 As lawlessness abounds in the world and in the church we will see foundational doctrines of the faith under heavy attack. WHY? Simple actually. The main and sometimes the only thing the enemy wants in our lives is our faith. He does not care if we read our Bible, pray, go to church as long as we do it as a religious activity.
Why does the enemy want our faith? Because it is the only way the Christian can please the Father. The Father is not impresses if we go to church, read our Bibles,, and pray if it is done in the flesh and not in the Spirit with a heart of faith. Hebrews 11:6 ESV And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Romans 8:7-8 ESV For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. (8) Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. When we hear the Word either through preaching, reading the Scriptures, or having a friend share it with you, it does not bear fruit if it is not mixed with faith. Hebrews 4:2 ESV For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. In the first 9 studies we looked at the blood atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ bringing about... 1. ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL; 2. REMISSION OF SINS; 3. LIFE AND PEACE; 4. REDEMPTION; 5. JUSTIFICATION. 6. WE ARE MADE CLOSE; 7. A PURE CONSCIENCE 8. CLENSING FROM SIN The 9th thing concerning the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is "SANCTIFICATION". Sanctification is a multi-facted process. The first is the idea of BEING SET APART UNTO THE LORD. When the Lord called Moses to go into Egypt to set the captives free, the idea was not just "bringing the Jews out". God brings His people out of Egypt so that He can bring them into Canaan. God called us out of the world so that He could bring us into His promises and His Kingdom. We are "set apart FROM the world and set apart FOR the Lord. John 18:36 ESV Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." 1 John 2:15-17 ESV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. (17) And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. We are vessels of honor in HIS hands. We are set apart to bring HIM glory. The second idea of sanctification is that of being HOLY. In the spiritual we are as holy and righteous as the Lord Jesus Christ because we are robed in HIS righteousness. However we are to walk out that righteousness in our daily practical lives. This is the process of sanctification. In other words, we are holy and we are being made holy. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 ESV (4) that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 1 Timothy 4:4-5 ESV For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, (5) for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 1 Peter 1:14-16 ESV As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, (15) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
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IT'S TIME TO PRAISE:
Worship is not praise...praise is not worship. And brothers and sisters, it is time for us to PRAISE. To PRAISE is far more than having a "Praise team with a Praise song." There are over 20 words in the Bible for ways to PRAISE. Here are some of the Hebrew words for PRAISE: #1 Towdah - See Strong's #8426 This word means "thanksgiving." In Hebrew texts such as the Psalms especially, it often appears in songs of thanksgiving and praise, which David offered in the midst of many of his trials. It can also sometimes denote an "offering or sacrifice of thanksgiving." It will be helpful to remember to offer this form of praise especially in the hard times. Thank God for his sovereignty, power, and might. #2 Yadah - See Strongs #3034 The root word of this form of praise, which is "yad," is a word meaning "hand." Yadah is very literally the "lifting of hands in praise, reverence, and worship." The meaning conveyed is one of outward expression of love towards God, for others to see. It also means "confession," but not necessarily in the general English sense that you and I are used. When used or translated as "confession," it means an "outward confession of praise or worthiness" to God. Since Yadah involves the lifting of hands, one may understand it also with some connotations of "surrendering" or "confessing authority to" (as one under arrest puts up his hands to show submission to an officer). #3 Baruch - See Strongs #1288 This is a word which very commonly is known to mean "to bless" or "blessed" (if you have ever heard the beginning of a Hebrew blessing, 'Baruch Atah Adonai…' which means “blessed are You, Lord.” It also carries a secondary meaning, in some contexts, of "kneeling" or "bowing" as well. Baruch is usually the Hebrew word behind most blessings given in the Old Testament, either from God towards men (blessing), or men towards God (praising and bowing). Baruch is important to distinguish as strictly a verb (an action), not a noun (thing). #4 Shabach - See Strong's #7623 Shabach is a simple Hebrew word which literally means "to shout." In the context of praise, it's giving a shout of praise for the Lord! #5 Zamar - See Strong's #2167 Zamar is a cool word which means basically the playing of an instrument, or "making music" to glorify the Lord, accompanied with singing. Personally, this is one of my favorite ways to praise! #6 Halal - See Strong's #1984 This is one of the most active words I came across as a form of praise. Halal means "to make a show, rave, or boast." When used in the Bible in reference to the praise of the Lord, it is said that the sun, moon, stars, heavens, waters, and all creation "boast" of the Lord most High, proclaiming His Name and His glory to all the earth. Likewise we too, as humans, are called to boast of the Lord and His mighty works. Isaiah the prophet referenced this form of praise as being called for during times of festivals to the Lord. This method of praise might also incorporate dancing, leaping, and twirling (making a show!) before the Lord too, because of the tremendous excitement of love to God that it conveys. It is the root of the expression "Hallelujah!" #7 Tehillah - See Strong's #8416 In a short summary, the word "tehillah" is somewhat of a combination of all the previous words and meanings of praise! Depending on its usage grammatically in the Bible, it refers to all kinds of praise and worship activity. Strong's defines it as meaning "glory, praise, song of praise, or praiseworthy deeds." Secondarily, it also can be a technical-musical term (as in, David's song of tehillah, Ps. 145) Strong's even notes that the actual Hebrew name for the book of Psalms, for example, is the word "Tehillim" (the plural form of Tehillah, meaning "praises") and probably more accurately reflects the contents of the book. To be continued
Our Lord Jesus Christ that the food or meat that He eats is to do the will of the Father. And in doing the will of the Father He would accomplish the work of the Father.
The two main prayer requests that I get from all over the world are "Pastor, pray for me because I want to hear God's voice" and "Pastor, pray for me because I want to know God's will. I wrote 2 books on hearing God's voice. However, the key topic of this study is how to know and do God's will. It is important to see that these two topics go hand-in-hand. Hearing God and doing His will are mutually inclusive. In Part 1 we looked briefly at... 1. Realizing the responsibility of knowing and doing the will of the Father. (Ps.40:8). 2. Realizing that we need to ask God to teach us to do His will. (Ps.143:10) 3. The importance of doing the will of the Father? (Matt.7:21, Mk.3:33-35, 1 Jn.2:17). If I am to do God's will then it would stand to reason that the Father is not going to keep us in the dark about it. God does not play the game of hide-n-seek when it comes to us knowing His will and doing it. He does not set us up for failure. He is more concerned and committed with us knowing His will and His work then we are. Therefore He has placed some clear instructions in His Word concerning His will for us to get us started in the area of hearing and obeying His will. What do the Scriptures say concerning the will of the Father that we are commanded to accomplish? These should be so important to us that they are the bread of life which sustains us. SCRIPTURE #1 OF GOD'S WILL FOR US: It is God's will that we give thanks IN ALL circumstances no matter what they are or what they look like or what they cost us. We are not commanded to have a heart of thanksgiving FOR them, but we are to have a thankful heart IN the midst of them. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. SCRIPTURE #2 OF GOD'S WILL FOR US: It is God's will that we be pure and holy and free from sexual sins. I will break this 1 Thess.4:3 passage down word by word. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV (3) For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; The Greek of 1 Thess.4:3 would say that the will of God is that we walk in sanctification, purity, holiness. In doing so we should abstain, refrain from, and hold oneself off from, sexual immorality. The sexual immorality of this verse is in word, deed, and thought and includes, sex outside of marriage (fornication), harlotry (adultery and incest), and idolatry (spiritual fornication). The Greek word here for sexual immorality is "porneia" and is pronounced "porniah". It is where we get the English word porn and pornography. So, here are two areas of God's will that we can take to the Father, confess, hear with the intent to do, then be obedient and do.  I have posted 8 studies on the atonement and how it is under attack. It may help to go back and read the first 8. The doctrine of the blood atonement is under great attack by both the lost world and also the liberal church. It is hard to believe that there are Pastors preaching that the cross was not necessary and that Jesus died needlessly. However, this heresy is becoming more and more popular among the false teachers and pastors that are influencing believers everywhere.
In the first 8 studies we looked at the blood atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ bringing about... 1. ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL; 2. REMISSION OF SINS; 3. LIFE AND PEACE; 4. REDEMPTION; 5. JUSTIFICATION. 6. WE ARE MADE CLOSE; 7. A PURE CONSCIENCE The 8th thing concerning the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is "CLEANSING FROM SIN". We sing the song "What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus." Yet, many believers continue to live in sin, live in the gult of sin, be held in bondage to their sin, or try to earn cleansing of sin by some religious act. I can't even imagine a cross-less Christ. The whole purpose of Him coming in the flesh of man was to die so that He could pay the ransom and redeem us. If we continue in sin there is no more sacrifice that can be given. We need to apply the poured out blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins to be cleansed. 1 John 1:7 ESV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. Hebrews 9:22 ESV Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
We hear the old saying, "When it rains, it pours." This means that when difficult things happen, it happens in multiple ways. Have you ever stopped and said, "God, what else can happen? I don't think I can take another thing?" You know the times. In a matter of just a few days your child gets sick, the car won't start, and you get laid off from your job.
Soon, the nation will reopen from our "lock-down" due to the Coronavirus. People can go back to work. But wait! Will there be jobs to go back to? What about our food supply? Will there be food storages for a time until our food packaging plants reopen? There are still hard times in front of us. "When it rains, it pours." This is actually true and can be found in the Word, although stated differently. James 1:2 is clearly one such parallel Scripture. James 1:2 ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, The Greek translation would make this verse say... You are to command joy and have the rule over and govern joy when you are surrounded with various and manifold evil experiences and adversities. This means that we will face adversities and evil experiences that are many different sizes and shapes and in number ALL at the same time. It is a Biblical truth. Some will come as God allows our faith to be tested to grow us up. Some will come as a result of our own disobedience and sin. Either way they will come. There is another saying that is common among mankind, "that's the last straw that broke the camel's back." Basically this old proverb says that we have a mental and physical breaking point when we face adversity and hard times and that we cannot go on. It assumes that we know what that breaking point is. However, God says that He knows the temptations we face and will make a way for us to escape before we reach the breaking point. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV (13) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  WORSHIP: We have established that we are called to worship God the Father and God the Son. We have established in parts 5-9 what true Biblical worship is not. In parts 10-12 we established what worship is.
TO WORSHIP MEANS: We found that the Old Testament Hebrew words for worship means: To prostrate before; to bow to pay homage to royalty or to God; To bow down, crouch down, or fall down flat in humility; To revere in the heart and with physical body; to stoop to; to adore. We found that the New Testament Greek words for worship means: To kiss like a dog licking his master's hand, to crouch down, to prostrate oneself in homage to reverence and to adore. This definition is what it means to worship in Spirit and Truth in John 4:23-24 and has nothing to do with music, a team, or a time. It is a position of the heart and the body. John 4:23-24 ESV But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." TRUE BIBLICAL WORSHIP IS AN EXPRESSION OF HUMILITY: We see in Jn.4:23-24 that there is a worship which God would accept and be well pleased with. We are fooling ourselves thinking that the Father is under obligation to accept whatever we present simply because we place a "religiously holy and acceptable" name on it. Just because we call what we are doing worship does not mean that it meets the Bible standard for worship nor does it mean that the Father has to accept it. There are two key words in Rom.12:1 that we often miss. "Holy and Acceptable". He is not under obligation to receive a sacrifice that is other than holy and acceptable. Romans 12:1 ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. This word is used 12 times in the New Testament concerning the status of what we bring to the Lord. In Jn.4:21-24 our Lord Jesus Christ declared that worship is not tied to a PLACE but to a position of heart and body. John 4:21 ESV Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. In Jn.4:21-24 our Lord Jesus Christ declared that worship is tied to a time and is now upon us. John 4:23 ESV But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. In Jn.4:21-24 our Lord Jesus Christ declared that worship was divided between those who were true worshippers and those who had a form of worship but it was ceremonial and hypocritical. John 4:23 ESV But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. In Jn.4:21-24 our Lord Jesus Christ declared that worship would have the Father as the object of worship. The object of worship will not be a music team, a building, a popular personality. Watch the crowd of a Christian music concert of a well known popular group and honestly ask yourself, "who is being exalted and glorified?" John 4:23 ESV But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. In Jn.4:21-24 our Lord Jesus Christ declared that worship would be in spirit and truth. This means that out of the mind or thoughts, the emotions or feelings, and the will or choices a person brings forth true worship. It is an act of humility to bow the head, the body, the knees, or to lay flat before the Father while having the whole inward man also in a position of bowing before the Father. To worship in truth is to worship according to the Word which is TRUTH, coming to the Father though the Lord Jesus Christ who is TRUTH, and in the power of the Holy Spirit who is TRUTH. In Jn.4:21-24 our Lord Jesus Christ declared the WHY of true Biblical worship. It is not difficult. We always speak about us seeking after God but never address what the Father is seeking after. We worship in spirit and truth because the Father is SEEKING for those who will dare to worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23 ESV But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. SPIRITUAL PROPAGANDA IN THE PULPIT:
Without consent on the part of the hearer, without this need for propaganda by practically every citizen of the technological age, propaganda could not spread. Therefore it is not just a wicked propaganda machine at work which has established means to ensnare the innocent citizen. There is a citizen who craves propaganda from the bottom of his being. This is why news stations compete so strongly for our attention. They are not just seeking to get their propaganda message out. They are seeking to gain the largest audience by responding to the cravings of the listeners. Those who deliberately feed information of a biased or misleading nature, to promote or publicize a particular political or spiritual cause or point of view could not exist without potential hearers of lies. Now apply this to what is being preached from our pulpits each week. Are the preachers speaking a Word from God or is it a message derived from the desires of the hearts of the hearers? ACCOMMODATING CHRISTIANITY: Tell me what I want to hear.
There are those spiritual leaders who profess themselves religious and call themselves teachers of truth, who will sneak or creep into church buildings or house churches. These so-called leaders will captivate worldly believers by their offers of an accommodating Christianity filled with promises of freedom and liberty to fulfill the appetites of the flesh. These are those who, though they are ever learning, are never able to arrive at the of knowledge of truth. They are careless hearers, they are inattentive readers, they are uninterested inquirers of truth. 2 Timothy 3:5-7 ESV having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (6) For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, (7) always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Romans 16:17-18 ESV I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (18) For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.  We have covered in great length what worship is not. Worship is not praise, and praise is not worship. It is true however that one will lead to the other. Right in the middle of praising the Father one might enter into a place of worship and fall to his face. Or right in the middle of worship when one is in the physical position of bowing, kneeling, or laying face down he might enter into a place of praise and start shouting, singing, dancing, twirling, or one of the other many expressions of praise.
We covered many Old Testament examples of worship showing that it had nothing to do with music but with a position of the heart and the body. Now it is time to get into what the New Testament says about worship. The very first time that the word worship was used in the New Testament was in Matt.2:1-2 concerning the wise men coming to the baby Jesus to worship Him. Matthew 2:1-2 ESV Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, (2) saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." The Greek word is "proskuneo"̄ pronounced "pros-koo-neh'-o" from Strong's G4352 and means to kiss like a dog licking his master's hand, to crouch down, to prostrate oneself in homage to reverence and to adore. This word is used 60 times in the New Testament. A second Greek word for worship (G4576) in the New Testament is "sebomai" pronounced " seb'-om-ahee" and means to revere, adore in devout religious worship. Most of the time this is used to show those who have a false worship of the Father and the Son. Matthew 15:8-9 ESV "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (9) in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" To be continued:
Have you ever been in a difficult trial or in a dry wilderness place and you knew that you were in the trial or wilderness place because of your own sin and poor decisions? You knew that you SHOULD cry out to God for help and really NEEDED to cry out to God, but you were afraid to do so because of your sin.
Maybe your problems, trials, or wilderness place is not due to deliberate sin, but rather because of immaturity or wrong decisions based on the flesh. Sometimes even though I have prayed for guidance and wisdom, I still have done something that resulted in a heap of trouble. What should we do at such times? Psalm 25 teaches us to seek God in the hard times, no matter for what reason we are in those hard times. It seems that James 1:5-6 is a New Testament summary of Psalm 25. James 1:5-6 ESV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. The context of James’ counsel is that we all need God's wisdom in the midst of various trials. James tells us by faith to seek God and His wisdom in our trials. This is the same thing that David tells us to do in Psalm 25. GOD'S GLORY and OUR GOOD: No matter how difficult your trials or what their cause, seek the Lord for His wisdom and trust Him to work things out for His glory and for your good. David cries out to the Lord to teach him God's ways. We could say that this Psalm is a school-book lesson on how to live by faith so as to please the Father and be blessed by Him. Psalms 25:4-5 ESV Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. (5) Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalms 25:8-9 ESV Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. (9) He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
DO YOU WANT TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
In earlier posts we said that... 1. We must be THIRSTY for the things of God. 2. We must BELIEVE THE PROMISES of God. 3. We must be SURE of our SALVATION. 4. We need to ask ourselves "Who is going to be EXALTED"? FIFTH: 5. We must BELIEVE the REPORT of God over man. (John 12:38 ESV) so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" (John 12:39 ESV) Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, (John 12:40 ESV) "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them." There are a lot of "faith killers" out there and saddly many are in the church. Over the years I have been told over and over by family, friends and others within the body of Christ what I can and can't do concerning my walk with the Father. The most ridiculous is in the area of the work of the Holy Spirit. When I was a member of a certain denomination I was told that I could not lift my hands, dance in the Spirit, speak in tongues, or lay hands on people for healing. Of course all of these are in the Bible for Christians to have the liberty to exercise. I was told that those things of the Holy Spirit were for the Church "down the road", of course speaking about the Pentecostal church. I remember thinking how I had wished that I had a recorder taping the conversation so that I could play it back and let the person hear how dumb they sounded. It is a theology that says, God does certain things from His Word here in this church and He does certain things from His Word over there in that church, but the two cannot mix. If we want to be filled in the Holy Spirit, we need to be BELIEVING BELIEVERS concerning the things of God and not let our hearts be hardened towards the supernatural acts of God. Hebrews 3:7-8 ESV Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, (8) do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, No matter the cost, purpose in your heart that you choose God and His Word over friends and family and the traditions of men. It is a choice we all need to make because we all need to be tested in not having idols placed over God and His Word.
I will be exploring Ps.25 in this topic of seeking God in the hard times. The hard times could be our health. It could be our finances. It could be broken or damaged relationships. The hard times could be a result of choosing to live in a sin that you know is wrong, against God, damages your testimony, yet you can't seem to break the cycle.
Psalms 25:1 ESV Of David. To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. The first thing we see in Psalm 25 is that King David is offering up his heart to the Lord. If we are currently in hard times we have many choices. We can try though our own power, experience, and intellect find a way out. We can give up, grit our teeth and determine that this is a part of life as long as we are 98.6 and breathing and accept the hard times and live with them. Or we can truly seek the Lord in the middle of the hard times. The first step in this is to give up our heart to the Lord. It is admitting that you are at wits end and that even if you die you will love, worship, and praise the Father. Psalms 107:26-30 ESV They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; (27) they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end. (28) Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. (29) He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. (30) Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. CONTINUED TOMORROW
Command number 5 is DO GOD'S WILL:
The first 4 commands we covered earlier: 1. COMMAND #1: DON'T MAKE GOD'S HOUSE (YOUR BODY) A DEN OF THIEVES. (JN.2:13-18) 2. COMMAND #2: YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. (JN.3:3-7) 3. COMMAND #3: GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES. (JN.4:1-2) 4. COMMAND #4: WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH. (JN.4:23-24) Now we get to the fifth New Testament command. 5. DO THE WILL AND WORK OF GOD: (JN.4:34) We always hear believers quoting Jn.14:12, especially when it is talking about someone else's responsibility to take a stand in faith. John 14:12 ESV "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. From this Jn.14:12 verse we know that we are to do what our Lord did. This is true of Jn.4:34. John 4:34 ESV Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Of course we cannot go to nor are we called to go to a physical cross and die. We would die in vain to do so. But everything that our Lord did between His birth and the cross He did so as a Spirit-filled man and not as God. Therefore, because all that He accomplished He did so as a Spirit-filled man we can also do those things. It is the will of the Father that we accomplish His will. It is the will of the Father that we accomplish His work. 1. David understood the joy and responsibility of doing the will of the Father. Psalms 40:8 ESV I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." 2. We need to ask God to teach us to do His will. Psalms 143:10 ESV Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 3. How important is it to do the will of the Father? Matthew 7:21 ESV "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 1 John 2:17 ESV And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. Mark 3:33-35 ESV And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" (34) And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! (35) For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." To Be Continued:  It is easier to talk to people about preparation for hard times and tehends times when we are going through the hard times. When you can't find the items you need on the sheves of any store and when you try to order them they say you can't because of being "out of stock," it becomes a little more clear as to why we teach about stocking a few things back for emergencies.
When the smoke clears, the Coronavirus has made it's run through the world, and we can get back outside, please don't try to run down to the store and stock up thousands of dollars of stuff. Preparing for times when the trials have really hit the fan takes a little planning and sacrifice. As Debby and I were attending Bible College our monthly income was 600.00. That was a total of 600 dollars with 2 little boys. For 3 1/2 years we lived off of meatless spaghetti and a lot of beans and chili. We did what we had to do. The same is true when you go camping. If you are a normal camper you eat hotdogs and other foods you don't eat everyday in your home. It will be that way when all the stuff starts hitting teh fan. This should have been a wake-up call for the world. Things will get worse and more intensified, and it will last longer in duration. Therefore, getting food on yur shelf will be things that have a longer shelf-life and foods that have the best nutrition. We will need protein and carbs to maintain strength to do what will need to be done. When we speak about preparing we do not want to give the idea nor get the mindset of being a survivalist. The believer is called to be an overcomer and not a survivalist. However, in preparation we will be able to assist others who are not in the faith or are weak of faith. We encourage believers to store sufficient food, clothing, and where possible fuel for at least three months. Some prepare for one year. The best way to do this, is when you do your normal weekly shopping pick up one or two of the items on this list and store it away. We have not laid down an exact formula for what should be stored, but a foundation that you can build on based on your location and space. Stocking up on some items will: * Provide peace of mind as we obey the counsel to prepare. * Help ensure basic needs in case of personal or natural disaster. * Strengthen skills in preparing and using basic foods. Once you have stored the basic food items, you need to regularly include them in your daily meals so as to accustom yourself now in what you will eat later. This also allows you to rotate your stored items keeping them current in date. We suggest that the Saints concentrate on essential foods that sustain life: 1. Grains: Grains include wheat, rice, rolled oats, dried corn, pearled barley, and other cereal grains. Flour, cornmeal, and pasta products such as macaroni and spaghetti are also included. Each family should store various grain items that suit their individual circumstances. For example, rather than storing three to four hundred pounds of wheat per person, a family might choose to store two hundred pounds of wheat, one hundred pounds of flour, twenty-five pounds of rice, twenty-five pounds of rolled oats, twenty-five pounds of dried corn, and twenty-five pounds of macaroni per person. There are numerous combinations. This gives variety to the menu and encourages using and rotating the supply. It also provides choices for those who do not like or cannot eat a particular grain. Most grains can be dry-pack canned in small containers. This makes them more convenient to use and reduces the possibility of spoilage. Grains may also be stored in tightly sealed metal or heavy plastic containers. 2. Legumes: This is an inexpensive, nutritious protein food. This includes beans (soy, pinto, white, kidney, lima, winged, red, navy, pink, and black-eyed), split peas, lentils, and peanuts. They can be stored in clean, dry metal or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. They may also be dry-pack canned. 3. Fats and Oils: Fat is essential to every diet. Shortening, cooking oil, margarine, and mayonnaise are suggested for storage. Store fats in sealed containers in cool, dry, dark places and rotate them frequently. 4. Powdered Milk: Nonfat powdered milk, instant or regular, is an excellent storage item. It contains all the nutrients, except fat, found in fresh milk. In the past, storing large amounts of powdered milk has been recommended. However, this has often led to spoilage and waste. More recent studies show that smaller quantities of milk are adequate if people store and eat larger quantities of grains. Powdered milk can be stored in the original sealed packages, or if purchased in bulk, it can be stored in tightly covered metal or plastic containers. It can also be dry-pack canned. You may also use canned milk as part of the milk storage program, but you must rotate it regularly. 5. Salt: Nutritionists recommend iodized rather than plain salt, when it is available. Salt can be stored in its original container in a cool and dry place. 6. Sugar and Honey: Whether to store sugar or honey is a matter of personal choice. Sugar may harden and honey may crystallize and/or darken. Neither affects the safety of the product. Store honey in small containers. Then, if it crystallizes, you can immerse the containers in hot (not boiling) water to liquefy it. Store granulated sugar in a tightly covered metal or plastic container or place it on a shelf away from moisture in its unopened cloth or paper bag. Occasionally knead the bag to help prevent the sugar from hardening. Water: Water is more essential than food in sustaining life. Store a minimum of seven gallons of water per person for drinking and food preparation. Store an additional seven gallons per person of the same quality water for bathing, brushing teeth, and dishwashing. Use heavy plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Metal containers, which may corrode, tend to give water an unpleasant taste. If you have any doubt as to the bacterial safety of stored water, you may purify it by boiling vigorously for one to two minutes or by adding chlorine bleach (5 percent sodium hypochlorite solution). Generally, half a teaspoon of bleach will purify five gallons of clear water, and one teaspoon will purify five gallons of cloudy water. If you store it away from sunlight in clean containers, and if it is safe bacterially at the time of storage, water will remain pure indefinitely. One of the sure things about history is that it repeats itself. I am writing a commentary on the Book of Hosea. Let's look at a few verses in chapter 7 and see if anything seems current and familiar.
(7:4) They are all adulterers; they are like a heated oven whose baker ceases to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened (7:8) Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned. ( 7:11) Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria. (7:16) They return, but not upward; they are like a treacherous bow; WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN? In Hosea chapter 7, there are four charges made against Israel and their wrong direction in the areas of their morals, their politics, and their religion.
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AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
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