💥 Podcast: When we need help, God provides the help we need

 

 

 (This podcast was previously recorded and published on May 22, 2020)

 

 

 When situations of this life arrive, we should first turn to God in prayer to see what we should do.  

Then if we need help from another human, God will provide that person to help us.

I've found people are always in place to help when help is needed.  And when I know they are appointed by God for this purpose, I can praise God for the help provided.

Some people turn directly to humans when there is a need, but I like to turn first to God and discuss the matter with God.

This podcast shows God helping in time of need.

 

*****

 

Psalm 105 

4 Seek the Lord, and HIS strength:

5 Remember HIS marvellous works that HE hath done; HIS wonders, and the judgments of HIS mouth; 

Stop and think of some of those things God has done for you. 

***

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.

***

Romans 8:28   And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose. 

We must hold fast to God's Word knowing it will be fulfilled. 

*** 

John 4  (Jesus says) 

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.

***

Romans 8:14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

On December 6, 2018, I fell in my house in Texas where I lived alone.  (I was 81 years old at that time.) 

As the ambulance workers rolled me past the front door of that house, I heard, "You'll never see this house again." 

After surgery, I spent 2 1/2 months in rehabilitation hospitals in Texas.  I knew I could no longer live alone.  A member of the body of Christ, Pam Padgett, took me to live in her home in Colorado and I put the Texas house up for sale in December 2018.

In March, 2019, God gave me a vision about the Texas house.  A man drove past the Texas house and looked closely at the house.  He passed by the house and got to the alley behind the house and stopped his car and backed up and sat at the side of the house looking intently at the house. 

I felt God was showing me that the man who was going to buy the house would pass up the house but then stop and come back and buy the house. 

The house was on the market between December, 2018 and March, 2020, without selling. 

I was often reminded of the vision which gave me hope and I often prayed that God would bring the right person to see the house.  I prayed that the person would be in a position to afford to buy the house without it being a financial burden.

But I always held out hope for the house to sell because of that vision and also because I knew I would never see that house again and therefore would have no need for the house.   

The house was a burden to me during that time for we had to pay utilities, insurance, lawn upkeep and most months it cost us approximately $500 to pay expenses on the house which was not being used. 

During that time, we had 3 offers which fell through and were disappointments.   

In March 2020, at the peak of the Coronavirus, I was really troubled over the house and I turned to God in prayer asking HIM if there was anything I should do about the house.  I felt God was showing me to lower the price of the house and put it "on special sale" for one week.  Which I did immediately.  The house sold in 2 days at the special price in late March 2020.  

Then a series of events happened: 

* The buyers backed out.
* The realtors who had represented the property said they thought it was time for us to part company and they left us.
* I found another realtor by phone and he had the house back on the market in 2 days.
* The buyers who backed out returned and purchased the house again, setting a closing date for May 15, 2020. (Just like the vision God gave me in March 2019.)

There were many fears between April 18, 2020, and the closing date of May 15,2020.

I just prayed every time a fear came.

Philippians 4:5-6

6 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. 

Two days before the closing date, a news report came that  California colleges had cancelled fall classes at all 23 universities in their system due to Coronavirus.

(The buyers of the house in Texas were coming to work at Texas Tech University, one as a teacher in the art department.  What if the university in Lubbock cancelled their classes?  What if the buyers became fearful and backed out of the property purchase?  What if the buyers got the Coronavirus? What if a projected storm hit the house and damaged the house which would stop the sale?  Many fears along the way.) 

With each fear, I prayed. 

The house closed on May 15, 2020, as planned.  The mortgage company wired the buyer's loan money to the ministry bank account. 

It was over!  

It had been a rather long struggle, almost 1-1/2 years. 

But all along the way, God had provided all my needs. 

* Pam Padgett (member of body of Christ) did so much work in the needed things in sale of house in Texas.

She had to arrange for all the repairs shown by the inspection ... and she had to get paper evidence showing we had arranged and had paid for specific repairs! 

I'm totally unequipped to do these things. Pam has the gifts from God to do such.

Pam was also able to read contracts and work out details.

Again I am helpless in such.

Pam coordinated everything by phone and computer and spared me from worrying over anything. It was amazing.

 

I did basically nothing ... except pray when I was concerned over those potential threats which I heard through newscasts. I'm glad I stayed informed over what is going on in USA and economy for it gave me opportunities to pray over each concern as that concern surfaced. 

Up through the moment on Friday, May 15, 2020, when Pam learned the house money was in our ministry bank account, we both prayed over details.

I was especially praying that God would keep the buyers enthusiastic over the house. This is what God did.

The house is a good buy for these people. The wife said she was so happy they now had a place where their art works could be displayed. (As I understand it she will teach art at Texas Tech. I think her husband is also employed at Tech. They are moving to Lubbock from Colorado.) 

* Wes Graham, my realtor friend in Clovis, New Mexico (USA), took time to cover many realty needs. 

* Tom Mullen, my contractor for the Texas house, covered so many things even though he is currently involved in 3 major building projects in Texas. He saw that every repair deadline was met.

* Oralia, my long time housekeeper in Texas, was always available as needed, though her husband has cancer and she is constantly working with him.

Everyone came through with their respective areas of expertise.

God put everyone in place to do their jobs.

I did nothing but pray.

So after a year and a half on the market, we have no property in Texas! And all this in the midst of the most uncertain time in our lifetimes so far as this virus and the subsequent economy is concerned.

I really love living in Colorado, which God worked out for me. Also I'm glad not to be living alone at this time in life. It has been great for me here with Pam and the 2 dogs and 3 cats ... and my TV and sound system.

I hope to go forward showing God's works in our lives and how great His work and His word is. 

As the apostle Paul told us:  "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:19)

Just hold onto those things God has told you while you wait by faith in that which God has said concerning the matter at hand.

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. 

 

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Scriptures:

Psalms 139:23-24   Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
 

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

Comments from Pam Padgett: Various things affect us and sometimes hide in our hearts without our being fully aware. But God knows what is there and needs to be removed, and even how to clean our hearts and to lead us in the way of life.

 

*** 

 

1 Timothy 6:17-19  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, WHO giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

 

 ***

Romans 8:29-31  For whom He (God) did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

 

*** 

 

Philippians 5:5-6  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 

 

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 

 

*** 

 

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. 

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💥 II Corinthians 13 (Reading through Bible)

 

 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

(The 3 witnesses given to them were by Paul ... You do not need 3 different people witnessing the truth on a matter.  But if the Holy Spirit rises up with the truth 3 times, Paul is saying  every word shall be established.)

² I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

³ Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

⁴ For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God.

For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

⁵ Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

⁶ But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

⁷ Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

⁹ For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

¹⁰ Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

(Paul would correct them unless they corrected themselves.)

¹¹ Finally, brethren, farewell.

Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

(We are "perfect" when we obey scripture and the Word of God correctly by the Spirit of God.)

¹² Greet one another with an holy kiss.

¹³ All the saints salute you.

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

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💥 Podcast: We turn to God from idols that we may be examples of the living Word by our actions

 

 

 

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on May 19, 2020)

 

 
As soon as we recognize the religious idols, we turn to God from those idols to serve the "living and true" God, just as the believers did in the day of the apostle Paul.

Paul wrote of this in I Thessalonians 1:9 "How ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God".

In the Old Testament, they built a golden calf to be their god in the days of Aaron. Moses ground that idol into dust and made the children of Israel drink it.

Jeroboam, king of Israel built 2 golden calves for the people of God to worship.

Today in the churches they set up ministers for the people to worship calling these men "Reverend", "Pope", and such ... and then they set up crosses of wood and stone for the people to bow down before. More idols.

They set up many false doctrines in churches today.

As soon as we see such, we also turn away from these idols of man and turn to God as the followers of Paul did.

 

*****

 

 I Thessalonians 1  (Paul says)

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 

10 And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom HE raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

(We who turn from these religious idols will be saved from the great tribulation by Jesus when HE comes to gather the church who worships God.)

***

John 4:24   God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

*** 

I Thessalonians 5:21   Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

***

 

Psalm 111:9  HE (God) sent redemption unto HIS people: HE hath commanded HIS covenant for ever: holy and reverend is HIS name.

 

 *** 

Entire church groups have fallen away from Bible to worship other doctrines and have set up many things in the churches which were authored by man and not by God.

As they set up golden calf in the Old Testament, also they set up things to make the people feel spiritual without following the Spirit of God.

This is the counterfeit church.

* They call themselves names not in the Bible, such as "Reverend."

* They dress their ministers in special garments of clothing, not in New Testament.

* They cross themselves thinking to bless themselves, not in New Testament.

* They light candles at church gathers for religious purposes, not in New Testament.

* They set up water which they call "Holy Water", not in New Testament.

* They bow down before graven images to recite words.

* They wear around their neck crosses and medallions, not told to do this in Bible.

* They discard portions of scripture and teach perverse doctrines to their church groups.

By all this the man of lawlessness, antichrist, reigns in today's church groups.

Paul told us antichrist would be in the church groups before Jesus returns.

II Thessalonians 2

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (of the Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (antichrist)

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

(Churches would fall away from portions of scripture.) 

***

What we are seeing today in church groups is the end time apostasy.

I Timothy 4

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

The Catholic church are examples of this as they forbid their ministers to marry and as they command their people to abstain from the eating of meat on Fridays.  They follow seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

***

II Timothy 3   (the apostle Paul says)

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

(Paul shows by verse 5, this would happen in the church groups of the last days.)

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

(They deny the power of certain scripture to rule today in the church as they set up doctrine opposite from the scripture.)

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

13 Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

***

Jesus said concerning the sign of the end time:

Matthew 24:4-5    Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

They come saying they are Christians.  They say "Jesus is Lord".  But they do not show that they follow the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

***

Jude

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

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.

(While they say "Jesus is Lord", they show that the Word does not rule over themselves, therefore their actions deny Jesus as Lord.)

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:  (They show no fear of Bible and they change doctrines from Bible to suit themselves) clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 

They attract other ungodly men to their doctrines as they approve sin in the church itself.

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

They copy other persons who seem religious, thus they are mockers, copiers, having not the Spirit.

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 (copiers) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

The ministers of these groups are like well trained performers on a stage and by their own flesh they draw to themselves others who are fleshly ... but they seek their own ways and do things to cause people to admire themselves and speak perverse doctrines.

The apostle Paul  told us this would happen in the church.

Acts 20   (Paul speaking to the elders of the church at Ephesus)

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

***

Peter also warned us about the false teachers of the end times.

II Peter 2

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

They entice men through clever words of their own flesh.  But their words have no real power though they promise power.  Their words entice the flesh of men.  And they draw large crowds to themselves because they do not speak of sin but they speak of approval. Therefore there is no repentance from sin in their churches.

***

The apostle John said there were many antichrists trying to get into the church groups.

I John 2

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

They came among the real church but then they left ... They set up their own churches where they could present their own doctrines after the lives of Paul and the real apostles of Christ.  (Acts 20)

So today we have all these denominations set up by man.

But according to Paul, this had to happen to the churches before Jesus returns ... the apostasy, the falling away from doctrine, before the great tribulation.

***

Luke 20:46-47   Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 
Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. 

Matthew 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves 

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

***

I Corinthians 14:39   Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

***

1 Corinthians 7:10-11  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.


Mark 10:11-12 And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

***

Ephesians 4:11-13   And HE (Jesus) 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:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 

***

 

I Corinthians 2:1-5  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and HIM crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 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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Scriptures:

 

John 1:16-17  And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 

 

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 

*** 

 

Matthew 22:35-40    Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked HIM (Jesus) a question, tempting HIM, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment. 

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

 

*** 

Matthew 7:14   Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Comments from Beth Martin:  What is our strait and narrow? 

 

It is what Word is illuminated to each of us by His Spirit. This is what we meditate on and purpose to do. This is what we ask Him to help us with, if needed ..... (I usually do need help). This is what gives us life ..... eternal life. This is what we thank God for each day. This is the manna coming down from heaven to feed us (in the spiritual sense). 

 

Praise God for His Holy Word .... to us and for us to keep us on the strait and narrow. 

 

*** 

 

Psalm 73:25-26  Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

 

*** 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

 

*** 

 

Proverbs 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 

Comments by Pam Padgett:  When we have been hurt by someone's words or actions toward us, resentment and un-forgiveness can lodge in our hearts and will come out of our mouths at some point if we don't strongly deal with this by turning to God and seeking HIS help in cleansing our hearts completely from these things.  This is an important part of keeping our hearts with all diligence.  

 

 

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💥 II Corinthians 12 (Reading through the Bible)

 

 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

² I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
³ And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
⁴ How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

(JB ... This type of thing happened to me shortly after I was born again in 1975.  I was asleep in the night and I was "transported" into heaven.  I was with God, with Jesus, with Holy  Spirit.  I saw no physical images.  It was an experience in the spirit.  At that time I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, made one with the word of God, God and Holy Spirit witnessing.  A few nights later, the same thing happened again.  I believe this had to do with the 2 ministry offices, apostle/prophet, to which I am assigned by God ... also It gave me a very strong anointing in handling Bible, strictly for the purpose God had for me to do on this earth... no credit to myself... just the will of God for me.)

^{II Corinthians 12:5} Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

⁶ For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

⁹ And HE said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

¹¹ I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

¹² Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

¹³ For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

¹⁴ Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

¹⁶ But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

¹⁷ Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
¹⁸ I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

¹⁹ Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

(edify:  to build you up in the word of God and in the ways of God.)

²⁰ For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

²¹ And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

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💥 Podcast: Getting our guidance from God

 

 

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on May 17, 2020) 

 

Recently I saw a documentary concerning Franklin Roosevelt.

They spoke about his famous radio communications with the people called "Fireside chats."

These were very effective.  One of his advisors said to him, "You should do these broadcasts every day."

Roosevelt responded, "No ... if I spoke every day, they would not be as effective.   The people would become less interested.  The broadcasts need to be special."

I speak Podcasts and blog messages daily.  The thought came to me saying maybe I should speak only occasionally.

I turned to God in prayer and asked God what HE wanted me to do.

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Immediately I was reminded of the following instructions from the Bible.

Hebrews 3

8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  9 When your fathers tempted ME, proved ME, and saw MY works forty years.

10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known MY ways.

11 So I sware in MY wrath, They shall not enter into MY rest.)

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

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Hebrews 10

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful that promised;)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  

(As we "see the day of the Lord approaching," we should exhort one another "even more.") 

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

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I had my answer from God concerning that which HE wanted me to do.

Paul said that he didn't go in the clever ways of men but in the power of God.

I Corinthians 2

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 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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