💥 God appears to Isaac.

Genesis 26

 

1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5 Because that Abraham obeyed MY voice, and kept MY charge, MY commandments, MY statutes, and MY laws.

6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: 

 

*** 

 

Psalm 111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do HIS commandments: HIS praise endureth for ever.

 

***

 

I learned a "fear of the Lord" by all these examples in Genesis and Exodus.

 

A fear of the Lord means ... you know you must obey God for if you  go against what God tells you will bring ruin upon yourself.

 

Example:  In 1982, God gave me a dream showing me I was in great danger if I continued to go out among the radio audiences as I had done in cities across the USA.  At the end of that dream, I heard these words,  "Don't go until you see Exodus 15."

 

Immediately, I cancelled all meetings and planned to remain at my apartment in Dallas. 

 

One woman who was in our church group and is no longer in our church group said to me,  "Joan ... you can't do this.  You have to go out.  If you go out they will give money.  If you don't go out they will not give money."

 

I replied, "God told me don't go ... and I'm not going."  

 

I never went out again.  God had another plan for me and I could do that assignment without leaving my bedroom.  (blog, books, podcasts)  I had to wait a few years but by 2012 these works were beginning.  Until then, I sent writings by US mail to those who remained from the radio audience.  And I recorded cassette  tapes and sent to them and terminated the radio work completely in 1984. 

 

Since the blog began in 2012, one-million seven hundred thousand people all over this world have downloaded our blog.  Jesus Ministries Exhortations.  And we have published over 17,000 writings exhorting the church in the word and ways of God. It costs us no money to publish the writings on the blog.

 

(God gave me a dream showing me the blog is a "little voice" ... but it is a "nice little voice."  Yes, it is.)

 

I'm 87 years old now.  I can write and record and publish ... but not travel.

 

God was planning my way when HE added these things and removed me from travel.  Also I think travel would have shortened my years on this earth.  I was young when the years of travel were removed from me and I didn't like staying at home ... but I did what God said and now I'm very glad, and live a peaceful and happy life.

 

💥💥💥 

 

Genesis 26:12  Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

 

At first, the herdsmen strove with Isaac's herdsmen over water.  But after digging several wells they were left in peace to live in the land.

 

Genesis 26:13-14   And the man (Isaac) waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

 

 ***

 

God was with Isaac and spoke to him:

 

Genesis 26:23-25  And he went up from thence to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

 

***

 

26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

28 And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.

30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

 

(We cannot exist with unbelievers but we can send them away from us in peace.)

 

 

***

 

Genesis 26:34-35   And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

 

💥💥💥

 

 All these Old Testament scriptures are examples for us:

 1 Corinthians 10:6
    Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  

 

As a new Christian in 1975, these verses were certainly examples to me showing me what would befall me if I chose evil as some of these people did. 

 

I paid very close attention to these Old Testament examples and they helped me to avoid many pitfalls and helped me to choose godly ways.

 

💥💥💥💥💥

 

 

 

💥 Book #12: Life in Christ Series: * Great Is THY Faithfulness, Chapter 14

 

(Order all books from Amazon:  E-books: 99 cents each)

 

Jesus says:  In This World You Will Have Tribulation.  Be of Good Cheer.  I Have Overcome This World.

 

In 1960, there was an article in the Dallas Morning News which confounded us ... there was going to be something ahead, the article said, called "plastic money," and in time we would all be using this plastic money.

We couldn't imagine such a thing.

One of the plastic cards was called "Master Card".  (The article said we would use this instead of money to purchase almost everything ... food, gas, movie tickets, clothing ...)

*****

I use it today but I never charge any amount that I do not have cash to pay for immediately.  And I never let the amount carry over to the next month.  I pay in full at each billing. 

Often people charge things they cannot pay for and then they lose their jobs and say, "If only this hadn't happened, I would have been fine."

Living the way of the world, puts you in a place for tribulation in the world. 

(There are many tribulations of this world that we can avoid by choosing not to live in the way of this world.)

Debt is one of the main traps today.

In those days (1960's), some stores had their own credit accounts, but to use a single card everywhere would make credit much easier... and it did.

It is easier to go into debt now.

*****

In 1975, when I was born again, one of the first things I recall God teaching me was to get out of debt and to stay out of debt.  

Romans 13:8     Owe no man any thing

I had borrowed about $8000  from a customer who wanted very much to buy into my business.

But she was not born again and now I was born again.

I saw such scripture as:

II Corinthians 6:14    Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers

I purposed to free myself and pay that money back as quickly as possible.

I learned to cut back on everything.  If it wasn't essential, I didn't buy it.  

For example:  If coffee cost 50 cents and I could make it at home for less, I carried it from home in a thermos or paper cup.  These are "small" things but it caught my attention and caused me to live differently. 

(I don't do this today because I'm out of debt but I did this when I was trying to get out of debt to restructure my thinking about debt and purchases.)

Of course I was praying constantly for help and wisdom.

In a short time, the debt was down to $6000.

*****

In my store, the bulk of our money was made selling jewelry. 

But when I was on a buying trip at that time, an old Navajo rug caught my eye.  I couldn't walk away from it.  I bought it for $500.

I took it to a very fine rug appraiser in Albuquerque.  

She said to me, "Joan ... you really lucked out.  Most of these old rugs are worthless but you've bought a very good rug worth about $1500 today.  You need to hold on to this, so when you return to Dallas you need to put a very high price on it so no one will buy it."

The day after I returned to Dallas, a man came to see our merchandise. 

He saw that old rug, rolled up and at the side of the wall.  He asked, "What's that?"

I told him it was just an old Navajo rug.

He said, "Let me see it."

I said, "I don't think you'd like it."

He said, "Let me see it anyway."

I rolled it out on the floor.

He asked, "How much?"

I replied, "$5000."

He said, "I'll take it."

I tried to talk him out of it.  But he insisted and began writing out a check. 

I did not overprice merchandise.  I protected my customers. 

I was really horrified in what I had done. 

I said, "I'm not going to cash your check for a week.  This will give you time to live with the rug and if you want to bring it back I will give you your check back."

He took the rug away with him.

He did not bring it back. I don't believe I ever saw this man again.

I used that money, and put another $1000 with it, to pay off the unbeliever who had invested in my business.

Never again was I in debt nor yoked to an unbeliever. 

I believe it was God who led me to buy that rug.  It was the only time I ever had a rug for sale in my shop.  My merchandise was mostly jewelry with some high quality Indian pottery.

I feel certain today the rug is worth what the man paid for it.  Art works that are really quality have a way of escalating in price through the years.  But I never overpriced any thing again.

Before I was born again, I sold a necklace that I began to have doubts about the quality of the stone and I tried to buy it back after I was born again, but they would not sell it.  I wanted to make anything right that I had done before I was born again. I would not want to defraud another person.

I Thessalonians 4:6-7    That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

I tried to run my life and my business by scripture, honoring God.

*****

Has anyone told you about the financial problem?

In 1981, I was having a meeting for the radio audience at the convention center in Seattle. 

I was in my hotel room between meetings when I received a phone call from one of our part time staff who worked for the office manager in Arlington, Texas.

She asked me if anyone had told me about the financial problem.

"What financial problem?"  I asked.

She said we didn't have enough money to pay our radio bills for the next month.

Both the offerings and the radio station bills were handled by the office manager at that time.

She had said nothing at all to me about a problem. 

(To confess a problem would have been contrary to the doctrine of the faith movement which she was in and so was I at that time in 1981.  Very shortly after this, God removed me from that movement.)

I lived a very conservative life with no debt ever.  I spent only what I had money for and my own apartment was only $180 per month.  My car was 10-15 years old.  I only took a salary of $400 per month from ministry. 

(Today I take no salary from ministry and haven't taken any salary for more than 10 years.  I am able to meet my personal needs through my social security check of $779 per month.  I live in a house owned by the ministry... no mortgage.)

It was important to me to use as much of the offerings as possible to pay for the radio broadcasts in 1981, whereby we exhorted the church in the Word of God.

I did not know there was a problem in 1981 until this part time worker reported it to me.

*****

I began praying immediately... asking God...  "What is the problem?"

I heard one word, which was the name of the office manager.

I picked up the phone in Seattle and called her and fired her instantly.

I took control of the bills and the books and was shocked at the amount of salaries she had been paying the office workers and a tax accountant.

I called the accountant immediately and released him.  I told him we could not pay him that much money for non-profit association bookkeeping.

He replied,  "I know it's a lot of money, but in view of how much your office workers make per month, it seemed reasonable."

I explained to him that was all changing immediately.

(Later I asked an IRS agent who had seen my bookkeeping if he thought I could handle the required IRS books and non-profit organization reports and he said he thought I could.  This way I did not have to pay an accountant and I did my own reports to the IRS.)

It was possible to turn around the financial problem within the month and we always paid our radio bills on time as long as I chose to remain on radio.

In no way do I consider the office manager to have been dishonest.  She was simply unwise.  She was in the faith movement and living by their doctrine which basically said God wants people to prosper.  Therefore she was enabling everyone to prosper with our money.

That stopped the day I fired her.

When I took this action, based on that one word (her name) which I heard from God, all the office staff quit, except for that part time worker who told me of the financial problem.

One woman and her husband were being paid, what I considered to be incredible salaries.  The husband was a free-lance gospel singer who hoped to make it big with some ministry.  I didn't have music in my meetings, but he was being paid for office work by our office manager.  I received a very bitter note in response to their quitting.  They expected to remain at work for me through Christmas.  I said, "No.  You go now.  As of now you are fired."  They sent me a Christmas card and in the card they wrote and said I had ruined their Christmas.  (Nonsense.)

Thinking back on it, they should never have been hired to work for a ministry, for they were both divorced and had married after divorce ... adultery according to Bible.

Matthew 5:32    Jesus said: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

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

These scriptures were not taught in the faith movement, but today I would not have permitted such people to be in our ministry unless they repented and agreed with the scripture on the matter.  These scriptures did not become known to me until later.  It was the office manager who hired them but the minister is also responsible for the people allowed in the ministry.

This happened in 1981.

*****

After I wrote books, published by Amazon in 2016-2017, I sent a copy of one of the books telling about antichrist in the churches to this former office manager who was 86-years-old at that time.  I never heard any response from her.

I understand what happened.  The doctrine under which she was living was false doctrine and was the cause of her abundant distribution of our ministry money to the workers.   Also she was the type who had to think the best about everyone regardless of the facts and could only stand "good" things that made her happy.

But God knew the exact source of our financial problem, and God revealed that to me when I prayed that day in Seattle.

I took very immediate action, not sparing the fleshly feelings or "good name" of anyone.

I learned to do such from God through the following scripture which I lived by.

Paul dealing with Peter who was doing wrong: 

Galatians 2:11    But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.  v. 14  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

*****

If you go by what God shows you and you take action according to what God shows you, things straighten out rapidly.

Since that situation in 1981, there has never been a financial problem. 

We operate this ministry within our means to pay for services or we just do not do those things.

People in the office staff threatened me:  "Just wait until you go out for meetings and have to ship boxes of tapes and have to keep up with all the contributors."

What none of us knew at that time is I would never be going out again.  God stopped that!  And those contributors left me for the most part, so there was no problem keeping up with them.

There was going to be another way to travel all over the world and speak the gospel.  It was going to be done by Internet blog and by books that would be published and distributed on Amazon in e-book and paper formats!

*****

Also since 1981, I have never asked any of our church members for offerings.

The individuals in our little church group have sent money as God has prospered them.  When they retired from their secular jobs, they sent less money in offerings.  Some died and offerings ceased as a result of their deaths.

Regardless, there has been an abundance from God and no need and no want.


Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

(When we are hearing from the Holy Spirit and following HIM, Jesus is our shepherd ... and then we have no wants that are unfulfilled ... no needs)

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

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

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.

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

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.

*****

2016  ... To Present

At the time of this writing, I drive a 23-year-old car.  It runs very well and costs almost nothing in upkeep nor in state required insurance.  I pray often that the car last for my lifetime.  I am 80-years-old.

I do not purchase anything that would cause us to be drained of cash.  I do not put money pressure on myself nor on anyone else.  I believe this is the way God has shown me to live since I was born again in 1975.

Ministers from around the world frequently send me emails telling of their many works and begging me for money and Bibles.  I do not send money nor Bibles.  They go into works never authored by God.  When God authors the work, the way also is there to do the work.  These ministers take on works which they cannot pay for and beg others for money to pay for their works.  And they love to tell of their feeding of orphans, caring for old people ... often to use these to get more money from other people.  This is not the way of God.  We take care of those things shown us by the Spirit of God.

Jesus said:  Not every one that saith unto ME, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to ME in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, ye that work iniquity.  Matthew 7:21-23

*****

At one point, the faith-movement office manager told me we could buy a Cadillac for me on monthly payments.  I was ashamed of the old car I drove because in the faith movement it seemed as if God wasn't blessing you unless you drove a nice, expensive car.  Most of the ministers I knew in that movement drove Cadillacs, Lincoln Town Cars, or Mercedes. 

My car was an old Oldsmobile with a vinyl top which was peeling off and part of the vinyl was sticking straight up into the air. 

I looked anything but blessed by God.  (can't go by appearances)  It looked awful.  But the car ran very well!  And it was very comfortable.

I continued to drive the old car,  refusing to go into debt for something we couldn't afford to pay cash for, thus continuing in what I believe God showed me when I was born again.

Romans 13:8    Owe no man any thing

I did not have a house to live in, at that time, although many said it was unwise to pay rent for apartment.  I did not choose to have mortgage and go into debt and be controlled by ways of the wisdom of this world and to be subject to the problems of this world as the world went through down-turns.

When we had enough cash I built an apartment to live in.  (1985)

Later I brought a lot  (1987) ...  and when there was sufficient money I sold the apartment and built a house (1990), in Clovis, New Mexico (USA).  No mortgage.

When I moved to Lubbock (2003), after my mother died, I sold the house in Clovis, which had doubled in value, and used that money and personal money to build the house I live in now.  This house was paid for in cash.  No mortgage.

John 16:33    These things I have spoken unto you, that in ME ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.


If you choose to live in the way of this world, which often seems wise, you put yourself in the path of the tribulation of this world.  As things change in the world and the finances go down in this world due to various unforeseen crises, you can go down with the tribulation of the world.

I have chosen not to do that.

*****

Another thing that happened in 1981, I was en route back to Dallas from a one-week-TV-talk show in Detroit.  God said to me, by putting this thought into my mind:  "Don't do any more TV talk shows."

I was scheduled for 2 more TV talk shows:  one in Dallas and another in Phoenix

Surely God would want me to fulfill my commitment on these 2 shows, I thought.

Not so.  

"But what would I tell the host of the TV shows?"  I began to think of possible excuses.

Then I heard:  "Why don't you just tell them the truth?"

(OH no ... the truth?)

I called one station and hoped to leave a message with a secretary but the minister who was the host of the TV show came on the phone.

I said, "I'm going to have to cancel being on your show.  God has told me not to do any more TV talk shows."

"OK", said the host.  She didn't care.

*****

The ending:  Beginning in 2015

Job 42:12    So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning

I've always been a writer.  It is a God-given gift.  I was a writer even in early elementary school.  I love writing.

In 2015, around Thanksgiving (November), I kept having the thought to purchase a Kindle e-reader.

I kept putting this out of my mind because I had a perfectly good first generation e-reader and didn't need new e-reader.

But the thought kept coming back over and over even though I kept reasoning it away.

Finally, I bought a new Kindle Fire. 

It turned out to be much more complicated than my first-generation Kindle and when I couldn't find instructions for basic needs that I could understand in the available user manuals, I would ask Pam Padgett and she would tell me by e-mail what to do.  As the e-mails stacked up on various basic subjects of how to use a Kindle Fire, I realized we had a book here, for non-computer generations.

We wrote the book and published it on Amazon in both e-book & paper.

Graphically Illustrated Kindle Fire 8 Guide:  (for non-computer generations)

When I realized how easy it was to publish on Amazon, I began writing ministry books and publishing them in both e-book and paper books on Amazon.

God used the Kindle book guide to get my attention to publishing ministry books on Amazon.

Thus another avenue for speaking the word of God in all the world opened for me without my having to leave my house and without paying anything for publishing! 

*****

God once said to me:  "One step at a time... one step at a time  ... it is enough."

But we have to take that first step before we can take step number two!

*****

Scriptures:

 

Galatians 2:20   I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave HIMSELF for me. 

 

***

 

1 Timothy 4:7  But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

***

 

Ephesians 5:18-19  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 

 

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

 

 ***

 

John 1:18-20  Of HIS own will begat HE us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of HIS creatures. Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

John 5 (Reading through the Bible)

 

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

² Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

³ In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

⁴ For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

⁵ And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

⁶ When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

⁷ The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

(Even though this man knew he could not get into the water in time to be healed, this is what he kept trying.  Jesus had another way for him.  And it worked.)

⁸ Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

⁹ And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

¹⁰ The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

(The Jews were filled with envy because Jesus did these great miracles and the people flocked to Jesus.  The evil in the Jewish leaders blinded them to the real miracle of God.)

¹¹ He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

¹² Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

¹³ And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, a multitude being in that place.

¹⁴ Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

¹⁵ The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

¹⁶ And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day.

(Yet the real reason was because they were envious of Jesus.  They used the sabbath to justify their hatred.)

***

¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

¹⁸ Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.


***

¹⁹ Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever HE doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

(The son watches the father and copies the father.  If your father is God, you watch and copy God.  If your father is the devil, you watch and copy the devil.)

²⁰ For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

²¹ For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.

²² For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: ²³ That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.

***

²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

***

²⁵ Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

(Those of us born again heard HIS voice and were raised from the dead.)

²⁶ For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;

²⁷ And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.

²⁸ Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,  ²⁹ And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

***

Jesus says ...

³⁰ I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear (from God), I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.


***

³¹ If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

³² There is another that beareth witness of Me; and I know that the witness which He witnesseth of Me is true.

³³ Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

³⁴ But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

³⁵ He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

³⁶ But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me.

³⁷ And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me. 

(God also bears witness of us today when HE has us speak or do HIS word.)

Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape.

³⁸ And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not.

³⁹  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.


***

⁴¹ I receive not honour from men.

⁴² But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

⁴³ I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

⁴⁴ How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

⁴⁵ Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

⁴⁶ For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me.

⁴⁷ But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?

*****

💥 Hymn: Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our blessed redeemer

Click here to hear music for this hymn:  Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus Our Blessed Redeemer


1.  Praise Him! praise Him! 
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Sing, ye saints! His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him! hail Him! mightiest angels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will feed His people,
In His WORD He carries them all day long;

O ye saints that live in the light of His presence,
Praise Him! praise Him! 
ever in joyful song!

2.  Praise Him! praise Him! 
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,

For our sins He suffered and bled and died;

He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! hail Him! 
Jesus, the Crucified;

Loving Savior, meekly enduring sorrow,
Crowned with thorns that cruelly pierced His brow;
Once for us rejected, despised, and forsaken,
Prince of Glory, ever triumphant now.

3.   Praise Him! praise Him! 
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,

Heavenly portals, loud with hosannahs ring!
(portal:  doorway, way in, way out)

Jesus, Savior, reigneth for ever and ever;
Crown Him! crown Him! 
Prophet and Priest and King!

Death is vanquished! 
Tell it with joy, ye faithful,
Where is now thy victory, boasting grave?

Jesus lives! 
No longer thy portals are cheerless;
Jesus lives, the mighty and strong to save.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. Gen. 25:5

Genesis 25

6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

The sons of the concubines, like Hagar's offspring, cannot rule with the son of the promise, Isaac.

7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. (175 years)

8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. 

***

9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

***

16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:

20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old (60) when she bare them.

27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

How does God feel about Jacob and Esau?  The following scripture tells us.

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.

 

18  Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.

  God creates as HE wills in each family.  We just accept what is.  It is the will of God, one spiritual, the other not.  It was done by God.

Can you accept that?  the elect of God ... many church people can't accept that.

***

Esau sells his own birthright for a bowl of pottage.

 

Genesis 25

 

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.  (Edomites are of Esau)

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

 

That is like saying, "What good is it for me to be a Christian?"

 

When the king of Sodom made an offer to Abraham, Abram said: And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:  (Gen. 14)

 

***

Genesis 25

 

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Later Esau sought his birthright with tears but tears availed him nothing.

Hebrews 12

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

 

***

 

Moses chose the unseen over that which was seen.

Hebrews 11

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

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

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

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

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Book #12: Life in Christ Series: * Great Is THY Faithfulness, Chapter 13

 

(Order all books from Amazon:  E-books: 99 cents each)

 

What is does it mean?  The mark of the beast in Revelation.

 

Recently, in a book I am writing, I wrote the following:

But as in the days of Elijah, God has some reserved to HIMSELF who will not bow their knee to "Baal", to the beast of Revelation, to today's thinking of this world ... and will continue to hold fast to scripture from the Bible unto the end and the return of Jesus.  In Elijah's day, there were 7000 reserved by God, who had not bowed their knees to the false prophet Baal. 

I saw immediately:  the ones having the mark of the beast, the number of a man, 666 ... are those who follow today's thinking of this world, discarding Bible to substitute the thinking of the world on the issue at hand.

For example:   A woman who attends a Catholic church was talking with me and the subject was homosexuals and lesbians.

I told her they are turned over by God to a reprobate mind to do these unnatural acts.

She grew silent and seemed to be thinking, and then she replied, "But what about those who say they have always been this way?"

Taking on the things man says is taking on the mark of the beast.

Revelation 13:18 ... Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

I was very disturbed by what she said for it was against Bible which explains truth to us.

Romans 1:26-27   For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

After I was home alone, I talked to God, telling HIM how upset I was by what this woman said.  It was as if she had been listening to TV talk shows where homosexuals and lesbians had been telling about themselves to justify themselves.

My attention was drawn to the fact that homosexuals and lesbians go against nature ... they choose to go against nature.  Bible doctrine.

To agree with the thinking of this world is to take on "the number of a man", the mark of the beast, the thinking of man instead of the doctrine of Bible.

This world teaches man things opposite from Bible (antichrist ... against Christ). 

They like to call drunkenness a disease.  According to Bible drunkenness is a work of the flesh, a sin.

I Corinthians 6:9-10    Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexuals), nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Humans today approve all manner of divorce and remarriage.  They also approve men marrying divorced women, against that said in Bible.

Matthew 5:32    Jesus said:   But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

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

The way of man is the mark of the beast of Revelation ... the number of a man ... the thinking of man.

*****

Scriptures:

Psalms 103: 1-5   Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless HIS holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all HIS benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

 

***

James 1:3-4  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

 

 ***

 

Romans 12:19-21  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

***

 

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

💥💥💥💥💥

John 4 (Reading through the Bible)

 

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 

² (Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,)

³ He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
⁴ And He must needs go through Samaria.

⁵ Then cometh He to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

⁶ Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
⁷ There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give Me to drink.
⁸ (For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

⁹ Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

¹⁰ Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

¹¹ The woman saith unto Him, Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast Thou that living water?
¹² Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

¹³ Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
¹⁴ But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

¹⁵ The woman saith unto Him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

¹⁶ Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

¹⁷ The woman answered and said, I have no husband.

Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: ¹⁸ For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

¹⁹ The woman saith unto Him, Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet.²⁰ Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

²¹ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

²² Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.

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

²⁵ The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.

²⁶ Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am HE.

²⁷ And upon this came His disciples, and marvelled that He talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

²⁸ The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,²⁹ Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?


³⁰ Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.

³¹ In the mean while His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat.

³² But He said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

³³ Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought Him ought to eat?

³⁴ Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.

³⁵ Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

³⁶ And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

³⁷ And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

³⁸ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

³⁹ And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

(She multiplied the Word she was given by sharing that given to her with other people.)

⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days.

⁴¹ And many more believed because of His own word; ⁴² And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

⁴³ Now after two days He departed thence, and went into Galilee.

⁴⁴ For Jesus Himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in His own country.

⁴⁵ Then when He was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

⁴⁶ So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto Him, and besought Him that He would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

⁴⁸ Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

⁴⁹ The nobleman saith unto Him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

⁵⁰ Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth.

And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.


***

⁵¹ And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

⁵² Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

⁵³ So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

⁵⁴ This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when He was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

*****