💥 The Word of God is great treasure to us

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

 

Psalm 119:162  I rejoice at THY word, as one that findeth great spoil (treasure).

When we are given God's word to us on a matter, we rejoice for there is nothing more precious than having God's perfect direction and judgment. HIS Word is the right and best way and will never fail.

I am reminded of how the wise men came from the east to worship Jesus when HE was born.

Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is HE that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen HIS star in the east, and are come to worship HIM.

Herod was troubled when he heard this and asked the wise men when the star appeared. (Herod also tried to trick them into telling him where Jesus was when they found HIM, but by a dream God led them another way.)

After Herod talked with them, we are told how the wise men greatly rejoiced when they again saw the star which caused them to come to Jerusalem and now led them to exactly where Jesus was in Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:9-10  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

God leads us in the way we are to go as well, and we rejoice as we see HIM lead us each step of the way. We may be led by a word given directly to us by the Holy Spirit, by a dream, by a scripture, by a vision ... however God chooses.

Regardless of how God chooses to give us HIS Word, it is great treasure to us, leading us in the way to go to accomplish HIS purpose in our lives.

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Chosen by God: an holy people, the children of Israel, and the Christians of the New Testament church

 

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

 

Deuteronomy 14:2  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto HIMSELF, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

The children of Israel were chosen by God to be HIS people in the Old Testament.

Noah found grace in the sight of God and God saved Noah from the great flood.

Abraham was chosen by God and was given promises concerning the nations that were to come from him.

Genesis 12:1-4  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;

And God gave promises to both Isaac and Jacob, Abraham's son and grandson. 

God spoke to them also and made HIMSELF known.

To Isaac, God said:  Go not down into Egypt; dwell into the land which I shall tell thee of:  Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;  And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed MY voice, and kept MY charge, MY commandments, MY statutes, and MY laws.  (Genesis 26:2-5)

God revealed HIMSELF to Jacob:  And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.  (Genesis 28:10-15)

Later Jacob was renamed by God as Israel.  HIS 12 sons were the children of Israel, the 12 tribes of Israel.

To Joseph, one of the 12 sons, God revealed HIMSELF by dreams.  His brothers hated Joseph because the dreams showed Joseph ruling over them.  So they sold Joseph into bondage and Joseph was taken down into Egypt before the great famine came on the earth.  God gave wisdom to Joseph and therefore all that Joseph did prospered above all men.  Pharaoh saw this and made Joseph a ruler in Egypt, second only to himself.

70 men were the number of the children of Israel who went down into Egypt at the time of the great famine.

The generations of the children of Israel spent 430 years in Egypt and when they were delivered from Egypt by God, their number of men above the age of 20 was 603,550. (Exodus 38:26)  

Even under the years of adversity in Egypt, God multiplied them greatly as God said he would do in HIS promises to Abraham.

In all this we see when God reveals HIMSELF to an individual, God becomes their God.

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In the New Testament, God chose people to Himself and opened their eyes to see things of God and caused those individuals to be born again.  And God put HIS name on them and gave each of them HIS Holy Spirit to teach them and guide them and show them things to come.  (John 14:26 & John 16:13)

The apostle Peter says:

I Peter 2

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of HIM who hath called you out of darkness into HIS marvellous light:

(We were "chosen" by God for salvation and God "called" us out of darkness by HIS Word and God opened our eyes so we could see the Word of God and we were "born again" by the Spirit of God.)

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

The apostle Paul explains:  For HE saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.  (Romans 9:15-16)

God causes us to be born again as HIS own children.  We no longer serve this world as we once did but now God frees us so that we can serve HIM.  We are delivered by God and redeemed by God by the will of God. God opens our eyes to see things of the kingdom of God.  God causes us to believe the Word.

Romans 6

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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God speaks to us individually, we are called by God, and changed into new people by God.

The apostle Paul:  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?  (Acts 9:3-4)

Paul was traveling with other men and they saw that bright light and heard a voice speaking from heaven but saw no man.   It was Paul (Saul) Jesus called by name.

And Paul explains that Jesus said to him:  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.  (Acts 26:16-18)

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Joan Boney:  I was in my bedroom when God said to me by HIS Spirit:  "Joan ... you know all those mistakes you've been making all these years.  Those weren't mistakes.  Those were sins."  (August 5, 1975)

I was changed immediately, born again, chosen by God, even named by name by God.

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Pam Padgett:  A schoolmate was killed on a motorcycle.  When this happened, Pam, for the first time, realized someone her age could die.  (God opened Pam's understanding to see this.)  Also Pam knew only God could save her.  (God showed her this truth.)  So Pam called out to God asking God to save her.

Many people in Pam's circle heard of this boy being killed on a motorcycle but there is no evidence that any of those people understood they could also be killed and only God could save them.

God chose Pam among all those people and God revealed truth to Pam and cause her to turn to HIM.

Salvation is being chosen by God to salvation.

Acts 13:48  and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

God chooses each individual and opens the understanding for that individual and then that individual believes to salvation.

It is not that we choose God but rather God chooses us.

Thus the apostle Paul says:

Romans 9:18  Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.

We are the chosen people of God as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the children of Israel were the chosen people of God.

And God reveals HIMSELF to us who are HIS chosen as HE revealed HIMSELF to those in the Old Testament who are HIS chosen.

Acts 2:47   And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Understanding is from God.  God opens our eyes and then we believe and understand.  It is not of our own thinking that we understand.  God causes us to understand and to believe HIS Word.  Thus salvation is of God and we are chosen by God.

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Ephesians 1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as HE hath chosen us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will,

6 To the praise of the glory of HIS grace, wherein HE hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In WHOM we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS grace;

8 Wherein HE hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of HIS will, according to HIS good pleasure which HE hath purposed in Himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times HE might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in HIM:

11 In WHOM also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of HIM who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of HIS glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In WHOM ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in WHOM also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of HIS glory.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

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1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

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Psalm 119:49-50  Remember the word unto THY servant, upon which THOU hast caused me to hope.

 

50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for THY WORD hath quickened me.

 

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Ephesians 4:1-3  (Paul said) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

 

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

 

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

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

 

 

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💥 Matthew 18 (Reading through the Bible)

  

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

² And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,
³ And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

(A little child depends on his father and copies his father.)

⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me.

⁶ But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

⁷ Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

⁸ Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

⁹ And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

¹⁰ Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.

¹¹ For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

¹² How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
¹³ And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

¹⁸ Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.
²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

²¹ Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

²³ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
²⁴ And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
²⁵ But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
²⁶ The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
²⁷ Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
²⁹ And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
³⁰ And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
³¹ So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
³² Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
³³ Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
³⁴ And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

³⁵ So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

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💥 Podcast: Enquire not after their gods

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

 

I never ask anyone, "Where do you go to church?"

We "are" the church.

In the Old Testament, God said:

Deuteronomy 12:30   Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

The teacher of our Bible class once said:  "Never look into other religions or read about them.  Just study the Bible and when a wrong doctrine comes along, you will recognize it as being wrong when you know the real thing from the Bible."  I really believe that is the correct approach and that is what I have done for the past 40+ years.  I just keep reading the Bible.

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Deuteronomy 12:32  God says:  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. 

 

There is one doctrine of Christ for the New Testament church and we find that doctrine in the New Testament Bible.

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A divorced woman told Pam Padgett that she was Messianic Jew, believing in Jesus.

Then this same woman told Pam that she had a new boyfriend.  

Pam explained that as a divorced woman, if she should remarry, she would commit adultery, according to the Bible.  

This Jewish woman said, "Oh, we have our own doctrine at our church."

When I heard this story, I shouted out, "There is only one doctrine and that is the New Testament Bible."

I Corinthians 7

10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

39  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Romans 7:2-3  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Mark 10   Jesus says:

11 Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

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Ephesians 4

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

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The doctrine of Christ is the New Testament Bible.

II Timothy 3

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

1 Timothy 5:8  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

 

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Luke 8:18  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

 

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Psalm 75:6-7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

 

7 But God is the judge: HE putteth down one, and setteth up another.

 

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2 Corinthians 4:16-17  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

 

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 

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1 Peter 5:6-7  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that HE may exalt you in due time: 

 

7 Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 17 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

² And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.

³ And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.

⁴ Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

⁵ While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.

(Hear Jesus.  Hear The Word.)

⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

⁷ And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

⁸ And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

⁹ And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

¹⁰ And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

¹¹ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

¹² But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

¹³ Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.


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¹⁴ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying,  ¹⁵ Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.  ¹⁶ And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

¹⁷ Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to Me.

¹⁸ And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

¹⁹ Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁰ And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

²¹ Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.


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²² And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
²³ And they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.


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²⁴ And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

²⁵ He saith, Yes.

And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

²⁶ Peter saith unto him, Of strangers.

Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

²⁷ Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

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💥 Podcast: The place where the Lord chooses to put HIS name

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 26, 2021) 

 

Deuteronomy 12:5  But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put HIS name there, even unto HIS habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

 

In the New Testament church today, God chooses where HE will put HIS name.

Acts 2:47   And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

God opens the eyes of those persons whom HE has chosen and gives those individuals understanding causing them to be born again as a new creature, a Christian.

We recognize them by the Spirit of God which is in them for we have that same Spirit in us.

Acts 13:48   And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.  

Salvation is of God, of the will of God.

When God chooses that individual for salvation, God opens that person's eyes and all of a sudden he sees the truth of God.

It is all of God by the will of God.

There can be a group of people sitting together and all of a sudden one in the group sees.

That is the way it was with Paul on the road to Damascus.  There were other men traveling in the group with Paul.  But it was Paul's life that was changed forever when Jesus spoke from heaven.  Though all the men saw light around them and all the men heard a voice from heaven, it was Paul who was called by Jesus and changed forever.  Jesus even said:  "Saul, Saul" ... calling him by name.

Acts 9

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Instantly changed.)

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

We see an instant change in Paul.  Paul was enroute to Damascus to try to find Christians so he could bind them and carry them to prison.  But when the voice from heaven spoke, Paul was changed immediately from that person that he was before hearing that voice.

There was no learning involved.  It was instant change.  Paul was born again.

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.

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We are not chosen by God because we are worthy.  We have done no good work causing us to be chosen by God.

We are chosen by God because it is the will of God for us to be saved and it is the will of God that HIS name would be placed on us by HIS Spirit.

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I was reading a book about sin when God spoke to me and said, "Joan ... you know all these mistakes you've been making all these years?  Those weren't mistakes.  Those were sins."

I was very shocked.  And I was changed immediately.

I thought I was changed by that book I was reading so I went to a Christian book store and bought several copies of that book and gave these books to many people thinking they would also be changed as I had been changed.

But it was not that book that changed me.  God changed me by HIS own will according to HIS purpose.

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If you were saved at the time you heard a preacher, you might have tried to get others to hear that preacher thinking they would be saved as you were.

It was not the preacher who saved us.  It was God opening our eyes to HIS truth.  We were not saved by our own will.  It was God's will for us.

We are the elect, chosen by God, in such cases.

Paul explains this in Romans 9.

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.

10 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.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew MY power in thee, and that MY name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.

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After God chooses to reveal Jesus, the Word, to us from heaven and causes us to be born again, we overcome the problems as we go through this present life by turning to God and hearing from God.  We go in the way shown us by God as long as we live on this earth, overcoming the problems through that Word given us by God in the situations of this life.

And Jesus says at the end of our lives on this earth:

Revelation 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of MY God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of MY God, and the name of the city of MY God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from MY God: and I will write upon him MY new name.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalm 37:39-40  But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: HE is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: HE shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in HIM.

  

 ***

 

Psalms 34:10  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

 

***

 

Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

29 Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 

30 For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light.

 

***

 

Galations 5:16-18  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 16 (Reading through the Bible)

  

1-4    The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would shew them a sign from heaven.

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.  And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed.

*****

5-12    And when His disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?  Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

*****

13-20    When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto Him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(The "rock" upon which the church is built is that Word revealed by God.  Peter was blessed because it was God who revealed the truth to him.)

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ.

*****

21- 23    From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

*****

24-28    Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.

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💥 God answers our prayers as HE wills

 
Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Yesterday I was reviewing some of the ways over the years that God has helped me when I needed help.

I have written these on my iPad and find reviewing them and reliving them in my mind to be helpful in reinforcing to me how powerful and present God can be in the everyday lives of HIS children.

Yesterday I found myself smiling as I relived how God provided for me after my husband's stroke in the summer of 2023.

After he came home from the hospital and rehab center, he needed help with certain aspects of his physical care until he got back on his feet.

I was doing these things which I was happy to do. I was so grateful to learn that he had very little residual effects from the stroke, the main thing being a weakness in his left hand which has made it difficult for him to use, but he is right-handed so it isn't so bad.

He was weak when he first came home and needed help with a number of everyday activities. This worked out great and I was so happy to have him back home.

Then one day I was lying down and realized that I was so tired and weak feeling that I literally could not stand up. This was shocking to me because it happened very suddenly! I was so scared because I didn't know what we were going to do. How was he going to be taken care of if I couldn't do it?

As I was lying there I started crying out to God taking these fears to HIM. "Please somehow help us" was about all I knew to ask.

Then the most amazing thing happened. A few minutes after I cried out to God for help, I suddenly felt a flow of energy go through my body, from one end of my body to the other.

Something supernatural had happened to me! I was then able to get up and resume doing those things I needed to do, completely energized!

This is how God answered my plea for help on that day!!

 

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(Comments from Sandra Chupik)

 

This reminds me of Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. God is able to strengthen us spiritually, mentally, physically...whatever our need happens to be.

 

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💥 Podcast: We must focus on that which God has said to us rather than looking at the circumstances

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 25, 2021) 

 

Peter walked on water at the Word of Jesus ... but then when Peter looked at the circumstances, faith failed Peter, but Jesus saved Peter.

Matthew 14

22 And straightway Jesus constrained HIS disciples to get into a ship, and to go before HIM unto the other side, while HE sent the multitudes away.

23 And when HE had sent the multitudes away, HE went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, HE was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw HIM walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered HIM and said, Lord, if it be THOU, bid me come unto THEE on the water.

29 And HE said, Come. 

And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth HIS hand, and caught HIM, and said unto HIM, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

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The children of Israel disobeyed God and they showed no faith in God, so a penalty came upon them.

Numbers 13

25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they told him (Moses), and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.  

(They discounted the strength of God and were looking only at the circumstances which they saw with their natural eyes.)

32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Because of their evil report and disbelief in God, God placed a penalty upon them.  

The ones who did not believe would die in that wilderness and would not enter into the land which God promised to Abraham.

Therefore they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until all of that generation who showed lack of faith in God had died.

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Deuteronomy 2

1 (Moses says) Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

2 And the LORD spake unto me, saying,

3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.

4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

(to the heritage of Esau)

6 Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.

7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: HE knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

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God provides for us where HE places us today and we lack nothing as we follow God.

God speaks to us today by HIS Spirit and when we follow that which God tells us, we lack nothing in this present life.

God spoke to me by HIS Spirit in 1975 and caused me to be born again.  After that God took me into heaven and merged me into the body of Jesus, causing me to be one with the Word of God.  This same thing God did twice, on two separate nights.  Then God taught me by HIS Spirit for the next 3 or 4 years and prepared me for the work of the ministry in the offices of apostle and prophet according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

I closed my small business on July 31, 1979, to go into the ministry.

I had no where to go.

I just stayed at home and waited for the next 5 1/2 months.

On the night of January 10, 1980, in the night, what I believe to have been an angel of the Lord, spoke these three words to me:  "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS"

By this, God put me on radio to exhort the church for the next few years, through 1984.

Then in 2012, God gave me a dream showing me to start a blog.  Since that time, to date, we have posted 14,229 exhortations which have gone all over the world with 1,077,117 page views of those exhortations.

Then God gave me a dream leading me to start presenting Podcasts in February, 2020.  To date, I have recorded 582 Podcasts with 13,003 downloads.

At every point, God showed me what to do, things I had never before even considered.

Finances were supplied largely by the sale of ministry property no longer needed in Texas.

There is no lack.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 147:10-11  HE delighteth not in the strength of the horse: HE taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

 

11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear HIM, in those that hope in HIS mercy. 

 

***

 

James 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

 

***

 

Isaiah 55:89  For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the Lord. 

 

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and MY thoughts than your thoughts.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 15 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1-9    Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.

Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.

But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

*****

10-11    And He called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

 

  

*****

12-14    Then came His disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

But He answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

*****

15-20    Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Declare unto us this parable.

 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

*****

21-28    Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

But He answered her not a word.

And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.

But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

*****

29-31    And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and He healed them:

Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

*****

32-39    Then Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

And his disciples say unto Him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye?

And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

And they did all eat, and were filled:

and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

And He sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

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