 LET YOUR ROOTS GROW DOWN INTO HIM, and let your LIVES BE BUILT ON HIM. THEN YOUR FAITH WILL GROW STRONG IN THE TRUTH YOU WERE TAUGHT, AND you will overflow with thankfulness." Colossians 2:7 (NLT) • Strive to grow deeper in God. a. Give time to reading, studying of the Word of God, and the practice of it: 22 BUT BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, deceiving yourselves. 25 BUT he [she] who looks into THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY and continues in IT, AND IS NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, this one will be BLESSED IN WHAT HE [she] DOES" (James 1:22,25 NKJV). READ: Joshua 1:8 SPIRITUAL nourishment and strength are gotten through the knowledge of the Word of God and application of it. b. Fast and pray regularly. Remember, the knowledge of the Word of God gives you direction on how to pray aright. A result oriented prayer is prayed with the understanding of the Word of God. GOD promises to answer whatever is asked in line with His Word (John 15:7). THE light which you have received through the knowledge of the Word of God enhances your prayer Life (Ephesians 1:17,18). c. Give your substance, money, to honour God: 9 HONOUR THE LORD WITH YOUR POSSESSIONS, AND WITH THE FIRST-FRUITS OF ALL YOUR INCREASE; 10 SO your barns will be filled with plenty, AND your vats will overflow with NEW WINE" (Proverbs 3:9,10 NKJV). REMEMBER God did give you whatever you had. Thus He may ask you to give what you have in your hands, in order to release whatever He has for you (Genesis 22:1,2,16-18; 1 Kings 17:10-16). d. Be submissive and obedient to God. Let God have His Way in your life. Be patient with Him, and be ready to endure to do His Will—whatever He might want you to do. • A tree that the roots do not grow down into the soil cannot flourish and can easily be destroyed by the prevailing wind. - If your roots did not grow down into God, as a Believer, through the studying of the Word of God and practicing of it, plus prayers; you may be retarded in your growth and eventually be shriveled and withered. You will not wither in Jesus' name! • Admonishments: I. Plan your spiritual Growth and the development as you do Plan for the growth and development in other areas of your life. II. Plan for growth in the study of the Word of God, the Bible. Move up in the number of chapters you read per day as you make progress in your Christian journey. III. Plan your prayer life, the number of hours you spent with God daily. I personally do my praying in the night-time, it could be 3 hours or thereabouts. It depends on the time I wake up. SOMEONE suggested that you pay the tithe of your day. That is, you have 24 hours in a day, the one tenth of it would be 2 hours 40 minutes. You invest 2 hours 40 minutes of your day in GOD. IN other words, you stay with God daily to converse and fellowship with Him, for that amount of hours per day. - How to go by it: You can use your night-time in meeting with God for prayer and fellowship. A Believer needed to discipline himself or herself in sleeping, you do not have to sleep all night, let your night-time be part of your day. YOU can also rise early to have a time of prayer and fellowship with God before you go out for the day. In Jesus' earthly Ministry, He was an early riser: "NOW IN THE MORNING, HAVING RISEN A LONG WHILE BEFORE DAYLIGHT, HE [Jesus] went out and departed to a [deserted] SOLITARY PLACE; AND THERE HE PRAYED" (Mark 1:35 NKJV). YOU plan how to meet with God for prayer and fellowshipping daily, the time that would be proper for you, based on your work schedule. IV. Plan for your Growth and the development of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). - Fruits of the spirit are grown through the challenges of Life: 16 THEREFORE we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 FOR OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION, which is but for A MOMENT, IS WORKING FOR US A FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY" (2 Corinthians 4:16,17 NKJV) READ: Romans 5:3,4; - The challenges and problems God has permitted to come your way are meant to grow the fruit in you. JAMES says, the testing of faith produces patience [endurance or perseverance]. BUT you allow the patience or perseverance to have its perfect work, THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT OR MATURE AND COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING (James 1:3,4). - Trying of faith produces patience or perseverance or endurance, and other fruits of the spirit in your life. - You, however, should allow those fruits to have their perfect work, that you may be mature or perfect. In other words, you allow the fruits to grow through the tribulations and challenges of life that come your way—that you may have the approved character. APPROVED character would be a mirage without trials and tribulations: 3 AND not only that, BUT we also glory in TRIBULATIONS, KNOWING THAT TRIBULATION PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE [endurance]; 4 AND PERSEVERANCE, [approved] CHARACTER; and CHARACTER, HOPE" (Romans 5:3,4). - If you are dodging trials and tribulations, you are indirectly dodging or evading your spiritual Growth and development. V. Plan for your growth in financial Commitments in the Kingdom—Giving. WITHOUT planning and determination, you may not make any serious progress in it. - It takes determination to lay down or GIVE for Kingdom purposes. You need to ask for grace to lay down, grace to Give, (Acts 4:34,35). MAKE the determination to be committed and faithful as God begins to chanel His resources through you. - Increase of money and other material things comes with greed. THE more the money and other material Blessings you get, the more the temptation to hoard it and not Give for the intended purpose of God—the reasons why God has given you the Blessing or Money: 16 THEN He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 AND he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 SO he said, ‘I will do this: I WILL PULL DOWN MY BARNS AND BUILD GREATER, AND THERE I WILL STORE ALL MY CROPS AND MY GOODS. 19 AND I WILL SAY TO MY SOUL, “SOUL, YOU HAVE MANY GOODS LAID UP FOR MANY YEARS; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 BUT GOD SAID TO HIM, ‘FOOL! THIS NIGHT YOUR SOUL WILL BE REQUIRED OF YOU; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “SO IS HE WHO LAYS UP TREASURE FOR HIMSELF, AND IS NOT RICH TOWARDS GOD" (Luke 12:16-21 NKJV). • If you pay attention to the points we have shared in this piece, you will not be barren nor unfruitful in your Christian life (2 Peter 1:8). • You will not fail in Jesus' name. Peace.
 "Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. THE CLOSER YOU LISTEN, THE MORE UNDERSTANDING YOU WILL BE GIVEN—and you will receive even more." Mark 4:24 (NLT) • Pay attention to the what you hear. LIFE is drawn through the Word of God. DO not despise the Word of God. - The WORDS of God you hear are spirit and life: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK TO YOU ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE" (John 6:63). - Pray often that your eyes of understanding may be enlightened—opened (Ephesians 1:17,18). - As you pay attention to the Word of God, you will become whatever God wanted you to be. - Believers are transformed through the the application of the Word of God. TRANSFORMATION is done in the mind: 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, THAT YOU PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2. and do not be conformed to this world, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1,2 (NKJV) • If you pay attention to the Word and stay long enough on it, your understanding will be Opened. - You will be like Him, transformed, the longest you behold Him through His Word: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). - Whatever you will be in the Lord, the foundation is your depth in the Word of God. • Whatever God will do for you will come via His Word. - The blessing and lifting of every Believer is through the Word of God. TO pay attention is to make the Word your utmost priority. IT also means to desire the Word always. ALSO, it does mean to delight in hearing and studying of the Word. THAT the Word may not depart from you; you meditate, think and ponder, on it day and night (Joshua 1:8). THAT you live the Word, practice it, you make the Word your way and manner of Life—you live by the standard of the Word (James 1:22-25). SOME talk and preach the Word of God but they do not practice it. • You have to be resolute to be a doer of the Word (James 1:22,25). - The system of the world may not want you to make any serious commitment to the study of the Word and live it, or practice it. - The world is full of darkness, and believers are supposed to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). - Wherever you find yourself on the earth, you are to be a light there and an extension of God's Kingdom. YOU are the light in your place of work, the neighborhood where you live, and in your family. - Your life and conduct should glorify God wherever you are. IT is to be regretted that Christians who supposed to be the light, also live in sin like the people of the world. • You are an extension of His Kingdom. IF SIN thrives where you are, it means you are not working. YOU are saved to serve, not to sit idle in the Kingdom. GOD wants you to live right, and your Life should attract other people to Christ. 14. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16. LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN" Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) • You will not fail in Jesus' name. Peace!
 12. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13. For by One Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NKJV) • The body of Christ is one, but with many members - Every member of Christ’s body is baptized into the body through one Spirit. We were made to drink into one Spirit (Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 3:11). • Every part of the body has its function - Members depend on each other for the growth of the body (1 Corinthians 12:15-21). - Each member of the body must do its part, function well, for the body to work effectively and grow. “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effective working BY WHICH EACH PART DOES ITS SHARE, CAUSE GROWTH OF THE BODY for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV) - If a part of the body failed to contribute its own part, the growth of the body would be affected negatively. - Also, if a part is suffering pain, it will affect the whole body (1 Corinthians 12:26). - We are members of Christ’s body, and individually members of one another (Romans 12:5). 26. “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” 1 Corinthians 12:26,27 (NKJV) • We have different functions 6. “In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have the gift of showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) - Every believer has one or more of the seven motivational gifts mentioned above. - These motivational gifts are inbuilt, that is, they are built in us at creation by God. - These gifts characterize how we are motivated. They describe, show, individual’s qualities in a particular way. - What moves you; what thrills you; what enthuses you; and what excites you. - They show how individuals react and respond to things in general. How you are motivated about things generally. - Thus, you need to discover the gifts inherent in you and put them to work. - The gifts are to be used in building God’s kingdom on earth. They are for the growth of the body of Christ. • No gift is less important! - Every gift is important to the building of the church of Christ. - Some people believe their gifts are not prominent thus they are not important. The fact that a gift is prominent does not mean it is important than other gifts. • God rewards faithfulness - It is what you do with your gifts that matters, not how prominent the gifts are. Remember, you will give an account of your stewardship, how you use the gifts (Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). - Therefore, discover your gifts and put them to work. 1. “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [the Father] takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”John 15:1,2 (NKJV) • You will not be unfruitful in Jesus’ name. Peace!
 1. “In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come into Asa king of Judah. 2. Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, 3. “Let there be a treaty between you and me… come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me. 7. And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and HAVE NOT RELIED ON THE LORD YOUR GOD, therefore THE ARMY OF THE KING OF SYRIA HAS ESCAPED FROM YOUR HAND.” 2 Chronicles 16:1-3,7 (NKJV) • If you have been relying on God for help especially when you were lowly, but when things changed, you experienced lifting; what you used to trust God for, you begin to trust self or man for—this could make God withdraws His backing from you. - If you used to trust God to meet your needs through prayer of faith, and God has always been faithful–whenever a need arises in your life or family, God has been faithful to meet the need, even at your lowly state. - But now that God has changed your story, what you used to handle with prayer, you rather approach carnally. 1. “Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 2. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. THE LORD IS WITH YOU WHILE YOU ARE WITH HIM. IF YOU SEEK HIM, HE WILL BE FOUND BY YOU; BUT IF YOU FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL FORSAKE YOU.” 2 Chronicles 15:1,2 (NKJV) • God who helped Asa against the Ethiopians, who were a million plus in number (2 Chronicles 14:11-15); Would He not have helped him against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who were lesser in number and might, compared with the Ethiopians? (2 Chronicles 16:1,7,8). “Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, BECAUSE YOU RELIED ON THE LORD, He delivered them into your hand.” 2 Chronicles 16:8 (NKJV) • Some believers when the LORD moved them to another level of comfort, that is, they experienced lifting in what they do; then they decided to abandon their responsibilities in the kingdom–they are no longer useful for God. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the WORK of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) - Comfort and success can make you complacent and lessen your trust in God—if you do not know how to handle them. - When God blesses you, that is the time to seek Him the more (1 Kings 11:1-11). - Comfort and blessing should deepen your trust in God, not to lessen it. - Some have abandoned their love for God because of the blessings they received from Him (Revelation 2:4). 4. “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” Revelation 2:4,5 (NKJV) • The time of comfort is the time to be more fervent in the LORD. - If God has blessed you and has made you comfortable; He has done it that you may serve Him the more (Luke 1:74,75). - God’s blessing should not be a reason for lukewarmness or apathy in your relationship with Him. 15. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:15-17 (NKJV) • Repent and do the first work that you have abandoned. • You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!
 29. “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30. “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31. “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” Luke 12:29-31 (NKJV) • Your sleeping and waking thoughts should be on how to please God. - It is when you seek to please Him first, that all other things would be added to you. - If you are seeking other things that should be an addition first, you abandon Him and His kingdom, you may not get those other things you are pursuing—that is a misplaced priority (Haggai 1:9-11). • Having said that, it does not mean you should not work to earn money. - We live in the material world; thus we need material things. - Paul admonishes: 10. “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12. Now those who are such we command and exhort [encourage] through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (NKJV) • Honouring God with your time, money, and everything you have, is one of the ways to seek God first and His kingdom. - As you seek Him with what you have, that is, you use what you have to expand His kingdom—it means you honour Him. - As you work to earn money 💰—do it to honour the Lord Jesus Christ. “and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV) “All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16 (NKJV) • Working to please Him, to expand His kingdom, should be number one—first priority in your life as a believer in Christ Jesus (Matthew 6:33). - Kingdom matter should be dealt with first—it should be a top priority. - Give God the chance to control what you have, let Him and His kingdom take precedence over other things in your life. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 (NLT) • You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!
6. “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7. ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6,7 (NKJV) • There was nothing in us that could make Christ died for us (Romans 3:10-18; 5:6-8; 1 Timothy 1:13-16). - Perhaps someone would attempt, dare, to die for a good person or a righteous person (Romans 5:7). “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8 (NKJV) - God in His infinite mercy, so magnanimous and generous in love, offered His Son to die for our sin (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4). 4. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5. even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ… 8. for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9. not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:4,5,8,9 (NKJV) • Redemption is made available free for everyone, however, it cost someone something—it cost the Lord Jesus Christ His life (1 Peter 1:18,19). - Now that He has done so much for you, it would be a depravity to neglect the salvation, redemption that He offers (Hebrews 2:3). - Also, it is morally and ethically wrong, if Jesus suffered so much to offer salvation and having received the knowledge of it, you decided to rubbish it (1 Peter 4:1,2). • It is true that after you have given your life to Christ, if you committed a sin and you repented genuinely, God will forgive you (1 John 1:9). - If you missed it several times and you returned to Christ, He would still forgive you. - However, He does not want you to remain in that state. • God wants you to strive and move up from that level—He wants you to live above sin. - He wants you to discipline your flesh, mortify your members, that is, your body. 5. “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry. 6. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.” Colossians 3:5,6 (NKJV) - God does not want you to yield to your flesh any longer—you should not obey the flesh, your body, in its lusts (Romans 6:12). • God wants you to grow and be MATURE (Hebrews 5:12-14). - If you remained a carnal Christian even after you supposed to have grown, be matured; you may not be able to discover what God wants you to do and be in life. - As a result of this, you may not fulfil the plan, the reason, why He has sent you here on planet earth. 9 “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, not hear heard, not have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, deep things of God. 14. But the natural man [someone who is not spiritual] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:9,10,14 (NKJV) • God wants you to know His plan for your life and fulfil it; however, being a carnal Christian, that is, living in sin, can blur your eyes of understanding—you may not see what He has in plan for you. - Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the Christians in Ephesus consistently which you would do well to pray for yourself: 17. “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18. the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; THAT YOU MAY KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, WHAT ARE THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS.” Ephesians 1:17,18 (NKJV) • It is my prayer that you will not be a disappointment to God and His kingdom in Jesus’ name. Peace!
The Acts of John mentioned that Yeshua aka Jesus never died on the cross.
It's on Page 183 (Bottom Right —> 97) and
Page 185 (Middle Right of Page —> 99.)
Download the PDF Book of The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas: <a href="https://ia800900.us.archive.org/1/items/apocryphalactsof00pickuoft/apocryphalactsof00pickuoft.pdf">HERE</a>
Website Link: <a href="https://archive.ph/NgXhR">HERE</a> “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition [instruction], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV) • We learn how to walk with God and know how to receive from Him in prayer: by studying His Word, the Bible, and abiding in it (John 15:7). - The blessings or miracles received from God could be lost if you do not walk in the light of His Word. - It is not enough to pray; you also need to pay attention to how your miracles and blessings can be preserved as God answers your prayers. - If you do not know how to preserve your blessings, when answers to your prayers come—all your time and effort in prayer will amount to a waste. - There are principles of the kingdom that will help you, if you obey them, to preserve your blessings (Deuteronomy 5:32,33). - Many would have become great in the kingdom, but lack of understanding of the principles of the kingdom and rebellion have robbed them of their greatness (Hebrews 3:15,16). • Take note: - You understand the principles of the kingdom by studying the Word of God, meditating in it, and practicing it, that means you learn from the Word (Joshua 1:8). - We study the Bible to know about God and His kingdom. “For whatever things were written before were written for our LEARNING, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (NKJV) - Many pay attention to prayers, which is very good, but they pay little or no attention to know God and the principles of His kingdom. Prayer without knowledge of the Word amounts to dissipation of energy! - You know how to pray aright through the knowledge of God’s Word. “You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.” James 4:3 (Amp.) - The kingdom of God operates by principles and laws, which if one violated, one would not receive the best of the kingdom. • You also study the books of proven authors in God’s kingdom–you pay attention to the teachings of God’s servants who have walked with Him, and those who are still walking with Him. “Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7 (NIV) - We follow other people’s faith, proven leaders, to get to where we are going. - Thus, do not despise those who are ahead of you in the Christian faith, who have proven and steadfast walk with God. - Do not be wise in your own eyes (Proverbs 3:7). “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, FEAR TO WHOM FEAR, HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR.” Romans 13:7 (NKJV) • If God stirs your heart to follow a particular minister of God, do it with all your heart and relate as you ought to relate with him. - The truth is: you need to locate the anointing meant to bless you; some ministers carry the grace you need to get to your place of fulfilment. - If you despise or rebel against the anointing that God has ordained to bless you, you may stay long in captivity. “By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.” Hosea 12:13 (NKJV) • Also, know that if you do not follow a particular anointing, you may not amount to much in the kingdom. - Locate and identify the anointing God has ordained to bless you and relate properly with such–follow with all your heart. 10. “But you have carefully FOLLOWED my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance, 14. But you must CONTINUE in the things which you have LEARNED and being assured of, knowing from WHOM you have LEARNED them.” 2 Timothy 3:10,14 (NKJV) • Many receive blessings with one hand and throw it away with another hand, because they lack understanding of the principles, ethics, of the kingdom. - Many do not have Bible sense, they lack wisdom of God’s kingdom–they scoff, speak against the anointing meant to bless them (Proverbs 2:6-8; James 1:5, 2 Peter 2:10). - If you lack wisdom of God’s kingdom, you may suffer terribly for it. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV) - You preserve and perpetuate your blessings, miracles, by living in line with the principles of God’s kingdom. • It is my prayer that you will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!
Pastor Randy Parker: #kjv #Sermon #BibleStudy #Bible - Lordship Salvation - 02/13/2022 is on NOW on MY Internet Radio Station Website, Radio America USA - www.radioamericausa.com (Below Robert Scott Bell, Live 6 days a Week!) Pastor Volker Stoeckmann: #kjv #Sermon #BibleStudy #Bible - The Resolve of Gideon" - 02/13/2022 is on NOW on MY Internet Radio Station Website, Radio America USA - www.radioamericausa.com - Also an Audio Sermon "God Said Man Said"
 23. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify [build up]. 24. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” 1 Corinthians 10:23,24 (NKJV) • Something might be lawful but not helpful–it is not every lawful thing that is helpful. - Also, some things that are lawful could not edify, that is, build up. • A Christian should not be very particular about lawful things, but about things that are helpful and can edify. - Believers should live their lives for Christ–their lives should glorify Christ (Galatians 2:20). “and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV) - If what you want to do will not help and edify other believers, though it is lawful, then do not do it. “Let each of you LOOK OUT NOT ONLY FOR HIS OWN INTERESTS, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 (NKJV) • If your food, what you eat; how you dress, what you wear; how you behave, your attitude; will not help and edify others–then refrain yourself. - We live to please Christ not to please self. If what you do is hurtful to other brethren–then you are hurting Christ. 15. “Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 19. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 21. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine NOR DO ANYTHING BY WHICH YOUR BROTHER STUMBLES OR IS OFFENDED OR IS MADE WEAK.” Romans 14:15,19,21 (NKJV) • A believer can deny himself some rights, I mean legitimate things, in order to help other brethren, especially the weak ones (Romans 15:1-3). - In addition, a believer can forgo what he deserves, that is, his benefits; or allow himself to be cheated–that others may be edified. “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. WHY DO YOU NOT RATHER ACCEPT WRONG? WHY DO YOU NOT RATHER LET YOURSELVES BE CHEATED?” 1 Corinthians 6:7 (NKJV) - You can, because of Christ, endure humiliation and allow yourself to be cheated (1 Peter 2:20-23). • This is not extreme, but the Bible. - The highest point of submission is when you are ready to endure anything for Christ sake–not because of the wrong you do. 20. “For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? BUT WHEN YOU DO GOOD AND SUFFER, IF YOU TAKE IT PATIENTLY, THIS IS COMMENDABLE BEFORE GOD. 21. FOR TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED, because Christ also suffered for us, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS.” 1 Peter 2:20,21 (NKJV) • This level of submission was found in Christ, and He expects us to live our lives thus. 22. “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23. who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” 1 Peter 2:22,23 (NKJV) - This kind of submission leads to lifting in the kingdom, that is, enthronement (Philippians 2:5-11). 8. “And being found in appearance as a man, He [Jesus] humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9. Therefore GOD also has highly EXALTED HIM and given HIM the NAME which is ABOVE every name." Philippians 2:8,9 (NKJV) • You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!
 “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age [mature], that is, those who by reason of use [practice] have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14 (NKJV) • As we need exercises to be physically fit, so do we need spiritual exercises to be spiritually fit (1 Timothy 4:8). - We are to exercise our senses, our minds, that we may be skillful in discerning good and evil. - Ability to discern accurately is a product of mind exercise. The mind needs exercise as well as the body– however bodily exercise profits a little compared to spiritual exercise (1 Timothy 4:8). • If you feed your mind with solid food, spiritual food; which would edify it, transform it—it becomes sound. You will be matured in your thinking and reasoning; thus you will be able to discern both good and evil. - The Word of God matures the mind. Mind maturity is the maturity of the person (2 Timothy 3:15-17). - A mature person is someone who has a matured mind—mind that can discern both good and evil. - A believer with a matured mind knows what God wants and what He does not want. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.” Romans 12:2 (NKJV) - Maturity of mind happens through the practice of the Word of God–solid food. • A mature believer is skilled in the word of righteousness. - He knows what he ought to do and what he ought not to do. - He knows what God frowns at, and what He delights in. - By reason of use, by practicing the Word of God, He or she has God’s viewpoint, perspective, about issues of life. • However, those who dodge solid food, solid Word of God, are unskilled in practicing the Word. “for everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant.” Hebrews 5:13 (Amp.) • A spiritual infant, a baby Christian, would not want to hear the deeper truth of the word of God (2 Timothy 4:3). - Maturity comes through solid food of the Word, not milk of the Word. - Deep things of God are revealed to those who have matured minds–the deep things are revealed by the Holy Spirit. 9. “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10. But God has REVEALED them to us THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.” 1 Corinthians 2:9,10 (NKJV) • Those who love the truth, who want to follow the narrow way–God reveals deeper things to such (Matthew 7:13,14). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (NKJV) 13. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. 14. “But small is the gate and NARROW AND DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL IS THE PATH THAT LEADS THE WAY TO [EVERLASTING] LIFE, and there are FEW WHO FIND IT.” Matthew 7:13,14 (Amp.) • Albeit, there are so-called believers who do not want the truth, solid food, sound doctrine, whom even if they know the truth, they are not ready to practice it. - To such, Paul in his last epistle told Timothy to be emphatic in his preaching. 2. “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4. and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NKJV) • You can only grow, mature, through solid food of the Word–by enduring sound doctrine and accurate instructions that challenge you with God’s truth. • You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!
“He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.”
Proverbs 15:32 (NKJV)
• A number of believers would not want to be instructed or corrected– they are full of self.
- The text says if you disdain instruction, that is, you treat any instruction given to you with contempt; you despise your soul, you harm yourself.
- However if you embrace instruction, you heed rebuke, you listen 👂 to correction; then you grow in understanding.
-> There are ways to receive godly instructions:
• Godly instructions are received from the Word of God.
- The Bible is given to us for instruction in righteousness.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
• Godly instructions also come from the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.
- He is the Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2).
- God has given the Holy Spirit to us, His children; that He may guide us, instruct us about His will—God’s will (John 14:16,17,26; 16:13-15).
“Now if anyone does not have the SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is not HIS."
Romans 8:9 (NKJV)
“But the Helper [Comforter], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will TEACH you all things, and BRING to your REMEMBRANCE all THINGS that I SAID to YOU."
John 14:26 (NKJV)
“However, when He, the SPIRIT of TRUTH, has come, HE will GUIDE you into all TRUTH; for HE will not SPEAK on HIS own AUTHORITY, but WHATEVER He hears He will speak; and HE will TELL you THINGS to COME.”
John 16:13 (NKJV)
- Holy Spirit has come, He dwells on the inside of those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10; Acts 2:38).
- And if the Holy Spirit dwells in you, then He is there on the inside of you: to help you, counsel you, instruct you, and direct you in all the affairs of life (Romans 8:11,14).
• In addition, instructions of godly wisdom come from godly leaders—spiritual leaders.
- God has set leaders in the church, and He delegated His authority to them—they are to watch over the flock of God (Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:2).
7 “Remember those who RULE over you, who have SPOKEN the WORD of GOD to YOU, whose faith FOLLOW, considering the OUTCOME of their CONDUCT.
17 OBEY those who RULE over YOU, and be SUBMISSIVE, for they WATCH OUT for your SOULS, as those who must give ACCOUNT. Let them do so with JOY and not with GRIEF, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Hebrews 13:7,17 (NKJV)
• If you disdain, disregard, the instructions given to you by God through His Word, the Bible; the Holy Spirit; and spiritual leaders, God’s servants; you despise your own soul, you undo yourself.
- In other words, if you treat with contempt the instructions given by God—you may pay dearly for it.
- However, if you receive instructions which are godly, you grow in understanding.
• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace! “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) • The Bible, the Word of God, may not work effectively in your life if you do not receive it and believe it as the Word of God. - Some people have said the Bible is written by men; thus it cannot be God’s Word! - The Bible could not have been written by an angel or God Himself, because God has given the governance of the earth to man (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 115:16). • God has ordained man to bless man - Whatever God intends to do on earth would be done through human beings. - God would not come down to do anything by Himself. - In God’s plan for the redemption of mankind, which warranted His coming, He had to come in the likeness of man—in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). - God will not come down in the spirit form to write the Bible, neither will He send an angel to write the Bible. • The angel that was sent to Cornelius, was not sent to preach to him; but to direct him on how to get the person, Peter, who would tell him the words by which he and his household would be saved (Acts 10:1-6; 11:13,14). - Also, God will not send an angel to preach the gospel to any person, neither will He send one to write the Bible. “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S; but the earth He has given to the children of men.” Psalm 115:16 (NKJV) • He also would not raise somebody from the dead, to write the Bible, that people may believe (Luke 16:27-31). - The rich man in the story told by Jesus Christ, made a request, that father Abraham should send Lazarus to his father’s house; tell them about the reality of hell, the place of torment—that his siblings might not come there (Luke 16: 27,28). 29. “Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 31. “But he [Abraham] said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:29,31 (NKJV) • If you do not believe the Bible is God’s Word, God’s injunction, even if somebody rose from the dead and came to tell you the mind of God—you will still not believe. - The Thessalonians Christians believed the words of the Apostles, the gospel they preached to them–they accepted it as indeed the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13). - The Bible, the Word of God, would remain an ordinary book or word to you, if you do not accept it as the Word of God indeed. - Not only that you should accept it as the very word of God, you must believe it also—before it can work for you, produce results in your life. - The Thessalonians accepted it as the very Word of God, and it mixed with faith in them. - The Israelites who perished in the wilderness did not accept God’s Word spoken through their leader, Moses, as the word of God indeed; and it did not mix with faith in them. 2. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 11. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:2,11 (NKJV) • The word of the Bible which you do not accept and believe as God’s Word, would not produce any result in your life. - Waiting to receive a word from nowhere, without the Bible; would be a mirage, an illusion—except you receive from a demon (Galatians 1:8). 10. “and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. 11. AND FOR THIS REASON GOD WILL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE THE LIE, 12. that they all may be CONDEMNED who did not BELIEVE the TRUTH but had pleasure in UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 (NKJV) • The Bible was written by the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16,17). - Those who wrote the Bible, did as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 20. “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation [origin], 21. for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20,21 (NKJV) - If you are waiting for an angel or a supernatural being to appear to you, before you believe the Bible is the Word of God; the devil may take advantage of your ignorance, accommodate you—appear to you as an angel of light and deceive you (1 Corinthians 11:14,15) - For the word of God to work effectively in your life, you must not see it as mere human ideas. – You must accept it as the very Word of God—WHICH of course is. • You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!
 “Let your CONDUCT be WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS; be CONTENT with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never LEAVE you not FORSAKE you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) • A believer should not be covetous; they should be satisfied with whatever God has made available for them (Luke 12:15). “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6 (NKJV) • One of the commandments of the LORD to the Israelites is that they should not covet anything that belongs to their neighbors (Exodus 20:17). - And the new commandment given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ is to love one another, that is, you love your fellow human beings (Luke 10:27; John 13:34). - Apostle Paul in his Epistle says: 9. “… commandment, are all summed up in this saying namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 10. Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” Romans 13:9,10 (NKJV) - Also, the writer of the book of Hebrews said we should let our conduct be without covetousness, we should be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5). - If you are walking in love, you will not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour (Romans 13:9; Exodus 20:17). • The love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit when we gave our lives to Christ (Romans 5:5). - Let the love of God in you as a child of God find expression, that is, exercise the love that the Holy Spirit has poured out in you. - A number of believers yield to the flesh; they do allow their flesh to rule them—instead of allowing the love of God to constrain them. - Apostle Paul said: “for the love of Christ constraineth [compels] us.” 2 Corinthians 5:4 (KJV) • Covetousness and envy go together. - A dictionary defines covetousness as having a strong desire for the things that other people have. - And, it defines envy as the feeling of wanting something that somebody else has. - Note: Most often covetousness and envy lead to bitterness; and bitterness to hatred; and ultimately, hatred leads to murder. - You may not murder the person you hate physically, but you may with your words—when you begin to speak against the person and whatever they do. - You make derogatory remarks about what they do. • Cain was envious of his brother, Abel, because God accepted Abel’s offering while his own offering was not accepted. - Cain was embittered because of what happened; he hated his brother and murdered him (Genesis 4:3-8). - God placed a curse on Cain because of what he did—he killed his brother (Genesis 4:9-12). - Be content with what you have, God has promised not to leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5). - Whatever God did for the person you envy, the same can be done for you—if you go to Him and ask in prayer without wavering. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; James 1:5-7) - God is liberal, generous, with His blessings—which He gives to His children (Matthew 7:11). “Every GOOD GIFT 🎁 and every PERFECT GIFT is from above, and comes down from the FATHER of lights, with whom there is no VARIATION or SHADOW OF TURNING.” James 1:17 (NKJV) - If you are covetous, it means you are not contented with what God has given you; it may lead to envy, which may further lead to bitterness and hatred and ultimately murder (James 4:2, 3). • How do you feel about another person’s success, that is, success of someone around you? - Are you green with envy when you heard about somebody’s progress and achievements? - If the answer to the above questions is yes, then, it means you have a root of bitterness in you—you have a wrong thing in your heart. - It means you have allowed your flesh to dominate you, and that may give an opportunity to the devil in your life. “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any ROOT OF BITTERNESS spring up cause TROUBLE, and by this many become DEFILED.” Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV) - Do not be embittered because of another person’s success. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].” Ephesians 4:31 (Amp.) • If you allow the devil’s property, you yield to fleshly lusts—he may have an opportunity in your life. - Devil may accommodate you to perpetrate evil (Mark 7:21- 23). “And do not give the devil 😈 an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness].” Ephesians 4:27 (Amp.) - Ask the Holy Spirit to enable you express the love that He has poured out in your heart ❤️ (Romans 5:5). - And if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, do that now, tomorrow might be too late (Romans 10:9,10). • You will not be an instrument in the hand of the devil in Jesus’ name. Peace!
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the foundation of all things.
Read this study on the Yoke of Yeshua on [Hive.com](https://hive.blog/bible/@ironshield/the-sweet-yoke-of-yeshua-matthew-11-28-30) [](https://hive.blog/bible/@ironshield/the-sweet-yoke-of-yeshua-matthew-11-28-30) https://hive.blog/bible/@ironshield/the-sweet-yoke-of-yeshua-matthew-11-28-30
    
     
    