Month: March 2025

Saturday 030825

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)

Let’s take the time this morning to read and study the Word that God gave us. We need to remember that we are only going to follow, that which we find that pertains to us. We also need to realize that it’s only going to be from our own efforts, that we apply what we’ve read into our lifestyle that is going to let us use it wisely.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:17, 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6, 11:7, 11:8-10, 11:11-12; John 20:29.

Have you ever asked yourself, how do I know, for sure, that I’m saved?

Many people do ask that question but with confidence I can tell you, that if you study and BELIEVE what you read, God has already promised us a future life with Him after we die and leave this life we are living in.

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

I have used the Amplified version because of the detail, the amount of information that is given in this version.

The question we began with, ‘am I saved?’

The question is answered fully in this one verse. I’ve made many comments that I cannot believe that this one verse is not the most known verse in the entire Bible.

[actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life].

There are three (3) key points found in this one (1) verse.

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

By grace you have been saved:

This means salvation is a gift from God, not something earned by human actions.

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that youhave been saved [actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

Actually, delivered from judgment:

This emphasizes that through faith in Christ, believers are no longer subject to God’s condemnation. 

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that youhave been saved [actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

Given eternal life:

This highlights the core benefit of salvation, which is the promise of everlasting life.

The promise of OUR Everlasting Life, with Jesus, FOREVER.

What could possibly be more important to us than that?

There is one major word that we, us human beings MUST do for this to happen …

… what is it …

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually, delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)

We have been shown YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH.

So, let’s spend awhile, and find out how God defines FAITH.

Romans 10:17 ‘…So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ…’ ESV (English Standard Version)

The more we hear the Word, the more FAITH we will have.

The MORE we hear the TRUE Word of God, the more our FAITH will accumulate.

I’m not talking about how many times you go to church and hear a pastor give his sermon on Sunday morning.

I’M TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES YOU OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND READ HIS WORD FOR YOURSELF.

Open your Bibles and keep them ‘ALWAYS’ open and in front of you. The more we hear God’s Word, the more FAITH we can attain.

There are other verses found in the Bible, but today I’ve read two (2) verses in the Word, and from those verses, we’ve been shown how we can have LIFE.

Another verse from Romans.

Romans 1:17 ‘…For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith…’ AMPC (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

I have been using different versions tonight, just to open up your world, maybe a little bit.

The Gospel, the ONLY Gospel that the apostle Paul gave to us Gentiles so that we could find life.

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)

Christ DIED, He was BURIED and He ROSE AGAIN.

God did this for you and me. This is our promise. This is the MYSTERY. This is the continuation of Ephesians 2:8.

If we believe that Jesus died on the cross for us, if we believe that He was buried and then three (3) days later, God raised Him from the dead, we have been promised Everlasting Life, free from the Judgement of the rest of mankind.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ‘…For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

It doesn’t matter what we see in this life. It doesn’t matter the evil we see and hear about. What matters is that FAITH we keep in our hearts and in our minds that is going to keep us safe. Evil will not be able to hurt us as long as we have Jesus on our side.

This next verse tells us it’s impossible without faith.

Hebrews 11:6 ‘…And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him…’ NIV (New International Version)

This is so easy, there should never be any questions that arise and as long as we keep ourselves in the Word, we’ll know.

Hebrews is a book showing us examples of faith.

Hebrews 11:7 ‘…It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith…’ NLT (New Living Translation)

And then there was Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Hebrews 11

vs8 ‘…Because Abraham had faith, he obeyed God when God called him to leave his home. He was to go to another country that God promised to give him. He left his home without knowing where he was going…’

vs9 ‘…His faith in God kept him living as a stranger in the country God had promised to him. Isaac and Jacob had received the same promise. They all lived in tents together…’

vs10 ‘…Abraham was looking to God and waiting for a city that could not be moved. It was a city planned and built by God…’ NLV (New Life Version)

Even a verse involving Sarah (Abraham’s wife).

Hebrews 11

vs11 ‘…By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised…’

vs12 ‘…Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead…’ WEB (World English Bible)

And finally, we come to another verse that completes the picture. This verse comes when Jesus is in the Upper Room with ALL eleven of the remaining disciples, after His Death, Burial and Resurrection. Jesus makes a remark to Thomas, ‘Doubting Thomas’ as he came to be remembered by us.

John 20:29 ‘…Jesus said, Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)

Maybe today we have it easier because we don’t have to believe because we can see, we just believe because we have FAITH in God.

BUT we MUST believe what has been written in the Word of God, FOR US!!!

We cannot expect to live if we believe words given to other people before us.

We MUST BELIEVE the words we have been given.

We find these words when we open and study His Word, the Word of God.

I love y’all. I hope you all study His Word daily and keep the memories of the stories in the back of your minds to always keep your FAITH as strong as possible.

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 030725

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Exodus 19:5; Leviticus 5:17; Deuteronomy 4:29;  3:17-18, :27; Malachi 2:2; John 8:36, 14:15; Romans 8:31, 14:8; 1 Corinthians 13:2; 2 Timothy 2:11; Romans 12:2, 10:17.

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

So, yesterday’s paper was titled ‘Where will you spend Eternity.’

A simple question.

This morning’s lesson is titled ‘IF.’

In several of our previous lesson’s, I tried to show how much of the Bible has been given to us to be used just like a road map, so we are careful and not make the same mistakes as those people that lived before us.

I’m not really interested right now, about those that lived in 1776, but look back further …

… earlier when Jesus walked this earth …

… back when the Jewish nation was warned by the prophets of how they would be destroyed if they didn’t change their ways.

By using google.com, the word ‘IF’ is used 1637 times in the Bible.

993 times in the Old Testament.

The word IF is an opportunity to ‘choose.’

It’s an ultimatum that’s given giving a person a choice.

If, you turn left, you can go …

If, you keep going straight, you’ll run into …

Exodus 19:5 ‘…Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Leviticus 5:17 ‘…Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, he is still guilty and shall bear his punishment…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Deuteronomy 4:29 ‘…But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Proverbs 23:15 ‘…My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Jerimiah 7

vs5 ‘…For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a person and his neighbor…’

vs6 ‘…if you do not oppress the stranger, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor follow other gods to your own ruin…’

vs7 ‘…then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Ezekiel 18:21 ‘…But if the wicked person turns from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Do you remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego?

King Nebuchadnezzar had a statue, and the three (3) young men would not bow down and give praise to it.

Daniel 3

vs17 ‘…If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king…’

vs18 ‘…But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

They were given a choice, bow down and worship the statue or you’ll be thrown into the fire.

They had FAITH and they trusted their God and they knew He would save them.

The three came out of the fire without a single burn mark.

Daniel 3:27 ‘…The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their heads singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Malachi 2:2 ‘…If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name, says the Lord of armies, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

How many times was the Jewish nation given warnings?

How many times is it written that Jesus tried warning the Jews in the synoptic gospels?

John 8:36 ‘…So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

John 14:15 ‘…If you love Me, you will keep My commandments…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

God has even given us Gentile’s, warnings that we MUST listen too.

Romans 8:31 ‘…What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Romans 14:8 ‘…for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

1 Corinthians 13:2 ‘…If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

2 Timothy 2:11 ‘…The statement is trustworthy: for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

I’ve only shown you a tiny portion of the word ‘IF,’ being used in the Bible.

If you don’t change your ways and open your Bibles and READ the Word that God has given to us, He will be unable to save you because you are sinning in front of His eyes, thinking you’re doing what you have been told, but God never told ‘YOU’ to do those things.

Stop listening to those false prophets all around us today, speaking lies that they think are true but in fact, they’re nothing but just lies.

Listen to what God has told you to do.

Listen to His Word.

Romans 12:2

‘…And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…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)

‘…Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…Do not become like the people who belong to this world. But let God completely change the way that you think, so that you live differently. Then you will understand what God wants you to do. You will know what is good. You will know what pleases God. You will know what is completely right…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

Romans 10:17

‘…So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…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 Translation)

Years ago, when I would give a sermon message in front of the church, I remember I’d sit for hours working on a paper for the assembly to be heard.

I want to kick myself in the back side, because of my ignorance.

I used to take the time and make sure every Bible verse that I read was displayed on the screen as I spoke …

… another time I deserve to be booted in the back side.

I should have passed out individual Bible’s to the crowd.

In hindsight, I should have had every person search the Bible for the verse to be read aloud.

If the Sunday message cannot be found in the Bible, it is useless.

Nothing but wasteful words spoken to a crowd.

Nothing but the words of this world, man’s word; NOT GOD’s WORD, our Bibles.

Keep your Bible’s open and keep on studying the Word that He has given to us.

Beware of the opportunity that He has given to each one of us.

I love every one of y’all.

Speak up and let those around you also know that it is time to wake up.

We have been given a choice … IF.

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 030625

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

2 Corinthians 4:18; Acts 13:46; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8; Psalm 37:28; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Galatians 6:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Isaiah 40:8; 1 Timothy 6:18.

The Bible describes ETERNITY as being forever. To be honest, the word eternity, in itself, is part of the MYSTERY that is spoken about in the Word.

2 Corinthians 4:18 ‘…So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever…’ NLT (New Living Translation)

Maybe an example for us, Jesus knew He was going to be crucified on a cross for us human beings.

He knew beforehand how long the spikes were going to be that would hold him to the wooden cross.

Jesus knew as he was getting onto that donkey colt, what was waiting for Him in that town just ahead.

Jesus knew.

Maybe before we spend the remainder of our lives studying the word eternity, we should just keep the FAITH we have in Jesus Christ and know that when He tells us its forever, even though we cannot fathom what is all involved, we simply TRUST and BELIEVE Him.

Acts 13:46

‘…Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, it was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…But Paul and Barnabas spoke out even more boldly: it was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we will leave you and go to the Gentiles…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…But Paul and Barnabas were not afraid of them. They said to them, it was right that we first tell you who are Jews the message from God. But now you say that God’s message is not true. You have shown that you do not deserve true life with God. So, we will leave you now. We will go and tell this message to the Gentiles…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

We should be a GENTILE and BELIEVE instead of acting like the Jews in the above verse and not believe what Paul was trying to teach them.

This is that part of the Bible that we should use as a roadmap and make sure we don’t go down the same path as those Jews did back in the day of Paul.

Romans 6:23

‘…For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…For sin pays its wage—death; but God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…If you serve sin as your master, it will pay you with death. But if you belong to our Lord Jesus Christ, God gives you a gift! That gift is life with God for ever…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

The verse above reminds me of my favorite verse in the Bible:

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)

‘…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…’ 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…’ 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…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

This verse in Ephesians is our ticket to LIFE.

All we have to do is have FAITH and BELIEVE.

Here is a verse from way back out of the OT.

Psalm 37:28

‘…For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…For the Lord loves justice and does not abandon His godly ones; they are protected forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…for the Lord loves what is right and does not abandon his faithful people. He protects them forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…The Lord loves justice. He will never leave those who serve him. He will take care of them forever, but he will remove the children of wicked people…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

We all realize that we’re getting older, our friends are dying, our parents might already be gone. But it is that little piece of FAITH that keeps me in Jesus and allows me to hang on tight.

We could all bail, but there is so much we’d lose.

2 Corinthians 4

vs16 ‘…That is why we are not afraid to continue our work. Yes, our bodies are getting older and weaker. But our spirits are becoming stronger every day…’

vs17 ‘…We have these little troubles that continue for a short time. But as a result, we will receive the great things that God has prepared for us. Those great things are much more important than our little troubles. And God’s great things will continue forever…’

vs18 ‘…So we do not look at the things that we can see in this world. Instead, we look at the things that people cannot see. The things that we can see are only here for a short time. But the things that we cannot see will continue forever…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

All we must realize is we need to keep the FAITH and BELIEVE in God. We need to keep our TRUST and FAITH in Him.

Galatians 6:8

‘…For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…If you plant in the field of your natural desires, from it you will gather the harvest of death; if you plant in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit you will gather the harvest of eternal life…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…A person may do things only to make himself happy. That person’s harvest will be God’s punishment and death. Or a person may do the things that God’s Spirit wants. That person will receive a harvest from God’s Spirit. The harvest will be life with God for ever…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

Don’t allow yourself to be sucked in by Satan’s lies that so many of his man-made churches lie to you about every week and that is when they tell you that you must tithe 10% of your income every week.

This is the major reason so many people in the twenty first century have left the church.

Open your Bibles and find out for yourself, those words are NOT in the Word.

This is a man-made lie by Satan.

There are so many that don’t want to believe in God, and they decide ETERNAL LIFE is not for them.

They give up before they’ve even tried to start.

Let me speak directly to these people, YOU are, in essence then, choosing ETERNAL DESTRUCTION. It’s the choice you’re making.

2 Thessalonians 1:9

‘…who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from his glorious might…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…Their punishment will continue forever, as God destroys them. He will keep them away from the Lord. They will never see the Lord, or his great power…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

These same people will then sarcastically claim, how can a loving God punish us with death.

The answer is even easier than they really know, God isn’t punishing you with eternal death, torment and destruction … YOU ARE … the people who have given in.

If we keep the FAITH and BELIEVE He is there for us.

The way that God’s Word will remain forever, we can rely on what is said in His Word ‘FOREVER.’

Isaiah 40:8

‘…The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…Yes, grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of our God endures forever…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…Grass quickly dies, and flowers fall to the ground. But God’s promise will be true for ever…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

Eventually one time you must have to take notice.

1 Timothy 6:12

‘…Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…Continue to believe God’s true message. Be like someone who fights well to keep it safe. God has chosen you to live with him forever. You stood in front of many people and said clearly that you believed in Jesus Christ. So, live in a way that shows that you belong to him…’ EASY (Easy English Translation)

There is so much on this one word that we could stay for an entire study. The thing is, there are those that are not going to BELIEVE from one study just as most of those same people wouldn’t believe if it was a multi-year study.

There are those that are going to miss out on LIFE.

So be it.

Jesus, I pray for those lost souls out there that need You Jesus. Allow them the opportunity to just get a brief view of what they are going to miss out on.

Keep your Bibles open and continue to keep your eyes in His Word.

Study so you are sure you will know when it’s going to matter.

I love ALL of 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>

Wednesday 030525

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 the Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.

So, as we work through our study, we MUST remember the two ground rules:

1^st we’re only going to read and follow the words that we can find in the Holy Bible that are meant for us today.

2^nd we’re only going to take away from this study, what we put into it. We need to open our Bible and read it every day. We need to teach ourselves what is the truth and arm ourselves against all the lies that we are confronted with every day.

Here are the verses we will be using in tonight’s study:

Matthew 15:24; Acts 9:15, 22:1-10, 26:1-20.

Some of the verses are going to be seen in several different versions of the Bible.

So, let’s begin …

There are those today that will only read from a Red-Letter Bible, because it shows the exact words that came from Jesus’ mouth in RED. Yet, these individuals aren’t even reading and comprehending the words that have been written or what they are reading.

Matthew 15:24

‘…He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel…’ NIV (New International Version) (Not all NIV versions are Red-Letter and not all Red-Letter versions are NIV)

‘…Jesus replied to his disciples, God has sent me to help only the people of Israel. They are like sheep that have lost their way…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

‘…But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel…’ KJV (King James Version)

Most individuals are only seeing words, they’re not ‘thinking’ what the words are saying to them.

Why is it that when Paul tells us that Jesus appointed him as the apostle for the Gentiles, there are those that do not listen to his words?

Is it because the words are from Paul?

Why is it then, when Luke writes in Acts, that Paul is the chosen apostle by Jesus for the Gentiles, there are some that choose not to listen then too?

Acts 9:15

‘…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 to Ananias, Go now to Saul! I have chosen him to work for me. He will go to those who are not Jews and to their rulers. He will tell them about me. He will also tell the people of Israel about me…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

‘…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…’ KJV (King James Version)

Why is this ONE verse not believed?

Read Acts 22

vs1 ‘…Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense…’

vs2 ‘…When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said…’

vs3 ‘…I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today…’

vs4 ‘…I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison…’

vs5 ‘…as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished…’

vs6 ‘…About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me…’

vs7 ‘…I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me…’

vs8 ‘…Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting, he replied…’

vs9 ‘…My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me…’

vs10 ‘…What shall I do, Lord? I asked. Get up, the Lord said, and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do…’ NIV (New International Version)

vs1 ‘…Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you…’

vs2 ‘…And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith…’

vs3 ‘…I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day…’

vs4 ‘…And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women…’

vs5 ‘…As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished…’

vs6 ‘…And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me…’

vs7 ‘…And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me…’

vs8 ‘…And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest…’

vs9 ‘…And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me…’

vs10 ‘…And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do…’ KJV (King James Version)

Why are these 10 verses not believed?

Acts 26

vs1 ‘…Then Agrippa said to Paul, You have permission to speak for yourself. So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense…’

vs2 ‘…King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews…’

vs3 ‘…and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently…’

vs4 ‘…The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem…’

vs5 ‘…They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee…’

vs6 ‘…And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today…’

vs7 ‘…This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me…’

vs8 ‘…Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead…’

vs9 ‘…I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth…’

vs10 ‘…And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them…’

vs11 ‘…Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities…’

vs12 ‘…On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests…’

vs13 ‘…About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions…’

vs14 ‘…We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads…’

vs15 ‘…Then I asked, Who are you, Lord? I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied…’

vs16 ‘…Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me…’

vs17 ‘…I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them…’

vs18 ‘…to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me…’

vs19 ‘…So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven…’

vs20 ‘…First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds…’ NIV (New International Version)

Why are these twenty verses not believed?

In just what book of the Bible are people reading that is telling them that they can ‘PICK and CHOOSE’ which parts of the Bible they want to believe and follow?

Where are these people reading that some of the books in the Bible are TRUE and other ones are LIES?

I have to be honest here, by us not believing and following what has been written the Holy Bible, we are being no different than those Israelites at Kadesh Barnea, when their UNBELIEF didn’t allow them to enter into the promised land.

They spent the end of their lives wandering in the dessert that God had prepared for them until their generation was dead and gone.

Just one of the many other examples of UNBELIEF was with Jonah and how he didn’t want to believe in what God was telling him and he fled and ended up in a fish’s belly for three days and nights. As soon as he made landfall, he went directly to where God had originally told him to go, and he did exactly what God had told him to do.

The Bible is full of stories of mankind’s UNBELIEF in God. Maybe it is time, that we, us in the 21^st century, start to BELIEVE and listen to what He has been trying to tell us instead of us just following what we want to believe in instead …

… what do you think?

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 030425

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Genesis 1:1, 12:1, 32:27-28; Isaiah 7:14; Numbers 24:17-19; Acts 9:15; 2 Timothy 3:16; Acts 13:9.

This morning, we’re going to open our Bibles and learn as much as we can on how religion began.

We must first start with God because everything began with God.

Genesis 1:1 ‘…In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

In the beginning God created ‘everything.’

Everything began because and through God.

So, today we look at this world and we can find many faults with and around this world.

Those faults have all been begun by mankind.

Now God created man, but man created everything that is not perfect.

So, if I have to assume that God created religion, as ‘HE’ knows it; mankind then has formed the religions that we have today in this world.

Why I say that God created religion, God was the one that chose the Jewish nation as His ‘Chosen People.’

In Genesis 12, Abram is told by God to leave his homeland, and God promises Abram and his descendants, a new home in Canaan.

Genesis 12:1 ‘…Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

Abraham is considered to be the first Jew and the father of Judaism.

Abraham’s son Isaac and his grand-son Jacob are also central figures in the Jewish religion.

Jacob is renamed Israel by God. the land of Canaan is renamed to Israel, after Jacob.

Genesis 32

vs27 ‘…And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob…’

vs28 ‘…And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and back to the land of Israel. Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. 

King David conquers Jerusalem in the 10th century BCE and makes it the spiritual and national capital of the Jews. 

The land of Israel is central to the Jewish faith and is mentioned throughout the Bible.

Orthodox Judaism began in the 18^th century. But in Jesus’ day when He came to this earth to fulfill the OT prophesies, Jesus was a witness to two (2) different types of Jews, and this was back in the first century.

There were the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the Jews that followed the traditions that had been handed down through the centuries.

Jesus came to this earth to fulfill the OT prophesies that were made to man by God.

The Jews had to believe that Jesus was the ‘Messiah,’ sent by His Father to this earth.

Isaiah 7:14 ‘…Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

Numbers 24

vs17 ‘…I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,
and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth…’

vs18 ‘…And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly…’

vs19 ‘…Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

Back in the days of Jesus’ ministry, the Jewish religion was split.

There remained that part faithful to the Sadducees, Pharisees, and traditions of the Jewish religion, but there was that ‘New Believing Jew’ that believed that Jesus Christ was the promised Son of God.

Even though there were these new Jewish believers that believed that Jesus was the Messiah, they still practiced the Old traditions from their forefathers, the obeyed the Law and they still visited the synagogues just as they had before Jesus came to this earth.

This now leads us to what I just said. The only change in these Jews was the fact they believed Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Nothing else changed.

After Jesus was arrested, crucified, buried and rose from the tomb, those new believing Jews now believed in the old traditions celebrated by the Jewish nation, they obeyed the Law, the visited the synagogue and they believed that Jesus was brought back to life by God.

Nothing more. There was no extra Salvation or promise to any one of them or to us.

The synoptic gospels by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, they were all written to the Jewish believer. There was never any promise of Salvation because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

The epistles written by James, Peter, John, and Jude were all written to the Jewish believer. None of the writings in these books have been written for us, Gentiles to believe in and to show us the promise of Grace by Jesus’ Death, Burial and Resurrection.

In Acts 9:15 Jesus chooses Saul to be His ‘Chosen Vessel’ to teach us Gentiles about God.

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 question I have asked since I found this verse, how can we as Gentiles follow any other teaching other than what Paul teaches us?

In 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 (Authorized King James Version)

Paul tells us that ALL Scripture is given to us by the Inspiration of God …

… but no where in the verse does it tell us that we should follow ALL Scripture.

There are thirteen epistles that the apostle Paul wrote.

Jesus chose the apostle Paul to teach us, who are we to use someone else’s writings.

Acts 13:9

‘…Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…Then Saul—also known as Paul—was filled with the Holy Spirit; he looked straight at the magician…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…Then God filled Saul with the power of his Holy Spirit. (Saul was also now called Paul.) Paul looked straight at Elymas, and he said…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

If Jesus chose Paul, who are we that we can choose someone different to follow?

It’s an easy question, where did God tell us we could pick and choose who we want?

Where in the Word does it say that what God wants doesn’t matter?

This entire world needs to re-evaluate where they’ve been putting their faith and their trust.

One of these days, God is going to call it finished.

This church of Jesus Christ is going to be raptured from this earth and the seven (7) year Tribulation will begin.

Open your own Bibles and read what has been written in the Word.

Read for yourselves what has already been determined.

After you leave church this next Sunday, go home and open your Bibles and see if what your pastor said in church lines up with what is actually written in the Word.

We each, every one of us, learn daily from what has been written down for us.

God gave us His Word so we could be able to know when we’re being lied to, and false promises have been made to us.

Step out of the box your religion has built up around you. Read the Bible for yourself and you be the judge, have you been lied to.

Open your Bibles and read the Word He has given to us.

I love every one of y’all.

Do yourself the greatest favor you could ever hope for … OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND READ IT.

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>

Monday 030325

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Zechariah 14:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Acts 17:29; Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:2.

Zechariah 14:4

‘…And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west forming a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half toward the south…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…At that time, he will stand on the Mount of Olives, to the east of Jerusalem. Then the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west by a large valley. Half of the mountain will move northward, and half of it southward…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…On that day, the Lord’s feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. This mountain is east of Jerusalem. It will break in two from east to west and it will make a wide valley. Half of the mountain will move north, and half of the mountain will move south…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

This is ‘PROPHESY’ of the 2^nd Coming of Jesus Christ. This is after the seven (7) year Tribulation.

The book of Zechariah was written around 520 B.C.

When will Jesus’ return happens when He comes to this earth and stand on the Mount of Olives as we’re told in vs4 … it is right now the year twenty twenty-five (2025), plus seven (7) years for the Tribulation, plus five hundred-twenty (520) years when Zechariah was written, that is prophecy that was written, twenty five fifty-two (2552) years before it happened.

If God was to determine, right now Jesus’ church will be removed, that number would be correct, but that hasn’t happened yet.

You still have time to change your ways.

You still have time to get onto the right path that God wants for us to take.

We are given a glimpse in the Bible of what is going to take place in the ‘Rapture’ of Jesus’ church.

The only thing we know for sure, it is going to take place ‘BEFORE’ the Tribulation begins to take place.

At this time, I am only going to use two (2) verses in particular, of the Rapture.

1 Thessalonians 4

AKJV

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…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

NASB

vs16 ‘…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first…’

vs17 ‘…Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

GNT

vs16 ‘…There will be the shout of command, the archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first…’

vs17 ‘…then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will always be with the Lord…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

EASY

vs16 ‘…On that day, the Lord himself will come down from heaven. He will shout with authority. People will hear the voice of the leader of God’s angels. They will hear the sound of God’s trumpet. Then those people who have died as Christians will become alive again. They will be the first people to rise up…’

vs17 ‘…After that, those of us who are still alive will join together with them. God will suddenly take us up into the clouds. In that way, we will all meet the Lord in the sky. So, we will all be with the Lord forever…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

At NO point are we told in these two (2) verses that Jesus is stepping foot onto the earth.

At NO point, in these two (2) verses, are we told it is for only those people that are on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

This is an error in our teachings that we have been told for generations, for many, many centuries.

The new age Jewish believer nor the Jew that remained an Orthodox Jew ever realized this fact that we were told.

Our Christian churches, since the first century never taught of this event, known as the Rapture.

Yes, I know the word Rapture is not in the Bible. But the word Trinity isn’t in the Bible either and the Bible is full of the word Godhead, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Acts 17:29

‘…Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

So, if you want, let’s not use the word Rapture, let’s use the words taken from the Bible … ‘Caught Up.’

In Greek, the word used is ‘harpazo.’ From the Latin Vulgate, the word harpazo has been translated to the word RAPTURO. And the English language, the word Rapturo is translated to the word Rapture.

Have you ever asked yourself why we were not taught of the Rapture of Jesus’ church?

Have you ever asked why we were never taught about when Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah?

Luke 4

AKJV

vs18 ‘…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…’

vs19 ‘…to preach the acceptable year of the Lord…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

NASB

vs18 ‘…The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed…’

vs19 ‘…To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

GNT

vs18 ‘…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed…’

vs19 ‘…and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

EASY

vs18 ‘…The Spirit of the Lord God is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to poor people. He has sent me to tell people who are in prison, you can go free! I must say to people that cannot see, see again. I must cause people that are like slaves to become free…’

vs19 ‘…I must tell everyone, “This is the year when God will be kind to his people…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

This reading was taken from the book of Isaiah 61.

I am only going to print the verse Jesus cut in half and didn’t read the 2^nd part of the verse.

Isaiah 61:2

‘…to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…He has sent me to proclaim that the time has come when the Lord will save his people and defeat their enemies. He has sent me to comfort all who mourn…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…He has sent me to say, this is the year when the Lord will be kind to his people. It is the time when our God will punish our enemies. He has sent me to comfort people who are weeping because they are sad…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

The above verses in bold letters, Jesus skipped reading about.

WHY you probably will ask.

The reason is because Jesus (GOD) knew the ‘church age’ was coming after His Death, Burial and Resurrection.

Jesus didn’t come to this earth to get the ‘church’ ready for the end.

Jesus came to this earth to fulfill OT prophesies about Him, the Messiah, the King for the Jewish nation.

We, you and me. We are only going to learn of our future when we read from the writings of Paul.

We can question all day as to why Jesus didn’t tell us that … why God hasn’t let us know …

… and actually, He HAS answered both of those questions.

All you have to do is read His Word. Read the Word He has chosen for you. And have FAITH and BELIEVE IN HIM.

Keep your Bibles open and continue to study the words He has given us.

If you still don’t understand.

Pray to Jesus and ask Him for His help.

This is where we MUST rely on Him.

This is where we MUST put our FAITH and TRUST in Him and not in the man-made churches that fill our land.

These churches are never going to save us.

These churches actually, are never even going to save themselves.

OPEN YOUR BIBLES AND READ THE WORDS GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU.

I love ALL of 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>

Sunday 030225

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; Jonah 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:16.

This morning, maybe I should take the time and talk about this Bible that we have in front of us today.

There are the original Hebrew and Greek letters that make-up our Bibles today.

As of today, there are 66 different English versions found on Biblegateway.com.

The Bible is more than the Authorized King James Version (AKJV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the Good News Translation (GNT) and the Easy English Bible (EASY) versions.

These different interpretations allow each one of us to understand what we are being told by the writer.

The Bible and its ‘INTERPRETATION’ is meant to be only that, the interpretation of God.

This morning, I began to watch a previously recorded Bible study on the Book of Revelation. It was led by Les Feldick, who died back in 2023.

Around four years ago, I participated in a different study on the Book of Revelation that was run by pastor Stephen Armstrong of VBVMI (Verse-By-Verse-Ministries-International). Pastor Armstrong has also died, from a covid related illness back in 2021.

Maybe ten years ago I did a different study on the Book of Revelation with a pastor friend of mine, pastor Mike Bass.

I know over the years I’ve been involved in two, maybe three other studies, all in the Book of Revelation.

Every study was different. Each teacher taught the book according to their own interpretation and I’m not sure God intended on it being that way.

Some years ago, I told people they needed to read the Bible for themselves and there was a comment made regarding all the different interpretations.

Since writing this lesson, I have to admit, every time a person reads the Bible, they probably do interpret what they read, according to what they know.

I would read a passage from the Bible, and I’d have an interpretation. You could read the same passage from the Bible, and you may get an entirely different interpretation. And then every other person reading the same passage from the Bible, they could all get different interpretation of the same passage.

There is only one correct interpretation and that is whatever God intended to be said. His is for sure, the ONLY one that is, for sure, correct.

What can we do when we get a different interpretation from someone else?

1 Corinthians 2:13

‘…Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…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…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

This is where a strong group assists us when we are trying to interpret what we’ve read.

Our ability to voice with someone can be so beneficial to our study of the Word.

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 (Authorized King James Version)

‘…All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…Everything that is written in the Bible comes from God’s Spirit. It helps us in many ways. The Bible teaches us what is true. It warns us when we are doing wrong things. It shows us what is right. It teaches us how to live good lives…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

This is a very profitable verse that more people should pay attention to. ALL Scripture has been Inspired by God but NOT all of that Scripture has been given to us for ‘ALL’ of us to FOLLOW every part of ALL
Scripture.

The example I use is Jonah 1:1-3. It is written that Jonah was told by God to go to the city of Nineveh and let the people know that God knew they were doing evil things. Jonah fled so he didn’t have to hear God’s demands anymore and he bought a boat ticket to Spain so he could escape.

We are NOT shown this passage for us to FOLLOW Jonah and flee from God’s presence. We’ve been shown this passage to keep us from repeating what Jonah did wrong.

Jonah 1

vs1 ‘…Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying…’

vs2 ‘…Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me…’

vs3 ‘…But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so, he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

vs1 ‘…The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying…’

vs2 ‘…Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me…’

vs3 ‘…But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

vs1 ‘…One day the Lord spoke to Jonah son of Amittai…’

vs2 ‘…He said, Go to Nineveh, that great city, and speak out against it; I am aware of how wicked its people are…’

vs3 ‘…Jonah, however, set out in the opposite direction in order to get away from the Lord. He went to Joppa, where he found a ship about to go to Spain. He paid his fare and went aboard with the crew to sail to Spain, where he would be away from the Lord…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

vs1 ‘…The Lord spoke a message to Jonah, Amittai’s son…’

vs2 ‘…He said, Go now to the great city of Nineveh. Tell the people in the city that I know how wicked they are. Tell them that I will punish them because of their sins…’

vs3 ‘…But Jonah did not want to obey the Lord’s command. He decided to run away to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa. There he found a ship that was ready to sail to Tarshish. After he had paid for the journey, he got into the ship. He wanted to go on the ship to Tarshish, to get far away from the Lord…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

It is easy to sit back and rely on what someone tells you is in the Word … but what if the person told you a lie and that message isn’t in the Word?

Who’d be more at fault …

Him for lying to you or you for not double checking what was actually written.

Here is some very wise wisdom given to us in the Word.

2 Timothy 2:16

‘…But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…Keep away from profane and foolish discussions, which only drive people farther away from God…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…But stay away from people who talk about silly things that are not important to God. A message like that causes people to live more and more in a way that does not please God…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Keep your Bibles always open and continue to study the words that He has given us.

There are going to be those times in this life when we will find hardships in just about anything and everything that we try to do.

Just always remember God has given us His helper to be there for us when we need His help.

All you have to do is ask and He will already be there in front of you waiting to help out.

Interpretations can be both too easy and yet too hard.

God didn’t give us something that we will not be able to handle on our own.

If you need His help, use your head and just ask Him for His assistance.

I love ALL of 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 030125

Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.

The verses we are going to study tonight:

Ephesians 4:1a, :1, :17, :18, :19, 5:26.

In this morning’s lesson, the 1^st thing we MUST remember is that God is always going to be the One that is right. He is going to be the FINAL answer no matter what anyone else might think.

I think Paul had that same mindset. Paul had to have some degree of humility to have been able to be the apostle that Jesus chose. Paul had to have been able to put his wants and desires aside for him to be the follower of God and teach us ‘Gentiles’ about the Word.

Ephesians 4:1a (I am using the EASY version because, to me, it is easier to read in English)

‘…Because I serve the Lord, I am here in prison…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Paul has given up his life, he has put it all on the back burner, just so he could serve God … and in this verse, he’s in jail because of who he is serving.

Be honest and ask yourself, what have you ever given up?

Ephesians 4:1

‘…I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…I urge you, then—I who am a prisoner because I serve the Lord: live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…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 (Easy English Bible)

Paul is writing that he is in prison because he serves Jesus Christ so that he can teach us ‘Gentiles’ about God.

How many ‘mega’ church pastors today would do the same thing?

How many of these pastors would give their money so hungry people could eat dinner tonight?

Me, not having any money, I have to ask, how much money is enough for these wealthy pastors?

What do you think Paul would say today to those that feel his thirteen (13) epistles should be removed from the Bible?

Myself personally, I don’t think the apostle Paul would give those people the chance to keep him from spreading the Word of God.

I don’t think the apostle Paul would have given them the satisfaction to even think they had accomplished anything that affected his ability to spread the Word of God.

The header for this next verse in the GNT titles this passage as ‘The New Life in Christ.’

Ephesians 4:17

‘…This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…So, I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…In the Lord’s name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…So, I say this to you. I am sure that I have the Lord’s authority to say it. You must not live any longer like the Gentile people who do not know God. They do whatever their silly ideas teach them to do…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

We are no longer like we were yesterday. We’re to stand proud and let others know that we are BELIEVERS and FOLLOWERS of God.

We’re not to be ashamed and hide our heads because we READ the Word to guide us in the life we are living in.

So many people go to man-made churches today and follow their rules and guidelines and they have no problem with that.

They’ll wear clothing advertising their church that they attend. They buy stickers and put them on their vehicles they drive so others can see where they put their FAITH.

But some of these same people won’t do the same thing for God. They won’t let others know they love Jesus, they’re easily embarrassed.

Ephesians 4:18

‘…having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…They cannot understand God’s true message because their minds are in the dark. They have not accepted the life that God gives. They have decided that they do not want to know about God. They do not even try to understand…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

Is this not the definition of a member at a ‘man’s-church.’

They couldn’t tell you anything about the Bible other than there is an OT and the NT and maybe 50 percent could repeat John 3:16 by memory.

They know who their pastor is and who his helpers are. They know where the church is located, and they know what times the different services are held.

They might know what translation the Bible is read to them on Sunday mornings, and they may even know what color the Bibles are underneath their seats.

They might know who the choir members are, and they might even know the band members’ names.

And that’s it.

Verse 19 is like the icing on the top of the cake.

Ephesians 4:19

‘… who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…They do not feel ashamed when they do all kinds of disgusting things. They do more and more bad things just to please themselves…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

We get into chapter 5, and I hear the evil shouting in the background because someone shouts from the back of the room, the Bible says to, SUBMIT.

Read the entire verse don’t just look and hope because of one (1) word.

Ephesians 5:26

‘…that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)

‘…so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)

‘…He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water…’ GNT (Good News Translation)

‘…He did that to make us completely clean, as the people of God. It was like he washed us with water, as he brought God’s message to us…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)

We can become ‘clean’ by reading the Word as if we were to clean ourselves with soap and water.

The ‘junk’ that we’ve been storing up for years, thinking that we really knew something, we can wash all that out and clean ourselves when we read the truth found in the Word.

God gave us the Bible to free us from the harm that this world can cause to us.

Beliefs and habits that we’ve become accustomed to can easily be erased from our memory.

The truth is all that we need.

And more importantly, we don’t need an interpreter to read the Word to us, we can do that ourselves, just open up your Bible.

If we never take the time to learn what the Word really says, you can guarantee that you’ll fall for the first line that someone tells you how a verse has been written.

Don’t take the chance that someone might lie to you. Prepare yourself in advance. Use the Bible as it has been intended by God when He gave us His Armor to protect ourselves in this world.

Use the Bible, the SWORD offensively and speak the truth to others and also use the Bible, the SWORD defensively and keep people from lying to you telling you ‘what the Bible says.’

Keep your Bibles open and always study the Word of God. Keep yourselves informed.

I love ALL of 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>