Spiritual living

In the time of his old age: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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“Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.”

Is it crazy for me, to receive comfort and joy, from this scripture from 1 Kings 15? 

I know it doesn’t make sense, unless you’re an old guy who loves the Lord, and your feet hurt from arthritis.  (Yeah, that’s me.)

It’s not the fact, that someone had painful feet, that gives me joy, but, who had them.

“And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.”

A Godly man, of the lineage of David.  He was a good King.  With diseased feet, how could this be?

Here is another man of God:

In chapter 14 of 1 Kings, we find the Lord, giving a word to Ahijah, his prophet who could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

A prophet of God, who could not see?

Why are these Godly men afflicted?

How about this?  The prophecy to Jeroboam, a wicked King of Israel,  and his wife about their sick child.  All of his family will die, but… only the child shall be mourned.

1 Kings 14:12-13
“Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.

And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.”

All Israel will mourn for this baby for “in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel”

How can these things be? 

Psalm 135:6
“Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.”

My point?  Sickness, pain, troubles are not punishment from God, and may be allowed by God in our lives to test us and show the world, His love can give us the victory and conquer all our problems.

It is not important, the condition of this body.  My soul and heart, where are they.  Safe in the hands of Jesus, that is all that matters.

“Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord,”

What did he do?  Three things I will mention.

➙ As King, he stood against sin, in his country and removed it.

“he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.”

➙ As King, he stood against sin, in his family and removed it.

“his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.”

➙ More importantly, he had a perfect heart.

“Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.”

If you are desirous, to lead a life pleasing to God… first, remove the  sin from your life and from your presence, turn your heart to God and walk with Him.

So what if you’re blind or your feet hurt.  Love and Serve your Lord, Trust, Rely and Praise Him for His mighty works and grace.

Amen

Are we Full Of Faith? Or Excuses?: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Faith, Trust and Obedience the legs upon which we rest, our Christian Doctrine. 

Is our life full of Faith and Power?  Do we really trust and obey?

Or do we live a life of excuses, explaining why the Lord doesn’t answer our prayers?

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Sometimes the answers seem far away, through a dark place, it’s scary and we try to comfort. 

We attempt to explain the workings of God.

We give Excuses for Gods, seemingly non-action.  He didn’t answer my prayer, there must be a reason. 

“If I’m not healed today,  I know that when I shut my eyes in death, I will be healed in heaven”.

“If it be Thy will, Oh Lord.”

“I know I will be healed in Gods time.”

Jesus gave two answers, when His Diciples asked:
“Why could not we cast him (the evil spirit), out?”

Jesus answered:
“Because of your unbelief:”
“This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Lack of Faith, and fasting and prayer.

We are all given a measure of Faith. 

1 Samuel 2:35a
“And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind:”

To become that Faithful priest, we must build our Faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20).  By reading, memorizing, meditating, speaking and hearing the Word of God.  (Romans 10:17)

Fasting and Prayer also builds our Faith, by drawing us closer to God.  He sees our desire to have more of Him, He understands we are serious.  He rewards those who diligently seek Him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

Our unbelief is the major reson for un-answered prayer.

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

“He marvelled because of their unbelief.”

“He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart,”

He said of Abraham:

“being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead,”

“being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
(Romans 4) 

Are we fully persuaded?

Abraham believed God and it was counted to him, as righteousness. (Romans 4:3)

We must avoid the “evil heart of unbelief.”

Hebrews 3:12
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,”

“They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.”  (Hebrews 3)

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

“So we see that they could not enter in (to His rest), because of unbelief.”

We must believe. 

Jesus healed all that were afflicted, when they came to Him.  Not later, it didn’t take time, He did it NOW, TODAY.  He said we would do this and more.

Both the Faith of one praying, and the one needing prayer can be a reason for healing, or lack thereof.

Acts 14:8-10
King James Version (KJV)
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.”

The one seeking healing must have Faith and the one praying must be bold, full of Faith and able to speak and  pray an effectual fervent prayer.
(James 5:16)

This is complicated by the fact that God, although always there, sometimes tests us.  We cannot always sense His Presence.

Song of Solomon 5:6
King James Version (KJV)
“I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.”

Lamentations 3:8
King James Version (KJV)
“Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.”

Lamentations 3:44
King James Version (KJV)
“Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.”

He is testing us.  We must continue to seek His face.  How badly do we need and want Him.

Lamentations 3:26
King James Version (KJV)
“The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:40-41
King James Version (KJV)
“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.   Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”

We also need to realize that God can and does what He pleases.  Godly people can be sick for Gods reasons.

Philippians 2:13
King James Version (KJV)
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:27
King James Version (KJV)
“For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”  (Speaking of Timothy)

We must learn, in everything to give thanks.

Do not give excuses for Gods lack of action, they are not Biblical. 

If you do not see the answer you would like, continue to lift it to the Lord, in thanksgiving and prayer.

Our job is to believe and act on that belief.  It is up to God to comfort those we pray for. 

We should not try to explain.  We have no idea what He is doing in their lives. 

SO DO NOT, GIVE EXCUSES FOR THE LORD NOT ANSWERING YOUR PRAYER.

It is between them and God, teach them to seek His face.

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He may be doing a more important work, within them. Trust and Obey.  

Lord help us please, to have Faith in You.  Amen

The Isolated (dying) Church: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Why are our Churches dying?  Too many of them are closed (isolated), systems. 

The Baptists only listen to and learn from other Baptists. 

Methodists with Methdists, ect… 

We stay within our Denominations and Doctrines.

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Or worse, the only teaching our Church receives is from it’s Pastor.  (No guest speakers, teachers, other voices).

This is somewhat understandable.

Our Pastors, are mandated, by God to lead and grow the flock.   It is an awesome responsibility.  They must guard against error. 

Unfortunately, that can squelch growth in the knowledge of, and the working of, the Spirit.

A healthy Church us one that is growing in Wisdom and Knowledge, always moving closer to Godly principles, desires and Gods power. 

(Sorry, Jesus healed all that were afflicted, multitudes flocked to Him, is He present in your services?  Are people yearning to learn?  Is the Holy Spirit changing lives?)

If your Church isn’t growing, the people are not receiving the food, needed for growth.

Is your church an isolated system?

The internal energy of an isolated system stays constant.   The entropy of an isolated system tends to increase.

If we don’t allow new Biblical revelation to be explored, if all we can share is:

“This is what I’ve been taught, and by God, that’s all there is.  That is all we need.”

We are starving ourselves, and our flocks,  we are not allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to lead.

Sadly, our church is not receiving the meat of the word.  We must always seek more of God, expect His Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth.

Luther, the Wesleys, Billy Graham,  like the Pope, did not and do not have all spiritual knowledge.

We all see through a glass darkly, only the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to truth and then, only when we allow the light of truth into our lives.

We need to constantly challenge our faith, grow in our faith, allow other points of view, into our Chuches, ask the hard questions of our Pastors, teachers, always comparing what we hear, to the Word, to see if it is true.

It is our responsibility to study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

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Saints, a closed system is a stagnant system.  It is impossible to grow and florish.  We as individuals, need to go to Church to grow, our Churches need to be open to Biblical Revelation for growth.

Our Church needs to be an open system, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth.

Lord, open the eyes of our hearts.  Amen

I say unto thee, Arise 4: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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This finally brings me back to my original thoughts and message of this scipture.  Sorry it has been a long and tortures journey.

Jesus said:

Luke 7
King James Version (KJV)
“Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.”

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“And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”

Raising the dead, healing the sick, comforting the broken hearted.  Jesus saw, had compassion, touched them, then spoke what they needed into existance.

From the beginning God said.  In the New Testament, Jesus said:

“Are ye also yet without understanding?”

“It is written”

“Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.”

He directs us to truth, it is up to us to believe.

“Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”

“Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

“If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

Release unto God that which you hold in closest, let the Lord have that place in your heart.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

“Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”

“Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.”

“Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”

“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;”

“Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

“Neither do I condemn thee:”

“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Can we believe  Do we believe?  Are we resting in, trusting in, letting Him rule and reign in our lives.

Are you hearing Him speak to you, through His Word, acting apon in?  Not only must we hear and act, we must learn to speak, His will, His words, His desire.

Matthew 17:20
King James Version (KJV)
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

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ONLY BELIEVE AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNTO YOU.

Faith is believing God IS, and believing HE IS a rewarder of those who seek HIM.

Lord, help us to seek Your face.  Help us to speak Your will into existence.

I say unto thee, Arise 2: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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When I wrote the first post on this scripture, I got lost in compassion.  I hope to bring out the other qualities Jesus displayed this trip.

Luke 7
King James Version (KJV)
“Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

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And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.   And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.   And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”

Raising the dead, healing the sick, comforting the broken hearted.  Jesus saw them, had compassion on them and “touched them“.

Matthew 8:3
“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Matthew 17:7
“And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.”

Matthew 20:34
“So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.”

Mark 1:41
“And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

Mark 5:27
“When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.”

Luke 8:45
“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?”

Luke 8:46
“And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.”

The touch of Jesus is what heals, saves and sets us free.  He longs to touch all of us.  He stands at the door of our hearts, knocking.

Have we let Him in?  Have we let Him control our lives, our hearts, our minds?  He reaches out to us.

He also recognizes when we reach out and touch Him.  I believe this is the quickest route to receiving what we need.

Hebrews 4:16
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

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Where is this throne of grace?   AT THE FEET OF JESUS. 

We must learn to sit at His feet, become one who loves Him.  Learn to touch the hem of His garment.  Lead us to those still waters Lord, please.  Amen

I say unto thee, Arise 3: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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When I wrote the first post on this scripture, I got lost in compassion.  I hope to bring out the other qualities Jesus displayed this trip.

Luke 7
King James Version (KJV)
“Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

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And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.   And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.   And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”

Raising the dead, healing the sick, comforting the broken hearted.  Jesus had compassion on them because “He first saw them.”

Mark 2:5
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”

Mark 10:14
“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Mark 12:34
“And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.”

Luke 13:12
“And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.”

Luke 18:24
“And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”

John 5:6
“When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”

It was opened eyes that led Him to compassion, we must learn to see, and recognize the Lords hand and plan.

Then we must learn to act. 

Only then the world will see, know, consider and understand that our God is alive and able to do exceedingly abudantly above all we ask or imagine.

Isaiah 41:20
“That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”

The Gifts of the Spirit were given to build His Church.  Shouldn’t we see them and learn their use?  Sign posts to the Kingdom, need to be read, to be understood.

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Open our eyes, Lord.  Amen

I say unto thee, Arise. The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Luke 7
King James Version (KJV)
“Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

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And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.   And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.   And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”

Raising the dead, healing the sick, comforting the broken hearted.  “He had compassion on her.” 

We keep seeing this:
com·pas·sion
noun
: a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc. 

Jesus:
“He had compassion”

“he was moved with compassion on them,”

“Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”

“I have compassion on the multitude,”

“Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.”

“Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

“Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them,”

“I have compassion on the multitude,”

From Abram, praying for the Righteous, in Sodom and Gomorrah, to Moses, praying for the Hebrews, when the Lord was ready to destroy them.

The Lord acts in and on the behalf of those with “compassion on others.”  He gives “Words of Wisdom and Knowledge”,  “Shall I hide this thing from Abram?”   From those who care beyond themselves.

I firmly believe we would see miracles, signs and wonders, at the point of our having, true compassion for others.  

When like Moses, we can say:
“Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.  Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”

I have seen it in my own walk.  Someone I cared for was sick, I asked the Lord, to heal her, to give it to me.  I felt His power, she was healed.  (I didn’t receive the sickness, God took it).

I believe this to be an important ingredient to being allowed to exercise the power of healings, miracles, signs and wonders.

“compassion”

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,”

“whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

“And of some have compassion, making a difference:”

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“Compassion, may be the difference between life and death, sickness and health.  Power and hot air.

Lord, help me to see, understand and have compassion on those in need of Your touch.

When I cried thou answeredst me: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Psalm 138:3,6-8
King James Version (KJV)
“In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.   Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.   The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

Lord, is this not reason enough to Praise and Worship You. 
~I cry –  YOU ANSWER
~I am weak – YOU STRENGTHEN MY SOUL
~I am nothing – YOU SEE AND CARE FOR ME
~Trouble surrounds me – YOUR HAND PROTECTS AND SAVES ME
~YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MOLD AND MAKE ME IN YOUR IMAGE, YOUR MERCY AND GRACE WILL NEVER END.

I Praise, Worship and Thank You, Lord.

Turning things upside down: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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This is our life now, turned upside down.  What was once accepted as normal, is no more. 

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The king has no clothes, but no one is allowed to state this simple truth. 

The mug of clay can pretend he is a mug, no more. He claims, “I am now a beautiful flower vase.” 

As a vase, he is lacking the hight, the graceful lines, the wonderful finish, the  true beauty of a vases calling.  It does not matter.

We are to agree, even though as a mug, he was wonderful, just the right size, pleasent to hold, simply designed, the coffee stayed hot till the last drop.

He just wasn’t designed as a vase.  When you put flowers in this mug, it is simply wrong.    It is a child attempting to impress Mommy. 

Someone needs to say:  (and I will).

“STOP IT, GROW UP, YOU ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULY MADE, THE LORD KNEW YOU IN THE WOMB.  HE MADE YOU A MAN OR A WOMAN. 

IT IS NOT A CHOICE.  Accept who you are, explore, embrace, grow into yourself.  We are created for Gods pleasure, not our own.

Isaiah 29:16
King James Version (KJV)
“Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?”

We are living in a time, when we need to pray, that wisdom, would spread, and grow as rapidly as this foolishness has.

We have become the people, Isaiah fortold:

Isaiah 27:11
Living Bible (TLB)
“My people are like the dead branches of a tree, broken off and used to burn beneath the pots. They are a foolish nation, a witless, stupid people, for they turn away from God. Therefore, he who made them will not have pity on them or show them his mercy.”

We need to turn towards God.  

They talk now of jailing folks, for not believing in man made climate change. 

(Climate change is all God made). 

For believing we alone, should make decisions on buying insurance, or what light bulb to buy, and whether we use, low flow toilets.

This is not big brothers job. 

Neither is what I eat, whether I should wear a helmet on a bicycle or motorcycle.  How, where or what I worship.

Just because someone has decreed something to be legal, certainly does not make it moral, or acceptable to an Almighty God. 

Listen:

I love that mug, just as it is.  Learn to serve God, as you have been designed by the Potter.  You were fearfully and wonderfully made.  You are not a mistake or a misfit, quit trying to be what you are not.

Be what you were born to be…  If you cannot accept that then: 

Go your own way.  Do not ask me to rejoice in or support it.   BECAUSE:   I don’t care about your proclivities, do what you please.  Just do it with decorum.

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Please…  leave me out of it.

I believed not the words: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Gods Natural progression to true belief, (faith).

~  Curiosity:

The queen of Sheba heard of Solomons fame, because he was blessed of the Lord,  and she came to see for herself, if it be true.
(1 Kings: 10:1)

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She heard and came to see.  So many of us today, hear of the great things of the Lord, but never, ever, venture close enough to see.

There is revival down the road.   A church in town is growing like mad.

The Outpouring of the Spirit of God, has multitudes gathering, seeking a touch from the Lord.

Our answer: 

I wish revival would happen at our church, why isn’t the Lord adding to our church?    How come, Lord?

We don’t go to see… It isn’t happening in a UMC, or Baptist Church, it’s happening in that non-denominational church.  

I’ll tell you what it is.

It’s all show,  they cannot be preaching the true gospel, (like we are), after all we have the truth. 

It’s just the excitment of the music, skits, signs and wonders… people just want to be entertained.

Really, have you gone to see why? 

No, of coarse not, those people are strange, they believe the Word of God was written for today.

Do we go and question their theology to see if it’s true? 

No, of coarse not, those people aren’t of our denomination.  How could their doctrine be truth?

Pastors afraid of losing their flock, they talk down the growing churches… 

SHAME ON YOU!

Pastor, have someone preach for you Sunday, go visit this growing church, hear the Word preached, study the Word see if it be true.

Get to know who they are   Question them.  Study to show thyself approved.  Are they preaching the TRUE GOSPEL?

Learn from them and teach it to your flock. Ask the Lord for His direction, walk in it.  Then you will see growth.

~ Curiosity Satisfied:

1 Kings: 10. 7.
“Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.”

Pastor, the Lord is working through those, who allow Him to work through them.

Are you a WHOSOEVER,  do you allow Him to lead, direct and guide His people to a closer walk with Him?

Is that you?

There is a reason the Lord is working elsewhere and not in your church. 

YOU WON’T LET THE LORD LEAD.

1 Kings: 10. 24.
“And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.”

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Multitudes flock to the Lords presence.  To hear and learn of His Wisdom, not ours.  It only comes to us as we walk in obedience to Him.

I know you are preaching the truth you know.  If your church is not growing, maybe you need to learn more truth.

Lord, help us to let your presence flow through us.   Amen

The Sad State of My Country: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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I have strong Christian, Conservative veiws. 

This blog was birthed out of a desire to share the love, mercy and grace of my Lord.  I find it unfortunate, that this issue needs to be addressed.  I feel compelled.

In September of 1944, a young women asked Winston Churchill if he had any complaints about the United States.  He answered:

“Toilet paper too thin, newspapers too fat!”

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But First: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Luke 17:25
“But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.”

Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Have you ever looked at these two verses together? 

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Jesus, must first suffer many things and be rejected.   He did all that and more. 

What are we told to do first?  To suffer?  Be rejected?    These things will happen.   At the rate our country is falling away from God it will probably be sooner rather then later.

“But seek ye first”

Is how we will make it through any trials and tribulations we will encounter.  As a matter of fact He promises we will be persecuted for His Names sake.

So, I sincerely suggest we learn to:
“seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;”

How do we seek “the kingdom of God“?

He told us it is at hand, today, right here on earth, within us, without us, available to whosoever will.

We must turn our face towards God, learn of Him, Walk with Him, hunger and thirst for His Righteousness.  Desire Him, more than the air we breath. 

Request all He has for us.  Learn from and obey His Holy Spirit…Jesus healed all that were afflicted.   He has sent us to do the same.

His book is filled with promises.  They are ours today, if we will learn to touch the hem of His garment.  Take up His Yoke.  Learn to walk in the light.

I know I am a skipping record, playing the same song… So Be It. 

I do not care…  I long to be closer.  I long to be used.  I long to see souls saved, the sick healed, the dead raised.

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Jesus promised we would.  I am seeking this God, the God of Power, Might, Mercy and Love.

The Lord and Savior I love.  Help me Lord.
Amen

As David Walked: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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We can learn much about God by noting how different people interacted or walked with Him.  (With, in His ways, before)?

Confused?  
~  Enoch:  Walked with God, and received this testimony:  “that he pleased God.”  He knew God “IS“, (“is” alive, available and accessible today, now, in our  time of need), and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  (He is alive, with Jesus in heaven today).
~  Noah:  Walked with God, (Jesus), found grace in the sight of the Father, (the Lord), and became the heir of righteousness.  Saved with His family through the flood.

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~  Abram: The Father said:  “Walk before me and be ye perfect.”  He belived in the Father, (the Lord), and it was counted as righteousness.  A friend of God. (Jesus)
~  Moses:  “charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  A friend of God.  (Jesus)
~  David:  “if thou wilt walk before me, (the Lord), as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:  Then I will establish”

David, Abraham, Moses, were all Warriors, who walked before or in the ways of the Lord, (the Father).  They heard:  “This is the way, walk ye in it.”

Enoch and Noah, were preachers of righteousness and Walked With God, (Jesus).

They took up the Yoke of Jesus, walked in harmony with Him, by His side, doing His will, His way.

There is someone else who walked yet differently from all others:

~  Levi:
Malachi 2
“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.“

Levi Walked with the Lord, (the Father).  In reverence, peace and honesty.  He knew and taught the Law of the Lord.  He honoured the Lord.  His testimony turned many from sin and death.

He was not a warrior as such, but had killed to avenge the honour of his sister.  The tribe of Levi, became the priests of the Old Testament.  The protectors of the Word and teachers of the Will of God.

The Christians of the New Testament are the Levites and Priests of the Lord today.  Our job is to keep pure, and protect Gods word, and lead our fellow men to His Mercy and Grace.

How is your walk?  Do you walk in His ways?
Are you walking before, receiving His direction?

Or have you taken up His Yoke?  Are you walking in harmony with Him?  Are you seeing His will being accomplished?

Are those things He has revealed to us, active in our lives?   Do we see or recognize His Mercy, Grace, healing powers, signs and wonders?

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We should be.  That was His promise.

Jesus, may we walk with You.  Amen

Because God deprived her of wisdom: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Have you wondered how our country has progressed to the point that:

~Killers on death row should be kept alive, receive cosmetic surgery, sex change surgery, ect… while  Abortion of the inocent and sale of their parts is accepted and encouraged.
~A man is a hero, when he decides he really is a women, and boldly proclaims it.
~Marriage of a same sex couple is legal, and we must celebrate and accept this truth in spite of our religious and moral concerns or beliefs.
~Trans-gendered
     Trans-racial
     Trans-disabled
Are all accepted as normal, instead of delusional thinking.
~The theories of Evolution and man made Global Climate Change are now facts.
~That White popcorn is almost $8.00 a bottle.  (a family wide concern)

There is a reson we have progressed so far on this road to destruction.

Deuteronomy 7:9-10
King James Version (KJV)
“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.”

We once had a country that believed in, followed after and even loved God and Godly principles. 

We have drifted farther from this standard with every Godless politician we elect to lead us.

We are reaping that which we have sown.

Job 39:16-17
King James Version (KJV)
“She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her’s: her labour is in vain without fear;   Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.”

We have hardened our hearts, lost our common sense, we fail to exercise wisdom and understanding.

We must turn back to God.  It is our only hope for true change.

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

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Amen

Come out of the holy place: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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They “Came out of the Holy Place,”  then the Glory and the presence of the Lord was experienced.

1 Kings 8:10-11
King James Version (KJV)
“And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,  So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.”

If we aren’t experiencing the Lords presence it is because we have not faithfully, routinely, prayer fully experienced the Holy Place. 

Unfortunately, most of us will never find it, or learn  to enter. 

At the time of 1 Kings, the priests could not enter the Holy Place, (the exception, to bring the alter into the newly built Temple), but the High Priest alone, and only once a year could enter into the Holy of Holies.

Not so today:  
Hebrews 9
King James Version (KJV)
“The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:”

Hebrews 4:15-16
King James Version (KJV)
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

The throne of grace – The Holy of Holies.  Not just for the High Priest, once a year…We can enter today, we can find grace, obtain mercy, experience the presence of God.

What is the Holy Place? 

The Secret Place of the Most High:
Psalm 91:1-2
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.   I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

Under the Shadow of His wings:
Psalm 17:8
King James Version (KJV)
“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,”
Psalm 36:7
King James Version (KJV)
“How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”
Psalm 57:1
“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”
Psalm 63:7
“Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”

Waiting on the Lord:
Isaiah 40:31
King James Version (KJV)
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

By Prayer and Fasting:
Psalm 35:13
“But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.”
Daniel 9:3
“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:”
Matthew 17:21
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Luke 2:37
“And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
1 Corinthians 7:5
“Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”

Most of us love the Lord, but life and love for others prevent us from giving our all, and receiving Gods best for our lives.

To dwell with Jesus, simply means to Take His Yoke upon us, and walk with Him.

Will you seek Him and His Secret Place?

They all fall down: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Several months ago, a Baptist friend asked me, why do all these people fall down on TV, when the “Faith Healers” pray for them? 

He insisted that it didn’t happen in the Bible.

Matthew 2:11
fell down, and worshipped him:
Mark 5:33
fell down before him,
Mark 3:11
fell down before him,
Luke 5:8
he fell down at Jesus’ knees,
Luke 8:28
fell down before him,
Luke 8:41
fell down at Jesus’ feet,
John 11:32
she fell down at his feet,
Luke 17:16
fell down on his face at his feet,
Revelation 5:14
the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped
Revelation 22:8
I fell down to worship

Now, if I had given my friend these scripure verses, he would reply:

“Yes, but they were all in the presence of Jesus.”

I would say:  “My point exactly.”

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  (“Faith Healers” are Holy Spirit Dispensers).

These “Faith Healers” have paid the price to work in His Power and Presence.  We need to long to be in the presence of Jesus.  We need to learn to Worship, Work and Walk in His Power.

If you look up the word “worship”, in the Strongs Concordance, you might be surprised, to find, it means, to fall down, or bow down in reverence.

Are our Sunday Services really Worship Services?

We hear the Word, sing a few Hymns, but very rarely experience the full blown presence of Jesus.  (Multitudes found Him, can we?)

I know, in your church there is always a noticeable presence of God. 

(Good, you need read no more).

I wonder, seriously, have the rest of us, really experienced the presence of the Great “I AM“, since our salvation experience?

He is the Great “I AM.”  From the first mention of His Name, people fell down to Worship.

Genesis 17:1-3
King James Version (KJV)
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,”

He fell on his face, his name was changed, he was circumcised.  He had met Jesus.

We recieved a new name, in heaven, a circumcision of our hearts, and most probably fell down and worshiped at meeting “The Great I AM, JESUS.”

Moses, had to take off his shoes, as he was on Holy Ground:  (Exodus 3)
“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” 

Jesus, when arrested, answered “I AM” and they fell down before Him.

In the time of the dedication of Solomons Temple, God made His presence known.

1 Kings: 8. 10,11
“And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,  So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.”

To me this is what we should be aiming for, to experience the presence, power and the glory of the Lord.

How do we coax Gods Power, His healing, His miraculous signs and wonders, His Glory into our midst?

It isn’t easy.

We look at the Giants of the Faith as being above us in a place and time, impossible for us to attain.

In reality, they are a road map, written so that whosoever will, can find that place of Faith.

In that one verse from 1 Kings we see a

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key.  Can we learn to use it?  Do you see what it is?

Lord, help us to seek and find Your face.  That we might truly know You and the Power of Your Resurrection. 

That we be made into Your image.  Worthy to be trusted and used by Your Spirit.  That signs and wonders will follow.   Amen

The True Church

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the people, deep in the word, full of the Holy Spirit and Power, they know how to Praise and enter into Worship.

They do the work of the Lord.   They know Jesus.

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com

Simplicity: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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All of us, whether in church, life, or at work, tend to flow with the crowd.  Trusting, contented, comfortably compliant. 

Sailing along, not making waves, oblivious to any dangers that may lie in our path.

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In our simplicity, we know not who we follow or where they are leading us.

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Playboy magazine, a simple truth? The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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A lot of blogs are just like Playboy.

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We come for the pictures,

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and proclaim: “interesting articles”.

lol

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com