💥 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.

 

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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;)

 

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Romans 14:22  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

 

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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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💥 Matthew 19 (Reading through the Bible)

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, He departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

² And great multitudes followed Him; and He healed them there.

³ The Pharisees also came unto Him, tempting Him, and saying unto Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

⁴ And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
⁵ And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
⁶ Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

(At the time of sexual intercourse, you become one flesh.  Therefore fornication is a very serious matter.  We know this by I Corinthians 6:15-16.  Paul explains that even if you have sex with an harlot you become one flesh.  Paul says:  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith He, shall be one flesh.)

 

*****

Matthew 19:7   They say unto Him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

⁸ He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

⁹ And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

(The only scriptural reason for a man to divorce his wife is fornication.  If a man divorces a faithful wife and she remarries, she commits adultery and the husband who divorced her is the cause of her adultery when she was faithful to him.  And the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.)

¹⁰ His disciples say unto Him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

¹¹ But He said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

¹² For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

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¹³ Then were there brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

¹⁴ But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

¹⁵ And He laid His hands on them, and departed thence.

*****

¹⁶ And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

¹⁷ And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

¹⁸ He saith unto Him, Which?

Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

²⁰ The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.

²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

²³ Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.²⁴ And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁵ When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

²⁶ But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

*****

27 Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore?

²⁸ And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

²⁹ And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

³⁰ But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

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💥 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.

 

 ***

 

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.

 

*** 

 

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.

 

***

 

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.

 

***

 

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.

 

 ***

 

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.

 

***

 

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.

 

***

 

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;

 

***

 

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.


***

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.


***

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.


***

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.

  

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

 

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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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