My Redeemer Liveth

The Holy Spirit came upon Job and he spoke by faith a remarkable thing. My redeemer liveth. His redeemer Jesus Christ lived even then before he came to earth as the savior. Jesus is the redeemer.

Job 19:23  Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
Job 19:24  That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

 

Reins refers to kidneys that were thought to be the place of affection and feelings. The hearts affection.

 

Isa 26:19  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

 

The redeemer is Jesus who spoke these words:

 

Mat 22:31  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
Mat 22:32  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

John 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
John 8:57  Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
John 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

 

John_11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

 

Was Job raised from the grave when Jesus paid for our sins on the cross? A number of saints were raised at that time.

 

Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

 

Perhaps Job's soul was in Paradise and was taken up with Jesus.

If not then, then he will be raised at the rapture when all will receive their new bodies.

 

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

The souls of those who have died after Christ paid the price for their sins, by faith in the promised redeemer, they shall be with Jesus.

 

2Co 5:6  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

 

Jesus is coming back soon and we will be with him with Job, standing on the earth. What a great hope and promise this is.

 

Luk 21:25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

 

Look up!

Job's miserable comforters

Job's comforters were not a comfort. We can learn from them to not bring judgement on someone who has been suffering.

 

Job 16:1  Then Job answered and said,
Job 16:2  I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

 

When my brother called saying that his wife had died unexpectedly, I thought to myself just how can I comfort him in this his greatest loss? A verse came to mind. "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) I wept and tried to show that I loved him. Isn't that why Jesus wept? He cared about those who were mourning the loss of Lazarus, even though he was about to raise him from the grave, he still wept with those who were mourning. We are never to heap accusations or to try to come up with a reason for the tragedy. The greatest comfort is knowing that the loved one died as a believer in Jesus Christ. The comforter abides with those who are born again of God. They will not be left in a grave but they will go to be with Jesus forever. The loved one left behind if in Christ has the comforter to comfort them. Praise God for the Holy Spirit, our comforter and the one to speak to those in need. Let the comforter in you comfort those who suffer.

Man's Destiny

Job in his despair speaks these words of a man without hope. He could be speaking for all people who have not come to God.

Job 14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 

Job 14:2  He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

 

How wonderful it is to know that in Christ Jesus we are born again into eternal life. Yes, Job is right concerning our flesh man. Moses and David had some things to say as well.

 

Psa 90:10  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Psa 90:11  Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
Psa 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psa 90:13  Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Psa 90:14  O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Psa 90:15  Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Psa 90:16  Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
Psa 90:17  And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

 

Psa 102:11  My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
Psa 102:12  But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
Psa 102:13  Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

 

Psa 103:13  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psa 103:15  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Psa 103:16  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
Psa 103:17  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
Psa 103:18  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Isa_40:8  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

 

Jesus brought to us forgiveness of sins and a new eternal life.

John 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
John 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Luk 21:17  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luk 21:18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

John 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Joh 3:16  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.

 

Philip and the Eunich

Philip filled with the Holy Spirit, is led out into the desert to an Ethiopian Eunuch in need of help. 

Act 8:26  And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Act 8:27  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Act 8:28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Act 8:29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Act 8:30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Act 8:31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Act 8:32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Act 8:33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Act 8:34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Act 8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Act 8:39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Act 8:40  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

 

Philip preached to him Jesus from Isaiah 53. The eunich believed and desired to be baptized in the near bye water. After baptizing the eunich, the word of God says that he was caught away by the Spirit and was found in Azotus.

 

Strong's concordance defines "caught away" as to seize, carry off by force; to seize on, claim for oneself eagerly; to snatch out of the way. The phrase is also translated, catch up, pluck, take by force. It appears that Philip was in one place and was caught up by the Holy Spirit to another place.

 

The Ethiopian was full of joy, a fruit of the Holy Spirit. There was no separate receiving of the Holy Ghost, it appears that he received it all at his water baptism.

 

We are to be ready and willing to be led by the Spirit to someone who desires to know about Jesus and salvation. I witnessed on the Internet for a year before the Lord led me to Sarah. What a miracle of salvation she received, but that is another story.

 Hiding Place (by Sarah).

Miracle power, not magic

The Holy Ghost must be received to have God's power for ministry. He may come upon a person by the act of God, others pray to receive Him, and in this story prayer and the laying on of hands were the means of receiving the Holy Ghost. The power is not bought or earned.

 

Act 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Act 8:6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Act 8:7  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Act 8:8  And there was great joy in that city.
Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Act 8:10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Act 8:11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Act 8:14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 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.
Act 8:21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Act 8:23  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Act 8:24  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. Act 8:25  And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip preached the word of God to the Samaritans and they believed and were baptized in the name of Jesus. Simon the sorcerer was one of those who believed the true report and were baptized in the name of Jesus. Peter and Paul came to Samaria. There was one thing more that was needed, the receiving of the Holy Ghost. They prayed first and then laid  their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. Simon apparently did not receive the Holy Ghost, but wanted to give money to them to receive the power to do miracles. I am sure that today there are many TV preachers who would take his money with promises given, but there is no substitute for personal prayer and the laying on of hands. On our Internet ministry many were saved and discipled, but there was no laying on of hands, this would be done through a Spirit filled local church. Many did receive the Holy Ghost and are continuing in faith. I pray for all who receive Jesus, that they be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.

 

Luke 11:9  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luke 11:10  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luke 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luke 11:12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The Holy Ghost is not for magic. He must feed on the word of God. We must know who we believe and we hear from God in the word of God. There is a discipling needed to be used of God. The Holy Ghost is our teacher.

Stand up for Jesus, like Stephen

 

The Deacon Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost is speaking to his accusers at the Jewish council. He gave them a history lesson of God's dealing with Israel

 

Act 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Act 6:9  Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
Act 6:10  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Act 6:11  Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
Act 6:12  And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,...
Act 6:13  And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
Act 6:14  For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
Act 6:15  And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

 

 Being filled with the Spirit, he gave them a history lesson of God's dealing with Israel and was concluding the message...

 

Act 7:51  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Act 7:52  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 

Act 7:53  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Act 7:54  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
Act 7:55  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Act 7:56  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Act 7:57  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Act 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
Act 7:59  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

Stephen died because he told the truth. Those who were in power did not want to be told the truth. Oh how we need truth in our nation. Corruption and lawlessness is in the very halls of government. Devious minds, then and now, but they need to hear the truth and repent. Are we willing to die for the truth of Jesus Christ, if it need be so? Stand up for Jesus and he will stand up for you. He will receive you into his everlasting presence and it will be glorious. The love of Christ Jesus gave you the right to speak the truth. Hate kills, but the love of the God of Israel brings hope and truth. The Son of God brought truth and salvation to as many as would receive Him.

Denouncing Haman

Those who plot to do evil will be snared in their own trap. It is always best to do good and to be examples of God's children. Haman hated the Jews as so many have hated them throughout history even to this day. God protects the Jews who are his covenant people. They may be persecuted but not destroyed. Hitler tried to destroy them all but those who remain are strong even more boldly resisting their enemies.

 

Est 7:4  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
Est 7:5  Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
Est 7:6  And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
Est 7:7  And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
Est 7:8  Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
Est 7:9  And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
Est 7:10  So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

 

Pro_12:13  The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

 

Pro 11:8  The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

 

Psa 7:15  He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
Psa 7:16  His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
Psa 7:17  I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

I trust that there are no Hamans or humans in your life seeking to destroy you, but we have a spiritual enemy, the devil who would like to destroy us all. Christ in us is stronger than the enemy and he will love us forever. Love one another and come to Jesus now for forgiveness of sins and his grace and mercy.

Deacons

My father was a deacon in the Church. He was a blue collar hard working man and he was very strong, a family man and I suppose he would be called a redneck from Arkansas who came to California with his family during the depression looking for work, leaving behind a farm. On Sunday he was transformed, wearing a fine suit he was as a fine a man as there was. He would serve communion every Sunday at the church and he would visit people who were unable to attend church.

 

Act 6:1  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Act 6:2  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Act 6:3  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
Act 6:4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

The ministry of the Deacons was brought about to fulfill a need. Someone griped or murmured about not getting their share of the handouts? and a new ministry is created to fulfill the need.

 

1Ti 5:9  Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
1Ti 5:10  Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
1Ti 5:11  But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
1Ti 5:12  Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

1Ti 5:13  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
1Ti 5:14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
1Ti 5:15  For some are already turned aside after Satan.
1Ti 5:16  If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

Do you want a ministry? Do you want to serve? Well then look for a need, you just might be the one to fulfill it. There are always more needs to be met than there are servants. Some of those needs are from posers, complainers, and people just looking for a hand out. Still others are dependant on the mercy and grace of the church. A Pastor-teacher needs to spend time in prayer and studying. The Deacons can help with the many service needs of the church. Perhaps you could find a need to fulfill too?

 

James 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

 

Luk 22:26  ... but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27  For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

To be chosen as a Deacon you must be honest, of a good reputation and full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom from God, we do not have to have a title to serve. We are commanded by Christ to serve him.

We ought to obey God

There is always resistance to the move of God. But, if God wants to be heard, he will even send his angels to help us. 

Act 5:17  Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Act 5:18  And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Act 5:19  But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Act 5:20  Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

 

Act 5:26  Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
Act 5:27  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Act 5:28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Act 5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Act 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Act 5:33  When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

The unsaved  and the ungodly fear the people more than God. They want to appear as something they are not, before the people. To assure that they stay in charge they will try to destroy anyone who gets in the way. The Apostles were not afraid of the godless Saducees. "We ought to obey God rather than men." They had Holy Ghost boldness to witness the gospel. Sometimes, and even with Peter, we know that in our natural ability we will fail. This is why we must have faith in God and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you. They even witnessed to those who tried to stop them.

 

1Peter 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

A final note about angels. They are sent to minister to the saints of God. It is rare that they tell us what to do. Do not seek guidance from angel's, nor are we to pray to them. Satan has his angels too and many are deceived by them in the occult practices. Angels will come to our aid, but God usually leads by His Holy Spirit.

 

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

Remember the power is of God, not of our doing. Give him the glory and put away your envy and self glory. 

Signs and Wonders

  

Sometimes when I sign on to AOL on the Internet, a woman who is not one of our regular friends will send me a message wanting me to tell her the future or some such thing. She was confusing our Bible reading room with the other occult reading rooms in which she frequents.  I read the Bible. I tell her to seek God and to accept Jesus as her Lord. "She responded, Oh I am a Christian." Wait now, a Christian is not to be seeking magic tricks and things of the occult. Unfortunately some think they can delve into the occult and also  be a believer. They do not see a difference. They need to make a decision, we cannot serve two masters. The Holy Spirit is not a magic show but he glorifies God.

Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

A great anointing of God came when all the Apostles  were in one accord as they gathered in the great Solomon's porch on the east of the temple.

Acts 5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

Who were the rest, who did not join with them? Perhaps these were the casual believers, the uncommitted people who were only around for social reasons or perhaps to get a handout. Perhaps they were those wanting to see a magic show. The Holy Spirit is not magic, but He is the presence of almighty God.They were not true believers and they had heard of what God did to false people, such as Ananias and Saphira, who died because they lied to the Holy Spirit. The uncommitted had a fear of God that kept them away lest they be judged. Or perhaps they feared the religious leaders who held power over them? People like to make idols of men. It was not the Apostles, but the Power of God in them that did the miracles of God. No religious person is to be held high nor to receive praise that only belongs  to God. Awards are best delayed until Jesus gives them as crowns. We are to magnify him. We are children and servants of the Most High God. He is to be worshipped and not a ministry. Worship God and give Him the glory!

Give Praise to God

I was reading this Psalm and it stirred me to open a room of praise last night on AOL. The room filled with friends who praised God together. This is what we should be doing always, to praise our God. Give praise from a loving heart.

 

Psa 50:14  Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Psa 50:15  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Psa 50:16  But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
Psa 50:17  Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
Psa 50:18  When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
Psa 50:19  Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Psa 50:20  Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
Psa 50:21  These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Psa 50:22  Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Psa 50:23  Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

 

We are not to just give lip service to God. We are to praise him with all of our being. We are to praise him also with our life's actions. Our conversation or way of life is to bring praise to God. We are to keep our promises for we cannot be doing evil and then praise God as if it were some outward ritual. Our God is good and just and he searches our hearts. LORD give me a heart of praise. May you be glorified through my entire life. LORD, you are to be seen, and not me. All is from you from your Holy Spirit within me. May we all give our all to God and bring him glory. I surrender all to Jesus as the hymn that we sing.

 

All to Jesus, I surrender, All to him I freely give, I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

 

Humble Confession

Neh 9:1  Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.
Neh 9:2  And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
Neh 9:3  And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

Neh 9:32  Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
Neh 9:33  Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

If there is one sin that is the greatest sin, it would be the sin of idolatry. To worship and serve a false god. A people who have turned from God's laws will allow every evil. This is the spirit of anti Christ that is now in the world. Allah is not the God of Israel and political correctness will destroy our nation. America needs to repent to the God of Israel and humble ourselves before him for the sins of our nation. We need to return to the reading of the Bible and stop all the lying and deceit. If we do not repent, the long suffering God of Israel will destroy our nation. We who are Christians must pray for our nation that God's righteousness will be honoured. We repent for our sins and lift up the name of Jesus. We belong to the God of Israel. Praise be to Him.

Ezra Reads the Book of Moses

The exiles had returned to Jerusalem, Neh 7:66  The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, They were safe within the walls of the city. The doors were hung. Ezra the priest was about to read the book of the law for the first time, in their Holy City.

Neh 8:1  And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
Neh 8:2  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Neh 8:3  And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
Neh 8:4  And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Neh 8:5  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
Neh 8:6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Neh 8:7  Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
Neh 8:8  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
Neh 8:9  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

They stood for the reading of God's laws, from daybreak until noon. Ezra blessed the LORD and the people raised their hands with their heads down. The Law was read and it was made clear to them, by the teaching priests as to the meanings. They were given the understanding of what was read, for they did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. This was a special time for them and they were all filled with tears. Tears of joy and tears of the conviction of sins, for without the law their is no knowledge of sin. Be assured that the law cannot save you.

James 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Sin and idolatry had brought judgement and ruin to the the nation. Now, by faith in God and the understanding of his laws they would be saved by faith. The law shows us our sin.  Faith in the promises of God would save them.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

I am saying these verses about faith, because we are not saved by attempting to keep the laws. We are saved by faith in Jesus who has redeemed us from the curse of death for our sins. Within the books of the law was the story of Abraham who obeyed God by faith in his promises. The law of Moses shows that Abraham obeyed God by faith. It was the lack of faith that caused most of the children of Israel to fail in their journey from bondage in Egypt to their promised land. Faith is the way we are to live for God. Faith and obedience. The law condemns but faith leads us to the promised salvation of God. Faith brings us to Jesus, the Salvation of God. We cannot come to our resting place without faith. Where Jesus leads us is our peace. He will bring us to be with him, by faith.

Armed and Ready

Ezek 22:30  And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Neh 4:7  But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
Neh 4:8  And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
Neh 4:9  Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

The workers had to be on the alert because the enemies of God's work had come together to try to stop them.

 

Many thoughts come to my mind about this. Always we look to God when the enemy plans his attack. We must realize that we are in a spiritual war. First we are to pray and to seek his word. If we read the Bible through and read the Bible every day then the Holy Spirit will bring scriptures to us that we can use in the problems we will face.

 

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

 

We are to stay in God's armor day and night. The enemy attacks in the night time as well, usually in our thoughts and dreams.

 

Neh 4:17  They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Remember that if we are in Christ we are not alone. God has our front, sides and back. His arm is our weapon as we do the work of God. I have heard of the power of the press to form public opinion. The powers that be may control the press, the news broadcasts and they may search all ways of expression to shape things their way. In Christ Jesus we are free. We use our freedom to pray for those in power that God would bless and that peace may prevail. We speak the message of hope and redemption for those who are bound by sin. Jesus will make you free. Put away your anger and malice and put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The world needs truth and mercy and God's love.

 

John 3:16  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.

Psa 89:2  For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

Facing Opposition

Nehemiah was given permission to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the city walls. The powers that were in the area did not like the intruder. They would attempt to discourage God's workers. The enemies of God will oppose the work of God, so expect opposition when you do the work of God. Opposition comes from their fear of you.

 

Neh 2:10  When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 

Neh 2:18  ...So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
Neh 2:19  But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
Neh 2:20  Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

 

Sanballat; strength, the enemies opposition. 

 

Tobiah ; Jehovah is good, a slave from the Ammonites, a religious name but not a good person.

 

Geshem; rain, He would rain on their parade?

 

...they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?...The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

 

Any time there is work to do for God, to take back from the enemy what he has claimed, there will be opposition. No one comes to Jesus without opposition. Jesus came to take back what the devil had stolen; the souls of men and women in bondage.

 

Isa 61:1  The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

 

A woman had been in a satanic cult before Jesus freed her. Even though she was free, the enemy continued to send bad spirits to oppose her. In the name of Jesus she would rebuke the enemy and do the work of God. When we move into the enemies territory he will put up a fight.

 When a nation gives up it's godly heritage it is not all at once, but over many years as the devil establishes strongholds. The world is under attack and is making the way for the one world order and the antichrist leader. I remember when the enemy was communism, the removal of God from a nation. Now I see that this has begun to take root and with it our freedoms are being removed. Do not let the enemy take over your mind and to remove you from doing God's work. Stay faithful to your calling do not fear and be courageous. Take back what the enemy has stolen. That is what Jesus did when he redeemed us and made us the children of God. Do not fear the enemies of God for God is with you and will always be with you in Christ Jesus.

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost

Acts 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

This is the baptism of Jesus with the Holy Ghost and fire that John the Baptist said would come.

 

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity, or Triune God. His presence will convict the world of sin. The fire of God will burn away the chaff, the impure thoughts and deeds by conviction, not condemnation. If we stay away from Jesus and do not want him, we are condemned already.

 

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Salvation through faith in Jesus comes first. There is no Baptism of the Holy Ghost apart from Jesus. The first outpouring of the Holy Ghost was at the time of the Pentecost.

 

Acts 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Acts 2:8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Acts 2:9  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Acts 2:10  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Acts 2:11  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Acts 2:12  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Acts 2:13  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Acts 2:14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Acts 2:15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Acts 2:16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Acts 2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Acts 2:18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

When the Holy Ghost came there was a wind, and tongues of fire appeared upon their heads. They spoke in other tongues, or languages. I have heard testimonies of people who were saved in foreign lands who spoke in languages that were of the language of someone there. Something I believe even more important occurred at the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. The example is Peter, who spoke with boldness by the Spirit of God. He no longer was depending on his own abilities, but he was speaking by the power of God. I do not believe that there is any true believer who does not want more boldness to speak and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Today the Baptism of the Holy Ghost may be manifested with tongues, others speak of the in filling of the Holy Ghost. He is behind the gifts of God. We cannot do the work of God in the flesh, although some are gifted to sway people by natural abilities. One motivational speaker called into a radio talk show and said that his great ability to sway people came only by the use of a powerful drug. Some use drugs and gain great authority. No, this is not of God, but of the devil. We do not want to move others by the flesh or another spirit. We must have the power of God through the Holy Ghost to do the work of God. All true Christians will agree with this.

 

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Receive Jesus and his baptism and you will have power to overcome this world and to serve him by His Spirit.

What is in the Temple?

 Zerubbabel's Temple Dedication

There was something missing from all the temples in Jerusalem after Solomon's temple was destroyed; the indwelling presence of God. What good is a temple without God's presence? It became a place of sacrificing animals and rituals, but also a place of prayer.

Ezra 6:16  And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

Ezra 6:17  And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Ezra 6:18  And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.

 Compare this to the dedication of Solomon's temple.

 

2 Chr 7:5  And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

2 Chr 7:6  And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

 

2 Chr 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Zerubbabel's temple was smaller and did not have the Ark of the Covenant which was the place of the presence of God's Spirit. The Ark was destroyed or missing and according to Ezekiel the presence of God had left the Ark and the temple, before it was destroyed by the Chaldean's because of the idolatry of God's people.

 

Ezek 10:18  Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
Ezek 10:19  And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Ezek 11:23  And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

 

The glory of God went to the place where Jesus would ascend up into the clouds. This is the very place where Jesus would return again according to Zechariah's prophecy.

 

Zec 14:4  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

What purpose is a temple without the presence of God? It became a place of rituals. Animals were killed to cover the sins of the people. They kept a Sabbath and the feasts, these were outward rituals.  I can imagine that there are churches and synagogues today that are just places of rituals; religion without the presence of God's spirit. How could they bring the presence of God back to the temple? Jesus answered this question when he was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well.

 

John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Seek the truth in the rituals, read the scriptures, they are where God speaks to us. He also inhabits our worship and praise. The spirit of God no longer dwells in a box, God has left the Ark here on earth. He is not in a temple made by hands, he is in his creation, but more importantly he now is in the temples of our bodies through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith, we receive his grace. When he departed from our presence, he sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to be the presence of God in the temples of our bodies. The Spirit loves the Word of God and praise to God He also helps us to pray in the will of God in words or in groanings not understood. Yes the presence of God has returned, not to a house made with hands, but in the temple of your body, if you are in Christ Jesus. We meet together, this is church. We together are the church and the presence of God.