Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Podcast: Wisdom: King Solomon and Proverbs 1



 
 
Wisdom from God is something we greatly need to pursue and to seek at this time in our lives as we continue to wait for the return of Jesus and as we witness those things coming upon the earth in the days ahead.  

* unusual storms at strange times of the year; 
* earthquakes; 
* Coronavirus pestilence; 
* volcanic eruptions; 
* extreme heat and forest fires; 
* governments of men working in great debt; 
* blatant and overt wickedness flaunted before our eyes on TV; 
* no shame; 
* men lying without concern; 
* moral corruption; 
* sins in church groups even to removal of doctrines of Bible from the congregation, 
* the apostate churches of the end times.

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God makes this promise to HIS people, HIS church today.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Sometimes we simply forget to talk with God about our plans.  And we go forth in our own thinking.  It might work out and it might not when we go about it like that.  Why take the risk?  when we have the promise from God that if we ask HIM for wisdom, HE will give us wisdom?

I believe this series on Wisdom will help each of us to remember to seek wisdom from God.  And I believe these writings over the next month will cause us to have an understanding of wisdom and to keep in our minds the need we have for wisdom to become deeply rooted in each of our hearts.

We should find these writings to be very exciting, profitable and comforting as we go forward daily.

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King Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave Solomon wisdom and Solomon was the wisest of men because it was from God!

I Kings 3

4 And the king (Solomon) went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. 
 
5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God saidAsk what I shall give thee.

6 And Solomon said, THOU hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before THEE in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with THEE; and THOU hast kept for him this great kindness, that THOU hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

And now, O LORD my God, THOU hast made THY servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And THY servant is in the midst of THY people which THOU hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Give therefore THY servant an understanding heart to judge THY people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this THY so great a people?

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in MY ways, to keep MY statutes and MY commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. 

And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

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The wisdom God gave to king Solomon has lasted for centuries and even today in secular TV shows, I have heard reference made to the wisdom of Solomon.

Wisdom from God is greatly to be desired, more than rubies and silver and gold.  There is nothing like wisdom that comes from God.

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The wisdom of Solomon:  

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

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5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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To fear God and choose HIS way is safety, prosperity, and health.  True wisdom is to choose God and that which HE shows you.   

Fear of the Lord is to have great awe of that which God shows you and to know that to go any other direction is to risk extreme danger and is very foolish.

We have a sure thing when we hear a word from God and go that way!

I was born again in 1975 and began reading the Bible and seeking to do the Word.  I saw the information about king Solomon and wanted wisdom from God.  Also I saw that God promises to give us wisdom if we ask HIM.  

I wrote on each book of the Bible, "Remember to ask God for wisdom."

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No good comes from traveling with the evil seekers:

Proverbs 1:10-16    My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

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2 Corinthians 6

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

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be MY people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean ; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be MY sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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At the time I was born again, so far as I know, none of my friends were Christians.  And I was changed so dramatically by God that I no longer wanted to be with those people I had been around.  I wanted to hear things of God.  I wanted to read Bible.  I wanted to go to Church and attend things of God with people of God.

Two Baptist women said to me, "Don't give up your worldly friends."

But I no longer had anything in common with my previous friends.

The Baptist women were thinking maybe I could lead some of my past friends to Christ.  But that is not the way I felt.  I just didn't have anything in common anymore with them.  I was very changed by God.

Ezekiel 36  God says:

23 And I will sanctify MY great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be cleanfrom all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put MY spirit within you, and cause you to walk in MY statutes, and ye shall keep MY judgments, and do them.

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If we reject God's counsel:

Proverbs 1

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

(God says)

23 Turn you at MY reproof: behold, I will pour out MY spirit unto you, I will make known MY words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out MY hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all MY counsel, and would none of MY reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon ME, but I will not answer; they shall seek ME early, but they shall not find ME:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30 They would none of MY counsel: they despised all MY reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

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33 But whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

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Consider this:

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

I believe we live now in the beginning of the end times warned about in the Bible.  If so, we are told by the apostle Paul to expect these to be "perilous times".

2 Timothy 3

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

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

3 Without natural affection (homosexuals / lesbians / abortionists), trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fiercedespisers of those that are good,

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

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

(Paul doesn't tell us to keep company with this world or disobedient church people.  Paul says to turn away from them when you see this.  And that is what I did.)

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And Jesus says, concerning the end times:

Matthew 24

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.


πŸ’₯  Wars:  World Wars I & II ... spectacular in that they included most of the nations of men on this earth.

πŸ’₯  Pestilences:  2020  Coronavirus covers entire world as we have never seen before.  NYC was empty of people and traffic as we usually see it.  On March 11, 2020, I was shocked to hear they were cancelling the major college basketball tournament, "March Madness".  Professional basketball and professional golf and professional baseball cancelled games and tournaments and entire seasons. Most things completely shut down, never before seen. And it happened all over the earth!  It reminded me of the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18.  (It was not that event but I was seeing things that were described in the writings concerning the fall of Babylon.)

πŸ’₯  Earthquakes:  2023 Great earthquake in Turkey and Syria kills almost 50,000 people (unheard of).

How can these things not get our attention?

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And Jesus speaks of more things to come at the end.

Matthew 24:12-13  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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And Jesus tells us how really bad the time will become:

Matthew 24:21-22  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

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Churches are everywhere in USA.  How could it ever get this bad?

The apostasy comes into churches.  They fall away from scripture and set up other doctrines. They feel secure because they say "Jesus is Lord", but they cast aside scripture which is "Jesus".  And they have no idea they are a part of antichrist and the apostasy of the end time.

If we really love The Word of God, we will live by the instructions of the scriptures.

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

Is this what they teach and do at your church group?

* The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery?

* The divorced woman commits adultery if she remarries?

* The man who divorces a faithful wife is the cause of her committing adultery if she remarries?

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The apostasy in today's churches is rampant.

Do they teach the following about homosexuals and lesbians at your church group?

Romans 1:26-28  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

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

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

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"without natural affection":  (2 Timothy 3:3)  ... Is it "natural" for a woman to kill her unborn child with abortion?

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"sex outside of marriage" ... fornication ... The apostle Paul says at the time of sexual intercourse two become one flesh, even if you have sex with an "harlot" (prostitute)

I Cor. 6:15-18  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

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

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And it will get much worse in the days ahead on this earth.

No wonder Jesus said:  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  (Mt. 24:21-22)

We must learn to operate in God's wisdom, obeying the Holy Scriptures.
 
Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.


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Tuesday, March 7, 2023

πŸ’₯ The power of God given to HIS children.

 
I Thessalonians 1:5

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance;

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In 1975, when I was born again, I owned a small business in Dallas, Texas, in American Indian Arts.

In approximately 1976, a man came into my store.  I noticed him because he was wearing a tie clasp shaped in the form of handcuffs. He introduced himself to me and as deputy sheriff, and said to me, "Little lady, do you know a man named Clutter?"  I replied, "No sir."  He said, "Well he knows you.  He is suing you for one-million-dollars."  And he handed me some court documents and left the store.

I was shocked!  

I probably had an inventory of 2 or 3 thousand dollars in merchandise at that time.  I had no personal money.  I lived in an apartment that rented for $180 per month.  And I drove an old car!

It was a ridiculous situation which I had trouble seriously considering.  I threw the court papers on a shelf and walked away, hardly thinking of this happening.

But in a few days I realized that if I didn't respond to these proceedings, this man might be able to get a judgment against me and take the small amount of merchandise that I did have and put me out of business.

So I hired a lawyer to represent me.

The lawyer met with me a few times and a bill came for $3000.  I paid that bill.  Then he did something else and another bill came and I barely had enough to pay that bill, but I did pay it.  

God had worked with me to get me out of debt in a miraculous way.  At the rate I was going with the lawyer, it wouldn't be long before I would have to borrow money to pay for the legal bills.  I was certain this was not God's way for me!  I began praying for God to help me.

One day, while reading the Bible a verse of scripture stood out to me.

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

I began thinking about this.

πŸ’₯  This is a promise of God to HIS Children!  I am now one of God's children.  So this promise from God would apply to me!

πŸ’₯  "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;"

This law suit was definitely a weapon formed against me!

As a child of God, this weapon could not prosper against me!

πŸ’₯  and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.  (another promise from the Bible)

Here is another scripture which fits what I am about to do.

Jesus says:  (to His disciples)

Luke 21:15  For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

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God had also been teaching me to live by the following scripture:

Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  

(I had been doing these instructions, meditating on specific scripture day and night, for several months, ever since I saw this instruction.  The promise attached to doing this:  "for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success!"  I was sure this promise from God applied to me!)

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As I continued to think on these scriptures, I was convinced this law suit could not prosper against me.

So why am I paying all this money to a lawyer to represent me?  I can just go to court and speak for myself!

I decided to dismiss my lawyer and go to court without any human representation.

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(As a new Christian at that time, I decided to make an appointment with my pastor and tell him what I was going to do.)

Enroute to the meeting with pastor, I prayed for God to give pastor wisdom.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  

(another promise of God to HIS people.)

After I explained the situation and the scriptural basis for my decision, pastor said:  "Joan ... I perceive that you have faith to do this this way."

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I called my lawyer immediately.  

I shared the scripture in Isaiah with the lawyer.  I told him either the Bible is true, or it is just an history book telling about God, and this was a good time to test the Bible to see.  If it was simply a history book about God, I wanted no more to do with the Bible. 

But if the Bible was true, it would have power for us who believe, and no weapon would prosper against me, just as this promise from the Bible says.

The lawyer was very shocked and said, "Joan ... you can't do this!  You don't realize how evil these courts are today."

(But I was sure what God promised HE would do and could do for us.)

Gordon, my lawyer, said, "Joan ... we are willing to work with you.  It will only take about $10,000 more to try your case."

"$10,000 MORE to try my case?  I shouted!

"Gordon ... Stop ... don't do anything else ... no paper work ... no more phone calls!"

When he left my shop it was settled.  The law firm was dismissed from my case.  I would go to court without any human legal counsel.

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About 2 weeks later, Gordon came back to my shop.  He said, "We have decided to try your case without any further charge to you."

What is going on, I wondered.  

One week it will cost me $10,000 more and two weeks later it will be "free" no cost to me!

(I didn't hear Gordon mention God in his statement.  So I didn't think God sent him with this free legal service.)

I said,  "I'm just going to have to get back with you on this."

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I began praying, asking God what HE wanted me to do.

And immediately the following scripture was called to my mind:

Genesis 14

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

(I knew by this God was telling me:  Don't take the free legal service.)

And I said to God:  "I want to be like Abraham.  I want my provision to come from YOU and not from this world."  

(From that day to this present day, I have continued to live in this concept, not desiring wealth or things from this world but rather wanting only that which God would provide for me!)

It was very important to me to live this way.

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Of course I was afraid!  (The court trial was scheduled 6 weeks after this.)

To help me, God would remind me of scripture and I would take those verses which God gave me and write them down and keep them before me day and night to strengthen me.  I recorded them on both sides of the tape and played that tape when I went to bed at night. When I awoke in the night I could turn the tape over and play it again.  I would fall asleep to the scriptures.  There were about 14 verses.

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Six days before the scheduled court trial, I received a phone call from the attorney of the man who filed the law suit against me.  There were several dealers of Indian arts attached to the suit, along with Better Business Bureaus of Dallas and Fort Worth.  He was charging us with a conspiracy to keep him from doing business in Dallas where he rented a motel room and sold Indian jewelry at approximately 70% discount, according to him.

His lawyer said, "Since you don't have a lawyer, I'm calling to tell you that our client dropped all charges and there will be no court appearance."  I asked, "Did he drop the charges against everyone?"  

The lawyer said, "He cut everyone loose.  We tried to get him not to file charges against you because he had no legitimate charges but he was like a madman and wouldn't listen to us."

It was over!

A week or so later, Gordon, my former lawyer came to my shop.  He said, "I just wanted to tell you that we have often discussed your case at the law firm and I wanted to let you know that we believe what you said would happen, happened!"

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


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Podcast: Wisdom: King Solomon and Proverbs 1

 

 
 
Wisdom from God is something we greatly need to pursue and to seek at this time in our lives as we continue to wait for the return of Jesus and as we witness those things coming upon the earth in the days ahead.  

* unusual storms at strange times of the year; 
* earthquakes; 
* Coronavirus pestilence; 
* volcanic eruptions; 
* extreme heat and forest fires; 
* governments of men working in great debt; 
* blatant and overt wickedness flaunted before our eyes on TV; 
* no shame; 
* men lying without concern; 
* moral corruption; 
* sins in church groups even to removal of doctrines of Bible from the congregation, 
* the apostate churches of the end times.

πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

God makes this promise to HIS people, HIS church today.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Sometimes we simply forget to talk with God about our plans.  And we go forth in our own thinking.  It might work out and it might not when we go about it like that.  Why take the risk?  when we have the promise from God that if we ask HIM for wisdom, HE will give us wisdom?

I believe this series on Wisdom will help each of us to remember to seek wisdom from God.  And I believe these writings over the next month will cause us to have an understanding of wisdom and to keep in our minds the need we have for wisdom to become deeply rooted in each of our hearts.

We should find these writings to be very exciting, profitable and comforting as we go forward daily.

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King Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave Solomon wisdom and Solomon was the wisest of men because it was from God!

I Kings 3

4 And the king (Solomon) went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. 
 
5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God saidAsk what I shall give thee.

6 And Solomon said, THOU hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before THEE in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with THEE; and THOU hast kept for him this great kindness, that THOU hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

And now, O LORD my God, THOU hast made THY servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And THY servant is in the midst of THY people which THOU hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Give therefore THY servant an understanding heart to judge THY people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this THY so great a people?

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in MY ways, to keep MY statutes and MY commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. 

And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

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The wisdom God gave to king Solomon has lasted for centuries and even today in secular TV shows, I have heard reference made to the wisdom of Solomon.

Wisdom from God is greatly to be desired, more than rubies and silver and gold.  There is nothing like wisdom that comes from God.

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The wisdom of Solomon:  

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

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5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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To fear God and choose HIS way is safety, prosperity, and health.  True wisdom is to choose God and that which HE shows you.   

Fear of the Lord is to have great awe of that which God shows you and to know that to go any other direction is to risk extreme danger and is very foolish.

We have a sure thing when we hear a word from God and go that way!

I was born again in 1975 and began reading the Bible and seeking to do the Word.  I saw the information about king Solomon and wanted wisdom from God.  Also I saw that God promises to give us wisdom if we ask HIM.  

I wrote on each book of the Bible, "Remember to ask God for wisdom."

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No good comes from traveling with the evil seekers:

Proverbs 1:10-16    My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

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2 Corinthians 6

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

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be MY people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean ; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be MY sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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At the time I was born again, so far as I know, none of my friends were Christians.  And I was changed so dramatically by God that I no longer wanted to be with those people I had been around.  I wanted to hear things of God.  I wanted to read Bible.  I wanted to go to Church and attend things of God with people of God.

Two Baptist women said to me, "Don't give up your worldly friends."

But I no longer had anything in common with my previous friends.

The Baptist women were thinking maybe I could lead some of my past friends to Christ.  But that is not the way I felt.  I just didn't have anything in common anymore with them.  I was very changed by God.

Ezekiel 36  God says:

23 And I will sanctify MY great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be cleanfrom all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put MY spirit within you, and cause you to walk in MY statutes, and ye shall keep MY judgments, and do them.

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If we reject God's counsel:

Proverbs 1

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

(God says)

23 Turn you at MY reproof: behold, I will pour out MY spirit unto you, I will make known MY words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out MY hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all MY counsel, and would none of MY reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon ME, but I will not answer; they shall seek ME early, but they shall not find ME:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30 They would none of MY counsel: they despised all MY reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

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33 But whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

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Consider this:

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

I believe we live now in the beginning of the end times warned about in the Bible.  If so, we are told by the apostle Paul to expect these to be "perilous times".

2 Timothy 3

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

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

3 Without natural affection (homosexuals / lesbians / abortionists), trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fiercedespisers of those that are good,

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

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

(Paul doesn't tell us to keep company with this world or disobedient church people.  Paul says to turn away from them when you see this.  And that is what I did.)

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And Jesus says, concerning the end times:

Matthew 24

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.


πŸ’₯  Wars:  World Wars I & II ... spectacular in that they included most of the nations of men on this earth.

πŸ’₯  Pestilences:  2020  Coronavirus covers entire world as we have never seen before.  NYC was empty of people and traffic as we usually see it.  On March 11, 2020, I was shocked to hear they were cancelling the major college basketball tournament, "March Madness".  Professional basketball and professional golf and professional baseball cancelled games and tournaments and entire seasons. Most things completely shut down, never before seen. And it happened all over the earth!  It reminded me of the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18.  (It was not that event but I was seeing things that were described in the writings concerning the fall of Babylon.)

πŸ’₯  Earthquakes:  2023 Great earthquake in Turkey and Syria kills almost 50,000 people (unheard of).

How can these things not get our attention?

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And Jesus speaks of more things to come at the end.

Matthew 24:12-13  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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And Jesus tells us how really bad the time will become:

Matthew 24:21-22  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

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Churches are everywhere in USA.  How could it ever get this bad?

The apostasy comes into churches.  They fall away from scripture and set up other doctrines. They feel secure because they say "Jesus is Lord", but they cast aside scripture which is "Jesus".  And they have no idea they are a part of antichrist and the apostasy of the end time.

If we really love The Word of God, we will live by the instructions of the scriptures.

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

Is this what they teach and do at your church group?

* The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery?

* The divorced woman commits adultery if she remarries?

* The man who divorces a faithful wife is the cause of her committing adultery if she remarries?

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The apostasy in today's churches is rampant.

Do they teach the following about homosexuals and lesbians at your church group?

Romans 1:26-28  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

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

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

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"without natural affection":  (2 Timothy 3:3)  ... Is it "natural" for a woman to kill her unborn child with abortion?

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"sex outside of marriage" ... fornication ... The apostle Paul says at the time of sexual intercourse two become one flesh, even if you have sex with an "harlot" (prostitute)

I Cor. 6:15-18  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

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

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And it will get much worse in the days ahead on this earth.

No wonder Jesus said:  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  (Mt. 24:21-22)

We must learn to operate in God's wisdom, obeying the Holy Scriptures.
 
Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.


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Monday, March 6, 2023

πŸ’₯ Jesus, The Word, is head of the body, the church.

 
The doctrine of Christ for the New Testament church is the New Testament Bible.

Some churches fail to follow some of the verses of scripture and they change those scriptures and set up doctrines opposite from the Bible.  

This is antichrist in the church group.

Jesus will destroy these church groups of the apostasy of the end time who fail to love the Holy Scriptures and go in an opposite direction from the scripture.

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

* The man who divorces a faithful wife causes her to commit adultery if she remarries after divorce.

* There is only one scriptural reason for a man to divorce his wife and that is if she is unfaithful to him.

* The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

This is the doctrine of Christ for the New Testament church.

If the church has a love of the Word of God, they will abide by this doctrine of Christ which is presented in the New Testament Bible.

If they fail to do this doctrine of Christ, they open the door for antichrist to come into the church and they become one of the churches of the end time, an apostate church.

2 Thessalonians 2  (Paul says)

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (of the Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

In 1982, I was reading this scripture and God said to me:  "The falling away are not people leaving the churches.  The falling away are the churches leaving the scriptures."

Jesus will destroy the apostate churches when HE returns to gather the elect, because they failed to have a love of the truth of the scriptures that they might be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of HIS mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of HIS coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

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2 Timothy 3

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

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

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

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

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

(When you see a church where they teach some verses opposite to the New Testament Bible, leave those churches, or people.  Just turn away from them.  Love the scripture more than your church group.)

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

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

(The apostasy in the church will grow every decade until the return of Jesus.)

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2 Timothy 3

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (It is God who teaches us scripture.)

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

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

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


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Podcast: Our kingdom is not of this world

 
 
 
 
πŸ’₯ John 18:36  (Jesus said)  MY kingdom is not of this world: if MY kingdom were of this world, then would MY servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is MY kingdom not from hence.

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Hebrews 11

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

(The king had commanded that every male child be killed at birth because there were too many Jewish people in Egypt.  Moses would have been killed but his parents hid Moses in the river and Pharaoh's daughter found the Hebrew baby floating in the daubed ark and she took him to raise him as her own child.)

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing HIM who is invisible.

Like Moses, we too see HIM who is invisible.

Those things we can see with our natural eye will be burned up, destroyed by God, at the end of this world.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Matthew 24:35  (Jesus says)  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but MY words shall not pass away.

We see that which is eternal.  The people of this world see that which is temporary.

2 Corinthians 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(temporal: temporary; restricted by boundaries of time)

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Mark 8  (Jesus says)

34 And when HE had called the people unto HIM with HIS disciples also, HE said unto them, Whosoever will come after ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow ME.

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

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

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

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Abraham is an example for us.  He wanted his "wealth" to come from God.

Genesis 14

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

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As those born of the Spirit of God, we try to do that which is right in the sight of God to other people.

We are not abusers of ourselves with mankind as are those people of this world.

I Corinthians 6

8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

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We have inside of us the way of God as we deal with others, not wanting to take advantage of others to get what we want on this present earth.

We hold fast to personal integrity which comes from doing that which is right in the sight of God.  We base our way of life on what is right in the sight of God, living by scripture, living uncompromising lives, building a moral base from scriptures.

In pursuit of money and fame and position in this life, many lose personal integrity, compromising their way of life to get what they want.  Integrity is critical for each of us.

Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values.  Our integrity is based on that which God teaches us from the Holy Bible and on that which God plants in our heart by HIS Holy Spirit.

For our kingdom is not of this world, as is theirs.

That which matters to us is doing that which is right in the sight of God, even when it causes us to suffer worldly loss.

πŸ’₯ Examples: I have a bed frame which raises and lowers the bed.  One of our kittens chewed through the wiring.  We set about to have the frame fixed.  But when the man from the mattress company came to replace the motor, he found the damage was far more extensive than anticipated so we would be better off to buy a new frame.  When I found we needed to do this, all I could think of is being sure we paid the man who came but couldn't do the repair work.  When I asked Pam, she said she had already paid him for his trip to our house.  Pam and I have the same Spirit, the Spirit of God, not wanting to do harm to others nor cause them to suffer loss.  (I Cor. 6:9  (not being) Abusers of themselves with mankind)

Another example:  I bought a new leather sofa several years ago. After they delivered the sofa, my cat jumped on the sofa and inspected the addition.  When my cleaning lady came to work, she said my cat had damaged the new sofa with one of her claws.  I looked at one of the seats and saw the claw mark.  Most people would not notice the small scratch.  I could have called and told the furniture store I had decided not to buy the sofa.  But if I did that someone else would suffer loss.  If the furniture store sold the sofa then the customer would have a slightly damaged sofa.  Or the furniture store would suffer loss if they discovered the blemish and had to discount the price to sell the item.  This is what Paul means when he speaks of being an abuser of themselves with mankind.  Is is worth losing your soul?

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I Corinthians 10:12-13  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

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

In 2019, when I moved to Colorado, I gave that leather sofa to my contractor's son.  Tom said his son was so happy to get the sofa.

Do not defraud another person.  Suffer the loss.  God will repay you.

This is a part of developing integrity.

Also it shows that person and whether or not this world is that person's kingdom.

We must do right by other people.

I Corinthians 6

6 Now these things (in the Bible) were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

(murmur:   complain)

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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Colossians 3

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

(What is right in the sight of God in this issue?)

2 Set your affection on things above (pleasing God), not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

(At the moment we were born again, we died to this world and the things of this world, for God gave us HIS Spirit to live in us and teach us and guide us in HIS ways.  HE delivered us from this world and caused us to follow HIS Spirit.  So our goals differ from the goals of this world.  Now we serve God doing as God instructs.  We are dead to this world but alive to God. And we hold fast to the Word of God in all our ways, doing what is shown us by God through HIS Spirit and the Holy Scriptures.)

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.

5 Mortify (put to death) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
 
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The Book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom given to king Solomon from God and we can learn many wonderful things by these verses in this life, seeing the way of God, the way of true godliness for both this life and the next life which is forever.
 
Our kingdom is not of this world.  We see HIM who is invisible!

I often pray over myself the following:

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

When we brush against this world and the ideas of man, we often take on uncleanness of this world.  I depend on God to restore my soul to HIS ways and set me straight from the ways of men of this world.  So I ask God to cleanse my heart and spirit that I may serve God and go in HIS way.

After praying this and depending on God, I encounter perfect peace, as God restores me to HIMSELF and His truth and HIS way.

When God cleanses us, we are clean!

Start now with a good heart and lay your foundation in wisdom as presented by God as we spend the next month looking at the book of Proverbs and allowing God to work in us by HIS Word.
 

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Sunday, March 5, 2023

πŸ’₯ The apostle Paul says: But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)

 
One day, all of a sudden, I was bombarded by all kinds of negative, destructive thoughts.

"What will you do if you get to where you can't walk?  You can't live here.  You will have to move.  Where will you go?"

I cried out:  "God ... help me!"

Instantly I was reminded of this:  But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:19)

"OH, yeah!"  I exclaimed. God will supply all my need!

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Some need money and cry out to God for help.

The apostle Paul writes about money in the following scripture telling us what to do.  We might need to modify our life style somewhat.  Follow these instructions.

I Timothy 6

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

(righteousness:  That which is right in the sight of God.  That which God tells you to do.)

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, WHO giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

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Some might need wisdom concerning what to do.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  

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Some have concerns and need to pray:

Philippians 4

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

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

I Peter 5

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that HE may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

Pray according to the will of God for you.

I John 5

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

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

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