💥 Podcast: Following The Lord. Following Jesus. Following "THE WORD".

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 19, 2021) 

 

Each time I see a scripture which speaks of following "The Lord" or "Jesus", my mind automatically translates that into "THE WORD", following the instruction given by THE WORD. 

When we do that, it makes the Bible so clear!

For example:

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, 

I (The WORD) am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME (The WORD).

So this verse is saying two things to me:  

* "THE WORD is the way to go."   So I ask myself, "What has God said about this?"  

And I think on the most recent word brought to my mind by God concerning the subject at hand. I think on the scriptures, THE WORD.  

And I follow that word, making my plans accordingly.

* "No man comes to the Father except by THE WORD."  

A man cannot go to THE FATHER by Buddha or by Mohammed. Only by THE WORD (Jesus) can a man go to God.  So they cannot deceive me when they worship by another god.    

And people who come to me saying they are Christians cannot deceive me, for unless they are living THE WORD, those persons cannot be of God, for THE WORD is the way to God, The Father.

Matthew 24:4-5   Jesus says:   Take heed that no man deceive you.   For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

They come saying they are Christians and because they say Jesus is Lord, they deceive many, for they have not the Spirit but are religious by their own thinking.

Scripture becomes clear when you think of "The Lord" as "The Word."

Psalm 23

The LORD (The Word) is my shepherd; I shall not want.

(As I follow "The Word", I shall not want.  If I follow other men, I might come into want even when I read the Bible.  But as I hear The Word who is my Lord and do The Word, I shall not want.)

2 HE (The Word) maketh me to lie down in green pastures: HE (The Word) leadeth me beside the still waters.

So if it is hard or turbulent, I'm likely not following the plan of God, The Word.  

There is plenty of food, both spiritual food and physical food when I am in the place God would lead me, "green pastures".

3 HE (The Word) restoreth my soul: HE (The Word) leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake.

*****

John 6   Jesus says:

33  For the bread of God is HE (The Word) which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

35  ...  I (The Word) am the bread of life: he that cometh to ME (The Word) shall never hunger; and he that believeth on ME (The Word) shall never thirst.

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

48  I am that bread of life.

(The Word is that bread of life.)

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

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

(We eat the flesh of Jesus and drink HIS blood each time we conform our lives to the Word of God as we walk on this earth.)

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

54 Whoso eateth MY flesh, and drinketh MY blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For MY flesh is meat indeed, and MY blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth MY flesh, and drinketh MY blood, dwelleth in ME, and I in him.

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

***

(The Word raises us up at the last day, for the Lord, The Word, comes with a shout, and the dead in Christ are awakened and rise to meet Jesus in the air.)

I Thessalonians 4

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

***

John 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.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

10 HE was in the world, and the world was made by HIM, and the world knew HIM not.

11 HE came unto HIS own, and HIS own received HIM not.

12 But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on HIS name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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.

 

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

2 Corinthians 8:4-5  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 

*** 

 

I Thessalonians 5:8-11  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with HIM.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

 

 ***

 

Zechariah 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. 

 

 ***

 

Colossians 1:16  For by Him (Jesus, the Word) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:

 

*** 

Isaiah 33:5-6  The Lord is exalted; for He dwelleth on high: He hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

 

6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is His treasure.

 

 ***

 

Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 16 (Reading through the Bible)

  

1-4    The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would shew them a sign from heaven.

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.  And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed.

*****

5-12    And when His disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?  Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

*****

13-20    When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto Him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(The "rock" upon which the church is built is that Word revealed by God.  Peter was blessed because it was God who revealed the truth to him.)

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ.

*****

21- 23    From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

*****

24-28    Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.

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💥 Podcast: HE hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 15, 2021) 

 

Remember when you were born again? 

All of a sudden, God by HIS Spirit opened our eyes to see our sin and we believed and were saved by faith in HIM.

We didn't do works to earn salvation.  It was a gift to us.

After that, we read the Bible and believed the Word and were changed into the image of Jesus, The Word, as we believed.

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

Being born again is all about change.  The old man is passed away.  All things become new.  We are different now!  And the remainder of our life on this earth we are conformed to the image of Christ the Word as we encounter issues of this life and settle those issues by learning what God wants us to do about each thing that comes to us.

The apostle Paul says:

Galatians 1:10   For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Now we, too, are servants of God as is the apostle Paul.  And we seek to please God in our decisions by prayer, asking God what HE wants us to do, and by following that brought to our minds by God's Spirit, The Holy Spirit.

Our life becomes hidden to this world but we become alive to God and our lives are hidden in Christ as we follow the Word of God, conforming ourselves to HIS Word.

And we know this is all that matters.

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💥 Scriptures:

Proverbs 16:7  When a man's ways please the Lord, HE maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

 

*** 

Colossians 3:23-24  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

 

 ***

 

Galatians 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

 ***

 

Psalms 23 (A Psalm of David) 

1 The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

2 HE maketh me to lie down in green pastures: HE leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 HE restoreth my soul: HE leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for THOU art with me; THY rod and THY staff they comfort me.

5 THOU preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: THOU anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

 

 ***

1 Corinthians 2:11-12 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

 

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

 

*** 

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 15 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1-9    Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.

Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.

But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

*****

10-11    And He called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

 

  

*****

12-14    Then came His disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

But He answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

*****

15-20    Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Declare unto us this parable.

 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

*****

21-28    Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

But He answered her not a word.

And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.

But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

*****

29-31    And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and He healed them:

Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

*****

32-39    Then Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

And his disciples say unto Him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye?

And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

And they did all eat, and were filled:

and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

And He sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

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💥 Podcast: Ministers of Satan spoken of by Jesus, Paul, Peter, and Jude in the Bible.

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 7, 2021) 

 

Jesus warned us about the last days when false ministers and false Christians would come in HIS name deceiving many:

 

Matthew 24  

 

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. 

 

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

 

(Ministers and individuals in churches will come saying "Jesus is Lord" and because they say that, many will accept them and they will deceive "many".) 

 

Paul calls them "angels of light": 

 

II Corinthians 11 

 

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 

 

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

 

4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 

 

13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 

 

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

 

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

 

The apostle Peter says: 

 

2 Peter 2 

 

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

 

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 

 

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

 

 

12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 

 

13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 

 

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 

 

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 

 

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 

 

17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 

 

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 

 

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 

 

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 

 

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 

 

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

 

*****

Jude

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 

 

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

(They deny Jesus as they explain away "The Word" who is Jesus.) 

 

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

(A cloud without water gives you a promise of rain but produces dryness, stealing your hope.)

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 

 

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 

 

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 

 

18 How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators/copying others) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 

 

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

***

Jesus says concerning the scribes and Pharisees:

Matthew 23

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

(They ask you to give to them but they will give no money themselves to pay for their works.  They put a burden on you for their works.)

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

(They love to make their garments great to show themselves to be of God.)

6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

(Today they call themselves "Reverend" causing men to give them respect.)

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

***

Paul warns us that it will be even worse in the last days:

II Timothy 3

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

 

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

(They explain away the scriptures and will not allow certain scriptures to rule over their own lives.)

 

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

***

Jesus says:

Matthew 24

12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

***

II 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;

(That we have learned spiritual things from God.)

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

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

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

***

The apostle Paul says:

II Corinthians 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

We see by this that many were deceitful in their presentations of the Word of God in the days of the apostle Paul.  

And Paul said it would get worse in the last times before Jesus returns.

II Timothy 3:13   But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

And Jesus said:

Matthew 24:4-5   Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

We have been amply warned in the Bible to beware of both ministers and individuals who come to us saying "Jesus is Lord" for there will be many deceivers in the last days.  They usually show themselves rather quickly by that which they say and by that which they do.  Pay attention.

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💥 Scriptures:

 

Romans 8:14-17  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with HIM, that we may be also glorified together.

 

*** 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 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.

 

 ***

 

1 Peter 5:8-9   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, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

 

***

Hebrews 6:10-12  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. 

 

***

 

Psalm 62:1-2  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. 

 

*** 

 

Romans 13:12-14   The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

 

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💥 Matthew 14 (Reading through the Bible)

 

1-12    At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

 

 

*****

13-21    When Jesus heard of it, He departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed Him on foot out of the cities.

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.

And when it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

And they say unto Him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

He said, Bring them hither to Me.

And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

*****

22-33    And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.

And He said, Come.

And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught Him, and said unto Him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

*****

 

 34-36    And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

 And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all that were diseased;

And besought Him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

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💥 When a man who is a Christian commits adultery

 

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

A man and wife, with their 4 children (ages 10-approximately 23), have lived next door to me for about 3 years.  Both identify themselves as Christians. They offered to help Joan and I with whatever we might need and, when Joan was in home hospice care, they came to visit her a time or two. They also both came one afternoon to the July, 2024, home meeting. 

About 6 weeks ago I sent the wife a text offering some canned pop I didn't want and she sent her son to pick it up saying she wasn't "feeling the best" that day. The next day I happened to see her outside and asked if she was feeling better. She seemed reluctant to answer, then told me she had recently learned her husband was having an affair and that he had moved out of their home 2 days before, to go live with this other woman. She said she was finding it hard to even get out of bed and felt numb.

Hearing of this adultery by a man who identified himself as a Christian, I was stunned and could barely say anything.  This affected me strongly as a member of the body of Christ.  Greatly grieved.  

 
When I returned to my house, I began talking with God about all of this. How could a man, who truly seemed to be a Christian, do this? Sinning against God, against his wife, against his children, against the church ...

At first my flesh wanted to somehow contact this man and try to turn him from this sin.  But I was very clearly reminded by the Holy Spirit of I Corinthians 5, and knew that my desire was not the way of God.

I Corinthians 5  Paul wrote:

1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

 

I Corinthians 5:5 especially stood out to me ...

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

 
I didn't know how to deliver this man to Satan in this situation, so asked God to please do this so that his flesh might be destroyed that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

I believed this prayer was according to the will of God and strongly felt this man's flesh would be destroyed.

 
Over the next weeks, when I felt led to send a scripture or a godly concept or a podcast link to the wife I did so and she expressed appreciation. I also felt led to have her and their children to dinner twice. They have all seemed to enjoy doing this and so have I.

After the second dinner this past Wednesday, she sent her children home and wanted to talk with me. She told me that her husband had called her at work, I think the previous day, leaving a message that it was urgent that he talk with her. When she called him back, he told her he had just learned he has thyroid cancer.  She said he was obviously very shaken.

 
As soon as she told me this, I remembered having prayed that this man would be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his spirit might be saved.

I Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 
As the wife spoke she said something like "Of course I would never wish something like this (cancer) on anyone." I took out my Bible and read to her I Corinthians 5:5 and told her this had strongly been brought to my attention where her husband was concerned. She didn't fight this and said she knew about God's judgment.

 

She then confessed something that was interesting to me. She said when the affair first came to light, she told her husband to not be surprised if his prayers weren't answered. She seemed embarrassed as she told me this and said she couldn't believe she had said that to him, but that it is Biblical. I agreed. 

 

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

 

Proverbs 1:28-30  God says ... 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.

This man knows adultery is wrong in the sight of God yet went that way, not choosing the fear of Lord.  Very sad ... tragic.

 
The wife told me that when their 10-year old son discovered that his dad was "cheating" on his mom, he didn't understand how his dad could do this, saying that his dad had once told him that a man should never do such a thing to his wife.

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Many love the outward appearance of religion, but they do not have a love for the Word of God

 

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on January 14, 2021)

 

This is the first time I recall having the Spirit of God "dictate" to me the title of a writing or Podcast.  Yet this was spoken in exact words to me as I wrote down the title.  Then I received the message by the Spirit of God.

It is amazing, but so many hundreds of thousands of people love their church buildings and they love the stained glass windows in their buildings and they love the art works and carved alters where their ministers preach ... but they do not have a love for the actual Word of God.

We, who are of God, delight in the Word of God.

The apostle Paul told us:

II Timothy 3

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

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

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

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

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

***

The only thing that matters in our religion is this:

Do we delight in the Word of God?

 

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💥 Scriptures:

 

James 1:17   Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

*** 

 

James 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Comments from Beth Martin, member of the body of Christ ...
Yesterday my sister dying of cancer said to me that she hopes that God will take her. She said that she is ready to die and that no one should live the way that she is. She now cannot stand and has to be lifted from the chair to the bed. 

 

This morning I was led to the above scripture. I prayed the prayer of faith over her. I asked God to help her with her suffering and have mercy on her. I prayed for her to have peace. I know that when He wills she will fall asleep.

 

 ***

1 John 5:3-4  For this is the love of God, that we keep HIS commandments: and HIS commandments are not grievous. 

 

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 

 ***

 

Philippians 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

*** 

 

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

 

 

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💥 Matthew 13 (Reading through the Bible)

 

 1-9    The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying,

Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

*****

10-17    And the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

*****

18-23    Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

*****

24-30    Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.

The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

 

*****

31-32    Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:  Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

*****

33     Another parable spake He unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

*****

34    All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them:  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

*****

35-43    Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

*****

44   Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 

*****

45-46    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 

*****

47-50    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

*****

51-52    Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things?

They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Then said He unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

*****

53-58    And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence.

And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not His mother called Mary? and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

And they were offended in Him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

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