Have you come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
but things in your life seem stagnant and just plain hard?
It could be that you have wandered from
***a basic life changing truth***
and it's so so simple- ***GOD LOVES YOU!!!***
"tell them about my LOVE LETTER to them ..."
But you see, love is a two way street with God.
As children we sang a song memorizing 1 John 4:7-8. I love that song.
We love God because he first loved us and we live out that love by loving him in return and loving God.
The Good News is that as we allow His Word to flow through us, his love spreads all over us.
John 21:17 (NIV)
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said,
“Feed my sheep.
2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, TODAY is the day of salvation.
1 John 4 New International Version (NIV)
On Denying the Incarnation
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
God’s Love and Ours
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
On the day of judgement, God will not look at how many souls we saved or things we built, he will look at us and ask us "did you manifest my love in the earth with whoever I put in your path? Did you love me with all your heart, mind, and soul?
All the law, all of the Word of God can be summed up in two very simple and powerful things
1. Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart
2. Love your neighbor as yourself
Matthew 22:34-40 New International Version (NIV)
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
But how do we show this love? Does it mean we let people walk all over us? Certainly not- we treat them as we would want and need to be treated. There are many scriptures for dealing with evil people, abusive people, or controlling people- however you are still walking in love when you walk away or stand up to those people because the more they sin the worse it is for their own souls as well. But that is another topic for another day.
Wherever you are in life, if you find yourself down, depressed, or simply feeling empty, go back to the beginning...Loving God.
Can you say without a doubt that you walk through your days like David, singing God's praises, telling the Lord how much you love him? When you are on your way to your job are you meditating on the goodness of God, his salvation, and thanking Him for all he has done for you?
Something tells me you desperately want to. Something tells me you feel him and hear him best when the world is quiet and nature sings.
And this brings me back to the love letter.
Psalm 1:2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law (the Word of God)
day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Do you want your ways to proper? Yes, in this world.
we will have trials to go through, but when we are in Him,
he takes us through life's challenges to the victory
on the other side.
I like the Amplified version here
John 16:33 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress andfrustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
Yes, hard times will come, but when they do, like a hurricane, we hunker down, and we go to God harder, we press in, we praise Him more, we thank him all the more, and like the Pilgrims who were lost in a 2 week storm (before their trip to America) where many ships were lost...after 2 weeks of being tossed about thinking they might die- what did they do? Did they shout at God? Did they say "Lord, I gave up all for you, where are you now?" No- like Pilgrim in Pilgrim's Progress when in the Dungeon of Despair- they collectively decided to PRAISE GOD!! And the storm abated and they were saved. When the trials come, we must know God wants to deliver us like Daniel in the Lion's Den or the 3 in the firey furnace-
they knew God could deliver them
One of my favorite scriptures:
Psalm 34 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Christ is our Redeemer, our Deliverer, but here is my punch line-for you guys... if you don't know the Word of God- if you don't know the scriptures, you have nothing to stand on when
the devil comes, you don't know what to pray to get yourself out of the trials and tribulations because you don't know the promises of God. You need to know the stories in the Word of God in order to know what God wants for your life. If you don't know God's will, it's very difficult to pray.
1 John 5
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we knowthat we have what we asked of him.
This is a scripture I repeat over and over in my head
salm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord,and he will give you the desires of your heart
That word delight is the Hebrew Word anag and it means
‛ânag
1) to be soft, be delicate, be dainty
1a) (Pual) to be delicate
1b) (Hithpael)
1b1) to be of dainty habit, be pampered
1b2) to be happy about, take exquisite delight
1b3) to make merry over, make sport of
Basically, it means to have a giddy moment about God- and it's also a double meaning- as we are giddy over God, happy, delighted, praising Him, he puts desires on our heart- desires he wants us to believe and trust him for for as long as it takes- maybe even like even though he had put the desire for children on their hearts but took a very long time to fulfill it- no, Abraham was literally called God's friend- how cool is that? Isaiah 41:8 says that Abraham was God's friend. Wow God put Adam and Eve in the garden to be their friend-
to walk with them and talk with them and reveal Himself to them. They sinned and mankind fell into darkness but Jesus puts us spiritually BACK IN THE GARDEN!!! I believe one of our Resistance Chicks viewers sent this to us and it's so awesome and powerful and talks about Christ redeeming us to be ROYALTY once again- born from the soil, I've got dirt inside of me... Where does Crowder get the line about being royalty? Well, when Jesus died Where does Crowder get the line about being royalty? Well, when Jesus died he tore the curtain of the temple AND WE ARE NOW THE TEMPLE! We are the place where God dwells- the prophets prophesied this when they prophesied of God making his dwelling place among the people and make us KINGS AND PRIESTS OURSELVES. Man or woman, the Word of God calls you a priest- of the temple of yourself and we are to daily offer up sacrifices of praise to our God- he takes no pleasure in the blood of bulls and goats, but in our praise!
Isaiah 1:11-17 New International Version (NIV)
11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
and Hebrews 10:10 but I am going to copy a good part of Hebrews 10 because it's so powerful
***Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All***
Hebrews 10 New International Version (NIV)
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[b]
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[b]
17 Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”[c]
I will remember no more.”[c]
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priestover the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
We Are Kings and Priest
Revelation 1:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 5:10 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
10 And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!
Take this and print this out- put it by your bed and read it before you go to sleep
for a couple nights or when you wake up...
One of my favorite scriptures, we would sing a song with this verse at
1 Peter 2:9 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own [a]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Link For Cross References https://www.openbible.info/labs/cross-references/search?q=2+Corinthians+6%3A16
These are what we call cross references and when you have like finding a lost treasure. A cross reference is when one scripture says the same thing or has the same theme. It's God confirming himself
by himself. The most powerful one in the whole Bible is when in Luke 4 Jesus opens up the scroll of Isaiah 61 and says "this day is this scripture filled"
Luke 4:17-19 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
17 And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened (unrolled) the book and found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],
19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day [a]when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound].
There is so so sooooo much God wants to reveal to you about himself, about yourself, and yes, even about others. For we are not just called to be kings and priests of our own Temple and our own home but the #1 duty of a Christian is the Great Commission Jesus left for us all to fulfill.
Mark 16 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
What is the Gospel we are to preach to every creature? Jesus said it himself in Isaiah 61- preach the GOOD NEWS Jesus said it himself in Isaiah 61- preach the GOOD NEWS TO PROVIDE FOR YOU!!!! ) Proclaim FREEDOM to the captives-( captives to sin or shame or abuse...) FREEDOM to captives-( captives to sin or shame or abuse...) FREEDOM to the Year of Jubilee!!! (get your land back, all debts are forgiven and wiped clean)
God loves you and he wrote you a love letter- it's called the Word of God- Genesis to Revelation. We know it's the Word of God and God breathed because throughout the scripture there is a common theme, and cross references. The 66 books of the Bible were compiled and put into one volume because they all have a common thread and theme and tie together seamlessly. Any other work by any other author must line up with these 66 books. The Bible is the God breathed Word of God- it is literally Jesus Christ himself.
Jesus is the Word of God made flesh
John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John goes on to write later in 1 John that "our hands have handled" the Word of God and they set down to put the word of God into words for you and me to read
1 John 1 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
1 [We are writing] about the Word of Life [[a]in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands.
2 And the Life [[b]an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eyewitnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [[c]in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers].
3 What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may [d]realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a [e]distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
4 And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and [f]your joy may be complete].
God wrote you a BIG GIANT LOVE LETTER!! It's found in Genesis-Revelation, and he wants to reveal himself to you more and more and more every time you open up the Bible to read it and allow His Spirit to guide you in all truth. There are more treasures, more answers to life's problems, more comfort, peace, and encouragement in the Bible than we could every need in 1,000 life times...why?
because the Word of God is Living and Breathing-the author is alive and His Spirit dwells in you to reveal Himself more and more every second of everyday and if we tried we could only scrape the surface of knowing who God is and the power we have as Christians. The Pilgrim's knew this power and they were some of the first people to have the Word of God in a language they could read. It was through reading and understanding the scriptures themselves that they found that the Church of England was distorting scripture to make them obedient servants to the king instead of good citizens, yes, but servants of God first. Kings James was so upset about the Geneva Bible and it's study notes that he commissioned another Bible to be printed that was supposed to have references to the divine right of kings, but he hired the same people who translated the Geneva Bible, so it's a the same people who translated the Geneva Bible, so it's a proper translation just without study notes. Our declaration of Independence was partly based upon John Locke's 2nd Treatise on Government- which almost every American colonist had read about natural law and God given rights. But the 1st Part of Locke's Treatise is just as powerful for in it Locke destroys the idea that kings are born with a divine right to rule over mankind or that successive births in a kingdom give rulers the right to control, manipulate, or abuse the people.
We are a nation OF THE PEOPLE, for the People, and by the people. We don't have dukes, lords, ladies, or kings. We are each kings and priests under God. And we know this because we have the Word of God in our own language and we can discern what it means with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ministers are helpful, yes, but not necessary. Men came to this country and man traveled west, all alone, with a shovel, a shotgun, and a Bible.
We are a nation of many different denominations but a Christian
nation. Michelle showed me a David Barton video where he goes
on to explain just how ingrained the Word of God was into EVERY
mind of the colonials- they used many many scriptures in daily
life and documents but didn't need to give chapter and verse of
any scriptures because people knew the contents of the entire
Bible. It was THE book to read and everyone knew it. --- this
is Barton totally worth watching, so good
And why did everyone know the scriptures? Because the
Bible was the main textbook- They used scriptures and the Bible
for everything.
I will leave you with this- it doesn't matter to what Christian sect you belong to, but there are General Principles of Christianity, sect you belong to, but there are General Principles of Christianity, Independence from Great Britain. All- all were taught the Word of God- many in Greek AND Hebrew from the time they
were infants. They memorized and translated scripture from English to their original languages and back again- and in Harvard you had to be able to do this in order to graduate. (how far they have gone)
This is one of may favorite passages from a letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson- the pair spent years debating the Word of God.
Who composed that Army of fine young Fellows that was then before my Eyes? There were among them, Roman Catholicks English Episcopalians, Scotch and American Presbyterians, Methodists, Moravians, Anababtists, German Lutherans, German Calvinists Universalists, Arians, Priestleyans, Socinians, Independents, Congregationalists, Horse Protestants and House Protestants, Deists and Atheists; and “Protestans qui ne croyent rien.” Very few however of Several of these Species. Never the less all Educated in the general Principles of Christianity: and the general Principles of English and American Liberty.
Could my Answer, be understood, by any candid Reader or Hearer, to recommend, to all the others, the general Principles, Institutions or Systems of Education of the Roman Catholicks? or those of the Quakers? or those of the Presbyterians? or those of the Menonists?8 or those of the Methodists? or those of the Moravians? or those of the Universalists? or those of the Philosophers? No.
The general Principles, on which the Fathers Atchieved Independence, were the only Principles in which, that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen9 could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their Address, or by me in my Answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity,10 in which all those Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all those young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities Sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence.
Now I will avow, that I then believed, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God: and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature and our terrestrial, mundane System. I could therefore Safely Say, consistently with all my then and present Information, that I believed they would never make Discoveries in contradiction to these general Principles. In favour of these general Principles in Phylosophy, Religion and Government, I could fill Sheets of quotations from Frederick of Prussia, from Hume, Gibbon, Bolingbroke, Reausseau and Voltaire; as well as Newton11 and Locke: not to mention thousands of Divines and Philosophers of inferiour Fame.
Yes, it's important that we read books and learn things but if we don't
have the Word of God as our foundation, if we don't know the Word of God, have the Word of God as our foundation, if we don't know the Word of God, the Bible, front and back... all other knowledge must take a backseat. God has given us His Word and we should cherish it like the most precious thing in the whole world!
When Jesus said to take of his body and eat- He is the WORD!
Look at how these Christians act when they are given a Bible for the first time. If you don't feel this way about your Bible the devil is keeping you away from it because he knows that when you open it up and start reading it you will become the mighty spiritual warrior God has called you to be!!
2 Corinthians 10 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
6 Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete.
If you want to cast down strongholds in your life, you need the knowledge of the Word of God. You need to know Who Christ is in knowledge of the Word of God. You need to know Who Christ is in order to bring every thought captive to him- and Jesus IS THE WORD THE WORD OF GOD IS SPIRITUAL FOOD! IF YOU'RE NOT READING THE BIBLE YOU ARE STARVING TO SPIRITUAL DEATH
John 6:25-59 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus the Bread of Life
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Matthew 4
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
1 Peter 2:2 New International Version (NIV)
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
1 Timothy 4:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
Matthew 5:12-14 New International Version (NIV)
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
John 6:51 New International Version (NIV)
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Revelation 2:17 New International Version (NIV)
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Jesus is the Word, the Word was made flesh, but he died and rose again and left us with his words and his disciples and Paul put them down on paper for us to read. These words were written for all. Paul's letters were written to many non-Jewish pagan people and they were to easily understand them even without any Bible training for the Word of God is so simple even a child can understand it.
In fact, we must become like little children- and by that he means being pure and humble- in order to receive salvation
At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Matthew 11:25
It is VITAL that Christians view the scriptures as God's love letter to us that we open up with joy and read and re-read over and over night and day. We won't know how to fight life's battles if we are not lifting up the Word of God in the devil's face and saying "not this time devil, THIS is what the Word of God says about me, my family, and my country!" :) 😁😀
I end with this. One of the first laws in our country was the 1647 Old Deluder Satan Act- which was put in place so that every person in our whole country could read the Bible for themselves- why? Well...Here is it.
The Old Deluder Act (1647)
From Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England (1853), II: 203
It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former times by keeping them in an unknown tongue, so in these latter times by persuading from the use of tongues, that so that at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded and corrupted with false glosses of saint-seeming deceivers; and to the end that learning may not be buried in the grave of our forefathers, in church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors.
From Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England (1853), II: 203
It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former times by keeping them in an unknown tongue, so in these latter times by persuading from the use of tongues, that so that at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded and corrupted with false glosses of saint-seeming deceivers; and to the end that learning may not be buried in the grave of our forefathers, in church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors.
It is therefore ordered that every township in this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to fifty households shall forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint; provided those that send their children be not oppressed by paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns.
And it is further ordered, that when any town shall increase to the number of one hundred families or householders, they shall set up a grammar school, the master thereof being able to instruct youth so far as they may be fitted for the university, provided that if any town neglect the performance hereof above one year that every such town shall pay 5 pounds to the next school till they shall perform this order
The Pilgrims and Puritans had experienced evil men who tried to control them and in prison them by manipulating the Word of God and keeping it out of the hands of the people. They wanted to make sure that no one could ever hold that power over the new Americans. Much like in the movie, the Book of Eli, Denzel Washington carries with him the last Bible and evil men want to get a hold of it to control people and have power. Many men through history held up the Bible but lied about what was in it. This is the devil's #1 tactic against Christians. If you don't know your Bible you can't fight the enemy. Not knowing the Bible is being in darkness and not knowing Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-20 New International Version (NIV)
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
If you've ever read or listened to Pilgrim's Progress you will remember Christian got out of all his jams by quoting scripture. You shall know the truth- Jesus, the Word- and the Truth shall set you free- you cannot yield your spiritual sword in spiritual battle without the Word of God. It's impossible. You will lose. Only the Word of God shuts the devil down.
God gives grace to new believers and those without the manuscript. But we have the Bible and have no excuse if we don't use it and devour His Words.
I hope this message fills you with peace, answers to why things in your life seem so hard, and challenges you in a good way to get into spiritual shape and to start focusing more on what and how much you eat spiritually ( the Word of God) even more than you focus on what you eat naturally. You cannot ask God
for direction and guidance and when he gives you a map ask someone else to read it for you. We all must run our races individually. We can't ask others to feed us when the plate is set before us.
I hope this message fills you with peace, answers to why things in your life seem so hard, and challenges you in a good way to get into spiritual shape and to start focusing more on what and how much you eat spiritually ( the Word of God) even more than you focus on what you eat naturally. You cannot ask God
for direction and guidance and when he gives you a map ask someone else to read it for you. We all must run our races individually. We can't ask others to feed us when the plate is set before us.
Much like the democrats keep people of color underneath them on welfare, some churches keep their people dependent upon them rather than on God.
In Bible College I learned a lot of good things but they put one man up on pedestal, his name was Kenneth Hagan, many called him dad Hagan- and that is idolatry. People would listen to him because of who he was and ignore the Word of God. He got high minded and prideful and looked down at us like children. It was wrong.
We are supposed to grow in our faith- we start as children but grown to be spiritually mature. All of us.
We are supposed to grow in our faith- we start as children but grown to be spiritually mature. All of us.
As a side note, I hope this message reaches my Catholic brothers and sisters. My mom's family is Catholic, my grandmother was a devote Catholic who loved Jesus and before she died she said all she wanted to do was be with God and praise Him all day. My mom is named after Joan of Arc.
I follow Catholic sites on social media because by and large they are the most pro-life, and I consider myself partly connected to the Catholic Church. A good portion of our viewers are Catholic, many from 90% Catholic Poland. Speaking of Poland, I leave you with this website you might find helpful in the fight for Liberty while being Catholic. They call out corruption where they see it but are very much Catholic and put forth good, honest priests who love Liberty.
Finally, as a side note- This article is why we must respect leaders in the faith and at the same time know the Word of God so that when they err we do not err with them.
This is about Pope John Paul II who was a great man and I respect very much verses the current Pope who I can tell from his actions is being led more by much verses the current Pope who I can tell from his actions is being led more by the devil than God. And millions of Catholics are saying the same thing- from covering up the sexual abuse of known predator priests, to espousing communist principles and the globalist one world agenda, he is not acting as an emissary of the Lord,
and good priests like Vigano are calling him out. There is a leader in Italy named Salvini. He's amazing, he's Catholic, but he is at odds with the O pen Borders Pope. This is why it's important for each one of us to know the Word.
This is about Pope John Paul II who was a great man and I respect very much verses the current Pope who I can tell from his actions is being led more by much verses the current Pope who I can tell from his actions is being led more by the devil than God. And millions of Catholics are saying the same thing- from covering up the sexual abuse of known predator priests, to espousing communist principles and the globalist one world agenda, he is not acting as an emissary of the Lord,
and good priests like Vigano are calling him out. There is a leader in Italy named Salvini. He's amazing, he's Catholic, but he is at odds with the O pen Borders Pope. This is why it's important for each one of us to know the Word.
With much love, your sister in Christ and the Universal Church,
Leah Faith
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