Coming Right Up, Book of Mark

 Let's chat

Hey folks, if you have been with us here at TAG, {The Truth According to God} for the past 50 weeks, congratulations, you just read through the entire book of Genesis. That's right, we wrapped up Genesis last week.

Some people find it truly difficult, and some see it as nearly impossible, to read through The Word of God. They struggle to stay on target and find themselves falling away and failing to complete what they start out wanting to do so badly. There are a few reasons for this.

1 - The Word of God is not natural. It is supernatural. It is alive. It is real and ever working in this world and in people's lives.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

We are natural and we crave the things of the flesh, which is opposite of, and even opposed to, the things of God. Sometimes we pick up the Bible and try to read it with our carnal minds. This is a problem.

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:5-8

When you pick up this book {Holding up the Bible} you should pray about it. Ask God to give you eyes to see, and a spirit to receive His word. Ask Him to give you the Holy Spirit to interpret and to understand what His word is telling you. The word declares that God is willing to give wisdom and understanding to those who ask Him.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

2 - The Cares for this world.

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23

Again, when you read God's word, you should pray to Him and ask for guidance and even time to do so. Set a routine. Get up an hour earlier. Go to bed an hour later. Skip that TV show. Miss that next newscast. Make it a priority to read God's Word, ask for His guidance for your understanding, and never forget that God's Word is absolute and just. Therefore, if it says something that offends you, or goes against what the world says, it is true. The world is wrong. It IS just that simple.

3 - Offensive content

To elaborate a bit more on the last topic, you may become offended at something you read in The Word. Abortion is murder. Psalm 139:13-18, Exodus 21:22-25, Homosexuality is sin, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:48-51, {Think America} Romans 1: 18-32. Jesus IS the only way to Heaven? John 14:6, Matthew 7:21–27, John 6:63, He promised that those who believe in Him will have Eternal Life John 3:14–15. He is the gate of the sheep John 10:7; The Bread of Life John 6:35; and the Resurrection John 11:25.

It really is simple. It is in the Book. If The Bible tells you it is a sin. It is a sin. It does not matter one iota what you may think about it. What a man says about it. What even the courts say about it. It does not matter what world leaders, the news, or famous people say about it. If the world chooses to ignore The Word of God, it doesn't change sin to good. Rather it heaps up the punishment that will eventually come. If you become offended at something you read, pray about it. Ask God why. Seriously look in the mirror. God is always right and just. His Word is always right and just.

4 - Compassion for others.

Wait. What? Yup. Having a false sense of compassion for others can stop you from reading God's Word. Why? See above. I believe in God. I even believe in Jesus. However, my mother believes in Buddha and my best friend is gay and believes in a loving God where all are welcome and encouraged to just be themselves. There is nothing wrong with that in my eyes. Or you may have something in your past or know someone that you know the Bible will talk against. Well, I just do not believe that this or that is really sinning. I'm just going to live my life and let God sort it out in the end. That is simply judging the Bible based on what others have told you.

In today's society, Jesus would have detractors on every side. Pretty much like He did then. Jesus does not measure compassion in a merely temporal, circumstantial way. His measure of compassion is eternal and transcendent. His goal, His mission, and His compassion are rooted in something deeper than a feeling. It is based on holiness and goodness. Absolute righteousness. Try reading it for yourself and ask God to put it in the proper context and help you to understand. It will change your life.

Book of Mark

We will be diving into the book of Mark starting next week. We will see how Mark has a unique perspective and his way of teaching us who Jesus really is. Join us for the next 16 weeks and let's read the book of Mark together. One chapter a week. That's it. That's all. Not too tough if you choose you really want to do it. Remember, pray. Ask God to show you what He wants you to see as we go through Mark together. You will have a better understanding of who Jesus really is by the end. Trust me on that one.

Until next time. Be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord!

Getting to Know "The Force" 7

 Gift or Talent

We are back to our eight categories of “the spirit” as defined in The Word. The spirit or a driving force, is represented by eight, sometimes unique, categories, all working together as what could be called “the force.” Understanding these eight categories can help us to more accurately interpret the many uses of the word "Spirit" throughout the Bible.

1-The Divine Spirit: Referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, God himself.

2-The human spirit: The immaterial part of a human being, distinct from the soul and body, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and will.

3-The breath of life: The animating force that gives life to all living creatures.

4-The wind: Often used as a metaphor for God's presence or power.

5-An attitude or disposition: Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state.

6-A supernatural being: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.

7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.

8-The essence or meaning of something: A thing's core quality or nature.

Today we will pick back up at number 7

7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.

The Bible talks about abilities and skills in two main ways: natural talents and spiritual gifts.

Natural talents are innate abilities or skills that people develop through practice and experience. These can be anything from artistic talents like music or painting to practical skills like carpentry or cooking. The Bible doesn't necessarily attribute these directly to the spirit, but they are seen as blessings from God and something to be used responsibly. We see some examples of this as such.

"See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” Exodus 31:2-5

We read things like this.

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29

Everyone has at least one natural talent. We are blessed with this as we are born. Some can build. I cannot. Some can paint. I cannot. Some can do marvelous things with computers and such. Some write. Etc.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

This is why the old saying is so true. "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." If you are born with the gift of song? Sing. Dance? Dance. The love of writing? Write. Whatever it is, do that. It will be natural for you. It will be fun. It will be easy. However?

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

What about Spiritual Gifts?

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:6-8

As much as we may like it, we are not all endowed with the same gifts. I would love to have the gift of healing. I would probably get arrested, because I would be going around slapping people in the head, yelling, BE HEALED. I do not have that gift. Some see the Pastor, oh yeah I’m going there. Some people see the Pastor and think to themself, that is the job I want. Only work one or two days a week for just a couple of hours. I want to lead a church. {Smiling} If you know you know. I am a sower of the seed, a teller of truth, a shower of the way. I am a writer and teacher. Pastors also not only deal with themselves, the temptations of riches, young women, and the sins they struggle with, but they also have to deal with everyone else’s sins in their congregation.

God knows you. He knows you better than you know you. He has a purpose and a plan for you and your life. He has Spiritual Gifts for you. When He knows you are ready. We are not all going to have the same.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gift of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another, the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

To understand it perhaps more clearly. Paul goes on to say it this way.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

If everyone was an eye, who would hear? If everyone was an ear, who would speak? You get the point. If everyone went around healing, where would the teaching be? If everyone prophesied, where would the feeding be? The comforting be? We are all different with different abilities. Both natural and spiritual.

Natural talents come from individual abilities, while spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit.

Natural talents are for individual expression and fulfillment, while spiritual gifts are for building up the church and serving others.

Natural talents could include singing, writing, carpentry, or cooking. Spiritual gifts could include teaching, prophecy, healing, or serving.

If you want to be happy in life, find your abilities. Find your gifts. Do what you were literally created to do. Do what only you can do. Just be you. Be the child of God you are called to be.

Are you His child? Have you accepted His call? If you have not already done so, you need to ask Jesus into your life, then say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Genesis, Chapter 50

 Chapter 50

1 Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now, therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

God's Good Purposes

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

The Death of Joseph

22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Sub Series 2 Ghosts

 Ghosts, spooks, and spirits 

We are currently in a sub-series of the “Getting to Know the Force” series. We have already talked about Angels. We just talked about the fact there is a devil, he is real, and yes, he hates you and wants to keep you from leading anyone else away from him. What about demons? What about all those successful Ghost Hunting Shows? What about Mediums and such? Are they real? Is that loving and kind dead Grandma trying to contact you from beyond the grave? What does The Word say about all this? That is what we will be discussing today.

If you remember from our past study, The Word warns us of this.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God” 1 John 4:1-3

Why are we warned of this?

“This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them” 1 John 4:4-5

If you receive a visit from a “ghost” or a “spirit” of a “dead relative,” I would probably just ignore them and leave the area, but if you truly want to know, ask them about God. If what they tell you is against the Bible? They are not of God. They are also not your “dead relative.”

I can hear some of you saying. But how do you know?

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,” Hebrews 9:27

This is why making the right choices today, while you are here, is so important. Do so while it is called today. No one knows what tomorrow brings. Jesus tells the story of the rich man and his barns in Luke 12. The rich man is going about his life and accumulating more and more riches, and Jesus calls him a fool.

“But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'” Luke 12:20

James warns us of this.

“Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

We also read this warning here.

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

Today is the day. Now is the time. Once your time is up on earth, it is too late. Now there are two prevailing thoughts on death. One, “Absent the body, present with the Lord.” The other, “The dead sleep in Christ until the day Christ returns.”

Absent the Body, Present with the Lord

This phrase comes from 2 Corinthians 5:8:

“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

This phrase suggests that at death, a believer's soul or spirit immediately leaves the body and enters God's presence. It emphasizes the immediate transition from earthly life to being with God in heaven.

This view offers comfort and hope, as it promises believers immediate presence with God after death. It also suggests that death is not an end, but simply a continuation of existence in a different realm.

Sleeping in Christ until His Return

This concept is found throughout the New Testament, referencing believers "falling asleep" or "resting" in Christ. Some examples?

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

And here

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:17-20

This metaphor compares death to sleep, with the implication that believers will experience a period of unconsciousness or rest until the resurrection at Christ's return.

This view emphasizes the continuity between this life and the next, suggesting that death is not simply a disappearance, but a temporary state before the final resurrection and judgment. It also highlights the hope of the bodily resurrection, when believers will be reunited with their glorified bodies.

As you can see, either of these views can be used to argue against you dying and roaming around haunting people. As much as you may wish to. Death is not the end, but it IS the end here on earth.

You can see how this would be one of the reasons God warns us against dealing with those who claim to contact the dead. They are not contacting your dead loved one. I know I know, some of you do not even believe in Mediums and such. However, look at this warning.

“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.” Leviticus 20:6

Also, look here.

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations, the Lord your God is driving them out before you.” Deuteronomy 18:9-12

Now first, God would never waste time warning us against something that does not exist. I’m not going to warn my children about the big purple bunny in the backyard because there is none. Second, God is not going to warn us about harmless things. I will not warn my children not to touch their noses, but I will warn them to not touch the hot stove. Do you see the difference?

If demons and evil spirits were not real, then Jesus Himself would have never given us this parable.

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45

Not to mention casting out demons. Luke 11:14, Matthew 8:16, Mark 1:39, just to name a few places. Yes, ghosts are real. Yes, evil spirits are real. Yes, demons can and do possess humans.

If you go to a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, you are not talking to grandma, you are talking to a demon and one that you could very well be asking into your life. This usually never ends well.

If you know someone who has not heard the truth, the Gospel, tell them. Today. Do not wait for someone else to do it. What if no one else does? Do not wait for tomorrow. What if tomorrow never comes for that person? Think about 9-11-2001 A Tuesday. Nothing special. Nothing going on, yet the world changed that day. Over 3000 people breathed their last breath here on earth that day. None of them knew it would be their last morning of waking up. Last kiss. Last goodbye. Do not wait. You may be the only Jesus that some will ever see. What do they see?

How about you? Have you taken that step? Have you been adopted into the family of God? Now is the time. Today is the day.

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

Are you His child? Have you accepted His call? If you have not already done so, you need to ask Jesus into your life, then say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Genesis, Chapter 49

 Chapter 49

Jacob Blesses His Sons

1 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.

2 “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,

    listen to Israel your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,

    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,

    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,

    because you went up to your father's bed;

    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers;

    weapons of violence are their swords.

6 Let my soul come not into their council;

    O my glory, be not joined to their company.

For in their anger, they killed men,

    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,

    and their wrath, for it is cruel!

I will divide them in Jacob

    and scatter them in Israel.

8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;

    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;

    your father's sons shall bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion's cub;

    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He stooped down; he crouched as a lion

    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,

until tribute comes to him;

    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

11 Binding his foal to the vine

    and his donkey's colt to the choice Vine,

he has washed his garments in wine

    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are darker than wine,

    and his teeth are whiter than milk.

13 “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;

    he shall become a haven for ships,

    and his border shall be at Sidon.

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,

    crouching between the sheepfolds.

15 He saw that a resting place was good,

    and that the land was pleasant,

so he bowed his shoulder to bear,

    and became a servant at forced labor.

16 “Dan shall judge his people

    as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,

    a viper by the path,

that bites the horse's heels

    so that his rider falls backward.

18 I wait for your salvation, O Lord.

19 “Raiders shall raid Gad,

    but he shall raid at their heels.

20 “Asher's food shall be rich,

    and he shall yield royal delicacies.

21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose

    that bears beautiful fawns.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,

    a fruitful bough by a spring;

    his branches run over the wall.

23 The archers bitterly attacked him,

    shot at him, and harassed him severely,

24 yet his bow remained unmoved;

    his arms were made agile

by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob

    (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),

25 by the God of your father who will help you,

    by the Almighty who will bless you

    with blessings of heaven above,

blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,

    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

26 The blessings of your father

    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,

    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.

May they be on the head of Joseph,

    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,

    in the morning devouring the prey

    and at evening dividing the spoil.”

Jacob's Death and Burial

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

Sub series The Devil

 He is real. 

Welcome today. I want to start today with this revelation to some. God has like 700 names and the Word, or the Bible, has been translated into many languages and some may or may not know that Jesus was never called Jesus in His time on earth. His name is Yeshua. We have translated it into Jesus in English, but His actual name is Yeshua. Not can we call Him Jesus. I think so. It is what your Bible calls Him. He does have 700 names, so I think it is fine to call Him Jesus since so many people do not even know. I use both. Just so there is no confusion. 

One of the biggest accomplishments the Devil ever accomplished was convincing the world that he doesn't exist. This is a very true statement. Hollywood would have you believe that the Devil, if he were real, would be a red wrinkled face, horned head, tail waging, pitchfork-wielding, demon straight from hell.

Why? The reason he wants people to think that he is nothing but a made-up nightmare is simple. If there is no Devil. Then there is no sin. If there is no hell. Then there is no reason for a God. If there are no consequences for your actions, then there is no reason for a Saviour. No hell, then no heaven. No Devil then no God. No sin. Just do as you will.

As we have discussed in the past, he needs to do nothing to coerce you into doing anything. You are already his. All you have to do is NOT accept the Christ that IS Yeshua. That's it. Live as you will. Do as you will. There is no need to change a thing.

It's like you, having two hundred-dollar bills in your pocket. I take one put it in my pocket, and walk away. Which bill are you thinking about? The one in your pocket? Or the one in mine? Chances are, you are outraged that I took one of your bills. You want it back. You want me to stop taking your bills. You are thinking of ways for me to stop taking your bills. The last thing you are thinking about is the one in your pocket. Why? You already have that one. No. You are concerned with the one that got away from you, by me.

Satan is the same way. He doesn't care about you if you already belong to him. He cares about you once you leave. He will do whatever he can, to make sure that you do not take any more from him. So that's when you have to be careful.

To attempt to keep more people from leaving to begin with, he tries to convince many that he doesn't even exist. I will say that again. To attempt to keep more people from leaving to begin with, he tries to convince many that he doesn't even exist. That is also why the false premise of who and what he is. He is not a demon straight from hell. Truth is, if he were to appear in a church today, as he truly is, telling people what they want to hear, as a lot of our churches do today, many would most likely fall at his feet thinking he was Jesus Himself. In Isaiah 14, it tells us a wealth of information that you may not know.

“How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

You said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of the assembly

in the far reaches of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:12-14

The first thing you need to realize is that he is an Angel. He is called “Son of the Morning.” He was the first Angel. He was the fairest of all the Angels. He is beautiful. He is majestic. He would appear to many as Christ Himself. Not some red wrinkled face, horned head, tail waging, pitchfork-wielding, demon straight from hell. But a vision of beauty. He hasn't changed. He is who he is.

Second, "I will ascend into Heaven." Which means what? If you were to say, I will go into that house, that means I’m not there. Right? He said in his heart, I will go into Heaven and I will put my throne above God's. He wanted to become God. He was cast down. He failed. A third of the Angels followed him. They failed as well. This is the whole reason there even is a hell. For him and his followers. It was never intended for us.

Now we see how Satan works. Does he send you nightmares? Does he get in your face and threaten you? Does he yell and scream? Growl? Nope. He suggests. He whispers. We see this after God created mankind. He was jealous of us. He was the first Angel. He and his followers were God's first creation. They were the ones. However, they rebelled. Because of their disobedience, God started over. That is the gap between Genesis one and two. So in Genesis 3, we see him in action for the first time.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?"

And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"

But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:1-6

Now again, did Satan make her do it? Nope. He simply told her a half-truth. He lied. But he was calm about it. He fed into what he knew she desired. To be like God. He knew that Adam was the same. And to get Adam to sin, he used Eve.

You see, the devil will not force you to do anything. He will make whatever you desire seem obtainable. He will make something seem right. He will whisper in your ear. He will feed your desire. He will not, however, tempt you with something that has nothing to do with you. I do not do drugs. The devil is not going to show up at my door with a bag of drugs and say "Hey, let's party." Do you do drugs? Are you an alcoholic? If so, he MAY show up at your door with them. But he will not waste his time at mine.

Are you addicted to porn? If so, you may be walking in the mall. All of a sudden, you may see a girl wearing a see-through top with no bra. Or just a girl walking through the mall wearing next to nothing in general. Now that image is in your head. You go home, turn on the computer, and there you go.

This is how he works. He does not tempt you with things that will not tempt you. He knows you. He knows what buttons to push. He knows how to whisper in your ear, and what to say. He does not force you to do anything. He cannot. It is still ultimately you, who decide to do it or not. To give in or not. To sin or not.

Can he do whatever he wants to you? Nope. Why? Because he is not God, nor is he equal to God. He is an Angel and a fallen one at that. He needs God's permission. Think about that. Look at Job. in Job 2

“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD.” Job 2:1

Think about this for a second. There are set days when "The Sons of God," remember this is before Jesus came allowing us to become Sons and Daughters of God ourselves, they had to present themselves before God. In other words, give an account to God, about what they have been doing. Here comes Satan himself. Walking in to present himself before God.

“And the LORD asked Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." Job 2:2

Again, he is not in Hell. He is not in Heaven. He is in the world. He is on the earth. He is not locked up yet. Do not buy into religious teachings or Hollywood that want to tell you any different.

“And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast to his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason." Job 2:3

Now God knows he was messing with Job. God understands that Satan hates anyone who loves God. Does He say to Satan, "Stop messing with him. He believes in Me and he is Mine?" Nope. He lets Satan answer the question. Satan says this.

“Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face." And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” Job 2:4-7

Satan said, "Put forth YOUR hand now and touch his bone and flesh." You see, Satan told God to do it. Why? Because Satan can do nothing without God's permission. God said, "Behold, he is in your hand." The only thing God told Satan he could not do, was take his life. He did not give Satan authority over Job. He said, “Look, he is already in your hand.”

That is a powerful truth. What does that mean? Job, like us, was in the world. He was, as we are, flesh. Remember, God created the world, and gave all authority of it, to us. Adam gave our authority over the world to Satan, in the Garden of Eden. Since then, Satan has become lord over the earth. So the spirit of man can become adopted into the family of God, which means we live forever. However, while in the flesh, in the world, we are in Satan's hand. We are subject to the things in the world and of the flesh. That is why the fruit of the flesh, or the works of the flesh, and mankind's heart, is evil.

So Satan goes out and tempts Job. He inflicts his body with sickness and disease, turns his family and friends against him, and does many other things to Job. But Job endures it all, never losing faith, and is highly rewarded for doing such.

Look at Peter. The same Peter who was the only other man in recorded history to walk on water. This is the same Peter that Jesus said in Matthew 16:17-18

“And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

This is the same Peter who said to Jesus that he would die for him. He would go to hell with him. The same Peter who cut off the right ear of Malchus, the High Priest's servant, when they came to take Jesus while they were in the Garden to crucify Him. Jesus said THIS to Peter in Luke 22:

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.". Luke 22:31-32

Imagine that. One of the most faithful people ever to walk the earth. One with Jesus always. One that Jesus told him he would build his church on his faithful statement. To that same Peter, Jesus said, Satan wants you. Peter may have been thinking something like Jesus was going to say, I told him no. Don't worry Pete, I got ya back. But he didn't say that. What did he say? I pray that you are strong enough to withstand whatever it is he throws at you. He said, yup. He most likely said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand."

You see, even Jesus himself, while with us, in the flesh, was tempted by Satan.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Matthew 4:1-3

Notice the first temptation was what most people consider a necessity. Food. Jesus was fasting. You could say He was seeking first the Kingdom of God. Doing God's work. Remember, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added onto you?" Jesus was hungry, and Satan, knowing he could, tempted Him to break his fast. To turn rocks into food and eat. But Jesus responded...

“But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands, they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'’ Matthew 4:4-6

Satan knows The Word. He was there when it was written. He can quote the Bible chapter and verse. He knows God and has, and continues to, see Him face to face. Does that make him good? Just a side note to my 'holier than thou" friends out there. But Jesus said this.

“Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you if you will fall and worship me." Matthew 4:7-9

Now this one is important to understand. Again, Satan is the lord of the earth. He told Jesus, I will give you all this, all you have to do is worship me. The promise of riches. A temptation even back then. But he would not be able to tempt Jesus with this if he could not deliver. You see Satan can tempt Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world because they belong to him.

First, who is it that Satan tempts? Is it those who do not know God? Nope. It is the faithful. He doesn't waste his time tempting those that already belong to him. he doesn't have to.

Remember, hell was never intended for man. We get there by choice. By not accepting the gift that God gave the world through Jesus.

What is the key? Repenting of your sins, or turning away from your sins.Asking God to forgive you for your sins and accepting His gift. Accept Jesus's or Yeshua's sacrifice for you. Allow His blood to be your blood. His death to be your death. His resurrection is your resurrection. He died so that you do not have to. He died so that you may live. All you have to do is accept it. Ask for it. Say this prayer in your own words.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Book of Genesis, Chapter 48

 Chapter 48

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

1 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,

“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,

    the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,

16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;

    and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;

    and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,

“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,

‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”

Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

Happy Reresection Day 2024

  Happy Easter 2024

Happy Easter! First? Is there anything wrong with Easter Egg Hunts? Nope. Is there anything wrong with Easter Bunnies and Easter Baskets for the little ones? Again, nope. There is nothing wrong with these fun family traditions, as long as with all this, you instill the truth of what Easter is actually all about. We celebrate Easter to celebrate Jesus coming to earth, and although He could have called down angels to wipe out those who were trying to kill Him, He allowed them to kill Him. Not just kill Him, but torture and humiliate and nail Him to a cross. He allowed this, well look here what He told Peter in the garden when they came to take Him. 

"Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. All who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” Matthew 26:52-56

 Which scriptures? Isaiah 53 is a good one to start. 

"Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of the dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our grief
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds, we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—everyone—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers are silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors."

Why? Why would God lay down His Godhood, come to earth and live as one of us, and allow His own creation to do all we did to Him? 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

And 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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 1:1-4, 10-14

So Jesus came into the world, healed the sick, raised the dead, and gave sight to the blind. Then, He fulfilled His main purpose of coming. He was killed for our Sins. He went to the cross to pay the price for all sin and shed His blood for us all. He did so for YOU.

If you allow His blood to be your blood, His payment for all sin to be your payment for your sin, and His death to be your death, you will have everlasting peace and happiness with Him. Easter is the day we have set aside to remember what happened.

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”  And they remembered his words,  and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.  They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24

This is what Easter is all about. The greatest gift you will ever receive. The gift of forgiveness and salvation. The gift of eternal life. He did all these things and suffered all things so that you can enter Heaven. So that you will not die, but have everlasting life. He paid the ultimate price so you do not have to. The greatest and final sacrifice, ever.

Next week we will discuss the simple fact that Jesus is, in fact, God Himself and without Him, you cannot nor will you ever, get to God or heaven without, well, God. 

Do you know Jesus? The real Jesus. Say this prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Genesis, Chapter 47

 Chapter 47

Jacob's Family Settles in Goshen

1 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” 4 They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servant's flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

Joseph and the Famine

13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” 16 And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock if your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. 18 And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”

20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh's. 21 As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.

23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.

27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt for seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.

29 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” 31 And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.

Getting to know "The Force" 6

 A supernatural being

We are talking about the eight applications of the word “Spirit” as they are in the Bible. They are,

1-The Divine Spirit: Referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, God himself.

2-The human spirit: The immaterial part of a human being, distinct from the soul and body, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and will.

3-The breath of life: The animating force that gives life to all living creatures.

4-The wind: Often used as a metaphor for God's presence or power.

5-An attitude or disposition: Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state.

6-A supernatural being: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.

7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.

8-The essence or meaning of something: A thing's core quality or nature.

Today, we will be diving into the number 6. Ghosts, spooks, and spirits.

6-A supernatural being: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.

Now this is going to be a sub-series of our current series, “Getting to Know the Force” I truly believe that we need to spend some time on this. I do not believe that that “ghost” you are hunting is your long-lost grandma. I do not believe that seance is contacting your lost Mom or Dad. I believe there is Biblical evidence that it is not so.

In this sub-study, we will look at that evidence and see what The Word says about angels, demons, and other spiritual entities that are sometimes called spirits. Today, we will begin with angels.

What are Angels? We will structure our study around three key areas:

1. Angelic Nature.

Angels are spiritual beings. They were, as we, created by God. However, they are non-physical beings. Angels, often described as magnificent beings with immense power and knowledge, may serve as celestial extensions of God's majesty. Their presence around the throne and active participation in God's plans showcase His unmatched might and divine authority.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" Isaiah 6:1-3

In Revelations, we read this.

“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell and worshiped.” Revelation 5:11-14

Yes, Angels are real. No, they are not fat naked babies floating around. They are powerful and they are not to be dismissed so lightly. They are also sometimes sent here to help you.

“Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14

This leads us to,

2. Angelic Roles.

They can be messengers and intermediaries: We see the frequent role of angels as God's messengers, delivering pronouncements and instructions. Scriptures like Genesis 18:1-15 When Abraham had three visitors.

“And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth” Genesis 18:1-2

As soon as he saw them, he knew they were not of this earth. He knew they were sent by God.

“The LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.” Genesis 18:10-11

It goes on to say how Sarah laughed and they rebuked her. They also told Abraham what was about to happen to Sodom and Gomorrah. If you haven’t done so already, I highly encourage you to read this whole encounter yourself. Then in Daniel, we read this.

“When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called,

"Gabriel, make this man understand the vision." So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, "Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end." Daniel 8:15-17

We could do a whole study on the times angels visited people throughout the Bible. Like with Mary? They also come as protectors and guardians.

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7

Also in Daniel

“Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: none contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.” Daniel 10:20-21

We see many examples of interactions and appearances of angels in The Word.

“Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor." Judges 6:11-12

To be fair, wherever you read LORD in all caps in The Word, it refers to Jesus Himself. In this case, and in the case of the three, one was Jesus Himself not yet in the flesh. Still a spirit supernatural being. Speaking of Mary?

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"” Luke 1:26-28

Yes. Angels are real. Yes. Angels interact with humans all the time. Be careful when doubting if angels are real. They have another job as well. Judgments and deliverance.

“Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." Revelation 21:9

What about what Jesus Himself warned us about?

“The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:41-43

Yes. Angels are real. However, not all are here to help. Remember, The Word warns us about discernment.

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

This is why we are warned and instructed, to test the spirits.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” 1 John 4:1-3

Be careful child of God. You do not stand a chance if you are not a child of God. Join us next time for an introduction to the enemy himself. Yes, the devil is real. Yes. He wants to destroy you and keep you from spreading the Word. Again, if you are NOT a child of God, you already serve him, and you do not stand a chance. Have you been adopted? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!