https://www.dropbox.com/s/odmld6z8iio180k/Piano.%20It%20Came%20Upon%20a%20Midnight%20%20clear.mp4?dl=0

Piano

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4n3vngwxiu4qwao/20161217_110837.mp4?dl=0

Piano, another try….  did it work?

The Blood of Bulls and goats:

Hebrews 10:4
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Throughout the Old Testament, man had to give up something meaningful, important, something that cost them.  

They had to sacrifice the best of their flock, from the time of the Passover, (to save their firstborn), to the yearly sacrifices to cleanse from sin.

So they, find themselves sanctified, set apart from the rest of the world, in the service of God, for a time.

That their sin, would be forgiven.

They had to keep making this sacrifice, giving of the best of their flock, to stay in right standing with God.

Seems crazy to the modern man, ridiculous, meaningless, even stupid.  To give up the best of what they had, to please an invisible God.

Why?  Sin.    What is SIN?   

There is no such thing as sin, if it feels good, do it, if it tastes good, eat it, if you like it, do it again.

I have my own standards, we don’t need a Fictional God, to tell me, right from wrong. 

Momma taught us, instilled in us morality, the Golden rule, and integrity….

Don’t you dare judge me….  

Really?  Look around you, how’s that working? 

If you believe in a higher power or not, can you not recognize the Decay, Destruction, and Danger that lies ahead?

The Police are now targets, the criminals, victims.  Illegal aliens,  and felons,  encouraged to vote, when our laws forbid it.

People, paid to riot, to change their votes, to disrupt, to overthrow the will of the people.

Every man doing what is right in his own eyes.  

Stop!  

This invisible, fictional character, (this God character), that, those of us, who believe, know as Jesus.  Is real. 

He was sent down by the Father above, to save the World from sin.  

That which is displeaseing to Him.  That, which we know in our hearts is wrong.  

It really is simple,  you see the glory of His creation, and deny the Creator. 

God has given every one of us, a measure of faith, to believe, if we would.  

Whosoever will.  Is the key. It is our choice…

Ephesians 2:13
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

The blood of bulls and goats,  hard to understand why the Lord went there in the first place.

But, a man, willing to die for me, that should make me stop and consider, WHY?

Why does the man fight for his country, his family, his wife?  Only love.

John 3:16-17

King James Version (KJV)

“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.

 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

It was the Love of the Father, that sent the Son.

Ephesians 2:13

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.“

It was the blood of the Son, that brought us close to the Father.

Hebrews 10:19
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”

It’s is the blood of the Son, that allows us to boldly, come to the Father, to stand before Him, Forgivin, Blameless, finding Mercy and Grace in our time of need.

Revelation 12:11
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

It is the blood of the Son, our Testimony, and our love for Him, that gives us the victory.

Must we give up something dear to us to purchase this standing? 

Yes.  We must give ourselves, all of ourselves to Him.

.

The bricks of our Faith:  theunfetteredpreacher – http://wp.me/p4qqra-21l

Revelation 

Building Bricks without straw: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station – http://wp.me/p4qqra-1Kw

A Biblical Truth revealed 

• Our story jumps to the book of John chapter 5, the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda.  Jesus, has traveled back to Jerusalem .

The angels would stir or trouble the water at the pool of Bethesda.  There were multitudes of sick, blind and lame, waiting for this stirring .

The first one into the pool was healed.   What kind of joke was this?

The lame or blind needed help to see or maneuver to the waters, it doesn’t seem fair.

It might not have been, but it was how it was.

Jesus, who could have healed them all, choose one man.  (Note, Jesus knew he had been afflicted   a long time. (A word of knowledge)).

A lame man, and asked what he wanted?

“To be healed, but someone always beats me to the water.”

Jesus: “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

Things of note:

~  No mention of faith.  Many times he told folks their faith made them whole.  Not this time.

~  He was healed immediately.  The Lord doesn’t save, heal or comfort over time…  

When the Lord touches you, or better yet, you learn to touch Him, Salvation, Healing, Comfort, Direction come upon us immediately .   

The Lord answers the prayers of those who Seek and Obey His will.

~  The lame man, walked away carrying his bed, and this on the Sabbath.   The religious didn’t like it when a rule is broken.

~  He was confronted by the Jews… “What are you doing?  You are breaking the law.”

~  “The man who healed me, told me to… I don’t know who He was.”

~  “for Jesus had conveyed himself away, “

~  The healed man was found by Jesus, in the Temple.  

How appropriate, to go to the house of God, in thanksgiving.

He was told:  “Go and sin no more.”

Is sin the cause of sickness?   What does the Word tell us?

Psalm: 107:17-18

“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.   Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.”

Mark 2:5

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the paralytic, Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.“

John 9:3
“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

We often have no clue of Gods ways, we do have His assurance that His purpose is good.  (Romans 8:28, if we :26).

Psalms 115:3

“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. ”

We must understand, the Lord did not always heal those He came across, and those He did, not always the same way.

This is because we would make that repeated way a religion, a ritual.

One thing was consistent:

“All who TOUCHED HIM WERE MADE WHOLE.”

Are you in need of Salvation, Healing, Direction, or Correction?

LEARN TO DROP DOWN IN WORSHIP.  Touch the Hem of His Garment.   Receive the Blessings of God.

John 5:1-9
“After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

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.

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.   When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.”

Not knowing, the power of God: theunfetteredpreacher – http://wp.me/p4qqra-26d

Another reblog,  Still the cry of my heart…  Seek His Face…

O ye simple, understand wisdom:  theunfetteredpreacher – http://wp.me/p4qqra-22w

A reblog….  The cry of my heart….  we must Seek His Face

He “saw their faith”,  would He see our faith?

He was teaching in a private home.  (Mark 2:2-12, Matthew 9:1-8, and Luke 5:17-26)

The story of the man let down through the roof to be healed.  Good read.

First point, He did not need to be in a special place of Worship, He taught and healed on the street, in homes, on boats….  we should be ready and able to do so, also.

When a crowd gathered.

Second point, they gathered to hear the Word of God.  To experience the Power of that Word.

We think it’s our programs, children’s church, divorce counseling, feeding, clothing  the poor, our wonderful sermons.  That these things will increase our numbers.

Sorry folks, if you want Church Growth, Seek His face, Seek His Power.

Luke 4:32
“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”

1 Thessalonians 1:5
“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

1 Corinthians 2:4
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”

If we are preaching the Word of God, there should be Power, exhibited.   It is not always the Power to heal, some have the Power to cause repentance .

Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Power, the very thing most of our Churches lack.   We blame it on God,  “He doesn’t do that anymore . ”  Baloney.  “JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW.”

The problem we have is;  He doesn’t see our faith.   Why?

Because, we have fallen away, we have accepted Christ as Savior, and then, we rest, in that promise.

Third point,  He saw their faith, because, they made a way to reach Him, when there was no way.

We come to Church, maybe even a Bible Study, we accept being fed, with no desire to learn to feed ourselves.

We never learn to chew our food, we don’t have the meat of the Word in our Spiritual diet.

We do not, study to shew ourselves approved unto God, workmen, rightly dividing the word of Truth.

It really isn’t hard to get close to God, to study His Word, to enter into the Holy of Holies.

A simple first step:

Read the Proverbs as a devotional,  1-31, as a verse comes alive, and they will, if you have an open heart.

Search (a good concordance or search engine is needed),  to find other verses that may expand upon and explain this verse.

Before you know it, The Word of God, comes alive, you experience it’s Power.  Now, you can share with others, in that Power.  The Word is alive.

Your faith is visible for all to see.

Forth point,  He healed the sick, told him to get up and walk.  This angered the religious.

The same happens today, with the unbelieving believers.  (Those who think the time of miracles is past).

“We pray and no one is healed, therefore God doesn’t heal today.”  Baloney . …  see above.

God has not changed, His Character, His Mind,  His Will, His Word.

John 14:12

“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.“

His answer to the religious.

“Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.”

He shows us, by healing, that He has the Power to forgive as well as heal.  He sent us to continue His Work.

Do you really think, He sees our faith?

Mark 2:2-12King James Version (KJV)

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Matthew 9:1-8King James Version (KJV)

9 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Luke 5:17-26King James Version (KJV)

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Merry Christmas from Bette and

Bill theunfetteredpreacher Cote

A short Faith building post.  Jesus, The Ministry Years 2.

Jesus, just finishing the Sermon on the Mount,  encounters a Leper.  

In the Old Testament, and Jesus’s time, Lepers were at the  bottom of the social scale.

It was worse than today’s “Hansen’s Disease.” There was no cure, except a miracle.  (Naaman, 2 Kings 5)

Naaman was told, by a Hebrew servant girl, of a man of God in Samaria, (Elisha ), who by the Power of God could heal him.   (Great read).

 If healed, you had to be looked at by a priest.  The different color of skin or hair, even different colors of mold on walls of your home were symptoms.  (Leviticus 13-14)

I understand,  it can leave you with no pain receptors and people would have toes and fingers eaten by rats, while they slept.

Knowing nothing till waking .

All Lepers, lived separately  from the healthy, had to rent their clothes, cover their mouths and cry out UNCLEAN, as they walked towards the healthy.

All to ensure people were not touched by them.  (It spread by skin to skin contact).  A horrible life sentence, for the afflicted.

Luke tells us, this Leper, was full of Leprosy and as he approached Jesus, he fell down and worshipped as he cried out.

“Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

Matthew, Mark and Luke all have this man, asking Jesus this same question.  “If You will, You can make me clean.”

If Thou will? If he stopped there it would be a question. He didn’t and it becomes a statement of faith.
I think it’s a wonderful statement of faith, “I know You can,” while surely,  a sad commentary of his knowledge of the Lords will.

He knew who and what he was asking.

I bring my car to the garage to get it fixed, not to the florist.  I know that Gary or McCabe’s or Timmy’s  will get my old heap back up and running.

The guy selling flowers, not the right man for the job.  He was asking the right guy.

So, his question was; Will You?  Not can You?

He had, a measure of Faith,  a realization of who he was petitioning,   and a lack of knowledge of the desire of same.

Jesus, having compassion touched him and immediately he was healed.

Unlike Naaman who had to go wash 7 times, when Jesus heals, saves it happens immediately.

In the time of miracles, the sick was healed, the dead raised and they served the Lord, immediately.  None of this nonsense of the Church being a hospital.

Jesus, was a Fix-it Shop-Filling Station guy.  He healed you filled you with His Spirit and sent you on your way.

This is what we need to see today.

Jesus told him, tell no one, go to the Priest, have him declare you are clean.   He didn’t, probably couldn’t.  He went on his way rejoicing .

Good for him, bad for Jesus.  No longer could he minister in peace, multitudes sought Him, for healing.

Something we need to get down into our Spirit, Something we need to know, without exception.

“great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.”  Luke 5:15

“as many as touched him were made whole.”

“If Thou will?”  Should not be a question for us, The will of God is “That all would come to a knowledge of salvation and all who touch Him will be made whole.“

Gods will is not a mystery to those who know Him.  We know the Author by knowing His Word.

Luke: 5. 17. 

“And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”

Is the power of the Lord present to heal us today?   

It is…  but we can’t seem to find it.

Why?  

To find the power of the Lord, one must know the Lord.   Many of us have been introduced, but never spent the time to know Him intimately.

Most Denominational folks are low information Christians.  We only know what we hear from the pulpit, and we never really check to see that it’s true.

Our Pastors and teachers are charged with teaching us the truth of the Word.  Are they?

How would we know?  We don’t study to show ourselves approved, so we can not be sure, that we are hearing the truth and nothing but the truth.

The teachings and sermons we hear should be causing us to wonder, marvel and rejoice in the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

We should be looking for personal revelation from the Word.  Not a personal Interpretation, but an understanding, a realization, of its truth, that nothing can kill, steal or destroy.

We don’t receive that hearing another mans revelation, only by finding, and knowing it ourselves.

Jesus is a personal God, friend, and brother…. we need to spend time with Him, in reading the and praying the Word.

When we press in and touch the hem of His garment, we will find His power is present to heal.

Lord, help us to seek and find Your face, to hunger and thirst for Your righteousness.  To know You, love You, walk with and obey You.

Amen

Since our Pastor left, I have had a heavy heart.  My personal Bible study has been sporadic, unproductive, lifeless.   Why?

I believe with all that is within me, that the Lord sent me to Franklin Memorial United Methodist Church, for two reasons.

The first, to see if I would be obedient, to stay in a dead church, to try and bring life.   The people love the Lord, but …

I thought bringing and teaching them Scripture Songs, would help them to enjoy learning scriptures and bring life to their music.

They only want to sing the same 20 specials and hymns, over and over.  …. failure.

Then I started an Old Testament Bible study.

Reading the Word, verse by verse and connecting Old, New, Hebrews and Christians, ect, ect…  some success.

The Second Reason:  To introduce the Pastor to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  He is a man that Loves God, has a good knowledge of the parts of the Bible he knows.

He believes in the Holy Spirit, but doesn’t believe the Gifts are for today.  He refuses to study and recognize the difference between Tongues and Interpretation, and our Prayer Language . 

He is a good Preacher, (no Billy Graham), and speaks a good message, but it lacks power and authority.  

So he teaches what he knows well, but without power, there is not much growth.

In this I failed and that is why I have a heavy heart.   

A new man is at the church now, another Godly man who Preaches a good word, but we have the same problem.

So my question today is, what now Lord?  

Am I free to leave, will I ever find a door of utterance open, a pulpit to proclaim your love?

Will I see souls saved?  The sick healed, delivered, set free?

Lord, help…. Amen 

Let no man deceive you – http://wp.me/P4qqra-om

A reblog, on my heart.   A precursor to the word working within . 

Please feel free to speak your minds.   I do.