During the last days, many will grow cold. They are like dead men walking. And they do not realize they are asleep to the happenings around them. They grow cold to the Word of God and become numbed by that which they choose to see and hear.
Recently a woman in our church group tried to follow a scripture by her own wisdom rather than turning to God. This is deadly!
I spoke with her about this. Several years ago, she gave some testimonies showing what the Spirit of God told her as HE taught her. But in the recent story, she was just following her own flesh (dead) and she didn't recognize what she was doing.
We really have to work to stay awake ... for iniquity abounds today and if we allow ourselves to sit among church friends who will not follow God we will also fall asleep with them and become as dead, just going through the motions ... or living in fear and reacting to that fear.
I've seen a woman in our church group be turned over to a reprobate mind by failing to follow the Spirit of God when HE brought ideas to her mind and by following her own fleshly ideas which were devilish.
Romans 1:28 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;
* Falling asleep ... while you are still living.
I work at my salvation daily and even then I'm sometimes fearful and have need for extra meditation in scriptures to hold to the way of God.
Some of you do nothing but attend church. And you don't even recognize when that church group goes in a way opposite to the scriptures in the New Testament Bible!
You have no idea your name can be blotted out of the book of life.
Jesus said:
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,
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* Critical things for us in these end times.
One of the most important things for each of us is to live in peace continually. For when Jesus returns for the church it is very important that we be found by Him at that time living in peace, without spot, and blameless.
II Peter 3:12-14 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM (of Jesus) in peace, without spot, and blameless.
It would be impossible for us to live in peace unless we do the following continually.
Is there anything troubling you today? Are you concerned about anything that is coming tomorrow? Is there a fear of any kind concerning tomorrow?
If so, you are not living in peace. You are failing to connect with God through prayer.
As we pray about each of our cares daily, we show that we trust in God and not in ourselves.
We connect with God by prayer. And that makes us worthy to escape those things that are coming upon this earth says Jesus.
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Luke 21
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but MY words shall not pass away.
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
surfeiting: over indulgence
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch ye therefore: watch what you are doing.
Pray always: pray about that which you are doing or are planning to do. Seek the will of God through prayer in the things you are about to do. Ask God to stop you if you feel the way is questionable.
We must learn to live in watchfulness over ourselves and in prayer constantly, each day.
These are "perilous times" though they do not look perilous. Such could even cost us our salvation.
Jesus says:
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch ye therefore: watch what you are doing.
Pray always: pray about that which you are doing or are planning to do. Seek the will of God through prayer in the things you are about to do. Ask God to stop you if you feel the way is questionable.
We must learn to live in watchfulness over ourselves and in prayer constantly, each day.
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These are "perilous times" though they do not look perilous. Such could even cost us our salvation.
Jesus says:
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
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Jesus says: Concerning the end times
Matthew 24
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
So many in churches have fallen asleep and just go through the ritual of attending church and think themselves to be okay because they attend church.
Antichrist has already moved into the churches casting aside various scriptures and setting up another Jesus, another doctrine in the churches. Hundreds of thousands follow their church doctrine and cast aside scripture without even thinking of that which they are doing.
A fearful fate awaits them at the judgment seat of Christ: For Jesus says:
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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Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The Holy Spirit of Jesus lives in each individual who belongs to God and we must follow HIM rather than following the ideas given us by our own flesh and by devils.
These "seducing spirits" bring to mind directions which take us exactly opposite from scripture, if we allow it to happen. If we fail to know New Testament Bible, and we blow which ever way the wind blows, following thoughts that come to our mind without prayer and discernment, we can be seduced by devils and our own flesh.
The ideas brought by our flesh produce the works of the flesh.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft (following superstitions of men), hatred, variance (debating), emulations (trying to beat other people), wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings (partying), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit of Jesus will bring to our minds another way to go when we are tempted to go in the preferences of our own flesh. We must crucify our flesh by that Word given us by God and choose that way shown us by the Spirit.
It is a continual struggle between our flesh and the Spirit of God who lives in us.
If we choose to follow the flesh, and set aside the ideas of the Spirit, we might end up being turned over to a reprobate mind.
To give us strength in the various temptations of this life, we keep pertinent scriptures before us day and night so we can have the power to go in the way of the scriptures.
Each of us have areas where we are tempted.
So we need to take scripture that is called to our mind by the Holy Spirit and keep those scriptures before us day and night.
I use my Kindle tablet to store up meditation scripture whereby I reinforce the way of God in certain areas. I put those scriptures that are called to my attention on my Kindle photos so I can easily look at those scriptures each morning and set my direction for that day, and also at night I can look at those scriptures and examine the way I lived that day to see if I followed those directions.
To make a screen print on your tablet:
1. Pull up on screen the page of scripture that you want to transfer to your photos.
2. At the top of your tablet, you will see three buttons. Press the rectangular button on the right side and the button on the left side at the same time, and hold these two buttons down until a screen print appears briefly on screen.
The screen print of the page of scripture will automatically transfer to your photo album allowing you to view these scriptures easily at that location.
After you feel you have absorbed that scripture you can delete it from your photos. And you can add new scriptures.
I add scriptures from our blog often.
Also I write dreams in an email to myself and make screen prints of dreams which gives me instruction to build myself up in following that instruction.
(The problems of today are so strong that sometimes I feel I will be swept away, but I just keep asking God to not let that happen, and I focus on these screen prints of scriptures which I have stored on my Kindle photos. We really do have to work daily at our salvation, especially in the end times. Remember the warning of Jesus concerning "the love of many", for the word of God, growing cold? Mt. 24:12)
Here are examples of recent screen prints which I am using for myself to help me to continue in the way of God during the difficulties of this present time.
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Romans 12:17-21
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Matthew 24:3-5
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Acts 26:15-18
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I Corinthians 2:1-5
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Matthew 23:15
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Matthew 7:21-23
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Matthew 16:34-37
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John 6:32-33
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* Be thankful: Turn your life around.
Each of us have thoughts where we could feel sorrowful or complain. We also have things for which we can be thankful. If we learn to deliberately choose to think on those things for which we are thankful, we can turn our lives around.
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.
There are times when your husband or wife or friend does trifle things which annoy you. As you think on the grievances, you puff up and sometimes strike out.
If you will pray, asking God for help, and also deliberately think of things whereby your husband or wife or friend did things that caused you to rejoice, the grievances often fly away, disappearing.
Devils often attack by bringing negative thoughts to our minds. Our flesh sometimes wallows in those thoughts and things get much worse. And there is no good thing in our flesh, says Paul. (Romans 7 )
We, who have the power of the Holy Spirit of Jesus living in us, have in HIM a great power for good toward ourselves and toward others also if we will live in HIS power.
Galatians 5:15-16 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit (that which God brings to your mind), and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
It is not that we act in a phony way. But there are real things that other person has done for us which we can think on, blessings from God by that other person.
Learn to think on those things, especially when you want to strike out.
And above all, pray, asking God to help you in the midst of the attacks, for God will help you when you desire help.
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I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
This does not mean we are thankful for the evil ... rather we are thankful because we know the power of God to turn the evil for good in our lives. And we call on God to turn this around. And also we ask God to create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Psalm 51:10
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Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
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The works of our own flesh (and devils) are to strive, debate, fret.
But the works of the Spirit, when we have the Spirit of Jesus in us are the opposite from the works of the flesh.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
We crucify our own flesh each time we choose to go in the way of the Spirit when it is brought to our attention in the conflict. Or we crucify our flesh also when we turn to God in the midst of the strife and say, "God help me! Don't let me say that! Don't let me do that!"
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other:
We, who belong to God, can choose between the Spirit and the flesh and we can deliberately go in the way of the Spirit of Jesus when strife is upon us.
We turn everything around by choosing to walk in the way shown us by Spirit.
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Peter tells us to be found at the coming of Jesus, "in peace" , without spot and blameless. II Peter 3:14
Since we do not know the day or the hour Jesus will return, this requires that we choose to do that which allows us to live continually in peace, without spot and blameless.
We can do this when we understand we are to continually live, through God's power and HIS Word, choosing to walk in the Spirit of God and choosing to keep our own flesh crucified by The Word.
But we must not be phony. There is evil. We must not deny evil. We simply avoid being around evil when possible.
It is critical for us to choose to do the following for you cannot live in peace when you keep company with people who are contrary to the way of God:
II John 2
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (don't wish him well)
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (don't wish him well)
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
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I have an acquaintance that I care very much for. But she has shown she will not obey specific scripture though she attends a church group. I have shared truth from Bible with her multiple times. She has rejected that truth and has continued in her own preferences which are opposite from Bible.
The Spirit of God said this to me: "When she comes to you saying that she has done something because of a specific scripture, pay attention."
Until I see this in her, I just avoid her. Doing what the apostle Paul says as follows:
She attends a Catholic church.
I received extensive teaching from God concerning idolatry and worshipping of idols which I recorded on Podcasts and wrote on our blog, Jesus Ministries Exhortations.
I sent the writing to her by US Mail. (We do not live in same city.)
I didn't hear from her for 1 1/2 years. I did not try to communicate with her nor she with me.
Then recently she sent me an email. She wrote no words but sent copies of animal pictures. By this I knew she wanted to resume communication with me, but in a secular way. I did not open her email for I did not want to be enticed toward her by animal photos. I did not respond in any way. I believe I've heard what to do in her case, as cited above.
Of course, I still care about her, especially for her soul, but I know we do not help the soul by our flesh. We do what God has told us to do and keep doing that.
I cannot live in peace with those who attend church and disobey the Bible. I can only live in peace by coming away from them.
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What if you are married to an unbeliever? Paul says:
I Corinthians 7
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
If the unbeliever is "pleased" to dwell with the believer, continue in the relationship. If the unbeliever tries to attack the Word of God, which believer lives by, and constantly fusses over the Bible, that is another matter.
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
I would not recommend that you depart from the unbeliever but rather let that unbeliever depart.
Certainly these cases take much prayer and understanding from the Holy Spirit of Jesus who lives in us.
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* Tested by God to see if we will obey God.
Shortly after I was born again, I had a very big test to see if I would do what God told me to do. I owned a small business. A woman filed a court charge against me. I had brought to my mind these words, "Don't testify." I believed this instruction was from God.
At that time, I didn't even know the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us and teaches us in things of God.
I don't know how I thought that word was from God, but I did.
I had no idea my own friends would rise up against me, but they did.
This was the first of many very strong tests that I had through the next 40+ years.
We are tested along the way to see what we will do. Some test are enormously strong. Others seem minor but are not minor. Each test is important. For Jesus says, But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mt. 24:13
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Mark 1
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon im:
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
12 And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness.
13And HE was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
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15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
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Herod kills John the Baptist because John spoke against adultery:
Matthew 14
1 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.
John the Baptist spoke against the adultery of Herod.
5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6But 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.
8And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
9And 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.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
And what did Jesus do when HE heard of the execution of John the Baptist?
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Jesus continued doing the work assigned HIM by God.
Jesus showed HIS kingdom was not of this world. John the Baptist would be cared for by God after his death. It is not this life that we trust in but we put our trust in God and fulfill the word of God regardless of the cost to us.
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Pam Padgett was raised Catholic and then was born again and changed to a non-denominational church.
She attended the singles class at that church. A woman in that class was divorced but decided to remarry. The man she was planning to marry was also in that class at that church. Pam went to both of them and showed them scripture from the New Testament where it showed if the divorced woman remarried she would commit adultery. And the man who married the divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 5:32 Jesus said: 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.
Pam was shocked when the woman from the single's class at the church said she didn't care what the Bible said.
In telling this story later, Pam said, "But it was from the BIBLE." (never dreaming that a church person wouldn't care what the Bible says.)
This was a test for Pam. And it showed that Pam really cared about the scriptures, what the Bible said. (And there would be many other tests for Pam along the way to see what she would do when she was confronted with opposition to that which the Word of God said in the Bible.)
But everyone in the singles class at that church turned against Pam. When she tried to sit with the singles in the main auditorium at the church service, without a word, the entire class got up and moved to another area of the auditorium.
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The Word of God also comes to our minds by a thought brought by the Spirit of God.
When a young woman took me to court when I owned a small business, the following word came to my mind: "Don't testify." I believed this to be instruction from God so of course this is what I must do since it was from God.
I told my lawyer that he might not want to represent me because I believed God had told me, "Don't testify."
The lawyer said he would still represent me. He said he thought Flo's testimony would be enough for us to win the case. (Flo worked for me and witnessed the situation which was the cause of the court case.)
When Flo found I was not testifying, she became angry toward me, and said to me, "Since you aren't testifying, the burden is all on me."
I replied, "What can I do? I believe God told me 'Don't Testify', so I can't testify."
(When we believe we have heard from God, there is no other choice to be made.)
Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD (The Word).
The man I was dating at that time said to me, "Joan ... you aren't doing this woman any good by not testifying."
I replied, "I'm not trying to do her any good. I believe God told me 'Don't testify'. I'm just trying to do what I believe God told me to do."
Although both Bob and Flo professed to be Christians, neither understood what I was doing. And both were against me.
During the court trial, my lawyer came to me and said, "Flo's testimony didn't go as well as I thought it would but if you would testify we will win this case."
I replied, "I'll see."
I went into the ladies room at the court house and said to God, "What do YOU want me to do?"
Immediately the thought came to my mind, "Don't testify."
I returned to the court room and when my lawyer looked at me I shook my head "no".
The trial continued.
(At one point, when things looked really bad, I said to God, "I hope YOU know what we're doing. I'm going to lose this case."
We won the case, but even if we had lost I know now that God knew what HE was doing.
Isaiah 55
8 For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and MY thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall MY word be that goeth forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Win or lose, everything is used to conform us to the image of Christ, The Word.
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Jesus did not have to die. Jesus explains to Peter.
Matthew 27
2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Matthew 26
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Jesus loved the scriptures even unto HIS own death.
Jesus also did what God wanted even unto HIS own death.
For each of us also, that Word given by God, must be loved above all things and above all people and we choose to follow That Word even unto our own deaths as we do what we believe God has told us to do.
This test comes frequently throughout our life time.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
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Abraham tested: The first test.
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The first thing Abraham had to do was to depart, from his father, from his country, from his relatives.
And when he departed he went into a land, where God showed him. He didn't know ahead of time where he would be going.
Obeying the Word spoken to him by God.
Another great test for Abraham:
Genesis 22
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
(Abraham obeyed at once, early the next morning after he had heard the Word from God.)
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
(Abraham was going to obey that word given him by God.)
12And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from ME.
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The Word from God comes to us. We hear, believe, obey.
Proverbs 21
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* God makes a way where there is no way.
When God purposes something in our lives, HE makes a way for that to come to pass.
Isaiah 55
For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and MY thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and MY thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
God's ways surprise us!
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* Using the great power of God that is in us to do the will of God on this earth.
God has placed each of HIS people in a role on this present earth with an "assignment" to do.
How do we know our assignment? It is simple. Our assignment is where we are right now.
* A husband and father ... a wife and mother ... a businessman ... a teacher... a mechanic ... a waitress.
We begin where we are.
Our goal in our assignment: To serve God in all things and to reflect God in our actions.
Each of us have been equipped by God to succeed.
Pray, asking God what you are to do today. Ask God how you are to fulfill today's assignment. Ask God to give you wisdom to do that which you need to do, for understanding and wisdom are from God.
Follow the concepts and scriptures given you by the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. Keep them before you throughout the day.
There is a great Holy Spirit in us to enable us to do all the will of God in the matters set before us. Follow that Holy Spirit doing what HE brings to your mind. Asking God to fill your day. Depending on God rather than on yourself.
The starting point for us as we live today is presented in this Podcast.
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Prayer: God, please give me the wisdom to do YOUR will today. Please show me this day what I need to do to fulfill YOUR will and please show me how to do that thing.
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.
Are you concerned of troubled over anything? This we must settle with God daily and examine ourselves to see if anything or anyone is troubling us and ask God what we should do about the problem.
Philippians 4:6-7
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.
Faith in God:
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto HIM that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
That power that works in us is the power of the Holy Spirit to teach us all things, to remind us of all that Jesus, the Word has said to us, to guide us into all truth, and to show us things to come. (Jn. 14:26 & Jn. 16:13)
We begin each day in prayer over these things and throughout the day as problems surface we pray again over those problems knowing that God will help us to know exactly what to do in the issue because God promises this to us, the church, HIS children.
It is good to begin every day with prayer, setting God before us, keeping the Word in our constant focus, being guided by God as we go forward.
Be sure you are doing each of these things this day for another part of living in the power of God is doing that which is brought before you by God.
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* The way of the ungodly will perish.
They call themselves Christians, but they do that which is right in their own eyes, in their own way of thinking. They do not call on God for HIS wisdom in the specific issues at hand.
They are life a leaf blowing in the wind. They go one way then the opposite way without any thought at all.
They do not seem to have faith that God will communicate HIS will to themselves, therefore they don't think to ask God.
The ones who hear from God are like a rock which will never fall.
But the way of the ungodly, those who fail to consider that which God wants them to do, their way of doing things, will perish.
Psalm 1:4-6 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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Psalm 1
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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* Jesus says: "I can of mine own self do nothing. As I hear (from God) I judge." John 5:30
We should be exactly the same as Jesus. We should understand that of our own selves we can do nothing. We hear from God the Father through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and we learn to follow THAT Word.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear (from God), that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
We recognize the thoughts that are from God by the following:
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
But if we are in envy and strife there is confusion and every evil work. James 3
We must give up the envy and strife through repentance and prayer.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Antichrist in the churches thinks he can do the works of God by his own wisdom and he does not call on God for wisdom concerning his plans, for he is opposite to God and thinks of himself to be able to do spiritual things.
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Jesus says:
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear (from God), I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
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Romans 8
The flesh in us wants to do things of the flesh. But the Holy Spirit in us will try to lead us in the ways of God. We have the choice, whether we will do that which our flesh wants to do or whether we will walk following the Spirit of God, doing what God wants done in the specific issue of this life. If we choose to follow the desires of the flesh there is condemnation. But if we choose to put down the flesh and follow the Spirit there is no condemnation.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, HE that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, HE that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
(The Holy Spirit of God who is in us reminds us of all that the Word has said to us so we can choose to go in the way of God, keeping our flesh under the control of the Spirit and not allowing our flesh to do what it wants to do.)
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
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* The devil will try to destroy us but we can keep that from happening through prayer.
A woman in our church group stored up things against me in her own heart. She did this over a period of years. And finally she let herself go and struck against me. By this, the devil destroyed her. And there was nothing I could do to bring her back.
It is so easy to deal with destructive thoughts and keep ourselves through God.
Devils will try to get you to be offended with other people. But if you will begin to deliberately think on all the good things that person has done toward you, the devil will flee from you!
This same woman who struck at me once said to me, "You are the most godly woman I've ever known."
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?
Devils bring thoughts to our minds. If we take in those thoughts we will ruin ourselves. She failed, through the years, to take thoughts to God to allow God to establish the truth. She just lived by the thoughts brought by devils and agreed with him.
We must beware and not do this.
John 10:10 Jesus said: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (The Word) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The apostle Paul told us:
Endurance comes by turning to God in prayer concerning the issues of this life and allowing God to establish HIS truth by HIS Spirit so we can hold on to HIS way.
Devils will delude us and lead us the wrong way if we let them.
Examples in this podcast.
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* The power of meditating in the Word of God.
As we keep a scripture before us day and night, we find eventually we have a power in us which enables us to follow that scripture.
In the Bible is it described as follows:
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.
God leads the New Testament church today by HIS Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who lives in the believer.
When God speaks to us to reveal The Word to us, the Holy Spirit is also given to those of us who believe that Word. We are sealed by God with the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1)
One of the things done by the Holy Spirit is to remind us of the Word God has given us. That shows us what we are to think upon and to do at this point in our lives.
Thus we are given various scriptures to lead us and guide us and comfort us and help us. God does this by the Holy Spirit bringing these scriptures to our mind. We then think on these scriptures and apply them to our lives. Often we need to keep that scripture before us day and night, morning and evening, until it really becomes a part of us.
I am currently working on the following scripture:
I look at this scripture each morning and think on the instruction given me by this scripture.
At night, when I go to bed, I look again at this scripture to check myself and see if I have done what this scripture tells me to do as I have lived that day.
In a few days, as I do this scripture, it will become a part of my daily life and it will overcome my flesh which wants to quarrel with other people.
I believe we are recreated in the image of Christ (The Word) each time we do a scripture.
In this podcast, I will speak with you about ways to set up scriptures on your Kindle tablet in your Photos (or I-phone), so you can keep scripture before you easily and think upon those scriptures given you by the Holy Spirit of God.
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* Looking for peace and living in peace.
In 1980, I was in France. As I listened to the people walking past me, it was so lovely and peaceful. Then I realized: "It is peaceful to me because I can't understand what they are saying!"
One day, we come to this understanding:
II Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
We can't make this present earth righteous.
It is the "new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."
But as Christians we do live in peace by learning to take every concern to God in prayer and by settling the matter with God by the Spirit of God and by living in the truth given to us by God concerning the issue at hand.
We, like Abraham, set our goal and mind as follows:
Genesis 14:21-23 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 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, 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:
We, as children born of the Spirit of God, do not look to governments of men for our "riches" or well being on this earth. We determine that which we have will be given to us by God. We do not seek the lottery money. We seek God's plan for our well being.
We do not protest in the streets when people do unrighteous acts. For we know humans will be unrighteous on this earth.
We seek our well being from God and live in peace through prayer by trusting in God.
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* Taught by God.
If we are born of the Spirit of God, we are taught by God. Most people in churches today are not taught by God. They put themselves into the churches by going forward and being baptized without having the Spirit of God ... or they joined the church by the will of man.
John 6 Jesus said:
44 No man can come to ME (The Word), except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I (The Word) will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of (by) God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of (from) the Father, cometh unto me (The Word).
Man loves to "glory in the flesh" of man. Therefore the Jews in the New Testament church in the day of Paul said the believers from the Gentiles had to be circumcised. (Galatians 3-5) They wanted to glory in the flesh of that which man did.
Today they want to glory in our flesh by telling people things we did. But I've found when I tell them that God had me do that thing over which they glory, most flee from me. They don't want to glory in things God has done. They want to glory in my flesh, in things I have done.
That person who is really of God glories in that which God has done.
Jesus said: I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:30)
Like Jesus, we can do nothing except that which we hear from God by HIS Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
And by HIS Spirit we are taught by God concerning the will of God and that which God wants us to do as we live on this present earth.
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Therefore the apostle John said:
I John 2
God gives each of us who believe HIS Spirit, the Holy Spirit of Jesus.
God teaches us by HIS Spirit.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
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John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Spirit of God searches the heart of God to reveal the will of God to us in the specific issues pertaining to this life.
I Corinthians 2 Paul says:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
The apostle Paul explains that which the Holy Spirit does:
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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If we are born of God we are taught by God and have God's Spirit living in us to guide us and teach us and show us things to come.
Hebrews 8
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to ME a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know ME, from the least to the greatest.
When we belong to God, HE gives us HIS Spirit, and we are taught by God.
When I speak things of God, you recognize them as being from God, for God has put in your heart the same information. Now you have it confirmed to you by what I say. But I don't teach you. You are taught these things by God and therefore you know truth.
And we are one Spirit because we are taught by one Spirit, the Spirit of God.
Antichrist comes among us for a season but he will leave us, often to set up his own followers.
I John 2
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Often we try to share things of God with relatives or church friends. They do not get excited over that which God has taught us. Usually they become very quiet and just wait until we stop talking so they can speak of something they enjoy of this worldly wisdom. They do not delight in the wisdom of God as we do.
We can speak with them once or twice but when they will hot hear the scripture and allow that scripture to rule over their lives, we must leave them along.
II Timothy 3
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
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.
They run from church meeting to church meeting but they do not do the scriptures and they do not delight when we share revelations from God with them.
This shows us they do not have the Spirit of God in themselves.
For those who have the Spirit of God delight in that which God says and they conform their way to the information given by the Spirit of God.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
They rejoice in their own wisdom, in the wisdom of men, of the intellect of men.
We cannot follow God with them. It is like light trying to be friends with darkness. The minute you, as light, turn on light, the darkness flees. When the darkness surfaces, you, as light drive away that darkness. But you can't be in the same room at the same time.
Titus 3
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
No phone calls with him. No emails. No birthday cards. Don't put yourselves in to a position where you have to hear his many problems for he will entangle you in his problems. He won't turn to God because he is not of God. Therefore he will want to cast his cares on you and make you his god. And he will be like pricks in your eyes and thrones in your sides and he will vex you continually with his words.
Walk away and live in the peace of God with other believers who come across your path.
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II John
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
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I John 4
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh (and lives in the believer) is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh (and lives in the believer) is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE (the Holy Spirit of God) that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
We must not keep trying to share things of God with them when they reject what we say for they show us they are not of God and they will not do things of God, having not the Spirit of God.
Matthew 7 Jesus says:
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
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