whosoeverinhim

I am going to begin this lesson repeating a verse by the apostle Paul, which is one of the later verses found in 2 Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 ‘…May the Lord himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, to keep their eyes focused on Him, and no matter what hardship comes upon them, keep their FAITH strong and their thoughts in God.

Paul is writing telling us the same thing in this letter.

No matter what hardship that confronts us, keep your eyes focused on God.

I was speaking this morning of a book titled ‘The Shack,’ as well as my 1^st book, ‘On the Trail of Life,’ in both books, there is blame put on God for taking a loved one from the main characters, in the two books.

God didn’t have anything to do with a loved one passing away.

That event was caused by Satan … and he thrives when we blame God for our hardships.

Read the story that is found in God’s Word, of the tale of Job and his hardships.

Who caused those hardships, ask yourself then read the Word.

Job 1

vs6 ‘…One day, the angels came to meet with the Lord in heaven. Satan also came and he stood there with them…’

vs7 ‘…The Lord said to Satan, where have you come from? Satan replied, I have been travelling all over the earth. I have been watching the things that happen there…’

Stop here for a minute … we are told Satan moves about freely … on this earth as well as in heaven.

vs8 ‘…Then the Lord said to Satan, you have seen Job, who is my servant. What do you think about him? There is no one on earth that is like him. He is a good and honest man. He is afraid to make me angry. He refuses to do evil things…’

Don’t you think that God, might be as impressed with ‘YOU,’ as He was with Job?

vs9 ‘…Satan answered the Lord, there is a very good reason why Job obeys you…’

vs10 ‘…You do not let any bad things happen to him. You keep him, his family and all his things safe. You have given him success with everything that he does. His many farm animals are everywhere…’

vs11 ‘…You should take away from him all the things that he has. Then he will certainly curse you very strongly…’

vs12 ‘…So the Lord said to Satan, I agree to give you power over all the things that belong to Job. But you must do nothing to hurt Job himself. After that, Satan went away…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

God didn’t make the problems with Job, Satan did.

In the book, ‘the Shack,’ Mackenzie Allen Phillips (Mac), blamed God for his youngest daughter being abducted, raped and killed, but it wasn’t God that caused this hardship, it was Satan.

In my book, ‘On the Trail of Life,’ Thomas Hardee blamed God for his wife being killed in a terrible automobile accident, but it wasn’t God that caused Thomas’ hardship, it was Satan.

Today in our simple human lives, our hardships are not caused by God, all of the hardships that are found on this entire world today, have ALL put on us by Satan alone, himself.

Satan wants us to blame God for our hardships, and God has nothing to be blamed for.

God loves us, He wants for each one of us to have everything that we need to make it through this life we are living in, but the thing is, WE NEED GOD.

The main message that Paul is telling us in 2 Thessalonians, is for us believers to keep our hope, encouragement and correction focused on God when we face persecution.

We are reminded by Paul that eventually Christ will return to bring final judgement onto the wicked and he urges us Christians to remain strong and in Him.

2 Thessalonians 1

vs6 ‘…God will do what is right: he will bring suffering on those who make you suffer…’

vs7 ‘…and he will give relief to you who suffer and to us as well. He will do this when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven with his mighty angels…’

vs8 ‘…with a flaming fire, to punish those who reject God and who do not obey the Good News about our Lord Jesus…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

We are not to seek vengeance against those that make us suffer.

Romans 12:19 ‘…Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

God is going to take care of things for us … more than we could ever think possible.

God in His WRATH, He will make what we could do seem like a pat on our enemies back.

Keep your focus on God and allow Him to handle your grief.

Continue with Paul’s writings.

2 Thessalonians 1

vs8 ‘…with a flaming fire, to punish those who reject God and who do not obey the Good News about our Lord Jesus…’

vs9 ‘…They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from his glorious might…’

vs10 ‘…when he comes on that Day to receive glory from all his people and honor from all who believe. You too will be among them, because you have believed the message that we told you…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Paul writes those who reject the Good News … and google.com informs us with this:

The term ‘Good News’ primarily refers to the foundational message of Christianity—also known as the Gospel.

Paul gives us the Gospel for us Gentiles in 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15

vs1 ‘…Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand…’

vs2 ‘…by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain…’

vs3 ‘…For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures…’

vs4 ‘…and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

Why is this not taught in the man-made religions found throughout this world?

SMH (shake my head).

To my brothers and sisters out there in this world of computers and phones that are reading this  lesson,

OPEN YOUR BIBLES AND READ THE WORD THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.

Protect yourselves and make sure that you are READY.

I’m not talking for you to build a bomb shelter or a bomb proof room, in the ground in your back yard.

I’m not talking about storing food today for tomorrow and beyond.

I’m talking about you getting your relationship with Jesus Christ in order.

Make Jesus your closest and dearest friend.

TRUST in the words that we have been given in His Word that He wants for our ears to HEAR.

From Jesus’ own mouth, if you use a  RED LETTER Bible, this verse is written in RED ink.

Acts 9:15

‘…But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…The Lord said to Ananias, Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

‘…But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel…’ ESV (English Standard Version)

‘…The Lord said to him, Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel…’ NIV ( New International Version)

‘…But the Lord said, Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel…’ NLT (New Living Translation)

These words found in the book of Acts, are from the crucified, resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ speaking to a man by the name of Ananias, a believing Jew that lived in Damascus, a member of the Christian movement, the Way.

Jesus CHOSE Saul of Tarsus to teach this entire world what He, wants for us to know.

‘Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.’

There is no one left unmentioned on this earth.

Here is one more verse found in the book of Acts, that we should ALL know.

Acts 13:9 ‘…But ^[a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

Footnotes

^[a]Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.

I chose to use the AMP version, because of the accompanied footnotes.

I’m going to end this lesson, using the last verse from Paul’s letter.

2 Thessalonians 3:18 ‘…May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

God, through His GRACE, He is offering each one of us LIFE in the presence of Jesus Christ, FOREVER, Eternity.

OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND STUDY THE WORD OF GOD.

I want to invite you to join me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

Won’t you JOIN me?

I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

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So, this morning we are going to write a little about Paul’s writings and how they have been placed in our Bibles.

Paul’s thirteen (13) letters are arranged in our modern Bibles according to the length (from the longest to shortest) of each letter, they are not arranged chronologically as to when they were written (from the earliest to the last).

There is some variance as to which book was written first and which one was second, but with that said, we should remember that it was Jesus Christ that CHOSE Saul of Tarsus to teach this entire world what God wants for us to know.

I get that above statement from the book of Acts.

Acts 9:15

‘…But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…The Lord said to Ananias, Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

‘…But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel…’ ESV (English Standard Version)

‘…The Lord said to him, Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel…’ NIV ( New International Version)

‘…But the Lord said, Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel…’ NLT (New Living Translation)

Jesus made it clear that He CHOSE Saul of Tarsus to teach the entire world His Message.

I have wondered for several years why this verse has been missed by so many that consider themselves Christians.

Help me voice this message to those, that you meet.

Let others know the words that are found in the Word of God.

Jesus wants to give us the GIFT of Life, but we MUST believe what He is telling us in His written Word, the Word of TRUTH.

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

Remember what is waiting for you by speaking out loud, what is found in the Word of God.

Romans 10:9 ‘…that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

So, getting back to 1 Thessalonians, the main message is that Paul is telling the church at Thessalonica how much he notices them living their lives in holiness, love and hope. Paul is telling us, the reader of 1 Thessalonians how we should live a life of holiness, and live our lives full of love and hope while we patiently wait for the return of Jesus Christ.

We don’t know when God the Father is going to turn off the light switch and this earth, as we know it, is going to be completed and come to an end, but we should always be ready for when that event does take place.

Readily awaiting eternity so we will be in the presence of Jesus forever.

There may be a few of you that are going to ask if that will be difficult, and assuredly I can answer, YES.

But I also know from what has been written in the pages that fill our Bibles, it will most definitely be worth it.

Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians around 50–51 AD from Corinth, 1 Thessalonians is likely the earliest surviving letter of the Apostle Paul.

He wrote this letter to commend the young, persecuted church, and answer their questions regarding the afterlife, and encourage them to continue living steadfast Christian lives.

The apostle Paul is writing to teach us, living today in the 21^st century, what Jesus wants for us to know.

During his second missionary journey, Paul, along with his companions Silas and Timothy, arrived in the bustling Macedonian city of Thessalonica. Although he had early success sharing the gospel, local opposition accused the new Christians of defying the Roman emperor by serving ‘another king, Jesus.’ This intense persecution forced Paul and his companions to sneak out of the city under cover of night for their own safety.

Paul traveled onward to Athens, but he remained deeply concerned for the welfare of the new, vulnerable believers, that he had to leave behind. He sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the church and help strengthen their faith. When Timothy returned, he brought Paul encouraging news: the Thessalonian believers were standing firm and remaining faithful.

1 Thessalonians 1

vs3 ‘…For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm…’

vs4 ‘…Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own…’

vs5 ‘…For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

In history, time wise, this was roughly 20 years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I look back throughout time, and I see where man’s religions have taken a compete 180 degree change from what this world actually seen in the 1^st century.

Replacement theology, where most religions teach today that we have replaced the Jewish nation of Jesus’ day, that entire idea is nowhere written in the Word of God, it is nothing but a man-made belief.

There is a denomination that follows the writings that were by the apostle Peter.

They lock themselves in a room and elect a man that will be their religious leader, they practice man-made beliefs and they do not follow God’s lead that has been written in His Word.

We could go on and on and continue with denomination after denomination, but we NEED to realize, THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.

Instead of READING the Word of God and FOLLOWING His lead, so many of these man-made denominations choose to teach the words that they themselves want to teach, they even write their own words to be read aloud and in front of their congregations.

We are not told that we should do that.

The apostle Paul sent Timothy to check up on the church at Thessalonica and check up on them … but what do you think would happen if Paul could send him to check on this world today, what would he think?

Here is what Timothy told the apostle Paul after his visit, checking up on the church at Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 3:6 ‘…Now Timothy has come back, and he has brought us the welcome news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always think well of us and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

What do you think that Jesus would say about us today IF He looked down on this earth?

God’s WRATH is keeping quiet, waiting for us human beings, to seek His GRACE.

The day is quickly approaching, whenever that day has been determined by God our Father, when enough is enough.

These words written by the apostle Paul have been given to us to teach us what God wants for us to know.

Paul’s thirteen (13) books should be opened every day, especially on Sunday mornings instead of spewing the words that in some cases, have been purchased online and sold because they sound good.

Instead of worrying about what sounds good, we should seek those words that God is telling us.

We are SAVED through FAITH.

FAITH in what God is telling us.

Not in faith in what we want to hear, BUT FAITH IN THE WORDS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.

His Word, our Holy Bibles has been given to us by the Holy Spirit so that we would know.

Just because human words are not found in the particular version of the Bible that we are reading, that doesn’t mean that idea is false, maybe it simply means we’re using the wrong words.

Our Bibles in the English language, does not use the word ‘RAPTURE.’ What is commonly used, are the words ‘CAUGHT UP,’ or ‘TAKEN UP.’

Starting in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we are given the events that will occur at the RAPTURE.

The Body of Christ, Jesus’ church is going to be removed from this earth, and the seven (7) years of Tribulation is going to follow this departure.

These verses should be studied by us daily, so we are ready to go.

Ask yourself: ARE YOU READY?

You better be like a boy scout and ‘BE PREPARED.’

You better OPEN the Word of God and READ.

1 Thessalonians 4

vs13 ‘… My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won’t grieve over them and be like people who don’t have any hope…’

vs14 ‘…We believe Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died…’

vs15 ‘…Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won’t go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died…’

vs16 ‘…With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life…’

vs17 ‘…Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever…’

vs18 ‘…Encourage each other with these words…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

Ask yourself out loud: ARE YOU READY?

Continuing in the book, Paul’s message continues to GET US READY.

1 Thessalonians 5

vs1 ‘…I don’t need to write you about the time or date when all this will happen…’

vs2 ‘…You surely know that the Lord’s return will be as a thief coming at night…’

vs3 ‘…People will think they are safe and secure. But destruction will suddenly strike them like the pains of a woman about to give birth. And they won’t escape…’

vs4 ‘…My dear friends, you don’t live in darkness, and so that day won’t surprise you like a thief…’

vs5 ‘…You belong to the light and live in the day. We don’t live in the night or belong to the dark…’

vs6 ‘…Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert…’

vs7 ‘…People sleep during the night, and some even get drunk…’

vs8 ‘…But we belong to the day. So, we must stay sober and let our faith and love be like a suit of armor. Our firm hope that we will be saved is our helmet…’

vs9 ‘…God doesn’t intend to punish us, but wants us to be saved by our Lord Jesus Christ…’

vs10 ‘…Christ died for us, so we could live with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes…’

vs11 ‘…This is why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

Our ONLY response can be that we BELIEVE.

READ His Word so that you will know.

Stop following what this world has taught us for nearly 2000 years now, and FOLLOW Jesus’ lead.

OPEN your Bible and READ His Word.

I want to invite you to join me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com

Let’s continue in Paul’s writings, this morning we are going to  open the book of Colossians.

Remember now, Paul is in prison as he writes this letter to the church at Colossae.

The main message found in the book of Colossians is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God and the creator of all things. He holds all of creation together and is the head of the church.

His CHURCH, the Body of Christ.

Not the church that follows the writings of the apostle Peter.

Not the church that wants you to feel good about yourself.

Not the church found on the corner of Main street in just about every town in America.

But HIS CHURCH.

Colossians 1:15 ‘…who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature…’ AKJV

JESUS CHRIST our Savior and Protector.

Colossians 1:20 ‘…Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

We are not told that we have to do anything, God did it, FOR US.

This shows how Sovereign God is.

This shows us how much God loves each one of us.

Colossians 1:22 ‘…But now you have become God’s friends. This happened because Christ’s human body died on the cross. As a result, God has brought you to himself. As you stand in front of him, you are completely good and clean inside. He sees nothing in you that is bad…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

If you were to attend a man-made religion today they’d tell you what you need to give-up, what you need to stop doing, what you need to do and how much money you need to put in the offering basket … but ALL of that is different than what God tells us in this verse.

Who do you figure is lying to you?

God or mankind?

Colossians 2

vs6 ‘…Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him…’

vs7 ‘…Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Be stronger in your FAITH that you were taught … taught and learned from the Word of God, NOT what you were taught and remembered from a man-made religion on Sunday morning’s.

Keep your FAITH and TRUST in Jesus. Allow Him to protect you and keep you safe.

This next part might be difficult for you, but it is the Word of God.

Colossians 2

vs18 ‘…Some people may tell you that you must always serve other people like a slave. They may tell you that you must worship angels. Do not let those people speak bad things against you. They like to talk a lot about the special things that God has shown them. They think that they are very clever. But their ideas only come from human minds…’

vs19 ‘…False teachers like that do not receive their message from Christ. As God’s people, we are like a body, and Christ is like our head. He is the one who causes the whole body to be strong. He helps us to work well together, like the different parts of a body. Then we can all grow properly, because it is God who is helping us to grow…’

vs20 ‘…Remember that your old nature has died with Christ. So, the powerful spirits that rule this world no longer have any authority over you. You do not need to serve them, because you do not belong to this world now. You do not need to obey their rules…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

This is the difference between the Word of God, the words that He wants us to know and share with others compared to the words spewed in man-made religions, where they try and make themselves appear wise and god-worthy.

This is why I tell pastors, open your Bible and READ His words to the people in your congregation. Invest God’s knowledge into their lives. Make them aware what God wants for them to see.

READ the words that God has laid out for them to see.

TEACH them how to know and find God.

Stop putting your own spin on the perfect Word that God has already given to us.

Just think of the wealth that mankind would give to God to help others, so they could see, compared to your offering basket that is located at every exit door, at the back of the church and passed through the seats during every service.

Pastors, take your eyes off yourself and look out at your congregation.

Those people are there for Him … NOT YOU!!!

Allow me to continue with these next 3 verses.

Colossians 2

vs21 ‘…They teach, Do not touch things like that! or, Do not eat that kind of food! or, Keep away from that thing…’

vs22 ‘…Rules like that are only about things that spoil when you use them. They are rules that come from human ideas…’

vs23 ‘…They teach you ideas about what you must do to worship God. They teach you to serve other people like a slave. They say that you must hurt yourself. You must show that you control your body. Rules like that may seem to be wise, but really they are not worth anything. They cannot stop our weak human nature from doing the bad things that we want to do…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, OUR SINS WERE FORGIVEN.

Period … end of story … nothing else needs to be said.

WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.

All we have to do is have the FAITH and BELIEVE that it is so.

Visit a man-made religion and we have to ask for forgiveness every moment that we are awake … and we need to tithe in the offering basket, and our sins will be forgiven.

God is PERFECT. He has given us the Word so we could find out HIS TRUTH.

All we have to do is OPEN our Bibles and READ His Word for ourselves.

Colossians 3

vs1 ‘…You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God…’

vs2 ‘…Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth…’

vs3 ‘…For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…’

vs4 ‘…Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

TRUST what God wants you to know is the TRUTH.

HAVE FAITH AND BELIEVE IN HIM.

As I said earlier in this lesson, the main message in the book of Colossians is showing God’s Supremacy and the Sufficiency of having Jesus Christ in your life.

ALLOW JESUS TO WALK WITH YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.

As the title, from my latest book, Follow in Jesus’ FOOTSTEPS.

TRUST where He takes you.

Be in communication with Him at all times.

One of my favorite verses found in Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:17

‘…Pray without ceasing…’ AKJV

‘…and never stop praying…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

‘…Pray at all times…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

‘…pray at all times…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…pray without ceasing…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…constantly pray…’ NET (New English Translation)

How can God’s Word be any more plain?

We are to FULLY rely on Him for everything.

If and when we visit a man-made religion, we should go because we want to be in the presence of God the Father.

We want to HEAR Him speak to us.

When we leave the man-made building, we should respond HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD … not comment how good the sermon was or how the music was or the air conditioner was really working or how good the coffee and doughnuts were.

WE CAME TO VISIT WITH GOD … PERIOD!!!

Colossians 4:2 ‘…Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

This book is full of knowledge just waiting for us to learn from it.

Colossians 4

vs5 ‘…Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have…’

vs6 ‘…Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Here is a verse we should keep in our memory always, everywhere we go.

Romans 10:9 ‘…because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved …’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

How many times throughout your year in a man-made religion have you heard this verse?

I’d bet probably not often.

OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SHARE THE WORDS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT WITH THOSE AROUND YOU.

GOD LOVES YOU … GOD LOVES THEM AS WELL.

I want to invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

I love ALL of y’all. I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com

This morning we are going to look at the writings that the apostle Paul gave us in the book of Philippians.

Paul begins:

Philippians 1:1 ‘…Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons…’ AKJV

This letter is addressed to the entire congregation (all saints) at Philippi, to be read by the bishops and deacons (the leaders) in that church … I’m 68 and I’ve NEVER heard this letter taught from the Bible.

This is the reason I say our ‘church buildings’ we find, all throughout America, are nothing but, man-made buildings housing man-made religions NOT interested in teaching us God’s Word, they are more interested in accumulating our money in the offering baskets and teaching what ‘they’ want for us to hear.

God’s Word is rarely even opened or looked at anymore, and if it is opened, the incorrect messages are taught by incompetent people, they don’t want to teach us what God wants us to hear, they instead want to preach about their relatives doing their laundry or a relative that lives on a train traveling the country side, man-made sermons.

Let’s this morning READ the words that God wants for us to HEAR.

From verse 1 through verse 11, the apostle Paul is in prison and instead of asking for anything for himself, he is unselfishly praying for those people at Philippi.

This should be shouted from every rooftop, throughout every day … don’t focus on what is going wrong in your own life, look to others and pray for them.

Pray that they’re happy, and pray that they’re full.

Pray that they’re healthy and pray that they’re protected under God’s protection.

TAKE YOUR EYES OFF YOURSELF and pray for someone else.

Worry about how someone else is doing and STOP looking at yourself.

Philippians 1

vs12 ‘…My friends, I want you to know this. The trouble that has happened to me has helped more people to know about God’s good news…’

vs13 ‘…I am in a prison because I am Christ’s servant. The soldiers in the king’s house and all the people here know that…’

vs14 ‘…Also, because I am in a prison, most of the other believers here trust the Lord even more. The Lord has made them brave, so that they are not afraid to speak God’s message to people…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

EDIFY

There is an old Chinese proverb: feed a man a fish and he eats for a day … teach a man to fish and he will eat forever.

EDIFY

Teach those around you the Word of God. Speak with your mouths the words that you have found. Let others know how what you’ve been taught is not the real message, teach them the Message that God wants for us all to HEAR.

EDIFY

Philippians 1:27 ‘…Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

EDIFY … stop looking at what you think is wrong in your life and instead …

… THANK GOD for what He has given you.

Let others know how thankful you are. Stand tall and walk with pride … be proud that you have God in your life.

Philippians 2:1 ‘…Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you. You have fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one another…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Here is some very WISE advice that every one of should take to heart today in the 21^st century.

Philippians 2:3 ‘…Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

I always felt bad when I repeated something … especially the amount of times I have taught and repeated Acts 9:15 … but here is a verse we should ALL remember.

Philippians 3:1 ‘…In conclusion, my friends, be joyful in your union with the Lord. I don’t mind repeating what I have written before, and you will be safer if I do so…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

I think we will ALL be safer when we repeat the truth.

Philippians 4

vs4 ‘…Always be happy because you belong to the Lord. I will say that again, Be happy…’

vs5 ‘…Be kind and patient in a way that everyone can see. Remember that the Lord is near…’

vs6 ‘…Do not worry about anything. Instead, pray to God about everything. Ask him to help you with the things that you need. And thank him for his help…’

vs7 ‘…If you do that, God will give you peace in your minds. That peace is so great that nobody can completely understand it. You will not worry or be afraid, because you belong to Christ Jesus…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

God is telling us through the apostle Paul that we are to be HAPPY.

There is nothing that we need to worry about. If there is a problem in our life, GO TO HIM IN PRAYER.

THANK HIM FOR WHAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU.

Take your eyes off what you think you need and look across the room and notice what someone else might need.

The book of Philippians is short, so this mornings lesson is also going to be short.

I asked google.com, what was the main message found in the book of Philippians. Here is the response:

The core themes of the book include:

Joy in Suffering: Paul highlights joy and rejoicing throughout the letter. He teaches that circumstances (including his own imprisonment) do not dictate a Christian’s happiness.

Christ as the Example: The letter contains one of the most profound descriptions of Jesus’ humility (Philippians 2:5-11), urging believers to adopt the same selfless mindset.

Church Unity: Paul pleads with the Philippians to put aside personal conflicts and selfish ambition, working together with one mind and purpose to advance the gospel.

Contentment and Peace: The letter provides actionable encouragement to focus on what is good, trust God with anxieties, and find contentment in every situation.

Calm down. RELAX. Let the Spirit of God fill your body with His love towards your fellow man. CHILL.

God doesn’t want us to picket abortion clinics.

God doesn’t want us to protest in His name.

Show His love towards your fellow man.

EDIFY.

I want to invite you to join me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

OPEN your Bible and let’s study His Word.

Join me as we search His Word so we can follow Him.

I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com

We are going to begin this lesson looking at a verse in the OT.

Deuteronomy 29:29 ‘…The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

Here is a little closer of a look at the first part of that verse:

Deuteronomy 29:29a ‘…There are some things that the Lord our God has kept secret…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

This shows us mere human beings, just how sovereign God really is. God didn’t have to tell us that He keeps secrets … but He did. Remember this fact as we begin our study in the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 1

vs4 ‘…Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love…’

vs5 ‘…God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose…’ GNT

God knew all the way back from the beginning of time that He was going to SAVE us Gentiles. But reading the entire OT you would never read that statement anywhere or in any book.

Even when man divided up God’s Word into 2 sections, the OT and the NT, the 4 synoptic gospels do not include the Gentiles being saved either.

It is because of that reason why I believe the 3 synoptic gospels and the gospel of John, should ALL be included in with the OT.

In the book of Acts, we can READ in chapter 9, where God decided to let it be known that He was going to save the Gentiles.

Romans 11:11

‘…I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy…’ AKJV

‘…Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves…’ NLT (New Living Translation)

God knew beforehand. It’s been written in God’s Word back when Paul wrote his letters back in the 1^st century.

The Jews knew but they were blinded. Christendom has had the letters, but they too have been blinded. I believe Satan is the reason their loss of sight. Why else can an excuse be made?

Ephesians 1:11 ‘…All things are done according to God’s plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning…’ GNT

The main message found in the book of Ephesians is that God’s grand plan is to unite everything in heaven and on earth under Jesus Christ, His Son.

Here we haven’t made it half way in the 1st chapter and already, all we’ve seen is God’s plan for us.

Ephesians 1:23 ‘…The church is Christ’s body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere…’ GNT

The church is NOT a Catholic, Pentecostal, Methodist, Baptist or non-denominational building.

The church is Christ’s body. Christ’s body is made up of BELIEVERS seeking to find His Word.

We MUST OPEN up our Bibles to find His Word … the Word that is meant for us to see.

One of my favorite verses found in the Word of God:

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God…’ AKJV

We don’t have to do anything except BELIEVE what is written in the Word. Not the words that are preached on a Sunday morning, but rather the words that God has intended for us to HEAR in His Word.

Ephesians 2

vs11 ‘…You Gentiles by birth – called the uncircumcised by the Jews, who call themselves the circumcised (which refers to what men do to their bodies) – remember what you were in the past…’

vs12 ‘…At that time you were apart from Christ. You were foreigners and did not belong to God’s chosen people. You had no part in the covenants, which were based on God’s promises to his people, and you lived in this world without hope and without God…’

vs13 ‘…But now, in union with Christ Jesus you, who used to be far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ…’ GNT

We are going to dive deeper into this secret of God.

Ephesians 3

vs3 ‘…God revealed his secret plan and made it known to me. I have written briefly about this…’

vs4 ‘…and if you will read what I have written, you can learn about my understanding of the secret of Christ…’

vs5 ‘…In past times human beings were not told this secret, but God has revealed it now by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets…’

vs6 ‘…The secret is that by means of the gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God’s blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus…’ GNT

In the book of Ephesians, God is revealing His secret to Paul so we all will know.

To contradict what has and is being taught in the man-made religions throughout this world, we have not been told we are replacements for the Jewish individual, we are offered everlasting life through the GRACE of God.

To repeat the verse, we studied just a moment ago:

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God…’ AKJV

Now throughout the entire OT, there is no mention of a 2000 year period known as the times of the Gentile.

Right now, there has been 1983 years since the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

In the past I have made the comment, who’s to say there may not be more secrets that God has kept to Himself that will happen before the end is here?

ONLY God knows for sure.

We are told to be READY. We are told to TRUST in Him.

Ephesians 4

vs20 ‘…But when you learned about Christ, you did not learn to do things like that…’

vs21 ‘…I am sure that you have heard about him properly. People taught you the true message that comes from Jesus…’

vs22 ‘…They taught you to change the way that you live. You must put away the nature that you had before. That old nature deceived you. As a result, you wanted to do things that would destroy you…’

vs23 ‘…Instead, let God’s Spirit make you think in a new way…’

vs24 ‘…Take up the new nature that God has prepared for you. That nature is like God’s own nature. Then you will live in a truly good way that pleases God…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

God is what makes us NEW. We cannot just decide that we are going to be different and then go and break new trails. We have to leave what we’ve known, and we have to OPEN up His Word and FOLLOW the words that He wants us to HEAR.

God is the One that has given us LIFE and He is the ONLY One that we can find the words that He wants us to FOLLOW.

We have to trust in Him.

We have to have the FAITH to BELIEVE in Him.

Ephesians 6

vs10 ‘… Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…’

vs11 ‘…Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…’

vs12 ‘…For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places…’

vs13 ‘…Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…’

vs14 ‘…Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness…’

vs15 ‘…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…’

vs16 ‘…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one…’

vs17 ‘…And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…’

vs18 ‘…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…’ NKJV (New King James Version)

God knows what we are going to be up against every day of our lives.

God loves us and He wants us to be prepared to defend ourselves from the evil one.

God has given us His armor that we should wear every day when we leave our house.

Notice, among the pieces of armor, there is ONLY one offense piece of equipment.

That equipment is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Our Holy Bibles, God has given us His Word so we could defend ourselves.

We can know when someone is lying to us when they tell us something that is NOT written in the Word.

If we are wise and knowledgeable with what is in the Word, we can use it offensively and defensively.

I want to invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com

We are going to take a small detour this morning, and we are going to speak on the ‘prison letters’ that were written by our apostle Paul.

The reason for this is because of the 4 letters that were written by Paul while he was imprisoned, 3 of those letters are the next 3 books in the Bible that we are going to study.

Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.

Paul mentions that he is in prison in these verses:

Ephesians 3:1 ‘…That is why I pray for you. I, Paul, am in prison because I serve Christ Jesus. He has sent me to help you Gentiles…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Ephesians 4:1 ‘…Because I serve the Lord, I am here in prison. I really want you to live as God’s own people should live. God has called you to come to him. He has chosen you to be his own people…’ EASY

Philippians 1:13 ‘…I am in a prison because I am Christ’s servant. The soldiers in the king’s house and all the people here know that…’ EASY

Colossians 4:3 ‘…Also pray for us. Ask God to make it possible for us to tell people his message. We want people to understand the message about Christ that was a secret before. I am now in a prison because I taught people those things…’ EASY

Colossians 4:18 ‘…I, Paul, am writing these words at the end of this letter with my own hand. Remember to pray for me while I am in prison. I pray that God will continue to be very kind to you…’ EASY

Besides the times he spent in prison, Paul survived horrific physical, environmental, and emotional abuse for his missionary work. According to his own accounts, these hardships included:

Severe beatings, shipwrecks, environmental and travel perils, physical deprivation, hostility and betrayal, the ‘Thorn in the Flesh’ that caused him much personal stress.

Just ask yourself, could you today survive such hardships?

This is from the mouth of Jesus Christ.

Acts 9:16 ‘…I myself will tell him about the many troubles that he will have. He will have much pain on my behalf…’ EASY

Being locked up in prison is unthinkable to most human beings today, but can you just imagine what Paul went through to allow you and I to have the opportunity to HEAR what God wants for us to know, and there is a large population of people that call themselves christians that won’t even read the letters that Paul wrote for us.

There are many that do not believe the words I speak, but I repeat what God has given us through His Word … so in essence they are saying they don’t want to believe what God is telling them.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES GOD FEEL?

I know that I am not perfect. I know that to, many people, my hair is way too long. I know that I upset many when they see me drink a beer or two.

God has created EVERYTHING in this world that we can see in front of us. God has forgiven me, and all of us, for ALL OF OUR SINS … ALL OF THEM.

It is a shame there are those human beings that feel they should be more judicious than God Himself.

The apostle Paul loved Jesus more than any of us will ever really be able to know.

The apostle Paul loved each one of us because he loved Jesus.

Paul suffered for us because he wanted us to know what each one of us have waiting for us, after we leave this body that we are living in.

Jesus Christ died on a cross to forgive us of our sins so that we could have the promise to live eternity in the presence of Him after we leave this life.

Jesus did that for us before we were perfect, while we were still sinners.

Here are several different English versions for you to read this verse in.

Romans 5:8

‘…But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

‘…But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

‘…But God has shown us how much he loves us. Even when we still did not obey God, Christ died on our behalf…’ EASY

‘…But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…’ NET (New English Translation)

What more proof do you need?

GOD LOVES YOU … NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK YOU’VE DONE TO HARM HIM … GOD LOVES YOU!!!

I don’t quote from the teachings that Jesus taught the Jews very often, but here is a verse written by John to the Jewish believers.

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…’ AKJV

You might ask, why do I say that John wrote to the Jewish individual only.

John 1:19 ‘…And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou…’ AKJV

John NEVER speaks of Everlasting Life being offered to the Gentile individual.

John NEVER speaks of Jesus’ death, burial or resurrection and how it is our promise of Everlasting Life for the non-Jew (Gentile).

John didn’t understand what it meant to die and to be resurrected back to life … how could he preach it?

How do I know John didn’t understand … it is written in the synoptic gospels of Mark and Luke.

Mark 9

vs31 ‘…For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day…’

vs32 ‘…But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him…’ AKJV

Luke 18

vs31 ‘…Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished…’

vs32 ‘…For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on…’

vs33 ‘…and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again…’

vs34 ‘…And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken…’ AKJV

John writes in his own gospel, on the day of Jesus’ resurrection when John was standing in the tomb of Jesus, that, as of yet, he didn’t understand the Scriptures.

John 20:9 ‘…For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead…’ AKJV

But we are shown in several verses that have been meant for us Gentiles to BELIEVE.

Acts 16:31 ‘…Paul and Silas said to him, Believe in the Lord Jesus and then God will save you. He will save you and the people who live in your house, if they believe too…’ EASY

Romans 10:9 ‘…The message is this: You must say clearly that Jesus is the Lord. Also, you must believe deep inside yourself that God raised him to life again after his death. Then God will save you…’ EASY

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…When you believed in Jesus, God saved you because he is very kind. You could not save yourselves, but that is God’s gift to you…’ EASY

How many people out there in this world do not READ the Word of God?

They instead listen to their pastor or priests in their man-made religions and think that the man-made sermons heard on Sunday mornings will save them, when actually, those Sunday morning sermons have done nothing but confuse the Truth of God.

The ONLY way to HEAR the words that God intends for you to HEAR is to OPEN up your Bible and READ His words for yourself.

Mankind, over the 2000 years since Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection have wandered some from the actual teachings that have been meant for us to abide by, that is written in the Word of God.

I want to invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and continue in His Word.

Join me … I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com

So, last week we studied the book of Galatians.

As I was writing our lesson, I found a couple of verses that stuck with me.

Galatians 6

vs4 ‘…You should each judge your own conduct. If it is good, then you can be proud of what you yourself have done, without having to compare it with what someone else has done…’

vs5 ‘…For each of you have to carry your own load…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Sit back and just take a look around this world that we live in today …

There are people that claim they were born the wrong sex … they are changing themselves from boys into girls and from girls into boys.

In essence they are saying … God made a mistake.

There are hundreds of thousands of people having plastic surgery today. Their breasts are too small, their nose is too big, their whatever.

Again, they’re saying … God made a mistake.

People are having surgery because of skin cancer.

There are people that get upset because they’re approaching the age when their parents passed away, they’re worried their time might be coming to an end.

There are so many individuals living today, that are basically ‘putting the cart before the horse.’

I stopped worrying about my tomorrow. I made sure all my bills are currently paid, I’ve crossed all my ‘t’s’ and dotted all of my ‘i’s.’

I’ve made sure all my relationships here on this earth are close but MOST importantly … I’ve made sure my relationship with Jesus Christ is strong and secure.

I cannot do anything that is going to prevent me from one day dying. It is one of those FOR SURE THINGS, that one day, is going to happen.

Our relationship that we have with Jesus Christ should be our ONLY priority that remains. It should be our ONLY concern that we have.

We should be so certain in our relationship with Jesus that we can calmly sit back and relax and know that God is walking with us in our every step throughout our day.

Here are those verses again I found in Galatians.

Galatians 6

vs4 ‘…You should each judge your own conduct. If it is good, then you can be proud of what you yourself have done, without having to compare it with what someone else has done…’

vs5 ‘…For each of you have to carry your own load…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

OPEN your Bible and strengthen your relationship with Him.

Allow His Word to creep into every crevice of your life.

Here is some Scripture that should comfort you.

Philippians 4

vs6 ‘…Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart…’

vs7 ‘…And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

1 Peter 5:7 ‘…having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Matthew 6:34  ‘…Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own…’ NIV (New International Version)

Psalm 55:22 ‘…Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved…’ AKJV

Calm down and be comforted.

Keep your thoughts and your prayers in Him.

OPEN His Word and STUDY.

Ask yourself: are you following His lead or are you repeating and breaking new trails?

God wants for us to have eternal life after this world is completed … I reckon we need to ask ourselves the question: do we want to spend Eternity in Jesus, or do we want a future of eternal punishment?

Matthew 25:46 ‘…These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

After this world is completed, do we want to be in Jesus’ presence forever, or do we want an endless life of torment and destruction?

Once again, the CHOICE is ours … it’s called our free-will.

ONLY God the Father knows when the end will come.

All we can do is be READY.

Just as we can learn in the Bible of the women with 10 lamps (MAT25:1-13).

We have been taught to be prepared.

I remember when I was a young boy, I was a cub scout, and our motto was to be prepared.

We prepare ourselves by knowing what is going on around us.

We prepare ourselves by knowing what God wants and expects from us.

The way we find out what God wants and expects from us is not learned by listening to a pastor or a priest preach to us a sermon that they’ve written, we find out what God wants and expects from us by READING and STUDYING His Word that He has given us.

We have ONLY gone through 4 of the 13 books that Paul has given us.

We are told in the Word that Jesus CHOSE Saul of Tarsus to be our teacher … I think we should ask why do our man-made religions direct us in other places?

Here to me is the most powerful and pivotable verse in the entire Bible. If we were reading a ‘RED LETTER’ Bible, this verse is written  in RED ink.

 Acts 9:15

‘…But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…The Lord said to Ananias, Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

‘…But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel…’ ESV (English Standard Version)

‘…The Lord said to him, Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel…’ NIV ( New International Version)

‘…But the Lord said, Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel…’ NLT (New Living Translation)

The above verse is from the mouth of the crucified, resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ.

Jesus CHOSE Saul of Tarsus to teach the entire world what God wants for us to know.

Here is another important verse from the book of Acts.

Acts 13:9 ‘…But ^[a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

Footnotes

^[a]Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.

I copied this verse from the AMP version on purpose, because of the attached footnotes.

In our lives, we have been given the opportunity to use the free-will that God gave to each one of us. This is just one more time when we get to decide for ourselves.

We are going to choose to live our life the way that we want to live our life … we are going to choose if we are going to believe in God or not … we are going to go to a man-made religion every Sunday morning and listen to a made up sermon by another human being or we are going to sit down and READ the Bible.

We don’t need to worry about tomorrow; God has taken care of that for us.

All we need to do is make sure that we are READY for when God calls us home.

I deviated this week, a little, next week we are going to get back into Paul’s writings, studying the book of Ephesians.

One of my favorite verse is found in the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God…’ AKJV

I don’t care if your one year old or one hundred and one, every one of us loves to get a GIFT.

Y’all be blessed … I’ll be back next week.

I want to invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com

This morning we are going to begin in the book of Galatians.

This letter from Paul is agreed by many, that this is the first letter that Paul wrote.

The MAIN message in Galatians is a passionate letter written by the Apostle Paul to churches in the region of Galatia. Its central theme isjustification by faith, the truth that salvation comes entirely through trusting in Jesus Christ, rather than by obeying the works of the Old Testament law.

Today in the 21^st century, how many man-made religions still try to teach the ten commandments onto their congregations?

We are NOT under the law, we are under GRACE. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE.

The following verse is not found in Galatians, but it is one of my favorite verses and I cannot understand why we are not teaching this verse to our kids instead of John 3:16.

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God…’ AKJV

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE.

Galatians 1:6 ‘…I am surprised at you! In no time at all you are deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ, and are accepting another gospel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

What other gospel you might ask?

I believe they were falling back into the roots of legalism or works for salvation. Another words, they had to do something to be saved.

There were Judaizers who insisted that these followers of Paul, needed to follow Jewish Law.

Paul affirms that in his earlier days he did persecute the Jewish believers.

Galatians 1:13 ‘…You have been told how I used to live when I was devoted to the Jewish religion, how I persecuted without mercy the church of God and did my best to destroy it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

In this book of Galatians, Paul writes about that day when he was confronted by Jesus that Luke writes about in the book of Acts.

Acts 9:3 ‘…And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven…’ AKJV

That ‘light’ from heaven was the crucified, resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ confronting Saul.

Saul was heading to Damascus to capture and persecute the Jewish believers, members of the Way, and take them back to Jerusalem and turn them over to the Sanhedrin, the same group of Pharisees that had Jesus killed and had Stephen stoned to death in Acts chapter 7.

Here is an important verse from the book of Acts.

Acts 13:9 ‘…But ^[a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

Footnotes

^[a]Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.

I copied this verse from the AMP version on purpose, because of the attached footnotes.

Galatians 1

vs15 ‘…But God in his grace chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him. And when he decided…’

vs16 ‘…to reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach the Good News about him to the Gentiles, I did not go to anyone for advice…’

vs17 ‘…nor did I go to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and then I returned to Damascus…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

This passage I have just quoted from should be all that us in the 21^st century need to see that will tell us that God wanted a CHANGE.

Paul wasn’t sent to learn about Jesus by the remaining apostles, he was taken and taught by Jesus Himself.

Go back a few verses:

Galatians 1

vs11 ‘…Let me tell you, my friends, that the gospel I preach is not of human origin…’

vs12 ‘…I did not receive it from any human being, nor did anyone teach it to me. It was Jesus Christ himself who revealed it to me…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

This book of Galatians, to me is one of the easier books to read of the apostle Paul describing what we have awaiting for us in our future and what we need to do to receive this promise.

Galatians 3

vs1 ‘…You foolish Galatians! Who put a spell on you? Before your very eyes you had a clear description of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross…’

vs2 ‘…Tell me this one thing: did you receive God’s Spirit by doing what the Law requires or by hearing the gospel and believing it…’

vs3 ‘…How can you be so foolish! You began by God’s Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

The man-made religions in this world, I wish they would just sit down and open their Bibles and read this book so their eyes would be opened.

This lie that they preach onto their congregation about following Jesus’ teachings during His earthly ministry is totally shown to be wrong in this book.

I wish I was even more able to voice my opinion even louder than I am capable of.

We are not to celebrate Easter Sunday morning and then return back to the three years that Jesus walked on this earth, we are to move forward and spread the Message that He really wants for us to see.

OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND READ HIS WORD.

The above statement is the ONLY thing this world needs.

FOLLOW the words that God has given us … STOP returning back to a day of sin and sorrow.

Here is a clipping found on google.com:

Paul wrote to combat a theological crisis caused by false teachers known as Judaizers. These legalists were telling Gentile Christians that to be saved, they had to convert to Judaism and follow Old Testament laws like circumcision.

After Paul and all of the original disciples had died, sometime in the 2^nd century, a movement began that has been followed for nearly 19 hundred years.

Here is a timeline that I copied off google.com.

Replacement theology (also known as supersessionism) emerged in its earliest forms during the mid-to-late 2nd century, between 130 and 160 A.D. As the Christian church transitioned from a primarily Jewish movement to one dominated by Gentiles, theologians sought to explain why the majority of Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

The timeline of its development is marked by these key stages:

160 A.D. (Marcion): Marcion of Sinope was one of the first to actively attempt to purge early Christianity of its Jewish heritage, rejecting the Hebrew Bible entirely.

180 A.D. (Irenaeus): Early Church Fathers like Irenaeus solidified this thinking, arguing that because the Jews rejected Christ, God revoked his covenant with them and transferred those divine promises to the Church.

325 A.D. (Council of Nicaea): The concept gained institutional permanence when the Church formally separated itself from Jewish practices, such as changing the observation of Passover to Easter independent of the Jewish calendar.

16th Century (Reformation Era): Leaders like Martin Luther injected further anti-Judaic theology into early Protestant writings, which unfortunately fueled centuries of prejudice in Europe.

Following the Holocaust, many mainstream Christian denominations began formally disavowing hard supersessionism. For example, the Catholic Church’s 1965 declaration Nostra aetate and various Protestant theological movements re-emphasized God’s ongoing covenant with the Jewish people.

This entire fiasco is nothing more than Satan wanting to lead this world down a wide path to their own destruction, and in a very big way, it is working.

Paul warns this world of this bad behavior following false preachers.

Galatians 1:8 ‘…Nobody should ever teach a message that is different from the good news that we taught you. Neither we ourselves, nor even an angel from heaven, should ever teach a different message. If anyone does that, I pray that God would curse him…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

This false message has been spread because people forgot to OPEN the Word of God and HEAR the words that He wants us to HEAR.

Paul warns us in 2 Timothy 4.

2 Timothy 4

vs3 ‘…For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires…’

vs4 ‘…and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

If mankind doesn’t or won’t OPEN their Bibles and READ the words that God wants for us to HEAR, there are going to be many that are going to hear the words ‘BEGONE … I NEVER KNEW YOU.’

Matthew 7:23 ‘…And then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you: begone from me, you doers of wickedness…’ WNT (Weymouth New Testament)

There is not a man alive and on this earth that knows exactly when the end is going to happen.

No one knows when God is going to turn the light switch off and this world is going to end.

We have got to get back in the Word and turn our lives over to God; we have got to get on the right path.

Paul ends this book with this:

Galatians 6:18 ‘…Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen…’ AKJV

I want to personally invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

Over the many years, God’s message has been stepped on many times.

It is up to us to seek the words that God has given us and stop listening to what Satan and his false prophets are spewing out for people to hear.

Join me and together we will FOLLOW Him.

I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com

This morning we are going to begin our study in the book of 2 Corinthians.

Some background; Paul actually wrote four (4) letters to the church in Corinth.

This epistle, titled 2 Corinthians, is made up of the apostle Paul, defending his apostolic ministry.

There are millions that today in the 21^st century, will not even read the thirteen epistles written by Paul.

These people claim Paul’s writings are so much different than Jesus’ own teachings during His earthly ministry, and the point I always make when I can is that Jesus didn’t come to this earth to teach us Gentiles, He ONLY came for the Jewish nation, the house of Israel. He tells us that Himself in Matthew.

Matthew 15

vs21 ‘…Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon…’

vs22 ‘…And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil…’

vs23 ‘…But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us…’

vs24 ‘…But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel…’ AKJV

The ancient Canaanites were not Jewish, but the ancient Israelites (the ancestors of the Jewish people) were a subset of the Canaanites.

Another words the Israelites originated from the Canaanite people.

The Canaanites were Gentiles and the Israelites were the ancestors of the Jewish people, God’s CHOSEN people.

This group of people that will not read the writings of the apostle Paul, openly suggest that his thirteen (13) letters should be ripped from our Bibles and thrown away. Such a devious suggestion.

My favorite verse in the entire Bible is found in Acts 9.

Acts 9:15

‘…But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…The Lord said to Ananias, Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

‘…But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel…’ ESV (English Standard Version)

‘…The Lord said to him, Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel…’ NIV ( New International Version)

‘…But the Lord said, Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel…’ NLT (New Living Translation)

The apostle Paul did not say this, this was from the mouth of the crucified, resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ.

The book of Acts was not written by the apostle Paul either, it was written by Luke.

Luke was the author of one of the synoptic gospels to the Jews … are we to rip out the book of Acts as well as the writings by Paul … are we to rip out the gospel of Luke also?

When the apostle Peter writes about the wisdom that was given to Paul for writing his letters … are we to rip out the books of 1^st and 2^nd Peter also?

2 Peter 3

vs15 ‘…And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you…’

vs16 ‘…as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction…’ AKJV

The question I always bring up when these people speak to me of ripping out Scripture found in the Word is what book, chapter, and verse are these people given the right that they can even suggest such a thing?

When the Bible tells us that ALL SCRIPTURE is the INSPIRED WORD OF GOD (2TIM3:16), who do they think they are?

Do they think they are greater than God?

Do they think they are wiser than our Creator?

Here is an important verse found in the Word.

Acts 13:9 ‘…But ^[a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

Footnotes

^[a] Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.

I chose to use the AMP version specifically for the attached footnote.

To continue in the book given to us by the apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians, the apostle writes of troubles, sufferings and confrontations.

2 Corinthians 1

vs4 ‘…He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God…’

vs5 ‘…Just as we have a share in Christ’s many sufferings, so also through Christ we share in God’s great help…’

vs6 ‘…If we suffer, it is for your help and salvation; if we are helped, then you too are helped and given the strength to endure with patience the same sufferings that we also endure…’ AKJV

Paul opens his letter telling us about how Jesus is assisting them in their times of affliction.

2 Corinthians 4

vs1 ‘…God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged…’

vs2 ‘…We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth, we live in God’s sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone’s good conscience…’

vs3 ‘…For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost…’

vs4 ‘…They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God…’

vs5 ‘…For it is not ourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake…’

vs6 ‘…The God who said, Out of darkness the light shall shine! is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of Christ…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

In last week’s lesson, for a moment I wrote about the RAPTURE, the actual physical event.

Here Paul continues with what we can look forward to.

1 Corinthians 5

vs1 ‘…For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever…’

vs2 ‘…And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us…’

vs3 ‘…by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body…’

vs4 ‘…While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life…’

vs5 ‘…God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

This entire revelation of our future after we shed this mortal body is ONLY given to us by Paul.

This MYSTERY or SECRET is revealed to us in Paul’s writings.

We are going to face hardships walking to find Jesus, but we MUST remember that He is there in front of us keeping His eye on us … to keep us safe.

As we end this lesson … here is something for you to ponder on.

2 Corinthians 6

vs14 ‘…Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together…’

vs15 ‘…How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

We are not told that we are to confront that person that doesn’t want to follow in Jesus’ footsteps … we aren’t told that we are to picket in front of abortion clinics and voice our beliefs … we’re not told we are supposed to force our ways onto other souls, we are to keep God in our hearts and in our minds and FOLLOW Him.

Jesus is the One that is going to change other peoples minds, not you and me.

We have been shown that we are  to FOLLOW not lead.

Here is a Message that is totally blown out of focus by the man-made religions of this world.

2 Corinthians 9

vs6 ‘…Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop…’

vs7 ‘…You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly…’

vs8 ‘…And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

God doesn’t tell us to tithe 10 percent of our income like every man-made religion focuses on every Sunday morning.

We are told that we are to GIVE.

Give is helping an old man or woman across the busy street.

Give is opening the door for someone else when they are going in or out of a building.

Give is making an offering of whatever we think will help.

Give is between God and ourselves.

I want to invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com

This morning we are going to HEAR the Gospel that we have been given.

1 Corinthians 15

vs1 ‘…Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand…’

vs2 ‘…by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain…’

vs3 ‘…For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures…’

vs4 ‘…and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…’ AKJV

Paul begins chapter 15 with the words that will SAVE all of us, all we have to do is BELIEVE.

We MUST believe the words written in the Gospel that was given to us by the apostle Paul.

We MUST believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, we MUST believe that His body was buried, and we MUST believe that on the third day, He rose to LIFE.

That is what is written in the Gospel.

There is another verse that we should pay attention to.

Romans 10:9 ‘…that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…’ AKJV

WHY would God have told us this if it wasn’t meant to mean anything for us?

READ God’s Word again …

Romans 4

vs24 ‘…but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead…’

vs25 ‘…who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification…’ AKJV

2 Timothy 2:8 ‘…Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel…’ AKJV

1 Thessalonians 4:14 ‘…For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him…’ AKJV

This is not written in any other book written in the Word … it wasn’t meant to be.

God intended this book for the believer.

God intended this apostle for the one that would teach us BELIEVERS.

God wanted us ALL to HEAR this Message that He has given us … ALL ANYONE OF US HAVE TO DO IS OPEN HIS WORD AND READ WHAT HE DESIRES FOR US TO KNOW.

Paul reminds us in that verse from 2 Timothy, how it is from his Gospel, that we are reminded of his Message to us.

There are several verses that we should LISTEN to in 2 Timothy. Here are just a couple of them.

2 Timothy 2:15 ‘…Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…’ NKJV (New King James Version)

2 Timothy 3:16 ‘…All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…’ AKJV

In 2:15, there are two very important words that we should acknowledge and pay attention to.

We are too be wise in the Word of God, and we should know how and where to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the Word of Truth.

I used the NKJV version on purpose, because the AKJV version uses words, maybe unfamiliar to some people today.

Here is that verse in the AKJV.

2 Timothy 2:15 ‘…Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…’ AKJV

There is a group of people in the United States that claim the King James Version should be the ONLY version used when studying the Bible in the English language.

And yet, when most of these people read this verse, they will say: Study to SHOW yourself approved to God.

Correct interpretation but that isn’t what is written.

These people will change the words, so it is easier for them to read the verses … that is the same thing that almost every other version of the Bible that is written in the English language does. Words are changed so it is easier to read and comprehend what has been written.

And then the verse written in 3:16, it isn’t necessarily what has been written, more than what HAS NOT been written.

The word FOLLOW is not used in that verse.

ALL Scripture has been Inspired by God, but NOT all Scripture is intended for us all, to FOLLOW.

We are to be WISE enough to know and understand what God is telling us … not what our pastor or our priest tell us … not what our Bible teacher teaches us … not what I (Leon) writes in his lessons.

We are to be WISE enough to HEAR God speak to us through His words and KNOW what we are to follow and what we are not to follow.

Finally, we are going to address what the reader can find in that verse written in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 … but first let me show another verse that was written in 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15:51 ‘…Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…’ AKJV

Let me now show you that verse in 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 ‘…For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him…’ AKJV

The apostle Paul is the one that has shown us these ‘MYSTERIES’ of God, or these ‘SECRETS.’

Here we are shown a SECRET that God has known about since the beginning of time, but He hasn’t revealed it to anyone on this earth until in these epistles, written by the apostle Paul.

Here are verses 51 and 52.

1 Corinthians 15

vs51 ‘…Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…’

vs52 ‘…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed…’ AKJV

We are told more about this event in 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 4

vs13 ‘…But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope…’

vs14 ‘…For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him…’

vs15 ‘…For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep…’

vs16 ‘…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…’

vs17 ‘…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…’

vs18 ‘…Wherefore comfort one another with these words…’ AKJV

This is what many call the RAPTURE, here in the English language it is referred to as being CAUGHT UP.

In the Latin Vulgate, it is written as:

1 Thessalonians 4:17 ‘…deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et semper cum Domino erimus…’ VUL (Latin Vulgate)

In the Greek language the word used is harpazō.

The word is defined as a Koine Greek verb (ἁρπάζω) that translates to ‘to seize, snatch away, or take by force.’

There are many that do not believe in the RAPTURE because the word itself is not found, written in the Bible.

But, neither is the word ‘TRINITY’ and we all believe in the God head, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

There is to much emphasis put on not believing instead of where the emphasis should be place …

WE ARE TO BELIEVE.

In our small, tiny, human minds it is impossible for us to know and understand everything that God knows.

It is impossible for us to imagine that everything written in the Word of God can be true.

But we’ve NEVER  been shown where we have to know and understand everything written in the Word … ALL WEW’VE BEEN TOLD IS THAT WE  ARE TO BELIEVE.

I want to openly invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

I love ALL of y’all.

I am InHIM.><)))o>

Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21^st century:

Day 1              –      Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5

Day 2              –      2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8

Day 3              –      1Corinthians 9-16

Day 4              –      2Corinthians 1-13

Day 5              –      Romans 1-10

Day 6              –      Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4

Day 7              –      Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6

Day 8              –      Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4

Day 9              –      Acts 1-7

Day 10            –      Acts 8-13

Day 11            –      Acts 14-20

Day 12            –      Acts 21-28

The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).

My lessons are posted every Wednesday on:

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

inhim.webador.com

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whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe.wordpress.com