Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I recently started back to work full time after 20 years of being a homemaker. I am still trying to get into a system where I have time to post my devotions. Most days time is not my friend. But God is and I know He will help me work it out.

Enjoy your time with family and friends. Be safe be warm .Be thankful for the little things, as well as the big things!  No matter how bad your year has been, and ours has been a doozie, remember that if you are saved, God is on your side.

Telling – Speaking Forth

Acts 5:`17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,

:18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

:19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

:20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Meekness means be gentle, mild with humbleness.

Mark 5:18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.

:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

2 Tim 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Sanctify means saint, holy, separate.

Jn 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

:67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

:68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Acts 5:38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;

Acts 5:42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Jn 5:39 You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

:40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

1 Pet 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jer 1:7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

:8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

:9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

Jn 14:24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

Jn 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins,”

Ps 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise You name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name,

:3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.

Mk 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Lk 4:22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph's son?”

Gracious means good, kind.

Lk 4:32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.

Ps 106

Jn 12:44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.
:45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.

:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

:47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

:49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

:50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Matt 10:27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Tit 2:1But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.

:11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

:13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

:15 Speak these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Confusion! Why?

1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints,

Confusion comes from to many different doctrines (voices).

Phil 3:16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Confusion means perplexed, turmoil, instability, puzzled, wavering.

1 Kings 22:11 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the Lord: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.'”

:12 And all the prophets prophesied so saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king's hand.”

:13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying,” Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”

:14 And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”

:15 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!”

:16 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

:17 Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, “These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'”

:18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

:19 Then Micaiah said,”Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.

:20 And the Lord said, 'Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?” So one in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.

:21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, “I will persuade him.'

:22 The Lord said to him, 'In what way?' So he said,' I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the Lord said, ' You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.'

God will allow lying spirits in ministers because that is what the people want to hear.

God knew the people would heed the other voice.

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

Falter means waver, lame stop. Two opinions means mixture, co-mingling.

Acts 19:29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions.

:30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.

:31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.

:32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

:33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.

:34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

Acts 21:34 And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

James 3:8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not to be so.

:11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opeing?

:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

:14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gently, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

The Subject of Faith # 8

Heb 11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barkak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets,

:33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

:34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens,

:35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

:36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.

:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented -

:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth,

:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

:40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

You must mix faith with the word or it is dead. You must USE (apply) the word you hear. You must use faith to use the word.

Bereans searched the scriptures daily. We must do the same to work righteousness as it says in verse 33.

1 Sam 12:1Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.

:2 And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

:3 Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”

:4 And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man's hand.”

:5 Then he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand,” And they answered, “He is witness.”

2 Sam 22:20 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He is delighted in me.

:21 “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He recompensed me.

:22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

:23 For all His judgments were before me; and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.

:24 I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.

:25 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His eyes.

Samuel did right in God's eyes. David repented quickly, as soon as he sinned.

David chose God's chastisement over man and nature's. He knew God's mercy.

Dan 6:22 My God sent His angel and shut the lion's mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O King, I have done no wrong before you.”

Verse 33 says obtained promises. Daniel believed God that the lions wouldn't hurt him and God stopped the mouths of lions.

1 Sam 17:37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

By faith David slew the bear, lion, and Goliath.

Verse 34 says quenched the violence of fire.

The 3 Hebrew children said “Our God will deliver us, and God did.

If you play with fire you will be burned.

Verse 34 says escaped the edge of the sword. Saul tried to kill David. Ahab had Josiaphat wear his armor to let him be killed instead.

Verse 34 also says out of weakness were made strong. All of us were made strong in Christ.

Joel says when weak made strong.

Joshua 1 says be strong and of good courage.

Verse 34 says waxed valiant in fight. 2 Sam 23:18-22 and verse 15 talk about that.

The three who went to bring water were the most valiant.

1 Sam 22:1-2 Without the others he had no one to be over.

1 Kings 17:17-24 widow received her son again

2 Kings 4:24-37 Elisha – the woman kept saying It is well – she wouldn't accept death for her son.

She kept confession in line with what she was believing God for.

Verse 35 says others were tortured.

Jer 20:1-2

Verse 35 also says not accepting deliverance.

Some of the ones being tortured could have chosen to reject Christ.

Verse 36 says some were mocked and imprisoned.

They endured by faith until the end.

Verse 37 says there were stoned. Stephen was stoned for his faith but never rejected Christ.

2 Chron 24:20-21 Zechariah was stoned.

Verse 37 also says sawn in half. Schlors say Isaiah was, but it doesn't say who were.

Also verse 37 says were tempted. All were tempted.

Lk 10:10-15 they heard and didn't believe.

The Subject of Faith # 7

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

:31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephtah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets.

It is our responsibility to walk by faith, believe God, and act upon what we see in the Word.

As you exercise your faith it will grow.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

If you don't have faith, are you not hearing the word of God, or are you rejecting the word of God?

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are disqualified.

Two major hindrances to faith are your tongue, and wavering.

Heb 11:26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ and Christ hadn't come to earth yet.

Heb 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets.

Jesus always was!

When 3 Hebrew children were in the furnace the man said he saw one as the Son of God. Jesus hadn't come to earth yet.

Josh 6:20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

They got the victory because they had faith and obeyed God.

With faith in God ALL things are possible.

Josh 2:15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.

Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Josh 6:23 And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.

She was believing for her family and they were saved.

Matt 1:5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begat Obed by Ruth, Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.

Because of her belief she in in the lineage of Jesus.

All of these ACTED on their faith.

Faith without works is dead.

James 2:25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Judges 7 – Gideon – fear is not believing what God said.

Judges 4:9 So she said, “ I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

:21 Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

Judges 5:24 “Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed is she among women in tents.

Samson was very strong, he sinned, repented and called upon God.

Judges 16:26 Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them,”

:27 Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there- about three hundred men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.

:28 Then Samson called to the Lord, saying,” O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!”

:29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.

:30 Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.

By faith God gave him one more chance.

Judges 11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephtah.

He defeated the armies of Ammon. His daughter was the one who came out to meet him after he vowed to sacrifice anything that came out of his house first.

We need to take seriously any vow we make to the Lord.

2 Sam 7:11 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.

:12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed

after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

:13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

:14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

Samuel, the prophets, all had a good report because of their faith.

The Spirit of Faith # 6

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.

:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

:25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

:26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

Moses was born a Jew and raised in the world. He was a man of faith.

Ex 2:10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

Acts 7:21 But when he was set out, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son.

:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

He lived 120 years, from 1 to 40 he was raised as an Egyptian, 41-80 he was sent out to Madian to be taught of the Lord, 81-120 he was used by the Lord to lead Israel through the wilderness

1 Chron 26:24 Shebul the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasures.

Moses grandsons were in charge of David's treasures.

Moses wrote the first five books of the bible.

For 40 years he judged God's people.

All of the people in Hebrews eleven obeyed, listened, feared and reverenced God.

Are we people of God? (People of faith?)

Moses counted the cost to refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

He had everything the world had to offer and gave it up to be a slave

Heb 11:26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Reproach of Chirst means trials and tribulations.

Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Lk 12:16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying, “ The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

:17 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'

:18 So he said, ' I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

:19 And I will say to my soul, “ Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink and be merry.”

:20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you, then whose will those things be which you have provided?;

:21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

:31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

:33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Mark 10:28Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

:29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers, or sisters or father or mother or wife of children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's

Lk 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Heb 11:28 Passover is no longer a day, it is Jesus.

:29 they passed through the Red Sea on dry land.

God provided a way for them and He has provided a way for us.

The Subject of Faith # 5

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

:18 of whom it was said, “In Issac your seed shall be called, “

:19 concluding that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

:20 By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the things to come.

:21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.

:22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.

Abraham was tested. We also will be tested.

1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

1 Thess 3:2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

:3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
:4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

:5 For this reason when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you and our labor might be in vain.

2 Cor 4:8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed -

:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Perplexed means troubled, confused.

Even if we don't understand, He does.

Abraham had received by faith. It is the same way we receive the blessings of God.

You receive what you pray for when you pray and doubt not.

Gen 22:15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,

Heb 11:18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”

His seed represents Jesus.

Jn 17:21 That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

We are all one in Christ.

Many members, one body.

Only begotten means unique, one of a kind.

Ismael was a child of the flesh.

Isaac was a child of promise.

Gen 21:1 And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.

The power of God touched Sarah and she was able to conceive.

We are all born of flesh for our first birth.

We must be born of the Spirit which is our second birth.

Heb 11: 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude – innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Abraham had already received Isaac from two “dead” bodies so he knew God could raise Isaac up.

Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

The Subject of Faith # 4

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the see, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Rom 4:20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.,

:21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Abraham (and us!) had to obey before he could receive the inheritance.

Gen 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram; “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.

:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.

:3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

:4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

:5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.

Gen 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.

The King James says be perfect before God.

Perfect means complete, whole, without blemish, to be sound, uninjured.

2 Chron 20:7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?

John 15:14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Where Abraham fell short:

Gen 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram; “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.

2 Cor 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

:15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “ I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

:17 Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you,”

:18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Ezra 6:21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.

He was told to get out of his country (and get his country out of him), to get away from his family. Yet he took Lot with him. God had to bring strife and separation between them before God gave Abraham the inheritance He promised him.

Abraham and Sarah had to wait a long time for Issac.

He that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Abraham left the seen for the unseen.

2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

The Subject of Faith # 3

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see.

:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Gal 4:1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,

:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

We are to learn from the elders as God shows us things through them.

What would your “faith” report card look like?

Could God sign it saying it was satisfactory?

Heb 11 is a faith report card.

Prov 6:16 These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

:18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,

:19 a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.

Abel was the first shedding of innocent blood. Because of this Cain was marked.

Judas also shed innocent blood.

Heb 11:7 By faith, Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Matt 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Matt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them:”Take heed that no one deceives you.

:5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

:9”Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.

:10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

:11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

This is why Noah was saved.

Noah (and us) were saved by grace through faith.

Noah moved with fear.

Moved is an action word. Faith without works is dead.

Faith comes from hearing, Noah heard the words of God.

Hearing without doing brings deception.

Fear is to be cautious, beware, to act in reverence produced by Godly fear,

Moved with fear means to have such a love of God that you move upon that word.cautiously.

Rev 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries' or their sexual immorality of their thefts.

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.

The ark was symbolic of safety, security, refuge and survival. God will give you enough time to prepare yourself. He gave Noah 120 years.

2 Pet 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;

Righteous means a state of being acceptable to God.

Rom 3:22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference:

Phil 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

The Subject of Faith # 2

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

:5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Rom 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

Jn 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.

2 Cor 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,

Pr 21:4 A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin.

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Enoch was dedicated, initiated. Translated means change of position. Translation means transferred from one place to another.

Enoch had a testimony that he pleased God. I pray I have the same.

Pleased means to be acceptable to, well pleasing.

Gen 5:21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.

:22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.

:23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.

:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

Is 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, “ says the Lord.

Pr 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.
:8 It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

1 Jn 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked.

Gen 6:9 This is the genealogy of Noah, Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Enoch must have had faith because it says he pleased God.

Rewarder means wages, to give, one who pays wages.

Diligently means earnestly, with a zeal, faithful.

Seek means search out, investigate, crave for something. To seek the favor of God and worship Him

Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Esau gave up his birthright to please his body so he could find no place of repentance.

Jer 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

God is not last. When you seek Him you have a reason, to know Him, you have a need, etc.

Unless He reveals Himself to you, you can't find him.

God is savior, healer, deliverer, provider, protector, etc. He will reward you with whatever you are diligently seeking Him for.

The Subject of Faith # 1

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

Profess faith. Say what God says about your situation.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Rom 1:17 For in it righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.:”

2 Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Rom 11:20 Well said, Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Heb 2:8 You have put all things in subjection under His feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.

Rom 5:1 Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rom 1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

Rom 5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

1 Cor 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

The only thing that supersedes the law of faith is the will of God.

Jude1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Eph 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Fruit is an extension of the tree, continuation of life.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

1 Cor 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Hyper means above and beyond what you are supposed to have.

Hyper faith means trusting God above what you think you should.

Rom15:4 For whatever things were written before for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Heb 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

Confidence means trust, believe

Heb 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

Patience means to abide under, to go through

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

1 Tim 1:19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

Adhere to faith means to serve and obey, conform, stick to, cling to.

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

2 Tim 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

:2 preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers,

:4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Heb 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

2 Pet 3:14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

:15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

:17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

1 Pet 1:5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

:9 receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.

The Way That We Should Walk # 2 – What Should We Do

Jer 42:1 Now all the captains of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaih, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, came near

:2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the Lord your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see),

:3 that the Lord you God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do.”

1. Lord, which way should we go?
2. What should we do?

Acts 17:27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

:28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said,'For we are also His offspring.'

:29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.

:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

:31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

We should “feel” Jesus as a blind person feels an object to determine what it is.

Rom 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His,

Lk 3:7 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Fruit means evidence, proof.

Lk 3:11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Share what you have.

Lk 3:13 And he said to them, “ Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

Charge what you should and no more.

Lk 3:14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Do violence to no man, accuse no one falsely, be content with your wages.

Lk 18:22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Don't let money be a god to you.

Jesus gave the message he needed to hear not what he wanted to hear.

Jn 6:28 Then they said to Him, “ What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

The works of God is for you to believe on Jesus Christ.

Believe means trusting, relying on, depending on, being obedient to Christ.

Do you listen to what Jesus tells you to do and then do it?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Acts 16:31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Lk 11:1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Jesus did nothing without hearing from God.

Do we really want to hear what God has to say about our situation? Are we willing to obey?

Jer 42:7 And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.

:8 Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,

:9 and said the them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him:

:10'If you will still remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up. For I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought upon you.

:11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,' says the Lord, 'for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand.

:12 And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land.'

:13”But if you say, 'We will not dwell in this land,' disobeying the voice of the Lord your God,

:14 saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor be hungry for bread, and there we will dwell' -

:15 Then hear now the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah! Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'If you wholly set your faces to enter Egypt, and go to dwell there,

Jeremiah told the people what God told him, to be where He told them to be, do what He told them to then God would take care of them. If you don't then you are forsaking God and no longer under God's care and protection.

Heb 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?

The Way That We Should Walk # 1

2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

:2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

Jer 42:1 Now all the captains of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, came near

:2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Please, let our petition be acceptable to you and pray for us to the Lord your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see)

:3 that the Lord your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do.”

Matt 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

:14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Lk 1:68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people,

:69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,

:70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,

:71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,

:72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

:73 the oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

:74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,

:75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

:76”And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

:77 to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,

:78 through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us:

:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

Is 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it, “ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.

Prov 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

Is 8:19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?

:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

:21 They will pass through it hard pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

:22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.

Are you in the way and on the way?

Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

:9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

:23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.

Acts 24:22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said,”When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.”

2 Tim 3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perserverance,

Is 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Rom 2:21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?

:22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery, “ do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

:23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

:24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Jn 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Jn 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

:20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

1 Jn 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Jn 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

Jn 15:25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hate Me without a cause.”

Jn 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Lk 10:16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.

Ez 44:23 And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

:24 In controversy they shall stand as judges, and judge it according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings, and they shall hallow My Sabbaths.

Ez 33:30 As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, 'Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.'

:31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

:32 Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.

Phil 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

:11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

1 Pet 4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

1 Cor 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.”

Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be reveled in us.

The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church # 14

1 Cor 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

:5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord

:6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues,

:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Lk 12:26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

1 Cor 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

:10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away,

:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things,

:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known,

Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

What is tongues? It is a language or languages that is unknown by the person speaking it. It is a supernatural gift of speaking in a language you know nothing about.

Acts 2 is where it began.

You begin and He will supply the rest. It is a step of faith.

IS 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people.

Joel 2:24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

:25”So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

:26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame.

:27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other.

My people shall never be put to shame,.

:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, you old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

:29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

:30”And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke.

:31 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

:32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

Peter confirmed this in Acts.

1 Cor 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

Tongues with interpretation is equal to prophecy.

Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Exhort means to edify, lift up, encourage, admonish.

1 Cor 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.

1 Cor 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Why should we speak in tongues? That those that are weary may rest.

That it be refreshing to you.

To edify yourself. To build up yourself when you feel torn down.

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

1 Cor 14:22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

Acts 2:6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

:7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?

:8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

:9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, bot Jews and proselytes,

:11 Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

:12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “whatever could this mean?”

:16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon those who heard the word.

:45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

:46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

Tongues can be used as intercession.

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.