Asa’s heart was perfect: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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As a comment to my post:  “In the time of his old age:”  my friend “janjoy52” commented:

“2 Chronicles 16 said Asa went to a foreign king to pay for helping rid Israel’s army. God sent His prophet to say if He handled Asa’s enemies before who were greater in number than Israel’s army why did he seek another (foreign) king and not Him in his distress. Asa rejected God’s word, punished and jailed God’s prophet. Then, the Bible points out, even with his painful feet Asa refused to ask for God’s help.”

She is absolutely correct, so how can the word tell us in 2 places that:

1 Kings 15:11-24
King James Version (KJV)
“And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.”

“But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.”

2 Chronicles 14:2
King James Version (KJV)
“And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:”

2 Chronicles 15:17
King James Version (KJV)
“But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.”

The answer is in the same verses.   “The high places were not taken away out of Israel:”

Solomon, did the same thing (  “The high places were not taken away out of Israel:“), and the scriptures clearly tell us:

1 Kings 11:4
“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”

How could this be?  The same failure in both men, one, the wisest man the world has known. 

One heart turned, the other didn’t.  (Too many wives, I’d guess… lol… that’s what it says).

I know in my own life, when the Lord came into my life, I was delievered from this body of sin and death.

He immediately delivered me from addiction from nicotine, alcohol, and other bad habits.  I no longer craved these things.

12 years later… I decided a cigar would taste good.  It did.  I was addicted again for 18 years.

I loved the Lord, but I was knowingly doing something that He had delivered me from, that I knew He didn’t approve of.

I fought for years to quit, it took a time of prayer and fasting to be delivered, smoke free again, for 6 years, this time.

So, the truth is sin seperates us from God, but it may be, that it is not a sin unto death. 

The only sin that we can not be forgiven is not allowing Jesus to be our Savior and King.

Matthew 12:31-32
King James Version (KJV)
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

John 8:24
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

1 John 5:15-17
King James Version (KJV)
“And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”

I love the Lord, I sin differently, daily… but I ask the Lords forgiveness when I realize the state I am in.

We must know how to repent.  We must take responsibility, and not blame, “that women that You gave me.”

I believe if Adam had known repentance, God, Jesus, would never have had to sacrifice Himself to Jehovah, the Lord because the Lord forgives the contrite heart.

Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Psalm 51:17
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Learn to repent, to turn towards God and away from your sin, keep:  A heart this is perfect all your days. 

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I’ll look for you in heaven.  

In the time of his old age: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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“Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.”

Is it crazy for me, to receive comfort and joy, from this scripture from 1 Kings 15? 

I know it doesn’t make sense, unless you’re an old guy who loves the Lord, and your feet hurt from arthritis.  (Yeah, that’s me.)

It’s not the fact, that someone had painful feet, that gives me joy, but, who had them.

“And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.”

A Godly man, of the lineage of David.  He was a good King.  With diseased feet, how could this be?

Here is another man of God:

In chapter 14 of 1 Kings, we find the Lord, giving a word to Ahijah, his prophet who could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

A prophet of God, who could not see?

Why are these Godly men afflicted?

How about this?  The prophecy to Jeroboam, a wicked King of Israel,  and his wife about their sick child.  All of his family will die, but… only the child shall be mourned.

1 Kings 14:12-13
“Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.

And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.”

All Israel will mourn for this baby for “in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel”

How can these things be? 

Psalm 135:6
“Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.”

My point?  Sickness, pain, troubles are not punishment from God, and may be allowed by God in our lives to test us and show the world, His love can give us the victory and conquer all our problems.

It is not important, the condition of this body.  My soul and heart, where are they.  Safe in the hands of Jesus, that is all that matters.

“Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord,”

What did he do?  Three things I will mention.

➙ As King, he stood against sin, in his country and removed it.

“he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.”

➙ As King, he stood against sin, in his family and removed it.

“his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.”

➙ More importantly, he had a perfect heart.

“Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.”

If you are desirous, to lead a life pleasing to God… first, remove the  sin from your life and from your presence, turn your heart to God and walk with Him.

So what if you’re blind or your feet hurt.  Love and Serve your Lord, Trust, Rely and Praise Him for His mighty works and grace.

Amen

Current Pictures of Old Love:

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Old Love for sale:  n scale model train, ect
paper models, track and road bed, all used.

foliage, trees grass, rocks, e-z water, some people, animals and cemetery never opened.

3 transformers

train.  2 dummy engines one dead.
6 misc cars, some just good for parts
4 brand new Amtrak cars, with one new engine.
6 Pennsylvania passenger cars one new engine.
3 Bachman plus passenger, Pennsylvania cars, one new engine.
1 new, misc. engine

box of misc. parts and small pieces of track, small box of used tress, ect.

As you can probably guess, I had bigger plans than available space, time and energy.

No clue on price…  if interested please reply in comments with phone or e-mail.  Or call, 252-726-7905

Thanks,
Bill

My Prayer

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Psalm 139:1-4
“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.”

Lord,
I shutter in fear and shame, when I realize You have seached me, and known me.  That You know what I’ve done and what I will do.

You understand my most secret and sin-full thoughts, my doubts, my fears, my lusts, my anger, and my pain.

I cry.  Knowing You  love me, even while You know the worst of me. 

I will never understand, Your mercy and grace.  I am, at peace, in Your love.

I long to lead the lost to Your throne, that they should receive Your mercy and grace in their times of need.

I desire Your Holy Spirit to comfort the broken hearted and heal the hurting.

I long to Praise and Worship You, in Spirit and in truth, 

Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Lord,
Lead and guide me, protect me, from the wickedness that still lies within.

Clean my heart, renew my mind by the washing of Your Word.  Return to me the joy of Thy Salvation, let not my slothful ways cause me to stray.

The path to the Holy of Holies, is the way I will walk. 

I seek Your face, Your love fills my heart.

I tremble in fear, for I know Lord, You’re near.

Lord, hear my cry, supply all my needs.

My deepest desire, is to love you my King, my Lord, and Most High. 

I would that my actions, my thoughts, and the words of my testimony, all please You.

Protect us O’ Lord from those who would flesse us, and cause us pain.

Amen

old love for sale

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote hobby, model trains

https://theunfetteredpreacher.com/2016/02/01/an-old-love-remembered-the-fix-it-shop-filling-station/

“n scale” model train accessories for sale.  Engines, train cars, track, buildings, trees, ect.  If interested please call 252-726-7905, can send pictures.

follow link for pictures

Are we Full Of Faith? Or Excuses?: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Faith, Trust and Obedience the legs upon which we rest, our Christian Doctrine. 

Is our life full of Faith and Power?  Do we really trust and obey?

Or do we live a life of excuses, explaining why the Lord doesn’t answer our prayers?

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Sometimes the answers seem far away, through a dark place, it’s scary and we try to comfort. 

We attempt to explain the workings of God.

We give Excuses for Gods, seemingly non-action.  He didn’t answer my prayer, there must be a reason. 

“If I’m not healed today,  I know that when I shut my eyes in death, I will be healed in heaven”.

“If it be Thy will, Oh Lord.”

“I know I will be healed in Gods time.”

Jesus gave two answers, when His Diciples asked:
“Why could not we cast him (the evil spirit), out?”

Jesus answered:
“Because of your unbelief:”
“This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Lack of Faith, and fasting and prayer.

We are all given a measure of Faith. 

1 Samuel 2:35a
“And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind:”

To become that Faithful priest, we must build our Faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20).  By reading, memorizing, meditating, speaking and hearing the Word of God.  (Romans 10:17)

Fasting and Prayer also builds our Faith, by drawing us closer to God.  He sees our desire to have more of Him, He understands we are serious.  He rewards those who diligently seek Him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

Our unbelief is the major reson for un-answered prayer.

“He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

“He marvelled because of their unbelief.”

“He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart,”

He said of Abraham:

“being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead,”

“being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
(Romans 4) 

Are we fully persuaded?

Abraham believed God and it was counted to him, as righteousness. (Romans 4:3)

We must avoid the “evil heart of unbelief.”

Hebrews 3:12
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,”

“They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.”  (Hebrews 3)

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

“So we see that they could not enter in (to His rest), because of unbelief.”

We must believe. 

Jesus healed all that were afflicted, when they came to Him.  Not later, it didn’t take time, He did it NOW, TODAY.  He said we would do this and more.

Both the Faith of one praying, and the one needing prayer can be a reason for healing, or lack thereof.

Acts 14:8-10
King James Version (KJV)
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.”

The one seeking healing must have Faith and the one praying must be bold, full of Faith and able to speak and  pray an effectual fervent prayer.
(James 5:16)

This is complicated by the fact that God, although always there, sometimes tests us.  We cannot always sense His Presence.

Song of Solomon 5:6
King James Version (KJV)
“I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.”

Lamentations 3:8
King James Version (KJV)
“Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.”

Lamentations 3:44
King James Version (KJV)
“Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.”

He is testing us.  We must continue to seek His face.  How badly do we need and want Him.

Lamentations 3:26
King James Version (KJV)
“The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:40-41
King James Version (KJV)
“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.   Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”

We also need to realize that God can and does what He pleases.  Godly people can be sick for Gods reasons.

Philippians 2:13
King James Version (KJV)
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:27
King James Version (KJV)
“For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”  (Speaking of Timothy)

We must learn, in everything to give thanks.

Do not give excuses for Gods lack of action, they are not Biblical. 

If you do not see the answer you would like, continue to lift it to the Lord, in thanksgiving and prayer.

Our job is to believe and act on that belief.  It is up to God to comfort those we pray for. 

We should not try to explain.  We have no idea what He is doing in their lives. 

SO DO NOT, GIVE EXCUSES FOR THE LORD NOT ANSWERING YOUR PRAYER.

It is between them and God, teach them to seek His face.

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He may be doing a more important work, within them. Trust and Obey.  

Lord help us please, to have Faith in You.  Amen

The Isolated (dying) Church: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

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Why are our Churches dying?  Too many of them are closed (isolated), systems. 

The Baptists only listen to and learn from other Baptists. 

Methodists with Methdists, ect… 

We stay within our Denominations and Doctrines.

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Or worse, the only teaching our Church receives is from it’s Pastor.  (No guest speakers, teachers, other voices).

This is somewhat understandable.

Our Pastors, are mandated, by God to lead and grow the flock.   It is an awesome responsibility.  They must guard against error. 

Unfortunately, that can squelch growth in the knowledge of, and the working of, the Spirit.

A healthy Church us one that is growing in Wisdom and Knowledge, always moving closer to Godly principles, desires and Gods power. 

(Sorry, Jesus healed all that were afflicted, multitudes flocked to Him, is He present in your services?  Are people yearning to learn?  Is the Holy Spirit changing lives?)

If your Church isn’t growing, the people are not receiving the food, needed for growth.

Is your church an isolated system?

The internal energy of an isolated system stays constant.   The entropy of an isolated system tends to increase.

If we don’t allow new Biblical revelation to be explored, if all we can share is:

“This is what I’ve been taught, and by God, that’s all there is.  That is all we need.”

We are starving ourselves, and our flocks,  we are not allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to lead.

Sadly, our church is not receiving the meat of the word.  We must always seek more of God, expect His Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth.

Luther, the Wesleys, Billy Graham,  like the Pope, did not and do not have all spiritual knowledge.

We all see through a glass darkly, only the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to truth and then, only when we allow the light of truth into our lives.

We need to constantly challenge our faith, grow in our faith, allow other points of view, into our Chuches, ask the hard questions of our Pastors, teachers, always comparing what we hear, to the Word, to see if it is true.

It is our responsibility to study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

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Saints, a closed system is a stagnant system.  It is impossible to grow and florish.  We as individuals, need to go to Church to grow, our Churches need to be open to Biblical Revelation for growth.

Our Church needs to be an open system, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth.

Lord, open the eyes of our hearts.  Amen