Tag: bible
WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE?
Today our message from God is:
WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE?
This is the question of the ages.
Our Scripture reading for today is:
Deuteromony 18:9-14 ,Isaiah 41:21-23,17,18
Future is defined this way = That which is beyond the present.
Many spend millions to find out their future.
Physic hot-lines and fortune tellers are paid thousands upon thousands of dollars each year.
Are you seeking to know your future?
Well, believe me, I know Who holds my future.
If these fortune tellers and these Physics know all the answers, why are they still working the phones, and live in houses of menial costs?
Have you ever asked yourself this question?
One of the most sought-out physics gives their report every year of what is going to happen the next year.
Why do they keep missing it, and people still inquire of them?
Good question.
A famous President’s wife consulted a physic for her husband while he was still in the White House. It was said, after he was shot, she sought the help of a physic before accepting any outside appearances.
The Scriptures are completely against any use of physic powers.
I talked to a palm reader one day and she was so deceived: she told me her powers came from God, and she wanted to help people.
I was not able to get her to understand, God would never give powers to anyone, that would go against His precious Word.
The Bible calls them Sorcerers which is defined as supposed possessors of supernatural powers.
They used, what the Bible calls, Divination, which is defined as an attempt to foretell the future by occult (or secret) means.
Divination is an abomination (evil practice) to God. Look at Deuteronomy 18:9-14 —-When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of these nations.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination (or fortune telling or channeling [interpretation of omens] , or an observer of times (which includes Horoscopes and also, I believe, Almanacs), or an enchanter (magician, wizard, witch ), or a witch (sorceress or enchantress),
Or a charmer (conjurer or shaman [medicine man, witch doctor]) or a consulter with familiar spirits (these are generational demons, that follow a family from generation to generation, and can give information to the one practicing such powers, so that they can fool the one who is desiring to hear from their dead loved one. They think they are actually speaking to their loved one. To me, this is the sickest of all deceptions of this line, because the people seeking to hear from their loved ones are experiencing grief and loss, and are so venerable to these deceptions.), or a wizard (a seer, diviner, charmer, and the list goes on), or a necromancer (one who inquires of the dead).
For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them doth drive them out from before thee.
Thou shalt be perfect (entirely obedient, upright, sincere) with the Lord, thy God.
This also includes all secret orders, which are occults. If you don’t believe me look up occult in the dictionary
I want you to know, we can put our future into the hands of our heavenly Father, who knows our past, present and future. He wipes away all our past when we come to Him, and can reveal to us His future plans that always come to pass. Only God knows the future. Listen to this word from the Bible:
Isaiah 41:21-24 —-Produce your cause, saith the Lord; (or Set forth your plans) bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former (or past) things what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end (or the present)of them; or declare us things for to come.
Show us the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
Behold, ye are of nothing (or of no account), and your work of naught (or amounts to nothing): an abomination (detestable) is he that chooseth you.
God is saying, “Let your idols come and show what they can do. Let them try to tell us what occurred in years gone by, or what the future holds. If you are gods, tell what will happen in the days ahead! Or do some mighty miracle that makes us stand amazed.
But no! You are less than nothing, and can do nothing at all. Anyone who chooses you needs to have his head examined!”
God is unhappy to say the least with His people who have gotten off into idolatry. He was mimicking their idol gods to their face.
Many cultures worship and look to for their future to idol gods that cannot speak or hear. It is sad when people, intelligent people, follow after a deaf and dumb idol god, which is a waste of their time.
They should turn to the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, and is God, who came in the flesh and died on Calvary for all sinners, who are into any of these occults and witchcraft, thinking themselves so smart, they loose sight of the truth.
Jesus said in John 14:6 —-…I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father,but by Me.
Jehovah God is the only True and Living God, who knows and reveals the future.
You might ask, “Has God, the True and Living God, ever told you the future?
Well, I’m glad you asked that question. “Yes, more than once”.
I want to share with you one of them:
We go on missions trips twice a year, to different countries. Most of our trips are to the Dominican Republic.
On one of these trips we became burdened about an Orphanage in San Juan de la Maguana. There was no water there but a polluted river a few miles up the road from the orphanage. Most of the time they had to carry containers, on the back of a small truck, to the town of San Juan to get water. By the time they got back, much of the water was spilled because of the bumpy roads and holes in the road. We began to pray for good water for these children. You see, they live in the desert area.
One day, as I was praying with a friend at my home, God gave me a verse of Scripture. I cried as I read it. I knew that I knew it was God speaking to me. The Scripture is also found in Isaiah 41. Read it with me. Verses 17 and 18 —-When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
I shared this with my husband, and he agreed, this was from God.
We knew we had to drill a well for those orphans.
Later, a couple of godly men we know well, said, Roy it’s time we raised money for that well.
We, along with many of our friends raised $10,000.00 and shortly after, made our plane reservations to go. There was one American driller on the Island, who agreed to stop what he was doing in the Capitol and come to San Juan. God is a God of humor, because He sent with the driller a geologist form Purdue University, who was visiting on the Island.
Before we left home, the Lord spoke to my husband and said, “Don’t speak anything negative about that well, speak positive.”
My husband explained this to the whole group that was going, and all agreed.
You should have seen the children, when those big trucks drove up on the grounds. They were so excited, we had to draw an imaginary line for them not to cross for their own safety. You know how children are.
The Geologist told my husband, “You won’ find any water here, the soil is not right”.
Roy told the man to drill anyway, we’ve heard from God, you will find water.
We had hired three men in town who just happened to be walking down the street with picks in their hands. Believe me I have been saved since I was five years old, and I know there are no coincidences in the lives of a Christian, especially those on a mission.
They diggers began to dig a long ditch that would lead from the orphanage to the location where they were drilling.
The well driller told my husband, “You’ll have a nice ditch, but you won’t find any water.”
They drilled 277 feet and the driller told the group to give up. It was costing $25.00 a foot to drill and they had already gone down farther than they should and ran out of drill rod.
My husband knew what God said, so he asked the man if he had anymore drill rod on the island. He said, “In Puerta Plata’.
Roy said, “Go get it.” When they came back with the rod our trip schedule was coming close to the end and we were all keeping our mouths shut to keep from saying any thing negative. My stomach was hurting and I think my husband was close to getting sick. You see, if we didn’t get water, we were going to have to go home and face the people who worked so hard to raise the money, those who gave, and not to mention those, over sixty, little boys.
Before they began to drill again, they said they would have to clean out the hole.
I know nothing about drilling a well, so I asked the driller if the water would spew-up like a fountain, like those oil wells in the movies?
He said, “No. That’s only in the movies”.
I got out of the way, by this time, the children and others, formed a big circle of prayer and asked God to put water in the hole.
Many of the surrounding villagers heard what was going on, and you know how news travels, so they were gathered around to watch.
When they put the thing in with a light on it, they found out the hole had caved-in. They went down to clean it out, and at about 37 feet, the water began to spew-out, Just like the movies.
I was so excited!
Everyone was cheering and praising God.
And the droller and the Geologist, who was examining soil every so many feet and showing us it was impossible for water to there, were so amazed.
One of them, who was a backslider, said he was going back to Church. God made a believer out of them.
The word got around the San Juan area, that a group of crazy evangelicals had found water in the desert.
But we know who holds the future, and we know who holds our hand.
As the old song goes, something like this:
Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand.
I just know who holds the future,
And I know, Who holds my hand.
Tell me, how can a person, who has seen many miracles, ever fall into the trap of the devil, and get involved in things are not even real?
Every other power, but God’s, is false, and will lead you into a place were there is no peace, and nothing but bondage and a future you will wish you never experienced.
Come to Jesus, Repeat this prayer with me. Mean it in your heart:
Jesus, come into my heart, save my soul. I‘m sorry I had it my way. Please forgive me of my sins.
Now, I want it Your way. I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe He died for my sins, and rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God. I accept You, Lord, as my Lord and Savior.
Thank You for saving me.
Now, for those who were involved in demonic practices, repeat this prayer:
Jesus, I denounce all witchcraft in my life. Deliver me from every stronghold. I apply the blood of Jesus over me and my family.
Satan, you have no part of me. I belong to God from this day forth. I speak this with my mouth, and I believe it in my heart.
I love You Jesus.
Now, it is very important for you to get in a Bible believing Church.
Don’t look for a perfect one, you won’t find it.
Read your Bible everyday and make Jesus your best friend.
Talk to God in the name of Jesus.
He will hear You.
JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY
JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY
I would like to thank my heavenly Father for making this ministry possible, and giving me the grace to follow Him.
Our Scripture reading is found in Genesis Chapter 37, and Ephesians 5:28-33.
When we think of jealousy and rivalry, our minds go back to times in our lives when we have seen this in action. Could be, our actions, or the actions of others around us, or it could be what we hear from the media; but wherever we hear it, or experience it, we know it is rampant on this globe.
It is very important we know what the Bible has to say about it, so we can avoid it.
Jealousy means: Possessiveness, resentfulness, morbid suspicion, mistrust, and flaming anger.
Rivalry means: Competition, opposing, striving to win, struggle to surpass, contest, battle of wills.
Wow!
You might say, “I read in the Bible where it says, God is a jealous God.”
You’re right. We are going there first.
Exodus 20:5,6 —-Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them (referring to idols),nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.
God said it. I am a jealous God.
God will not give His glory to another.
He will not tolerate a rival near His throne.
He is not jealous as the Greeks thought; of mere success, or greatness; but He is very jealous of His own honor, and will not have the respect and reverence which is due to Him, given to other beings or objects.
What about family ?
There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the family:
Marital
Siblings
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
and so on —-
There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the Church family
And jealousy and rivalry in the work place.
But God wants us to get above that and come out to freedom from this torment, because …jealousy has torment… attached to it.
Let’s look at a family situation in Genesis 37:4,11,18,28,31-32,35, where jealousy between brothers causes much pain to the family.
Our story begins when Joseph was only seventeen years old.
He was shepherding the flock with his brothers, and brought his father a bad report on them. (verse 2)
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age and made him a coat of many colors. (verse 3)
4- And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaecably to him.
5- And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren (brothers): and they hated him yet the more.
He had dreamed they had bowed down in respect to him. (verse 7)
This caused them to hate him more. (verse 8)
In verse 9 and 10, he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers and his father. But his father rebuked him and said to him, What is the meaning of this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down ourselves to the earth and do homage to you?
Verse 11 —- Joseph’s brothers envied him ; but his father observed the saying (his father took notice of the saying and pondered over it)
Although Joseph was seemingly trying to do the right thing, and his brothers were doing evil things, it seems to me these kinds of dreams should have been kept in his heart, and not shared with his brothers.
We see here to, his father did correct him when he needed it.
In our day and time we would call this a dysfunctional family, because the other brothers were the sons of two other wives. (verse 2)
Joseph was their half brother.
One day, when the brothers were feeding and shepherding their father’s flock; Israel told Joseph, “Go see whether or not everything is all right with your brothers and with the flock, and report back to me”. (14)
18 – And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
And they said to each other, “Here comes this dreamer, and master of dreams. Let us kill him and throw his body in some pit ; then we will say to our father, some wild beast has devoured him; and we will see what will become of his dreams!” (verses 19,20)
Reuben heard it and said, let’s not kill him, for Rueben’s plan was to rescue him, and take him back to his father. Reuben said, “Shed no blood.” So they took him and stripped him of his coat of many colors and cast him in a well-like pit with no water; and sat down to lunch. (verses 21-25)
25- When they looked up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, going on their way down to Egypt.
26- And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?”
27- Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites. And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver, which is a sermon of it’s own, because Jesus was betrayed and sold-out for twenty pieces of silver: —- but let’s go on.
28- And They took Joseph into Egypt.
29- Then Reuben , who had not been there when the brothers plotted to sell the lad, returned ; and behold, Joseph was not in the pit.
31,32- They killed an animal, dipped it in the blood and sent it to their father.
34- And Jacob tore his clothes, would not eat, and went into mourning.
35- His sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said “I will go to my grave to mourning for my son.”
And his father wept for him.
36- And the Midianites, and Ishmaelites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
39:2- But the Lord was with Joseph.
As the story goes on we see Joseph being put down and then being lifted up to the number one place next to Pharaoh.
God had given to him the gift of interpreting dreams, and used this gift to lift him up to this great position to eventually help his family in a time of famine, to keep them alive, and because his family had to come to Egypt where they could buy food, they in due time, did bow before Joseph, because reigned next to Pharaoh.
H
In this story, we see sibling rivalry in the worst degree. Jealousy and rivalry which led to hate and anger and a conspiracy to do harm followed by lies to cover-up. After which, grief filled the family.
Many do not actually carry-out what they think to do to their siblings, but to hate them shows what is in their heart.
Christians struggle with jealousy at times, which brings on curses and severe problems to come upon them, if not dealt with.
I can think of other accounts of jealousy that arises in families, such as one family member is more prosperous than the other.
A Mother-in-law may be jealous of her Daughter-in-law, or the other way around. Sometimes they may see each other as rivals for his attention.
I tell you, this should not be going on in the life of a Christian.. It is walking in the flesh. This brings so much trouble into the family that does not need to be there. Get over it! It grieves your relationship with God.
Woman of God, understand this: the love the son has for his mother, is different from the love he has for his wife. To try to cause division between either of these two relationships will backfire on you.
Listen to this Scripture in Ephesians 5:28-33 —-So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: (or just like the Lord does the Church).
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
For this cause (or this reason) shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.
Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular (or personally) so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence (or honor) her husband.
Mother-in-laws sometimes think their son or daughter could have done much better in choosing their spouse: but many times they are looking at the faults of the in-law, and they fail to see their child’s imperfections.
There should be a love bond between in-laws because of the marriage bond of their child to the one they choose.
God If that child of yours is so perfect and intelligent and such a magnificent Christian, why do you think they made such a bad choice?
Think about it!
I tell you, if more time was spent trying to understand, and praying for that child’s spouse, there would be more peace and harmony in their lives, as well as your relationship with your child; not to mention the relationship between you and God.
If there is no harmony in the family, the children pick-up on it and become like you.
I am sorry to say, jealousy and rivalry are rampant in the Body of Christ as well as in family life.
This shouldn’t be. Allow the Holy Spirit to convict you and change you into that person that overlooks the faults of others.
Pray this prayer with me: Father, I want to be like Jesus. Help me to deal with any jealousy or rivalry in my life. I repent of it. I know it hurts my relationship with You. Please forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Bring harmony in every area of my life. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
NEVER LAY YOUR WEAPONS DOWN
WE ARE TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE THAT WE HAVE WEAPONS. THESE ARE NOT FLESHLY WEAPONS, BUT WEAPONS OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE. THESE WEAPONS GUARD OUR SOUL.
FIRST, WE HAVE WEAPONS AGAINST THE WORLD, WE CALL FAITH.
I JOHN 5:4 – FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD: AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH.
THIS FAITH IS THE PRODUCT OF OUR BELIEF THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD (V.5).
THE NEXT WEAPON IS AGAINST SATAN, THE ENEMY OF OUR SOUL, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE ARMOR OF GOD FOUND IN EPHESISNS 6:11-18 –
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL, FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES (PLACES OF AUTHORITY). 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, STAND THEREFORE, HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; ABOVE ALL TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUINCH THE FIREY DARTS OF THE WICKED. AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, WHICH IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYERS AND SUPLICATIONS IN THE SPIRIT.
YES, PRAYER IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST TOOLS, OR WEAPONS IN WARFARE. WE CANNOT GO TO BATTLE WITHOUT IT.
THE LAST WEAPON I WILL MENTION IS THE WEAPON AGAINT THE FLESH. THIS WEAPON IA THE SPIRIT.
GALATIANS 5:16-25 –
THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH. FOR THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT AGAINST THE FLESH: AND THESE ARE CONTRARY THE ONE TO THE OTHER: SO THAT YE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT YE WOULD. BUT IF YE BE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST (PLAIN), WHICH ARE THESE; ADULTRY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, VARIANCE (DISCORD), EMULATIONS (JEALOUSIES), WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS (DIVISIONS), HERESIES (FALSE DOCTRINES), ENVYINGS, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELLINGS (WILD PARTIES), AND SUCH LIKE: OF THE WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE, AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
BUT THE FRUIT OFTHE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS (IT’S PASSIONS) AND LUSTS. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT…!