2+2=4 Simplified is simply:
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”
“Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
So many reject the Wisdom, Understanding and Love of God. When the simple truth is:
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ”
This is my 2+2=4. How about you?
We all know that Jesus told Nicodemus that you must be born again. He also said do not marvel that I say you must be born again.
To be born again, we must believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.
This means we believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, died on the cross, and rose again and is sitting at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us.
Peter says:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
If you believe these simple statements then I can have fellowship with you as a Christian, as a child of God.
It is the Word of God, (Jesus is the Word), that saves us and lives and abides forever within us.
Now I have a “billism” for you: A billism is something in the word that may not be taught as written.
As a Christian I believe we must be born again.
We also find Paul answering the jailers question of what must I do to be saved in this way:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Here we have an added wrinkle. ..and thy house. Where did this come from. It is not new, Noahs family was saved and we have no knowledge of their faith.
In 1 Corinthians 7 it states:
“The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?”
What happened to you must be born again?
When we look in Deuteronomy we find the Hebrews ordered not to destroy certain peoples:
“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: 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.
Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
” Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day: And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.”
We see instances of the Lord saving peoples because of the love of someone else.
So take heart if you have unsaved loved ones. Take a page from Abrahams book. Intercede on their behalf untill you have the peace that the Lord has heard you.
We have biblical evidence of that Gods love is bigger than our beliefs….it is as big as His Word.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
” According to your faith be it unto you.”
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The people had spent two years in the desert. They had crossed the red sea, built the Tabernacle of the Lord. Heard the Law, been given the Ten Commandments. Understood the promise of the Lord. When the Lord spoke to them:
“Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.”
The promise is for you, right now, you’ve waited long enough, go and possess the land. So what did they do? Go possess the land?
Of course not, they sent in spies first, you know, to search out the way to go. If they had only believed and obeyed the Lord, they would have saved themselves 38 more years of getting nowhere fast.
He could be speaking to us today. The promise is ours, right now, today, for whosoever will.
We have been long enough in this world. Go, separate yourselves from the masses, possess the promise.
Begin eternity today, study the Word, Pray, Praise learn to submit yourself to God, Worship. Discover the Peace that passes understanding, the Joy unspeakable and full of Glory, find your refuge, your fortress, your God. In Him can you trust.
The answers we need are found in the Creator (Elohim, Jesus), not the creation. Quit looking to people to save, help, provide or comfort you.
If Noah found grace (Salvation ) in the eyes of the Lord, (Jehovah, the Father), if he was just and perfect in his generation, it was because he walked with God. (Elohim, Jesus ).
We need to Walk with Jesus. This is why we were Saved from sin and death. It is what the Lord desires, a people who recognize and understand that He is.
He is everything I desire. He is everything I need. All I want is to know Him. To know He is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
We must seek the Lord while He may be found.
Set our face like flint towards the Lord.
Call upon Him while He is near.
He will answer and show us great and mighty things.
I am ready for some great and mighty things to happen. If I could only conquer that evil heart of unbelief that kept the Hebrews from entering the promise. That has kept me from praying and seeing the Power of God in my life and Church.
If we only believed, Jesus said we could and would do mighty things. That signs would follow. There is something wrong with the way we believe.
The church, Gods people are not victorious, conquerors, the masters of our faith. We don’t really believe the promise because we don’t have the relationship.
Know this: He will keep us in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
The Lord had them 40 years in the wilderness: so thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
He is looking for the same things in us today: Are we humble? Has He proved us, do we know what is in our hearts? Will we keep His commandments, are we obedient children?
Lord help me to be the man you have called me to be. I believe Lord, help my unbelief.
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Part 1: Forget Not: what you’ve seen
Teach your children
Part 2: Forget Not: You shall inherit the land
Remember Gods covenant. ..no idols
Part 3: Forget Not: We must destroy the sin in our
lives.
40 years to test our love, faith, trust
Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord.
We need to realize the only reason we find grace (Salvation), is by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. We must learn to submit fully, unequivocally, willingly to Jesus.
Only then will we begin to understand and see the power and might of the Annointing in our lives.
“Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.”
We get into trouble when we deside we don’t need others to help us know what God wants. We must remain teachable, flexible, willing to submit to other Godly people. (key point: Godly people), may not be elders in church.
We need to watch, not become presumptuous. If God tells you something, it will line up with the word. It will eventually come to pass. (Ps 105:19)
Finally once again:
“Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.”
We must Remember, Forget Not that it is the Lord, not us. Without Him we are less than nothing. Our Churches, works, our ambitions, holiness, sanctification, righteousness.. Are all as dirty rags.
Part 4: Forget Not: How we provoke the Lord
He doesn’t give us the promise because we are righteous
Don’t presume you’ve arrived
Forget Not: It is all Him
Lord help us to be obedient children.
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In Part 1 Moses commanded us to:
Forget Not: What we have seen and teach it to others
Part 2:
You will inherit the land, remember Gods covenant, worship Him, not money, power, prestige or people.
Rest on the Sabbath. …we must rest from our work to let God accomplish His.
So in Part 3 of Forget Not; We have this warning:
“And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee. If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?”
The Hebrew people were to destroy all nonbelievers that lived in the promised land, because if left alive they would cause the people of God to sin.
In todays world, when we accept the Lord as Savior, we must destroy all the sin and bad habits in our lives or they will haunt us and cause sin to trouble us in our walk with God.
“Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;”
Again, remember what the Lord has done. He will continue to protect and provide as we walk with Him. Gos is able to help us to conquer sin and death.
“thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.“
This to me is one of the verses in the Word that explains just about everything we incounter.
Why is there trouble, sickness, strife, it’s always something.
God wants a humble church. Not our power, strength, wisdom. We need to allow the Lord to administrate, our church needs to be built on the Lords plan.
We have allowed government into our churches when we decided we needed to be tax exempt. We need support from home for missionaries. (read and understand Mark 6).
Jesus didn’t need a pulpit, childrens church…even a building. We need to be obedient, so that God can use us as vessels of His power.
He tests our love, faith, trust…
We need to let God operate through us, give the cup of water, food, cash for the poor. Show the love of God.
Then there is the manifestation of the Spirit. How often have we quenched the Spirit? The evil heart of unbelief is probably the most abuse the Holy Spirit receives.
We don’t believe in tongues, healing or miracles. Wake up, pray the Lord forgives us. Annoints us, makes us willing and useful vessels.
I’m afraid in my life, He often finds a stiffnecked and rebellious person.
How about you?
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In Part one Moses told us Forget Not what we have seen and teach it to the next generations. Here is the second thing we must remember.
2. Forget Not : Deuteronomy 4:22
I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.
Here he reminds them he will not be going. God told him to speak to the rock and in frustration he struck it instead.
Moses had one of the closest walks with God possible. Notice the closer we are the more accountable we are.
We are called to obedience. Lord help me please to hear and obey your voice.
Bad news for Moses, but you shall go over and possess the land.
Deuteronomy 4:23-24
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee. For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Again you are responsible for you, Forget Not the covenant of God…..let nothing else be an idol. Not money, power or prestige. Our God is a jealous God. He must be number one in our lives.
3. Deuteronomy 5:14-15
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.
And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
God has commanded us to rest on the Sabbath. We don’t. The Hebrews had to have food preparation done the day before. Could only walk so far for Sabbath Service.
It is a day we should smell the roses, watch the clouds in the sky. Rediscover the Majesty of the Lord. Marvell at His wonders, Praise His Holiness.
Sanctify yourselves before the Lord. Consecrate yourself a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable and perfect.
By the way it’s also a command for those who serve….
We need to let God do His perfect work and rest in Him.
Hebrews 4:9-11
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
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The last book of the Law, Deuteronomy is the record of Moses final 4 addresses to the Hebrew children. Like the Lord, Moses knew people are stubborn, rebellious, stiffnecked and forgetful.
So he reminded them of eight different lessons learned in 40 years of wondering in the desert. We need to remember them also.
1. Forget Not: Deuteronomy 4:9-10
“Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life:”
It is an incredible experience to be chosen by God, we have seen the Grace of God, (Salvation), first hand. We need to remember the great things He has done and is doing in our lives. We must keep them in our hearts. We keep our souls by the renewing of our minds. (reading the Word).
Like the first generation of those who entered the promised land, we have not witnessed the plagues the Lord laid upon Egypt but we all have personal stories of His forgiveness, mercy, love, peace, healings.
When we focus on what God has brought us through, do not replay how terrible it was before but how wonderful it is now, that I have a comforter, teacher, healer, Savior, King.
The horror stories of our BC years are not so different from everyone else’s. We were all lost, alone, abused, abandoned and needful of God and His forgiveness.
What people need to hear about is Gods Grace and Love today.
“teach them thy sons, Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.”
People hear the Words of God today by the life we lead, the Love we share in financial, physical or spiritual help. (prayer) Teach them the reverential fear of the Lord.
People will hear the call of God, if we learn to walk with God.
Acts 22:14-15
” The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.”
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We all have dreams, ambitions, desires.
Joseph had a dream that his father and brothers would bow down to him. He was already daddy’s favorite, he had received a special coat. Jelousy abounds.
His brothers sold him into slavery, he was wrongly accused of rape, he was forgotten in prison.
He interpreted dreams, he stood before the Pharaoh, he was made ruler over all, second only to Pharaoh.
His brothers bowed down to him, he saved them and his father from famine.
It is quite the story. Psalm 105:19 says this:
“Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.”
Joseph knew his dream was true. It took years to be fulfilled. That word tried his faith, trust, peace, joy, his very being, until it was fulfilled.
If you are waiting on a promise of the Lord, rest assured that the His Word is true.
He watches over His Word to proform it. God is not a man, that He should lie. ” the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. “
Is your heart, a heart that is perfect toward Him?
We must believe:
“He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. “
“He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
We must:
” Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (troubles ), Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Like Job and so many heroes of our faith, we must wait on the promise, we must, know our redeemer lives.
Have faith in God. Be faithful in God. For this time of testing, will came to pass. We will see the promise of the Lord.
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Today’s Assignment: publish a post for your dream reader, and include a new-to-you element in it.
My dream reader is someone who hungers and thirsts for a closer relationship with Jesus. The purpose of this blog and my life is to point people to the “secret place of the most high”. (Psalm 91).
I hope that every post would cause people to dig a little deeper in the Word. Forget what they think they know and ask the Lord to draw them closer.
I have some “Billisms” , things I understand in the Word that I’ve never heard taught. (If you’re interested, read the blog). They hopefully will make you seek out the truth.
If you are seeking God, He can open your eyes and heart to something that will affect your life and help you to walk with Him daily. All it takes is a desire for Him. He will provide, protect and direct you to a place of comfort, peace and joy unspeakable.
If you want to know Jesus check out the “Salvation way” page, if you want more Jesus in your life. Get in the Word, until the Word is in you.
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In the Old Testament we find two people meantioned by name who walked with God. I’ve struggled with this concept for 30 years.
I have a “Billism” a theory if you will, that the Lord God in the Old Testament is not one member of the Trinity but the Lord, (Jehovah, the Eternal One), is the Father. God, (Elohim, the creator, ruler), is Jesus, who sacrificed himself to the Father that we might have Salvation. (See The Trinity in the Old Testament).
So we find that when Enoch Walked with God, he was Walking with Jesus. Jesus said come on home.
When Noah Walked with God, he found grace (Salvation), in the Lords sight and was just and perfect in his generation. He was the heir of righteousness.
To Walk with Jesus is the Lords desire for whosoever will. Lord help us to learn to walk with you. Not ahead of, or behind but with, beside, in harmony, peace and grace. Help us to live this scripture:
Matthew 11:28-30
King James Version (KJV)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I had a Bible teacher who taught us to look at this scripture like this:
Jesus said:
My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
So take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Lord help us to take up Your yoke and learn to Walk with You.
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Lambs and sheep for the majority of the Old Testament were to be sacrificed, or to be the spoils of war. A commodity, something bought and sold. Sacrificed to the Lord or food for the family.
It isn’t until Isaiah that we find the concept of the Good Shepherd.
Isaiah 40:11
King James Version (KJV)
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
This is the picture we have of Jesus the Good Shepherd. It is a good and true picture. He does hold and comfort us, feed and lead us beside the still waters. He restores our souls.
Young David is another example of a good shepherd:
1 Samuel 17:20
King James Version (KJV)
And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
When David left his sheep, he left them in the care of a keeper. Jesus has left His church to the care of His Pastors and Ministers the called, chosen and faithful. When David learned of Goliath, he was full of faith and power.
1 Samuel 17:33-37
King James Version (KJV)
And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.
The Lord prepares His Shepherds to protect His flock against the roaring lion (the devil) and the bear (powers of this world) the Shepherd needs to be a prayer warrior to have the wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill to defeat the enimies of the Lord, whosoever they be.
2 Samuel 24:17
King James Version (KJV)
And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.
Here we find the first reference of Gods people being sheep. David had sinned, against the command of the Lord he had taken a census of the people. The Lord gave him 3 choices of punishment, He chose the hand of the Lord and His mercy, rather then the hand of man. 70 thousand died before this prayer.
In the book we see several instances of the Lord releasing their enimies upon His people because they rebelled.
Isaiah 53:6
King James Version (KJV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Jeremiah 23:1
King James Version (KJV)
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 50:17
King James Version (KJV)
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bone.
Then we have this wonderful prayer:
Psalm 119:176
King James Version (KJV)
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
This is a prayer that the Lord honors, if we wander astray like the parable of the lost sheep He will find and rescue us.
Ezekiel 34:11
King James Version (KJV)
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
In Luke 15 we find the parable of the lost sheep, the Shepherd finds and brings him back.
The lost coin….they seek till they find. Then we have the rich man with two sons. please read carefully:
And he said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
We have the son, he has it all even his inheritance. He takes it and leaves the presence of the Father. He isn’t wondering away, he is deliberate, decisive, determined. He is broke, in bad company, feeding swine.
He comes to his sences, heads to home, Father sees him runs to meet him, restores him to a place of honor.
The difference is the Lord went to find the wondering sheep, He waited for the rebellious son to return. Both were welcomed back but one needed saving while the other needed to repent.
No one can pluck us from the Fathers hand….but He dosn’t hold us there against our will.
Lord may our hearts stay turned to you.
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I have learned that at different times in my Walk with God I need different things. When I was first saved I needed to be fixed. My mind, body and spirit were tuned to the worlds ways. I needed a Spiritual tune up.
The Lord gave me a clean heart, a discerning Spirit, the Peace that passes understanding, the Comfort of the Holy Ghost. A clean slate, I was forgiven. Have you been forgiven?
Now we have decisions to make, will we continue to fill ourselves with the things of God or let the world creep back and gain control of our life once again.
If our only contact with the Lord is on Sundays, then we need and probably attend a Fix-it Church. We are continually broken, sick, depressed, no joy, no victory, certainly no peace.
We are not alone, most Church people fall into this category. We love the Lord but never realized there is more available.
A Fix-it Shop Church preaches The Cross and Salvation, Love, obedience, fruit, feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, loving the unlovable. All excellent things, Godly things, just not filling things.
We need a Filling Station Church. Now a Filling Station Church will challenge us to grow. We find ourselves asking questions, searching the scriptures.
Intellectually, systematically, deliberately moving through the word, Old and New till we have studied to be approved, workmen, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We will not know this with just Sunday services. It takes a real commitment to the Lord. A desire that grows as a relationship matures.
Expecting a miracle, knowing God is. Knowing that Jesus is truly alive in our hearts and minds. Wanting to obey, follow and embrace the Way of the Lord.
If you aren’t desiring a closer relationship with our Lord, you need to set your face like flint towards the Lord and ask Him for that desire.
Ask Him to show you the way to a Filling Station Church.
I pray we would be filled.
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I heard it again today, the church is a hospital where the sick and hurting go to nurse their wounds and recover.
Horse feathers! !!
If we want the church (Christian people), to grow in the Lord we need to quit nursing and heal them. Jesus wasn’t a nurse, He was a healer. He said we would do even more than He.
The Fix-it Shop Church would be more like Jesus: He repaired the lame, gave sight to the blind, cleansed the leaper, stopped the issue of blood, raised the dead. We have the gifts of the Spirit, if we would only learn to operate in them.
Most of the time He touched them and they were healed. Some touched the hem of His garment and were healed. Others were touched by the shadow of an Apostle for their healing. According to your measure of Faith. He healed all that were afflicted.
” Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”
It wasn’t often they had to do more than accept the gift of God. It happened now….almost immediately, no long recovery times. When Jesus touched you, you were changed. We need to know ourselves and be able to teach others how to touch the hem of His garment.
( but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.)
Now I know, you who are in the trenches, don’t really want my input but if you’ve read this far, please hear me out. I believe I have the mind of God in this. (Lord forgive me).
The Jewish people read through the Law and Prophets every year. The word gets into their hearts and minds. I believe that this is why the Apostles had such powerful ministries. They understood the Old Testament as they lived the New.
Since Jesus did away with the Law of Sin and Death, we no longer teach the Law and Prophets. …we don’t consider it relevant to our walk, when it is the foundation of our truly knowing Jesus.
If I were to Pastor again, Sunday morning I’d preach up a storm. Sunday night I would go through the New Testament chapter and verse.
I would study the Word and teach the revelation I received.
I would do the same mid week with the Old Testament. I would be careful to try not to relie on other books or studies.
Fresh Manna, gathered and prepared daily is the most fulfilling.
Enoch walked with God and was not, because God took him. His name means: dedicated; disciplined.
We need to be dedicated and disciplined so we can pass it on to others. Then maybe we can have a Fix-it Shop Church.
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As a piano technition, one of the first things I had to learn was how to hear and distinguish beats. All of the keys on a piano move a hammer to strike strings to produce sound. At the bass end, the hammers just hit one string.
As you move up the keyboard, left to right, the hammers then hit two and for the majority of the keyboard three strings per note.
When I tune I start by tuning the C above middle C to vibrate at 523.3 cps (cycles per second). Than middle C and the C below all beatless.
Beatless is a pure sound, not jerky or wavy. Then we set the Temperment of the piano. The two octaves in the middle, by listening to the different beats of 3rds, 5ths, 4ths, minor 3rds, octaves ect.
Sounds complicated dosn’t it? There are also many adjustments, regulations and repairs that may need to be done.
You can learn the process quite quickly but it takes years of practice to do reliable, acceptable work.
There are some pianos that can not be saved. Sometimes people have played on and in the same keys for years, not tuning or adjusting for wear.
Suddenly, the adjustments won’t adjust. The instrument needs more work than it is worth, when it should of lasted years longer.
That is what dismays me….I can’t save them all.
Jesus can save us all. If we are in His Word daily, the regular maintenance and regulations are updated as required. We find His peace and comfort, guidance and direction are ever present.
If we don’t allow him access on a regular basis….we may find the repair we need takes longer, it may be painful, it may have to be repeated until we are running smoothly and have learned to listen.
Jesus dosn’t want us to spend years recovering from our trials and struggles. He made new eyes out of clay, raised the dead, cleaned up lepers…..
I believe he can fix the most stubborn of us and our problems, if we just keep up the regular maintenance sessions with Him.
Ask Him to fill up your Spiritual tank and keep on serving Him. He healed all that were afflicted. …He will heal you too.
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God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
God gave them the like gift as he did unto us,
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
So that ye come behind in no gift;
given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him
there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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:
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money
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He walked with the Lord
Malachi 2:4-7
And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
Here we are talking about walking with the Lord, not like Enoch or Noah walking with God. No here we have a man walking with the Lord and like Moses after him he has blood on his hands.
He is a Levite he is a warrior
I propose that we think of the Old Testament Lord God as father God. When in reality the Lord Jehovah is the Father, and God is Elohim (Jesus) in the Old Testament. (see The Trinity in the Old Testament)
As we look at the Old Testament we find that God started all the new things. God created the heavens and the earth. God told Noah how to build the ark. God finally gave Abraham the orders to circumcise himself and his offspring.
We see that the Lord was with God at creation the Lord told Noah that it was going to rain. The Lord closed up the arc after Noah entered in. The Lord caused the rain and God remembered Noah and caused the wind up to dry off the earth.
Noah sacrificed to the Lord. As we look at the Old Testament we find that almost all the sacrifices were made to the Lord not to God. God (Jesus ) is the sacrifice..
When the Spirit of God desended on someone He gave them Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and the Skills to build Gods Tabernacle. It is the same today, the Spirit of God helps us to build His Church.
We find this Spirit on the three Hebrew children and Daniel, Joseph, King Saul when he was given a new heart and he prophecied. In both Enoch and Noah they preached righteousness and prophesied.
When the Spirit of the Lord came on someone that person became skilled in warfare, in leadership. The Spirit of the Lord was upon David, Gideon the mighty man of valor, Samson, and Levi. The Spirit of the Lord, is a warrior Spirit. …men annointed with this Spirit fight to keep the Word pure, powerful and effective in leading people to Holiness, Righteousness, Obedience, Sanctification. …to bring whosoever will into the Holy of Holies.
It is the Spirit of the Lord that annointed Jesus to preach the gospel, to heal and comfort the sick to work miracles. This is still a “Billism”, a working theory if you may. I believe Pastors are annointed with the Spirit of God. …They have Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and skills with people and the Church is built.
The Spirit of the Lord, I believe we see Him in the lives of Oral Roberts, R.W. Shamboch, Benny Hinn.
As you read the Old Testament. …look for the differences in the Natures of the Lord and God…. Let me know what you think.
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Colossians 4:5-6
King James Version (KJV)
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
If we read Proverbs we find Wisdom is to be sought always, if we read carefully we find we can substitute Jesus for Wisdom and not be off the mark.
1 Corinthians 1:30
King James Version (KJV)
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Jesus is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. So when we walk in wisdom toward them that are without. He is speaking of people that know the Lord, interacting with those who do not know Jesus.
When I was saved, I had found faith, peace and joy, but patience, meekness, goodness, gentleness, love or temperance had not yet developed in my life. I had found a good thing and everyone I saw needed to come aboard or you’re all going to hell.
Instead of redeeming the time, in my zeal I am sure the people I loved and cared for the most were driven far from the Lord. My speech had no grace or love. Condemnation was my strong suit.
As I’ve grown I hope I’ve become more Christ like and recognize He loved the sinners and that my religious spirit was a worse sin than those who didn’t know the truth.
I pray now that the love and grace of our Lord is what people see, hear and expect from me. That people find Jesus through my walk with Him.
Lord may you be lifted up, so all men will be drawn to You.
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Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
This verse has caused much consternation. After all isn’t the Lord omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. …Isn’t He everywhere, can’t He do anything and dosn’t He know everything.
What do you mean, while He may be found? When He is near?
I believe the writer is speaking of the condition of our hearts. There are times when we are open and receptive to the will and word of God and other times, not so much.
Like the Hebrews in the desert, the promised land was there, all they had to do was enter and the Lord would give it to them. When they refused, it was back to the desert.
When we don’t answer the knock at our hearts, we sometimes take one more trip around the mountain. …then maybe we open ourselves to the Lords love and grace. It was there all the time, we needed to reach out and ask for it. Be willing to give ourselves to Him, so He can reside within.
I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
This is the second seek ye verse in Isaiah: The Lord is reminding us His word is true…seek Him and you will find Him. Good and perfect gifts come from the Father. The time is now, today if you will harken unto the voice of the Lord, you can find peace, comfort, forgiveness, Mercy and the Grace of Salvation.
Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
This is an important verse for Christians, this is a “Billism”; something I have interpreted to mean:
We need to find the book, read the book, none of its promises will fail. The Lord watches over His word to proform it and the Spirit is here to see that it is done.
Lord help us to love and obey so You might use us to lead others to You. Amen
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Matthew 6:9-13
King James Version (KJV)
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
This morning as we repeated this prayer, which is beautiful and given to us by Jesus Himself. For the who knows how many times, it breaks my heart that we pray it by rote.
Not understanding He was teaching us how to pray, not a prayer. Paul also teaches us in Philippians 4:6:
King James Version (KJV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (praise, requests, thanksgiving)
As our Lord taught:
Our Father which art in heaven,
First comes acknowledgement of where the Father is:
Above us, bigger, more powerful, the One in control.
Secondly, praise:
Hallowed be thy name.
Hallowed means:
to render sacred, to consecrate (Ex. 28:38; 29:1). This word is from the Saxon, and properly means “to make holy.” The name of God is “hallowed”, i.e., is reverenced as holy (Matt. 6:9). Easton’s Bible Dictionary
To realize and proclaim His Majesty, magnify His Holiness, Righteousness, Worthiness. …shout to the Lord……let Him know your love.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Third: Acknowledge it is His will not ours that we want for our lives and allow Him to mold and make us into His image.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forth: We have gotten the Fathers attention:
Now we remind Him of our needs.
Isaiah 65:24
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Fifth, Forgiveness:
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
We ask for forgiveness and remind Him we have forgiven those who have used us wrongly.
Sixth,
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
The Lord alows us to be tested, so we can prove our love and faithfulness, He will deliver, if we turn to Him.
Seventh,
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We end with more praise and thanksgiving, the acknowledgement of His Supreme Authority and Worth.
It is great that we know this prayer but more importantly that we know how and what to pray.
Lord teach us to pray.
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theunfetteredpreacher 