Ephesians 2:8 '…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)
So, today I was online reading posts on social media, and I seen where someone had posted a verse taken from a ‘Red Letter Bible.’
There are some people that ONLY follow the words that came from Jesus’ mouth … but that isn’t really true because most times these individuals only remain in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus was crucified and His last words before He died was Matthew 27:46.
In the book of Mark, Jesus was crucified and His last words before He died was Mark 15:34.
In the book of Luke, Jesus was crucified and His last words before He died was Luke 23:46.
In the book of John, Jesus was crucified and His last words before He died was John 19:30.
Jesus was now dead … He was buried and then He was resurrected back to life.
The last words from Jesus’ mouth in the book of Matthew is recorded in Matthew 28:20.
The last words from Jesus’ mouth in the book of Mark is recorded in Mark 16:18.
The last words from Jesus’ mouth in the book of Luke is recorded in Luke 24:49.
The last words from Jesus’ mouth in the book of John is recorded in John 21:23.
So, do these people not read the letters in red found in the book of Acts?
After Jesus was crucified, resurrected and ascended up into heaven, we were told that Jesus would not return back to this earth until His second coming to end this world as we know it and Jesus would begin the Kingdom that has been promised, throughout the Bible.
Except, found in the book of Acts, Jesus returned to the earth by revelation in Acts chapter 9. Jesus didn’t step foot onto the earth, but He appeared.
How do we know you might ask … because in the ‘Red Letter Bibles,’ Jesus speaks.
Acts 9:4 ‘…Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me…’ HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Acts 9:5 ‘…Who are You, Lord? he said. I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting, He replied…’ HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Acts 9:6 ‘…But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do…’ HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Acts 9:11 ‘…Get up and go to the street called Straight,the Lord said to him, to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there…’ HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Acts 9:12 ‘…In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight…’ HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Acts 9:15 ‘…But the Lord said to him,Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites…’ HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Acts 9:16 ‘…I will show him how much he must suffer for My name…’ HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Don’t get yourself so accustomed that you only read certain versions and Bibles printed in certain texts.
Open your Bible and READ the words that God has given us in His Word.
Don’t find yourself only following a person leading you through your Bible, listen to God speak to you and FOLLOW His lead.
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
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…’ AKJV
Romans 10:9 ‘…that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…’ AKJV
Jesus, this Message is meant for those out there in this world that only know what lies they’ve heard. Give them the strength Jesus to open up their Bibles for themselves and READ the words You have given us in Your Word. I love You Jesus. Amen.
The Bible verses we’re going to use this morning are:
This verse emphasizes that faith involves trusting in God’s promises, that which has never been seen, to completely believe without the proof in front of our eyes, faith is to take God’s Word as fact.
I didn’t stutter and say that faith is what we hear preached in man-made churches or what we’ve been taught to read in our Bibles.
Faith is not reading Scripture from parts of the Bible that were never written for us to follow. Faith is not following the same path that many human beings have walked down before us in earlier generations.
Faith is FOLLOWING what God wants for us to follow.
We should follow and BELIEVE in what He has offered and told us to believe in.
One of the harder lessons that each one of us MUST take from the Word of God is that God didn’t build these churches in the world today. God didn’t pick these pastors and priests teaching their man-made message spoken throughout this world today.
Mankind built these churches, mankind picked these men that teach us, and most times, it is mankind that picks and chooses which words we read from and follow in our Bibles.
God gave us the Word of God, all of the Word. It is from the Word where we can build and live in FAITH.
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
We must realize that the word FOLLOW is not used in this verse. All Scripture is given to us by God, but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us to follow.
After Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross, His betrayal and unbelief by His Chosen people (the Jews), it should be realized that mankind would only be able to learn what God has given to us if we read individually and not in groups where everyone in the group must follow one another’s interpretation of what has been written in the Word.
God made a choice, and He gave us His Word, His Message that would allow each one of us to FOLLOW the path that He wants for us each, to follow.
This next verse is difficult to comprehend, for me anyways. I hope I am not getting too analytical for y’all over this verse.
Faith involves us believing and trusting in God and in His Word that He has given us. A relationship that an individual has in God is solely between that person and God. No one can alter anything in that relationship other than that person and what has been written in the Word of God.
If ones relationship is contrary to what is written in the Word, what is the actual value in that relationship?
This should show the importance that is found in what has been written in the Word of God, compared to what is heard in weekly meetings in a man-made building.
This is maybe an example of that which is seen compared to things that appear (HEB11:3b).
Myself, your pastor or your priest, your church you attend or its denomination, cannot change your relationship that you have in God.
The only ones that can change that relationship between you and God, is yourself and what you can find, written in the Word.
There are people that are lost today in this world, our churches are packed full of souls that have no clue what they need to do to attain Everlasting Life in the presence of Jesus Christ after they leave this world that we live in.
Millions of people throughout this entire world, this week alone are going to be read Scripture from Jesus’ earthly ministry and in their minds, they are going to walk away thinking they are going to heaven after they leave this world.
And in reality, they have learned nothing from the Word of God, but instead, they have been taught the foolishness that Satan himself wants this earth to hear.
It is so easy to defeat Satan and his evil temptations, all you have to do is READ the Word of God and Jesus Himself will clear your mind from all of the evil that you have acquired, the evil where you think you were learning about God’s desires for you and instead you’ve been preached nothing but hate and lies from the mouth of Satan himself.
From the Word of God:
Hebrews 11:6 ‘…But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him…’ AKJV
Maybe one of the more important words in our pursuit of happiness, our motive for improving ourselves so we are worthy to be in the presence of Jesus is the word FAITH.
Faith is what we acquire from reading the Word of God. The parts in the Bible that have been meant for our own ears to HEAR.
We don’t need to hear the words God told to Adam and Eve … do not eat the fruit from this tree.
We don’t need to hear the words God told to Moses about how the Jews needed to keep the ten commandments or the law.
We don’t need to hear the words God told Daniel to voice to the Jewish people about their failure to allow the land to rest, every seventh year.
We don’t need to hear the words God, through His Son Jesus, taught to His apostles to teach to their fellow Jews during Jesus’ earthly ministry.
None of the above messages (from Adam through MMLJ), were written for us to follow; we’ve only been given these words so we could learn and see how God’s Chosen failed Him.
After Jesus was resurrected from the tomb, we have been given the Word that shows us what God has planned for our generation and people.
Everything up to this point was all about the Jewish people, God’s Chosen.
After the stoning death of Stephen by the Sanhedrin, God pivoted away from His Chosen people, the Jews.
God CHOSE Saul of Tarsus to teach the entire population of mankind about Himself.
Here is a book found in our Bibles that most people don’t even look at, or even, know about.
Acts 9:3 ‘…And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven…’ AKJV
This LIGHT is the Ascended Jesus Christ confronting Saul on the road to Damascus to capture and take prisoner, members of the Way (Jewish believers).
Jesus sent Saul to wait in Damascus and wait for him.
Acts 9:6 ‘…And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do…’ AKJV
There was a man, Ananias, who was a member of the Way that lived in Damascus.
Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision and told him to go to Saul, so Saul could regain sight.
Acts 9
vs10 ‘…And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord…’
vs11 ‘…And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth…’
vs12 ‘…and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight …’ AKJV
And then the most pivotable verse in the entire Bible, God CHOSE to save the Gentile people along with His Chosen people, the Jews.
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
We cannot learn what God has intended for us in MMLJ because the Gentile people have never been thought about being saved before until after Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, ascension and His return back to this earth in Acts 9.
95% of Christendom has never even been shown this verse in Acts 9.
Maybe the evidence of Hebrews 11:1b ‘…the evidence of things not seen…’ AKJV
If we’ve never seen the truth, we are unaware of thetruth. This is my point of an unjustified relationship. If we don’t know the real truth, our relationship is futile.
The lesson here today is to open your Word of God, and READ the words He has given for us ALL to learn from.
Don’t allow yourself to be used as a pawn of Satan to falsely claim a man in a building on Sunday morning, Sunday and Wednesday nights can save you … they CANNOT!!!
Open your Bibles and READ the Word for yourself, so you will know.
So, you can stand firm in your relationship with God that no one, especially Satan can defeat or even put a dent in.
Here is another important verse found in the book of Acts and a footnote from the Amplified version.
Acts 13:9 ‘…But [a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas …’ AMP
FOOTNOTE
[a] Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.
Keep your Bibles open and read the truth that God has intended for us to HEAR.
I will be back next Wednesday.
I love ALL of y’all.
I am InHIM.><)))o>
Jesus, there are so many out there in this world that do not know the real truth. Allow them Jesus to think for themselves and open Your Word so they can see that TRUTH for themselves. I love You Jesus. Amen.
I have recently found a new friend on Facebook that I am able to share, what I consider a very important issue, that thousands MUST wake up and find the God that is inside the Word of God and stop being fooled and lied to by all of these man-made church buildings found throughout this world.
Let me address those reading this article today, if you visited a church this morning, and the words that were preached to you are not found in the Word of God, ask yourself: why are you even going there?
Don’t remain like the original apostles did after Jesus Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension and Pentecost of the Holy Spirit … move onward and FOLLOW in Jesus’ footsteps.
Acts 8:1 ‘…And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
Everyone moved on except those that are taught today in this world’s, man-made churches.
MOVE ON and FOLLOW Jesus … walk in His footsteps.
Found in the next chapter in the book of Acts, God shows us His MOVE. God no longer stayed with only the Jewish nation, up to this point in history, the only nation that was offered His Salvation. God MOVED onward and it’s up to us to FOLLOW in His footsteps.
Thousands of so-called christians, for nearly 2000 years have missed this move made by God.
I think the blame solely has to be put on the back of Satan himself and his evil minions.
In acts 9, the movement showing God’s change is portrayed to the individuals that want to see the love that He has for us.
Acts 9:3 ‘…And as he journeyed, he (Saul of Tarsus) came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
That LIGHT was God. That LIGHT is Jesus Christ desiring to give each one of us the opportunity to be in His presence after this world ends. That LIGHT is God showing us His love.
God is wanting to offer each one of us a GIFT, that if we accept this GIFT and BELIEVE that He is even able to offer us such a GIFT, we would be saved from an everlasting future of evil, torment and destruction.
It is NOT written in God’s Word, that after Pentecost or Easter Sunday, we are to return back to the stable, year after year, learning from Jesus’ earthly teachings, learning what He taught to the Jews.
In Acts 9:15, Jesus CHOSE who He wanted to teach this world, and He CHOSE who in this world could be saved.
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)
Throughout the entire Bible there has ONLY been two (2) classes of people: Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). There were many different groups of Gentiles, but the fact remains that they were all still Gentiles.
There was Abraham, who had Isaac, who had Jacob and God changed the name of Jacob to Israel after he defeated God in a wrestling match.
Genesis 32:28 ‘…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)
The Jews originated from this house of Israel.
Three-quarters of our Bibles today, were written showing us the biblical history of the Jewish nation. It isn’t written anywhere in God’s Word that we are to FOLLOW the teachings of the Jewish nation.
We’re not commanded to celebrate the Jewish holidays or follow in their footsteps; in fact, the Bible tells us to be wise and ‘rightly divide’ the TRUTH found in His Word.
2Timothy 2:15 ‘…Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
Jesus CHOSE a teacher for us to FOLLOW since He was taken from this world. Paul’s teachings are found in thirteen (13) books in our Bibles, from Romans to Philemon.
Throughout history, God has been trying to reach out to humanity and offering Himself. The Jews had the prophets that walked the earth with them. Then God sent His ONLY begotten Son to them to teach to them of His love for them. And by looking back in history, we can see they had Jesus crucified.
Today, God hasn’t sent us any prophets, and we don’t have Jesus walking among us trying to teach us what He wants us to know. Today, God has given us His Word, our Holy Bibles to find the truth.
BUT WE NEED TO OPEN THEM AND READ HIS TRUTH THAT HE WANTS FOR US TO KNOW.
STOP relying on a man-made religion to get you into heaven, READ GOD’S WORD FOR YOURSELF.
STOP following the choices made by your man-made religions and following in their footsteps.
OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND FOLLOW JESUS.
Here is Scripture I’ve taken from the Amplified Bible, and the reason I use this version is because of the FOOTNOTES that accompany this version.
Acts 13:9 ‘…But [a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)
FOOTNOTES
[a] Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.
God gave us His Word so we would KNOW what He wants from us.
Our Bibles weren’t given to us to be coasters for our drinks … Our Bibles aren’t meant to lay inside our cars, so we have them the next time we visit a church.
I’ve downloaded a Bible app on my phone, computer and tablet so I have the Bible with me at all times.
Everything that we have in our lives has been given to us by God. The internet has been given to us by God so we could find Him easier.
Yes Satan is all over the internet … but so is God, all you have to do is look for Him.
1Corinthians 10:23 ‘…All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
As I conclude, also found in 1Corinthians is the GOSPEL that Paul wrote for us, that Jesus gave to him.
1Corinthians 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)
We don’t have to ring any bells, we don’t have to jump through any hoops, we don’t have to do anything that a human being tells us, and we don’t have to tithe 10% of our income to be saved, all we have to do is BELIEVE in Jesus Christ and FOLLOW in His footsteps.
Here is one last verse I’m going to use from 1Corinthins:
1Corinthians 15:33 ‘…Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
Use the common sense that God gave us. Walk and FOLLOW in His footsteps.
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
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…’ AKJV
Romans 10:9 ‘…that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…’ AKJV
Jesus, as we try to spread the words that You have given us in Your Word, we ask that You might allow the ears of those people, throughout this world, to HEAR the Message that You have given us. Allow these people the ability to not look to their man-made religions in there man-made churches, as they listen to their pastors and priests with their man-made words speaking falsehoods and lies, where their words of untruths keep people stuck in the teachings from Your birth in a stable to Your death on a cross. Allow them Jesus to HEAR the GOSPEL You have given us so that we could ALL, ALL mankind, attain the promise of Life in Your presence after this world has come to its completion. We love You Jesus. Amen.
The Bible verses we’re going to use this morning are:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; Romans 11:11; Isaiah 14:12; Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:1, :5, 9:3, :10-12, 9:15, 13:9.
Let’s begin this morning’s lesson and show the ONLY Gospel that God has given to us Gentiles.
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
Why have the churches that are found here in America and those all around this world hide those very important words in His Message? It is ONLY through those words that one is capable of attaining Everlasting Life in the presence of Jesus Christ in heaven.
So, we are going to continue this week with what is written in the Word, we’re not going to get stuck in a place where we are going to preach on what we think is written in the Word or what we think should be written in the Word.
And we’re not going to get stuck in one place because of a belief that generations before us believed in either.
We’re going to read the Word of God that He gave to us to keep us from missing out on the promises for our future.
Here is a quick, simple chronological time span in our Bibles.
Genesis 1:1 thru Genesis 11:32 equals about 2000 years.
Genesis 12:1 thru Jude 1:25 (excluding Romans 1:1 thru Philemon 1:25) equals about 2000 years.
Romans 1:1 thru Philemon 1:25 as of the year 2025, equals approx. 1992 years.
After Jesus’ church is raptured from this earth, Revelation 1:1 thru Revelation 22:21 will begin, the tribulation will consist of 7 years, and then the Kingdom of God will be established and will reign for Eternity.
The only one that knows for sure how long the part of the Bible will last from Romans thru Philemon is God the Father, Himself, as we are shown in the Word.
Matthew 24:36 ‘…But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only…’ AKJV
Mark 13:32 ‘…But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father…’ AKJV
The Gentile has never been told that they were to replace the Jewish individual.
The Gentile has never been told they were to adapt and continue with Jewish culture and their customs or ceremonial practices.
The above teachings of replacement or continuing with cultures, are ALL man-made. We are shown in the Word, us Gentiles were not to replace the Jew, God CHOSE to offer us Salvation to make the Jewish people jealous of what we have been offered.
Romans 11:11 ‘…I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy…’ AKJV
I believe the reason the above verse has never been taught in our churches, cannot be fully blamed on our churches, I think the majority of the blame has to be put on Satan himself, he doesn’t want us to get what he once had and crumbled up and threw away.
Satan does not want people in this world to attain Life in heaven after they die and leave this world. Satan had what we have been promised, and he gave it all up because of his greed and envy towards God.
Isaiah 14:12 ‘…How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations…’ AKJV
Satan, in his hate towards God, has clouded what has been taught to the people of this world. He has found the ability to alter the words from God’s mouth for us today to instead have these people focus and only hear the words that were written for earlier generations.
Unless mankind opens up their own Bibles and begin to read the Word that God has given us, many of the people in this world today are headed straight towards the Lake of Fire.
FOLLOW the words that God gave us and keep yourself away from the misinformation that is being taught throughout this world to the uninformed.
Jesus died on the cross to forgive the sins committed by ALL mankind.
Matthew 26:28 ‘…for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins…’ AKJV
This is what Jesus said as He raised His chalice at the last supper before He was taken to be crucified.
Jesus is telling us He was giving His blood for the remission of sins.
Jesus had to die and that is what happened on the cross at Calvary.
Jesus died, He was buried and three days later He was resurrected from the grave, back to life.
He came back to life, and He moved forward from that point.
He came back to life, and He lived with His remaining eleven apostles and the Jewish people for forty days and nights.
After the forty days and nights, Jesus ascended up into heaven to supposedly remain with His Father, until His 2nd Coming after time has come to completion.
But the Jewish people and the remaining apostles were lost without the clear directions from Jesus.
They were leaderless and alone.
The Holy Spirit came to be with them on Pentecost; they were given a helper, but their leader was gone.
Acts 2:1 ‘…And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place…’ AKJV
Acts 2:5 ‘…And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven…’ AKJV
God, after the crucifixion of Jesus, continued moving forward.
For some strange reason, Christendom returned back to the stable. For 1992 years now, our man-made churches teach from the stable to the cross and return right back to the stable. Caught up in thirty-three years of lessons intended for the Jewish believer.
READ your Bibles, in Acts 9, God made a change. The most pivotable change found in biblical history and our churches don’t teach this change that was made by God.
Acts 9:3 ‘…And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven…’ AKJV
Jesus made a reappearance to save this entire world and ALL of its people.
Jesus didn’t step foot on the earth like we are told in Revelation, concerning the 2nd Coming of Jesus.
Jesus, as a Light, in a vision appeared to change this earth.
In a vision, Jesus spoke to Ananias, a Jewish believer living in Damascus, Jesus told Ananias to go to Saul of Tarsus and pray over him.
Acts 9
vs10 ‘…And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord…’
vs11 ‘…And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street, which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth…’
vs12 ‘…and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight…’ AKJV
Ananias had debated with Jesus over some of the gossip that had been stirred over the history following Saul, and Jesus told Ananias in vs15 the MOST POWERFUL verse found in the Word of God.
Acts 9:15 ‘…But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV
Jesus made the CHOICE to CHOOSE Saul.
Most of Christendom and our man-made churches, have missed out on this opportunity given to us by God. Jesus CHOSE to SAVE ALL mankind, the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.
Here is another verse found in the book of Acts.
Acts 13:9 ‘…But [a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)
FOOTNOTE
[a] Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.
God CHOSE for Paul to teach the entire world about the words He wanted us to know.
As I began this series, back in the OT, God used prophets to spread His wishes to mankind.
Jesus came to this earth, and He chose apostles to teach the Jewish people about His wishes for them to follow.
But the Jewish people, did not ALL believe the words God had given them. After the stoning death of Stephen (Acts 7), God made a pivotable change, and He offered His promise of Salvation to ALL mankind.
This can only be seen and realized when your Bibles are opened, and God’s Word is READ.
Keep your Bibles opened and READ the words that God has given us.
I love ALL of y’all.
I’ll be back next Wednesday.
I am InHIM.><)))o>
Jesus, there are many in this world that have been lied to for generations. Please allow them to be given the opportunity to open their Bibles and read the truth for themselves. Give them strength Jesus to admit they were wrong. Allow them Jesus to be considered as part of the chosen … allow them to be called out into Your love. I love You Jesus. Amen.
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So, again this past weekend, multiple people were killed while attending a church service.
Please, ALL OF YOU, we shouldn’t go to a church thinking that a church is going to keep us SAFE. People visit a church thinking their going to find God. The same God that has promised us His saving Grace after this world, as we know it, comes to an end.
We don’t need to pray and ask that we are kept safe, instead we should pray and ask God to protect us from missing out on the opportunity that He is offering us.
We should pray to Him and not worry about being killed by another human being, but instead, we should pray to God and ask that we would be worthy to accept His GIFT of Grace.
We should ask that He finds us worthy to be offered everlasting life in the presence of Jesus Christ after this earth has come to its conclusion.
There are those in this world that think that by us losing our physical life today, it will result in our defeat, when we are told in the Word of God that this life we are living in is just a glimpse of what is in store for our future.
Eternity is just one example of what so many human beings don’t take the time to understand its real, true meaning.
Us Gentiles, we are promised either a future life in Jesus’ presence, or we are promised an eternity of torment and destruction.
Don’t go to a church on Sunday because you think you will be saved … the Bible tells us that we’re saved if we speak to others about Him and we BELIEVE that He was raised from the dead.
Romans 10:9 ‘…that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…’ AKJV
There is nothing that a human being can do to be saved, except, BELIEVING in Him.
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…’ AKJV
We strengthen our FAITH In Jesus Christ by studying the Word that we have been given.
Romans 10:17 ‘…So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God…’ AKJV
Don’t confuse yourself, we aren’t told we grow our FAITH by listening to others read the Word to us either.
We grow our FAITH when we open up our Bibles, for ourselves, and we listen to God speak to us through His Word.
Since Charlie Kirk was killed by a gunman, there has been a very positive response of people trying to find God and fit Him in their lives.
The younger generations are going to church for the first time, and this world has seen an increase in buying themselves a Bible. This is a powerful example showing us how important it is for us to have Jesus in our life.
Let me suggest that instead of trying to fit God into your life, change your life to fit around God. Live your life for Him. Promote God in everything that you do.
Don’t rely on another human being to get you to God, open your Bible and let God show the way He desires for you to go.
There are going to be those that want you to find God, but they want to find God how they want to find God. I want you to find God, but don’t let anyone tell you how much you have to give in the offering basket, to find Him. Don’t let people tell you how many bells you must ring or how many hoops you have to jump through to find Him either. God is offering Himself to each one of us, all we have to do is BELIEVE.
Open your Bible and allow Him to speak to you through His words.
I am not a firm believer in today’s man-made religions.
God doesn’t need a religion to find you.
God doesn’t need a building so you can be saved.
After Jesus was crucified, He was resurrected from the dead. After His resurrection Jesus Ascended up into heaven. It was believed that Jesus would remain in heaven until His 2nd coming, but God had different plans that mankind didn’t understand.
God changed His mind on how He did things.
In Acts 9:3, Jesus came back to this earth in a vision and confronted Saul of Tarsus on his way into Damascus.
In Acts 9:15, Jesus spoke with Ananias in a dream, that he was to go to a certain house and baptize Saul, Jesus had decided to use Saul of Tarsus to teach the entire world about Himself.
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
Ask yourself, why would our churches forget to teach us this change?
Why do our churches continuously return back to Jesus’ earthly ministry up to His crucifixion to return right back to His earthly ministry all over again?
Never moving forward … stuck in a continuous loop over and over again, forever.
Read your own Bible and see what God has planned for our future.
Read how Jesus has moved forward since He died on the cross for ALL mankind.
OPEN your Bible and READ what God wants you to know.
I have tried to emphasize how important that it is for each one of us to open up our Bibles and READ the Word of God for ourselves, EACH ONE OF US.
Several years before that I asked people: ARE YOU READY.
I want everyone to have the opportunity to gain what each and every one of us has been offered, the ONLY thing, we MUST BELIEVE.
Our FAITH in God is what is going to trigger our BELIEF for us and the only way our FAITH can grow is by READING the Word of God.
Over the years, I have tried to come up with a basic plan, where each one of us could get over the hundreds of excuses so we could each READ His Word.
We all have had an excuse one way or another. The most used excuse of all time is time, people will say they don’t have the time in their day to read their Bible.
Give up sitting in front of your tv for 30 minutes a day, give up being on your computer or your phone on social media for just 30 minutes a day, give up playing your Xbox or your PlayStation for just 30 minutes a day and in less than two weeks, the part of the Bible that is the most significant to each one of us in the 21st century, will be read.
Give it a second two weeks and re-read what you just read … and why not continue.
Thirty minutes a day is NOT going to upset your schedule. Download a Bible app onto your phone and during a coffee break or lunch, read a couple of verses from the Bible. Bible apps cost nothing to download on your phone and just about every adult in America carries a phone with them.
I have BibleGateway on my phone, computer and tablet. As of this morning, there were over 66 English versions of the Bible available with every download. Now there are many in America that believe the King James version of the Bible is the only Bible that should be read … I disagree but a point that I would voice, there are many times a person needs a different English version of the Bible so they can even understand what has been written in the King James version.
I have included my Bible reading plan on this paper, I hope it will assist that person out there that is looking where to start, and they’ve been asking for help. Here is my suggestion:
Day 1 – Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5
Day 2 – 2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8
Day 3 – 1Corinthians 9-16
Day 4 – 2Corinthians 1-13
Day 5 – Romans 1-10
Day 6 – Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4
Day 7 – Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6
Day 8 – Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4
Day 9 – Acts 1-7
Day 10 – Acts 8-13
Day 11 – Acts 14-20
Day 12 – Acts 21-28
Allow God to speak to you through His Word.
I hope this helps at least that one individual who has never opened a Bible before, but they are seeking to find God.
I am InHIM. ><)))o>
ps-
You may ask, why did I only post the writings of Paul and the book of Acts, to me, the answer is quite clear, we are told in Acts that Jesus CHOSE Saul of Tarsus (Paul), to be the teacher for the entire population of the world.
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
If you are reading from a ‘RED LETTER’ Bible, the above verse is written in red ink, these words are spoken by Jesus, the crucified, resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ. Jesus came back to this earth, by revelation to Saul and vs15 are words spoken by Jesus to Ananias, a Jewish believer living in Damascus.
Paul’s writings are the Doctrine that we are to FOLLOW today in the 21st century.
I included the book of Acts into this reading plan, so the pivotable change can be seen that was made by God.
There are about just as many people that don’t believe in the writings by Paul as there are those that think we should only read from the KJV. Just so you know, both of these beliefs are nothing but made up man-made rules that they want other human beings to follow, NONE of their beliefs or words are found in the Word of God.
Many of these people that don’t read the apostle Paul’s writings, they think His epistles should be ripped from our Bibles and thrown away, but Luke, the writer of one of the synoptic gospels wrote the book of Acts telling us that Jesus CHOSE Saul, are we to rip out the book of Acts also?
What about the gospel that was written by Luke, should that be torn from our Bibles too?
2Peter 3
vs15 ‘…And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you…’
vs16 ‘…as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction…’ AKJV
This man called Peter, from Matthew 16:18, Jesus calls Peter the Rock of the church, in Matthew 4:19 Jesus told Peter that he would be ‘fishers of men,’ Peter was a natural leader in the Jewish Christian community, Peter was an apostle and a pillar in the origins of the early church, because Peter wrote that Paul’s writings were from wisdom, he called his writings SCRIPTURE and those that don’t understand his writings, they don’t understand other Scripture as well, are we then to rip out Peters 2nd epistle also … and maybe his 1st epistle as well?
Where did these so-called christians read where God told us we could pick and choose what books and verses we want to believe in the Bible, and we could simply toss the other ones aside … where is the verse? They can’t because there is no such verse in the Word of God.
There are two (2) important verses found in 2Timothy.
2Timothy 2:15 ‘…Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…’ NKJV
2Timothy 3:16 ‘…All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…’ AKJV
In 2:15 we are told of the importance for us to ‘RIGHTLY DIVIDE’ the Word of Truth, the Word of God.
In 3:16, it not as important to notice what is in the verse, as it is to notice WHAT IS NOT IN THE VERSE. The word FOLLOW is not in that verse.
All Scripture has been given to us by God, but we are not told we are to FOLLOW ALL SCRIPTURE … we are to be WISE, so we are able to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the Word of God.
If you are visiting a man-made religion, in their man-made building and what they are preaching cannot be backed up by God’s Word, LEAVE, get out as soon as you can.
Go home and OPEN your Bible and READ the truth that God wants for you to HEAR.
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
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…’ AKJV
Romans 10:9 ‘…that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…’ AKJV
Jesus, as we begin this lesson, be with us and allow us to keep our focus on what we are able to read in Your Word. Keep us from focusing on what others say and keep us from gossip, false interpretations and keep us standing firm in Your Word that we have been given by You and You alone. I love You Jesus. Amen.
The Bible verses we’re going to use this morning are:
So, we are going to begin this lesson, trying to show the reader where they can find the ONLY Truth that we each have been given and then also hopefully, that will allow this world to realize almost everything that is taught on Sunday mornings is mostly man-made wants, wishes and desires.
Let me begin speaking about the Word of God, our Bibles and what can be found on its pages.
From our Bibles let’s acknowledge that God shows us, the beginning of this world that we live on and we are informed of the beginning of mankind.
Move forward to Genesis 6, God sees that mankind on the earth is full of nothing but evil.
Genesis 6:5 ‘…And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…’ AKJV
What happened to God’s Creation? One should ask, how did this world turn into such a mess?
Genesis 6:6 ‘…And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart…’ AKJV
Now, move away from the Bible for just a moment, we should ask ourselves: why would God even allow for us to read and study this failure?
I think we should use the common sense that God has given us and be able to realize that the simple answer as to why ALL of the evil that was found on the earth, has to fall onto the shoulders of Satan, alone. Since his introduction in the garden with his temptation involving Eve, Satan has wanted to do nothing other than making this world fail so that God and His plan, in essence, would also fail and Satan could take over.
I think this is why God has allowed for us to see the past. Nearly 6,000 years before our time but God wants us to see the evil Satan has put on us.
Back in Genesis 6, when God seen the evil that had grown throughout this world, He made plans to destroy ALL of His creation.
Just think of it, it wouldn’t have taken anything for God to destroy what He had created and begin anew if He wanted to. In our three dimensional world, there are probably some in this world that cannot fathom what it would mean to destroy our creation and begin over again.
Genesis 6:7 ‘…And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them…’ AKJV
God was going to destroy His entire Creation, but then we read verse 8 …
Genesis 6:8 ‘…But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…’ AKJV
God didn’t have to tell us what happened preceding the flood. In reality, God didn’t have to tell us anything. He didn’t have to give us the ability to realize what was right and what is clearly wrong.
The Bible tells us God did that though because He loves us, every one of us living on this earth, God is love.
Let’s go back into the Word of God, Genesis 11.
Genesis 11:1 ‘…And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech…’ AKJV
Now those people living back in Genesis 11, the world was very different, there was no North or South America; there was no Australia and no Europe.
From google.com:
The geography of the known world in Genesis 11 is primarily focused on the region of Mesopotamia, with the settlement in the land of Shinar. Shinar is widely considered to be a territory in Southern Mesopotamia, or modern-day Iraq, near the estuaries of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, including the city of Babylon. However, some scholars argue that Shinar may have been located further north in Mesopotamia, in what is now northeastern Syria. [1]
From Genesis 1 through chapter 11, there is one group of people all speaking the same language. There isn’t a Jewish group of people or a Gentile group of people, ALL people were the same, one group of people, known as ‘mankind.’
In chapter 12, God CHOSE Abram, later his name was changed by God to Abraham and through him, a new different CHOSEN people will emerge onto this world.
Genesis 12
vs1 ‘…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…’
vs2 ‘…and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing…’
vs3 ‘…and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed…’ AKJV
From Genesis 12, there is division between the different types of mankind.
Up to this point, the people on the earth were ALL bad. There is the history of the flood, there is the history at the tower of Babel.
God made a choice to divide mankind, He found favor in the Israelites, the Jewish people. There are so many religions today on this world that have missed out on this division by God.
They don’t preach it and are unaware that it even happened.
There are groups that sense this division, and they want to include themselves into the group that was chosen by God, but if these people would read their Bibles and listen to the Word of God, they would find out for themselves, they don’t need to join a group of people because God Himself made another CHOICE to include ALL mankind to have the opportunity for Salvation.
But mankind today doesn’t read the Word of God, they instead listen to their pastors and priests who claim they’ve read the Bible for them.
They follow what they hear in their churches and its denomination.
Most of mankind has decided to follow mankind and his message instead of following what God tells us in His Word.
Ask yourself, who’s fault is it then when you realize you’ve been lied to? Is it your pastor or priests fault? Is it your church or its denominations fault?
God is ONLY going to look at you, individually. Your pastor, priest, church and it’s denomination, they have been foretold of their own individual punishment.
But you, for not believing what God has been trying to tell you and this entire world, you are going to have an everlasting life, but it is an everlasting life of torment and destruction.
All mankind are promised an Everlasting Life, but you have to ask yourself, are you spending eternity in the presence of Jesus or are you spending eternity in torment and destruction, punishment.
Matthew 25:46 ‘…And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal…’ AKJV
But rather than jumping ahead to the end and out of sequence, we’re going to continue to follow in God’s footsteps, and walk through His Word with Him.
Throughout the OT, God used minor and major prophets, to spread His messages to the Chosen people.
From google.com:
The Bible lists numerous prophets whom God used to deliver His messages. These include major prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, and minor prophets such as Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. God also spoke through other figures like Moses, Samuel, and Elijah. [2]
These prophets were all sent to deliver God’s message to the Jewish people, God’s Chosen people, all lineage from Abraham.
Many of these prophets wrote of a promised Messiah that would have an everlasting reign. There are prophecies written of Jesus’ birth, and detailed prophecy of the city he’d be born in and prophecy of His death.
These prophesies were all given to one people in particular, God’s Chosen people, the Jews.
In this time period, there were two different types of mankind, Jews and non-Jews (also known as Gentiles).
Throughout His life, from His birth, the short stories of His life growing up through His earthly ministry have also been focused directly towards the Jewish people.
Jesus was promised to the Jews and that is why Jesus came to this earth; He came to fulfill OT prophesy.
Jesus told us this Himself in our Bibles.
Matthew 1
vs22 ‘…Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying…’
vs23 ‘…Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us…’ AKJV
Jesus also tells us in Matthew that He ONLY came for the Jewish people, the house of Israel.
Matthew 15:24 ‘…But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel…’ AKJV
It is funny to me because most of Christendom, they live in the book of Matthew. They read parts in Psalms and in Proverbs and almost the entire church knows by heart John 3:16 … but they’ve misinterpreted what God has told us, the Gentiles.
Do you know not until Acts 9:15, are we told God has decided to offer salvation and save the Gentile person, the non-Jew.
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
Here in this verse, God is stating to the reader He is going to allow the entire world to hear and learn about Him and His Word.
And 95 percent of Christendom today think they are to replace and take the place of the Jew since they proved they didn’t want God … but ask this person, what book, chapter and verse is it written that we were told to step in and take the Jews place?
They can’t tell you because the verse isn’t in our Bibles … it’s nowhere in the Word of God … it’s all a fallacy, a myth, a lie, a man-made made-up untruth to get you to revisit their church. It’s been written in the Word of God as ‘itching ears’ (tickling our ears).
2 Timothy 4
vs3 ‘…For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears…’
vs4 ‘…and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables…’ AKJV
Come back and study with us next Wednesday, as we continue through the pages of God’s Word.
If we cannot find what we’re being taught, written in and on the pages of God’s Word, we should flee and leave those lies alone.
The ONLY truth that we have been given is the Word of God.
Keep your Bibles open and continue to study.
I’ll see y’all next week.
I love ALL of y’all.
I am InHIM.><)))o>
Jesus, we pray that You would bless us and keep us safe. Keep us close to You and protect us. Keep us hungry so we search the words You have given for us to HEAR. We love You Jesus. Amen.
vs7 ‘…But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory…’
vs8 ‘…which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory…’ NKJV
We are treading on ground not covered in our man-made religions on Sunday mornings in their Bible studies.
Every individual should be able to conclude there are many things that us human beings do not fully, 100%, understand about what God has told us or how certain things were done … it has to be obvious.
This I would conclude is that MYSTERY that Paul is talking about in vs7.
This hidden wisdom can be seen in earlier writings.
We can find this in the next verse, verse 9.
1Corinthians 2:9 ‘…But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him…’ NKJV
And we can show a comparable verse found in Isaiah.
Isaiah 64:4 ‘…For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him…’ NKJV
Now the apostle Paul was a Pharisee … he would have known the writings on the scrolls of Isaiah that the Jewish people had for generations … but then I MUST ask, why didn’t those earlier generations read of the promise of the coming Lord … why didn’t they read of His death on the cross?
This again, is part of that MYSTERY that God, in His wisdom, in His Omniscience, in His ALL-KNOWING of everything, that us simple human beings, we will never understand until that day when God reveals His MYSTERY to us all so we all will be able to understand.
The way the early Jewish leaders and the people were blinded by the truth, I think is the same way that the apostles were blinded from understanding what Jesus meant when He spoke to them.
I think there are many in this world that have been blinded in this same way from seeing the truth that is found in God’s Word that He has given us.
God has told us, it’s written in His Word, but many times, by many people, it’s not been revealed until the time is right, RIGHT FOR GOD.
This MYSTERY is similar to a SECRET … I believe like the secret that God told us that He kept from all of us.
Deuteronomy 29:29 ‘…The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law…’ AKJV
There is a version of the English Bible that I use often to help me understand what has been written in the KJV. It is the EASY version.
Deuteronomy 29:29 ‘…Some secret things belong to the Lord our God. He does not let us understand everything. But he has shown us many things clearly. Those things belong to us and to our descendants for all time. They are the words of his Law that we need to obey…’ EASY
God is allowing us to know that He DOES keep secrets from us, mankind.
We should thank God for allowing us to know this.
So, the reason we ALL don’t understand what has been written is because some of us have been blinded from what has been said.
Here is just one example found in the Word:
Luke 18:34 ‘…The disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said…’ NASB
Jesus had just got done telling His disciples that He was going to be killed and in three (3) days He would be resurrected and brought back to life.
Jesus told His disciples this on three (3) different occasions, it’s written about in three (3) different synoptic gospels … and they did not understand what Jesus was telling them.
It was never meant for them to understand, in vs34 we read where it was ‘hidden from them.’
How many things has God told us in His Word that we have been hidden from the real, true meaning?
I think this is why God gave us His Word.
I think He gave us His Word so we could STUDY it … so we could pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand what He means.
So, we could ask what God means when He tells us there is a MYSTERY.
His Word has been meant for each one of us … not for others to read the Word to us but for each one of us to OPEN our Bibles and READ the Word for ourselves.
In just these past few weeks, there have been many difficulties in this 21st century world that we live in … just focus on what we have seen here in America.
In just the past week, thousands of individuals have purchased a Bible for the first time, thousands of younger generations went to a man-made church this past Sunday seeking God … but the Message we ALL need to listen to is the REAL, TRUE MESSAGE of God and it is ONLY found in His Word.
Stay home this next Sunday and spend an hour or two and read your Bible … READ THE WORD OF GOD.
Jesus gave up His life and was crucified on a cross for the forgiveness of every sin throughout the entire world.
Every sin that was, is and ever will be committed by mankind … WE ARE ALL FORGIVEN ALREADY.
Now we must FOLLOW in Jesus’ footsteps … we are to walk in the trail that He has made for us, we’re not told we are to break a new trail, and we certainly aren’t supposed to go back to before He forgave us of our sins before He died on the cross for each one of us.
We are to FOLLOW His lead.
In the book of Acts, after the crucifixion and after the ascension of Jesus Christ, Jesus came back to this earth and confronted a man, Saul of Tarsus.
Acts 9:3 ‘…And as he (Saul) journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven…’ AKJV
That light spoken about is Jesus.
OPEN your Bibles and READ it for yourselves.
Jesus confronted Saul and sent him into town and told him to wait for His sign … Jesus then went to Ananias and told him to go to Saul.
Acts 9:15 ‘…But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV
Jesus is telling Ananias that Saul of Tarsus is His CHOSEN VESSEL to teach the entire population, ALL mankind about Himself.
Throughout the entire Bible, after Genesis 1 through 11, there were only two divisions of people, Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews).
There were many different groups of Gentiles, but they were still Gentiles none the less.
There is another verse we should see that’s found in the book of Acts.
Acts 13:9 ‘…But [a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP
FOOTNOTE:
[a] Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.
The Book of Acts was written by Luke, the same Luke that wrote the gospel of Luke.
There are thousands of individuals that will not read the writings of Paul, they claim they are too different than the teachings of Jesus Christ.
But in the Word, Luke writes that Jesus CHOSE Paul to teach ALL of us about God.
There are people that say Paul’s writings should be ripped from our Bibles and thrown away.
Should we then rip out the book of Acts also because Luke claims that Jesus CHOSE Paul?
How about 2 Peter, Jesus’ most popular apostle.
2Peter 3
vs15 ‘…And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you…’
vs16 ‘…as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction…’ AKJV
Should we rip the books of Peter from our Bibles and throw them away also?
To you young, new believers, OPEN your own Bible and READ the words that God has given us in His Word.
TRUST in what He tells you … forget about what other men try and teach you (and I am including myself in that group also), OPEN your Bible and say a prayer to the Holy Spirit and ask that He would guide you in His footsteps. Allow Him to take you in the path He wants for you to FOLLOW.
Maybe one of the stronger and more powerful verses found in the Word that teaches us to STUDY His Word, is found in 2Timothy.
2Timothy 2:15 ‘…Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…’ AKJV
Here is an easier version you might be able to speak:
2Timothy 2:15 ‘…Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…’ NKJV
In both version we are told of the importance in our knowledge of ‘RIGHTLY DIVIDING’ His Word.
Not DIVIDING the Bible the way, we want to, but rather DIVIDE the Word that God has intended for us to HEAR.
Put your TRUST in Him and allow Him to walk you through this life we are living in. Pray without ceasing as we we’re told in 1Thessalonians 5:17.
Just a very quick lesson today … I seen this yesterday, it was the Verse of the Day.
September 17th Verse of the Day.
Romans 12:2 ‘…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
Jesus died on the cross for every one of us, to offer us Salvation and the forgiveness of our sins.
Open your Bible and READ the words that we have been given in the Word of God.
Jesus is our Savior, but we MUST follow in His footsteps after the cross, and not walk down the trail that ‘we’ desire or think we need to walk in.
Just because our pastor or priest might preach to us on Sunday mornings about where we need to go and what we need to do … OPEN your own Bible and READ what God desires from you instead.
Make yourself aware what God has given us in His Word.
Make the time in your day to fit God into your life.
STOP relying on other human beings or man-made religions to SAVE you … God has already offered you a GIFT that you don’t want to miss out on.
Put your TRUST and FAITH in God’s Word and BELIEVE in Him.
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
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…’ AKJV
Romans 10:9 ‘…that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…’ AKJV
Jesus, Guide me as I teach this lesson from Your Word. I love You Jesus. Amen.
The Bible verses we’re going to use this morning are:
Luke 22:36; Ephesians 6:17, 6:13-18; Luke 22:36, :38-39; 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16; Acts 9:15, 13:9.
So, I was watching the new, fifth (5th) season of the series, the CHOSEN.
I think I like the series so much because I am able to physically see, with my own eyes, what is written in the Word of God.
So, last night, I think it was episode 3, as Jesus and the apostles were sitting at the table, celebrating the last supper, Jesus tells the apostles how they needed to start arming themselves with swords.
I had never heard of such a verse before.
Luke 22:36 ‘…Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one…’ AKJV
Jesus is telling His disciples at the last supper, to arm themselves … ?
Those apostles sitting at that table I would gamble all the money I could find, but I would bet that they were shocked at what was coming from Jesus’ mouth.
Can you just imagine … ?
But for us today in the 21st century, we have been given the entire Word of God, so we can at any time, get out our Bibles and search for any Scripture we desire.
Ephesians 6:17 ‘…And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God…’ AKJV
In our Bibles, in Ephesians 6, Paul writes of the armor that God has given us; to equip us so we can battle the evil found in this world, so we will be able to keep our eyes focused on Him.
Ephesians 6
vs13 ‘…Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…’
vs14 ‘…Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness…’
vs15 ‘…and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace…’
vs16 ‘…above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked…’
vs17 ‘…And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…’
vs18 ‘…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…’ AKJV
Over my many years of studying with y’all, I have done numerous studies on this armor that God is offering us.
Out of all of the different pieces of armor, the sword (the Word of God), is the ONLY offensive protection, that He has given us.
God wants us to arm ourselves with the knowledge of what has been written in the Word so that we will know when we are being lied to.
Return with me back to the book of Luke. Jesus just told the apostles to sell what they had buy themselves a sword … let me show the verse again to you.
Luke 22:36 ‘…Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one…’ AKJV
The apostle Simon the Zealot (nicknamed Z), left the table and returned with two swords he already had, hidden, in his possession.
Luke 22
vs38 ‘…And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough…’
vs39 ‘…And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him…’ AKJV
Jesus wasn’t telling His apostles to arm themselves with ‘swords’ … He was telling them to arm themselves with the Word.
The apostles couldn’t run down to the Dollar General on the corner and buy a copy of the Bible, like we can today.
Jesus had realized the men, did not understand.
I believe Jesus was telling us, today; we are to arm ourselves with what has been written in the Word.
We shouldn’t just own a copy or copies of the Bible and leave them lying around our house collecting dust, we should search and study the Word of God so we can protect ourselves for what dangers are out there wanting to fight against us, and I’m talking about Satan always fighting against us.
We have people today, they go to church every Sunday morning, some even go every Sunday and Wednesday nights; these people walk into their church building with a Bible in their hand, and they come in and sit down.
When they’re seated, they’ll notice Bibles on the seats right next to them or under the seats in front of them.
But in most services, these Bibles are not even opened up and read from.
If they are opened, they are opened to a part of Scripture that has been meant for us to see, but it has never been intended for us to follow.
2 Timothy 2:15 ‘…Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…’ AKJV
The apostle Paul wrote to teach us that we are to be wise enough, to know where in the Bible we can read the Truth for our ears to HEAR and read the words in the Bible that were given to earlier generations, thousands of years before us.
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
ALL Scripture, the entire Bible has been given to us so we can learn from what has been written in the Word of God, but NOWHERE are we told we were to FOLLOW all the Scripture written in the Word.
What gets to me, is when a person will hear me make that statement, right away they’ll state how they’re not going to listen to me, and they’ll use ALL Scripture …
Okay, well why then why don’t you USE ALL SCRIPTURE?
Why do you leave out Acts 9:15?
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
This verse, in fact, the entire chapter of Acts 9, is of the ascended Jesus Christ coming back down to this earth and CHOOSING Saul of Tarsus to teach the entire world what God wants for us to know so we can attain Everlasting Life in the presence of Jesus Christ.
The ascended Jesus CHOSE Saul, but just think how many out there today won’t even read from the thirteen (13) books Paul wrote for us.
Here is another important verse and footnote also found in the book of Acts.
Acts 13:9 ‘…But [a]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas…’ AMP (Amplified Bible)
FOOTNOTE
[a] Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.
There is much foolishness in this world today.
Remember, when Jesus came to this earth during His earthly ministry, He was very disappointed with the religion of that day.
Why are there so many that don’t see the same thing that is going on today in our man-made churches.
There is ONE God, how can their be thousands of different denominations celebrating different gods?
Always remember, there is only ONE book of Truth.
Our Bibles today are available in many different versions, in many different languages.
I don’t believe there is only one version any better than another, if there was, I’m positive God would have told us what that version was.
I do believe though that we should read and compare our versions with others to make sure we are reading what God wants us to HEAR.
Keep your Bibles open and continue to study the Word of God.
Make yourself aware so that you will know what God is trying to tell you, stop listening to a man in a building preaching that he is the only one that understands the truth.
If he was the only man that knew, God would have told us in His Word of this man’s gift.
Open your Bibles and listen to God Himself speak to you.
Let the Holy Spirit dwell in your presence.
I’ll be back next Wednesday.
I love ALL of y’all.
I am InHIM.><)))o>
Jesus, bless those that are studying in Your Word this morning. Keep them strong and keep them hungry to find out more secrets in Your Word. I love You Jesus. Amen.
