The Filling Station

God’s Corrections : Dr. Arnie Smith

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The Lord Jesus loves us too much to let us go our own way without disciplining us. Proverbs tells us to not despise God’s correction. As the song says, we often go astray, even if only a little. We get so busy or preoccupied we forget to stay in fellowship with Him or read the Bible or pray. It often takes an unpleasant event or experience to make us realize where we are.
God’s ways to correct us are not to punish us, but to cause us to change our behavior. When we’re experiencing trouble, we need to consider it may be due to something we’re doing, or not doing.
Years ago, I remember not being able to make sales as a salesman. I HAD been doing well, previously, but it had been quite awhile, and things were getting tough.
I HAD been considering a move, and FINALLY realized that the Lord was letting me know that it was His will As soon as I got the message, we made the move, got a new job, and things worked out!
That was a very important move, leading to the start of a new church. New Wine Fellowship came into being due to my being obedient to the Lord.Attendance grew to around 200 in a few months. What a reward for a couple of months of discomfort. PTL!!!

DR. ARNIE SMITH

One of my teachers while in Bible School. I learned how to study the Word, because of his teachings.

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We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
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 I have learned by Experience:  theunfetteredpreacher

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I have learned by Experience, that the Lord hath blessed me for Thy sake.

Laban admitted this to Jacob, I admit it to my wife. I have been blessed of late. It is because I married a Godly, Psalms 31, Woman.

I am blessed beyond all I could ask, think or imagine.

Thank you Jesus. For being such a Lord and Savior.

Genesis 30:27
And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.

Tales of my Father 9:  theunfetteredpreacher 

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This tale involves myself and a few friends.   I wonder if they will chime in and reveal who they are.

I learned to drive around age 12, Dad would let me drive cars and trucks, into and out of the work bays, so they could be repaired.

He also gave me old wrecks to drive in the garage yard, mostly after hours.

My favorite car, even to this day, is a Metropolitan…  only manufacturered for a few years in the fifties.

I and several friends had a ball driving that little car.   At one time, someone who lived on the third floor of the apartment house on the corner.

Threw down a stack of Playboy magazines, WOW, at 13, that was a major find….  No wonder I am so screwed up…  lol

During business hours one day, I decided to teach a friend how to drive.  Since it was during working hours, we only had a twenty foot, one lane path to drive on.  (Customer Cars on both sides)

No big deal right?   Just drive straight,  back up straight… no problem.

My friend apparently was more nervous than I thought.

He panicked, hit and put, a good sized indentation in the door of a customers 1963 Corvette.

Dad was furious,  the customer more so… it was a beautiful car.

I don’t believe I gave anymore driving lessons.

More to come, hope you enjoyed.

Do we give up hope? – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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There are so many people outside the doors of our churches and homes, who do not know Jesus, do not want to hear about Jesus, will not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

WARNING:  LONG POST, DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU CARE FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH JESUS.

I stand here flummoxed. …why do they not understand the peace, joy and grace that could be theirs?  Why can’t I convince even those in my own family to realize the gift of Forgiveness?

This is very frustrating.   There is something even more frustrating though.

That is the number of people who believe in and accept Jesus but who do not accept the fulness of His Holy Spirit.  I believe the Holy Spirit (and His Gifts ) are the Talents the Master left us and expects us to invest and increase until His return.

So many accept the impossibility  of Jesus  dying on the cross to save us from sin and death but the Power of the Holy Spirit. ….not for me, not for today, I don’t  need it,  God doesn’t  want us confused.

On the day of Pentecost the first Gift of the Holy Spirit given to all, was the Gift of Tongues. The crowd received the Gift of Interpretation.

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deliver us only, we pray thee, – The Fix-it Shop, Filling Station

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And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
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Here we go again.   Lord, I know I have this problem because I did that thing I shouldn’t have.  So Lord, help me out of this today, please.

We have a loving God so help comes.  Repeat.

What we fail to understand is He helps, saves us so we might to serve Him.  Spend time with Him, love and obey Him.   If we did, we would find a peace in the midst of the worst storms of our lives.

Lord, help us to love, honer, obey to walk in Your yoke…..with You every day of our lifes.  Don’t let us wait, until it’s too late.

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What is the Church? – The Fix-it Shop, Filling Station

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To the unbelieving, The Church is the building the hypocrites go to every week to show the rest of us how holy they are.

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To some believers, The Church is where they go to hear the Preacher tell them what God wants them to know this week.  Or the place you bring people who need salvation, healing or prayer.  Or even the place where you praise or worship God.

The Church can and should be all these things but  are you?

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The Church isn’t the buildings believers meet in.  The Church is the believer.  We are the ones, the seekers should come to, to be led to the Lord. To be healed by, comforted by, discover the Love and Grace of the Lord.

They don’t recognize the Lord in our lives, so why would they expect to find Him.

Some think of The Church as a hospital for the sick and those recovering.   The Lord never told us to nurse the brokenhearted.  To go someplace to heal,

No, He said: “Your Faith has made you whole.”

“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

The  Lord expects us to believe and to have signs and wonders following.  Amen.

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He said, He said : The Filling Station

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Two boats, both come alive when in the water, they are very much the same, though different.

For years, (over thirty), when I would read the Old Testament,  the Lord God was the Father God, one member of the Trinity.

I have since come to the conclusion that they are separate members of the  Trinity.  I am going to show you some He said, He saids.  Please let me know what you think.

Before flood:

The Lord speaking to Noah:
Genesis 6:3,7
King James Version (KJV)
“And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
“And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”

God speaking to Noah:
Genesis 6:13,14a
King James Version (KJV)
“And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Make thee an ark of gopher wood;”

After flood:

The Lord:
Genesis 8:21
King James Version (KJV)
“And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.”

God:
Genesis 9:16-18
King James Version (KJV)
“And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.  And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.”

Before the Exodus:

God:
Exodus 2:23-25
King James Version (KJV)
“And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.  And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.”

Genesis 3:4-6

“And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.  Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”

The Lord :

Genesis 3:7,8

“And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; “

Please let me know what you think.  If you are interested, I will show more examples.

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Revelation Knowledge? Available today? – The Filling Station

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Revelation

an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing.  (Bible – The Word of God )  (Eastons Bible Dictionary)

Word of God

(Heb. 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God’s organs in communicating his will to men. It is his “word,” because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept.  (Eastons Bible Dictionary)

Everyone that studies the Word of God is eligible to receive Revelation. The first Revelation the Christian receives is the knowledge of sin, the need for repentance, the joy of discovering forgiveness and love, through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, too many quit searching there.  They don’t recognize the ability to find comfort, peace, the fulfillment of needs and desires, that Christ offers us.

Many search elsewhere,  writings, gurus, false prophets or angels.   Wading through the Bible is too hard, it’s not in order, those Biblical names and places are too difficult  to pronounce, or remember.

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The Lord will fill us with the Spirit of God, a Spirit  of wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill to build His Church.  The Gifts of the Spirit are available to whosoever will.  Most won’t.  Most seem to hold Church Doctrine or Rituals higher than the Word of God.

It is not.  We must know the Word. We must walk in that knowledge. When we do, we will receive Revelation Knowledge, we will understand how to Walk with God.   Jesus told us:
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.”

The way we learn of the Lord is through His Word.  Martin Luther was a good Catholic, the Wesley brothers were good Episcopalians.  Then they studied the Word.

“Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”

–Martin Luther.   Quote Originally posted on The Isaiah 53:5 Project:   thanks.

I   pray I have the faith and strength to stand on the Word also.  Amen.

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Lesson revisited – The Filling Station

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Twice I’ve written about Judges 1….. both possible answers but not the right answer.  Here is my third attempt,

The Hebrews asked, ” Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?”

The Lord answered:  ” Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.”

When Judah  asked Simeon to go with them is when they showed their evil heart of unbelief.

Praise alone was the means that the Lord would use to conquer the land.  They added to the Lords plan and failed to drive out the enemies who had  chariots with iron wheels.

Once again. ..we must check out the Word ourselves,  study to show ourselves approved.    I  so want to deliver the Word of Truth. …not error. So please know what you believe.   Test the Word and see if it is true.

Lord, put a guard on my lips, that none would be led astray.  That they would be perfect and complete in all Wisdom,  Knowledge and Understanding.

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Lesson understood, (finally) – The Filling Station

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The lesson understood :

In reading and meditating on the first chapter of Judges, once again a tiny grain of truth seeps through.  

Since Abraham, the Lord had promised, “every place on which your foot shall tread, I have given it to you.”

Yet here we are hundreds of years later, Joshua has led them into the promised land, yet it is still not wholly theirs.   Joshua has died, what next?

The Lord  told them : “Judah shall lead you, I have delivered it to his hand.”

Judah said to his brother Simeon come help me and I’ll help you.   Let’s review :

Reuben the first born.  His name means, The Lord has seen .

Simeon the second born.  His name means, The Lord has heard.

Third born. Levi, whose name means the Lord will join us together.

Forth.  Judah,   now I will praise.

“Billism, brewing ”

Judah chose Simeon to go with him to defeat the enemy    They won in the mountains but lost in the valley because the enemy had chariots with wheels of iron.

Now the Lord doesn’t seem upset…yet His directive wasn’t followed.   The enemy wasn’t completely distroyed.

The Lord always provides a path or a plan for victory.  We are just terrible at following His plan.

What would the outcome have been if Judah had teamed up with Levi instead.

When you join Levi the tribe charged with protecting the Tabernacle of God, the House of God, the keeper of the Knowledge of God with the Praise of God.

I  think they could have become victorious.

I  understand that all these Christian Denominations are really just the different tribes today.  

The problem is the tribe of Judah, the people who understand Praise and Worship are out there on their own.

The tribe of Levi are few in each Denomination,  the few who reverence the Word of God over the book of rules for their sect.

We must get the Word, teamed up with Praise. “So, every place on which your foot shall tread. “

“He will give it to us”   

As we truly spread His Gospel of the Kingdom in power and might as the Lord spreads signs and wonders behind.    As He has promised.

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The Eyes of the Lord – The Filling Station

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”

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“And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Yes Lord,  please help me to follow You.

 

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Why Mother Goose – The Filling Station

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Mother Goose :

Have you ever wondered why the Goose got the title Mother Goose?

When we moved into our home 10 years ago, the small ponds at the entrance to our development had about 20 ducks and 5 geese.

Soon there were 2 baby geese, we would see them wondering around much like the picture above.

Then one of the babies was gone.  (?).

Things changed :

The only time we saw the remaining baby he was surrounded by adult geese.  The formed a protective circle around him, wherever he went.

The Grimm brothers must have seen this. (If it was them that named her?).

It reminds me of the Levites, wondering in the desert all those years.  Their job was to protect the Tabernacle from any strangers.  

With orders to kill any strangers that approached the holy thing.

We today should be protecting the Word in our hearts.  Knowing, loving and hiding it…sharing it….not allowing anything to degrade or destroy what we love.

Knowing it well enough to say thus saith the Lord…

Recognizing the truth.  Rebuking the lies.  The Word is.

Lord help us to know, believe and share the truth of Your Gospel.   May others come to love you through our witness.

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He hath not dealt with us after our sins; The Filling Station

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“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.   As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.”

I often need to remind myself how wonderful and forgiving is our God.  The good I  would, I don’t.  The wicked thoughts, imaginations and yes sometimes actions, I do.

Why is He so gracious, so giving and forgiving?

” But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”

For many years I lived, unaware of His love and grace, did not know His mercy, compassion or peace.  My parents and especially my Dads parents were good Catholics.

They would kneel in their living room and pray,  while Mass was on the radio daily.   Yet, I  don’t believe they knew the Lord.

I came out from under the curse, when I  met the Lord.  I read in the OT,  the blessings upon Esau and Lots decendants and realize the blessing that is upon my daughter, because I love the Lord.

Yes, I  am greatly blessed and my family is also. As long as they stay under the umbrella of Gods love.  Esau and Lots decendants lost their protection when they attacked Gods people instead of living in peace with them.

So my advice to those who love Him is:

” Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.”

Thank the Lord,  thank the Lord and thank the Lord.  Bless Him with Praise and thanksgiving.   Sing unto the Lord a new song.  Lift your hands, heart and soul to Worship the King.

I and we deserved nothing and He has given us all.

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Do we understand how to pray? The Filling Station

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As a Believer, for over 35 years, I have listened to many public prayers.  We pray for health,  finance, marriage, jobs, peace.  All wonderful things to pray about. 

As we look at the prayers of Paul, we see something totally different.

” First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, “
“without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;”

” That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

” Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.  Let all your things be done with charity.”

” Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. ”

” I Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

”  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”

” That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

” Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ,   That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”

 “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.”

” Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”

” Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

…………….

If you would like this prayer, prayed for you daily.  Leave a comment and I will pray it for you.  Please pray it for me.

Let’s try it for a month and compare notes. 

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One of you, a Servant of Christ : The Filling Station

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What is a Servant of Christ?   Do we meet the qualifications?  Do you believe Paul would consider you, me or any other believer a Servant of Christ?

Paul, James and Jude called themselves Servants of God or Christ and we find Paul naming the Colossians and especially Epaphras as Servants of Christ.

First, Epaphras labors fervently for the Colossians in prayers.   Paul goes on record that he:  ” hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.”

His (Epaphras), prayer for them is: ” that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

Is that how we pray for one another?   Not hardly.   We don’t even pray that prayer for ourselves,  though we should.

Secondly :  Paul called Epaphras a faithful minister to the Colossians who told them of Christ and told him of their love in the Spirit.

” For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

” Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;   Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

Because Epaphras had a great love (Zeal), for the people and a good report of their love for Christ.  Paul prayed continually, without ceasing for them.
     *   to be filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
     *   that they would walk worthy of the Lord, fruitful, pleasing in every good work,  increasing in knowledge of God.
     *   Strengthened  unto longsuffering,  patience and joyfulness.
     *   Giving thanks to the Father

This is how we must learn to pray for one another.   For the Spiritual not the temporal.  For that which will effect us forever.

Lord, please help us to walk worthy of you in all that we do.

..

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Prayer that will be Answered : The Filling Station

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We all want our prayers to be heard and answered.  The disciples asked Jesus to :Teach us to pray”.

So here we are repeating Jesus’s words and ignoring the meaning.  Not understanding what Jesus was saying.  He was teaching how to pray, not a prayer.   I covered this in “Lord, teach us to pray”

If we would look at 2 Samuel 7, we find King David longing to build the Lord a house, to replace the tent of Tabernacle.  Nathan the Prophet said “Go ahead the Lord is with you.”

That night the Lord came to Nathan and said: No…tell David: ” Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?”

David was a man after Gods own heart, the Lord was with him from the sheep to this time of rest as King.  David was a warrior and therefore not worthy to build the Lords house.

Solomon, Davids son would have that honor.
” But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.   And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”

The promise to generations yet to come.  David then prays:

“Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?   And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?   And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant.”

(Our Father, who art in heaven,  hallowed be Thy Name, forgive me as I have forgiven )

“And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.”

(Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven ).

” For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.  Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

(Give us this day our daily bread,)

“For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.  And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.”

(Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil….more praise )

It not the Words of the Lords prayer….it is the submission, devotion,  love that we are to emulate. If we could learn this our prayers would be answered.

Praise, thanksgiving,  submission, devotion,  more praise….

Not my will….

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Be strong and of good courage : The Filling Station

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“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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The Lord sent this message in various forms to Joshua 7 times, 6 of them prior to crossing into the promised land.

I am not a man who gets a lot of visions or dreams but a few years ago I dreamed someone was carjacking me.  I woke up beating the clothes in my closet, with my reading lamp.

I was not letting someone steal from me.  This is the point the Lord was making to Joshua and His people.

They had been at this spot 38 years before.

It had taken them two years after crossing the Red Sea to learn how to serve the Lord.  They had built the tools, symbols, utensils  for Worship.  The Tabernacle was completed.  The Lords presence was there.   They had followed the tribe of Judah,  (Praise), as the Lord led.

The Lord said:  “ Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.”

They were ready, cross the Jordan, take the promised land.  He had given them a promise:

Deuteronomy 7
“When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, (He names them), seven nations greater and mightier than thou;  And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:”

The Lord promised to destroy the 7 Nations that inhabited the promised land.  They send in the 12 spies and an evil heart of unbelief, overtook them,  (they couldn’t believe Joshua and Caleb’s good report); and sentenced themselves to 38 more years, wondering.

So the Lord encouraged Joshua and the people 7 times.  ” 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.”

” for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
“go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn  to give them;.”
” bring the children of Israel into the land: and I will be with thee.”
” thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware to give them.”
“Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, shall be put to death: “
” for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”
 
All these promises began or ended with:  “Be strong and of good courage “.

Today as we leave behind this body of sin and death, the Lord has promised to cast out the many Nations that have inhabited our promised land.

These may well be the 7 deadly sins:

Proverbs 6:
” These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,   An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,   A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Like the 7 Nations, the Lord will destroy these sins, if we smite them,  don’t let them linger and grow, we must show no mercy……cut them off.  Quit entertaining them. 

As we walk in the Promise of Salvation,  we must gain the victory over sin, with His help.  We cannot do it ourselves and He won’t do it with out our participation. 

So:  “Be strong and of good courage “.

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Man and his Maker – Servant of God – The Filling Station

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote being a useful vessel for the Lord, Bible, Christian living, religion, serving God, serving the Lord, Spiritual living, The Filling Station, walking in the Spirit, Walking with God, WORD WITH OUT RELIGION , , , , , , , , , ,

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“Moses the Servant of the Lord ”  was  given this title the day of his death.  He was called by this title 15 times in the Old Testament.   Joshua was called “Joshua, the Servant of the Lord “,  twice.

Timothy told us how to become “Servants of the Lord.
“Moses the Servant of God “,  appears 5 times in the Word. 

Four others are called: “Servants of God “
or “Servants of Christ”

Paul, a servant of God, and Jesus Christ
James, a servant of God , and Jesus Christ
Jude also called hinself a Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ
Epaphras, a Servant of Christ

The one we know the least of is Epaphras.

Colossians 4 : 12-13
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

Epaphras, a believer, someone who knows and loves the Colossians well enough to labor fervently in prayer for them.

He has great zeal for them and others, that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Note his prayer is not, they be prosperous in material things.  But perfect and complete in Christ.  He had zeal for them because he knew them.

Colossians 1. Tells us: Epaphras a faithful servant brought the Gospel to the Colossians,  and told Paul of their love in the Spirit for Christ. Which promted Paul and the others to pray:

” (we) do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;   Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;   Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

Note:  They do not pray for material things……

We get so concerned about this life,  Jesus said:  “Take no thought of what you will eat or drink”.   Yet we pray more for it then for our Spiritual life.
Paul, Timothy, Epaphras and the other saints, prayed for Spiritual desires, wisdom, understanding, Knowledge. ….love, grace the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

That we grow in Christ.

The last we hear of Epaphras is that he is a fellow prisoner with Paul.  A faithful servant indeed.

Oh Lord,  please help us to be servents of righteousness,  bringing the Gospel of the Kingdom to all, regardless of the cost.  Lord may I be Your Bond (love) Servant.

May we all grow in the knowledge of Your love and grace.

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Man and his Maker – Servant of the Lord : – The Filling Station

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote being a useful vessel for the Lord, Christian living, religion, serving God, serving the Lord, Spiritual living, The Filling Station, walking in the Spirit, Walking with God, WORD WITH OUT RELIGION , , , , , , , , , ,

Servant of the Lord :

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Servent of the Lord :

That was the title the Lord gave Moses the day of his death.  15 times in the Word do we see the title: “Moses the servant of the Lord “

Joshua was called  the ” servant of the Lord ” twice.

17 of the 18 times we see that phrase, it applies to either Moses or Joshua.   I would, that it apply to me.  How about you?  It took special people to gain that title.  Is it possible for us to wear it?

2 Timothy 2:24-26,  Shows us we could, if we would and also tells who Moses and Joshua were.

” the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

     ☆  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men,
It took me a long time to learn this.  When I  was first saved,  I got so frustrated when my loved ones said “its nice for you, but I  don’t need ….”

I could not make them understand the Importance,  the Wonder of  Forgiveness,  the Majesty of Mercy and Grace.   The Availability of  the Peace that passes Understanding.  The Earth Quake of Salvation.

In frustration it became :  “If you don’t believe like me, your going straight to hell “.   JESUS LOVES YOU,  DAMN IT!!!   I,  of course,  won many,  (to the side of the lost). 

Some relatives and friends from that time, unfortunately,  still hide, if they hear me coming.

We need to quit striving,  it’s  the difference in playing a tune you just learned and one you have loved and played forever.  Of  cooking your favorite meal or that new dish for your new mother in law.

Our new found Zeal needs focus,  instruction,  knowledge,  honey;  not a sledge hammer.

     ☆  apt to teach, patient,
I play piano but do not have the knowledge or patience to teach.  I  am a hack,  I never put in the practice and study to really play well.  I  read melody lines and chords and produce simple tunes that do not move you.  It’s ok but you wouldn’t come back special to hear me.

A lot of believers are like this also.  We know just enough to know we are saved.  We can tell others how to be saved.   We are hacks,  we never studied enough or draw close enough to God to produce that Heavenly Melody that makes people come back for more.

Our Witness is HO HUM.

     ☆  ” In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; “
The World without Jesus is opposing themselves.   They are moving away from their best interest.
” shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness. .. beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,. .. if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.. .. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”

Christ was meek and gentle towards sinners and a terror to the religious.   We need to learn to walk in His Yoke.

     ☆  ” if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
The Lord would have all to be saved.  We are just the delivery system He uses….The Spirit is the one who draws them to Salvation.   We must be diligent in acknowledging Him.

     ☆  ” And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
We must must realize everyone makes their own choice,  they must recover themselves by excepting Jesus as Savior and Lord.

I believed it was my job to bring people to Christ.  That is wrong thinking, it is our job to display Christ in our everyday lives.  To be:  ” an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”

The Spirit of the Lord does the rest as we walk in obedience.

Lord, help us to walk in meekness and obedience,  help us to take up Your Yoke.

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