Our Responsibilities
The Epistles written to and for the Christian tell us of our rights such as sanctification, righteousness,
justification, redemption and the ministry of reconciliation. They tell us of our privileges including health,
direct access and connection to God, protection and to sum it up, complete wholeness. But, the Epistles
hold another aspect that very few Christians know or adhere to in our day and time. That aspect is our
responsibilities as a Christian.
The Bible tells us that when we became a Christian we became free, we have liberty. In other words we
are free from restraint or control. Sin has no more dominion over us AND we are freed from the law of
sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 (KJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death.
John 8:31-32 (KJV)
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:13 (KJV)
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the
flesh, but by love serve one another.
1 Peter 2:16 (KJV)
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
We have freedom, we have liberty, we are the sons of God, so, why can’t we do whatever we want?
Well, actually we can, BUT, what you don’t understand is that, in this life, we are going to serve
something and there are only two principle choices. You are either serving sin and the powers of
darkness or you are going to serve God. Sorry, but, there are no other choices.
So, why would we choose to serve God? Most ministers would have you do it out of fear and or
obligation to God. This is not what God wants! It is not out of obligation to God, but, out of love for God
and out of the understanding of what we have been given, out of joy and thankfulness for what we have
and an understanding of the rewards that we are treasuring up for ourselves in Heaven. This is the
correct attitude.I have worked for people before where it was a drudgery to go to work. I didn’t enjoy it, but, I worked.
Other jobs I have had the people and bosses were nice and I was being paid good and I enjoyed going. In
both jobs I was doing the same type of work. What was the difference? Actually, there were two
differences. The conditions were different and my attitude was different. Now, if you have been taught
your whole life that God is a God of hellfire and brimstone and that you have to work for the Lord to
make it to heaven then you will not see the absolute joy of being a fellow workman with God.
Jesus Christ laid down his life for you and for me and now, because of what God accomplished through
Jesus Christ we have all the goodness of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 7:23-24 (KJV)
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
So this brings me to the point that I wish to share with you. That point being that the Epistles, Romans
through Jude, teach us not only of what God has accomplished for us and has given us, but, how we are
to live and to serve God. Most Christians today have been so overwhelmed by the world that they forget
or aren’t taught HOW to live for God and Jesus Christ. I don’t have enough room to fit everything into
this one article, but, I have included a few points as to living with and for God, according to God’s Word.
Romans 1:16-17 (KJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just
shall live by faith.
We must believe that the Bible is the Word and Will of God and we must live by the faith of Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:21 (KJV)
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 13:8-10 (KJV)
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear
false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended
in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (KJV)
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and
make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one
flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication
sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV)
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as
God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Galatians 5:13-26 (KJV)
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the
flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary
the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I
have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of
God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Let me clarify that walking according to the revealed Word and Will of God whether in written
form, the Bible, or by revelation both are “walking by the spirit.”
Galatians 6:9-10 (KJV)
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the
household of faith.
1 Thessalonians 2:4-8 (KJV)
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as
pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God
is witness:
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been
burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the
gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.
James 1:22-25 (KJV)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a
glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful
hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (KJV)
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same
thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you.
It is time in our lives to compare the way we are living to how the Bible says to live and adjust
accordingly.
Prayer – To God
I read from time to time about prayer and praying from the perspective of a psychologist or secular
sources. It is always the same “prayer is good for a person. It gives them a better attitude.” REALLY?? Is
that all there is to it, a better attitude a better feeling? Well, ladies and gentlemen, if that is all there is –
it makes you feel better, then you as a Christian (Romans 10:9,10) do not understand prayer!
The very first thing you need to understand is WHO you are praying to. Part of this understanding is
knowing to whom you are not praying.
1 Corinthians 12:2 (KJV)
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led (before you
became a Christian.)
Dumb idols are idols (gods) that can’t hear, that won’t speak, that can’t bring deliverance to a person
when they need it. They don’t have to be idols of wood or stone. They could be anything that is man
made. But, the point is, that they CANNOT give deliverance. We don’t pray to a God that can’t hear us!
We don’t pray to a God that can’t see us. We pray to ALMIGHTY GOD who created the Heavens and the
Earth. The God who set the stars in their course. The God who is willing to give us the desires of our
hearts. The God who promises deliverance in sickness, in finances and in every aspect of your life.
John 14:6 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If you want answers to prayer you have to pray according to the rules and regulations and those are only
found in the Bible. Do you see what Jesus Christ said?? He said the only access to God is through him,
Jesus Christ! So, there is no getting to God by Buddha, or Allah, or Shiva, or any other so-called god. The
Christian is the only one that has access to God Almighty, if the Bible is correct…and it is.
So, who is it that we pray to? What are His attributes? Is He a vengeful God or a caring, loving God?
Psalm 91:1-7 (KJV)
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be
thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at
noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh
thee.
Isn’t verse four a wonderful figure of speech? My wife has a screen saver on her computer that
makes me think of this verse every time I see it. It is a photograph of a mother duck sitting in thegrass, the rain is coming down, her wing is outstretched and underneath it are four little
ducklings looking out at the rain, dry, warm and protected. God will do and does the same for us.
Exodus 6:2-4 (KJV)
2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my
name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their
pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
Do you know what Jehovah means? It means God in His covenant relationship. He covenanted with
Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. Although God took care of them they did not know His full
potential as Jehovah. There are ten redemptive names for Jehovah and Psalm 23 has eight of those ten
names
Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art
with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with
oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house
of the LORD for ever.
In verse 1 He is Jehovah Raw aw – Jehovah my shepherd.
In verse 1 He is, also, Jehovah Jireh – Jehovah who will see and provide
In Verse 2 He is Jehovah Shalom – Jehovah our peace
In verse 3 He is Jehovah Ropheka – Jehovah who healeth thee
In verse 3 He is, also, Jehovah Zidkenu – Jehovah our righteousness
In verse 4 He is Jehovah Shammah – Jehovah is there ( He never leaves you or forsakes you)
In verse 5 He is Jehovah Nissi – Jehovah my banner, my covering, my protection, just like Psalm 91:4.
In verse 5 He is, also, Jehovah Mekaddishkem – Jehovah that doth sanctify you.
I want to trace out for you a few verses to show you that this same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
the same God that delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt and brought them into the promised land
is the same Jehovah to you.
Romans 4:16 (KJV)
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all
the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham;
who is the father of us all,Galatians 3:6-9 (KJV)
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before
the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Are you “of faith?” You are if you have done Romans 10:9,10!
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
John 16:23-24 (KJV)
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask
the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be
full.
Expect miracles every day
Expect miracles when you pray
When you expect them God will find a way
To perform miracles for you each day!
As a Christian, when you pray, you have a direct line to the One that so loved the World that He gave His
only begotten son so that when you pray you can get answers and deliverance.
Psalm 103
PSALM 103
There are some passages of Scripture that stand out to a person more than others. So it is with
Psalm 103. This psalm blesses my life every time I read it. So, I would like to share it with you
now.
Psalm 103:1-22 (KJV)
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
This is a psalm authored by God, but, written by King David. God knows the heart of a man and
David’s heart was to bless the Lord. If you have ever read about David he relied totally on God.
Very few men, when they became king, lived all their natural born days. Most were killed. But,
David relied on God. He would not harm King Saul because King Saul was “God’s anointed.”
David trusted time and time again in God’s hand of deliverance and time and time again God
took care of David. When you have a relationship like that with the One True God your heart
bubbles over with praises to Jehovah God.
Look at what verse two says. “and forget not all his benefits.” It doesn’t say to remember them
all. Who could remember all of God’s benefits? But, we can remember some of them.
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
There are two things in healing, forgiveness of sins and healing. It is like this all the way through
the Bible. Jesus said “which is easier to say your sins be forgiven or to say, Arise and walk?”
(Matt.9:5) It is just as easy to say one as the other BUT both are an important part of the healing
process.
Now the last part of this verse, is it true or is it a lie? Let me just shout it ALL THY DISEASES.
This is the truth of God. It is available to YOU. Not someday. Not in the sweet by and by. Right
now it is available to YOU!
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender
mercies;
God is not a God of suffering and punishment to His people. God is a God of love and
tenderness. We as Christians are sons of God, David was a servant of God. We have so much
more than they did in the Old Testament and, yet, we have been talked out of it. Look how God
protects YOU and He will crown you with lovingkindness and tender mercies! Mercy is God’s
withholding of merited judgement. My Dad did that for me. There were times when I was
growing up when I should have been punished, but, instead my Dad took me in his arms and
gave me a hug. That’s tender mercy. That’s what God does for us.
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.The eagle that is talked about here is a special eagle found in the Middle East. This eagle, when
its feathers got old, flies high in the sky and tuck it wings and dive into the water thus stripping
all the old feathers off. It makes its way to shore and hides among the bushes until its new
feathers grow out. It looks new and its feathers beautiful. God is waiting to do that for you each
and every day of your life. All you have to do is believe. Believe His Word, believe His promises
and act on them and watch God go to work for you!
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
This is beautiful. All of the Children of Israel that were lead by Moses saw all the great miracles
that God did by the hand of Moses. They saw the parting of the Red Sea, they walk through the
Red Sea on dry ground. They tasted of the manna. The Children of Israel saw all of this, but,
only to Moses did God make known the whys and the wherefores. Moses was such a great and
meek man that the Bible says that God knew him face to face. (Deut. 34:10)
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
If we could only believe this and walk day by day with this knowledge in the forefront of our
thinking. What a day that would be!
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
The word “fear” is better translated respect or reverence. God doesn’t want you to be afraid of
Him. He is your father. Earlier in this psalm it talks about tender mercies and loving kindness.
How could He talk about loving kindness and tender mercies and expect people to be afraid of
Him. He doesn’t! He wants you to respect His Word and do what He says. He wrote the rule
book of life. It is only logical to do what His Word says to reap the rewards.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
There is a point that if you go North you can’t go any further North and then you have to go
South. South and North meet at the North pole and at the South pole. However, East never meets
West. That is how far He has removed our transgressions from us. We will Never be reminded of
them again. Not by God. If you are ever reminded of them it is by the devil and you can tell him
or whoever brings it up to go jump in a lake! God took it away from you AND He won’t
remember it ever again.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear (reverence) him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear (reverence)
him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening
unto the voice of his word.
The word “angels” is the word messengers.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul
Romans Chapter 8
There are a few chapters in the Bible that are exciting and enlightening that stand out among the
rest. Chapter eight of Romans is one such chapter. Knowing that Romans is the foundational
doctrine of the Christian Church that it is the Magna Carta of all Christianity. Romans explains
and separates the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament, a law works from the Administration of
Grace, God’s unmerited divine favor, that you and I live in today. And, in the middle of all of
this new and exciting doctrine is the great record of chapter eight.
Romans 8:1-8 (KJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit.
If the Christian World would only believe this ONE verse it would change the World. No
condemnation! God, the creator of the Heavens and the Earth does not, can not and never will
condemn the Christian. How many many people try by works to get in God’s good graces and,
yet, the Christian is already there!
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son
in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
The law of sin and death is the law of works. No matter how hard men worked no matter what
measure they took to keep every jot and tittle of the Law of Moses they could never attain to the
perfection that is in the new birth. The birth of Christ in you the hope of glory. (Col. 1:27) The
keeping of the Law is the washing on the outside. It never makes a person clean. The washing
inside and out can only be done spiritually.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after
the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit
the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
What is it to be carnally minded? Carnally minded is to put the things of this World in the
forefront of your mind. It is to put God at the back of the bus in your life. Carnally minded is to
be thinking about the bills coming in, the TV show that you want to watch, to look at the World
and forget about God.
Than what does “spiritually minded” mean? It means to put God first. It doesn’t mean to sit in a
lotus position in a cave on a mountain, but, as we go through our day we believe the things that
God says about us and about who we are. If a problem comes up we go to God with it. Weremember who we are and we walk with our shoulder back and our heads held high. We shine as
lights to a dying world and if any man ask we have an answer of why we are so vibrant.
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 John 3:2 (KJV)
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that,
when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Philippians 2:15-16 (KJV)
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither
laboured in vain.
1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Romans 8:8-10 (KJV)
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if
any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Yes, you are reading that right. If a person is not born again of God’s spirit, if he hasn’t done
Romans 10:9,10 then he is not God’s. He cannot please God. As it says in Ephesians 2:12 the
person that has not done Romans 10:9,10 is without God and without hope.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of
righteousness.
The body is dead whether you have Christ in you or not. It doesn’t have eternal life. No matter
how pretty or handsome you are, no matter how young and vibrant you are some day your body
is going to die. It is the spirit that is everlasting and if/when you die you will be raised again with
that spiritual body. (I Cor. 15) (I Thess. 4:13-18)
2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV)
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man (our body) perish, yet the inward man
(spirit) is renewed day by day.Romans 8:11-15 (KJV)
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up
Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of
the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
To be led by the spirit is to do those things that are written to us, specifically Romans through
Thessalonians.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
No more fear, no more worrying about tomorrow, no more anxiety for God has given you a spirit
of sonship a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Romans 8:16-18 (KJV)
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Glorified together with who? With Jesus Christ. Not only that, but, we are joint-heirs with Jesus
Christ. A joint-heir is not one who has a piece of the pie, but, one that shares fully in the whole
pie. In other words everything that Jesus Christ inherited we, as Christians, fully share with him!
The Christians have been talked out of who they really are in Christ. We take the place of Christ
here on Earth. What he did we can do and more. We are the most powerful beings on this Earth!
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
Not just glory, but, the ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY that will be ours.2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV)
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory;
Romans 8:19-24 (KJV)
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature (the create thing, the creation) waiteth for the
manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath
subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
What is verses 18 through 23 talking about? Since the fall of man, the original sin – since Adam
screwed up and ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the World has been in
bad shape; sooner or later everybody dies, bad things happen etc. etc., that is the groaning and
travailing in pain. The travailing is like a woman in pains of child birth! The whole creation
waits in excited anticipation for the gathering together of the Christians to Christ. (I Thess. 4: 13-
18)
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he
yet hope for?
We are saved by confessing the Savior from sin the Lord Jesus Christ.(Rom. 10:9,10) However,
as we look forward to the return of Christ with excited anticipation we do as we are instructed in
the Epistles and walk the Christ walk we shine as lights in this World. This is what it is talking
about in II Cor. 3:18.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same
image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Romans 8:25-39 (KJV)
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makethintercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
God knew, before the foundations of the World, that you would believe and because of that He
called you, justified you and He glorified you. What is still future for us God has put in the past
tense. It is an accomplished reality!
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
This, my friends, is a rhetorical question. The answer is obvious, no one can be against us. They
may be against us, but, it is fruitless to be because we will always be the victors!
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
God is not going to accuse you of anything. Why should He He justified you and Christ is not
going to condemn you. He came to deliver you from the bondage of condemnation AND he sits
on the right hand (the hand of blessing) of God as you defense attorney making intercession for
you and for me.
Also, nothing is going to separate us from God! It reminds me of the twenty third Psalm where it
says “yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.” What that
literally means is that even if I die God is still with me! God never leaves us or forsakes us.
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.The word “Nay” should read NAY, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT! In all these things
we are SUPER CONQUERORS through him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What wonderful knowledge. To know that you are loved by God, that He will never condemn
you, that He justified you and that God is always there with you. He is not some ethereal being
sitting somewhere out beyond the cosmos, but, He is a loving tender God that is always with you
and that will meet your every need as you believe
Acts of God
Many people blame God for bad things that happen. There is even a term in the insurance business call
“acts of God” which include tornados, hurricanes, floods, etc.. However, we as Christians cannot go by
what man says we have to adhere to the Word of God, the Bible. Tonight, we are going to see what the
Word of God says He does and what He doesn’t do and who is responsible for bad things that happen.
We will, also, see what we as Christians are and what we should do.
The first question we have to ask is “Does God cause bad things to happen?”
1 John 1:5 (KJV)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all.
God is light! Light in the Bible means positive, beneficial, healing, in other words, all things
good. AND, there is NO darkness in Him at all. Darkness is representative of the negatives, the
bad things and evil beings of this World.
1 John 4:8 (KJV)
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
GOD IS LOVE! The Bible also says in John 3:16 that God so loved the World that He gave His only
begotten son. God is witness unto Himself because there is nobody equal or greater than He and God
says that He IS love.
Romans 2:4 (KJV)
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
The gospel (the good news) of God is that God is GOOD, God is LIGHT and God is LOVE. That’s what
brings people to the truth. Never was it and never should it have been hellfire and brimstone because it
is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance.
If God doesn’t cause negative, bad, things to happen who does? It is the Devil and his cohorts! There is a
movement among the Christian Churches that says there is no Devil or devil spirits. That it is only
figurative language. Let me tell you that there IS a Devil and devil spirits as surely as Jesus Christ walked
the Earth. Jesus Christ came to make known the snares and workings of the Devil and to defeat him.
Hebrews 2:14 (KJV)
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he (Jesus Christ) also
himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is, the devil;
1 Corinthians 2:8 (KJV)
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory.Colossians 1:13 (KJV)
13 Who, Jesus Christ, hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son:
Acts 26:18 (KJV)
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that
is in me.
What the Devil and his cohorts didn’t know was that after they crucified Jesus Christ and he was raised
from the dead and the Day of Pentecost was fully come then it would be Christ in every Born Again
Believer. Not only that, but, each one of us could do the works that he did.
Colossians 1:27 (KJV)
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
John 14:12 (KJV)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Again, God is light! The darkness, the sickness, the death, all evil is from the Devil or Satan. The word
“Devil” is used for the actual being whereas the word “Satan” is used of his interaction with people,
things and the environment.
What some might point to is where God, in the Old Testament, is accredited for bad things happening.
There are two reasons for this. First, the workings of the adversary the Devil were not made known until
Jesus Christ made it known. So, God was attributed with both good and bad. We know better now
because Jesus Christ exposed the workings of Satan.
The other reason is that God set immutable laws in place and when people adhered to the laws they got
the benefit, but, when they went contrary to the law they got the consequences. You can see that again
and again as the Children of Israel turned away from God they went into captivity and when they turned
back to God He delivered them from their captivity. A good example of this is Deuteronomy chapter 28.
The blessings and curses of God. Blessings when Israel did His commandments, curses if they turned
away. The truth of this is God can only protect you when you walk the way of the Word. You may be
delivered otherwise, which is God’s love and choice, but to walk in the spiritual protection of God day by
day we have to walk and live the way we are instructed in the New Testament Epistles just like Israel had
to live by the Mosaic Law.
Now that we know who causes sickness and suffering what are we to do? What is our station and
position in this world? Who are we?
1 John 4:4 (KJV)
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he
that is in the world.Romans 8:36-39 (KJV)
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 6:10-19 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day (this day), and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make
known the mystery of the gospel,
God is good. God is always with us and never leaves us or forsakes us. We are His children. God wants
the best for us. Yes, we have an adversary, but, he has been defeated. We go through this World
knowing that God is with us and the Christ within is greater than the Devil himself
Our Great Hope
Hope is the looking forward to something in the future. It is something that you can’t have right now.
For example, when I was in college, my Mom and I would talk on the phone and she would tell me that
she sent me something in the mail. So, I would patiently wait for it looking every day to see if it came.
That is hope. I couldn’t have it at the time my Mom told me about it. I had to wait in anticipation for it to
come. Let’s look at our great hope recorded in the Bible. But first, let’s look at a record in Romans
regarding a hope that Abraham had.
Romans 4:17-22 (KJV)
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God,
who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to
that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an
hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith (the word “ “faith” is
the word believing, faith had not yet come), giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Let me explain this in more detail. God promised Abraham that he (Abraham) would have so many
children that they would be nations. This is quite interesting since Abraham was in his late 90’s and
Sarah was ninety. This is well past the age of child bearing. There are two principals at work in this
section of scripture, hope and believing and Abraham applied both of them. God told Abraham that he
was to be the father of many nations and Abraham had to accept that and stand on that. From there he
had to believe to bring it to pass. Where, in verse eighteen, it says of Abraham “ who against hope
believed in hope.” What that means is that Sarah and Abraham’s reproductive organs didn’t work
anymore. Both he and Sarah went through menopause decades ago. They had no children, so, in the
senses world the probability of them having children or being parents of nations was ZERO. So when
God told them that they were going to have a son and their progeny would grow into nations they had
to believe that promise and replace the physical reality of NO hope of having children to the spiritual
reality that GOD can make it happen and all they had to do is believe.
Hope is for something that you cannot have now. Believing is applied when it is immediately available.
Believing appropriates whereas hope anticipates.
So, now, what could Abraham and Sarah do to bring this “father of many nations” thing to pass? There is
only one thing that brings about children and it is not drinking the water, it is not praying. It is by having
intercourse. I am teaching you as honestly as I can so that you, too, can implement the law of believing.
God made the promise, but, Abraham and Sarah had to do their part.
Remember the man with the withered hand in the Gospels? Jesus Christ ministered to him and then
Jesus said “stretch forth thy hand.’ (Luke 6:10) His hand and arm were withered, shriveled up and
impossible to stretch out. But, the promise was there “stretch forth thy hand.” It was this man’s choice.Luke 6:6-10 (KJV)
6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and
there was a man whose right hand was withered.
7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they
might find an accusation against him.
8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth
in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do
evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so:
and his hand was restored whole as the other.
He could have said I don’t believe you, Jesus. He could have walked away laughing, but, the promise was
there and the man chose to believe. How do we know he believed? Because, he took action and did
what Jesus told him to do. By his own free will he stretched it forth and after, get that – AFTER he
stretched it forth it was made whole as the other. You never see results until you take the promises of
God literally and act on them. Then, then, then and not until you act will you see the promises come into
fruition.
Because Sarah and Abraham believed the promise of God and acted on it they became the parents of
many nations.
Now, we have a hope. It is something that we can’t have right now, but, more sure than the package in
the mail, it is coming!
Romans 15:13 (KJV)
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Ephesians 1:18 (KJV)
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling,
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 2:12 (KJV)
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Ephesians 4:4 (KJV)
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Colossians 1:4-5 (KJV)
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the
gospel;
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (a
euphemism for died), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent (old English word for precede) them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Our comfort our hope is that Jesus Christ is coming back for us, that the Christians that have died
will get up and we Christians that are alive will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (KJV)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in
victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our hope is that we all go to Heaven and we enjoy the riches of His grace toward us for eternity.
No more sorrow. No more sickness. Living as the sons of God and as the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Let the Peace of God Rule in Your Hearts
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have concerns about the evil things that are going on in our
world today. The pundits on the TV and radio will expound the problems, but, never the
solutions, the news only reports the negatives and there are no answers in the so called
“Christian” church buildings. However, there is a place to find peace and solace and I want to
bring you there.
I have not written an article as I usually do, instead I have laid out scriptures that will lead you to
a great understanding of peace. You will, by the time you are done with this article, understand
that God is the God of Peace, That we are at peace with God, we are to be at peace with other
Christians, that peace comes with the knowledge of God’s Word the Bible. You will, also,
understand that, as a Christian, you already have the spirit of peace residing within and that it is
up to you to make the choice of whether you focus on the things of the World to the end of
peacelessness or focus on the things of God to walk in peace in an otherwise unpeaceful World.
People will look at you and either desire to have what you have or think you are crazy because
you are not disturbed by the events around you. You will, also, see that each of us is responsible
for sharing not the gospel of hell and damnation, but the gospel of peace with those that are lost
and are seeking deliverance and peace.
Peace for most people is an elusive thing. It is elusive because they search in the wrong places.
Peace, for the Christian, is within. A person is born again in an instant, but, it takes time and
study to see what we have in that new birth.
Jeremiah 15:16 (KJV)
16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine
heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
It is best to do with these verses what Jeremiah said he did when he found the Word of God. He
mentally, not literally, chewed on and absorbed the Word. It wasn’t a fleeting read. He spent time to
read, enjoy and assimilate what he had found.
Let us start our study with what Jesus Christ said.
John 14:27 (KJV)
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 8:6 (KJV)
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 10:15 (KJV)
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!Romans 14:17 (KJV)
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost.
Every Epistle addressed to the Christians have one thing in common. God bestowing grace and peace on
the believer. I have included here the start of every Pauline Epistle and II Peter to show you how much
God Almighty wants you to know that He wants us to have grace and peace in our lives.
Romans 1:7 (KJV)
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God
our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV)
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV)
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:3 (KJV)
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 1:2 (KJV)
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2 (KJV)
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:2 (KJV)
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and
peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 (KJV)
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the
Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and
the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (KJV)
2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth
exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
2 Peter 1:2 (KJV)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
I included II Peter 1:2 here because of the significance of the words “through the knowledge of God.”
The more we know God’s Word the more peaceful we become.1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Ephesians 2:13-19 (KJV)
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity
thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and
of the household of God;
Ephesians 4:1-8 (KJV)
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation
wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto
men.
Ephesians 6:10-19 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make
known the mystery of the gospel,
Philippians 4:6-9 (KJV)
6 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of
peace shall be with you.
Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye
thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (KJV)
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord,
and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Romans 15:33 (KJV)
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Let me close with the words from an old hymn:
Turn your eye upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of Earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
It Is Written
You may look at my articles and then compare them to happenings of the World. You may think that my
articles have no relevancy in this time that we live in. You may even think that I am out of touch with
current events. But, I have to tell you that there is only one cure for the ills of this nation and this World
and it is found in the words “it is written.”
In Matthew chapter four is the record of the opening of Jesus Christ’s ministry. It is, also, the record of
Jesus Christ being tempted by the devil himself. Jesus Christ was a savior to the uttermost. Anything that
mankind was tempted with he had to be tempted with(Hebrews 4:15) and there was only one other
person in all history that had been tempted by the devil himself and that was Eve way back in the
Garden of Eden. Because of her direct communication with the devil Jesus Christ had to endure the
direct attacks.
Matthew 4:1-11 (KJV)
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these
stones be made bread.
The devil knew Jesus was the Son of God. But, he wanted to have Jesus sin, just once and the
devil would have won. This is a full out battle for the destiny of all mankind! Jesus did the ONE
THING that would defeat the devil. He said IT IS WRITTEN!
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Lord, how we have lost that one precept. If we would live by fifty percent of that Word it would
change the World. This is the crux, and the greatest secret in the World. To understand that the
Bible is the Word and Will of God! Let me say it to you, once more. The Bible is the Word and
Will of God. I see “WWJD” (what would Jesus do) bracelets and necklaces all around. Now you
know, Jesus would do as “it is written.”
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give
his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time
thou dash thy foot against a stone.
The devil knows the Bible. He is quoting Psalm 91:12, but, he is quoting it inaccurately. You
don’t test or tempt God and that is what the devil wanted Jesus Christ to do. This is much like
Mark 16:17,18Mark 16:17-18 (KJV)
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak
with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
On these two verses you get the snake handlers, YET, what are they doing – tempting God! The context
is “IF” if you pick up a serpent. This is clearly illustrated in Acts 28.
Acts 28:1-5 (KJV)
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us
every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper
out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among
themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet
vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Paul didn’t go around looking for a viper. In that culture it was a custom to collect wood to put
on a fire, that you were a guest at, before you sat at the fire. That was what Paul was doing. It
just happened that there was a viper in the wood. When it bit Paul Paul didn’t freak out, he
wasn’t afraid because fear and believing are antithetical. You do one or the other you can’t do
both. Because of Paul’s believing he wasn’t harmed. Jesus Christ knew this and again defeated
the purposes of the devil with “it is written.”
Matthew 4:7-11 (KJV)
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the
kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
This is the last and most aggressive attack on the Lord Jesus Christ. Adam, when he ate of the
fruit of the tree of knowledge, committed high treason against God and by eating the fruit
transferred the dominion that God had given him to the devil. That is why Jesus didn’t call him a
liar, he knew that all of this was just a bow away, all he had to do was kneel and the rulership of
ALL the kingdoms of the World would be his and, yet, he stood and declare “IT IS WRITTEN!”
And by that he defeated the devil in a direct confrontation.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
When Jesus got back to civilization he went to the synagogue and taught.Luke 4:17-21 (KJV)
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book,
he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he
hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them
that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Jesus Christ found the place where “it was written.”
In the close of Jesus Christ’s ministry we see the same commitment to the Word of God.
John 17:8a (KJV)
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me;
John 17:14a (KJV)
14 I have given them thy word;
John 17:17 (KJV)
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The only thing that will bring people, whether an individual or a nation, up and out of the troubles that
they are in is with these three words IT IS WRITTEN. Jesus Christ live the creed “It Is Written.” We as
Christians should proclaim the same thing and hold fast to the accuracy and integrity that is the Word
and Will of God, the Bible.
In Rememberance of Jesus Christ
Two Parts! There are two parts! Two parts to Passover. Two parts to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and
two parts to the holy communion.
Exodus 12:1-11 (KJV)
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to
you.
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall
take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house
take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your
count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep,
or from the goats:
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of
the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post
of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter
herbs they shall eat it.
9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and
with the purtenance thereof.
10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the
morning ye shall burn with fire.
11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your
hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.
Most everybody that will read this has heard of, read about, or watched the movie (The Ten
Commandments) of how God worked with a man called Moses to deliver the Children of Israel
from the persecution that they were suffering at the hands of the Egyptians. The last night that
Israel was in Egypt God set up the observance of Passover. So named because the angel of death
passed over any house that had the blood on the lintel and door posts. But, there is more to
Passover than the blood on the door posts and lintel.
The Children of Israel had been in bondage for at least three hundred years. This means that they
didn’t have the best sanitation, the best food, the best medical services. In other words, they
weren’t in the best of shape and they were facing a long and arduous journey. But, God in His
loving and infinite knowledge set up part of the Passover to take care of the needs of Israel.
Psalm 105:37 (KJV)
37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their
tribes.How did God pull this off? Not one feeble (sick) person among them? There were over a million people
that left Egypt and no one was sick, not one limped, not one had ulcers or cancer or Hepatitis or
anything else. WHY? Because God instituted the eating of the flesh of the lamb for the healing of Israel
and the blood of the lamb for the deliverance from the consequences of sin. Whoever did what Moses
told them to do reaped the results of a healthy body.
Whoever, put the blood of the lamb on the door post was delivered from the death of the first born in
their house. Believing is an action verb. Unbelief, not putting the blood of the lamb on the door posts,
suffers the consequences, in this case the death of the first born of everything and everybody in their
house.
In the Crucifixion there are, again, two parts. The broken body and the shed blood.
Did you ever ask yourself why did God allow Jesus Christ to be whipped, to be beaten. to be so abused
that he was not recognizable as a man?
Isaiah 52:14 (KJV)
14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than
the sons of men:
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live
unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Galatians 3:13 (KJV)
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed
is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Have you ever read the curse of the Law? Deuteronomy chapter 28 holds the blessings and curse of the
Law. In it you will find that two thirds of the curse is sickness! Christ by his broken body has delivered us
from the curse of the Law, from sickness and disease and much more. Let me ask you, is salvation for all
that want it? Yes! Then health HAS TO BE for everyone that wants it! We have lived so far below the
standard that God has set in His Word that we go to the doctor before we go to God Almighty for
deliverance.
I am not advocating “never going to the doctor,” what I am advocating is to build your understanding
and believing of what is spiritually available to you and appropriated it.. Sometimes we may fall short of
believing to the point of receiving. If that is the case we go to the doctor quick quick. But, you have to
understand that it is available to be healed.
The one thing that most Christians get right is that the blood is for the remission of sins.
1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even
Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Christ our Passover – two parts- the broken body and the shed blood.Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his
grace;
Romans 5:9 (KJV)
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Colossians 1:14 (KJV)
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
1 Corinthians 11:23-30 (KJV)
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the
same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is
broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
This is in remembrance of Jesus Christ. This isn’t his flesh, it is in remembrance of what he
accomplished as the lamb of God, in remembrance of our deliverance from sickness. There are
other ways God can heal you, but, it is available to be healed during the holy communion.
1 Corinthians 11:25-27 (KJV)
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new
testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of
the body and blood of the Lord.
Unworthily means unknowingly, not having the knowledge and thus not being able to believe
God’s promises for health and healing.
1 Corinthians 11:28-30 (KJV)
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning
the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
The curse of the Law is still in full effect to those who don’t know the truth of the deliverance
that Christ accomplished in his body. He HAS REDEEMED US from the curse of the Law.
However, because you don’t know you can’t believe and since you don’t/can’t believe you are
just like the rest of humanity, tossed about and suffering the consequences of sin even though
you are redeemed, even though you are righteous in the eyes of God, even though you have
deliverance available to you.
“Sleep” in this case means to die prematurely.
Whether you partake of Holy Communion this year or not KNOW that you are delivered from
the curse of the Law and you have remission of sins.John 3:16-17 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might
be saved.
God Helps Those that Believe
There is an old saying that I hear over and over again and tonight I would like to deal with this
misconception. The saying is “God helps those who help themselves.” People say “The Bible says” and
then they quote this verse. Let me tell you if the Bible did say this we should throw the Bible away
because it would contradict everything that God did for us through Jesus Christ and everything that we
have in Christ Jesus!
Benjamin Franklin used it. James Dean, the movie star used it. But, it was first used by an English
politician Algernon Sidney who lived in the seventeenth century. It is not a quote from the Bible.
Let me be quite clear on this, God does not help those who help themselves. God helps those who
BELIEVE HIS WORD!
There is a lot in the Bible about not being lazy or slothful or idle, but, that is not what that quote is
alluding to. What it is saying is that you start a task and God will pitch-in once you start it. First, if it is
true in one instance it has to be true in all instances. So, if a person, say a Christian, decides to work to
get out of depth and then starts working to pay off bills does that means that God will start helping him?
Then why are there millions upon millions of people both good and bad both Christian and non-Christian
that fall short every day of having their needs met? I’m not talking about just monetary needs, but,
heart desires! Desire for someone to share your life with, deliverance from sickness and sorrow,
physical, mental and emotional needs that WE ALL can relate to. Let me ask you WHY would someone
want to be a Christian! Why would someone read the Bible and follow through on what it says? There is
only ONE reason! BECAUSE, THEY WANT A BETTER LIFE!
“God helps those who help themselves” is not going to get you that deliverance! Never, Ever! Let me tell
you WHY! It puts the person before God and it leaves out the power of the holy spirit in the life of the
individual.
Christians are spirit filled men and women. They have all the potential to do the works that Christ did
and more. They have all the power to bring to themselves health, prosperity and peace, but, you have to
put GOD FIRST!
John 14:12 (KJV)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Mark 11:24 (KJV)
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them.
As I said at the beginning of this article, God helps those who do one thing and one thing only, that is to
believe His Word!
There is action involved in believing, but, look at Mark 11:24 again. It says “when you pray” doesn’t it?
Who first? God first. When you pray do one thing – believe. Have that picture in your mind of God’spromise and deliverance in your life and then comes the action. You, I, we walk out on that believing
and claim those promises.
I remember working in the cold one year, I was fulltime in the ministry and working part time as a frame
carpenter to meet my needs. I didn’t have the nicest cold weather gear and the temperatures dropped
to extremely cold weather. I was cold the first day the front moved in, but, that night I went home and I
found a verse in Hosea that promises us warmth and believe me, I was needing some warmth. I claimed
my right to be warm and that next day I went out into the same cold as the day before and I was warm!
All day and the next and the next. All through that cold spell I stayed warm. Nothing else changed, my
clothes hadn’t changed, the temperatures didn’t change there was one thing that changed, I knew the
promise of God, I claimed it and I believed!
I am not telling you this because I am more special than any other Christian. I am telling you this because
you, as a Christian can do it as well.
There was a married couple that couldn’t have children. They tried everything, but, to no avail. My wife
and I taught them the principle that I am teaching you now and within the year they got their
deliverance. She was pregnant and shortly thereafter they had a beautiful baby. To this day I don’t know
the verse they claimed, but, I know that the only thing that changed was that they claimed the promise
of God. No pills, no in vitro fertilization, no artificial insemination just claiming the promises of God and
believing.
Look at Philippians 4:13.
Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
The literal translation is, I can do all things through Christ who infuses inner strength into me.
The thing that sets Christians apart is that they are spirit filled men and women. They are sons and
daughters of God and they can manifest that power in this life to bring great deliverance to themselves
and others.
There are over nine hundred promises to us in the Word of God. How many do you know? Do you know
the promise that is made especially for you? Do you know the promise that will give you the absolute
deliverance that you need right now? God does and He is waiting for you to claim that promise and
bring you the deliverance that you so desire.
Below is God’s blessings on Israel. We as Christians can and should lay claim to these promises as well. I
count thirty promises how many do you count? How many will you claim?
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (KJV)
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God,
to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy
God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the
voice of the LORD thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, theincrease of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face:
they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest
thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou
shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they
shall be afraid of thee.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of
thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to
give thee.
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in
his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and
thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and
thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God,
which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right
hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
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