*** Setting up religious images

Deuteronomy 16:22  Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

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We worship God in spirit and in truth in the church today as Jesus said to do.

John 4

19 The woman saith unto HIM (to Jesus), Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship HIM.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.

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*** We once served the world and God redeemed us as HE redeemed the children of Israel from serving Egypt.

 

The children of Israel served the Egyptians for 400 years until God brought them out of their bondage.

Deuteronomy 15:15  And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: 

We once served this world and the ideas and goals of the flesh of man, but God redeemed us also from the bondage of the flesh.

Now we are a new creature, born again by God, and we serve God now doing the will of God.

I Corinthians 6

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

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

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 6

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into HIS death?

4 Therefore we are buried with HIM by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of HIS death, we shall be also in the likeness of HIS resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with HIM:

Even on this earth today, we live with Christ as we follow the Holy Spirit of God, keeping our flesh crucified, not allowing our flesh to do what it wants to do but causing our flesh to be dead by following that which the Holy Spirit of God brings to our mind in the specific situations of this life.

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Before God revealed HIMSELF to us we were in bondage, serving the desires of our own flesh and mind, and serving the god of this present world.

Then when God opened our eyes to HIMSELF we were changed instantly from serving ourselves and this world and we were recreated, born again, as new creatures who now serve God and desire things of God.

Salvation is of God.

God opened our eyes to see and revealed HIMSELF to us showing us truth.

And God changed us.

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.

And we are grateful to God for saving us for we know we didn't do anything to deserve salvation.  We are saved by God because it was the will of God for us to be saved.

God opened our eyes to see and gave us understanding concerning things of God and we were born again by God giving us HIS Holy Spirit to live in us and to teach and guide us in all things.

From within we are changed by God by HIS Spirit.  It is not that we change ourselves by learning but rather God changes us by giving us HIS understanding.

Therefore we continually thank God for saving us!

It is not what we did but what God did.

So instead of being self righteous by our works, our righteousness is of God through His will for us.

Gratitude instead of pride is the fruit when we understand God chose us.

Salvation is of God, not by our own will or works.

God chose us and gave us understanding and opened our eyes so we could see things of God.

When HE caused us to see, we were born again, believing that which HE told us.

 

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*** Chosen by God: an holy people, the children of Israel, and the Christians of the NT church.

 

 

Deuteronomy 14:2  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto HIMSELF, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

The children of Israel were chosen by God to be HIS people in the Old Testament.

Noah found grace in the sight of God and God saved Noah from the great flood.

Abraham was chosen by God and was given promises concerning the nations that were to come from him.

Genesis 12:1-4  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: 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:  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.

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;

And God gave promises to both Isaac and Jacob, Abraham's son and grandson. 

God spoke to them also and made HIMSELF known.

To Isaac, God said:  Go not down into Egypt; dwell into the land which I shall tell thee of:  Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;  And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed MY voice, and kept MY charge, MY commandments, MY statutes, and MY laws.  (Genesis 26:2-5)

God revealed HIMSELF to Jacob:  And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.  (Genesis 28:10-15)

Later Jacob was renamed by God as Israel.  HIS 12 sons were the children of Israel, the 12 tribes of Israel.

To Joseph, one of the 12 sons, God revealed HIMSELF by dreams.  His brothers hated Joseph because the dreams showed Joseph ruling over them.  So they sold Joseph into bondage and Joseph was taken down into Egypt before the great famine came on the earth.  God gave wisdom to Joseph and therefore all that Joseph did prospered above all men.  Pharaoh saw this and made Joseph a ruler in Egypt, 2nd only to himself.

70 men were the number of the children of Israel who went down into Egypt at the time of the great famine.

The generations of the children of Israel spent 430 years in Egypt and when they were delivered from Egypt by God, their number of men above the age of 20 was 603,550. (Exodus 38:26)  

Even under the years of adversity in Egypt, God multiplied them greatly as God said he would do in HIS promises to Abraham.

In all this we see when God reveals HIMSELF to an individual, God becomes their God.

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In the New Testament, God chose people to Himself and opened their eyes to see things of God and caused those individuals to be born again and God put HIS name on them and gave each of them HIS Holy Spirit to teach them and guide them and show them things to come.  (Jn. 14:26 & Jn. 16:13)

The apostle Peter says:

I Peter 2

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of HIM who hath called you out of darkness into HIS marvellous light:

(We were "chosen" by God for salvation and God "called" us out of darkness by HIS Word and God opened our eyes so we could see the Word of God and we were "born again" by the Spirit of God.)

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

The apostle Paul explains:  For HE saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.  (Romans 9:15-16)

God causes us to be born again as HIS own children.  We no longer serve this world as we once did but now God frees us so that we can serve HIM.  We are delivered by God and redeemed by God by the will of God. God opens our eyes to see things of the kingdom of God.  God causes us to believe the Word.

Romans 6

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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God speaks to us individually, we are called by God, and changed into new people by God.

The apostle Paul:  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?  (Acts 9:3-4)

Paul was traveling with several men and they saw that bright light and heard a voice speaking from heaven but saw no man and it was Paul (Saul) Jesus called by name.

And Paul explains that Jesus said to him:  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.  (Acts 26:16-18)

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Joan Boney:  I was in my bedroom when God said to me by HIS Spirit:  "Joan ... you know all those mistakes you've been making all these years.  Those weren't mistakes.  Those were sins."  (August 5, 1975)

I was changed immediately, born again, chosen by God, even named by name by God.

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Pam Padgett:  A schoolmate was killed on a motorcycle.  When this happened, Pam, for the first time, realized someone her age could die.  (God opened Pam's understanding to see this.)  Also Pam knew nothing she had learned in the Catholic church could save her.  Only God could save her.  (God showed her this truth.)  So Pam called out to God asking God to save her.

Many people in Pam's circle heard of this boy being killed on a motorcycle but there is no evidence that any of those people understood they could also be killed and only God could save them.

God chose Pam among all those people and God revealed truth to Pam and cause her to turn to HIM.

Salvation is being chosen by God to salvation.

Acts 13:48  and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

God chooses each individual and opens the understanding for that individual and then that individual believes to salvation.

It is not that we choose God but rather God chooses us.

Thus the apostle Paul says:

Romans 9:18  Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.

We are the chosen people of God as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the children of Israel were the chosen people of God.

And God reveals HIMSELF to us who are HIS chosen as HE revealed HIMSELF to those in the Old Testament who are HIS chosen.

Acts 2:47   And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Understanding is from God.  God opens our eyes and then we believe and understand.  It is not of our own thinking that we understand.  God causes us to understand and to believe HIS Word.  Thus salvation is of God and we are chosen by God.

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Ephesians 1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as HE hath chosen us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will,

6 To the praise of the glory of HIS grace, wherein HE hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In WHOM we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS grace;

8 Wherein HE hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of HIS will, according to HIS good pleasure which HE hath purposed in Himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times HE might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in HIM:

11 In WHOM also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of HIM who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of HIS glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In WHOM ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in WHOM also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of HIS glory.

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*** Enquire not after their gods.

 

I never ask anyone, "Where do you go to church?"

We "are" the church.

In the Old Testament, God said:

Deuteronomy 12:30   Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

The teacher of our Bible class once said:  "Never look into other religions or read about them.  Just study the Bible and when a wrong doctrine comes along, you will recognize it as being wrong when you know the real thing from the Bible."  I really believe that is the correct approach and that is what I have done for the past 40+ years.  I just keep reading the Bible.

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Deuteronomy 12:32  God says:  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. 

 

There is one doctrine of Christ for the New Testament church and we find that doctrine in the New Testament Bible.

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A divorced woman told Pam Padgett that she was Messianic Jew, believing in Jesus.

Then this same woman told Pam that she had a new boyfriend.  

Pam explained that as a divorced woman, if she should remarry, she would commit adultery, according to the Bible.  

This Jewish woman said, "Oh, we have our own doctrine at our church."

When I heard this story, I shouted out, "There is only one doctrine and that is the New Testament Bible."

I Corinthians 7

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

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

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

Mark 10   Jesus says:

11 Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

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

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Ephesians 4

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

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The doctrine of Christ is the New Testament Bible.

II Timothy 3

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

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

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*** The place where the Lord chooses to put HIS name.

Deuteronomy 12:5  But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put HIS name there, even unto HIS habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

 

In the New Testament church today, God chooses where HE will put HIS name.

Acts 2:47   And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

God opens the eyes of those persons whom HE has chosen and gives those individuals understanding causing them to be born again as a new creature, a Christian.

We recognize them by the Spirit of God which is in them for we have that same Spirit in us.

Acts 13:48   And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.  

Salvation is of God, of the will of God.

When God chooses that individual for salvation, God opens that person's eyes and all of a sudden he sees the truth of God.

It is all of God by the will of God.

There can be a group of people sitting together and all of a sudden one in the group sees.

That is the way it was with Paul on the road to Damascus.  There were other men traveling in the group with Paul.  But it was Paul's life that was changed forever when Jesus spoke from heaven though all the men saw light around them and all the men heard a voice from heaven, but it was Paul who was called by Jesus and changed forever.  Jesus even said:  "Saul, Saul" ... calling him by name.

Acts 9

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Instantly changed.)

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

We see an instant change in Paul.  Paul was enroute to Damascus to try to find Christians so he could bind them and carry them to prison.  But when the voice from heaven spoke, Paul was changed immediately from that person that he was before hearing that voice.

There was no learning involved.  It was instant change.  Paul was born again.

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.

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We are not chosen by God because we are worthy.  We have done no good work causing us to be chosen by God.

We are chosen by God because it is the will of God for us to be saved and it is the will of God that HIS name would be placed on us by HIS Spirit.

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I was reading a book about sin when God spoke to me and said, "Joan ... you know all these mistakes you've been making all these years?  Those weren't mistakes.  Those were sins."

I was very shocked.  And I was changed immediately.

I thought I was changed by that book I was reading so I went to a Christian book store and bought several copies of that book and gave these books to many people thinking they would also be changed as I had been changed.

But it was not that book that changed me.  God changed me by HIS own will according to HIS purpose.

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If you were saved at the time you heard a preacher, you might have tried to get others to hear that preacher thinking they would be saved as you were.

It was not the preacher who saved us.  It was God opening our eyes to HIS truth.  We were not saved by our own will.  It was God's will for us.

We are the elect, chosen by God, in such cases.

Paul explains this in Romans 9.

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.

10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of HIM that calleth;)

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew MY power in thee, and that MY name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.

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After God chooses to reveal Jesus, the Word, to us from heaven and causes us to be born again, we overcome the problems as we go through this present life by turning to God and hearing from God.  We go in the way shown us by God as long as we live on this earth, overcoming the problems through that Word given us by God in the situations of this life.

And Jesus says at the end of our lives on this earth:

Revelation 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of MY God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of MY God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from MY God: and I will write upon him MY new name.

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*** We must focus on that which God has said to us rather than looking at the circumstances.

Peter walked on water at the Word of Jesus ... but then when Peter looked at the circumstances, faith failed Peter, but Jesus saved Peter.

Matthew 14

22 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.

23 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.

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

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

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

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

28 And Peter answered HIM and said, Lord, if it be THOU, bid me come unto THEE on the water.

29 And HE said, Come. 

And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

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

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The children of Israel disobeyed God and they showed no faith in God, so a penalty came upon them.

Numbers 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(They discounted the strength of God and were looking only at the circumstances which they saw with their natural eyes.)

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

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

Because of their evil report and disbelief in God, God placed a penalty upon them.  

The ones who did not believe would die in that wilderness and would not enter into the land which God promised to Abraham.

Therefore they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until all of that generation who showed lack of faith in God had died.

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Deuteronomy 2

1 (Moses says) Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

2 And the LORD spake unto me, saying,

3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.

4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

(to the heritage of Esau)

6 Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.

7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: HE knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

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God provides for us where HE places us today and we lack nothing as we follow God.

God speaks to us today by HIS Spirit and when we follow that which God tells us, we lack nothing in this present life.

God spoke to me by HIS Spirit in 1975 and caused me to be born again.  After that God took me into heaven and merged me into the body of Jesus, causing me to be one with the Word of God.  This same thing God did twice, on two separate nights.  Then God taught me by HIS Spirit for the next 3 or 4 years and prepared me for the work of the ministry in the offices of apostle and prophet according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

I closed my small business on July 31, 1979, to go into the ministry.

I had no where to go.

I just stayed at home and waited for the next 5 1/2 months.

On the night of January 10, 1980, in the night, what I believe to have been an angel of the Lord, spoke these three words to me:  "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS"

By this, God put me on radio to exhort the church for the next few years, through 1984.

Then in 2012, God gave me a dream showing me to start a blog.  Since that time, to date, we have posted 14,229 exhortations which have gone all over the world with 1,077,117 page views of those exhortations.

Then God gave me a dream leading me to start presenting Podcasts in February, 2020.  To date, I have recorded 582 Podcasts with 13,003 downloads.

At every point, God showed me what to do, things I had never before even considered.

Finances were supplied largely by the sale of ministry property no longer needed in Texas.

There is no lack.

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*** We must not allow ourselves to fall into discouragement in our assignment. We build ourselves up in that which God has said to us.

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 1

21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.

23 And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:

24 And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.

25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

26 Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:

27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, HE hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

30 The LORD your God which goeth before you, HE shall fight for you, according to all that HE did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,

33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

34 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,

36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.

37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

(So for the next 40 years they wandered in the wilderness until all those men who doubted had died.  After that they crossed over Jordan and entered the land and began to possess the land.  But they had to fight for the land.)

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I Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Psalm 78

7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep HIS commandments:

8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

(It is a terrible thing to be armed by God and to turn back in the day of battle.)

10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in HIS law;

11 And forgat HIS works, and HIS wonders that HE had shewed them.

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Numbers 13:30  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Caleb knew God would cause them to overcome.

Our faith must also be in God and HIS ability and we must depend on HIM as we do our jobs on this present earth!

Joshua 1

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

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.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

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God has given us HIS Spirit to teach us and guide us and lead us.  And we are sealed with that Holy Spirit of Jesus until the day of our redemption.

Ephesians 1

4 According as HE hath chosen us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to HIMSELF, according to the good pleasure of HIS will,

6 To the praise of the glory of HIS grace, wherein HE hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS grace;

8 Wherein HE hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of HIS will, according to HIS good pleasure which HE hath purposed in HIMSELF:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times HE might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in HIM:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of HIM who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of HIS glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of HIS glory.

We must do our job as given us by God.

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*** Possess the land which God has given you.

God has given to each of us an assignment to fulfill HIS purpose while we live on this earth.

In the Old Testament, God gave portions of lands to HIS people but they had to go up and possess that land though God had given it to them.

Deuteronomy 1

21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

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If you are married you have that land to which you tend day and night for the remainder of your life on this earth.

Each of us need God's wisdom to care for our assignment.

And God has promised to us:

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.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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God has given us all that we need to do that to which HE has assigned us.  There is no lack.  There is no want.  

We are well able, through God, who has given us HIS Holy Spirit to live in us and to teach us and to guide us.

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I Corinthians 12

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church (to care for the church), first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

We are well equipped by God to do all that God assigns for us to do.

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Psalm 23

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.

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*** The evidence of God with the children of Israel and with the NT church today.

God speaks to Moses:

Exodus 33

And HE (God) said, MY presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

15 And he (Moses) said unto HIM (God), If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and THY people have found grace in THY sight? is it not in that THOU goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and THY people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.  

It is impossible for light and darkness to co-exist in the same room.

When the Word comes to us we become light.  That Word separates us from the darkness.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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God protects HIS people as they do HIS commandments:

Exodus 34

23 Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.

24 For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.

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God led HIS people through the wilderness:

Exodus 40

34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

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The children who belong to God today are led 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.

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*** Abraham refuses to take his wealth from man.

Genesis 14

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

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

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

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I don't want to win a lottery.

I want my "wealth" (or what money I have) to come from God like Abraham vowed to God.

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*** Spiritual gift of faith.

 

I Corinthians 12

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

(There is a spiritual gift of "faith.")

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as HE (God) will.

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There is spiritual gift of faith.

This is a faith that is beyond our comprehension.  We simply believe God has spoken to us.  We have no evidence except for our belief.

We certainly can't explain this to other humans, except perhaps to those who have experienced the same faith that they have heard something from God.

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*** Worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

The one thing that is the same between the Old Testament church and the New Testament church is this:  The ones who believed in God, believed God was speaking and they did that which God said to do.

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In the building of the tabernacle, we see the following testimony:

Exodus 39:32  Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

In the Old Testament, God spoke to Moses and Moses delivered the Word of God to the people.

In the New Testament, we follow that which the Holy Spirit says to us in the issues of this present life.

When God gives us a scripture, we do that scripture.

When God brings to us a concept, an idea, we do that idea in the issues of this present life.

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Where do we worship God?  How do we worship God in today's church?

John 4

19 The woman saith unto HIM (to Jesus), Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship HIM.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.

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Hebrews 11

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

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

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

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

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

Today we also see HIM who is invisible as we follow the Spirit of God, doing as God shows us to do by the Spirit.

God is invisible, being a spirit.  The Holy Spirit is invisible.  We follow that which is not seen by human eyes.  For God speaks to us by HIS Spirit and we follow HIM, believing that which we have heard was God speaking and we believe what HE tells us and we do that which HE tells us, thus resting in Him, in HIS Word to us.

This is the New Testament church today.  Hearing the Word God speaks by HIS Spirit and believing it is God who spoke to us and doing that which God tells us to do.

Thus we worship God in spirit and in truth.

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*** We must not follow thoughts brought by devils. If we follow devils we will destroy ourselves.

 

Spirits bring thoughts to our minds.

God speaks to us by HIS Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus.

The devil also brings thoughts to our mind, often to make us fearful and to torment us and to pull us away from the assignment given us by God and to cause us to doubt God.

The apostle John said:  

I John 4:1   Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:

This Podcast concerns ways devils would bring thoughts to us to destroy us and ways God helps us in times of trouble and temptations.

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*** In the Old Testament God spoke to HIS people by HIS prophets. Today, in our time, God speaks to us by HIS Son, The Word, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, whom HE hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also HE made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of HIS glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of HIS power, when HE had by HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

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Today Jesus sits at the right hand of God, and speaks to us, the children of God, by HIS Holy Spirit who lives in each person who believes in HIM.

By the Holy Spirit of Jesus we know what God wants us to do on this present earth in the issues of this present life.

The Spirit of Truth teaches us all things, reminds us of all that Jesus says, guides us into all truth, and shows us things to come as HE brings to our mind truths and concepts concerning this present life.

Therefore the apostle Paul says:

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

The flesh would lead us to do the following things:

Galatians 5

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.

The Holy Spirit of Jesus leads us to do the following:

Galatians 5

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.

As we follow the Holy Spirit, the ideas brought by the Holy Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of our flesh.

Galatians 5:16

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

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*** God calls Moses and teaches and leads Moses in all that God has for him to do on this earth.

 

 

God called Moses to come up to HIM and Moses was with God 40 days in the mountain and God gave Moses commandments for the children of Israel.

All his life, God prepared for Moses to lead HIS people.  The call of God was on Moses even from his youth.  God arranged for Moses to be taken into Pharaoh's  daughter's house as a baby where he was "learned in all the ways of the Egyptians" and he was in a very high position in Egypt.

We read the following about Moses:  

Acts 7

20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:

21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

(We see that Moses knew even then that he would be used by God to deliver the children of Israel.)

26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

(In fact, God had made Moses to be a ruler and judge over the people of Israel and that would happen 40-years later when the time was right.)

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

When God revealed HIMSELF to Moses when Moses was 80-years-old in the land of Midian and called Moses and charged Moses to go back to Egypt where he would deliver the children of Israel, we see the following:

Exodus 3:10-11  God said to Moses:  Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth MY people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

But 40 years earlier when Moses killed the Egyptian and freed the man of Israel, Moses knew he would be used by God to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. 

In God's time, this would happen.  Moses was called by God, appointed for a work of God, and trained by God for this work.  It was not of Moses but of God.

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Now in the wilderness, God takes Moses up to the mount to receive the ten commandments for the nation of Israel.

Exodus 24

12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to ME into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day HE called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

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Jesus sets up the New Testament church after HE is resurrected into heaven.

Acts 2:47  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

We don't join the church by our own will.  God opens our eyes to HIS truth and when that happens we are born again, made into new creatures by the Spirit of God.

Acts 13:48   And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Salvation is of God.  God opens the eyes of those who are chosen by God to salvation.

We are all members of the body of Christ but some are set into the church by God to do the work of the church.

It is a call of God by the will of God and not by our own will that we are born again and put into the church to do specific works in the church.

We believe because God opened our eyes to believe.

Thus Paul explains:

Romans 9

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew MY power in thee, and that MY name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.

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God speaks directly to us who are being saved.

To Pam Padgett, God used a motorcycle accident where one of her high school classmates was killed, and God opened Pam's eyes for her to see her need for salvation, and she called on God and asked HIM to save her, and HE did.  But Pam's mother and sisters who heard of that same motorcycle accident had no real change take place in their lives.

(Pam was a teenager at that time.)

After she called on God, she knew something of God was in her.  

Years later she saw a scripture and knew what it was from God that was in her.

I Corinthians 3:16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(Pam was also given by God a ministry office, "helps", to work in the church.)

I Corinthians 12:27-28   Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church (to work in the church), first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

In 2012, God gave me a dream showing me to start a blog.  I asked Pam to set up a blog for us.  Now Pam does all the technical work for this ministry in publishing writings for blog, books on Amazon, Podcasts, Twitter.  I can do none of these technical things and without "help" we would not be able to do blog, books, Podcasts, or Twitter.  Pam was set in the body of Christ to do these things for the church.

God trained Pam in all these things even before the need surfaced.

She had a call on her life to do these works in the ministry and at one point, she was given a dream showing her I was her "supervisor", but the call from God was on her life and she was trained by God.

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On the road to Damascus, Jesus revealed Himself from heaven to the apostle Paul and then by a voice from heaven Jesus spoke to Paul.  Paul was changed forever but the men who travelled with Paul were not changed. 

Acts 9

1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? 

And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

(With this call of Jesus, Paul's life was changed completely, instantly.  But the other men who traveled with Paul heard this same voice and were not changed.)

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt THOU have me to do? 

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

Paul gives more detail of this calling from heaven in the following scripture:

Acts 26

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art THOU, Lord? And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Paul did nothing worthy of salvation.  Paul was persecuting the followers of Jesus at the time Jesus called him from heaven and changed him.

Salvation is by the will of God.  God speaks to the individual who is being saved and God reveals HIMSELF to that individual and God opens the eyes of the one being saved and that individual now sees things of God.

God might show HIMSELF to you at the grocery store, or at your home, or in a church meeting.  But to each who "see", it is God who causes that individual to "see".  

And then he is born again and given the Holy Spirit of God to lead him and to guide him for the remainder of his life on this earth.

I believe most of us who are born again by God know that we did nothing to make us worthy of salvation.  It was simply that God chose us and revealed HIMSELF to us and never again were we the same as we had been before this happened.

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Matthew 16

13 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?

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

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

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

17 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.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the truth revealed by God) I will build MY church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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I was baptized in water when I was 15 years old.  (nothing changed in my life)

God spoke to me when I was 37-years-old and everything changed in my life.

2 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.

After I was born again, my cousin (Church of Christ member) said to me:  "Well ... I believe you are a Christian.  I just don't see how you can be."

(She didn't understand what it is to be born again by God by HIS Spirit.)

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Hebrews 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

After Jesus was resurrected, from heaven Jesus set up the ministries in the New Testament church.

Ephesians 4:8  Wherefore HE saith, When HE (Jesus) ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men ...  11-12   And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

You can't put yourself into the ministry by going to Bible school.  You must be called by Jesus from heaven as Paul was called.

You can't give yourself the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  God gives individuals the gifts of the Holy Spirit as HE wills.  (I Cor. 12)

A woman at church came to me once and said to me, "I want to do what you do."

I replied, "You do?"  (I was really surprised that anyone wanted to do this.)

Everything is by the will of God, not by the will of man.

We are born again when God chooses to reveal HIMSELF to us.

When we are set in one of the ministries, it is because Jesus choose us to do this.

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John 3:3  Jesus said:  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

I Cor. 2:14  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.

Romans 8 

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

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

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