Editing Out What God Purposed- What?

Do  not dismiss God!

We are in no way to edit what God has placed in His Holy Bible! What He placed there is important and He saw to it that men and women moved by the Holy Spirit would do what He asked them to do and those writings, the scribes and designated writers alongside the leaders wrote what God planned and spoke to them. We are not to change what God has given through His inspired word to us.

 2 Timothy 3: 10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love , perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra----what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, & all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  13 But evil men and imposters will grow worse & worse, deceiving & being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned & been assured of, knowing from whom you have  learned them, 15 & that from childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God & is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Paul who wrote inspired by the Holy Spirit was a man who was intercepted by Jesus, his doctrine was from Jesus, his faith was in God, and his long-suffering with those who opposed him and God’s divine love to continue preaching no matter the cost…is exactly what he did.

Will that be said of you and me? Have we done or are we really doing the will of God for our lives? Or are we trying to change what God has given thousands of years ago to direct us in this day and this hour?

 2 Timothy 4:1-8 NKJV I charge you therefore before God & the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living & the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season & 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 for themselves teachers; 4 & they will turn aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

You and I are to be ready in season and out of season: be ready as the servant of Christ Jesus…fortified in faith… a trust in Him to convince: that is to prove or refute…by the Scriptures and to rebuke what is false! We are to stay in the true of what God has given us!  We are to exhort or encourage sinners to believe & believers or saints to continue their ‘faith walk’

We are to be long-suffering and teaching others.  For verse  3  tells us that there will be those who will turn from the doctrine: people will give a show of their distaste for God’s word in His holy Scriptures. They will willfully turn away from those teachings: they will desire the comfortable and desire to hear the very pleasing “doctrines”.  

Yes, Paul wrote that there will be those who were once infused with God's word now choosing to be infused with fables for a wretched reward!  Again: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God & is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Divine Inspiration is God speaking to us, and it is given to enlighten us, to inspire us and strengthen us. He speaks life into our hearts when we find the darkest days! ………This does not come from human intellect or human inspiration but is God breathed into us each time we choose to read the Holy Bible and each time we choose to mediate on it.

If we spend out time trying to change what God has given us, then we will miss the day and hour that we are to give God's truth to others.  Those obeying His commands will go…will continue to live and they will have lives that reveal fruit of His kingdom that has come.  Those lives reveal that we are one with Him….abiding in His truth, preaching& teaching in the favorable & the unfavorable times which should be like we saw in the life of the apostle Paul!

Proverbs 3:3-8 tells us to not let mercy and truth forsake us. We are to bind them around our neck, and write them on the tablet of our heart, so that we find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. We are to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to lean not on our own understanding.  ( In all our ways) we are to acknowledge God and it is He who shall direct our paths by His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will be there with those answers to the things that concern us in our life at this moment, with our spouse, our marriage, children or the lack of them,  and yes that job! You and I are not to be wise in our own eyes, but to fear the Lord and depart from evil, for we are told  that when we do, health is there for our flesh and for our bones as well.

If we dismiss God and write out own ideas of life for us, we will end up in a whole world of hurt! Paul never dismissed God from his life once he had turned it completely over to HIM!

When he ministered truth, that message always included the truth that conversion was from darkness to light! And that is seen when we repent and turn to Jesus. 

In that conversion we are turned from the power of Satan to God that yes, involves forgiveness from sins, and a life that is lived in sanctification. (Acts 26:18)  Our part is knowing we need a Savior and to receive that ONE who died for us on the cross. It is Christ who suffered and rose from the dead. (Acts 26:23)

You and I have not gone to the cross to die for man-kind, nor would I expect us to do that at any time, but the Son of God was sent and became that precious sacrifice that we might live for God in that which we saw the apostle Paul live out for Him.  Paul did not rewrite or edit anything "out" of what God had already given to them through His word.

And certainly Paul gave us his testimony about when Jesus met him on the Damascus Road. What an event that was indeed!  Did Paul think he needed to be relevant for that day in which he lived? I believe what his life spelled out was, that to be effective in the body of Christ, we must be willing to preach and teach the cross, the blood that was shed for us and that repentance is required because of that great sacrifice!

We must not edit out that which teaches of Christ Jesus in the Old Testament nor remove those verses that speak of that blood shed for us in the New Testament. And yet there out there today biblical translations which have done just that!

Do you remember what Paul spoke from those thousands of years ago for us to read today? "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel ". This is found in 1 Corinthians 9:16. What about what he said in 1 Corinthians 2:2: "I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 

Have we not seen those today who have set their hearts on anything and everything outside of Christ Jesus? Those lusts are the very ones that the apostle Paul spoke about. Those desire tolerances for their evil ways and deeds. You can even hear : "It is not really sin!" Really???

For certain, that apostolic priority is required today when dealing with those who will not repent but only want to continue in their walk that is one that ridicules the very demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God. For the very demonstration of the Spirit and power is for validating the glory of almighty God and not for  any "show or sensationalism".

In being sanctified, that set apart for the Lord, we are declared His complete property. In that we are not guilty of any past record we have done. We are designated as new! So why would you or I want to change what God has given us. Our very source of power for living godly remains in the cross and in the power of the Holy Spirit. The only motive for our godliness continues to be that of love and our goal to magnify our God. 

The only way we live life fully is not by hearing just what we want to hear, but to rely fully on the Lord's wisdom. By the Holy Spirit you and I discern that which is the way of God. It is agreeing with God, acknowledging that we were sinners saved by grace and now cleansed as the chaste bride of Christ. In this: you and I are signs and wonders to the glorious grace through the Gospel that demonstrates the power of God.

May we as Paul the apostle, have the confidence in the Lord, that He is our sufficiency and by the Holy Spirit we are empowered for life and ministry in the reality of the new covenant. Let us not drift away from this which has been provided to us that is rich with His love, health, and joy that we might give to others that very thing that has truly set the captives free! Amen.

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

What is the Terror of the Lord?

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

To All Who Would Listen

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WHAT WE VALUE: WILL IT BRING US TO GLORY OR DEATH?

Acts 7:51-60.........51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him- 53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.   NIV

From the last two blogs, we covered in "THE FALLEN" and  "PICKING AND CHOOSING" we discovered those like Saul who kick against what the Lord was wanting established. Saul was breathing out cruelties to those saints of faith who had put their trust in the Lord. And of course in Picking and Choosing, we find those who would rather lie about why they would not attend a service, or attend a Bible study. As we saw in the teaching, what does that make us look like when we would rather lie than tell the truth?

In this scripture we continue to see those outraged by God's anointed. If we are the church, yes those body of believer's in Jesus, then why is there all this judgment going on about who gives the message and if it is the right message. Seems to me, the Word works and is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to those in need of that specific word of God for that moment in time!

Stephen saw the effect of his speech in that group of people. He saw those enraged and ready to stone him. He saw those call him names and said he had spoke blasphemy. 

Where is that "stone"?

In giving the message of God, presents us with the choice to receive it. Should not matter if the messenger is red, yellow, black or white.............and what is white anyway..........? I know no really white folks. I remember my mom mentioning some blood-bloods once and they were probably the white folks, but I know I have some Spanish background and some Cherokee............so I am what...............?????

Now back to Stephen..........a man being persecuted, and about to be stoned for his speaking truth to them who would deny the Holy Spirit. Stephen even mentions their fathers resisting the Holy Spirit in the prophets God had sent to them.

If we are saved, and have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we can certainly pray in our heavenly language and allow God to pray through us much like he did in those days. We can operate in those same measures that they operated in at the time.

Do we want to be found fighting against God?

Acts 5:33-39................33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."      NIV

If God is directing you to have a Bible study, then have one and invite people to come. Do not pay attention to numbers of those who attend, but do pay attention as the Holy Spirit leads you through God's word.

Stephen was not deterred from speaking.  He spoke truth and continued to lift the name of Jesus. In what transpired in those moments of Stephen's speaking, men were angered seriously because of truth and they did not want to hear it. YOU know those who are called to preach and teach will continue to preach and teach. They will continually lift the name of Jesus and it does not matter the course of those around the "said speaker" of God...........the messenger sent to deliver the "specific message".

Stephen even tells them that he can see Jesus..............He was now at the right hand of God....and in the next breath, he proclaims that he can see Jesus is standing at the right hand of God!

Is it that Jesus now saw His favorite son being stoned, and was ready to receive him to glory?

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.  

Stephen even had time to pray...........! How many of us tell God that we do not have time to pray? What excuse could we use for not praying? 

And how did Stephen do that short prayer while being hit by stones and words of hateful men? He had a prayer life. He had to have sought God and spent time in prayer to have the Holy Spirit on the scene in this situation and for the wisdom Stephen spoke to those men. In those last moments he was praying that the Lord would not hold that sin against them! Wow!

It is like having a baby. It takes nine months. You have to eat the right food, exercise and have regular check-ups with the Doctor. In prayer, we check ourselves into the Word of God, eat precisely what we need and have the Great Physician to come check on us to see how we are doing. Right? 

If a ministry or even a job is like having a baby and caring for the said baby..........is it possible that we could be trying to get everything in before..........like say.....leaving for the day, or for a week off or even for a vacation? Will our absence affect others? What about ministry to others through a specific ministry? Every step.........in a job or ministry always involves others and our time away takes some planning!

For any decision, the leader in business , the church, home, in the mission field, whether Bible studies, ministering in jail, ministering in hospitals, feeding the homeless, for leadership meetings in the church, in big Business, taking care of and leading children (teaching them by example), or caring for an elderly parent, requires each of us to seek God's counsel on these important matters. It will take some prayer time, much like Stephen had to have done in his short life, to maintain the thought process for God to bless the men "who were stoning him."

Whatever we have before us cannot be accomplished without God's help! We cannot expect to accomplish in that "spirit of excellence" in God without consulting God first.

 I think of 2 Kings 5 where Elisha told Naaman to go dip in the Jordan River and he would be healed of leprosy. In all that pride and such of Naaman, still he obeyed and went to dip 7 times in the river Jordan. Naaman wanted to pay Elijah something. (verse 16)

With Naaman being healed in the dirty water of the Jordan, still Naaman wanted to repay the prophet! But the prophet had refused it. But we see something different in Gehazi. But let's read on about Stephen.  We will get to Gehazi!

Acts 6:1-11................6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)-Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."   NIV

Stephen full of God's grace and power.......did wonders and miraculous signs and then ............men began to argue with Stephen................but they could not stand up against wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
(read all of Acts 6 when you have time) We can learn a lot by Stephen's example.

 So what do we value? If like Stephen, we will speak with wisdom of God, and be prayer warriors to conduct the affairs of life we must do and do it with ease.

We must evaluate that which is before us............as to study in the Word with others, attending those church services and in going to those "special events".  We must take an evaluation of the thing before us,  its importance & the estimation of its importance to us!

What is the worth of this thing before me? Will I put a worth on the things of God or do I count them as nothing when it is about me and doing my own thing?  Allowing God to ENTER our lives on every decision , we are saying I value YOU God, I value You for the decisions in ministry, in this job, in this department, in this illness, in this problem at work, in this decision for this move to another state, in this hike to the high country! God, we  ask YOU to show us which way to walk in this job, in this ministry of Bible study, in this Prayer meeting, in the department where changes are on the horizon!  If the 11th hour is here, IS God and His wisdom in THE BEGINNING OF THIS DAY?

Well Stephen certainly came to the 11th hour. He lifted Jesus to others and was stoned to death. He left his body in peace knowing that Jesus was ready to receive him to glory.

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Wow! What an ending...........and yet people still study this passage and they receive the effects of truth and the importance of being one with God!

Will we.....yes,.....will we stand one with God .........or will our character show us to be otherwise...........like the liar...........who likes to lie about why they cannot attend some function...........one that we should probably put value on.


2 Kings 5:26-27.....................26 But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27 Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. NIV


The prophet naturally said that he would not accept a thing...........even though Naaman urged him, still Elisha refused the gift.

After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him (Naaman) and get something from him. YIKES!
Gehazi hurried after Naaman, and Naaman saw Gehazi running toward him. He asked Gehazi if everything was all right? Gehazi answered that everything was all right.
BUT HERE GEHAZI LIES..........NOT GOOD! In verse 22 of Chapter 5......"MY master sent me to say, 'two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing."

 "By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha.

"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. 

"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. 

What Naaman had, now came on Gehazi..........that leprosy was to cling to him and to his descendants forever. Gehazi left Elisha's presence. Just by lying, Gehazi changed the course for his entire descendants.  Again, what value do we place on telling the truth? In Stephen's case, it cost him his life and in the life of Gehazi, well, he chose to lie, and the rest is history..........he and his descendents suffered because of lies!!
In this we finish the series of three........being those teachings about lying and despising those called to minister either at the pulpit or in other areas as in jails or shelter or youth groups! In  THE BLOGS : THE FALLEN, PICKING AND CHOOSING, AND WHAT WE VALUE: WILL IT BRING US TO GLORY OR DEATH? have shown us the importance of not lying to others and how to be effective in ministering life as in Stephen's case.

Father, Your word states in Psalm 24.......asking this question "who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who may stand in His holy place?" " He who has clean hands and a pure heart...........who has not lifted up his soul to an idol nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (3-5) Father ,we seek that which is of value to us. We do not desire the worthless thing, the idol which may speak but brings no life to our existence. Help us Holy Spirit to hear and obey. We know it is a choice..........but give us those needed warnings like YOU do, so that we do not miss one direction from You.

We desire our character to be that which is not a liar, but truthful. We desire not to be caustic, not to be the obnoxious and the grumpy. We desire to not be like Gehazi and seek out goods rather than seeking God.

Our desire is to be holy as You are holy..........and that we have understanding of that Word in our lives. We want to be the devoted, the determined and the persistent in seeking, finding and receiving Your truth into our hearts where real change takes place.

To YOU be all the glory for all that happens in our lives as we take these needed steps toward having the character that is the faithful! It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen and Amen.

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