Walking with God

Forget Not: Part 1. Moses final warnings:

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The last book of the Law,  Deuteronomy is the record of Moses final 4 addresses to the Hebrew children.  Like the Lord,  Moses knew people are stubborn, rebellious,  stiffnecked and forgetful.

So he reminded them of eight different lessons learned in 40 years of wondering in the desert.   We need to remember them also.

1.  Forget Not:   Deuteronomy 4:9-10
“Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life:”

It is an incredible experience to be chosen by God, we have seen the Grace of God, (Salvation), first hand.  We need to remember the great things He has done and is doing in our lives.  We must keep them in our hearts.  We keep our souls by the renewing of our minds. (reading the Word).

Like the first generation of those who entered the promised land,  we have not witnessed the plagues the Lord laid upon Egypt but we all have personal stories of His forgiveness, mercy, love, peace, healings.

When we focus on what God has brought us through,  do not replay how terrible it was before but how wonderful it is now, that I have a comforter, teacher, healer, Savior,  King.

The horror stories of our BC years are not so different from everyone else’s.   We were all lost, alone, abused, abandoned and needful of God and His forgiveness.

What people need to hear about is Gods Grace and Love today.

“teach them thy sons,  Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.”

People hear the Words of God today by the life we lead, the Love we share in financial, physical or spiritual help. (prayer)   Teach them the reverential fear of the Lord.

People will hear the call of God, if we learn to walk with God.

Acts 22:14-15
” The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.”

 

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Have you been tested and tried?

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We all have dreams, ambitions,  desires.

Joseph had a dream that his father and brothers would  bow down to him.  He was already daddy’s favorite, he had received a special coat.  Jelousy abounds.

His brothers sold him into slavery,  he was wrongly accused of rape, he was forgotten in prison.

He interpreted dreams, he stood before the Pharaoh,  he was made ruler over all, second only to Pharaoh. 

His brothers bowed down to him, he saved them and his father from famine.

It is quite the story.   Psalm 105:19 says this:

“Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.”

Joseph knew his dream was true.  It took years to be fulfilled.   That word tried his faith, trust, peace, joy, his very being, until it was fulfilled.

If you are waiting on a promise of the Lord, rest assured that the His Word is true. 

He watches over His Word to proform it.   God is not a man, that He should lie.  ” the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. “

Is your heart, a heart that is perfect toward Him? 

We must believe:

“He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. “

“He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” 

We must:

” Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (troubles ),  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Like Job and so many heroes of our faith,  we must wait on the promise, we must, know our redeemer lives.

Have faith in God. Be faithful in God.  For this time of testing,  will came to pass.  We will see the promise of the Lord.

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Blogging 101 day 4

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Today’s Assignment: publish a post for your dream reader, and include a new-to-you element in it.

My dream reader is someone who hungers and thirsts for a closer relationship with Jesus.  The purpose of this blog and my life is to point people to the “secret place of the most high”.  (Psalm 91).

I hope that every post would cause people to dig a little deeper in the Word.   Forget what they think they know and ask the Lord to draw them closer.

I have some “Billisms” , things I understand in the Word that I’ve never heard taught.  (If you’re interested, read the blog).  They hopefully will make you seek out the truth.

If you are seeking God, He can open your eyes and heart to something that will affect your life and help you to walk with Him daily.  All it takes is a desire for Him.  He will provide, protect and direct you to a place of comfort,  peace and joy unspeakable.

If you want to know Jesus check out the “Salvation way” page, if you want more Jesus in your life.  Get in the Word, until the Word is in you.

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What does it mean to have Walked with God?

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In the Old Testament we find two people meantioned by name who walked with God.  I’ve struggled with this concept for 30 years.  

I have a “Billism” a theory if you will, that the Lord God in the Old Testament is not one member of the Trinity but the Lord, (Jehovah,  the Eternal One), is the Father.  God, (Elohim,  the creator,  ruler), is Jesus,  who sacrificed himself to the Father that we might have Salvation. (See The Trinity in the Old Testament).

So we find that when Enoch Walked with God,  he was Walking with Jesus.  Jesus said come on home.  

When Noah Walked with God,  he found grace  (Salvation), in the Lords sight  and was just and perfect in his generation.   He was the heir of righteousness.

To Walk with Jesus is the Lords desire for whosoever will.  Lord help us to learn to walk with you.  Not ahead of, or behind but with, beside, in harmony, peace and grace.  Help us to live this scripture:

Matthew 11:28-30
King James Version (KJV)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I had a Bible teacher who taught us to look at this scripture like this:

Jesus said: 
My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

So take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Lord help us to take up Your yoke and learn to Walk with You.

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Lost Lambs vrs Prodigal Sons

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Lambs and sheep for the majority of the Old Testament were to be sacrificed,  or to be the spoils of war. A commodity,  something bought and sold. Sacrificed to the Lord or food for the family.

It isn’t until Isaiah that we find the concept of the Good Shepherd.

Isaiah 40:11
King James Version (KJV)
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

This is the picture we have of Jesus the Good Shepherd.   It is a good and true picture.   He does hold and comfort us, feed and lead us beside the still waters.  He restores our souls.

Young David is another example of a good shepherd:

1 Samuel 17:20
King James Version (KJV)
And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

When David left his sheep, he left them in the care of a keeper.  Jesus has left His church to the care of His Pastors and Ministers the called, chosen and faithful. When David learned of Goliath,  he was full of faith and power.

1 Samuel 17:33-37
King James Version (KJV)
And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.  

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  

And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.  

Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.  

David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

The Lord prepares His Shepherds to protect His flock against the roaring lion (the devil) and the bear (powers of this world) the Shepherd needs to be a prayer warrior to have the wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill to defeat the enimies of the Lord, whosoever they be.

2 Samuel 24:17
King James Version (KJV)
And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.

Here we find the first reference of Gods people being sheep.  David had sinned, against the command of the Lord he had taken a census of the people.  The Lord gave him 3 choices of punishment,  He chose the hand of the Lord and His mercy, rather then the hand of man.  70 thousand died before this prayer.

In the book we see several instances of the Lord releasing their enimies upon His people because they  rebelled.

Isaiah 53:6
King James Version (KJV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jeremiah 23:1
King James Version (KJV)
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 50:17
King James Version (KJV)
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bone.

Then we have this wonderful prayer:

Psalm 119:176
King James Version (KJV)
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

This is a prayer that the Lord honors,  if we wander astray like the parable of the lost sheep He will find and rescue us.

Ezekiel 34:11
King James Version (KJV)
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

In Luke 15 we find the parable of the lost sheep, the Shepherd finds and brings him back.

The lost coin….they seek till they find.  Then we have the rich man with two sons.  please read carefully:

And he said, A certain man had two sons:

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  And he arose, and came to his father.

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

We have the son, he has it all even his inheritance.  He takes it  and leaves the presence of the Father. He isn’t wondering away, he is deliberate,  decisive, determined.  He is broke, in bad company,  feeding swine.

He comes to his sences, heads to home, Father sees him runs to meet him, restores him to a place of honor.

The difference is the Lord went to find the wondering sheep, He waited for the rebellious son to return.  Both were welcomed back but one needed saving while the other needed to repent.

No one can pluck us from the Fathers hand….but He dosn’t hold us there against our will.

Lord may our hearts stay turned to you.

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Your Church, Fix-it or Filling Station?

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I have learned that at different times in my Walk with God I need different things.   When I was first saved I needed to be fixed.   My mind, body  and spirit were tuned to the worlds ways.  I needed a Spiritual tune up.

The Lord gave me a clean heart, a discerning Spirit,  the Peace that passes understanding,  the Comfort of the Holy Ghost.   A clean slate, I was forgiven.  Have you been forgiven?

Now we have decisions to make,  will we continue to fill ourselves with the things of God or let the world creep back and gain control of our  life once again.

If our only contact with the Lord is on Sundays,  then we need and probably attend a Fix-it  Church.    We are continually broken,  sick, depressed,  no joy, no victory,  certainly no peace.

We are not alone, most Church people fall into this category.   We love the Lord but never realized there is more available.

A Fix-it Shop Church preaches The Cross and Salvation, Love, obedience, fruit, feeding the hungry,  clothing the needy, loving the unlovable.   All excellent things, Godly things, just not filling things.

We need a Filling Station Church.  Now a Filling Station Church will challenge us to grow.  We find ourselves asking questions,  searching the scriptures.

Intellectually,  systematically, deliberately moving through the word, Old and New till we have studied to be approved,  workmen,  rightly dividing the word of truth.

We will not know this with just Sunday services.  It takes a real commitment to the Lord.  A desire that grows as a relationship matures.

Expecting a miracle, knowing God is.   Knowing that Jesus is truly alive in our hearts and minds.  Wanting to obey,  follow and embrace the Way of the Lord.

If you aren’t desiring a closer relationship with our Lord,  you need to set your face like flint towards the Lord and ask Him for that desire. 

Ask Him to show you the way to a Filling Station Church.

I pray we would be filled.

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Hospital or Fix-it Shop?

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I heard it again today, the church is a hospital where the sick and hurting go to nurse their wounds and recover.

Horse feathers! !!

If we want the church (Christian people), to grow in the Lord we need to quit nursing and heal them.  Jesus wasn’t a nurse, He was a healer.    He said we would do even more than He.

The Fix-it Shop Church would be more like Jesus:  He repaired the lame, gave sight to the blind, cleansed the leaper, stopped the issue of blood, raised the dead.  We have the gifts of the Spirit,  if we would only learn to operate in them.

Most of the time He touched them and they were healed.   Some touched the hem of His garment and  were healed.  Others were touched by the shadow of an Apostle for their healing.  According to your measure of Faith.  He healed all that were afflicted.

” Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

It wasn’t often they had to do more than accept the gift of God.   It happened now….almost immediately,  no long recovery times.  When Jesus touched you, you were changed.  We need to know ourselves and be able to teach others how to touch the hem of His garment.

( but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.)

Now I know, you who are in the trenches, don’t really want my input but if you’ve read this far, please hear me out. I believe I have the mind of God in this. (Lord forgive me).

The Jewish people read through the Law and Prophets every year.  The word gets into their hearts and minds.  I believe that this is why the Apostles had such powerful ministries.  They understood the Old Testament as they lived the New.

Since Jesus did away with the Law of Sin and Death, we no longer teach the Law and Prophets. …we don’t consider it relevant to our walk, when it is the foundation of our truly knowing Jesus.

If I were to Pastor again, Sunday morning I’d preach up a storm.  Sunday night I would go through the New Testament chapter and verse.

I would study the Word and teach the  revelation I received.

I would do the same mid week with the Old Testament.   I would be careful to try not to relie on other books or studies.

Fresh Manna, gathered and prepared daily is the most fulfilling.

Enoch walked with God and was not, because God took him.   His name means:  dedicated; disciplined. 

We need to be dedicated and disciplined so we can pass it on to others.  Then maybe we can have a Fix-it Shop Church.

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JESUS’ FIX-IT SHOP

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As a piano technition, one of the first things I had to learn was how to hear and distinguish beats. All of the keys on a piano move a hammer to strike strings to produce sound.  At the bass end, the hammers just hit one string.

As you move up the keyboard,  left to right, the hammers then hit two and for the majority of the keyboard three strings per note.

When I tune I start by tuning the C above middle C to vibrate at 523.3 cps (cycles per second). Than middle C and the C below all beatless.

Beatless is a pure sound,  not jerky or wavy.  Then we set the Temperment of the piano.  The two octaves in the middle, by listening to the different beats of 3rds, 5ths, 4ths, minor 3rds, octaves ect.

Sounds complicated dosn’t it?  There are also many adjustments,  regulations and repairs that may need to be done.

You can learn the process quite quickly but it takes years of practice to do reliable, acceptable work.

There are some pianos that can not be saved.  Sometimes people have played on and in the same keys for years, not tuning or adjusting for wear.

Suddenly,  the adjustments won’t adjust.  The instrument needs more work than it is worth, when it should of lasted years longer.

That is what dismays me….I can’t save them all.

Jesus can save us all.  If we are in His Word daily, the regular maintenance and regulations are updated as required.  We find His peace and comfort, guidance and direction are ever present.

If we don’t allow him access on a regular basis….we may find the repair we need takes longer, it may be painful, it may have to be repeated until we are running smoothly and have learned to listen.

Jesus dosn’t want us to spend years recovering from our trials and struggles.   He made new eyes out of clay, raised the dead, cleaned up lepers…..

I believe he can fix the most stubborn of us and our problems, if we just keep up the regular maintenance sessions with Him.

Ask Him to fill up your Spiritual  tank and keep on serving Him.  He healed all that were afflicted. …He will heal you too.

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If thou knewest the gift of God,

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God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

God gave them the like gift as he did unto us,

the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

 I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

So that ye come behind in no gift;

given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ

receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness

ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

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

Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him

there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

 on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money

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He walked with the Lord

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He walked with the Lord

Malachi 2:4-7
And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.  My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.   The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.   For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Here we are talking about walking with the Lord, not like Enoch  or Noah walking with God. No here we have a man walking with the Lord and like Moses after him he has blood on his hands.

 He is a Levite he is a warrior

I propose that we think of the Old Testament Lord God as father God. When in reality the Lord Jehovah is the Father, and God is Elohim (Jesus) in the Old Testament.  (see The Trinity in the Old Testament) 

As we look at the Old Testament we find that God started all the new things.   God created the heavens and the earth.  God told Noah how to build the ark.  God finally gave Abraham the orders to circumcise himself and his offspring.

We see that the Lord was with God at creation the Lord told Noah that it was going to rain.  The Lord closed up the arc after Noah entered in.  The Lord caused the rain and God remembered Noah and caused the wind up to dry off the earth.

Noah sacrificed to the Lord.  As we look at  the Old Testament we find that almost all the sacrifices were made to the Lord not to God.  God (Jesus ) is the sacrifice..

When the Spirit of God desended on someone He gave them Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and the Skills to build Gods Tabernacle.  It is the same today, the Spirit of God helps us to build His Church.

We find this Spirit on the three Hebrew children and Daniel,  Joseph, King Saul when he was given a new heart and he prophecied. In both Enoch and Noah they preached righteousness and prophesied.

When the Spirit of the Lord came on someone that person became skilled in warfare, in leadership.  The Spirit of the Lord was upon David, Gideon the mighty man of valor,  Samson, and Levi.  The Spirit of the Lord, is a warrior Spirit. …men annointed with this Spirit fight to keep the Word pure, powerful and effective in leading people to Holiness, Righteousness, Obedience, Sanctification. …to bring whosoever will into the Holy of Holies.

It is the Spirit of the Lord that annointed Jesus to preach the gospel, to heal and comfort the sick to work miracles.  This is still a “Billism”,  a working theory if you may.  I believe Pastors are annointed with the Spirit of God. …They have Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and skills with people and the Church is built.

The Spirit of the Lord,  I believe we see Him in the lives of Oral Roberts,  R.W. Shamboch, Benny Hinn.

As you read the Old Testament. …look for the differences in the Natures of the Lord and God…. Let me know what you think. 

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Walk in Wisdom, Walk in Jesus

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Colossians 4:5-6
King James Version (KJV)
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

If we read Proverbs we find Wisdom is to be sought always,  if we read carefully we find we can substitute Jesus for Wisdom and not be  off the mark.

1 Corinthians 1:30
King James Version (KJV)
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Jesus is our wisdom,  righteousness, sanctification and redemption. So when we walk in wisdom toward them that are without.  He is speaking of people that know the Lord, interacting with those who do not know Jesus.

When I was saved,  I had found faith, peace and joy, but patience,  meekness, goodness, gentleness, love or temperance had not yet developed in my life.  I had found a good thing and everyone I saw needed to come aboard or you’re all going to hell.

Instead of redeeming the time, in my zeal I am sure the people I loved and cared for the most were driven far from the Lord.  My speech had no grace or love.  Condemnation was my strong suit.

As I’ve grown I hope I’ve become more Christ like and recognize He loved the sinners and that my religious spirit was a worse sin than those who didn’t know the truth.

I pray now that the love and grace of our Lord is what people see, hear and expect from me.  That people find Jesus through my walk with Him.

Lord may you be lifted up, so all men will be drawn to You.

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Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, :

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Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

This verse has caused much consternation.  After all isn’t the Lord omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. …Isn’t He everywhere,  can’t He do anything and dosn’t He know everything.

What do you mean,  while He may be found?  When He is near?

I believe the writer is speaking of the condition of our hearts.  There are times when we are open and receptive to the will and word of God and other times, not so much.

Like the Hebrews in the desert,  the promised land was there, all they had to do was enter and the Lord would give it to them.  When they refused, it was back to the desert.

When we don’t answer the knock at our hearts, we sometimes take one more trip around the mountain. …then maybe we open ourselves to the Lords love and grace.   It was there all the time, we needed to reach out and ask for it.  Be willing to give ourselves to Him,  so He can reside within.

I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

This is the second seek ye verse in Isaiah:   The Lord is reminding us His word is true…seek Him and you will find Him.  Good and perfect gifts come from the Father.   The time is now, today if you will harken unto the voice of the Lord,  you can find peace, comfort,  forgiveness,  Mercy and the Grace of Salvation.

Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

This is an important verse for Christians,  this is a “Billism”; something I have interpreted to mean:

We need to find the book, read the book,  none of its promises will fail.  The Lord watches  over His word to proform it and the Spirit is here to see that it is done.

Lord help us to love and obey so You might use us to lead others to You.  Amen

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Teach us to pray

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Matthew 6:9-13
King James Version (KJV)
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

This morning as we repeated this prayer, which is beautiful and given to us by Jesus Himself.   For the who knows how many times, it breaks my heart that we pray it by rote.

Not understanding He was teaching us how to pray, not a prayer.  Paul also teaches us in Philippians 4:6:
King James Version (KJV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  (praise, requests, thanksgiving)

As our Lord taught:
Our Father which art in heaven,

First comes acknowledgement of where the Father is:
Above us, bigger, more powerful, the One in control.

Secondly, praise:
Hallowed be thy name. 
Hallowed means:
to render sacred, to consecrate (Ex. 28:38; 29:1). This word is from the Saxon, and properly means “to make holy.” The name of God is “hallowed”, i.e., is reverenced as holy (Matt. 6:9).  Easton’s Bible Dictionary

To realize and proclaim His Majesty,  magnify His Holiness,  Righteousness,  Worthiness. …shout to the Lord……let Him know your love.

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

Third:  Acknowledge it is His will not ours that we want for our lives and allow Him to mold and make us into His image.

Give us this day our daily bread. 

Forth:  We have gotten the Fathers attention:
Now we remind Him of our needs.
Isaiah 65:24
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Fifth,  Forgiveness:

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

We ask for forgiveness and remind Him we have forgiven those who have used us wrongly.

Sixth,
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

The Lord alows us to be tested,  so we can prove our love and faithfulness,  He will deliver,  if we turn to Him.

Seventh,
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

We end with more praise and thanksgiving, the acknowledgement of His Supreme Authority and Worth.

It is great that we know this prayer but more importantly that we know how and what to pray.

Lord teach us to pray.

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Enoch, Noah and Levi: 3 unique men:

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How are these men different from you and I?

Enoch: His name means dedicated; disciplined, we know he was the 7th from Adam and is still alive today in bodily form in heaven.  He had this testimony:

Enoch walked with God and was not, because God took him.  Enoch believed God is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.   Enoch pleased God and preached of the second coming of Christ.

Then we have Noah as a type of Him who is the true “rest and comfort” of men.  We know this about Noah.

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,  He was just and perfect in his generation.   Noah walked with God.   In reverential fear,  he build an ark for the saving of his family from the comming flood and became the heir of righteousness. Noah bore constant testimony against the unbelief and wickedness of that generation. (1 Pet. 3:18-20; 2 Pet. 2:5).

Enoch and Noah were the only two that Moses stated, by name, who walked with God in the Old Testament.

They walked with God and the “Spirit of God” was upon them, a Spirit of wisdom, understanding, Knowledge, skill and prophesy.  (see Exodus 31).

When we look at other great Old Testament men we find warriors. ..men with the “Spirit of the Lord”. (First found in Judges 3:10).   A Spirit of righteousness and justice, wisdom in war.

These men walked before the Lord, not with. Abraham and David both walked before the Lord,  not with God. (See The Trinity in the Old Testament).

Abraham was told by the Lord to walk before me and be and  be thou perfect.  The Lord speaking to Solomon said: “ And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness,”

How about Levi?  The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words at his birth, “This time will my husband be joined unto me.”   He is mentioned as taking a prominent part in avenging his sister  Dinah who was kidnapped and raped.  His only recorded words were:   Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

Take note that the Lord choose the Levites, to became His Ministers and Priest’s.  They were warriors,  who did what was right, without question or hesitation.   Their job was to bring people the knowledge of God, protect that Gospel and the church (Gods people), from any strangers. (See The Stranger that draws nigh).

Moses was a Levite who following his ancestors example,  took revenge on an Egyptian for killing a Hebrew.  Hid in the desert 40 years,  till the Lord burnt the bush and called him to service.

Than we have the Levites,  comming to the Lords side and killing the Hebrews who rebelled and Worshipped  the golden calf.

Phinious,  who chased and killed the man and woman in sin and stoped the plague among the people.

This is what the Lord has to say about Levi in Malachi:
” 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.”

This is important today because we Christians are the ministers and Priest’s of God. ….We must learn from the examples of those who walked in our shoes.  We are the Ministers and Priest’s of the Lord today.

We must have the reverential fear of the Lord so we are obedient in building an ark or protecting the Gospel.  (making sure we are preaching Christ crucified).  The love and Salvation of God.

Be dedicated and disciplined, to Gods word.  We must walk with God in wisdom, understanding, Knowledge, skill and with words of prophecy.

We must also walk with the Lord in peace and equity
( fairness or justice in the way people are treated).
Speaking the truth in love, turning many from sin and death.

Moses told us of Enoch and Noah walking with God,  it was the Lord, Himself that told us “Levi walked with Me”

Lord help me to walk in perfect peace,  (my mind upon you), treat all I meet fairly, justly,  my life leading people to You.

Help on me to be dedicated and disciplined in the study and sharing of Your Word.

May I understand and display a reverential fear and be obedient to Your will and ways.

Make me a useful vessel.

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I JESUS IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

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Please give me feedback. A little different look at Old Testament Trinity.

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The Bible is an amazing book, we can read it, memorize it, even believe we understand it and then one day God opens our eyes and old things pass away, the word becomes new.  Suddenly we begin to understand and see things in a different light.

For most of my Christian life the Old Testament has been the Father Gods domain.

I thought of the God of the Old Testament as Father God, Lord God or just Lord or God.  They were all interchangeable names for the same member of the Trinity, who ruled the Old Testament. He and the Spirit were active,  where was Jesus?

The Father God wrote the book of the law and He was the book and the law. Whatever we called Him, He was one member of the Trinity.  When He spoke the earth moved, things got done, He was to be feared and obeyed.

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We need to be filling stations!!!

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wpid-20140619_202448.jpgMy father owned what was then called a Filling Station or a garage, a place you brought your car for fuel and repairs.

It was originally called Bob’s Fix-it Shop because when he started, he fixed lawn mowers, toasters, boat engines, cars, farm equipment even toys.  He did everything from changing tires and oil, windshield wipers and ball joints to welding broken parts.

He hoped and expected to see you regularly to fill your car with gas, (full service, ck oil, tires, wash windows, pump fuel).  When you broke down, he would tow your car to the shop and do the  repairs that were needed.

He built a very successful business, eventually changing the name to Cote’s Garage when my brother joined him in his work. I worked there through high school but unlike my brother I hated it and didn’t understand engines. I only pumped gas, fixed tires, did a few brake jobs….I was pretty much useless.

We often discribe church as a hospital. That implies sickness, broken bones, contagious desease. A long recovery time. That isn’t how our Lord operated.

He fixed you now…when you met him. You may have had to go wash, or present yourself somewhere but it was almost immediate recovery of sight, walking and leaping, you were clean, go and sin no more. Receive ye the Holy Spirit.

Today we allow ourselves to wallow in our sins and troubles. Jesus would have us repent, turn from our wicked ways, be filled with the Word and the Spirit and Walk in the Light. Lifting up Jesus the Author and finsher of our faith.

Then we would have success in drawing all men to Him. If we are always recovering it’s all about us…..We Need To Make It ALL ABOUT JESUS.

Believe by His stripes we are healed, go about praying for the sick, feeding the hungry, giving living water to those who thirst. …preaching the acceptable year of the Lord.

Forget the church/hospital idea……WE NEED TO BECOME FILLING STATIONS.

Help us Lord to be useful vessels.

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The Church should be like a filling staition

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We have many beautiful churchs, annointed and inspired  speakers, loving, caring  people.    Good fellowship,  wonderful ministries, great plans and intentions.  (so your church is growing daily,  right?)

If it is, praise God, quit reading and get back to work.  If not, maybe the Lord has shown me something worth praying about.

Sadly, what most  churches are missing is the power of God.   We can preach, teach and even exemplify the love and care of God.

We feed the hungry, clothe the poor, give soup, soap and Salvation.  (thank you Salvation Army).

Oh, we see some prayers answered,  some folks comforted, even some of the sick healed.  Others we cannot seem to touch.  I’ve considered several reasons.

1.  Our  life is to blame
(we don’t walk in obedience).

2.  We need to fast and pray
(humble ourselves).

3.  We  don’t truly believe

After all Jesus said we would do even greater things then He did and he healed all that were afflicted,  raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, the lame walked. “If we would only believe,  we could move mountains”.

Lord Jesus,  if we were just walking in these truths the world would be won for you….but we have failed.

The Question is WHY?

Certainly we can blame the reasons listed above and not be wrong,  but I believe the answer is deeper still.  If we look at Mark 6 we find Jesus in His home town.

He heals a few sick (His words) and marvals at their unbelief. While they seem to think it is marvelous work.

When in Bible School (early 1980’s), Benny Hinn would come for a week at a time.

We would be amazed at the mighty works that Jesus preformed through him but he never healed them all.

Some left untouched,  hurting, discouraged, disappointed.

One answer:   501c 3s

When we started giving receipts, became tax exempt. …allowed ourselves to be muzzled about the problems in our country,  we gave the power to edit Gods word and will.

Think I’m way off, out of line, maybe out of my mind?

When the tax man came to Peter what happened?

What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?  Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.  Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Later in answer to Pharisees,  Jesus said:

Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

We need to treat the church like the filling staition down the street.   Fix whats wrong, fill folks with the Holy Spirit and after expenses,  pay the tax man.

Give  control of His Church back to Him.  God did miracles so that:

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.

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What is Righteousness?

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What is Righteousness?   Righteousness is quite simply,  right standing with God.

Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Believed. ..counted it for righteousness:   What was it Abram believed?   It wasn’t simply a belief that the Lord exists,  he had been  worshiping, obeying and walking with the Lord for a number of years.

What made him righteous was the belief in the Lords promise of an heir.  He and Sarai were old beyond child bearing years,  yet he believed the impossible the promise of the Lord.

Today for us, it is belief in “Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”  He has made us new men, which after God are created in righteousness and true holiness.

Our Righteousness,  holiness, sanctification, redemption, wisdom all come from the cover of the blood of Jesus which we receive when we believe.

We believe the promises of God to become Righteous but to exhibit Righteousness is more important.

The Lord would have us be ministers of righteousness;  (display the) peaceable fruit of righteousness,  suffer for righteousness’ sake, (be) instruments of righteousness,  walk in the way of righteousness, Awake to righteousness, and sin not; follow after righteousness, we should live unto righteousness:    seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,  for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and most of all be  preachers of righteousness.

These are all pieces of New Testament scriptures that tell us “what righteousness is”. 

To  become Righteous,  we must set our face like flint to seek, love and obey the will of the Lord.  May we become the vessels He can use.

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Abraham and Noah: Righteousness in truth

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Righteousness;   We are told to serve it, follow it, seek it but in the life of Abraham we get to the truth of it.

Abraham believed the unbelievable. That is what gives us our Righteousness, the belief that God can fulfill His promises.   

For some reason it is pretty easy to believe in Salvation.   We believe the Holy Spirit resides within us, but in truth, we don’t want to let Him be God.

We are satisfied with the occasional miracle or healing.  Knowing how or what to do in a certain situations.   When we really  need to learn to, depend on, respond to and walk in the will and ways of the Lord.

Abram walked with the Lord for many years, knew the Lord and His ways.   When he asked the Lord a question,  he knew the Lord would not lie.  He believed the Lord and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  (because he believed God is able).

Romans 4:21-23
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;   (but so we would believe also).

Galatians 3:6
 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Hebrews 7:2
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (Melchizedek,  some say Jesus, who is our Righteousness,  Peace and joy in the Holy Ghost).

James 2:23
 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

2 Peter 2:5
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Righteousness comes to us by the simple act of believing the impossible. Abraham and Noah, both believed the impossible.  Noah preached the impossible.

Things that had never happened before.  We need to believe also.

 Not just in Salvation,  but provision, protection, direction, healing, miracles,  the peace and comfort of thd Holy Spirit.

The simple fact that “we are the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.”

 Lord help us to follow/seek you, believe you and serve you, all the days of our life.

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Follow/Seek Righteousness

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We need to follow after/seek righteousness:

1 Timothy 6:11-12
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Matthew 5:6
 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

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

1 Corinthians 15:34
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We need to study the word, be instructed in righteousness.

Follow/Seek: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called,

Hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness,  to see His Kingdom in Power and Might of the Holy Spirit.

Righteousness is a fruit: We need to allow the fruit of the Spirit room  grow in our lives.   

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

Ephesians 5:9
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Philippians 1:11
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

James 3:18
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Hebrews 12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Sometimes God needs to chastise those He loves who are on the wrong trrack.  When you recognize your sin, be quick to turn around, repent and confess.  He is quick to forgive.

 If we will simply study His word, walk in His ways, hearken unto His voice. …Be obedient children. ..honestly desiring to please Him.

He promises to be with us, never leave or forsake us. We will have the victory over the evil one and souls will be won to the Lord.

Lord help us to be obedient children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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