💥 Podcast: Because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel

 

(This podcast was previously published on, October 20, 2021)

 

Joshua 14   (Caleb speaking to Joshua)

5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

Numbers 13

17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

18 And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

All those men who brought the evil report died in the wilderness by the commandment of the Lord, but Joshua and Caleb are still alive and move into the land which is promised by God, and Caleb wants more land and declares to Joshua that God has kept him strong and he is well able though he is now 85.

Joshua 14  (Caleb says)

10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as HE said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.  (85-years-old)

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

(All that matters to us is God being with us.  Paul says:  "If God be for us, who can be against us?"  Romans 8:31)

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

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It is so wonderful and exciting to witness the victories of the armies of God and the way of Joshua and Caleb as they served God.

We today have been freed from the sin which we once served so we, too, can wholly follow God.  And as we follow the Spirit of God we enter into the rest God has for HIS people.

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Where our flesh would try to lead us to hate and strive and try to outdo people, the Spirit of God in us leads us into love, joy, and peace.

We deliberately follow the Spirit, keeping our own flesh down by obeying the Spirit of God.

Galatians 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

James 1:22-25  22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

 

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

 

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

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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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Proverbs 16:9  A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

 

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Matthew 24:42-44  Jesus says concerning HIS return: Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

 

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

 

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 

 

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💥 Mark 11 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, He sendeth forth two of His disciples,

² And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

³ And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

⁴ And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

⁵ And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

⁶ And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon him.
⁸ And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

⁹ And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying,

Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord:
¹⁰ Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

¹¹ And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

¹² And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry:
¹³ And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
¹⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.

And His disciples heard it.

¹⁵ And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
¹⁶ And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
¹⁷ And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

¹⁸ And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine.

¹⁹ And when even was come, He went out of the city.

²⁰ And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
²¹ And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away.

²² And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

²³ For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

²⁵ And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
²⁶ But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

²⁷ And they come again to Jerusalem: and as He was walking in the temple, there come to Him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
²⁸ And say unto Him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

²⁹ And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
³⁰ The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer Me.

³¹ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
³² But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
³³ And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

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💥 Podcast: Warnings and information needed for us today from the Bible

 

(This podcast was previously published on, October 18, 2021)

 

When we are watching TV or a person brings to us a concept which conflicts with what we know to be in the Bible, we should reinforce the Bible in our heart and mind by returning to the subject and reading again what the Bible says.

The apostle Paul reminds to build ourselves up in the ways of God as follows:

Romans 12:2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

As Christians, we continually review that which God has said concerning various subjects and we conform our thoughts to the will of God by the Holy Bible.

It is important to review the scriptures often on the "spotlight" subjects, which have come into our view as the world speaks, so we will not be conformed to the thinking of this world.

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As we go forward, we can expect the thinking of individuals of this world and of those in apostate church groups to get "worse and worse" ... they will deceive and will be deceived.

II Timothy 3

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

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

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

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

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

(Often they will attend church and delight in the appearance of being "religious", loving their church buildings, their stained glass windows, their religious art works, their church choirs, and their ministers while casting away scriptures or not even looking at Bible to see what God says about various subjects.)

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

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

(It is God who teaches us by HIS Spirit, opening our eyes to HIS truth on the issues at hand.)

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

(We correct ourselves as we read the New Testament Bible.  We also take heed to examples in Old Testament which show us what is right in the sight of God and we are warned by these writings. We set what we think about various issues of this life to agree with that which God shows us in the Bible. Our doctrines conform to the doctrines shown by the New Testament Bible.)

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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We often renew our minds by looking at scriptures which pertain to various issues which we see happening today.

* Concerning homosexuals & lesbians: What does the Bible say?

Romans 1

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of HIM from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even HIS eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified HIM not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

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Genesis 13:13   But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

What does the Bible show us the men of Sodom doing?

Genesis 19

1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

(The men from the city of Sodom came "from every quarter" of the city to Lot's house to have sex with the 2 strangers who had come to Sodom.)

5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

(know them: have sex with them)

6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

(Lot, a righteous man, knew that homosexual acts were "wicked".)

2 Peter 2

 

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

(conversation: showing their manner of life)

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:

Genesis 14

8  (Lot says to the men of Sodom who came to have sex with the 2 men at his house) Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

10 But the men (the 2 visitors who were angels) put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

11 And they (the 2 angels) smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

12 And the men (the angels) said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

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Concerning "Sodomites", the Bible says:

I Kings 15:12   And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

II Kings 23:7  And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

I Kings 14:24   And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

2 Peter 2:6  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes (God) condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Lamentations 4:6  For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of MY people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

Deuteronomy 23:17  There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

Each of these scriptures show us God's view of homosexuals and lesbians and these scriptures show such to be sin in the sight of God and show us great destruction from God that came upon those who continued in these sins.

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* Concerning divorce and remarriage:  What does the Bible say?

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

- the divorced woman will commit adultery if she remarries, but her husband who divorced her will be the "cause" of her adultery if she had been a faithful wife to him.

- the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery

Matthew 19:9  Jesus says:  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Mark 10  Jesus says:  

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

(Man and woman become one flesh at the time of sexual intercourse, says the apostle Paul.   

 I Corinthians 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.  16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.)

Mark 10

10 And in the house HIS disciples asked HIM again of the same matter.

11 And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

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

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Romans 7:2-3   For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Isaiah 65:17  (God says) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

 

***

 

I Corinthians 15:33-34  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

 

34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

 

***

 

John 14:1-2  (Jesus says) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in ME.

 

2 In MY Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 

***

 

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 

 

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💥 Mark 10 (Reading through the Bible)

 

 1 And He arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto Him again; and, as He was wont, He taught them again.

² And the Pharisees came to Him, and asked Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting Him.

³ And He answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

⁴ And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

⁵ And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

⁶ But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

⁷ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
⁸ And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

(At the time of sexual intercourse the two become "one flesh" ... we see this as Paul explains that even if you have sex with an harlot ... a prostitute ... you become one flesh.  I Corinthians 6:15-20)

⁹ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

¹⁰ And in the house His disciples asked Him again of the same matter.

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

***

¹³ And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them.

¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

¹⁵ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

¹⁶ And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.

***

¹⁷ And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

¹⁸ And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

¹⁹ Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

²⁰ And he answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

²¹ Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

²² And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

²⁴ And the disciples were astonished at His words.

But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁶ And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

²⁷ And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

***

²⁸ Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee.

²⁹ And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

³¹ But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

(The hundred-fold-return has to do with giving up people and things, as needed, to follow the WORD, Jesus.)

***


³² And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.

And He took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto Him,
³³ Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles:
³⁴ And they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall rise again.

***

³⁵ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto Him, saying, Master, we would that Thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

³⁶ And He said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

³⁷ They said unto Him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left hand, in Thy glory.

³⁸ But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

³⁹ And they said unto Him, We can.

And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
⁴⁰ But to sit on My right hand and on My left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

⁴² But Jesus called them to Him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
⁴³ But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
⁴⁴ And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
⁴⁵ For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

***

⁴⁶ And they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

⁴⁸ And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

⁴⁹ And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.

And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee.

⁵⁰ And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

(Casting away his prideful covering that hides himself ...)

⁵¹ And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

⁵² And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

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💥 Podcast: If we say: "Love the person ... hate the sin." We might be setting ourselves against the judgment God makes on the person.

 

(This podcast was previously published on, October 17, 2021)

God sees the heart.  God knows exactly what the person is doing.  God certainly sees things about the human that we do not see.

Most humans try to look "good" to others.  So by their outward appearance and even the things they say in public, they try to present themselves as being "good" people.

God knows what they really are and sometimes God will "turn them over to a reprobate mind to do those things that are not convenient."  (Romans 1:28)

God knows that which is really in the heart of the individual and God knows that which the person is doing in private.

Romans 1

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified HIM not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

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On October 13, 2021, God brought to my attention the fact that what they were doing was such an offense to God, that HE "gave them up to vile affections".  God judged what they were doing.  

So if I continue to think well of them, I am saying, "God's judgment against them was questionable for they are really nice persons."  

I saw I must not judge them as good when God has judged them as doing evil and turned them over to a reprobate mind to do those things that are not convenient. 

I must not set myself against the judgment God has rendered which they by their acts make visible to all.

When I saw this, I repented and turned from that good that I had been thinking about those who have been turned by God into "vile affections" and to accept the fact that God has judged them as doing evil and therefore turned them over to a reprobate mind and to vile affections.

I must accept that God is always right in HIS judgment.  God sees all and knows all and knows their private acts and their private thoughts.

I Samuel 16:7   But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

So in the future, I have purposed to recognize, when I see a homosexual or lesbian or a person who has a reprobate mind, to think on this:  That individual did something which caused God to turn him over to vile affections or a reprobate mind.  

God's judgment is always correct ... so I set myself to agree with God's judgments rather than overturning the judgment of God by my own thinking.

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalm 119:144  The righteousness of THY testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. 

 

***

 

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

***

 

Psalm 37:1-3  Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

 

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

 

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

 

***

 

Matthew 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

 

 

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💥 Mark 9 (Reading through the Bible)

1 And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

(The kingdom of God came when God resurrected Jesus from the dead after the crucifixion ... from then on it was the NT church with Jesus seated on right hand of God interceding for us.)


² And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and HE was transfigured before them. ³ And HIS raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. ⁴ And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

⁵ And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

⁶ For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

⁷ And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is MY beloved Son: hear HIM. (The Word)

⁸ And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

⁹ And as they came down from the mountain, HE charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

¹⁰ And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

¹¹ And they asked HIM, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

¹² And HE answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that HE must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

¹³ But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

¹⁴ And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

¹⁵ And straightway all the people, when they beheld HIM, were greatly amazed, and running to HIM saluted HIM.

¹⁶ And HE asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

¹⁷ And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; ¹⁸ And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to THY disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

¹⁹ He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

²⁰ And they brought him unto Him: and when He saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

²¹ And HE asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?

And he said, Of a child.

²² And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if THOU canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

(The goal of devils is to destroy us.  They bring thoughts to our minds and if we follow thoughts of devils, we will go in evil ways or in destructive ways for devils want to destroy.)


²³ Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

²⁴ And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

(Devils might depart for a season only to return with greater vengeance and greater destruction.)

²⁶ And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

²⁸ And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁹ And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

³⁰ And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and HE would not that any man should know it. 

³¹ For HE taught HIS disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill HIM; and after that HE is killed, HE shall rise the third day.

³² But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask HIM.

³³ And HE came to Capernaum: and being in the house HE asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

³⁴ But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

³⁵ And HE sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

³⁶ And HE took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when HE had taken him in HIS arms, HE said unto them,
³⁷ Whosoever shall receive one of such children in MY name, receiveth ME: and whosoever shall receive ME, receiveth not ME, but HIM that sent ME.

³⁸ And John answered HIM, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in THY name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

³⁹ But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in MY name, that can lightly speak evil of ME.
⁴⁰ For he that is not against us is on our part.

⁴¹ For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in MY name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

⁴² And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in ME, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

⁴³ And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
⁴⁴ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
⁴⁵ And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
⁴⁶ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
⁴⁷ And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
⁴⁸ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

⁴⁹ For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
⁵⁰ Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it?

Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

(Salt brings out the flavor of the food.  Words in ourselves from the Holy Spirit can bring out the flavor of the situation. I cannot have peace with those in the church when they are disobedient to the wisdom from God.  I put them away from me and no longer try to "eat" with them.  I can have great peace with those in the church who follow God continually.)

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💥 Podcast: To disobey that instruction given by God

(This podcast was previously published on, October 16, 2021)

 

Before the armies of the children of Israel went into Jericho to possess the land given them by God, Joshua gave specific instruction from God as follows:

Joshua 6:18  And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

40,000 men went to battle at Jericho and God gave them a great victory.

Next they were to take the city of Ai.

Joshua 7

1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.

(They didn't know that God would not be with them because of the trespass of Achan at Jericho.)

4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!

(This is terrible when we fail to overcome.)

9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto THY great name?

It would be a terrible thing to be defeated by the enemies of God.

This would shame God HIMSELF.

Jesus said:

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.

Paul said:

Romans 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM that loved us.

John said:

I John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.

It is unthinkable to be defeated by the unbelievers or by problems that surface in this present life when God is in us!

Paul says:

Philippians 4:13   I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

God makes a way for us in that which HE has called us to do on this earth.

I can't picture anything other than victory through God in all things.  So we seek God and wait for HIS way and then we go in HIS way in the issues of this life.

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God showed Joshua that person who sinned and brought trouble upon Israel and God showed Joshua what to do about the situation and Joshua did what God showed him to do.

Joshua 7

11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed MY covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

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The evil is exposed and dealt with:

Joshua 7  God's judgment:

14 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.

15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

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Joshua 7

16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:

17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:

18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto HIM; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.

24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of HIS anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

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

The apostle Peter says:

2 Peter 2

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.

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