💥 Podcast: Be not overcome by the cares of this world

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on February 4, 2021)

 

Jesus says, concerning the end times:

Luke 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (over indulgence), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

On January 6, 2021, we watched a crowd of people storm the USA Capitol building in an attempt to overthrow the 2020 USA presidential elections.

I'm sure none of us in USA have ever experienced anything like this before in our lifetimes.

After the event, 10 USA republican congress members voted to impeach President Trump for inciting the riot which we all watched on television.

This really caught my attention for everyone heard the words spoken by President Trump before the riot and we heard him send the crowd to the capitol and Mr. Trump even told the crowd to go, and "he would be there with them,"  but he wasn't.

A few days later, CNN reported that the republicans were trying to cause those 10 who voted against Trump to suffer loss for the way they voted.

I was sad and grieved over their suffering.

I took on a care of this world.

Jesus warned us not to be "overcharged" with cares of this life.  (Luke 21:34)

When I read this scripture, I repented for allowing myself to become so involved in this world, and I prayed, asking God to please help those 10 men and women who were being hurt by their own political party for doing that which they believed to be right and reasonable.

I even began to feel democracy itself was in danger.

But then I realized this entire heaven and earth will be destroyed, and governments of men along with the heavens and earth.  And I began to get a grip on myself and on Biblical reality.

II Peter 3

10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.

***

I've always considered myself to be non-political, I am not registered in either political party in USA, and I do not vote for governments of men.

But for one very brief time, I knew what it was to care.  And it could have destroyed me except I turned to God for HIM to restore me.

This is what the truly godly people were like in the Bible:

Hebrews 11

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

(mindful:  having a mind filled with that)

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for HE hath prepared for them a city.

The apostle Peter in the Bible tells us to be diligent to be found by Jesus when HE returns, living in peace, without spot and without blame.  (II Peter 3:14)

Keeping ourselves in a state of peace even in the midst of that which is being done around us is the way we are to live and we can do that only through prayer.

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

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

***

I Timothy 2:1-2   I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

 

*** 

 

Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. 

 

 ***

 

Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 

 

*** 

 

Proverbs 27:18  Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.  

 

 ***

Psalms 20:6  Now know I that the LORD saveth HIS anointed; HE will hear him from HIS holy heaven with the saving strength of HIS right hand.

 

*** 

 

Philippians 2:1-4  (the Apostle Paul said)  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

 

 ***

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.

  

 

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💥 Mark 8 (Reading through the Bible)

1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and saith unto them,

² I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with Me three days, and have nothing to eat: ³ And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

⁴ And His disciples answered Him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

(God satisfied the children of Israel in the wilderness when HE brought them out of Egypt.  When HIS disciples said above statement, they had not yet been given the Holy Spirit.  They spoke with natural minds of thinking of men.) 

⁵ And He asked them, How many loaves have ye?

And they said, Seven.

⁶ And He commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and He took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to His disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

⁷ And they had a few small fishes: and He blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

⁸ So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

⁹ And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and He sent them away.

¹⁰ And straightway He entered into a ship with His disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

¹¹ And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with Him, seeking of Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him.

¹² And He sighed deeply in His spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

¹³ And He left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

¹⁴ Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

¹⁵ And He charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

¹⁶ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

¹⁷ And when Jesus knew it, He saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

¹⁸ Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 

¹⁹ When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?

They say unto Him, Twelve.

²⁰ And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?

And they said, Seven.

²¹ And He said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

²² And He cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto Him, and besought Him to touch him. 

²³ And He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when He had spit on his eyes, and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he saw ought.

²⁴ And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

²⁵ After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

²⁶ And He sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

²⁷ And Jesus went out, and His disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way He asked His disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

²⁸ And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

²⁹ And He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ.

³⁰ And He charged them that they should tell no man of Him.

³¹ And He began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

³² And He spake that saying openly.

And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him.

³³ But when He had turned about and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

³⁴ And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

³⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

³⁷ Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

³⁸ Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

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💥 Podcast: Overcoming and obtaining victory through God

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 29, 2021)

 

From the time I was born again in 1975, God taught me to come to HIM in prayer over each problem of this life and to depend on HIM to give me the Word to deal with the problem.  Then I could stand on that Word or use that Word to give me information to know what to do in the situation of this present life.  This never fails!  

Jesus says:  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before MY Father, and before HIS angels. (Revelation 3:5)

I attended a Faith Movement church, Word of Faith, from 1977-1982, and they taught people to hunt a scripture and to stand on that scripture.  

(I never heard anyone at Word of Faith say we should turn to God and ask God "HIS will" in the matter at hand.)

But I was taught by God to turn to HIM when I had a problem.  Then God would bring to me a scripture or a concept and I "stood" on that which God brought to me.

If we hunt a scripture and stand on that scripture we are trying to "be God".  That is antichrist.

There is a subtle difference between hunting a scripture and turning to God for help.

In one case you are doing everything without actually turning to God, thus being your own God by trying to find a scripture which fits your problem.

In the other case you are turning to God for help and depending on God.

In hunting a scripture you depend on yourself.  

In the other case you depend on God and your faith is in God.

I didn't see the difference between what I was doing and what they were teaching at Word of Faith until I left Word of Faith and God showed me the difference. 

In 1982, God brought me out of Word of Faith church by giving me a dream.  Then God showed me the difference between overcoming through God and trying to have faith apart from God.

Jesus says:  (Ye) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of ME.   And ye will not come to ME, that ye might have life.  (John 5:39-40)

Romans 10:17   So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

(Examples in this Podcast)

*****

After God showed me the difference between the doctrine of finding a scripture without turning to God, and turning to God for HIS help, I saw they, at Word of Faith, were doing something very different from that which God had taught me to do.

I said to my Bible teacher at Word of Faith, "I didn't know I was different from those people at Word of Faith."

Our Bible teacher said to me:  "Joan, you were never like anyone at Word of Faith.  They talk about faith, but you live faith."

Our teacher said this to me in 1982.  In 2021, I still live by turning to God and letting HIM show me what to do when there is a problem.

No other way is safe.  But when we trust God by turning to God in prayer and by waiting on HIM to reveal to us what to do, it is always safe.  God knows future and HE will take you in a way that works as events come upon this earth.

We build our faith on that Word which is revealed to us by God by HIS Spirit.

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

 

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalms 92:4-8  For THOU, LORD, hast made me glad through THY work: I will triumph in the works of THY hands.

5 O LORD, how great are THY works! and THY thoughts are very deep.

6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

8 But THOU, LORD, art most high for evermore.

 

*** 

 

John 5:30  (Jesus said)  I can of MINE own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and MY judgment is just; because I seek not MINE own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent ME.

 

*** 

 

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

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

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

 

 ***

 

James 1:5-6  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.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. 

 

 ***

 

James 1:17   Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

 

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💥 Mark 7 (Reading through the Bible)

  

1 Then came together unto HIM the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

 

² And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
³ For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
⁴ And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

⁶ HE  answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

⁷ Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

⁹ And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

¹⁰ For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
¹¹ But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
¹² And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
¹³ Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

¹⁴ And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
¹⁵ There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

¹⁶ If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁷ And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.
¹⁸ And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
¹⁹ Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

²⁰ And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
²² Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

²³ All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

²⁴ And from thence He arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but He could not be hid.

²⁵ For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet:
²⁶ The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

²⁷ But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

²⁸ And she answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

²⁹ And He said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

³⁰ And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

³¹ And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, He came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
³² And they bring unto Him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech Him to put His hand upon him.

³³ And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spit, and touched his tongue;
³⁴ And looking up to heaven, He sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

³⁵ And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

³⁶ And He charged them that they should tell no man: but the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
³⁷ And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

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💥 Do all things without murmurings and disputings

 

Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

 

Recently I was complaining about something. I don't remember what it was but, as I was doing this, I heard the following scripture...

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  Philippians 2:14

Murmur - to complain or grumble

Hearing this immediately stopped me. I had no idea I was doing this! But since hearing this scripture and thinking about it on a daily basis, I find that I am much more aware of the times I start complaining or am about to start.

Because I want to please God, having this brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit, has been so helpful in pulling me back from this particular sin, turning me to God for help with the situation, instead of complaining, and often simply reminding me that complaining is a sin.

And it is like this for every person who has been given the Holy Spirit, making us the children of God. We belong to HIM and HE guides us and teaches us, in the ways that please HIM, for the remainder of our days on this earth.

Philippians 2:14-15  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Child abuse in religious settings

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 28, 2021) 

 

At no place in the Bible does God mention the sin of child abuse.  Why?  I believe this is because all humans know this is evil.  I believe the Holy Spirit put it in all humans that child abuse is a great evil.  Thus if we resist the Holy Spirit it would be an unpardonable sin, a sin against the Holy Spirit.  I believe this is what we see in child abuse in the Catholic church, an unpardonable sin among those men they call "priests".

Matthew 12:31  Jesus says:  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

One thing I do know, we must judge the church (not the world).  I Corinthians 5:11

The people in the churches often want to judge the world but the apostle Paul explains this to us in I Corinthians 5 that we must judge the church.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without (without the church)? do not ye judge them that are within? (You are to judge within, within the church) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

Are there different levels of sin?  Yes.  Look at the following scriptures:

I Corinthians 6:18   Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Matthew 23:14  Jesus says  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

How can any group calling itself a church try to cover up child abuse?

And why is child abuse so rampant in the Catholic church?

They set up a rule forbidding their "priests" to marry, but that rule is opposite from the rules concerning ministers as spoken by the apostle Paul in the Bible.  By doing this the Catholics set up a natural haven for perverts. 

If our foundation is anything but the Bible, we set ourselves up for a great fall.

*****

Matthew 7  Jesus says:

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

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

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

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

***

The example we have in the New Testament Bible is the following:  The apostle Peter was married and had children.

Matthew 8:14-15   And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, HE saw his (Peter's) wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.  And HE (Jesus) touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

So we know the apostle Peter had a wife.

Peter also had multiple children for in the Bible Peter tells us he is an elder (also called bishop).

Here is a requirement for an elder (bishop) in the church.

Titus 1:6-9   If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.  For a bishop (elder) must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Whoever set up the Catholic church, said their ministers could not marry.

By doing this they violated the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament for the church and by doing this set up a type of haven for perverts among their ministers.

For many decades Catholic priests have abused children and other Catholic hierarchy have covered up for these child abusers in their church, often transferring these abominable child abusers to another city and another Catholic church. 

And there is no such thing as a "priest" as a minister in the New Testament church.  Jesus set up ministers as follows:

Ephesians 4:11-12   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:

If you change any part of the New Testament Bible, you bring upon yourselves damnation.

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💥 Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15:55, 57   O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

John 14:18-19  I (Jesus the Word) will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
 

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth ME no more; but ye see ME: because I live, ye shall live also.

 

 ***

 

John 17:13  (Jesus said)  And now come I to THEE (the Father); and these things I speak in the world, that they might have MY joy fulfilled in themselves.

 

 ***

 

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

 

*** 

 

Micah 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

 

*** 

 

Ephesians 6:13-18  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 

***

 

Hebrews 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 

 

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💥 Mark 6 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1 And HE went out from thence, and came into HIS own country; and HIS disciples follow HIM.

² And when the sabbath day was come, HE began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?  ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him.

⁴ But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

⁵ And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
⁶ And He marvelled because of their unbelief.

And He went round about the villages, teaching.

⁷ And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
⁸ And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
⁹ But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

¹⁰ And He said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
¹¹ And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

¹² And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

¹³ And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

¹⁴ And king Herod heard of Him; (for His name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

¹⁵ Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

¹⁶ But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
¹⁸ For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
¹⁹ Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
²⁰ For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
²¹ And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
²² And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
²³ And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
²⁴ And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
²⁵ And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
²⁶ And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
²⁸ And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
²⁹ And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

³⁰ And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

³¹ And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

³² And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

³³ And the people saw them departing, and many knew Him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto Him.

³⁴ And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.

³⁵ And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came unto Him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
³⁶ Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

³⁷ He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat.

And they say unto Him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

³⁸ HE saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see.

And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

³⁹ And HE commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

⁴⁰ And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

⁴¹ And when HE had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, HE looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided He among them all.

⁴² And they did all eat, and were filled.

⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

⁴⁴ And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

⁴⁵ And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while He sent away the people.

⁴⁶ And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray.

⁴⁷ And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land.

⁴⁸ And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

⁴⁹ But when they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

⁵⁰ For they all saw Him, and were troubled.

And immediately He talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

⁵¹ And He went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

⁵² For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

⁵³ And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
⁵⁴ And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew Him,  ⁵⁵ And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard HE was.

⁵⁶ And whithersoever HE entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought HIM that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment: and as many as touched Him were made whole.

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💥 Podcast: If you return to your old sins after you have been enlightened by God, it is a very serious matter

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on February 13, 2021)

 

Jesus died for our sins.  

But after we are enlightened by the Spirit of God to a sin, if we turn away from the truth from God and return to that sin, there is no more sacrifice for that sin.

Hebrews 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

So if you were a drunkard and then born again and have been freed from being a drunkard and you are enlightened by God to drunkenness being a sin, if you fall away from the truth concerning this sin and return to being a drunkard, there is no more sacrifice for sins.  

Jesus was crucified once for our sins.  To return to those sins after we have been enlightened by God to that sin would be to crucify Jesus afresh.

Hebrews 6:4-8   For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put HIM to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

The apostle Peter says it would have been  better if a person had never been enlightened to the truth of God rather than to turn away from that truth and return to old sins.

II Peter 2:20-21  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Jesus says:

Revelation 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before MY Father, and before HIS angels.

After we are born again, to return to our old sins has dire consequences.

*****

Hebrews 10 warns us to exhort one another and even more as we see the day of the Lord approaching to help that brother in Christ to abstain from his past sins and keep from being swept away from the church in the last days.

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.

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

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

***

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: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with 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;

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

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.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

***

The man who was our Bible teacher when I attended Word of Faith was secretly having sex with women outside of marriage.  This man was going to bars and women would proposition him and he would also "chase" women for sex.  

None of us in our Bible class knew this was going on.

But a woman who owned a coffee shop mentioned his name to me.  I revealed to her that he was my Bible teacher at the church I attended.  She said to me, "Oh.  He is such a terrible influence on my boyfriend."  

I was terribly shocked.  Here was a worldly woman telling me that our Bible teacher was a terrible influence for her boyfriend!

Then she mentioned his girlfriend.

None of us knew he had a girlfriend.  He was living a life at church and a life in private.

This is terrible.  We have one life and that is a life in Christ.  And we live openly and honestly before all.

I went to this man and asked him about this "girlfriend".  He tried to be evasive.  

I then point blank said to him, "Are you having sex with this woman?"

He replied, "Of course."

I said, "You know the Bible as well as I do.  I can have no more to do with you."

He replied, "That's right."

I could no longer attend his Bible classes.

Is there any hope at all for this man?  He was definitely enlightened to the truth of God concerning fornication.

There is one possible way for him.

Paul said:  

I Corinthians 5

1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

I did learn later that this man who had been our Bible teacher could no longer have sexual intercourse.  I assumed his flesh had been destroyed by Satan.  That gives me hope for the salvation of his spirit in the day of the Lord.

 

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalm 30:4-5  Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of HIS, and give thanks at the remembrance of HIS holiness.

5 For HIS anger endureth but a moment; in HIS favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

 ***

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

 

 ***

 

Matthew 5:37 (Jesus said)  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 19:8-9  The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

 

***

 

1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, WHO will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 101:6  (King David said) Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

 

*** 

 

Romans 13:11-14  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (the Word), and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. 

 

 

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💥 Mark 5 (Reading through the Bible)

  

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

² And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
³ Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
⁴ Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

⁵ And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

⁶ But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him,
⁷ And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

⁸ For He said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

⁹ And He asked him, What is thy name?

And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

¹⁰ And he besought Him much that He would not send them away out of the country.

¹¹ Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

¹² And all the devils besought Him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

¹³ And forthwith Jesus gave them leave.

And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

¹⁴ And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

¹⁵ And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

¹⁶ And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

¹⁷ And they began to pray Him to depart out of their coasts.

¹⁸ And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with Him.

¹⁹ Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

²⁰ And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

***

²¹ And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto Him: and He was nigh unto the sea.

²² And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet,
²³ And besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

²⁴ And Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him.

²⁵ And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
²⁶ And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
²⁷ When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment.
²⁸ For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

²⁹ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes?

³¹ And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched Me?

³² And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

³³ But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.

³⁴ And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

***

³⁵ While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

³⁶ As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

³⁷ And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

³⁸ And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

³⁹ And when He was come in, He saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

⁴⁰ And they laughed Him to scorn.

But when He had put them all out, He taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.  ⁴¹ And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

⁴² And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

⁴³ And He charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

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