Ye are my witnesses:  Neglected Caroline -theunfetteredpreacher

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote Walking with God

Ye are my witnesses:  Why?

Isaiah: 43:10-11

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.     I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”


Isaiah: 41. 10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. – Bible Offline

Isaiah: 41. 13. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. – Bible Offline

Isaiah: 41. 17. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: 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. – Bible Offline

Open thou mine eyes;  theunfetteredpreacher 

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Psalm: 119. 18.
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

Saints, the Lord has been silent in my life, now for many days. I have many posts started, and no inspiration to complete them.

The Word of the Lord, has stirred my heart, but not to fulfillment.

My prayer is that the Lord would open a door of utterance. I seek a pulpit, a place to share the Lords love and grace.

I stand believing signs and wonders will follow. As the Word is proclaimed.

No Commentaries, No daily verses, No book of Discipline, No Lectionary, just the Word.

If we run into something we don’t understand, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct.

We must learn to Trust and Rely on Him and His Word. We must take up His yoke, and walk with Him.

Then our eyes will be opened, and His Word will be alive.

Thank You, Jesus… Amen..

Set thine house in order; theunfetteredpreacher

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There came a time, when Isaiah brought news to Hezekiah. 

2 Kings 20

“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said,  Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.”

It is interesting the way Hezekiah handled the news.  Did he complain and mope?  Did he just accept the Word of the Lord?   NO:

“Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,”

We need to learn, our first response should be turning from our troubles, and turning to the Lord.

Pay attention to what he prayed.  He reminds the Lord of his devotion. 

“I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.”

Like Moses, he reminds the Lord of their past relationship.  With weeping.  He allowed his emotions into his prayer, he was real.

Isaiah didn’t get very far, he had to bring another word from the Lord to Hezekiah. 

It is interesting to note, Hezekiah had powerful prayers, prayers that moved the Lord.  Hezekiah didn’t receive the Lords answers himself. 

“And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him,”

When we allow ourselves to pray, in groanings that cannot be uttered,  when we allow our Spirit to speak directly to the Lord…  He shows us His will.

“Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.”

He doesn’t stop there, He goes to the heart of the matter.

“And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.”

He gave directions for a healing poltus…  Isn’t it just like us, we want more.  We want confirmation. 

And Hezekiah said,  “What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?“

Isaiah said, “This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forth ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?  And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.”

Ask for the impossible,  seek that which is beyond our grasp, expect the Lord to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask, think or even image. 

“Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.”

After this, Hezekiah foolishly showed all the kingdoms treasures to strangers from Babylon. 

Isaiah said:  “Hear the word of the Lord.

Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

This is really bad news.  Sadly, Hezekiah answered:  “Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?”

Who cares what happens to my people and children, as long as peace reigns in my time.

A sad end to a once great king.

Bible Integrity :  theunfetteredpreacher 

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I may be the last one on the block to know this, but just in case….  Here goes.

I have not been a KJV only person. I often use the Amplified or Expanded Version when seeking clarification of a difficult to understand verse.

Those versions seem to be OK, but other favorite Versions are a problem.   

Including: NIV, RSV, NAMES OF GOD Version , PHILLIPS Version and more.

Please check your version against the KJV especially if you use an electronic Bible as I do.

These versions leave out verses.  Below find first and last verses parallel versions KJV and NIV.

Both interesting and scary.   John 3:16,17 we find complete, the other verses not so much.

 John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved(A) the world that he gave(B) his one and only Son,(C) that whoever believes(D) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(E)

Jump to : | Luke 9:55-56 | Matthew 17:21 | Matthew 18:11 | Matthew 23:14 | Mark 7:16 | Mark 9:44 | Mark 9:46 | Luke 17:36 | Luke 23:17 | John 5:4 | Acts 8:37

Luke 9:55-56
King James Version (KJV)
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Luke 9:55-56
New International Version (NIV)
55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

Matthew 17:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 17:21

New International Version (NIV)
[21] [a]

Footnotes:

Matthew 17:21 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 9:29.

Matthew 18:11
King James Version (KJV)
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Matthew 18:11

New International Version (NIV)
[11] [a]

Footnotes:

Matthew 18:11 Some manuscripts include here the words of Luke 19:10.

Matthew 23:14
King James Version (KJV)
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Matthew 23:14

New International Version (NIV)
[14] [a]

Footnotes:

Matthew 23:14 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.

Mark 7:16
King James Version (KJV)
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 7:16
New International Version (NIV)
[16] [a]

Footnotes:

Mark 7:16 Some manuscripts include here the words of 4:23.

Mark 9:44
King James Version (KJV)
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:44

New International Version (NIV)
[44] [a]

Footnotes:

Mark 9:44 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.

Mark 9:46
King James Version (KJV)
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:46

New International Version (NIV)
[46] [a]

Footnotes:

Mark 9:46 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.

Luke 17:36
King James Version (KJV)
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luke 17:36

New International Version (NIV)
[36] [a]

Footnotes:

Luke 17:36 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 24:40.

Luke 23:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

Luke 23:17

New International Version (NIV)
[17] [a]

Footnotes:

Luke 23:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.

John 5:4
King James Version (KJV)
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

John 5:4

New International Version (NIV)
[4] [a]

Footnotes:

John 5:4 Some manuscripts include here, wholly or in part, paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters. 4 From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.

Acts 8:37
King James Version (KJV)
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Acts 8:37

New International Version (NIV)
[37] [a]

Footnotes:

Acts 8:37 Some manuscripts include here Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Again one that is complete:

John 3:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:17

New International Version (NIV)
17 For God did not send his Son into the world(A) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(B)

I am disappointed in this and now even question the validity of the KJV…  Who knows what may have been changed during multiple Translations? 
This was from FB.

VERY CRITICAL ALERT!!!
Hello Christians!!
I’m sure you know that NIV Bible was published by Zondervan but is now owned by Harper Collins, who also published the SATANIC BIBLE.
The NIV Bible has now removed 64,575 words from the Bible including Jehovah, Calvary, Holy Ghost and Omnipotent to mention but a few.
The NIV Bible has also now remove 45 complete verses. Most of us have the Bible on our devices and phones. Try and find these Scriptures in NIV Bible on your computers, phones or any other device right now if you are in doubt.
Matthew 17:21, 18:11, 23:14;
Mark 7:16, 9:44, 9:46;
Luke 17:36, 23:17; John 5:4;
Acts 8:37……
You will not believe your eyes. Refuse to be blinded by satan and do not act like you just don’t care.
Let’s not forget what the Lord Jesus said in John 10:10 (KJV). “The thief (referring to Satan) comes but to kill, to steal and to destroy…)
SOLUTION:
If you must use the NIV Bible, BUY AND KEEP AN EARLIER VERSION of the Bible.
A hard copy cannot be updated. All these changes occur when they ask you to update the App on your phone or laptop, etc.
There is a crusade geared towards altering the Bible as we know it. NIV and many more versions are affected. by Robyn Lewis

A test of Faith:  theunfetteredpreacher 

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Hezekiah,  the King who prospered in all he put his hand, gets tested. (2 Kings 18-19)

The King of Assyria, who took Isreal into captivity. Attacked Judah, Hezekiah,  paid tribute…  took gold off the doors of the temple. 

Sent men out to seek peace.  The enemy, spoke the Hebrew dialect so the people on the wall would hear and understand. 

They remained silent,  as per Hezekiahs order, though their faith and Hezekiahs  faith faltered. 

The Assyrians, claiming more power than the Hebrews God.   Claimed the Lord would not save them.

Hezekiah,  in sackcloth and ashes, went to the Temple to seek God.  He sent his leaders to Isaiah the prophet. 

They said:  “Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

It may be the Lord thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.”

Isaiah answered:  “Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”

Yet, the word of the Prophet was still not enough.  Fear, despair, despondency rules in the land.

Assyria was involved in another war at home, Rabshakeh sent a message again to Judah.

“Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?

Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed;”

Hezekiah took this letter to the house of God, and laid it before Him, and prayed:   “O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.

Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,

And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.”

Isaiah sent Hezekiah the Lords answer…  “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.”

(Read the full answer in 2 Kings 19:21-33)

“Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.

By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord.

For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.”

So we find the end of the story.

“It came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.”

Hezekiah: 

~ “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord,
~ He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made:
~ he trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
~ For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.

~ And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.”

Lord help us to learn from Hezekiah…  Amen

None like him:  theunfetteredpreacher 

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2 Kings: 18:5

“He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.”

What a Testimony,  it’s right up there with David, the man after Gods heart, and Enoch and Noah, who walked with God, Levi, whom the Lord said walks with Me.

Do we really trust in the Lord God?  Is the Lord writing  that on our tombstone?   Probably not.

We don’t really exercise our faith, our lives are too  easy. Our troubles, usually caused by our own decisions.  Not from persecution, not because we stand strong for the Lord. 

We don’t have to fear not, only believe… for our daily bread, our rent, or clothing,  we have modern medicine keeping us alive and well.

These things all diminish our need, our reliance on God.   We can take it from here.

Until something happens to cause us to reach out.   An accident, an incurable decease,  our children in trouble.   

We call out then, and wonder at the hopelessness that haunts and freezes our souls, minds and hearts.

We need to turn back to the Lord.  Realize it is He who has allowed us to prosper, He who has granted us health, strength,  wisdom and peace.  

Not we ourselves,  we are just the sheep of His pasture. 

So who had this great testimony?   Hezekiah, the King of Judah.  It is said:

~ “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord”
~ “he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments”
~ “he trusted in the Lord God of Israel;”

The result:
~ “the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth:”

Saints,  I would like that on my tombstone. I would like that in my life.

I purpose in my heart to learn to walk in this revelation,  to do the right thing, to cling to the Lord, and not leave Him, to trust and Rely on Him and His Word.

To expect to be prosperous in the Work of the Kingdom.  To see souls saved, the sick healed, the brokenhearted comforted.

To live in the Will of God, to forsake my own desires, wanting only Him.

Lord, hear my prayer…  Amen