Month: February 2025

Sunday 020925

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

You and I together, let’s open and study the Word that we have ALL been given. Use me to help you study the Bible and allow me to be used to help you search what God wants for us to hear.

Let’s only follow what we find that pertains to us and realize that it’s only from our own effort in studying His Word that is going to let us take anything away that we can use in our lives by ourselves and with those that we love.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Revelation 22:12; Romans 13:11-14; Ephesians 5:15-20; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 10:17; 1 Timothy 4:13; Acts 20:32.

Today, as I was sitting in my ‘easy chair,’ laptop turned on and opened as I was doing my daily study in the Word.

Reading in Genesis, Exodus, the four gospels and then into Acts; reading some interpretations online when I noticed a person wanting to see proof from a verse, taken from the AV1611.

I spent a good fifteen to thirty minutes continuing to read this debate online when I heard a ‘ding’ from my phone, reminding me I had unopened messages on one of my Facebook accounts.

I switched to Facebook and began reading the notifications, when I saw one from my son-in-law, so I began reading his post.

As I was reading what he wrote, I visualized, in the back of my mind, what I’d seen from the television show the Chosen.

JW was talking about the word ‘LATER’ and how imprecise it actually was, and I remembered how the television show described the inexactness in the word ‘soon.’

Both words: ‘SOON’ and ‘LATER’ are subjective. They both are inexact expressions in lengths of time that vary from person to person and circumstance to circumstance.

The terms ‘soon’ and ‘later’ both refer to time, but they convey different meanings regarding when something will happen.

Soon: This term implies that something will happen in the near future. It suggests a relatively short time frame, often within minutes, hours, or days. For example, if someone says, ‘I’ll call you soon,’ they likely mean they will call within a short period.

Later: This term indicates that something will occur after some time has passed, but it does not specify how long. ‘Later’ can refer to a timeframe that could be hours, days, weeks, or even longer. For instance, if someone says, ‘Let’s meet later,’ they could mean at any point in the future that is not immediate.

In summary, ‘soon’ suggests a closer time frame, while ‘later’ indicates a more indefinite or extended future time.

JW’s wrote:

‘Later’ – talk to you later. – I’ll call you later. – see you later. – we’ll walk later. ‘I’ll tell you later.’

We leave everything for later but forget that ‘later’ does not belong to us.

Later, our loved ones are no longer with us.

Later, we don’t hear them, and we don’t see them.

Later, they are just memories.

Later, the day becomes night, the force becomes helpless, the smile becomes grimace, and life become death.

‘LATER’ becomes ‘TOO LATE.’

And just as fast, I was reminded of the man that wrote needing to see a verse, but only from the AV1611 version.

So, I went and found the verse.

Revelation 22:12

‘…Listen!” says Jesus. I am coming soon! I will bring my rewards with me, to give to each one according to what he has done…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

And right away I noticed the word ‘soon’ is not used in the AV1611.

But just as ‘quickly’ I realized, there was a group of men back in the times of Jesus that read the Bible daily, they knew everything that was written but what was unfortunate is that these men, they never heard the words that God was speaking to them. The same as this man that needed the AV1611 version.

Notice the word ‘quickly’ from the AV1611 and the word I used in the previous paragraph, that statement made by Jesus was nearly 2000 years ago … how quick is ‘quickly?’

I ‘quickly’ realized this AV1611 version meant nothing.

Once again this is ‘MAN’ trying to let God know He made a mistake.

‘MAN’ once again didn’t believe. He was showing his UNBELIEF.

Almost the entire OT is one large display of mankind’s UNBELIEF in God.

JW making his statement how we (mankind), we are unable to make the promise ‘LATER,’ is very true because we have no control over ‘LATER.’

Later is time, mankind we are unable to alter time.

We can set our watches, set the alarm clocks for in the morning, set the timers on our stoves and microwaves but that is about our limit. We can’t make time, we can spend it, but we can’t add to it.

Romans 13

vs11 ‘…I say this because you know that we live in an important time. Yes, it is now time for you to wake up from your sleep. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed…’

vs12 ‘…The night is almost finished. The day is almost here. So, we should stop doing whatever belongs to darkness. We should prepare ourselves to fight evil with the weapons that belong to the light…’

vs13 ‘…We should live in a right way, like people who belong to the day. We should not have wild parties or be drunk. We should not be involved in sexual sin or any kind of immoral behavior. We should not cause arguments and trouble or be jealous…’

vs14 ‘…But be like the Lord Jesus Christ, so that when people see what you do, they will see Christ. Don’t think about how to satisfy the desires of your sinful self…’ ERV (Easy-to-Read Version)

TIME …

Ephesians 5

vs15 ‘…So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely…’

vs16 ‘…Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times…’

vs17 ‘…So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do…’

vs18 ‘…Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit…’

vs19 ‘…Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord…’

vs20 ‘…Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…’ NCV (New Century Version)

TIME …

Our days remaining on this earth are numbered. Us human beings, we don’t know that number, we don’t know if it’s minutes, days, months or even years … we don’t know and we don’t have control over time.

 But what we do have control over is we can get up right now, get our Bibles, open them up and begin reading the Word that will help us in this ‘TIME.’

Hebrews 4:12 ‘…For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart…’ NET (New English Translation)

Jesus is not with us here today in the 21^st century. It is only going to be through His Word that we are going to be able to find out the truth that He has for us. We are only going to find it if we’re looking for it.

2 Timothy 2:15 ‘…Do your best to know that God is pleased with you. Be as a workman who has nothing to be ashamed of. Teach the words of truth in the right way…’ NLV (New Life Version)

We would be foolish to just run away and hide. We should make our way out in front and shout the Word to others … because odds are, they need it more than we do.

Romans 10:17 ‘…So then, people must hear the message before they can trust God. And people hear that message when someone tells them about Christ…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

For those that have never had the opportunity to listen and hear the Word of God, they will never know until they are able to hear the Words spoken to them.

1 Timothy 4:13 ‘…Until I come, give your time and effort to the public reading of the Scriptures and to preaching and teaching…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Once again as I said earlier, we don’t know when Jesus is going to return. We’ve got from now to whenever, after He returns, it’s too late.

Acts 20:32 ‘…Now I trust God to take care of you. I commit you to the message about his grace. It can build you up. Then you will share in what God plans to give all his people…’ NIRV (New International Readers Version)

You could very well be the only person that could speak to someone that is lost, and it could be words from your mouth that might be able to save someone.

Open your mouths and help spread the words of God onto this evil world that we are living in.

I love each and every one of y’all. Just remember that day is coming when Jesus will tell us Himself just exactly ALL that word means.

Keep your Bibles always open and continue to study His Word. Keep your Bibles near you so you can easily reach over and grab the Word and begin to read. Download Bible apps onto your smartphones, your tablets and computers. Keep the Word available to you at all times.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Saturday 020825

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Acts 11:1-3, 13:16-43, 15:1-5; Ephesians 2:8-9.

We’re trying to stop looking at what ‘MAN’ is telling us we need to do and get back into the Word and see what God is telling us we need to do.

The reason for that is because in the end, it is what God has said and not ‘man’ that will determine if we are going to live a life with Him or if we are going to live a life of torment as we’ve been foretold in Revelation.

And then ‘ULTIMATELY,’ the choice is up to us, WHO ARE WE GOING TO CHOOSE.

The way we ended our last lesson with Peter changing his ways and stepping outside of that ‘Jewish’ made box, so it is with so many today caught up inside their man-made churches and denominations just waiting to pounce on their congregation of people.

Acts 11

vs1 ‘…And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God…’

vs2 ‘…And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him…’

vs3 ‘…saying, thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

And Peter fell back into the box that had kept him boxed in, all the days of his life, except for that ONE time.

So, we’re going to jump forward to Paul’s 1^st missionary journey in:

Acts 13

vs16 ‘…Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen…’

vs17 ‘…The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it…’

vs18 ‘…For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness…’

vs19 ‘…When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about 450 years…’

vs20 ‘…After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet…’

vs21 ‘…Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years…’

vs22 ‘…After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will…’

vs23 ‘…From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus…’

vs24 ‘…after John had proclaimed, before His coming, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel…’

vs25 ‘…And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, what do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie…’

vs26 ‘…Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent…’

vs27 ‘…For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the declarations of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him…’

vs28 ‘…And though they found no grounds for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed…’

vs29 ‘…When they had carried out everything that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb…’

vs30 ‘…But God raised Him from the dead…’

vs31 ‘…and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people…’

vs32 ‘…And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers…’

vs33 ‘…that God has fulfilled this promise to those of us who are the descendants by raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: You are My Son; today I have fathered You…’

vs34 ‘…As for the fact that He raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: I will give you the holy and faithful mercies of David…’

vs35 ‘…Therefore, He also says in another Psalm: You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay…’

vs36 ‘…For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, and was buried among his fathers and underwent decay…’

vs37 ‘…but He whom God raised did not undergo decay…’

vs38 ‘…Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you…’

vs39 ‘…and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses…’

vs40 ‘…Therefore, see that the thing spoken of in the Prophets does not come upon you…’

vs41 ‘…Look, you scoffers, and be astonished, and perish; For I am accomplishing a work in your days, A work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you…’

vs42 ‘…As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people repeatedly begged to have these things spoken to them the next Sabbath…’

vs43 ‘…Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

And just as fast, we’re going to move on to Acts 15 where Paul returned to Jerusalem to meet with the original apostles.

Acts 15

vs1 ‘…Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved…’

vs2 ‘…And after Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument and debate with them, the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue…’

vs3 ‘…Therefore, after being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers and sisters…’

vs4 ‘…When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them…’

vs5 ‘…But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, it is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

These men in Jerusalem were still Jews. They still practiced in the Jewish rituals, celebrated the Jewish holidays and practiced the Jewish customs.

So too do many of our man-made churches today and their religions still practice the Jewish customs and practices.

Where do you think communion comes from? The apostle Paul didn’t teach us this practice.

We are going to get out of the Old and we’re going to teach the NEW news that we have been given by God Himself, taught to our teacher, the apostle Paul so that when that day comes, when we hear that ‘SHOUT,’ we will be able to stand and be ready for our future with Jesus Christ.

All we need to do is read, study, and BELIEVE what God has given us.

For FREE, nothing extra is expected from us.

We have got to be willing to leave our past behind us. We MUST step outside of the box we have been kept in for a long, long time.

It is on that day when we MOVE, on that day when Jesus says to us ‘FOLLOW ME,’ we can grab what we have and present ourselves to Him.

The number one verse I think we should ALL follow is Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

And one time for that ‘UN’ believer out there that only reads the AKJV:

vs8 ‘…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God…’

vs9 ‘…not of works, lest any man should boast…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

To that man that looks at the words but doesn’t listen to what God is telling him…

… do you see that part where we are told we don’t have to do anything extra other than have FAITH in God and BELIEVE in Him …

… can you explain for us what ‘NOT OF WORKS’ mean to you …

… what do you think those words should mean for us, FOR ME?

Keep your Bibles always open and study the Word of God for yourself. Don’t allow yourself to listen to another man telling you what the word is saying … you stand up and YOU TELL HIM WHAT THE WORD IS SAYING!!!

I love ALL of y’all. Be blessed. Stand FIRM in your beliefs in God.

Get yourself out of that man-made box you’ve been kept penned in for so many years.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Friday 020725

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Acts 9:1-2, :3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 9:15-16, :19-20; Galatians 1:15-19; Acts 10:5-6, :12-16, :28-29, :44-48.

In my attempt to spread the Word, to the people in the 21^st century, I am posting a new lesson every morning.

I am posting my lessons on eleven (11) different sites.

On Facebook, I am:

Whosoever Inhim

Whosoever inhim Bible Study

Or, in a search engine, simply type:

lrabbe.wordpress.com

whosoeverinhim.weebly.com

lrabbe2024.wixsite.com/my-site-2

lrabbe2024.wixsite.com/whosoeverinhim

whosoeverinhim.blogspot.com

www.tumblr.com/whosoeversblog

whosoeverinhim.cw.center

inhim.webador.com

free-4140862.webador.com

I hope you find it appealing and satisfying, studying your Bible with us.

So, ask yourself, do you feel any better today than you did yesterday?

What if you were told, your time is up!

Let’s get back into the book of Acts and continue studying His Word.

So, we just left as Peter and John returned back to Jerusalem.

In Acts 9 we (us Gentiles) begin hearing the part of the Bible that we have been meant to study and pay attention to.

Acts 9

vs1 ‘…In Jerusalem Saul was still trying to scare the followers of the Lord, even saying he would kill them. He went to the high priest…’

vs2 ‘…and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted the high priest to give him the authority to find people in Damascus who were followers of the Way. If he found any believers there, men or women, he would arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem…’ ERV (Easy-to-read version)

Saul was on his way to Damascus to capture the believers in Jesus Christ.

Acts 9

vs3 ‘…As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him…’

vs4 ‘…He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Every Christian today MUST have heard the story that happened to Saul. Jesus chose Saul to teach us Gentiles His Word and to teach about all of the wonderful things we had to look forward to.

There are many today, many, way too many that still want to read and recite verses from the for Jewish gospels, they want to repeat verses taken from back out of the OT, but none of these writing have been meant for us to follow.

We know from 2 Timothy 3 that ‘ALL SCRIPTURE’ is from God, but nowhere, in no version is it written that ALL SCRIPTURE is meant for us to FOLLOW.

2 Timothy 3

Vs16 ‘…All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…’

vs17 ‘…that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

I do not see the word FOLLOW anywhere.

Does ‘reproof’ mean to ‘follow?’

From google:

No, reproof means to show disapproval of someone’s behavior, not to follow. 

Definition

Reproof is a formal noun that means to express disapproval of someone’s behavior or actions. For example, a teacher might reproof a student for laughing and running around the classroom. 

Synonyms

Synonyms of reproof include rebuke, reproach, and remonstrance. 

Origin

The word reproof comes from the late Latin word reprobāre, which means ‘to disapprove, reject, or condemn.’

NO NOT LATIN!!!

Now they’re going to be talking about the Latin word ‘raptura.’ (Rapture)

ALL Scripture has been Inspired by God, but the gospels and the OT, for us Gentiles, is for us to observe, like a road map. For us to see how the Jewish people scoffed at Jesus and the UNBELIEF in God and how we were to do the exact opposite.

We are to Love Jesus and BELIEVE in God.

Saul is now called Paul, and he is chosen by Jesus to teach the Gentile nation about Him.

Acts 9

vs15 ‘…But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel…’

vs16 ‘…for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

I have, for many years voiced that I believed that God gave up on His ‘chosen’ people. Jesus gave up on His ‘chosen’ original apostles still hanging around Jerusalem, waiting for Jesus to return to set up His Kingdom.

God chose to begin with another teacher. A teacher that would learn directly from Him and lose the man-made ways and the Jewish traditions known by man.

So, rather than Paul going to Jerusalem to learn from those that spent three years living with Jesus, God chose for Paul to learn by the teacher Himself, Jesus taught Paul what He wanted us to know about.

Now when Paul started, he too had taught in the synagogues like the original eleven.

Acts 9

vs19 ‘…and he took food and was strengthened. Saul Begins to Preach Christ. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were in Damascus…’

vs20 ‘…and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

But Jesus had other plans for Paul. He wanted him out away from the Jewish people, away from the synagogues. Jesus sent Paul where he was away from all man-made influences.

We are going to take a leap out of Acts and go to Paul’s writings in Galatians.

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…’

vs18 ‘…It was three years later that I went to Jerusalem to obtain information from Peter, and I stayed with him for two weeks…’

vs19 ‘…I did not see any other apostle except James, the Lord’s brother…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Jesus wanted Paul to learn His teachings and not be influenced by what ‘man’ wanted him to know.

This should be an example for us humans on this earth today. We should be listening to the words of Jesus Christ instead of listening to what a man-made church wants us to hear or to believe in.

Now to go back into the book of Acts, seven years after the Ascension of Jesus, Peter does finally leave Jerusalem and travels outside of the city to teach. With that being said, Peter went to Joppa, a fifteen hour walk from Jerusalem.

Peter was asked by a group of Gentiles to come and speak with them in Caesarea while he was in Joppa.

Acts 10

vs5 ‘…You must send some men to Joppa. They will find a man who is staying there. He is called Simon Peter. Your men must tell him to come here to Caesarea…’

vs6 ‘…He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner. His house is near the sea…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Maybe, before leaving these days in Joppa before Peter goes to Caesarea, this is when Peter had his dream of different foods. Foods that Jewish people did not eat … pork to be specific.

The angel of God tried telling Peter that ALL food has been made for mankind to eat but Peter still had his Jewish roots buried deep within his head.

Acts 10

vs12 ‘…In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds…’

vs13 ‘…Then a voice said to him, get up, Peter; kill anything here and eat it…’

vs14 ‘…But Peter said, I can’t do that, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is not pure or fit to be used for food…’

vs15 ‘…But the voice said to him again, God has made these things pure. Don’t say they are unfit to eat…’

vs16 ‘…This happened three times. Then the whole thing was taken back up into heaven…’ ERV (Easy-to-Read Version)

Peter had not changed his Jewish ways. He still believed and practiced the Jewish religion.

It was at this time when the men from Caesarea came for Peter. They took him to meet Cornelius.

Acts 10

vs28 ‘… Peter said to the people, you understand that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not consider anyone unfit or say they are not pure…’

vs29 ‘…That’s why I didn’t argue when your men asked me to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me…’ ERV (Easy-to-Read Version)

Peter is stepping outside of his (Jewish) box and beginning to follow what Jesus tried teaching His followers.

This is another lesson that so many need to learn today in the 21^st century; so many have been kept in this little box, taught to them by their church or their denomination and they don’t believe they can go outside that box. But if these people would simply read the Word for themselves, they’d see this box that has kept them pinned in for so long, it is man that has put this box up, not God. Our problems today are ‘MAN’ not God.

Acts 10

vs44 ‘…While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his speech…’

vs45 ‘…The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the Holy Spirit had been poured out as a gift also to people who were not Jews…’

vs46 ‘…They heard them speaking different languages and praising God. Then Peter said…’

vs47 ‘…How can anyone object to these people being baptized in water? They have received the Holy Spirit the same as we did…’

vs48 ‘…So Peter told them to baptize Cornelius and his relatives and friends in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days…’ ERV (Easy-to-Read Version)

Peter had gotten out of his box …

… that is until his Jewish friends came to get him.

That is our next lesson. I love y’all. Keep your Bibles open and study all the time.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Thursday 020625

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Exodus 1:6-7; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:47; Acts 6:4, :1a, 8:1. :4-6, :12-13, :14, :15, :18-19, :20, :25.

Today ask yourself, do you feel any better today than you did yesterday?

Your church or denomination or the version of the Bible that you read, does any of it make you feel better than you did this morning when you woke up?

The actual FACT is none of it is going to matter once the end is here.

Your church won’t be able to save you; your denomination, that you believe in, it won’t be able to save you, and your favorite version of the Bible, it won’t be able to save you either.All that will matter is the God you Praise and Worship.

So, WHAT GOD DO YOU BELIEVE IN?

The only thing that matters in the end is GOD.

I’ve studied several times the timeline that is illuminated through the Bible.

If you remember our study in Genesis, mankind was shown FAITH through the eyes of Noah and Abraham.

We entered into the book of Exodus, and we read where Jacob (Israel) and his eleven sons entered into Egypt. His twelfth son Joseph, he was already there living in Egypt.

Exodus 1

vs6 ‘…In the course of time Joseph, his brothers, and all the rest of that generation died…’

vs7 ‘…but their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and became so numerous and strong that Egypt was filled with them…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Judaism was not portrayed as of yet, but the roots had been implanted into the soil. The seed had been set in motion by God.

The exact calendar year date for the birth of Moses, as of now, is given in three different dates.

Rabbinical Judaism suggests the birth of Moses was 1391 BCE; Jerome suggests it was 1592 BCE; and James Ussher suggests it was 1571 BCE.

All three of these dates are different. It makes it difficult to make a firm timeline beginning in the O.T., this world’s past.

I can boldly state though, that today’s date is 2024 A.D.

The Bible is a difficult book, to set in stone, an exact precise timeline, so rather than beginning from the OT, I am going to work from the NT.

Dates in the NT, all have a closer span than what we can see from the OT.

Some calendars have Jesus being crucified in 30AD and others suggest it was 33AD. That’s three years, it seems better than the range given for the birth of Moses, which is a range of 201 years.

Mark 16:15 ‘…Then Jesus said to them, Go to all people everywhere in the world. Tell God’s good news to everyone…’

John 20:21 ‘…Jesus said again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, in the same way I am now sending you…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Matthew 28:19 ‘…So you must go to people in every country of the world. Teach them how to become my disciples. Baptize them by the authority of God the Father, his Son and the Holy Spirit…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Luke 24:47 ‘…People in every country of the world must hear God’s message. They must stop doing wrong things and change how they live. When they do this, God will forgive them. He will forgive all the bad things that they have done. People need to tell this message about the Messiah in Jerusalem first, then tell people in other countries…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

The writings above are listed in the order they are found in the Reese Chronological Bible.

The above four verses are near the end of the writings in these men’s gospels.

With the exception of John’s writings where it seems he ended his book, with the entire last chapter being a summarization of his gospel.

The point I am trying to make is that Jesus told the original remaining eleven apostles to go out, into the entire world and spread the Good News of Jesus, to the entire world.

But yet, they didn’t go anywhere.

Just a few examples: Jesus Ascended in Acts 1. In Acts 5:12, :21 and :42 it is written that apostles were in the ‘yard of the temple.’

Seeing how the temple was in Jerusalem, the apostles didn’t leave.

In Acts 6, when there was talk how the widows were being forgotten about the apostles summoned the great number of new disciples that had accumulated and from them, they picked seven disciples to care for the widows.

The original apostles, they felt they were meant solely for prayer and teaching.

Acts 6:4 ‘…But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

There have been Bible experts over the years, fighting for the apostles. Arguing how the original was exhibiting a good example by remaining and grieving with the family during the ‘Shiva’ for the deceased. The ‘Tziduk Hadin’ and the ‘Kaddish’ are two prayers recited during the weeklong mourning period.

The apostles were still celebrating the ‘Law.’ Many experts claim Grace came from the apostles, but it couldn’t have been through them, they never left the Jewish ways.

Peter, James and John didn’t know anything other than the Jewish ways and they also knew Jesus had been crucified and He was gone.

Even though the apostles found it difficult to leave and spread the word of Jesus, the number of teachers had increased greatly.

Acts 6:1a ‘…And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied…’ KJV (King James Version)

Acts 8:1 ‘…Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Jesus had Ascended in Acts 1 and here in Acts 8 we read the original apostles remained in Jerusalem even though Jesus told them they needed to go out into the ‘ENTIRE’ world and spread His Good News.

Acts 8

vs4 ‘…The believers who had left Jerusalem went to many different towns. In each place, they told the people the message about Jesus…’

vs5 ‘…One of them who was called Philip went to a city in Samaria. There he told the people the message about Jesus Christ, God’s Messiah…’

vs6 ‘…Crowds of people came together to hear Philip speak. They saw him do many miracles which showed that God was with him. So, they listened carefully to his message…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

The message was being spread throughout the land, even though it was done by those other than the original apostles.

Acts 8

vs12 ‘…But when they believed Philip’s message about the good news of the Kingdom of God and about Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women…’

vs13 ‘…Simon himself also believed; and after being baptized, he stayed close to Philip and was astounded when he saw the great wonders and miracles that were being performed…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

A point I need to make here, even these new teachers, these new disciples, they taught about the Kingdom of God they had no idea of what the Gospel of Grace was, they had never heard of it before, NO ONE ON THIS EARTH KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT ‘GRACE.’

Acts 8:14 ‘…The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the word of God, so they sent Peter and John to them…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Now in defense of the original apostles, they DID receive the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

So, after hearing how people were being ‘baptized’ they knew they needed to go and update the teachings that were being made.

Acts 8:15 ‘…When they arrived, they prayed for the believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

When Phillip seen this ‘Holy Spirit’ he acted as if it was a magic act. He inquired how could purchase the ability to do such things.

Acts 8

vs18 ‘…Simon saw that the Spirit had been given to the believers when the apostles placed their hands on them. So, he offered money to Peter and John…’

vs19 ‘…and said, give this power to me too, so that anyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Once again, I must defend the original:

Acts 8:20 ‘…But Peter said to him, may your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Peter knew the power of the Holy Spirit was something that mankind could not purchase with money, but with that being said, Peter and the other eleven, as well as ALL the new disciples, had no idea what GRACE meant (other than a prayer they said before a meal).

Acts 8:25 ‘…And they (Peter and John), when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans…’ KJV (King James Version)

They again, returned to Jerusalem.

Keep your Bibles always open so you can use them when you study. Get Bible apps and put them on your smartphones, your tablets and your computers. It is so easy to study the Word today, you just have to start doing it.

I love ALL of you.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Wednesday 020525

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Philemon 1:1, :2, :2c; Romans 16:5; Philemon :3, :4-7, :8a, :10-11, :12-14, :15-16, :17-19, :20-22, :23-25.

We’re going to be reading the small book of Philemon tonight.

Philemon :1 ‘…This letter is from me, Paul. I am in prison because I serve Christ Jesus. Our Christian friend Timothy is here with me. We are writing to you, Philemon. You are our friend, and we love you. You work on behalf of Christ, as we do…’ EASY (Easy English Version)

The book is one of Paul’s prison letters, this letter was sent to Philemon, a leader in the Colossian church. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.

What better of a way for me to teach a lesson on forgiveness, other than by myself forgiving ‘ME’ for losing the paper to this lesson I had written earlier.

I pray to Jesus that this version of this paper would be superior to the first, or I ask that it too would come up missing as well.

Our lesson tonight is on FOREGIVENESS.

That should be one of those obvious clues that we have received through the Word …

WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN

It also should be just as obvious; we have to accept that forgiveness for us to be forgiven.

We are able to accept that GIFT, as well as the other GIFT’s that God has given us, ONLY by BELIEVING IN HIM.

Philemon :2 ‘…We say hello also to Apphia, who is like a sister to us. And we say hello to Archippus, who serves Christ like a soldier, as we do. We also say hello to the group of ‘Christians’ who meet in your home…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

I remember from my first paper on this letter, I focused in on this one part of this verse …

Philemon :2c ‘…We also say hello to the group of Christians who meet in your home…’

This is a group of people, a church, an assembly of ‘believers’ that meets at Philemon’s house.

This can also be found in the book of Romans, where the ‘believers’ met at Priscilla and Aquila’s house.

These ‘believers’ are what we know today as CHRISTIANS.

Romans 16:5 ‘…Also say hello for me to the group of ‘believers’ who meet in Priscilla and Aquila’s house…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Philemon :3 ‘…I pray that God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to help you. I pray that they will give you peace in your minds…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

We should make a mental note to us all, Paul always prays for these groups. As we should also always remember that we should pray for those groups in our life. This should be nothing but smart sense for us.

Philemon

:4 ‘…When I pray for you, I always thank my God when I think about you…’

:5 ‘…I thank God because people tell me good things about you. You love all God’s people, and you trust in the Lord Jesus…’

:6 ‘…We each have the same faith in Christ as we serve him. So, I pray that, as a result, you will become strong. I pray that you will understand more about every good thing that is ours because of Christ…’

:7 ‘…My friend, you have helped God’s people to feel stronger. Your love for them has made me very happy. It makes me feel stronger too…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

And as we begin in vs8, Paul gets into the MEAT of his letter to Philemon.

Philemon was an owner of slaves, he was a ‘slave master.’ One of his slaves, Onesimus, had apparently stolen some money from him and fled to Rome where he met Paul and heard the Good News that Paul was teaching. Paul, in turn, is writing to Philemon, in this letter, about Onesimus.

Philemon

:8a ‘…I want to ask you to do something…’

:10 ‘…So I am asking you to help Onesimus, who is like my own child. I taught him about Jesus while I was in prison. Because of that, he now has life with God. I am like his father…’

:11 ‘…Before he trusted Jesus, Onesimus did not really help you. But now he can help both you and me…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

So, it should be with us to today, if we have accepted the teaching of Jesus Christ, we too, should be changed. People around us should notice a difference.

This is exactly what Paul is telling Philemon. He should be able to see and notice a difference when he sees Onesimus again.

Philemon

:12 ‘…So, I am now sending him back to you. Because I love him, it is like I am sending you my own heart…’

:13 ‘…I wanted to keep him here with me, to help me on your behalf. I am in prison here because I taught people the good news about Jesus…’

:14 ‘…But I did not want to do anything unless you agreed. I wanted you to help me because you really want to help. I did not want to make you do it…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

These next two verses should be examples of how we act today towards our ‘masters,’ those that today might be our bosses at work.

Philemon

:15 ‘…When Onesimus ran away from you, perhaps God let that happen. Onesimus left you for a short time so that you could now have him back forever…’

:16 ‘…You can have him back again not only as your slave. He will be something much better than a slave for you. He will be like a brother that you love. I love him very much. But now you will love him even more. He will serve you as a slave, but he will also serve the Lord, as you do…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Our jobs today, our source of income, that is a gift that we have been given from God to help us in this life we live in.

How many do you think are going to complain about their jobs right now? The thing is, maybe there was a reason God put you in that position, in that job because He needed you to TEACH someone the Good News. Maybe God is using you to do something for Him, right now in that ‘crappy’ ‘good for nothing’ place of employment.

DO YOUR BEST and allow God the Glory and who knows, maybe one day you’ll find what it truly is that you’ve been looking for.

STOP living your life for what you want. STOP doing what you want to do.

BEGIN living your life the way Jesus wants you to live your life. Live it for Him. Spread the Good News onto others. Let everyone around you notice the difference. Give God ALL the Glory.

Philemon

:17 ‘…I am your friend. Together we serve God. If you agree with that, please be kind to Onesimus. Accept him in the same way that you would accept me…’

:18 ‘…If Onesimus has done anything wrong to you, I will make it right again. If he took money from you, I will pay it back…’

:19 ‘…I, Paul, am writing this myself: I will pay the money back to you. But you should remember what I have given to you already. You have life with God because I told you the good news about Jesus…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

There is so much to learn from in this tiny, short letter that the apostle Paul sent to a believer in Jesus Christ. Just think of the letter he has waiting for you.

Philemon

:20 ‘…Yes, my friend, please help me now, because we both belong to the Lord. As a Christian friend, help me to feel happier…’

:21 ‘…I am sure that you will do what I ask. That is why I have written this letter to you. I know that you will do even more than this to help me…’

:22 ‘…I want to ask you one more thing. Please prepare a room in your home where I can stay. I know that all of you are praying for God to let me go free. As a result, I hope that I will be able to visit you again…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Here is another lesson, the apostle Paul was in prison, and he is asking for plans when he gets out so he can travel.

So, too should be our outlook. If we’re old and in a nursing home, we shouldn’t be focusing on dying, we should be planning on traveling somewhere.

If we’re in a low grade, useless job; we shouldn’t be thinking about quitting or giving up; we should determine if there’s something we need to do before we leave this place.

The end is the end, it’s OVER. We should make sure everything is right before thinking about leaving.

To finish the book of:

Philemon

:23 ‘…Epaphras is also here in prison with me because he serves Christ Jesus. He says hello to you…’

:24 ‘…Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, who work with me here, also say hello to you…’

:25 ‘…I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to all of you…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Keep your Bibles always open and continue to study the Words He has given us. Keep your Bibles within arms reach so they can be easily gotten to at night as you’re sitting in your easy chairs.

I love each one of y’all. Remember that day when Jesus is going to teach us exactly what that word means.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Tuesday 020425

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

1 Timothy 2:1-4; John 12:27-36.

Tonight’s lesson might get a little rocky for some … but I think there is value in it.

Over the years, have you noticed the songs that have come on the radio? I’m going to just a few:

I can only Imagine

Talking to Jesus

If I got Jesus

These hardly can be considered a long list, but my point is, have you ever put your earbuds in and actually listened to the lyrics?

I remember when my mother-in-law was still alive, and ‘I can only imagine’ came on the radio. Arms were lifted into the sky and praise and worship followed.

I still want those memories to come into my life.

Surrounded by Your glory… What will my heart feel? Will I dance for You Jesus… Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence… Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah… Will I be able to speak at all?

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

To this day, this is one of the more powerful GIFTS that we (mankind) have been given. The gift of our imagination can be so strong and influential in our lives. We can use our imagination to our advantage but with that being said, our imagination can destroy us. It can lead our hearts in the direction of darkness. We can bury ourselves if we allow ourselves to focus on the wrong image.

This is another good reason why we keep in God’s Word. It’s an even better reason why we keep in constant communication with Him.

While I was still working, a song came out, that to this day I want to shout and begin talking with Him.

I’m talking about the song:

TALKING TO JESUS

When I worked, we couldn’t wear earbuds, we were told it was a safety hazard. By not hearing this song, it was the real ‘safety hazard.’

If you’ve never been blessed enough to hear the words, turn on your radio; pull up the video on your phone, tablet or laptop. Put in your earbuds, put on your headphones, turn up the volume and just listen to the words and enjoy.

The song begins:

Grandma used to pray out loud, By her bed every night…

This song tells it all in the first sentence. Even though today I’m a grandpa, when I heard this song for the first time, I remembered hearing the voices and sounds from my grandparents.

To me, it sounded like mumbling… Like she was out of her mind…

From this point, the song just grabbed onto me, holding me quiet and still, wanting to hear every syllable.

She said, Boy, this kind of praying… Is what saved my life… You outta try it sometime…

And then, the ‘frosting on the cake’ …

And now I know she was right… She was talking to Jesus… She was talking to Jesus… She’d been talking to Jesus… For all of her life…

Kids, parents, grandparents … this is a lesson we all need to hear.

1 Timothy 2

vs1 ‘…So then, this is what I want to ask you first. Please pray for all people. Ask God to supply what they need. Ask God to help them. Thank God for what he does for everyone…’

vs2 ‘…Pray in that way for kings and for all rulers and people who have authority. Pray for God to help them, so that we may live our lives without trouble or danger. Then we can live in a good way that respects God and other people…’

vs3 ‘…It is good that we should pray like that. It makes God, our Saviour, happy…’

vs4 ‘…He wants to save all people. He wants everyone to know his message about what is true…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Cause now I’m talking to Jesus… She got me talking to Jesus… She got me talking to Jesus… Yeah, my mama was right…

Cause now I’m talking to Jesus… Yeah, I love talking to Jesus… And I’ll be talking to Jesus… For the rest of my life…

This is what our lives are missing is that one-on-one relationship with Him that is going to save us.

What a friend we have in Jesus… What a friend we have in Jesus… Don’t you know… What a friend we have in Jesus… Oh-oh-oh, what a friend we have…

It is in those times when we are alone and in His presence when time stops. Our lives are made complete. The questions we may have, they’ve been answered.

What a friend we have in Jesus… What a friend we have in Jesus… What a friend we have in Jesus… Oh-oh-oh…

This one song, still to this day, just satisfies me.

I saw my wife post a video on Facebook this morning…

IF I GOT JESUS

The song’s opening lyrics are relatable, as they convey the idea that Jesus is all that is needed, even during the darkest times of loss.

I’ve had a dollar to my name… I’ve had friends that walked away… And I’ve even lost myself a time or two… There were bridges crossed and burned… But through all the wreckage I have learned… There is one thing that I can never lose…

This song begins as if it were an example of life. How much money has just slipped through our hands throughout this life we’re in? Maybe today we need money.

How many friends have gone away over the years? Think back through your school years, your college days, how many friends have you had and how many are still here today?

There is one lesson from this song that we can ALL learn from.

If I got Jesus… I’ve got all that I could ever need…
Take the world away from me… And I’ll be okay…

Repeat it and say it again:

If I got Jesus… There’s a hope that’s living deep inside… A joy that I could never hide…
a safe place to fall… If I got Jesus, I got it all, mmm…

This is our Hope. It is the one only wish that will ever keep us human beings whole. This world that we live in is trying so hard to stop you in your tracks so they can take from you, whatever it is that you have …

But:

If I got Jesus… There’s a hope that’s living deep inside… A joy that I could never hide…
a safe place to fall… If I got Jesus, I got it all, mmm…

After Jesus had raised Lazarus from his tomb, He foretold us of His own death.

John 12

vs27 ‘…Now my heart is troubled—and what shall I say? Shall I say, Father, do not let this hour come upon me? But that is why I came—so that I might go through this hour of suffering…’

vs28 ‘…Father, bring glory to your name! Then a voice spoke from heaven, I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again…’

vs29 ‘…The crowd standing there heard the voice, and some of them said it was thunder, while others said, an angel spoke to him…’

vs 30 ‘…But Jesus said to them, it was not for my sake that this voice spoke, but for yours…’

vs31 ‘…Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown…’

vs32 ‘…When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me…’

vs33 ‘…In saying this he indicated the kind of death he was going to suffer…’

vs34 ‘…The crowd answered, Our Law tells us that the Messiah will live forever. How, then, can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man…’

vs35 ‘…Jesus answered, the light will be among you a little longer. Continue on your way while you have the light, so that the darkness will not come upon you; for the one who walks in the dark does not know where he is going…’

vs36 ‘…Believe in the light, then, while you have it, so that you will be the people of the light…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

We should continue with these verses …

You have until I call your name, when the trump sounds it is over for my church.

My Father’s will is done, once again.

The end is near, ARE YOU READY?

I love all of y’all. Keep your Bibles open and continue to study His Word every day. Rely on His Message always.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Ps-since I’ve wrote this,

JESUS CHRIST by Van Zant

… they hung Him up …

… on a cross …

… they nailed Him by His hands and feet …

… the blood He lost …

… … …

… our SAVIOR …

… the HOLY One …

JESUS CHRIST

Monday 020325

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; 2 Timothy 4:3; Ephesians 5:6-10, :15-16; Romans 12:2; Philippians 1:9-10; Romans 11:33-35; Colossians 4:5-6, 2:2-3; 1 Corinthians 1:25, 30.

So, this morning I woke up, read my morning devotional from the Bible, and today lesson was planned out for me.

This morning’s devotional was found in:

Proverbs 13:20 ‘…One who walks with wise people will be wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

The book of Proverbs is a great book that we can read and use as our devotionals every month. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, if we were to read a chapter every morning that corresponds with the date, in the months of January, March, May, July, August, October and December; by the end of the month, we’d have the book of Proverbs completed. In the months of April, June, September and November, if we were to read an extra sentence every day, by the end of the month, we’d also have the book completed. Our biggest struggle would be in February, where there are only 28 days: 29 on leap year (every 4^th year). In the month of February, we’d have to do a little extra reading throughout the month so we could finish by the end of the month. But after a while, we’d get it done.

To mankind, ‘WISE’ might mean to be smart. In the dictionary the word WISE is defined as: having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Bible defined the word in several ways:

1 Corinthians 2

vs12 ‘…We have received God’s own Spirit, not a spirit that belongs to this world. As a result, we can understand all the good things that God has given to us…’

vs13 ‘…Those are the things that we speak about. We do not use clever words to speak about human ideas. Instead, we speak the message that God’s Spirit has taught us. In that way, we explain a spiritual message to people who have God’s Spirit…’

vs14 ‘…If someone does not believe in God, they cannot accept the message that comes from God’s Spirit. They think that God’s message is silly. They cannot even understand those things. Only God’s Spirit can explain them to people…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

A wise person has the ability to discern and handle practical matters.

A wise person is open to learning from others.

A wise person pursues righteousness, which includes being forgiving and hating falsehood.

A wise person focuses on relationships and day-to-day living.

A wise person walks with other wise people and cares for the poor.

A wise person demonstrates their wisdom with a meek spirit.

A wise person shows their wisdom through their good conduct.

A wise person avoids jealousy and selfish ambition, which are considered earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

A wise person builds their life on Jesus’ words and message of the body of Christ.

So many of our churches today, in their own minds they are wise, they say they tell the truth, they speak about Jesus and then they completely fall apart and begin teaching His Flock what they want to teach.

They begin making up sermons using mans words instead of reading what God has had written for us, they begin to ‘tickle our ears’ with words they want us to hear.

2 Timothy 4:3 ‘…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…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

From maybe a clearer version:

2 Timothy 4:3 ‘…Do this, because a time will come when people will not listen to God’s true message. Instead, they will want to hear all kinds of new messages that will make them happy. So, they will find many teachers for themselves who will tell them what they want to hear…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Wise can easily be explained by comparing a man that, to himself he ‘thinks he understands’ what is right and wrong; compared to the man that reads his Bible so he can find out how God has defined a word in His Word.

Ephesians 5

vs6 ‘…See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience…’

vs7 ‘…Therefore do not become partners with them…’

vs8 ‘…for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light…’

vs9 ‘…for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth…’

vs10 ‘…as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Us, mankind, we are never going to do enough to please God on our own, we need Jesus in our lives to accomplish this.

No matter how much we want to do well, we are never going to be able to get over that hump in the road that will get us to the other side.

As soon as we realize this simple fact, we will be able to make ourselves complete by allowing Jesus to take control in our lives and steer us in the ONLY correct way forward.

It is the hardest lesson we MUST learn and then once we truly understand it, it is going to be the easiest thing that we’ve ever done. We simply need to move out of the way and let Jesus show us the way.

Ephesians 5

vs15 ‘…So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise…’

vs16 ‘…making the most of your time, because the days are evil…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

We are ONLY able to sense this if we are taught the right way. When we try and do it on our own, we’re going to fail. And I don’t mean that looking only at ME, MYSELF and I … I mean when ‘WE,’ ALL of us human beings, when WE try and do it on our own, WE ARE GOING TO FAIL. We need Jesus to guide us in the right and ONLY way.

Romans 12:2 ‘…And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

These words are so simple and yet they’re so important for us to realize, WE NEED GOD ON OUR SIDE.

Philippians 1

vs9 ‘…And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment…’

vs10 ‘…so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

That ‘Day of Christ’ is going to be the most important day in our lives. The more we have His Bible open, and we read His Words, we’ll know what that day is going to mean to our future, with and InHIM.

This is where you must realize that we need Jesus each and every day that we are on this earth, alive and how important that it is that we are doing HIS will, we are living the life that HE wants for us to live. Everything that really matters is from Him.

Romans 11

vs33 ‘…Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways…’

vs34 ‘…For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor…’

vs35 ‘…Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

This earth and universe that we are living in, our lives and everything that we see in front of our eyes, have all been given to us by our Creator. Everything that we have, He has given us. We need to wake up and realize this one simple truth.

If and when that day comes, if we haven’t accepted this simple and easy choice, our life as we know it will be over. This is that ONE opportunity of using our FREE WILL for us to choose.

We can either BELIEVE or we have the option to unbelieve but that is all there is that we, ourselves can truly do on our own.

The choice is wide open for us to decide which way we want to go.

Colossians 4

vs5 ‘…Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity…’

vs6 ‘…Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Colossians 2

vs2 ‘…that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself…’

vs3 ‘…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Life, as we know it can be so short, life as the Bible tells us is actually going to be sooo LONG.

We have the ability to choose LIFE and live with Him that has created us or we can opt on nothing but torment and exist the way we have chosen for our future.

1 Corinthians 1:25 ‘…For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

1 Corinthians 1:30 ‘…But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Make your choice wisely and allow God to be your pilot and steer you in the direction that He wants you to go.

I love y’all. Keep reading His Word and study more and more every day. Studying is the only thing that really matters. Keep your Bibles open and easily accessible.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen

InHIM. ><)))o>

Sunday 020225

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Exodus 1:1-6; Matthew 9:29; Mark 5:34; Luke 18:42; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrew 11:1; Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:31; John 13:31, 35; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 2:5-7.

After finishing the book of Genesis, I had my Bible opened at Exodus 1, and I began to read:

Exodus 1

vs1 ‘…Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob…’

vs2 ‘…Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah…’

vs3 ‘…Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin…’

vs4 ‘…Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher…’

vs5 ‘…And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already…’

vs6 ‘…And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

I had to ask myself, is this not life? In life, people get married, children are born, they grow up and live their lives and then one day, we die, and we’re gone.

Our lives today have been filled with so many half-truths that we never end up hearing an entire story anymore, it seems so much is left for our imagination to complete a sentence, and it is this imagination that is getting so many in this world in trouble.

The other day, my wife and I were traveling in the car spending an afternoon together, when over the radio I hear a man speaking about how great a song is, and paraphrasing, the words to the song were something like ‘Jesus loves you all the time.’

I spoke up to my wife and I said, its such a shame that the artist stopped after just saying ‘half the truth’ and not finishing with the entire truth.

My wife asked me what I meant, you might be asking the same thing, but it should be a ‘GIMMIE,’ it should be something that we should ALL already know.

Jesus loves us, we should ALL know that … but that alone and by itself, doesn’t really do anything for us to make us complete.

Listen, we know we don’t have to jump through any hoops or ring any bells, for us to earn Jesus’ love, but what we do need to do is BELIEVE in Jesus Christ and what the Word tells us about Him.

Jesus ‘PRIMARILY’ came to this earth for the House of Israel; but Jesus also came to teach ALL the world about FAITH and how we were going to need it in our future.

Matthew 9:29 ‘…Then He touched their eyes, saying, it shall be done for you according to your faith…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Mark 5:34 ‘…And He said to her, daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be cured of your disease…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Luke 18:42‘…And Jesus said to him, regain your sight; your faith has made you well…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Hebrews 11:1 ‘…Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Jesus LOVES Every One of us, but we need to BELIEVE that He loves us. We MUST BELIEVE that Jesus died for our sins to give us LIFE. We MUST BELIEVE that Jesus is God, and we MUST BELIEVE that God can do whatever He tells us that He can do.

If we don’t BELIEVE it ALL, then what good is only believing part of it going to do for us, I mean really?

When we read that Jesus came to this earth, to die on a cross for our Salvation, if we don’t BELIEVE in it, what have we gained?

What did Jesus gain if we don’t believe in Him?

Jesus came to this earth to die on a cross for us, He gave up His life, for our Salvation; but if we don’t believe it, then nothing is going to happen for us.

Everything is based on our FAITH. We MUST BELIEVE for it to be so.

Jesus did come to this earth and die on a cross for our Salvation, we MUST believe that for us to gain from Jesus’ sufferings on that cross.

It is when you don’t believe, the fact is still going to remain the same that Jesus DID die on that cross for our Salvation, except, because you didn’t believe, there will be no salvation for you … one day, you eventually are going to die and after your life has ended, your future will be, everlasting torment.

In our man-made churches that exist all around us today, when the end comes, can you just sense what evil is going to fall onto their shoulders.

Jesus is going to ask them ‘why didn’t you teach them to ‘Follow Me?’

What could they answer … ‘I taught them to love’ … ‘I taught them John 3:16’ … ‘we sang good music’ … ‘we held our services on tv every week.’

It is so hard for me to sit back and watch newly formed, neighborhood churches prey on an area over earthly monetary values. I was in a church that was just starting up and all they focused on was what was the average annual income for the homeowners, what were the family sizes in a neighborhood, where they needed to build for the most bang for their buck.

I don’t remember reading about that anywhere in the Bible, where we’ve been directed to place our focus on that type of attack to teaching ‘HIS’ flock.

What happened to teaching the world around us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What happened to spreading the Good News to every soul within our reach?

Where do these churches find this hate among themselves that would make any person want to seek out such evil instead of teaching the truth?

Jesus came to teach us all about love, how we were to love our fellow man.

Matthew 22

vs37 ‘…And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…’

vs38 ‘…This is the great and foremost commandment…’

vs39 ‘…The second is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Mark 12:31 ‘…The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

John 13

vs31 ‘…I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another…’

vs35 ‘…By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

1 John 2

vs15 ‘…Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…’

vs16 ‘…For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world…’

vs17 ‘…The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

How can anyone argue that they love others, more than they love themselves, when they’re only interested in the earthly monetary gain when setting up a new church?

Are these man-made churches interested in anything other than money?

Listen, all of you out there reading this article, shout at the top of your lungs to those around you, tell them to open the Word for themselves and read about what God has given us. Tell them to learn the Word for themselves and learn what is right and what is wrong. Tell those around you they need the Word in their lives, not a neighborhood church.

Jesus hated religion when He came to this earth to save us. He didn’t die on the cross just so a church could get started in a neighborhood. He died on that cross for you and me. He dies so that we could live out Eternity in heaven with Him.

2 Corinthians 5

vs14 ‘…We are ruled by the love of Christ, now that we recognize that one man died for everyone, which means that they all share in his death…’

vs15 ‘…He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

The important One here is Jesus. He is the only One that matters.

He is the One that should be preached on Sunday mornings. We shouldn’t be noticing how comfortable the pews are. We shouldn’t be talking how great a sermon our pastor gave. We shouldn’t be talking about how good the coffee was in the church’s break room.

Our time in church should be ALL about Jesus. Instead of us having 60-minutes of Bible study and then a 60-minute church service we should have two hours of Bible study. We should study and read the Word all day long.

Man, whether he’s a pastor, a deacon, a bishop, a priest, a pope, whatever, none of the prior are anything but a simple, ordinary ‘man.’ They’re not going to get you into heaven, they’re not going to get you Everlasting Life, they’re not Jesus, they aren’t standing in for Him while He’s away, they’re nothing but a ‘MAN.’ Jesus is the ONLY way.

1 Timothy 2

vs5 ‘…For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus…’

vs6 ‘…who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved…’

vs7 ‘…and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Keep your Bibles open and keep your nose in the
Word. Study as much as you can. Share what you read with those around you.

I love y’all.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen.

InHIM. ><)))o>

Saturday 020125

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s GIFT, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 10:8, 12:19, 13:10; Ephesians 4:16.

In tonight’s lesson I think we should delve deeper into this edification of the church.

The word ‘edify’ comes from the Greek word oikodomé, which appears in the New Testament of the King James Bible about 20 times and translates to ‘the building of a house.’ In the Bible, edification is more than just encouragement, and it’s considered to be one of the purposes of the church. 

Some say that Christians who are edified are more effective and enthusiastic, and that those who are weak in knowledge and strength are more likely to become discouraged and fall away from their faith.

The explanation above should be reason enough, why we should keep our Bibles always open and set next to where we normally sit at night, so that we can easily grab onto them, at any time, and begin reading the Word.

1 Corinthians 14:12 ‘…So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

More than just teaching the church our feelings or teaching them what we believe in, I think it is important that we teach our church what has been written in the Word.

Right away there will be those ‘version police’ that will pop up out in the open and spark the debate on which version we should and should not be reading from. My only real problem with that is where is it written which version is the only correct version for us to read? If we’re reading an English or a Spanish version of the Bible, it is a translation, it’s not the first one ever written. A personal opinion has nowhere to be voiced in a church.

A person should keep an opinion of any sort, if it cannot be found in the Word, it should be kept privately to themselves.

The original Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. Primarily the O.T. was written in Hebrew and the N.T. was written in Greek.

So, the argument over which version we should read in English shouldn’t even be a discussion by anyone. It doesn’t really matter, whatever version we use in English is a translation, it is a version written different from the original version.

The Word is what we have been given by God. It is that Word that we should be passing on and teaching to those that are being edified. As I’ve stated earlier, we shouldn’t be teaching our feelings or our beliefs, we should allow God to handle that on His own and we should ONLY teach the Word as it is written.

There are four versions that I use the most, the KJV (King James Version), the NASB (New American Standard Bible), the GNT (Good News Translation), and the EASY (Easy English Bible) versions.

When I do, visually show the KJV (King James Version), almost always it is for the benefit of those ‘version police’ out there among us.

To me, if a person doesn’t talk like a Shakesperean play, ‘wherefore art thou Romeo’ what value is there in the KJV (King James Version).

There are some teachers of the Word, that change the words that have been used, to make it easier for them to read that version of the Bible, but to me, what these teachers are mostly teaching is the exact reason I tell others, to use a different version of the Bible that they understand, mostly because, it’s okay.

I display most times the NASB (New American Standard Bible) because, once again, to me, it is the most accurate Bible in English. compared to the original languages that were used.

There is the GNT (Good News Translation) and for me, this version has been written using the words I most often use. I am most comfortable when I read from the GNT.

And then finally, there is the EASY (Easy English Bible). The EASY version is used in the most very basic words found in the English language. The writings are so much more in detail.

Ephesians 2:8-9

‘…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…’ ‘…Not of works, lest any man should boast…’ KJV (King James Version)

‘…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…’ ‘…not a result of works, so that no one may boast…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…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…’ ‘…He has not saved you as a result of any good things that you have done. So, nobody has any reason to be proud about it…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

If we are going to Edify those believers that are around us, maybe rather than us telling them what they need to believe in, we should allow them to find the writings for themselves in the Bible and they should study on their own. This idea to me defines a ‘church’ because if and when we do get together, we can speak about what we have each been reading on our own.

I think rather than us going to church to be preached to, we should instead be going to church so that together, we can be taught what the Word says.

There are churches that are so large that the members sign up into smaller groups so they can personalize their learnings a little more. Once again to me, this then should be their church, the smaller group.

To much emphasis is put on the ‘size’ of the church that we go to … who is the pastor … what kind of music do they play … do they have coffee and doughnuts … is there childcare. To me none of the above has anything to do with church and the ‘edification’ that the Bible teaches us.

According to GotQuestions.org, Paul repeatedly mentions edification in:

1 Corinthians 14

vs1 ‘…Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy…’

vs2 ‘…For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries…’

vs3 ‘…But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation…’

vs4 ‘…The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church…’

vs5 ‘…Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification…’

vs6 ‘…But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophecy, or of teaching…’

vs7 ‘…Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp…’

vs8 ‘…For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle…’

vs9 ‘…So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air…’

vs10 ‘…There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning…’

vs11 ‘…So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible to me…’

vs12 ‘…So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church…’

vs13 ‘…Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret…’

vs14 ‘…For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive…’

vs15 ‘…What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also…’

vs16 ‘…For otherwise, if you bless God in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the outsider know to say the ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying…’

vs17 ‘…For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified…’

vs18 ‘…I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all…’

vs19 ‘…nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue…’

vs20 ‘…Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature…’

vs21 ‘…In the Law it is written: ‘By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,’ says the Lord…’

vs22 ‘…So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe…’

vs23 ‘…Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane…’

vs24 ‘…But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all…’

vs25 ‘…the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you…’

vs26 ‘…What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification…’

vs27 ‘…If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret…’

vs28 ‘…but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God…’

vs29 ‘…Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment…’

vs30 ‘…But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent…’

vs31 ‘…For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be exhorted…’

vs32 ‘…and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets…’

vs33 ‘…for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints…’

vs34 ‘…the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says…’

vs35 ‘…If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church…’

vs36 ‘…Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only…’

vs37 ‘…If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment…’

vs38 ‘…But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized…’

vs39 ‘…Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues…’

vs40 ‘…But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Ephesians 4:12 ‘…for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

2 Corinthians 10:8 ‘…For if I boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

2 Corinthians 12:19 ‘…All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for building you up, beloved…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

2 Corinthians 13:10 ‘…For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Ephesians 4:16 ‘…from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Paul’s goal was to edify, and he believed that edification was one of the reasons spiritual gifts were given to believers. He also believed that the church should work to edify itself for the health of each member.

I love every one of you. Remember that one day, Jesus is going to teach each one of us what all entails in that word LOVE.

Keep your Bibles always open and study the Word that God has given to each one of us.

Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen InHIM. ><)))o>