1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum:
We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle:for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord:for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
(Providing daily encouragement for the body of Christ by the Spirit of God to help the church in the end times.)
Monday, April 6, 2015
Psalm 64 ... Prayers to God & Promises from God to the Church
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer:
preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked;
from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3 Who whet their tongue like a sword,
and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect:
suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter:
they commune of laying snares privily;
they say, Who shall see them?
6 They search out iniquities;
they accomplish a diligent search:
both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;
suddenly shall they be wounded.
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves:
all that see them shall flee away.
9 And all men shall fear,
and shall declare the work of God;
for they shall wisely consider of His doing.
10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him;
and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Comments by Joan Boney
The tongue can be a deadly thing. We, who are of God, must control out tongue through God. We do not allow the tongue to rule us. Rather we keep our tongue under the control of God by praying and by considering that which we are about to say.
Devils would have us exalt ourselves in our words. Our flesh would have us exalt ourselves in our words.
But we do have a power of God through HIS Spirit to control our tongue and even to recognize both flesh and devils who would exalt something or someone over God by our words.
Thus James says ... If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. James 1
Recently I had some negative thoughts about a woman ... Where did those thoughts come from? from God? or from a devil?
I Jn. 4 ... 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
So I just addressed that spirit that brought that negative thought to my mind. I said: "Do you confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?"
I heard the following: "No"
preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked;
from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3 Who whet their tongue like a sword,
and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect:
suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter:
they commune of laying snares privily;
they say, Who shall see them?
6 They search out iniquities;
they accomplish a diligent search:
both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;
suddenly shall they be wounded.
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves:
all that see them shall flee away.
9 And all men shall fear,
and shall declare the work of God;
for they shall wisely consider of His doing.
10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him;
and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Comments by Joan Boney
The tongue can be a deadly thing. We, who are of God, must control out tongue through God. We do not allow the tongue to rule us. Rather we keep our tongue under the control of God by praying and by considering that which we are about to say.
Devils would have us exalt ourselves in our words. Our flesh would have us exalt ourselves in our words.
But we do have a power of God through HIS Spirit to control our tongue and even to recognize both flesh and devils who would exalt something or someone over God by our words.
Thus James says ... If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. James 1
Recently I had some negative thoughts about a woman ... Where did those thoughts come from? from God? or from a devil?
I Jn. 4 ... 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
So I just addressed that spirit that brought that negative thought to my mind. I said: "Do you confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?"
I heard the following: "No"
Genesis 9 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture
1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These are the three sons of Noah:and of them was the whole earth overspread.
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said,
Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem;
And Canaan shall be his servant.
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, And he shall dwell in the tents of Shem;
And Canaan shall be his servant.
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years:and he died.
8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These are the three sons of Noah:and of them was the whole earth overspread.
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said,
Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem;
And Canaan shall be his servant.
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, And he shall dwell in the tents of Shem;
And Canaan shall be his servant.
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years:and he died.
Entering into strife greatly affects us
Pam Padgett - teacher
A few days ago I entered into strife with the company that provides my internet, telephone, and cable services. This strife greatly affected me and strongly showed how dangerous strife can be.
About six weeks ago there had been a problem with my internet, telephone, and cable services and a technician ran a bright orange temporary line from my house, across part of my back yard, and to a connection box. He also made an appointment for a permanent line to be installed and buried in about three weeks.
I had a little fear and concern that the dogs may be attracted to the bright orange line and that they would chew through it and be harmed (that they would be harmed is probably an unfounded fear). My internet/telephone/cable could also go out if the line was chewed and damaged. But we had snow that kept the line pretty covered so this didn't seem like a big problem, and I failed to pray about my fears. When the snow melted a little I tried to keep the dogs in another area as much as possible and to watch them when they were in the area where the line was.
Then a few days before the line was to be buried, someone came to mark where underline utilities are, using paint and plastic flags on wires, in preparation for the line to be buried. When I saw the flags, I pulled them up to keep them from the dogs. But I missed one and the dogs ate the flag and were playing with the wire in such a way they could be injured (I was glad to get it away from them before they were injured.)
I was looking forward to the line being buried so I wouldn't need to deal any more with any of these things. But on the scheduled day, no one came.
I called and was told the earliest the work could be rescheduled was in three more weeks. During this time I continued trying to make sure the dogs didn't chew on the bright orange line. The line was now more exposed as the weather was warming and the snow melted, so my fear was increasing. And, again, the dogs got hold of one of the flags when the utilities were marked, which also scared me.
Again, no one came on the second schedule day, which was a few days ago. This was very frustrating and my fears grew as well.
But instead of stopping and turning to God with the fears and frustration and asking HIM to calm and lead me in what to do, the following day I allowed my flesh to rise up in strife, determined to get the situation resolved. I called the company saying I needed the line to be buried as soon as possible and why. I was told the next available day this could be done was yet another month away. When I insisted it needed to be done sooner, I started being transferred to various people. Each person I spoke with gave different reasons why this couldn't be done sooner. It seemed they were just making up things to try to appease me, and I started striving even more. Finally, one man said they would send someone either that day or the next morning and would call me within an hour to let me know the exact time. (No one called).
All of this strife greatly affected me, even more than I realized. After I thought I had calmed down I tried to read a message I had previously written for the next day's blog. I found that I couldn't read the writing. It seemed to make no sense. I thought there was something wrong with the message and that it should probably be deleted, but wasn't sure. I was very shaken that the message seemed to make no sense at all and stepped away and asked God to show me what to do.
Not long after this Joan called and said she had read that message and noticed a couple of places I had not included references to scriptures mentioned in the writing. I told her I was probably going to delete that writing. She was surprised saying what she had read of the message seemed fine and asked me why I might delete it. I told her when I had tried to review it, I hadn't been able to even read it. After we talked a little, I remembered the strife I had entered into on the phone earlier in the day. This strife had terribly affected me to the point that I couldn't even read this message.
The message wasn't the problem ... I was the problem as I was affected by the strife I had entered into. I asked God to please help me.
The following morning the phone rang and caller ID showed it was from this company. I asked God to help me as I picked up the phone. The woman said they would let me know in 3-4 days when they could schedule someone to bury the line. There was still the urge in me to strive, but I was helped to keep my flesh under control and don't think I strived with her.
A little later I saw Psalm 62 printed on the blog and the following stood out to me ...
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
I had to set my expectation for help in God, not the cable company which is just a worldly business. I asked God to work out this problem as HE knows is best for me, to take care of what needed to be done. As I prayed I realized I knew what I want (to have the line buried quickly), but God knows what is really needed. I committed the entire situation to God.
Amazingly, that afternoon a man came to bury the line! The woman from the cable company had told me just a few hours earlier that they would let me know in 3-4 days when this could be scheduled. Yet here the man was to do the work. After praying and committing the matter to God, it was taken care of the same day.
Even after committing the matter to God, however, I was still affected by the strife of the previous day and I spoke in a puffed up way a couple of times during a phone call with Joan, trying to show myself to be "right" and "wise". I prayed asking God for help in getting rid of this strife and to help me keep my flesh under control.
I have also been reminded of what James taught ...
James 3:13-18 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
If we are to walk in wisdom while dealing with a matter, we need to humble ourselves before God and ask God for HIS wisdom in that matter, and then go in the way we are shown.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Entering into strife can seem so "wise" and justified. But this "wisdom" is not from God. It is of the flesh and devil. It puffs us up and leads in ways of evil, not in ways of God.
confusion - the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something. This is exactly the state I was in after striving with the cable company people on the telephone ... unable to even read a message.
17 But the wisdom that is from above (from God) is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
I am so sorry to have entered into this sin of strife and have repented.
A few days ago I entered into strife with the company that provides my internet, telephone, and cable services. This strife greatly affected me and strongly showed how dangerous strife can be.
About six weeks ago there had been a problem with my internet, telephone, and cable services and a technician ran a bright orange temporary line from my house, across part of my back yard, and to a connection box. He also made an appointment for a permanent line to be installed and buried in about three weeks.
I had a little fear and concern that the dogs may be attracted to the bright orange line and that they would chew through it and be harmed (that they would be harmed is probably an unfounded fear). My internet/telephone/cable could also go out if the line was chewed and damaged. But we had snow that kept the line pretty covered so this didn't seem like a big problem, and I failed to pray about my fears. When the snow melted a little I tried to keep the dogs in another area as much as possible and to watch them when they were in the area where the line was.
Then a few days before the line was to be buried, someone came to mark where underline utilities are, using paint and plastic flags on wires, in preparation for the line to be buried. When I saw the flags, I pulled them up to keep them from the dogs. But I missed one and the dogs ate the flag and were playing with the wire in such a way they could be injured (I was glad to get it away from them before they were injured.)
I was looking forward to the line being buried so I wouldn't need to deal any more with any of these things. But on the scheduled day, no one came.
I called and was told the earliest the work could be rescheduled was in three more weeks. During this time I continued trying to make sure the dogs didn't chew on the bright orange line. The line was now more exposed as the weather was warming and the snow melted, so my fear was increasing. And, again, the dogs got hold of one of the flags when the utilities were marked, which also scared me.
Again, no one came on the second schedule day, which was a few days ago. This was very frustrating and my fears grew as well.
But instead of stopping and turning to God with the fears and frustration and asking HIM to calm and lead me in what to do, the following day I allowed my flesh to rise up in strife, determined to get the situation resolved. I called the company saying I needed the line to be buried as soon as possible and why. I was told the next available day this could be done was yet another month away. When I insisted it needed to be done sooner, I started being transferred to various people. Each person I spoke with gave different reasons why this couldn't be done sooner. It seemed they were just making up things to try to appease me, and I started striving even more. Finally, one man said they would send someone either that day or the next morning and would call me within an hour to let me know the exact time. (No one called).
All of this strife greatly affected me, even more than I realized. After I thought I had calmed down I tried to read a message I had previously written for the next day's blog. I found that I couldn't read the writing. It seemed to make no sense. I thought there was something wrong with the message and that it should probably be deleted, but wasn't sure. I was very shaken that the message seemed to make no sense at all and stepped away and asked God to show me what to do.
Not long after this Joan called and said she had read that message and noticed a couple of places I had not included references to scriptures mentioned in the writing. I told her I was probably going to delete that writing. She was surprised saying what she had read of the message seemed fine and asked me why I might delete it. I told her when I had tried to review it, I hadn't been able to even read it. After we talked a little, I remembered the strife I had entered into on the phone earlier in the day. This strife had terribly affected me to the point that I couldn't even read this message.
The message wasn't the problem ... I was the problem as I was affected by the strife I had entered into. I asked God to please help me.
The following morning the phone rang and caller ID showed it was from this company. I asked God to help me as I picked up the phone. The woman said they would let me know in 3-4 days when they could schedule someone to bury the line. There was still the urge in me to strive, but I was helped to keep my flesh under control and don't think I strived with her.
A little later I saw Psalm 62 printed on the blog and the following stood out to me ...
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
I had to set my expectation for help in God, not the cable company which is just a worldly business. I asked God to work out this problem as HE knows is best for me, to take care of what needed to be done. As I prayed I realized I knew what I want (to have the line buried quickly), but God knows what is really needed. I committed the entire situation to God.
Amazingly, that afternoon a man came to bury the line! The woman from the cable company had told me just a few hours earlier that they would let me know in 3-4 days when this could be scheduled. Yet here the man was to do the work. After praying and committing the matter to God, it was taken care of the same day.
Even after committing the matter to God, however, I was still affected by the strife of the previous day and I spoke in a puffed up way a couple of times during a phone call with Joan, trying to show myself to be "right" and "wise". I prayed asking God for help in getting rid of this strife and to help me keep my flesh under control.
I have also been reminded of what James taught ...
James 3:13-18 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
If we are to walk in wisdom while dealing with a matter, we need to humble ourselves before God and ask God for HIS wisdom in that matter, and then go in the way we are shown.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Entering into strife can seem so "wise" and justified. But this "wisdom" is not from God. It is of the flesh and devil. It puffs us up and leads in ways of evil, not in ways of God.
confusion - the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something. This is exactly the state I was in after striving with the cable company people on the telephone ... unable to even read a message.
17 But the wisdom that is from above (from God) is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
I am so sorry to have entered into this sin of strife and have repented.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Hebrews 7 ... Reading through the Bible
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident:for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's:for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident:for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's:for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Psalm 63 ... Prayers to God & Promises from God to the Church
1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:
my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee
in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory,
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help,
therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it,
shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword:
they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
every one that sweareth by him shall glory:
but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
==========
Comments by Joan Boney
The ones "who swear by HIM", swear by God, swear by the Word of God shall glory.
When we affirm that the Word of God is true, we glory in HIM and we swear by HIM.
The others swear by themselves, by their own ideas, by worldly intellect as they speak the ideas of humans.
But we swear by God, lifting up the Word of God telling what God has done both in the Bible and in our own lives.
my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee
in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory,
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help,
therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it,
shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword:
they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
every one that sweareth by him shall glory:
but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
==========
Comments by Joan Boney
The ones "who swear by HIM", swear by God, swear by the Word of God shall glory.
When we affirm that the Word of God is true, we glory in HIM and we swear by HIM.
The others swear by themselves, by their own ideas, by worldly intellect as they speak the ideas of humans.
But we swear by God, lifting up the Word of God telling what God has done both in the Bible and in our own lives.
Genesis 8 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture
Genesis 8 ... 1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark:
(God remembered Noah and every living thing in the ark ... Think of what would have happened if God had not remembered Noah. Noah would have perished in the ark. The waters would have remained. The rain would have continued. Noah and all in the ark would have died. But God did remember them ... and made a way for them to live.)
and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; 2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually:and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month:in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth:then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off:so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth:and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
15 And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons 'wives with thee. 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him:19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 9 ... 1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
(Man was put in charge to do as he willed with the beast, the fowl, the fishes ... Since man had that power over them, the fear of man and the dread of man was upon the beast, the fowl, the fishes. We should have that fear of God upon us knowing that God can do as HE wills to us.)
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed:for in the image of God made he man.
7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
(Again we see the use of the word "remember" ... that God will remember what HE has said to man ... If God did not remember, we might be destroyed. But God does remember. God even made a way for HIMSELF to remember HIS word to man.)
17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth:and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These are the three sons of Noah:and of them was the whole earth overspread.
God remembered Noah ... what that means to us today ...
Joan Boney ... apostle / prophet
Genesis 8 ...
1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark:
What would have happened had God not remembered Noah and all that were with Noah? They were in the ark and the flood waters were all around them, no dry land at all. We can see had God not remembered them, they would have been destroyed.
But God did remember ... and as a result God made everything work to Noah's benefit (and to those who were with Noah)
and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; 2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually:
Does God remember us? If we belong to HIM, God certainly remembers HIS own children, HIS creation, HIS chosen.
As God made everything work out to Noah's benefit, God will make everything work out to my benefit because God remembers me. If I need a person in my life, God will work it out so that person will be in my life. If that person needs to be removed from my life, God will do that. God will do what is best for me for God remembers me.
Genesis 9 ... God says ... 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
God was never going to forget this and God even made a sign of the rainbow so it would remind HIM of HIS covenant ...
God will remember all HIS promises that HE has given to us. And as HE remembers HE will fulfill them in the proper time.
Heb. 6 ... 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Genesis 8 ...
1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark:
What would have happened had God not remembered Noah and all that were with Noah? They were in the ark and the flood waters were all around them, no dry land at all. We can see had God not remembered them, they would have been destroyed.
But God did remember ... and as a result God made everything work to Noah's benefit (and to those who were with Noah)
and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; 2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually:
Does God remember us? If we belong to HIM, God certainly remembers HIS own children, HIS creation, HIS chosen.
As God made everything work out to Noah's benefit, God will make everything work out to my benefit because God remembers me. If I need a person in my life, God will work it out so that person will be in my life. If that person needs to be removed from my life, God will do that. God will do what is best for me for God remembers me.
Genesis 9 ... God says ... 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
God was never going to forget this and God even made a sign of the rainbow so it would remind HIM of HIS covenant ...
God will remember all HIS promises that HE has given to us. And as HE remembers HE will fulfill them in the proper time.
Heb. 6 ... 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
God swears by HIMSELF that HE will not change
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Hebrews 6 ... 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he (Abraham) obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater:and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
An oath is a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behavior.
So in US court of law, the person says, "I swear by the almighty God that the testimony that I am about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Notice the oath he swore by was "the almighty God" ... invoking a divine witness to what he was about to say. This is a very serious matter. And there is none higher that one could swear by than the almighty God. And implied is the curse the witness would bring upon himself if he lies to the court.
In the case of Hebrews 6, we read: 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
It is impossible for God to lie over the promises (The Word) HE gives to us. There are two immutable witnesses: God is a witness and God swears an oath by HIMSELF with HIMSELF as witness.
So we know the promises of God to us are sure and will not change for immutable means: unchanging over time and unable to be changed.
In Hebrews 6 we read: Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
We therefore have a strong assurance of the counsel of God ... what God tells us will not change ... And it is true (no lie) ...
It is good for us to see this for it is strength for us to see what God has done when HE promises us something or tells us something. It will not change. God swears by HIMSELF so it would be impossible for it to change.
Thus Paul says ... we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth ... Heb. 6:19
So we read the following promises:
Isaiah 54:17 ...
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.
Heb. 13:5 ...
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
And all other statements from God to us are "promises" sworn by a GOD who has the power to perform these statements and will not lie and the statements are immutable (cannot be changed) ...
If we can get this concept we can know the immutability of God's counsel to us.
Hebrews 6 ... 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he (Abraham) obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater:and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
An oath is a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behavior.
So in US court of law, the person says, "I swear by the almighty God that the testimony that I am about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Notice the oath he swore by was "the almighty God" ... invoking a divine witness to what he was about to say. This is a very serious matter. And there is none higher that one could swear by than the almighty God. And implied is the curse the witness would bring upon himself if he lies to the court.
In the case of Hebrews 6, we read: 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
It is impossible for God to lie over the promises (The Word) HE gives to us. There are two immutable witnesses: God is a witness and God swears an oath by HIMSELF with HIMSELF as witness.
So we know the promises of God to us are sure and will not change for immutable means: unchanging over time and unable to be changed.
In Hebrews 6 we read: Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
We therefore have a strong assurance of the counsel of God ... what God tells us will not change ... And it is true (no lie) ...
It is good for us to see this for it is strength for us to see what God has done when HE promises us something or tells us something. It will not change. God swears by HIMSELF so it would be impossible for it to change.
Thus Paul says ... we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth ... Heb. 6:19
So we read the following promises:
Isaiah 54:17 ...
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.
Heb. 13:5 ...
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
And all other statements from God to us are "promises" sworn by a GOD who has the power to perform these statements and will not lie and the statements are immutable (cannot be changed) ...
If we can get this concept we can know the immutability of God's counsel to us.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Hebrews 6 ... Reading through the Bible
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater:and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater:and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Psalm 62 ... Prayers to God & Promises from God to the Church
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God:
from HIM cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation;
HE is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man?
ye shall be slain all of you:
as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency:
they delight in lies:
they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation:
He is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory:
the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him:
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie:
to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression,
and become not vain in robbery:
if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once;
twice have I heard this;
that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy:
for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
==========
6 He only is my rock and my salvation:
God only ... no other ... The God of Abraham who created heaven and earth ... God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Word.
from HIM cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation;
HE is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man?
ye shall be slain all of you:
as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency:
they delight in lies:
they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation:
He is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory:
the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him:
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie:
to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression,
and become not vain in robbery:
if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once;
twice have I heard this;
that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy:
for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
==========
6 He only is my rock and my salvation:
God only ... no other ... The God of Abraham who created heaven and earth ... God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Word.
Genesis 6-7 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture
Genesis 6 ...
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 These are the generations of Noah:Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
(God defined violence to me as: man seeking to get what he wants without regard for what it will do to others ...)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
(But God makes a way of escape for Noah.)
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of:The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons 'wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Genesis 7 ...
1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female:and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
5 And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. 6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
(This is the first time rain had fallen on the earth.)
Hebrews 11 ... 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Noah condemned the world because he (Noah) believed God and the world did not believe God. Each time we believe and others do not believe, we who believe condemn by our actions those who do not believe.
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 These are the generations of Noah:Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
(God defined violence to me as: man seeking to get what he wants without regard for what it will do to others ...)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
(But God makes a way of escape for Noah.)
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of:The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons 'wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Genesis 7 ...
1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female:and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
5 And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. 6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
(This is the first time rain had fallen on the earth.)
Hebrews 11 ... 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Noah condemned the world because he (Noah) believed God and the world did not believe God. Each time we believe and others do not believe, we who believe condemn by our actions those who do not believe.
Report from Joseph Meriweather: Member of body of Christ
Today I like yo say I'm more than grateful for my life because I came
very close to death from a hanging live electrical wire that I walk
under and didn't see. When the DTE energy man came and I told him what
happen he said you are lucky to be alive. Gods grace and mercy covered me. He always watches over us
when we don't even know it. Praise God.
Hebrews 5: Jesus was perfected in the flesh through suffering
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Hebrews 5 ... concerning Jesus ...7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Of course, in heaven Jesus was perfect. Jesus was THE WORD who created all things, heaven, earth and all things therein... perfection.
Jn. 1 ... 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
THE WORD was made flesh, came to earth in the flesh in the form of a man. With this came the sufferings known to all flesh. For now Jesus has become flesh which suffers. And Hebrews 5 said Jesus learned obedience by suffering ... and the suffering perfected HIM while HE was here in the form of flesh.
Jesus was created a little lower than the angels.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
This had to be because Jesus was going to pay for our sins through suffering and by HIS blood on a cross. Jesus was going to die for our sins and make a way for us to come to God through HIS own body. Angels do not die nor do angels suffer in the flesh. To do this work, Jesus had to be made as a human to suffer for us and to die as a human.
Hebrews 5 ... 9 And being made perfect, HE became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey HIM;
After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus rose into heaven and gave all those who are of God HIS Spirit so we can know HIS will and obey HIM.
Like Jesus, we are "perfected", made into HIS image, through the various trials of this present life (sufferings) as we hear the way of God in the trial (by the Holy Spirit) and obey what Jesus says by the Holy Spirit, thus choosing to go in the way directed by Jesus.
Obey means:
- carry out HIS command or instruction
- behave in accordance with what HE says
- hear & go in the direction HE says
==========
Psalm 61:5 ... Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear THY Name (THE WORD) ...
Fear The Word:
- Belief that it is dangerous and likely to cause pain to a person if he chooses to go against THE WORD. (safety & well being in jeopardy to do so)
- Reverence for THE WORD
- Deep respect for THE WORD (regard or treat with deep respect)
- Honor the WORD by obeying the Word
- Bow down to the Word by giving up one ways and desires to do THE WORD
- Stand in awe of THE WORD
- Understanding the likelihood of something unpleasant happening if I go against THE WORD
- Being afraid to go against THE WORD for that is likely to be dangerous to me, painful to me, or threatening to me.
- Regard THE WORD with reverence or awe
This is what it means to fear the Word.
==========
What does it really mean when we say, "Do you believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?"
Even unbelievers believe there was a man born named Jesus and called the Christ.
But to believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is to believe Jesus is THE WORD who gave up HIS position in heaven with God and took on the form of a human and died for the sins of all and was then raised from the dead by God.
Phil. 2 ... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was "in the form of God" with God in heaven. HE even created all things, THE WORD. But HE humbled HIMSELF to come to earth "in the likeness of men" as a human. So HE could taste suffering as all humans suffer so HE could comfort all who suffered for HE suffered all things, "yet without sin." And therefore HE is able to help us in temptations for HE was tempted in all ways like as we are tempted.
So being God (in the form of God) HE made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of a human. HE went to the cross, laying down HIS life, paying for sins of all with HIS blood. Then God raised HIM from the dead and put HIM at HIS own right hand in heaven and now Jesus is seated beside God in heaven and intercedes for us.
So when you ask, "Do you believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?", this is what it means.
==========
In a secular, CIA type book, there was a passage where two men were talking, both CIA agents. One man was a Muslim religion though he was American. The other man said he was Christian.
The Muslim asked the Christian if he really believed Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead. The Christian admitted he did not believe this. Neither did the Muslim.
This started me to thinking about people who call themselves Christian but really do not believe Jesus Christ was raised by God from the dead. I feel certain there are many like this.
Paul dealt with people who did not believe in the resurrection ... Paul spent a good deal of time with this subject in I Cor. 15 ...
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am:and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 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.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh:but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial:but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars:for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory:it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy:the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy:and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Hebrews 5 ... concerning Jesus ...7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Of course, in heaven Jesus was perfect. Jesus was THE WORD who created all things, heaven, earth and all things therein... perfection.
Jn. 1 ... 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
THE WORD was made flesh, came to earth in the flesh in the form of a man. With this came the sufferings known to all flesh. For now Jesus has become flesh which suffers. And Hebrews 5 said Jesus learned obedience by suffering ... and the suffering perfected HIM while HE was here in the form of flesh.
Jesus was created a little lower than the angels.
Hebrews 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
This had to be because Jesus was going to pay for our sins through suffering and by HIS blood on a cross. Jesus was going to die for our sins and make a way for us to come to God through HIS own body. Angels do not die nor do angels suffer in the flesh. To do this work, Jesus had to be made as a human to suffer for us and to die as a human.
Hebrews 5 ... 9 And being made perfect, HE became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey HIM;
After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus rose into heaven and gave all those who are of God HIS Spirit so we can know HIS will and obey HIM.
Like Jesus, we are "perfected", made into HIS image, through the various trials of this present life (sufferings) as we hear the way of God in the trial (by the Holy Spirit) and obey what Jesus says by the Holy Spirit, thus choosing to go in the way directed by Jesus.
Obey means:
- carry out HIS command or instruction
- behave in accordance with what HE says
- hear & go in the direction HE says
==========
Psalm 61:5 ... Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear THY Name (THE WORD) ...
Fear The Word:
- Belief that it is dangerous and likely to cause pain to a person if he chooses to go against THE WORD. (safety & well being in jeopardy to do so)
- Reverence for THE WORD
- Deep respect for THE WORD (regard or treat with deep respect)
- Honor the WORD by obeying the Word
- Bow down to the Word by giving up one ways and desires to do THE WORD
- Stand in awe of THE WORD
- Understanding the likelihood of something unpleasant happening if I go against THE WORD
- Being afraid to go against THE WORD for that is likely to be dangerous to me, painful to me, or threatening to me.
- Regard THE WORD with reverence or awe
This is what it means to fear the Word.
==========
What does it really mean when we say, "Do you believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?"
Even unbelievers believe there was a man born named Jesus and called the Christ.
But to believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is to believe Jesus is THE WORD who gave up HIS position in heaven with God and took on the form of a human and died for the sins of all and was then raised from the dead by God.
Phil. 2 ... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was "in the form of God" with God in heaven. HE even created all things, THE WORD. But HE humbled HIMSELF to come to earth "in the likeness of men" as a human. So HE could taste suffering as all humans suffer so HE could comfort all who suffered for HE suffered all things, "yet without sin." And therefore HE is able to help us in temptations for HE was tempted in all ways like as we are tempted.
So being God (in the form of God) HE made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of a human. HE went to the cross, laying down HIS life, paying for sins of all with HIS blood. Then God raised HIM from the dead and put HIM at HIS own right hand in heaven and now Jesus is seated beside God in heaven and intercedes for us.
So when you ask, "Do you believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?", this is what it means.
==========
In a secular, CIA type book, there was a passage where two men were talking, both CIA agents. One man was a Muslim religion though he was American. The other man said he was Christian.
The Muslim asked the Christian if he really believed Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead. The Christian admitted he did not believe this. Neither did the Muslim.
This started me to thinking about people who call themselves Christian but really do not believe Jesus Christ was raised by God from the dead. I feel certain there are many like this.
Paul dealt with people who did not believe in the resurrection ... Paul spent a good deal of time with this subject in I Cor. 15 ...
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am:and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 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.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh:but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial:but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars:for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory:it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy:the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy:and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Mighty acts of God
Pam Padgett - teacher
Psalm 106:2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise?
Wherever we are and whatever we do, we often see or are reminded of mighty works of God, filling us with wonder, awe, and praise toward God.
A few days ago I noticed trees and bushes bringing forth buds. These trees and bushes have looked dead throughout the long cold winter here, but now small buds are showing they are still alive. Seeing this reminded me of God and how wonderfully and perfectly He created each thing.
Recently I was thinking about some of the mighty acts God did in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt and caring for them. These are wonderful to think about:
- God did various signs and wonders in Egypt before Pharaoh to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt by great judgments. Aaron's bud became a serpent and swallowed up the rods of Pharaoh's magicians, rivers were turned to blood, the land was covered with frogs, dust of the land became lice, swarms of flies invaded the land, there were boils on man and beast, severe hail and thunder brought much destruction, locusts darkened the land, 3 days of thick darkness came on the Egyptians (darkness so thick it could be felt), but there was light in the houses of Israel. (Exodus 7-10)
- God killed the first born of the Egyptians but provided a way ... the passover ... for the children of Israel to be spared.
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. (Exodus 12:21-24)
- God led the children of of Israel forward in a way they could see by day and night ... a pillar of a cloud by day and of fire by night.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)
- God parted the Red Sea so the children of Israel walked across on dry land with the water as walls on both sides. Amazing! But when the Egyptians tried to cross in the same way, the waters closed around them and they were all drowned.
Exodus 12:13-31 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
- God fed all of the children of Israel, 600,000 men plus women and children, as they journeyed through the wilderness. Manna was on the earth ready to be gathered in the morning and there was plenty for all to eat. (Exodus 16)
Only God has the power, mercy, wisdom, and judgment to do these works.
I also recalled mighty works God has done in my life. One thing after another I was reminded of what God has done, such as:
- God spoke HIS word to me by the Holy Spirit causing me to be born again, and gave me the Holy Spirit living in me. I became a new creature, completely changed, desiring to please God and turning from the ways I had been going.
- God taught me to prove by the Bible doctrines I had been taught in the Catholic church since childhood. I had thought that everything I had been taught was true. But being led by the Holy Spirit to prove doctrines I had learned, I was given truth to replace incorrect doctrines. And I was led to leave the Catholic church.
- When I was in college, my sister arranged a blind date for me with a fraternity guy. We were to go to an outdoor fraternity luau party. I looked forward to this until I learned that my date would be spending the day building a hut "for us". This opened my eyes to the lewd things that would be going on at this event. I told my sister I couldn't go, but she insisted it was too late to cancel this blind date. I turned strongly to God asking Him to somehow help me.
On the day of the luau it started raining in the morning. By early that afternoon it was raining pretty hard. Soon I learned that the luau had been canceled. It had rained so much that the luau site had been flooded, and the huts had been washed away! God had delivered me with the flooding rain.
- God comforted me and showed me truth about the matter when I became an outcast from a church singles group but I didn't know why. A woman came to me saying she had a message from God for me. The message was that God knew how I was being treated by those in the singles group and that I needed to know it was because I had done God's will in warning against the marriage of a divorced woman in the group to a man in the group.
(I had warned this man and divorced woman, as well as the woman who planned to be the maid of honor at the wedding, that this couple would commit adultery by marrying, as Jesus taught ... It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I (Jesus) 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. Matt. 5:31-32)
- God continually helps me with daily decisions and problems, such as calming me and guiding me when I needed to quickly get a backup computer last week.
These are just a few of the many things God has done in my life.
And God works mightily in the lives of each of HIS children.
Psalm 106:1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 106:2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise?
Wherever we are and whatever we do, we often see or are reminded of mighty works of God, filling us with wonder, awe, and praise toward God.
A few days ago I noticed trees and bushes bringing forth buds. These trees and bushes have looked dead throughout the long cold winter here, but now small buds are showing they are still alive. Seeing this reminded me of God and how wonderfully and perfectly He created each thing.
Recently I was thinking about some of the mighty acts God did in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt and caring for them. These are wonderful to think about:
- God did various signs and wonders in Egypt before Pharaoh to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt by great judgments. Aaron's bud became a serpent and swallowed up the rods of Pharaoh's magicians, rivers were turned to blood, the land was covered with frogs, dust of the land became lice, swarms of flies invaded the land, there were boils on man and beast, severe hail and thunder brought much destruction, locusts darkened the land, 3 days of thick darkness came on the Egyptians (darkness so thick it could be felt), but there was light in the houses of Israel. (Exodus 7-10)
- God killed the first born of the Egyptians but provided a way ... the passover ... for the children of Israel to be spared.
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. (Exodus 12:21-24)
- God led the children of of Israel forward in a way they could see by day and night ... a pillar of a cloud by day and of fire by night.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)
- God parted the Red Sea so the children of Israel walked across on dry land with the water as walls on both sides. Amazing! But when the Egyptians tried to cross in the same way, the waters closed around them and they were all drowned.
Exodus 12:13-31 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
- God fed all of the children of Israel, 600,000 men plus women and children, as they journeyed through the wilderness. Manna was on the earth ready to be gathered in the morning and there was plenty for all to eat. (Exodus 16)
Only God has the power, mercy, wisdom, and judgment to do these works.
I also recalled mighty works God has done in my life. One thing after another I was reminded of what God has done, such as:
- God spoke HIS word to me by the Holy Spirit causing me to be born again, and gave me the Holy Spirit living in me. I became a new creature, completely changed, desiring to please God and turning from the ways I had been going.
- God taught me to prove by the Bible doctrines I had been taught in the Catholic church since childhood. I had thought that everything I had been taught was true. But being led by the Holy Spirit to prove doctrines I had learned, I was given truth to replace incorrect doctrines. And I was led to leave the Catholic church.
- When I was in college, my sister arranged a blind date for me with a fraternity guy. We were to go to an outdoor fraternity luau party. I looked forward to this until I learned that my date would be spending the day building a hut "for us". This opened my eyes to the lewd things that would be going on at this event. I told my sister I couldn't go, but she insisted it was too late to cancel this blind date. I turned strongly to God asking Him to somehow help me.
On the day of the luau it started raining in the morning. By early that afternoon it was raining pretty hard. Soon I learned that the luau had been canceled. It had rained so much that the luau site had been flooded, and the huts had been washed away! God had delivered me with the flooding rain.
- God comforted me and showed me truth about the matter when I became an outcast from a church singles group but I didn't know why. A woman came to me saying she had a message from God for me. The message was that God knew how I was being treated by those in the singles group and that I needed to know it was because I had done God's will in warning against the marriage of a divorced woman in the group to a man in the group.
(I had warned this man and divorced woman, as well as the woman who planned to be the maid of honor at the wedding, that this couple would commit adultery by marrying, as Jesus taught ... It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I (Jesus) 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. Matt. 5:31-32)
- God continually helps me with daily decisions and problems, such as calming me and guiding me when I needed to quickly get a backup computer last week.
These are just a few of the many things God has done in my life.
And God works mightily in the lives of each of HIS children.
Psalm 106:1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
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