💥 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.

 

***

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

***

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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💥 Matthew 16 (Reading through the Bible)

  

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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💥 God answers our prayers as HE wills

 
Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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(Comments from Sandra Chupik)

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

Matthew 14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29 And HE said, Come. 

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

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

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

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

Numbers 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Deuteronomy 2

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

2 And the LORD spake unto me, saying,

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

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

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

(to the heritage of Esau)

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

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

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

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

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

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

I had no where to go.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There is no lack.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

***

 

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

 

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

 

 

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💥 Matthew 15 (Reading through the Bible)

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

*****

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

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

 

  

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

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

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

*****

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

 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

But He answered her not a word.

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

And they did all eat, and were filled:

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

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

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

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💥 Answer to prayer

Cathy Varner, member of the body of Christ

 

God answered my prayer and supplied my need for good weather this past Sunday.

Tickets had been purchased quite a few months ago for me and my son to go to a concert in a city that’s almost 2 hours away from me. It would be at an amphitheater, outdoors, and it was going to happen, rain or shine with no refund.

I kept praying for good weather that day. It had been kind of rainy lately but seemed it would be ok that day. My son later told me that he had once attended an outdoor concert and it rained and they just stood out there, getting soaked.

I couldn’t have asked for better weather. We spent about the whole day together, going to a couple of parks, hiked and saw a couple waterfalls. The entire day was beautiful, sunny, not too hot. The evening too was nice, no rain.

Then on the way home it rained really hard, with lightning.

I have been so grateful for the perfect weather God provided. 

 

(Comments from Sandra Chupik, member of the body of Christ)

Cathy, It's uplifting to hear how God provided beautiful weather for an enjoyable outing with your son. Sounds perfect. 

 

Reminds me of Psalm 18:30 As for God, HIS way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: HE is a buckler to all those that trust in HIM.

 

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💥 Podcast: We must not allow ourselves to fall into discouragement in our assignment. We build ourselves up in that which God has said to us.

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 24, 2021) 

 

Deuteronomy 1

21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.

23 And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:

24 And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.

25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

26 Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:

27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, HE hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

30 The LORD your God which goeth before you, HE shall fight for you, according to all that HE did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,

33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

34 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,

36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.

37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

(So for the next 40 years they wandered in the wilderness until all those men who doubted had died.  After that they crossed over Jordan and entered the land and began to possess the land.  But they had to fight for the land.)

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I Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Psalm 78

7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep HIS commandments:

8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

(It is a terrible thing to be armed by God and to turn back in the day of battle.)

10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in HIS law;

11 And forgat HIS works, and HIS wonders that HE had shewed them.

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Numbers 13:30  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Caleb knew God would cause them to overcome.

Our faith must also be in God and HIS ability and we must depend on HIM as we do our jobs on this present earth!

Joshua 1

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

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God has given us HIS Spirit to teach us and guide us and lead us.  And we are sealed with that Holy Spirit of Jesus until the day of our redemption.

Ephesians 1

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.

We must do our job as given us by God.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of MY righteousness.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 62:8  Trust in HIM at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before HIM: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

 

***

 

Revelation 3:10  (Jesus says) Because thou hast kept the word of MY patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

 

***

 

Ephesians 2:8-10  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.

 

10 For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

***

 

Psalm 145:8-9  The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

 

9 The Lord is good to all: and HIS tender mercies are over all HIS works.

 

***

 

Acts 17:26  And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

(Comments from Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ)

At 70 years old, I have noticed that I'm a little slower getting around and tire more easily when doing small maintenance jobs around my house and yard. Seeing these changes, over the past several months I've asked God if I should check into a smaller home of some kind? Or should I consider moving nearer friends or relatives? So far I have not been shown to make any changes.

However, when talking with God about these things, I have been reminded of what we're told in Acts 17:26 ... that God determines where we live and when we live there.

This is such a comfort to me.

For each of us, God has our lives worked out, including where we will live and when we will live there. We don't fret and worry as many who are not led by the Spirit of God, for we know God will get us to the exact place HE has appointed for us, and will keep us there until the time HE has appointed for us to move.

 

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💥 Matthew 14 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1-12    At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

 

 

*****

13-21    When Jesus heard of it, He departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed Him on foot out of the cities.

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.

And when it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

And they say unto Him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

He said, Bring them hither to Me.

And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

*****

22-33    And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

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

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

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

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

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

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.

And He said, Come.

And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

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

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

*****

 

 34-36    And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

 And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all that were diseased;

And besought Him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

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💥 Podcast: Possess the land which God has given you

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 23, 2021)

 

God has given to each of us an assignment to fulfill HIS purpose while we live on this earth.

In the Old Testament, God gave portions of lands to HIS people but they had to go up and possess that land though God had given it to them.

Deuteronomy 1

21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

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If you are married you have that land to which you tend day and night for the remainder of your life on this earth.

Each of us need God's wisdom to care for our assignment.

And God has promised to us:

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

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

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God has given us all that we need to do that to which HE has assigned us.  There is no lack.  There is no want.  

We are well able, through God, who has given us HIS Holy Spirit to live in us and to teach us and to guide us.

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I Corinthians 12

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

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

We are well equipped by God to do all that God assigns for us to do.

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Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 HE maketh me to lie down in green pastures: HE leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 HE restoreth my soul: HE leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for THOU art with me; THY rod and THY staff they comfort me.

5 THOU preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: THOU anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Isaiah 55:10-11  (God says) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

 

11 So shall MY word be that goeth forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 

(Comments from Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ) 

I was strengthened and comforted by this scripture. Here is what happened. David (Beth's husband) is scheduled for a hip injection to alleviate pain in his right hip. I have been praying about it. When I read verse 11 (of Isaiah 55) "it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.", the Spirit reminded me of a previous word sent to me "no weapon formed against thee shall prosper". I knew that this referred to David's procedure on Friday.

 

David will be OK. It is God's will.

Isaiah 54:17   No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

 

 ***

 

Matthew 24:6-8  Jesus is speaking of the end times ... And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

 

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

 

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 

***

 

Psalm 36:5-6  THY mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and THY faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

 

6 THY righteousness is like the great mountains; THY judgments are a great deep: O Lord, THOU preservest man and beast.

 

***

 

1 John 5:18-20  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

 

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

 

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know HIM that is true, and we are in HIM that is true, even in HIS Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

***

 

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(Comments from Sandra Chupik, member of the body of Christ) 

I usually run my sprinklers and drip irrigation in the early morning hours and never see it running. But I woke up this morning with the thought (put there by the Holy Spirit) to check the drip irrigation. The front yard drip happened to be running at the exact time I looked out of the window. Water was spurting out of a broken drip line. The water had filled the flower bed, flowed across the yard and covered the front sidewalk. I ran and turned it off.

I called my regular irrigation repair company and left a message, but he is usually booked solid. Once, during a very hot and dry summer, I had to hand water a portion of my yard for four weeks until he could send someone to repair some broken nozzles. Knowing this, I also called a second company and left a message.

Then I opened my notebook where I write down my problems and ask God for wisdom. I wrote down my request to God ... that HE would cause my regular repairman to send someone to repair my dripline or to please show me who else to call.

Approximately one hour later, the owner called to say he had a little time if he could come right then. He not only came right away, repaired the drip line, found another bad spot and repaired it, but he also removed a dead skunk that was hidden behind some ornamental grass.

I am grateful to God that HE heard my request, answered it, and restored my peace ... and did it so quickly.

 

(Comments from Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ)

This is wonderful ... I am reminded ..... Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

He supplies ALL of our needs! 

 

 

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💥 Matthew 13 (Reading through the Bible)

 

 1-9    The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying,

Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

*****

10-17    And the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

*****

18-23    Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

*****

24-30    Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.

The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

 

*****

31-32    Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:  Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

*****

33     Another parable spake He unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

*****

34    All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them:  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

*****

35-43    Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

*****

44   Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 

*****

45-46    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 

*****

47-50    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

*****

51-52    Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things?

They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Then said He unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

*****

53-58    And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence.

And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not His mother called Mary? and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

And they were offended in Him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

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