Loving God

Recognizing the Trinity in the Old Testament

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This post is a “Billism”, please remove your Denominational glasses,  open your heart and mind to the Holy Spirit and give me your respectful feedback.

As I study the Word I find that the Father, Son and Holy  Spirit are always in agreement but do not always react or speak in the same fashion.

For example,  their speach patterns are different:

The Lord telling Noah of the comming flood:

Genesis 6:3
King James Version (KJV)
And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Genesis 6:6-9
King James Version (KJV)
And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.  And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

God telling Noah of the comming flood:

Genesis 6:11-14
King James Version (KJV)
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.  And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.  Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Differences highlighted:

Lord:
“Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast,”

God:
“God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.  Make thee an ark of gopher wood; “

The Lord is ready to destroy all flesh but Noah found grace (Salvation) in the eyes of the Lord. Why? Because Noah walked with God (Jesus), so God (Jesus) told Noah to build the ark the way to Salvation.

The Lord offered Salvation,  God (Jesus) provided the way.

This is one of the  times we see the Lord and God have different Natures:   

The word Lord in the Old Testament  is “Yahweh or Jehovah” which means Eternal One.   I believe Jehovah to be the Father.

The word for God in the Old Testament is “Elohim”,  which mean Creator,  Supreme ruler,  the word Lord in the New Testament is “Kuiros” and means  Supreme in Authority, Controller.   I firmly believe God in the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New.  John 1, Genesis 1.

If we look at Genesis 1, we find:

Genesis 1:3.4a
King James Version (KJV)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.. And God saw the light, that it was good:

God said it:

It was so:

It was good:

We find these three thoughts or statements repeatedly in Genesis 1.  

God (Jesus), created all that was created.

     How?

John 1:1-5
King James Version (KJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:14
King James Version (KJV)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

I firmly believe that God is Jesus in the Old Testament and Jehovah is the Father.  

Why creation?

Revelation 4:11
King James Version (KJV)
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The only reason we were created was for the Lords pleasure

Ezra 10:11
King James Version (KJV)
Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

We must confess our sins and separate ourselves from non believing,  believers.

Psalm 35:27
King James Version (KJV)
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

We must learn to shout (and sing) for joy….so people will know the Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of the righeous.

Psalm 147:11
King James Version (KJV)
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

We must have a reverential fear of, as well as the hope (belief) in His mercy.

Psalm 149:4
King James Version (KJV)
For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

He promises Salvation will beautify the meek.

Ezekiel 33:11
King James Version (KJV)
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

The Lord  God has no pleasure in condemning the wicked…He asks all to believe and be saved.

There are quite a few places we find the Lord and God speaking in one voice.    They are always in agreement so one voice makes sense also.

Haggai 1:8
King James Version (KJV)
Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

Quite simply, the Lord takes pleasure when we build up His Tabernacle (house).  When we lead people to the knowledge and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior in their lives.

Lord help us to be willing and able vessels of your love and grace.

Please leave a note if you would like to explore the “Billism”  that the Father is Jehovah and Jesus is God in the Old Testament.

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The Bible: Believe it or Not

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Do you believe the Bible?   All of it or are there parts that, well just cannot be true?  The  Red Sea parting,  3 days in the  belly of a giant fish?  A talking donkey?  The Flood, burning bush, 3 surviving a fiery furnace,  a man in a lions den?

Fire from heaven, a flying chariot,  the blind seeing, the lame healed, a man walking on water?  Resurrection, Redemption, Sin, Forgiveness?   Signs and wonders,  miracles, prophecy,  speaking in tongues?

Let’s be real, these are all nice childrens stories. As adults, we know that uneducated people and children need this kind of thing to hold on to.  We know better, we understand  how a story can grow to biblical proportions.

So the Bible just gives us a moral code;  a direction we should walk, love thy neighbour, do unto others, cleanliness is next to Godliness.

If you don’t think some of these things happened but you believe in Gods saving Grace, you are a cafeteria Christian.  You just believe the things you understand or hope to be true.

Let God be true and man a lier. 

We must believe that God is:
Creator
Savior
Redeemer
Friend
Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask think or even imagine.
God so loved the world,  He gave…..us everything.  All He had and was, all He would ever be.  To demonstrate His love and Grace,  to show us the way to the Peace that passes
understanding.

The story of the cross is foolishness to the unbelieving but the Power of God to believers.  We must learn to live the Good News so that others will desire to know Him.  We must be content in whatever situation we find ourselves.  

Show the world an victorious conqueror, peaceful, effective counselor of our God.  Lift Jesus up, as we are knocked down.

Love God, love one another. …seek His face.

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Are there Giants in the land?

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Are there Giants in your life?

Before I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior,  I was constantly fighting the Giants that had me enslaved.

Loneliness, alcoholism, fear, depression, ineptitude, lust, pride, nicotine, rejection and probably many I can’t name.

“There were giants in the earth in those days;”

Everywhere I looked, walked or worked. Everything I heard, read or spoke.  I was nothing, then the best.  I was brilliant then a dunce.  I was around people but always alone.

I lived in “the land of giants.”

There was no escape,  no relief, no hope.

Then I was introduced to Jesus.   Oh happy day, the Giants have gone away!!!

I wish….

I had accepted Jesus as my Lord…I experienced the Peace that passes understanding,  the Joy unspeakable and full of Glory,  the Comfort and Love of the Holy Spirit.

Life was great!!!  Until it wasn’t.

The Giants were creeping back. Those Christians that I prayed for and loved, rejected me…..  Nothing I did satisfied.  I was unsettled,  indecisive, confused.

How could this be?

Depression,  Rejection, Loneliness…. Worse than ever.
Why Lord?

Does any of this seem familiar?   Could it be your story?  Are you  enslaved by Giants?

Do you know Jesus as your Savior?

I know many Christians,  who claim Jesus as Savior,  even call Him Lord.  When He is not.

Are they really saved?   I think so, they believe and confess Jesus as Lord.

Will they be joyful,  victorious conquerors, peaceful, effective witnesses?   Not a chance.

How about you? Is He your Lord?  Are you walking with Him or hiding because of sin?

David the man after Gods heart,   long after defeating Goliath,  (the Giant), after becoming the legitimate King of Israel.  Found himself fighting and losing the battle to the Giants of pride, sexual sin and murder.

He had wondered from Gods side.  He was the king, his word was law, he had everything he wanted, needed or desired.

He had a visit from Nathan the Prophet. He was shown the condition of his heart.  He recognized his sin.

Now we see why he was a man after Gods heart.  He immediately repented, turned around, asked forgiveness.  A  man who Loves his Lord.  A man who knew forgiveness.

As a Christian for over 30 years I am sometimes convinced I’ve destroyed the Giants in my life.

Then when I’m fat, dumb, happy and satisfied: I am visited again. “The last  giant, He had a bed made of iron; it was over thirteen feet long and six feet wide!”

This Giant is bigger than the others because I’ve been hiding and feeding him.  Allowing this sin to be my real Lord.  The part of me I wouldn’t and couldn’t submit to my loving, forgiving Savior.

I repent, I confess, I turn from my wicked ways.  I pray Lord thank you for helping me to defeat yet again this Giant.

With Your help he becomes just a giant….With fastings and prayers,  as I submit to Your will, I become strong in Your might.  I defeat the giant.

I walk in victory with My Lord, Jesus Christ. I become the joyful,  victorious conqueror, peaceful, effective witness that my Lord calls all of us to be.

Have you destroyed the Giants in your life?  Jesus will show and strengthen you.

“Jesus is the way, the truth and the  life.”

Let Him Lord and Savior today.

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How big is your God? 2

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I have gotten a  variety of  responses on my “billism” ( A billism is something  in the word that may not be taught as written.)   in “How big is your God?”….Some found encouragement,  others seemed scandilized that I might suggest I believed this scripture as written:

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Can my household be saved without them personally accepting Jesus as Savior?   I don’t really know but the Word says in Acts 16 that if I believe, my house will be saved.   Are there 2 or 3 other scriptures that support this?

Hebrews: 11. 7.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.“

How about Abraham?

If we read Genesis 14 we find Abram hearing of Lot and his city being brought into slavery,  he then took his servants and saved Lot from that fate. 

This was Abrams love shown in the Natural world.

When the Lord said in Genesis 18:
“Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;   For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment;”

We find his love in action once again, in prayer for the whole city.  If you find 50, 40, 35,10 righteousness people.

Lot may or may not have been righteous, and except his wife, who looked back,  his family that went with him were saved. 

We do not know the families standing (were they righteous? ) with the Lord. We do know they were saved.

How about new Testament?   In 1 Corinthians 7 it says:

“ If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.   And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.    But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?   But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.”

So the question is:

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Are my loved ones saved because I believe?   The answer is:

If I am as obedient as Noah was in the building the Ark and as loving as Abram in praying for my loved ones and Sanctified (set apart for God) as Paul implied.

I believe God either redeems them or erases them from our memories when we stand before Him.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”

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Is there life inside?

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Does your Spirit have more life than these buildings?

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Blogging 101- 2+2=4 Simplified

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2+2=4 Simplified is simply:

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

“Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

So many reject the Wisdom, Understanding and Love of God. When the simple truth is:

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

This is my 2+2=4. How about you?

Blogging 101- Two plus two equals four: yes or no?

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We all know 2+2=4,  yet so many cannot see the simple truths. 

“Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.”

“It’s not necessary to be educated, to be intelligent.”

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.”

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.”

“My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.”

“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”

“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.”

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.”

” Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

So many reject the Wisdom,  Understanding and Love of God.  When the simple truth is: 

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

This is my 2+2=4. How about you?

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How big is your God?

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We all know that Jesus told Nicodemus that you must be born again. He also said do not marvel that I say you must be born again.

To be born again, we must believe in our hearts and confess with our  mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This means we believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, died on the cross, and rose again and is sitting at the right hand of the Father to intercede  for us.

Peter says:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

If you believe these simple statements then I can have fellowship with you as a Christian, as a child of God.

It is the Word of God, (Jesus is the Word), that saves us and lives and abides forever within us.

Now I have a “billism” for you:   A billism is something  in the word that may not be taught as written.

As a Christian I believe we must be born again.

We also find Paul answering the jailers question of  what must I do to be saved in this way:

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Here we have an added wrinkle. ..and thy house.  Where did this come from.  It is not new, Noahs family was saved and we have no knowledge of their faith.

In 1 Corinthians 7 it states:
“The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?”

What happened to you must be born again?

When we look in Deuteronomy we find the Hebrews ordered not to destroy certain peoples:

“Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:   Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.

” Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day:   And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.”

We see instances of the Lord saving peoples because of the love of someone else.

So take heart if you have unsaved loved ones.  Take a page from Abrahams book.  Intercede on their behalf untill you have the peace that the Lord has heard you.

We have biblical evidence of that Gods love is bigger than our beliefs….it is as big as His Word.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

” According to your faith be it unto you.”

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Enough, go, possess the land:

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The people had spent two years in the desert.  They had crossed the red sea, built the Tabernacle of the Lord.  Heard the Law, been given the Ten Commandments.   Understood the promise of the Lord.   When the Lord spoke to them:

“Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:   Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites,  Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.”

The promise is for you, right now, you’ve waited long enough, go and possess the land.  So what did they do?  Go possess the land?

Of course not,  they sent in spies first, you know, to search out the way to go.   If they had only believed and obeyed the Lord,  they would have saved themselves 38 more years of getting nowhere fast.

He could be speaking to us today.  The promise is ours, right now, today, for whosoever will.  

We have been long enough in this world.  Go, separate yourselves from the masses,  possess the promise.

Begin eternity today, study the Word,  Pray, Praise learn to submit yourself to God, Worship.  Discover the Peace that passes understanding,  the Joy unspeakable and full of Glory,  find your refuge, your fortress, your God.  In Him can you trust.

The answers we need are found in the Creator (Elohim, Jesus),  not the creation.  Quit looking to people to save, help, provide or comfort you.

If Noah found grace (Salvation ) in the eyes of the Lord, (Jehovah, the Father),  if he was just and perfect in his generation,  it was because he walked with God.  (Elohim,  Jesus ).

We need to Walk with Jesus.  This is why we were Saved from sin and death.  It is what the Lord desires, a people who recognize and understand that He is.  

He is everything I desire. He is everything I need.  All I want is to know Him. To know He is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

We must seek the Lord while He may be found.   

Set our face like flint towards the Lord.

Call upon Him while He is near.

He will answer and show us great and mighty things.

I am ready for some great and mighty things to happen.  If I could only conquer that evil heart of unbelief that kept the Hebrews from entering the promise.  That has kept me from praying and seeing the Power of God in my life and Church.

If we only believed,  Jesus said we could and would do mighty things.  That signs would follow.  There is something wrong with the way we believe.

The church,  Gods people are not victorious, conquerors,  the masters of our faith.   We don’t really believe the promise because we don’t have the relationship.

Know this:  He will keep us in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.   I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

The Lord had them 40 years in the wilderness: so thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

He is looking for the same things in us today:  Are we humble?  Has He proved us, do we know what is in our hearts?   Will we keep His commandments,  are we obedient children?

Lord help me to be the man you have called me to be.  I believe Lord,  help my unbelief.

 

 

 

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Jesus prayed for us:

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When Jesus taught us how to pray;   I believe he was showing us a prayer plan:  

Praise,
Acceptance of His will,
Tell Him your needs,
Ask forgiveness while acknowledging we need to forgive others,
Ask for help to be true, to deliver us from evil
Praise

Simple and simply lovely. ….

We take this teaching and turn it into a by rote prayer and it is beautiful but if we would learn the way of prayer instead of the prayer we would see more answers to our prayers.

In John 17 we find Jesus praying for us,  He prayed:

“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”  
John 15:10-12
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

 John 16:24
“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Much of the time we don’t believe God wants to answer our prayers.   Here He tells us He does and how to get the answer.  If we would abide in Him. Obey His will, love one another His joy will be within us.   We will receive positive answers to our prayers.

“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

We are in the world but we nedd to be separated from the evil.

 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

“The more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ. The moral imperfections which cling to him he feels to be sins, which he laments and strives to overcome. Believers find that their life is a constant warfare, and they need to take the kingdom of heaven by storm, and watch while they pray. They are always subject to the constant chastisement of their Father’s loving hand, which can only be designed to correct their imperfections and to confirm their graces. And it has been notoriously the fact that the best Christians have been those who have been the least prone to claim the attainment of perfection for themselves.”, Hodge’s Outlines.

When we are sanctified we are set apart by the Holy Spirit, made over into worthy vessels for the Lords use.  We are sanctified when we read, accept and do the Word of the Lord.

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

 

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Forget Not : Part 4 Moses final warnings

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Part 1:  Forget Not:  what you’ve seen
              Teach your children

Part 2:  Forget Not:  You shall inherit the land
               Remember Gods covenant. ..no idols

Part 3:  Forget Not:  We must destroy the sin in our
              lives.
              40 years to test our love, faith, trust

Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.   Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord.

We need to realize the only reason we find grace (Salvation), is by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.   We must learn to submit fully,  unequivocally, willingly to Jesus.

Only then will we begin to understand and see the power and might of the Annointing in our lives.

 “Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.”

We get into trouble when we deside we don’t need others to help us know what God wants.   We must remain teachable,  flexible, willing to submit to other Godly people.   (key point: Godly people), may not be elders in church.

We need to watch, not become presumptuous.   If God tells you something,  it will line up with the word.   It will eventually come to pass.  (Ps 105:19)

Finally once again:

“Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.”

We must Remember,  Forget Not that it is the Lord, not us.  Without Him we are less than nothing.  Our Churches,  works, our ambitions, holiness, sanctification, righteousness.. Are all as dirty rags.

Part 4:  Forget Not:  How we provoke the Lord
              He doesn’t give us the promise because we are righteous
              Don’t presume you’ve arrived
              Forget Not: It is all Him

Lord help us to be obedient children.

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Forget Not : Part 3 Moses final warnings:

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In Part 1 Moses commanded us to:

   Forget Not: What we have seen and teach it to others

Part 2:

   You will inherit the land, remember Gods covenant, worship Him, not money, power, prestige or people.

Rest on the Sabbath. …we must rest from our work to let God accomplish His.

So in Part 3 of Forget Not;  We have this warning:

“And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.  If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?”

The Hebrew people were to destroy all nonbelievers that lived in the promised land, because if left alive they would cause the people of God to sin.

In todays world, when we accept the Lord as Savior,  we must destroy all the sin and bad habits in our lives or they will haunt us and cause sin to trouble us in our walk with God.

“Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;”

Again,  remember what the Lord has done.  He will continue to protect and provide as we walk with Him.  Gos is able to help us to conquer sin and death.

“thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.“

This to me is one of the verses in the Word that explains just about everything we incounter.

Why is there trouble, sickness, strife,  it’s always something.

God wants a humble church.  Not our power, strength,  wisdom.  We need to allow the Lord to administrate,  our church needs to be built on the Lords plan.

We have allowed government into our churches when we decided we needed to be tax exempt. We need support from home for missionaries.  (read and understand Mark 6).

Jesus didn’t need a pulpit,  childrens church…even a building.  We need to be obedient,  so that God can use us as vessels of His power.

He tests our love, faith, trust…

We need to let God operate through us, give the cup of water, food, cash for the poor.  Show the love of God.

Then there is the manifestation of the Spirit.   How often have we quenched the Spirit?  The evil heart of unbelief is probably the most abuse the Holy Spirit receives.

We don’t believe in tongues,  healing or miracles.   Wake up, pray the Lord forgives us. Annoints us, makes us willing and useful vessels.

I’m afraid in my life, He often finds a stiffnecked and rebellious person.  

How about you?

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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Forget Not : Part 2 Moses final warnings :

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In Part one Moses told us Forget Not what we have seen and teach it to the next generations. Here is the second thing we must remember.

2. Forget Not : Deuteronomy 4:22
 I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.

Here he reminds them he will not be going.  God told him to speak to the rock and in frustration he struck it instead.

Moses had one of the closest walks with God possible.  Notice the closer we are the more accountable we are.

We are called to obedience. Lord help me please to hear and obey your voice.

Bad news for Moses, but you shall go over and possess the land.

Deuteronomy 4:23-24
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee.   For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Again you are responsible for you, Forget Not the covenant of God…..let nothing else be an idol.  Not money, power or prestige. Our God is a jealous God.  He must be number one in our lives.

3.  Deuteronomy 5:14-15
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

God has commanded us to rest on the Sabbath.   We don’t.  The Hebrews had to have food preparation done the day before.  Could only walk so far for Sabbath Service.

It is a day we should smell the roses, watch the clouds in the sky. Rediscover the Majesty of the Lord. Marvell at His wonders, Praise His Holiness.

Sanctify  yourselves before the Lord.   Consecrate yourself a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable and perfect.

By the way it’s also a command for those who serve….

We need to let God do His perfect work and rest in Him.

Hebrews 4:9-11
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

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Have you been tested and tried?

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We all have dreams, ambitions,  desires.

Joseph had a dream that his father and brothers would  bow down to him.  He was already daddy’s favorite, he had received a special coat.  Jelousy abounds.

His brothers sold him into slavery,  he was wrongly accused of rape, he was forgotten in prison.

He interpreted dreams, he stood before the Pharaoh,  he was made ruler over all, second only to Pharaoh. 

His brothers bowed down to him, he saved them and his father from famine.

It is quite the story.   Psalm 105:19 says this:

“Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.”

Joseph knew his dream was true.  It took years to be fulfilled.   That word tried his faith, trust, peace, joy, his very being, until it was fulfilled.

If you are waiting on a promise of the Lord, rest assured that the His Word is true. 

He watches over His Word to proform it.   God is not a man, that He should lie.  ” the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. “

Is your heart, a heart that is perfect toward Him? 

We must believe:

“He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. “

“He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” 

We must:

” Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (troubles ),  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Like Job and so many heroes of our faith,  we must wait on the promise, we must, know our redeemer lives.

Have faith in God. Be faithful in God.  For this time of testing,  will came to pass.  We will see the promise of the Lord.

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Blogging 101 day 4

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Today’s Assignment: publish a post for your dream reader, and include a new-to-you element in it.

My dream reader is someone who hungers and thirsts for a closer relationship with Jesus.  The purpose of this blog and my life is to point people to the “secret place of the most high”.  (Psalm 91).

I hope that every post would cause people to dig a little deeper in the Word.   Forget what they think they know and ask the Lord to draw them closer.

I have some “Billisms” , things I understand in the Word that I’ve never heard taught.  (If you’re interested, read the blog).  They hopefully will make you seek out the truth.

If you are seeking God, He can open your eyes and heart to something that will affect your life and help you to walk with Him daily.  All it takes is a desire for Him.  He will provide, protect and direct you to a place of comfort,  peace and joy unspeakable.

If you want to know Jesus check out the “Salvation way” page, if you want more Jesus in your life.  Get in the Word, until the Word is in you.

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What does it mean to have Walked with God?

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In the Old Testament we find two people meantioned by name who walked with God.  I’ve struggled with this concept for 30 years.  

I have a “Billism” a theory if you will, that the Lord God in the Old Testament is not one member of the Trinity but the Lord, (Jehovah,  the Eternal One), is the Father.  God, (Elohim,  the creator,  ruler), is Jesus,  who sacrificed himself to the Father that we might have Salvation. (See The Trinity in the Old Testament).

So we find that when Enoch Walked with God,  he was Walking with Jesus.  Jesus said come on home.  

When Noah Walked with God,  he found grace  (Salvation), in the Lords sight  and was just and perfect in his generation.   He was the heir of righteousness.

To Walk with Jesus is the Lords desire for whosoever will.  Lord help us to learn to walk with you.  Not ahead of, or behind but with, beside, in harmony, peace and grace.  Help us to live this scripture:

Matthew 11:28-30
King James Version (KJV)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I had a Bible teacher who taught us to look at this scripture like this:

Jesus said: 
My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

So take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Lord help us to take up Your yoke and learn to Walk with You.

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Lost Lambs vrs Prodigal Sons

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Lambs and sheep for the majority of the Old Testament were to be sacrificed,  or to be the spoils of war. A commodity,  something bought and sold. Sacrificed to the Lord or food for the family.

It isn’t until Isaiah that we find the concept of the Good Shepherd.

Isaiah 40:11
King James Version (KJV)
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

This is the picture we have of Jesus the Good Shepherd.   It is a good and true picture.   He does hold and comfort us, feed and lead us beside the still waters.  He restores our souls.

Young David is another example of a good shepherd:

1 Samuel 17:20
King James Version (KJV)
And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

When David left his sheep, he left them in the care of a keeper.  Jesus has left His church to the care of His Pastors and Ministers the called, chosen and faithful. When David learned of Goliath,  he was full of faith and power.

1 Samuel 17:33-37
King James Version (KJV)
And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.  

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  

And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.  

Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.  

David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

The Lord prepares His Shepherds to protect His flock against the roaring lion (the devil) and the bear (powers of this world) the Shepherd needs to be a prayer warrior to have the wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill to defeat the enimies of the Lord, whosoever they be.

2 Samuel 24:17
King James Version (KJV)
And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.

Here we find the first reference of Gods people being sheep.  David had sinned, against the command of the Lord he had taken a census of the people.  The Lord gave him 3 choices of punishment,  He chose the hand of the Lord and His mercy, rather then the hand of man.  70 thousand died before this prayer.

In the book we see several instances of the Lord releasing their enimies upon His people because they  rebelled.

Isaiah 53:6
King James Version (KJV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jeremiah 23:1
King James Version (KJV)
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 50:17
King James Version (KJV)
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bone.

Then we have this wonderful prayer:

Psalm 119:176
King James Version (KJV)
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

This is a prayer that the Lord honors,  if we wander astray like the parable of the lost sheep He will find and rescue us.

Ezekiel 34:11
King James Version (KJV)
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

In Luke 15 we find the parable of the lost sheep, the Shepherd finds and brings him back.

The lost coin….they seek till they find.  Then we have the rich man with two sons.  please read carefully:

And he said, A certain man had two sons:

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  And he arose, and came to his father.

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

We have the son, he has it all even his inheritance.  He takes it  and leaves the presence of the Father. He isn’t wondering away, he is deliberate,  decisive, determined.  He is broke, in bad company,  feeding swine.

He comes to his sences, heads to home, Father sees him runs to meet him, restores him to a place of honor.

The difference is the Lord went to find the wondering sheep, He waited for the rebellious son to return.  Both were welcomed back but one needed saving while the other needed to repent.

No one can pluck us from the Fathers hand….but He dosn’t hold us there against our will.

Lord may our hearts stay turned to you.

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Your Church, Fix-it or Filling Station?

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I have learned that at different times in my Walk with God I need different things.   When I was first saved I needed to be fixed.   My mind, body  and spirit were tuned to the worlds ways.  I needed a Spiritual tune up.

The Lord gave me a clean heart, a discerning Spirit,  the Peace that passes understanding,  the Comfort of the Holy Ghost.   A clean slate, I was forgiven.  Have you been forgiven?

Now we have decisions to make,  will we continue to fill ourselves with the things of God or let the world creep back and gain control of our  life once again.

If our only contact with the Lord is on Sundays,  then we need and probably attend a Fix-it  Church.    We are continually broken,  sick, depressed,  no joy, no victory,  certainly no peace.

We are not alone, most Church people fall into this category.   We love the Lord but never realized there is more available.

A Fix-it Shop Church preaches The Cross and Salvation, Love, obedience, fruit, feeding the hungry,  clothing the needy, loving the unlovable.   All excellent things, Godly things, just not filling things.

We need a Filling Station Church.  Now a Filling Station Church will challenge us to grow.  We find ourselves asking questions,  searching the scriptures.

Intellectually,  systematically, deliberately moving through the word, Old and New till we have studied to be approved,  workmen,  rightly dividing the word of truth.

We will not know this with just Sunday services.  It takes a real commitment to the Lord.  A desire that grows as a relationship matures.

Expecting a miracle, knowing God is.   Knowing that Jesus is truly alive in our hearts and minds.  Wanting to obey,  follow and embrace the Way of the Lord.

If you aren’t desiring a closer relationship with our Lord,  you need to set your face like flint towards the Lord and ask Him for that desire. 

Ask Him to show you the way to a Filling Station Church.

I pray we would be filled.

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Hospital or Fix-it Shop?

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I heard it again today, the church is a hospital where the sick and hurting go to nurse their wounds and recover.

Horse feathers! !!

If we want the church (Christian people), to grow in the Lord we need to quit nursing and heal them.  Jesus wasn’t a nurse, He was a healer.    He said we would do even more than He.

The Fix-it Shop Church would be more like Jesus:  He repaired the lame, gave sight to the blind, cleansed the leaper, stopped the issue of blood, raised the dead.  We have the gifts of the Spirit,  if we would only learn to operate in them.

Most of the time He touched them and they were healed.   Some touched the hem of His garment and  were healed.  Others were touched by the shadow of an Apostle for their healing.  According to your measure of Faith.  He healed all that were afflicted.

” Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

It wasn’t often they had to do more than accept the gift of God.   It happened now….almost immediately,  no long recovery times.  When Jesus touched you, you were changed.  We need to know ourselves and be able to teach others how to touch the hem of His garment.

( but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.)

Now I know, you who are in the trenches, don’t really want my input but if you’ve read this far, please hear me out. I believe I have the mind of God in this. (Lord forgive me).

The Jewish people read through the Law and Prophets every year.  The word gets into their hearts and minds.  I believe that this is why the Apostles had such powerful ministries.  They understood the Old Testament as they lived the New.

Since Jesus did away with the Law of Sin and Death, we no longer teach the Law and Prophets. …we don’t consider it relevant to our walk, when it is the foundation of our truly knowing Jesus.

If I were to Pastor again, Sunday morning I’d preach up a storm.  Sunday night I would go through the New Testament chapter and verse.

I would study the Word and teach the  revelation I received.

I would do the same mid week with the Old Testament.   I would be careful to try not to relie on other books or studies.

Fresh Manna, gathered and prepared daily is the most fulfilling.

Enoch walked with God and was not, because God took him.   His name means:  dedicated; disciplined. 

We need to be dedicated and disciplined so we can pass it on to others.  Then maybe we can have a Fix-it Shop Church.

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JESUS’ FIX-IT SHOP

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As a piano technition, one of the first things I had to learn was how to hear and distinguish beats. All of the keys on a piano move a hammer to strike strings to produce sound.  At the bass end, the hammers just hit one string.

As you move up the keyboard,  left to right, the hammers then hit two and for the majority of the keyboard three strings per note.

When I tune I start by tuning the C above middle C to vibrate at 523.3 cps (cycles per second). Than middle C and the C below all beatless.

Beatless is a pure sound,  not jerky or wavy.  Then we set the Temperment of the piano.  The two octaves in the middle, by listening to the different beats of 3rds, 5ths, 4ths, minor 3rds, octaves ect.

Sounds complicated dosn’t it?  There are also many adjustments,  regulations and repairs that may need to be done.

You can learn the process quite quickly but it takes years of practice to do reliable, acceptable work.

There are some pianos that can not be saved.  Sometimes people have played on and in the same keys for years, not tuning or adjusting for wear.

Suddenly,  the adjustments won’t adjust.  The instrument needs more work than it is worth, when it should of lasted years longer.

That is what dismays me….I can’t save them all.

Jesus can save us all.  If we are in His Word daily, the regular maintenance and regulations are updated as required.  We find His peace and comfort, guidance and direction are ever present.

If we don’t allow him access on a regular basis….we may find the repair we need takes longer, it may be painful, it may have to be repeated until we are running smoothly and have learned to listen.

Jesus dosn’t want us to spend years recovering from our trials and struggles.   He made new eyes out of clay, raised the dead, cleaned up lepers…..

I believe he can fix the most stubborn of us and our problems, if we just keep up the regular maintenance sessions with Him.

Ask Him to fill up your Spiritual  tank and keep on serving Him.  He healed all that were afflicted. …He will heal you too.

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