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.

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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”.

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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,
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

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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;)”

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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

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.

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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!!!

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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.”

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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?

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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

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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.

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

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

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

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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As for me, I shall be satisfied: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

What will cause you to be satisfied?  A raise?  A new job?  Admiration or respect of your peers?

A bigger house,  a new car, a different significant other?

Not one or all of these things will satisfy.  None of these things will change who or what we are inside.

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Measure of Faith vrs Full of the Spirit : – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Romans 12:3. Tells us God gives everyone a Measure of Faith.   We choose to activate it when we repent, confess and accept Jesus as both Lord and Savior.

Then it is up to us to increase, to build up the Faith we have received.   We do this by reading the Word, by stepping out in that Faith, sharing the Love and Grace, (Gods unmerited Forgiveness and Favor, Salvation).

James 2:26 
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

For Faith is not passive but demands action.

Jude 1:20
King James Version (KJV)
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Praying in the Holy Ghost or Spirit,  that my friend is Praying in Tongues. ..This is where being Filled with the Spirit comes in.

The Lord doesn’t  appear to give a measure of the Holy Spirit :   He certainly filled Jesus.

John 3:34
King James Version (KJV)
“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”

When  we receive the Lord we receive the Spirit in Full,  someone came up with what we have called  the Baptism of the Holy Spirit,  with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

I  have thought of it this way for over 30 years, the Baptism of the Spirit as a second blessing.  An immersion into and of Gods Spirit.

 Always hearing those who don’t speak in tongues arguing,  if I  didn’t have the Holy Spirit,  I couldn’t have been saved.

Peter and Paul both asked:  “Have you received the Holy Spirit  since you’ve believed? “

They then prayed :

Acts 2:4
King James Version (KJV)
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Some point out speaking in tongues is not always mentioned,  true;  but it is not ruled out either.

Paul encouraged us to be filled with the Spirit :

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