Galatians 1
The apostle Paul says:
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by HIS grace,
16 To reveal HIS Son in me, that I might preach HIM among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by HIS grace,
16 To reveal HIS Son in me, that I might preach HIM among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
God taught Paul.
For 3 years Paul was taught directly by God. Paul tells this story to king Agrippa
Acts 26
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
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.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
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.
(Notice Jesus called "Saul", Paul, by name! God called me by Name. God called Samuel by name. The call of God to the ministry is by name! But so many who try to be ministers are not called by God. They put themselves into the ministry by their own desire, by going to man to learn what to do in ministry. By copying other ministers that they admire. They are "mockers." Jude v. 17 Many of them don't even have the Spirit of God.)
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:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
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:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
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Comments by Joan Boney:
When I was five years old, one of my Church of Christ relatives gave me a Bible for my birthday. We had no Bibles at my house. My mother and father did not go to a church, they did not speak about church, but they did not speak against church either.
It was a little white Bible (old and new testaments). I would get in bed and I pull the covers up over my head and turn the flashlight on and read the Bible at night when I went to bed. (I was able to read before I went to school because my mother's youngest sister lived with us and she read to me from nursery books from the time I was about two years old and I learned to read by the time I was 3 or 4.)
God must have put scripture in my heart. One time,when I was a young child, before I was in elementary school, I went to my aunt and said, "Where is that scripture which says, The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want."
My favorite aunt was a Church of Christ member. She didn't live where we lived but when we went to visit her she would always take me to church with her.
One day when I was about 3 years old my aunt took me to church with her. We sat down in one of the pews and I heard my name called. I stood up and said, "Yes." My aunt got me settled down and the preacher came in and began preaching. (I believe that was God calling me much as God called the young child Samuel.)
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I Samuel 1
Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, had no child.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if THOU wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if THOU wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
God gave Hannah a baby, Samuel, and after Samuel was weaned Hannah took the baby to Eli, the priest, and gave Samuel to the Lord.
I Samuel 1
19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish HIS word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish HIS word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
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I Samuel 2
11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
(The sons of the priest, Eli, were evil.)
12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.
25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon Mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29 Wherefore kick ye at My sacrifice and at Mine offering, which I have commanded in My habitation; and honourest thy sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel My people?
30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before ME for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from ME; for them that honour ME I will honour, and they that despise ME shall be lightly esteemed.
31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32 And thou shalt see an enemy in My habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
35 And I will raise ME up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in MINE heart and in MY mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before MINE anointed for ever.
36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.
25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon Mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29 Wherefore kick ye at My sacrifice and at Mine offering, which I have commanded in My habitation; and honourest thy sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel My people?
30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before ME for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from ME; for them that honour ME I will honour, and they that despise ME shall be lightly esteemed.
31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32 And thou shalt see an enemy in My habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
35 And I will raise ME up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in MINE heart and in MY mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before MINE anointed for ever.
36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
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God calls the child Samuel ...
I Samuel 3
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if HE call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that HE said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let HIM do what seemeth HIM good.
19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if HE call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that HE said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let HIM do what seemeth HIM good.
19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
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In this chapter, we have ministers called by God and Jesus and set into the ministry.
God identifies those who are HIS Ministers by the Word and acts which God has those ministers speak and do.
But many ministers put themselves into the ministry without the call of God. Jude describes this as follows:
Jude
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
(JB ... "Mocker" is one who copies another)
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* I heard Kenneth Copeland tell how he became a minister by copying Kenneth Hagin, the inventor of the Faith Movement in the mid-60's.
Copeland said he was pilot of Hagin's plane and he began watching Hagin's presentations at Hagin's meetings. Copeland said he began thinking, "I could do that."
So Copeland locked himself into his own garage for about two weeks and memorized Kenneth Hagin's tape recordings and began appearing on stage with his own performances, singing & preaching.
Kenneth Copeland has a very good singing voice, popular music style. He is also a very handsome man and comes across very well on stage. One problem that I saw however is Kenneth Copeland has some type of fierce spirit.
Jude ... 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Jude ... 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
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(JB ... * I heard Marilyn Hickey give this statement about herself at one of her meetings. Marilyn said, One of her friends heard her speak and said to her, "Marilyn you are the most boring speaker I've ever heard." So Marilyn decided to get help. She contacted a drama coach to help her. Marilyn developed a very strong ability as a, (shall I say entertainer,) of audiences.
The apostle Paul said: I Corinthians 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
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JB ...God taught me to depend on the Holy Spirit. To read the Bible and consider carefully what the Holy Spirit says as I read Bible, and when I get on stage speak those words brought to my mind by the Spirit of God, sharing those scriptures and those concepts, and to do same things as I write. Write those things brought to my mind by the Holy Spirit of God.
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* Bob Tilton said, he and one of his friends heard a faith healing type preacher and decided they could do that.
(JB) As I understood what Bob said, they practiced what they had seen this preacher do and got a tent and traveled about doing this type meeting. Later Bob said he decided to be an evangelist and even later a pastor, starting a church at Farmer's Branch, Texas.
Bob preached a "prosperity message" when I first started attending his church "Word of Faith" at Farmer's Branch, Texas in approximately 1977.
Basically he taught us to find a scripture and claim that scripture over that which we wanted. Eventually we would get that which we wanted, said Bob.
What God taught me was to do this: Joshua 1:8 This book of the law (the verses of the Holy Bible) 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? (says God) 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.
9 Have not I commanded thee? (says God) 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.
God taught me to be led by the Holy Spirit. But Bob taught us to be led by what you wanted, by your own flesh!
For example: Bob said, "If you want a red pickup, find a photo of a red pickup, and place that photo on your refrigerator door, and somehow after you see that photo enough, you will figure out how to get that red pickup."
Bob also taught us to hunt a scripture that seemed to justify that which we wanted, and to "claim" this scripture daily.
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God was teaching me to take a scripture and keep it before me and conform my thinking to the Bible.
For example:
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
For several weeks, I would keep that scripture before me and try to go by "peace" and I measured by asking myself, "Did the word I spoke "edify" the church in things of God.
I even began to consider if what I wanted to speak would do this: "Will this edify the church?"
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After God showed me the difference between the Faith movement as they claimed scripture to get what they wanted, and my following the Holy Spirit in meditating on scripture day and night to follow what God wanted me to do ...
I talked to our Bible teacher at Word of Faith. I said, "I didn't know I was different from others at Word of Faith."
Don said, "You were never anything like any one at Word of Faith. We talked about faith. You lived faith."
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Then in 1982, God gave me a dream and used that dream to get me out of this church, Word of Faith.
Dream 1979: Poison Gas Killing the Congregation
A meeting was going on. I went into a room where a man was speaking to a small group of people. I sat down and began to listen. A second man rushed into the room and said, "Stop ... can't you see ... it's too late ... it's already begun!" (He disappeared and the first man resumed speaking to the people.)
No one seemed interested in what had "already begun"... but I was.
There were tall windows on the side of the room. I looked out and was very shocked at that which I saw.
A tall pole with a civil defense type speaker on top of the pole was standing there. The speaker was set there to warn the people. But instead, I saw a white gas coming out of the speaker and I knew that gas would kill the people. It was coming directly toward those of us who were sitting in that room where that man was speaking!
I looked at the man who was sitting next to me. He had a big smile on his face. His eyes were open and he was looking directly at the speaker ... and then I saw it, this man was already dead. He was a corpse. I looked at the other people who were in that room listening to the speaker. And saw they were all dead also ... and as I sat there among them, listening, I began to feel sleepy and I knew that which was coming from the speaker was killing me also.
Destruction was everywhere. It was like bombs dropping all over the city. (Churches everywhere were changing doctrines to suit themselves, "falling away" from scripture and setting up their own doctrines opposite to scripture ... anti-christ, opposite from scripture.)
***
I didn't know what this dream meant ... until one Wednesday night in 1982. I went to church. Bob Tilton was speaking to the congregation. I sat down and began to listen. Then I looked at the man who was sitting to my left. I was very shocked! That man was the man in the poison gas dream of 1979.
I looked at the other people in the room and they looked like the dead people in the poison gas dream.
I got up and took my purse and Bible and went into the restroom and began to pray.
I said, "God ... I believe YOU are showing me to leave this church group. So I am going to get into my car and drive away. But if I'm wrong, show me and I will turn my car around and come back."
I was not wrong.
God began teaching me the difference between the Faith movement being taught at that church and real faith which HE was teaching me.
Huge destruction was everywhere in the churches ... all over the world. (Mt. 7:13-14 "Few there be that find life.")
In the next chapter, I will tell you some of the things I sadly endured and witnessed at various churches as pastors spoke to their congregations.
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