcome through what God shows us about the battle at hand.

Deuteronomy 20:4  For the LORD your God is HE that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

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In the New Testament church, our "enemies" are not flesh and blood but are wicked spirits in high places.

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HIS might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

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This world is not our kingdom.  Our kingdom is not that which is seen, but that which is unseen.

We know all these things people fight over in this world will be destroyed by God at the end of this world and the only thing that lasts forever is the Word of God which can never be destroyed.

Therefore we invest in that Word of God as we live on this earth.

We are not struggling to get ahead and achieve things on this present earth as the world does.

Our goal is to please God and follow HIM doing HIS will.

God will never fail us nor forsake us, and as long as God chooses to leave us on this present earth HE will work things out for us and provide all that we need.

We live by these simple truths:

* Philippians 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made HIMSELF of no reputation, and took upon HIM the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, HE humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We do not have as our goal trying to beat that other person and rise above that other person.  For if we do this, we ask for war in our lives.

Our goal is to help the other person, not to out-do the other person.

Our goal is to live in peace and keep our mind focused on things above, not on things of this earth.

Our enemy is not that human but wicked spirits.  And we deal with wicked spirits by turning to God in prayer and by doing that which God shows us to do.

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* Colossians 3

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM that created HIM:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

(as God had mercy on us and chose us to salvation we have mercy on the unlovely of this world who have not yet been chosen and recreated by God)

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

(charity is not wanting that other person to get what is coming to him ... charity is a desire for that person to be saved instead of destroyed)

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

(We live continually thanking God for that good thing, including people, that HE has put in our lives.)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

(We don't try to speak, but when the door opens we speak with the wisdom given us by God.)

Having the above goals separates us greatly from the striving this world does to get ahead in this life.

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* Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation (manner of life) 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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* 1 Timothy 6

1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and HIS doctrine be not blasphemed.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

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If we compare ourselves to other people, we open the door for covetousness in our own lives.  Avoid doing that.

Instead make our goal to live as God wills in the various parts of our lives, seeking the will of God in all things.

For this present heaven and earth and all that we can see with out natural eye will pass away, but that word God gives to us will endure forever!

The Word is worth our life and investment.

If we work to live in these scriptures and we conform ourselves to these scriptures making this our goal in life today, we make a wise investment and through God we will never fail.

Revelation 3:5  Jesus says:  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before MY Father, and before HIS angels.

We do not support sin.  If the door opens to speak God's word concerning various sins, we speak, telling what God says and suffering the persecution that often comes for the word's sake.

But we make it our goal to live godly lives in Christ Jesus, The Word, as we live on this earth and we must continually do the following to live in peace.

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.

When we live this way, continually talking with God concerning our troubles, the following will come in our lives.

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (The Word).

And when we don't see how we can get through the day ahead of us, we ask God to help us with that day and we ask God to fill our day ... HE will!

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Proverbs 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

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Psalm 24:7-8  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

 

8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 

 

Psalm 27:2-3  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

 

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 

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Colossians 4:5-6  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

 

6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.  

 

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Matthew 10:29-32  Jesus says: 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.

 

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John 16:33  Jesus says: These things I have spoken unto you, that in ME ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

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Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto HIM:

 

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

 

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

 

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 23 (Reading through the Bible)

 
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples,

² Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
³ All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

⁴ For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

⁵ But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
⁶ And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
⁷ And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

⁸ But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

⁹ And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

¹⁰ Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

¹¹ But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

¹² And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

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

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

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

¹⁶ Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
¹⁷ Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

¹⁸ And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
¹⁹ Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

²⁰ Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
²¹ And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
²² And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by Him that sitteth thereon.

²³ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

²⁴ Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

²⁵ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
²⁶ Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

²⁷ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
²⁸ Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

²⁹ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
³⁰ And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
³¹ Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
³² Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

³³ Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

³⁴ Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
³⁵ That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
³⁶ Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

³⁷ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

³⁸ Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

³⁹ For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

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💥 Podcast: David prayed: "Take not THY Holy Spirit from me" (Psalm 51)

 

 

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

 

David was a man after God's own heart.  (Acts 13:22)  

God took the Spirit from Saul who was king and gave HIS Spirit to David and God had the prophet Samuel to anoint David as king and God removed Saul from being king.

At one point, David greatly sinned, and David prayed:

Psalm 51

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned, and done this evil in THY sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, THOU desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part THOU shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which THOU hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide THY face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from THY presence; and take not THY Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of THY salvation; and uphold me with THY free spirit.

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As long as we have living in us God's Holy Spirit, we have what we need to be able to go forward.   For it is the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, teaches us all things, reminds us of all Jesus has said, shows us the will of God, and even shows us that which is to come by the will of God.

John 14:26  Jesus says:  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13  Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear (from God), that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

I Corinthians 2

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love HIM.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

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.

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The apostle Paul says:

II Corinthians13:5 

 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

We know we still have the Holy Spirit of Jesus living in us when we witness HIM doing the work of God through us.

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💥 Scriptures:

  

2 Peter 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished;

 

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Psalm 119:144  The righteousness of THY testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

 

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Proverbs 16:3  Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. 

 

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Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

 

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1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 

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Psalm 104:24  O Lord, how manifold are THY works! in wisdom hast THOU made them all: the earth is full of THY riches.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 22 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

² The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
³ And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
⁴ Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
⁵ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
⁶ And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
⁷ But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

⁸ Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
⁹ Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

¹⁰ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

¹¹ And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
¹² And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
¹³ Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.

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¹⁵ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk.

¹⁶ And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
¹⁷ Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
¹⁹ Shew me the tribute money.

And they brought unto Him a penny.

²⁰ And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

²¹ They say unto Him, Caesar's.

Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

²² When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left Him, and went their way.

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²³ The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
²⁴ Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
²⁵ Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
²⁶ Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
²⁷ And last of all the woman died also.
²⁸ Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

²⁹ Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

³¹ But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
³² I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

³³ And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at His doctrine.

³⁴ But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
³⁵ Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting Him, and saying,
³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.
³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
⁴² Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?

They say unto him, The son of David.

⁴³ He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
⁴⁴ The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
⁴⁵ If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

⁴⁶ And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions.

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💥 Podcast: Doing what is right in the sight of God

 

(This podcast was previously published on October 1, 2021) 

 

John 3:3  Jesus says: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

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We who believe in the resurrection do not sorrow in death as the pagans sorrow.

I Thessalonians 4

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (go before) them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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Those who die are asleep.  And when they are born again they will be raised by Jesus.

We will have new spiritual bodies before we are taken into the new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness.

I Corinthians 15:50-52  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Blink:  that is how fast we will be changed into our new spiritual bodies.

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Revelation 21:1-5   And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

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💥 Scriptures:

  

James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
 

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2 Corinthians 10:17-18  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

 

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2 Corinthians 12:9  And HE (God) said unto me (Paul), MY grace is sufficient for thee: for MY strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 

***

 
John 15:4-5  Jesus says: Abide in ME (the Word), and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in ME. 

 

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in ME, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without ME ye can do nothing.

 

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💥 Matthew 21 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, ² Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto Me.

 

³ And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

 

 

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^{Matthew 21:4} All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
⁵ Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

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^{Matthew 21:6} And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

⁷ And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon.

⁸ And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

⁹ And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

¹⁰ And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

¹¹ And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

¹² And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, ¹³ And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

¹⁴ And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; and He healed them.

¹⁵ And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,
¹⁶ And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say?

And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

¹⁷ And He left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and He lodged there.

¹⁸ Now in the morning as He returned into the city, He hungered. ¹⁹ And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

²⁰ And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

²¹ Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

²² And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

²³ And when He was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto Him as He was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁵ The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? ²⁶ But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

²⁷ And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell.

And He said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

²⁸ But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
²⁹ He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
³⁰ And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

³¹ Whether of them twain did the will of his father?

They say unto him, The first.

Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

³³ Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

³⁴ And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

³⁵ And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

³⁶ Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

³⁷ But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

³⁸ But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

³⁹ And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

⁴⁰ When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

⁴¹ They say unto Him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render Him the fruits in their seasons.

⁴² Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

⁴³ Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

⁴⁴ And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

⁴⁵ And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they perceived that He spake of them.

⁴⁶ But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitude, because they took Him for a prophet.

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💥 Podcast: Setting up religious images

 

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

 

Deuteronomy 16:22  Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

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We worship God in spirit and in truth in the church today as Jesus said to do.

John 4

19 The woman saith unto HIM (to Jesus), Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship HIM.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

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

 

 ***

 

Hebrews 10:22-23  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful that promised;)

 

***

 

Romans 14:20-23  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

 

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

 

***

 

James: 4:5-8  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

 

6 But HE giveth more grace. Wherefore HE saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

 

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

 

8 Draw nigh to God, and HE will draw nigh to you.

 

***

 

Psalm 32:8  Promise from God to HIS children: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with MINE eye.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 20 (Reading through the Bible)

 

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

² And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

³ And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
⁴ And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
⁷ They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

⁸ So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

⁹ And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

¹⁰ But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

¹¹ And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
¹² Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

¹³ But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

¹⁴ Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

¹⁶ So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

***

¹⁷ And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
¹⁸ Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death,
¹⁹ And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.

***

²⁰ Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

²¹ And He said unto her, What wilt thou?

She saith unto Him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy kingdom.

²² But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

They say unto him, We are able.

²³ And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father.

²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

²⁵ But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
²⁶ But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
²⁷ And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
²⁸ Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

***

²⁹ And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.

³⁰ And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

³¹ And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

³² And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

³³ They say unto Him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

³⁴ So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

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💥 Podcast: We once served the world and God redeemed us as HE redeemed the children of Israel from serving Egypt

 

 

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

 

The children of Israel served the Egyptians for 400 years until God brought them out of their bondage.

Deuteronomy 15:15  And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: 

We once served this world and the ideas and goals of the flesh of man, but God redeemed us also from the bondage of the flesh.

Now we are a new creature, born again by God, and we serve God now doing the will of God.

I Corinthians 6

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexuals), nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 6

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into HIS death?

4 Therefore we are buried with HIM by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of HIS death, we shall be also in the likeness of HIS resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with HIM:

Even on this earth today, we live with Christ as we follow the Holy Spirit of God, keeping our flesh crucified, not allowing our flesh to do what it wants to do but causing our flesh to be dead by following that which the Holy Spirit of God brings to our mind in the specific situations of this life.

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Before God revealed HIMSELF to us we were in bondage, serving the desires of our own flesh and mind, and serving the god of this present world.

Then when God opened our eyes to HIMSELF we were changed instantly from serving ourselves and this world and we were recreated, born again, as new creatures who now serve God and desire things of God.

Salvation is of God.

God opened our eyes to see and revealed HIMSELF to us showing us truth.

And God changed us.

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.

And we are grateful to God for saving us for we know we didn't do anything to deserve salvation.  We are saved by God because it was the will of God for us to be saved.

God opened our eyes to see and gave us understanding concerning things of God and we were born again by God giving us HIS Holy Spirit to live in us and to teach and guide us in all things.

From within we are changed by God by HIS Spirit.  It is not that we change ourselves by learning but rather God changes us by giving us HIS understanding.

Therefore we continually thank God for saving us!

It is not what we did, but what God did.

So instead of being self righteous by our works, our righteousness is of God through His will for us.

Gratitude instead of pride is the fruit when we understand God chose us.

Salvation is of God, not by our own will or works.

God chose us and gave us understanding and opened our eyes so we could see things of God.

When HE caused us to see, we were born again, believing that which HE told us.

 

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💥 Scriptures:

Galations 5:22-24  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

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

 

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Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

***

 

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

 

***

 

Isaiah 46:3-4  Hearken unto ME, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by ME from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

 

4 And even to your old age I am HE; and even to hoar (gray) hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

***

 

Proverbs 3:5-6  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.

 

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