💥 Stay prepared for the return of Jesus

 

Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ

 

In the past 6 weeks I have been repeatedly impressed with ..... "look up" for your redemption draweth nigh.  I have also been impressed with, "It is later than you think".  

 

Luke 21:27-28  Jesus speaking of the end times ... And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

 

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

 

It is easy to get involved in things of this world and lose sight that Jesus could return at any time. The words Beth has been impressed with are sobering.

 

Let us be diligent to do as Peter exhorted us:

 

2 Peter 3:13-14  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.)

 

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💥 Podcast: God speaks to Moses

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on September 2, 2021)  

 

Exodus 1

7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land (of Egypt) was filled with them.

8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

9 And he said unto his people (to the Egyptians), Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they (the Egyptians) were grieved because of the children of Israel.

13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

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Exodus 1:15-17  And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

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During this period of time, Moses was born.

When Moses could no longer be hidden, he, as a baby, was placed into  "an ark of bulrushes, and daubed with slime and with pitch, and she put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink."  (Exodus 2:3)

Pharaoh's daughter came upon the ark and took Moses into her house to raise Moses as her own son.

Exodus 2

10 And the child grew, and she (the woman who had been nursing the baby Moses who was Moses' real mother) brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he (Moses) said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

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The purpose of our review of the Old Testament is to focus on that which God said to HIS elect.

Now God is going to reveal HIMSELF to that man that HE has chosen, the elect of God, the man Moses.

Exodus 2  (Moses lives in the land of Midian for 40 years and is given a wife and has two sons.  Then the king of Egypt dies.)

23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered HIS covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

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Exodus 3

1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And HE (God) said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

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God identifies HIMSELF to Moses:

6 Moreover HE (God) said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of MY people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto ME: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth MY people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12 And HE (God) said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

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13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is HIS name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and HE said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

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15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is MY name for ever, and this is MY memorial unto all generations.

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

20 And I will stretch out MY hand, and smite Egypt with all MY wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:

22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

Exodus 4

1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

2  And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

3 And HE (God) said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

7 And HE (God) said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and HE said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

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God speaks today to us, to HIS elect, to HIS children.

Jesus says:

John 10:27-30  My sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of MY hand.

29 My Father, which gave them ME, is greater than all; and no (none) is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

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💥 Scriptures:

Psalm 34:17  The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

 

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1 Corinthians 3:19-21  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, HE taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

 

20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

 

21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
 

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I John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE heareth us: 

 

15 And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM.

 

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Proverbs 14:7  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

 

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💥 Revelation 14 (Reading through the Bible)

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with HIM an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.

² And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

³ And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

⁴ These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever HE goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

⁵ And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

⁶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

⁷ Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to HIM; for the hour of HIS judgment is come: and worship HIM that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

⁸ And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

⁹ And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰ The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of HIS indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

¹² Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

¹⁴ And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

¹⁵ And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

¹⁶ And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

¹⁷ And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

¹⁸ And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

¹⁹ And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

²⁰ And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

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💥 Healed by God

Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

 

About two or three months ago I began experiencing pain in the right side of my jaw. It felt like a toothache and, if this was what it was, I knew I needed to see a dentist to have it taken care of or it would just get worse.

But when I went to the dentist in June he took an X-ray and said he saw nothing that should be causing this pain. He told me that everything looked normal.

But the pain kept coming, sometimes hurting more than other times, but never completely going away.

 

One morning I was awakened at about 5am because of the pain. I stopped chewing on the right side of my mouth and used a straw for a while when I would drink something cold because of the pain I felt when anything cold touched that area.

During this period of time I had prayed, asking God if HE would please heal whatever was causing this.

 
But the pain continued and, at some point, I felt I was going to have to go to an Urgent Care clinic and see if they could help me. If it wasn't a dental problem, then what was it?

I called my daughter, who has lived in this area for a long time, and asked her if she had ever been to one of these clinics or if she knew anything about any of them.

She didn't but, as we were talking, I realized that the pain in my jaw had suddenly disappeared, my jaw felt completely normal, and it felt like I had been healed!

And that is exactly what had happened.  God healed me at that moment!  

 

How merciful our God is to us and how marvelously blessed we are, in every way, to belong to HIM.

Nothing else can compare to it. NOTHING!

 

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Comments from Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ

 

Amazing .... I am reminded of:
 

John 14:14  Jesus says:  If ye shall ask any thing in MY name, I will do it. 

 

 

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💥 Podcast: The great difference between Jacob, the chosen of God, and Esau, his elder brother, as they grow up in the house of Isaac

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on August 31, 2021)  

 

Genesis 27  (After the death of Sarah)

1-2 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.  And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

3-4 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah (Abraham's wife after Sarah's death.)

5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

(Isaac was the child of the promise.)

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.

Genesis 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

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Isaac had two sons. Jacob was the child of God.  Jacob had a twin brother, Esau,  who was the elder. Even before the children were born, God chose Jacob, the younger son and later spoke to Jacob directly, identifying HIMSELF to Jacob.  

(Romans 9:10-13   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.)

Genesis 25:20-23   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.

Rebekah knew God had chosen her younger son, Jacob over Esau.

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Genesis 26

34 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.

Genesis 27:46   And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

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Genesis 28

1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

Esau is going to try to please his mother and father by copying what Jacob, the elect of God, has done.

So Esau, thinking by his fleshly mind, goes to the granddaughter of Abraham to marry her, a granddaughter of Abraham, whose father was a son of Abraham, Ishmael!

(The natural man who tries to copy the elect of God is always off in his thinking, like a radio station which is a little off the center of the sound dial.)

6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;

7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;

8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;

9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

For Esau reasons this woman, the grandaughter of Abraham, will please his father Isaac and his mother Rebekah.  But Ishmael was not even allowed to continue in Abraham's household, so his daughter would not please Isaac and Rebekah.

Concerning Isaac and Ishmael ...

Genesis 21:8-12  And the child (Isaac) grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

So Ishmael, the son of Hagar, was cast out of Abraham house.  But Esau seems to miss this fact and he marries a daughter of Ishmael thinking this will please Isaac and Rebekah.

I Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Esau was "the natural man" and he could not please God.  Neither can we please God unless we are born again by God and given the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us and teach us, for the Spirit of God searches the heart of God to reveal the will of God to us.  (I Corinthians 2)  So when we hear from the Spirit of God and follow HIM, we please God.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

We cannot understand the things of God until we have been born again by God and created as a new creature who is led by the Holy Spirit of God who is given us by God.

II Corinthians 5:17   Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When we are born again it is by the will of God and God speaks to us and reveals HIMSELF to us, changing us into new creatures who now have the Holy Spirit of God living in them to guide them in ways of God.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

1 Peter 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to HIM in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

 

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Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

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I John 3:2-3  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when HE shall appear, we shall be like HIM; for we shall see HIM as HE is.

 

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as HE is pure.

 

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Deuteronomy 30:14  But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

 

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Psalm 56:3-4  What time I am afraid, I will trust in THEE.

 

4 In God I will praise HIS word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
 

 

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💥 Revelation 13 (Reading through the Bible)

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

² And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

³ And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

⁴ And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

⁵ And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

⁶ And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

⁷ And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

⁸ And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

⁹ If any man have an ear, let him hear.

¹⁰ He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

¹¹ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

¹² And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

¹³ And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

¹⁴ And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

¹⁵ And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

¹⁷ And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

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 six.  

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💥 Answers to prayer

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

Monday morning of this week while cleaning my eye glasses, the frame broke.  I don't have a backup pair of glasses with the current prescription. Although I found a copy of the written prescription, it had expired 4 days ago!  So I would need to get an eye exam, new prescription, and then order glasses. I have been going to a doctor about 30 minutes away, and it usually takes at least a few weeks to get an appointment with this doctor.

I found a pair of older eye glasses which allowed me to see fairly well but not quite as clearly as needed, and I soon began getting a severe headache.

It didn't seem I'd be able to wait weeks to get an exam and new glasses, and I began crying out to God asking what I should do.

I was reminded of an eye doctor very near my home with a complete optical department. I had forgotten about this eye doctor although I had gone there a couple times about 5 years ago. Things the doctor and people in the optical department said troubled me so I stopped going there.

But on Monday as I prayed, this nearby eye doctor's office kept being drawn to my attention, so I went there hoping they might have some frames that would fit my lenses.

At the door was a sign saying the office was under new ownership. The new doctor happened to be walking through the reception area when I got there and was very friendly as was everyone else I saw, much different than before.

Also, as I was driving to that office, the idea was given me to see if there was any way to fix my broken glasses.  Although it didn't seem to me this could be done, I asked about it, and they went right to work on my glasses. Surprisingly, they were able to fix the frame. I can see just fine again! 

(I also made an appointment to get an exam for a new prescription so I can get a pair of backup glasses.)

Within an hour, what had been a serious problem to me was completely resolved, and in an very unexpected way.

I am so grateful for being led by God to such a quick solution and wanted to share this. 

 

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Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

  

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Comments from Cathy Varner, member of the body of Christ

 

That’s great Pam! I rejoice with you.

It reminds me of a time my frames were coming apart and needed some little part. I think I went to the place where I’d bought them. I remembered that in the past when I’d gone there for a repair they had a hard time and it took very long.

I was praying they’d be able to fix them and that it wouldn’t take too long.

The woman who was helping me said she might be able to fix them if they happened to have the right part. She started looking through a bin, and very quickly found a part.  She was so amazed and said that this part just “fell out” to her and was a perfect fit.

 

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Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord God! behold, THOU hast made the heaven and the earth by THY great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for THEE:

  

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Comments from Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

 

I never stop being amazed at how God provides everything we will need no matter what we are dealing with. Always providing HIS best for us and watching over us so closely.

 

 

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💥 Podcast: God blesses Joseph wherever Joseph is, first in slavery and then in the prison

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on August 30, 2021)  

 

Genesis 39

1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

4 And Joseph found grace in his sight (in the sight of the Egyptian), and he served him: and he (the Egyptian) made him (Joseph) overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his (Joseph's) hand.

5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

6 And he (the Egyptian) left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. 

And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

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7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

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21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

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

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

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💥 Scriptures:

 

2 Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 

 

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Psalm 119:114  THOU art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in THY word.

 

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

 

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Psalm 18:30  As for God, HIS way is perfect: the Word of the LORD is tried: HE is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in HIM.

 

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 Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

 

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💥 Revelation 12 (Reading through the Bible)

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: ² And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

³ And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. ⁴ And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

⁵ And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to HIS throne.

⁶ And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

⁷ And there was war in heaven: Michael and HIS angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ⁸ And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

⁹ And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him
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¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of HIS Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

¹² Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. 

Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

¹³ And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

¹⁴ And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

¹⁵ And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

¹⁶ And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

¹⁷ And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

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💥 Podcast: God shows HIMSELF to Joseph and identifies the calling of Joseph through dreams

 

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

 

God speaks to HIS Children showing HIS election to HIMSELF.

We see that God spoke to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob.

Next in line is Joseph.  Of the 12 children of Israel, it was Joseph who was chosen by God.  And to Joseph, the elect of God, God spoke through dreams to show Joseph HIS calling.

Genesis 37

Dreams:

5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

(This is the Word of God that Joseph speaks to his brothers and father.)

7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

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God speaks to us by thoughts brought by the Holy Spirit, by dreams, by words carried by angels,

God speaks and when the word comes to us often that Word of God divides us from those persons who are not of God.

Jesus explains:

Matthew 10

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME: and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME, is not worthy of ME.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for MY sake shall find it.

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God speaks to Joseph by 2 dreams.

And Joseph's brothers hated Joseph and envied him.

Jacob (Israel), Joseph's father, sent Joseph to see how his brother's were doing in caring for the herd.

The brothers were going to kill Joseph.

But this happened:

Genesis 37

18  And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

The brothers killed an animal and dipped the coat of many colors into the blood of the animal and took the coat to Joseph's father to make his father think an animal had killed Joseph.

His father had given Joseph a coat of many colors because Joseph was his favorite son among the 12 sons.

24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

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No matter how terrible things look, God uses these things to accomplish HIS purpose by HIS elect.

Romans 8:28

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

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As we share those dreams God has given us and as we share the words God has spoken to us we help the body of Christ and often even cause others in the body of Christ to remember things God has done for them, thus causing them to have their faith in God increased.

We see the working of God in the testimonies which we and others give to the people of God.

Philemon v. 6   That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Matthew 7:13-14  (Jesus says)  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

 

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

 

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Luke 6:35  (Jesus says)  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for HE is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

 

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I Timothy 2:1-4  Paul said:  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

 

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

 

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

 

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

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Proverbs 3:27-28  Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

 

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

 

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Joshua 1:9  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 

 

 

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