who we are? churchy religious or only following JESUS

 

I remember sitting in church pews (There is no "pews" in the Bible, because they stink, okay bad joke) how about this instead, JESUS often sat down and began to teach them. HE didn't have them in a lowly place as HE exalted HIMSELF. In some huge up high lecture stand.  We have and I am explaining our real identity, JESUS only cared about what the FATHER said and did -nothing else. We are also looking to the FATHER in every situation.

At one time, even HIS disciples complained that HE was offending the Pharisees Matthew 15:12  JESUS answer was of the FATHER saying that "every plant that was not planted by the FATHER will be pulled up by the roots" meaning you can't have legalism making your own salvation (really you can't but we try) if we do the FATHER who loves us, and loves us enough to pull us out by the roots because there is only one plant /tree and we grow in HIM.  and HE and HE alone makes us grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6

You have to understand that the Law (really those that try to follow the "laws") persecute those in Grace. You even see this today outside & inside churchy buildings when mask or jab(folks) might attack or offend those that can't or wont wear them.  That is legalism and it HATES grace.  That is the offense in the Bible the stench see Galatians 5 all of it or especially vs 29.

The lavished amazing Grace is a stench to legalism or "do it yourself" churchianity. 

So back to the churchy times for me, I heard all this preaching from some guy who was dressed up and often behind this high, I mean real high pulpit (again I don't see that in my Bible) and this guy is telling me how to live and what to do - I could be cursed if I didn't listen.  Maybe that is why so many things are wrong in my life? - I am a mess and GOD is mad? (I thought to myself).

No they tell you what you should do (note; when you hear the word "should" in your mind/thoughts - ignore it, it is part of the great lie).  Anyway they never explained the steps or system to do all these things that needed to be done.  Like a hamster on the wheel.  The answer is 'there are no steps/systems' it is JESUS in you and you in HIM.  And just plain ole trust that it is so.  When you doubt it, we all had doubts but get your eyes back on the impossible that you are really the righteousness of GOD through JESUS CHRIST. 2 Cor 5:21  you will grow to trust HIM.

 

King James Bible Is It The Best Version?

I grew up and the King James Version was the ONLY scripture all others were considered garbage. (some even considered them sin, they were held in contempt)

 

So, because its so ground in me and many of us, it is still used or remembered.

But it is really mistranslated in many places and they have added scripture in order to add to the fear that "King James" wanted over his people.

For example the Hebrew word "sheol" is translated as "grave, or the place of the dead" but in king james 66 times is translated as "the pit", "the grave" and "hell" 31 of the 66 times!

What King, doesn't want to give his subjects hell?  Fear is good for control, you know.

Also a pet peeve of mine is Romans 8:1 is a beautiful scripture, here it is: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those in (union) with CHRIST JESUS"

BTW you are already in Union with HIM because HE comes to us, HE pursues us and makes us HIS home (but that is another lesson)

SO...They butcher this grace filled verse by Adding "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

This terrible addition makes a verse that is 100% grace (which Paul only preached) to a legalistic condition added to your Christian walk.

They NOW say, you are "not condemned" if you walk in the spirit but you are condemned if you walk in the flesh.

There were days when I did wrong, so I was obviously 'in the flesh' and i felt guilty and bad and now realized that I was condemned.(that made me feel worse!)

I was then feeling I was in and out and loved and rejected. A psychopath god and a dysfunctional relationship. This brings you to no power, no freedom, no joy in the HOLY SPIRIT.

Acts 13:52 Romans 14:17

Here is the Mirror Bible (which is one of my favorites) paraphrase-translation of Romans 8:1

"Now the decisive conclusion is this: In CHRIST, every bit of condemning evidence against us is cancelled" 

That is really good news, that is the gospel!

If you follow my blog, from time to time, I use the King James version, but let the SPRIIT of Grace always make alive the scripture you are reading, HE (SPIRIT) is your great teacher/counselor leading you into all truth.  Don't beg for this, you have this start believing you do.

I pray at times - "DAD what are you saying here?"

Lastly, the book of James is really the book of Jacob. There are many other mistranslated verses, but just keep your eyes on JESUS the ONE who is the author (creator) of faith and the ONE who completes (faith) in you.

And who, but a king would name the Bible after himself?

Church? or Body of CHRIST? what is the difference?

As you know we do house church for many years and we move it from place to place - home to home, outside, bowling alleys, camp sites - its NOT a building or place but a PEOPLE. More like the kids sitting around the kitchen table with Dad & Mom all partaking, all involved, all with a right to eat and share and speak or listen.  That is what GOD wants! and its fun! (Joy).

Years ago when we realized (real eyes) the SPIRIT spoke to my wife and I asking this question "what is the term for a division of money?"

We said "denomination".  Meaning classifying something.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:2  to the "Church in Corinth" . He wasn't talking about a building on the corner with a large steeple and a cross on it that folks would go to for one hour on Sunday. Rather these were the called out ones (Ekklesia is the Greek word) not meaning a "church building" but rather CALLED OUT.   Like GOD through Moses demanding Pharaoh to "let my people go so they can hold a festival to me in the wilderness Exodus 5:1 This brought about a question? Can GOD prepare a table in the wilderness?  Can HE prepare a festival in the wilderness? 

Note: the steeples on many church buildings represent the asherah poles that GOD wanted the children of Israel to smash and destroy (see Exodus 34:13 but there a tons of verses on this). 

Its pagan.

So back to the divisions of money, called denominations.  Paul warns of this exact thing in  1 Corinthians 1:13 "Is Christ divided?"  Also 1 Corinthians 11:17 when he asks  "In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good"  Did you know that you can come together and "do MORE HARM than good?"

Vs 18 Paul askes "In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it."  Also in 1 Corinthians 3 Paul says you are acting like mere men (vs 3) and vs 4 "One says he follows Paul and another Apollos - are you not acting like the world - mere men?"  We are not to follow men and name our church after them.  Remember in transfiguration? Peter wanted to build 3 tabernacles, one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for JESUS and GOD thundered this is MY SON, whom I love, with HIM I am well pleased.. listen to HIM and GOD removed Moses and Elijah.  

Let them be ONE is the prayer JESUS prayed in John 17

We can't have it when we follow man.

we can't have it saying my church is bigger than your church, we have bigger congregation than you do, this is my pew, come forward to an alter call, our pastor, this place, going to gods house, all religious talk.  

Acting like mere man.

The temple is YOU Paul askes in 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?"

And you folks are set free to worship and enjoy HIS festival and your joy of the LORD will return. 

Fasting & Food & Faith

 Fasting & Food

Some church people talk lots about this "Daniel Fast".  There are lots of folks making $$$ on selling us this fast or these foods or this "Daniel Fast".  Daniel wasn't giving us a new diet or law, he was simply saying you can give me the least and GOD will make it the most.  

I have food you know nothing about JESUS told his disciples. John 4:32

Just like Abraham asking Lot which part of the land does he want? Lot chooses the best of the land, giving the Patriarch Abraham the left overs. GOD does amazing things with left overs or what man has rejected.  See Genesis 13.  vs 10  "Lot looked and saw the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD..."  we all know which part was destroyed by fire (Sodom/Gomorrah) and which was the land flowing with milk and honey. 

GOD does MORE with the less man has/uses. The less we have the more of HIM we get. MY Grace is sufficient for you, MY Power is perfected (made complete) in your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I think these two verse prove what I am saying. 

JESUS feeds the 5,000  in Matthew 14:13-21  so we have 5000 men (women and children were there but not counted, head of households were counted  -so 5000 see vs 21) and the disciples had 5 loaves and 2 fish. Result: every one ate and were full and the disciples picked up 12 baskets of left overs. that was in verse 20. 

Next time, JESUS feeds 4000 see it in the next chapter in Matthew 15:29-39 there were 4000 men and they had 7 loaves and a few fish (so more food 5 loaves before but 7 loaves now and 2 fish before to a few now fish). More food and one thousand less people. So a bit more food and 20% less folks.

Result:   everyone ate and were full  (vs 37) and the disciples picked up 7 baskets of left overs. vs 37

Conclusion: more people LESS food used and more left overs.  Less people MORE food used and less left overs.  

HE (GOD) chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence.…  1 Corinthians 1:28

Isaiah 58:6-9  

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

    and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

    and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry

    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Does it take someone "with faith" to pray with you, what about the scripture 2 or 3 witnesses"

That scripture of 2 or 3 witnesses we will discuss here, but you do not need anyone to pray for you, you have "faith" and all the faith you need, inside you. As the Father, Son and Spirit are all (called the God-Head) live inside you.

So although its not wrong to ask someone for prayer, we dont need an anointed or "special" believer to pray for and get results, as we have direct access to GOD as HE is in us!

So, this would be another road block cleared where folks think they have to go through hoops and check-the-boxes to get their healing. 

You do not have a list of things to do to "get faith", as the one who is the author of faith and the finisher of faith dwells in you. Hebrews 12:2

This "two or three witnesses" is all over the bible from Deuteronomy 19:15 talking about Jewish folks getting into fights and quarreling over border stones and Moses saying 1 witness is not enough and the matter needs 2 or 3 witness as one witness may be corrupt (see vs 16).

Paul also talks about this is 2 Cor 13 (we often quote 1 Corinthians 13 but this is 2nd Corinthians 13) and Paul says similar to Moses and of course JESUS when he is concerned when he (Paul) is coming out to meet the house church in Corinth that they have had so many disputes and arguments. In fact is 1 Corinthians 11:17 Paul says "In the following directives, I have no praise for you for your meetings do more HARM than GOOD!" 

So Paul is on his way there in 2 Corinthians end of chapter 12...Paul is warning them about him coming into their problems and perhaps it may become even more of a problem. IN chapter 13 Paul tells them that these problems have to be corrected with 2 or 3 witnesses from among themselves.

So that ties in EXACTLY with what you were quoting Matthew 18:19 when JESUS said the same thing. Its about us Christian folks when we are together in fellowship or communion. 

Two other thoughts come to mind.

1. We are HIS witnesses and a witness only says what he saw or what he experienced.  So when we are told to "Go out and be witnesses" in Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  So as JESUS witnesses, we tell folks (as we go out) what we've experienced (testimony) and seen in this JESUS life.

2. The FATHER (GOD) is also our witness so with GOD and ourselves that is 2 witness as it was with JESUS so it is with us (our confirmation or peace in us is HIS witness I believe) 

"I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other" John 8:18

I'm seeing this as Good News in both ways.

We are not to get into huge arguments, but get those in our fellowship-community to solve the quarrel with 2 or 3 witnesses. Just like we said.

And we are to be witnesses of the JESUS life. As the opportunity arises, we tell people what JESUS has done for us.

And the Father, Son and Spirit inside us are also our witness confirming by peace and the inward witness that we are doing the right thing, handling it the right way.

Also that tri-unity that is in us, also is our witness that what the scripture promises HE will also do.

An of course you can ask for prayer, folks we are to carry each others burdens but this verse is about solving problems/fights/arguments/disagreements. 

blessings to each of you...

 I myself like you.  love my bible(s) 

BUT...

The Word of God is NOT the bible - its a person, its Jesus! 

Proof?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

We worship Jesus not a book.

Now should you read your bible? 

Rather look at it this way... you "get to" 

you don't "have to".  

We want to know about who GOD is and how this amazing miracle life works and 

we get to (if we want) to; in so reading the bible to get an idea of what its all about. 

To get to know this Kingdom that is INside us! and we are in that Kingdom - right now!

Years ago a Christian family in China was suffering underground-house-church, because the communist Chinese government was persecuting the Christians. 

This family had one bible and it was hand printed over the years, rather hand-copied over the years as bibles were against the law.

So with a hand copied bible this became a treasured possession for the family.

One day the secret police knocked down their door and accused the family of following God/being Christian. They roughed up the Dad and found their hidden bible.

The children and Mom cried and begged them to leave the bible alone and not break it.

The police lit that thick many pages of handwritten scriptures on fire and burned it on the floor of their small room and when it was burned enough, threatened the family and walked out.

The children and Mother ran to the smoldering ashes and tried to salvage what they could but as they grabbed the frail pieces they disintegrated in their hands.

When the children saw that they ran to a beat up Dad and asked "what do we do? Our only family bible that took years to hand copy is gone!"

The Father smiled and said "that it hurts but its okay because they can't take Jesus from us because HE is inside us, and HE knows HIS Word because HE is the Word".

You have GOD in you in the Person of the HOLY SPIRIT who will lead you in to all truth.John 16:13

Were you born for something special?

 

The book of Esther talks about being brave for a important time.

Do you know its the only book of the Bible that doesn't mention "GOD" but you know of HIS presence all through the book! 

You can read how young Esther has to go un-announced to the Kings chamber without being asked or beckoned by the King. Doing so, could be her death - you just didn't do this.

Yet, she had one chance to get to the King and make a plea for your oppressed Jewish people.

Nervous for her people.

Afraid for her very life.

She hears this important encouraging message that saved thousands that night and still saves lives today.

Maybe you were born for such a time like this?" Esther 4:14

 Here is my thought for today, in light of Queen Esther.

Perhaps this encouragement happens to all of us more often than we realize?