“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” Psalm 84:11-12
This scripture has been my recurring song of praise the last few months.
Such a promise, a beautiful tune…it tells what God is, what the Lord gives, His promise of all good things to those who walk uprightly, (in His ways). He blesses those who trust in Him.
Have we received the Gift of God? Do we realize all that phrase entails? Salvation, the Gifts of the Spirit in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, abundance. …
The phrase the “Gift of God” is most often used concerning Salvation: Here we find the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus asked her for a drink. She was incredulous, Jewish people aren’t supposed to interact with Samaritans.
In John 4:20
“Jesus said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, thou wouldest have asked and he would have given thee living water.”
What? This is crazy. Living Water? She would come to understand.
Galatians: 2. 20.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Salvation is the living water.
John: 4. 14.
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
John: 7. 37-39
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
Acts: 13. 48.
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
So it is sad when we neglect such a gift. Every man is given a measure of faith, the Salvation measure, will you believe and receive?
Jeremiah: 2. 13.
“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
Salvation, the most Important Gift of God to whosoever will receive. There is more, Salvation is not the only Gift of God, here Paul is speaking about remaining single…..not my gift.
1 Corinthians 7:7
“For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.”
How do we receive our particular Gift? Timothy received his by the laying on of hands.
2 Timothy 1:6
“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”
Here we learn again we must do something, first we must repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, after that we must stir up the Gift of God.
How do we stir up the Gift? We build our faith by reading and doing the Word, praying in the Holy Spirit.
We stir up our gift, (ministry, encouragement, comforting, teaching, healing, listening, Pastor, Prophet. ..ect), by doing.
We find some trying to receive the Gift of God, for their own Glory.
Acts 8:20
“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.”
The Gift of God cannot be purchased but the Gift of God can be abundance of wealth and lands…. The poor are not any more Holy or obedient or blessed by God, it could be they cannot be trusted with more.
People receive according to their abilities. God continues to bless us with enough and a bit more than enough, to pay our bills and enjoy life.
The few times we have had excess, inheritance, we have not increased it, but slowly spent it away. Truth does indeed hurt.
Some are better stewards and can enjoy the fruit.
Ecclesiastes 3:13
“And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 5:19
“Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. ”
Hebrews 13:5
King James Version (KJV)
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
1 Timothy 6:8
King James Version (KJV)
“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”
Philippians 4:11
King James Version (KJV)
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
So, you don’t have a ministry preaching to thousands, or you don’t lay hands on the sick and they recover? Maybe you aren’t leading all you meet to the Lord?
You mean signs and wonders aren’t following?
Be a witness to the one you are with, in times of trouble, grief, hardships and even in times of joy. LET THE LOVE OF CHRIST SHINE THROUGH. The Gift of God is best received by sharing.
“Lord, what shall this man do?”
The universal problem with people. What about that guy? He isn’t following the same rules I do. Why is He doing so well, have so much? Why does everyone love Him?
Waa, waa, waa….
Envy, covetousness, greed, dissention, back biting, bitterness, sloth, lying. …ect.
The human condition. DISSATISFACTION, WANT, JEALOUSY.
What is a “Billism”?
Simply put a “Billism” is a truth I have found in the Word, that I personally have not heard anyone else teach.
Does that mean no one else has seen it?
No, many have probably seen these and not found them important enough to share or have shared them and gotten the Ho Hum responce I receive, and quit mentioning them.
To me, they are a revelation of the Lord, They do not effect basic Christian Doctrine but do draw me in to a fresh knowledge of the Lord. They cause me to study the scriptures to see if they are true.
I don’t share them unless I believe I have Biblical evidence to support them.
What disapoints me is so many could care less, or reject it out of hand, because they were never taught it. Do they check out the scripture to see if it’s true?
Nope, Nada, Not going to happen, God didn’t show them, so it cannot be truth.
I wish they would think about how many Denominations there are and maybe see why they were founded. Not all church splits are about the color of the carpets.
Luther was a good Catholic, till he discovered salvation by faith alone. We need to study the word and recognize what it really means, not just what you have been taught it means.
Please open your eyes and ears, listen to what the Lord is saying today.
Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
know you are loved
I have known Jesus as my Lord and Savior for over 30 years. There have been times I have walked in His Yoke, beside Him, doing His will in His way, seeing His results, (Unfortunately only for short periods).
The majority of time, I have loved and acknowledged Him. Then gone my own way, doing what I thought was important. Paying the bills, taking care of my wants and desires.
I have heard it said: “It’s ok to talk to God but if you hear Him answer you, you’re nuts”
Romans 4:20
King James Version (KJV)
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”
Abram…..”Believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
I don’t know about you but I’m in the camp of: “I believe Lord, help my unbelief. ”
Why do we have such a problem believing our needs to be met, or a loved one to be saved or healed? We already believe the impossible.
In John 17, we find Jesus with the Disciples in the Garden, where He prays for them and us. Several points are brought out repeatedly, I would like to look at what He prayed for all who belong to Him.
First:
Who is He praying for:
John 17:
“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.”
What does He pray for:
“that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,”
“they have believed that thou didst send me.”
Continue reading
My back yard trees, one naked, other fully clothed.
My front yard trees, one half naked, other one fully shameless.
I mentioned my trees the other day. How my neighbors trees had all shed their leaves but my trees are independent.
My yards, front and back have looked like this:
Lots of leaves under one tree, none under the other.
Now, I am perfectly content to wait for my slower to shed trees to finish there work and then to mulch all the leaves in one fell mow.
I believe that is Gods way, in Matthew 13, Jesus explains the Parable of the Tares. Here are the verses. Pray about the revelation yourselves.
“He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
To me it is obvious, we should leave the leaves until all have fallen, then when we mulch them, our yards will shine forth.
The Lord doesn’t clean up piece meal.
My neighbor isn’t a believer, I came home to find my front yard has been shorn, attacked by a bladed instrument. ..BEFORE ITS TIME.
Thank you neighbour, I didn’t realize how much my leaves offended you.
I started this as a joke.
I end it covicted of my sin. Not the yard, that is silly, no, convicted because of my walk.
The Lord sorts it out at the end but my job is to become Holy, by the renewing of my mind.
To walk worthy of my Lord, to be a faithful witness to the world. To encourage others to come to the Lord, by the light of my life,
How many have turned from God because of something I may have said or done.
Father, forgive me, change me, open my eyes to understand the end of my actions and additude.
Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
know you are loved
I need help. I am a saved sinner. I know and love my Savior, Jesus.
He lived and died for me, He sits at the right hand of the Father and the Father accepts me as worthy of heaven, because of my Lords shed blood.
Why do I fail to live a better life, a holy life, a caring life, a sinless life? Because I need help.
Where do I find help, that …. actually helps? David had the right idea.
Psalm 121:1
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
Psalm 121:2
“My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 30:10
“Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.”
David, the man after Gods own heart, cries out for the help he needs. Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Strength to Repent. …
Do you have the Strength to Repent? (Admit your pride, lust, greed, hate, ignorance)?
It takes strength to cry out for help. To admit God is bigger than ” ME, MYSELF and I”.
Times have changed. Before Jesus, when looking for help, man had to look without.
Jesus, told us help would soon come from within.
“patient continuance in well doing”
This is truly the call to Eternal life. Not walking perfectly in the light, not in making all the right decisions, not handling every circumstance correctly.
“patient continuance in well doing”
Confessions of a head counter:
I confess, I count heads. At Church, Choir rehearsals, Bible studies, any event I attend. Is it full? Are there lots of empty seats? Wow, this guy really draws a crowd. …
When people aren’t there it is because, Whosoeverwill…..It couldn’t be my fault.
Could it?
Our world is upside down. Perversion has become heroic, our real heroes, (policeman, firefighters, first responders, the military), are now the problem.
Because of our disobedience, disrespect and disregard for the law and common decency, our Police find themselves needing to get physical to bring us in line. Then we blame them. Continue reading
To every man, to whosoever will, to any who will listen. …..God will speak. He will guide, direct, protect; comfort and fill with peace and joy. Will we hear and accept His Words?
Will we listen and act on His Word? Do His will? Obey His commands. What does God say to every man?
One thing I know. …
If there was only one thing I knew, it would be the fact that Jesus saved me and gave me a new life. This scripture, is the statement of a man born blind.
John 9:25
King James Version (KJV)
“He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
What is it that gives us that confidence, Continue reading
Isaiah 55:12
King James Version (KJV)
“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Back when I was traveling as an Evangelist, one of my favorite and first things I would do, was to teach this song and how to clap to it. It always brought smiles of joy as the Lord touched those who participated.
It opened the door for the sharing of the Word. The problem was, I wasn’t a very good preacher back then. I didn’t understand how to feed His sheep.
I was 12 and quite a thrill to see this in the big parade. James warns us about being Double minded.
James 1:8
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
Joshua 24
“choose you this day whom ye will serve;”
Who do you choose, are you following the road to perdition? Or the Way of Salvation?
“as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Please join us.
Thanks for visiting, come back soon.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
know you are loved
Scripture from Acts 22:
“The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.”
The prophetic words of Ananias, the devout man, that God sent Paul to when he was blinded.
These words apply just as much to those of us who are called to serve the Lord today.
We don’t hear or use the word marvelled much anymore, we may find something that we call marvellous but marvelled is out of fashion.
It is used in the Bible 23 times. Usually people marvelled at the miracles which Jesus preformed.
Is it possible to be saved with out proclaiming Jesus as Lord? Think about it. Enoch has been with the Lord since Genesis, Elijah, since 1 Kings, we know Moses is there, he was seen on the Mount of Transfiguration.
I can only believe Noah, Abraham, David, Daniel , all that are listed in Hebrews 11, are there; none of them knew the Resurrected Jesus.
How did this happen and could it still happen today? Don’t get nervous, “by no other name can men be saved”.
“What evil lerks in the hearts of men? The Shadow Knows.
He’s not alone. At the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, He turned water into wine.
theunfetteredpreacher 