The Lord knoweth them that are his. – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

2 Timothy: 2. 19.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Growing up in the Catholic Church I felt sorry for the people in the little Community Church in town .  After all Massachusetts was 85% Catholic and we had the only way to heaven.

We were taught the Basic Christian beliefs.   Virgin Birth, life, death, resurrection.  It was history,  taught as fact, encouraged to believe but no hint of a personal relationship.

Continue reading

Home Group – teaching of Andy Stanley

The Sunday evening home group we attend has beed watching Andy Stanley videos.   He is an interesting and enlightening teacher. 

He has been explaining that Jesus called His followers Disciples,  and He reminded us, that Jesus gave us:  (search Andy Stanley on U tube)
John 13:34
King James Version (KJV)
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

He said people would know we are His Disciples if we learn to love, as He loved.

I am going to give you my take of his message. …. (my apologies are in order).

   》To learn to love as Jesus loved, we must look at His actions of love.

Jesus gave truth, you are a sinner followed by grace, I will forgive you.

He brought up as examples the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery.

The love of Jesus :
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Jesus was full of grace, (grace is salvation,  forgiveness, mercy, acceptance ) and full of truth. (He not only sees your sin but helps you to recognize it).

He always gives you a way to escape. ..a path to forgiveness, acceptance, salvation.

Please look for the Teaching by Andy Stanley,  it is his revelation,  and explains it so well.  I  think the title was:  Gracie meets Truthy

Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
know you are loved

The Holy Spirit in Acts 16 – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

My morning reading today started in Acts 16,  I could not help but notice how active the Spirit was in Pauls life at this time.

Paul knew the Lord and how to hear and obey the Spirit.   We  could learn this also.

》The first step to hearing the Spirit is to be doing  what You already know the Lords bidding.  (Sharing the Gospel where you are).

Paul desired to go to Asia,  good idea, worthy work, not Gods plan:

“forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,”

“the Spirit suffered them not.”

His desire denied, do we see him sulking,  upset, indignant that God had the nerve to disagree with his plans?

Not hardly. ..what followed was prayer,  an attitude of yes Lord.  We find:

“a vision appeared to Paul in the night;”

“after he had seen the vision, immediately “

If you were to look up how many times  the Disciples moved immediately or straightway,  we might learn how to see results in our work for God.

Of course,  Paul and Silas  ended up in jail for their testimony.   They cowered in fear, knowing all was lost.  (not quite, lol)

“At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

Knowing God, obedient to the Spirit,  they counted it joy to be imprisoned for the Gospel.   The Word of God spread because they obeyed.

They went about preaching, teaching and a:

“certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination”

Followed,  proclaiming them to be men of God.

“Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

We see an example of “Discerning of Spirits” and the “healing of same”.

image

Lord, I pray that all that love and serve you would learn to listen to and walk in obedience with Your Holy Spirit,  that we would see You working in our lives and in those we meet.

Amen

Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
know you are loved

Healing in Luke – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

It is interesting how  Luke the Physician mentioned healing more than in any other Gospel.

Here are some parts of verses from Luke. 

I believe The Lord is still healing when He finds worthy vessels.  (People who will give Him the Glory, Honor and credit ).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Continue reading

the unbelieving Jews: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

“the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.” Acts 14:2

Do we see this scripture played out daily in our churches?   I think so. 

It reminds me of the Man of God in 1st Kings 13.

Continue reading

Whose Truth, Revelation Knowledge: – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

It always amazes me when talking with old and established Christian,  how quick they are to reject a Bible truth they haven’t seen or recognized.

They have lived a number of years not knowing this truth, so it cannot be. 

This is  sad.

They are denying themselves  the possibility of becoming  todays Martin Luther, or one of the Wesley brothers. 

They had found new truth,  in the old word.

Continue reading

Go and sin no more: – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

One of the most remarkable sayings of Jesus.  He told the woman caught in adultery to: “Go and sin no more.”

He also told the lame man from the pool of Bethesda the same when He saw him at the Temple.

So,oooo…..it apparently  is possible to “Go and sin no more.” 

Please don’t misunderstand,  I have read it, it is printed in red, Jesus told them, I have to believe they did it.

Continue reading

Flying by the seat… – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

A local radio commercial asks, whether we have planed for retirement or are we flying by the seat of our pants?

The older I get the more I regret, that I have never been one to plan.  Continue reading

they which were scattered abroad :The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.”

Scriptures in this post are from Acts 11.

Now- scattered because of persecution of Stephen, they traveled as far as Antioch, preaching to the Jews.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.   And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

Some even preached to the non-Jewish. ….they believed also.  “Then” Continue reading

How low can I go? – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Proverbs 29:23
King James Version (KJV)
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

I awoke this morning realizing I am an insufferable know it all.

Continue reading

Ecstasy : The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

(Gr. ekstasis, from which the word “ecstasy” is derived) denotes the state of one who is “out of himself.” Such were the trances of Peter and Paul, Acts 10:10; 11:5; 22:17, ecstasies, “a preternatural, absorbed state of mind preparing for the reception of the vision”   In Mark 5:42 and Luke 5:26 the Greek word is rendered “astonishment,” “amazement” (comp. Mark 16:8; Acts 3:10).

Ecstasy,  astonishment  both scary words for the Church…. Continue reading

I was in the spirit:

” I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”

“And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”

“I was in the spirit”

“the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.”

“the man whose eyes are open hath said:  He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:”

“I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)”

Continue reading

Oooommm: – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

I was born in the 50’s, just in time for the Beatles, hippies, sex, drugs and rock and roll;  and of course,  free love.

I wish I  could say I have fond memories of those years but what I remember is a spoiled, drunk, stoned, obnoxious, self centered punk.

If I could erase parts of my life it would be those years.  Continue reading

Denominational Differences : – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

As I searched for Christ in the late 70’s, I prayed to find a God of Power and Might, I didn’t care for more hot air.  ..Growing up in the Catholic Church I knew the Bible stories, thought I was a Christian because I was Catholic.

I knew God was real, didn’t understand anything about a personal relationship.

Then I  met the Lord.   I was led to Him by a wonderful,  loving young woman and her mother, as I  was hitch hiking a ride to this place called Christian Retreat, in Bradenton Fla.

I fell in love with Jesus, Continue reading

Neglected Caroline – 10 / 28 / 15 b

image

Neglected Caroline – Ready for work, chained to a tree…Somehow that explains you and me.

Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
know you are loved

To be like Barnabas : The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Who was Barnabas?

First off a man who gave up all, to follow Jesus:

“Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,  Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

A man who recognized the hand of God in Pauls life and took him to the brothers.

Continue reading

Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Acts 9:6 in part :
“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

Paul had just been struck down  on the road to Demacus.  Meeting the Lord he had thought he was serving. 

Finding out his error, his first words:  “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

How often have I found out I am doing the wrong thing, or going the wrong way, or believing in a wrong or false premise?

Is my responce: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” ?????  Continue reading

Expired Faith: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

What is Expired Faith?

Expired Faith is a Faith that doesn’t really believe that the signs and wonders, miracles, gifts of the Spirit are possible today.

After all I believe, I pray for miracles,  I believe in healing, forgiveness, victory in Jesus.   I don’t experience these things in my life, so God must not be operating that way since the Apostles died away.

It’s not me, or my Denominational teachings that are holding God back.  It is just a time of silence like between the Old and New Testament.

BIRD FEATHERS!!!

Continue reading

Can you find Him? – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Proverbs 8:17
King James Version (KJV)
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early will find me.”

image

Jeremiah 29:12-14a
King James Version (KJV)
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: “

Will you seek Him early?   Will you seek Him with all your heart?

image

He said He will be found.   I hope you seek Him.

Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
know you are loved

Bible bits and bytes: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

We tend to think of multitudes wherever Jesus went. Why?

Matthew uses the word 16 times, Luke twice

image

Much people :
Mark, (3 times),Luke (4, in acts 6) and John (3 times) all  use much people.

A freind once asked why Faith healers always had people falling down? (Slain in the Spirit ).
He said we don’t see that in the Bible.

Fell down meeting Jesus :

Matthew – 3 times
Mark – 2 and twice at his feet
Luke –  7 and 3
John  – 1

How many times – immediately healed, immediately left, immediately did:
Mt – 6
Mk – 16
Lu – 9
Jo – 4
Acts – 11
Gal – 1
Rev – 1

Straightaway or straightway :
Mt – 8
Mk – 19
Lu – 4
Jo – 1
Acts – 4

Will knowing this help in any way?  Probably not but I  thought it was interesting.

image

Lord, help us to see and understand what we read.

Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
know you are loved