Saturday, January 31, 2026

πŸ’₯ Podcast: Living godly lives by the Spirit of God, not by letter of the law

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on March 24, 2021) 
 
I'm very fortunate because I've had a godly aunt in my life and I've had an opportunity to see a person who was not fearful but joyous.  And she was content to be in her assignment as assigned by God and she worked there!  She radiated joy in God.  God was never a burden to her but was a joy.  She didn't have to try to be an example of a godly person for she was a godly person.

A truly godly person who is led by the Spirit of God is not a fearful person for he knows God will always be with him and help him to make godly choices.  

He doesn't have to be godly by himself, but HE has the Spirit of God in him to show him what to do and the Spirit will always lead in that which is right in the sight of God.

The people who try to live by the letter of the law are ridged and always afraid.

Yet we, who follow the Spirit, uphold the law by the Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is Holy and will not present a way to us that is opposite to scripture or contrary to that which God wants us to do.

We are as Paul said in the following:  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;  Holding forth the word of life;  (Philippians 2:15-16)

We, who live by the Spirit, are free from sins, for we follow the Spirit who leads us in the way of God, and we are joyous, thankful to God that we have another way to live on this earth.

We are a blessing to all who come across our path!

Importantly, we know our assignment from God as we live on this present earth and we get our instruction from God and we follow HIM and we remain steadfast in that which God gives us to do.

In this Podcast, I will try to show examples of persons who live by the Spirit of God and how different they are from church goers who are living by the letter of the law.

*****

My aunt married a man she did not love.  As a type of rebellious teenager in approximately 1915, she loved a young man but something happened and out of spite she married another "boy".

The man she married was physically rough.  When we visited them when I was a child, he would "hug" me when we arrived at their house, but the grip of his hand on my arm hurt.  And he was a man filled with fear.

Somewhere along her life, my aunt became born again and was even transported into heaven and she said it was all golden there.

My aunt was wonderful at cooking and cleaning and sewing!  She had a great joy in her as she helped her husband and family and others.  That joy radiated!

During part of her life she was postmistress in their rural village in Arkansas.  Later she worked as a clerk in a department store in the dress shop area.  She put her whole heart into that which she did and worked in joy.

I didn't hear her mention God but everyone knew she was a godly woman.

And she loved people and did all she could to help them, even strangers.

She had the Spirit of God in her and she followed the Spirit of God although she attended the Church of Christ denomination which even removed some of the Bible references to the "Holy Ghost".

Before she died, I was born again, and we spoke often of things of God.  She was never afraid of me.

She told me she knew some things were wrong at "the church".

Mostly when I was with her after I was born again, we spoke of scripture.

When I think of Proverbs 31, I think of this aunt.

She once said to me, "I always knew you would never do anything wrong."

(I did lots of things wrong but she must have seen me by faith.)

***

Amazingly her daughter was just opposite.  She attended Church of Christ and was always afraid that someone would do something wrong.  I doubt she was born again.  She tried to live by the letter of the law, so far as I can tell.  She was the most fear-filled person I've ever seen.  And even after I was born again she fought me greatly.  I don't think she knew what it was to be born again.  She seemed to think that we humans did things of Bible by our own will.

She once said to me, "Well ... I believe you are a Christian ... I just don't see how you can be!"

(I just laughed, for I was pretty sure she was not born again though she always attended church and her husband was a leader in their church group.)

Being born again and following the Spirit of God is often bewildering to church goers.

II Corinthians 3:6   (God) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

*****

We who are godly keep ourselves in the love of God.

And we are joyous and extremely hopeful for we truly know God.  We don't try to be joyful.  We are joyful for our experience with God is joy.

Yet we obey God by HIS Spirit as HE shows us scripture and we allow God to re-create us in the image of that verse of scripture as we apply that scripture to our lives.

We follow God by HIS Spirit doing scripture with great joy knowing scripture is freedom from sin for us.


πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

πŸ’₯ Scriptures:

1 Samuel 15:22-23 (Samuel the prophet speaking to Saul the king of Israel)

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
 
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, HE hath also rejected thee from being king.
 
*** 
 
Psalm 118:8  It is better to trust in The Lord than to put confidence in man.
 
 ***
 
Matthew 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
 
*** 
 
2 Thessalonains 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
 
stablish:  to make stable and firm; to settle
 
 
 πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

πŸ’₯ John 6 (Reading through the Bible)

 
 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased.

And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do.

Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto Him,
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?  (There were 5,000 men.)

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down.

Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

12 When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

(They had more at the end than at the beginning.)

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.


***

16 And when even was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea,17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

20 But He saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21 Then they willingly received Him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.


***

22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto His disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples were gone away alone;   23(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said unto Him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.


***

28 Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him (on The Word) whom He hath sent.


***

30 They said therefore unto Him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.33 For the bread of God is He (The Word) which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

***

34 Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35 And Jesus said unto them, I (The Word) am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son (The Word), and believeth on Him (The Word), may have everlasting life: and I (The Word) will raise him up at the last day.


***

41 The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven?


***

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I (The Word) will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of (from) the Father, cometh unto Me.

(God will teach them.  God will put HIS laws into their hearts and minds.  Hebrews 8 & 10 ...  Also God speaks to HIS people directly by HIS Spirit to teach them the way of God.  John 14:26 & John 16:13)

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father.


***

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me (on The Word) hath everlasting life.

48 I (The Word) am that bread of life.

49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This (The Word) is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.


***

51 I (The Word) am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread (The Word), he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat?

***

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.  (Eating and drinking the Word)

54 Whoso eateth My flesh (The Word), and drinketh My blood (The Word), hath eternal life; and I (The Word) will raise him up at the last day.

55 For My flesh (The Word) is meat indeed, and My blood (The Word) is drink indeed.


***

56 He that eateth My flesh (The Word), and drinketh My blood (The Word), dwelleth in Me (The Word), and I (The Word) in him.

(We eat HIS flesh and drink HIS blood when we consume the WORD, HIM, and make it a part of us, abiding in the WORD.)

***

57 As the living Father hath sent Me (The Word), and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me (The Word), even he shall live by Me (The Word).

***

58 This (The Word) is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread (The Word) shall live for ever.


***

59 These things said He in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you?  62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.

65 And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father.

66 From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.

***

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.


***

70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve.

*** 

(The Lord's supper is the eating and drinking of the Word of God and correctly living in that Word.)


πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

Friday, January 30, 2026

πŸ’₯ Podcast: Covetousness comes by comparing yourself with others

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on March 19, 2021)
 
I became interested in the word "covetousness" and looked this up in dictionary and saw a revealing definition showing that which causes covetousness:

"covetousness:  eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions.  Social media so often encourages us to compare ourselves to others, inspiring covetousness and insecurity."

And I recalled the following scripture:

II Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

***

Hebrews 13:5   Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness;

***

After God put me on radio in 1980, a woman at our church group said to me, "I want to be like you.  I want to do what you do".

I was surprised and responded, "You do?"  (I just couldn't imagine anyone wanting to do that which God had me doing.)

Later another woman in church said to me, "I don't see how I can compete with you who have been taken into heaven twice."

In the body of Christ, we should not be trying to "compete" with other persons but rather we should follow those scriptures brought to our attention by God and allow God to form us as HE wills in the body of Christ.

We are recreated over and over by examining those scriptures given us by God and by following HIM through doing those scriptures, thus being continually formed by God into the image of Christ.

***

Young people in school often want to be like other people or have that which other people have.

I do see this as "unwise", as the apostle Paul said to us.

But until now, I had not seen it as the root of "covetousness".

Covetousness is one of the serious sins of the flesh.

I Corinthians 5:11;13 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... put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

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

***

Our goal should be to follow God as HE works through our life and therefore be recreated by God in HIS image, doing what HE tells us to do, being satisfied in the way HE recreates us.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Philippians 2:13   For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.
 
I Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
 
***
 
Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
 
Let us do that which God has enabled us to do, always knowing it is God who made it possible for us to do that which we do.  

Each of us are totally unique when we follow God and indispensable as an integral part of the body of Christ working as a specific part in the body as created by God.


 πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

πŸ’₯ Scriptures:

 
Philippians 3:1-3  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord (the Word given us by God). To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
 
*** 
 
Isaiah 40:8  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
 
 ***
 
Isaiah 38:17  Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but THOU hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for THOU hast cast all my sins behind THY back.
 
*** 
 
Matthew 5:38-42  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 


40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 


41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 


42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
 
 
*** 

Proverbs3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths. 
 
 
πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯ 

πŸ’₯ John 5 (Reading through the Bible)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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


***

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

***

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

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

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

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

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

***

Jesus says ...

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


***

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


***

41 I receive not honour from men.

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

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

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

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

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

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

πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

Thursday, January 29, 2026

πŸ’₯ Podcast: Love toward the Word of God

 

 
(This podcast was previously published on March 21, 2021)

Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward HIS name (The Word), in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

We really love the Word of God.

Philippians 2

12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

14 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;

16 Holding forth the word of life;

The world grows darker but that light in us is very bright and we do not hide the light that is in us.  We are different, for God has created us by HIS word and that causes us to be opposite from this world.

It is very exciting for us to be on this earth for we are as lights as we hold forth the word of life.


πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

πŸ’₯ Scriptures:

 
James 1: 2- 4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
 
 
*** 
 
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
 
*** 

Proverbs 16:3  Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
 
 
*** 
 
1 Corinthians 1:18-19  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
 
*** 

Psalm 48:14  For this God is our God for ever and ever: HE will be our guide even unto death.
 
 
πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯