💥 Podcast: Worshipping God in spirit and in truth

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 19, 2021)

 

The one thing that is the same between the Old Testament church and the New Testament church is this:  The ones who believed in God, believed God was speaking and they did that which God said to do.

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In the building of the tabernacle, we see the following testimony:

Exodus 39:32  Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

In the Old Testament, God spoke to Moses and Moses delivered the Word of God to the people.

In the New Testament, we follow that which the Holy Spirit says to us in the issues of this present life.

When God gives us a scripture, we do that scripture.

When God brings to us a concept, an idea, we do that idea in the issues of this present life.

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Where do we worship God?  How do we worship God in today's church?

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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Hebrews 11

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing HIM who is invisible.

Today we also see HIM who is invisible as we follow the Spirit of God, doing as God shows us to do by the Spirit.

God is invisible, being a spirit.  The Holy Spirit is invisible.  We follow that which is not seen by human eyes.  For God speaks to us by HIS Spirit and we follow HIM, believing that which we have heard was God speaking, and we believe what HE tells us. and we do that which HE tells us, thus resting in Him, in HIS Word to us.

This is the New Testament church today.  Hearing the Word God speaks by HIS Spirit and believing it is God who spoke to us and doing that which God tells us to do.

Thus we worship God in spirit and in truth.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

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Matthew 7:24-25  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

 

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

 

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Mark 11:25-26  Jesus says: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

 

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Psalm 5:12  For THOU, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt THOU compass him as with a shield.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 9 (Reading through the Bible)

  

1-8    And He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city.

And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?  For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith HE to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

And he arose, and departed to his house.

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

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9    And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto him, Follow ME.

And he arose, and followed Him.

(I've always taken this as an example.  When God speaks a word to me, I act upon that word quickly, as soon as I am persuaded that word is from God.)

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10-13    And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

(The second coming will be to gather the righteous.)

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14-17    Then came to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

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18-26    While He spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped Him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay THY hand upon her, and she shall live.

And Jesus arose, and followed Him, and so did His disciples.

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment:

For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.

But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And the woman was made whole from that hour.


And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed Him to scorn.

But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

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27-31    And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to Him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?

They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

But they, when they were departed, spread abroad His fame in all that country.

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32-34    As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

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35-38    And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.

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💥 Podcast: In the Old Testament God spoke to HIS people by HIS prophets. Today, in our time, God speaks to us by HIS Son, The Word, Jesus Christ.

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 17, 2021)   

 

Hebrews 1

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, whom HE hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also HE made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of HIS glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of HIS power, when HE had by HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

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Today Jesus sits at the right hand of God, and speaks to us, the children of God, by HIS Holy Spirit who lives in each person who believes in HIM.

By the Holy Spirit of Jesus we know what God wants us to do on this present earth in the issues of this present life.

The Spirit of Truth teaches us all things, reminds us of all that Jesus says, guides us into all truth, and shows us things to come as HE brings to our mind truths and concepts concerning this present life.

Therefore the apostle Paul says:

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The flesh would lead us to do the following things:

Galatians 5

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit of Jesus leads us to do the following:

Galatians 5

22 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.

As we follow the Holy Spirit, the ideas brought by the Holy Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of our flesh.

Galatians 5:16

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

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

 

36 As it is written, For THY sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

 

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM that loved us.

 

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

 

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

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James 3:13  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

 

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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. 

 

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Psalm 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

 

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Psalm 3:3  But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

 

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Proverbs 10:19  In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

 

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Ephesians 3:20-21  Now unto HIM that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto HIM be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

 

 

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💥 Matthew 8 (Reading through the Bible) Jesus shows us foundations for the NT Church that comes with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

 

1-4     When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.

And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

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Comments by Joan Boney:

When God heals us or changes us it is often immediate ... I had been watching a golfer, Jordan Spieth, from Texas ever since he came on tour and I was always wanting him to win ... That is of my flesh for I don't know if it is the best thing for him to win, spiritually speaking.  It is also irrational.  I find sports are that way.  

In 2017, at one of the major tournaments, I was getting ready to watch and I heard a word which changed everything.  It was from Holy Spirit. 

I heard, "Do you really care if Jordan Spieth wins another 10-million dollars?" 

"No, I don't."  I replied to God.

Immediately all interest in seeing him evaporated and I was instantly set free.

When I was born again, it was immediate.  I didn't have to do anything at all to be born again.  God just did it by His own will with His word to me which caused me to be changed forever.                                                                                                                                                                                           

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Matthew 8:5-13    And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him,

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.

And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

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Matthew 8:14-15    And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

And He touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

(And by the Bible, we know Peter had children for Peter was an elder.  The elders were husband of one wife and had obedient children, showing themselves able to rule over the church for if a man cannot rule over his own children, how can he rule over the church, says Bible.  I Timothy 3:4)

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Matthew 8:16-17    When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

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Matthew 8:18-22    Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.

And another of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

But Jesus said unto him, Follow ME; and let the dead bury their dead.

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Matthew 8:23-27    And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him.

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.

And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?

Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!

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Matthew 8:28-34    And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

So the devils besought Him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

And He said unto them, Go.

And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw Him, they besought Him that He would depart out of their coasts.

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💥 Podcast: God calls Moses and teaches and leads Moses in all that God has for him to do on this earth

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 16, 2021)   

 

God called Moses to come up to HIM and Moses was with God 40 days in the mountain, and God gave Moses commandments for the children of Israel.

All his life, God prepared for Moses to lead HIS people.  The call of God was on Moses even from his youth.  God arranged for Moses to be taken into Pharaoh's  daughter's house as a baby where he was "learned in all the ways of the Egyptians" and he was in a very high position in Egypt.

We read the following about Moses:  

Acts 7

20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:

21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

(We see that Moses knew even then that he would be used by God to deliver the children of Israel.)

26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

(In fact, God had made Moses to be a ruler and judge over the people of Israel and that would happen 40-years later when the time was right.)

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

When God revealed HIMSELF to Moses when Moses was 80-years-old in the land of Midian and called Moses and charged Moses to go back to Egypt where he would deliver the children of Israel, we see the following:

Exodus 3:10-11  God said to Moses:  Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth MY people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

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

But 40 years earlier when Moses killed the Egyptian and freed the man of Israel, Moses knew he would be used by God to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. 

In God's time, this would happen.  Moses was called by God, appointed for a work of God, and trained by God for this work.  It was not of Moses but of God.

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Now in the wilderness, God takes Moses up to the mount to receive the ten commandments for the nation of Israel.

Exodus 24

12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to ME into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day HE called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

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Jesus sets up the New Testament church after HE is resurrected into heaven.

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

We don't join the church by our own will.  God opens our eyes to HIS truth and when that happens we are born again, made into new creatures by the Spirit of God.

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.  God opens the eyes of those who are chosen by God to salvation.

We are all members of the body of Christ but some are set into the church by God to do the work of the church.

It is a call of God by the will of God and not by our own will that we are born again and put into the church to do specific works in the church.

We believe because God opened our eyes to believe.

Thus Paul explains:

Romans 9

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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God speaks directly to us who are being saved.

To Pam Padgett, God used a motorcycle accident where one of her high school classmates was killed, and God opened Pam's eyes for her to see her need for salvation, and she called on God and asked HIM to save her, and HE did.  But Pam's mother and sisters who heard of that same motorcycle accident had no real change take place in their lives.

(Pam was a teenager at that time.)

After she called on God, she knew something of God was in her.  

Years later she saw a scripture and knew what it was from God that was in her.

I Corinthians 3:16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(Pam was also given by God a ministry office, "helps", to work in the church.)

I Corinthians 12:27-28   Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church (to work in the church), first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

In 2012, God gave me a dream showing me to start a blog.  I asked Pam to set up a blog for us.  Now Pam does all the technical work for this ministry in publishing writings for blog, books on Amazon, Podcasts.  I can do none of these technical things and without "help" we would not be able to do blog, books, or Podcasts.  Pam was set in the body of Christ to do these things for the church.

God trained Pam in all these things even before the need surfaced.

She had a call on her life to do these works in the ministry and at one point, she was given a dream showing her I was her "supervisor", but the call from God was on her life and she was trained by God.

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On the road to Damascus, Jesus revealed Himself from heaven to the apostle Paul and then by a voice from heaven Jesus spoke to Paul.  Paul was changed forever but the men who traveled with Paul were not changed. 

Acts 9

1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,  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.

(With this call of Jesus, Paul's life was changed completely, instantly.  But the other men who traveled with Paul heard this same voice and were not changed.)

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt THOU have me to do? 

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.

Paul gives more detail of this calling from heaven in the following scripture:

Acts 26

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art THOU, Lord? And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 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;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 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.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Paul did nothing worthy of salvation.  Paul was persecuting the followers of Jesus at the time Jesus called him from heaven and changed him.

Salvation is by the will of God.  God speaks to the individual who is being saved and God reveals HIMSELF to that individual and God opens the eyes of the one being saved and that individual now sees things of God.

God might show HIMSELF to you at the grocery store, or at your home, or in a church meeting.  But to each who "see", it is God who causes that individual to "see".  

And then he is born again and given the Holy Spirit of God to lead him and to guide him for the remainder of his life on this earth.

I believe most of us who are born again by God know that we did nothing to make us worthy of salvation.  It was simply that God chose us and revealed HIMSELF to us and never again were we the same as we had been before this happened.

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Matthew 16

13 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?

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

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

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

17 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.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the truth revealed by God) I will build MY church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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I was baptized in water when I was 15 years old.  (nothing changed in my life)

God spoke to me when I was 37-years-old and everything changed in my life.

2 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.

After I was born again, my cousin (Church of Christ member) said to me:  "Well ... I believe you are a Christian.  I just don't see how you can be."

(She didn't understand what it is to be born again by God by HIS Spirit.)

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Hebrews 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

After Jesus was resurrected, from heaven Jesus set up the ministries in the New Testament church.

Ephesians 4:8  Wherefore HE saith, When HE (Jesus) ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men ...  11-12   And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

You can't put yourself into the ministry by going to Bible school.  You must be called by Jesus from heaven as Paul was called.

You can't give yourself the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  God gives individuals the gifts of the Holy Spirit as HE wills.  (I Corinthians 12)

A woman at church came to me once and said to me, "I want to do what you do."

I replied, "You do?"  (I was really surprised that anyone wanted to do this.)

Everything is by the will of God, not by the will of man.

We are born again when God chooses to reveal HIMSELF to us.

When we are set in one of the ministries, it is because Jesus choose us to do this.

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

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

Romans 8 

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Proverbs 20:15  There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

 

 ***

 

Psalms 46:10  Be still, and know that I AM God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 

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Matthew 8:23-26  And when HE (Jesus) was entered into a ship, HIS disciples followed HIM.

 

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but HE was asleep.

 

25 And HIS disciples came to HIM, and awoke HIM, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

 

26 And HE sayeth unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then HE arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 

***

 

Psalm 56:3-4  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 

4 In God I will praise HIS Word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 7 (Reading through the Bible) Jesus lays the beginning of the doctrines for the NT Church... Today we are at the end and soon Jesus will take HIS elect into heaven..

 

1-5    Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

(And the Holy Spirit says:  "If you judge someone is judging, aren't you judging?")

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6    Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

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7-12    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

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13-14    Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

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I Corinthians 6:9-10    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, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

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Galatians 5:19-21    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

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Matthew 7:15-20    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. 

Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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Matthew 7:21-23    Not every one that saith unto ME, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of MY Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to ME in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in THY name? and in THY name have cast out devils? and in THY name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, ye that work iniquity.
 

***** 

24-27    Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

(We must build our house on a sure foundation... on that which God has said.)

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28-29    And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at HIS doctrine:   For HE taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

(The season of the New Testament Church begins after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus is laying the foundation for the NT chuch with these words in this chapteer.  Jesus is showing the people a new way of life is coming.  It comes after Jesus is crucified and taken into heaven.  Then the NT church begins.  We are living at the end of the period of the NT church and soon Jesus returns and we receive new spiritual bodies and are taken to the new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth only righteousness.)

 

Seasons:

* God creates the heaven and earth and man.

* God makes a way to God through the Old Testament.

* Jesus comes in the form of a man and begins to show doctrines that the New Testament church will live by, but that NT Church does not exist until after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

* As Jesus teaches, we are shown the doctrines of the NT Church.

* From heaven Paul is called as an apostle to the early NT Church which now exists.

* For the next 2000 years the NT Church works on this earth. We follow the doctrines Christ taught when HE lived on this earth.

* The end of all things begins with the destruction of Jerusalem.  LK. 21:20-22

 

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💥 Answed prayer

 

Cathy Varner, member of the body of Christ

 

Recently I noticed that the water was not draining out very quickly from the bathtub as I took a shower. There was water collecting, almost enough to cover my feet. 

 

I think in the past I had been able to unclog this drain by using a plunger that I use specifically for unclogging drains. So I tried that but it didn’t help. I then took the drain cover off to see if there was something I could pull out that was blocking the drain. There was a wad of hair I pulled out, but it didn’t seem to be enough to cause the problem.

Just a day or so ago as I was showering and the problem was still there, I prayed, asking God to help us to know what to do about this.  

 

Shortly afterward, when I finished my shower, I noticed that the lever that you pull up to keep water from draining out seemed to be up a little, not quite all the way down, to allow water to drain out. I pushed it all the way down. Next time I showered the water drained out as it should. It was just that simple. 

 

Sometimes we don’t see until God opens our eyes to the solution. 

 

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Comments by Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

This reminds me of a time several years ago when I couldn't get my laptop to make a screen print. This is something I do every day when making the "yellow box" for that day's podcast on our blog. But, suddenly, the button I use didn't do anything.  I had no idea what the problem might be and cried out to God, asking HIM what I should do.

Right after praying, my attention was drawn to a very small light, just a little dot, that was on the corner of the "Fn" key. I didn't remember seeing that light before and touched that key as I looked at it. The light went out. (The light apparently indicated that the "Fn" key was active, and I must have touched that key at some time since finishing the blog preparation the previous day without realizing it, activating the key.) 

Then I was given the idea to try to make a screen print with the light off, and everything worked as normal.

God knew exactly what the problem was, that the "Fn" key had been activated as shown by the very small light.  And HE was able to draw my attention to the problem by showing me that little light. This still amazes me today after many years.  

 

 

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💥 Praying in faith

 

Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ

 

I have been reminded of this story several times recently and believe that I am to share it with you. 

 

When my son, Jared was about 8-10 years old ....... he wanted a dog. I was very busy and stressed so I said, "I will not get you a dog but if you really want one .... pray and ask God to send one to the door" ........ meaning that I did not want to lift one finger to help. 

 

A couple of months passed. 

 

One day, he came to me very excited and stated, "Mom he's here. The dog I prayed for is here at the back door!"  

 

I thought .... no way! I followed him into the living room and looked outside. Sure enough there was a small black dog just sitting there with tail wagging, waiting to be let into the house. 

 

Jared said, "Mom, I did what you said over and over. God sent me a dog! Can I keep him?" 

 

We let the dog in ... he did not jump .... he did not bark .... he was house broken ... he had a healthy shiny coat. This dog was wonderful. He was very well cared for and did not have a collar. 

 

I thought that someone will really be looking for this dog. My husband and I searched for several weeks for the owner. We live in a very rural area where there is no neighborhood.   We never found an owner ...... because Jared was the owner.   He named the dog "Hobbs". 

 

God answered the prayers of a young boy who diligently prayed in faith while his mother did not want to deal with one more thing. 

 

This wonderful dog became a cherished part of our family for many years. ... such a blessing. We all needed this dog!

For me...
Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 
For Jared
Matthew 11:24 Jesus says ... Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Jared and Hobbs the following winter:

  

 

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Comments by Cathy Varner, member of the body of Christ:

 

That’s wonderful. It must have done wonders in establishing his faith in God. 

 

Great that you all ended up enjoying the dog.

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Today, our way to God is through Jesus Christ. In OT God spoke to the people through HIS prophets.

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 15, 2021)

  

John 14:6   Jesus says:  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.

Jesus, The Word, is the way to go to God.

When God speaks to us, we believe the Word and we agree with what God has said and we are born again and given the Holy Spirit of God when we believe the Word given to us.

And immediately God changes us into a new creature, not of ourselves nor of our own works, but by God will.

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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In the Old Testament God spoke to HIS people by HIS prophets.

Moses was called by God to come up to the mountain to be instructed by God.

Exodus 20

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before ME.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate ME;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love ME, and keep MY commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh HIS name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that HIS fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

23 Ye shall not make with ME gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto ME, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record MY name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

25 And if thou wilt make ME an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

1 Peter 4:1-2  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

(our flesh suffers when go in the way the Holy Spirit leads, not following what the flesh wants to do) 

 

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

 

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Proverbs 18:6-8  A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

 

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

 

8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

 

 ***

 

1 John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in HIM (in God), that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE heareth us:

15 And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM. 

 

 

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💥 Matthew 6 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1-4    Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly.

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5-13    And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.

After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

*****

14-18    For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

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19-21    Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

(I believe we lay up treasure in heaven each time we hear word of God and do word of God.)

*****

22-23  The light of the body is the eye:  if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.  

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

*****

24-34    No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

(Can you get an inch taller by thinking about it?)


And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

*****

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

*****

34    Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

(Thoughts about tomorrow will come to us.  Instead of thinking on those thoughts, pray, settling the matter through prayer and by waiting until God brings the answer to you and then act upon that which you hear from God.)

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