Getting to Know "The Force" 8

The Final is the essence or meaning of something, A thing's core quality or nature

The Hebrew word Ruach is translated as "Spirit". The Greek word Pneuma is also translated as "Spirit". The English word "Spirit" all mean the same thing. The same general implication underlies all their applications: that of an often powerful, invisible, immaterial, motivating force. This unseen force inspires or encourages people to do something, good or bad. Its quality needs to be more relevant at this point.

It's important to note that these applications are not always clear-cut, and the meaning of "Spirit" in a particular passage can depend on the surrounding context. However, understanding these eight categories can help us to more accurately interpret the many uses of the word "Spirit" throughout 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 wrap up this series at number 8

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

We can explore several perspectives on how the Bible depicts the core quality or nature of various things. We can start with us. Mankind. What is our core nature?

The Bible offers various perspectives on human nature. Genesis depicts humans as created in God's image, capable of both good and evil. He gave us free will so we need to choose to love Him and trust in Him for all things. He created all things for us. Yet, we were tempted by the devil with his original sin, Pride. A desire to be God. At this time, Sin crept in and now Sin and death ARE our natural and core quality of nature.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

When we sinned. When we did the only thing on the entire planet that God said not to do, evil and sin came into the human heart. We did horrific things. God nearly wiped us out, but then, by His grace, saved humanity and tried to give us a do-over. Another chase. Only to learn that sin and evil are still in our hearts.

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

In the flesh, by ourselves, we do not stand a chance at overcoming it.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

Jesus Himself said this.

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34

You know that old saying, “Follow your heart.” Yeah, that is the worst thing you can do. Without God, it will lead you to sin and death.

Jesus also said this about the human heart.

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

How can this be if indeed,

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

This is one of them there contradictions. {Sigh} Nope. You see, we still have to talk about God’s core quality or nature. Which is? Love, justice, mercy, power, creativity, and faithfulness. Now to save this from becoming another sub-series, we will put it this way. Because of God’s Love for us, He created us, created all for us, has mercy on us, and uses His power for us, because he is faithful to us. Did I cover all? I think so. LOVE. God is Love.

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8

How much does He love us?

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

That is correct. Not because we earned it. Not because we deserved it. We were not even trying to be obedient. No, while we rejected Him, offended Him, sinned against 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17

He made it this simple. However?

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:18

It is this simple.

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:12-13

It is not because of our core quality or nature, rather it is because of His. God. The God that IS Love that loves us so. Make no mistake about it, There is nothing you can do to earn your way to heaven. It does not matter what your “religion” may say. The price is too high. Not to mention it has already been paid. Paid in blood. Paid by His blood. The blood of Jesus.

If we live in the world that God created for us, a God that loves us so that He came and became us, suffered and died for us, and we are now His children, why then is there all this suffering and evil? The Bible acknowledges the presence of suffering and evil in the world while offering different explanations and responses, most of it boils down to us. We create a lot of suffering and evil. Can the devil be blamed for some? Of course. However, remember what we just recently talked about. Yes, the devil is real. Yes, he is the lord of the world. Yet? He is not an equal to, God. He cannot force us to do anything. He does not have to. All he has to do is keep us away from the promise. Keep us away from the blood. Keep us away from Jesus. The only “way, truth, and life.” We will mess things up pretty well all by ourselves.

This is why remembering Romans 8:27-28 is such a blessing.

“And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

We are evil. We deserve death. He is love. He intercedes for us, on our behalf. He can and does take what we screw up, what others may try to do to us, including the devil by the way, and turn it into good. We just have to trust in Him.

Remember. God is Love. What is Love?

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13

It is in that love that we have hope and redemption: Despite the struggles and challenges depicted in the Bible, a core message is ultimately one of hope and redemption. Many find hope in God's promises of forgiveness, restoration, and new life.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:1-8

It is now and always has been all about God and His love for us. The force is real. It is known by another name. That name is Love. Do you know the Love of God? 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!

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.”