becoming a useful vessel

Why sin abounds : The Fix-it Shop

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In reading and teaching the Old Testament,  some things really cause me to scratch my head.   In Deuteronomy we find the Lord commanding the Hebrews to destroy all the nations in the promised land.

Joshua brought them in and secured a foothold but they hadn’t yet conquered all.  Which brings us to the book of Judges. The first question in Judges is:  ” Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?”

The answer was Judah,  (Praise).  “ Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.”

If my reading of chapter 1 is correct,  Judah destroyed the Canaanites in most places :   ” And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.”

Do you wonder today, why we don’t see the victory?  

I believe the Lord has chosen Praise to lead us to victory,  some of us refuse to employ it.  We won’t allow the simple Worship of singing the Word to lift their hearts and minds above the problems of the day into the promise of tomorrow.

Praise gave the victory but not totally.   Praise could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, they had chariots of iron.

What does this mean?

The chariots of iron, are those things we refuse to give up to the Lord.  Those peculiar things we love more than Him.  Our secret sin.  The parts of our past we continue to feed.

To attain total victory we must learn to Praise….quote the Word to the Word, Moses knew to remind the Lord of His promises.   Sing unto the Lord, lose yourself in Worship.   Discover the Lord inhabits the Praise of His people.

Then giving up that which hinders our walk will be easier.   Still a trial but total surrender will bring total victory.   At least for today.  Unfortunately tomorrow will have its own battles.

Lord, help us to understand and walk in Your victory.

Thanks for visiting, blessings;
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote.

The Eyes of the Lord – The Filling Station

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”

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“And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Yes Lord,  please help me to follow You.

 

Thanks for visiting, blessings;
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Drawn to or Driven from – The Fix-it Shop

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Are people Drawn to or Driven from:

         – The Church
         – The Gospel
         – The Godhead
         – The Faith
         – Jesus

Why is my church not growing?  Where is everyone?  Why is the church up the street growing?  What is wrong with my church?   Why are we driving people from our midst?

Are they offended by  the Joy of the Lord?
    I don’t think so, there is too little Joy.
Are they afraid of the Power of the God?
    I don’t think so, there is so little Power.
Is the problem the Love of the Lord?
    I don’t think so, we do not practice His Love.
It must be Gods Mercy and Grace?
    You think?   Are we Merciful?   Do we display Grace?

Are we as Preachers, really teaching or do we just preach?

” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Even with this blog, I find myself preaching more than teaching.   We need to admonish in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs…..singing and memorizing the Word of God.

We can find and share the Love of the Lord as we sing of His Glory.

The steps of a good man. …
He that dwelleth in the secret place…
Give ear to my words, oh Lord…
The Lord God is a sun and shield. …
I will sing unto the Lord. …
We are a chosen generation. …
I love You Lord, and I lift my voice….

Singing the Word of God has helped me memorize scriptures, find my way out of depression,  understand the Promise of God.

It is hard to condemn when singing of Gods love and grace.   We need to learn how to share His Love in song.

Thanks for visiting, blessings;
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote.

How long are ye slack – The Fix-it Shop

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“How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?”

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The body of Christ, Christians, believers. …Listen up….I believe He is talking to us today.   We have gladly accepted Salvation,  Mercy and Grace.  We practice giving, ministry and prayer.

The Church, (for the most part), lacks real power.  Most churches are not being added to daily,  we aren’t in one accord, in thanksgiving, praise or Prayer.

If the Word states one thing and the Doctrine of our sect dosn’t agree, we follow our Doctrine instead of the Word. 

God gave us the Word,  man has interpreted the meaning….we need to know it individually, ourselves, study, so you can readily recognize error.   We are responsible for our own walk. 

It is not the Pastors job to make you eat, he only leads you to green pastures,  still waters, the place to restore your soul.

I  firmly believe the Gifts of the Spirit are the Talents the Master left and instead of investing in the use of same, most of the body has buried them.

Pray that the Lord reveals the gift He would have you exercise.   Make sure it lines up with the Word, step out in faith, stand fast and see the Salvation of God.

He promises to give us anything we ask….are we asking for the right things…we need to look to the Spiritual instead of the earthly.  Pray the prayers of Paul for your Pastor, leaders, your Church. 

Expect the Lord to answer your prayers.   This is the will of God,  that you would be perfect and complete in Him, that your wisdom and understanding of Him would be opened. That you would share His Gospel with success.

Thanks for visiting, blessings;
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote.

I wholly followed the Lord my God. – The Fix-it Shop

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I shall drive them out.

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Caleb’s faith…one of the two spies that encouraged the Hebrews to take the promised land.  Forty-five years later, at 85 finally is promised his inheritance in the promised land.

” I am this day fourscore and five years old.

As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

This is faith:  At 85 going to do the Lords bidding. “I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

Still strong, able to fight, willing to fight.

Why?

” I wholly followed the Lord my God.”

If we would learn to wholly follow the Lord,  we could be doing great exploits, seeing the miracles, signs and wonders following us.

What is it that holds you back?   There must be something hindering us in only believing.  Something that gets in the way of simple child like faith.

” Except ye be converted, and become as little children, “

We need to trust like our children trust….just relie on the Father.

Lord, help me to trust in You.

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” Lord, my heart is not haughty,” – The Fix-it Shop

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Psalm 131
King James Version (KJV)
” Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.  Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.  Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever.”

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Lord, I do rest in You.  You tell me :  “Take no thought what you eat, drink or wear.”  Lord I am trying to do that but I  feel I must remind you, some bills were due the 20th,  others come due the 1st of next month.

You may not ever be late….but I am.  I know the trying of my faith worketh patience.   I  am waiting and walking in You,  I  trust You will not leave me wanting.  You are my Shepherd,  I shall not want.

So I  thank You for Your Mercy, Love and Provision in Jesus name.  Thank you for the work we need. Amen

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For Joshua drew not his hand back, – The Fix-it Shop

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For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

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I don’t know about you but I have a sin that easily besets me.   It is a part of me that I  cannot give to the Lord, though I long to.  Like Paul I cry for the Lords deliverance,  no joy.

The problem is I haven’t utterly destroyed the sin nature within.   Romans 12 tells us how:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Reasonable service, renewing our minds, be transformed.  

We need to let the Lord do His work by doing our reasonable service.

” For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Do I have the faith to change into His image. …not unless I do the reasonable thing.  Study, renew my mind, be transformed by Gods Word and Spirit.   No longer be conformed to this world,  think, pray live for the Eternal.

We need to not draw back our hand, till the old man is utterly destroyed.  Set your face like flint to seek Him.

Lord, help us to draw closer to You…

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“Israel could not stand before their enemies,” – The Filling Station

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Israel hath sinned,

Joshua is now leading the Hebrews into the promised land.    Jericho has fallen by the miracle power of God.  Spies have checked out AI and recommended a small force, 3,000 men could defeat them.

The Warriors of AI ran the Hebrews all the way home….defeated.

Joshua fell on his face:  Lord, why bring us into the land to be defeated.   Our enimies will be empowered to come against us.

The Lords answer:  “Get up, Israel hath sinned, they have even taken of the accursed thing,”

” Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow:”

Someone had taken that which The Lord had said was His.   They would never win another battle till this was settled.

The man was found:  ” Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:”

” Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.”

All Achan had and loved, were stoned to death and stones heaped upon them, so all would understand the need for obedience.

Pretty brutal, right?

Today, because of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus,  we no longer are condemned to death because of sin or disobedience.  Jesus’s death and blood covers those who love and accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Those who accept Jesus as Lord are saved from sin and death, covered by His blood.

We are still sinners but when God sees us, His Son stands between us, He suffered so we wouldn’t.

Now it is our job to overcome the evil in our lives by accepting the Holy Spirits direction,  comfort and peace.  Repenting of the things that are not pleasing to a perfect God, turning from them and to God.

Find and access the peace that passes understanding.   Wallow in His Love.  Accept His Forgiveness.

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Why Mother Goose – The Filling Station

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Mother Goose :

Have you ever wondered why the Goose got the title Mother Goose?

When we moved into our home 10 years ago, the small ponds at the entrance to our development had about 20 ducks and 5 geese.

Soon there were 2 baby geese, we would see them wondering around much like the picture above.

Then one of the babies was gone.  (?).

Things changed :

The only time we saw the remaining baby he was surrounded by adult geese.  The formed a protective circle around him, wherever he went.

The Grimm brothers must have seen this. (If it was them that named her?).

It reminds me of the Levites, wondering in the desert all those years.  Their job was to protect the Tabernacle from any strangers.  

With orders to kill any strangers that approached the holy thing.

We today should be protecting the Word in our hearts.  Knowing, loving and hiding it…sharing it….not allowing anything to degrade or destroy what we love.

Knowing it well enough to say thus saith the Lord…

Recognizing the truth.  Rebuking the lies.  The Word is.

Lord help us to know, believe and share the truth of Your Gospel.   May others come to love you through our witness.

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the eyes of them both were opened, – The Fix-it Shop

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“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked;”

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This scripure is from Genesis 3….the fall of man, when he realized he was a sinner.

This blog has been written primarily to Believers, in hopes of inspiring them to a closer walk with the Lord.  I  have assumed a certain basic knowledge of the Word from my readers.

What of those who stumble across it, and just think it is religion, they haven’t experienced or recognized, the gentle knock at their hearts, of the Lord.

They may believe, believers to be weak, in need of a crutch….not as strong or intelligent as they.   Somehow less….

They have not recognized their nakedness.   Their eyes have not been opened.  

When I was first saved, I would almost beat them with the Word. 

As I realized people avoided and rejected me, I backed off till they didn’t recognize  I was a believer.  I  wasn’t showing Christ at all.

Failure on both counts.

I have learned, it is not my job to save them.  It is Christ, in me, the hope of glory.  My job is to sow, water and if I am blessed reap. 

I must walk worthy of His high calling.   Honest, upright,  loving, giving, caring.  Be different from the world, gracious, understanding, welcoming.  Willing to lead and teach.

Jesus wasn’t religious, He ate with publicans and sinners.  He did not share in their sin but showed them a more excellent way.

It is Gods job to open their eyes and our job, to show the more excellent way.

Lord, help us to recognize our part of Your plan.  To obey and realize You said, “it is finished “…..

We must rest in You as You bring people to Yourself by the Spirit, through our lives.

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He hath not dealt with us after our sins; The Filling Station

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“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.   As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.”

I often need to remind myself how wonderful and forgiving is our God.  The good I  would, I don’t.  The wicked thoughts, imaginations and yes sometimes actions, I do.

Why is He so gracious, so giving and forgiving?

” But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”

For many years I lived, unaware of His love and grace, did not know His mercy, compassion or peace.  My parents and especially my Dads parents were good Catholics.

They would kneel in their living room and pray,  while Mass was on the radio daily.   Yet, I  don’t believe they knew the Lord.

I came out from under the curse, when I  met the Lord.  I read in the OT,  the blessings upon Esau and Lots decendants and realize the blessing that is upon my daughter, because I love the Lord.

Yes, I  am greatly blessed and my family is also. As long as they stay under the umbrella of Gods love.  Esau and Lots decendants lost their protection when they attacked Gods people instead of living in peace with them.

So my advice to those who love Him is:

” Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.”

Thank the Lord,  thank the Lord and thank the Lord.  Bless Him with Praise and thanksgiving.   Sing unto the Lord a new song.  Lift your hands, heart and soul to Worship the King.

I and we deserved nothing and He has given us all.

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Withal praying also for us, – The Fix-it Shop

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” Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ,   That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”

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When we ask for prayer, should this not be at the top of our requests?   Are we effective witnesses for Christ?   If we prayed this simple prayer would we become bold?  Would we find hearts opening to receive His love?

Will anyone pray this prayer for me?   Do you want it prayed for you?

Please advise.

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This I recall to my mind, : The Fix-it Shop

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Lamentations 3:21-23
King James Version (KJV)
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

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What I recall of my teenaged years is not pleasent.  I was rebellious,  drunk or stoned, as often as possible.   School was a trial,  work was better, free time, I don’t remember much.

My mother was afflicted with arthritis from her late thirties onward.   I’m pretty sure that during my teenage years she was high on pills to relieve her pain.  She didn’t complain.

I know I was loved, even in the midst of rebellion.   It troubles me now that I had little thought,  care or compassion for her or anyone else. 

The last time she visited here, I would be upset when she didn’t want to move….do things,  be with me while I played piano at Snug Harbor. (She was nearly 90) and in pain.

I  still didn’t understand pain.

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

I still  didn’t have mercy or compassion,  I am not a nice person.   I have not learned to put others first.  Thank you Jesus, that Your mercy is new every morning.

I must remind myself;   I am a child of God, not because I am so good.   He is.   God is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Lord, help me to seek Your face, to understand Your love and compassion.   Help me to see with Your eyes,  know Your heart,  do Your will.  Thank You.

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Do we understand how to pray? The Filling Station

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As a Believer, for over 35 years, I have listened to many public prayers.  We pray for health,  finance, marriage, jobs, peace.  All wonderful things to pray about. 

As we look at the prayers of Paul, we see something totally different.

” First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, “
“without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;”

” That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

” Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.  Let all your things be done with charity.”

” Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. ”

” I Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

”  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”

” That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

” Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ,   That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”

 “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.”

” Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”

” Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

…………….

If you would like this prayer, prayed for you daily.  Leave a comment and I will pray it for you.  Please pray it for me.

Let’s try it for a month and compare notes. 

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One of you, a Servant of Christ : The Filling Station

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What is a Servant of Christ?   Do we meet the qualifications?  Do you believe Paul would consider you, me or any other believer a Servant of Christ?

Paul, James and Jude called themselves Servants of God or Christ and we find Paul naming the Colossians and especially Epaphras as Servants of Christ.

First, Epaphras labors fervently for the Colossians in prayers.   Paul goes on record that he:  ” hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.”

His (Epaphras), prayer for them is: ” that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

Is that how we pray for one another?   Not hardly.   We don’t even pray that prayer for ourselves,  though we should.

Secondly :  Paul called Epaphras a faithful minister to the Colossians who told them of Christ and told him of their love in the Spirit.

” For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

” Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;   Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

Because Epaphras had a great love (Zeal), for the people and a good report of their love for Christ.  Paul prayed continually, without ceasing for them.
     *   to be filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
     *   that they would walk worthy of the Lord, fruitful, pleasing in every good work,  increasing in knowledge of God.
     *   Strengthened  unto longsuffering,  patience and joyfulness.
     *   Giving thanks to the Father

This is how we must learn to pray for one another.   For the Spiritual not the temporal.  For that which will effect us forever.

Lord, please help us to walk worthy of you in all that we do.

..

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WHAT WAS THE BIBLES EXPIRATION DATE?

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The solution to the problem is faith.

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It seems to me, a lot of churches have put  expiration dates on parts of the Bible.

Miracles, signs and wonders, revelations from God; all expired with the last of the Apostles.  (Until the new improved message,  arrived).

Jonah and the big fish died the same time as the tooth fairy. David and Goliath,  Noah and the flood, Samson,  Gideon, all just fables, stories for children. 

Morales, ethics, honesty, self-control,  self-respect,  self-reliance all expired,  dead, gone, buried.  Will they ever return?

Folks, when a large segment of the population, teaches their children it is OK  to abort, and not raise their little sister or brother; or that Heather has two mommies; or let’s go visit daddy in prison;   do not be surprised when they set fire to the cat.

What we have allowed to happen to our country and churches, will continue.

Our churches, like our politicians. …are empty suits.  All…

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Set your hearts: The Fix-it Shop

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Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day;

I’ve not been in the Word or Prayer much the last month or so.  The Easter rush for piano tuning, company and Arthurs flare up, have distracted me from the important.

Martin Luther on his next days plans, said:
“Work, work, work, from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

If I could only hold to prayer first, last and during I could become an overcomer.  To him that overcomes:

” He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

Plus many other promises. ..so why is it so hard to focus when your busy or in pain?  Not sure, but am determined to get back into the swing of things.

Thanks for dropping by, hope to start regular posts soon.

Blessings

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Prayer that will be Answered : The Filling Station

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We all want our prayers to be heard and answered.  The disciples asked Jesus to :Teach us to pray”.

So here we are repeating Jesus’s words and ignoring the meaning.  Not understanding what Jesus was saying.  He was teaching how to pray, not a prayer.   I covered this in “Lord, teach us to pray”

If we would look at 2 Samuel 7, we find King David longing to build the Lord a house, to replace the tent of Tabernacle.  Nathan the Prophet said “Go ahead the Lord is with you.”

That night the Lord came to Nathan and said: No…tell David: ” Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?”

David was a man after Gods own heart, the Lord was with him from the sheep to this time of rest as King.  David was a warrior and therefore not worthy to build the Lords house.

Solomon, Davids son would have that honor.
” But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.   And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”

The promise to generations yet to come.  David then prays:

“Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?   And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?   And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant.”

(Our Father, who art in heaven,  hallowed be Thy Name, forgive me as I have forgiven )

“And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.”

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

” For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.  Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

(Give us this day our daily bread,)

“For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.  And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.”

(Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil….more praise )

It not the Words of the Lords prayer….it is the submission, devotion,  love that we are to emulate. If we could learn this our prayers would be answered.

Praise, thanksgiving,  submission, devotion,  more praise….

Not my will….

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Be strong and of good courage : The Filling Station

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“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

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The Lord sent this message in various forms to Joshua 7 times, 6 of them prior to crossing into the promised land.

I am not a man who gets a lot of visions or dreams but a few years ago I dreamed someone was carjacking me.  I woke up beating the clothes in my closet, with my reading lamp.

I was not letting someone steal from me.  This is the point the Lord was making to Joshua and His people.

They had been at this spot 38 years before.

It had taken them two years after crossing the Red Sea to learn how to serve the Lord.  They had built the tools, symbols, utensils  for Worship.  The Tabernacle was completed.  The Lords presence was there.   They had followed the tribe of Judah,  (Praise), as the Lord led.

The Lord said:  “ Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.”

They were ready, cross the Jordan, take the promised land.  He had given them a promise:

Deuteronomy 7
“When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, (He names them), seven nations greater and mightier than thou;  And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:”

The Lord promised to destroy the 7 Nations that inhabited the promised land.  They send in the 12 spies and an evil heart of unbelief, overtook them,  (they couldn’t believe Joshua and Caleb’s good report); and sentenced themselves to 38 more years, wondering.

So the Lord encouraged Joshua and the people 7 times.  ” Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

” for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
“go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn  to give them;.”
” bring the children of Israel into the land: and I will be with thee.”
” thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware to give them.”
“Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, shall be put to death: “
” for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”
 
All these promises began or ended with:  “Be strong and of good courage “.

Today as we leave behind this body of sin and death, the Lord has promised to cast out the many Nations that have inhabited our promised land.

These may well be the 7 deadly sins:

Proverbs 6:
” These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,   An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,   A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Like the 7 Nations, the Lord will destroy these sins, if we smite them,  don’t let them linger and grow, we must show no mercy……cut them off.  Quit entertaining them. 

As we walk in the Promise of Salvation,  we must gain the victory over sin, with His help.  We cannot do it ourselves and He won’t do it with out our participation. 

So:  “Be strong and of good courage “.

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The Blessing of Judah 2: – The Fix-it Shop

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Deuteronomy 33.
” this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.”

The Lord will hear the voice of Praise.
        Judah led in the desert. …Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah…Judah means Praise.
Bring Praise back to the people. …
         The church needs to relearn Praise.  Make a joyful noise…enter His gates with.           
           thanksgiving and His courts with Praise.
Let his hands be sufficient and be a help with his enimies.
          As he is obedient to Your will, help, protect and provide.

This is the blessing to those who Praise. Claim it today by lifting your hearts to the Lord.  Love Him, obey Him, learn to sing, play and Worship,  beginning with Praise.

 
       

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