Author: Jim

They know not

The Old Testament reminds of all that THEY KNOW NOT …..
2 Kings 17:26 Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
Job 9:5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
 Job 24:13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
 Job 24:16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
Psalm 82:5 Theyknow not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
 Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
 Jeremiah 5:4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.
 Jeremiah 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know notme, saith the LORD.
 Jeremiah 14:18 If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not
Jeremiah 22:28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?
 Amos 3:10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
 Micah 4:12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.\
And on into the New Testament …
John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
 John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
 Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jude 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Do you know God? Or are you one of the “They Know Not”?

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Why Paul?

The Lord Jesus chose 12 men (and trained them) to take the Gospel to the people of Israel, the Jews. Before His death He was betrayed by one of them, Judas, who later committed suicide. After the Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension, the eleven knew there had to be 12 apostles, so they elected one, Matthias, to replace Judas. These men were to take the message to all the Jews throughout the world.
So, why Paul, (who was Saul, who persecuted believing Jews)?
Was Paul supposed to be the 12th apostle? NAY! He was a Jew, chosen by God to take the message of salvation to the gentiles.
In His letters to Believers (Gentiles) in Corinth he writes:
1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
In His letter to Believers (Gentiles) in Ephesus he writes:
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostleof Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
In His letter to Believers (Gentiles) in Colossi he writes:
Colossians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
In His letters to Timothy he writes:
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
And to Titus he writes:
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostleof Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
To those in Rome, he is more specific:
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Why Paul? He was the best man for the Job!
Just read about Him after his calling. Acts 9, Acts 22.

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Be Holy 

Moses instructs the children of Israel:
Leviticus 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
Peter reminds believing Jews what God commanded:
1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Paul gives instructions on being Holy:
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
1 Corinthians 7:34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
 Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
There’s coming a time when it will be to late:
Revelation 22:10-11 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Being holy also means you set apart in how you think, act, and treat others. To be holy means to be set apart or separate from sin and evil.

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Blessed  

Appears 205 times n the Old Testament, 82 times in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul in his epistles uses the word 17 times. Let’s look at them:
To the Romans he wrote:
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
 Romans 4:7-8 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
 Romans 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
To the Corinthians he wrote:
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
 2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
To the Galatians he wrote:
Galatians 3:8-9 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. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
To the Ephesians he wrote:
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
To Timothy he wrote:
1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
 1 Timothy 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
To Titus he wrote:
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
And in Hebrews he wrote:
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
 Hebrews 7:6-7 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
Hebrews 11:20-21 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
When you have obeyed God’s word, Romans 10:9-13, YOU are blessed
and the Blessings are YOURS!!

 ⇛ continue reading Blessed Part 2

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Elisha 

Anointed a Prophet
1 Kings 19:16-17 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
Elijah Anoints him
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
The rest of His story is in 2 Kings.
From His replacing Elijah ….
2 Kings 2:1-5 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
… till his death
2 Kings 13:20-21 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

He’s mentioned in the New Testament only once.
Luke 4:27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

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Elijah goes to Heaven … leaves mantel for Elisha

God’s Kingdom

Not in the Old Testament – 68 times in the New Testament – Apostle Paul refers to it 8 times
The Kingdom of God in Christianity refers to the sovereign rule and reign of God over all creation, both in the present era and in the future culmination of history. It encompasses God’s authority, righteousness, and dominion, showing His active involvement with humankind. The term “Kingdom of God” is directly used or implied throughout the Scriptures, appearing prominently in the Gospels, where Jesus declares, “The time is fulfilled… the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

Matthew ⇨ God’s Kingdom Part 1
Mark ⇨ God’s Kingdom Part 2
Luke ⇨ God’s Kingdom Part 3
John/Acts ⇨ God’s Kingdom Part 4
Apostle Paul ⇨ God’s Kingdom Part 5

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Cross of Christ

Image result for carry the cross
In the early Passages of Matthew, Mark and Luke when Jesus speaks of bearing a cross, He is not referring to HIS CROSS, just a heavy burden:

Matthew 10:38, Luke 14:27 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Then after His arrest the references in Matthew Mark Luke and John are the actual Cross of Christ:

Image result for cross of christ

Matthew 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Matthew 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Mark 15:30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
Luke 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
John 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

At The Cross by Chris Tomlin

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Kingdom of Christ

The apostle Paul writes to the church just who will enter into the Kingdom.

Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

It will be only those who believe the Gospel:
1 Corinthians 15:1-5, Romans 10:9-13

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Kingdom of Heaven (2)

Not in the Old Testament – 31 times only in Matthew
The concept of the “Kingdom of Heaven” is a central theme in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and is predominantly found in the Gospel of Matthew. He came unto the Jew and presented to the that He is their Messiah and would set up the Kingdom promised to Abraham if only they would believe Him.
Matthew 3:2 (John the Baptist) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19-20 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 11:11-12 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Matthew 13:44-45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Matthew 18:3-4 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
The Kingdom of Heaven is the 1000 year reign of the Lord Jesus over the whole earth.

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